The County Magazine | April 2014

THE

SIMPLY UNMISSABLE

MAGAZINE

Springinto Spring Easter Treats FREE COPY

Lizzy Yarnold THE BIG INTERVIEW

FASHION | BEAUTY | PROPERTY | INTERIORS | GARDEN | MOTORS | ART | MUSIC | EVENTS

WELCOME

CONTRIBUTORS Emma Dance Editor T: 01225 322224

e.dance@bathchron.co.uk

Ann Oddy Advertising Director T: 01749 832303 ann.johnston@mid somnews.co.uk

Joanne Reynolds Advertising manager South Somerset T: 01935 709707

joanne.reynolds@westgaz.co.uk

Flora Thompson Senior writer T: 01935 709742

flora.thompson@westgaz.co.uk

I

t’s official – spring is finally here! March 20 marked the first official day of spring and even though we might still have the occasional drizzly day it’s encouraging to know that the worst is over and longer, brighter days are on the way and of course Easter is just around the corner.

Christina Sim Fashion editor

Lesley Taylor Interiors editor

You may have noticed that you feel more miserable during the winter and there’s good reason for that.

This month we spoke to clinical psychologist Linda Blair about why it’s so important to make sure that you get out in the light. You can read about what she said on pages 18 and 19.

Like Christmas, Easter can be a great excuse to get the family together. If you’re planning a big family lunch on Easter Sunday then check out the recipes on pages 24 and 25 for a bit of inspiration.

But really, when it comes to food, Easter is all about the chocolate and no-one knows that better than Lick the Spoon chocolatiers who this year created a giant Faberge Easter egg for Harrods.

Being surrounded by chocolate can be a bit of a challenge though if, like me, you’re on a diet or if you’re one of those strange people who don’t like chocolate! If you want to give a gift at Easter but want something different from the traditional egg then take a look at our gift guide on pages 26 and 27. Not all the suggestions are diet friendly, but they are something a little bit different.

Kim Beer Business support manager T:01749 832317 kimberley.beer@mid somnews.co.uk

Talking of things that are a bit different, there’s not many people who would be willing to hurl themselves down an icy slope on not much more than a tin tray but this month’s Big Interview, gold medal-winning bob skeleton athlete Lizzy Yarnold, is one of them.

When she headed off to Russia few people knew her name, but after her Olympic triumph she’s become a household name. We catch up with her to see how her life has changed.

You can read about it on pages 32-36.

Happy Easter!

Mtth Lhujl EDITOR

COUNTY COUNTY THE THE

Graham Holburn Lead designer

g.holburn@bathchron.co.uk

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CONTENTS

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6

Kvu{lu{z 6

FASHION

Make a statement this season with the latest spring fashions

18

HEALTH & BEAUTY

20

FOOD & DRINK

We go behind the scenes at chocolatiers Lick the Spoon PLUS wine columnist Linda Vijeh gives her pick of wines for Easter

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4

Give your cosmetics a spring clean PLUS Clinical psychologist Linda Blair explains why we feel so much better when the sun shines

MAGAZINE

13

CONTENTS

14 8

24

Neil catches up with bob skeleton athlete, and Britain’s latest gold medallist, Lizzy Yarnold after her return from the Winter Olympics in Sochi

HOMES

Give your home some teal appeal PLUS top interior designers give their tips on creating your dream home

52

TRAVEL

60

SOCIETY

Emma Dance heads east to discover the ancient wonders of Beijing

We go out and about at some of the area’s most glamorous events

“

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26

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

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FASHION

\ptl TO FRESHEN UP

Lighten up your closet with this season’s fresh new looks. Lisa Haynes reviews the trends to put a spring back in your step

W

ith the rainiest January on record behind us, your wardrobe deserves an injection of spring cheer.

Luckily, this season delivers, with mouthwatering pastels, bold prints and fierce florals for an instant closet pick-me-up.

The catwalk message is clear for spring/summer 14: go bold or go home. Dark and dainty pieces are few and far between, so be courageous with your trend shopping.

■ Main picture: Sarah jacket, £179; Perry top, £89; Emily trousers, £110; Selma sandals, £129; all Hobbs (0845 313 3130 /www.hobbs.co.uk); right, McQ embroidered sweater, £195; Untold floral prom dress, £115; Dickins & Jones bird print scarf, £30; all House of Fraser (www.houseoffraser.co.uk)

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FASHION

■ Topshop paint animal shirt, £35 (www.topshop.com)

Just a few high-fashion statement pieces are enough to revive your current spring staples. For good chiconomics, invest now and you’ll get an entire season’s wear.

■ Matalan gingham full skirt, £16 (www.matalan.co.uk)

Say hello to your new season gloom-fighters...

this is not a look for shrinking violets.

Pastel punch

Paint the town red – and blue and yellow and green – and opt for bright, primary colours to really make a statement. Block panels of black will ensure your arty pieces are a little more restrained.

Refreshing sorbet shades of mint, lavender, peach and powdery pinks and blues are an instant palette cleanser for spring.

The freshest way to wear them is top-to-toe in one hue. Balance out the girliness with an androgynous silhouette – a tailored suit will look pale and interesting paired with a white shirt.

For a more muted masterpiece, look for one accent paint colour against grey or white and turn your wardrobe into a virtual gallery.

Texture is all-important. Look to fabrics like lace and leather to add an edge to pretty pastels.

You’ll even find traditional black biker jackets in pastel leather colourways for a spring staple.

Wear your pastels now by teaming a skirt or trousers with a grey crew-neck sweater to tone down the colour.

■ Helsinki printed skirt, £115; Jermima knit, £55; Jasmine shoes, £80; bag, £55; all Coast (www.coast-stores.com)

Square dance

power with matching two-piece sets. There are plenty of floral dresses out there, but you’ll also discover standout separates and accessories.

Checks were big for winter but they’ve gone wholesome for spring with girly gingham.

Any colourway goes in these country-inspired checks. Pastels will make your gingham look uber-pretty, red or blue brights make a statement, while traditional black and white are more accessible.

Floaty dresses and smocks are the feminine way to work this trend, but for a more contemporary look, opt for structured shapes, like scuba-style T-shirts or pencil skirts.

To bridge the gap between winter and spring, pick out bouquet prints with navy or black backdrops.

True blue Every season introduces a new ‘It’ shade and 20 14 has got the blues; specifically cobalt.

Wear the cool hue as an accent or top-to-toe statement. For a true blue takeover, mix things up using contrasting textures, like a leather skirt and silk shirt, or cotton dress and fluffy overcoat.

Gingham may be a playful print but it can work for the office too, in the form of sharp, tailored Team with grey or black now and freshen up trousers. Dress down with flat loafers or pointed with stark white once the weather turns brighter. pumps, and just add heels for business-like Cobalt blue can be worn right now without glamour. looking like you’re being too spring premature – this is a hue that works equally as well with Bold botanicals opaque tights as bare legs.

Delicate petals are out, gargantuan blooms are in.

Impactful prints are this season’s floral Paint box reincarnation.

The minimalist movement has gone on vacation In the form of hothouse and tropical blooms, for spring/summer 14, and maximalism reigns in often as one statement bud, florals have been the form of abstract, arty patterns that resemble ■ Casual ivory spot shirt, £39; Bistro crop supersized for spring. a Jackson Pollock painting.

trousers, £59; navy spot slingbacks, £69; all Boden (www.boden.co.uk).

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Wear as one bright piece or double up your petal From paint splatter to bold brushstroke designs,

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FASHION

SHINE

South West fashion blogger Christina Sim, from Just So Fashion shares her favourite coloured court shoes!

Anabel blue leopard print pointed courts, £79, Dune

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have seen a couple of celebrities recently making a statement with bright coloured courts and they really stand out from the crowd.

Bright shoes were popular with designers as they were strutted down the catwalks at London Fashion Week for their spring/summer 2014 collections.

■ Appoint light blue pointed courts, £69, Dune

Bold colours look great with a basic look and especially black; I like to wear mine with black skinny jeans and black polo neck. Styles this season are 80s low healed pointed courts, kitten heels, sling backs and 60s style block heels. As for the colour - the brighter the better!

Go for leopard print, snake print, patent bright colours including metallics and blues. Shoes allow you to experiment with bolder colours in a more subtle way so be bold and freshen up your look with a colour you wouldn’t usually dare to wear and make every day feel like a sunny day!

Happy shopping!

Christina x

For more fashion ideas visit justsofashion.blogspot.co.uk.

Follow Christina on twitter @justsofashion

■ Blue pointed leather pumps, £370, Saint Laurent at Harvey Nichols

■ Taylor Saffiano patent leather point toe with kitten wedge in Fuschia, £185, LK Bennett

■ Metallic snake effect pumps, £195, Lucy Choi London at Harvey Nichols

■ Tia Saffiano patent leather block heel court in Royal Blue, £185, LK Bennett

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■ Cathryn orange sling back courts, £69, Dune

FULL R ANGE REDUCE D BY

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FASHION

■ Lovel Label knitted crop jumper, £22; left, Coast Dolita floral skirt, £55 (www.very.co.uk)

[llpun DOUBLE

The two-piece has undergone a dramatic 2014 makeover.

Lisa Haynes is seeing double with matching co-ordinates.

B

anish the frumpy notion of twin sets and pearls from your mind. This season, doing the double has never been so chic.

Co-ordinates, or ‘co-ords’ in fashion speak, are the instant cheat to a put-together look. The matching is ready-made for you and the top-to-toe cohesion makes for a streamlined, slimming silhouette.

■ Kaye trouser £139, Kaye shirt £119, Venetia trench £749 – Hobbs

Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow are even swapping their gowns for slick co-ords on the red carpet.

Statement print or colour blocking, sharp tailoring or loose jersey, trouser suit or skirt set; there are no rules in the form that your co-ords come in, just make sure they’re matchy-matchy.

These are separates that belong together but they can also have a second life in your closet, teamed with other staples, to make your purchase work harder.

Double up and work the two-piece trend.

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■ Lovel Label knitted crop jumper, £22 (www.very.co.uk)

FASHION

Marks combo Flowers have gone supersized for spring. Look bloomin’ gorgeous in Marks & Spencer’s Autograph floral set. Team with towering heels for instant leg lengthening in those ankle-skimming trousers. Autograph Top, £79; Autograph Trousers, £79 (www.marksandspencer.com).

Oasis set

Topshop twosome The pastel pink obsession continues for spring.

Offset the girly prettiness with Topshop’s pink double act in structured jacquard – the perfect alternative to a dress. Textured Bubble Crepe Tee, £32; Bubble Jacquard Midi Skirt, £48 (www.topshop.com).

Jaeger duo Tailored print suits can take you from boardroom to bar stool. Jaeger’s jacquard geometric print is dazzling on the eye and the body, with its slimming panels. Go Victoria Beckham-style by wearing a slinky cami underneath. Jacquard Panelled Jacket, £250; Jacquard Trousers, £150; both available end of January (www.jaeger.co.uk).

Coast couple There are floatier silhouettes to be found with

■ Above left, Spring tweed top, £35; Spring tweed mini skirt, £35; both Oasis (www.oasis-stores.com); above, Autograph top, £79; Autograph trousers, £79, both Marks & Spencer (www.marksandspencer.com)

co-ordinates. Coast’s Dolita floral duo features a feminine cami top and matching ombre pencil skirt. Wear as an alternative wedding guest ensemble if you want to subtly break the norm.

Dolita Cami, £35; Dolita Skirt, £55 (www.coast-stores.com).

Love double If you’re suffering from winter jumper fatigue, reinvent your knits. Love Label’s skirt and sweater twin set combines brights and prints. If you’re dubious about the cropped length, wear the skirt high to avoid flashes of flesh. Love Label Knitted Crop Jumper, £22; Print Knitted Midi Skirt, £25 (www.very.co.uk).

Head-to-toe Hobbs Take a walk on the wild side with this animal ■ Gwyneth Paltrow wearing a floral matching print combo from Hobbs. Kaye Shirt, £119; Kaye suit, posing for photographers during the Iron trouser £139 (www.hobbs.co.uk) Man 3 premiere, in Paris

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Who said tweed has to be boring? Invigorate your office uniform with Oasis’s structured spring tweed set. Wear with black tights in the deep freeze and bare legs and flat loafers once temperatures rise. Spring Tweed Top, £35; Spring Tweed Mini Skirt, £35 (www.oasis-stores.com).

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FASHION

PICKINGS

Emma Dance puts Marks & Spencer’s figure flattering Gym Slim range through its paces.

M

ost people go to the gym to get in shape so imagine if you could look better just by putting on your gym kit.

But that’s exactly the theory behind Marks & Spencer’s Gym Slim range.

The range consists of vests, shorts, leggings and underwear which all have not only have moisture wicking fabric to keep you dry and comfortable while you’re working up a sweat, but they are also designed to enhance your shape by flattening your tummy and slimming your thighs.

Sometimes shapewear can be quite restricting so initially I was worried that my cropped leggings and vest wouldn’t be very comfortable during a hard work out but I was pleasantly surprised.

Usually I wear loose clothes to the gym, and these are pretty figure hugging so it did take a bit of getting used to - especially the vest.

■ Bra £29.50, knickers £16 ■ Cropped leggings, £19.50

I loved the leggings. They definitely made my thighs look smaller, and the tummy flattening panel was slimming but without sucking me in so much that I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

I had slightly mixed feelings about the vest however.

The Verdict:Gym clothes that flatter your figure is a wonderful idea. I loved that I looked better without even setting foot in the gym, and they

■ Vest, £17.50

were really light and comfortable.

I would recommend the leggings without hesitation to anyone, but larger ladies might find the vest a bit unflattering if worn on its own. I don’t like spending a lot on clothes that I am

essentially just going to sweat in, but the leggings and the vest each come in an less than £20 which I thought was good value for money.

The Gym Slim cropped leggings cost £19.50, the vest £17.50, bra £29.50, knickers £16, all M&S.

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It was very comfortable and, importantly, it did stop my wobbly bits from jiggling around during my work out. And while some gym clothes tend to ride up, this wasn’t a problem at all no matter what I did. However, it was much tighter than anything I would normally wear and I felt a bit self conscious in something so figure hugging. I’m sure this wouldn’t be a problem for a smaller woman and I found a good compromise by wearing a t-shirt over the top. That way I got all the benefits but without feeling like too much was on show. I thought I might be too hot in two layers, but the moisture wicking worked brilliantly so it wasn’t a problem at all, and while my gym clothes are often soaking wet by the end of a session with my personal trainer these still felt dry to the touch.

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MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

Give your cosmetics kit a spring clean. Lisa Haynes unveils the looks to give your beauty regime a lift.

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pring is the time to freshen up your look. If you’ve failed on a detox regime, this season’s make-up is all about creating – or faking – that elusive healthy glow.

“The main thread throughout the season is the idea of outdoor, day-lit beauty,” explains M.A.C’s director of make-up artistry, Terry Barber.

“We used oils, highlighters and even super-fine glitters to emulate dewdrop skin and flickers of sunlight.”

■ Shu Uemura Bijoux spring collection, from £19 (www.shuuemura.co.uk)

The mantra is: ‘skin is in’. So if super-green juices just aren’t your thing, digest this season’s key beauty trends instead.

A palette of hazy pastels like lilac, peach and eggshell blue are used strategically to brighten the face and play up features for a subtle statement. It’s a natural yet tinted effect.

Day glow Wholesome femininity is key to this raw and rugged natural look, as if exposed to the elements on a spring day.

It’s nonchalant, fresh and should get people second-guessing about a no make-up look.

“A dewy finish is simply more feminine than a matte one,” says Barber. “Use highlights and emollient textures to emulate the way that light falls on fresh, young ■ Max skin.”

Factor Ditch the fake tan and bronzing powders and

Miracle Touch Creamy Blusher, £6.99 (Boots/Superdrug)

achieve an organically beautiful look by patting on cream blushes and sculpting creams.

Sheer colour Brights and pastels have been given a soft-focus

makeover this season with sheer washes.

“All the shades I’m using this season have a fleshy ■ Topshop Lipstick in Ditsy, £8 tone to them,” says M.A.C make-up artist (www.topshop.com) Lucia Pieroni. apricot, peach or pink-toned blusher to warm up “It’s all about playing with the the complexion. tones that exist naturally on and within the skin.” “To achieve extra dimension and warmth in the face, use two colours of blush, layering the lighter Loud lips shade over the darker one,” suggests Pat Classic orange, true McGrath, Max Factor global creative design red, bright cerise director. “Alternatively, just blend two similar – pick a bright to shades together.” make your pout Boost your radiance further with subtle go hypercolour highlighter on the cheekbones and cupid’s bow. for spring.

Muted moment These Brightening up your wardrobe for spring? high-wattage lips Counteract the colour with muted make-up. are packed with pigment but particularly dense in the centre and blurred at the edges to tone down the outline.

“Don’t be afraid to blur your lip line, use a cotton bud to soften the edge for a more subtle look,” says Val Garland, L‘Oreal Paris make-up artist.

“There’s nothing too bright or bold about “If you want a perfect pout, use a lip liner to define the edge – this will keep the lipstick where this,” she says. “If it’s a green, it’s not a you want it, inside the line.” bright disco green, Max lash it’s softer – what I The bold, androgynous brow has dominated the call a modern last few beauty seasons but spring is all about the woman’s green.” lashes.

Keep the application Think ‘more is more’ to achieve the look. Take inspiration from the Sixties and don’t skimp on application. Load up lashes with at least two coats for calculated clumpiness.

“The key to this look is ensuring you start mascara application right at the roots of the lashes,” advises Mathias Van Hooff, L’Oreal Paris make-up artist.

“Try layering three coats of mascara for dramatic volume.”

Flush fix

■ Giorgio Armani Belladonna Highlighting Palette, £65 (Selfridges)

McGrath heralded muted shades of mustard yellows, mossy greens and vintage blue-greys backstage at Prada to balance out the bold tones of the clothes.

Get off the starting blocks with the sporty radiance vibe via your cheekbones.

Barely-there looks will benefit from a spring-like

of muted colours soft with a simple wash of colour across eyes and avoid using a harsh, dark eye pencil.

Keep the focus on the colour with perfected skin.

■ L‘Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Instant Radiance Enhancer, £10.99 (Boots/Superdrug)

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Children's Day

A fantastic day out for the whole family with FREE competitions, workshops and games to keep the little ones busy!

Book online today‌

www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk Ticket hotline 08445 793014

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

DARKNESS

There’s no doubt that the grey skies and incessant rain got everyone down. But for some people a prolonged spell of dull and miserable weather can have a very real affect on their mental health. Emma Dance talks to clinical psychologist Linda Blair from Circle Bath to find out more about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

W

ith today’s fast pace of life it’s not unusual to go to work in the dark, and return home in the dark and to barely see a glimmer of natural light in between.

more light.

“The special lights are great too. Not many people have the time to spend sitting half an hour in front of a light box every day, but the light alarms are great.

But it’s not just the long hours that could be “Around 20 to 30 minutes before the alarm goes having a damaging effect on your health according off they start emitting light until it is the same to clinical psychologist Linda Blair. intensity as a natural sunrise.

“Daylight is really important for everyone,” she In the past, before electric lighting, we slept far explains. “Your body needs natural light. more in winter and very little in summer because

“People with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) we lived with the natural light. Of course that's have an extra sensitivity and need for this light. It not practical now, but we should be aware of our need to live with natural light cycles, and try to is a real physiological condition. sleep more and enjoy more early nights during “People who suffer from it can find themselves the winter. feeling really low and tired and lethargic in the “In Northern parts of the world it is especially common because the days are so short during winter.”

The good news however, is that it’s a problem that can be easy to fix.

“You don’t need an official diagnosis,” says Linda.

“And there are treatments that need not be prescribed by a doctor.

“It’s important that everyone, but especially those who feel that their mood goes down in the winter, goes outside in daylight hours, for example in their lunch hour. Even if it’s cloudy some of the light that you need will get through. I recommend at least 20 minutes to my patients, although if you are very fair or sensitive then you will need to check with your doctor first.

“Another tip is to take your main holiday in the winter rather than the summer and to try to go somewhere where there is

“It’s very simple to improve the way you feel, so try not to live a fast-paced life which completely ignores nature.”

If you can’t wait until summer to get your fix of sunlight and a holiday isn’t on the cards any time soon then you can try the next best thing at Lucknam Park near Colerne.

The hotel’s spa has a new Wellbeing Centre which has a yoga and pilates studio and offers treatments like dry flotation and herbal steam massage. It’s also the only hotel and spa in the UK to offer Haslauer Reflective Sunlight Therapy, pictured.

The treatment basically involves lying in room for 40 minutes with special lights that replicate the change of light from sunrise to sunset the idea being that it promotes vital vitamin D production, stimulates the metabolism, and generally makes you feel relaxed and happy.

The verdict: I did feel great when I emerged, but I couldn’t say for sure if it was because of the light,

or just because I had had the chance to take half an hour for myself without being interrupted by phone calls or emails. Either way, the end result was a happier and more relaxed me and a treatment means you also get to use the really rather lovely spa facilities too.

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winter. It’s often misdiagnosed as depression.

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FOOD & DRINK

[~ll{ kylhtz ARE MADE OF THIS

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aster is almost here and the shops are full of tempting displays of chocolate. While eggs may traditionally be the Easter treat of choice, these days there’s all kinds of quirky confectionery on offer.

And no-one knows better how to hit the sweet spot, than Diana Short who, along with her husband Matthew, founded Lick the Spoon chocolatiers in Corsham.

to local stores, to a nationally renowned company which supplies high profile stores such as Selfridges and Harrods.

This year, Harrods even asked them to produce an elaborate 50cm tall egg in the style of the famous Faberge eggs which were crafted for the Russian royal family.

The giant egg took Diana four days to make, and despite a few nerve wracking moments as the two halves were put together, it is now on In seven years the company has grown from Diana making truffles on the kitchen table to sell display in the famous London store.

“We are well known for our filigree work and something like that is very much our style,” said Diana. “So I think it was natural for Harrods to come to us for something like that.”

Easter gives the chocolatiers chance to have some fun with their creations.

“A lot of what we make at Easter has real charm,” said Diana. “It can be a bit kitsch and has a real fun factor.

“Every year we try to do something different, as well as the firm favourites like the chocolate honeycomb eggs.

“This year we are making Monster eggs, and we have the character snow globes with a bunny, lamb, pig or a chick.

“There are other companies that make animals from moulds but I don’t think they have the same charm.

“Because we make them all by hand they all have different expressions. That’s the joy of Lick the Spoon, no two pieces are entirely the same.”

There may not seem to be a natural link between fashion and chocolate – after all, there aren’t many supermodels who look like they regularly scoff down a bar of chocolate – but Diana says that the relationship between the two

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is stronger than you may think.

“Every season we look for new things to do, and I will flick through the new fashion collections for inspiration,” she said. “Things like that will often influence what I am doing.”

And just as different styles of clothes come in and out of fashion, it’s the same with chocolate.

“Salted caramel and flavours like chilli and chocolate have become more and more prevalent,” said Diana. “But I think they will stay around for a while.

“Our best sellers are still the more traditional fresh chocolates though.”

Around four tonnes of chocolate passes through the Corsham chocolate factory every year but it is only Diana and one other member of staff, Tina Ingamells, who actually make the products.

“It’s hard work,” said Diana. “People think it’s like Chocolat, but it’s not. The chocolate goes everywhere. The rewards come from developing something new, and when you see it come together and see people getting excited about it, that’s the best thing.”

THE THE

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FOOD & DRINK

Thtipun TIME

Wine columnist Linda Piggott-Vijeh looks at the best wines to accompany spring lamb

A

t this time of year the joy of seeing young spring lambs gambolling in nearby fields makes me question my own ethics, but lamb is my favourite meat and I find it impossible to resist both its mouth-watering aroma, and its diversity in the kitchen.

Easter is one of only a few occasions during the year when families seem to make the effort to get together, warranting that bit of extra effort so for many of us, it just has to be roast lamb – if we can still afford it.

The tender, sweet and succulent flavour of young spring lamb, marries well with wines full of juicy red berry flavours. However, do remember that how the lamb is prepared and cooked will alter the specific wine needed for a good match.

Ever the optimist, here are some suggestions to put a spring in your step over the Easter holidays.

Roast spring lamb has a delicate flavour, and if red is your preference then go for a light bodied, young fruity red, a Beaujolais cru or a classic Burgundy perhaps, with bright cherry, mineral, and spice.

To go with a juicy roast, redolent with rosemary and garlic, Cabernet’s minty/herbal character goes well with the grassiness of lamb, while

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Zinfandel stands up well to garlic.

Emillion and from Spain, you can’t go far wrong with a Ribera del Duero.

Pinot Noir works well, especially if the lamb is not too lean or overcooked, or an unoaked Tempranillo, with a bright, fruity character.

Lamb that is cooked medium to well done will work better with a younger, more fruit-driven wine, such as a young red Bordeaux, a Rioja reserva, or a Chianti Classico, which can possess an earthiness that flatters lamb’s meaty complexity.

I prefer the flavour of shoulder to leg (unless roasted to a succulent rare pink, on an open spit!) but it can be fatty and struggles to stand up to the bolder wines that go well with beef, clashing with the tannins, giving an unpleasant astringent taste.

I’m always looking for the opportunity to plug my favourite tipple. So, if you plan to serve a dry vintage rosé champagne with your lamb, I’d be a very happy girl, and willing to accept an invite.

If white is your preference, lamb will go well with a full bodied oak aged white Bordeaux, or a lightly oaked chardonnay, but steer clear of New World offerings, as these wines tend to go a bit overboard with the oak.

Not all of us are wine drinkers, so a strong Trappist beer (Orval, Chimay Rouge), or an ale So, if you go for a “big” red, it should be such as ‘Duchesse de Bourgogne’ should please sufficiently barrel-aged and mature for the tannins beer lovers. to have mellowed, such as a Pauillac or St

FOOD & DRINK

Mhz{ly FEAST

Easter is a great excuse to get the family together, and what better way to celebrate than with a wonderful family meal. Here’s a few ideas to help you create a splendid Easter feast.

T

hese super cute hen and chick cupcakes are sure to be a hot with young and old alike. You could even give them as Easter gifts instead of a traditional egg.

Lemon Cupcake Recipe (makes 12 cupcakes) Ingredients 125g unsalted butter 180g caster sugar 240g self raising sponge flour 2 happy eggs Finely grated rind of 1 lemon 150ml milk For the lemon syrup Ingredients Juice of 1/2 lemon

handle.

50g sugar

12. Make the lemon syrup by heating the lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved.

Method: 1. Beat the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy (around 5 minutes in a stand mixer).

13. Brush over each cupcake.

Lemon Buttercream

4. Cut out a circle of sugarpaste with a 78mm round cookie cutter and place over the buttercream, gently smoothing the edges down to meet the cupcake case.

5. Press your thumb in the top to make a small impression for where the chick will sit.

2. Sieve the flour.

Ingredients

6. Roll a walnut sized piece of yellow sugarpaste into a ball.

3. Add the grated lemon rind to the happy eggs.

125g unsalted soft butter

7. Glue 2 tiny black sugar dragees on for eyes.

4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time adding a spoonful of flour with each egg.

250g icing sugar Finely grated rind of 1 lemon

5. Fold in ½ the remaining flour,

Method:

8. Roll out some orange sugarpaste and cut a tiny diamond shape. Pinch this to fold in the middle and glue on using edible glue just below the eyes.

6. Fold in the milk.

Beat together in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. You can add a few drops of lemon juice if the mixture is a bit stiff.

7. Fold in the rest of the flour.

8. Place the cupcake cases in a cupcake baking tin.

9. Using an ice cream scoop, fill the cupcake cases Chick Cupcakes to 2/3rds full.

1. Bake the cupcakes in yellow cases and leave to 10. Bake in a preheated oven (160C conventional cool. (See cupcake recipe)

oven or 140 C fan oven) for around 40 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean.

11. Take out of the tins when cool enough to

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9. Roll out some cream sugarpaste and cut a star shape. Glue this on top of the chick.

10. Using edible glue, attach the chick into the impression on the cupcake.

11. Make 2 tiny wings from the yellow sugarpaste and attach either side of the chick.

Hen Cupcake

2. Pipe a blob of buttercream icing on top of each 1. Bake the cupcakes in yellow cases and leave to cupcake. cool. (See cupcake recipe) 3. Roll out some ivory sugarpaste to 4mm thick.

FOOD & DRINK CITRUS STUFFED TURKEY Turkey doesn’t have to only be for Christmas as this recipe for Citrus Stuffed Turkey Joint from British Turkey (www.BritishTurkey.co.uk) shows.

Serves 6 Preparation Time: 30 mins Cooking Time: 1 hour 45 mins Ingredients: 50g butter 1 skinless boneless British turkey breast joint, approx 1.8kg 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 celery stick, chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 1 red pepper, finely diced 150g dried apricots, finely chopped Zest and juice of 1 lemon Handful each of chopped parsley and thyme 200g fresh breadcrumbs Salt and pepper to taste 60ml stock 6 rashers streaky bacon

METHOD

3. Roll out some ivory sugarpaste to 4mm thick.

4. Cut out a circle of sugarpaste with a 78mm round cookie cutter and place over the buttercream, gently smoothing the edges down to meet the cupcake case.

5. To make the beak, take a large pea size bit of sugarpaste, roll in your fingers to make a smooth ball, then form into cone shape and cut off the smaller end.

6. Attach to the cupcake using edible glue.

7. Take a pea size bit of red sugarpaste, roll in your fingers to make a smooth ball, flatten slightly, then form into a teardrop shape and cut off the smaller end.

8. Make 3 of these for each hen, and 2 smaller ones for the wattle.

9. Attach 3 to the top of the cupcake using edible glue, and 2 underneath the beak.

10. Draw in the eyes using a black edible pen.

For more recipes, visit www.thehappyegg.co.uk.

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2. Pipe a blob of buttercream icing on top of each cupcake.

1. Preheat the oven to 230 ÂşC/Gas mark 8.

2. Heat half the butter in a frying pan and cook the garlic, celery, onion and pepper until soft. Add the apricots, lemon zest and juice, herbs and breadcrumbs and season.

3. Gradually add enough stock to make the stuffing moist but not wet.

4. Lay the turkey breast out flat, skin side down. Spoon the stuffing down the middle then roll up and tie.

Place the turkey breast upwards in a roasting tin, smear with the remaining butter and cover with the bacon.

5. Cover with foil and roast for 50 mins per kilo plus 30 mins extra, removing the foil for the last 30 mins.

Check the juices run clear, remove from the oven, then leave to rest for 20 mins. Serve sliced with a selection of roasted vegetables.

MAGAZINE

25

GIFT GUIDE

Mhz{ly

TREATS

Easter eggs might be the traditional Easter gift but if you are looking for something a bit different then why not try one of these alternatives?

Left, Easter cookie jar, £8, Sainsbury’s; right, Personalised Bunny Chopping Board, £30, My 1st Years (www.my1styears.com); below, Easter bunny carrot cake, £12, Marks & Spencer; below left, Personalised 'The Easter Bunny' Story Book, £12.99, Born Gifted (www.borngifted.co.uk)

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GIFT GUIDE

Left, Chocolate bubble bath, £4.95, Oriflame (www.oriflamestore.co.uk); right, Colomba Cake, £13.95, Carluccio’s (www.carluccios.com)

Lavender scented hand-stitched bunnies, £17, The Fine Cotton Company (www.thefinecottoncompany.com)

Chick shoes, £18.50, Daisy Roots, (www.daisy-roots.com)

Easter Bunny Bag, £16.50, Clare Loves (www.clareloves.co.uk/ 01494 874101)

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Chocolate Orange Cream Liqueur, £24.60 for 500ml, Demijohn (www.demijohn.co.uk)

MAGAZINE

27

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EASTER BREAK

It’s an Easter

EGG-STRAVAGANZA!

Easter is always a great time of year for the whole family; kids love the school holidays and hoards of chocolate eggs while parents relish the long weekend and the warmer weather.

However during the holidays it can be hard to find an activity that will entertain the whole family but luckily for us, the South West is home to plenty of attractions and special Easter events that will entertain all ages.

If you looking for a destination that doesn’t cost anything, why not pack a picnic and plan a bike ride along your local cycle route.

Rides along the river or through the woods will provide a lot of interest along the way and intriguing places to stop and rest; it will

certainly tire everyone out and is completely free of charge.

This is an activity that can be done during the whole year no matter where you live, just remember to keep the kids wearing their helmets as well as clothing that makes them visible to any other vehicles they share the road with.

and activity centres to see what they have on offer over the holidays. Check out the council’s website too for more information on other local events.

All sorts of attractions across the South West lay on special Easter events to entertain all ages, so check out the website of your local art galleries, museums, parks

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All across Somerset and Dorset there is a huge variety of attractions to attend this Easter that are fun for all the family.

From museums to adventure parks, from sports centres to play areas, and from historic ruins to interesting walks, all of these attractions are bound to interest and cover a range of budgets, so you don’t need to worry about being able to entertain the children this Easter.

The area has a great range of museums to visit if the weather turns nasty, including Haynes Motor Museum in Sparkford, which is a mustvisit for any car enthusiast.

If the weather behaves then taking advantage of the area’s stunning coastline, woodland and trails is a great way to spend some time outside this Easter, and it won’t cost anything.

Somerset and Dorset’s beaches are among the most attractive in the country, with the magnificent Jurassic coastline stretching from East Devon to East Dorset.

The River Parrett Trail is a 50-mile stretch of land that takes in the beautiful Somerset Levels and Moors. Part of the Levels is Ham Hill, which is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Britain and is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.

■ The Anchor at Ugborough, on the edge of Dartmoor; inset, one of the bedrooms

Everyone agrees that great food needs great wine, and the new breed of restaurants with rooms means you can now enjoy both without having to worry about a huge hotel bill or how to get home afterwards. Each month we look at some of the best places to eat and sleep. This month, The Anchor at Ugborough.

■ The dining area at The Anchor THE

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BUNNY BISCUITS MAKES 24

BISCUIT RECIPE INGREDIENTS

If the thought of countless chocolate Easter eggs makes you feel a little queasy, why not try out this delicious Easter recipe. These lovely little Easter biscuits can be decorate by the kids before the whole family devour them. As well as a great family activity, these biscuits are perfect as a snack while out on day trips or as part of a picnic.

100g butter 150g plain flour ❀ 50g light muscovado sugar ❀ Half a tsp. ground cinnamon ❀ One lemon, grate the rind ❀ One large egg ❀ Two to three tbsp . water ❀ Currants and mar shmallows to decorate ❀

❀

METHOD ❀ ❀

Preheat oven to 350F, Gas mar

k 4, 180C Cut the butter into small cub es and mix with the flour until like fine breadcrumbs

❀

Stir in the muscovado sugar, gro und cinnamon and the grated lemon rind

❀

Stir in an egg yolk and enough water to mix into a soft dough

Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth then roll out until a quarter inch (0.5 cm) thick ❀ Cut out the biscuits with a rabbit cutter or templat e and place on un-greased baking tray to bake for 10-15 minutes until a pale golden colour ❀ Allow to cool, the n decorate with currants for eye s and marshmallows for tails ❀

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STAR INTERVIEW

_op LIZZY

Neil Rose catches up with Bath’s Lizzy Yarnold, Britain’s newest Olympic champion

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STAR INTERVIEW

L

izzy Yarnold may be the world’s fastest woman on ice but there is one thing that can slow her down – the British rail network.

As the newly-crowned skeleton champion calls from London, on the way to another of her many post-Olympic commitments, she is running late thanks to a delayed train.

In the background there is the sound of car horns as passersby recognise the young woman waiting for a taxi – something Lizzy is becoming accustomed to after propelling herself head-first into the nation’s conscience at 87mph during Sochi 2014.

“I’m standing at a taxi rank and I have drivers papping at me and waving, it’s really sweet,” she says.

“I’ve had men, women, kids stopping me to congratulate me, people of all ages. It’s great to know how much the country got behind us.

“That recognition seems to be growing, especially after London 2012. People seem to fall more in love with the Olympics with every Games, they really understand and appreciate what we are doing as athletes.”

“

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■ Lizzy Yarnold raises a glass after winning her third World Cup gold of the 2013-14 season at Winterberg in January, above, before joining landlady Amy Williams – the woman she succeeded as Olympic skeleton champion – at the Sochi opening ceremony, below. PICTURES: FIBT / @teamGB

Public recognition isn’t something that always comes to athletes in winter sports. Skeleton and bobsleigh appear on terrestrial television once every four years, while people can’t just go down the park and give curling and ski-jumping a try in the same way they can running and cycling.

But there is a real feeling that Sochi – with Lizzy’s gold, two GB curling medals and Bristol’s Jenny Jones taking snowboard slopestyle bronze, plus historic Paralympic success for visually-impaired skiers Kelly Gallagher and Jade Etherington – could be Britain’s breakthrough Games.

Within a fortnight of Lizzy sliding to success, there had already been 3,000 applications to try the University of Bath outdoor push-track used

by British Skeleton for training.

UK Sport has also had a tremendous response to its new Power2Podium talent search for potential skeleton stars of 2022 – and Lizzy is clearly overwhelmed by the legacy her golden triumph is already creating.

“It’s hard to comprehend that a few athletes could make such a difference,” she says.

“I hope those who take part give it a really good go and see what is in involved. And if it isn’t for them, there are so many sports you might not have thought about that you can try.”

THE

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STAR INTERVIEW ■ Lizzy Yarnold demonstrates the starting technique that has propelled her to the Olympic skeleton title and World Cup during 2014. PICTURE: Phil Searle / Digitalscape

Lizzy is speaking from first-hand experience when she says there is a sport for everyone.

Growing up in Kent she was a talented heptathlete, inspired by the Olympic success of Denise Lewis at Sydney 2000.

Her fierce competitiveness and determination to reach the very top saw Lizzy sign up to the Girls4Gold talent identification scheme in 2008 and she went to Bath thinking she might be selected for modern pentathlon.

“

’ – ’

“I got to the bottom and thought ‘I could do that better’ – I was petrified at the same time, though,” she recalls.

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Lizzy’s progress was as rapid as she is on the ice. Within 18 months she was winning on the Europa Cup circuit, then she took the World Junior title in 20 12 and found herself promoted to the World Cup team – at the expense of 2010 Olympic champion Amy Williams.

Not that there are any hard feelings, with Lizzy currently renting a house in Bath off her fellow golden girl.

Instead she ended up throwing herself down the concrete push-track – and hasn’t looked back since.

■ Lizzy Yarnold was a talented heptathlete before trying her hand at skeleton in 2008

same thrill every time. Possibly I’m just naturally good at sliding head-first.”

“When you have a go at a sport like skeleton, you are either quite scared or have a real passion for it straight away – and I still get that

“Amy is a great landlady and was great to learn from,” says Lizzy.

“When I trained alongside her in the gym, she never let a rep go, she was lifting weights to the maximum of her capability.

“To see how a normal athlete can go on to become exceptional and an Olympic champion through such hard work – not just through the season but every single day – was inspirational.

STAR INTERVIEW

■ Lizzy Yarnold gets her hands on the FIBT Skeleton World Cup trophy. PICTURE: FIBT

“To be considered a local now and know they were all behind me, cheering me on at Sochi, is a great feeling.”

Living just down the road from the training track helped Lizzy go from strength to strength. A bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships confirmed her upward trajectory and she finished fourth in her first full FIBT World Cup campaign.

This season has been one of the most outstanding displays of consistent excellence by a British athlete in any sport. From her nine races, Lizzy bagged five golds, two silvers and a bronze as she completed an Olympic and World Cup double.

“A lot of people forget about the World Cup but one of my biggest dreams when I took up skeleton was to win that title,” she says.

“I was hoping to be competitive this season but soon realised I had a title chance and really went for it.

“This is just my fourth year in competition and I did not think it would happen so quickly, it is unexplainable.”

Not that it has all been smooth progress, with the dangers of high-speed racing on ice brought home to Lizzy when she lost consciousness coming out of the last corner during a practice run at Whistler, Canada in 2012.

“I wasn’t aware of the blackout at the time,” said the 25-year-old, who struggled to keep her balance after the run but was passed fit to compete two days later – and won a bronze medal.

“The pressures we are pulling in the corners are so intense that your head is forced onto the ice.

Most corners are around 5Gs and your body is not made to cope with things like that.

“The vibrations and pressures that skeleton athletes are put under are extraordinary. When you get to the bottom of a skeleton run, you are sometimes so exhausted and mentally drained.

Then when you have been doing that for five months, and travelling around week after week, you get so exhausted.

“I do find, coming away at the end of a season, that my brain is not quite functioning as well as it does later in the summer.”

No wonder Lizzy is looking forward to a well-earned rest, although her schedule is unsurprisingly slightly busier now she is Olympic champion.

“I put aside three weeks after the Games to do school talks, which is probably not long enough now given all the interest,” she admits.

“I’m not really sure yet when I’ll be back in full training but I’m staying active and cycling to places when I can, if only to stay healthy.

“Things have been really hectic. In the build-up to Sochi, all I could really plan towards was the fourth and final run. You have so many jobs to do in preparation and even during the runs themselves, so that was all I could think about, not what might happen afterwards.

“It’s been non-stop ever since but it’s been great fun as well.”

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“Bath is such a beautiful place. When I moved there two years ago, I did not have any family and not a lot of friends but the people have been so welcoming and made me feel so much at home.

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HOMES

■ Fearne Cotton collection Hummingbird Duvet Cover Set, from £29 to £49; two drawer bedside table, £169; narrow chest of six drawers, £299, Very

I

f you’re still clinging to neutrals and nervous about dipping your toe into a technicolour world, help is at hand. Greeny-blue teal is set to star in decor, and it’s a colour that could tempt even the most timid to break free from bland, and splash on a shade that’s a sure-fire winner.

The intriguing colour combination of greeny-blue is Dulux’s colour of the year.

Gabrielle Fagan goes on the trail of teal treats for the home

Chosen by Dulux as its colour of the year, with Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon launching most timid of budding interior designers to make its campaign to put the shade on the map, it truly bold choices, because even in its strongest tone, it still feels calming and comfortable,” agrees has the power to be transformative.

Nichola McFall, brand manager at The Fabric Box. It’s easy on the eye, and harmonises beautifully “Unlike some green-blue tones, such as with the brown hues of natural materials, like turquoise, teal transcends all seasons and suits a wood and stone. range of interior styles, from modern to “This top trend colour for 2014, which traditional.” hot-off-the-fashion-catwalk is already making a Tempted? Take a look at these decor tricks and mark on Hollywood’s red carpets, perfectly combines the natural harmony of green with the treats to ‘tealy’ transform rooms... tranquillity of blue to symbolise balance,” says Tricks with teal Rebecca Thompson, Dulux’s senior colour and design manager.

While it’s dark, definite and undoubtedly makes a statement, teal is surprisingly versatile and works well with a variety of colour combinations, says Thompson.

“To create the latest look, combine with other tones of teal, green or blue to create a tone-on-tone effect,” she suggests.

“For an an oceanic feeling; cool, dynamic and welcoming, layer teal with indigo, denim or navy.”

To warm a scheme, contrast teal with details of coral or delicate blush tones, mustard yellows and burnt orange. “This will make this beautiful colour sing, and to add balance, use neutral tones, natural wood and crisp white paintwork.”

Turn on to teal This shade is perfectly in tune with our desire to bring the outside in and celebrate nature’s hues.

“A teal sofa in a luxury fabric, like velvet, would create a stunning focal point,” says Nichola McFall at The Fabric Box.

“Deeper and more sophisticated than turquoise, teal has a subdued richness.

This influential colour has a mysterious quality which captures the grandeur of vast lakes and undiscovered forests.”

“Blend the colour with the rest of the scheme by adding teal-coloured accessories, like cushions and ornaments, which will catch the eye and give cohesion to the room.”

Teal tranquility A serene, calming atmosphere in a bedroom is essential for relaxation and sound sleep.

It’s an alluring description and Dulux has been inspired by sea life, with the brand dubbing its interpretation Sea Urchin 1. A classic muted teal, rich in deep green and blue hues, this paint shade really is what it says on the tin.

“Teal’s one of those colours that encourages even the

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■ Geometric cushion, £25, Debenhams; Velvet baroque wall mirror, £120, Debenhams

It’s easily conjured with shades of teal, which could be paired with lighter hues like aqua, duck egg or minty greens, or simply keep the effect crisp and white.

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APPEAL

■ Velvet Tub chair, £445, Oliver Bonas; below, Fearne Cotton furniture collection Two drawer bedside table, £169, Very

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COME AND MEET Frederick Augustus the cat...at

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DESIGNS

■ Kelly Hoppen and Nina Campbell

A picture-perfect home decorated by a leading designer is beyond the pocket of most of us. Gabrielle Fagan asks industry experts Kelly Hoppen and Nina Campbell to reveal their secrets so you can make that stunning interior a reality.

K

elly Hoppen, interior designer and currently one of the dragons on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den, whose new book is Kelly Hoppen Design Masterclass: How To Achieve The Home Of Your Dreams, says the importance of home cannot be underestimated.

“The moment we cross our threshold, we should feel the cares slip from our shoulders and be able to enjoy being cocooned in comfort, safety and warmth,” she says.

“Our homes are, after all, our greatest asset, not just financially but also for our sense of wellbeing and happiness.”

Hoppen’s tips Good planning is essential, she says. “Write a wish list for your home. Don’t worry about colour palettes, fabric choices or furniture at this stage – rather describe the atmosphere, the style of decoration you like, the things that will make you most happy, and how you want others to feel when they walk through the door.”

Hoppen’s 2014 trend tips “This year there will be a bigger emphasis on modular and structured designs,” she predicts.

“Lighting will play an ever increasing role as its power is understood more. Good lighting is like a layer of magic dust sprinkled over everything – it affects mood more than any other factor and is not a design ingredient you should ever skimp on.”

Get Kelly’s book “This is my way of holding someone’s hand through the journey of designing a home,” she says.

“That starts from analysing the space they have and determining how best to use it, to resolving choices of flooring, fabrics, furniture and lighting.

“I show people beautiful homes throughout the world whose interiors I have designed. But most importantly, the book provides the tools and

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■ Dining space defined by a white lacquered floor and ceramic lights above a taupe lacquered table

insight for people to achieve their own version of a Kelly Hoppen interior, if they desire, but more than that, I hope they can design a home that is all about them.”

Get the look Characteristically, Hoppen uses symmetry, such as a pair of low coffee tables or a pair of lamps to help bring a serene feeling of order, and taupe is her trademark shade. Kelly Hoppen Crystal Lamp with Shade, £249, and Kelly Hoppen Pussy Willow in Rounded Glass Vase, £42, both QVC (www.qvcuk.com). Emily Textured Vase, £45; Wide Mirror Vase, £35; Long Mirror Vase, £32; decorative Small Resin Coral Sponge, from £17, all by Kelly Hoppen (www.Kellyhoppen.com).

Kelly Hoppen Design Masterclass: How To

Achieve The Home Of Your Dreams by Kelly Hoppen is published by Jacqui Small, priced £40.

Available to readers for £32 (inc p&p). Call 01903 828 503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote offer code APG46 ● Nina Campbell is an interior designer with a portfolio of celebrity clients, including Rod Stewart and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Her new book is Nina Campbell Interiors.

“A home should be finished to the point that it is comfortable and is somewhere that you can live and entertain, but it must always have a few spaces yet to be filled,” says Campbell, summing up her view of design and interiors.

“If nothing ever changes, a house can become

HOMES

■ Nancy nest of tables, £3600, Nina Campbell; Collingwood sofa, from £3,120, Nina Campbell

■ The symmetry draws the eye in a white living area

and art so that every home is unique. One client summed up this perfectly by saying about his interior, ‘Nothing matches but everything goes together’.”

Campbell’s 2014 trend tips stagnant. I think it’s always good to be open to new ways to display pieces and to subtly change decor to suit the season.”

“I think a more classic decoration is set to enjoy a revival, with a lot more colour, pattern and detail prevalent,” she says.

mansion in China, show how that process unfolds and works.

“Each home caters for a variety of tastes from contemporary to traditional and has needed different approaches and solutions. I hope the book will inspire people to create their own elegant, comfortable homes.”

Get the look

“People will enjoy displaying treasured pieces of furniture along with modern, new pieces.

Luxury, subtle elegance and detail are at the heart of Campbell’s style. Make a statement with a “First of all, I think you need to consider a “Wallpapers are coming back into popularity in a three-seater Collingwood Sofa, made to order property and its location and thoroughly from £3,120, which can be upholstered in understand what you are working with. Then you big way and patterns are becoming bolder. Florals customers’ own fabric; Nancy Nest of Tables, will continue to dominate and blowsy blooms and need to decide how you want to live in the £3,600; embroidered Lupins Magenta & Coral painterly designs will generally hold sway.” house,” she says.

Cushion, £100, all Nina Campbell (shop.ninacampbell.com) Get Nina’s book “Then be honest about how you really want to live in the house – do the dogs live on the bed, “As a designer I want to be a guide to achieving a ● Nina Campbell Interiors by Nina Campbell is do you want to lie full length on sofas or simply client’s desires and to be editor of their dreams,” published by CICO Books tucked up in an armchair? (www.cicobooks.co.uk), priced £30. Available to she says. readers for £22 (inc p&p). Call 01256 302 699 “Finally, create your own style. One of my biggest “The eight projects in the book, including a chic and quote offer code GLR 8TY pleasures is sourcing furniture, bespoke pieces city apartment, an English country home and a

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Campbell’s tips

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HOMES

Nylzo }pzpvu YOUR NEW WINDOW ON THE WORLD

W

indows might seem to be only functional – they let in light, they keep you warm (both, admittedly, pretty important jobs). But they also can make a huge impact on the aesthetics of your home, and this makes choosing the right ones doubly important. Julia Gray takes a look at the options.

Window frames are made of three main materials: wood, UPVC and metal. You can also get composite frames, which are plastic or metal over a wooden core. The type of windows you choose is usually governed by your budget, the style and period of your home, if it’s listed or on ‘designated land’ (such as a conservation area or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), how long you plan to live there and even what sort of windows neighbouring houses have.

Replacing all your home’s windows generally costs thousands of pounds, with wood and metal the most expensive, so it’s not an investment to take lightly. New windows can affect the value of your home, as well as making it warmer and quieter if you upgrade from single to double or triple glazing, which makes choosing the right style and material all the more important.

■ Choosing windows in the right style and material could help increase the value of your home

double glazing can deteriorate, so moisture gets in. White UPVC frames often yellow over time too, and although you can in theory paint them, most people don’t.

Councils are also concerned about the appearance of buildings on designated land and may have rules or guidelines for changing windows here. Sometimes houses on designated land have had their permitted development rights For something different, consider grey UPVC removed by the council, so planning permission is frames (or another colour), which are available grey inside and outside, or grey outside and white required to fit new windows – this also applies to all flats and maisonettes, wherever they are.

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Wooden windows look lovely, especially in period properties, but they require most upkeep.

You often have to paint new wooden windows because they’re supplied unpainted, and you have to keep on top of wood rot and chipped and flaking paint over the years, plus occasionally inside for a more conventional look internally. repainting the full frames.

For period style on a budget, UPVC sash windows are a great choice, because they’re If you can afford them and don’t plan to move home in the foreseeable future, wooden windows much cheaper than wooden ones, come double glazed and with built-in locks and vents as offer good value for money because they last a long time. Window frames made by members of standard and can add value in areas where the original sash windows have been removed in the Wood Window Alliance (www.woodwindowalliance.com), for example, have many of the houses. an estimated service life of 60 years or more If you live in a listed building, changing the when well maintained. windows can be an expensive and drawn-out

Metal, UPVC and composite window frames require less maintenance than wood, so they’re an easier option in that aspect, but they don’t last forever. Past-their-best UPVC and metal windows aren’t pretty either, and the seals on

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All new windows must comply with building regulations, which govern the glazing, safety and means of escape in the event of a fire. You can fit new windows yourself, or get a builder to do it, but you’ll need a certificate to confirm they comply with building regulations, issued by a building control officer from the local council, or an approved inspector, who does the same job but for a private company.

The alternative is having the windows fitted by an installer registered with a competent-person scheme, such as FENSA (www.fensa.co.uk) or Certass (www.certass.co.uk). They can self-certify that their work complies, which makes things easier for you.

process, with listed building consent usually required from the local council. If consent is granted, expect to have to record the appearance of each window, then replace them like for like, so the overall look of the building is unchanged.

■ Window locks can increase security

THE

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GARDENING

Lpnnpun FOR VICTORY ■ Nursery interior of pit with staff at Ruhleben, circa 1917

M

At first the prisoners were put into the Tea House and stable buildings – some men were even crowded into a disused horsebox. Eventually barracks were built, but serious problems with It was described as ‘scandalously inadequate’, ‘not catering soon led to food riots. fit to keep pigs in’, and yet, amid all the horror, a Some improvements were undertaken by the group of green-fingered British men – who’d been German authorities after a visit by the American ambassador brought conditions to wider notice, living in Germany at the outbreak of war – and forced them to limit damaging publicity. decided to create something beautiful. ore than 5,000 British citizens were interned in First World War civilian detention camp Ruhleben, an old racecourse outside Berlin.

Forming a horticultural society, they set to work on the land to help feed their fellow prisoners, and with it, feed hope in the face of adversity.

But it was the prisoners themselves, and their love of gardening, that really transformed the camp.

“

This unique story, uncovered by the RHS Lindley Initially, horticulture was limited to a few British Library, will be told in a new exhibition in October to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. The Royal Horticultural Society is appealing to anyone who thinks a relative may have been one of these prisoners to get in touch (libraryenquirieslondon@rhs.org.uk) and share their story .

What the Society already knows about these brave men, who overcame long imprisonment and harsh conditions with crops and flowers, is fascinating enough, though.

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enthusiasts who made flower pots out of biscuit tins and developed rudimentary gardens outside their barracks. But a gift of seeds from the Crown Prince of Sweden sparked more ambitious plans; and the Ruhleben Horticultural Society was formed.

Within days of its first meeting, the secretary wrote to the RHS back in England asking to become an affiliated society. Stunned and amazed by this call from behind enemy lines, the RHS sent huge amounts of seeds, bulbs and advice to its new affiliate, deep behind enemy lines.

The members of the new society, eventually numbering more than 900, fed the camp’s inmates, earned money to fuel its fledgling economy, disguised their bleak surroundings and organised RHS flower shows to boost morale.

One source from 1914 described the incredible scenes.

‘The soil was dry, loose, dirty sand which rain quickly transformed into mud ... the camp was generally a cold quagmire, swept by piercing winds from Poland and the Pinsk marshes and interspersed with puddles, which swelled until

GARDENING

■ Staff at Ruhleben Horticultural Society; below left, two members of ther society by the prom beds; below right, the YMCA public garden

Despite the complaints about the food supplied in the camp, the first priority appears to have been to grow flowers – perhaps a basic human longing for beauty. Inmates grew chrysanthemums and dahlias which were shipped back to England for sale to raise funds for the camp. Others grew shrubs to hide the barbed wire.

In January 1917 permission was sought to create a vegetable garden. The RHS sent vegetable seeds which were planted out in March.

In the society’s first year, they grew many flowers including petunias, dahlias, chrysanthemums, stocks, lobelia, nicotiana and sweet peas, along with 20,000 lettuces, cabbages and cauliflowers, 500 celery plants, 600 tomato plants producing 300lb of fruit, 100 marrow plants, 36 melons and 72 cucumbers.

Problems with pests and securing good quality manure meant the first harvest was disappointing, but they still managed to sell food to the camp canteen and made some money to support their families back home, living in desperate poverty while their main breadwinners were interned.

And soon, their new garden was flourishing.

Promenade beds were planted alongside the barbed wire fences; members grew a total of 52 varieties of sweet pea and proudly sent photographs of their gardens back to the RHS.

“

Then during 1917, the Ruhleben Horticultural

’

Society organised competitions and held two flower shows – prizes were awarded for vegetables, cut flowers, sweet peas, table decorations, button holes and window boxes.

After the Armistice finally came, the camp was rapidly disbanded. In 1958 the racecourse and all its buildings were demolished, ironically, given the gardeners’ difficulties in obtaining manure, to make way for a sewage works.

But while the plots themselves may be gone, the fascinating memory of the men who grew them lives proudly on.

Fiona Davison, head of libraries and exhibitions at the RHS, says: “The story of the Ruhleben Horticultural Society is completely unique, in that unlike many First World War histories that tell of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, it is all but unknown.” ● The story of the Ruhleben Horticultural Society will be part of an exhibition on gardening during World War One to be held at the Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London, in October. It will go on tour in 2015/16.

Hannah Stephenson

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they became lakes.

“Through this morass, men had to wade, three times a day, for a distance of at least a quarter of a mile to fetch their food from kitchens installed underneath the grandstand. Ruhleben was really a bit of England – a small British colony as it were, planted in the heart of the enemy’s county.”

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GARDENING

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IS THEIR VALLEY

■ The flower meadow at Yeo Valley and, below right, the vegetable garden

Y

eo Valley might be best known for its yoghurt, but that is not all it does. The dairy company also has a famous organic garden at its Blagdon base which will be opening for the National Garden Scheme (NGS) at the end of the month.

Every year NGS gardens across England and Wales welcome around 750,000 visitors and every year the NGS gives away more than £2.5million to nursing, caring and gardening charities, and in the last 15 years has given away more than £25million.

Holt Farm’s tea room has gained an excellent reputation for its delicious cakes and lunches, and visitors will have the chance to indulge after exploring the picturesque gardens.

Facilities: Plants, Light Refreshments.

NGS opening details: SundayApril 27 from 11am to 5pm.

Admission: £5, child free Contact Information: Mr & Mrs Tim Mead, Telephone: 01761 461650, Email: gardens@holtfarmsgroup.co.uk Website: www.theyeovalleyorganicgarden.co.uk Address and Postcode: Blagdon, BS40 7SQ Directions: 12m south of Bristol. Off A368 Weston-super-Mare to Bath road, between

Blagdon and Ubley. Entrance to Yeo Valley Organic Garden is approximately ½mile outside Blagdon towards Bath, on the left handside, then follow garden signs.

To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres, or go to: www.ngs.org.uk.

Holt Farm during 2014 will be open for non-NGS events on Thursday and Fridays between May 1 and October 31 from 11am to 5pm, and also on the first Sunday of the month throughout the season. There is a plant fair on May 4.

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The organic garden at Holt Farm is the only ornamental garden to have the Soil Association’s “Organic Certification.” Visitors will be able to meet the team behind the 6.5 acres of contemporary planting, as well as seeing the 20,0 00 bulbs planted over the autumn and all the other projects that the green-fingered group have been up to over the winter. They will also have the chance to see the extensive vegetable garden, stroll down the tulip walk, see the wild flower meadow, giggle at the climbing courgettes and find out if the team have found an organic solution to the problem of pesky slugs.

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TRAVEL

■ The Great Wall of China and, right, The Forbidden City

T

here was an almost eerie calm hanging over Tiananmen Square. Once the scene of so much violence and bloodshed, this morning there was a palpable stillness.

It was still early and the inevitable throngs of tourists had not yet arrived. The few that had risen early were speaking in hushed tones, unwilling to be the ones to shatter the silence.

From his vantage point on the edge of the Forbidden City Chairman Mao looked on.

But he was not the only one keeping a watchful eye. Cameras perched high above silently

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Emma Dance heads east to discover the remarkable city of Beijing surveyed the square from every angle.

Despite its size no move would go unnoticed.

“There are no demonstrations here,” said our guide. With Big Brother watching so intently I wasn’t surprised. We crossed the road to the Forbidden City. If Tiananmen Square had seemed large, it dwarfed in comparison to the seemingly

endless complex of red-walled buildings and pavilions which for 500 years served as the home of Chinese emperors.

So much of the history of not just Beijing, but China, seemed to be rooted here. I could have spent a whole day exploring and yet still have only scratched the surface of discovering all that had gone on behind these walls. But the biting cold that gnawed at every piece of exposed skin sliced through my clothes and even caused my camera to give up the ghost and retreat into hibernation proved too much and I retreated

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TRAVEL

THROUGH HISTORY

We battled through the dense traffic, inching along. I didn’t mind the slow progress. It gave me a chance to thaw and to see the changing face of the city.

Futuristic buildings, Communist-style blocks and ancient temples all jostle for space.

Beijing may be one of the oldest capitals in the world but, determined not to be left behind, it is rushing headlong into the 21st century.

We left the crowded streets behind us, heading

out into the countryside towards what must be one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions – the Great Wall of China. I pressed my face against the window eager for my first glimpse. I thought that a structure huge enough to be visible from space would be easy to spot from dozens of miles away, but it wasn’t until we were much closer that it first came into sight, just for a few seconds. Even then at first it was barely visible to the naked eye – just a faint line at the top of the hills ahead, so pale that it faded into the sky. I couldn’t even be sure if I had really seen it or if it had simply been wishful thinking.

We turned a corner and it vanished again, shielded from view by the dry rolling hills.

But a few moments later and there it was – clearer this time, snaking its way over the horizon. Even from this distance the sheer scale of it was awe inspiring. Once we reached it, it was even more so.

While in high season the view could be blocked by crowds, we could see for miles. The Great Wall stretched ahead endlessly, ducking and diving over the hills, punctuated by the watch towers which seemed to get smaller and smaller

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gladly back to the warmth of the car.

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TRAVEL

■ The Centro bar in the Kerry Hotel and, above right, one of its luxurious rooms offering majestic views of 21st-century Beijing, below

as it stretched ahead. It didn’t stop, just faded into the distance. We walked further, eager to find the best view – the perfect place for the souvenir photographs that would be shown to friends and family. I wouldn’t need a photograph to remember though. The sight, the sound, the coolness of the air and the feeling of the stones beneath my feet was indelibly etched on my memory.

Back in Beijing, the achingly cool Kerry Hotel was a sharp contrast, hauling us back into the real world.

While the day’s excursions showed us the country’s past, this was very much the present, or even the future, with chic and sleek bedrooms, gourmet restaurants and a hi-tech sports and wellness centre, complete with the city’s largest indoor swimming pool.

We spent the evening in the hotel’s Centro bar, one of the city’s hottest nightspots, drawing an uber-trendy crowd of socialites, celebrities and hipsters.

The resident band crooned sultry jazz numbers while the evening turned into the early hours, in a haze of cigarette smoke and cocktails.

In less than 24 hours I felt as if I had travelled through centuries.

While other Asian cities may have more fashion flair, greater gastronomy or chic-er shopping, Beijing should not be discounted.

With its rich history it is one of the continent’s most fascinating destinations. ● A double room at Kerry Hotel, Beijing starts from RMB 2,185 (approx. £213) – room only.

Price includes tax and service.

To book visit www.shangri-la.com or call 0800 028 3337.

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DAYS OUT

\hz{ TIPS

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elebrity chef Gino D’Acampo will be paying a visit to Sparkworld in Martock on April to demonstrate his cooking skills and share some hints and tips.

The visit forms part of Sparkworld’s open weekend on April 25 and 26 to give people the chance to see their new kitchen showroom.

Over the two days Sparkworld with the help of Zanussi will be hosting ‘Main Ingredient’ who will demonstrate the benefits of steam and induction cooking. Visitors will be able to see them cooking some delicious dishes and sample some tasty treats.

‘Main Ingredient’ is run by Flip and Hoops who between them have over 20 years of event experience. They provide event catering, chic parties, delicious private dinners, contemporary canapé parties to corporate hospitality. Some of their clients include Zanussi, Coca-Cola, Cadbury’s and Taste of London.Main Flip helped to set up the Cobden club in west London which had a 60 seater restaurant, cocktail bar, stage and library. She then moved to Somerset to begin working with Nick Jones setting up Babington House, part of the Soho House Group. She oversaw membership and Front of House, but eventually realised that her passion was behind the scenes in the kitchen, and she decided to pursue her love of food and became a Private Chef.

Hoops whilst working as a brand manager for a high-end barbecue manufacturer, was given the opportunity to work with top profile chefs: Gary Rhodes, Bruno Loubet, Lesley Walters and Anthony Worrall-Thompson amongst others.

■ Gino D’Acampo and, below, Flip and Hoops will be at Sparkworld later this month These chefs inspired Hoops to pursue her love of food as a career, and in 1996 she worked with They will receive Gino’s recipe book – which will Catalyst Event Management to develop team be signed by Gino on the day and the chance to building using food and wine. have their picture taken with the chef. The tickets will be sold by St Margaret’s hospice. To Since then Flip and Hoops’ careers have purchase tickets please call 01935 709485 or blossomed and they still have the same long email fundraising@st-margarets-hospice.org.uk. standing love, intuition and passion for food, and Tickets will be sold on a first come first served bring all that experience together in Main basis.

Ingredient for the benefit of their clients.

For those that don’t get a ticket there will still be plenty of standing room to see the chef in action.

On Saturday ‘Main ingredient’ will be joined by Gino D’Acampo. Gino will be Showcasing his cookery skills in a live demonstration, holding a meet and greet for 40 lucky ticket holders and a one to one cookery lesson which can be won through The Breeze radio station.

Sparkworld will also be raising money for St Margaret’s Hospice.

There are 40 tickets available to meet Gino, for people donating a minimum of £20 to St Margaret’s Hospice.

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Each person will receive a ticket which allows them to be seated in an exclusive viewing area directly in front of Gino.

There will also be a raffle with the star prize being donated by Zanussi and Gino himself. One lucky winner will get a Zanussi single oven, Induction hob, Hood, Gino D’Acampo pan set and Gino recipe book. Tickets are available through Sparkworld’s Somerset showroom and St Margaret’s Hospice.

The event runs from 10am to 4pm each day.

For more information visit www.sparkworld.co.uk.

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DAYS OUT

Kp{ STYLE

T

he most fashionable event in Bath’s calendar is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet.

This year marks five years since the inception of Bath in Fashion, and there is an exciting programme of events planned from May 3 to May 10 proving why Bath in Fashion has established itself as one of the most respected fashion gatherings outside London celebrating fashion, textiles and art.

This year’s event promises a week-long programme that showcases Summer ’14 fashions on the catwalk, brings fashion celebrities and authors to share their style and stimulate debate, and stages hands-on workshops, style counsel, exhibitions and installations.

Chairman of Bath in Fashion, Sarah Mansfield, said: “We have been working all year to put together another great line-up, bringing some of the world’s top fashion journalists, business

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leaders, designers and show producers to Bath for 2014.”

Highlights of the programme include a master class by interior designer Nina Campbell, a talk by the MD of Topshop Mary Homer, a festival fashion panel with designer Emma Hope, pop up workshops and creative think tanks, hairdressing demos, the ever popular Fashion Your Future event for those interested in pursuing a career in fashion and dazzling catwalk shows showcasing High Street and designer styles.

There will also be a unique opportunity to see original vintage BIBA on the catwalk, as well as chance to hear the creator of BIBA, Barbara Hulanicki, in conversation with former fashion director of The Telegraph Hilary Alexander.

Tickets for Bath in Fashion are on sale now. To see the full programme of events visit www.bathinfashion.co.uk.

Uhyrl{ Pv|zl SOCIETY

GETS A MAKEOVER

T

he eagerly awaited grand reopening of Castle Cary’s Market House brought to an end an extensive £350,000 refurbishment project to create a new signature venue within the town.

the refurbishments and looked to the future of what the new revamped building would be able to offer residents.

King’s Bruton Big Band provided musical entertainment in the Undercroft, which is soon to be home to a weekly street market.

a few years but given that Castle Cary is a market town with a market charter for a weekly Tuesday market it was a crime that we weren’t doing more.”

He said: “The town council has worked hard on this project for years, with much appreciated support and funding from South Somerset District Council, a large grant from The project, running almost three months behind schedule, saw members of the public Viridor Credits, plus many other smaller invited to witness Lady Gass, Lord Lieutenant grants and energetic local fundraising has meant that at long last we have been able to of Somerset, cut the ribbon to the grade II undertake and complete this project, which listed building. will help Castle Cary develop its full potential The revamp of the Shambles area of the as a vibrant and busy market town.” building, which began in May last year following an extensive fundraising effort, has The Undercroft will be the focus of a new weekly Tuesday outdoor general street seen the installation of a glazed roof, market featuring stalls for food, clothing, underfloor heating, a small kitchen area, plants and crafts. wheelchair access and will seat up to 50 people for presentations and a range of Market House management group indoor activities, complete with new representative Angela Piggott said: “We have furniture. had a few stalls outside the Market House for

■ Bath Jackman provides some entertainment

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Chairman of Castle Cary Town Council Terry Philpott welcome the completion of

Pictures by Terry Fisher

SOCIETY

■ King’s Bruton Big Band provide musical entertainment in the Undercroft

■ Lady Gass performs the opening ceremony

■ Back, Terry Phillpott, chair of Castle Cary Town Council; Laura Tilling, Castle Cary town councillor; front, Lady Gass, Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset; and Nick Weekes, district and town councillor THE

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SOCIETY

FOR POPULAR CHEF

P

opular chef Brett Sutton has unveiled his new venture on the border of Somerset and Dorset. The former head chef of eight years for the Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne, has taken over the White Post pub, in Rimpton.

Mr Sutton, a Western Gazette food columnist, refurbished the free house pub, which includes three letting rooms, and hosted a launch party for nearly 200 guests.

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Mr Sutton, who has re-located to the venue with his wife and sons, is eager to offer a modern British taste of local food with a twist. Visitors were greeted with unusual canapés such as tiny glasses of cauliflower soup. Villager John Tricker said locals were delighted with the new look.

He said: “A family pub is what we have wanted for years. The views are brilliant and we hope that it will attract lots of people.”

SOCIETY

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MOTORS

Uv{vypun MANIA

■ Christopher Haynes (MD Haynes Developments) and Marc Haynes (MD Haynes International Motor Museum),

W

half year building programme the new museum is planning to officially open its doors on Thursday, April 17, just before the Easter weekend, when visitors will have a first view of the largest exhibition of the greatest cars from around the world, with more than 400 cars and motorcycles, Haynes International Motor Museum in Sparkford dating from 1886 to the present day.

Much has changed since our last visit to the has been undergoing a two-and-a-half-year museum for a look behind the scenes in January. building programme to revamp the 28-year-old museum with a new architectural design rivalling The front of the building is now really starting to some of the sweeping lines of the star attractions take shape. Through the Museum’s new front doors into the double foyer entrance, Café 750 is inside. now clearly recognisable, and the paintwork The museum now has a long S-shaped glass ith less than a month to go until a popular south Somerset motoring museum opens its brand new doors to the public following a £5 million revamp, the finishing touches are now being applied to see it opened in time for Easter.

double-storey entrance foyer and, inside the building, the renovations have continued to allow for many more detailed exhibits than before.

The museum first opened its doors in July 1985 in a sawmill, with just 33 cars, donated by publisher John Haynes OBE, but with the car collection increasing steadily ever since the museum had been struggling to keep pace, resulting in new extensions about every two years. During this period visitors to the museum doubled, making it overcrowded on busy days.

As a result the trustees decided a new, more modern and bigger development was needed.

Now approaching completion after a two and a

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complete. Delving further into the new museum most of the plastering and painting has now been finished and the final touches are being put on the backdrops to the ‘Dawn of Motoring’ exhibition – which has been reinterpreted and moved to a new area of the museum – and for the new ‘Minis and Micros’ exhibition hall which will allow visitors to virtually re-spray a real Mini as part of a leading-edge augmented reality experience.

Outside the first layer of tarmac on the car park has been prepared, allowing for more visitors than ever before.

Marc Haynes, managing director of Haynes International Motor Museum, said: “We are delighted with the progress we have made in recent weeks with the museum starting to bear a much closer resemblance to the final product.

Now the raining has abated, it has meant that we have been able to make good strides on the front of the building and are looking forward to welcoming our first guests through the main doors and showcasing all the new exhibition halls, modernised halls, interactive displays, as well as the family friendly adventure play zone, new cafe, shop, function rooms, and much more, for the first time.”

Stephen Davy Osborne

THE NEW F-TYPE COUPÉ.

NOW AT TAUNTON JAGUAR.

FROM £51,235 ON THE ROAD. The F-TYPE Coupé delivers a uniquely connected driving experience – ultra precise, powerful, sensual and, most of all, alive. It looks fast. And it is fast. Be amongst the first to drive the F-TYPE Coupé, contact us today to book an appointment.

TAUNTON JAGUAR BRIDGWATER ROAD, BATHPOOL, TAUNTON TA2 8BN

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HOW ALIVE ARE YOU? Official fuel economy figures for the Jaguar F-TYPE range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 17.8-22.4 (15.9-12.6); Extra Urban 34.0- 40.9 (8.3-6.9); Combined 25.5-31.4 (11.1-9.0). CO2 emissions 259 to 205 (g/km). The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only.

On the road price is the manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price, plus First Registration Fee and Delivery Pack.

MOTORING

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Matt Kimberley takes the new Toyota Verso for a test drive.

ometimes the biggest obstacle you can face is the simple fact that you’re not a trendier something else. The Voice flopped because it wasn’t The X Factor. The motoring show Fifth Gear flopped because it wasn’t Top Gear. And the Toyota Verso MPV... well, let’s just compare refining it; making it as useful in day-to-day driving as possible. its 3,000 UK sales last year with the Nissan Qashqai crossover’s 50,000.

And they’ve done a remarkably good job.

Toyota’s engine mounts are different, designed to Ultimately they’re a similar size, with similar absorb more of the compact diesel’s vibrations driving positions and similar engines, so it’s no and prevent them from reaching the driver and wonder Toyota has been scratching its passengers. As long as your hands aren’t resting metaphorical head. The problem was judged to on the interior trim, vibrations are almost be the lack of an eco-bananas 1.6-litre diesel, so undetectable. thanks to a new partnership with BMW, that’s changed.

This distillation extends to the stop-start system, The 2014 Verso has a host of small detail changes and quality improvements. That’s all well and good, and while the cabin still feels distinctly Toyota the real meat of the new model is its engine, and what Toyota has done to it.

The 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel has been pinched from the Mini, where it has been reliable enough to catch Toyota’s eye. The Verso is a heavier car though, so rather than try to change its power delivery, the firm has focused on

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which uses an uprated starter motor to kick the engine into life. This kind of stop-start process can rattle your fillings out if it’s badly set up, so Toyota, believing that the Verso will spend most of its life in traffic, has smoothed out the restart into a buttery-smooth process that offers all the disturbance of a passing moth.

From the driver’s seat, there’s more to appreciate, from the myriad storage compartments to the near-ideal driving position.

FOR VERSO

The seats themselves are flat-based and offer little in the way of lateral support, but for gentle cruising they are comfortable. There’s a good view out of the Verso in all directions, too.

On paper the borrowed engine looks a little feeble next to the competition, but the reality belies the numbers.

The Verso never really feels out of its depth and pulls strongly through the gears with two people and luggage on board. It’s quiet below 2,500rpm, but a boot-full of throttle will see it get a little rowdy.

The middle row of seats is mightily spacious, with child seat attachment points on the outer two perches. The third, fold-away row is definitely for occasional use only, but as kids always seem to travel with friends, it might come in very handy.

A perennially comfortable ride seems to sum the Verso up. It’s not a new-fangled exciting crossover and it makes no pretence to dynamism.

But it’s well thought-out by people who know how to make a great everyday family car, and the new engine is a perfect fit. It deserves to do much better this year.

Style and substance 7 seater

Space for man’s best friend

Rexton W

Korando

£21,995*

£14,995

available from

Selectable 4 x 4 with low range

available from

**

2.0 litre e-XDi200 diesel engine

2 tonne towing capability

LYNXName Garage Dealer Sea King Address lineRoad 1 Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2NZ Address line 2 Address line 3 01935 472001 or 07968 310261 01234 5678910 www.lynxgarage.co.uk www.dealerwebsiteaddress.co.uk Fuel consumption figures in mpg (1/100km) Rexton W: Urban 28.4 (9.9) - 30.0 (9.4), Extra Urban 42.2 (6.7) – 44.8 (6.3), Combined 36.2 (7.8) – 38.2 (7.4). CO2 emissions in g/km: 206-196. Korando: Urban 29.5 (9.6) – 37.7 (7.5), Extra Urban 44.9 (6.3) – 55.4 (5.1), Combined 37.7 (7.5) – 47.1 (6.0). CO2 emissions in g/km: 199-147. Models featured are a Rexton 2.0 EX at £24,995 and a Korando ELX4 at £20,495, both including optional metallic paint priced at £500. *Rexton 2.0 SX including VAT, delivery charge, Road Fund License & first registration charge. **Korando SE including VAT, delivery charge, Road Fund License & first registration charge.

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beauty. seldom seen. tHe bmW 6 seRIes gRan coupé.

One glimpse of the captivating BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé will leave a lasting impression.

Our first ever four-door coupé looks set to eclipse the competition and blends beauty with practicality.

Lavishly appointed with a carefully considered high level of standard specification, including high definition BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation, this is a car that exceeds expectations.

F r r i f r r vi i www.w

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01935 350130

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Mead Avenue, Houndstone Business Park Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8RT 01935 350130 www.westerlyyeovilbmw.co.uk

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé Range: Urban 22.8–41.5mpg (12.4–6.8l/100km).

Extra Urban 40.9–57.6mpg (6.9–4.9l/100km). Combined 31.7–50.4mpg (8.9–5.6l/100km). CO2 emissions 206–148g/km.

Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

BMW EfficientDynamics reduces BMW emissions without compromising performance developments and is standard across the model range. * Test drive subject to applicant status and availability.

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If Carlsberg did Dog Trainers theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d probably be the best Dog Trainers in the world!

The Pet Experience

TPE Training & Behaviour LTD Sarah Linehan CoPAS GoDT IACP Member

Qualified and experienced behaviourist & trainer Phone now on: 07769-705 807 Or e-mail: sarah@thepetexperience.co.uk

www.the-pet-experience.co.uk

COFFEE BREAK Take a break and have a go at this crossword Cryptic clues Across 1. Lightning report? (4,5) 8. Self-esteem is something of a foregone conclusion (3) 9. Not the first set of pupils to be not the best (6,5) 11. Chief pigheadedly went first and fell headlong (7) 12. She needs some of their energy (5) 13. Deity had a session on a burial vessel (6) 15. Article inserted into one firearm to use on a lizard (6) 17. Europeans at the ends of the Earth? (5) 18. Giving a name to a profession? (7) 20. Ran election badly – bigotry shown (11) 22. No longer at home in the South (3) 23. Scattered and perished when charm intruded (9) Down 2. The first wife just before the great day (3) 3. The last of the staff in a livery (5) 4. Agree to yield after account (6) 5. The title is ‘The Way to Go’ (7) 6. Recklessness in steep road (11) 7. It is designed to produce a return (9) 10. In which government and investors have interest? (7,4) 11. His trials will be above our heads (4,5) 14. See dirt put in another place (7) 16. In which musical exercises are given weighting? (6) 19. Big regal turn-out (5) 21. Signal to act in snooker drama? (3)

Solutions to last month’s crossword: Cryptic solutions Across: 1 Lens; 8 North Wales; 9 Sergeant; 10 Race; 12 Trivia; 14 Second; 15 Deform; 17 Assets; 18 Stye; 19 Horseman; 21 Discretion; 22 Asti.

Down: 2 Endearment; 3 Snug; 4 Armada; 5 Chutes; 6 Barracks; 7 Isle; 11 Constraint; 13 Violence; 16 Mahler; 17 Adroit; 18 Side; 20 Edna.

Quick Solutions Across: 1 Clap; 8 Obliterate; 9 Customer; 10 Cagy; 12 Greedy; 14 Yellow; 15 Foment; 17 Siting; 18 Espy; 19 Variable; 21 Vulnerable; 22 Test.

Down: 2 Lugubrious; 3 Port; 4 Clumsy; 5 Sturdy; 6 Bracelet; 7 Levy; 11 Groundless; 13 Everyone; 16 Tavern; 17 Scribe; 18 Envy; 20 Abet

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Quick clues Across 1. Co-worker (9) 8. Age (3) 9. Emotional (11) 11. Crowed (7) 12. Lid (5) 13. Precipices (6) 15. Loved (6) 17. Different (5) 18. Non-attendance (7) 20. Surroundings (11) 22. Sprint (3) 23. Withdrew (9) Down 2. Unity (3) 3. Oust (5) 4. Avaricious (6) 5. Lured (7) 6. Release (11) 7. Case (9) 10. Food (11) 11. Pen (9) 14. Eternally (3,4) 16. Attic (6) 19. Meaning (5) 21. Born (3)

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uNIvERSIty COuRSES but NOt uNIvERSIty pRICES

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tImEtAblES StRuCtuREd ANd dESIgNEd tO SuIt lEARNERS

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01278 441234 • www. ri wa er.ac. k

Which school combines a relaxed atmosphere with outstanding exam results?

a.

Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College combines a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with a real sense of purpose and a passion for learning. Pupils have access to a broad and interesting curriculum, taught by an outstandingly committed staff.

Open Morning For pupils aged 3 - 18 years Monday 5 May, 9.30am to 12 noon

- Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the answer Find out more: 01823 340830

admissions@queenscollege.org.uk

www.queenscollege.org.uk