Absolutely Chiswick, West & Richmond February 2022

CHISWICK, WEST & RICHMOND

Chiswick, West & Richmond FEBRUARY 2022 / £3.95

SPECIAL News and views from all the best schools

PLU S CHANTAL COADY

On rediscovering chocolate • FEBRUARY 2022

HUMANIST WEDDINGS Tie the knot your way •

ART POWER Lubaina Himid at Tate Modern

Off PI STE NEW LOOKS FOR THE SLOPES

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ST YLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT 21/01/2022 10:59

Bed: Vindö I Fabric: Designer´s Guild Glenville Oyster I Carpet: Light Beige I Bed Linen: Havsbris White I Bedside table: Holme

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S TAY I N B E D The ultimate luxury is taking time to unwind in a bed so comfortable that you never want to leave

15 W I GM O RE ST REET I LO ND ON W1U 1PE I +44 ( 0) 20 3982 3252 I CAR PED IEMBED S.C O.UK STO CK HO LM

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LO N DO N

GOTHENBUR G

C OPENHAGEN

SEOUL

AND MOR E FINE LOCATIONS

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E x p re ss yo ur EXTRAORDINARY WITH THE NEW 2022 COLLECTION

Battersea Reach, Harrods, Finchley Road, Notting Hill, Tottenham Court Road, Guildford, Bentalls Kingston, Westfield London and Fenwick Brent Cross

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Discover brand new statement furniture and accessories in-store, along with new seasonal fabrics and colours. Customise our collection with the help of our Interior Designers and find the perfect match for your style. Change the size, colours, finishes, configurations and more. Call us today to book your free interior design consultation in-store or in the comfort of your own home. For further inspiration explore our new 2022 lookbook online.

I N - S T O R E N O W A N D A T B O C O N C E P T. C O M

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THE GLASSHOUSE

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Welcome to The Glass House Get in touch for availability 07961 337293 | www.glasshousebythelake.uk glasshousebythelake

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents FEBRUARY 2022

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C U LT U R E ABSOLUTELY LOVES

H E A LT H & B E A U T Y 63 BEAUTY NOTES

WHAT'S ON

65 SKIN FOCUS

10 things we’re coveting this month

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Your diary for February

What's hot and what's new

How to achieve clear skin

FOOD & DRINK 28 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

INTERIORS 70 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

30 RECIPES

73 SUSTAINABILTY AT HOME

36 TALKING CHOCOLATE

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FA S H I O N 46 THE SHOOT

T R AV E L 97 CORNWALL CALLING

News from the industry

Seafood at home

At home with Chantal Coady

The slopes' fashion edit at Koibird

52 JEWELLERY Hearts of gold

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All the best from the industry

Conscious interiors

COLOUR LEGACY

New paints inspired by the history of Heal's

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N The online guide to inspirational London living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

Holidays on the north Cornwall coast

E D U C AT I O N 101 SPECIAL ISSUE

O N T H E C OV E R koibird.com

50 pages of schools' news and views

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Beautiful timber windows & doors

EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE MAMA EDITOR CARLY GLENDINNING ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA SENIOR DESIGNERS MIKE ROBERTS SAMANTHA SCOTT MIDWEIGHT DESIGNER CARMEN GRAHAM JUNIOR DESIGNER KAI NICHOLLS MEDIA CONSULTANTS STELLA ADAMS ANABELA KOLECI KATIE WOOD FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTORS CRAIG DAVIES, LEAH DAY, JAMES FUSCHILLO NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER

Make an entrance

MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT

For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3981 7187 or email: craig@zest-media.com

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We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

All rights reserved.

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a b s o l u t e l y. l o n d o n

Wandsworth | Crouch End | Dulwich

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Editor’s

LETTER

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ABSOLUTELY’S February issue highlights

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China girl

Everyone needs a new vase in February

ating chocolate has become a bit of a habit at Absolutely, and we're still going at a rate more suited to Christmas than February.

So meeting Chantal Coady was another opportunity not only to taste some excellent chocolate, but also to talk about it. One of Chantal's claims to fame is that she's the only person ever to have received an OBE for services to chocolate, which is an indication of how much respect she has for the bean, and also for the people who farm it. Her new venture is exciting news for chocolate lovers – and our meeting was well-timed for the imminent chocolate frenzy that is Valentine's day. We have a lot of gift ideas in this issue –but personally the only thing I'd want to receive is a box of her Love Bird Eggs.

Also in this issue is our regular February Education special, timed for anyone about to embark on the minefield of open days and applications. We have 50 pages of information and opinion on the world of independent schools, so here's hoping that you'll find it helpful. We've also got the usual mix of culture, food, fashion and interiors too. Enjoy February.

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

Luxe interiors

We've been impressed with this lavish apartment in Grosvenor Square

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Love birds

Chantal Coady's Chocolate Detective has uncovered these delicious birds' eggs

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Carmel

Bowled over by cauliflower in NW6

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The future's rosy

Classic gifts are best for Valentine's Day

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

PENDLE HARTE

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CLUB TROPICANA niLuu is a PETA-Approved vegan silk and cruelty-free loungewear brand . This silk Monroe kimono is sustainably made using washable vegan silk. Its classic fit features a wrap front silhouette with a matching detachable sash, and voluminous wide sleeves. £774 wolfandbadger.com

NEON LIGHT Brodie's cashmere collection includes a fluoro range for spring.

We love this electric zip top (£249) and jogger (£210) set. brodiecashmere.com

TO P C R O C Bovenue's uber luxe collection of leather bags includes the Noura in Royal Green in smooth Vernis calf leather. £777 bovenue.com

NAIL IT Revlon's new Ultra HD Snap! is not only vegan but it's also super quick to dry.

A caring and strengthening complex leaves nails feeling strong, smooth and protected.

Available in 12 shades, £7.99 revlon.com

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

SPRING GREEN Falcon Enamelware's 3 Pint Jug makes a fantastic vase – and we're very taken with the new Spring Green colour. £37 falconenamelware.com

MOCHI MOCHI Yuzefi's Large Mochi bag in soft leather is large enough to work as an overnight bag, yet stylish enough for a handbag too. £520 yuzefi.com

GREEN ETHIC Bee&Sons cardigans are designed to be disassembled and recycled.

Their Take Back service will make new clothes out of old by processing the wool in your old cardigan and turn it into recycled yarn. beeandsons.com

TWIST OF LIME

GREEN FINGERS Bergs Potter make highquality terracotta pots that plants love. Highquality materials and craftsmanship give these pots lasting appeal. bergspotter.com

EDITOR’S PICK

This set Of 6 Twisted Moss Green Candles will add a pop of colour to your décor. £30 rockettstgeorge.com

GREEN LIGHT This clever glass piece from Danish brand Hubsch is a tealight holder or a vase, depending on which way up it is. £59 harveynichols.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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RAYMOND GUBBAY PRESENTS

RAYMONDGUBBAY.CO.UK

Sir Karl Jenkins conducts a selection of his most popular works.

All of your favourite Sinatra hits performed by our show band and guest star singer Matt Ford.

Come Fly With Me . My Way . Fly Me to the Moon New York, New York . Luck Be a Lady Tonight Mack the Knife . Cheek to Cheek . I've Got You Under My Skin Sunday 27 February 3.00pm ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, LONDON - southbankcentre.co.uk

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THE ARMED MAN A MASS FOR PEACE with excerpts from Symphonic Adiemus & Palladio LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA Friday 18 March 7.30pm ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, LONDON - southbankcentre.co.uk

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C U LT U R E

POLLY APFELBAUM PURPLE FIRE 2021, SPRUANCE GALLERY; 3 FEBRUARY — 17 APRIL

What's on in February 16 • Lubaina Himid at Tate Modern 18 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Agenda

F E B RUA RY ' S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

T H E AT R E

The Glow to 5 March R OYA L C O U R T This new play by Alastair McDowell, directed by Vicky Featherstone, is set in an asylum in 1863. A woman is locked in a windowless cell, with no memory of who she is, or how she arrived there. As the woman’s past begins to reveal itself, so do new powers neither are prepared for. royalcourttheatre.com

T H E AT R E

Cabaret P L AYH O US E TH E ATR E ; U NT IL 1 OCTOBER

Welcome to the Kit Kat Club for this stunning production of Kander and Ebb's classic dark musical set in 1930s Berlin.

Eddie Redmayne makes a creepy Emcee while Jessie Buckley is excellent as Sally Bowles in this visually impressive show that transforms the entire theatre into a Berlin nightclub. theplayhousetheatre.co.uk

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Just... As an Artist to 13 February ZA B LU D OW I CZ COLLECTION Zabludowicz Collection has partnered with therapeutic arts project Portugal Prints to curate a diverse mix of work by 14 artists, demonstrating the positive impact that the Portugal Prints methodology has on its members’ lives. zabludowiczcollection.com

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

ARTISTS C RA F T

Collect 2022 23-27 February SOMERSET HOUSE Now in its 18th year, Collect is the leading authority on collectable contemporary craft and design. Held in London, a global hub of art and craft collecting, Collect announces its return to Somerset House as a hybrid fair, building on its successful digital-only event in 2021. collectfair.org.uk

TO WATC H

Caroline Boseley has recently opened Studio West in Notting Hill. She highlights her favourite emerging artists to collect now

SHOLTO BLISSETT Blissett creates eerie landscapes featuring imagined neo-classical structures and manicured gardens.

His paintings create a tension between natural elements and humanity's attempts to control them.

LYDIA MAKIN Oscillating between abstraction and figuration, Makin’s large-scale paintings are enveloping. They often feature dark backgrounds with energetic marks in luscious oil paint.

P H OTO G R A P H Y

AMERICA IN CRISIS

ALFIE ROUY Through painting, Rouy traces the fluid energies that exist within our shared field of vision influenced by early civilisation, alchemy, philosophy, and the subconscious.

to 3 April S A AT C H I G A L L E R Y 40 leading American photographers and over 120 works exploring social change in the U.S from the 1960s till today.

America in Crisis was a groundbreaking group initiative originally conceived in 1969 to assess the state of the nation. This Magnum Photos project was led by American photographer Charles Harbutt and Lee Jones, then Magnum’s New York bureau chief. saatchigallery.com

ALFIE ROUY, FAZON, 2020

This Month’s Must See

ANNA WOODWARD

LIFE BET WEEN ISL A NDS TATE BRITAIN ; TO 3 APRIL

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his landmark exhibition explores the breadth of Caribbean-British art over four generations, showcasing 70 years of culture, experiences and ideas expressed through art, from visionary paintings to documentary photography. Featuring work from the Windrush to the present day, the exhibition is curated by David A Bailey and Alex Farquharson.

Woodward investigates utopian and dystopian states in relation to the natural world. She creates intricate paintings of post-human environments.

SALOMÉ WU Multi-disciplinary artist Wu examines otherworldliness through translations and evolving reinterpretations of a personal mythology.

Work by all artists will be on display at Studio West in the group show The Reality in Whytch You Create, on until 17 February 2022. Learn more at @studio_ west_gallery and studiowest.art

tate.org

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CULTURE • TATE MODERN

LUBAINA HIMID, THE OPERATING TABLE 2017-18, PRIVATE COLLECTION

STRONG VISION Admiring Lubaina Himid’s powerful and poetic work at Tate Modern

By EVE HERBERT

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ver four decades, Lubaina Himid’s powerful and poetic work has made her an increasingly influential figure in contemporary art – from her pivotal role in the British Black arts movement of the 1980s to winning the Turner Prize in 2017. This is Himid’s largest solo exhibition to date, incorporating new paintings and significant highlights from across her remarkable career. Taking inspiration from the artist’s interest in opera and her training in theatre design, the show unfolds across a sequence of scenes which put the visitor centre-stage.

Through a series of questions placed throughout the exhibition, Himid asks us to consider how the built environment, history, personal relationships and conflict shape the lives we lead.

Presenting over 50 works that bring together painting, everyday objects, poetic texts and sound, the exhibition

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CULTURE • TATE MODERN LUBAINA HIMID, MAN IN A SHIRT DRAWER 2017-18, TATE

“PATTERNS OCCUR WHEN I AM TALKING TO MYSELF” the kanga’s layered uses and meanings, as well as its associations with fashion.

Throughout her career, Himid has explored and expanded the possibilities of storytelling, encouraging the viewer to become an active participant in her work. A fictional architecture competition inspires the installation Jelly Mould Pavilions for Liverpool 2010, in which a series of hand-painted ceramic models celebrate the contributions of the African diaspora and invite viewers to reflect on the role of monuments in public space. Displayed

LUBAINA HIMID, BETWEEN THE TWO MY HEART IS BALANCED, 1991, TATE

offers a rare chance to experience the breadth of Himid’s influential career. Early installations including the well-known A Fashionable Marriage 1984 enter into a dialogue with recent works such as her series of large format paintings Le Rodeur 2016-18, while new paintings created during lockdown go on public display for the first time. Himid says: “I have always thought of my work as starting when people get to see it. For me nothing starts until then.”

An early fascination with pattern, influenced by her mother’s career as a textile designer, has always been central to Himid’s work. “Patterns occur when I am talking to myself and trying to make visual the music, the sound, the noise and the poetry which underpins all of my work” says the artist. A series of suspended cloth flags inspired by East African kanga textiles welcome visitors to the exhibition at Tate Modern, featuring evocative lines of poetry which address

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LUBAINA HIMID, METAL HANDKERCHIEF - SAW/FLAG 2019. COURTESY THE ARTIST AND HOLLYBUSH GARDENS

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AC T I O N PAC K E D Q UA L I T Y TIME S P R I N G FA M I LY R AC E DAY S U N DAY 2 7 T H M A R C H The Spring Family Raceday is the ultimate Mother’s Day treat. Enjoy high-octane Jumps racing, face painting, petting farms, pony rides, and endless family fun.

Tickets from £26 | Under 18s Go Free Fine Dining from £139 + VAT Book now at ascot.com

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CULTURE • TATE MODERN

LUBAINA HIMID, A FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE, 1986 INSTALLATION VIEW, 2017 © NOTTINGHAM CONTEMPORARY PHOTO: ANDY KEATE. COURTESY THE ARTIST AND HOLLYBUSH GARDENS

“WE LIVE IN CLOTHES, WE LIVE IN BUILDINGS. DO THEY FIT US?”

at Tate Modern alongside a range of works including Metal Handkerchiefs 2019 in a room addressing architecture and the built environment, Himid poses the question: ‘We live in clothes, we live in buildings. Do they fit us?’

A major highlight of the exhibition is the presence of sound installations, including Blue Grid Test 2020, created

by Himidin collaboration with artist Magda Stawarska-Beavan. Displayed in the UK for the first time, this 25-metrelong painting features 64 patterns from all over the world, each painted a different shade of blue on top of a variety of objects pinned to the gallery walls. Coupled with a sound installation layering instrumental music with Himid’s

LUBAINA HIMID, JELLY MOULD PAVILIONS FOR LIVERPOOL, 2010 ACRYLIC ON JELLY MOULDS DIMENSIONS VARIABLE

voice, the work creates a visual and sonic embrace. Reflecting on this idea, Himid asks visitors: ‘What does love sound like?’

The show culminates in a group of recent paintings and painted objects, which centre on extraordinary moments of everyday life which are rarely portrayed.

The series Men in Drawers 2017-19 features tender portraits of imaginary figures inside vintage wooden furniture, while works like Cover the Surface 2019 depict intimate interactions and moments of indecision between men. Himid also continues to explore women’s creativity in her recent paintings, including The Operating Table 2019, which places visitors among a group of women in the throes of conversation and planning.

With each painting the artist asks us to consider ‘What happens now?’

LU B A I N A H I M I D

LUBAINA HIMID, THE SWEET SHARP TASTE OF LIMES 2017-18

continues until 3 July 2022 at Tate Modern tate.org

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CULTURE • ART PAUL WRIGHT

PATRICK REEVES

P R I V A T E C O L L E C T I O N How McKay Williamson Gallery takes a uniquely client-centred approach B y C A S P A R D AV I D

RUPERT MULDOON

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was interested to discover McKay Williamson, founded 20 years ago in Notting Hill by Richard Williamson.

This is not a typical art gallery; yes they have artwork on the walls, but they don’t hold exhibitions to promote a single artist’s work.

They claim their approach is clientcentred rather than artist-centred – that they want to ‘get to know each client’, that person’s taste and budget, their experience level with buying art, and what makes that person tick. As a veritable novice in buying art, the idea sounded promising.

Before my visit, I’m sent their ‘Art-ILove’ Review online. It’s a digital tool to discover which styles of art I like, without needing any specialist language – I’ve no idea of the difference between cubism and expressionism, but this doesn’t matter.

I’m shown hundreds of pieces and asked to choose my favs. Quite fun, really.

Richard is disarmingly straightforward and, without overstepping, likes to find out what makes you tick, almost like diving into your soul. Sounds a tad deep I know... but

it’s a strangely peaceful journey he takes.

“We tailor recommendations to clients, but what we really offer is a relationship with creative work, a willingness to take the time to help you find and buy pieces you’ll really love,” he says.

“So I want to ask you about the most important parts of your life. For the sake of illustration, let’s say you mention a place that was significant. I might suggest a cityscape or landscape of that place. If you are open to the idea, we might find an artist whose style you like and either purchase or commission a painting of that place. Visitors have no idea it’s a commission piece, if that’s required, but for you the piece becomes soulfully profound.”

I ask him how much should someone invest when starting to buy art for their home? “I would first ask if they’re making

“THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL ART GALLERY"

an emotional or a financial investment? If they say the former, we represent dozens of artists whose work is under £10k, many under £4k, and the calibre of art at this level is phenomenal. If they want a financial investment, too, I will only recommend artists who have a certain sort of track record. This is usually going to mean £10k+.”says Richard Another unique part of his business is the design studio. His team works with clients to transform personal photos into digital art. I flick through their portfolio to see some fairly mundane photos of a family on a beach transformed into a Retro Poster on Primrose Hill, and another where a photo of a young boy playing was made into a Banksy-inspired bit of adolescent edginess.

In the end however, I choose a painting

by Patrick Reeves of New York, a city I love, which Richard points out also has the colours from my outfit (and most of my wardrobe). Well noticed, Richard.

For now, it seems this place is disrupting the gallery world norms, by actually caring which art it places in people’s homes. Fascinating. mkwcreative.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Introducing Bamboo, the new colour by Le Creuset. Like the tropical grass that inspired it, Bamboo is the most versatile of evergreens and available in a range of Enamelled Cast Iron cookware, oven-to-table Stoneware and Accessories from 1st February 2022.

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU VISIT A LE CREUSET STORE • BESPOKE CUSTOMER SERVICE • EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT RANGES AND OFFERS • PRODUCT EXPERTISE AND AFTERCARE • FREE DELIVERY OVER £50 • LOYALTY REWARDS • FREE RECIPE CARDS CALL & DELIVER. | PAY BY LINK. | FREE UK DELIVERY WHEN YOU SPEND £50 OR MORE. | CONTACT THE STORE FOR MORE DETAILS. LE CREUSET FULHAM ROAD, 156 FULHAM ROAD, LONDON. SW10 9PR. TEL: 0207 3707509 • E-MAIL: FULHAMROAD.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM LE CREUSET HAMPSTEAD, 31 HEATH STREET, LONDON. NW3 6TR. TEL: 0207 4356109 • E-MAIL: HAMPSTEAD.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM LE CREUSET ISLINGTON, 137 UPPER STREET, LONDON. N1 1QP. TEL: 0207 2261595 • E-MAIL: ISLINGTON.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM LE CREUSET MARYLEBONE, 6 NEW CAVENDISH STREET, LONDON. W1G 8UH. TEL: 0207 4865404 • E-MAIL: MARYLEBONE.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

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LE CREUSET MUSWELL HILL, 74 MUSWELL HILL BROADWAY, LONDON. N10 3RT. TEL: 0208 8834394 • E-MAIL: MUSWELLHILL.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM LE CREUSET NOTTING HILL, 54 LEDBURY RD., NOTTING HILL, LONDON. W11 2AJ. TEL: 0203 2200017 • E-MAIL: NOTTINGHILL.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM LE CREUSET ST. ALBANS, 7 MARKET PLACE, ST. ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE. AL3 5DL. TEL: 01727 850453 • E-MAIL: STALBANS.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM LE CREUSET WIMBLEDON, 4 CHURCH RD., WIMBLEDON VILLAGE, LONDON. SW19 5DL. TEL: 0208 9440624 • E-MAIL: WIMBLEDON.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

14/01/2022 09:29

FOOD & DRINK

PERFECT PAIRING

HOUSE OF PIPER-HEIDSIECK

Since its founding in 1785, the House of Piper-Heidsieck has proven its innovative prowess in selecting and blending wines of exception. Now, chef Eric Geoffroy, from Piano des Chefs in France, has created a dish to complement the flavours and aromas of Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel: grilled Brittany scallops with a fricassee of endive, kumquat and pomegranate, served with Granny Smith juice.

Discover the full recipe on page 43.

Recipes 30 • Eating out 35 • Chocolate talk with Chantal Coady 36 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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WHAT TO DRINK

GRAPE news Wine recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this month

By PENDLE HARTE

By BERRY BROS. & RUDD

2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd Sauternes by Ch. Climens  £14.95 Our Sauternes is a classic blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, made by the team at Ch. Climens. This delicate and refined wine shows notes of orange blossom, toast and honey on the nose, balanced by a tingling acidity and a refreshing finish.

2018 Pulenta Estate, La Flor Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina  £14.50 The very fresh acidity of this wine works well with the intensely concentrated dark fruit notes and velvet-like tannins. Black cherry and plum dominate on the nose and palate, accompanied by a subtle and wellintegrated cedar note.

2019 Berry Bros. & Rudd New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc by Isabel Estate  £11.95 We are delighted to be working, with awardwinning winemaker Jeremy McKenzie for this wine. It is fresh and mineral with a distinct sea-salt character.

Bright and true on the palate, it has subtle notes of vine tomatoes, kaffir lime leaves, green apples and citrus pith.

BERRY BROS. & RUDD Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698. Today the company also has offices in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, a Wine School and an exclusive fine wine and dining venue in St James's.

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Plant life ADESSE

Plant-based pioneer and award-winning chef Matthew Kenney, along with his Innovation team has opened a new eaterie in Selfridges. Adesse promises innovative, elegant cuisine to enhance lifestyle and wellbeing. Menus will feature an extensive wine list of organic and biodynamic varietals plus imaginative interpretations of traditional dishes alongside Matthew Kenney Cuisine's namesake classics. matthewkennycuisine/adesse

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

TAKE THREE Dining in

SHELL OUT DING DONG DIM SUM

Cutting edge F L AT I R O N

These dim sum feasts arrive frozen, with clear instructions on how to steam them in the supplied biodegradable steamers. Our box included delicious prawn har kau, pork and chive gyoza, tofu and vegetable dumplings plus dips and sticky rice. Yum. dingdongdimsum.com

To mark 10 years of serving the best possible steak, Flat Iron is opening a tenth restaurant, in Waterloo's The Cut. The triple-shop-fronted restaurant draws inspiration from traditional Victorian butcher shops, with reclaimed oak floors, Victorian tiles, antique furniture and timber panelling. The signature ‘Flat Iron’ steak will once again take centre stage; taken from the often-underused feather blade of the animal, the cut is known for its flavour and tenderness when butchered with skill. flatironsteak.co.uk

THE SEAFOOD BAR

Travel to the Netherlands may remain restricted but this Dutch seafood outfit – its first UK outpost at the end of last year and anyone after a slap-up seafood feast should head to the Dean Street eaterie for a treat. Vast platters of oysters, prawns, lobsters and more are served alonside an impressive range of wine and champagne. theseafoodbar.com

HOMESLICE, VIA SUPPER Supper delivers meals from London's best restaurants straight to your door – and new to the fold is Homeslice, whose wood-fired pizzas are made from in-house aged dough. Go half/half if you can't agree on toppings. supper.london

HEART

FELT PAU L

Bake off OT TO L E N G H I

Ottolenghi has opened a new site in Chelsea's Pavilion Road. The space has a distinct look that is entirely different from previous delis and it's one of the largest site too, offering exclusive dishes that have never been served before. The shop opens at 8am for coffees, pastries and hot breakfast and closes at 7pm. Guests will be invited to grab a bite to eat at the expansive communal table or at smaller two-tops. ottolenghi.co.uk

J A PA N C E N T R E , V I A R E STO K I T S Make tasty and authentic poke bowls at home with Japan Centre's DIY Salmon Poke kit. Expect restaurant-quality salmon cubes prepared by trained sushi master chefs, fluffy Japan-grown rice, fresh avocado, Japanese mixed salad and a sweet poke sauce. restokit.co.uk

Paul's Sharing Heart Fraisier (£34.95, serving 6-8) is sure to be a crowdpleaser this Valentine’s Day, with pretty pink marzipan, fresh mousseline cream and strawberries.

More sweetheart treats include boxes of mini macarons and heartshaped mini cakes. paul-uk.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Seafood at

HOME Recipes from an online fish market

Wo r d s M I T C H T O N K S ; T H E R O C K F I S H . C O . U K

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Seared Scallops

with buttered winter cabbage, champ and parsley sauce Serves 2

INGREDIENTS • Half an onion • 2 bay leaves • 6 cloves • Few peppercorns • 50g soft butter • 2 tbsp flour • 450ml milk • Handful of parsley leaf, finely chopped • 500g potatoes, mashed • 200ml double cream • 6 spring onions, finely chopped • Sea salt and black pepper to season • 8 scallops • 1 small cabbage, finely chopped and blanched

METHOD 1 Add the onion, bay leaf, cloves and peppercorns to the milk. (You can, if you wish, cut the onion, insert the bay leaves and then stick in the cloves thus making it easier to remove later.)

Bring to the boil and leave to infuse for 15 minutes. Strain and set aside, discarding the onion and aromatics.

2 Melt 25g of the butter in the pan and sprinkle in the flour until you have a smooth paste – it should be of double cream consistency. Gradually pour on the milk until you have a sauce that coats the back of a spoon.

Add the parsley and season to taste.

3 Warm the cream with the spring onions and then whisk into the mashed potato with the rest of the butter until luxuriously creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.

4 To cook the scallops, brush lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper, and pan fry in a hot pan for 2 minutes or so on each side until caramelised and golden. Transfer to serving plates.

5 Finally, add a little butter to a pan, toss in the cabbage and swirl around and serve along with the champ, coating the dish with the parsley sauce.

Smoked haddock

with potato, leek & egg salad Serves 4

A really nice way of using smoked haddock. Always use the best quality you can and look for naturally smoked.

The finest I have ever tasted comes from Grimsby, where the old methods have earnt them protected status; Alfred Enderby who in my opinion make the finest in the world.

INGREDIENTS • 1 fillet of smoked haddock skinned and pinboned

• 200g jersey or salad potatoes washed and boiled and cool to room temperature • 1 tablespoon fine chives • 1 small leek very finely shredded, white part only • 2 boiled eggs separated and finely chopped • 6 tablespoons good mayonnaise • 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard • 1 tablespoon sugar dissolved in a tablespoon water

METHOD 1 Warm some milk and poach the smoked haddock for 5-6 minutes until moist and cooked, flake the fish into a bowl and leave until just warm.

2 Place the leeks, potatoes & mustard in a bowl and stir together, lastly fold in the fish, and herbs and season.

3 Sprinkle with the chopped egg and serve.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

• 6 cloves garlic, peeled • 12 roasted pequillo peppers (or 6 roasted and peeled peppers) • 1 tsp sweet paprika • 1 tsp smoked paprika • ¼ tsp hot smoked paprika • 100ml olive oil • 25ml sherry vinegar • Salt

METHOD

Hake cooked in the Basque style with garlic & sauce Romesco Serves 4

San Sebastian is the place to eat hake.

In Bar Ganbara we enjoyed a simple preparation of hake split throught the head and roasted over a fire, it was dressed with olive oil, vinegar and sliced

dried peppers, a garnish we would see all along the coast at various fish restaurants and one which we now use at the seahorse a lot and has encouraged us with the use of more and more vinegar in our cooking.

INGREDIENTS • 4 x 180-200g Hake fillets • 4 cloves garlic finely sliced • ½ dried Nora/Choricero Chilles (soaked and deseeded) • 100ml olive oil • 20ml good agrodolce vinegar • 1 tsp chopped parsley • Salt Sauce Romesco • 100g whole blanched almonds • 4 dried Nora/Choricero chillies (soaked and deseeded)

1 Begin by making the sauce Romesco, put the almonds and soaked chillies in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped.

Add the garlic, peppers and spices and pulse again to combine.

2 Add the vinegar, olive oil and pinch of salt, pulse again to produce a thick sauce that is neither too chunky of too smooth.

3 Fry the hake fillets skin side down until lightly golden turn and transfer the pan to a hot oven.

Roast the fish for about 5 minutes until just cooked through.

4 Whilst the hake is roasting put the garlic, olive oil, finely sliced dried chilli and pinch of salt into a small pan and put on a medium heat.

5 Cook gently stirring occasionally to distribute the garlic and chilli, as soon as the edges of the garlic begin to turn golden remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly, add a splash of sweet vinegar and the chopped parsley.

6 Remove the hake from the oven, put a fillet on each plate and peel away the skin, Immediately spoon a little sauce over each piece of fish and serve with a spoon of Romesco sauce.

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ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS

97 x 65 cm. Priced at £420 each (inc. UK sales tax).

Private commissions are also welcome.

@pullmaneditionsposters

Our central London gallery All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2022

View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com Untitled-4 1

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“For fans of smoky, chargrilled dishes with lots of tahini and za’atar”

CARMEL

FOOD North Africa meets the East Mediterranean

Charred to perfection in Queens Park

F

B y PENDLE HARTE

ans of Josh Katz at Berber & Q are thrilled that he’s opened another eaterie, and those of us living within stiking distance of Queens Park are even more delighted that Carmel is on our patch. Because this new North African/East Meditrranean eaterie is quite the treat, with its deceptively simple-sounding menu, cosy interior and all-day ethos. Fans of smoky, chargrilled dishes with lots of tahini, pomegranate and za’atar have come to the right place.

DECOR It’s a long, thin space, dominated by a central table designed for sharing.

Bar stools at a counter allow diners to watch the kitchen action, and several smaller tables cater to pairs.

We settle in with interesting variations on the negroni and order our feast. The menu is arranged into small and large plates, and eight-inch sourdough flatbreads from the large wood oven. We start with za’atar flatbread – slightly charred for perfection – and hummus, which is lightly spiced and creamy. (A not so) small plate of turmeric-roasted cauliflower with tehina, pomegranate and walnuts

Light and leafy, with stylish tiling

PRICE Small plates £9-£15 Large plates £25-£59

continues the delicious slightly burnt theme. Iberiko tomato salad comes with avocado, almonds and sumac dressing, while drilled harissa prawns, impressively huge, are served with ‘nduja butter, courgette tzatziki and delicious sweet garlic crisp. The prawns are juicy, meaty and slightly blackened and the tzatziki is dreamy. When the large plate of smoked lamb neck shawarma with garlic labneh and pickled turnip (a treat of soft, silky spiced meat and deliciously creamy labneh) arrives, there’s no more space on the table. We’d ordered a second large plate but really wouldn’t be able to manage it – so we cancelled pan-seared cod with clams, confit tomato and saffron fennel. Though I regretted that later, because it probably would have been excellent. There’s a large outdoor terrace with lots of summer seating, so I’ll return for that, if not before. Carmel is a winner.

VERDICT

CA R M E L

Excellent food and location; a bit pricey

23-25 Lonsdale Road, NW6 carmelrestaurant.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CHANTAL COADY IN HER KITCHEN, PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROB GREIG

Bean COUNTER Chantal Coady is a big name in chocolate.

Absolutely meets her to discuss her newest venture

By PENDLE HARTE

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FOOD & DRINK • PROFILE

C

hantal Coady is the only person ever to be awarded an OBE for services to chocolate making.

Which arguably makes her London’s foremost chocolate expert, though she doesn’t seem like someone keen to big herself up that way. Coady is best known as the woman behind Rococo chocolates, which pretty much revolutionised London’s chocolate scene from its Kings Road boutique when it launched in 1983.

Back then Coady was a designer and illustrator – not a chocolatier – and her signature drawings and style became as much a part of Rococo as its chocolate. Rococo sold chocolate pebbles, chocolate olives and countless pretty shapes and glazes in beautiful boxes, and built up a mini empire with its own chocolate school and a thriving wholesale business as well as its own shops.

But Coady’s no longer involved in it. A new investor and a series of changes, some of them Brexit-related, led to the business falling into administration, and Coady finally losing her part in it in 2019. The business still exists, and it keeps her illustrations and designs, but entirely without her. It’s a sensitive subject and clearly one that has caused a lot of upset. She says: ‘Losing Rococo in the way I did after all those years was devastating. It was heartbreaking and deeply stressful. It took me to the brink, both emotionally and financially, and getting over it has been a long, painful process.’

“When Quentin Blake heard her story, he was moved to create a drawing for her” But we’re not here to dwell on the past. I have come to Coady’s house in Vauxhall to talk about her new venture, which is another chocolate business, but not like Rococo.

The new brand, The Chocolate Detective, is another visually strong idea, but this time it’s not led by her own drawings. When the eminent Quentin Blake, a friend of a friend, heard the story of Coady’s split from Rococo, he was moved to create a drawing for her as a gift, and his vision of a lady chocolate detective complete with magnifying glass and hair in a bun has become her logo, coupled with an old-school typewriter font, which she thought was quite detectivey, in a Philip Marlowe way. Coady knows a lot about chocolate, and while she did go back to making chocolate a bit in lockdown, that’s not her focus here. The chocolate detective is dedicated to uncovering the world’s best chocolate and curating a collection.

“I’ve always been about the flavours,” says Coady. “I was the first person to combine chocolate and sea salt, which happened by accident when I was with my son on a beach in Cornwall, eating chocolate with saltwater

on my lips. I noticed that the flavours worked well together – and nobody had done that before.” The Chocolate Detective sells a range of ‘broken chocolate’ in Coady’s recipes, including an intriguing white chocolate with wild fennel and cardamom (it’s delicious, and a world away from overly sweet white chocolate thanks to its aniseedy flavour and subtle cardamom notes). Chocolate, says Coady, is like wine, and can improve with age – this is something we’ll be hearing more about, she thinks. ‘Chocolate’s flavour depends on the weather and the soil, just like wine, or coffee.’

Sustainability is at the heart of Coady’s project, and she’s dedicated to working with chocolate that’s made where it’s farmed.

A long-standing relationship with The Grenada Chocolate Company is one of her big passions, and she has an aim to help the company build a new eco factory in Grenada, A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FOOD & DRINK • PROFILE

co-operative negotiated to buy their homes from Lambeth Council; Coady is one of the few remaining residents who were there from the start. “All the tropical plants are left over from when there were a lot of Australians and New Zealnders looking after the garden,” she says, showing me the impressive view from her roof terrace. Her bright kitchen - the site of much chocolate experimentation over the past 40 years – is on the top floor of the tall, narrow house, and it’s a bright, inviting space. I notice a sofa upholstered in Rococo’s signature print. On the table are small bowls of chocolate, and the community cafe across the road stocks The Chocolate Detective.

‘I feel like I’ve had a hard reset in my life, but I am through the worst and making chocolate again has proved to be wonderfully healing. I am ready for the new phase in my chocolate journey and feel very positive about the future,’ says Coady. And so she should: her chocolate is excellent. Who wouldn’t want to receive a box of lovebird eggs for Valentine’s Day? Order yours now.

“The chocolate detective is dedicated to uncovering the world’s best chocolate and curating a collection” and spread awareness of the importance of buying chocolate that’s actually produced in the place where it’s grown, keeping the profits with the farmers. Often beans are exported and the chocolate is made elsewhere, but the groundbreaking Grenada Chocolate Company pioneered an organic and sustainable bean to bar model that Coady would ideally like to see replicated all over the cocoa-growing world.

She’s very unassuming about it, but her quiet venture has been a success from the start, even in lockdown. In April 2020 she brought out a range of chocolate birds’ eggs for Easter, sold in actual quail egg boxes with songbird illustrations by Madeleine Floyd. They sold out at Belgravia farmers’ market as well as online, even though she had to post all orders out herself, with help from her family. And when Annalisa Barbieri wrote about them in the Observer – even though they’d arrived with her after Easter – so many orders flooded in “that we had a second Easter,” says Coady.

I came here to discuss chocolate, but I’m also interested in Coady’s house. Today,

Bonnington Square is a lush oasis of banana plants and neighbourhood gardeners, a legacy of its past. But in the 1980s the Victorian houses were derelict and marked for demolition. Coady was one of a group of determined squatters who moved into the condemned houses and fought against the developers, restoring the buildings themselves. Eventually they were able to lease the buildings collectively, and more than a decade later, the members of the housing

Chocolate Detective Valentine’s Pop Up T U E S D AY 8 FEB RUARY 12–5PM

• W E D N E S D AY 9 FEB RUARY 12–5PM

• T H U R S D AY 10 FEB RUARY 10–8PM (DRINKS AFTER 5PM)

OR BY APPOINTM ENT R ACH EL VOSPER , 6 9 K I N N E R TO N S T R E E T, S W 1 chocolatedetective.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CELEBRATE LOVE WITH

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R E S P O N S I B L Y 10/01/2022 17:40

FOOD & DRINK • FOCUS

DAVID TOSCANO AND JAMIE HALSALL

ITALIAN AFFAIR From a street van to a Michelin award – the rise and rise of Cin Cin

By EVE HERBERT

I

n 2013, Cin Cin opened in a 1972 Fiat 850 van at the Street Diner food market on the Queens Road, Brighton.

Last year the duo behind it opened their third restaurant in London.

What’s the secret of their success?

The key, it seems, is fundamentally a love of food – and a determination to keep going. David Toscano grew up in an Italian family in Sydney, Australia.”I grew up in a household where food was central. My grandparents never asked how you were, just whether you’d eaten and if you were hungry. At the time I thought it was normal for everybody to make salami with their grandparents.

It wasn’t until I came to London that I thought I could make a second career out of it.” Toscano was working as a lawyer, but food was a big part of his life. “I looked at the street food scene and thought it was all so macho; burgers, pulled pork and spicy food. I thought there was a gap in the market for something more

refined. I wanted to be able to buy the sort of Italian food I loved and ate as a child.”

David was not a trained chef and had no experience running a food or restaurant business, but after a successful stint catering for a family party, friends and family encouraged him to offer private dining services – and soon he bought the truck and took it to the market. David continued to work part-time as a caterer while also working as a lawyer until he met classically trained head chef Jamie Halsall and the pair began to work together at events, parties and festivals.

“I was working as a lawyer in London and then racing back to Brighton to work on events, or in a kitchen with Jamie - something had to give. Eventually, at the end of 2015, I quit my job, burned my suits and committed to Italian food full time,” recalls David.

Cin Cin’s first restaurant opened on Vine Street, Brighton in November 2016. The tiny restaurant punched above its weight, gaining great reviews and awards including a Michelin Bib Gourmand, one of only four Brighton restaurants to have received the honour.

Soon they opened a second Cin Cin on Western Road in Hove, again receiving high acclaim and plaudits. “Western Road was the natural upgrade where we could serve more customers and provide a wider menu,” says David. “With the two restaurants settled in, we wanted to share our love and passion for Italian food further afield.”

During lockdown they launched a home delivery service, Cin Cin At Home, with three course meal boxes for two delivered to the good people of Brighton and Hove. Jamie and David’s first London site opened in 2021, an intimate neighbourhood Italian restaurant on Foley Street in Fitzrovia, with outside seating perfect for apertivi and alfresco dining. Any plans for another one? “We’ve always got plans for another one,” says Toscano. cincin.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FOOD & DRINK • DRINKS

Grilled Brittany scallops Serves 2 I NG R E DI E N T S - 8 sea scallops - 1 large Belgian endive - 2 kumquats - 1 pomegranate - 12 coriander leaves - 2 Granny Smith apples - 0.7oz/20grams of fresh ginger - 1 lemon - Salt, pepper, olive oil

M E T HOD

NOTE PERFECT Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel cuvée tastes extra special with seafood – so we asked a French chef to rustle up an accompanying dish

S

ince its founding in 1785, the House of Piper-Heidsieck has proven its innovative prowess in selecting and blending wines of exception. As the quintessence of the brand's champagnes expression, Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel cuvée boasts a precise, accomplished and balanced profile. The nose delivers initial notes of plum, brioche, grapefruit and candied quince, developing towards aromas of acacia honey and toasted almonds. A perfect wine profile to pair with seafood.

Chef Eric Geoffroy, from Piano des Chefs, has created a dish to complement the flavours and aromas of Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel: grilled Brittany scallops with a fricassee of endive, kumquat and pomegranate, served with Granny Smith juice.

1 To start, cut one apple into 8 sections and the ginger into small pieces. Put these through the juicer and save just the juice.

Reduce this juice by half and set aside.

2 Remove the leaves one by one and cut off the green part. Cut the white parts in lozenges of 0.4in/1cm on each side.

3 Peel the kumquats and julienne in thin strips.

4 Mince the coriander leaves.

5 Cut the second apple (unpeeled) with a mandolin into 0.12in/3mm slices. Cut the apple slices into small matchsticks about 1.5in/4cm long. Set aside.

6 Once all the above has been prepared, set 2 frying pans to heat.

In one pan, sear the endives in olive oil, being sure to keep them crisp.

Add the julienned kumquat as well as several pomegranate seeds. Deglaze with several drops of lemon juice. Turn off the heat and add the coriander.

Then season with salt and pepper.

7 In the second pan, sear the scallops over high heat, one minute on each side.

P R E S E N TAT ION Arrange the seared endives in a soup plate, add the hot apple and ginger juice so that it covers the vegetables.

Arrange the seared scallops on top.

Add the matchsticks of raw apple and several sprigs of coriander to dress the plate. Serve immediately with a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Essential (of course).

Visit libertywines.co.uk to see more details on Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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50% OFF

COLOUR

Salele S

5th Feb - 5th March 2022

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FA S H I O N

ELEVATE THE KNIT IZAAK AZANEI

This brand was born out of a desire to fuse luxury and contemporary aesthetics, to create an elevated yet accessible collection. Focusing on effortless trans-seasonal staples and elevated knitwear, Izaak Azenei uses refined shapes and rich textures to revamp everyday staples into iconic pieces. izaakazanei.co.uk

Koibird's fabulous skiwear 46 • Charming jewells 52 • Valentine's gifts 54 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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20/01/2022 11:42

DENERIAZ Saslong Mask Goggles £160, CORDOVA The Up & Down Jumpsuit £950, SWEET PROTECTION Switcher Mips Helmet £230, INUIKII Full Leather Boots £270

T H E

S N OW Koibird's ski collection is futuristic, bright and high tech

KO I B I R D.C O M

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AZTECH MOUNTAIN Nuke Waterproof Jacket £1450, AZTECH MOUNTAIN Team Aztech Waterproof Trousers £660, FUSALP Alisier II Therma Technology Sweater £135, KHRISJOY Puff Tweed Boots £425, SWEET PROTECTION Rooster II Mips Helmet £410

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POPPY LISSIMAN Stingray Sunglasses £170, IENKI IENKI Stardust Waterproof Jumpsuit £1380, KHRISJOY Puff Quilt Flowers Jacket £1005, AZTECH MOUNTAIN Aztech Next To Skin Tie Dye Top £155, KHRISJOY Puff Bandana Boots £335

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POPPY LISSIMAN Stingray Sunglasses £170, CLEMENTS RIBEIRO Fender Cashmere Sweater £695, IENKI IENKI Keptar Shearling Vest Jacket £850, CORDOVA Saint Moritz Trousers £510, PERFECT MOMENT Sherpa Waistbag £95, MOONBOOT Mars Water-Repellent Suede Tartan Boots £330

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YNIQ Nine 911 Goggles £445, CORDOVA Teton Waterproof Jumpsuit £1600, FUSALP Judith Sweater £210, CORDOVA Hyak Waterproof Belt Bag £160 (both colours), PERFECT MOMENT Oversized Belt Bag £145, PERFECT MOMENT Sherpa Bumbag £95, MOONBOOT Mars Water-Repellent Velvet Boots £320

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FASHION • JEWELLERY

From the heart Heartfelt charms for your Valentine B y P E A R L B OY D

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OLIVER BONAS

HANNAN

PAWNSHOP

Arcelia flower inlay heart pendant necklace, £26 oliverbonas.com

Another Day On The Terrace Earrings, £59 shophannan.in

Gold Plated Heart Charm Bracelet, £70 pawnlondon.com

ANNOUSHKA

WILHELMINA GARCIA

TADA AND TOY

18ct Rose Gold & Diamond Spinning Heart Charm £3,500 annoushka.com

Single red heart earring, £57 wilhelminagarcia.com

Sweet Heart Hoops, £105 tadaandtoy.com

ONE & EIGHT

THEODORA WARRE

DINNY HALL

Gold Brushed Heart necklace, £32, oneandeight.co.uk

Blue Topaz Heart Earrings, £160 theodorawarre.eu

Bijou Folded Heart Duo Pendan, £110 dinnyhall.com

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INTERIORS • TREND PIERRE MAROLINI Ruby assortment box, £66 eu.marcolini.com

BOMBAY DUCK Valentines cushions, £45 bombayduck.com

ELLA JAMES

PALE FOX Rose Prosecco, £28.95 palefoxprosecco.com

Natural Rattan Three Tier Storage Unit, £225 ellajames.co.uk

BOMBAY DUCK Heart trinket dish, £9.50 bombayduck.com

SHALOAH SKINCARE

EDITOR’S PICK

Rose radiance clay mask, £12.95 shaloahskincare.co.uk

SWAROVSKI Pink statement sunglasses, £230 swarovski.com

LOVE TOKEN

EDITOR’S PICK

WITH LOVE DARLING Beaded bracelet, £39 withlovedarling.co.uk

Gifts for your Valentine

JO MALONE LONDON Rose Blush cologne, £76 jomalone.co.uk

ROCKETT ST GEORGE

By P E N D L E H A R T E

Two Pink Champagne Coupes, £29 rockettstgeorge.co.uk

DIPTYQUE THE FIND STORE Pink Glass Candle Holder, £32 thefi ndstore.co.uk

Kyoto Eau de Toilette, £135 spacenk.com

STORIGRAPHIC Recyclable Valentine's wrapping, from £3.50 storigraphic.com

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20/01/2022 11:33

BY APPOINTMENT GIFT VOUCHER AND GIFT WRAPPING AVAILABLE LINGERIE • NIGHTWEAR • SWIMWEAR BEACHWEAR • NURSING BRAS

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Lingerie and swimwear from A to J cup (size 8 to 20)

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FASHION • WEDDINGS

TAKE A

VOW Humanist weddings are on the rise.

What has caused the surge in popularity?

B y N E I L D U T TA

Images ROWLEYHESSELBALLE .COM

F

or many, traditional weddings are the perfect way to express their feelings and begin the next chapter of their lives together. For others, this way of doing things just isn’t the perfect fit. It is for this reason that we’ve seen a far greater variety of wedding ceremonies over recent years, including the prominent rise of the humanist wedding.

Between 2004 and 2016, the number of humanist weddings ceremonies increased by 266 per cent. Meanwhile, there has been a distinct decrease in faith-based ceremonies, with the lowest number of religious ceremonies on record being reported in 2018.

WHAT IS A HUMANIST WEDDING?

To understand what is meant by a humanist wedding, we need to know a little bit more about humanism itself.

According to Humanists UK, the word “humanist” can apply to someone who: • Is agnostic or atheist and trusts the scientific understanding of the universe • Has concern for other human beings and animals and practises empathy

• Does not believe in the afterlife or any other greater purpose of the universe.

They believe that a fulfilling life can be created by seeking happiness and helping others find happiness too.

Essentially, humanism serves as an alternative to religion. Therefore, those who consider themselves humanists will not be interested in tying the knot in a traditional religious ceremony. Luckily, there’s an alternative – humanist wedding ceremonies.

According to Humanists UK, a humanist wedding is a non-religious ceremony conducted by a humanist celebrant. Unlike traditional religious ceremonies, there are no fixed rules to humanist weddings, which is one of the reasons they’ve become so appealing to so many couples.

One major downside to holding a humanist ceremony is that it might not be recognised by law. As marriage is a devolved issue in the UK, the legality of humanist weddings differs depending on where you live. In Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, and Guernsey, humanist ceremonies are recognised by law. However, in England and Wales, these ceremonies are yet to be legally recognised. For humanists in England Wales, it is still possible to tie the knot in a

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FASHION • WEDDINGS

“Unlike traditional religious ceremonies, there are no fixed rules to humanist weddings”

humanist ceremony as long as you also hold a legal civil ceremony either before or after.

There are plenty of reasons why humanist weddings are becoming more and more appealing. They are adaptable ceremonies that everyone can make their own, making them a tempting option for anyone who doesn’t feel like a traditional wedding is a good fit. Here are some of the main reasons why their popularity is soaring.

One key reason that we are seeing more and more humanist ceremonies is because of the UK’s shift away from religion, especially Christianity. According to The Guardian, less than half of Britain’s population were expected to declare themselves as Christian on the 2021 census, which would show a staggering decline from previous census results.

With so many people moving away from Christianity, it’s no surprise that religious marriage rates are falling. Despite this, many couples are still eager to get married – just maybe not in such a traditional way.

Another reason why this wedding trend is continuing to grow is because of how personal humanist weddings can be. As there are no steadfast traditions laid out, couples can curate their own personal ceremony, choosing the elements they like from a traditional wedding and leaving other aspects out. For example, it’s still customary to exchange wedding rings in a humanist wedding, whether you choose a simple wedding band or a diamond ring. However, you can also choose a way to exchange them that’s perfect for you. One couple, Amy Hicks and Michaela Francis, spoke to The Guardian about their wedding plans and described a beautiful ring exchange.

Francis said: “We want everyone gathered to pass our rings around, touch them, warm them, say words of love over them before they are passed back to us for that moment when we put them back on our fingers.”

Finally, many LGBTQ+ couples opt for humanist wedding ceremonies because of their inclusivity. For Hicks and Francis, this was a major factor. Francis explained that they chose this ceremony option “not only because we happen to be atheists but also because humanism recognises everyone as equal”.

While religious ceremonies might still be the perfect option for many couples, humanist weddings certainly offer an enticing alternative. There are so many ways to make your wedding personal, and maybe opting for a humanist approach to this special day would be perfect for you and your partner.

Neil Dutta is the owner of UK wedding jewellery specialist Angelic Diamonds

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

SH OW LOOKS CHANEL For the Chanel Métiers D'Art show, make up artist Virginie Viard wanted each model, drawn by a different illustrator, to represent one of the Maisons d’art and evolve in a little story inspired by a Chanel icon.

The models' look was slightly matte with a flawless complexion and exaggerated feline flick. chanel.com

Beauty notes 63 • Best buys for clear skin 65 • How's your hearing? 67 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare B y EVE HERBERT

BROW

FOCUS

SKIN IN MOTION

perfection B O B B I B R OW N

Makeup designed especially for the gym

The new Micro Brow pencil is ultra precise, with 24-hour, brow-true colour. Designed to effortlessly draw hair-like strokes to pinpoint sparse spots, extend tails, and add detailed definition, it blends emollient oils and waxes for a creamy glide and lasting, waterproof, humidity- and sweatresistant wear. £23.50 bobbibrown.co.uk

Colour ways H E A D M A ST E R S

Headmasters is offering 50% off all colour services from 5 February to 5 March. To give your hair a luxury look, Colour Ambassador Sian Quinn recommends the new Loreal Professional Metal Detox treatment, which will help to remove build-up caused by minerals and copper in hard water. The in-salon treatment makes hair healthier, prevents breakage and helps colour last longer. headmasters.com

SCANDI SCENTS M AYA N I J E

Independent perfumer Maya Nije’s gender neutral collection is inspired by her Scandinavian upbringing and west African heritage. From the sweet Vanilj to the smoky Tobak, each evocative fragrance is inspired by a family photo from the 1970s. £85; libertylondon.com

EDITOR’S PICK

I

B y EVE HERBERT

’ve never been too concerned about what’s on my face while I’m at the gym. I’m more than happy to go bare-faced, and if I’m already wearing makeup, I won’t bother to take it off. But according to celebrity makeup artist Gia Mills, wearing makeup during a workout could be doing your skin harm. She recognised that busy Londoners often have to fit in workouts during lunch breaks and between social events, and combined her love of beauty and fitness to create Skin in Motion, a skincare and makeup range especially for pre, during and post-workout. The range is breathable, sweatproof, hydrating and nourishing, so it can be applied before the gym and worn all day - big claims.

But I’m pleasantly surprised. The Clear It wipes are soaked in blemishbusting salicylic acid and pomegranate enzymes to exfoliate the skin and get rid of dirt, while the Cool It mist is a refreshing facial spray with hyaluronic acid and liquorice extract.

The makeup is pleasant too - the Lift It waterproof mascara is nice and lengthening, although pretty hard to remove, even with a cleansing balm.

The citrus-scented Work It tinted moisturiser provides minimal coverage and a lovely natural glow, although the shade range is limited. Smart and simple, the dinky products will make handy additions to your gym kit.

SKIN IN MOTION Products from £16;

skininmotion.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND SMART ASS Wrinkle Rewind Mega Moisture, £39.95 smartassbeauty.co.uk

UPCIRCLE Cleansing balm, £18.99 upcirclebeauty.com

BY SARAH Ally Blemish Recovery Oil, £34 bysarahlondon.com

SWEAR BY SKIN LookLit LED Mask, £75 swearbyskin.com

MONOSKINCARE Ultra Gentle Face Cleanser, £29 monoskincare.com

INLIGHT Face oil , £49 inlightbeauty.com

FRESH FACED

AURELIA LONDON Probiotic Blemish Hero, £18 aurelialondon.com

Purify, cleanse and perfect with these hero products

ELEMIS Pro-collagen Rose Hydro Mist, £43 elemis.com

COMFORT ZONE Sublime Skin Lift & Firm Ampoules, £45 lookfantastic.com

EVE LOM

EDITOR’S PICK

AESOP Parsely Seed antioxidant serum, £63 aesopcom

Cleanser, £85 spacenk.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • MEDICAL

Hear HEAR

Hearing loss can have a variety of causes – but there are lots of treatments available

By ANANTH VIJENDREN

ANANTH VIJENDREN

A

environment. Experts from John Hopkins Medicine in the United States found that living with untreated hearing loss increases the risk of dementia.

bout 11 million people in the UK have some type of hearing loss.

Ananth Vijendren, Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon at Highgate Hospital, explains important facts about this hidden condition.

HEARING LOSS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY AGE

A VARIETY OF TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HEARING LOSS.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

About 1 in 1,000 children are born with hearing loss. This can be caused by complications before, during or after childbirth, but sometimes has no obvious cause.

During adolescence and adulthood, hearing can be affected by: • an injury to the head or ear • some medicines • brain infections • chronic middle ear diseases As you get older, the cells and nerves in the cochlea (the inner ear hearing organ) gradually stop working so well.

This can result in age-related hearing loss. Other factors may contribute, such as repeated exposure to loud noise.

to problems in the outer and middle ear.

Common causes include infections, a build-up of ear wax, ear drum perforation and chronic middle ear disease.

• Sensorineural hearing loss: This is when there is damage to the inner ear structures. The most common cause is ageing, but the condition can also be hereditary.

• Mixed hearing loss: This is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It occurs as a result of conditions that affect the outer, middle and inner ear.

THERE ARE THREE MAIN TYPES OF HEARING LOSS

HEARING LOSS CAN AFFECT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE

The main types of hearing loss are: • Conductive hearing loss: This is when sound does not reach the inner ear due

Many people find it isolating when they cannot hear conversations. It can be a struggle to work in a noisy

If you have mild to moderate or age-related hearing loss, you can benefit from wearing a hearing aid. Many modern hearing aids are small and cosmetically hidden.

In some cases, surgical treatment could be a better option. This may involve: • grommets (small tubes inserted into the eardrum to keep it open) • eardrum repair • removal of disease from the middle ear • reconstruction of the hearing bones If you struggle with your hearing in spite of a hearing aid or previous surgery, you may need an implantable hearing device.

Studies are taking place that aim to prevent or reverse hearing loss.

Researchers from Israel and the United States are exploring whether defective parts of the cochlea can be reversed and regrown with gene therapy.

In the UK, there is currently a trial called REGAIN. This project aims to develop and test a new drug for treating hearing loss caused by damaged sensory hair cells in the inner ear.

To make an appointment with Mr Vijendren at Highgate Hospital, please call 020 3918 9522.

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S TAY I N B E D The ultimate luxury is taking time to unwind in a bed so comfortable that you never want to leave

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INTERIORS

MA N O F VISION J O N AT H A N A D L E R

Potter, designer and author Jonathan Adler's inspirations have mainly come from mid-century modern style and global pop culture. He includes his passion for culture, craftsmanship and mid-century in every project. jonathanadler.com

Interior inspirations 70 • Paint colours inspired by Heal's 76 • Top vases 82 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS N OT E S Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

COVER UP OMEXCO

Moonstone is a lavish collection of textured and softly iridescent wallcoverings like the moonstone. These luxurious 3D textures subtly reflect light to dazzling effect. This Belgian company makes produce exquisite wall decorations to dress your rooms in tactile beauty.

There is a wide range of prints and colours too. omexco.com

IRON MAN CASTRADS

You don't notice how ugly your radiators are until you see a stylish cast iron one, painted either to match or stylishly contrast with the wall behind. At Castrads there's a vast selection of styles and colours. castrads.com

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INTERIORS • NOTES

TA K E FIVE Bed linen LOAF Lazy Linen Bed Linen Range, £45 loaf.com

MOOD INDIGO

V I N TAG E CO LO U R MAROC TRIBAL

Maroc Tribal sells authentic and rare vintage Berber rugs. The team travels through remote rural Morocco to select original handcrafted carpets created years ago. These beautiful and unique textiles have a deep history, with unique variations and graceful imperfections. maroctribal.com

THE FINE COTTON COMPANY White Egyptian Cotton Sateen, £32 thefi necottoncompanycom

GRAHAM & BROWN

Very Peri is Pantone's official Colour of the year and the look is easily translatable into home decor schemes. Graham and Brown's Tanzanite paint is a striking blue with red undertones. This stunning royal colour looks purple in brighter lighting, or deeper blue in dimmer closed spaces. Create a softer space by pairing it with the Baked Cheesecake neutral. grahambrown.com

TOM TAILOR Satin painter bed linen, £64.99 tomtailor.eu

DIP & DOZE The blue stripe set, £75 dipanddoze.com

IN THE FRAME MCKAY WILLIAMSON

SOAK AND SLEEP French teal linen, £30 soakandsleep.com

McKay Williamson offers a range of beautiful, luxury, hand-crafted bespoke fabric frames, made with craftsmanship and finesse. Using responsibly sourced timber materials, the framing is custom-made to art gallery and museum quality level of framing standards. mkwcreative.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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B E OV I S I O N CO N TO U R BEU OP VG I SRIA ODNE CYO ON RM E E N T E R TA I N M E N T UTROHUO U P G R A D E YO U R H O M E E N T E R TA I N M E N T

R E M A S T E R I NRGE M A S T E R I N G RH EE MA EI M AC SE TEEX RPI N HEEMHAOEMXEP C IN EN M A EG RIENCE T HSOTMEER ICNT IG N ERR E T HSOTMEER ICNIG N E M A E X P ETRHI E NHCOEM E C I N E M A E X P E R I E N C E RH EE MA

T Hfrom E H O M E CThe I N Ecustomisable M A E X P E R home I E N Ccinema E At first sight, the timeless design declares iconic refinement. And experience delivers vivid The customisable home cinema experience delivers vivid At first sight, the timeless design declares And from the moment you turn it on, the 48” OLEDiconic screenrefinement. and award-wining sound The customisable home cinema experience delivers vivid The customisable home cinema experience de image clarity, and a superior range of dynamic sound. image clarity, and a superior range of dynamic sound. is it indeed a Bang & Olufsen television experience. the confirm momentthat youthis turn on, the 48” OLED screen and award-wining sound image clarity, and a superior range of dynamic sound. image clarity, and a superior range of dynamic The customisable home cinema experience delivers vivid Flexibility to build and expand your system over time.

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BANG & OLUFSEN OF EALING

B A S E D O N T H E I N D U S T R Y AWA R D W I N N I N G B E O S O U N D S TA G E T E C H N O L O G Y.

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INTERIORS • TREND CULT FURNITURE Kalimantan Pendant Light Bamboo, £159 cultfurniture.com

ROSE & GREY Bamboo Noticeboard, £18 roseandgrey.co.uk

ELLA JAMES Natural Rattan Three Tier Storage Unit, £225 ellajames.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

BEAUMONDE Freja Black Recycled Cushion Cover with Tassels, £24 beaumonde.co.uk

MODISH LIVING Canford Sustainable Mango Wood Console Table, £449, modishliving.co.uk

HEAVENLY HOMES

PEPPER SQ Sustainable Pendant Lamp, £449 peppersq.com

PLANET EARTH

SPICER AND WOOD Recycled Glass Jug Green, £42 spicerandwood.co.uk

Recycled Green Glass Vase, £9 heavelyhomesandgardens.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

Sustainable solutions for the home

By P E N D L E H A R T E

ROSE & GREY Recycled Teak Dining Table, £450 roseandgrey.co.uk

ZERO ZEN STORE Compostable Food Waste Paper Bags, £7.50 zerozen.co.uk

MINT MAY Square Bamboo Storage Basket, £18 mintandmay.co.uk

WALTON & CO Recycled Cotton Throw, £18 waltonshop.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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January 2022

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INTERIORS • PARTNERSHIP

INTRODUCING SWISH FIBRE

TREAT YOURSELF Practice the art of selflove this Valentine’s Day thanks to Swish Fibre

A

re you planning on treating yourself to the love and kindness you deserve this Valentine’s Day? Showing yourself self-compassion by practicing self-love promotes feelings of resilience, reduces stress and lowers anxiety.

Investing time in yourself isn’t just good for you – it’s great for people around you.

You’ll flourish and they will feel the love too.

There are many ways you can express self-love and Swish Fibre believe in looking after number one all year round, not just for Valentine’s Day. Just because you’re practicing self-care, doesn’t mean that you need to quit the screen time. There are plenty of online resources that you can take advantage of that are free or cost very little that you can use across your home devices.

To get the most out of your wellbeing, a strong and reliable connection is vital – and that’s where Full Fibre comes in.

Go beyond today’s broadband and bring Full Fibre into your home with Swish Fibre’s brand new 10,000Mbps capable network. Unless you’re one of the lucky few UK households, chances are you have fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband (FTTC). This means the final stage of the journey to your home is being made by the traditional copper telephone wire. Think of copper like a leaky bucket, where it quickly loses speed over the distance to your home. Swish’s 100% fibre-optic Full Fibre broadband (FTTP) offers blistering performance directly into your home.

• Online R&R and shopping – we all love the feeling of treating ourselves, particularly when you purchase an item that will help boost your productivity or promote feelings of zen in your living areas – or maybe that new coat that you really love.

• Hold a Zoom call with friends – Zoom, FaceTime – whatever your software of choice. Whilst it’s cold and grey outside, take time to set-up a video call with a friend without interruptions.

• Exercise, from the comfort of your own home – from Peleton bikes to Joe Wicks’ live classes on your tablet or mobile phone, switching-on your home gym equipment for live and on-demand classes has never been easier. Focusing on your exercise goals is a great way to de-stress. Remember, take it easy, there’s no need to add pressure.

• Download a Meditation App – open your App store and treat yourself to you time instead of reading endless Valentine’s Day posts. Apps like Headspace and Calm are a great way to detach from your busy lifestyle and focus on you.

With Swish Fibre, you can say hello to 4K streaming, hardcore gaming, crystal clear video calls and smart home living, across multiple devices 24/7. If you’re a resident of Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere, the good news is Full Fibre is available in your area and it’s coming soon to Cranleigh and Windlesham. You can register your interest to find out when your home is ready to be connected or to pre-order your desired service. Why not visit their Hub in Marlow to put the latest technology to the test and see the results of Full Fibre for yourself.

Follow Swish for updates, offers and free local events @swishfibre; 6, 6A Market Square, Marlow SL7 1DA; swishfibre.com

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DODIE

C o l o u r

H E R I TAG E Six new paint colours celebrate the legacy of Heal’s

By EVE HERBERT

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INTERIORS • COLOUR

S

ix new paint colours are bringing Heals’ heritage to life as Coat Paints has devised a collection in celebration of the iconic homewares store. Over 200 years have passed since John Harris Heal founded his store in 1810 and opened the first doors in Rathbone Place. Now the exclusive new colourways are inspired by the history of Heal’s in timeless blue, green and neutral hues. This bold collection captures the Heal’s legacy, whilst also leading the modern generation into a new age of decorating.

“I’ve got a really nostalgic relationship with Heal’s,” says Coat Paints’ Rob Abrahams. “My grandparents’ home was full of incredible John & Sylvia Reid sideboards from the 60’s, some of which now live with me. Collaborating with Heal’s is very personal to me. Design has been a key foundation at Heal’s from the start, the store is an iconic and aspirational destination for all design-led interior enthusiasts. Heal’s has always pathed the way for innovation and trend setting.”

As the world’s first Climate Positive paint company, offsetting double their amount of unavoidable carbon emissions, Coat AMBROSE

mixes sustainable, highgrade paint that is finished fresh to order in a range of on-trend colours for use both indoors and out.

The shades BREWER

BREWER

Cecil Brewer designed the Brewer staircase in the Heal’s flagship Tottenham Court Road store. The staircase was completed in 1916, and went up to the famed Mansard Gallery, which opened in 1917. Brewer is the perfect botanical, dark green. Bringing slightly more heritage vibes than COAT’s other greens, it brings a deep and warm luxe to any room. A Brewer kitchen island with a Mansard wall cabinetry will soon be a cult classic. Use Brewer on skirting and architraves in rooms painted in Rathbone Place or Kind Regards to ground these pale colours. Thinking of using Brewer as a wall colour? Use black leathers, candles, chandeliers (all things gothic) and strong mid-century furniture shapes, like the classic Eames Chair in Santos Palisander.

Using blacks with dark colours tricks the eye into thinking the room isn’t that dark.

“The colourways are inspired by the history of Heal’s in timeless blue, green and neutral hues”

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Call now to bring personality to your home heating.

Castrads’ bespoke radiators are efficient, beautiful and unique to your home.

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INTERIORS • COLOUR RATHBONE

FOUR POSTER

RATHBONE PLACE Rathbone Place takes its name from the street where the first Heal’s store opened in 1810, before moving to its present site on Tottenham Court Road. A bright, effortless neutral with subtle yellow, green and grey undertones - reminiscent of Venetian Palazzo stonework - makes Rathbone Place the most versatile of the collection. Pair with Dodie woodwork for a high-contrast, monochromatic scheme that’s warm and inviting. Alternatively, use as a complementary white for skirtings and ceilings with Mansard walls and an upcycled dresser in Brewer.

“Coat is the world’s first climate positive paint company”

MANSARD An interest in fine art and its links with design and commerce led Ambrose Heal to open the Mansard Gallery in Heal’s to display the most innovative art of the period. It was at the Mansard Gallery that the British public was first introduced to Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Amedeo Modigliani and the gallery was often visited by the Bloomsbury Group. Mansard

MANSARD

appears as a mid to dark green with a subtle grey undertone. Colour block rooms next to each other in The Coal Drop and Mansard for dark, dramatic vibes. Mansard works well as a low-light to more neutral colours like. For maximum impact, use as a graphic highlight on Brewer walls and then hang art, or put a plant in this space.

THE FOUR-POSTER The Four-Poster is a fully saturated teal, with a slight black pigment. It works well as a highlight colour in alcoves with offblack colour schemes, like Dodie, making sophisticated.. This colour comes from the iconic four-poster bed sign that hung outside of the Heal’s flagship store and is still available for the public to see in the bedroom section of Heal’s on Tottenham Court Road. This sign became a familiar meeting place for Londoners and was such a successful piece of branding that on the Heal’s centenary commemorative stamps were issued bearing the logo.

The Four-Poster would make for an energising dining room wall colour when combined with Detox woodwork and black Tom Dixon Dining Chairs.

AMBROSE Sir Ambrose Heal was a designer, retailer and influential figure who put Heal’s at the forefront of design and retail innovation in Britain. His work was largely based on the study of antique furniture and influence from the Arts and Crafts

movement. Ambrose is a stony, drab neutral. Containing warming yellow and grey undertones, it would be at home as a neutral for Arts & Crafts style panelling, a complementary white to deep reds in a Victorian home or the perfect backdrop for a Japandi style room. Paint the whole room in Ambrose and pair with some teak and warm coloured leather furniture from Heal’s for a comforting and inviting living space. Or use as a white with deep colours like Brewer. Ambrose also goes with popular COAT grey, Sweatpants, as a subtly contrasting colour for woodwork.

DODIE Dodie Smith (1896-1990) was an acclaimed playwright and author who captured the imagination of millions with her work, including classic 101 Dalmatians. In 1923, as a struggling actor, Smith became a shop assistant at Heal’s. She became fond of a bronze serval statue, and thinking of it as the presiding deity of Heal’s, told staff that it would grant their wishes. When it was sold, Mr Heal wrote to the customer to cancel the sale, citing that it was the Heal’s mascot and not for sale. Dodie is a luxe dark blue with a hefty grey overtone.

Use as an off-black for furniture or for a dark, moody space, paint your walls and woodwork in Dodie, ceilings in Rathbone Place and finish off this lavish vibe with a cocktail cabinet in The Four Poster. coatpaints.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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H O M E • KITCHEN KIT

C O O K A L O N G ESSENTIALS FOR A WELLEQUIPPED KITCHEN

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IN THE MIX KITCHENAID

The iconic stand mixer is an invaulable addition to any kitchen, and the new Dried Rose shade is certainly one to covet. £499 kitchenaid.co.uk

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T I N P OT

FA L C O N E N A M E LWA R E

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Enamelware is versatile: put it in the oven or on the hob, serve salads, bakes and pies in style and take the unbreakable plates on picnics. We love the red and white. falconenamelware.com

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SW I TC H U P IKETTLE

Waiting for the kettle to boil is so 2020. With the smart iKettle, you can switch it on from upstairs or even from the end of the road, using your phone. Why wait? £99 smarter.am

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FINE FIZZ AARKE

Aarke's stylish carbonators look good in any kitchen, and make an environmentally friendly alternative to buying endless plastic bottles of San Pellegrino. £179 aarke.com

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G R AT E N E W S MICROPLA NE

The new bowl grater easily and efficiently grates vegetables, fruit and cheese directly into a bowl. Genius. Beware, though: it's very sharp. £19.95 johnlewis.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • TREND BJORN WIINBLAD Eva Vase pink, £50 black-by-design.co.uk

HUBSCH Green glass vase, £49 vivalagoon.com

ROSE & GREY

ROSE & GREY

Terracotta Vase With Handles, £35 roseandgrey.co.uk

Face vase, £25 roseandgrey.co.uk

MONDAY Baariq vase, £42 mondayonline.co.uk

ANNABEL JAMES Circular Test Tube Vase, £79.95 annabeljames.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK JONATHAN ADLER Versailles Puzzles Vase, £310 sweetpeaandwillow.com

STEM SUBJECT

EDITOR’S PICK

The loveliest vases for the prettiest bouquets

NISI LIVING Aqua and amber belt vase, £45 nisiliving.co.uk

CULT FURNITURE

Brown glass vase, £30 cultfurniture.com

By P E N D L E H A R T E

THE HAPPY BLOSSOMS Droplet Vase in Sunrise, £16 thehappyblossoms.com

NUDE GLASS Mini magnolia roack and pop vase, £39 nudeglass.com

DARTINGTON CRYSTAL Bloom Wide Windflower Vase, £39 dartington.co.uk

HABULOUS Handmade Ceramic Dome Vase, £22 habulous.co.uk

BEAUMONDE Yellow Tide Glass Vase , £42.90 beaumonde.co.uk

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THE SHAPE O F I T 84

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INTERIORS • DESIGN

In this grand Grosvenor Square apartment, design inspiration comes from organic forms and playful shapes Wo r d s E V E H E R B E R T

F

or the interiors of this grandiose Grosvenor Square apartment, design firm Finchatton has taken inspiration from the organic forms in nature to create a tranquil space that unites strong sculptural silhouettes with an exquisite material palette. This is apparent in the iconic curved ‘Sofa 280’ by Pierre Augustin Rose in the reception room, paired with a rug designed by Finchatton in collaboration with Tai Ping, where tonal accents and textural contrasts reflect the foliage in Grosvenor Square. A commitment to craftsmanship and elegant finishes are felt throughout the residence - from the wood veneer wall coverings in the master bedroom to the black polished Nero Argento marble accent in the hallway to the hand-poured, meniscus glass table by John Pomp.

Paying homage to the proximity of Mayfair’s pre-eminent galleries and auction houses, Finchatton brings together the finest collectible designer pieces for the apartment interiors.

Curating the apartment as if it were a gallery, the memorable collection of artwork and furniture work in harmony with the classical

architectural detailing from award-winning architectural practice Squire & Partners.

Highlights include a tryptic by American abstract painter Janise Yntema and the impressive ‘Monument’ bookshelf in marble

by La Chance. Gallery style in the home can mean different things for different people. The gallery style here isn’t about white walls and cold lights but rather displaying beautifully curated pieces that reflect your personality and add richness to your environment.

Pockets of personality, inspired by a more playful and unexpected aesthetic, can be found in the bedrooms and dining rooms. A sense of vibrancy has been injected into these spaces through the hand-painted geometric wallpaper by Kelly Wearstler, the curvature of the high upholstered headboards in the master bedroom and Collection Particulières ‘Dam Stools’ that are inspired by chess pieces.

Designer Jiin Kim-Inoue says: “We are observing an increased desire for playful shapes that embrace contours, curves and rounded features throughout the home.

As the home is still everyone’s sanctuary in which to escape from the wider world, shapes with softer features and curves help A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CURTAIN CALL INSPIRED INTERIORS Our redesigned and extended showroom is now open, incorporating a large Luxaflex design studio showing the latest motorised blinds, nestled alongside nearly new curtains and a huge choice of fabrics to be made to measure as curtains and blinds Please call for Showroom appointments

Opening Hours: Tues-Sat 10am to 5pm • Closed Wed from 1pm 52 Friars Stile Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6NQ 020 8332 6250 • curtaincall@blueyonder.co.uk

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INTERIORS • DESIGN

to instil a sense of calm and comfort.

We expect to see a rise in popularity for rounded, statement pieces such as sofas and headboards as well as dining tables.”

Alex Michelin, co founder of Finchatton said: “The vision for this apartment was to create fantastic entertaining spaces as well as more intimate spaces for quieter moments. We had great fun selecting art to curate a home for the discerning eye of a collector, choosing memorable pieces as well as more unusual furniture pieces including the Pierre Augustine Rose sofa.”

Spending more time at home has given people a reason to change the focal point in a room. Lighting is often underestimated in its significance within the home but displaying beautifully curated lighting pieces that reflect your personality can add richness to your environment. The best areas to apply this approach is in dining areas and kitchens – where entertaining takes place and guests can admire.

Some stand-out elements in Apartment 4.01 are the curved ‘Sofa 280’ by Pierre Augustin Rose in the reception room, the hand-painted geometric wallpaper by Kelly Wearstler and the Collection Particulières ‘Dam Stools’.

Twenty Grosvenor Square is a Four Seasons Residence with 37 residences, designed by Finchatton and amenities provided by Four Seasons. The 250,000 sq. ft. development includes a private wine cellar; a spa with a 25m swimming pool; a treatment suite with steam room and sauna; vitality pool; a state-of-the-art fitness centre; children’s playroom; games room; a cinema; business suite; garden library and landscaped courtyard garden. The starting price for an apartment at Twenty Grosvenor Square is £17.5 million.

“Artwork and furniture work in harmony with classical architectural detailing”

20gs.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Eltham

✓ Friendly in-home service

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✓ Price includes measuring & fitting YOUR LOCAL BLINDS, CURTAINS & SHUTTERS SPECIALIST • I provide expert advice on the best window solutions • Flexible appointment times • Blinds & curtains tailor-made here in the UK

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The service was second to none”.

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ROLLERS | ROMANS | VERTICALS | VENETIANS | CURTAINS | SHUTTERS | WOODEN BLINDS

Call me for a free in-home appointment: Kris Lewis 07456 845494 *Based on the same spec, size & levels of service.

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INTERIORS • TREND BEAUMONDE Flora Terrarium Gold Pendant Lamp, £97 beaumonde.com

COX & COX Two Textured Standing Planters Antique Bronze, £145 coxandcox.com

ANTON STUDIO Set of two bronze wine glasses, £26 notjustjugs.com

DOWSING & REYNOLDS Connaught Ceiling Light, £539.99 dowsingandreynolds.com

BEAUMONDE LED Cordless Table Light, £145 beaumonde.com

MINT & MAY Mini Gold Round Poppy Picture Frame, £25 mintandmay.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

AUDENZA Gold Helix Side Table , £234 audenza.com

BOBBI BECK Mystica Occult Pattern Wallpaper Gold , £75 bobbibeck.com

EDITOR’S PICK ICONIC LIGHTS George Monkey Table Lamp In Metallic Gold , £52 iconiclights.co.uk

METAL GURU

FRENCH BEDROOM COMPANY Versailles Gold Bedside Table , £445 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

Metallics for every room

By P E N D L E H A R T E

VON HAUS Metallic Cowhide Pouffe, £119 vonhaus.com

FRENCH BEDROOM COMPANY Versailles Gold Gilt Dressing Table, £1125 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

ARLEY HOUSE Gold linen blind, £85 arleyhouse.com

FRENCH BEDROOM COMPANY Brass Bronze Drum Pendant Light, £95 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

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DOWSING & REYNOLDS Triple Dimmer Switch in Copper Gold, £96.99 dowsingandreynolds.com

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TRAVEL

IN THE MIX FOUR SEASONS FAIRWAYS

Set in one of the Algarve's most beautiful spots, Four Seasons Fairways caters to a variety of different holiday needs. Want a rejuvenating break? Visit for the spa and detox options. Or do you need a holiday for the family? Bring kids of all ages. fourseasonsfairways.com

Algarve adventure 92 North Cornwall holidays 97 Travel essentials 99 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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B E S T of B O T H W O R L D S Whether it’s a rejuvenating fitness break or a relaxing family holiday, the Algarve’s Four Seasons Fairways won’t disappoint

By EVE HERBERT

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TRAVEL • VIETNAM

A

N OLYMPIC WORKOUT

A Vitamin D hit and a HIIT of the other kind was exactly what was on offer at Four Seasons Fairways during their Active Living week recently. Blue skies and sunshine for days even during winter can be found a plenty at Quinta do Lago in the Algarve and their annual Active Living Week was hosted by Olympic Gold Medalist Amy Williams, who has also signed up for 2022 (so no excuses not to book).

Lazy days at the resort begin with fresh orange juice (oranges are delivered daily to your villa) and a delicious breakfast at the Clubhouse, alternating between the delicious Greek Yoghurt and Wild Berry bowls and the Feta Cheese & Rocket and Smoked Salmon Breakfast Bowls but always accompanied by one of their Green Detox Smoothies. Classes throughout the week ranged from stretch and mobility to body burn, HIIT, abs and core. Hesitant that some of these might be too full on having been fairly sedentary over the past 12 months, I spoke with Amy to discuss but she assured me that each session was tailored to suit all ages and abilities…so off I went.

Amy launched her own Personal Training business at the start of the pandemic and she’s a total natural at making people feel at ease and isn’t intimidating in the slightest.

She’s incredibly personable and had time to chat happily with all the guests and gave some great takeaway tips of how to keep active on a daily basis even when time isn’t in your side (no excuses to let things slide when home then). She was so attentive during the sessions, ensuring the level of exercises suited all and providing easier or tougher alternatives depending on ability.

Classes took place on the verdant grasses of the resort with the sun and exercises warming up the body in equal measures.

Guests attending ranged from new mums and dads through to couples in their 70s, many of whom joined a class before heading off to enjoy some of the golf which the destination is renowned for. Amy also hosted other sessions outside the resort, including a gentle 5km run and bike ride along with a kayak safari on the serene Ria Formosa.

It’s not all work, work, workouts though.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dining and visiting Quinta do Lago out A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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of season means restaurants are quieter and weather cooler, which makes for the ideal combination for long lazy lunches.

Estamine is possibly the Algarve’s best kept secret – an incredible restaurant located on Isla Deserta, only accessible by boat. Few places come close to this family-run gem of a restaurant where you can enjoy fresh fish and seafood along with other Algarvian specialities on your very own deserted island with 360 degree ocean views. When seen from above, the restaurant itself takes the shape of a crab among the sand dunes, an architectural tribute to their neighbours scuttling along the shoreline. Clams Bulhao Pato-style, prawns, deep fried in a delicious secret spice and their charcoal-grilled catch of the day simply can’t be beaten. Or head to Dos Passos, another beachside delight with uninterrupted sea views with the dunes as a backdrop. They serve Mediterranean and regional Portuguese cuisine using fresh fish and shellfish sourced daily from the local markets in an Algarvian ‘tapas’ style so super fresh and can highly recommend the Octopus salad and gilled sole. In the evenings and you want to satisfy a meat craving, head to Bovino Steakhouse where they serve the finest steaks and cocktails or stick closer to home and dine at Fairways’ a-la-carte restaurant Amara where they also offer wine or even cocktail pairing, and the restaurant boasts one of the finest views in Quinta do Lago.

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“THE FEEL OF A PRIVATE VILLA HOLIDAY WITH ALL THE FACILITIES YOU’D EXPECT FROM A HOTEL"

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS…

Four Season Fairways really have thought of everything for families with kids of all ages – the little ones and the grown-ups.

Just three hours' flight from the UK and open year-round, this discreet and elegant private villa resort is home to 132 colonial style villas and apartments (many of which have recently been newly renovated) set in beautifully landscaped gardens.

The villas are brilliantly kitted out (the kitchen embarrassingly better than at home) and on arrival our villa was stocked

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TRAVEL • EUROPE

RIGHT: OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST AMY WILLIAMS

full of essentials we pre-ordered, so kids had snacks and we had a well-earned and welcome glass of Portuguese wine.

Villas come with either a pool or jacuzzi, and all with an outdoor BBQ, so it was lovely to have a relaxed and informal first evening as a family without having to trudge to a restaurant or even take a step out of our villa. A service launched last year is the brilliant Drop & Scoff – you can simply order some of your favourite dishes (and drinks) from the restaurant and they’ll bring it all direct to your villa.

When we did eventually emerge, staff welcomed us with open arms and beaming smiles. The kids are happily swept up and taken to the slightly trippy but magical Upside-Down Kids Club & Creche where, it turns out, they want to spend most of the holiday. With numerous activities

and adventures laid on for them it’s not surprising. Once we knew how happy and settled they were, we took advantage and managed to squeeze in a couple of rounds of golf and a massage over the course of the week which was a real treat.

The Clubhouse area is home to two stunning restaurants: VIVO for all day dining and Amara, a fine dining, a-la carte restaurant. Two heated pools (indoor and outdoor) go down extremely well with everyone, as does the full-size snooker table, tennis court and gym.

Beyond the gates of the resort, Quinta do Lago and nearby town of Faro has so much to offer. Mini golf with a twist went down well; bikes are available to hire from the resort and it’s well worth heading down to the Ria Formosa and cycling along the boardwalk and ogling some of the incredible stand-alone villas that can be found in the area, both traditional in style and some ultra modern and sleek. The Ria Formosa nature reserve is a scenic swirl of seawater lagoons, sandy islands, salt marshlands and diverse bird life and thankfully pretty flat!

The beaches nearby are long with golden sands and beautiful dunes and there’s also an option of heading inland for a jeep safari where you see and learn about traditional basket weaving and one of the country’s biggest exports, cork. Faro town is a 30 minute drive away and well worth a visit too. Take a stroll or even a tuk tuk tour - a good alternative to walking, particularly with kids and potential tired legs.

We snuck in a few more meals out and noticed that everywhere caters so brilliantly to kids – many places are either directly on the beach, have little play areas attached to them or tanks full of fish or lobsters which provide welcome distractions for younger guests – particularly those who want to burn off a bit of energy before sitting down to refill empty tummies.

I struggle to recall anywhere else that so seamlessly offers the feel of a private villa holiday with all the activities and facilities you’d expect from a hotel.

We’ll be heading back, as soon as possible. fourseasonstairways.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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DISCOVER THE AZORES AND MADEIRA EUROPE, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Discover the island of eternal spring; a world bursting with vibrant flora and fauna, geologically dramatic landscapes and traditional Portuguese culture. Explore Madeira and visit the famed botanical gardens, meander along the levadas, go in search of wild marine life and journey over stunning volcanic backdrops.

Swathed in volcanic peaks, bubbling geothermal pools, staggering crater lakes and lush green forests, the Azores archipelago is a hidden gem of the Mid-Atlantic Ocean waiting to be explored. Gaze at the natural wonders, swim alongside wild dolphins, tour lava caves and relax in hot springs.

Explore the Azores and Madeira with Artisan Travel; your shortcut to travels most exceptional experiences. Call 01670 337 186 or visit us online at artisantravel.co.uk. © Greg Snell

ATOL: 6865 – ABTA: Y6261 – AITO: 5180

Unique Cornish Holidays POLZEATH ROCK DAYMER BAY

thepointholidays.co.uk 01208 863000 stay@thepointholidays.co.uk

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Discover our facilities in the hills above Polzeath thepointatpolzeath.co.uk

GOLF | LEISURE | FOOD & DRINK

25/01/2022 17:43

TRAVEL • UK

ROCK BEACH

New WAVES

POLZEATH BEACH

The Point at Polzeath expands to include rental properties in Polzeath, Rock and Daymer Bay

By EVE HERBERT

“2021 was a particularly busy year for staycation holidays in Cornwall” THE POINT AT POLZEATH

T

he Point Holidays is a local, family-run company with some of the best choice of high-quality holiday rental properties in Polzeath, Daymer Bay and Rock, managed by a friendly team who all live and work in North Cornwall. Having recently added several new properties in Polzeath, Daymer Bay and Rock to its holiday rentals collection, The Point at Polzeath (known as The Point) is excited to be launching The Point Holidays. The Point is a year-round holiday venue in North Cornwall offering holiday rental accommodation ranging from onebedroom apartments to houses sleeping up to 16 people, plus an 18-hole golf course, leisure centre, restaurant, and sports bar.

The Point celebrates its 10th birthday in March 2022. After rescuing it from administration, Jeremy and Eva Davies successfully redeveloped it and The Point Holidays has already attracted several new properties in Polzeath, Daymer Bay, and Rock, whose owners favour using a well-established local agency to look after their property. The Point Holidays aims to become the best local, family-run holiday rental and management company in the area. With a continued drive to provide outstanding customer service, the team have a shared passion to provide unforgettable experiences for guests to enjoy what the local area has to offer.

Jeremy and Eva said: “2021 was a particularly busy year for staycation holidays in Cornwall, with lots of loyal and new customers enjoying the local beaches and the best of what Cornwall has to offer. Building relationships with loyal customers is at the heart of everything we do at The Point.”

Tom O’Donnell, Managing Director of The Point, adds: ‘We are very fortunate to have an abundance of natural beauty on doorstep, and our team are passionate about the area and committed to sharing their local knowledge and expertise to help our customers create cherished memories. We expect the recent popularity of staycations to continue and are delighted to expand our collection of quality holiday homes into the neighbouring villages of Rock, Polzeath and Trebetherick.

Forming long lasting relationships with like-minded homeowners and guests helps us create a recipe to offer some of the most memorable family holidays in the area.”

T H E P O I N T AT P O L Z E AT H The Point 01208 863000 thepointholidays.co.uk thepointatpolzeath.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TRAVEL • ESSENTIALS

1

B OX F R E S H

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T O TA L WA R D R O B E C A R E

C H E C K L I S T

Get travel organised with these handy new packing cubes. Helping you to compact and save space in your suitcase, they help you to be organised and tidy – and can even fit in your hand luggage. totalwardrobecare.co.uk

ALL THE FINEST KIT FOR YOUR TRAVELS

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SURF'S UP ANIMAL

When you need a wetsuit, you need a good one. The Kairi Womens Full Wetsuit has optimal stretch for full freedom of movement and a great fit, keeping you warm in the water, while the GBS seams keep the water out. £120 animal.co.uk

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RUG UP

GANNI

This is a stylish camping blanket in a quilted tech fabric, finished with a practical carrying belt and handle. Use at home, in the park or even take it camping. £127 ganni.com

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F LY AWAY

OK A

Oka's new Ready for Take Off Travel set in teal and lava includes a padded eye mask and a soft cashmere blanket in a pretty pouch, designed to ensure you arrive rested and happy. £325 oka.com

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CHAIR LIFT STOKKE

4

Stokke's Clikk high chair comes apart to fit in a handy travel bag, so you can take it with you anywhere. No triple checking whether there's a high chair at your destination – just pack and go. £149 stokke.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Inside this section

SPECI A L

NEWS p103 INTERVIEW: TIM PEAKE p108 I N TH E S P OTLI G HT: M A R K BA I LE Y p1 1 6 A PA R E NT ’ S G U I D E TO CO N S E NT p1 2 3 AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS p129 ASK THE EXPERTS p137

TH E L E X FAC TOR C L AY E S M O R E P R E P

LEX, a new programme at Clayesmore Prep, ensures pupils are offered a far wider choice of personal development options including performing arts, creativity and culture, as well as spending more time outdoors. clayesmore.com/prep

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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EDUCATION • NEWS

50 years co - ed Oakham School marked a major milestone by celebrating 50 years of co-education with an event for alumni. Old Oakhamians (OOs) returned to celebrate with a chapel service and afternoon tea. The school is also celebrating 20 years of offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

KENT COLLEGE LEAD Mark Turnbull has been appointed Head of Kent College, Canterbury and will take up his new role in January. He has been Head of Giggleswick School for the past seven years and before that was Deputy at Eastbourne College. His first teaching role was at Sevenoaks School, where he became Head of Boarding.

He succeeds Dr David Lamper, who is retiring.

Eton academies Eton College has signed a partnership agreement with Star Academies to open three selective sixth form colleges. The proposal is for these to be in the Midlands and North. Some teaching will be delivered virtually by its staff, and pupils will be able to attend an Eton summer school.

“Mark Turnbull joins Kent College, Canterbury next January”

B AT S M A N O U T

PHOTOGRAPHY: MCC/MATT BRIGHT

The terms 'batter' and 'batters' have been introduced by the MCC at Lord's to reinforce cricket as an inclusive game.

Women's cricket has seen tremendous growth over the past few years – including in schools – and the 2017 World Cup Final at Lord's was held in front of capacity crowds.

“We should be able to acknowledge difference while being fully inclusive... the whole premise of inclusiveness” C H I M A M A N DA N G OZ I A D I C H I E

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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S N IO ON AT D C N LO LO E N TO RE SE G LO C

THE WORLD NEEDS NEW THINKING. GET READY. COME AND SEE OUR SPACIOUS CAMPUSES. We offer a world class international education that builds each child’s resilience, creativity, self-belief and knowledge.

Now more than ever we ready our students for a world that demands a new kind of learning – and a new kind of citizen.

• Girls and boys aged 2–18 • Day and boarding • International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement Programme (AP) • Bursaries available at all UK schools for students aged 11+ 13+ and 16+ • Safe door to door busing from London and surrounding areas • Top UK and global university destinations

COBHAM | EGHAM | HILLINGDON REGISTER ONLINE TO ARRANGE A PERSONAL VISIT OR TO BOOK ONTO OUR REGULAR OPEN DAYS: WWW.ACS-SCHOOLS.COM/OPENDAYS Untitled-2 ACS.indd 1

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EDUCATION • NEWS APPLE SCHOOL Southbank International School’s Hampstead Campus has gained recognition as an Apple Distinguished School for the second time. The programme, recognising innovative use of technology in teaching, is by invitation only. Southbank is one of only 41 UK schools with this status.

Get muddy The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is reminding families of the benefits of children getting their hands dirty this autumn.

Recommended activities include sensory tests to find out your soil type, making a wormery and collecting vegetable seeds. schoolgardening.rhs.org

NEW BUILD OPENING

M U S I C STA R S King's Ely Year 11 student Lauren Booth achieved the highest Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) exam result in school history – a 49/50 Distinction in her ARSM Diploma flute exam.

Classmate Sophie Hillier achieved 47/50 Distinction.

Both Lauren and Sophie have been playing since starting taster sessions in Year 2 at King's Ely Acremont Pre-prep.

E A R LY Y E A R S

St Dunstan’s College in south London has officially opened its new Junior School, STEM Block and Sixth Form Centre.

Guests of honour were Nobel Prize winner Sir Martin Evans and Chairman of Barclays, Nigel Higgins – both former pupils. The £25 million facilities will soon be joined by a new outdoor space, The Plaza, and a large theatre.

Tadpoles believes in teaching not through ‘forced learning’ but through the art of play.

Children’s play has an imaginative and creative flow which leads to discovery and problem solving, while the forced learning of phonics and numbers can kill the joy of literature and numeracy.

This established Chelsea nursery is opening a second site in Kensinton this year. tadpolesnursery.com

Q ueen's Head Julian Noad has joined Queen's College, Taunton as Headmaster.

Head of Oswestry School in Shropshire for the past seven years, prior to that he was Deputy at Rydal Penrhos and a teacher and housemaster at Clifton College in Bristol.

"My own role models are people who have a moral compass...

Don’t confuse role models with heroes" DA N I E L C R A I G

SOMETHING THEY SAID

“The notion that information is enough... that you don't have to think, you just have to get more information, gets very dangerous” E D WA R D D E B O N O

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You'll never get bored

When you board Benefit from all that Oakham School has to offer Lower School - 10/11+ Entry Saturday 21 May 2022 Middle and Upper School - 13+ and 16+ Entry Saturday 26 February 2022 Saturday 30 April 2022 Saturday 11 June 2022

We are a high-achieving, co-educational independent boarding and day school in the heart of rural England. To book a visit contact our Admissions Team: 01572 758758 admissions@oakham.rutland.sch.uk oakham.rutland.sch.uk/admissions/arrange-a-visit @OakhamSch

Oakham School

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EDUCATION • NEWS

Swim champs

HORRIS HILL A R R I VA L Horris Hill School has appointed Dr Steve Bailey as Headmaster. He joins from Westminster Under School, having previously also headed up Twyford School and taught at Winchester College.

He is the Chair of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association and a member of the Executive Committee of the Boarding Schools’ Association.

Horris Hill, which sits on the Berkshire/Hampshire border, recently joined the Forfar Education group.

Two Taunton Prep School students have been selected to attend the first phase of the Swim England National Development Programme. Evie Linden and Ronan Hill, both Year 8 pupils from Taunton, will take part in online and in person training camps. The school offers swimming as part of its weekly timetable from Nursery up, with clubs and many other training opportunities.

W E L L I N GTO N A B R OA D

EXAM SUCCESS Advanced Placement (AP) students at ACS International School Cobham recently celebrated their exam results, with onward destinations including University of California, Fashion Institute of Technology and Boston University. Originating in the US, AP is recognised by universities worldwide and ACS Cobham offers College Board AP courses. This year, 195 Grade 12 students took a total of 433 AP exams across 30 subjects.

Wellington College has announced an agreement with the Unison Group to establish schools in India, with the first located in Pune, Maharashtra.

Wellington College International (WCI) has six schools currently in China and Thailand educating over 5,000 students. Wellington College International Pune will be a co-educational day and boarding school for ages 2-18.

M I L E PA R T N E R S The Daily Mile has entered a partnership with England Athletics and other home nations' athletics bodies.

Sport ambassadors, including Olympic and Paralympic athletes, will work to inspire young people to join The Daily Mile community, which was created eight years ago by headteacher Elaine Wyllie.

Top Story

Dukes expands Dukes Education has bought landmark Kneller Hall in Twickenham and plans are already in motion to transform the former MOD music site into a state-of-the-art Senior for Radnor House. In addition, it has announced that the four popular Clapham preps and seniors within the Northwood Schools group and the 10 west London nurseries that make up The Kindergartens will join the Dukes family.

B I R T H DAY PA R T Y In September, Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School marked its first birthday with a party to thank all those who were involved in realising the vision to create a beautifully equipped school in four elegant Victorian townhouses. Cognita CEO Frank Maassen joined Prince's Gardens Headmistress Alison Melrose to lead the celebration.

SOMETHING THEY SAID

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world” ALBERT EINSTEIN

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EDUCATION • INTERVIEW

Rocket

MAN

Tim Peake is a hero to any UK boy or girl who dreams of space, and now he’s branched out into children’s fiction. Absolutely meets a real-life astronaut

By LIBBY NORMAN

T PHOTOGRAPH: ALEX CHAMBERLIN

im Peake needs very little introduction. He is the first British European Space Agency astronaut.

He’s also the sixth person born in the UK to make it to the International Space Station and the seventh UK-born astronaut to go into space.

He’s our own homegrown rocket man.

He’s still on the ESA list (so could return), but since he touched down he’s made it part of his mission to inspire young people about the future possibilities of space. Now, he’s published his first foray into fiction. A collaboration with bestselling author Steve Cole, Swarm Rising is a nail-biting adventure through time and space to save our planet.

The most striking thing about Tim Peake is how modest he is – you could say he’s grounded. He is also very frank about his own circuitous journey into space. He says: “Mine

is a really encouraging story to tell”. And it is, because on paper he didn’t have the potential for such an elite field. He believes it’s good for young people to know his wasn’t a smooth run-in to astronaut training school. “I think it’s important to try and relieve some of that burden that sometimes teenagers feel – that their entire future rests on some exams you do when you are 17 years old. I say to people, ‘look, I got a C, a D and an E at A level. I left school at 18 and I went and joined the Army’ – I think young people find it encouraging to hear that.”

Major Tim Peake did shine in the Army as a pilot, clocking up 17 years’ service after leaving Sandhurst and some 3,000 flying hours. “Ultimately, I did need a degree. I got my degree in Flight Dynamics when I was 33, and I was back in evening school doing Mathematics in my early 30s to get myself up to standard.” This is, of course, inspiring stuff because Tim Peake gets the issues today’s young people face. “There’s an awful lot of

stress and pressure on teenagers these days to do their exams, know the right things, think about the future. And sometimes you can just relax, just do what you’re passionate about.

Yes, work hard, but if things don’t work out the way you hope when you’re 17 or 18 it doesn’t mean that you can’t go on and achieve what you want to achieve. There are always different ways of doing things, different routes to take.”

This is one reason he is Ambassador for both the Prince’s Trust and the Scouts – believing that the work they do is one way in which young people find that different route, discover their talents. “I felt that I was very fortunate when I was growing up. I was at a state school and I was given opportunities. The school had a Cadet Force and there was a Scout group I could join.

It’s these kinds of opportunities that we only really have because we’ve got brilliant volunteers who are prepared to dedicate time and effort into helping young people.”

“OUR JOB AS ASTRONAUTS IS TO TRY AND HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH TOOLBOX TO GIVE US OPTIONS FOR WHEN THINGS GO WRONG” A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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EDUCATION • INTERVIEW

Tim Peake is mindful, too, of the inequalities – always there, but in sharper relief since the pandemic – with access to the spaces outside classrooms where young people find their strengths. “Organisations like the Prince’s Trust and the Scouts, who work across the board in all areas of the UK, give young people of different ages the ability to be able to say, ‘I’m going to do this – I’m going to get outside’.”

The outdoors aspect is vital, but so too is the teamwork and challenge on offer. “When I talk to people about being an astronaut, they talk about the selection process. I say to them, ‘do you realise that in terms of academic qualifications that was literally just a line on the application form?’. Then there was a year of selection process, which was all about soft skills. It was all about communication, teamwork, leadership, followership, personality, character. And this is all stuff that you don’t necessarily learn in the classroom. It’s stuff that you might learn on the sports pitch, or you might learn it outdoors doing adventurous activities.”

That period of selection that Tim Peake is talking about (and he was one of six selected from 8,000 applicants), was a test indeed. There were the academic, fitness and interview hurdles, but also a protracted spell living in cave systems in Sardinia. This was the stuff that was designed to replicate the isolated conditions and teamwork space missions require.

Of course, it’s one thing living in a cave with support available should things go wrong, quite another to be in space when

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the worst happens. Fear is something Tim Peake gets asked about a lot. “People say: ‘were you not afraid at any stage?’ and it’s an important question,” he says. “You’re only afraid when you don’t have options. Things go wrong all the time – it’s part of life. If you’re prepared for things to go wrong, then you no longer feel afraid of that situation because you’re almost expecting it to happen. You’ve got a little toolbox as you go through life that you keep adding to and that toolbox gives you skills to be able to deal with situations as they crop up. Our job as astronauts is to try and have a good enough toolbox to give us options for when things go wrong.”

That “toolbox” is clearly something that set him apart as a candidate, but he sees a bigger issue here for young people. “We have gone through a period of being quite risk averse and I think it’s important to maintain perspective

on that and to accept that life is all about taking risk. It’s about managing risks and it’s about understanding risks so that you can do things that push you out of your comfort zone, because that’s what builds resilience,” he says. “You don’t do things in a foolhardy way, you do them in such a way that you’ve analysed the risk and you’ve mitigated it.

You’re prepared to do things as safely as possible, but you’re still going to go out there and have fun and take a bit of risk.”

As a child, he watched the Shuttle launch and the Mir Space Station being built, and then Helen Sharman head into space on a commercial flight, but never dreamed he would have the opportunity. “Like most Brits I grew up thinking that’s something we’ll watch other people doing,” he says. What’s different today is that young people do have opportunities – and that’s something that gives him heart. “Anybody today can think of applying. We have a European Space Agency selection programme running and we’ve had 2,000 Brits apply out of a 20,000 total – so 10 per cent of applicants have been Brits. It was really quite strict in terms of applicant requirements. They needed a Master’s in Education and with specific knowledge in sciences, languages, and so on. So that’s 2,000 really high-calibre British applicants, which is great to see.”

There remains no doubt that children dream big, and they are never short of questions – also never afraid to ask questions adults are too embarrassed to ask. “Aliens definitely crop up a lot. So do human functions. Young people are always

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23/01/2022 21:09

Hawkesdown House School

A Preparatory & Nursery School for boys and girls aged 2-11, Kensington W8

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Please contact the School Office to arrange a private tour with the Headmistress

27 Edge Street Kensington London W8 7PN 0207 727 9090 admin@hawkesdown.co.uk www.hawkesdown.co.uk

25/01/2022 10:31

EDUCATION • INTERVIEW

“I LOVE THE FACT THAT CHILDREN CAN HAVE IDEAS, THEY CAN EXPLORE IDEAS – AND SPACE ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT” interested in how they would live in space,” he says. “I love the way young people have the ability to be less restricted about asking questions like that because they just put themselves in that environment.”

And if you’re wondering, Tim Peake does believe that alien life is a burning question worth asking. “I always say, ‘well, that’s a really intelligent question because some of the best brains on the planet right now are trying to answer that’. We’ve got radio telescopes listening out for signals from space. We’ve got rovers scouring Mars looking for signs of microbial life, past or even present. So it has to, I think, statistically. We had the Kepler space telescope operating for nine years looking for other planets just in the Milky Way that were in the Goldilocks Zone – that region where water can exist as liquid water – and we found over 2,000 planets. And actually, astronomers have now used much more data than that and they reckon there are 40 billion habitable planets just in our Milky Way.” This brings us neatly on to Swarm Rising,

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which presents a scenario just brimming with ideas to inspire young minds to think about alien life forms, other worlds. “The paradox that’s interesting is, well, if it is out there, why do we still know nothing about it? This is where Steve Cole and I had so much fun with Swarm Rising. Some of the problems are just the vastness of space in terms of time and distance. At the moment we think that the speed of light is a limiting factor. But if you can travel at the speed of light – don’t think about travelling there as organic flesh and blood, think about travelling there as a digital intelligence, a digital signal – then it opens up a whole different ball game. So that’s where the inspiration came from.”

It was, he says, a liberating experience to look at space from a fictional perspective. “Up until now I’ve been writing very factual books and I want to be technically as accurate as I can be in what I’m writing. Fiction is great because you can let your imagination run wild and explore different concepts and ideas and have fun.” The idea for Swarm Rising had been brewing for some time, but there

was input from others, notably his own sons, aged 12 and nine. “I had lots and lots of input from my two boys,” he says. “On long car journeys I’d be bouncing ideas off them.”

He says discussions about space are a great equaliser. “You can just let your imagination run wild and, frankly, no adult can tell you no, that’s not so. It’s a great leveller – nobody knows the answers to these questions yet and that’s why it’s so wonderful to interact with children and young adults about it,” he says. “I love the fact that they can have ideas, they can explore ideas – and space allows them to do that.” His collaboration with Steve Cole (whose credits include Astrosaurs and Dr Who novels) is also a brilliant springboard.

“He’s been so wonderful to work with. It’s great having someone likeminded who’s prepared to have a bit of fun with science fiction but also keep it really grounded – and with some really good values about artificial intelligence, about our environment, about what it means to be human.”

Their sequel (Swarm Enemies) is underway, so the gripping narrative of hive minds and digital travel will continue.

Back in the real (not digital) universe, Tim Peake knows that the biggest question of all from every child, is what it feels like to lift off from earth. His answer? “It’s incredibly exciting. The ride is insane. It’s just sheer power – high adrenaline, a lot of fun, g-forces, acceleration. And then when that’s over, when the engines cut out and everything goes quiet and still, you look out and you’re in orbit. It’s absolutely mesmerising – unbelievable.”

TIM PEAKE Swarm Rising, by Steve Cole and Tim Peake, is published by Hachette, price £12.99; hachette.co.uk

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Devonshire House Preparatory School

Outstanding prep and pre-prep in Hampstead, with its own nursery Open Mornings: Thursday 17th March & Thursday 28th April 2022 To register for an open morning please visit our website or contact Admissions

Tel: 020 7435 1916 Email: enquiries@dhprep.co.uk Website: www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk Untitled-1 2

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DISCOVERMORE

An independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and discovery, laughter and friendship.

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Book your place at one of our Open Events at www.kewhouseschool.com/ openevents T: 020 8742 2038 W: www.kewhouseschool.com @KewHouseSchool

14/12/2021 11:50 18:52 24/11/2021

Finding their

VOICE

St Benedict’s students are encouraged to see things from a range of perspectives and listen to the views of others

By ANDREW JOHNSON

A

t St Benedict’s, we want our students to be able to express their views clearly, logically, and persuasively; to appreciate the difference between coherent discussion and the combative noise of disagreement. To listen, to think, and then to speak.

“We need to appreciate the difference between a quarrel and

an argument.” Wise words from Lord Patten of Barnes to our academic scholars, at his annual visit to St Benedict’s. Referring to the current debate around free speech on university campuses, Chris Patten recalled an Oxford professor whose Marxist, atheist views were entirely different from his own. Despite their strong difference of opinion, however, the professor in question was an excellent teacher and historian.

We encourage our students to see

“Good teaching encourages discussion and active engagement with ideas”

EDUCATION • FOCUS

things from a range of perspectives; to listen to the views of others while forming their own, and to have the courage and confidence to make a coherent counterargument.

Good teaching encourages discussion and active engagement with ideas. We also hold philosophy workshops, regular debates, and termly talks given by visiting speakers from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and experiences.

Empathy and the ability to construct a reasoned argument in the face of fiercely divided opinions have never been more important than they are now.

ST B E N E D I C T ' S Headmaster Andrew Johnson stbenedicts.org.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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“WHAT PARENTS WANT FROM A SCHOOL HAS REMAINED CONSTANT – VALUES, RESULTS, CULTURE” 116

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EDUCATION • SPOTLIGHT

A SCIENCE LESSON AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE SCHOOL

In conversation with

MARK BAILEY As former High Master of St Paul's, Professor Mark Bailey brings top-flight experience to his new role at Dukes Education. Absolutely finds out more

By LIBBY NORMAN

P

rofessor Mark Bailey became Managing Director at Dukes Education last November, tasked with day-to-day running of a number of its schools. Here was interesting news for anyone with more than a passing interest in the world of independent education. As High Master of St Paul's from 2011-2020, Bailey held one of the top 'premiership' roles. Prior to that, and also for around a decade, he successfully steered hallowed Leeds Grammar through the choppy waters of a merger with the city's beloved girls' high to create The Grammar School at Leeds.

Throughout a top-flight career in independent schools, he stayed true to his first love – medieval history – and he's no

dabbler. Having found his muse during his schooldays he went on to obtain a First in Economic History at Durham and then a PhD at Cambridge, where he stayed on as a lecturer and Fellow of two colleges (Caius and Corpus Christi) before heading to Leeds Grammar. He joined UEA in 2010 and, unusually, stayed in post throughout his tenure at St Paul's – he remains there still as Visiting Professor of Later Medieval History.

In 2018-19, Bailey was James Ford Lecturer in British History at the University of Oxford (previous incumbents have included V.S. Galbraith and A.J.P Taylor) and he's just published a book on the Black Death.

With all of that, Bailey's Wikipedia page leads on the rugby. He was capped seven times and played for the Barbarians. He could have been a cricketer, having played both sports exceptionally well during his time at Ipswich School and beyond. So, the CV has everything you could want from an

inspiring educator and school leader. What it doesn't reveal is Bailey's dry Yorkshire humour and self-deprecating spin. He really doesn't warm to my summation that he's a heavy hitter, preferring to describe his career as: "stumbling my way through".

At Dukes Education, as one of four managing directors, he's bringing all this experience to an innovative group stewarding some of the most distinctive independent schools in Britain. His appointment grew out of a conversation with Dukes' founder and chairman Aatif Hassan while he was at St Paul's. School.

Governor roles followed and then he joined as Chair of the Dukes Advisory Board in 2018. He becomes an MD at an interesting time because the Dukes family is expanding – now numbering 12 schools in London and five outside the capital. Three London schools joined the fold in March. Then there are the nurseries under the 'Little A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Virtual Virtual Open Open Morning Morning Virtual Open Morning Virtual VirtualOpen OpenMorning Morning 26 26 February February 2022 2022 26 26 26 February February February 2022 2022 2022 2626 February February 2022 2022

PREP PREP • SENIOR • SENIOR • SIXTH • SIXTH FORM FORM PREP PREP PREP • •SENIOR •SENIOR SENIOR • •SIXTH •SIXTH SIXTH FORM FORM FORM PREP PREP • SENIOR • SENIOR • SIXTH • SIXTH FORM FORM

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17/01/2022 14:09

EDUCATION • SPOTLIGHT

SANCTON WOOD SCHOOL IN CAMBRIDGE IS A CO-ED FOR CHILDREN AGED FROM 1 TO 16

Dukes' umbrella and the summer schools and consultancies offering guidance with university applications and career pathways.

Inevitably, the big question is what attracted him to this new leadership role.

"Dukes is really interesting," he says First up, he finds the story behind Dukes "compelling". It was started by Aatif Hassan after he founded Cavendish Education (separate, and now numbering 11 schools for young people with dyslexia and autism).

Bailey likes the flat structure of Dukes, the warmth of the team but – most of all – he likes the ambition of what they are doing. "Dukes is in it for the long term. It is backed by private investors, and there are a number of stereotypes associated with that, but the reality is that Aatif has an unusually eclectic background. He's a former British Army Paratrooper. He

is also dyslexic and he started Cavendish Education with a particular purpose.

It is values led and quality led and he wanted to bring the same things into mainstream education through Dukes."

There are other points of difference about Dukes, he says, not least that it is underpinned by the pensions might of USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme).

"USS looks for long-term growth and believes in education, so Dukes' institutional backers are not that conventional and they are in it for the long term," says Bailey.

"Dukes are also in it for the long term. What they do is identify a great brand, a school that has earned a really good reputation."

This has been central to the whole approach. At first glance, the schools appear disparate geographically and culturally – from Sancton Wood in

Cambridge to Knightsbridge School to Cardiff Sixth Form College. Look again and you see a linking thread. For instance, Knightsbridge is ranked among the top preps in the country, Cardiff 's exceptional results make it a 'destination school' for overseas students and locals alike. Then consider Hampstead Fine Arts College's reputation for fostering creativity and Eaton Square's success in growing from a small prep into a highly regarded allthrough school for over 600 pupils.

"With Dukes' approach, there's always the question: 'what can we add?'" says Bailey. "We have a very strong leadership programme, also expertise in getting the back and middle office support services absolutely right. We bring skills in marketing, skills in safeguarding – all that slightly hidden but important stuff that takes

“WITH DUKES, THERE’S ALWAYS THE QUESTION: ‘WHAT CAN WE ADD?’ ” A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate An Excellent rated (ISI) school welcoming children aged 3 months to 19 years.

Find out how we can help support your child to achieve their aspirations in our unique prep, middle and senior four-school model.

Call to arrange a private tour or join us at our next open day on 12 March 2022. www.qe.org

“To be the best that I can, with the gifts that I have.” www.qe.org | admissions@qe.org | 01423 333330 | York YO26 9SS

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EDUCATION • SPOTLIGHT

MARK BAILEY

up increasing amounts of time and specialist knowledge for all independent schools."

Bailey sees the back office "stuff" as a key issue for the whole education sector.

"The pressures of being a headteacher have increased dramatically over the past 20 years," he says. "You are increasingly the CEO of a very complex organisation."

It's something Bailey understands from experience. His own respite was to down his (virtual) mortar board and put on his historian hat. "When I had time for me in the holidays it was just straight into medieval history," he says.

For parents questioning the welldocumented school fee inflation of recent decades, compliance is one huge factor.

But Bailey says there are other drivers – notably swelling pensions obligations.

Also, salaries come into play because schools compete on the open market for talent. "If you want a top mathematician or physicist to put in front of really bright kids you go to top universities or to the City and you pay attractive salaries."

Compliance, pensions obligations, salary inflation, and now Covid. Unsurprisingly, the medieval historian has the long view on this.

"Pandemics accelerate or intensify existing tendencies," says Bailey. "The independent sector in terms of pupil numbers hasn't changed very much, but the tendency is towards fewer bigger schools – they can control costs because there's an economy of scale." This, of course, has parallels to what

KNIGHTSBRIDGE SCHOOL PUPILS

Dukes Education is able to do for its family of schools. "At Dukes, we're all working for the same thing – to take some of that back-office load and enable our schools to do what they do best," says Bailey.

He is extremely optimistic about the long-term future of UK independent schools and says the international appeal is clear – temperate climate, transport links, stability, culture and the ability to buy into high-quality education. "London and the south-east have always been attractive for people globally who can work in any number of cities". So what about the many parents up and down the land who want the best for their child? During his years at the helm, Bailey says what

parents want from a school has remained constant. He says it comes down to three core elements: "values, results, culture".

Timing is all and Bailey's book reappraising the Black Death, published in February and based on his Ford lectures, has attracted – if not a groundswell – significantly more interest than he expected.

Back to the self-deprecating humour: "There would normally be zero interest in it outside of about ten university departments.

Because of this there is zero plus one". That “plus one” included a guest spot on the Knickerbocker Club's 'author of the month' slot. When the call came it was not, as he originally suspected, a mate pulling his leg but an invitation from one of New York's most exclusive gentlemen's clubs. "Before Covid, telling people you were writing about the Black Death was a conversation killer. But now people are curious and ask about parallels. Thankfully, I can tell them there are very few," he says.

After the Black Death: Economy, society, and the law in fourteenth-century England, by Mark Bailey, is published by Oxford University Press.

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EDUCATION • MENTAL HEALTH

Let's talk

CONSENT

With the ramifications of Everyone’s Invited still playing out, how do we help children navigate the minefield of sex, love and consent? Mental health trainer and former teacher Clare Davis gives her advice Q What do we need to do better

to protect girls and boys?

A Start communicating with children from a young age. I spoke with several sexual abuse survivors as part of our Mental Health Chats series on podcast and YouTube and they shared their thoughts on this matter.

One of them, Nina Malone, who was sexually abused by older children from the age of six, talked about the importance of language and helping children to express themselves.

Nina advises adults to use the correct words with children, rather than euphemisms.

We should speak openly with children about body parts, particularly those which should be private, and talk about consent in an age-appropriate way.

Q How, where and when do we talk

about sex and relationships?

A Talk about it as much as possible. Lead

by example and show your children what

a loving relationship is. Let them know that sex is about developing a relationship through love, not about abusing and forcing yourself onto someone.

One place I talk to my children is in the car, where I find they have my full attention. Pick the time and the place. Help them realise what love is.

It’s helpful if schools reinforce themes around love and relationships, including this in tutor time and assemblies.

Q How do we discuss consent?

A We let children know that no one has

the right to touch them, anywhere, without their consent. They shouldn’t have to hug people they don’t want to or do things which make them physically uncomfortable.

As parents and educators, we need to encourage children from a young age to trust their instincts and not simply do things out of politeness. Nina Malone

CLAIRE DAVIS

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21/01/2022 12:19

A NURTURING PREP & PRE-PREP THAT DELIVERS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, OUTSTANDING SCHOLARSHIP, & STRENGTH OF CHARACTER.

BOOK YOUR PLACE FOR THE UPCOMING OPEN MORNINGS: Thursday 10th February Wednesday 25th May

0207 435 4936 office@lyndhursthouse.co.uk 24 Lyndhurst Gardens, Hampstead, London, NW3 5NW

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EDUCATION • MENTAL HEALTH

OPEN DISCUSSION OF FEELINGS, RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPECT HELPS TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE

described how she was a victim of multiple assaults and believes it was partly because she did not trust her own judgement and did not want to make a scene.

Boys and girls are taught about consent in schools, but not necessarily how to apply it. Boys, in particular, may think persistence – sometimes to the point of coercion – is acceptable. It’s important to learn about respect and kindness, knowing that taking advantage of someone because they are drunk, afraid or somehow vulnerable – is not right. We also need to teach young people that a split-second decision and momentary fun can have serious consequences, from a lifetime of regret to a criminal charge.

all the changes which have taken place. It’s not like buying pornographic magazines from the top shelf – it’s so much easier to fake your age online and find sites where girls and women are treated very badly.

There are also video games which allow players to indulge in gratuitous and violent sex acts. This may lead some children to think this is normal, acceptable behaviour. It is an issue that we are discussing more and more on the Mental Health Chats series. There is a lack of regulation on many platforms and when it comes to exposure to graphic material, young people find they ‘can’t get away from it’.

Q Are parents under-informed about

they can be groomed online. But wherever it happens, a big theme that came out of our Mental Health Chats was young people’s fear of speaking out. One interviewee, Derek Bell, who was sexually abused by his coach during the 1970s, kept the abuse

children’s easy access to and use of porn?

A My eyes were opened when I attended a talk at my children’s secondary school.

The world of technology has moved so much, many parents may not be aware of

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Q How do we discuss sexual abuse?

A Children may be at greater risk today as

secret for decades. But he waived his right to anonymity in 2016. His abuser, George Ormond, was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of a string of sexual assaults on young boys over a 25-year period.

It is secrecy that allows such abuse to continue. For this reason, it’s vital to create an environment of openness where children feel able to speak out. As both Derek and Nina pointed out in our interviews, perpetrators can be quite charming. We must teach young people the signs to look out for – from someone using their position to get you to do something you do not want to do to excessive gift giving.

On a personal note, I wish I’d spoken about sex and consent with my own children when they were much younger, including possible ways to respond in difficult circumstances. It’s time we opened up these conversations with our children.

To access Clare Davis’ mental health chats, visit mentalhealthchats.co.uk

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An outstanding Catholic and international school for girls aged 11-18

www.marymountlondon.com WHERE GIRLS LOVE TO LEARN Untitled-1 1

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Strategic

THINKERS Faith Hagerty, Head of More House School in Knightsbridge, articulates the need to facilitate strategic thinking for our young people, rather than dismissing them as snowflakes

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EDUCATION • FOCUS

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he days of a school’s green initiatives being driven by a charming Eco Committee and the Geography department are long gone. Faith Hagerty of More House School states: “If we hope for transformation and a chance for Net Zero Emissions by 2050 to be a reality, we must give our young people the opportunity to make decisions at a strategic level. They must understand just how many financial, logistical and ethical factors have to be considered when driving down the carbon footprint of a school community.”

Last year, to tie in with Cop26 and harness this crucial global moment, More House School curated their November Prizegiving around a sustainability theme by inviting Julie Johnson (CEO of UK Green Building Council) to speak and launching their brand new More Green Award. The award invited pupils to come up with their own green initiatives for the school, assessed on impact and longevity, within a £50 budget. The FAITH HAGERTY

“WE MUST GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DECISIONS” finalists created three minute videos outlining their idea and their films were shown during the evening. The entries were assessed and the winner, whose idea will be implemented, was selected by guest speaker, Julie. Ideas spanned the purchasing of compost bins and increasing recycling capacity, to growing plants and vegetables on the school’s unused balconies, building a small greenhouse in their courtyard and running a gardening club to bring the community together.

At a recent Girls Schools Association (GSA) conference, Faith attended a compelling talk by Phoebe Hanson from the growing charity Force of Nature who “empower young people to turn their ecoanxiety into agency, and work with leaders across business and education to drive intergenerational solutions.” Faith reports that “Phoebe addressed approximately 150 Headteachers about Eco Anxiety, with grace, gravitas and remarkable insight.”

Our woke teenagers are fully aware of life on earth after their existence, it seems, which is a powerful thing to witness. Despite the emphasis on self, generated through the use of mobile devices and social media, Faith is certain that “there is a social consciousness that we must harness and welcome with open arms”. The future rests on these young ethical leaders gaining traction in their campaigns, so that they are empowered as strategic thinkers, not labelled as snowflakes.

MORE HOUSE SCHOOL

FAITH HAGERTY

MORE HOUSE SCHOOL For more information about More House School, please contact registrar@morehousemail.org.uk or visit morehouse.org.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Welcome to Knightsbridge School.

A Co-ed day school for children aged 3-16 years located in the heart of central London.

Tours available each week by appointment Please contact our Registrar on registrar@knightsbridge.com or 020 7590 9000 to book.

www.knightsbridgeschool.com

Where originality

meets open minds Open Mornings 5 May 14 June 22 June morehouse.org.uk

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24/01/2022 14:20

EDUCATION • WELLBEING

Breathe

EASY Poorly ventilated schools remain a nationwide problem, says an air technology specialist at Plasma Clean

By STEVE KEOGH

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EDUCATION • WELLBEING

A

recent article in The Guardian estimated that 3.4 million children across the UK are at risk of long-term health conditions and infectious diseases due to poorly ventilated schools. Children spend a large portion of their lives in school – equating to around 7,800 hours across their educational life.

We all generate CO2 when breathing out, and when you combine multiple bodies in an enclosed space with increased temperatures and humidity, this can significantly reduce air quality.

It is known that a CO2 level above 1,000 ppm has a negative impact. Studies have shown it can cause pupil performance to decrease by up to 15 per cent, cognitive performance to worsen by 60 per cent and could even lead to a significant (30 per cent) increase in headaches and respiratory issues. According to a February 2019 report, also in The Guardian, CO2 levels in schools can regularly exceed 2,500 ppm, causing children to lose focus.

There are some 32,000 schools across the UK and indoor air quality is a challenge for many of them – most specifically those in older buildings without good mechanical ventilation. However, even newer school buildings put pupils at risk without proper measures to ensure indoor air quality and

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ventilation. Many believe opening a window is a way of generating a fresh air supply, but it isn’t a practical long-term solution. There’s also the very real issue of external pollution, such as vehicle emissions – particularly for schools located in some urban areas.

The solution lies in further investment and tighter guidelines for schools to ensure the protection of pupils’ health and wellbeing. Investing in CO2 sensors and air quality technology allows schools to continuously monitor indoor air quality and adapt the ventilation accordingly.

Although the government has begun a £25m initiative to supply over 300,000 CO2 monitors to state-funded facilities, there won’t be enough to cover every classroom.

Moving monitors around is not a viable solution, as this can lead to inaccurate readings. What's more, indoor air quality must be monitored over a sustained period.

“CO2 levels regularly exceed 2,500 ppm in our schools, causing children to lose focus”

At Plasma Clean, we've partnered with the air monitoring company Airthings, to deliver air quality technology to the education sector. This includes nondispersive infrared sensors (NDIR) to monitor indoor air quality (these are recommended by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers). As well as monitoring CO2 levels, the sensors assess temperature, humidity, radon, VOCs, pressure, light and virus risk – all in real time.

When a problem is discovered, the right solution can be found. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) improves indoor air quality and reduces the risk of airborne infections. It's a proven technology, used by schools for more than 80 years.

From the hallway to the classroom, it is effective for old and new buildings.

Upper room UVC can provide up to 20 air changes per hour in comparison to mechanical ventilation, which generates between two and four changes per hour.

What matters here is the impact: improved air quality has been shown to improve performance and cognitive function – and support young people's health and wellbeing. In addition, it's a vital means to limit the potential for airborne infections.

It's time for the nation's schools to tackle this issue head on because all parents have the right to know that their child’s health and education are not being impacted by poor air quality.

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ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL a

m i n i m i s

i n c i p e

Outstanding Catholic Independent school for boys & girls aged 3 - 18

SENIOR SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Thursday 5 May NURSERY & JUNIOR SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Thursday 19 MAY

SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES ARE AVAILABLE 11+ Scholarships on offer at St Benedict’s: Academic, Art & Design, Drama, Music and Sports

View our website for a full list of our Open Events or arrange a personal visit with our Registrar, Louise Pepper, on 020 8862 2254 www.stbenedicts.org.uk stbenedictsschool

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stbenedictsschool

14/01/2022 13:35

TESTING TIMES

How Marymount London is leading the way in re-imagining assessment in education

T

B y C A S P A R D AV I D

he global pandemic and its impact on public examinations in the UK and around the world has prompted educationalists to challenge the efficacy of high stakes testing and public examinations in schools. Indeed, if one agrees with Professor Hargreaves’ recent assertion that “wellbeing comes before achievement”, then we should be seeking more holistic and studentcentred approaches to assess a student’s growth and achievement.

While this may be a hot topic in education right now, Marymount London have been quietly doing things differently for some time.

As the only all-girls’ school in the UK to offer the highly regarded

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International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years programme, Marymount London has always followed a nonexaminations-based approach at the end of Year 11, preferring instead to allow students the time and space they need to develop their conceptual understandings and master a suite of skills and attributes that facilitate a more autonomous, self-regulated and reflective approach to their studies.

With students in the school’s MYP going on to achieve outstanding IB Diploma scores (100% pass rate and average score of 38) and, more importantly, graduating as happy, open-minded and culturally literate thinkers, evidence would suggest that this is a more student-centred, enriching and profitable route to take.

Now the school is turning its attention to revolutionising its 11+ admissions process and in particular

“We should be seeking more holistic and studentcentred approaches to assess achievement”

EDUCATION • INSIGHT

the way it assesses how likely a student is to thrive in its programmes.

Described by one recent parent as “amazing and unlike anything we have ever seen in London or beyond”, Marymount is incorporating its ‘education of the whole child’ philosophy into its re-imagining of the admissions process. As Mrs Giblin, the school’s headmistress says: “We firmly believe that the holistic principles that underpin the IB’s pedagogy can and should be applied to entrance assessment, so as to ensure applicants have the opportunity to demonstrate their many gifts, talents, attitudes and attributes without needing to subject them to high-stakes and unnecessarily stressful testing environments.”

Instead of sitting at single desks filling in papers in silence, girls applying to Marymount participate in a whole day of activities that includes critical thinking, group work, team-building exercises and much more. One applicant at the end of the most recent assessment day remarked – ‘This has been brilliant!’.

Not only is it wonderful to see young students relaxing, smiling and engaging wholeheartedly in the entrance assessment day, but it also allows the school to see more of the ‘whole person’. As Mrs Giblin says, “We get to know the potential students in the most holistic way possible, that gives us a tremendous insight into whether or not a girl will flourish in our school. We whole-heartedly believe that investing in a different approach to entrance assessment allows students to display their unique gifts and talents to their highest potential’. marymountlondon.com

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ts e si bl re aila SE av C G on s ti op The Moat Sixth Form is a dyslexia and SpLD specialist Sixth Form with a focus on whole school SEN support.

Providing an academic and nurturing environment for pupils with both unique learning profiles and learning difficulties.

A-Level, BTECs alongside GCSE resits at its core with a built in work experience programme for all pupils.

Visit www.moatsixthform.org.uk for full course list and more information

All children can achieve

@Moatschool @TheMoatSchool

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The Moat Sixth Form, 23-31 Beavor Lane, Hammermsith, London W6 9AR Email: office@moatschool.org.uk Tel: 0207 610 9098 www.moatsixthform.org.uk

14/01/2021 14:01 12:19 21/01/2022

Where Bright Minds Excel

Please join us for one of our Open House events at our Belgravia or Clapham sites.

To find out more, please scan our QR code or contact Miss Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, on 0203 917 5050 for details.

Boys’ Schools 4-13yrs & Girls’ School 4-11yrs

Celebrating 125 years of excellence

3-5 Eaton Gate, London SW1W 9BA 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU

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EDUCATION • FOCUS

The great

OUTDOORS How Clayesmore Prep takes inspiration from William Wordsworth’s words ‘'Let Nature Be Your Teacher'

S

By EVE HERBERT

et in the bucolic Dorset countryside, Clayesmore Prep is a co-educational day and boarding school, for 6-13 year olds. This warm and happy school has a fun and adventurous spirit, relishing every opportunity to get outside into the glorious Dorset landscape and experience nature. The school believes wholeheartedly that children thrive mentally, physically and socially when they have enough time to run and play in nature, no matter what age they are.

“The positive mental health of our pupils is rightly at the forefront of modern education,” says Clayesmore Prep Head, Jonathon Anderson, “but never more so than during the last few years of uncertainty when children have been under the combined pressures of remote learning, managing their anxiety about the pandemic and not seeing their friends during lockdowns.”

“Children’s Mental Health Week, which runs in February, is an excellent prompt for us all to talk with our own children, and our pupils, about the vital importance of mental health. Better informed, we can then assess how we are faring and support if we need to,” explains Mr Anderson.

“At Clayesmore Prep, we are great believers in outdoor education - and education outdoors.

We believe that being in nature, becoming more mindful of your surroundings and others are all terrific ways to combat anxiety and boost positive mental health,” he says.

The welfare of the children and preparing them to be confident, happy and resilient young adults, is central to the school’s ethos and in September the school launched a new, dedicated programme called LEX (clayesmore.com/prep/lex), named after the school’s founder Lex Devine.

“This programme ensures our pupils get far more time outdoors, doing fun, healthy, creative activities like forest school,

bushcraft, horticulture and looking after animals. Sport will remain a key element of the programme but we are also going to be offering a far wider choice of personal development options including arts, creativity and culture. The programme also includes lunchtime clubs, 'LEX@Lunch', for the pupils to explore many new activities. Take a look here: https://bit.ly/lexatlunch “At the heart of LEX is the desire to ensure all our pupils experience opportunities far beyond the bounds of the curriculum, becoming well-rounded, interested and enterprising young people with positive attitudes and a ‘can do’ approach to life.

We believe that positive mental health in our pupils comes from their personal development, their achievements in their own areas of strength and the support and encouragement of their teachers and peer group,” concludes Mr Anderson.

C L AY E S M O R E P R E P is hosting a Virtual Open Morning on 26 February with live presentations for the Head and the Head of Prep. Admissions 01747 813111 Register at bit.ly/clayesmoreopen admissions@clayesmore.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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North Bridge House

New tion 4+ Recep ep, r entry to P Regent’s Park

North Bridge House is on a constant journey of getting to know and understand every child as an individual, realising their true academic and personal potential through specialist provision at every school stage.

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SENIOR CANONBURY 11 - 18 YEARS THURSDAY 24 MARCH

Book an open day at northbridgehouse.com/open or call 020 7428 1520 Untitled-1 2

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EDUCATION • AGONY AUNT

Question TIME The experts at Gabbitas Education have the answers

A B OV E

xxxxxx

ANASTASIA HATVANY Senior Education Consultant and SEN Specialist

We're looking to place my daughter in a UK boarding school next September, but as we are living overseas we're not really sure how to manage the process of shortlisting and visiting schools.

What would you advise?

One of the first things you need to establish before you start looking at new schools is your daughter’s academic level. You want a school where your daughter will sit comfortably amongst her peers. Prospective boarding schools will also want to know what your daughter can offer

Q

A

“Universities don't demand months of work experience under candidates’ belts, just enough to show an interest and an aptitude for veterinary”

to them – both in terms of academics and extracurricular.

At boarding schools, children become totally immersed in their surroundings, and what they give, they get back tenfold. With this in mind, look at the school and see what they offer to the child: will your daughter be able to get involved with school life?

As you’re abroad, I’d advise you to look at full-boarding options, as everyone tends to stay in during the weekends. Even if there is the occasional quiet weekend, Saturdays will still comprise of lessons in the morning and sports fixtures in the afternoon, and many schools are keen to keep weekends as busy and as purposeful as weekdays.

Visits and open days are imperative. Do go on these if you are able to, as they are the best way to gauge a school’s atmosphere and ethos. You’ll also get to see how pupils interact with one another and engage with their teachers, and in turn see how the staff interact with parents.

Many schools are now offering in-person tours, so try and go for an open day, and then afterwards schedule a private visit. Having said this, Zoom is still a very good way to view a school and there are plenty of excellent virtual open days.

Look at reviews, listen to word of mouth, but most importantly have confidence in yourself as a parent – you will know in your gut if a school is right for your daughter.

Q

Is it a good idea to move my daughter to a new school for sixth form?

She's said that she might like 'a change of scene' at 16, but we're not sure how easy it will be to make the transition – both academically and socially.

If you’re looking to move your daughter for sixth form, ideally you need to have started shortlisting schools by the end of year 10. Schools tend to close their registrations by the end of September, and by the very latest, the end of October, as many of their candidate assessments take place during October.

Many children – whether they joined their current school at 11 or 13 – can find the change refreshing, but please bear in mind that this needs to be a very considered decision as she is at a critical age. The process will not only take up valuable time that she could use for GCSE revision, but she will also be leaving behind friends and a structure that she has been used to for at least three years. Remember, too, that competition is often tough for sixth form places, and some schools will have a limited number of spaces; rejection can be disheartening.

Your daughter’s current teachers and pastoral staff know her academic ability and level of wellbeing, so be sure to consult them for their thoughts on the matter. Ask your daughter her reasons for a scene change; for example, is she looking

A

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7+ ENTRANCE EXAM & SCHOLARSHIP Applications now open

For further information and to request an application form please email registrar@ahsprep.co.uk

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22/10/2021 16:18

Discover your path PRINCIPLED OPEN-MINDED COMPASSIONATE

TASIS England inspires students to become life-long learners who are internationally-minded and committed to service leadership as they discover their own pathway to the future.

Leading international school for day (ages 3-18) & boarding (ages 13-18) Average class size of 15 students International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme & Advanced Placement (AP) courses

Open Events BOOK YOUR PLACE tasisengland.org/discover

60 nationalities & 30 languages spoken on campus 35 minutes from central London & 20 minutes from Heathrow Airport tasisengland.org | ukadmissions@tasisengland.org | +44 (0)1932 582316

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20/01/2022 15:19

EDUCATION • AGONY AUNT

SARAH OSHUNWILLIAMS Client Account Manager

My son has his heart set on going to veterinary school but knows he needs to prove aptitude as well as academic ability. What can he do to improve his chances?

The methods of improving your chances of acceptance to veterinary school are very similar to those of getting into professions like medicine or law; work experience is essential.

Besides academic ability, he will need to prove his enthusiasm for the field and should try volunteering or shadowing as many vets and animal practices as he can. Many

Q

for a change in curriculum or is she looking for a better cultural fit?

If you’re thinking of moving her from a day to a boarding school, this is often an excellent stepping stone for higher education. She’s likely to develop better organisational skills and grow in independence, all in the comfort of a school safety net – meaning moving to university won’t come as such a shock.

Alternatively, she may be wanting to move closer to home with less school structure. Many children grow out of the school bubble before higher education, and flourish when working more independently.

Overall, I would urge you to research what is out there and bring your daughter onboard the decisionmaking process. She will be able to give you a better idea of what she believes she is missing and this should help shape the final decision.

A

universities understand that sometimes it’s hard for certain candidates to gain experience, so they do not demand months of work under candidates’ belts, just enough to show an interest and an aptitude for veterinary.

Work experience will also help your son to be sure that this is the field he’d like to pursue, as it can be a gruelling process preparing for this career. His time at university will be comprised of many exams, laboratory-based anatomy and a lot of contact hours, so it is imperative that he is prepared for the training.

Research is equally important.

There are currently only 10 veterinary schools in the UK, so make sure to research the benefits of each course. Additionally, prospective students can only apply to 4 of those 10, and as you’re aware, each school has very competitive entry procedures.

Regarding how he might prove his academic ability, consider employing a tutor. Many agencies – like Gabbitas – have tutors who are experts in their chosen field and specialise in veterinary school applications. This will also help him prepare for any interviews he has, and to know what to expect from the course. A tutor can also be useful in helping him revise for his exams, to ensure that he meets his offer.

“Moving from a day to a boarding school is often an excellent stepping stone for higher education, helping students develop better organisational skills and grow in independence” A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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MAKING

magic

As Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell champions reading for the pure joy of it. She talks to Absolutely about her own magical childhood and the power of words on page

By LIBBY NORMAN

C

ressida Cowell MBE needs no introduction to her vast global army of readers, transported into magical universes via her bestselling series’ The Wizards of Once and How to Train Your Dragon. She is also champion of younger readers everywhere as the 11th Waterstones Children’s Laureate – a role given to a distinguished author or illustrator every two years. Cowell has the distinction of being both writer and illustrator. Her 2019 tenure – extended to 2022 due to Covid – is an opportunity for her to continue her good work. She is, quite simply, passionate about getting young people into reading – and

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her passion is infectious. Her Laureate’s Charter sets out exactly what we need to do, declaring first and foremost that every child has the right to: ‘Read for the joy of it’.

What she believes in is the discoveries – the connections – created by the books children love. “Words are the pathways of thoughts,” she says. “The more interesting and complicated, and the wider the vocabulary of the child, the more interesting the thought paths they can take. So that’s why we want to get them reading because they unconsciously absorb, in the form of joyful stories, so many words, so many connections.”

This joy of reading – and of finding connections – is something that Cowell experienced in her own childhood, split between London and a remote Scottish island

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EDUCATION • PROFILE

CRESSIDA COWELL’S CHILDHOOD INCLUDED MAGICAL FAMILY HOLIDAYS IN SUSSEX (PICTURED) AND A REMOTE HEBRIDEAN ISLAND

“MY STORIES ARE ALL FANTASY STORIES, BUT THEY DEAL WITH PROBLEMS MODERN CHILDREN FIND VERY RECOGNISABLE” in the Inner Hebrides. It’s a childhood that sounds delightfully Famous Five from the outside, but she says J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is a better match. “The Darlings’ house always felt like our London house, and then Peter Pan comes along and they go to this magical island Neverland. I identified with Peter Pan very much – it’s a touchstone book because it felt very much like my childhood,” she says.

On the island, the family were without television or, indeed, electricity (before they built a house, they camped), so entertainment was self-generated. “In many ways it was a classic 1970s childhood,” says Cowell. “In all 1970s childhoods there was an element of freedom – we were just told to come back when we were hungry.” It sounds idyllic, and what harm could small children possibly

come to on their own on an uninhabited island? Actually, in true Famous Five fashion, it had its perils. “Scrambling over rocks, exploring caves, going out on our own in rubber dinghies,” she says. “When I look back, climbing the cliffs and investigating the caves completely unsupervised was incredibly dangerous!” There were more practical and necessary activities when adults were involved. “Catching food and making food was a big deal – this was often cooked on a barbecue or open fire.”

Cowell was head of entertainment, tasked with keeping the younger cousins and siblings amused – a role she threw herself into. “I put on plays, I was very bossy. I had to be because otherwise they wouldn’t listen to what I said. I made up the scripts, I designed the costumes – there was a lot of imaginative life in which I was in charge,” she says. Again, this sounds delightfully innocent in a very 1970s way, although, as she points out, this style of childhood has a far longer history. “Really I’m talking for all of human history – it’s how it was until now!”

Books featured heavily throughout Cressida Cowell’s childhood. “I was mad about books,” she says. On the island you could only read what could be carried on the boat. But what got left on the island was often revisited. “There were a lot of

books left on the island – spotty, damp books that I read and reread,” she adds. When children’s fiction ran out she read what was left. “I was reading Dickens and other adult books way younger than normal.”

As part of her role as ‘Ents Officer’, Cressida Cowell would read aloud, and she can still recall the sense of power this gave her. “When I was about nine or ten I had a book I absolutely loved called The Ogre Downstairs. I remember reading it to my little siblings and cousins,” she says. “And I remember the feeling when they got so excited – ‘read me another chapter, don’t stop there’ – or I made them laugh. I think that was the ‘oh wow’ moment, the beginnings of me wanting to do what I do now.”

Secondhand bookshops and libraries were a source of endless discovery. “Like a lot of children in the 1970s, we went to the library once a week – that’s just what you did. They were like sweetshops, and so well stocked back then.” She remains convinced of the importance of libraries, both as a route to get children reading – and to help them find the authors and the genres that inspire them to carry on. “In order to create a reader, we need to give children opportunities to try things and find what books they love.”

Like her childhood, Cowell’s schooling was split between city and country. She attended St Paul’s, moving on to Marlborough because she wanted art in the mix at A level. St Paul’s had said she might be better off doing Latin.

She proved them very wrong, since her Art and History of Art A levels meant that after studying English Literature at Oxford she got into Central Saint Martins (then plain Saint Martins) and then University of Brighton to study illustration. “I use every single part of my education now,” she says.

She is critical of the attitude, still prevalent in some sectors, that creative subjects are lesser subjects. “I think that’s not very

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TRAINED AS AN ILLUSTRATOR, CRESSIDA COWELL BELIEVES PICTURES ARE A VITAL TOOL FOR DRAWING CHILDREN IN TO BOOKS

forward thinking,” she says. “To treat arts subjects – art in particular – as if they are on the edge rather than at the beating heart of our economy, as well as part of happy, wise and thoughtful lives, seems strange.”

When it comes to the value of art in engaging young readers, Cressida Cowell has no doubts at all. “We are competing against the best screen ever.” She believes children’s visual literacy now runs so far ahead that illustrations have become more important than ever. “They are a way in for highly intelligent children who look at a book and find it a bit baffling. And especially if children have a learning difficulty, books can make them feel stupid – and how can you love something that makes you feel stupid?”

Cressida Cowell has personal insight into learning difficulties. Her sister is dyslexic so she has a profound sense of how this can affect children’s sense of themselves.

“So often, and I thought this with my sister, children were written off.” While things have improved since the 1970s, it’s no coincidence that dyslexia features in Cowell’s stories. In The Wizards of Once, Wish is dyslexic – it is important that she is the writer of the story.

While Cowell wasn’t dyslexic, she was, she says, “profoundly disorganised” – something that meant she was often in trouble. “I was very well meaning, but I

couldn’t do things that other children seemed to find easy. I couldn’t get my homework in on time, I didn’t know what the homework was. I didn’t know where my books were. I was in a constant state of bewilderment!” Again, this chimes with her approach to characters in her stories.

“My heroes don’t fit in in different ways.

Wish is dyslexic. With Xar, the other hero of The Wizards of Once, his inability to fit in results in defiance. These are behaviours children develop because they struggle to fit in. Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon is a child who is bullied. My stories are all fantasy stories, but they deal with problems modern children find very recognisable.”

Both The Wizards of Once and How to Train Your Dragon draw on Cowell’s most familiar childhood landscapes – not only the Scottish island of secret caves and rugged cliffs just made for dragons, but the Sussex countryside where many happy holidays were spent at her grandparents’ house on the South Downs. Writing for her young fan base, she has described that Sussex landscape as the place where you could almost imagine bumping into a Roman soldier.

She has no doubts about why battles between good and evil continue to be among the most treasured elements of children’s

“I REMEMBER READING ALOUD TO MY SIBLINGS – THE FEELING WHEN THEY GOT SO EXCITED OR I MADE THEM LAUGH. I THINK THAT WAS THE ‘OH WOW’ MOMENT” 142

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EDUCATION • PROFILE

fiction. “They are the most important things that we should all be thinking about and talking about. That’s also what has attracted many adults to children’s literature – we know in our hearts that we’re all still struggling to work out what makes a hero, what is our responsibility to our family, to our loved ones, to our wider tribe and the whole world.”

Here, she says, younger readers have a very clear vision: “Children are interested in the truly important things in life”.

Beyond helping their development as people, Cowell sees reading as the gateway to so much more for children – which is why she takes her role as Children’s Laureate so seriously. “The two key factors in a child’s later economic success, let alone their happiness, their educational success and all the other things, are parental involvement in education and reading for the joy of it.

And that’s the really key thing – for the joy of it – not because somebody says so,” she says.

“Children who read for the joy of it are just imbibing words. They are just taking them on without having to have a spelling test or an explanation of what that word means.”

Cressida Cowell writes about magical places, but she is as intrigued – both as author and Children’s Laureate – by the magic created when children discover reading for joy. “There are three magical powers that reading brings out in children – intelligence, creativity and empathy.

Intelligence is the words. Creativity, often through illustration, is the jumping off point for them to create their own worlds. And the empathy is inside a child’s head – they are that hero with magic powers.”

C R E S S I DA C OW E L L The Wizards of Once, Never and Forever, is now available in paperback (Hodder Children's Books, £7.99). Find out more at cressidacowell.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Half Term m u e s u M rt o p s n ra T n o d n o L at 12-20 February 2022

Join activities inspired by our exciting new exhibition, Legacies: London Transport’s Caribbean Workforce and discover the stories of the people who shaped London.

KIDS GO FREE Book in advance online at ltmuseum.co.uk

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EDUCATION • OPINION

ROLE MODELS Susie Byers, Head of Broomfield House School, says that we need more male teachers in our classrooms to help boys learn about respecting women

I

have often wondered why there is such an imbalance between male and female teachers in our schools. Across the UK, in both independent and state schools, you will find this gender disparity, with women often outnumbering men, particularly in our prep and primary settings.

In my 25 years as a teacher, I am yet to understand all the reasons for this gulf, but in light of #MeToo and Everyone’s Invited, it is something we must urgently address. For how do we guide our students into becoming young adults who respect each other, regardless of gender, if we can’t show it to them in their younger years?

Role models matter – after all, you cannot be what you cannot see – particularly in those crucial younger years when attitudes are formed. Boys and girls need to be taught by men and women, and they need to see these same adults interacting with each other, respectfully, calmly and equally.

Our young men – yes, young women, too, but the spotlight is on boys right now – need to know how to conduct

PUPILS AND TEACHER AT BROOMFIELD HOUSE SCHOOL

“Boys listen to female teachers, but men can often connect with them in a more meaningful way – as coach, mentor and sounding board”

themselves. When does playground rough and tumble, particularly when directed at girls, become unwelcome? I have also heard boys describe their dad as the boss who goes to work, and their mum as the one who ‘just stays at home’. At 10 or 11 years old, as hormones kick in, boys can sometimes egg each other to behave in unthinking or inappropriate ways.

If we see any such behaviour, we will, of course, step in and guide our boys. But it is particularly helpful at this age for boys to have male teachers, and crucial that they see how these teachers behave towards their female colleagues. Pre-teen

boys need good role models to signpost how to regulate their own behaviour and navigate the teenage years ahead.

At Broomfield House School, we have a good ratio of male to female teachers.

They range from our Year 1 TA and our Y3 and Y5 class teachers to our Y6 TA maths lead with QTS, our PE Teacher with LTA status and our Academic Deputy Head and Head of School. But we are not resting on our laurels. Like everyone, we were appalled by some of the Everyone’s Invited testimonies and have since rolled out a number of Respect Lessons for all of our Year 6 children, using our male teachers to talk to boys on a very real level. Our boys listen to their female teachers, but men can often connect with them in a more meaningful way – acting as coach, mentor and sounding board.

We are, admittedly, a well-resourced school, but that doesn’t mean this shouldn’t be a nationwide expectation. It’s too important to the next generation for us to fail at this. We have an amazing team, but this year I have been particularly proud of our male teachers. They have given something to our boys that is intangible yet powerful. When I lay my head on the pillow at night, I know we have done all we can to ensure our boys leave Broomfield with the knowledge and skills to treat the opposite sex with the respect they deserve.

S U S I E BY E R S Headteacher Broomfield House School A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Telegraph | The Guardian | The Times | The Sunday Times | The Stage

PERSUASION ALEXANDRA PALACE

BY JANE AUSTEN

ADAPTED BY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH OXFORD PLAYHOUSE

JEFF JAMES, WITH JAMES YEATMAN DIRECTED BY JEFF JAMES

Photo: The Other Richard

A ROSE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

26 FEBRUARY - 19 MARCH 2022 rosetheatre.org 020 8174 0090

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EDUCATION • PARTNERSHIP

“REGULAR EYE EXAMINATIONS ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF HEALTHCARE”

about your child’s vision, in which case we would recommend they are seen earlier. Children under 16 (and under 19 in full-time education) are entitled to an NHS eye examination each year unless advised otherwise by the optometrist.

There are a few signs that parents and teachers can look out for that may indicate a child requires an eye examination and vision correction.

Back to

SCHOOL Shoes? Tick. Uniform?

Tick. Sight test? Time to visit The Eye Place B y C A S P A R D AV I D

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uch like uniform, shoes and stationery, an eye examination should be on your list of preparations for the new school year.

Children spent many months at home over the last year, being educated via computers and spending much more time on digital devices during downtime. So it is particularly important to ensure their eye examinations are up to date before starting the new school year in September. Regular eye examinations are an important element of healthcare, as our optometrists check not only the prescription, but also the health of the eye.

There is no minimum age from which you should take your child for an eye examination, but school age is a good time to start, unless there are any concerns

• Squinting to focus • Sitting too close to the TV or holding digital devices too close to their eyes • Excessive rubbing of eyes • Complaining of headaches or eye pain • Difficulty concentrating on schoolwork and copying things down incorrectly COVID-19 has had a huge impact on eye health over the last year and may have further contributed to the myopia epidemic. Researchers in China have found a substantial shift in myopia because of confinement at home in children aged 6-8. In Canada, a national health survey discovered that during the early lockdowns, eight-year-olds were spending on average 5 hours per day on devices on top of screen time needed for schoolwork.

Myopia, or short-sightedness, is predicted to affect 50% of the world’s population by 2050, with children of myopic parents more likely to develop the condition.

People with a high myopic prescription are more likely to develop other longterm eye conditions later in life such as glaucoma and myopic maculopathy, which is why it is so important to diagnose and manage the eye condition as early as possible with myopia control products such as contact lenses or spectacles.

If you have any concerns about your child's vision, contact your local Eye Place.

T H E E Y E P L AC E the-eye-place.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11

KEW GREEN preparatory school

Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” “Pupils of all ages benefit from a rich and exciting curriculum.”

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - July 2015

To book your place on an open morning, please go to www.kgps.co.uk/openmornings or phone 020 8948 5999

Kew Green Preparatory School

Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green, Richmond TW9 3AF

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RAVENSCOURT PARK

preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” ‘’The curriculum is excellent for all ages and abilities, and is expertly matched to meet the needs of the range of pupils in the school.’’

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - March 2016

Open Mornings Open Mornings

9.15am Tuesday 14th November To book your place on an open morning,

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9.15am Thursday 1st February 2018

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Young MINDS

Herne Hill School strengthens its Early Childhood Education focus and expertise

By EVE HERBERT

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EDUCATION • PROMOTION HERNE HILL SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN

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At the top of Herne Hill, a three-minute walk away from its main site, Herne Hill School recently opened a dedicated Kindergarten for 2- and 3-year-old children (girls and boys). The stately Victorian mansion has been completely refurbished to the highest standard to create a warm, welcoming 'home from home' environment.

The site, which is highly conducive to stimulating children’s creativity and maximising their learning, has met with strong approval from parents, with some comparing it to a “Soho House for children”.

It enables Herne Hill School to consolidate its position as cutting-edge experts in Early Childhood Education, the period research has unequivocally established as the most formative in a child's life and requiring a specialist pedagogical approach.

FOCUS AND EXPERTISE

“Since our foundation in 1976, we have focused exclusively on educating young children from Kindergarten (2+) to Year 2 (7+)”, says Ngaire Telford, who is only the third Headteacher in the school’s history. “Thanks to this cumulative experience and by thoughtfully integrating best practices from other successful ECE programmes such as Montessori, Reggio

OUTDOOR LEARNING

“It's been called 'Soho House for children'” Emilia, Forest School and Te Whariki from my native New Zealand, we have developed a unique, continuous five-year curriculum which we believe goes way beyond the statutory requirements of the English EYFS and Key Stage 1 national curriculum”, she adds.

Herne Hill School benefits from being just the right size for its focused five-year provision. On the one hand, being the largest stand-alone independent school in the country specialising in this age range affords it the scale required for employing a critical mass of expert early years educators and state-of-the-art facilities and resources. On the other hand, it is sufficiently small to enjoy a warm and friendly family community atmosphere in which the children benefit from deep relationships with these loving, caring and expert staff.

young children, day-in day-out, on their crucial ‘whole child’ development journey.”

Following their successful start in the Kindergarten, children are gradually introduced to the school's main site and its extensive woodland area to enable a smooth progression through the five-year continuous curriculum. They then move on to their next schools at a natural Year 3 entry point - with a spark in their eyes and equipped with a comprehensive set of life skills to seize the opportunities and surmount the challenges they will face in their futures.

STRONG ETHOS AND HIGH-QUALITY STAFF

BODY PERCUSSION IN ACTION

Asked about what she believes to be the greatest success factors for cutting-edge ECE provision, Mrs Telford spontaneously replies “ethos and staff”. She explains: “A strong and purposeful ethos can provide an all-encompassing cultural umbrella for everyone’s behaviours at the school. Our own ethos of ‘Love · Care · Excellence’ encapsulates our commitment to excellence and conviction that love and care are prerequisites for optimising a young child’s learning trajectory.

But ultimately, having amazing staff is even more important as it is they who develop the supportive relationships required to guide

NGAIRE TELFORD

HERNE HILL SCHOOL Visit hernehillschool.co.uk for information on what cutting-edge ECE looks like. Parents considering autumn 2022 admission into Kindergarten, PreReception or Reception should contact the school ASAP. Open Morning Saturday 12 March 2022

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Wombat Magazine Ad Circles - PRINT2.pdf

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SPECI A L ISSUE

absolutely-mama.co.uk

In this section:

Antenatal care

The lowdown on scanning •

Balance skills

First bikes for tots

INNER VISION Finding out that you’re pregnant for the first time can be daunting. What to do? Embarking on a good programme of antenatal care is paramount, and scanning is an important part of the process. see page 155 for advice from The Portland Hospital’s Dr Pranav Pandya .

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mama ma PROMOTION m a INSIGHT

Screen

TIME

Meet the expert: Doctor Pranav P Pandya, Director of Fetal Medicine at The Portland Hospital Q What is your area of expertise?

A Fetal medicine is essentially a specialty that aims to look after the baby before he/ she/they are born. I perform an ultrasound examination (scan) on pregnant mums either when there are concerns about the baby’s development (eg a structural abnormality or a small baby) or routine scans to reassure parents that the baby is developing normally.

Q What would you consider to be the single most important factor in pregnancy care?

A In the present climate I think the single most important public health message that I would like to recommend is that all pregnant women should get the Covid vaccine/ booster, unless they are medically exempt.

“Each scan has a role and provides reassurance”

Q What types of pregnancy screening do you offer?

A I scan pregnant women from the start of the pregnancy until the baby is born.

In an ideal world I would recommend scans at 6-8 weeks (to check the baby is in the womb, there is a heart beat and look for more than one baby), at 10 weeks to perform non-invasive prenatal testing for Trisomy 21, 18 and 13 (this is the most significant recent advance in screening), at 12-14 weeks (to measure the fetal nuchal translucency and start looking for anomalies), at 16 weeks (early anomaly scan), at 20 weeks (anomaly scan) and at 28 and 36 weeks (fetal growth, presentation and fetal anomalies). I appreciate that this sounds like a lot but in reality each scan has a role and provides reassurance to the parents. The NHS offers two routine scans at 11-14 and 20 weeks, however women often require additional scans.

Q What are 3D and 4D scans?

A Mostly used to get pictures of the baby’s

face for the parents. Medically we do use 3D images to look at baby’s face that have a cleft lip to see if there is a cleft palate. In addition 3D can be very useful if there are concerns about the baby’s brain development.

Q What would you consider to be the single most important factor in pregnancy care?

A I would say that the best care is individualised to the needs of the mother and her family. Thankfully we are all different and this makes my job interesting and at times challenging. There is no single factor that works for all – just in the same way that there is no secret diet that guarantees permanent weight loss!

Q How do you advise women to look after themselves during pregnancy?

A I think a healthy balanced diet (you do not need to eat for two), exercise – and get your scans! theportlandhospital.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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EALING W5

£ 20,000 LEASEHOLD

An unusual, split level first and second floor conversion apartment, a short walk from Ealing roadway, which is rich in character and offers spacious living accommodation throughout. The first floor offers large lounge, well arranged fitted kitchen diner, family bathroom and third bedroom currently used as a study. To the second floor are two excellent sized bedrooms. The property also benefits from an array of period style features period fireplaces, double hung sash windows , gas fired central heating and well maintained communal gardens. Energy Performance Certificate D.

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www. ohnmartinestates.com 1995-2020

1995-2020

EALING W5

£5 5,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

A spacious second floor purpose built apartment a short walk from Ealing roadway and Haven reen offered in good order throughout but which would benefit from some modernisation. The property has a double aspect lounge with incredible views over the cricket grounds, two good sized bedrooms, a well arranged kitchen and bathroom. There is also gas fired central heating, double glazed windows, good storage space, an entryphone system, well maintained communal areas and a garage in a separate block to the rear of the building. The property is also offered chain free.

Energy Performance Certificate – C

2 Pitshanger Lane, Ealing 5 mesales ohnmartinestates.com JOHN_MARTIN_FEB22.indd 3

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“PITSHANGER’S COMMUNITY ESTATE AGENT”

EALING W13

£295,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

An excellent sized purpose built ground floor studio apartment on the much sought after Clevelands Estate moments from award winning Pitshanger Lane. Perfect for a first time buyer and offered with no onward chain, the apartment has a spacious studio room with seating area and built in wardrobes with foldaway bed, separate well planned fitted kitchen with space for dining and a good sized shower room as well as double glazing, electric heating and entryphone system. There are well maintained communal gardens and off street parking on a first come first served basis. Energy Performance Certificate – D.

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Blandf ord Road, W4 ocated within the popular edford ark, a four bedroom home with charming period features including a fireplace, coving and wood flooring. There is a large through reception room on the ground floor with a separate kitchen which both lead out onto the rear garden, energy rating e.

D uke Road, W4 Situated in this popular enclave, an extended Victorian house arranged over three floors. This charming home has a cosy reception room and a open plan kitchen. oments from the high street with an excellent selection of shops.

£1,500,000 020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

£1,425,000 020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

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Avenue Gardens, W3

£2,307 per week Grosvenor Road, W4

This recently refurbished five bedroom house has a large open plan kitchen and dining room as well as the added luxury of a wine cellar and a split level garden, energy rating c.

An immaculate five bedroom semi-detached house split over four floors with direct access to a well maintained south facing garden, ideal for entertaining friends and family, energy rating d.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

Brackley Road, W4

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

£1,038 per week Sutton Lane South, W4

Set just off Chiswick High Road with all the local amenities, a four bedroom home offering plenty of living space for a growing family. The modern kitchen leads onto the rear patio garden, energy rating d.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

£2,192 per week

£995 per week

Arranged over three floors, this spacious Victorian end of terrace house has four bedrooms, a through reception room and a newly extended kitchen with a dining area, energy rating e.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

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Calonne Road, Wimbledon Village

£3,900,000

Windmill Road, Wimbledon Common

£2,350,000

Of great charm and character with a wonderful 103’ south facing garden, reception hall, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/dining/family room, 4 bedrooms, games/media room, 3 bath/shower rooms, OSP ER/E

A well-presented Grade II listed house right on the doorstep of Wimbledon Common. Double reception room, study, kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 4 bath/shower rooms, front and rear gardens, OSP ER/D

Dunmore Road, West Wimbledon

Thornton Road, Wimbledon Village

£1,950,000

In a highly regarded location close to shops, restaurants and mainline transport, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/dining/family room, 4 bedrooms, study/bedroom 5, 3 bath/shower rooms, southerly garden, ER/D

£1,550,000

In this desirable Village road near to the Common and the Village.

Double reception room, kitchen/dining room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bath/shower rooms, pretty garden, ER/E

Wimbledon Village Office Sales: 020 8947 9833 Lettings: 020 8879 9669 ROBERTHOLMES_FEB2022_V3.indd 1

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Oakwood Road, Raynes Park, SW20

£1,660,000

Richmond Road, Raynes Park, SW20

£1,700,000

An attractive, rebuilt Edwardian semi-detached home that has been stylishly decorated throughout. Kitchen/Family/Dining Room, Reception Room, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Garden, ER/C

A beautifully presented family house with a superb open plan kitchen/ dining room and an unusually large garden. Kitchen, Dining Room, Family Room, Reception Room, 5 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Garden, ER/D

Henley Drive, Coombe, KT2

Hill House, Kingston Hill, KT2

£2,800,000

A well-presented house on a popular road in the prestigious Coombe Estate, offering excellent family and entertaining space. Kitchen/Dining Room, Family Room, Drawing Room, Study, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Garden, ER/E

£2,800,000

An attractive, detached house located in a premier private road off Coombe Lane West. Kitchen/Family Room, Drawing Room, Reception Room, 5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, OSP, Garden, Garage, ER/E

Coombe Office Sales: 020 8947 1100 ROBERTHOLMES_FEB2022_V3.indd 2

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SALES

5- 7 Tur n h a m G ree n Te rra ce, C h isw ic k , Lon don , W 4 1R G Te l 0 2 0 8 7 4 7 8 800 · Fa x 020 8995 7275 E - ma i l i n fo @ wh itma n a n dco.com · We bsite w w w. w h i t m a n a n dco. co m

FAIRLAWN AVENUE, W4 BARROWGATE ROAD, W4

£465,000 £2,350,000

LETTINGS

Animmaculately amazingly light, well double presented triple flatperiod with house the added a balcony andresidential private garden.

Three luxury bathroom, An presented fronted fiveaspect bedroom ideallybenefit locatedof in this prestigious road close to allbedrooms, amenities. The house offers 14' reception room, throughout fully integrated kitchen, gas fired comprising central heating, in suite, the freehold, balcony andthree private garden with side Ideally generous proportions with the accommodation a luxuryshare master four further bedrooms, further bathrooms, largeaccess. entrance hall, situated close proximity of Chiswick Park tube station and the extensive shoppingutility and restaurant on Chiswick Highoff-street Road. parking 21’ doublewithin reception room, 30’ bespoke Holloways of Ludlow kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, room/cellar,facilities private landscaped garden, for two cars. Situated in this prestigious residential road offering close proximity to Chiswick High Road’s shops, cafes and restaurants. Transport links include Chiswick Park and Gunnersbury stations, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London. No chain.

LINDEN GARDENS, W4

£330 PER WEEK

£1.600,000 GUIDE PRICE £1,200,000 GRAHAM ROAD,lower W4 ground floor garden flat with private west facing garden. Large double bedroom with wardrobes, ALAMB newly COTTAGE, decorated reception room with wood floors, bathroom with shower over, fitted kitchen, garden. The flat is on one of Chiswick's best located roads, moments from the shops, An immaculately presented five-bedroom family home ideally thisproperty tree-linedisresidential closefurnished. proximity to numerous restaurants cafés on the High Road andsemi-detached 5 minutes from Turnham Green located station.inThe availablestreet early offering September, amenities. This five-bed, two-bath property offers a large entrance hall, cloak room, front reception room leading to a bright 17’ bespoke kitchen/breakfast room with glass doors to the landscaped courtyard garden. Ideally situated within close proximity of Turnham green, Chiswick Park and South Acton stations along with the extensive shopping facilities of Chiswick High Road. No Chain.

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LETTINGS POINTHALL WHARF LANE, TW8 STILE GARDENS, W4

£350£599,950 PER WEEK

two double bedroom second floor flat private in thisallocated highly off-street sought parking after riverside development. a stunning open plan ABeautifully recently builtpresented stylish two-bedroom penthouse with south facing terrace, in a sought-after residentialBoasting area. This 80 sqm property offers room,with a river sideenbalcony and a master bedroom.

Large open plan reception room, fully kitchen withkitchen granite work akitchen spaciousreception master bedroom a luxury suite bathroom, a secondensuite double bedroom, dual access shower room, an 18’ reception roomfitted and fully integrated area tops, fitted views.

Underground parking space included. opening onto awardrobes large south and facingriverside terrace and an extra 6 sqm attic storage.

In excellent order throughout. The penthouse is ideally situated in this sought-after residential area which offers close proximity to all amenities and within 400 meters of Gunnersbury underground station and 5 min walk from Kew Bridge station, as well as being two blocks down for an Outstanding School. No chain.

QUEEN ANNES GROVE, W4

£430 PER WEEK

W4 GUIDE PRICE £1,100,000 GLEBE STREET , W4 ALAMB large, COTTAGE, light and beautifully presented two double bedroom flat on this highly desirable road in the heart of Bedford Park, just minutes from Turnham Green underground station. Top floor position ensures beautiful views from the reception and bedrooms. £1.600,000 A charming three-bedroom Victorian cottage ideally located in the sought-after Glebe Estate offering close proximity to all amenities. The accommodation comprises three double bedrooms, spacious bathroom, 25’ through reception room, 15’ kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, private 33’ garden, open aspect both front and rear, host of original features. Ideally located at the favoured east end of the road within a couple of minutes walk of Devonshire Road and Chiswick High Road’s extensive range of shops, cafes and restaurants. No Chain.

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LUXURY 4 BEDROOM FAMILY HOME This beautiful four-bedroom family home situated adjacent to The Broxbourne School (Ofsted rated Good) comes with an open plan kitchen/family room with bi-folding doors leading to a private rear garden. This home also boasts an impressive master bedroom with ensuite that spans the whole of the top floor of the house.

• Designer kitchens with integrated Siemens appliances and quartz work surfaces • Underfloor heating to the ground floor • Amtico flooring and fitted carpets • Less than 30 minutes to London Liverpool Street*

PRICE £709, 995

ARRANGE YOUR VIEWING NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!

SALES & MARKETING SUITE AND SHOWHOME OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

CALL 01992 663 890

salesherts@hamptons.co.uk

By appointment only. 10am–5pm.

Scholars | High Road | Broxbourne | EN10 7HE

www.hamptons.co.uk Computer generated images are indicative only. *By train travelling from Broxbourne station. Travel times taken from National Rail.

A NEW WAY OF LIVING

1,2 & 3 bedroom apartments starting from

£260,000 Lifestyle Facilities, Gym, BBQ area, Hot Desking Brentwood station 1 mile Help to Buy Available Show Homes Open 7 days a week Contact us on 07958 228 343 whq@hamptons.co.uk

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PROPERTY • FOCUS

Market TALK

John Martin of John Martin Estates in Ealing gives his take on the property market with the benefit of over 30 years in the industry

I

I think, as I write this, that it is not too late to say “Happy New Year” and I trust that everyone had a safe and enjoyable Christmas. I am also sure that we share the sentiment, as the most recent wave of Coronavirus reaches a plateau in this country at least, that 2022 will be a positive one. The question is whether that will apply to the property market.

Since my last article, we have seen the end of the stamp duty holiday as well as a small interest rate rise. The immediate impact of this was seen in the run up to Christmas, accompanied by the Omicron variant, of course, but it is always difficult to predict what a change in interest rates will bring, especially as we haven’t had an increase for so many years.

However, the beginning of January has produced a high level of activity from both prospective sellers and buyers. In particular, we have seen a number of enquiries from first time buyers which is incredibly good news. Given recent discussions about inflation (just announced as over 5% and the highest for 30 years) and the further impact on this anticipated by the energy price hikes due in April, applicants are

“WE HAVE SEEN A HIGH LEVEL OF REQUESTS FOR VALUATIONS”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

JOHN MARTIN

acting now so that they can take advantage of current deals and lock these in to avoid the impact of any possible future rate rises.

Prices are holding steady at present but stock availability will have its part to play and we may see some adjustment because of this. That said, we have seen a high level of requests for valuations at the start of this year and anticipated instruction levels are positive, giving more choice for buyers. It is important, therefore, for this and the client’s priorities to be properly considered in any valuation.

Lettings saw an increase in activity at the end of last year but there was limited stock which meant that the interest in each property was high. This has continued into the New Year. Many landlords chose to sell last year and there have been insufficient landlords coming back to the market to redress the balance – this too may change.

However, as always, finding the right

tenant should still be the priority and a good long term tenant at a reasonable rent will still be the best prospect with its associated avoidance of costs every six to 12 months where tenants find that the rent level is just too high for them and, in some cases, just not justified, and the time to remarket arrives all too soon.

I do also believe that clients are seeing the benefit of using high street agents, in sales and particularly in lettings, where compliance issues are so important and all the necessary checks and processes are properly carried out.

Overall, the confidence in the market which we saw last year is continuing into this year and I am encouraged that we will have a positive 2022, especially as the activity is not generated by a factor such as a stamp duty holiday. It feels as if there is a genuine “buzz” about the market and long may it continue. Some might say it was a time to party but that’s definitely the wrong choice of words at the moment Stay safe everyone.

J O H N M A R T I N E S TAT E S For advice on the property market, Pitshanger Village and Ealing and to view the properties available, please contact John and his team.

020 8998 3333 • johnmartinestates.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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country house town house period house modern house dream house moving house?

Estate agency has moved on. house. is different We know people are starting to consider online only estate agents, but still want the reassurance of face-to-face help from local experts.

You get both with us, because we provide that personal service without expensive high street locations that customers have to pay for.

We also go further to ensure your property and the lifestyle it enables is shown in the best possible light.

Sumptuous photography and video, and a contemporary web experience not only shows buyers how your home looks, but how it feels to live there. It’s the new, innovative way to add value when selling your house.

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