essence issue 68

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essence Price | £3:00

Issue 68 | FEBRUARY 2016

Northern light Sublime Icelandic landscapes Also inside this issue

GRAND TOURER Ivan Evernden’s icon

TIGER COUNTRY India’s royal reserve

PLATFORM 3 Standing room only

IN THE RIGHT VEIN Dr Paul Baskerville

www.essence-magazine.co.uk

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contents Issue 68 | FEBRUARY 2016

8 | Interview | TIM RUDMAN

Tim is a fine art photographer and internationally renowned darkroom printer. Acknowledged as one of the finest landscape photographers active today, his new book is titled ‘Iceland, an Uneasy Calm’.

16 | Travel | WILDLIFE INDIA

Bandhavgarh National Park in India was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. A famous natural habitat for tigers, Subhasish Chakraborty searches for these elusive animals.

22 | Gardening | HTA

16

Create a winter wonderland with advice from The HTA on a selection of seasonal plants to banish winter blues and add early colour.

Travel | WILDLIFE INDIA

Where wilderness AND HISTORY ENTWINE

Bandhavgarh National Park in India was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and is a famous natural habitat for Royal Bengal Tigers. Subhasish Chakraborty went in search of these elusive animals.

26 | Motoring | BENTLEY

The Bentley Continental GT is one of the most iconic cars on the road today. Euan Johns takes a look back at the birth of a motoring icon, arguably the world’s first Grand Tourer.

Royal Bengal Tiger PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SHAILIN RAMJI

32 | Fashion | BEST OF BRITISH

16 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

Menswear from Richard James of Mayfair, innovative knitwear by Caitlin Charles-Jones and classic watches from Abbot Lyon.

Baking | JEN’S CUPCAKERY

38 | Food | CRATES LOCAL PRODUCE

Crates chooses current seasonal offerings, including oysters, chilli and two eternal favourites, chocolate and coffee, together with recipes to enjoy.

Gluten free chocolate, pistachio and sea salt brownies for Valentine’s Day Nothing says I love you like a gooey chocolate brownie. One of our new range, this gluten free chunk of gorgeousness is made with coconut flour, packed with pistachios and a tang of sea salt, though readers could just as easily substitute with fresh raspberries or cherries. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter for added romance, or simply slice and serve with a dusting of icing sugar or a dollop of crème fraiche...

>>>

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FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 17

TOP TIP: Before slicing through the cooked brownies, put the knife under hot water for a few seconds; it will make cutting the gooey brownies easier.

Makes around 16

42 | Baking | JEN’S CUPCAKERY

Ingredients  250g unsalted butter  200g dark chocolate  70g coconut flour (you can buy online or in good health food shops)  One teaspoon gluten free baking powder  360g caster sugar  100g pistachios, chopped into small pieces  Three large eggs, lightly beaten  80g cocoa powder  One teaspoon sea salt for the mixture plus a little extra to sprinkle on top

Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a gooey chocolate brownie. So, for this Valentine’s Day, use a heart shaped cutter for romance, or simply slice and serve.

Method

 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 6 and then grease and line a 20cm square tin with non-stick baking paper.

 Melt the butter and chocolate in a glass bowl above a pan of simmering water. Give the mixture a stir every now and again to help it along and then remove from heat and leave to cool slightly.

 Whisk the eggs and sugar together until a creamy mixture is achieved. This will take at least five minutes in an electric mixer, more if whisking manually.

 Sieve the coconut flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into another bowl and mix until all ingredients are combined.

 Gently fold in the melted chocolate and butter into the egg mixture and then do the same with the flour mix – do not over mix, it is fine if it looks a little ‘clumpy’. Follow with the chopped pistachios and the sea salt and pour into the tin.

44 | Artisan food | EAT SURREY

Shirlee Posner of Eat Surrey discovers Platform 3 in Claygate where there’s standing room only for award winning beer from Brightwater Brewery.

46 | Health | THE BASKERVILLE CLINIC

Louise Alexander O’Loughlin interviews one of London’s top vascular surgeons, Dr Paul Baskerville, about the importance of what lies beneath the surface of our skin.

 Bake for about 25 minutes (or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out mostly clean). The brownies should be squidgy in the middle, so don’t overbake!

essence INFO Website: www.jenscupcakery.com Telephone: 07751 553106 Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenscupcakery Twitter: @jenscupcakery Blog: www.ilovejenscupcakery.wordpress.com

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42 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

Fashion | BEST OF BRITISH

Timeless tradition Since 1992, Richard James has established a reputation as a leading luxury brand setting the standard for contemporary tailoring and menswear.

50 | Legal | MUNDAYS

The first of the ‘new establishment’ tailors on Savile Row, Richard James has contributed to revitalising what has long been acknowledged as the world centre for tailoring with the its bold, progressive take on the timeless and traditional. The Richard James’ philosophy is to produce classic clothing of quality and push boundaries through design, colour and cut.

Gemma James, partner at Mundays LLP, stresses the importance of forward planning when considering the purchase or lease of property for business purposes.

The winter collection introduced a new selection of outerwear with casual jackets and tailored overcoats using a colour pallet of mainly earthy rich tones and subtle textures.

Richard James Mayfair brings a well-edited collection of full tailored suits through to separates such as simple printed shirts and ties. Prices for a full suit start at £395 and shirts start at £65 each.

BEST OF BRITISH

essence INFO Available from House of Fraser nationally, as well as Peter Jones and John Lewis.

Website: www.richardjames.co.uk

52 | Finance | PMW

Jacket £240 Trousers £155

The bears are back as global financial markets welcomed in 2016 by taking a bite out of the portfolios of many investors. Simon Lewis considers what lies ahead.

Jacket £250 Trousers £175 Waistcoat £135

>>>

54 | Education | CRANMORE

Michael Connolly, headmaster at Cranmore School, considers the importance of homework in children’s education.

62 | Leisure breaks | FLORIDA

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, twelve miles from the hustle and bustle of Fort Lauderdale, is a tranquil town that oozes old Floridian charm. Rebecca Underwood samples its charm.

66 | Events | SURREY

Linda Seward’s detailed diary of the best of what’s on in theatre, music, exhibitions, arts and countryside over the month.

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FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 33

Gardening | HTA

Create a winter wonderland

Camellias for early colour Few hardy shrubs signal the end of winter better than camellias, highly valued for their stunning floral displays and fresh, glossy, evergreen foliage. Dozens of varieties are available, so pick from camellias in shades of pink, red, white and cream. Their ultimate size, habit and rate of growth vary immensely too, from small and compact to a bold shrub or even a flowering hedge or screen, the choice is personal.

Camellia flowers vary in size and shape too, and their forms can be divided into six descriptive groups depending on the number of petals and their pattern or arrangement within the flower. These forms are described as Single, Semidouble, Anemone-form, Peony-form, Rose-form double or Formal double.

The poet Ted Hughes may have described November as “the month of the drowned dog”, but this description could equally apply to the mid winter months following the Christmas and New Year festivities. Help is on hand from The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) as it offers advice on a selection of seasonal plants to take away winter blues with recommendations on camellias to add early colour.

A

dd the wow factor to a garden with striking plants that look their best now. Whether wishing to fill borders with hardy shrubs covered with fragrant flowers, clad a fence or archway with colour, or plant a small flowering tree to create a focal point, there is a great range of seasonal stunners for these winter months.

While a coating of frost or snow creates temporary magical moments, a unifying effect with its icy frosting, the excitement really starts when it melts away to reveal winter displays full of colour, character and charm.

A choice selection of the very hardiest plants put on their best show in the depths of winter, providing a bright outlook from the comfort of an armchair, and an even warmer welcome when stepping outside.

Gold blooms really shine out on gloomy days: Witch-hazels produce clusters of small fragrant flowers with petals like dainty ribbons, transforming the otherwise naked stems of this hardy shrub. Evergreen Mahonias impress with their golden sprays of flowers forming at the tip of each shoot. There are several varieties to choose from with different sizes and forms, and flowers on most are followed by the formation of grape-like berries in spring giving these shrubs their common name of Oregon Grape. >>>

Like azaleas and rhododendrons, camellias are ericaceous plants, and this means they need to grow in an acid or limefree soil to ensure they stay healthy. A simple soil test kit available from garden centres can be used to check soil acidity/alkalinity, and composts and fertilisers can be added to help make soil more acid.

Mahonia Lionel Fortesque ©THE FARPLANTS GROUP

Compact varieties of camellia grow well in large pots or half-barrels filled with ericaceous compost, available in garden centres.

Grown in the right soil and position, camellias usually flower reliably with little care and attention, growing larger over time to develop into impressive flowering shrubs. Most camellias rarely need pruning, but if they outgrow their position, individual shoots can be shortened and plants can even regrow well if cut back hard into old wood.

Where space is available, develop a seasonal bed including a camellia or two and other evergreens and early flowering plants to provide welcome colour through late winter and into early spring.

Top tips for extra winter colour 1. Choose planting sites carefully. Ensure new plants are positioned in full view from a window or prime position by patio doors.

78 | Overseas Property | ITALY

Rome’s eternal appeal and Michelangelo’s Tuscany home is for sale.

2. Add winter colour to a front garden to welcome family and visitors home, and to cheer-up the local neighbourhood.

3. Fill patio pots and baskets with hardy winter bedding plants, such as pansies and violas for a kaleidoscope of colours.

4. Cover the ground under trees or shrubs with a carpet of Winter Aconites (Eranthis hyemalis). Get ready to buy snowdrops too!

5. Plant clumps of winter flowering Iris unguicularis to brighten a dry, sunny spot at the base of a wall or fence, and use blooms as cut flowers to bring indoors.

Helleborus Winter Moonbeam ©WYEVALE NURSERIES

Camellia Debbie ©THE FARPLANTS GROUP

22 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

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essence 68

COVER: Beached ice by Tim Rudman

essence team

Acting Editor: Andrew Guilor Contributing Editor: Louise Alexander-O’Loughlin Publishing Manager: Rebecca Peters Production Manager: Linda Seward Designer: Sharon Smith Senior Designer: Jason Mayes telephone: 01932 988677 email: editor@essence-magazine.co.uk Advertising Manager: Andrew Peters telephone: 07980 956488 email: marketing@essence-magazine.co.uk Advertising Sales: telephone: 01932 988677 email: marketing@essence-magazine.co.uk Advertising Sales Executive: Nadine Schioldan email: nadine@essence-magazine.co.uk

Three score and ten The biblical reference to a person’s allotted earthly time came into sharp focus with the news of David Bowie and Alan Rickman’s recent deaths. Having rented my first flat some 150 yards from where Bowie started out (in a then slightly edgy venue), I felt a particular jolt. Who could argue that this extraordinary man crammed more into his years than most would into several lifetimes? These days, of course, seventy is regarded as no real age, so perhaps time to pause and reflect on an extraordinary world with its endless variety of natural and manmade wonders.

In this issue of essence we take a look at photographer Tim Rudman’s haunting and beautiful images of Iceland. No wonder the country is used as a dramatic setting for Game of Thrones.

Contributors: Louise Alexander O’Loughlin, Shirlee Posner, Helen Heady, Subhasish Chakraborty, Michael Connolly, Rebecca Underwood, Gemma James, James Condie, Simon Lewis, PJ Aldred, Jennifer Sutton, Naomi Diamond, Euan Johns.

We also travel to India’s former royal hunting grounds in search of tigers and discover the history behind the iconic Bentley Continental GT, the first car to offer high speed cruising in comfort.

essence magazine

In the garden, it’s not the brightest time of year, but The Horticultural Trades Association has recommendations for seasonal plants to liven things up.

Fashion and style this issue comes from Mayfair in the form of Richard James’ menswear, with Caitlin Charles-Jones offering stylish knitwear. We also take a look at the Italian property market.

Maple Publishing Limited, the publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. Any artwork will be at owner’s risk. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder and publisher, application for which should be made in writing to the publisher. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

essence is posted by Royal Mail to key addresses in Cobham, Oxshott, Esher, Weybridge, Guildford and outlying areas.

Properties in all the major private estates, including St George’s Hill, the Crown Estate and Wentworth Estate, receive the magazine 10 times per year. essence is also distributed to selected estate agents and is available at city businesses, London hotels and Heathrow airport lounges.

Design and production www.domino4.co.uk

As usual, essence has health, legal, finance and educational advice, together with the best of a variety of activities for the coming month, highlighting food and events, and a competition to see an exhibition on the history of cycling at the Design Museum.

The essence team

© Maple Publishing 2016

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 5

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Interview_Layout 1 03/02/2016 11:43 Page 1

Dark force

8 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

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Interview | TIM RUDMAN

PICTURE PERFECT

in the land of fire and ice

Tim Rudman is a fine art photographer and internationally renowned darkroom printer who began his involvement with photography in the 1960s whilst studying medicine in London. Tim is acknowledged as one of the very finest landscape photographers active today. Working exclusively with film and wet processing, he is widely held responsible for the popularity of the Lith Printing process and chemical toning techniques. essence caught up with Tim before the start of this year’s touring solo exhibition promoting his new book ‘Iceland, an Uneasy Calm’.

All images: selenium and thiourea toned silver gelatine ©Tim Rudman. All rights reserved.

>>>

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 9

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Q Tim, you have a medical background. Photography is regarded as a method of recording fact and a medium of artistic expression.

Did your medical studies spark your interest in photography?

A No, although it was whilst a medical student that my photographic epiphany moment occurred when I picked up a book by South African photographer Sam Haskins. It was instant and within weeks I had located a darkroom and was teaching myself to print.

Q Which artists and photographers have been your main inspiration?

A At school and as a student I liked visual ‘art’, in particular Rodin and Michaelangelo, and I constantly littered my books and files with sketches of bits of their sculptures. My earliest photographic influences were Sam Haskins – for his then-daring use of design, grain and composition – and American photojournalist Eugene Smith, for his amazing interpretation through printing and for his use of deep dark tones.

Q What initially drew you to working in black and white?

A That is easy. I always drew in black and white, never colour. With photography, it didn’t occur to me then to work in anything but black and white. That is how I ‘see’.

Q You have pioneered Lith Printing – what do you feel this process has added to your work?

A Ironically, colour. Although ‘false colour’ and its ability to add layers and dimensions to a print that no other process can. It expanded my creative horizons in ways I was not expecting and that is quite addictive.

Q Your work looks as though a lot of planning and pre-thought goes into it. Do you meticulously plan each shoot and image?

A No. I’m more reactive than that. I don’t like the idea of executing a carefully preconceived image. For me, the essence of an image has to be ‘discovered’ and explored. I do have ideas about where I want to shoot and when and what I might want to explore when I get there.

These might be sketched out in my head, but in reality the images develop (no pun intended) during that time in response to the weather, the light and what they arouse in me and are often quite different. I do revisit some locations repeatedly when I feel there is something I haven’t quite identified.

Q You have produced some spectacular landscapes, is this your favourite subject matter and why?

A It is, but using the term ‘landscape’ loosely. It might be (often is) a portrait of a single tree or other object, which although part of the landscape, becomes the subject, with the landscape being secondary.

Q Your latest book is ‘Iceland, an Uneasy Calm’ and contains images taken over a period of eight years. What attracts you to Iceland and what’s behind the title of the book?

A There is a distinctly primeval feel to the landscape there – very ‘Middle Earth’ and it fuses seamlessly with Iceland’s mythology. You can feel it everywhere. Man has made his mark on this landscape and

10 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

draws geothermal energy from it, but underfoot is this awesome subterranean power that strikes back regularly and reasserts itself.

One is always aware of this balance of power and there have been three world news level volcanic eruptions there in the last few years alone. Everyone there knows there will be more, and potentially catastrophic, but not when.

Q Where are you happiest: in the darkroom or outside taking photographs?

A When I am in the landscape, that is where I am happiest, especially when the elements are raging. When I am printing in my darkroom that is where I am also happiest, especially when the interpretive/ creative forces are favouring me (they don’t always of course!).

Q Some photographers work in digital media and manipulate their images by computer. Is this something you ever considered?

A It doesn’t excite me. I like the intimate involvement that the tactile craft of printmaking brings.

Q Your images are regarded as works of art. What do you think constitutes a photographic work of art?

A Well, mine are never straight records. They always have layers of interpretation to bring forward deeper feelings. Does that make art?

That is a deep question. Art is what you say it is.

Q Pablo Picasso said that a dentist is a frustrated doctor and a photographer a frustrated painter. Would you agree with this?

A Ha ha. No. Q The current record price paid for a photographic work of art is $4.3 million for Andreas Gursky’s landscape Rhein II. Photography has struggled to be accepted as art. In your opinion why do you think this is?

A Because from its discovery photography has been a recording process produced by a ‘device’. There have always been those who see its potential as an art medium, and pretty much from its beginning there have always been those who decry it as such. America has a strong and established tradition of photography as an art form. Europe is catching up fast. It is, though, just a medium. It can be used in different ways for different purposes. Like a pen, a brush or a keyboard.

Q I recently attended a lecture on Don McCullin’s tour and he stated his distaste for being called an artist, regarding himself as a photographer first and foremost. Are you happy to be called an artist?

A I am. My work is a world away from Don McCullin’s. His intention was never to produce art and I understand that he would dislike it being described as such.

Q What future plans do you have?

A To catch up on my printing. There is a saying: “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans for tomorrow.” 

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Interview | TIM RUDMAN All images: selenium and thiourea toned silver gelatine ŠTim Rudman. All rights reserved.

Kirkjufell

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FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 11

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Grasses and Lava

12 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

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Interview | TIM RUDMAN

All images: selenium and thiourea toned silver gelatine ©Tim Rudman. All rights reserved.

White church with fence

Hornsvik night

Profile: Tim Rudman Tim Rudman began his involvement with photography in the 1960s whilst studying medicine in London. He taught himself to print in the darkroom and, with his distinctive style of black and white printing, quickly gained some early recognition and publication. His work has been exhibited in over 50 countries around the world, gaining many top international awards.

For many years he pursued his two loves of medicine and photography together, but now devotes his time to photography.

He is respected internationally as a photographer, printer, author and authority on darkroom printing and toning techniques. His name is particularly linked with his pioneering work in the beautiful process of Lith Printing, a process in which he is widely regarded as the leading authority and practitioner.

His work and publications in this field are held to be primarily responsible for its current popularity as a photographic art form around the world.

Tim is a regular writer and lecturer and has conducted darkroom workshops in Britain, Ireland, Spain, Australia, Canada and America. His four books on photographic printing and toning techniques are critically acclaimed and are widely used in teaching establishments. His work has been published extensively in many countries.

Tim is a member and past chairman of The London Salon of Photography, A Fellow of The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and of The Royal Society of Arts. He was a founder member and subsequent chairman of the Royal Photographic Society’s Distinctions Panel for Photographic Printing and 20 year member of its Distinctions Panel for Visual Arts. He currently sits on the RPS Fellowship Board and is a past and current selector for the Tyng Permanent Collection. He was awarded the Society’s Fenton medal and honorary life membership in 2013.

He is a member of the Arena group of photographers in the UK and the Freestyle Advisory Board of Photographic Professionals in Hollywood, California. Tim’s work is represented in a number of permanent and private collections around the world.

His photographic prints are individually hand crafted in the darkroom using silver gelatin materials processed to the highest archival standards and toned mainly with selenium, gold and sulphides, both for aesthetic reasons and to ensure archival permanence.

He is currently represented in Melbourne, Australia by Gold Street Gallery, in the UK by Bangwallop Gallery and online

by Art Upfront.

Nordic beauty Iceland, ‘the land of fire and ice’, has a strong and omnipresent ‘Middle Earth’ feel to it. Evidence of its volcanic origin is everywhere. Geysers spurt, mud pools boil and steam billows from the ground. The central highlands are unpopulated and barren. Glistening glacial caps crown the mountains and extend long white fingers down to light-sucking lava deserts, whilst bibleblack beaches lie fringed with white surf. Thundering waterfalls abound, whilst craggy caves and peaks, often shrouded in mist and low cloud, provide a home to some of Iceland’s trolls and ‘hidden people’. In summer the days extend through the nights. In winter the nights eat up the days. Changes in the weather are frequent and storms can be spectacular. Brooding skies accentuate the already dramatic and sometimes eerie landscape where trolls lurk at night and get turned to stone by daylight. It is a land of myth and magic, of fearsome subterranean power and spectacular scenery.

– Tim Rudman

essence INFO Selected venues for solo exhibitions of Iceland, an Uneasy Calm during 2016 and 2017: Fox Talbot Gallery and Museum, Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire until July. The Lightbox Gallery and Museum, Woking, Surrey during July. Banbury Gallery and Museum, Oxfordshire from December 2016 to January 2017.

Websites: www.timrudman.com & www.iceland-anuneasycalm.com There are two editions of Iceland, an Uneasy Calm – single book or clamshell with print. Both are available to purchase at www.iceland-anuneasycalm.com

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 13

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Where wilderness AND HISTORY ENTWINE

Bandhavgarh National Park in India was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and is a famous natural habitat for Royal Bengal Tigers. Subhasish Chakraborty went in search of these elusive animals.

16 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

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Travel | WILDLIFE INDIA

Royal Bengal Tiger PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SHAILIN RAMJI

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M

any of us may marvel at the exciting holiday adventures other people choose. We’re not all Bear Grylls, so we can usually come up with a bucketful of excuses for not attempting anything out of our comfort zone. No time, not fit enough, too risky: I’m sure there are others to add to the list. The truth is travellers don’t have to be young to enjoy what may at first appear intimidating. Whether six or sixty, there’s a travel option that will provide an experience of a lifetime.

How about tracking tigers then?

History of Bandhavgarh Bandhavgarh is a legendary place, with the name ‘Bandhavgarh’ a combination of two words: Bandhav and Garh. Bandhav means brother and Garh means fort.

The name Bandhavgarh was given to the reserve owing to the ancient fort. Major dynasties ruled the Bandhavgarh regions of which The Baghels are believed to have done so for the longest time.

During their rule, the Baghels decided to move their capital to Rewa and the Bandhavgarh region became a corner post of the kingdom and less populated. The thick forest became a perfect habitat for tigers. The Maharajas of Rewa bequeathed the land to the state government and in 1968 it was declared a national park. Measures have been taken to improve the conditions of the animals and prevent poaching, including water conservation and the relocation of villages to within the boundaries of the Park. A buffer zone was established and is patrolled by security, as is the core area.

PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SAMODE SAFARI LODGE

India has some of the world’s best national parks and wildlife sanctuaries whose areas extend several thousands of square kilometres.

One such park is the world famous Bandhavgarh National Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Set among the Vindhyas, (a broken range of hills forming the southern escarpment of the central upland of India), Bandhavgarh is a relatively small park, but significantly has the highest known density of a tiger population in India. This is the mystical Royal Bengal Tiger’s territory.

Unique amongst India’s National Parks, Bandhavgarh has a rich historical past.

Rarely will travellers come across a park or wildlife sanctuary so steeped in history. The finest example being the magnificent Bandhavgarh Fort, which forms the Park’s backdrop. There are no records to show when the fort was built, but it’s believed to be over 2,000 years old with references to it in ancient literature.

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Travel | WILDLIFE INDIA

Bandhavgarh fort PHOTO COPYRIGHT: ANTHONY BROWN | 123RF.COM

Cheetal deer PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SERGEY URYADNIKOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

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At dawn, as we set out, the forest still dark, and the elephants moving gracefully along in almost total silence, the morning sounds of Bandhavgarh percolate the air. Peacocks calling from nighttime roosts answered by the raucous barnyard crowing of Jungle Fowls, gaudy ancestors of the domestic chicken.

Samode Safari Lodge

Several dynasties ruled the fort; the last ruler was the Maharaja of Rewa who converted it and its surrounding jungles into a hunting reserve for the sole use of the royal family.

The Maharaja took pride in preserving the forest, but he did have a vested interest: that of satisfying his passion for tracking tigers.

On arrival, lush greenery, the majestic Bandahvgarh Fort with its pastel grey clouds floating above, and rays of the evening sun delicately highlighting wooded shrubs where Steppe Eagles perch precariously present a breathtaking sight. Bandhavgarh is a haunting wilderness of astounding beauty that never ceases to heighten the senses. There’s a wonderful, wild isolation and peace in this part of the world.

Perched fifteen feet up in the fork of a tree, with a dart gun, is the park ranger who directs his team of trained tiger trackers riding elephants to brush their way through dense undergrowth. Somewhere in between both is a tiger sleeping off a meal from a kill made the previous night.

The ranger is hoping the elephants will Serpent Eagle with its prey disturb the tiger and it will slink away from them and towards him. Animal alarm calls betray the tiger’s stealthy and silent progress through the forest.

The ranger marvels at the ingenuity of his hunt assistants or Shikaris who invented this method, once employed by royalty to slaughter tigers (the record for an individual being 109 kills in a year). Today the process is used far more constructively to observe these cats and enable answers to basic questions such as how these animals exist in the wild.

It’s not all fun and excitement and a lot of patience is required. Well, who could blame these animals for avoiding human attention? During the

expectant wait senses are heightened by the multitude of exotic noises emanating from the jungle. There are unforgettable rewards for entering this secret world. A ‘Mahut’ (master elephant rider) at Bandhavgarh told me that sometimes when tigers are looking for mates their deep roars reverberate across the stunning Bandhavgarh landscape. Tigers can chase leopards up trees, but for most of the day they sleep. These mystical animals are the main attraction at Bandhavgarh, but not the only one.

Other wildlife includes the Chousingha (small four horned antelope), Chinkara gazelle, Nilgai antelope, Porcupine, Hyena and Rhesus Macaque monkeys.

With as many as 150 species nesting in Bandhavgarh’s favourable micro-climate, travellers don’t have to be dedicated twitchers to appreciate

PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SHAILIN RAMJI

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PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SHAILIN RAMJI

the astonishing variety of bird life. With the onset of winter, migratory birds flock into its marshy surrounds making a spectacularly colourful setting. Have a date with Paradise Fly Catchers, Golden and Black Headed Orioles, Yellow Ioras, Purple Sunbirds and Red Vented Bulbuls.

With each seasonal change a different spectacle unfolds as variations in the water level of the ‘beels’ cause different vegetation patterns to emerge. As a result food supplies vary and attract different numbers of birds. Temporary swamps and completely dry land in Bandhavgarh make a stark combination, biologically diverse, with conspicuous vegetation types and plant species. Each species of bird can be seen in

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Each species of bird can be seen in separate colonies containing many thousands of individuals. These marshy areas delight with sudden flights or calls. The best time for watching is early morning and evening.

separate colonies containing many thousands of individuals. These marshy areas delight with sudden flights or calls.

The best time for watching is early morning and evening.

In Bandhavgarh we were guests of the Samode Safari Lodge, easily one of India’s top ranked jungle hospitality destinations. The Lodge is innovatively constructed, has an ethnic décor and excellent furnishings.

The wooden floor comes with two cosy fireplaces and breathtaking views of the jungle. Most visitors to Bandhavgarh make a point of using the luxurious spa. The Lodge is designed in the form of a necklace of ethnic villas: each one epitomising the grandeur of the fabled North-Indian hospitality all around the central lodge. Each villa offers a graceful living area, a lounge, well-appointed bedroom, plush bathroom and verandah with jungle views.

Dining offers surprises galore either indoors or out. The Lodge goes that extra mile to arrange truly romantic eating experiences out in the woods, by the sparkling poolside or even a balmy bonfire barbecue; the in-house bar is well stocked.

So, after a day in the wild, as I relaxed in my comfortable chair at the

At dawn, as we set out, the forest still dark, and the elephants moving gracefully along in almost total silence, the morning sounds of Bandhavgarh percolate the air. Peacocks calling from nighttime roosts answered by the raucous barnyard crowing of Jungle Fowls, gaudy ancestors of the domestic chicken. Gray Langur monkeys give out a low self-satisfied hooting to greet the new day and warn one another to be alert. As the elephants traverse the track and the mirthful squirrel plays hide and seek, you may even see his majesty the tiger having forty winks and basking in the early sunlight. Here is Bandhavgarh, blue and green all around, providing an unfathomable mystery, the mystery that is Bandhavgarh. 

Tiger twins PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SHAILIN RAMJI

Traveller fact file Best time to visit: November to June (Bandhavgarh closes in July for the monsoon).

Where to stay: Luxurious jungle accommodation is available at Junglemantra Safaris (junglemantrasafaris.com.

Tel: 0091 762 728 0547, 0091 940 758 2955); Samode Safari Lodge (www.samode.com/safarilodge.

Tel: 0091 765 328 0579); The Taj Mohua Kothi (www.tajsafaris.com. Tel: 1 800 111 825); Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge (www.bandhavgarhjunglelodge.com.

Tel: (11) 268 53760/8656); Forest Rest House (www.mpforest.org/bandhavgarh.html.

Tel: 0091 076 532 22214).

Nearest town: Umaria, located 30 kilometres from Bandhavgarh.

Getting there: Nearest airport is Khajuraho, 210 kilometres from Bandhavgarh. From Khajuraho, taxis and buses are readily available.

Elephant excursions PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SERGEI URIADNIKOV | 123RF.COM

Lodge, a herd of deer were wending their way through the high grass and I was joined by Suzanne Haliwell, a keen British wildlife enthusiast. As the evening wore on and we moved seamlessly from beer to brandy, Suzanne talked increasingly about animal conservation and that if things fell into place how she would start her own zoo. I thought she was mad.

How could anyone, except a millionaire, start her own zoo? Suzanne seemed undaunted; OK, Brits are a little eccentric at times, but hadn’t I heard of Benjamin Mee and Dartmoor Zoo? Read his book: ‘We Bought a Zoo’ which Hollywood turned into a film of the same name starring Matt Damon no less!

For reservations contact: Field Director, Bandhavgarh National Park, P.O. Umaria, Dist: Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Website: www.bandhavgarh-national-park.com Climate: Due to its tropical monsoon climatic zone, Bandhavgarh National Park has a lush environment. Its altitude varies between 410 and 810 metres with 32 hills. Although the Park’s entire extent is 1,161 sq. km, tourists are restricted to the 105 sq. km of the Tala Range. Very biodiverse, this area attracts tigers to the core zone composed of four other zones: Magdhi, Kallwah, Khitauli and Panpatha.

Winters are comparatively cool in the region and temperatures vary from almost freezing at night to around 68 degrees Fahrenheit during daytime. The tropical conditions of the forest make summer nights cooler than daytime temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rainfall averages 120cm per year.

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Create a winter wonderland The poet Ted Hughes may have described November as “the month of the drowned dog”, but this description could equally apply to the mid winter months following the Christmas and New Year festivities. Help is on hand from The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) as it offers advice on a selection of seasonal plants to take away winter blues with recommendations on camellias to add early colour.

A

dd the wow factor to a garden with striking plants that look their best now. Whether wishing to fill borders with hardy shrubs covered with fragrant flowers, clad a fence or archway with colour, or plant a small flowering tree to create a focal point, there is a great range of seasonal stunners for these winter months.

While a coating of frost or snow creates temporary magical moments, a unifying effect with its icy frosting, the excitement really starts when it melts away to reveal winter displays full of colour, character and charm.

A choice selection of the very hardiest plants put on their best show in the depths of winter, providing a bright outlook from the comfort of an armchair, and an even warmer welcome when stepping outside.

Gold blooms really shine out on gloomy days: Witch-hazels produce clusters of small fragrant flowers with petals like dainty ribbons, transforming the otherwise naked stems of this hardy shrub. Evergreen Mahonias impress with their golden sprays of flowers forming at the tip of each shoot. There are several varieties to choose from with different sizes and forms, and flowers on most are followed by the formation of grape-like berries in spring giving these shrubs their common name of Oregon Grape. >>>

Top tips for extra winter colour 1. Choose planting sites carefully. Ensure new plants are positioned in full view from a window or prime position by patio doors.

2. Add winter colour to a front garden to welcome family and visitors home, and to cheer-up the local neighbourhood.

3. Fill patio pots and baskets with hardy winter bedding plants, such as pansies and violas for a kaleidoscope of colours.

4. Cover the ground under trees or shrubs with a carpet of Winter Aconites (Eranthis hyemalis). Get ready to buy snowdrops too!

5. Plant clumps of winter flowering Iris unguicularis to brighten a dry, sunny spot at the base of a wall or fence, and use blooms as cut flowers to bring indoors.

Camellia Debbie ©THE FARPLANTS GROUP

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Gardening | HTA

Camellias for early colour Few hardy shrubs signal the end of winter better than camellias, highly valued for their stunning floral displays and fresh, glossy, evergreen foliage. Dozens of varieties are available, so pick from camellias in shades of pink, red, white and cream. Their ultimate size, habit and rate of growth vary immensely too, from small and compact to a bold shrub or even a flowering hedge or screen, the choice is personal.

Camellia flowers vary in size and shape too, and their forms can be divided into six descriptive groups depending on the number of petals and their pattern or arrangement within the flower. These forms are described as Single, Semidouble, Anemone-form, Peony-form, Rose-form double or Formal double.

Like azaleas and rhododendrons, camellias are ericaceous plants, and this means they need to grow in an acid or limefree soil to ensure they stay healthy. A simple soil test kit available from garden centres can be used to check soil acidity/alkalinity, and composts and fertilisers can be added to help make soil more acid.

Mahonia Lionel Fortesque ŠTHE FARPLANTS GROUP

Compact varieties of camellia grow well in large pots or half-barrels filled with ericaceous compost, available in garden centres.

Grown in the right soil and position, camellias usually flower reliably with little care and attention, growing larger over time to develop into impressive flowering shrubs. Most camellias rarely need pruning, but if they outgrow their position, individual shoots can be shortened and plants can even regrow well if cut back hard into old wood.

Where space is available, develop a seasonal bed including a camellia or two and other evergreens and early flowering plants to provide welcome colour through late winter and into early spring.

Helleborus Winter Moonbeam ŠWYEVALE NURSERIES

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Top four plants for winter flowers Witch-hazel (Hamamelis varieties) Unusual fragrant flowers in clusters of tiny ribbons develop along the entire length of stems. Popular AGM (Award of Garden Merit) varieties include ‘Pallida’ (sulphur-yellow), ‘Jelena’ (coppery-orange) and ‘Diane’ (red).

Oregon Grape (Mahonia varieties) Choose from a range of robust and reliable Mahonias to provide evergreen foliage and golden seasonal flower, followed by black grapelike berries in spring. Good AGM varieties include ‘Winter Sun’, ‘Apollo’ and ‘Charity’ among many others.

Winter Flowering Viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense) A majestic shrub producing deliciously fragrant pink/white flowers.

Popular AGM varieties include ‘Dawn’, ‘Deben’ and ‘Charles Lamont’.

Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) This compact perennial is perfect for a slightly shady position, producing clusters of flowers through winter and into spring. Also look out for the many wonderful Hellebore hybrids now available.

Heirloom Plants A Complete Compendium of Heritage Vegetables, Fruit, Herbs & Flowers

Helleborus niger ©CLEEVE NURSERY

It’s always worth looking out for varieties that have been given the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Royal Horticultural Society, often indicated by a trophy symbol on plant labels or in catalogues.

In addition to welcome colour, fragrance is another valuable characteristic of many winter flowering shrubs. For long-lasting displays it’s hard to beat varieties of Viburnum x bodnantense that produce a succession of flowers from October until spring.

For a shady site take a look at the Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger, a low-growing and compact perennial whose simple, white, cup-shaped flowers can be picked and floated on water in a glass bowl to provide seasonal table decorations.

Winter brings out the best in many plants. While flowers are an essential part of this seasonal spotlight, many other characteristics provide winter interest too. A wide range of conifers and evergreen shrubs provide bold forms and fancy foliage. Also look out for plants with colourful wand-like stems, dainty tassel-like catkins, and the tactile barks of many ornamental trees.

So don’t ‘shut-up shop’ for winter, but welcome in the New Year in style with garden displays that provide colour, fragrance, foliage and form.  essence INFO The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is the trade association for the UK garden industry.

Website: www.the-hta.org.uk

24 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

This book is the perfect companion for every home grower who wants to fill their garden with old and interesting varieties while helping to save threatened or forgotten plants.

Heirloom plants often have a charm lacking in commercially produced varieties. Unless these seeds are grown and saved, they will not only be forgotten, but lost too.

Based on the seed catalogues of Thomas Etty, the book lists exciting cultivars, along with profiles and growing tips.

Responsible gardening, certainly, but with more than a hint of romance; who could resist the lure of the splendid Hubbard Green Warty squash, or the Green Zebra tomato?

Thomas Etty Esq is the UK’s only dedicated heritage seed company and was set up over twenty years ago by Ray Warner.

The company name is inspired by Ray’s great, great, great grandfather who himself dealt in seeds in the nineteenth century.

Ray is the dedicated seedsman behind this heirloom seed company with Thomas Etty Esq sourcing seeds dating from the seventeenth century to the end of World War II, all from smallscale seed suppliers from the UK and Europe.

Lorraine Harrison is a keen practical gardener with a master’s degree in garden history. In addition to contributing to the gardening quarterly Hortus, she has authored a number of books, among them the bestselling Latin for Gardeners.

“A strikingly produced compendium of heirloom vegetables, fruit and flowers.” – The Bookseller

By Lorraine Harrison & Ray Warner, seed catalogues written by Thomas Etty 224 pages • Hardback • Illustrations throughout ISBN: 9781782403173 RRP: £18.99 essence INFO Published by Ivy Press Website: www.ivypress.co.uk

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Motoring | BENTLEY

BENT ON BENTLEY

The Bentley Continental GT is one of the most iconic cars on the road today. The Continental name first entered the company’s lexicon in 1952 with the production of the R-Type Continental.

Euan Johns takes a look back at the birth of a motoring icon, and arguably the world’s first Grand Tourer.

>>>

>>>

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W

ay back in 1952 cars that could hit a top speed of 115mph were uncommon to say the least. Cars that could cruise at 100mph with four occupants (plus luggage) were absolutely unheard of. Until Ivan Evernden’s brainchild the R Type Continental appeared. A mere 208 were produced, but the R Type Continental created a template for Bentley grand touring that has lasted for decades and like most design classics defied time itself. It was described by The Autocar as: “…a new stage in the evolution of the post-war Bentley” and as such the magnificent Continental sports saloon has been synonymous with effortless high speed cruising in the grand manner A bigger bore engine ever since. The car’s looks even inspired the design team working on the first Continental GT, was made to maintain fifty years on. performance, with a Pre-war, two coach built specials had shown practical top speed what a Bentley of the future might be. Both the ‘Embiricos’ Bentley and the Corniche featured of around 115mph and easy cruising at 100mph streamlined bodies and were capable of cruising at high speeds on the fast roads of the continent.

One man who took careful note of these one-off creations was the company’s chief projects engineer, Ivan Evernden. Although a lifelong Rolls-Royce employee, he was inspired to reinvent Bentley for the postwar world and distance it from its cousin.

With just three strokes of the designer’s pen, the shape of the Continental comes to life – the striking power line, muscular rear haunches and swooping fast roof line. These three elegant styling cues have remained a fundamental part of the Continental DNA over six decades.

EXTRACT FROM BENTLEY CONTINENTAL: EVOLUTION OF AN ICON

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Motoring | BENTLEY

Evernden was assisted by John Blatchley, chief of the newly-created styling department at Crewe, who sketched a low, long and lithe body shape, with its radiator inclined backward from the vertical, a steeply raked windscreen, rear wheelspats and a fastback roofline. Fins were added to the rear wings to aid stability at high speed.

A quarter-scale model was made and tested in the company’s aero-engine division’s tunnel at Hucknall in Nottinghamshire.

Evernden estimated that air speeds of up to 120mph were attainable.

Evernden wrote in July 1962 that: “Much more could have been done… but the purpose of the exercise was to reduce the aero drag of a conventional car and not to make a space capsule for an astronaut.”

Using the R Type chassis as a base, Evernden and Blatchley designed a grand tourer in the Bentley tradition, using aerodynamics and lightweight aluminium construction to create a vehicle capable of running for long periods at high speed across continental Europe. It became an icon of its era, an era that had been up until that point dominated by post war rationing and austerity. This car looked the part, was extravagantly designed, beautifully crafted, fast and exclusive.

Mechanically, the standard 4,566cc, six-cylinder in-line engine was gently tuned, raising the power from 140 to 153bhp, with a higher final drive ratio to take advantage of the lighter, more aerodynamic body. The R-Type and its Rolls-Royce sister car, the ‘E’ Series Silver Dawn, were notable as the first Rolls-Royce products available with automatic transmission. The standard R-Type was a lively performer, achieving 106mph in silence and reaching 50mph from standstill in 10 seconds, despite a curb weight approaching two tons.

Coachbuilders H.J Mulliner were tasked with creating the new, streamlined Bentley coupé. In a pioneering move in its day and to save weight, the bodywork was made in aluminium, the window frames, windscreen surround and backlight too. Even the seat frames and bumpers were aluminium. Considered superfluous, the car didn’t have a radio to save weight.

Weight was the critical factor; tyres that could carry a two ton motor car at speeds of over 115mph didn’t exist in 1950. Evernden calculated that the new grand tourer would have to weigh a maximum of 34 cwt (around 1,750 kilograms). This combination of weight and speed was right on the limit for the specified Dunlop Medium Distance Track tyres.

All the hard work and planning paid off and was rewarded when in September 1951 at the Montlhéry track near Paris, the sleek new Bentley averaged 118.75mph over five laps, with a best lap speed just under 120mph.

Up to this point, the prototype – OLG 490, nicknamed Olga – was a semi-official project. Some on the board of directors felt it was ‘too sporty’ for a company that also made Rolls-Royce limousines. But with the help of supporters within the company and its overseas dealerships, >>>

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Evernden persuaded the board that a market existed for a coachbuilt Bentley grand tourer. He was proved right, orders came in from all over the world.

The Continental's performance figures would have been considered excellent for an out-and-out sports car, but for a full four/five seater saloon, they were exceptional: a top speed of 120mph, 100mph achievable in third gear, 50mph reached in a little over nine seconds and effortless cruising at the ‘ton’. It was initially only built for export, and once delivery charges and local taxes had been paid, almost certainly the most expensive car in the world, as well as the fastest capable of carrying four adults and their luggage. The astonishing price of £6,928 (including UK All the hard work and planning paid purchase tax) can be compared to the average annual salary in off and was rewarded when in September 1951 at the Montlhéry 1952 of £468, and average house price of £1,891. track near Paris, the sleek new Many owners specified Bentley averaged 118.75mph over extras which had an impact upon the weight of some models five laps, with a best lap speed produced during the R Type just under 120mph.

Continental’s three years of production. A bigger bore engine was made to maintain performance, with a practical top speed of around 115mph and easy cruising at 100mph.

Later production cars also differed from ‘Olga’ in having a lower roofline, a one-piece windscreen and revised wing line.

By the time production ceased in 1955, of the 208 R Type Continentals built, all but 15 of them were bodied by H.J. Mulliner.

Accolades followed the launch of the R Type Continental. The Autocar magazine summed up its appeal: “Whatever memorable motoring experiences one may have had, this was something different… this Bentley is a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances and delivers the occupants well-nigh as fresh as when they started.”

Today’s Continental elegantly maintains and fulfills the same grand touring brief as its forebear. It now has more power of course and a top speed of 206 mph. With its unsurpassed ability to cross continents in total comfort, the Continental GT Speed is an extraordinary car.  essence INFO Website: www.bentleymotors.com

30 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

R Type Continental factfile Inspired by the pre-war streamlined Embiricos and Corniche one-off coachbuilt Bentleys.

Unofficial project by engineer Ivan Evernden to reestablish Bentley as a maker of high performance cars.

Design created by chief stylist John Blatchley and tested in a wind tunnel.

Built using aluminium to a target weight of 1,750kg: no tyre existed in 1950 which could sustain a heavier weight at more than 115mph.

Prototype OLG 490 was created by coachbuilders H.J. Mulliner: became known as ‘Olga’.

At Montlhéry in September 1951 ‘Olga’ averaged 118.75 mph over five laps, with a best lap speed just under 120mph.

Originally offered with a tuned, 4,566cc, six-cylinder in-line engine producing 153bhp. Later versions 4,887cc.

Total of 208 produced between 1952 and 1955 – 193 were bodied by H.J. Mulliner.

Cost in 1952 was £6,928 including UK purchase tax: almost fifteen times the UK average annual income.

Later production cars featured a lower roofline, a one-piece windscreen and revised wing line.

thomaspink.com HAMMER JACKET LONDON COLLECTIONS MEN

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BEST OF BRITISH

Jacket £240 Trousers £155

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Fashion | BEST OF BRITISH

Timeless tradition Since 1992, Richard James has established a reputation as a leading luxury brand setting the standard for contemporary tailoring and menswear.

The first of the ‘new establishment’ tailors on Savile Row, Richard James has contributed to revitalising what has long been acknowledged as the world centre for tailoring with the its bold, progressive take on the timeless and traditional. The Richard James’ philosophy is to produce classic clothing of quality and push boundaries through design, colour and cut.

The winter collection introduced a new selection of outerwear with casual jackets and tailored overcoats using a colour pallet of mainly earthy rich tones and subtle textures.

Richard James Mayfair brings a well-edited collection of full tailored suits through to separates such as simple printed shirts and ties. Prices for a full suit start at £395 and shirts start at £65 each.

essence INFO

Available from House of Fraser nationally, as well as Peter Jones and John Lewis.

Website: www.richardjames.co.uk

Jacket £250 Trousers £175 Waistcoat £135

>>>

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Fashion | BEST OF BRITISH

Simple and stylish Launched in 2014, Abbott Lyon designs British fashion goods for outgoing professionals who know how to have a good time. The Abbott Lyon product range varies to suit all types of client, with something for everyone.

The brand has now made its mark in consumer accessories in the UK, adding watches and jewellery to its range. Simple, stylish watches for the equally on trend male and female shopper are on offer with unrivalled quality, handpicked and handcrafted, yet still affordable.

With a range of over fifty watch styles, Abbott Lyon straps are sourced from a variety of countries to bring a unique style to each and every timepiece. The firm takes pride in producing the finest quality watches aiming to deliver a distinctive connection between classic and modern.

essence INFO

Website: abbotlyon.com

>>>

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Swing vest dress, deep neckline and lace side panels.

Individual handmade crochet flowers around arm holes

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Fashion | BEST OF BRITISH

Lace tunic with short sleeves

One to watch Slice jumper, asymmetric shaped side, rib panel and ripple stitch details and classic shorts with lace side panels

Caitlin Charles-Jones explored her love for art and design at the London College of Fashion, and went on to complete her BA specialising in knitwear.

Handmade in the UK using the finest yarns from UK suppliers, her collection is inspired by landscapes and their translation into graphs, maps and plans. The garments are made using Merino wool and crepe cotton, combined with lace sourced from French lacemaker, Sophie Hallette.

This season, Caitlin has worked with local craftswomen to produce unique, handmade crochet flowers.

The Charles-Jones brand places emphasis on luxurious simplicity, using innovative construction techniques, highest quality materials and distinctive colour placement, whilst maintaining a strong sense of real, wearable garments.

Caitlin’s design philosophy is for clean, bold and wearable silhouettes, alongside innovative techniques, unusual material combinations and intricate embellishment. With numerous awards to her name, Caitlin was tipped as one of Vogue Talents’ ‘Ones to Watch’.

essence INFO

Website: www.caitlincharles-jones.com

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At their best right now Seasonal and local food offers taste, health and even economic benefits. Crates Local Produce highlights the amazing seasonal produce available from our region.

PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SERGHEI STARUS | DREAMSTIME.COM

Oysters

This jewel of the sea is perhaps one of the most famously hailed aphrodisiacs of all, and science can prove it too as it is the zinc and amino acids contained which produce testosterone and progesterone increasing libido in men and women.

For any of us who have enjoyed these live molluscs, there is little doubt they cause some sort of effect, especially when enjoyed with a little sparkling wine.

Far from the luxury they are today, oysters were cheap and eaten in huge quantities in the past.

However, in order to keep up with demand in the nineteenth century, especially from London, over fishing had a devastating effect on oyster beds.

Increasing fears of food poisoning also helped in their demise. Despite today’s vastly improved water quality, oysters are still scarce in our waters, so the price is high. Far from avoiding them, we are now encouraged to eat more native oysters to help commercial re-establishment of oyster beds. These reefs also serve as breeding habitats for fish, help to protect our coastlines and the oysters themselves filter an enormous amount of seawater.

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PHOTO COPYRIGHT: NAWAPORN SANGKHIEW | DREAMSTIME.COM

Chilli

This spicy fruit has been revered by many ancient cultures as both a natural anaesthetic as well as aphrodisiac. The active component, capsaicin, releases endorphins which gets the blood pumping and can even create a natural high. Far from being proven whether chilli actually increases sex drive in its own right, it certainly raises body temperature, gets the heart rate up and can even make lips swell.

It has been hailed over the years as a preventer of heart attacks and blood pressure reducer, but best to avoid eating many of the very hottest as these have been known to actually cause heart failure.

There are, today, hundreds of varieties of chillies that vary hugely in heat intensity. Glasshouses throughout the south now cultivate chillies and one of the hottest to be grown is Naga as used by local chutney maker, Bartie of Sussex Faire. When cooking with these, Bartie has to wear goggles and wrap a wet tea towel around his head to protect himself.

One of the hottest chillies in the world includes the Moruga Scorpion chilli with a Scoville rating of over two million, whilst the timid Banana Pepper is rated at a mere 900.

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Food | CRATES LOCAL PRODUCE

Crates Local Produce is located centrally within the historic market town of Horsham and bursts with fresh, seasonal food sourced directly from local producers. For more details see www.crateslocal.co.uk. Follow on Twitter @crateslocal or Facebook page Crates Local.

PHOTO COPYRIGHT: SUBBOTINA | DREAMSTIME.COM

Chocolate

Our love affair with chocolate goes back over 2,000 years when it was first consumed in ancient South America in the form of frothy drinks. Aztec ruler, Montezuma, drank chocolate, fortified with chilli, for its aphrodisiac properties before entering his harem and scientists have now proven the dark substance promotes feelings of excitement, attraction and pleasure. Chocolate is also rich in antioxidants, helping to reduce the risk of chronic ailments such as heart disease and cancer.

It was in the 1860s that chocolate was first packaged in a heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day and today chocolate is the most popular gift from generous lovers. Locally, there is an increasing number of very talented artisans using this rich ingredient bringing us traditional handmade chocolate confectionery, chocolate brownies and cakes. Whilst our big chocolate names may be changing their dark stuff so it’s far more like candy, now is the time to discover local real chocolate again.

PHOTO COPYRIGHT: STOCKCREATIONS | DREAMSTIME.COM

Coffee

Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world, perhaps due to it being the universal stimulant of choice. But a newer discovery should be of interest to those hoping to woo their chosen one: a recent study found the smell of coffee is so evocative to women that most judged men more attractive when subjected to this particular aroma. And don’t think that a jar of instant will do it. The aroma has to be that of freshly roasted coffee beans which also helps make the perfect cup too.

Small scale roasters pay particular attention to where they source their beans from in the world with a huge variation of both flavours and even ethics.

The roasting process is a whole science in its own right and the barista is then expected to follow through with precise grinding of beans, tampering, temperature, type of milk and how it is added. An international coffee news site swears that freshly roasted coffee from local independents offers some of the best you’ve ever tasted.

>>>

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Dark and slow chilli Serves four

Ingredients: 600g diced beef: use cut suitable for slow cooking such as chuck, skirt or flank Two teaspoons olive or rapeseed oil Tin chopped tomatoes Two tablespoons tomato purée and/or ketchup 500ml beef stock One tin red kidney or black beans (or 75g dried – soaked as required) Two chilli peppers depending on taste: jalapeño, bird’s eye (or habanero for the brave) One red onion Two cloves garlic One teaspoon paprika Quarter teaspoon allspice (or equal amounts of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg) One tablespoon plain flour 50g finely chopped dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa Avocado, fresh coriander, tortillas and grated cheese as accompaniments Method: w Heat the oil in a large pan, add the beef and brown all over. Remove and set aside. w In the same pan, add the chopped onion and chopped chillies (include seeds for extra heat if required) and cook until the onion is softened. w Add the garlic and spices and cook for a further couple of minutes before adding in the flour, stirring all to coat. w Place all in a slow cooker or casserole with lid and stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, beans, stock and beef. Cover and cook on a very low heat (100 degrees in oven) for around six to seven hours. w Just prior to the end, stir in the chocolate, cover again and continue to cook on a high heat for no more than five minutes. w Serve with diced avocado, coriander, tortillas and grated hard cheese.

40 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

Oysters Kilpatrick

Coffee crème caramel

Hot hot chocolate

Ingredients: Six to twelve fresh oysters, rock or native Two cloves garlic One teaspoon hot pepper sauce Six rashers streaky bacon or pancetta One large or two small shallots Two tablespoons tomato purée One tablespoon red wine vinegar One tablespoon brown sugar One tablespoon soy sauce One teaspoon Dijon mustard Generous amount of rock salt if using a flat baking sheet Lemon wedges to serve

Ingredients: 150g castor sugar One tablespoon Kahlua or whiskey 450ml milk 60ml espresso coffee, freshly made Three eggs Vanilla extract

Ingredients: 90g finely chopped dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa Two tablespoons cocoa powder Sugar, to taste Half teaspoon chilli powder, ancho or similar pure chilli powder Whole chilli pepper 400ml milk 50ml double cream One cinnamon stick

Serves two

Method: w Heat the oven to 180 degrees/gas mark 4. Prepare a flat baking sheet with mounds of rock salt on which to balance the oyster shells, or use a moulded pudding sheet. w Finely chop the shallots and gently fry until they just turn brown. Add the tomato purée, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce and mustard and bring to the boil. Allow to simmer for five minutes or until the sauce thickens. w Fry the bacon or pancetta until crispy and add to the sauce. w Shuck and remove the oysters, set these aside. Clean the empty shells and dry thoroughly. w Rub the inside of the shells with the garlic cloves and balance each shell on a mound of rock salt on the baking sheet or direct into each pudding centre. Add a few drops of hot pepper sauce to the bottom of each shell, return the oyster and drizzle over the sauce and bacon mixture. w Bake for just fifteen minutes and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Serves four

Method: w Using a heavy non-stick pan, heat 100g of the sugar with a tablespoon of water, stirring all the time until the sugar starts to melt. Stop stirring and tilt the pan to gently swirl the mixture until it turns golden brown. w Carefully and slowly add the alcohol, swirl it in and then put the mix into the bottom of four large and deep ramekins and place in a roasting tin.

Pre-heat the oven to 160 degrees. w Gently heat the milk in a saucepan and just before it boils, whisk in the espresso coffee and set aside. w Whisk together the eggs, remaining 50g sugar and vanilla gently, just enough to blend in the sugar. Pour just a small cupful of the hot milk and coffee into the egg mix and whip through. Add in the remaining hot milk and stir. w Pour this into the ramekins, add boiling water to the roasting pan in which the ramekins are sitting, enough to cover half way up the outside of the ramekins. w Bake for 40 minutes or until set.

Allow to cool fully and refrigerate until serving. w Best served at least four hours after making, ideally up to one day, and turn out of the ramekins upside down so the caramel coats.

Makes two cups

Method: w Mix together the chocolate, cocoa, sugar and chilli powder and place in saucepan over a medium heat.

Whisk until the chocolate starts to melt. wGently whisk in the milk, a bit at a time, followed by the cream and add the chilli pepper and cinnamon stick. wAllow the mix just to simmer a minute or two and remove from the heat. Cover and set aside for at least an hour. wTaste and add sugar if needed, warm through, strain and serve.

essence INFO Crates Local Produce 24a Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1EB Telephone: 01403 256435 Website: www.crateslocal.co.uk Follow on Twitter @crateslocal or Facebook page Crates Local

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Food | CRATES LOCAL PRODUCE

Dark and slow chilli

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Baking | JEN’S CUPCAKERY

Gluten free chocolate, pistachio and sea salt brownies for Valentine’s Day Nothing says I love you like a gooey chocolate brownie. One of our new range, this gluten free chunk of gorgeousness is made with coconut flour, packed with pistachios and a tang of sea salt, though readers could just as easily substitute with fresh raspberries or cherries. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter for added romance, or simply slice and serve with a dusting of icing sugar or a dollop of crème fraiche...

TOP TIP: Before slicing through the cooked brownies, put the knife under hot water for a few seconds; it will make cutting the gooey brownies easier.

Makes around 16 Ingredients w 250g unsalted butter w 200g dark chocolate w 70g coconut flour (you can buy online or in good health food shops) w One teaspoon gluten free baking powder w 360g caster sugar w 100g pistachios, chopped into small pieces w Three large eggs, lightly beaten w 80g cocoa powder w One teaspoon sea salt for the mixture plus a little extra to sprinkle on top Method w Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 6 and then grease and line a 20cm square tin with non-stick baking paper. w Melt the butter and chocolate in a glass bowl above a pan of simmering water. Give the mixture a stir every now and again to help it along and then remove from heat and leave to cool slightly. w Whisk the eggs and sugar together until a creamy mixture is achieved. This will take at least five minutes in an electric mixer, more if whisking manually. w Sieve the coconut flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into another bowl and mix until all ingredients are combined. w Gently fold in the melted chocolate and butter into the egg mixture and then do the same with the flour mix – do not over mix, it is fine if it looks a little ‘clumpy’. Follow with the chopped pistachios and the sea salt and pour into the tin. w Bake for about 25 minutes (or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out mostly clean). The brownies should be squidgy in the middle, so don’t overbake!

essence INFO

Website: www.jenscupcakery.com Telephone: 07751 553106 Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenscupcakery Twitter: @jenscupcakery Blog: www.ilovejenscupcakery.wordpress.com

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Platform 3 STANDING ROOM ONLY FOR

AWARD WINNING BEER!

Shirlee Posner of Eat Surrey introduces us to Brightwater Brewery, a high quality craft beer brewery with a micro pub called Platform 3 in Claygate.

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urn into the parade towards Claygate Station in Surrey for a welcome surprise. On venturing forward, visitors will find an independent traditional butcher, a fruit and vegetable shop, a top end traditional fishmonger, a wine shop, delicatessen, bakery and café.

To top it all, right at the end of the parade, next to the station, is a tiny pub. Platform 3 has just enough standing room inside for two people, so when it is open guests rely on some outdoor tables with umbrellas to protect against the elements. This doesn’t stop a constant flow of customers ordering a pint to drink straight away, or a take out for later.

Everyone who comes in seems to know the owners and a strong sense of community is evident.

When essence’s editor, Andrew Guilor, suggested Brightwater Brewery for a review, I did some research and was immediately intrigued. Two days later I found myself in Claygate approaching the pub with not a high street chain in sight. I couldn’t wait to meet Brightwater Brewery founder Alex Coomes and record his story.

Alex started making beer with his dad when he was a teenager. Not, he says emphatically, with kits, but from scratch with proper ingredients. He carried this on as a serious hobby during his IT career. When he was made redundant in 2012, he took six months off to recharge his batteries, assuming he would just find another similar role to the one he had left. Economic downturn and age he suspected were not on his side. After six months, he felt ready to attach himself to the world of work again and this time it was to start his own business.

It seemed natural to him that a serious hobby that he had lots of expertise in and loved could become a full time job.

First he set about equipping his brewery: a huge research project, but worth it to get it just right. This is housed in his garage at home with stainless steel professional equipment and is an official bonded warehouse. This is a government requirement for anybody who produces alcoholic drinks where duty is payable.

44 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

Alex makes five beers on rotation from different recipes that produce golden, amber or dark ales. He lists availability on his website and these are available to drink in or take away. He reckons his beers are at their best at three to four weeks old and will only sell when they are in peak condition. To maintain this, he brews batches to meet demand and as I discovered is a stickler for maintaining drinking quality.

Alex is the perfect landlord: a chatty beer aficionado and he is extremely personable. In fact it would seem this is the perfect career for him. He runs the business with his partner Sue (a business buff) so it’s a symbiotic combination of creativity and business acumen here too. The fact that all the beer he sells in the pub is his own brew is a real pull.

Not just for the pints he serves, but because he wouldn’t serve anyone a duff pint and he knows the beer he sells from hops upwards.

Whilst I was in the pub, there was an endless stream of customers buying a pint to drink outside or to take away a firkin to share with friends later. Everyone is on first name terms and there is a sense of excitement that they are buying into something really unique.

Each of the beers on the menu currently in production have been through diligent recipe testing, from the ambient temperature at which they are made to the type of hops and the ferment period.

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Artisan food | EAT SURREY

Smoky spiced roasted nuts For those drinking session beer, it’s probably a good idea to have something to go with it as a snack. For me, if it’s a great quality drink, it ought to be fantastic food too. These nuts are based on a really famous recipe that has been circulating the internet for a few years. Started by the Union Square Café in New York to serve with drinks, their fame spread quickly. I have tweaked the recipe by adding smoked salt, sugar and coconut oil which works its magic everywhere it seems.

Ingredients: 500g unsalted mixed nuts (including peeled peanuts, cashews, brazils, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans and whole unpeeled almonds) Two tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary One teaspoon smoked sweet paprika Two teaspoons smoky brae smoked brown sugar (use regular brown sugar if unable to locate this product) Two teaspoons smoked Maldon salt One tablespoon coconut oil (melted) Method: w Preheat oven to 180°C/gas mark 4/350°F. w Toss the nuts in a large bowl to combine and spread them out on a baking sheet. w Toast in the oven until the nuts become light golden brown, about ten minutes. w In a large bowl, combine the rosemary, paprika, smoked sugar, salt and melted coconut oil. Thoroughly toss the toasted nuts in the spiced oil and serve warm.

Beer, Alex confides, is temperamental and there are many competing factors in getting each batch right, such as local water supply.

No two batches will taste exactly the same because this is craft beer, made by hand, and each brew varies slightly with time of year and the affects of temperature, the raw ingredients and natural yeasts. This is part of the fun and like wine some brews are better than others, but probably more so (I suspect) to an expert palate. Alex says that managing beer production is like bringing up a “petulant child”.

Of the beers Alex makes, ‘Daisy Gold’ is the best seller (he named it after his dog who is apparently as “good as gold”). This light, golden, flavour packed beer is like others on his menu at around four per cent volume. Alex specialises in what he calls session beer. It’s healthier and means customers can enjoy a few pints in an evening and still walk home! This is particularly good for older drinkers and in line with current drinking advice from health professionals. In addition, these beers are worthy of a more considered drinking session and deserve as such to be slowly imbibed.

Although golden ales are the most popular, Alex also produces ‘Top Notch’, an amber ale which he makes with two different malts and another variety of hops. ‘Citra’ is Brightwater’s other golden ale, which gets its name from the hops used to make it and has a zingier finish to ‘Daisy Gold’. This brewery also produces a rather unusual dark stout type beer called ‘Wild Orchid’. The use of black malt gives this its dark colour, but by adding Madagascan vanilla pods to each cask it also has a subtle hint of vanilla which doesn’t dominate, but adds a lovely finish to the overall taste.

For fans of craft beers I highly recommend a visit to Platform 3: it’s in a class of its own. With guest beers also on offer and other drinks for nonbeer fans, it’s a great afternoon out. Take out, delivery for parties and ready bottled beer for gifts are also available. Go for the beer but also for the novelty value because this is the smallest pub in Britain! Shirlee Posner essence INFO Brightwater Brewery, Platform 3, The Parade, Claygate, Surrey KT10 0PN Website: www.brightbrew.co.uk and eatsurrey.co Telephone: 01372 462334 Email: alex@brightbrew.co.uk Twitter: @SmallestPubinUK

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 45

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How vain should we be about our veins?

Louise Alexander O’Loughlin interviews one of London’s top vascular surgeons, Dr Paul Baskerville, about the importance of what lies beneath the surface of our skin.

V

aricose veins can cause pain and become unsightly; if not treated, they can be detrimental to health, can stain the skin and lead to ulceration and worse.

Veins are absolutely everywhere in the body. They can be embarrassing to many and can pop up at any age and in the strangest of places.

It seems the latest trend is hands, with Madonna and Angelina Jolie now having their hand veins attended to, a cosmetic procedure Paul Baskerville has been carrying out for over 20 years, having over 30 years’ experience in diagnosis and treatment of vein and circulation conditions.

Q How did you begin your career as a vascular surgeon?

A I studied at Oxford University and trained at St. Thomas’ and St. Bartholomew’s. I was appointed as a consultant vascular surgeon at King’s College Hospital London in 1988 where, among other roles, I was clinical director of surgery and director of surgical practice. In 2000, I was elected president of the British Association of Day Surgery.

Q Have you worked in the NHS? A Yes, full time for thirty years. I set up in private practice at the Vascular and Vein Unit twenty years ago which has recently evolved into The Baskerville Clinic in Wimpole Street. Up until last year I treated both private and NHS patients.

Q Does the NHS recognise the importance of varicose veins?

A To be honest, the NHS is excellent at being ‘reactive’ to cases such as deep vein thrombosis, however, in recent years it has become increasingly overstretched and therefore reluctant to treat less serious conditions, such as varicose veins.

Q How has vascular surgery developed since you started practicing?

A Thirty years ago, 70% of people were diagnosed without access to ultrasound scans, so were possibly having incorrect treatments.

Treatment would have been open surgery – with a hospital stay of two to four days. After this, patients would have worn bandages for three weeks and been left with visible scarring. Returning to work could have taken weeks.

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Health | THE BASKERVILLE CLINIC

“Thirty years ago, 70% of people were diagnosed without access to ultrasound scans, so were possibly having incorrect treatments.

Treatment would have been open surgery – with a hospital stay of two to four days.” Dr Paul Baskerville Q How does that compare to current treatments?

A Firstly, colour duplex ultrasound scanning of the veins assesses blood flow enabling us to provide a pinpoint, guaranteeing long-term success for vein treatments.

There are now also different treatment options for veins – often they involve some form of keyhole treatment or foam. I work with my patients to offer a choice depending on the results they want and I take into consideration their lifestyle, recovery time and skin type.

Most patients have surgery as a day case. These days bandaging is

minimal therefore less restrictive and worn for one week only. All patients are walking normally the day after surgery and about 50% will be back at work within a week. There is minimal discomfort and almost no visible scarring.

Q What can we hope for the future of vascular surgery?

A The future of vascular surgery will include less invasive surgery and even shorter recovery times.

Q What do you offer at The Baskerville Clinic?

A The Baskerville Clinic specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of vein and circulation conditions such as varicose veins, hand and arm veins, varicose ulcers, varicose eczema, swollen legs, DVT, pelvic and labia veins.

Thread vein treatment is also very popular and microinjection (sclerotherapy) is very successful at removing these veins from most area of the body.

Q Typically, most people have an ‘MoT’ on their body each year, however, should we also have a ‘vein check up’?

A Veins are a very important part of our circulatory system and are responsible for the returning of deoxygenated blood back to the heart after arteries carry blood out. Having an ‘MoT’ as you call it could prevent complications developing later. As not all damaged veins produce early symptoms, an ‘MoT’ would highlight any problematic areas before symptoms occur. Many people have one vein that is unsightly or painful that needs to be looked at – but most people keep putting it off.

Q What could I expect from an initial visit to The Baskerville Clinic?

A Initially, we would undertake a complete overview incorporating your medical history, lifestyle and any concerns you may have. My initial examination will access the state of the veins and I would decide whether further investigations such as colour duplex ultrasound scanning is needed. A scan would be booked and a follow up appointment made.

PHOTO COPYRIGHT: ZLIKOVEC | DREAMSTIME.COM

Q Why should I see you if I want to get my veins done?

A From the minute you step through the door to the minute you are discharged from my care, I am solely responsible for your wellbeing and aftercare. This means no delegating of any care such as sclerotherapy (microinjections) to nurses or therapists. >>>

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 47

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Q It must be amusing for you to see this type of surgical procedure highlighted in the press recently, when you are an old ‘hand’ at it?

A Well, technology has evolved over the years allowing results to improve markedly. I have many patients wanting more ‘youthful’ looking hands.

Q Are veins covered under medical insurance?

A Most medical insurance companies will cover treatment of varicose veins if a sound medical reason can be given for the treatment. It is always advisable to check with an individual insurance company. Veins, like many other conditions covered, may require a referral letter from a GP before making an appointment. However, medical insurance companies will not cover what they see as cosmetic procedures such as thread vein injections.

PHOTO COPYRIGHT: FOTOEVENTSTOCK | DREAMSTIME.COM

Q How do you think social media and a need for perfection has affected your role as a doctor?

A We are certainly in a world where social media dictates. The way people are portrayed in modern society is as ‘perfect’ and many wish for perfection. Personally I think not all treatment is necessary and have had occasion to explain and convince a patient that treatment is not necessary and why I will not do anything at that time.

Q There has recently been coverage in the press about hand rejuvenation with celebrities such as Madonna and Angelina Jolie undertaking it. Is this a new procedure? And can you do it?

A No, this is not a new procedure and I’ve been removing veins from clients’ hands with very rewarding results for over twenty years, including some models and actresses. The technology has obviously evolved, but the idea is not new to the industry.

Q What are the characteristics of a typical patient who might want their hand veins removed?

A People who have very low body fat, are thin, have pale complexions, perhaps are exceptionally sporty or have reached the postmenopausal stage can often have raised hand veins they believe are unsightly. I must stress this is purely aesthetic and there is no medical reason why anyone should have hand veins attended to.

However, as hands are constantly on view, the removal of these prominent veins can have a noticeable effect on a patient’s confidence and wellbeing.

Q Is the removal of hand veins a straightforward procedure?

A Hand veins are no different to veins on any other area of the body.

The permanent removal of them is therefore much the same. There is surprisingly little discomfort and bandaging is minimal. Results are seen within a couple of weeks and can be quite remarkable.

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PHOTO COPYRIGHT: BOWIE15 | 123RF.COM

Q I understand that you are also a legend in the ‘hernia’ world?

A Not sure about legend! My interest in this field coincides with the development of one of the earliest day surgery centres when I was a junior doctor in Kingston. I ran a hernia clinic at King’s College Hospital for many years, and I am constantly working on new techniques for improving groin hernia surgery, including reducing recovery times and post-operative pain. At The Baskerville Clinic I continue to treat different hernia conditions, including umbilical, recurrent and incisional hernias, as well as performing the new ONSTEP technique for groin hernias on which I have lectured and taught widely in the UK and abroad.  essence INFO The Baskerville Clinic For those who are in doubt about veins in legs, or anywhere on the body for that matter, or have unsightly hand veins and want them removed, or happen to have a hernia, Paul Baskerville is by far the ‘peoples’ choice’.

The Baskerville Clinic can be found at www.baskervilleclinic.com or to book an appointment contact Paul Baskerville’s PA, Geraldine Chope. Please be assured she is as informed as Mr Baskerville himself and is a fantastic first port of call for any concerns.

Telephone: 020 7436 1931 Email: geraldine@baskervilleclinic.com

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Beauty | EPSOM SKIN CLINICS

Be a Valentine beauty

It’s February, so forget the January blues and start to look forward to Valentine’s Day. It’s time to show ourselves a little love says Naomi Diamond of Epsom Skin Clinics.

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ots of us now favour beauty products that are organic, or made from natural ingredients, and are not as invasive. A brand new product range in the UK is Swisscode. This innovative brand has been recognised for its quality concentrates designed to rehydrate skin, improve texture and smooth fine lines.

Each concentrate is comprised of hydrogel so one drop covers the entire face, but do not be fooled by the small amount needed: these home treatments pack a powerful punch!

With the Swisscode Pure range, each product contains one ingredient in its purest, highest concentrate and most stable form. Just one example is Pure Genistein, a concentrate containing a natural phyto oestrogen that mimics the drop of oestrogen in skin as women mature. More impressively, studies show that users can see a 53% increase in the stimulation of collagen after using this product for 28 days. However, for those who cannot wait that long, there is a quick fix solution. Swisscode Pure Dynalift HYA gives an instant lift to skin for more than four hours. Rich in sucrose, the product creates a tightening and lifting effect on the skin and within five minutes from time of application users’ skin appears more luminous.

The Swisscode Bionic range utilises the power of active stem cell concentrates. The products use the power of nature and demonstrate how it has endured evolution and protected itself from ever changing environmental factors. The three concentrates in this range are suited to different concerns. Stem Cell Age Control, for women and men, is an antioxidant nearly three times more effective than vitamin C, boosting skin luminosity by 300%. It also helps with the visible signs of aging and collagen loss. Epsom Skin Clinics are now offering Swisscode as a booster to any treatment.

For those wishing to use a more natural product to treat the skin, Dermlux uses LED phototherapy to treat many different skin concerns, including acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and rosacea. Cells that have been damaged by inflammation, ageing or trauma cannot heal themselves normally and therefore can remain damaged. Dermalux uses non-thermal,

normal UV light energy to trigger the body’s natural process to repair and rejuvenate therefore promoting healing. It is suitable for all skin types and there are no side effects. As a bonus, the treatment promotes relaxation and because the light therapy increases serotonin levels, relieves stress and tension.

Previously I have discussed Accent, a radio frequency treatment that helps to target unwanted areas of stubborn fat and can help with skin tightening. For those concerned with sagging skin around the face and neck, Accent will stimulate natural collagen production whilst leaving the skin feeling warm and tight. Alternatively, laser skin tightening can have the same effect offering a subtle lift for those of us looking forward to celebrating Valentine’s Day. During the last year there has been a lot of press surrounding the use of coconut oil for all types of health and beauty benefits. A few examples include ‘oil pulling’, an ancient Ayurvedic technique used to cleanse the mouth and throat, and also to whiten teeth. Coconut oil is used in cooking in many low fat recipes and training regimes. It helps with softening and taming hair and soothing dry irritated skin. There is a current vogue for a coffee and coconut body scrub that leaves skin soft and glowing, whilst the coffee dehydrates the fluid in cellulite smoothing its appearance.

Epsom Skin Clinics are now stockists of Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup in both our Epsom and Surbiton locations. With a wide variety to choose from, Jane Iredale’s range is more than just makeup: it actually cares for the skin. Each product has been created to give incredible coverage with the least amount of touch ups needed and offering a soft finish. Not to mention that it does not clog the pores or cause spots, is anti-irritant and contains all natural preservatives. With a wide range of blushers and bronzers, customers can obtain a warm and loving glow to suit every skin tone. Perhaps for the time of year the most appropriately named Jane Iredale blusher is ‘In Love’: a pastel pink with a hint of shimmer.

essence INFO Epsom Skin Clinics Website: www.epsomskinclinics.com Telephone: 01372 737280 (Epsom) or 020 8399 5996 (Surbiton)

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Taking on new premises: 10 top tips for success Gemma James, Partner at Mundays LLP, stresses the importance of forward planning when considering the purchase or lease of property for business purposes.

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Gemma is a Partner in the Property Department at Mundays LLP, specialising in all aspects of commercial and residential property. She acts in connection with any commercial property from retail shops, offices and warehouse units to restaurants and bars, for private and corporate landlords and tenants.

Gemma also deals with sales, purchases and lettings of residential property and property-related funding arrangements.

Gemma can be contacted by telephone 01932 590645 or by e-mail gemma.james@mundays.co.uk

ave you finally plucked up the courage to take on a first or additional premises for your business? The increasingly positive economists are telling us there is no better time to take the plunge, but it’s always worth looking before you leap! Planning ahead can save you time, stress and money in the future, so maybe take a moment to catch your breath and count to ten…or at least make the ten tips below count amongst your considerations: 1. Do you need a freehold or a leasehold property? A freehold is a major capital investment to fund and commits you to a specific location, but it belongs to you.

A lease is for an agreed period of time only, so is useful if you need flexibility, but it places you somewhat at the will of the landlord, liable to pay rent and service charges, and has many terms to negotiate.

2. Involve your accountants at an early stage to address the most tax-efficient structure, not only whether to take a freehold or a lease, but also whether to purchase in the names of individuals or a company. Tax considerations include differences in the amount of stamp duty

land tax payable upon completion, capital gains tax allowances (especially if you intend to carry out any works) and inheritance tax. These can have a significant impact on your current and future finances.

3.Use an agent to represent you and guide on the best deals available in the marketplace at the same time as instructing a solicitor to advise and fight your corner once it comes to documenting agreed terms for your purchase.

4. Do you need to alter the premises? Try to have consents in place before you commit from planning and building regulations authorities and (if you are taking on a lease) you may need the landlord’s consent. You might have to remove works at the end of a lease. It’s best to agree vital works from the start to avoid a refusal and/or delay in consent later.

5. If you are moving from one premises to another or trying to tie up timings to suit your trading requirements, exchanging contracts with the landlord/buyer/seller will give you a binding completion date for exit and entry.

This will enable you to make appropriate arrangements with contractors and suppliers

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Legal | MUNDAYS

Above all, seek advice from a solicitor, accountant and surveyor at the outset: a little forward planning can save you from longterm disaster! 

essence INFO

Mundays LLP Cedar House 78 Portsmouth Road, Cobham KT11 1AN Telephone: 01932 560500 Website: www.mundays.co.uk

The unexpected costs of a new lease Taking a lease of commercial premises can be an exciting as well as a daunting experience. Nobody likes to focus on the negatives, but in the event that things do not go to plan, it is important to make sure you are adequately prepared.

PHOTO COPYRIGHT: MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES | DREAMSTIME.COM

and be as time and cost efficient as possible.

6. If taking a lease, the landlord may ask for a rent deposit or guarantors as security, so ensure you have funds or be prepared to offer a compromise.

7. Look ahead to your exit strategy: if you buy a freehold, how easy will it be to sell? If you take a lease, you may need the landlord’s consent and have to pay its costs before you assign or sub-let.

The landlord may impose conditions such as you being the guarantor for the new occupant, so consider the conditions you would accept.

A specific clause is necessary if you need the ability to share occupation of your premises with your group companies or customers.

8. In a leasehold arrangement, if you have an option to renew or a break clause, make note of deadlines for serving notice and seek legal advice well in advance to ensure you don’t lose the right.

9. A lease will carry ongoing obligations to the landlord. Try limiting your liabilities, such as not being required to repair the premises to a standard beyond that shown in a photographic schedule of condition. Check if the landlord is planning works which may increase service charges, and try capping your liability for annual service charge.

10. Make financial provisions before the end of the term so that dilapidations obligations won’t come as a shock.

What is my liability under the lease?

A tenant’s liability will usually consist of: • the annual rent; • a contribution to the building’s insurance and service charge; and • any other costs payable by the landlord associated with managing the property.

The service charge, unless capped, can be expensive as it will often incorporate the landlord’s costs in maintaining the exterior of the property, along with any dreaded and unforeseen repair bills.

Your personal exposure will depend on whether you are the tenant in your personal capacity, or as a limited company or partnership. Where the tenant is an unknown entity, the landlord may look to further protect its position by requiring either or both of: 1) A rent deposit The amount of rent deposit to be given to the landlord will depend on the rent of the lease and it is common for rent deposits to total three, six or twelve months’ rent.

The landlord will be entitled to use some or all of the rent deposit to cover any expense suffered as a result of a tenant’s breach of the lease.

2) Personal guarantees Where a new company is the tenant, the landlord may require a director or other persons to step in as a personal guarantor. This needs to be carefully considered as personal guarantees place a heavy burden on the guarantor, and in the event that the tenant were to break the lease, the guarantor may be required to step in as tenant for the remainder of the term.

Either of these options may be diluted by agreeing that the rent deposit or guarantor will be released if the tenant shows sufficient financial strength during the term of the lease. As a tenant it is important to make sure you take legal advice before committing yourself to liabilities such as these!

James Condie is a solicitor specialising in commercial property. He acts for companies and private individuals on a broad range of property transactions, with a particular interest in the retail, pharmacy and franchising sectors.

James can be contacted by telephone 01932 590613 or by e-mail james.condie@mundays.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 51

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The Bears are back

Global financial markets have welcomed in 2016 by taking a bite out of the portfolios of many investors. Simon Lewis, CEO at Partridge Muir & Warren Ltd, considers what lies ahead.

I

nvestors arrived at the end of 2015 with some relief that any losses were generally modest, but have welcomed in 2016 with trepidation.

Most financial markets have fallen heavily since the start of the year and many believe that we are either about to, or have already entered, a prolonged bear market.

Although there is no universally agreed definition, a bear market is a general decline in a financial market over a period of time and is marked by a transition from high investor optimism to widespread investor fear and pessimism. Investors are certainly rattled by recent events and it is therefore important to work out what is happening and why before trying to predict what the future might hold.

PMW's top tips for surviving a bear attack (Acknowledgement to US National Park Service)

1.

2.

3.

4.

Don’t panic (remain passive) Provide diversification (stay in your group) Stand your ground (don’t run) Look for bargains (if attack is prolonged, FIGHT BACK!)

52 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

Although there is a great deal of uncertainty about shorter term outcomes, for those taking a medium to long term view there is much to feel encouraged by.

China The news media is currently obsessed by economic data from China. This has created the misleading impression that China has a big problem. It doesn’t. In many ways, China is a victim of economic trends and not the cause of them. The issue is that the rest of the world is too dependent on Chinese economic growth at a time when it suits China to drive forward initiatives to rebalance its economy. It is doing so by increasing the services sector and nurturing domestic consumers. This process will improve the sustainability of China’s economic ascendancy but will also, inevitably, reduce the rate at which the economy grows.

Nevertheless, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is predicting that Chinese GDP growth will still be ahead of 6% in 2017, so nobody can accuse them of not making a

Finance_Layout 1 03/02/2016 12:15 Page 2

Finance | PMW worthwhile contribution. If anything, attention should be focused on Japan, which is enduring yet another recession, and the Eurozone, which although improving is doing so at a lacklustre pace.

Taking the view that China is on an economic pathway from which it is unlikely to deviate, the primary factors that are likely to drive the macro economy in 2016 are US interest rates and the price of oil. This does create a feeling of déjà vu because this is what I said last year. The story rolls on.

Monetary policy Dealing firstly with monetary policy, in December the US Federal Reserve (after some dithering in the autumn) elected to increase the interest rate and set out a predicted pathway of further small rate increases in the coming years.

This is a sign that the US economic recovery is deemed to be sufficiently robust to allow the economy to take such increases in its stride and should therefore be viewed as a positive, albeit that some of the short-term impacts are likely to be negative.

This is because the US dollar is the dominant currency of global finance and trade and as a consequence what happens to interest rates in the US has a big impact on the rest of the world. For example, many countries and non-US companies have US dollar denominated debt. An increased interest rate means higher debt repayments and this will be exacerbated by the likely rise in the value of the US dollar as a consequence.

Another factor likely to cause tension in markets (particularly the currency market) is that both the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan are still printing money and could lower base rates even further. In both cases interest rates are already less than zero, requiring financial institutions to pay the central bank to park their surplus cash.

This encourages banks to lend, which in turn provides an economic stimulus.

Oil The oil price saga is a fascinating story of aggressive business tactics and geopolitics. In the run-up to the end of 2014 the price of a barrel of oil was over US$100. Not many predicted that the oil price would halve, not least that this fall would be sustained. In fact, there is a good chance the price will halve again

and remain in the US$20-US$30 per barrel price range for the foreseeable future.

It is not the case that the world is consuming significantly less oil than it used to. This story is all about excess supply which has created a substantial glut, to the extent that oil storage facilities around the world are nearly full.

Initially, much of the extra oil supply was the result of fracking in the US, which transformed the nation from a substantial importer of oil to a position of self sufficiency.

However, Saudi Arabia has retaliated by increasing its production in an attempt to drive the oil price lower in order to push its newfound competition out of business. There is also a desire to pre-empt the return of Iranian oil to global markets following the nuclear nonPMW has always taken a cautious approach to managing investments, which means that current volatility is taking less of a bite out of our clients’ portfolios. Please contact us to find out how you might benefit from our services pmw@pmw.co.uk proliferation deal Iran reached with the US. Saudi Arabia aims to preserve its market share by driving down the price.

Saudi production has increased by 25%.

Until about two years ago Saudi production had averaged around 8 million barrels per day since 1990 but it is now over 10 million barrels per day. It is estimated that Saudi Arabia has hydrocarbon reserves in excess of 250 billion barrels and it will therefore not need to rein back on production any time soon. A lower oil price does impact on the State’s profits (the country is thought to be running a budget deficit of around 20%); wealth is important as it underpins the political powerbase and finances its interventionist policies elsewhere in the Middle East. A resolve to perpetuate this budget deficit for as long as necessary is illustrated by a recent announcement that part of the state owned oil producer, Saudi Aramco, could be offered for sale.

To understand the rationale of its strategy and compute the likely ramifications you need to look at the typical cost of oil production around the world. Saudi Arabia can extract oil at a cost of around US$12 per barrel. It therefore makes a profit when the price is above this. Production costs for Norwegian oil

average around US$40 per barrel and for Russia the breakeven price is around US$50.

Depressingly, for the UK generally and Scotland particularly, the average cost of oil production for the North Sea is US$62 per barrel.

There has already been a lot of pain for the oil sector and I expect carnage in the coming year as many oil sector focused companies either fail or are acquired at a knock down price. Countries with a high economic dependency on oil production will also feel further pain; not least Russia, Brazil and Venezuela.

The bears are back and they are certainly grizzly. However, I started this commentary by saying that there was much to be encouraged by. Clearly, geopolitics does introduce uncertainty in the short term. However, we cannot escape the fact that a pathway to the normalisation of interest rates (and as a consequence modest inflation), combined with the ongoing financial stimulation (think a big tax cut) of a substantially reduced oil price, are factors we can look forward to as investors.

PMW currently advocate a high level of diversification through both asset classes and investment sectors to reduce volatility and as was ever the case, we believe that patient investors are likely to be well rewarded in the fullness of time. The path will be rocky but the journey is likely to be one that was worth embarking upon, particularly when the bears return to the woods. 

essence INFO

Simon Lewis is writing on behalf of Partridge Muir & Warren Ltd (PMW), Chartered Financial Planners, based in Esher. The Company has specialised in providing wealth management solutions to private clients for 47 years. Simon is an independent financial adviser, chartered financial planner and chartered fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. The opinions outlined in this article are those of the writer and should not be construed as individual advice. To find out more about financial advice and investment options please contact Simon at Partridge Muir & Warren Ltd. Partridge Muir & Warren Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Telephone: 01372 471 550 Email: simon.lewis@pmw.co.uk Website: www.pmw.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 53

Cranmore_Layout 1 03/02/2016 11:57 Page 1

The great homework debate...

Michael Connolly, headmaster of Cranmore School, considers the value of homework in children’s education.

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here can be few children who have not asked their parents or teachers at some stage: “What is the point of homework?” It might seem an odd question, for homework is usually regarded as being as natural a part of education as the air we breathe. However, the issue of its intrinsic value has been hotly debated by professional educators for many years, and not just in the UK, but in other highly developed countries too. For example, almost a decade ago the Center for Public Education in the USA came to the following conclusion:

“a clear link with schoolwork, a strong partnership with parents and proper setting and marking of work may all play a part.”

54 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

The link between homework and student achievement is far from clear. There is no conclusive evidence that homework increases student achievement across the board. Some studies show positive effects of homework under certain conditions and for certain students, some show no effects, and some suggest negative effects.

Closer to home, even OFSTED declared at the end of the last century in a report entitled ‘Homework: Learning from Practice’ that: “It is very difficult to identify a clear homework effect

separate from the influence of ... factors such as home and family background which are themselves commonly associated with achievement.” On the face of it, this is hardly a ringing endorsement for children doing any kind of homework. Nevertheless, this report does go on to highlight the underlying principles which can add value: “a clear link with schoolwork, a strong partnership with parents and proper setting and marking of work may all play a part.”

Let us just consider these points for a moment. Of course, homework should never be some random activity or exercise simply to keep a child busy. Obviously it must be linked to what is

Cranmore_Layout 1 03/02/2016 11:57 Page 2

Education | CRANMORE SCHOOL

We are mindful of the fact that pupils have other interests outside of school: cubs, brownies, and sports clubs. In addition, we know that quality family time is vital for parents and their children alike. being covered in school. A strong partnership with parents is crucial too. This is not to suggest that parents should do the task themselves or even assess their child’s work at home. Rather, it has been demonstrated that pupils will take homework more seriously if their parents show that they also believe it is worthwhile and helpful.

The third point is critical – the setting and marking of work. It is important that the teacher sets a task which meets the child’s needs. In some cases this might be simple rote learning of tables or spellings, whilst it could equally be a more complex investigative project which requires a great deal of personal research from the pupil. In any event, a pupil is more likely to be fully engaged and derive real benefit from the process if they feel the task will improve their knowledge and help them make progress.

The prevalence of mobile devices which give access to rich internet resources has opened a world of opportunity which was unimaginable a few years ago. Many schools have created a bespoke VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) which can be populated with digital resources so that a child’s homework no longer needs to be a routine written exercise. Indeed, it can be a multimedia journey which will engage a pupil’s interest and creativity and, in the end, make learning more fun. This is the ideal and no doubt many homework tasks often fall short of this mind-blowing extravaganza. That is no bad thing. Children need to learn that ‘deferment of satisfaction’ is part of life, homework can sometimes be difficult, tedious or even banal, but ultimately its purpose is to benefit pupils in the

long term. Therefore, it must surely be right that children come to recognise that giving the Xbox or TV a miss for a while in order to read a book, do some maths, research some science or practise a musical instrument will bring real benefits later.

At Cranmore School we have a schedule for homework which has been carefully set out to meet the needs of our pupils across different age groups and abilities. We are mindful of the fact that pupils have other interests outside of school: cubs, brownies, and sports clubs. In addition, we know that quality family time is vital for parents and their children alike. It is always tricky to judge what is the right amount but, like Goldilocks and the porridge, we believe that what we offer is just about right. 

essence INFO

Cranmore School has announced a programme of change to become a fully co-educational school for pupils aged two and a half to thirteen years.

It is committed to providing a balanced curriculum which can develop each child’s potential. French, Spanish, Mandarin, Latin and Greek are taught.

Telephone: 01483 280340 Website: www.cranmoreprep.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 55

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Lit_Layout 1 03/02/2016 11:58 Page 1

Literature | REVIEW

Alan Turing: Guildford’s best kept secret Alan Turing is renowned as the father of modern computing and for his code breaking achievements during WWII. Perhaps less known is that Guildford was his family home. He lived in the town as a boy and continued to visit family members, particularly his mother, throughout his life. Written by Paul Backhouse, this book talks about the man behind the genius and why Guildford was such an important part of his relatively short life.

The author has lived in Guildford for 25 years and is one of the Guildford town guides. Following extensive research, including interviews with Turing family members, and access to various archives, Paul developed a new walking tour around Guildford. The book is a result of that research and also includes material not used in the walk itself.

Alan Turing: Guildford’s best kept secret launches at Guildford Museum at 11am on 5 March 2016.

By Paul Backhouse Self published, available for sale from the Tourist Information Centre, Guildford Museum and at the end of walking tours. RRP £4.99.

The Royal Naval Air Service In the First World War This book makes five original documents relating to the work of Britain’s Royal Naval Service (RNAS) during the First World War readily available to students and historians.

A large collection of photographs, many hitherto unpublished, are included.

The five documents concerned are the Diary of Important Operations, Flanders, 1916; Disposition of Aircraft, 24 February 1917; Royal Naval Air Service Communiqués Nos 1 to 14; Truing-up of Aeroplanes: Issued by the Air Department on 1 September 1916; and The Grain drawings, a unique set of sketches and drawings made by a draughtsman at the RNAS seaplane repair station at Port Victoria, Isle of Grain, in Kent during the Great War. These documents offer an array of fascinating insights into Royal Naval Air Service practices during the Great War. Philip Jarrett is a freelance author, editor, sub-editor and consultant specialising in aviation. He has worked on a number of magazines and was production editor of Flight International between 1980 and 1989.

He contributes to The Aviation Historian and lectures in the UK and abroad. In December 2014 he was made an Honorary Companion of the Royal Aeronautical Society in recognition of his service and outstanding contributions to the discipline of aviation history.

The ITF Year 2015 The ITF Year is the official yearbook of the International Tennis Federation. It is a comprehensive colour record of the organisation’s activities in 2015: a must for all lovers of tennis and sports statisticians. The current 15th edition contains: features by leading tennis writers on the 2015 season; full results from Grand Slam tournaments, Davis and Fed Cup

by BNP Paribas, ITF Pro Circuit, ITF Juniors Circuit, including the inaugural ITF Junior Masters, wheelchair tennis and ITF seniors tournaments; reports on the ITF’s development activities and the Technical Centre; historical records of major tournaments and biographies of the greatest players; ITF World Champions, Board of Directors and other useful ITF and tennis information.

By Jamie Renton (editor) RRP: £12.

420 pages • Paperback ISBN: 978-1-908799-20-3 Published by the International Tennis Federation www.Itftennis.com www.amazon.co.uk

By Philip Jarrett RRP: £30.

376 pages • Hardback • 450 illustrations ISBN: 9781473828193 Published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 59

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Parenting | THE MOTHER MAGAZINE

Being a mindful mother Starr Meneely, editor-in-chief of The Mother magazine, looks at five ways to improve wellbeing.

I

sat down one afternoon to jot down my thoughts on motherhood and mindfulness. It’s a topic that I get quite passionate about and I was excited to write down my musings and theories. I’d been sitting for exactly one moment, had hardly clicked my pen open, when a young voice called from the top of the stairs: “Mummy! Where’s Lottie’s socks?” Oh, those Lottie dolls, and their misbehaving socks! I mumbled totally unhelpfully to: “Look around upstairs” and carried on with my writing.

It was when my son popped over my shoulder to ask where his tennis balls were, and I heard my disconnected suggestion to “ask dad”, that I started to laugh. Was I really writing about mindful mothering whilst batting my children away? I stood up then, took three minutes to locate the misplaced toys, and then sat down to write something a bit more honest.

Why mindfulness?

We’ve all seen the Facebook meme showing parents on their phones, and the child sitting by wishing he could have their attention. I always scroll past this partly because it makes me realise, with a pang of guilt, that I’m on my phone, and also because I think it is a bit unhelpful. Guilt in parenting is unnecessarily destructive. Parenting often leaves us feeling utterly drained and it is easy to slip into cathartic phone scrolling. Guilt does not help this problem.

A much more helpful meme would be “You’re doing a great job – take a minute right now and hug your child.” This is the essence of mindfulness.

Taking time – on purpose.

Thich Nhat Hanh says that when we are not mindful, we end up living life as a dream. I don’t know a single parent that wants their parenting journey to be like a dream. Even when we are tired

60 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

and distracted, we crave sensational connection with our children. Here are five ways to practice bringing mindfulness into our mothering. Even when the days and nights are long, and we seem to be counting the days one meal at a time, we need the joy that comes from fully engaging with our children and living life with full awareness.

1 Pause. This is simple and yet so essential. There is always time to pause, for ten seconds or ten minutes. Pause and notice what is happening around you. Don’t analyse or question. Just pause and take notice.

2 Scan your senses. I love this method. It is extremely effective. Pause and do a gentle scan of all five of your senses. What do you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell? It can be something as simple as hearing the sounds of your child playing or feeling your clothes against your skin.

4 Listen to your child. This is sometimes easier said than done, as I confessed above! However, taking a minute to really listen to your child is one of the most wonderful ways to be mindful. When you are listening, notice the pitch of their voice, the colour of their eyes. Notice how they move their hands as they speak.

3 Breathe. I used to think this was a cliche instruction – breathe? Really? I never stopped breathing! But as I began to practice yoga and meditation, I realised that mindful breathing is wonderfully healing and helpful.

Take a moment to breathe gently and naturally. Notice how your body feels as you breathe. Do you need to yawn? Go ahead and take a deep, refreshing breath.

Take notice of the way your body responds; imagine that your breath bathes your body in a healing light. Try to pre-empt stressful moments by breathing mindfully first.

4 Smile. The average child laughs between 300-500 times a day, while an adult only laughs on average 15 times a day. I find this a sad statistic! Simply taking a purposeful moment to smile is a beautiful way to practice mindfulness. Smile at your children. Look around for something that will help you smile, a beautiful picture or something humorous. Smiling is wonderful; it can transform an entire day.

essence INFO Website: www.themothermagazine.co.uk Other resources, free from The Mother magazine: A meditation, motherhood affirmations and mindfulness activities. Visit “The Calm Mother” http://eepurl.com/bBdRVP.

Comp_Page_Layout 1 03/02/2016 12:00 Page 1

WIN a pair of tickets to

the Cycle Revolution exhibition at the Design Museum The Design Museum is one of the world’s leading museums devoted to contemporary design in every form, from architecture and fashion to graphics, product and industrial design.

The last decade has seen a revolution in cycling, on a scale not witnessed in the UK since the Second World War. Cycle Revolution celebrates the diversity of contemporary cycling in Britain from every day commuting to Olympic level competition. It brings together bicycles, clothing, accessories, equipment, film and photography to explain where cycling is now and where it might take us in the future. Cycle Revolution looks at the future of cycling – how it is changing the infrastructure of the city, and how architects, designers and urban planners are responding to the needs of twenty-first century cyclists.

Enjoy the ride!

Exhibition highlights include: • 77 bikes, including Sir Bradley Wiggins’ 2015 Hour Record bike and Eddy Merckx’s 1972 Hour Record bike.

• Go behind the scenes with Team Sky, with bikes, kit and equipment from its 2015 Tour de France win.

To win a pair of tickets to Cycle Revolution, simply visit www.essence-magazine.co.uk and answer the following question: When did Sir Bradley Wiggins become the first cyclist to win the Tour de France and Olympic Gold in the same year? a) 2004 b) 2000 c) 2012 Closing date 29 February 2016.

essence INFO

Design Museum Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD Book Tickets: 020 7940 8783 Buy a ticket to Cycle Revolution and also gain entry to the Designers in Residence and Designs of the Year exhibitions. Entry to three exhibitions for the price of one. Cycle Revolution open until 30 June 2016. Adult tickets available from £13.65.

Website: www.designmuseum.org Terms and conditions apply.

Prize is subject to availability. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred or exchanged. No cash alternative will be offered.

Prize is valid until 31 March 2016.

competition FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 61

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Florida’s secret sanctuary Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, twelve miles from the hustle and bustle of Fort Lauderdale, is a quaint and tranquil town that oozes old Floridian charm. Located on Florida’s Gold Coast with the glittering waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway crammed with sleek yachts to the west, it’s still Florida’s best-kept secret.

Rebecca Underwood samples its charm.

S

ixty years ago the population of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea numbered a few hundred, now it’s a tad over 6,000 and steadily increasing as its well kept secret seeps out.

An ideal spot for water babes, the location is recognised as the most popular spot for beach diving throughout Florida. Divers are attracted to the reefs: one 100 yards off the beach, the other only a ten minute swim away. The wreck of the SS Copenhagen, a nineteenth century British steamship, is a huge attraction and lies less than a mile offshore, 25 feet from the surface. In 1994 Florida recognised the SS Copenhagen as an underwater archaeological preserve and in 2001 it was placed on the national register of historic sites.

Want to keep head above water? Consider a spot of snorkelling to be surrounded by an abundance of colourful tropical fish, and perhaps even meet a passing turtle. Or hire a kayak, a paddleboard or skim board. If all that’s too energetic, why not just have an afternoon snooze on the beach?

We stayed at the Windjammer Fort Lauderdale’s water taxi is Resort and Beach Club, located on palm tree-lined El Mar Drive, the most relaxing way to travel adjacent to the pristine, white sandy further afield and sail sedately beach and a short stroll from the by the magnificent properties town centre. Comfort and service is along the Intracoastal Waterway exemplary at this small, charming property which features a selection with a close up view of the of contemporary, self contained, multitude of stunning yachts fully furnished and air conditioned studios and apartments with one or two bedrooms for self catering holiday rentals. There are two heated swimming pools with sun loungers and next to a large BBQ area there’s an inviting seating area with plump sofas and footstools. Amenities include complimentary in-room WIFI, on-site laundry and complimentary car parking. The resort also offers direct access onto the uncongested beach with complimentary parasols and beach chairs provided. This is a tranquil place to relax, somewhere to lounge around and where the only distractions are pelicans flying overhead and the sound of the sea. To see for yourself, take a look at the

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Lauderdale by the Sea beach

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Leisure breaks | FLORIDA

Las Olas beach

Shops on Las Olas

TRAVEL TIP

Norwegian.com offers twice weekly Dreamliner flights from London Gatwick direct to Fort Lauderdale.

Premium cabin privileges include access to the South Terminal’s Club Rooms, comfortable seats with extra legroom, a generous baggage allowance (two x 20kg), complimentary pre departure and pre dinner drinks, a three course dinner including drinks, USB docking and power outlet, touch-screen snack bar ordering and state-of-the-art entertainment system.

Windjammer Resort’s beachcam at www.windjammerresort.com/ webcam.html.

The community provides visitors with complimentary public transportation, ideal for local trips. The Pelican Hopper service runs every day and the route includes the Village Shopping Centre, which features Publix, an enormous supermarket with an excellent delicatessen and bakery. To dine out, simply take a short stroll down to Commercial Boulevard, the centre of the town, where visitors will find the Aruba Beach Cafe with ‘live’ entertainment every night. The broiled seafood platter, which includes lobster tail, shrimp and scallops, is scrumptious, and whilst there sample the delicious cosmo cocktail of pearl citrus vodka and Cointreau with a splash of cranberry. For fast food, try BurgerFi on North Ocean Drive which serves tasty 100% American Angus beef burgers, all hormone, steroid and antibiotic-free.

Fort Lauderdale’s water taxi is the most relaxing way to travel further afield and sail sedately by the magnificent properties along the Intracoastal Waterway with a close up view of the multitude of stunning yachts. Start off at ‘Shooters’ and disembark at the Bahia Mar marina where visitors can embark on the Sea Experience glass bottomed boat.

The entertaining and knowledgeable Captain Mateo offers daily scuba and snorkel trips with ‘top of the line’ rental gear aboard the 45 foot Corinthian Catamaran.

For sustenance after that excursion, head for the nearby Marriott Hotel’s Sea Level Restaurant located on Harbour Beach. Dine al fresco and admire a panoramic view across the glittering ocean. Order the Caribbean jerk chicken and a mango Bacardi mojito, savour the moment and if very fortunate a flock of sanderlings, willets or dowitchers will soar overhead.

For nature lovers, a trip to Butterfly World, located in Coconut Creek, is not to be missed. Established by self-confessed butterfly nut Ronald Boender in 1988, it houses the world’s largest butterfly and bird park. >>>

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 63

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TRAVEL TIPS

Southern Railway’s direct service (duration thirty minutes or less) to Gatwick departs daily from London Victoria. For more information visit southernrailway.com.

For private VIP tours in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, visit BusCharterAmerica.com.

For a punctual and reliable airport transfer service, visit suntransfers.com.

Blue Morpho butterfly at ButterflyWorld

Butterfly World features six aviaries filled with over twenty thousand butterflies and birds. The experience of being in the midst of thousands of graceful butterflies is simply unforgettable. For the very brave, the bug zoo is the place to get up close and personal with scorpions, tarantulas, giant millipedes and the dreaded Black Widow spider.

Besides the park itself, Boender and Butterfly World also established the North American ‘Bring Back the Butterflies’ Campaign.

The goal of this programme was to educate and supply free butterfly gardening materials, specific to each region, to anyone interested. Wildly successful, the Campaign has become a phenomenon, resulting in thousands of new butterfly habitats and an increase in butterfly populations across the continent.

Flamingo Gardens, located on South Flamingo Road in Davie, is a botanical garden covering sixty acres and features a spectacular collection of over 3,000 species of rare and exotic, tropical, sub tropical and native plants.

The wildlife sanctuary is home to Florida’s largest collection of injured or orphaned native wildlife including bobcats, otters, eagles, panthers, flamingos and two fierce looking alligators named Elvis and Priscilla!

Be sure to find time for the daily wildlife encounter shows when visitors are welcome to watch the animals at feeding times. The playful river otters and their antics as they expertly dive to retrieve their fish lunch is just one of the many highlights.

For a tasty meal head back to the Commercial Boulevard and dine at Mulligan’s Beach House Bar and Grill, which serves an enticing selection of dishes including Key West crab cakes, ideally accompanied by a Margarita or two. Wander at leisure along the boulevard, which is crammed with quirky little shops full of trinkets, beachwear and souvenirs, and head for Kilwin’s, which specialises in mouth-watering ice creams, sticky toffee apples and homemade fudges.

Ocean Plaza is by the entrance to Anglin’s Fishing Pier, popular for day or night fishing, and attracts snapper, blue runners and croakers all year round. There are a large number of attractive pastel coloured wooden seats and benches, and visitors will be more than welcome to take a seat and strike up a conversation with easy going locals. 

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Windjammer Resort pool

Fort Lauderdale's beach and Wave Wall PHOTO CREDIT DOUG CASTANEDO

The experience of being in the midst of thousands of graceful butterflies is simply unforgettable

Adverts Issue 68_Layout 1 03/02/2016 11:42 Page 1

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essence events

spotlight on...

Spot snowdrops with the National Trust in Surrey Throughout February For that first glimpse of snowdrops this year – plants largely thought of as harbingers of spring – the National Trust has several unique locations throughout Surrey. To cheer the spirits, why not visit Winkworth Arboretum, near Goldalming, where woodlands are home to thousands of snowdrops and other winter-flowering species including 15 different types of witch hazel. Alternatively, look out for the delicate white flowers in the small woodland area in the garden at Claremont Landscape Garden, Esher.

Carpets of snowdrops cluster around the ancient Ankerwycke yew and priory ruins at historical Runnymede and Ankerwycke near Egham.

Finally, Polesden Lacey, near Bookham, has over 20 varieties of snowdrops in and around the plants in its winter garden, as well as snowdrops right along the Lime Walk on the way to the mansion: a very special experience.

Information: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Richmond Theatre Richmond Monday 8 to Saturday 13 February Rehearsal for Murder A murder mystery from The Agatha Christie Company.

Monday 15 to Saturday 20 February Private Lives A new production of Noel Coward’s classic comedy starring Tom Chambers and Laura Rogers.

Monday 22 to Saturday 27 February The 39 Steps Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller based on the book by John Buchan.

Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 March Single Spies A comic masterpiece from the pen of Alan Bennett.

Tickets: 0844 871 7651 or ambassadortickets.com/richmond

New Victoria Theatre Woking Monday 8 February I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue BBC Radio’s multi-award winning show with Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Jeremy Hardy and host Jack Dee.

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Friday 12 and Saturday 13 February Ellen Kent Opera – Tosca and Carmen Renowned opera producer Ellen Kent presents Puccini’s Tosca on Friday and Bizet’s Carmen on Saturday.

Monday 15 to Saturday 27 February Priscilla Queen of the Desert Feel good musical starring Darren Day and lots of dance floor classics.

Sunday 28 February Anton & Erin – Just Gotta Dance A new show from the ballroom duo.

Tickets: 0844 871 7645 or ambassadortickets.com/woking

Dorking Halls Dorking Thursday 3 March Banff Mountain Film Festival: World Tour An evening of short films following some incredible adventurers.

Saturday 5 March Russian State Ballet and Opera House present Madam Butterfly Puccini’s colourful and exotic Madam Butterfly sung in Italian with English subtitles. Accompanied by a full live orchestra.

Information: 01306 881717 or dorkinghalls.co.uk

Courtesy Jonathan Buckley/National Trust

theatre

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essence events The Electric Theatre Guildford Monday 15 to Saturday 20 February The Electric Theatre Family Festival Free arts and crafts, storytelling, family shows, films and lots more.

Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 February Flashdance: The Musical Based on the film: a unique musical with an iconic score.

Information: 01483 444789 or electrictheatre.co.uk

Guildford Shakespeare Company Holy Trinity Church, Guildford Monday 8 to Saturday 27 February The Winter’s Tale Launching the GSC’s tenth anniversary year, Shakespeare’s tragicomedy continues in the GSC tradition of providing immediate, inclusive and unique theatrical experiences.

Information: 01483 304384 or guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk

Epsom Playhouse Epsom

Rose Theatre

Tuesday 23 February Sally Morgan Renowned psychic returns with live show.

Thursday 25 February Mimi and Me Sue Hodge celebrates the hit television series ‘Allo ‘Allo in a show of music and laughter.

Friday 26 February Stars of British Jazz Recreating traditional jazz popular in Britain during the 1950s and 60s.

Kingston-upon-Thames

epsomplayhouse.co.uk

Farnham Maltings

Information: 020 8174 0090 or

Farnham

rosetheatrekingston.org

Tuesday 16 February Stewart Francis: Pun Gent Brand new stand-up tour.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Information: 01252 745444 or farnhammaltings.com

Guildford Fringe The Star Inn, Quarry St, Guildford Saturday 20 February, 8pm Guildford Gag House Comedy Club For the full line-up, see website.

Information: guildfordfringe.com

G Live Guildford Tuesday 23 February Banff Mountain Film Festival: World Tour An evening of short films following some incredible adventurers.

Thursday 25 February Katherine Ryan: Kathbum Popular comedienne on tour.

Guildford Wednesday 10 February Stalin’s Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess Andrew Lownie presents a completely new picture of the infamous Cambridge spy.

Friday 12 February At the Mountains of Madness The first theatre adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s chiller.

Saturday 13 February Rêverie: The Life and Loves of Claude Debussy Celebrating the 150th anniversary of this innovative composer.

Thursday 18 to Saturday 27 February Shadowlands Telling the love story of Oxford don C.S. Lewis and American poet Joy Davidman.

Information: 01483 369350 or

Tickets: 01483 440000

glive.co.uk

or yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

The Winter’s Tale, Guildford Shakespeare Company

Courtesy Paul Marc Mitchell

Information: 01372 742555 or

To Saturday 13 February Toast A funny and moving play starring Matthew Kelly and Simon Greenall.

Tuesday 16 to Sunday 21 February The Gruffalo’s Child The superb Tall Stories Theatre Company returns to bring Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award winning sequel to life.

Wednesday 24 to Sunday 28 February Hetty Feather A terrific adventure story from the pen of Jacqueline Wilson.

Alexander Armstrong, G Live

68 www.essence-magazine.co.uk Toast, Rose Theatre

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spotlight on...

Nicky Chubb solo exhibition Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches

Golden Laburnum by Nicky Chubb

Wednesday 2 March to Saturday 2 April Surrey based artist Nicky Chubb launches her first solo exhibition at the Corner Gallery in March. Originally trained as a designer, Nicky took a career break from the fashion and textile design industry which led to a rediscovery of the medium of drawing and painting.

Nicky’s work is particularly inspired by vivacious wildflowers, hardy heathland plants and countryside views. As can be seen from the image on the left, Golden Laburnum, Nicky’s paintings are beautiful and colourful, leaving an impression of joyfulness. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Corner Gallery on Wednesday 2 March at the launch of the exhibition to meet the artist. The Corner Gallery is the smallest commercial art gallery in Surrey, but reputedly has the biggest exhibitions! It is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm, and on Saturday, 9am to 3pm. Free parking is available outside.

Information: 020 8669 5899 or corner-gallery.com

music

G Live

Vivace Chorus

Guildford

G Live, Guildford

Cranleigh Arts Centre

Tuesday 9 February, 7.30pm Alexander Armstrong: A Year of Songs Live ’Pointless’ presenter returns to his roots as a classically trained musician in a concert tour for his debut album, A Year of Songs.

Monday 15 February, 7.30pm Paul Carrack Live in Concert 2016 Legendary singer, songwriter and frontman of Ace and Squeeze returns.

Saturday 5 March, 7.30pm A Night at the Opera Includes Overture to The Magic Flute, Habanera from Carmen, Flower Duet, Nessun Dorma and many more favourites. With The Brandenburg Sinfonia.

Cranleigh Saturday 20 February, 8.30pm The Counterfeit Stones Celebrating 25 years as the UK’s premier ‘Stones’ tribute band.

Saturday 27 February, 8pm The FB Pocket Orchestra Blues, ragtime, hot jazz, songs and dances from the beginning of popular music.

Information: 01428 727401 or vivacechorus.org or G Live 01483 369650 or glive.co.uk

exhibitions The Art Agency Esher To Friday 11 March Featured artists are Richard Knight and Melissa Kreisa. Richard’s works are architecturally descriptive and Melissa experiments with the powerful ability of colour.

Information: 01372 466740 or theartagency.co.uk

Information: 01483 278000 or

Information: 01483 369350 or

cranleighartscentre.org

glive.co.uk

Festivals

The Electric Theatre

Guildford Chamber Choir

Cranleigh Arts Centre

Guildford

St Nicolas’ Church, Guildford

Cranleigh

Tuesday 23 February, 7.30pm Jazz Café: Dave O’Higgins Award winning tenor saxophonist Dave O’Higgins has performed with everyone from Cleo Laine to Frank Sinatra.

Saturday 5 March, 7.30pm Rachmaninoff Vespers and Preludes for Piano by candlelight The concert takes place in the candlelit atmospheric surroundings of St Nicolas’ Church.

Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 March Cranleigh Literature Festival Plays, poetry and reading, with a line-up that includes the Guildford Shakespeare Company and more.

Information: 01483 444789 or

Information: 07704 802225 or

cranleighartscentre.org

electrictheatre.co.uk

guildfordchamberchoir.org.uk

Dorking Museum West Street, Dorking

Information: 01483 278000 or

Until Saturday 26 March Dorking in 1915 Following on from Dorking 2014, an exhibition focusing on the changes and sacrifices made by the people of Dorking during 1915.

Information: 01306 876591 or dorkingmuseum.org.uk

Guildford House Gallery Farnham Maltings

Guildford

Farnham Maltings

Southern Pro Musica

Farnham

Farnham

G Live, Guildford

Saturday 13 February, 8pm Fairport Convention Wintour 2016 Great folk-rock band.

Sunday 28 February, 3pm Family Classics Classical music for the whole family.

Friday 19 to Sunday 21 February unravel...a festival of knitting 2016 Workshops, experts and stallholders at this leading independent event.

Until Saturday 5 March Frank Brangwyn: The Graphic Art of the First World War Twenty imposing posters by this self made artist and designer.

Information: 01252 745444 or

Information: 01428 682158 or

Information: 01252 745444 or

Information: 01483 444751 or

farnhammaltings.com

southernpromusica.org

farnhammaltings.com

guildford.gov.uk/guildfordhouse

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essence events

cinemas

Cranleigh Arts Centre 01483 278000 or cranleighartscentre.org Farnham Maltings 01252 745444 or farnhammaltings.com Odeon Esher 0871 2244007 or odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_times/s89/esher Odeon Epsom 0871 2244007 or odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_times/s88/epsom Odeon Guildford 0871 2244007 or odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_times/s92/guildford The Screen Walton 01932 252825 or screencinemas.co.uk The Ambassadors Cinema, Woking 0844 871 6743 or ambassadortickets.com/cinema

The Lightbox Gallery and Museum

New Ashgate Gallery

Woking

Saturday 5 March to Saturday 16 April Rising Stars 2016 View and collect some of the most exciting new crafts by emerging makers, including jewellery, stoneware, paintings and lots more.

Saturday 13 February to Sunday 8 May John Constable: Observing the Weather An exhibition which concentrates on Constable’s unique ability to combine artistic skill with scientific observation to record changes in weather phenomena. The works range from pen and ink studies to watercolour and oil sketches.

To Sunday 10 April Not all Contemporary Art is Rubbish! The Ingram Collection Works from up-and-coming artists.

Saturday 6 February to Sunday 13 March Heath Robinson – Saved for the Nation A cross-section of Robinson’s cartoons from the inter-war years.

Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 February Half term at The Lightbox Arts and crafts for the holidays: why not make a bird or dragon? See website for details and timings.

Information: 01483 737800 or thelightbox.org.uk

Battersea by Richard Knight, The Art Agency

Farnham

Information: 01252 713208 or newashgate.org.uk

Watts Gallery Compton, Guildford Tuesday 1 March to Sunday 5 June Watts Landscapes The newly re-opened Gallery plays host to paintings by G F Watts, depicting views from Egypt to the Surrey Hills to the peaks of the Alps.

Half term at Bocketts Farm

Information: 01483 813593 or wattsgallery.org.uk

national trust National Trust properties offer perfect venues in which visitors can play and relax. A few are shown here,

McAllister Thomas Godalming Saturday 20 February to Tuesday 8 March Journeys in Colour: Ewa Adams Polish-born artist Ewa’s second solo exhibition with the Gallery.

Information: 01483 860591 or mcallisterthomasfineart.co.uk

Claremont Landscape Garden Esher Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 February, 10am–4pm Children’s half term trail Fun in the fresh air, visit the play area and feed the ducks.

Courtesy National Trust/John Miller

but visit nationaltrust.org.uk for more.

70 www.essence-magazine.co.uk Mother’s Day at the National Trust

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Sunday 6 March, 10am–5pm Mothering Sunday Stroll through the historic landscape garden and take mum for tea.

out & about

Information: 01372 467806

Bocketts Farm

East Clandon, Guildford Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 February, 10.30am–4pm Half term trail Explore the parkland with this fun winter trail.

Sunday 6 March, 11am–4pm, Mothering Sunday Join an arts and crafts activity to make a special gift.

Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 February February half term fun See newborn lambs, birds of prey flying demonstrations, meet miniature Shetland Ponies in the Pony Parlour and lots more.

Courtesy Jason Dodd

Leatherhead

Hatchlands Park

Half term car ride, Brooklands Museum

Information: bockettsfarm.co.uk

Haslemere Museum

RHS Wisley

Birdworld

Georgian House Hotel, Haslemere

Woking

Farnham

To Sunday 6 March Butterflies in the Glasshouse Last chance to see exotic butterflies in the tropical Glasshouse.

Leith Hill Place

Monday 15 to Friday 19 February Penguin activity week Penguin themed arts and crafts and a penguin trail around the park.

Dorking

Information: birdworld.co.uk

Saturday 13 February, 7.30pm Valentine’s dinner and auction of promises Tickets for the dinner priced at £45 are now on sale in aid of the ‘Museum in a Million’ campaign.

Brooklands Museum

haslemeremuseum.co.uk

Information: 01483 222482

Sunday 6 March, 11am–5pm Mothering Sunday Play the pianos, take a soundscape tour and enjoy a cream tea.

Information: 01372 452048

Polesden Lacey Great Bookham, near Dorking Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 February Secret Lives of Dogs – half term trail Discover the hidden secrets of Mrs Greville’s beloved pets.

Information: 01372 452048

Information: 01428 642112 or

Weybridge Monday 15 to Friday 19 February, 10am–4pm Half term family fun On weekdays take part in the car rides, look out for Bertie Bear or try the aviation family workshop ‘Propeller Investigators’. brooklandsmuseum.com

near Dorking Throughout the year Kite flying and spectacular views with cafés open for hot chocolate and pocket money priced gifts.

Information: 01372 220644

Winkworth Arboretum

Saturday 13 February to Sunday 21 February Woolly Week Lots of baby animals: lambs, bunnies and chicks galore.

Sunday 6 March Mums go free Celebrate Mother’s Day on the farm.

Information: godstonefarm.co.uk

Godalming Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 February, 10am–4pm Half term trail A trail around the beautiful arboretum.

Sunday 6 March, 10am–5.30pm Mothering Sunday A stunning location for a Mother’s Day walk, with early signs of magnolias and azaleas.

Information: 01932 868113 or

Monday 15 February, 10am–3.30pm Wild play at Furzefield Wood, Merstham Build a den, light a fire and more.

For children aged seven to ten.

Information: 01483 795440.

Friday 26 February, 10am–noon Wild tots at Newlands Corner Brilliant games and hunt minibeasts.

Information: 01483 795440.

Saturday 27 February, 10am–1pm Weave your own wigwam at Ockham Common Get ready for spring by weaving your own sustainable, heathland saving wigwam or plant support.

painshill.co.uk

Information: surreywildlifetrust.org

Woking Tuesday 16 and Thursday 18 February Earth Hour lantern making Prepare for Earth Hour by creating a colourful animal-themed lantern.

Information: wwf.org.uk/whatson

Painshill Park Cobham

Godstone Farm

The Guildford Wine Experience The Marquee, Guildford Cathedral

Information: 01483 208477 or

Friday 26 and Saturday 27 February Guildford’s first large wine tasting event with over 150 local and world wines, proseccos and sparkling wines. With live music and entertainers.

nationaltrust.org.uk

Information: drinksfestivals.co.uk

Surrey Wildlife Trust Various locations

The Living Planet Centre

Information: 01932 857381 or

Godstone, near Caterham

Surrey Hills

Information: 0845 260 9000 or rhs.org.uk/wisley

Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 February Wild Woodland Camp A wild time to be had this half term with tracking, wild art, bushcraft and den building for ages eight to thirteen. Advance booking required.

farmers’ markets Camberley Saturday 20 February, 10am–3pm Cranleigh Every Friday, 9.30–11am Epsom Sunday 7 February and 6 March, 9.30am–1.30pm Farnham Sunday 28 February, 10am–1.30pm Guildford Tuesday 2 February and 1 March, 10.30am–3.30pm Haslemere Sunday 7 February and 6 March, 10am–1.30pm Milford Sunday 21 February, 10am–1.30pm Ripley Saturday 13 February, 9am–1pm Walton-on-Thames Saturday 6 February and 5 March, 9.30am–2pm Woking Thursday 18 February, 9am–2pm

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Golfing new you As the weather finally starts to brighten up and with just two months until the stars tee off at the US Masters, the official start of the golfing season, it’s surely time to turn our thoughts to fine tuning our game to take advantage of the playing opportunities coming up in the summer. Find out more about David Short Golf, a well established company offering golf holidays with tuition in stunning locations.

P

>>>

erhaps readers may like to consider a weekend away, dusting off the clubs and erasing the winter rust from their swing, or possibly prefer a week away with some winter sun whilst combining daily coaching sessions with a few practice rounds?

One of the most established golf coaching and travel operators in the business, David Short Golf, is offering an extensive number of breaks along these lines for those that particularly enjoy the social side of golf and meeting like-minded people.

PGA professional, David Short, has been running his eponymous company based in the UK for more than 30 years. Following a steady rise in demand for these niche holidays over the years, he and his team have amassed a great deal of experience in how best to run coaching holidays and to ensure that golfers return home with a better game as well as some new friends.

“There’s a definite lack of golf improvement holidays available, so our holidays have proved increasingly popular for golfers looking to tune up their game whilst also playing some interesting courses with individuals on the same wavelength,” comments David.

Groups generally comprise a mixture of couples, friends and singletons of various skill levels which makes for lots of interaction and socialising both on and off the course.

“For those requiring a Over the three decades, little additional tuition, David has primarily hosted the host is always happy the holidays himself, but to increase the number of recently he has brought in fellow PGA pros, Barney clinics during the week” Puttick and Aaron Shepherd,

72 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

Playing at Simola in South Africa with David Short Golf

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Sport | DAVID SHORT GOLF

A David Short UK golf and coaching holiday

David Short Golf at La Cala Golf Club, Spain

to assist him due to the rising demand for his events, especially as the company enjoys a great deal of repeat business. Indeed there have even been a number of ‘reunion tours’ over the years that have gathered together golfers who have attended David Short holidays in the past.

Whilst David Short Golf prides itself on helping golfers to improve their game and provides the opportunity for golf holidays to many clients who might otherwise be reluctant to travel, the company also aims to ensure that its clients enjoy their golf and take new-found skills out onto the fantastic courses selected to host events.

“Whilst as experienced PGA pros we are able to offer expert tuition and course management, we also take pleasure from the hosting element of the holidays that gives our clients a unique, personal touch. What we offer is a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxed social environment in which to hone players’ games, exploring some new and interesting golf courses, whilst at the same time getting to know fellow golfers on the holiday,” continues David.

The variety of format, location and length of stay of David Short Golf holidays means golfers can choose from a number of options throughout the year, but be warned, many of them can get booked up well in advance.

From mid-March, the company runs a series of ‘UK Golf & Coaching’ events that are held at Staverton Park Golf Club in Northamptonshire. These in particular are extremely popular, with some guests returning year on year to use the weekend as a tune-up before the golf season kicks off in earnest.

These ‘Golf & Coaching’ events explore every aspect of the individual’s game, from technique to the mental side of the game. The overall aim is to improve golf skills, offering a more rounded view of the game and to help clients take practice routines out onto the course.

Traditionally hosted by David, Barney also teaches some groups which are limited to just 12 people to ensure thorough instruction and personal attention. Run at weekends over three nights and four days, these packages start at £455pp (with no single supplement applied) and include accommodation on a DB&B basis, coaching, game analysis, golf over Staverton Park and use of the club’s practice facilities. >>>

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“Whilst as experienced PGA pros we are able to offer expert tuition and course management, we also take pleasure from the hosting element of the holidays that gives our clients a unique, personal touch.”

For those who would prefer to concentrate on the more technical Robinson Golf Club, Tavira, Portugal aspects of their game, David Short Golf runs a number of ‘UK Academy Events’ that focus more on technique with discussions on the latest equipment, good practice technology, practice routines, mental issues and course management. With a maximum of eight people per group to ensure individual tuition, these three-day clinics are generally hosted by Aaron, who has progressed from being a junior member at Staverton Park to head of The Golf Academy there, where he is a full-time PGA coach. Packages start at £395pp and include accommodation on a DB&B basis, tuition, video analysis, golf and use of the club’s long and short game practice facilities.

For golfers who would rather go abroad for their golf – and some sun and warmth – there are ‘Golf & Coaching’ breaks and ‘Golf Weeks with Clinics’ that take place overseas. The ‘Golf & Coaching’ holidays offer long-term improvement to an individual’s game whilst also offering the opportunity to play some fascinating golf courses across Europe, Southern Africa and Asia. These events offer a fairly intensive course of daily coaching sessions with one non-golf day for resting or sightseeing and the chance to practice new skills out on the course. A friendly competition and prize presentation on the final day concludes the week.

For those who would like to play more golf, but also tidy up their game a little whilst on tour, David Short Golf has developed ‘Golf Weeks with Clinics’. Hosted in European resorts, these seven-day trips offer five rounds of golf with the option of attending a daily, one-hour clinic run by David or Barney. For those requiring a little additional tuition, the host is always happy to increase the number of clinics during the week.

A good example of this holiday is the annual week at the five-star La Cala Resort in Malaga, Spain that has been built in traditional Andalusian style with every bedroom boasting views over the golf courses. La Cala has three excellent courses; two hilly layouts, Campo America and Playing amongst the zebras with David Short Golf at Campo Asia, and the Campo Europa, which runs in and out of the Ojen Zebula Golf Estate, South Africa River. Prices for this week start from £1,195 and include the services of a PGA golf professional host, golf clinics, green fees, accommodation on a DB&B basis and airport transfers. There is also an annual Lisbon Golf Week in early May that is always well attended and, in addition to great golf, features some local sightseeing.

Alongside its coaching holidays, David Short Golf also specialises in the ‘Escorted Golf Tour’ to fabulous destinations in Europe, South Africa, Asia and Dubai held generally during the UK’s winter months so that golfers can escape to warmer climes.

“We have a wide range of clients, including lots of single golfers, who prefer to travel in the company of others, as well as couples, all of whom love the camaraderie of the escorted tours, and who enjoy the diverse range of destinations that we go to,” concludes David.  essence INFO David Short Golf Website: www.davidshortgolf.co.uk Email: info@davidshortgolf.co.uk

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Property | LPOC

Privilege and responsibility For those looking to purchase, or for those who already possess, a listed property, there are certain expectations and restrictions on the structure and look of the building, both inside and outside. The Listed Property Owners Club (LPOC) is a members’ club dedicated to helping and advising listed building owners. essence found out more.

O

wning a beautiful listed building isn’t always the dream people think.

It comes with responsibilities and restrictions that usually translate into more expense. England and Wales boast half a million listed buildings, each one with its own story to tell.

A recent survey, undertaken by Historic England, showed owners are committed to investing in their buildings, with 93% seeing their property as important to local character and enjoying owning a slice of history.

So, for owners of listed buildings, it helps to have a desire to preserve the past and a view that, as the owner, the property is being saved for future generations.

The Listed Property Show, taking place at Olympia London on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February, has all the specialist information and expert help required for conserving, renovating or buying. Owning a listed property can present its fair share of problems. This LPOC-organised show, in association with Historic England, has the largest collection of listed property suppliers and specialists under one roof during one weekend.

Laws and regulations that limit what can be altered on a listed property may date back hundreds of years and can be a surprise. As the UK’s only advice service dedicated to helping listed property owners, LPOC is familiar with the rules and regulations with which owners have to comply.

The Listed Property Show was created to provide owners and those looking to buy with everything they need to know.

Over 150 exhibitors and specialist suppliers, independent conservation officers and architects attend, and there are informative lectures on discovering a home’s history or how to make a listed building energy efficient.

“Private owners of listed residential buildings care for the greatest share of our historic fabric. It is therefore particularly encouraging to see the evidence of their commitment to preserving the historic character of their properties and their readiness to cover the costs of regular maintenance.”

Sir Laurie Magnus, chairman of Historic England

Shere, Surrey IMAGE COURTESY OF LPOC.

essence INFO The Listed Property Show 2016, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February 2016, Olympia, London. Tickets to the show are FREE and can be downloaded at www.lpoc.co.uk/property-show/tickets/ The Listed Property Owners Club Lower Dane, Hartlip, Kent ME9 7TE Telephone: 01795 844939 Website: www.lpoc.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 75

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Architectural and interior design studio with a difference... www.kristurnbull.com

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111 Buckingham Palace Road Victoria, Westminster, London SW1W 0SR +44 (0) 207 340 8723 studio@kristurnbull.com

Overseas Prop_Layout 1 03/02/2016 12:04 Page 1

The Master's Tuscany home

Michelangelo’s work ranges from sculptures to paintings, poetry to engineering and architectural design through the High Renaissance and into the artistic age of Mannerism. He is considered by many to be the greatest artist ever and a major influence for western art. The Tuscany villa of the master is now for sale: essence finds out more.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF TOP REAL ESTATE DEALS.

I

n 1549, at the age of 72, thirty years after completing the frescos in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo bought and periodically lived in a villa in Tuscany, halfway between Florence and Siena, that stayed in the Buonarroti family for over 300 years.

Now for sale, the original deed held by Michelangelo, in which he was described as a ‘dear sculptor and Florentine citizen’, will be passed on to a new owner.

For those who feel a thrill in their connection to history, the experience of actually living and sleeping in the same rooms and walking the same grounds as the great man did over six centuries ago is priceless. Located on over six acres above rolling hills, the 12,915 square feet of living space is contained in three buildings, including an ancient tower, believed to date back to the eleventh century. The original architecture is

78 essence-magazine.co.uk | FEBRUARY 2016

accented throughout with large stone fireplaces, beamed and barrel ceilings.

With eight bedrooms, all rooms pay homage to the period, and modern conveniences blend in. The kitchen has all the rustic romance of early centuries, but now with high quality appliances that take nothing away from the original architecture.

Park-like grounds have lawns and mature plantings with a lemon orchard, olive grove and Chianti vineyards, as well as the original olive oil mill.

A once in a lifetime opportunity to own the Tuscany villa of Michelangelo, preserved and restored by the current owner, the property is for sale at €7,500,000. essence INFO Website: www.TopTenRealEstateDeals.com For more information on the property, contact www.handsomepropertiesinternational.com

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Overseas property | ITALY

Eternal appeal A recent online property survey showed Rome to be the most ‘searched-for’ location in the world. Overseas buyers are heading back to Italy and France.

Portal TheMoveChannel.com saw Rome remain the most searchedfor location in the world in the final months of the year, the third consecutive quarter that the city has held top spot. Italy’s rebound in popularity increased throughout 2015, due to the country’s strong lifestyle appeal, and a weak euro.

Favourable exchange rates fuelled demand for all Europe’s traditional property hotspots, with Spain and Portugal in particular stealing the limelight. Now, though, the tide may be about to change.

Portugal’s share of searches on the portal reduced for the first time in Q4 2015, accounting for 11 of the Top 50 locations in the Hotspots Index.

Cyprus and Greece, meanwhile, fell out of the Top 10 altogether, as buyers swapped their economically uncertain markets for old favourites.

Buyers returned to France with the country entering the Top 10 for the first time in Q4 2015.

The weak euro has been the defining story of 2015, sending buyers from overseas – particularly the UK and the USA – flooding into Europe’s property markets to snap up available opportunities. While Portugal and Spain have dominated demand for the majority of the year, France and Italy are starting to steal the show, their relatively stable markets luring house-hunters away from the more uncertain bargain zones of Greece and Cyprus.

essence INFO Website: TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property.

FEBRUARY 2016 | essence-magazine.co.uk 79

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