Cambridge Edition April

Cambridge APRIL 2015

Your monthly fix of local life www.cambsedition.co.uk

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CULTURE

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NIGHTLIFE

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APRIL 2015

Welcome 33

29

46

5 • FIVE THINGS TO DO Our pick of the best things to do in Cambridge this month 7-13 • NIGHTLIFE The best evening entertainment and events in the city, from comedy to clubs 17 • MUSIC BLOG Our insider guide to the best live gigs in Cambridge in April 18-19 • CAMBRIDGE SOUND Wes Freeman-Smith explores the popularity of performance poetry 21-29 • ARTS & CULTURE The must-see shows, concerts and exhibitions in the area 30-31 • CAMBRIDGE LITERARY FESTIVAL A veritable feast of fiction, poetry, non-fiction and children's books 33-45 • FOOD NEWS Gin, a food festival and kids' cookery classes are the highlights of April's Cambridge culinary scene 46-49 • RECIPES Local foodie Stella Pereira shares some of her favourite Portuguese dishes 51 • REVIEW Edition discovers panache and excellent flavours at The Blue Lion, Hardwick 53-55 • EASTER EVENTS Egg hunts, craft events and concerts taking place over the Easter weekend 59 • FAMILY Family events, outings and lots more ideas to keep everyone entertained 60-63 • READER SURVEY Tell us what you think of Cambridge Edition and you might win a prize!

65 • INDIE OF THE MONTH Fifty shades of great: We enter the risque, resplendent world of Quiver 66-67 • LISTINGS Your at-a-glance guide to what’s on in Cambridge throughout April

Hello and welcome to our April issue, a rather special one for us, as it marks our fourth birthday! I decided to celebrate the milestone by taking a trip down memory lane and digging out the very first issues of the magazine. I was happy to see that whilst Edition might look a bit different these days, we've very much stayed true to our ethos from day one: letting people know about the most interesting things happening in Cambridge, from the mainstream (and often) to the more quirky, promoting the uniqueness of the city and our fantastic independent business and, fundamentally, giving our readers lots of inspiration to help them spend their precious free time wisely. It's been incredibly rewarding to see Edition grow and evolve since then, and also to hear that so many in the city seek it out each month – so a big thank you to all of our wonderful readers!

If you want to help shape the next four years of Cambridge Edition, turn to our Reader Survey 2015 on page 60, where you can have your chance to tell us what you'd like to see more of, or change – see you next month!

NICOLA FOLEY, EDITOR FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/CambsEdition

70-71 • OAR-SOME Jenny Shelton finds out more about the historic Cambridge-Oxford University Boat Race

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @cambsedition

COVER ART

73 • CALL THE (MOGGY) MIDWIFE We meet the incredible family who have fostered over 100 kittens for Wood Green

The artwork featured on this month’s cover is by Roxana de Rond, an artist and illustrator living in Cambridge. See more at: roxanaillustrations.co.uk

74 • COMMUNITY The latest word on all your charitable deeds and community events 79-82 • FASHION Jump! (for the love of the all-in-one trend). Meanwhile, red is the hottest colour for menswear this season 86-87 • BEAUTY Sweet like chocolate: lotions, balms, butters and masks that look good enough to eat 88-90 • WELLNESS Introducing: the chocolate that makes you younger! Plus spa and beauty news 93 • EDUCATION How St Mary's School, Cambridge, is equipping girls with the skills to change the world 97• BUSINESS NEWS Business events in the Cambridge community

© Louisa Taylor

CONTENTS

EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com

Alex Rushmer, Angelina Villa-Clarke, Charlotte Griffiths, Christepher Hald, Daisy Dickinson, Heidi White, Jordan Worland, Ruthie Collins, Stella Pereira, Wesley Freeman-Smith

Features editor Jenny Shelton 01223 499463 jennifershelton@bright-publishing.com Sub editors Lisa Clatworthy & Debbie Poyser

ADVERTISING Sales executive Lauren Widdowson 01223 499451 laurenwiddowson@bright-publishing. com Key account manager Maria Francis 01223 499461 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Designer Emily Stowe 01223 499450 emilystowe@bright-publishing.com Ad production Lucy Woolcomb 01223 499468 lucywoolcomb@bright-publishing.com

MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck 01223 499450

www.bright-publishing.com

CAMBRIDGE EDITION MAGAZINE • Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ, 01223 499450, www.cambsedition.co.uk • All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of the publishers. • Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Cambridge Edition or Bright Publishing Ltd, which do not accept any liability for loss or damage. • Every effort has been made to ensure all information is correct. • Cambridge Edition is a free publication that is distributed in Cambridge and the surrounding area

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5 THINGS TO DO

1. ENJOY EASTER

Easter falls in April this year and we’re more than ready to gather with our families, gorge on chocolate and enjoy a joint of spring lamb. If you’re partial to pairing your chocolate with a nice glass of wine, join the Cambridgeshire Wine School’s inspired chocolate and wine tasting event on Good Friday at the Royal Cambridge Hotel (7.30pm, £30). And on page 53 of this issue, you’ll find lots more of the best Easter events and ideas, including concerts and family days out.

2. AWESOME WEDNESDAYS

In time for the Easter Holidays, The Grafton has launched a series of ‘Awesome Wednesdays’ activities, starting on 1 April with a petting zoo. From 11am-3pm, the Cambridge shopping centre will welcome a menagerie of cute and fluffy critters to its Great Court, allowing children to meet rabbits, guinea pigs, and even racoons and meerkats. The event is RSPCA approved and is an opportunity to teach little ones about animals, as well as grabbing some great photos. Next, on 8 April, there will be a free craft workshop running between 11am and 3pm inspired by the new Shaun the Sheep movie. www.graftoncentre.co.uk

THINGS TO DO

THIS MONTH...

3. WATCH THE BOAT RACE

We’ll have our fingers and toes crossed for a Cambridge victory on 11 April when the Cambridge University men’s and women’s rowing crews take on Oxford in The Boat Race. The race was established in 1829 when two school friends, Charles Merrivale and Charles Wordsworth, decided to set up a challenge between England’s two great universities. This year already marks a victory for women’s sport, as for the first time the women’s boat will race the same course, the Tideway on the Thames, on the same day as the men. Read our interview with both captains on page 70.

4. SHUT UP AND DANCE

Cambridge is proving a positive Petri dish of musical talent and one local band on the ascent is Fred’s House, who released their new single, Shut Up And Dance, last month and play Cambridge Junction on 23 April.

The band, fronted by affianced songwriting duo Griff Jameson and Vikki Gavin, blend together a folksy, 60s-inspired sound and have been championed by Radio 2’s Bob Harris. The single comes from their debut album, Bonnie & Clyde, released to great acclaim in 2014. It is available to buy now. www.fredshousemusic.co.uk

5. HAVE YOU GOT THE X-FACTOR?

Edition was VERY excited to learn that ITV megashow The X-Factor will be coming to Cambridge over the Easter Weekend!

Local hopefuls are being invited to audition for the next series at The Hidden Rooms, Jesus Lane, on Friday 3 April and at an X-Factor ‘pod’ at the Grand Arcade on Saurday 4th (9am to 6pm, all ages are welcome).

Though the Friday heat is already full, spectators are welcome. Go online for details, and let's make 2015's winner a Cantabrigian! www.hiddenroomsonline.com

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NIGHTLIFE

CORN EX THE ELO EXPERIENCE One of the biggest rock bands of the 1970s, the Electric Light Orchestra sold over 50 million records worldwide and pioneered a new, electronic sound blended with orchestral instruments. Jeff Lynne’s band of musicians were known just as much for their spellbinding live performances, incorporating cutting-edge lightshows, and released an incredible 27 Top 40 hit singles in both the UK and the USA. The ELO Experience, formed over seven years ago, captures all of this and has become the leading tribute to the band. They will be at Cambridge Corn Exchange on 18 April, as part of an extensive UK-wide programme of gigs, to showcase a whole spectrum of ELO classics such as Evil Woman, Living Thing, Don’t Bring Me Down and, surely everyone’s favourite, Mr Blue Sky. Starts 7.30pm; tickets £22.50. www.cornex.co.uk

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MEGSON Cambridge is proving an incubator for some excellent musical talent at the moment, from chart-toppers Clean Bandit and Alt-J to ones to watch Lucy Rose, Fred’s House and Lonely The Brave.

Ten years ago, another local band was on the ascent: Megson. The husband and wife duo formed in Cambridge and soon caught the attention of Radio 2 DJ Bob Harris, earned three BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominations and delighted fans at the Cambridge Folk Festival. Now, for the first time, Megson will be performing a one-off show at Cambridge Junction with an extended line-up. Their homecoming show takes place on 20 April and joining them is NIZLOPI’s JP on bass, and Cliff Ward (The Willows) on banjo and fiddle.

See “the most original duo on the British folk scene” (The Guardian), live at the Junction at 8pm; tickets £13. Support on the night comes from Fowlmere folk singer Hannah Sanders. www.junction.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

ALAN CARR TV’s Chatty Man is swapping his shiny gold sofa for the stage this spring as he embarks on his third UK stand-up tour, Yap, Yap, Yap!. The bespectacled Northampton-born comic launched his career performing in the comedy clubs of Manchester, getting his big break in 2001 when he won both Best Newcomer and the BBC’s New Comedy Award. He has since conquered radio and become a firm fixture of Friday nights on Channel 4 with his gloriously camp chat show, Alan Carr: Chatty Man, which is now in its 11th series.

Yap, Yap, Yap! sees Carr – who has been hailed as “an absolute natural on stage” and “a born storyteller” by The London Evening Standard – returning to his roots for an evening of cheeky laughs and chat. It’s at the Corn Exchange, 3 and 4 April at 8pm, tickets £32.50. www.cornex.co.uk

FRED’S HOUSE If you’ve been to any live music pubs, festivals and music events in Cambridge you’re bound to have come across Fred’s House. The homespun heroes – a five-piece blending elements of country, folk and classic rock – have gained a huge following over recent years and released their debut album, Bonnie & Clyde, in April last year. Evidence of their love of Fleetwood Mac, Simon and Garfunkel and CSNY is clear in their rich, 70s sound, which combines harmonies from singers Griff and Vix, accompanied by Griff’s brother Gafyn on bass, Lachlan on lead guitar/banjo and Paul on drums. Together they’ve played Cambridge Folk Festival, Secret Garden Party and supported Eddi Reader and The Wonderstuff.

Catch them at Cambridge Junction on 23 April, 8pm; tickets £11. www.junction.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

now

booking

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL 30 July-2 August, Cherry Hinton Hall, from £22.50 Joan Armatrading, Passenger, Joan Baez and Frank Turner have been announced as the headline acts for this year’s Cambridge Folk Festival. The increasingly popular event will take place on 30 July-2 August at its usual home, Cherry Hinton Hall. Other highlights include children’s entertainment, music workshops and the return of Jim Moray’s Silent Ceilidh.

Tickets are now on sale, starting at £22.50 for Thursday only and ranging up to £150 for the full festival. www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk

BRYAN FERRY

LAURA MARLING How is Laura Marling still only 25? The talented musician with the angelic voice is already on her fifth album, has a BRIT in the bag and, if recent reviews are anything to go by, has just raised the bar even higher. As well as a new ‘do, two years spent living in LA has informed a new, bigger, electronic sound, quite different from the wistful musings of the 18-year-old who gave us Alas, I Cannot Swim.

Of her latest release, Short Movie, she says: “I realised that I hadn’t been in one place for longer than two or three weeks since I was 16,” she explains. “I thought, I wonder what will happen if I try and root myself somewhere? Look back over the past eight years.”

The album has been self-produced by Marling, her long-time drummer Matt Ingram and studio engineer Dan Cox. She plays Cambridge Corn Exchange on 22 April, 7.30pm; tickets are £22.50. www.cornex.co.uk

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8 May, Corn Exchange, from £37.50 The former Roxy Music frontman has announced a string of UK dates this summer, including a night at Cambridge Corn Exchange in May. Awarded five stars from The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, this is sure to be one of the must-see shows of the summer. VIP packages are available. www.cornex.co.uk

MILTON JONES 16-17 May, Corn Exchange, £26.50 Master of the one-liner Jones brings his quirky brand of comedy to Cambridge Corn Exchange as part of his latest show, Temple of Daft. Expect loud shirts and deadpan laughs from the Mock The Week and Live At The Apollo regular. www.cornex.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

SKA TRAIN FESTIVAL

THE LEISURE SOCIETY A folk- and indie-inspired outfit led by Nick Hemming’s distinctive vocals, The Leisure Society release their fourth album this April: The Fine Art of Hanging On. The band have a talent for creating a sound that’s completely timeless, with honest, soulful lyrics and broad-ranging multi-instrumentation. Their latest offering is almost a concept album, as Hemming explains: “The Fine Art of Hanging On is a recurrent, linking theme, although this wasn’t an intentional concept album,” he says. “It’s about clinging to something – be that a relationship, a career, or life itself.

“All the way through writing the album, a friend of mine was battling cancer. I reached out by sending him the rough demos of this album. By giving him this access to the work in progress and by him giving feedback, we formed a close bond. Sadly, he lost his battle, but his input and presence is there in the album.”

Hemming grew up in Burton-on-Trent and started his musical career as a teenager with indie band She Talks To Angels. Following the band’s split, Nick was scooped up by local indie hopes The Telescopes, who were signed to Creation Records.

A lull followed in the mid-2000s, but the arrival of fellow Burton-on-Trent exile Christian Hardy marked the start of a new chapter: The Leisure Society was born and developed rapidly, with their single The Last Of The Melting Snow being championed by Radcliffe and Maconie on Radio 2 and Elbow’s Guy Garvey on 6Music. Cue two Ivor Novello award nominations and a performance at Glastonbury.

This month, catch them live at Cambridge Junction, 16 April, 8pm. Tickets £16. www.junction.co.uk

If you thought a good ska night was significantly absent from Cambridge’s after-hours offerings, you’ll be pleased to hear about Ska Train Festival, a new club night at Cambridge Junction. The Neville Staple Band, The Dualers, Big 10 and New Town Kings will all be showcasing their talents from 7.30pm, joined by some of the region’s top ska DJs. Plus, discover a few new, upcoming bands while you’re at it. Original rude boy Neville Staple has fronted The Specials, worked with legends such as Elvis Costello and Ali Campbell, and performed with icons of ska Rankin Roger (English Beat). Takes place 3 April, 7.30pm-midnight; tickets £21 in advance. www.junction.co.uk

BEER WEEK AT THE MILL Favourite local watering hole The Mill in Cambridge will celebrate our city’s love affair with good beer by hosting a dedicated Beer Week from 20-26 April.

The riverside pub, which boasts smart, inviting interiors and an excellent range of ales, has a series of events planned, including guided beer tasting on the 20th with resident beer expert Laura (tickets £17). Votes are being taken throughout April for their Battle of the Brewers competition, the results of which will be announced on 23 April. And don’t miss the opportunity to meet head brewer Mark on the evening of the 25th, and enjoy a few samples, as well as witnessing the release of the pub’s new seasonal beer, Beehemoth. www.facebook.com/Themillpubcam

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NIGHTLIFE

MIKE AND THE MECHANICS

Edition is giving away a pair of tickets for the show – visit cambsedition.co.uk to enter.

MEXRISSEY: MEXICO GOES MORRISSEY Morrissey’s songs of love, loss and longing have long struck a chord with the people of Mexico, with generations raised on rancheras and mariachis growing up with his music. So it’s perhaps no surprise that musicians from Mexico City have formed what’s proving to be an immensely popular tribute act, Mexrrissey – and they're coming to Cambridge Corn Exchange this month. The band of traditional musicians is led by Camilo Lara, the force inside Mexican Institute of Sound, together with Sergio Mendoza (Orkesta Mendoza and Calexico). Andy Wood, director of the La Linea Festival in London, approached Camilo Lara with the initial idea to put together Mexrrissey. Andy says: “It just felt like time. I had a sense of the feeling there was for Morrissey in Mexico and the way that his music could connect with so much in Mexican music. It was time to return the love and Camilo was the man who could round up the right posse of dirty pretty things.”

Camilo continues: “I always thought that there were these invisible lines between what Morrissey and Manchester represents and what Mexico City and Mexican pop culture has. And if these are tiny coincidences, we're making them a little bit bigger on this occasion with a concert of broken hearts and forgotten dreams.”

Sergio Mendoza made the arrangements and admits they’ve taken a risk with their unique take on such classic songs. One starting point was to either find a song with a Mexican connection or something that

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Camilo and Sergio could imagine recasting with a Mexican flavour. Another starting point was to simply select a song that they were big fans of, such as Vicar in a Tutu, Everyday is Like Sunday or Bigmouth Strikes Again.

Says Camilo: “I'm sure people will be amazed that the songs can go into these directions of cumbia and boleros and sound actually as if they were written in that style.

Though it's the words, the playful turns of phrase, and the sighs that are the trickiest to translate into Spanish.”

Taking us on a journey of love, loss and longing is an incredible team of big hitters from Mexico’s rock and pop world, who immediately said yes to Mexrrissey's invitation. On board is underground legend Chetes (Zurtok) on guitar, Jay De La Cueva (Moderatto /Titán) on bass, Café Tacuba’s violin player Alejandro Flores, Alex Escobar on trumpet (Twin Tones), Ricardo Najera on drums (Furland) and Camilo Lara adding his trademark sampling and electronics.

Ceci Bastida (Tijuana No!) plays keyboards, and vocals are shared between four of the band, who also add other flavours live from a range of traditional instruments. Viva Mexrrissey – Ven Armaggedon!

The gig takes place on 29th April at Cambridge Corn Exchange, 7.30pm, and tickets are £17.50. To complete the Mexican flavour, Nanna Mexico will be there serving free corn chips, salsa and guacamole (vegetarian, of course – just in case the man himself should stop by). www.cornex.co.uk

Get yourself Another Cup of Coffee, look back Over Your Shoulder and get ready to relive the days when clothes were baggy and hair was long, as the legendary Mike and the Mechanics pull into town as part of their ‘The Hits Tour 2015’.

Yes, it’s been 30 years since Genesis’ Mike Rutherford, Paul Carrack, Paul Young, Adrian Lee and Peter Van Hooke got together, forming the pop supergroup that gave us The Living Years, Word of Mouth and other late 80s and early 90s classics. Though he seems to have lost a few of his original Mechanics along the way, Mike Rutherford is joined by two new bandmates for this recent reincarnation of the band: prolific R&B singer Andrew Roachford (whose previous hits include Cuddly Toy and Family Man) and Canadian-born singer Tim Howar who, with his band Vantramp, has toured with the likes of Rod Stewart and Paulo Nutini.

They’ll be bringing a new dimension to the band’s established sound, and are sure to bring out plenty of the old hits.

The gig takes place on 23 April at 7.30pm, and tickets are on sale from £34.50. www.cornex.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

EVENTS AT RELEVANT RECORDS

© Wesley Freeman-Smith

© Wesley Freeman-Smith

Eccentric singer-songwriter Rishi – the creative force behind Karmadillo – will be making an appearance at this Mill Road record shop and café. Join him on 2 April as he performs well known hits from Noah and the Whale, Divine Comedy and the like on his charango – a South American instrument originally made from actual armadillos. That’s right, armadillos. Safe to say it’s set to be a quirky gig, with plenty of humour and insightful commentary from this offbeat London-based artist. With support from Tom Rouse.

Then, on 18 April, Relevant Records celebrates Record Store Day – yup, it’s a thing. Paying homage to independent record stores worldwide, it’s a chance to mingle with like-minded vinyl lovers.

There will be live music throughout the day, including a set by alternative indie folk band Stornoway. www.relevantrecordcafe.co.uk

I AM KLOOT Following the release of their new live album in March, the Manchester-made trio are set to play an intimate gig at Cambridge Junction on 25 April. Formed in 1999 from the embers of the Britpop revolution, I Am Kloot do gravelly, urban melancholia to a ‘T’ with their lo-fi, bluesy sound. They were shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 2010 for Sky At Night, produced by old chum Guy Garvey of Elbow. Songs from this, plus their six other releases, including 2013’s top 10 album Let It All In, will feature at this month’s gig.

Doors 7pm, tickets £19.50. www.junction.co.uk

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MUSIC

Jordan Worland from local music website Slate the Disco selects his must-see gigs in Cambridge this month o fooling, April is a great month for live music here in Cambridge.

Our top pick this month goes to the return of the Cornex:discover series at the Cambridge Corn Exchange and a phenomenal show that’ll strike a chord for anyone who enjoys world music or the music of Morrissey. Mexrrissey: Mexico Goes Morrissey on the 29th consists of a team of musical gunslingers from Mexico’s finest bands who reinvent Morrissey’s songs south of the border. In Mexico, Morrissey has always been a prophet with honour. His songs of love, loss and longing, with powerful imagery and metaphors, find huge audiences and chime with generations raised on rancheras and mariachis, and their singers who were not afraid to cross the line. dbh is Dan Bridgwood-Hill, a stalwart of the Manchester DIY scene. Commonly found ripping it up in complex geometric-rock groups including Burnst, FTSE 100 and The Nasdaq, he explores his more melodic and contemplative style as a solo guitarist. On the 25th, dbh plays an intimate show here in Cambridge at the CB1 café on Mill Road.

The Portland Arms has a very busy month, kicking off with three local acts playing hometown shows in support of new releases. Brit-rock five-piece Phoenix Calling, who hail from further up the A14, play a show as part of their album-launch tour on the 1st.

Cambridge singer-songwriter Tom Copson, who has picked up his fair share of acclaim for his thoughtful lyrics and stunning vocal range, brings his excellent live show home on the 2nd. Electro-folk outfit Keltrix play an album launch on the 3rd for their new record, Between & Beyond Storms.

Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang's music career started with modest goals but grew to incorporate one of the most influential bands of the 1980s (Galaxie 500).

On the 8th, the duo bring Naomi’s silent film Fortune, with a live soundtrack of 11 new songs, to The Portland.

Released earlier this year, Marika Hackman’s debut full-length release,

We Slept At Last, is an assured and intriguing debut album that rewards every listen with new riches. On the 14th Hackman brings her distinctive and brooding take on folk back to The Portland.

Last seen in Cambridge opening for Royal Blood, Bristolian alt-rockers Turbowolf headline The Portland on the 20th as part of their debut album tour. Expect big riffs and a frenzy of tempos. Other Portland highlights this month include emo pop outfit The Xcerts on the 21st, grunge and blues hybrid Ltnt on the 22nd and post-hardcore trio Arcane Roots, who play on the 30th.

Not to be missed this month is Courtney Barnett’s show at the Cambridge Junction on the 7th. Already upgraded to the J1 venue because of high demand, and with a debut LP out last month, it’s difficult to think of any other modern songwriter currently commanding such attention. You'll love the crunch of guitars and loose groove of her three-man rhythm section.

One of this year’s most tipped bands, Wolf Alice, known for their tendency to flirt with a variety of genres, play Cambridge Junction on the 10th. The show will give fans a chance to get a glimpse at the four-piece's debut album, which is out later this summer.

Bipolar Sunshine is the Manchester-raised alternative pop sound of Adio Marchant.

With an eclectic new-age ambient soundscape and melancholy soulful lyrics, he conjures up the romance of escapism, drawing inspiration from life's wonders and

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imperfections and his show at the J2 on the 10th is definitely one to catch.

On April 13th, The Leisure Society release their fourth album, The Fine Art of Hanging On, via Full Time Hobby. The intricate production, arrangements, and broad-ranging instrumentation all indicate an outfit at their purposeful and assured best. The band play the J2 on the 16th.

Other highlights at Cambridge Junction this month include local folk-pop outfit Fred’s House at the J2 on the 23rd, masterful Manchester trio I Am Kloot on the 25th and the return of husband and wife duo Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman on the 26th. Fresh from releasing their third album, Stornoway at the Junction on the 28th is a great way to close a very busy month for live music in Cambridge.

Tell us about your gig at www.slatethedisco.com

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CAMBRIDGE SOUND WORDS WESLEY FREEMAN-SMITH

THE CAMBRIDGE

SOUND eet

#8 Word on the Str

Spoken word poetry is far from new, but it's certainly enjoying an exhilarating revival – and the scene in our city is one to be reckoned with. In this month's Cambridge Sound, Wesley Freeman-Smith meets the movers and shakers on the local performance poetry circuit, and recommends some not-to-be-missed gigs.

cross the country, the popularity of performance poetry is on the rise. No longer seen as niche, spoken word is becoming as mainstream as comedy or acoustic nights in many places, and here in Cambridge there's a particularly strong scene. We have more than our fair share, in fact, and for anyone wishing to explore there are plenty of ways to dip your toes in. From the recently resurrected Verbal Remedies to established institutes such as CB1 Poetry, choices are plentiful. Luckily, we've got two guides here more than happy to help you navigate.

Committed converts and confessed poetry addicts Tim Knight and Uppahar

‘Ups’ Subba have thrown themselves in with abandon, and in exchange for coffee (which, in hindsight, was probably unwise) the pair wax lyrical about the Cambridge scene: “Everyone's so approachable... the only way I can describe it is ‘very welcoming’,” says Ups. “Once you've met one person they'll introduce you to another, and so on... It's like a lake – once the ripples hit the edges, more come back towards you.”

The first stop for many is Hammer & Tongue, which occupies the rock ’n’ roll end of the spoken word spectrum.

Along with featured poets and headliners, the heart of the night is its open slam, a passionate battle of words between

any poets brave enough to compete, rated by an audience with Olympic-style scorecards (it's surprising how much people overthink the decimal points...)

Each month’s winners go through to the Regional Final, and the winners of that go on to the National Final. It's feisty but not mean-spirited; rare is the occasion when anyone is thrown to the wolves. On the contrary, it's designed to be fun – to lift poetry from dry pages, reinvigorated and invented anew for punters and performers alike. When run well, a slam can form a fundamental part of a poetry scene. It's a forum to share your work in front of a live audience; invaluable to any performer seeking to up their game.

Fay Roberts, Hammer & Tongue 2012 © Neil Plumb

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CAMBRIDGE SOUND

Until recently, the local branch of Hammer & Tongue lived at The Fountain – a venue more associated with club nights than poetry. By the time you read this, they'll have relocated to Cambridge Junction; a place whose ‘Art Meets Life’ slogan could not be more fitting.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Hammer & Tongue into the arts centre.

It’s even pushed our existing spoken word programming over the edge into deserving its own section on our website,” begins arts producer Daniel Pitt. “Across the country, the popularity and quality of spoken word and performance poetry has been growing, and Cambridge’s scene is going from strength to strength.”

Our guides, Tim and Ups, would agree.

“Now people like Kate Tempest are doing tours and selling out wherever they're playing, spoken word is more in the public eye. And to be starting out here at the shallow end of that is really exciting.”

A significant proportion of momentum locally comes from Fay Roberts – poet, host and organisational mastermind. In addition to running Cambridge's H&T, Fay runs her own brand, Allographic Press. Allographic is cooperative rather than competitive, offering open mics free from scorecards and workshops for aspiring poets on all aspects of writing and performance. Its name is Greek for ‘other writing’, and in some way all Allographic happenings foster ‘other writings’, from supporting individuals in taking creative risks to providing space for voices often overshadowed in the arts.

For Hollie McNish, poetry is also about communication. Whether addressing attitudes towards breastfeeding or immigration, sexism or racism, she delivers her views in a no-nonsense fashion with both humour and empathy. How she writes is how she thinks. And it's not just talk, either. Locally and nationally Hollie provides

Local spoken word artist Hollie Mcnish

spoken word is becoming as mainstream as comedy or acoustic nights in many places workshops and performances promoting social inclusion and building confidence, often with young people. Earlier this year there was the Women of Influence project with Romsey Mill, and, before that, Walking With Women – uncovering and appreciating female figures whose voices had been lost to history. Since her videos Mathematics and Embarrassed went viral, Hollie's work has been publicly proving that, despite its flowery reputation, poetry can provide the immediacy and wit art needs to incite change.

Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of performance poetry is accessibility; how it dispenses with the necessities of academic writing and offers a forum for all voices, whichever cultural strata

Buddy Wakefield, Hammer & Tongue 2014 © Matt Widgery

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they come from. One suspects, too, that Hollie's popularity is part of the reason poets have been venturing out of the shadows in recent years. If you want a chance to see for yourself, Hollie McNish will be performing at Cambridge Junction on 5 May. Another local poet on May's bill is Charlotte Higgins. Possessing a melodic accent that could soothe a bear, Charlotte writes with a beguiling sensitivity – and whether it's retelling fairytales or addressing social issues, her gaze is always unflinching and perceptive. The night she runs, Speakeasy, is based in the ADC Theatre Bar. It's student-led, but open to everyone, showcasing feature poets and offering an open mic. “The night is really welcoming and cosy... Really very cosy – the ADC Bar isn't that big!”

A new music and poetry night has popped up at Anglia Ruskin University too, brilliantly named Two Stanzas Walk Into a Bar. It seems nice so far, and we're hoping it continues to grow.

A common theme throughout all the nights we've looked at here is their openness. If one thing's for sure, poetry nights aren't scary. “You never feel out of place, or find yourself the odd one out,” Tim and Ups reassure us. “Everyone's approachable. It's like getting a nice hug.”

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ARTS & CULTURE

We explore the arts and culture scene in Cambridge, showcasing some of the many exciting exhibitions and shows taking place around the city

BALLET BLACK Groundbreaking dance company Ballet Black return to Cambridge for another astonishing triple bill of traditional and contemporary ballet.

Founded by Cassa Pancho in 2001, to encourage dancers of black or Asian descent to explore their talent for dance, Ballet Black has become one of the most celebrated dance companies of today. This month, they’ll be presenting exciting new works by Kit Holder of Birmingham Royal Ballet and Will Tuckett of the Royal Ballet.

Amongst these is The Second Coming, inspired by Yeats’s poem of the same name, interwoven with threads of Grimm’s fairytales. This production of darkness, humour and beauty is choreographed by the award-winning Mark Bruce.

There are two chances to see the performance at Cambridge Arts Theatre, on 13 or 14 April, 7.45pm.

Tickets from £15. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

ART AT KETTLE’S YARD Two exhibitions are running simultaneously at Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge this month. Artist Henri Gaudier-Brzeska’s drawings, sculptures and paintings capture life’s energy, and a collection is currently on display to mark the centenary of his death in the First World War, aged just 23. Who knows how much more he might have contributed to the art world, had he lived? New Rhythms explores Gaudier-Brzeska’s pre-war London period with its burgeoning dance scene and the popularisation of wrestling.

To complement New Rhythms, drawings by ten contemporary artists, including Aleana Egan, Antony Gormley, Thomas Houseago, are also on display and can be found in the Kettles Yard house.

They range from quick sketches to detailed life drawings, reflecting some of the subjects and approaches in Gaudier-Brzeska’s celebrated drawings. Both exhibitions run until 21 June. www.kettlesyard.co.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

HEAVENLY NOYSE Cambridge Early Music presents Heavenly Noyse, music from the era of Shakespeare, on 19 April at St Bene’t’s Church, Cambridge. This music, by John Dowland, Thomas Morley and Richard Alison, was associated with royal festivities and the theatre, and informed many of Shakespeare’s plays, including The Tempest and Twelfth Night. It’s also a chance to hear instruments that aren’t always seen in a modern line-up, such as the cittern, lute and bandora.

The concert starts at 3pm; tickets from £15 (plus £5 student standbys available on the door). www.cambridgeearlymusic.org

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Shakespeare’s dreamy, much-beloved tale of fairies, lovers, magic and mischief comes to the ADC stage, performed by local theatre company, Bawds. When young, lovestruck foursome Hermia, Helena, Lysander and Demetrius flee into the woods, their tangled affections become even more misplaced after Puck administers a love potion. They’re joined by an extended cast of memorable characters, from the beautiful, disdainful Queen Titania to the fool, Bottom. Bawds present their own dreamlike take on this enchanting play, including an original score.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs from 14 to 18 April, 7.45pm. Tickets £8-12. www.adctheatre.com

STONEBIRD BOOK LAUNCH Fans of JK Rowling and Neil Gaiman may be interested to hear about a new children’s book, launched in Cambridge in February. Stonebird, the debut novel by a promising new author, Mike Revell, is a story about moonlight, magic and gargoyles, and is centered around a young boy whose grandma is suffering from dementia. Mike grew up near Cambridge and much of his inspiration for the book came from the city’s historic streets.

“Cambridge was so important in writing Stonebird,” he explains. “Growing up in the city, browsing bookshops every lunchtime to soak up words, seeing the gargoyles of Gonville and Caius College looming over the shoppers… everything about it was influential. I dreamed up the book on walks through Jesus Green and wrote it in cafes around the city. My grandparents lived in a little village on the Cambridgeshire border, so the nearby countryside played a big part in shaping Liam’s world, too.”

Mike was particularly keen to feature the city’s many gargoyles in the story: “Something about them fascinates me.

The way they’re positioned so high on old

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buildings, overlooking cities, watching over people who probably don’t notice they’re there. But I also wanted to write about the importance of memories, after seeing my grandma suffer from dementia for so long. As she became less and less like herself, it became our job to remember the person she used to be – to keep her alive in our minds. One day it just clicked that if gargoyles can protect buildings from evil spirits, maybe they can protect people too.”

Mike is delighted with the fantastic reception Stonebird has got so far. “It’s such a brilliant feeling to have it out in shops, but so surreal too,” he says.

“I get tweeted by people saying they’ve enjoyed it, or that they’re crying on public transport, and reviews are popping up all the time. The response has been amazing, and the support from friends and family even more so. Heffers brought 70 hardback copies to the launch party and they sold out! It’s so bizarre and baffling and wonderful at the same time.”

Stonebird is on sale now. www.mikerevell.com

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MUSIC AT SAFFRON HALL

BYARD ART: STANDING TALL Byard’s current exhibition, Standing Tall, is dedicated to celebrating that familiar, majestic, unmoving giant of nature: the tree. Forests, woodlands and individual trees have provided ample inspiration for seven of Byard Art’s gallery artists, and they’re far from the first. Trees have found their way into artists' canvases throughout history, from Japanese trees and their clouds of cherry blossom to the biblical frescos of the western world.

They appear in a diversity of forms and styles at the King’s Parade gallery this month, with each artist offering their unique interpretation of a much-loved subject. Artists on display include David Anthony Hall, Jack Frame, Claudio Missagio, Alex Prunes, Garry Raymond-Pereira, Beckie Reed and Vanessa Whitehouse. Also look out for sculptures by Christine Noah Moller and ceramics by Lorraine Taylor and Nicky Smart.

Standing Tall runs until 19 April. www.byardart.co.uk

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Indulge your ear for music and pay a visit to Saffron Hall this month where several superb concerts are taking place.

First up to perform at the concert hall is the Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra, who play on 18 April. Conducted by Richard Hull, they’ll be performing Elgar’s Violin Concerto and Dvorak’s Symphony No.8.

“It’s awfully emotional, too emotional, but I love it,” said Elgar of his rapturous Violin Concerto, one of the most demanding and innovative pieces in the repertory.

Listen out for the improvisatory accompanied cadenza in the final movement, performed by Alex Redington.

On 19 April, there’s a chance to hear the dynamic Arcangelo ensemble perform Monteverdi's Madrigals of Love and Loss, then the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra are in residence on 25 April. The month is topped off with an evening of music by the Colin Currie Group, who will perform three works by Steve Reich.

Concerts all start at 7.30pm, various prices. www.saffronhall.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF A study of superficiality and the threat of death in America’s Deep South, Tennessee Williams named his play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as his own personal favourite. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955 and remains a popular choice for theatre companies to this day. This production by the Combined Actors of Cambridge comes to the ADC Theatre from 21 to 25 April.

It’s ‘Big Daddy’ Politt’s 65th birthday and his family has gathered to celebrate at his mansion in the Mississippi Delta, built with the spoils of his million-dollar cotton empire. But he has something to hide: as the evening unfolds, secrets emerge and family tensions threaten to reach boiling point in the fractious summer heat.

See it at 7.45pm, tickets £7-£12. www.adctheatre.com

A MAD WORLD, MY MASTERS For a reliably good night out, English Touring Theatre can rarely be beat. This month, they bring a rambunctious adaptation of Thomas Middleton’s A Mad World My Masters to Cambridge, following a successful stint in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Jointly produced by the RSC, this bawdy Jacobean comedy transfers to 1950s London, where toffs mix with the filth of society and wits are the only weapon.

Joe Bannister plays cash-strapped bachelor Richard Follywit, a man in pursuit of quick cash and a good time. Turning conman to fool his rich uncle, he becomes by turns a lord, a high-class call girl, and – God forbid – a poor actor. But a beautiful Soho tart is also in on the scam: a whore to some, a religious instructor to others, and a debutante in need of an eligible bachelor to more still.

The play is directed by Sean Foley, whose previous credits include the Morecambe and Wise tribute The Play What I Wrote and the West End adaptation of The Ladykillers. Catch it at the Cambridge Arts Theatre 21-25 April, 7.45pm.

Tickets start at £15. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY Never mind Christian Grey, before 50 Shades there was Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde’s beautiful but doomed creation and the namesake of his gothic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Written at the close of the last century, Wilde’s only novel is a dark tale of corruption, portraits in attics and the transient nature of beauty. Good-natured artist Basil is infatuated with the beauty of his muse, Dorian. But when his roguish, aristocratic friend takes an interest in the boy, Basil feels Dorian slip away from him into a world of hedonistic pleasure and greed. And while Dorian’s youthful radiance is strangely untouched, his portrait, hidden in an attic, reveals another story.

This adaptation, bound for the Mumford Theatre on 28 April, is performed

by European Arts Company, fresh from a West End run of The Trials of Oscar Wilde. Starts 7.30pm, tickets £8.50-12.50. A free pre-show talk will take place at 6.30pm, led by Professor of English John Gardner. www.anglia.ac.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

CAMBRIDGE LIVE GOES LIVE A day packed with free entertainment, Cambridge Live Goes Live takes place on 1 April, marking the launch of Cambridge Live – a new charity supporting the arts in our wonderful city. From bollywood dance to live folk music and traditional brass, plus an array of entertainment for kids, there’ll be something to keep everyone happy on the day.

A highlight promises to be a short and unique piano recital by international star, Freddy Kempf, the Corn Exchange’s artist in residence for its Classical Concert Series. He will perform a short programme of Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninov at the city council’s historic 1930s chamber at the Guildhall. Cambridge’s biggest, coolest choir, the Dowsing Sound Collective, will also perform a free evening concert.

The founding chair of Cambridge Live’s Board of Trustees, Sara Garnham, says: “This is the beginning of a very exciting new chapter for arts, entertainment and city events in Cambridge, to be delivered by the expert team who brought the 50th Folk Festival and the Tour de France to the city last year and attracted Philip Glass to the Corn Exchange.

“All of the free activities on offer on 1 April illustrate Cambridge Live’s diversity and excellence. We are looking forward to opening the doors of the Corn Exchange and Guildhall halls for a day of entertainment, celebration and fun. Please do come along and participate.”

Some events require free tickets, which are available online. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

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SWANHUNTER If you’ve never taken your family to an opera that’s sung in English and based on a Finnish folk tale, now’s your chance! Swanhunter is a bold production by Opera North which whisks us away to the fierce, wintry landscape of rural Finland, where hero Lemminkainen has journeyed, against his mother’s wishes, in search of a bride. Amidst the wind and snow, three seemingly impossible tasks await him: he must hunt the Devil’s elk, ride the Devil’s horse and shoot a swan. But an even greater danger awaits him, unseen, on Death’s river.

Swanhunter is based on the Finnish folk story of The Kalevala, and is brought to us by the makers of the successful Adventures of Pinocchio. It's designed as a celebration of song – but don’t worry, it’s sung in English, so there's no need to brush up on your Finnish – and is aimed at a family audience, with humour woven into the drama and puppetry that are used alongside live action.

It’s at Cambridge Junction on 22 April, 7.30pm. Tickets £8-£12. www.junction.co.uk

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BOOST FOR MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY Plans to transform Cambridge University’s Museum of Zoology – currently closed for refurbishment – have received a major boost following the award of £200,000 from the Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The Museum of Zoology is undergoing a £4m redevelopment project to create a state-of-the-art space in which to display the University’s collection of four million zoological specimens.

The Wolfson award money will be used to support a major refit of the gallery space by providing new display cases, lighting and interpretation of the objects on display, as well as signage and audio-visual hardware. It will be added to the previous £1.8m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Polly Hodgson, museum project manager, said: “Our aim is to completely re-imagine the Museum of Zoology and provide a truly world-class home for our world-class collections. The DCMS grant is another huge step forward for our plans

and will allow us to exhibit more of our animals, insects and skeletons than ever before.

“The new gallery displays will celebrate animal diversity, explore its evolution and the threats it faces, and open up

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the stories of the people behind our understanding and protection of it.”

As well as the redevelopment of the gallery spaces, wider plans for the Museum of Zoology include a new Whale Hall, providing a dramatic new entrance to the Museum and safe home for its iconic finback whale skeleton, as well as new stores to house the historic and scientifically important collections.

Culture secretary Sajid Javid said: “The Government is committed to supporting the arts and making sure our marvellous museums and inspiring galleries continue to be accessible to all. Thanks to the generosity of the Wolfson Foundation, our cultural destinations in communities across the country are going from strength to strength and remain much loved places to visit and explore.”

Other new facilities in the Museum of Zoology, due to reopen in June 2016, include a Discovery Space exploring local wildlife and an activity room providing space for schools. www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

© Louisa

Taylor

THE ART INSIDER

he year is quickly turning into spring, that season where Cambridge animal lovers make a beeline for Wimpole Home Farm and its lovely newborn lambs.

Last year at Wimpole I saw a day-old little fluffy thing wobbling on its feet with off-the-chart cuteness. Not exactly high art, but I urge you to go!

Also this month, The Maker’s Gallery in Hope Street Yard is opening its doors for a one-off show by artist Katy McDonald, known in the city for her meticulous and vibrant large-scale prints. The show – called Balance – opens on 17 April and brings a contemporary twist to traditional techniques, mixing geometric shapes with bright colours and drawing inspiration from how street artists escape the confines of the gallery and the frame. Go for both ceramics and prints – this will be a popular show from one of Cambridge’s most inspiring emerging artists.

I’ll also be at Moonstrips – Eduardo Paolozzi and the printed collage, 1962-75, at the Fitzwilliam Museum (17 Feb to 7 June). Widely seen as a master of Pop Art, Paolozzi applied collage technique to printed works, collaborating with the likes of writer JG Ballard and creating a transformative visual response to the space age. I fell in love with collage back in my twenties, while living on a tiny boat, making crazy collages out of Yoko Ono Imagine Peace stickers – and Dada-esque poetry out of recycled copies of 1990s cult magazine, The Face (as you do). So I’ll be breathing in the oddball beauty of Paulozzi’s vibrant works (and their titles!).

I’m also looking forward to more of SHINDIG’s interdisciplinary magic, at the Unitarian Church on 4 April, with improvised music from pianist Adam Valance and multi-instrumentalist Henri Salonen. The pair explore the relationship between classical and electronic instruments, and where these two genres meet, with novelist Gytha Lodge creating automatic writing on a typewriter projected into the shadows. The night is headlined by critically acclaimed Tomorrow We Sail, who

See Katy McDonald's work at the Maker's Gallery this month

a k e s’s n ew Cla ira belle M of postca rds positivity ra n gneg in you r st ep will put a sp ri ile on you r fa ce a n d a sm

Master of pop-art collage Eduardo Paolozzi, at the Fitzwilliam Museum sound gorgeous.

I am also having a much deserved holiday this month. I’ll be renewing energy with my newly formed Happiness Club pals, an initiative encouraged by Psychologies Magazine where we meet once a month to read and chat about happiness. It’s the perfect time for me to check out Clairabelle Makes’s new positivity range of postcards.

This popular Cambridge-based artist has been steadily building up a solid fan base over the last few years – a mistress of quality kitsch. Catch her crafty parties and other lovely things on her website at www.claireabellemakes.com.

Shopping and literature fans can catch queen of the high street Mary Portas at the Cambridge Literary Festival, talking about her memoir Shop Girl on 17 April.

Leading artist Maggie Hambling will also be discussing War and Requiem on 19 April, coinciding with her keynote show

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at the Cultural Institute, Kings College, London. Best of all, though, is the chance to see Judith Kerr, the creator of classic children’s book The Tiger Who Came to Tea, on 18 April. For these and other intellectual delights, check out www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com.

Finally, if you’re at a loose end and fancy a breath of lovely, quirky fresh air, look no further than Norfolk Street’s brilliant little pop-up Changing Spaces gallery for the latest in Crafty Cambridge’s series of shows – a spring-themed ‘bird exhibit’ with loads of imaginative kiddie and adult-friendly activities, taking place over the Easter holidays. Curator Faye Wright has a joie de vivre that infuses these beautiful, DIY events and is so inspiring. Birdsong!

Sunshine! Springtime! Whatever happened to Christmas?

Go and find out.

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LITERARY FESTIVAL

National treasure Celia Imrie will be talking about writing her first novel

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

This year's festival spans six days filled with wise and witty words from giants of the literary world ational treasures, comedians, politicians, prize-winning authors and inspirational figures from the world’s literati will descend on Cambridge this month for the ever-popular Cambridge Literary Festival.

“I am really excited about the line-up for the April festival,” says founder and director Cathy Moore. “There is a richness and variety to the programme, with some truly exceptional highlights.”

The festival starts on 14 April, with a word from Professor Barry Eichengreen, author of Hall of Mirrors. He’ll be questioning our capacity to learn from the past and asking what measures should be taken if a third great financial crisis is to be avoided (6pm, The Winstanley Lecture Theatre, £6-£10).

Thriller writers SJ Watson (When I Go To Sleep) and Christobel Kent (the Sandro Cellini series) will be in conversation at the same venue on 15 April (7.30pm,

£6/£10), and on 17 April Queen of Shops Mary Portas will give an insight into her entertaining and touching memoir, Shop Girl, at the Union Chamber (7pm, £6/£11).

Stick around for Roger McGough at the same venue, 8.30pm. The celebrated poet will be delighting audiences with readings from his new book of poetry, As Far As I Know (£7/£13).

On 18 April, join Labour party councillor Georgia Gould, former teacher and columnist Chloe Combi and presenter and journalist Rick Edwards, as they discuss the issues facing today’s young people. What Future for the Younger Generation? starts at 11.30am at The Winstanley (£5/£10).

Later that day, at the same venue, the Goldsmith Prize-winning authors Eimear McBride and Ali Smith will be discussing the modern novel in The Great Experiment (2.30pm, £6/£10). On the evening of the 18th, Comedian Omid Djalili introduces us to his memoir, Hopeful, at the Union Chamber (9pm, £6/£12).

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LITERARY FESTIVAL

Better known for his original stand-up comedy, Omid Djalili introduces his memoir at the festival

THERE IS A RICHNESS AND VARIETY TO THE PROGRAMME, WITH SOME TRULY EXCEPTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrated poet Roger McGough will be reading from his new book, As Far As I Know

Queen of Shops Mary Portas will give an insight into her touching memoir, Shop Girl

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On Sunday 19 April, the magnificent Celia Imrie will share the thoughts and experiences that went into writing her first novel, Not Quite Nice. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel star will be joined by festival director Cathy Moore for what’s sure to be a charming and entertaining chat at the Union Chamber (4pm, £6-£11).

Our interest has been piqued by Anita Anand’s book Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary, which she will be discussing on 19 April at The Winstanley. It tells the remarkable story of Sophia Duleep Singh, daughter of an Indian Maharajah, who was brought up in Suffolk and fought fearlessly for Indian independence and women’s suffrage (4pm, £6/£10).

If, like us, you saw and loved The Theory of Everything, don’t miss the opportunity to discover more about the memoirs on which the film was based, as Jane Hawking talks us through her book, Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, at the Union Chamber, 19 April (8.30pm, £6/£12). She’ll be joined by Anthony McCarten, who brought her story to the big screen.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME Meet Fitz and Will, the Cambridge cats invented by author Laura Robson Brown, who will be reading from her new book, The Graduation Adventure, featuring her loveable felines (18 April, 10am, Union Blue Room; £6).

A children’s author whose work has delighted generations, Judith Kerr (The Tiger Who Came To Tea, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit) will discuss her life and work on 18 April at the Union Chamber (11.30am, £7). Born in Berlin, she was forced to flee Germany aged nine and is still producing iconic books in her nineties.

Also on the 18th, Cambridge gets a visit from Dennis, Gnasher and friends. Explore Beanotown with your guide, author Steven Butler, in Mayhem with Dennis the Menace, at the Union Blue Room (1pm, £6).

Anthony Horowitz has delighted millions of fans with his adventure stories starring superspy Alex Rider. Don’t miss his insight into these thrilling stories, chaired by Steve Cole, author of the Young Bond series (18 April, Union Chamber, 2.30pm, £7).

Cambridge Literary Festival, 14-19 April www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com

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FOOD DRINK A N D

GET THE INSIDE TRACK ON CAMBRIDGE'S FOODIE SCENE WITH EDITION'S MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT

LOCAL FOOD NEWS

Baking inspiration ASK THE FOODIE

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FOOD

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER

FLAVOURS OF SPRING THE FIRST OF THE FRESH SPRING VEGETABLES ARRIVE IN ALEX RUSHMER'S KITCHEN USHERING IN A NEW SEASON OF TASTES AND TEXTURES ne of my suppliers arrives at the back door of my restaurant every Friday morning with a small van. In it are boxes and boxes of fruits, vegetables, herbs and other edibles. Some of these are familiar, others totally alien. It is these previously un-tasted pieces of produce that always cause the greatest stir in the kitchen, as well as a flurry of creativity, ideas and speculation. Last week we were huddled around an Indonesian snakefruit, a bizarre reptile-skinned fruit with mildly

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chocolate-flavoured flesh packed around a brown pit the size of a marble. The week before, we had bitten into a small, green, avocado-shaped fruit called a fejaia which was addictively sour and will make it onto the menu before too long.

In addition to the unfamiliar, there will be new varietals of fruits and vegetables I do know: a squat, rotund pear, its stem tipped with red wax, or a white-skinned, round aubergine, prized by Italians as being the perfect ingredient for a melanzane parmigiana. I’ve discovered two new

,

varieties of apple, both of which are delicious, and at least a couple of types of tomato I had no idea existed.

But most exciting of all is the reappearance of fresh produce whose time has come round again, about which I had almost forgotten while weighed down with dark nights and cold mornings and beetroots and cabbages. New batches of wild mushrooms are a pleasure to see (even when the price is prohibitive).

Yorkshire forced rhubarb is a happy pink beacon at the beginning of the year, and

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FOOD

the first few bunches of white asparagus that trickle in from the continent are quickly snapped up, partly because of their flavour but mostly, I think, for what they promise.

More indicative of all this is the box of ramsoms (or wild garlic) I bought just two days ago. It is, of course, a wonderful ingredient that can be spun through a pesto or wilted over new potatoes with too much butter. I’ve rolled it inside paupilettes of lemon sole and served it with the first of the new season lamb, alongside red peppers, aubergines and other flavours of the Med, and even eaten it raw mixed in with a few other, slightly more mellow, salad leaves.

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But it is its role as a precursor for what is around the corner that is truly exciting. Because these pungent leaves are trailblazers, nature’s pioneers that dare to peep through the warming soil and signal the end of hardy roots and tough-stemmed brassicas and the imminent return of soft-leafed salads, sweet English berries and, of course, the stems of asparagus that deserve to grace every mealtime during their short season. After months of winter foods, the presence of a box of wild garlic is a shining beacon of what is almost upon us: clement warmth, days that stretch long into the evenings and languid weekends just made for eating and drinking.

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FOOD

FOOD NEWS A MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF GASTRONOMIC GOINGS-ON IN CAMBRIDGE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

THE GRAIN STORE

Another stunning new pub has opened its doors in Cambridge, offering a smart, relaxing environment for drinkers and diners. The Grain Store has sprouted where The Avery used to be, following a six-figure investment and a thorough makeover. Gone are the tired furnishings and dark wood decor. Here to stay are modern pops of graffiti-inspired wall art, elegant Chesterfields and an ambience of urban, industrial cool.

At the bar, The Grain Store will offer a choice of ten craft beers and six cask ales from local, national and international breweries, alongside premium spirits and selected wines.

The pub will also be Cambridge’s first

Tankovna bar, serving unpasteurised Pilsner Urquell Tank Beer, arriving each week from the Czech Republic. On the food front, in-house smoked meat and fish dishes, alongside pub classics, will take pride of place on the new lunch and dinner menus.

Breakfast will be served daily from 9am.

Pub manager Barry McCardle says: “We are the new home of great beer, food and

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customer service in the heart of Cambridge. My team can recommend something for everyone, from ale lovers looking for a new experience to people eager to try their first craft beer. We cannot wait to make our mark on the city’s craft beer scene and show the community what we have to offer.”

Jonathan Webster, managing director of Greene King’s local pubs, adds: “It is always exciting when the doors to a newly transformed pub are once again opened to the public.

This is a huge change to The Grain Store, but one I am sure the people of Cambridge will thoroughly endorse.”

The Grain Store will be aiming to hold regular events in their great new surroundings, including beer tastings, live music performances and ‘meet the beer master’ nights. You can stay up to date with what's happening over on Twitter @grainstorecambs. www.grainstore-cambridge.co.uk

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CAMBRIDGE CULINARY COMPETITION We all know that chefs enjoy a little healthy competition, so what better way to turn up the heat in the kitchen than by pitching Cambridge University’s colleges against each other in a culinary battle of skills?

Eleven colleges went head to head in the 2015 University of Cambridge Culinary Competition, held at Cambridge Regional College in February. The two-day event included live cocktail making, butchery demonstrations and ‘La Parade des Chefs’, culminating in a VIP lunch on 19 February. Teams were judged by a panel of experts on taste, appearance and front-of-house skills.

Lee Corke, Chair of the Culinary Committee, explains: “The competition is a chance for chefs and front-of house staff in the colleges to showcase and be recognised for what they do on a day-to-day basis. For the competitors, it also presents a great opportunity to continue to learn new skills and develop.”

Explaining the judging process, he continues: “Judges looked at the balance of flavours, of protein to vegetables, for instance and, of course, taste. A dish can look stunning, like a picture on a plate, but the flavours must be just right too.”

Chefs were also challenged to deliver a winning dish using a box of secret ingredients in the ‘Mystery Box’ live class.

The competition, held every two years, embraced current catering trends with the introduction of the Street Food Challenge and a Coffee Shop Cake Class.

Environmental issues were highlighted in the Sustainable Fish Class and the Low Carbon Meal Challenge, which used ingredients sourced only from East Anglia.

For the first time in the competition’s

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54-year history, overall victory was shared between two colleges: Emmanuel and Clare, which each won four gold awards. Clare scooped victory in ‘La Parade des Chefs’, serving guests a delicious scallop and artichoke puree, pickled apple and chestnut starter, a Norfolk black chicken breast with black truffle stuffing, chicken skin mash and mushroom puree, followed by a dark chocolate sphere with white chocolate mousse, Morello cherries and warm bitter chocolate sauce.

“The standard and level of skill has certainly increased since the last competition in 2013,” says Lee. “I’ve seen this competition grow massively, with people doing more modern food and really upping their game. A lot of the food that was presented to us would equal that of the top restaurants in Cambridge.” www.cambridgechefcomp.com

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FOOD

GIN OF THE YEAR

CAMBRIDGE DISTILLERY Histon-based gin company The Cambridge Distillery has been awarded the prestigious Gin of the Year trophy at the China Wine & Spirits Awards 2015. The brand’s Japanese Gin brought home the accolade, and the Distillery also won the Double Gold medal for Best Value Gin, despite being amongst the most expensive gins on sale in Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason.

Their Japanese Gin combines traditional juniper with a range of native Japanese botanicals – the first in the world to do so.

It’s been a period of success for the distillery, with Master Distiller Will Lowe being awarded a scholarship to study the Master of Wine (MW) qualification earlier this year. With only 312 MWs in the world (you’re 71% more likely to become an astronaut!), this is the pinnacle of the world of wine academia.

Run by Will and his wife Lucy, the Cambridge Distillery creates small batches of high-quality gins, using the latest distillery methods and natural ingredients, often foraged from the countryside near their home. Their output is increasing, and recognition by global institutions proves they’re maintaining standards while growing the business.

Lucy Lowe said: “We’re thrilled to have our work recognised at an international level – especially given the lengths we go to in ensuring we utilise as many local resources as possible here in Cambridge.” www.cambridgedistillery.co.uk

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Valentine Warner © Clare Richardson

WINS BIG

ELY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL Celebrate Ely’s burgeoning foodie scene at the Eel Festival Weekend, where events, demonstrations, tastings and more are scheduled to take place. The four-day event takes place across the early May bank holiday weekend (get it in your diaries now), with the 3rd and 4th given over to a huge Food & Drink Festival on Palace Green. Visit artisan traders, enjoy an expanded street-food scene and watch some amazing ‘celebrity’ chefs in action in the Cookery Theatre. Sunday’s chefs include Valentine Warner, famous for his BBC Series What to Eat Now, while Monday’s line-up includes the popular and flamboyant TV chef and owner of the renowned Star of India restaurant in Kensington, Reza Mahammad. Come and see how they turn basic food into inspirational dishes. In addition, the region’s local chefs will be cooking up their favourite specialities and there’ll be demonstrations from local producers showing how best to use their products.

Further entertainment will be available throughout the city with a bumper general market being held in Market Place, not forgetting the Eel-throwing competition on Friday (not real eels, don’t worry), the Eel parade and the Eel Food Safari, for those curious to see what can be cooked up using their city’s namesake. www.visitely.org.uk

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FOOD

BURLEIGH ARMS REOPENS Next time you’re along Maids Causeway, be sure to pop in to the newly refurbished Burleigh Arms, which opened last month with a fresh and classy new look. The pub was bought late last year by the owners of The Old Spring and aims to provide a welcoming, attractive setting in which to enjoy a meal, good beer or just a cup of coffee.

Says owner Steve Murphy: “Since purchase we have refitted the kitchen, re-decorated, improved furnishing and re-worked the bar including installing a new coffee machine. The menu has been changed to offer popular fresh food and homemade desserts, sandwiches made fresh every day and a daily Frittata, all well priced.”

The pub is shifting away from its ‘sports bar’ reputation and while it’s no longer showing Sky Sports, customers will be able to view key rugby games and, of course, the Boat Race, which sees the Cambridge and Oxford University rowing crews go head to head on the Thames on 11 April.

“Our aim was to re-establish The Burleigh Arms as a quality neighbourhood pub in keeping with the area.” www.burleigharmscambridge.co.uk

TIPI DINING AT THE WILLOW TREE A new and improved pub garden at The Willow Tree, Bourn, opens on 1 April, offering diners a gorgeous setting in which to enjoy both the gastropub’s delicious fare and the soon to be (fingers crossed) summer weather.

The Willow Tree – named after the towering tree in the garden to the back – has long been a favourite with Edition for its vintage-styled decor, fun and fabulous events and exciting culinary offerings. More than just pub grub, expect to find delights along the lines of roast venison haunch rolled in chervil & walnut crush, sea bass and squid stew and three bean burgers with chilli jam.

Their garden tipi can be booked for groups of 10-20 people and is the perfect venue for birthday gatherings. www.thewillowtreebourn.com

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FRIDAY 8 MAY Cambridge Cookery School host a prefestival pop-up restaurant

EAT CAMBRIDGE

SATURDAY 9 MAY Asparagus Feast at Burwash Manor Eat Mill Road tour Eat Well Cambridge – tea and talk from Food Cycle foodPark night market at Eat Cambridge

2015 PLANNER

SUNDAY 10 MAY Italian afternoon tea at Hotel Felix 1940s ‘We'll Eat Again’ pop-up at Garden Kitchen

YOUR AT-A-GLANCE GUIDE TO THIS

MONDAY 11 MAY Coffee and beer tasting at Hot Numbers

YEAR’S EAT CAMBRIDGE FESTIVAL THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL ‘A Taste of Cambridge’ tasting menu at The Hole in the Wall The Cambridge Sustainable Food restaurant showcase Snug £10 mojito, burger and chips offer, available at Lensfield Road & Grafton Centre branches Wine tasting events at Cambridge Wine Merchants

WEDNESDAY 13 MAY Coffee and chocolate tasting at Hot Numbers A raw food tasting evening with Rocking Raw Chef Eat Cambridge food debate THURSDAY 14 MAY Tapas evening at Shelford Delicatessen ‘What’s for tea tonight’ talk from Transition Cambridge

SATURDAY 16 MAY High tea á la Marie Antoinette at The Geographer Introduction to sour dough at Cambridge Cookery School SUNDAY 17 MAY Sizzling Sunday at Burwash Manor Siesta Fiesta at Childerley Hall WEDNESDAY 20 MAY Over The Tracks event by Steak & Honour and Jack’s Gelato THURSDAY 21 MAY Provenance pop-up at Stickybeaks Breaking Bad/Against Humanity – an evening of food, drink and debauched entertainment ‘Food waste: the global food scandal’ talk from Cambridge Carbon Footprint Pork Shop: PIG.BREAD.BEER at Pint Shop FRIDAY 22 MAY Producers dinner at Fitzbillies with Grub Club Provenance pop-up at Stickybeaks SATURDAY 23 MAY Eat Cambridge food and drink fair at the Corn Exchange, featuring stalls, talks and pop-ups SUNDAY 24 MAY ‘Sunday Best’ roast dinner at Gog Magog Hills Farm Shop

9-24 MAY This is just a taster of everything that's in store for Eat Cambridge 2015. For the full programme and details on how to book, visit www.eat-cambridge.co.uk. The printed programme will also be available at locations across the city from 6 April.

CambridgeCookerySchool FARM SHOP | BUTCHERY | KITCHEN | CAFÉ | DELI

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SOUTH AFRICAN WINE TASTING Discover the delights of South African wine this month at Hotel du Vin, where they’re hosting a special tasting event on 29 April. Taking place from 6pm at the luxurious Trumpington Street hotel, the event costs £25 per person and will feature four delicious wines, as well as a selection of tasty canapés. The evening will be hosted by Hotel du Vin’s resident sommelier, Vincenzo, who’ll be showcasing some of the finest offerings from the region. www.hotelduvin.com

KIDS' CLASSES AT CAMBRIDGE COOKERY SCHOOL There’s plenty on offer for aspiring little chefs at Cambridge Cookery School this April. Older kids can master the art of brioche in French Pastry for Beginners, a series of classes geared towards ambitious over 10’s. The rich and delicious basis for loaves, cholla and other tasty baked goods, brioche is an impressive addition to any baker’s arsenal. The class takes place on 8 April, 10am-1pm. The next morning, the secrets of Mexican cuisine will be revealed in a session that covers everything from making your own spice mixtures and fresh salsa to healthy bean salads and tortillas and tacos with tasty fillings (suitable for over 10’s, 9 April, 10am-1pm). On 18 April, meanwhile, the grown-ups can join in with a parent and child baking class, where you’ll team up to create simple cakes and breads, with plenty left over to take home at the end of the class. www.cambridgecookeryschool.com

DINING IN THE DARK Edition experienced this fascinating and humbling dining event last year, and this month CamSight will hold another Dining in the Dark, to raise funds to support the blind and partiallysighted, and give the rest of us an idea of the challenges associated with having limited or no vision. Guests will take their seats at The Black Bull in Balsham, a smart gastropub renowned for its food and service, for a three-course meal with a twist. Although your dessert will be visible, your starter and main course will be served blind. Wearing blindfolds, you and your fellow diners are invited to guess exactly what’s on your plate, using taste and texture alone. You might find it harder than you'd think.

All dietary requirements will be catered for (just ask in advance). The suggested donation is £39 per head. Starts 7pm for 7.30pm, 23 April. www.camsight.org.uk

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FOOD

ASK THE FOODIE

HEIDI WHITE AKA THE MOVING FOODIE ANSWERS ' ' YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ON THE CAMBRIDGE FOOD SCENE

WASABI OPENS

Q:WHERE’S GOOD FOR EASTER

IN CAMBRIDGE

EATING AROUND CAMBRIDGE?

Listen up sushi fans: there’s a new place to get your fix in Cambridge, as Japanese food giant Wasabi prepares to open its doors in the city centre at the end of this month.

Located in Petty Cury, Wasabi Cambridge will be serving up a selection of fresh, handmade Japanese sushi and bento. The menu also includes hot dishes such as hearty katsu curry, noodle soups, salmon and chicken teriyaki, and prawn tempura. Also on offer will be a range of authentic bubble teas and aloe vera juices.

The site, located in the building formerly home to Phones 4 U, has undergone a million-pound facelift, and will offer seating for 40 in a bright and contemporary setting.

“We’re delighted to be opening our branch in Cambridge and bringing top-quality affordable Japanese food to Cambridge shoppers,” said Dong Hyun Kim, founder of Wasabi. “We choose our locations very carefully and, with its vibrant business and tourist community and huge student population, Cambridge is a major draw. We are confident our dishes will be popular with hungry shoppers in search of something new, different and healthy.” www.wasabi.uk.com

Ah, yes. The long-awaited Easter weekend arrives. The first bank holiday weekend of the year; a weekend for family, feasting, and gorging on too many hot cross buns and chocolate eggs. If you haven’t already been enlisted to create an Easter Sunday feast at home, make reservations and plans for a weekend of foodie treats to celebrate this Easter (if you’ve already been put on roast dinner duty, may we recommend you pick up a big juicy leg of lamb from The Art of Meat, Arbury Court? You’ll be in the family’s good books for months).

Make the most of the long weekend and take off in pursuit of country pubs and seasonal treats. Head east for some sea air and stunning coastal landscapes in Suffolk, and tuck into some proper pub grub and local fare at The Station in Framlingham, The Dolphin at Thorpeness, or the quaint Butley Oysterage in Orford – picking up some fresh hot cross buns from Pump Street Bakery while you’re there – before walking it off across the beautiful heaths of Dunwich and Minsmere.

For a family day out with good food

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guaranteed, stop off at Jimmy’s Farm (www.jimmysfarm.com) near Ipswich for park walks, lamb feeding, tractor rides, and a tasty restaurant menu featuring Jimmy’s amazing farm-reared pork.

Perhaps you're planning a day trip closer to home? The well-priced Sunday lunch menu at The George at Buckden (www.thegeorgebuckden.com) will go down a treat with grandma and other discerning diners, and is located in a pretty village located just a short drive from the A14 near Huntingdon. The Leaping Hare in Stanton, near Bury St Edmund’s, is another local gem offering reliably good food in the beautiful rural location of Wyken Vineyards and gardens (www.wykenvineyards.co.uk/ restaurant) Staying in Cambridge itself, why not book the whole gang in for the four-course Sunday Brunch dining extravaganza, served every week from midday at Hotel du Vin? (www. hotelduvin.com/locations/cambridge) It’s an excellent way to mark a special occasion and great value at just under £25 a head for an impressive amount of food. But do go easy on the lavish French Market Table course; you might regret that extra plate of charcuterie, smoked fish and pork rillettes with freshly baked bread when you can’t finish your spot-on roast beef and huge, pillowy Yorkshire puds!

For more top tips on eating and drinking in Cambridge, visit Heidi’s blog www.movingfoodie.com Got a question for the Moving Foodie? Tweet us at @cambsedition or @TheMovingFoodie and hashtag #askthefoodie

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RECIPES

WORDS & IMAGES STELLA PEREIRA

Stella Pereira is a cook, cake designer and artist originally from Portugal and living in Cambridge. Visit her website at www.littlecakepot.com

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RECIPES

Brisas-do-lis (Portuguese almond flan cakes) • 160g sugar • 100ml water • 4 egg yolks

• 2 whole eggs • 100g ground almonds • zest of an orange

Step-by-step guide

Pre-heat fan oven to 160° C (180° C conventional oven). Butter and line small cake moulds with caster sugar. Set aside.

Put sugar and water in medium saucepan and boil over gentle heat. Do not stir.

Gently brush pan sides with a wet brush, to remove sugar crystals. Take the syrup off the heat three minutes after it has started to boil. Set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs and yolks with ground almonds. Pour in the warm

sugar syrup in a thin stream, while stirring gently, ensuring the eggy mixture doesn't curdle. Add the orange zest and whisk.

Spoon batter into prepared moulds. Stand the moulds in a roasting tin and half fill the tin with boiling water from a kettle.

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the flans have set. Remove Brisas-do-lis from the oven and allow to cool completely, before removing from moulds with the aid of a pointed knife.

Serve chilled.

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RECIPES

Port, almond and fig chocolate salame • 100g dark chocolate (minimum 65%) • 60g digestive biscuits, roughly chopped • 50g cocoa powder • 50g brown sugar • 1 egg yolk • 50g virgin coconut oil • 40g roughly chopped almonds • 50g roughly chopped dried figs • 15ml port wine

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RECIPES

www.littlecakepot.com

Step-by-step guide Place chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl. Place over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir gently. When melted, add sieved cocoa, port and whisked yolk. Fold until well combined and smooth.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl mix chopped biscuits, sugar, almonds and figs. Fold in the melted chocolate mixture.

Place mixture on a sheet of baking paper, cover and roll into a sausage shape. Tie the ends and refrigerate until solidified. Slice and serve.

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20/03/2015 15:38

EATING OUT

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

RESTAURANT REVIEW

The Blue Lion, Hardwick

Jenny Shelton makes a midweek visit to a busy village gastro pub that ticks all the right boxes for creative cuisine and friendly service

he fringe villages of Cambridge are peppered with excellent gastro pubs for those looking to get out of the city and enjoy the traditional country pub experience.

Last month I discovered a new one, The Blue Lion in Hardwick, which impressed me with its imagination and its cosy, bustling atmosphere.

It’s always nice to see an establishment doing something a little different from the norm, and I found originality and flair in abundance at this quaint village local.

The pub dates from 1737, but there’s nothing old-fashioned about the menu which takes on board new trends (like the veggie-friendly macaroni cheese burger) without neglecting old favourites such as fish and chips. Likewise, the décor is rustic but contemporary, with exposed brickwork, big gilded mirrors and low timber beams all adding to the character.

To start, I chose the arancini risotto balls, served with a creamy, wild mushroom sauce and watercress garnish. The breadcrumbs were crisp and there was plenty of the hot, melty filling to satisfy.

The Blue Lion impressed me with its imagination and its cosy, bustling atmosphere My partner was pleased with his choice of the smoked haddock scotch egg served with curry-spiced mayonnaise – a successful, lighter take on the usual sausage meat variety.

Mains ranged from steak, burgers and fish options to an interesting-sounding halloumi, butternut squash and tomato tagine, but it was the confit of duck special that got my vote in the end. This substantial and delicious dish comprised a tender, almost caramelised skin-on leg of duck on a bed of creamy mash and rich, red cabbage. Every element of the dish was perfect, down to the side of buttered spring greens – and the portion was so huge that I was obliged to take a generous serving home to enjoy all over again for lunch the next day. My partner tucked into to another special, the sea bream with noodles and Thai vegetables. Again, the portion was generous and the flavours spot on, with a lovely South Asian tang.

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Other smaller touches expressed the chefs’ creativity, like the two types of butter offered with the oaty homemade bread. The piped beetroot butter was pleasing to the eye, but I preferred the sweet pepper butter – something I’ve not seen anywhere else. The friendly, knowledgeable front-of-house staff also deserve a mention.

After such enormous main courses, we opted just for ice cream to round off our pleasant evening at The Blue Lion, selecting a scoop of chocolate, hazelnut and rum and raisin.

It was busy for a Tuesday night, and it’s clear that the pub, though tucked away along a quiet residential road in this unassuming village, has a wide and loyal client base, and deservedly so.

The Blue Lion, 74 Main Street, Hardwick, CB23 7QU 01954 210328 www.bluelionhardwick.co.uk

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EASTER IDEAS

EASTER IDEAS

Easter Sunday:

5 April

In need of a bit of inspiration for family fun this Easter? Hunt down these egg-cellent adventures in Cambridgeshire

Burwash

EASTER EGG HUNT

Mums, dads, grandparents and kids, don your wellies and strike out for Burwash Manor on April 4, where the Rocking Horse toy shop is teaming up with Chocolat Chocolat to lay an Easter egg trail. Follow the clues, make your way around the farmyard shops and meadows and win delicious prizes provided by the Cambridge-based chocolatier. As well as the egg hunt, there will be activities such as face painting, donkey rides and crafts, plus a funfair and Easter-themed games. Keep an eye out for the Burwash alpacas as you explore, and you may even be lucky enough to spot a new-born lamb or two.

Entry is £2.50 per child, with all profits going to local charity Tom’s Trust. The event runs from 11am to 4pm. www.burwashmanor.com

Chocolate

WELDING

How strong is chocolate? Find out at Cambridge Science Centre, as experts investigate the physical properties of everyone’s favourite confectionery. The event will be hosted by a presenter from The Welding Institute on 8 April, 10.45am. Normal admission charges apply. www.cambridgesciencecentre.org

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EASTER IDEAS

EASTER AT KING’S Juliet Stevenson will launch a series of seasonal concerts and events at King’s College Chapel with a reading of poetry by T S Eliot on 30 March.

The acclaimed actress will be joined

by Rowan Williams, and music will be provided by Guy Johnston (cellist), performing works by Bach.

Tickets are £10.

Then, on Good Friday, James MacMillan will perform the St Luke Passion with scholars from Cambridge University and the Britten Sinfonia.

Tickets £15-£30; available from The Shop At King's. For the full programme of events, visit the King's College website. www.kings.cam.ac.uk

EASTER AT

Wandlebury

Take part in an Easter trail with a difference at Wandlebury Country Park, just outside Cambridge. The popular event, which sells out every year, asks children to take snaps of painted eggs hidden around the park for a chance to win a scrumptious egg of the chocolate variety. It’s £6.50 per child, while accompanying adults go free. Easter-themed fancy dress is very much encouraged, and bring a packed lunch! Takes place 4 April, 11am-4pm.

Also at Wandlebury, on 8 April there is a family orienteering event, led by experienced staff. This starts promptly at 10am, same prices.

Perfect for working off some of that Easter chocolate. www.cambridgeppf.org

3-6 EASTER ADVENTURE AT AUDLEY END

April

Would you rather converse with a king, banter with a butler, chat with a Roman centurion or make merry with a monk? Visitors to Audley End House and Gardens may meet all four characters – and more – at the great Easter Adventure Quest, running 3-6 April. Characters from the past will be wandering the grounds of this stately, Jacobean house, answering questions to help you on your search for a delicious chocolatey reward. Crack the clues and see where adventure takes you!

The Easter Adventure Quest runs 11am-5pm. Entry is free for English Heritage members, otherwise it's £16 for adults, £9.60 for children under 15. www.english-heritage.org.uk

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EASTER IDEAS

LAMBING

from

7 April

at Wimpole

Some white, woolly, spindle-legged new arrivals are expected at Wimpole Hall’s Home Farm this month. Lambing season gets underway from 7 April at the estate’s working farm, where visitors can watch newborns take their first steps and learn more about lambing from staff and volunteers. Keep an eye out for Wimpole’s Lambing Days, where you’re more than likely to witness a birth – or at least see tiny lambs of just a few hours old. Plus, there’s bound to be a few other farmyard babies around.

Did you know? Ewes most often give birth to twins, sometimes triplets or occasionally one large single lamb. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ wimpole-estate

EASTER SPORTS WEEK Let the kids try out some different sports at CG Sports’ Easter Sports Week, aimed at ages 6-11. It runs from 30 March until 2 April at St Matthew’s Primary School, located on Norfolk Street.

Monday 30 March is dedicated to ball sports, Tuesday racket and bat sports, Wednesday is ‘Invasion Wednesday’ and Thursday is a chance to revisit your favourites from the past three days. Prices are £15 per day or £50 for the whole week, per child. It runs from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Contact Chris on chrisgermon26@hotmail.com

Anglesey Abbey

EASTER EGG TRAIL

Channel your child’s inner adventurer and spend the day eggs-ploring the beautiful, daffodil-strewn grounds of Anglesey Abbey. Here, young visitors are invited to take part in a popular annual event, the Cadbury’s Easter Egg Trail. Taking place on Good Friday through to Easter Sunday, the trail starts at base camp, where participants will be kitted out with a map and clues to help locate a delicious prize. The event continues throughout the day from 10am-4pm. Entry is £2 per child plus the usual admission charge. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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FAMILY

How the Koala

The Cat IN THE HAT

Based on the hugely popular Dr Suess books, The Cat in the Hat comes to Cambridge, promising mayhem, mischief and some rather tall hats.

Showing up unexpectedly on the doorstep of two young children, the mischievous Cat wrecks their house in an attempt to entertain them before magically tidying up and vanishing just before he’s found out. The show, produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain, has earned rave reviews (‘Terrific fun’ says The Telegraph) with costumes and a set inspired by the book’s iconic illustrations.

The show is at the Corn Exchange on 6 April, 1pm and 3pm. Tickets £14.50 (adults), £10.50 (children) or £35 (family). www.cornex.co.uk

THE GREEN

LEARNT TO HUG

Stardust EASTER WORKSHOPS

Do you know a little someone who loves princesses? Or pirates? Stardust Entertainment have a series of half term activities taking place in April, aimed at kids aged 4-9. On 7 April, dress up as your favourite Tangled character, learn the songs and take part in related games. It's at Cambourne Church, 10am-12noon. At the same venue, join a Cinderella workshop on 9 April (1-3pm), or go to a Pirates and Princesses party on 10 April, St Matthews School, Cambridge (10am-12noon). The same venue has a Pirates Workshop, 3-5pm. All workshops are £10 per child. www.stardust-entertainment.co.uk

Children

A piece of theatre based on the 12th century myth of the green children of Woolpit: a brother and sister allegedly appeared in this small Suffolk village looking normal except for their green skin.

This innovative new show by Red Rose Chain has been developed especially for teenagers with profound learning difficulties. It looks at how we communicate with each other and explores the themes of love, laughter and nature.

Catch the show at Cambridge Junction, 28 and 29 April, various times. Tickets £10 (companions go free). www.junction.co.uk

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Ever wondered why Koalas are always hugging trees? Steven Lee did, and now his book How the Koala Learnt to Hug, is coming to the Corn Exchange on 12 April in the form of a theatre show for children.

This fun family show features songs, games and a parade of wild characters like Natascha the Witch and the Reggae Beavers. It’s a story about the importance of family, and a great introduction to theatre for the little ones.

The author will be signing copies of his book after the show. Tickets are £13.50 (adults), £12 (children) and £38 (family). www.cornex.co.uk

Parent and child BAKING CLASS

After the success of their parent and child Christmas class, Cambridge Cookery School has announced a spring class for bakers big and small. Spend the morning getting covered in flour as you learn to make delicious fresh bread and cakes, then devour your efforts as part of a light lunch (provided). Bring a few plastic containers in case you want to take any uneaten treats home. You wouldn’t want the rest of the family to miss out, would you?

Takes place 18 April, 10am-1pm; priced at £75 for an adult and one child (£25 for a second child). www.cambridgecookeryschool.com

Cambridge Edition | April 2015 | 59

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COMPLETE OUR SURVEY AND WIN THREE FANTASTIC PRIZES! TO HELP MAKE CAMBRIDGE EDITION AS GOOD AS IT CAN BE, WE WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOU – OUR READERS

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Everybody who fills in the survey and posts it to us, or fills it in online at www.cambsedition.co.uk, will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win this fantastic prize bundle worth more than £600!

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READER SURVEY

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READER SURVEY

How long do you keep a copy of Cambridge Edition once you’ve picked it up?

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INDIE OF THE MONTH

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH

n an unassuming shop down a quiet Cambridge street is a hidden den of decadence.

In November last year Isabel ‘Izzy’ King opened Quiver, driven by her love of dressing up. But beyond the handmade corsets and vintage accessories displayed in her shop are a number of grown-up treats, should you wish to find them.

“The naughtiness in this shop is subtle,” says Izzy. “It’s primarily a corset and costume shop, but if people want to engage in something beyond these elements, then I've got a little box of mischief, as well as some delightful erotic art books, related literature and reproduction art to stimulate their creative sensibilities!

“I was an editor for a number of years, then worked for two years at Ann Summers, which is where I crystallised my ideas,” says Izzy, explaining how Quiver came to be.

“I’ve always had a passion for period costume and 18th century literature. I did an English degree and became interested in erotic literature and the history of sexuality.

I wanted to create a shop where people can come and chat. We’re going to do evening events too, like a gin tasting and burlesque night at the end of April. I showed a 70s film called Maitresse a few days before 50 Shades came out. That was very successful.”

Incidentally, where does she stand with 50 Shades of Grey?

Izzy pulls a face. “I’ve not seen the film but I have read the first two books. It’s nothing to do with BDSM. It’s a Cinderella fantasy: young virgin girl meets rich, powerful man…

It’s consumer porn. And it’s not particularly consensual, nor is there much empowerment of women. I prefer quality erotic literature, like Colette and DH Lawrence.”

Izzy has exhibited at Neon Moon’s burlesque events and is pleased to see such a thriving alternative scene in Cambridge.

“Burlesque and swing is really popular in Cambridge, and there’s a big Steampunk

scene in Suffolk. Because we’re all so casual in our everyday wear, I think people are crying out for a reason to dress up and be somebody else for the night.”

Showing me round her boutique, she explains: “All my corsetry is made in the UK by companies that have been around since the 1890s. The masks are made in the UK too, apart from the filigree ones, which are from Venice. Our hosiery is made in France.

“Prices vary,” she says, “but it's around £50 to hire a corset for three nights, and from £125-£600 to buy. But we've got ties from £4, and Izzie can make anything for anybody at a very reasonable cost.”

Izzie Byers is the shop’s seamstress extraordinaire: a costume design graduate with a passion for theatre. It’s her beautiful creations you’ll see in the shop window.

“I’ve always sewn, though I studied chemistry initially,” she says. “But I knew I wanted to create things, and when I found out you could do costume degrees, that seemed perfect, as I love theatre too.”

Do they have a typical customer?

“Not really,” continues Izzy. “We get everyone from students looking for vintage wear to gents wanting something for their wife. People love telling me about their sex lives – and I love listening! I’m quite unshockable," she laughs. "If I wasn’t doing this I’d probably retrain as a sex therapist.

Maybe that’s what I’ll do next!”

Despite Cambridge’s conservative image – and being refused a city centre premises by one of the colleges – Quiver has been welcomed into the community with open arms. “Everyone has been very nice,” Izzy confirms, adding: “We’re happy to chat and there’s nothing scary in the shop. There’s a playfulness to what we do; I’m definitely not out to shock.”

Quiver, 36 Newnham Road, Cambridge, 01223 357705. www.quivercompany.co.uk

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Image: Sara Evans

Costumes and curios with a dash of naughtiness… ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Quiver

Cambridge Edition | April 2015 | 65

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LISTINGS

WHAT S ON A ROUND-UP OF EVENTS IN AND AROUND CAMBRIDGESHIRE FOR APRIL 1 April

VIEWS FROM THE BRIDGE Time: 7.30pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £5 Description: A showcase of new work by creative types from Cambridgeshire. Expect a mix of spoken word, dance, comedy and theatre, many of which will be works in progress. www.junction.co.uk

3

April HAMMER & TONGUE Time: 7.45pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £6/£7.50 Description: A live poetry slam, judged by you, the audience!

Speakers will get just three minutes to deliver their goods, ensuring a diverse programme – so you’re bound to find that some of it is up your street. www.junction.co.uk

3-4 April

ALAN CARR Time: 8pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £32.50 Description: The Chatty Man presenter and BAFTA-winning comedian is back with a new show, Yap Yap Yap!, in which he’ll be returning to his roots in stand-up. www.cornex.co.uk

4 April

EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING Time: 10am Location: Cambridge Cookery School Price: £125 Description: Find out how to be a domestic god or goddess, from constructing a menu to planning dishes. In this class you’ll prepare two main courses and dessert, then have lunch together. www.cambridgecookeryschool. com

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APRIL

4 April

EASTER EGG HUNT Time: 11am Location: Burwash Manor Price: £2.50 per child Description: Explore the farmyard and meadows of Burwash Manor on this family Easter egg hunt, organised by the Rocking Horse toy shop and Chocolat Chocolat. www.burwashmanor.com

7-12 April

PETER PAN GOES WRONG Time: 7.45pm Location: Cambridge Arts Theatre Price: from £15 Description: Winner of the Whatsonstage Awards Best New Comedy award 2014, this farcical take on Peter Pan was described as “ridiculously funny” by Peter Kay and is aimed at all the family. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

10 April

April THE MEASURES TAKEN Time: 7.30pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £8-£12 Description: A double bill of dance by new leading choreographer Alexander Whitley.

The Measures Taken and The Grit in the Oyster explore our relationship with technology. www.junction.co.uk

10-11

15 April

April BALLET CENTRAL Time: 7.45pm, 2.30pm Location: ADC Theatre Price: £10/£12 Description: Classical and contemporary dance, performed by up-and-coming new artists and perfect for families and those new to ballet as well as those in the know. Ballet Central celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and visits Cambridge as part of a national tour. www.adctheatre.com

11 April

3-4 APRIL

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WOLF ALICE Time: 7pm (doors) Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £13 Description: This up-and-coming band, who are currently working on their studio album, go on tour ahead of what looks like a busy summer for the alt-rockers from North London. www.junction.co.uk

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £28.50-£38.50 Description: Music by Beethoven and Elgar, performed by worldclass violinist Pinchas Zuckerman.

A free pre-concert talk takes place at 6pm, Cambridge City Hotel. www.cornex.co.uk

JOSIENNE CLARKE & BEN WALKER Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £11 Description: Recognised by the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, this ageless duo sing about timeless themes using countless different instruments, paired with Josienne’s pure voice. www.junction.co.uk

16

April THE ANDREW MCCORMACK TRIO Time: 8pm Location: Hidden Rooms Price: £12/£15 Description: Since his 2007 debut album, Telescope, Andrew McCormack has been the driving force behind numerous international A-list jazz artists.

They are joined by saxophonist and composer Mark Lockheart. www.cambridgejazz.org

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20/03/2015 11:43

LISTINGS

IMAGES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Explore Public Service Broadcasting's new album on 25 April at the Corn Exchange, join the hunt for Easter Eggs on the 4th, and enjoy a feast of classical and contemporary dance, 10-11 April, at the ADC.

17-18 April

A MUSICAL SKETCHBOOK Time: 8pm Location: ADC Theatre Price: £5/£6 Description: See three mini musicals in just one hour, penned

by Colin Hazel: The Beautiful Suit, Jemima the Mountain Girl, adapted from the short story by F Scott Fitzgerald, and Wheels of Fury, a rock ’n’ roll musical set in the near future. www.adctheatre.com

18 April

THE ELO EXPERIENCE Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £22.50 Description: The acclaimed tribute to The Electric Light Orchestra return for another spectacular show featuring iconic songs such as Mr Blue Sky, performed against a backdrop of psychedelic projections. www.cornex.co.uk

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APRIL

20 April

MARC ALMOND Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £22-£40 Description: Expect iconic hits old and new from the sultan of synth pop on this UK tour. The musician won last year’s Ivor Novello Inspiration award and released his new album, The Velvet Trail, just last month. www.cornex.co.uk

21 April

BOO HEWERDINE Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £13 Description: The spellbinding singer and guitarist, described by the Independent on Sunday as “one of the best songwriters we have”, joins up with Lau’s Kris Drever for what’s sure to be a popular Cambridge gig and is part of their first tour together. www.junction.co.uk

24 April

CHRISTIAN O’CONNELL Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £11/£13 Description: Nominated for a Sony Award no fewer than ten times, Absolute Radio’s Christian O’Connell takes his stand-up show, Breaking Dad, on the road. A show for anyone who is a dad/has a dad/has known a dad. www.junction.co.uk

25 April 19 April

VARMINTS Time: 11.30am, 2.30pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £6/£10 Description: Based on the award-winning book by Helen Ward, this is a richly visual piece of theatre and dance for families.

One small creature, a big city and lots and lots of noise… www.junction.co.uk

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £21 Description: The unique musical duo, who launched their new album at The National Space Centre (tickets sold out), are back with more live AV ‘transmissions’ and sample-tastic electronic music, marrying the best of the past and future. www.junction.co.uk

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22 April

LAURA MARLING Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £22.50 Description: It’s hard to believe Laura Marling is releasing her fifth album already, while still under the age of 25. Short Movie marks a move towards a bigger, more electronic feel for the Mercury-winning artist. www.cornex.co.uk

22 APRIL

27

April WINES WITH ALTITUDE Time: 7.30pm Location: Cambridge Wine Merchants Price: £20 Description: A wine-tasting event at the Cherry Hinton branch looking at wines from some of the highest vineyards in the world.

Nibbles also provided. www.cambridgewine.com

28

April STORNOWAY Time: 7pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £16 Description: The Oxford band, who became the first unsigned act to ever play the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, bring their indie-folk sound to Cambridge. www.junction.co.uk

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2

April- May THE ABSENCE OF WAR Time: 7.45pm Location: Arts Theatre Price: from £15 Description: A political drama from one of the UK’s foremost writers, David Hare (The Hours, The Reader). George, the charismatic leader of the Labour party, must win over the British public – but at what cost? www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

29

April MEXRRISSEY Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £17.50 Description: A tribute to Morrissey by this brass- and accordion-led combo of musicians from Mexico – where the Smiths singer has a huge loyal following. Part of Year of Mexico in the UK 2015. www.cornex.co.uk

29

April THIS IS HOW WE DIE Time: 7.30pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £6-£10 Description: Storytelling, dark humour, beat poetry and B-movies combine in this unusual, surrealist show at the Junction, first performed at Night Watch Festival 2014. www.junction.co.uk Cambridge Edition | April 2015 | 67

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BOAT RACE WORDS JENNY SHELTON

Ahead of the Oxford-Cambridge boat races, Jenny Shelton speaks to the presidents of the men's and women’s crews to find out what it takes to be part of this historic event

CUWBC PRESIDENT This is the first year the men and women will race the same course on the Thames on the same day...

Yes, it’s a very exciting step for women’s rowing. It’ll open up our race to a wider audience and hopefully encourage more women to give rowing a go. It’s great that rowing is moving in the same direction as many other sports, be that the equal prize money for men and women at Wimbledon, or the England women’s football team playing at Wembley for the first time.

It’s a progressive time for women’s sport and I hope that we can spur other sports to follow in our footsteps.

How did you get into rowing?

Having previously kayaked, I knew that I wanted to give rowing a try when I came to Cambridge. I went down to my college boat house in freshers’ week where I won a bottle of Prosecco for the fastest female erg [rowing machine] test on the day and I haven’t looked back since. Although, sadly, I don’t get bottles of Prosecco for my ergs any more!

What does it take to be a rower of this standard?

A huge amount of determination and willpower. You have to be very dedicated to do the training and continually push yourself to your limits.

Having patient and understanding family and friends also helps.

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Tell us about your training regime My alarm goes off at 5:15am in time for me to cycle to the station to get the train to Ely, where we do our morning water-training for about an hour and a half. Then we get the train back for our 9am lectures.

In the evening, it’s time for our second session of the day, this time at the Goldie boathouse in Cambridge. We’ll do some weights or an erg session for about 90 minutes. It’s a long and intense day and you're definitely ready for your bed by the end of it!

Do you ever feel you’re missing out on typical student life?

I feel very lucky to have had so many amazing experiences rowing for the University. I wouldn’t change that for a few more nights out and hungover lectures.

What’s the camaraderie like in the club?

It’s amazing. I’m lucky to be president of such a friendly, supportive and driven group of athletes. The early mornings curtail the big drinking sessions, but there are lots of other social activities, like club dinners, sushi-making nights, etc.

You’ve rowed the Boat Race before.

What’s it’s like to line up at the start?

Lining up on the start isn’t the most nerve-wracking part. Once you’re there you know exactly what to do: you’re focused and in your own bubble. Waiting beforehand is worse, when you’re counting down until it's time to race.

Finally, tell us something surprising about Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club.

The combined weight of our crew is similar to that of a Bactrian camel.

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20/03/2015 12:52

BOAT RACE

CUBC PRESIDENT First things first: how tall are you?

I’m 6' 4", which is not outrageously tall for a rower. Our tallest is Clements, a fellow Austrian, who’s 6' 8". It helps to be tall because you have a longer reach and the angles are easier – it’s just biomechanics.

But I’ve seen many very tall people row really poorly, and vice versa.

How’re you feeling about this year’s race?

Confident. We have a mentally strong crew with really strong cohesion. On paper, I think Oxford are the favourites: they have more internationally experienced rowers so it won’t be easy, but I think we can beat them.

It’s always a very close margin. The race is 16-18 minutes long and crews win by no more than a couple of seconds. To lose really hurts. There is no second or third place: it’s all or nothing. And you want to win not just for your sake but for everyone who’s done it before you. This race is 180 years old and you want to leave a legacy, which is why we put so much effort in.

Where were you in 2012 when protester Trenton Oldfield interrupted the race?

I was watching the race on TV in Austria.

I wasn’t at CUBC then but I knew I’d be at Cambridge the following academic year.

I was as confused as everyone, and I knew it was very rare for the boat race to be stopped. It was unfortunate, knowing how much those guys had put into it. We won, and we deserved that win, but I think there will always be an asterisk beside it.

Tell us how you got here and what it takes to be a rower at this level?

I started rowing in 2005, then came here in 2012 and raced in the reserve crew for my first two years. So I haven’t raced in the main crew before. Physically it’s a very demanding sport. Many people have described rowing as a pain contest.

You push your body until it shuts down, basically. I’ve had moments during land training when I’ve gone unconscious.

It requires mental as well as physical strength – to not just tell yourself you can do this but know that you can do it.

How much rivalry is there between you and the Oxford crew?

We see them nearly every time we go to London because our boathouse is next to theirs. It can be a bit awkward, and there is tension there, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s really rough rivalry. We respect each other because, as much as we are opponents, they are the people we’re closest to; we’re all going through exactly the same thing.

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How do you juggle your rowing with your studies?

I’m in my final year studying land economy, so I’m trying to finish my dissertation while I’m training. I think sometimes people don’t realise that all our guys are top academics. People think that rowing compromises that, but, in fact, statistically everyone here is above the university average.

The sport teaches you discipline and time management, and we are inherently very competitive people.

Finally, why do you do it?

For the love of the sport of rowing, for the challenge and for the friendships you make here, which can last for a lifetime. And it’s an amazing piece of history to be part of.

The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Races take place at 4.50pm (women’s race) and 5.50pm (men’s race) on 11 April.

For more information about the races, visit www.theboatraces.org

• 6.8 The length of the course in kilometres • 9 The number of athletes in each boat (eight rowers, one cox) • 16.19 The record time for completing the course, set by Cambridge’s men’s crew in 1998 • 78 The number of Oxford (men’s) victories • 81 The number of Cambridge (men’s) victories • 5000 The number of daily calories consumed by each of the men’s crew • 1829 The year of the first Boat Race • 1877 The only year the race has resulted in a dead heat

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PETS

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

Could you care for a litter of kittens for 12 weeks? We meet the family who've said hello - and goodbye - to over 100 newborns pring is the season of new life, and in rural Cambridgeshire one family has just welcomed four furry new arrivals. Helen Foster-Henson is one of animal charity Wood Green’s many Moggy Midwives, and lives near Godmanchester with her husband and three boys.

“We really enjoy it,” says Helen, who has been fostering expectant cats or cats with young litters for four years. “Some cats arrive when the kittens are about a week old but we’ve had a couple of mums who’ve had their kittens while they’ve been with us. It’s a little bit scary; you’re just hoping everything’s going to be alright.

“We’ve got one cat here at the moment called Biscuit, who had her kittens on Friday.

I woke up about 6am and there were two, then I kept checking on her and an hour later there was another and by about 9.30am we had the fourth. It’s wonderful for my boys to see them turn from this tiny helpless thing that can’t walk and can’t see into a mischievous ball of fun, running around the house.”

Every spring, Wood Green sees an influx of cats at its units in Godmanchester, London and Heydon – including many that are in the late stages of pregnancy. Last year alone, the charity’s Godmanchester headquarters took in around 300 pregnant cats. To help cope with the demand, and to ensure that

Son Thomas with newborn kitten Harriet

Helen Foster-Henson with three of her foster kittens

mother cats are found the most calm and comfortable birthing environment possible, Wood Green invites members of the public to care for a pregnant cat, or a cat who has recently given birth, in their homes until the kittens are ready to be rehomed.

“We’ve fostered about 20 cats and around 100 kittens, as every time we take one back we tend to bring another home!” says Helen. “The first placement lasted about eight weeks and I have to say that myself, my son and my husband cried our eyes out when they went back, but that feeling does get less over time – particularly if you go straight on to caring for another litter. It’s quite addictive.”

Helen was pregnant with her third son, Sam, when she heard about the scheme.

“We fostered a couple of cats while I was pregnant with Sam, so we were going through the same things at the same time!

The mother was actually very nervous, so it helped her a great deal to be in a home where we could really nurture her and gently increase her confidence.”

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Helen, who now has three children, had wondered whether her hectic family life might count against her, but as it turned out, the opposite was true.

“Wood Green encourage the idea of cats coming into a loving and sociable family with normal noise and activity. By the time they go back, the kittens are really chilled and nothing spooks them.

So they’re ideal family pets.”

And though it’s hard to give them up, Helen occasionally hears from her foster kittens and their new families.

“Often my friends or colleagues have wanted to foster the kittens they’ve seen at our home, so we’ve seen some of them growing up, which is just lovely.”

Interested? Get in touch with Wood Green on 0844 241 8181. You will receive boxes, bedding, toys, litter and feed, plus the charity will cover all medical requirements. The cat and her kittens would stay for up to 12 weeks. www.woodgreen.org.uk

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NEWS

Community NEWS NEW FACILITIES FOR CARE HOME

CAMBRIDGESHIRE TIME CREDITS Do you have a spare hour to give to your local community? Spice Innovations is changing the way we think about volunteering by implementing a programme of Time Credits, in which volunteers can offer their skills, for the benefit of their community, in exchange for vouchers - one for each hour of their time. These credits can then be spent on cinema tickets, tickets to sports matches, family activities or even trips to London.

The scheme was brought to Cambridgeshire in 2013, being successfully piloted in Wisbech, with volunteers lending their time to help at schools, with gardening and in organising community events.

Businesses and local groups can also take part, making it a great way for everyone to pitch in and share skills for the wider community.

Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP for Saffron Walden, along with resident Audrey Hall, cut the ribbon to open the new reception and luxury suites at Highfield Private Care Home on 27 February. Joining them for champagne and cake were the Mayor of Saffron Walden, Councillor Sandra Eden, and Councillor Keith Eden.

Sir Alan, a regular visitor to Highfield, commented: “The new reception area offers a great welcome to visitors and the new suites are very impressive.” Manager Nicola Rands added: “Our new reception area is the perfect setting for entertainment and musical performance. I’m looking forward to events throughout 2015.”

Highfield, based in Mandeville Road, offers 24-hour care (including specialist dementia care and support), fresh home-cooked food, pretty gardens and a range of activities and outings. www.highfieldprivatecarehome.co.uk

www.justaddspice.org

HOMELESS HELPED BY SURGERY REFIT A GP surgery on Newmarket Road, which offers a unique service to the city’s homeless population, has benefited from a £180,000 refit, paid for by Cambridge City Council. The Cambridge Access Surgery offers complementary services to homeless and vulnerable people, or those at risk of homelessness, including drop-in sessions and drug clinics. The refit comprises a new reception area, consulting rooms and meeting facilities, and was carried out by Freeland Rees Roberts Architects.

First opened in 2003, the surgery works closely with the council and local homelessness services, and has around 450 patients on its books.

Cllr Kevin Price, who attended the relaunch in February, said: “The building was in real need of a facelift, and the renovation work has created a fresh new environment for this unique and valuable service. Cambridge is a caring city, and now we will be able to provide first-class healthcare to some of our most vulnerable people. It also makes economic sense to deal with health problems as early as possible in the community, rather than later in an expensive hospital emergency facility.” www.mhcambridgeaccess.co.uk

MY WILD LIFE How often do you stop and smell the roses? The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging people from all walks of life to appreciate the countryside on their doorstep and share personal stories about what nature means to them, so this month, take a photo, write a poem or tell your story about your favourite wild place. Sir David Attenborough, The Wildlife Trusts’ President Emeritus, is just one of hundreds of people taking part from across the UK. He says: “Contact with nature should not be the preserve of the privileged; it is critical to the personal development of our children. People turn to nature in moments of joy and in moments of sadness. We are part of the natural world: we depend on it for the air we breathe and the food we eat. The Wildlife Trusts are helping people to understand their role in the natural world and their dependency on it. This is essential if we are going to speed nature’s recovery.” His and other stories can be found at www.mywildlife.org.uk, where anyone can add their own story and discover wild places near to them. www.mywildlife.org.uk

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FASHION NEWS

Still fab at 40, Lion Yard celebrates four decades of serving Cambridge shoppers with a 70s-themed spectacular

PICKS FROM THE INDIES DIANE VON FURSTENBERG LORI JUMPSUIT £409 ANNA, HIGH STREET, SAFFRON WALDEN

LEATHER BOX BAG £42 ARK, PEAS HILL, CAMBRIDGE

DID YOU KNOW? For many years the atrium featured a large red lion atop a pillar, a reference to the Red Lion pub which once stood on the site. It went missing in 2001 but was found in storage, and now lives in a glass box at the Cambridge University Rugby Club.

40 YEARS OF THE LION YARD Do you remember shopping in Lion Yard in the 1970s? This year, the Cambridge shopping centre, which opened in 1975, celebrates its 40th birthday, and we’re all invited – flares and platforms optional.

The first event to launch the celebrations will be held on Saturday 4 April at 11am, when customers can take a ‘time warp’ back to the 70s as dancers perform a dazzling routine to the infamous music from the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which also turns 40 this year (along with David Beckham, Kate Winslet and the band Iron Maiden). And, as it’s Easter, you might find there are also a few chocolate eggs to enjoy.

The Lion Yard’s big 4-0 celebrations continue through 2015 with a diary of fashion and music events celebrating different eras. The centre is home to some of the high street’s biggest fashion brands including New Look, Miss Selfridge and Superdry, as well food and drink venues such as Yo! Sushi, Hotel Chocolat and Jamaica Blue. www.thelionyard.co.uk

NEW AT NESS! We’re loving the new-season styles at Ness, located at Lion Yard. Our top picks are the super cute Avila pocket dress (£44.99) and the gorgeous Cindy cotton twill coat (£79.99), which is ideal for staving off any spring chills in style. www.ness.co.uk

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ALBANY SQUARE SILVER RINGS NECKLACE £30 PODAROK, BENE’T STREET, CAMBRIDGE ESSKA INDIA SANDAL £74.95, CUCKOO CLOTHING, BURWASH MANOR AND ST MARY’S PASSAGE, CAMBRIDGE

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FASHION

D-RING WRAP FRONT JUMPSUIT £55 TOPSHOP, GRAND ARCADE AND GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE BALMAIN SS15

RALPH LAUREN SS15 SLEEVELESS CREPE D-RING JUMPSUIT £60 TOPSHOP, GRAND ARCADE AND GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE

LONG COLOURED JUMPSUIT £59.99 ZARA, ST ANDREW’S STREET, CAMBRIDGE

PREMIUM TENCEL BANDEAU JUMPSUIT WITH D-RING £58 ASOS KHAKI JUMPSUIT £65 WALLIS, GRAND ARCADE, CAMBRIDGE

The jumpsuit has evolved from a trend only for the adventurous to a true style staple in recent years. Wallis offer a wearable khaki alternative to Ralph Lauren, while ASOS have tons of options for emulating the uber-sophisticated, all-white Balmain look (a perfect alternative to a formal dress for a special occasion this spring).

ENGRAVED ARROW STUDS £7.50 TOPSHOP, GRAND ARCADE AND GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE

Z FOR ACCESSORIZE JASMINE FLORAL SHORT DROP EARRINGS £10 ACCESSORIZE, PETTY CURY, CAMBRIDGE

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sized earrings RIVER ISLAND WOVEN GEO DISC DROP EARRINGS £12 ASOS

ROBERTO CAVALLI SS15

The bigger the better was the rule of thumb on the SS15 catwalks as far as earrings were concerned, with Emporio Armani, Moschino and Roberto Cavalli all offering up oversized ear wear. Get the look with River Island’s statement discs or Topshop’s engraved arrow studs.

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FASHION

TOP £8, CULOTTES £8, SANDALS £8, ALL PRIMARK, BURLEIGH STREET, CAMBRIDGE

BLOUSE £18, CULOTTES £22, NECKLACE £10, BAG £23, HEELS £25, ALL BHS, GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE

A big hit in the spring of last year, culottes are back again for the new season. The great thing about this trend is its versatility, working equally well as a smart office look when paired with a blouse and heels, or dressed down with sandals for a chic, boho look.

We especially love Primark’s matchy-matchy two-piece sets, available in a range of eye-catching prints.

STRIPE BOX TOP £25, CULOTTES NOW £25, SUNGLASSES £15, ALL VERY.CO.UK SNAKE PRINT CAMI £16, BLACK CULOTTES £40 RED HERRING AT DEBENHAMS, GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE

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GREY EMBROIDERED TRIM TOP £35 LINEA WEEKEND DENIM CULOTTES £45 DICKINS & JONES, ALL HOUSE OF FRASER

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FASHION

STRETCH SHIRT £29.99 ZARA, ST ANDREW’S STREET, CAMBRIDGE

VITO PIQUE BLAZER NOW £51 ASOS

SEEING RED

Unequivocally the menswear colour of spring 2015, your go-to reference point for this trend is Dolce & Gabbana’s new-season matador-inspired sea of smart red tailoring. Get the look with Reiss’s sharp ‘Outkast’ coat or make a splash with Zara’s vibrant red shirt – guaranteed to turn heads.

OUTKAST COAT NOW £145 REISS, TRINITY STREET, CAMBRIDGE

LINEN/COTTON SHIRT £25.99 ZARA, ST ANDREW’S STREET, CAMBRIDGE

LEATHER BOMBER JACKET £530 BOSS BLACK, LEVIS AT HOUSE OF FRASER RED CHINO SHORTS £45, BOTH HOUSE OF FRASER

RED HERRING SHIRT £25 DEBENHAMS, GRAFTON CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE

LEE DENIM JACKET

BY DONWALL HARRELL £145 ASOS

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HYMN PATTERN DENIM SHIRT, BLUE £55, JOHN LEWIS, DOWNING STREET, CAMBRIDGE

SUPERDRY MONTANA WASHED DENIM BACKPACK NOW £21 ASOS

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BEAUTY WORDS DAISY DICKINSON & CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

Sweets for the nottheninetofive.com

Daisy and Charlotte celebrate Easter by scouting out their favourite chocolate-based beauty treats The first quarter of the year is the chocolate lover's favourite season. Festive foil-wrapped delights enjoyed at Christmas are swiftly followed by heart-shaped confections in early February, before Easter-themed treats pack supermarket shelves full to bursting with cocoa-scented goodness. If you’re abstaining for Lent, taking part in the British Heart Foundation’s DeChox campaign, or simply cutting back on the good stuff, then you might very well be finding these months a struggle.

Never fear, Cambridge Edition is here – armed with a collection of chocolatey cosmetics that won’t break your fast or the bank. Chocoholics, look away now!

THE BODY SHOP COCOA BUTTER HAND & BODY LOTION A cult chocolatey product designed for slathering on your skin, the Body Shop’s Cocoa Butter has a well-deserved place in the bathing rituals of many beauty devotees.

Dame Anita Roddick, the founder of the Body Shop, first noticed the moisturising properties of cocoa butter while in Tahiti, and used the oil as part of the brand’s launch range in 1976. Nowadays this super substance is found in moisturisers left, right and centre – but we say that you can’t go wrong with the original. £8, The Body Shop

HOT CHOCOLATE & WHITE CHOCOLATE FACE MASKS BY MONTAGNE JEUNESSE

These squidgy face masks with their slightly unnerving leaves-for-eyes models were a key feature of teenage sleepovers, and are now enjoying a revival. We can’t resist their retro charms, and the white chocolate and hot chocolate versions are a sweet treat. Slather on, sink into a bath (perhaps including a chocolate product suggested here) and let your cares be carried away by their chocolatey goodness. £1, Boots

BOIS NEF NOURISHING BATH OIL WITH COCOA, COCONUT AND OLIVE OIL Well I never! Hotel Chocolat doesn’t just do edible treats, but a range of beauty products too, headlined by this unctuously luxurious bath oil. Cocoa from the brand’s plantation spa provides the scent, with notes of mandarin, black pepper and jasmine. A true treat for someone who needs spoiling. £25, Hotel Chocolat

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BEAUTY

TOO FACED CHOCOLATE BAR EYE SHADOW PALETTE, MILK CHOCOLATE SOLEIL BRONZER & LA CRÈME LIPSTICK Known for their brilliant compacts and palettes, Too Faced have done it again with their chocolate-themed range. Head to Debenhams for the La Crème lipstick in Pink Chocolate (£18), a real treat for your lips in a deep plummy shade, or try the Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (£25), which smells distinctly like chocolate each time you brush it on. And as for the Chocolate Bar eye shadow palette (£39), if the ridiculously cute packaging wasn’t enough, the 16 matte and shimmery shades of cocoa-powder-infused colour shadows even smell like chocolate!

If you’ve blown your budget on Boost bars, head to Superdrug for the I Heart Makeup Eye Shadow ‘Naked Chocolate’ Palette. An absolute steal at just £7.99.

BOURJOIS DELICE DE POUDRE

Found in the makeup bag of every girl who became a teenager in the naughties, this ultra-fine bar-shaped bronzer is infused with a chocolate scent and golden flecks for a warm shimmer. Dust across your cheekbones for a sun-kissed, sweet glow that’s perfect to welcome back the springtime sunshine. £7.99, Boots

SUPER LUSH

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, temptingly handy in Lion Yard, has enough chocolate-based products to give you your cocoa fix but also leave you looking fantastic. Cocoa butter is the base of their massage bars, such as Soft Coeur (£4.59 for 30g) and Therapy (£6.50 for 50g), a deceptively simple bar that knows exactly what it’s doing. Or how about smothering your face in Cupcake facemask (£6.50 for 75g), which is derived from the cocoa bean? Cupcake also contains deep-cleansing Rhassoul mud to absorb excess oils on the skin, and spearmint and peppermint oils to gently stimulate.

PALMERS COCOA BUTTER FORMULA & TINTED LIP BALM FAITH IN NATURE CHOCOLATE SHOWER GEL & FOAM BATH Dodging out of supermarket sweet aisles? Had to repeatedly turn down birthday brownies at the office?

Relax and unwind your mind with this deliciously decadent bathtime treat. Paraben and cruelty free, this sumptuous foaming gel will temporarily curb your cravings. A equally chocolatey shampoo and conditioner is also available and comes highly recommended

by Internet blogger types. £5.60, beautynaturals.com

Famously endorsed by Naomi Campbell, this body lotion is a beauty classic. Make sure you pick the bottle with the distinctive scent – the unscented version just ain’t the same. £3.99, Boots

HURRAW CHOCOLATE LIP BALM

Sooth your chocolate cravings, and your lips, with this super-smooth lip balm. Made from certified organic, vegan ingredients and so delicious! £3.99, mypure.co.uk

BURT'S BEES LIP BALM WITH BLUEBERRY & DARK CHOCOLATE

A revitalizing lip balm infused with Blueberry Seed Oil and Cocoa Powder, known for their antioxidant properties, and conditioning Cocoa Seed Butter. £3.70, beautynaturals.com

If your chocolate cravings get the better of you, and you’re looking to indulge further, Hotel Chocolat is spoiling us this Easter with a beautiful range of eggs and treats. Some of our favourites – seen on these pages – include The Ostrich, a luxurious (and huge!) egg filled with truffles and egglets, and the City Bunnies, which are almost too cute to eat. Head to Petty Cury and follow your nose!

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WELLNESS

WELLNESS RED STAR SPA DAY

ELEMIS FACIALS AT THE VARSITY If your skin is feeling unloved after winter and crying out for a little TLC, The Varsity Hotel & Spa has heard, and has responded by offering a new range of facials. The Glassworks Health Club & Spa at The Varsity Hotel is now offering Elemis’ new generation of Biotec facial treatments, the latest beauty innovation designed to deliver a relaxing and results-driven facial. Choose from seven new and highly-effective Elemis Biotec facial treatments, including a treatment specifically for men, providing the perfect antidote to tired, winter-worn skin.

These innovative new treatments combine a relaxing experience with clinically tested results: the facials harness the power of touch, technology and plant actives, combining them to help repair, renew and re-tone skin for visible and long-lasting results.

To begin, guests will enjoy a relaxing hands-on therapy to prepare and soften the skin.

The treatment then utilises one of the latest scientific advances in facial technology: the Biotec activator, an innovative machine that stimulates the skin, helping it to absorb and optimise the nutrient-rich Elemis formulas.

Prices start from £62.50 for a Sonic Skin-Radiance Facial (one hour). See the full list of treatments online.

The Varsity Hotel & Spa is located in the centre of Cambridge, on Thompson’s Lane.

The spa was relaunched in 2014 and offers a unique Jacuzzi area giving views of the River Cam. www.theglassworksgym.co.uk

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Feel like a VIP at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa with their Red Star Spa Day offer, which has been extended due to popular demand.

The Newmarket spa launched its VIP package to celebrate being upgraded to 4 Red Star status in recognition of its high levels of quality and service, and has extended the offer to April in response to customer demand.

The package includes a glass of fizz on arrival, use of the hydrotherapy and heat facilities, an ESPA Salt & Oil Body Scrub or Mud Rasul, an ESPA personalised massage or facial, a two-course lunch with tea, coffee or smoothie, plus cupcakes to take home. A fluffy robe, slippers and towel will also be provided.

The price per person for the day is £130. For more information, or to book, go online. www.bedfordlodgehotelspa. co.uk

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20/03/2015 12:56

WELLNESS

DERMALOGICA BIOSURFACE PEEL One of Cambridge’s best kept beauty secrets is The Park, Cambridge Regional College’s hair and beauty salon and spa. Here, members of the public can book a range of treatments at knock-down prices (gents’ haircuts from £2, ladies’ from £8), while helping students gain experience necessary for their studies.

A new treatment just launched is the Dermalogica Bio Peel facial. This gentle resurfacing treatment removes the outer layers of skin to stimulate the deeper layers below. It helps even out rough skin surfaces, treat breakouts, reduce fine lines, and stimulate cell turnover and collagen production to brighten the skin and minimise the appearance of pigmentation. It was designed to work with, not against skin, to avoid damaging cells, and is the result of years of research by experts at Dermalogica.

It costs £130 for a course of three express facials, one Bio Peel Facial and an after-care kit. Full details online. www.thepark-cambridge.co.uk

STAY YOUTHFUL Chocolate that makes you look younger might sound like a miracle product, but such a thing has just been developed here in Cambridge. Esthechoc is the world’s first ‘beauty chocolate’ and was created by Dr Ivan M Petyaev at Lycotec, based at Granta Park. It is based on natural 70% cocoa dark chocolate and features a combination of two powerful antioxidants associated with anti-ageing properties: cocoa flavonols and marine carotenoid astaxanthin.

“It won’t reverse the process and make you younger but I hope it will slow down the ageing of tissues and inhibit the processes which are responsible for ageing.” says Petyaev. “We all know that we age, but the aim of this product is to help us take some control of this.”

After consuming the product daily for three to four weeks, volunteers aged 50 to 60 were found to have an increased blood supply to the skin, less inflammation in the skin and a boost in antioxidant levels, necessary for maintaining younger-looking skin.

“People have said that skin looks smoother and more radiant,” says Petyaev. The evidence would appear to be supported by the European Food Safety Authority, which agreed that cocoa flavonols help contribute to a healthy blood flow.

Esthechoc has been under development for three years and was launched at the Global Food Innovation Summit in London in March. But, more to the point, what does it taste like?

Edition was lucky enough to get hold of a preview sample and can report that

Esthechoc tastes rich, velvety and full of flavour: just like any other good-quality dark chocolate. Which is exactly the point, says Petyaev. Unlike unappetising health foods we try once and never eat again, this beauty regime is designed to fit into people’s daily lifestyles. It’s a chocolate fix with benefits.

“With a 100g dark chocolate bar, which contains those good properties found in cocoa, the price you pay is calories,” Petyaev explains. “So we have made a more compact version which is easier to introduce to our everyday diet and lifestyle.”

One 7.5g piece of Esthechoc contains just 38 calories and minimal fat and sugar. It’s suitable for vegetarians and even diabetics.

“One piece a day is enough to see the changes,” says Petyaev.

Chocolate, in fact, has a long association with health, and the National Confectioners Association supports that “modest consumption of dark chocolate or cocoa, in the context of a balanced diet, is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.”

One 7.5g piece of Esthechoc contains just 38 calories

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Says Petyaev: “I want to change people’s perception of true chocolate.

What we have on the market today is not chocolate but chocolate-based confectionery. Chocolate was brought to Europe from Mexico as a health product. For about 400 years it was a remedy used for endurance, for the heart… it was rich in medicinal properties.

Only in the mid-19th century was sugar introduced, until in the 20th century it was seen as confectionery.”

So don’t expect to see any Esthechoc Easter eggs in the shops: instead it will be sold not as confectionery but at spas and beauty counters. A prominent UK retailer has apparently already placed a big order.

Petyaev is also working on other forms of functional food, including chocolate which helps boost cognition.

A box of Esthechoc containing 21 7.5g bars will retail for £35. www.cambridgechocolate.com

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WELLNESS

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMME WITH A DIFFERENCE BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

WEIGHT REDUCTION AND BODY CONTOURING AT ALEVERE CAMBRIDGE Are you looking to lose weight in time for the summer? Got a wedding or a holiday coming up? Edition spoke to Jacqueline Siczkowski, director of Alevere Cambridge, to find out more about a weight loss programme with a difference.

BRIEFLY, WHAT IS ALEVERE THERAPY? Alevere weight-reduction therapy is a medically monitored plan which consists of a nutritional plan combined with medical-grade ultrasound treatments to break down fat deposits. This is coupled with skin-tightening treatment to address the problem of saggy skin that often accompanies weight loss. These combined elements provide rapid, safe and sustainable weight reduction.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO LOSE WEIGHT? Anything from wanting to improve their health, to getting married or going on holiday, or just trying to fit into the size 12 jeans they used to wear.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT? Not sticking to the diet, or following low-calorie starvation diets, during which the body adapts to low calorie intake by reducing its metabolic rate, thereby resulting in weight being put on even faster when they stop the diet.

WHAT RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN FROM THE ALEVERE METHOD? As well as weight loss, people’s body shape often changes, due to the body contour and skin-tightening treatments. The body contour treatments treat stubborn areas of fat that diet alone often cannot fully address. Patients with medical conditions such as diabetes also often show an improvement and require reduced levels of medication.

Another effect is improved energy and mobility.

Find out more online: www.aleverecambridge.co.uk

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WEAVERS SPA OPENS A gorgeous new spa has opened its doors at historic hotel The Swan in Lavenham. Weaver’s House Spa opened on 30 March, offering both guests and non-guests a tranquil retreat in which to unwind, rejuvenate the body and soothe the senses.

The spa works with award-winning British brand Temple Spa, which makes use of natural ingredients full of goodness, including black truffle, champagne and even diamonds and gold. Amongst its range of treatments is the Weaver’s House Hug, which includes a unique Repose facial, a relaxing deep tissue massage and nurturing body rocking and tapping technique that will take you to a place of complete peacefulness. Hot stones and stretching complete the experience.

Other treats include a choice of facials (from £40), figure-sculpting body treatments and massages (from £40), including mum-to-be massages. Or opt for a spa experience like A Brush With Heaven (£95), in which you’ll be massaged using different textured brushes, or My Kinda Mood (£125), a prescriptive facial and massage created especially for you. www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk

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EDUCATION

WORDS CHRISTEPHER HALD

Christepher Hald, Head of Juniors at St Mary’s School, Cambridge, excplains how girls are being equipped to help make the world a better place e do not want the girls at our junior school to live in a fairytale. The world we live in today is not continuously just or fair, and there is not always a ‘happy ever after’. We need to present global issues to the girls in such a way that they are aware of the world around them and they understand the impact that is being made and what they can do about it.

However, just like their parents, we do not want to spoil in any way the hope and innocence of childhood.

Two years ago we introduced the Creative Curriculum, which set out to deliver the education and skills that would foster a life-long love of learning. Its practical and cross-curricular approach creates a climate for children to explore ways in which to learn, as well as how to apply their knowledge with originality and purpose. It encourages creative, critical and reflective thinking and produces excited, enthusiastic, enquiry-driven learners.

Development Education has found its place in this learning environment, being an approach to education about global and development issues that recognises the importance of linking people’s lives throughout the world. It aims to engage people in a dialogue about what change is needed to create a fair, equal and sustainable world. The values which underpin this social philosophy are very much in line with those of our school’s foundress, Mary Ward. They include a concern for the well-being of the self, of others and of the planet, as well as an appreciation of interdependence, equality, respect and belonging. These values are translated through the curriculum into opportunities for the girls to learn and, more importantly, engage with the world around them. Issues such as poverty and hunger, unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity, environmental degradation and diminishing resources are some of

the challenges that the girls confront and examine through the curriculum.

For example, pupils from Year 5 looked at Africa as their key topic and wrote to a local MP with their concerns over food insecurity and injustice of global food distribution – to which each received a personal response from the MP. They raised money as a year group to purchase a water pump – after building one in their STEM lesson – for an African village through an aid organisation.

Many aspects of Development Education might seem highly aspirational, given that we are a primary school and that our girls range in age from four to 11. We acknowledge that we will not be able to legitimately, or practically, take a field trip to a disadvantaged area of the world and build a school. However, the teachers truly do provide opportunities for the girls to approach social justice topics with thought and, more importantly, empathy.

From Year 5 the girls also approach Development Education issues through their enrichment programme. The programme is based around a series of

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challenges, which ask the girls to look at topics such as active citizenship, rights and responsibilities, wider community and health and lifestyle. There are also challenges which link the life of Mary Ward to modern social justice issues, as well as extension activities into critical and philosophical thinking, independent research and reflection.

We strive, through the Creative Curriculum topics and the enrichment programme, to equip our girls with the age-appropriate knowledge and skills they need to make better decisions for a fairer and more sustainable world.

We also support them to learn more about the challenges being faced by communities both locally and globally, with the adage of ‘better understanding leading to better decisions’ coming to fruition as they mature.

Development Education does not look to resolve these issues. We believe that, in the long run, it is the girls’ acquisition of the abilities I have outlined that will allow them to have a role in creating a just and sustainable world.

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BUSINESS

INNOVATION FORUM The Innovation Forum, a student-led initiative which seeks to build bridges between academia, industry and policymakers, will host its second annual conference on 16 and 17 April at the Judge Business School in Cambridge.

The event will feature inspiring talks from speakers including Dr Hermann Hauser (co-founder, Amadeus Capital), Dr Jonathan Milner (co-founder of Abcam and angel investor) and Kieran Murphy (CEO and President, GE Healthcare), as well as a series of panel discussions, Q&A’s and workshops. www.inno-forum.org

BUSINESS NEWS FREE DROP-IN BUSINESS ADVICE SESSIONS Chartered Certified Accountants Aston Shaw have launched a new monthly session, offering professional support and advice to people with existing businesses or fledgling entrepreneurial ideas. These free-of-charge drop-in sessions are part of Aston Shaw’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategy for the year, and will take place on the first Thursday of every month, between 1pm and 5pm. They are open to anyone – whether employed, unemployed, or developing a new business idea – who is interesting in receiving technical and practical business advice from a qualified professional on everything from banking and tax to staff, HR and buying premises.

“We want to drive forward local businesses in our area and give back to our community, so we decided to offer advice and expertise to the local people who need it, but may not be able to afford it,” stated Mark Noakes, director of Aston Shaw. “The monthly advice sessions will run on a ‘first come first served’ basis and we will advise on a range of topics from business, finance, tax, marketing and legal.” www.astonshaw.co.uk

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MUMPRENEUR MARKET AT THE GRAFTON CENTRE The Grafton Centre is welcoming back its Mumpreneur Market next month, offering the chance for enterprising mothers to showcase and sell their wares at the busy shopping centre. The event, which will next run 29-31 May, is designed to support new and small homegrown businesses, offering the most entrepreneurial mum a prize of a month’s free trading space in the centre – a fantastic opportunity with a value of more than £2,000.

The centre will be running a social media competition for the mumpreneurs, whose businesses include products such as home décor items, gifts and jewellery.

A full list of the Mumpreneurs attending the market, and company profiles will be available on The Grafton’s Facebook page, found at www.facebook.com/ graftoncambridge

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