Fine Sussex & Surrey - 2016 Volume 1 by Fine Magazine

FINE SUSSEX & SURREY 2016 VOLUME I

2016 VOLUME I Focus on... Education

Recreating Clandon

A weekend in Bergen

In this issue... 10

36 RECOVERY AT CLANDON

In the latest in our Blue Plaques series, Catherine Ross explores the story behind Brighton’s Volk’s Railway.

As the National Trust prepares to start restoring Clandon after the devastating fire, we find out what plans the charity has for the house.

34 JOIN THE CLUB

40 HERITAGE AND AMBITION

Make 2016 the year you play more golf with flexible membership options from Gatton Manor. Includes a courtesy round of golf.

Catherine Ross takes a look behind the scenes at Christ’s Hospital and discovers how the school manages to blend centuries old tradition with a modern approach to education.

24 A STUDY IN CHIC

42 THE NEW GCSES

32 GARDENS OF THE FUTURE

46 MUSIC: THE BEATING HEART OF

THE PEOPLE WHO SHAPED OUR FUTURE

Create a perfect space all of your own with design advice from Gary Warrell-Phillips.

Jack Dunckley and his team are working on some pretty ambitious garden projects in 2016, including a Hampstead rooftop and a Tuscan courtyard.

39 FOCUS ON… EDUCATION

In our first education issue of 2016, we explore some hot education topics.

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Rowena Cole, head teacher at Dunottar School gives Fine readers the inside information on what the new GCSE reforms mean for our children.

EDUCATION

Lou Bradbury, Founder of Little Notes highlights the importance of music education for well-rounded academic achievement – and lots of joy.

48 FINANCING SCHOOL FEES

With school fees running into hundreds of thousands of pounds, Brewin Dolphin offers advice on how to finance your child’s education.

54 PUBLIC ARTISTS

72 A WEEKEND IN BERGEN

Local school children have been involved in helping to design new public art in West Sussex. Alison Turnbull tells Fine what’s been happening.

Fine Editor, Catherine Ross, spent a weekend in Bergen and offers her top tips on where to stay, where to eat and what to do there.

70 RANGE ROVER SPORT

82 NETWORKING = OPPORTUNITIES

Fine’s new motoring correspondent puts the new Range Rover Sport through its paces.

Etiquette expert, Emma Dupont, offers her top tips on getting the most out of the dark art of networking.

58 IN THE DIARY

NURTURING TOMORROW’S CONSERVATIONISTS Jo Elphic is the David Shepard Wildlife Foundation’s education officer. She describes to Fine how her work is helping instil a love of wildlife in future generations.

Don’t go anywhere this season until you have read Fine’s pick of the best events in Sussex and Surrey.

52 EXTRA-CURRICULAR

64 ART IN SILVER AND GOLD

Carli Jones, Principal of Showdown Theatre Arts describes how extra-curricular activities can help build confidence and resilience in our young people.

Jeweller Alexis Dove has partnered with Glyndebourne to create this beautiful range of rose and pug themed jewellery.

56 FAIR FUNDING FOR SUSSEX SCHOOLS

80 NEW (TAX) YEAR RESOLUTIONS

State school children in West Sussex receive considerably less funding per child than the national average. The Worth Less? Campaign is lobbying government for a fair deal.

As we approach the new tax year, chartered accountant, Carolyn Burchell, tells Fine how we can all manage our money in 2016/17.

In this issue | 5

T H Baker Brighton 63 Churchill Square, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2TB

T H Baker Horsham 49 West Street, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1PP

TAG HEUER CARRERA CARA DELEVINGNE SPECIAL EDITION Cara Delevingne challenges rules. Being free-minded is her motto.

“Christ’s Hospital has definitely helped me to develop a strong desire to go to university and study a great course. You are encouraged to work hard and to do well. I have been given every opportunity to flourish and grow both as a student and a person. I don’t think any other school could prepare me better for university.”

AN INDEPENDENT BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 11-18 www.christs-hospital.org.uk 01403 246555 | hello@christs-hospital.org.uk OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 23 APRIL 2016 Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0LJ Registered Charity No. 1120090

A word from the H

editor

ello and welcome to the latest issue of Fine Sussex and Surrey. This edition is our education special. We have pulled together stories from across the education spectrum, including public and state schools, extracurricular activities and how schools re working with local communities. It has been a fascinating process.

We’ve got a lovely piece from Lou Bradbury, founder of Little Notes, about the importance of music education (p46) and we explored how local schools have been involved in designing new public art for Broadbridge Heath village (p54). You may also be interested to learn

finemagazine.co.uk

EDITOR Catherine Ross catherine@finemagazine.co.uk

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Steve Goodwin steve@finemagazine.co.uk

I highlight for me was receiving a tour of the historic Christ’s Hospital School. It has always been on the doorstep, but I never knew it had been founded by King Edward VI to offer food, boarding and education to London’s poorest children and still stands by its founding principles. If you’ve been scratching your head wondering what the new GCSE reforms mean for your children, the head teacher of Dunottar School offers a helpful explanation on page 42, and I spoke to Carli Jones, Principal of Showdown Theatre Arts to find out how she thinks extracurricular activities can boost a child’s confidence and academic performance.

FINE MAGAZINE LTD

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

that school children in West Sussex are receiving considerably less government funding than the national average. Read our feature on page 56 for an update on the Worth Less? Campaign, which is fighting for a fairer funding deal. I enjoyed a fabulous weekend in Bergen, which is well worth a visit, you can read my review and top tips on where to stay, where to eat and what to do in Norway’s second city on page 72. Have a wonderful couple of months, and I’ll see you again in the spring.

Catherine Ross EDITOR

On the front... Christ’s Hospital School at dawn. Photo by Toby Phillips Photography.

Did you know: founded by King Edward VI, Christ’s Hospital students have given the Loyal Address to newly crowned monarchs since Queen Mary. Read more about that and the school’s other centuries old traditions on page 40.

Gary Warrell-Phillips Jack Dunckley Carolyn Burchell Lou Bradbury Rowena Cole Carli Jones Ade Holder

PHOTOGRAPHY Alan Wright Photography

CIRCULATION distribution@finemagazine.co.uk

FINANCE CONTROLLER Dave Smith finance@blacktiemedia.co.uk

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Terry Oliver toliver@finemagazine.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR Matthew Wheeler mwheeler@finemagazine.co.uk The views and opinions expressed in the articles herein are those of the authors concerned and are not endorsed by the publisher. Whilst every care has been taken during the production process, the publisher does not accept any liability for errors that may have occurred or for the views expressed. Fine Sussex & Surrey 2016 Volume I This publication is protected by copyright. ©2016 Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company

A word from the editor | 9

The people

who shaped our future Brighton has many charming and unique features that make it a destination for people from all over the world, but one of its best loved, but little-celebrated attractions is the Volk’s Railway along the seafront. Created by pioneering electrical engineer, Magnus Volk, the Volk’s Railway is the oldest running electric railway in the world and has been charming tourists for over 130 years.

agnus Volk was born in Brighton in 1851. His father was a German clockmaker, so perhaps young Magnus was born with engineering in his blood. He lived in Brighton for most of his life and died there in 1937. In 1879, Volk set up the first telephone line in the city (to his friend, William Jago’s house in Springfield Road). The following year he fitted his own house with electric lights. In 1881 he demonstrated a fire-alarm, which was connected to the police and fire station at the Town Hall. And in 1883 fitted the Royal Pavilion with electric lights, followed by the Dome, Corn Exchange, museum, art gallery, library and Pavilion Grounds. Volk was commissioned by the Sultan of Turkey to build an electric car and then an electric launch. On 14 June 1883 Magnus Volk wrote to Brighton’s town clerk seeking permission to lay an electric railway near Madeira Road (now Drive). Permission was granted and less than two months after his

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permission letter, Magnus Volk opened the Volk’s Electric Railway on 4 August 1883. The line was only a quarter of a mile long and two foot gauge. The car was powered by a 50v dc supply which was taken from a gas engine and dynamo located in the Royal Humane Society’s Arch under the promenade. A year later, Volk extended the line to Banjo Groyne and re-gauged it to 2ft 8½in. The railway’s power supply was increased changed to a supply voltage of 160 volts dc at up to 40 amps and it was supplied from a more powerful gas engine and dynamo located in Paston Place Arch. In May 1901 a further extension was opened, taking the Volk’s Railway all the way from where Palace Pier now stands to what is now Brighton Marina. At 1.25 miles long, this was the longest the Volk’s Railway ever ran. Various developments on the seafront at Brighton over the years caused sections of the railway to be closed. The entire line was closed during the Second World War and neglect and corrosion caused the line to fall into disrepair. After the war, in 1947, the Brighton Corporation took over the running of the line and invested in its restoration. In 2015, Brighton and Hove City Council secured Heritage Lottery Funding to develop a new station for this Brighton Icon. The £1.65million grant will be used to restore carriages and provide upgraded facilities and activities. Work is forecast to begin in September 2016 and be completed by April 2017. Magnus Volk is still fondly remembered in Brighton. He was a regular visitor to Stanford Road School and would leave tickets for the railway every time he visited. His generosity also provided for the school’s Christmas parties.

Feature | 11

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Strawberry Tree Cottage in Lyminster, just outside Arundel in the heart of the South Downs, perfectly combines beautifully appointed living space with flexibility and countryside living. It has recently come to the market, but won’t be available for long.

or elegant living in a rural location, this beautiful three bedroom detached home could be just what you’re looking for. It has recently been remodelled and updated and offers versatile accommodation that can be easily adapted to your needs. The double aspect ‘L’ shaped living room offers stunning countryside views in the summer and an open fire with a stone surround for when you want to get cosy indoors. The beautiful, fully-fitted kitchen and breakfast rooms includes granite worktops and modern bi-folding doors

into the garden. Also on the ground floor is a double bedroom with en-suite and an additional bedroom and bathroom. On the first floor is an impressive master suite, with a large bedroom, extensive fitted wardrobe space, Juliet balcony and en-suite shower room.

GUIDE PRICE £699,950 To arrange a viewing, contact JacksonStops Arundel office on 01903 885886 or arundel@jackson-stops.co.uk 28 High Street, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9AB

Hot property | 13

Thakeham, West Sussex

KnightFrank.co.uk/Horsham

A generously proportioned country house

01403 339180

Pulborough 4.8 miles, Horsham 13 miles, Central London 53 miles This superb country house is ideal for entertaining and enjoys beautiful views towards The South Downs National Park. It is situated in a popular and sought after location in the much coveted Sussex countryside. The property itself has been extensively and sympathetically enlarged and refurbished to a high standard, with generous proportions and many features including a wealth of oak joinery, open fire places and good ceiling heights. The property also benefits from a stunning pool house with an outdoor dining area. In all approximately 2 acres.

Guide Price ÂŁ2,295,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/HOR150001

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Nutbourne, West Sussex

KnightFrank.co.uk/Horsham

An exceptional newly built country house

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james.machell@knightfrank.com

Pulborough 3 miles, Horsham 13 miles, Gatwick Airport 28 miles, London 50 miles This stunning property has been built to the highest of standards and cleverly designed to maximise the sublime setting with glass and oak rear elevation. The property also benefits from excellent secondary accommodation, equestrian facilities and panoramic views of The South Downs National Park, with planning permission for an indoor riding arena. Available as a whole or in lots. In all approximately 20.5 acres.

Guide Price ÂŁ3,200,000

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020 7629 7282

01403 246 790

Horsham, West Sussex An extremely spacious detached house in Horshamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier private road address. The property has been significantly extended, sitting in a south west facing plot of about 0.62 acres, with pool and pool house, 4 car garage with room above. EPC:D

Horsham Sales 01403 342101 horsham@hamptons-int.com

Guide Price ÂŁ1,575,000 Freehold 5 Bedrooms 4 Bath/Shower Rooms (3 Ensuite) 5 Reception Rooms Swimming Pool & Pool House 4 Car Garage with Room above Garden In all about 0.62 Acres

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Fulking, West Sussex A country house with detached cottage, 9 acres and commanding magnificent rural views along the South Downs. Stunning yet accessible location, Hurstpierpoint College 4.5 miles, Hassocks Mainline Station 4.75 miles, Brighton 8.75 miles. EPC:F

Horsham Sales 01403 342101 horsham@hamptons-int.com

Guide Price ÂŁ1,800,000 Freehold 5/6 bedrooms 3 bath/shower rooms 3 reception rooms Detached cottage Covered heated swimming pool Garaging & garden studio Stabling & outbuildings

Chesworths Estate Agents 26 North Street, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1RQ    

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converted barn, detached dwelling called “The Lodge” with income and good range of outbuildings with paddocks and grounds extending to approximately 5.75 acres

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Lodsworth, West Sussex

& Staff

A charming period, Listed Grade II, cottage with large south facing gardens. Internally it is surprisingly spacious and there is a wealth of period features including exposed timbers and beams in the sitting room, which has a woodburning stove. The gardens are a particular feature offering various areas for dining, formal lawns, an orchard, pond and flower borders. Hall, Sitting room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Conservatory, Cellar/utility area, Cloakroom, Master bedroom with shower room en suite, Guest bedroom with shower room en suite, Bedroom 3, Family bathroom, Study area, Covered car port, Further off street parking, Gardens.

Guide Price ÂŁ760,000

Midhurst 01730

Fast Find 64045

812 357 midhurst@jackson-stops.co.uk

Local & national reach through a network of London & regional offices

Mickleham, Surrey An outstanding and elegant family home in a private exclusive location with commanding views over the North Downs. A distinctive turret forms the centrepiece of the front elevation and there is scope to create a separate annexe. Formal gardens give way to a substantial equestrian area with a sand school, stable block and two paddocks. Reception hall, cloakroom, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room with study area, utility room, gym/studio, wet room, kitchenette, Master bedroom suite, 5 further bedrooms, 3 further bath/ shower rooms, impressive driveway with ample parking, 2 garages, beautiful formal gardens with fine views, various outbuildings, stabling, sand school, 2 paddocks, in all nearly 5 acres.

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Local & national reach through a network of London & regional offices

People Property Places

Guide Price ÂŁ2,250,000

Fast Find 62714

jackson-stops.co.uk Jackson-Stops

Clapham, West Sussex

& Staff

A charming detached Grade II Listed cottage, located in the heart of the South Downs National Park and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The property is beautifully presented having undergone a programme of refurbishment including the renewal of the thatch at the end of 2015. The plot size measures approximately half an acre with partially walled secluded gardens to the side and rear, three stables/ tack room/hay store and a timber built office. Electric gates lead to a spacious driveway which provides ample off-road parking. The property is offered for sale with no onward chain. Entrance Hall, Double aspect Sitting Room, Reception Room, Stunning triple aspect Kitchen/Dining Room with a useful Mezzanine Area, Ground floor Bathroom, Cloakroom, Utility Room, 2 Double Bedrooms with Ensuite Shower facilities, Second floor Dressing Room, Ample off-road parking, 3 Stables, tack room and hay store, Timber built office

Guide Price – £799,950

Fast Find 64005

Arundel 01903

885 886 arundel@jackson-stops.co.uk

Local & national reach through a network of London & regional offices

West Wittering, West Sussex A wonderful coastal residence in one of West Wittering’s most sought-after locations, offering excellent accommodation with far-reaching views over open farmland towards East Head. Vaulted Reception Hall, Study, Sitting Room, Kitchen/Dining Room, Ground Floor Cloaks/Shower Room, Utility Room, Master Bedroom with Dressing Area, En-Suite Shower Room & Balcony, 3 Further Bedrooms, Bathroom, Double Garage, Beautiful Gardens backing on to Open Farmland, In All 1/3 of an Acre Stunning Views Towards East Head & The South Downs.

Price on Application

Fast Find 61831

Chichester

01243 786316 chichester@jackson-stops.co.uk

Local & national reach through a network of London & regional offices

People Property Places

A Study

Chic

Everyone needs a place of their own. A private, quiet space that’s inspiring, comfortable and personal. Interior designer, Gary WarrellPhillips, offers some inspiration for designing your own personal space.

’m passionate about the beautiful spaces I design for my clients. Creating the right environment is about much more than co-ordinating fabulous wall coverings with luxurious soft furnishings. Like many professions, my work incorporates a wealth of technical knowledge and skill that has been developed over a number of years. In order to ensure I remain an authority in my field, throughout my career I have regularly looked to enhance my skills by enrolling on relevant courses - all of which have required, dare I say it... a sizeable amount of extra-curricular study! Today an ever increasing number of people are looking to fine tune their skills outside of the workplace and this has stimulated quite the demand for defined spaces within the home where one can reflect and focus. It is therefore no surprise that this year’s hottest trend is to create a multipurpose space, that emphasises new technology, without imposing on the primary function of a room and its style. Closely followed are rising stars such as extendable tables and the ergonomic workstation, better known as the adjustable sit/stand desk. Without a manual explaining how to create a sleek and stylish home study, the first lesson is to understand where it is in your own space that you feel the most productive.

24 | fine

ALCOVE POPS

two legged variety.

Within every home there are areas that are crying out to be transformed into stylish space saving solutions that, once created, open up a real flow of positive energy.

Your study space is where you will need to feel continually stimulated, so opting for tones that best promote your intellectual side is a good bet.

Why not consider creating a charming study area by converting your ‘room under the stairs’, with beautiful hand crafted furniture adding features such as undershelf lighting and pull down storage to elegantly conceal any clutter. This will create a peaceful and calm environment in which you can absorb your new found knowledge. Most homes have nooks and crannies that, due their unconventional size, are rarely used to their full potential – yet with a little imagination they can be converted into a fabulously stylish study zone. Start using these alcoves by incorporating made-to-measure shelving deep enough to store all of your study guides, workbooks and technology, ensuring the lowest shelf is situated at desk height so that your work space is maximised. If you want to make your alcove pop, use contrasting colours or materials to turn it into a real design feature. Alternatively, you can create a seamless workstation by opting for colourways that blend with surrounding wall coverings – this will instantly give your study area the illusion of space.

Colour has a profound effect on our physical and emotional well being, so when deciding on how to decorate, pay close attention to any hues, textures and sounds that evoke a sense of calm and well being in you. I simply love creating spaces using whites and creams, subtly teaming them with a bright accent colour. I’m delighted to see these colours paired with metal tones as a trend that is set to continue throughout the year. According to Feng Shui this winning combination couldn’t be more perfect for creating mental clarity.

SITTING PRETTY “With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy?” – Oscar Wilde

ABOUT WARRELL-PHILLIPS Gary is regarded as a leading authority within the design industry and is highly sought after having worked with well known personalities, in addition to making regular guest appearances on breakfast television programmes such as This Morning. His design studio and furniture restoration workshop is situated in the grounds of Brook House and is full of antiquities, fabrics and furnishings. If you have a design project you would like to discuss call 07977 299271 or visit www. garywarrell.co.uk

Creating a stylish and functional, dedicated area where you can quietly work is as important as having good study skills. But what constitutes a stylish study? For me it’s teaming timeless, elegant pieces that effortlessly sit alongside ever changing design trends.

If your spare room has been doubling as a ‘dump it to grumpit’ storage facility, shame on you dah-ling. There is no order in chaos, now is the time to liberate that space and de-clutter.

This year it’s all about sophistication and symmetry. When choosing pieces for your think tank, you simply cannot go wrong opting for a sleek, modern study platform - calling these beautiful pieces ‘desks’ seems so wrong. Consider creating different study zones by adding a glamorous seating area. This allows for movement within your sacred space and will help to re-invigorate your senses.

The beauty of a self contained study is that is gives you a defined balance between work and lifestyle, enabling you to hide away from any distractions – whether they are of the four legged or

Inject a little nostalgia with fabulous pieces like the uber stylish 50’s Eames style chair. Tie your look together by adding paired feature lighting and a few well chosen accessories.

COLOUR ME CLEVER

The best thing about the 21st Century is that with enough focus and determination, we are free to achieve our dreams, hopes and desires. With the marvel of technology we can shoot for the moon from the comfort of our own stylish spaces... how wonderful that we are able to do this whilst sitting so pretty.

Home sweet home | 25

What is good

kitchen design? You might have a pretty good idea of what your dream kitchen will look like, what will go where and how you will use it, but talking to a professional kitchen designer can help you avoid mistakes that could turn your dream into a bit of a nightmare. Stephen Tovee from Design at 32 in Storrington offers some helpful advice.

often get asked what makes a good kitchen design. Although it is important to have appliances and worktops and cupboards on a wall, that is not the full story. I have been involved with kitchen design for nearly twenty years. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen trends change to suit societal changes. Once just a room with an oven, modern kitchens are spaces for honing culinary crafts, displaying designer cookware and hubs for social activity. Modern expectations are also higher. There are new materials and technologies and a lot more inspiration available for the modern homeowner than ever before. If you look at something for long enough you sometimes lose the ability to see the solution in your own home. My belief is that good design is about working with a customer to achieve what they feel is right. To make them realise the potential a room in their home has to offer. To advise them about what will work and what is available today and to be honest when an idea is not going to work.

26 | fine

We learn how you are going to use the space rather than focusing on the aesthetics of a design alone. Many people will seek advice from a company that supplies kitchens. Companies who offer a fitting service that is detached from the actual company and have no control over the quality of the work. Many ‘designers’ add their signature to a kitchen that has no relevance to a customer, removing all attributes unique to you to the finished room. What people should strive for instead is a team of people who are invested in a design that works for you and for you only, not the designer. Good designers listen to their clients and work with them to achieve what the client wants. The layout and equipment levels

are important but it’s not just that. Having all the toys in a room is great as long as when you come to use them they are in the right place! Modern expectations are higher. With so many new materials and technologies a lot more inspiration is available for the modern homeowner than ever before. We often see ‘designs’ from companies where a design has been ‘created’ to the requirements of a first year design. Many designers simply want to fill a room with cabinets, appliances and worktops, pop an American Fridge Freezer in the corner and call it kitchen design. That’s not good design practice. Kitchen design is so much more. Functionality plays a huge role in identifying the key ingredients to creating the ideal space and with so many options now available, it is becoming easier to fulfil the requirements that our clients present to us. We learn how you are going to use the space rather than focusing on the aesthetics of a design alone. Working with a designer can make the difference between a fitted kitchen that looks good and one which looks good, has all the bells and whistles to make you smile and most importantly, a kitchen which works for you as an individual. It is your home after all. For help designing your dream kitchen, contact Design at 32 for the answer. Free initial visit and discussion about your kitchen. 32 High Street, Storrington, West Sussex RH20 4DU Phone: 01903 741004 www.design-32.co.uk

Home sweet home | 27

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Indoors,

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If your plans for 2016 include making the most of whatever summer we may be fortunate enough to get this year, creating the perfect indoor/ outdoor space is a great way to achieve it. Bi-fold doors offer the simplest way to take your home from spring to summer and bring the outside, in.

f course, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all longing for a Mediterranean-style summer, with al fresco dining and entertaining and plenty of time outdoors. Bi-fold doors have replaced patio and French doors as a great way of letting in light and offer the added benefit of clearing out of the way to make a seamless, step-free boundary between the interior and exterior of your home. Very popular in new home extensions, these sliding and folding doors also make a beautiful addition to conservatories or timber orangeries. Rigid and longlasting engineered timber is specially manufactured to ensure doors donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t warp or twist and continue to slide effortlessly along their rails. Hand finished paintwork needs only minimal maintenance to keep it looking as good as new. Bi-fold doors offer more flexibility than other types of door. A great set of bi-fold doors allow you to fully open the wall or open the doors to any width within the frame, and you can customise the doors so that the leaves split in different places. When you compare these to a normal door which can open at only one width, or a sliding door which can open to a maximum width of half the length of the whole window, the flexibility offered by bi-fold doors is far superior. To choose your perfect bi-fold doors, get ready for summer early by contacting Timber Windows of Horsham. Visit www.timberwindows.com or call 01403 732822.

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Gardens of the

future

There are only so many jobs you can do in an English garden at this time of year, with gardeners waiting for these quieter months to pass, and for spring to arrive when their gardens once more burst into life. Jack Dunckley talks garden design and whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for a change of style.

e have many exciting projects lined up this year, including transforming a roof top in Hampstead, London into a contemporary garden and converting a former cattle holding into a stylish Tuscan courtyard. Both of these are challenging designs and builds; particularly with regard to the roof top garden as we will be hoisting landscaping materials and equipment up an eight story building by crane, but the team and I are looking forward to getting stuck in and meeting these different challenges. The London roof top garden is still in its initial design stage but the accurate 3D renders we produce in house show it is really starting to take shape. The space will be contemporary, luxurious and somewhere to relax high above the relentless bustle of the city. We have designed the garden using crisp, straight lines to create order and give a modern feel. The plantings will be minimal and contemporary and they will mainly be architectural, showcased in square and rectangular custom planters. The garden will be lit using soft lighting, which will highlight the different plants and make a feature of the seating areas. The main seating area will surround a bespoke fire pit making it the perfect place for entertaining, which is the principal reason the client wanted the conversion in the first place.

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By complete contrast, we are also converting what was a cattle holding into a Tuscan style courtyard. The space is currently being used as a car park, and I have designed the new garden to be on two levels. From the french windows at the rear of the house, stone steps will take you up onto a path surrounded by luscious plantings, including agapanthus, olive trees and fresh green lawn. The path culminates in a beautifully designed sunken water feature with a brick parquet surround, which will also serve as a haven for wildlife. The old cattle water troughs bordering the space have been incorporated into the design to further create movement to this outdoor scheme. Large Cupressus sempervirens trees, a species of cypress native to the eastern Mediterranean region, will line the back of the garden along with a border of large rocks. Finishing off the perimeter of the garden, four-foot yew hedges will be planted to enclose the whole space and create a sense of privacy. Contact us for a free design consultation and to find out how we can help you redesign and landscape your garden, design@jackdunckley.com Tel: 01273 494058.

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Join the

Club

If 2016 is the year you have resolved to ‘play more golf’ then discover the options at Gatton Manor Hotel and Golf Club, a club perfectly positioned for serving the regions golfers.

f you have never played 18 holes at Gatton Manor, you are missing out on one of the regions most picturesque and challenging courses. Set in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Surrey/ West Sussex border, this course is only a short drive from the surrounding towns of Horsham, Dorking and Cranleigh. Make your way down the drive and you’ll discover fellow golfers on the first tee, with the 18th Century Manor House providing the backdrop to that first swing. You are welcomed by the team in the well stocked Pro Shop, managed and run by the clubs Director of Golf, Max Newman. Max, a seasoned tour professional, has a long affiliation with the club having worked and played at Gatton for over eight years. His professional yet friendly tuition style has won him a legion of fans amongst the clubs members’ who credit him with improving many a game over the years.

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“Gatton Manor has always been a club with a strong member heritage and our members’ are very loyal” said Max. “We are delighted that so many continue to play with us and are justifiably proud of the way they always welcome new faces and guests to the club” “As a team we recognise that the game is changing and players are now looking for golf memberships that compliment their lifestyles, that’s why we have a range of membership options to suit everyone. Our traditional 7 day and 5 day memberships of course remain an important offering and this is supported with a strong competition calendar, however the introduction of the fleximembership credits scheme, almost 18 months ago has been particularly popular with players of all ages. Flexi-membership allows the member to control their costs and frequency of play, yet provides many of the benefits of a traditional golf club membership, including a retained handicap.

Top Tips for the forthcoming season Max Newman, Gatton Manor’s Director of Golf I invite all players who are considering joining to come for a courtesy round And member benefits are indeed in abundance at the club; these include, amongst others, reserved member tee times, free range balls, discounted buggy hire and guest admission, as well as free membership of the on-site gym facilities, preferential rates across the hotel and discounted food and beverage in the relaxed clubhouse bar.

to ensure it is in its finest condition for all our members’ and visitors. Alongside the 6,600 yard course (which retains the kudos of having the longest hole in the South East) the short game practice facilities, including a driving range, chipping green and putting green, provide the perfect space in which in which to hone those golfing skills.

The course is expertly tended by Rob Sebbage and his dedicated greens team, whose passion for the land is evident, as he explains;

“Many people don’t realise the full facilities we have here at Gatton Manor” continued Max. “It’s only when they visit, they appreciate everything we have to offer. That’s why I invite all players who are considering joining to come for a courtesy round, that way I can meet them personally and discuss the membership that’s right for them”

“Gatton Manor is a beautiful course that shows a new dimension with the changing seasons. We are investing heavily in course maintenance this year

To talk to the golf team and book your courtesy round with Max Newman, please call 01306 627555 quoting FINE magazine. Flexi-memberships start from just £325.00 and full 7 day memberships are available from £1200.00 For further details of all the Golf Membership options please visit www.gattonmanor. co.uk/membership Join now and pay nothing further until April 2017.

START THE NEW SEASON WITH A SPRING CLEAN Check your clubs, especially the grips for signs of wear and tear, waterproof your shoes and ensure the studs are fixed. You don’t want your round ruined with something that could easily have been avoided!

REMEMBER TO WARM UP PROPERLY As with any exercise, it is particularly important to warm up and stretch prior to play. This will help avoid injury and loosen muscles for a smooth swing.

GOOD GOLF COMES WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Set yourself realistic goals, perhaps you want to improve your handicap or be consistent in your game, but also remember not to beat yourself up if you have a bad day – we all do!

TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS AND BOOK SOME LESSONS If you have putting off getting professional advice – just do it. A simple golf lesson can help identify ways in which you can improve your game. Nobody is here to criticise – just help!

FINALLY, ENJOY THE GAME Be passionate about golf by all means, but make it fun – Less stress on the course will result in a better score – guaranteed!

Gatton Manor Hotel and Golf Club, Standon Lane, Ockley, Nr Dorking, RH5 5PQ.

Out and about | 35

Recovery

at Clandon Almost a year on from the devastating fire that claimed Clandon, the National Trust has announced ambitious plans to bring the Palladian mansion back to life. The project will be the charityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest conservation project in a generation. Fine Editor, Catherine Ross take a look at the plans.

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s a charity that does so much to conserve and protect our national heritage, watching the flames engulf Clandon must have been heart-breaking.

same time creating vibrant, modern spaces on the first floor, which will be used for exhibitions, events and performances.

The property has been owned and managed by the National Trust since 1956 and enjoyed by visitors for generations, so it’s not surprising that the charity is choosing to invest in restoring the property, rather than simply securing it.

During salvage work following the fire, the charity was able to save a number of significant architectural and historical items and is now confident that a number of principal rooms on the ground floor, including the Marble Hall, Speakers’ Parlour and Saloon can all be restored.

The conservation charity has announced that it will restore the house’s most architecturally and historically significant rooms on the ground floor while at the

The Speakers’ Parlour suffered only minor damage in the blaze and the entire external structure of the house as conceived by its Venetian architect

remains in place. Several major architectural features such as fireplaces, panelling and decorative plasterwork survive in a number of rooms, including the magnificent marble chimney pieces and over mantels by the renowned sculptor John Michael Rysbrack in the Marble Hall. Rather than recreating the rooms as they were the day before the fire, the restoration teams will replicate the 18th century decorative schemes and layout of the house and will work with specialists and other conservation bodies over the coming months.

Our plans involve returning parts of the house to its 18th century glory whilst at the same time creating a building of beauty and relevance for the 21st century Out and about | 37

In order to get restoration work started, the National Trust is going to run a competition later in the year to find a designer. The brief will be to design a plan that will bring the space to life in a bold and imaginative way. Members, visitors, specialists and the general public will be encouraged to get involved and comment on a short-list of design options. The Trust is also proposing to return the gardens to how they were designed when the house was originally built. Recent research has provided a picture of the original 18th century gardens, which the Trust will draw on to recreate an authentic 18th century landscape. Helen Ghosh, the Trust’s director general, said: “The fire at Clandon was shocking, but gives us the opportunity not only to show our respect for the heritage of the past, but also to create new heritage for the future. “Our plans involve returning parts of the house to its 18th century glory whilst at the same time creating a building of beauty and relevance for the 21st century. “Given their historic and cultural significance, and the fact so many original features have survived, we believe we should restore the magnificent state rooms on the ground floor – the most architecturally important and beautiful rooms. “The loss of so many of the contents of the house means that we cannot return it to how it looked the day before the fire. However, we now know more about the original layout and recognise that the enduring significance of the house is its architecture and so we would like to return it to the 18th century design – making it a purer, more faithful version of Clandon as it was when it was first built. “This element of the project will also enable us to draw on the wealth of expertise within the Trust and beyond to utilise and develop traditional skills which are in grave danger of being lost.”

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Photo by Toby Phillips Photography

Focus on...

Education In our first education issue of 2016, we have pulled together stories and expert opinions from across the spectrum of education. From the best independent schools to what the new GCSEs mean for your child and how music education and extra-curricular activities can support their academic learning.

& ambition Christ’s Hospital is one of the country’s most prestigious schools with a strong ethos of doing social good. Founded by a King, life at the school is steeped in tradition, but making a sixteenth century school relevant in the world of modern education is a challenge. Fine Editor, Catherine Ross, visited Christ’s Hospital to find out more.

hrist’s Hospital is extraordinary. Growing up in and around Horsham, I was used to seeing Christ’s Hospital students in town in their distinctive uniforms and I can still remember the feeling of awe the first time I visited the school to participate in the annual choral day for primary school children across the district. The buildings are magnificent, the surrounding countryside is beautiful and the whole place is suffused with a sense of calm. It probably seems like Narnia to its pupils, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds. The school moved to Horsham in 1902, but its founder was King Edward VI, the boyKing son of Henry VIII. Good old Henry had dissolved the monasteries during his reign, leaving his impoverished subjects without the relief and sustenance those religious houses would have provided.

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Young Edward was moved to form Christ’s Hospital in 1552 for the education of children on the site of Grey Friars. From the beginning, Christ’s Hospital provided food, clothing, lodging and education for the children of the “poor by misfortune”. Those who were capable of proceeding to university were identified and educated accordingly. The school still maintains its founding principles as its ethos and is the leading charitable school in the country. Bursaries are granted to 75 per cent of students, who receive between five per cent and 100 per cent assistance with their boarding fees. Children attending the school are provided with uniforms, meals, accommodation, all teaching and learning materials and for those on a 100% bursary even their transport to and from the school. At the same time, the school is achieving

Photo by Toby Phillips Photography

Heritage

remarkable academic results and has the best GCSE results in West Sussex. In many ways, the school has modernised, but its ties to the City of London and the monarchy have left it with some rather special traditions.

The school still maintains its founding principles as its ethos and is the leading charitable school in the country

A very ancient custom is that the Senior Grecian (Head Boy or Girl) presents a “Loyal Address” to each new monarch upon their first entering the City of London on their way to or from their coronation. The first recorded instance was on August 3rd 1553 to Queen Mary and the latest on June 9th 1953 on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth I received her loyal address the day before her coronation when the royal procession passed through the City of London on its way from the Tower of London to the Palace at Whitehall. The first visit by James I to the City was well after his conformation in 1603, being postponed to the following year because of the plague. Another outbreak of the plague, in 1625, led to the cancellation of the visit of Charles I. Charles II accepted his address at the churchyard of St Paul’s Cathedral, on the eve of his coronation at Westminster Abbey. As well as the Loyal Address, the President of Christ’s Hospital was always the Lord Mayor, or an Alderman, of the City of London until 1854. Since 1854 there has been a long succession of Royal Presidents, and Her Majesty the Queen is currently the school’s Patron.

The uniform for boys has changed little since 1553, and includes a long blue coat, overlapping white bands worn at the neck, yellow socks, breeches and a belt known as a girdle. The girls wear a uniform which was redesigned in 1985, when the girls moved to Horsham, in order to match that of the boys. A Spital Sermon is attended annually by the Head Master, Governors and pupils of both Christ’s Hospital and of King Edward’s Witley (which was originally founded as Bridewell). The first appearance in public of Christ’s Hospital pupils wearing the bluecoat uniform was at a Spital Sermon in 1553. St Matthew’s Day (21 September) is an important day in the school calendar. This was the day on which, from at least 1557, the names of the Governors of the Royal hospitals of St Bartholomew’s, Christ’s, Bridewell, Bethlem and St Thomas were given to the Lord Mayor for ceremonial

1999.

approval. The choir, band and senior pupils traditionally travel to London on a date close to 21 September for a service in a City church and to receive largesse from the Lord Mayor.

Admission and Discharge Registers record details of each pupil’s admission and discharge from the school from 1563. Handwritten registers were maintained until

Paintings have always been commissioned which celebrate people and events in Christ’s Hospital history. These include contemporary portraits of the Founder, King Edward VI, of Benefactors from the 16th century onwards and of Treasurers, Headmasters and Headmistresses. Many paintings adorn the main buildings in the school, including, in the Dining Hall, one of the largest paintings in the world. This was completed in 1690 to commemorate the Foundation of the Royal Mathematical School at Christ’s Hospital in 1673, measures 26 metres by 5 metres and is known simply as The Verrio, after its painter. In the Chapel there are 16 large murals, depicting incidents in the history of the Christian Church, which were painted by Sir Frank Brangwyn between 1913 and 1923. The School Band, which plays each weekday when all the pupils march into lunch and which also plays at ceremonial functions, was founded in 1868. The band has attended The Lord Mayor’s show annually since 1981. Founder’s Day is celebrated on 23 October with an annual Founder’s Day dinner, at which there are tributes to The Pious and Immortal Memory of King Edward VI and to Church and Queen. The toast to The Royal and Ancient Foundation of Christ’s Hospital derives from a prayer written for CH around 1705. The Tower of London offers free entry to pupils wearing their bluecoat uniform. The origins of this tradition are uncertain, although it was written about by Charles Lamb, a pupil in the 1780s. The Charge is read by the Headmaster to leaving pupils: I charge you never to forget the great benefits that you have received in this place, and in time to come, according to your means, to do all that you can to enable others to enjoy the same advantage. And remember that you carry with you, wherever you go, the good name of Christ’s Hospital.

Focus on... Education | 41

The new

GCSEs

GCSEs have had a huge overhaul in recent years marking the end of the A* to G grades many of us are familiar with, but what does it mean for our children and their studies? Fine asked Rowena Cole, Headteacher at Dunottar School to offer her insight.

or teachers, parents and pupils it sometimes feels like curriculum reform is never out of the news.

But international comparisons indicate the UK is beginning to lag behind our competitors in some key subjects so the new GCSE qualifications, currently being phased-in, are designed to be more rigorous, providing a curriculum which competes with the best in the world. Changes to English and Maths were introduced last September and we now have a clearer idea of how this will impact on school life. The new GCSEs contain more challenging content and have abolished marked coursework in most subjects. Our English and Maths teachers are finding that the courses do offer greater challenge for pupils and are pleased with the greater emphasis on sharing knowledge and skills. In Maths, the biggest change is a shift in emphasis that expects all pupils to gain a higher mathematical skill level and a greater focus on problem solving: meaning students need to apply their

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skills in a range of contexts. Similarly, the English course places increased weight on technical accuracy with many more marks awarded for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Alongside the loss of coursework, GCSEs will no longer be taught in modules which allowed discrete chunks of learning to be examined throughout the two year course. This inevitably interrupted teaching time so there are advantages to an approach which relies purely on exams taken at the end of the course. That said, the reintroduction of one final summer examination raises the age-old debate of fairness, contrasting children who thrive under the high adrenalin situation of exams versus those who suffer from exam pressure. At Dunottar we realise the importance of offering tailored, personalised support so that children are able to achieve the best outcome possible whatever their natural preference. The move from the familiar A*-G grading system to a 9-1 numerical system is the other major change being introduced; nine

We mustn’t allow changes in the system to interrupt children’s natural curiosity, enthusiasm and determination to study and to learn digits replacing eight letters! The new top grade will be a 9 with an 8 representing the old A* and only the top fifth of pupils in this bracket being awarded a 9. The old grade C, traditionally considered a good pass, will now be a 5. For the brightest pupils in our schools, changes to the top band may add pressure as the highest grade becomes harder to attain so it is important for parents and teachers to help our young people maintain their aspiration and selfconfidence even if the 9 proves out of reach. From September 2016 most subjects will join the new system and by summer 2019 all grades received will be numerical. In the meantime, results envelopes for the next two years will contain numerical and alphabetic grades. Pupils and parents trailblazing the new grade system might begin to wonder how universities will respond to this transition in the offers they make to pupils. The honest answer is that we don’t know yet. There are bound to be adaptations

and fine-tuning as the first pupils start completing university applications but universities have been almost as interested in the changes to the exam system as schools. While any major overhaul of a system can feel unsettling for some, the aim of providing our children with a rigorous and robust education is at the heart of everything we do. The task of fully digesting curriculum reform lies with the teachers who will deliver the courses and, for pupils and parents, the transition should be as seamless as possible. The support that parents can offer at home by taking an active interest in their child’s learning and by working with schools is invaluable. But above all, we mustn’t allow changes in the system to interrupt children’s natural curiosity, enthusiasm and determination to study and to learn. Dunottar School is a co-educational, independent day school for ages 1118. For more information visit www. donottarschool.co.uk

Focus on... Education | 43

Educating for Confidence from Nursery to Sixth Form Educating for Confidence from Nursery to Sixth Form Thursday 21st April at 9.15am

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“Farlington in Action”

An opportunity to enjoy a tour of the school and to meet the Head and key staff. Farlington is an outstanding independent girls’ day and boarding school located on the West Sussex/Surrey border, just outside Horsham. It provides an excellent all-round education for up to 400 girls aged 3-18 with a co-educational Nursery.

To register your interest, please contact our Registrar, Mrs Sue Apps, on 01403 282 573 or visit our website:

www.farlingtonschool.net Independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3 to 18 with a co-educational Nursery

Farlington School | Horsham | West Sussex | RH12 3PN

Registered Charity number: 307048

“Farlington in Action”

Thursday 21st April at 9.15am

www.farlingtonschool.net Independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3 to 18 with a co-educational Nursery Registered Charity number: 307048

Farlington School | Horsham | West Sussex | RH12 3PN

Early years education

Experiences in their early years can help children in developing social skills and their ability to learn and good quality childcare benefits children right through primary school. Lucy Bedwin, Nursery Manager at Farlington School, tells Fine why early years education is so important.

t the heart of the Early Years Foundation Stage is the principle that children need to play in order to have fun, make friends and to learn. This is where foundations are laid, good or bad, for their future education. Areas of learning and development now consist of three prime areas communication and language; physical development; personal, social and emotional development - and four specific areas - literacy; mathematics; understanding the world; expressive arts and design.

Children are born ready, able and eager to learn. However, development is not an automatic process, it depends on each unique child being given opportunities to interact in positive relationships and enabling environments. At Farlington we cater for each individual; every child has an individual learning programme that grows with them. Young children only need to have teeth coming through or a cold and they can regress a little, but just as quickly can surge forwards. There is a vast difference between children born in September and August; when September babies are almost walking, the August babies are being born. It is paramount that all learning activities are carefully planned and supported. In order to achieve these high standards, the children are obviously the main priority but in order for children to be happy and flourish in our care, we have to capture the central nerve of an early years’ child... their parents! Parents are a very important asset to any Nursery, if a Nursery Mum or Dad is already worrying about walking into a setting before they have left home, the child is also fretting, nothing needs to be said – children feed from emotion and innate feeling. It is very important, therefore that parents see us as partners. In order to achieve this a very slow settling process is needed before the child is three, where the parents come to ‘play’ with their child for an hour or so, building up to the parent leaving for a short while till both child and parent are separated happily! That is not where the partnership should end and we

continue to have what we call an ‘open door policy’ where parents can join us at any time. We encourage parents not to wait for a parents’ evening if they have any concerns and we endeavour to see parents the same day or within 24 hours. Generally children build up their hours from our minimum requirement of three sessions to five full days, preparing them for statutory full-time education in Reception. This prepares children for the next stage in their school career whilst allowing them to enjoy time at home with their primary carer. The end of a child’s nursery education is a special time and marks the start of formal, full-time education. Each child should leave feeling a special, valued individual. For more information about Farlington School, please visit www.farlingtonschool. net

Focus on... Education | 45

Music:

the beating heart of

education

It can be so easy to overlook the arts in favour of pursuing traditional academic education for our children, but doing so could be depriving them of a lot. Founder and director of Little Notes, Lou Bradbury, explains.

hen asking my 8 year-old daughter why she wants to learn music, she immediately furrowed her brow and replied, “Because it makes me happy!” Obviously. Not to be too swift to liken my child to Einstein, but her response does remind me of his wellknown statement, “I get most joy in life out of music”. As a parent, the happiness of my children is absolutely vital. But, I am also highly aware of the academic demands and expectations on my daughters and I am keen to enable them to achieve their potential academically whilst maintaining their happiness. It is, therefore, music to my ears (sorry!) when I learn of studies proving that musicians perform better than nonmusicians in tasks that measure speech perception; that, in a group of 6-9 yearolds tested in reading comprehension, those undertaking musical training achieved higher results. I love to discover that in a spelling test for 8-9 year old boys, those who play a musical instrument outperform those that don’t. The list goes on.

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Photos by Anita Momot

Various studies have shown that a child’s average grade in school tends to increase as time at out of-school music training increases.

Studies even show that children who play instruments are able to complete complex mathematical problems better than peers who do not play instruments.

Studies even show that children who play instruments are able to complete complex mathematical problems better than peers who do not play instruments. There is a lot of mathematical content in any music lesson (counting rests, dividing beats, adding note values) and performing music reinforces parts of the brain needed for tricky maths questions. It’s great that taking music lessons is proven to increase a child’s IQ and benefit so many areas of academic development but in the midst of all these demands, we must enable our children to also experience joy. It is this joy that we are privileged to see everyday as we share excellent live music with families of pre-schoolers across Surrey and Sussex (as well as equip other musicians to do the same across the UK). However, we regularly meet disappointed parents with older children in mainstream education, desperate to re-kindle their child’s lost love of music-making now that they are at school. Many schools seem to be diminishing their musical activities to enable them to

devote crucial minutes to the demanding core curriculum. Those schools keeping music high on their agenda clearly understand the benefits of creating a happy, life-long learner. Participation in musical activity offers an exciting and stimulating alternative to the screen time that 21st century children crave, yet encourages a similar buzz, sense of achievement and determination. Children discover that satisfying results can be achieved with a bit of dedication: there’s nothing quite like being able to play the tune that seemed impossible a fortnight ago! Music encourages teamwork too: making music with friends is perhaps one of life’s greatest pleasures. For children, it’s also a great way to build a wider community of friends from different year-groups and schools. A school with music at its core is a school that encourages well-rounded, stimulated and motivated children: children that are happy. Lou Bradbury and her husband, Mark, created Little Notes, music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers in 2005. Lou is also a professional musician. For more information about Little Notes visit www.littlenotes.co.uk

Focus on... Education | 47

Financing school fees

The financial burden of paying school feels can be crippling. A family with four children could be looking at a total bill of £1million. Leading wealth management firm, Brewin Dolphin offers some useful advice for managing the costs.

ees for private schools are likely to continue to rise above the rate of inflation and keeping up with the payments can be a huge burden. According to the Independent Schools Council, the fees for day schools now average £4,398 per term while the average termly boarding fee is £10,123.

HOW GRANDPARENTS CAN HELP TAKE THE STRAIN Ammo Kambo, Divisional Director of Financial Planning at Brewin Dolphin explains that grandparents helping with school fees has been a popular strategy for some time and can also be tax efficient if structured in the right way. He says: “People can ask their parents for financial help when it is needed to fund the education costs of their own children,

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rather than leaving this capital as part of the estate and therefore potentially liable to inheritance tax. It is possible for grandparents to reduce the value of their estates for inheritance tax purposes so, if done correctly, it can be a tax-efficient strategy.” Kambo adds that there are a number of ways of doing this including making gifts out of excess income, making outright gifts (a gift made without any restrictions), using trusts or investing in an offshore bond. However, the rules can be complex so it makes sense to speak to a financial planner if you are considering doing this. Getting the help of an expert can also help in a number of other ways when it comes to tackling the issue of paying for school fees. Kambo adds that a financial planner can discuss details of private schooling with you including the costs involved, how

much the fees may increase and whether day schooling or boarding is preferred.

USING FINANCIAL PLANNING TO MAKE SURE FEES ARE COVERED He says: “A financial planner can construct a plan to ensure there is sufficient aftertax capital and income available to cover school fees, after accounting for inflation and escalating costs. This can be achieved by ‘cash flow analysis’. Consider the following example*. Jonathan has four young grandchildren – James, Robert, Julian and Sophia – and wants to use some of his considerable wealth to pay for private schooling for each of them. The plan for the three boys (James, aged

three and a half, Robert, aged three and Julian, aged one and a half) is to send them to boarding school from the ages of eight to 18 – attending junior school from eight to 13 and upper school from 13 to 18. Sophia (aged three months) is to attend school as a day pupil from the age of eight to 13 and then board from 13 until 18. The boarding fees for the boys’ junior school are £8,500 per term, while the day fees for Sophia’s junior school will be £4,560 per term. The termly fees for each child’s upper school are £11,500. The fees are estimated to rise by 6% a year.

Jonathan discusses his proposals with his financial planner, who uses this information to put together a detailed cash flow analysis. This includes a breakdown of the estimated amount of money that will be required to meet the fees in each year that the children are at school. This starts out at over £32,000 for 2019 (the year that James starts school), peaking at over £294,000 in 2028. By 2031, with only Sophia now at school, the sum required to meet the final year of fees would be just over £87,600 (see chart below for the full yearly breakdown of the fees due per year).

JONATHAN’S COSTS PROJECTION FOR HIS GRANDCHILDREN’S SCHOOL FEES

The financial planner then uses this information to discuss with Jonathan the size of lump sum he would need to have in place to fund these fees under three investment growth scenarios. Assuming a low level of investment growth of 3% a year, the lump sum required would be £1.55 million. A higher rate of investment growth of 5% a year would mean that a lower lump sum of £1.26 million would be needed while assuming a higher still growth rate of 7% would mean the required lump sum would be £1.03 million. These calculations give some clarity to

*The figures used in this illustration are from September 2015 and based on the following assumptions. Jonathan has four grandchildren: • Boy 1 aged three and a half. • Boy 2 aged three. • Boy 3 aged one and a half. • Girl 1 aged three months. Jonathan wishes to fund school fees from ages 8 to 18 • 5 years (8 to 13) at junior school. • 5 years (13 to 18) at upper school & college.

the discussion between Jonathan and his financial planner and are a good base from which to devise an investment strategy for meeting these goals on school fees. One more way that a financial planner can assist when helping a family plan for school fees is getting contingency arrangements in place. Kambo explains that a financial planner can look at ensuring sufficient funds are available to cover school fees should one of the parents die or be unable to work. This can be achieved by using life cover, which provides a lump sum to your dependants should the worst happen, income protection, which aims to help you sustain your lifestyle should accident or

• The boys will attend boarding school from age 8 until 18. • Girl grandchild will attend school as a day pupil from age 8 to 13 and then board from age 13 until 18. School fees in today’s terms are assumed to be as follows: • Girl Junior School Day Pupil = £4,560 per term. • Boy Junior Boarding School = £8,500 per term. • Both Upper Boarding School = £11,500 per term. School fees escalate each year at 6% per annum (we have reviewed the fees of three schools to be as follows: boys’ upper school estimated at 6% p.a. / girl’s lower school estimated at 4% to 5% p.a. / boys’ lower

illness mean you are unable to continue working and critical illness cover, which generally provides a lump sum in the event of you contracting a severe illness that is covered by the policy. Overall, there is much to consider when looking at funding school fees – either as a parent or grandparent. While some feel that they know enough to make their own choices, getting expert advice can help to take some of the strain. For more information about Brewin Dolphin’s investment management and financial planning services please call 020 7246 1000.

school estimated at 5% p.a.). Investment growth rates, after charges and taxation, are assumed to be: Low (3%) / Medium (5%) / High (7%). The lump sum investment required to fund this objective is assumed to grow at the respective Low/ Medium/High growth rates, compounded annually. The value of your investment can fall and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance. Performance is shown before charges. All information is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended as investment advice; no investment is suitable in all cases and if you have any doubts as to an investment’s suitability then you should contact us or your financial adviser. Any tax allowances or thresholds mentioned are based on personal circumstances and current legislation which is subject to change.

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Nurturing tomorrow’s

conservationists Founded in 1984 by Surrey-born wildlife artist and conservationist, David Shepherd CBE, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) is based in Shalford, Surrey and works with local communities to develop long-term, sustainable solutions for the protection and conservation of endangered wildlife across Africa and Asia. One of the charity’s main functions is to provide education – both in the UK schools and on the ground in areas where species are endangered. Jo Elphick is the charity’s education manager and she took the time to talk to Fine about what she does.

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s well as supporting education programmes overseas, one of DSWF’s key drivers is to spread awareness among UK-based schoolaged children to help them develop an understanding and appreciation of wildlife, both at home and abroad. Our goal is for children to grow up to be tomorrow’s conservationists with a deep love and understanding of the natural world. I visit schools throughout the UK - with a focus on Surrey - tailoring assemblies, lessons and workshops for children aged 4 to 18 discuss everything from endangered wildlife to sustainability and the environment. With our founder’s roots so firmly in art we also encourage children to take part in our annual Global Canvas Art & Poetry competition which is now entering its 12th year. The competition’s collaborative format brings whole schools together to express their concerns for, and to celebrate, the natural world. This year’s theme is ‘Wild Wonders’ and the shortlist will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London this spring. A special guest speaker and a

prize giving ceremony make it a wonderful occasion and for the first time in 2016 the overall winners will receive £1,000 to donate to the DSWF project of their choice. With entries from across the UK and around the world the annual competition creates a vibrant heart to DSWF’s education work. Further afield we fund education programmes at projects in Africa and Asia where children live in close proximity to the animals that we strive to protect. The children in these areas could grow up to be wildlife guardians so it’s important for them to understand why conservation matters. In Zimbabwe, where formal education is often disrupted, the Bush Camp at the Painted Dog project has welcomed 10,000 children over the last ten years. They spend three days learning about conservation and the wildlife in their area. They leave reluctantly but are enthused about what they have learned, spreading the message back to their villages. Some recent pupils were instrumental in bringing a poacher to justice after they found snares while walking in the bush, and two

recently appointed park rangers had both attended the Bush Camp in 2005. Even in the snowy outreaches of Mongolia and the Russian Far East we fund eco camps where children come to learn about the enigmatic snow leopards and Amur tigers that they share their homes with and in India, the ‘Rhino and Tiger go to School’ team visit over 170 schools on the fringes of national park to help them learn about the amazing animals that they live close to. We’re proud of our holistic approach to conservation, engaging young minds at grass roots right up to the United Nations where we fight to protect wildlife on the world stage. Park protection and antipoaching work in tandem with community outreach and education. Our hope is that the children we meet absorb a passion for wildlife and become the wildlife guardians of the future. For more information about the work of DSWF see: www.davidshepherd. org or contact Jo via email: jo.elphick@ davidshepherd.org

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Extra-

curricular

Academic achievement in schools is important, but for some children, what they do outside of school can be as important. Fine Editor, Catherine Ross, spoke to Showdown Principal, Carli Jones, about how her theatre school, Showdown Theatre Arts, is developing the stars of the future.

arli Jones has been dancing since the age of six, has performed in numerous shows in the UK and internationally and is an accomplished song writer. Eight years ago, she created Showdown Theatre Arts to teach other ambitious young people the skills they need to make it in the famously cut-throat entertainment industry. She’s a great believer in young people using the performance arts to develop and express themselves whilst developing their personal skills and talent in the three disciplines of performance. Former Showdown members have gone on to

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train at top drama schools around the world, attend prestigious academic universities and pursue professional careers on the stage. Many people also attend as a hobby, to see friends, have fun and keep fit. “Young people benefit so much from being a part of something like Showdown,” says Carli, “There’s a lot of teamwork involved, we help kids improve their self-confidence, their imaginations, physical co-ordination and fitness. It also helps with fluency of speech, social awareness, discipline and self-respect. Drama is also a fantastic vehicle for general knowledge and can be linked with many other subjects at school, including English, art, music and history.

“For a lot of young people, school isn’t a particularly happy place. It can be difficult to find people they have something in common with and the constant need to fit in and perform academically can be overwhelming. When they come to a group like Showdown, though, they can break down some of those barriers. Everyone in the group is working towards a shared goal and it is in everyone’s interests so support one another rather than to compete with one another. It’s the same with sports teams and other extracurricular groups.” Showdown uses a regular calendar of shows as the basis for its training. The group is currently rehearsing Bugsy Malone, which they will perform at Horsham’s Capitol Theatre in February half term. Once the curtain falls on Bugsy, the cast will start rehearsing Fame. “When children are having fun they are open to learning, when they have passion

for a subject, they develop a personal determination to succeed, which can open doors in other areas of their lives and education,” continues Carli, “each week members commit to three to nine hours of training alongside school and other activities. It takes real commitment and dedication and the need to learn to balance the competing demands on their time. Even at times when the pressure is on at school for exams and college or university applications, Showdown members find coming to class and singing, shouting, laughing, dancing and of course performing to a live audience can be a great way to let out any frustrations and feel proud of their achievements.” Tickets for Showdown Theatre Arts forthcoming production of Bugsy Malone are available from the Capitol Box Office. For more information about Showdown visit www.showdowntheatrearts.co.uk

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Public

artists

One of the opportunities presented by new development is the opportunity to create new public art to decorate it. One of the developers at Broadbridge Heath, Countryside, has united local artists with local schools to come up with themes and designs for public art to be included in their Wickhurst Green development. Fine Editor, Catherine Ross, spoke to project manager, Alison Turnbull, to find out more.

“A

rt in communal spaces and welldesigned landscapes creates places with character, connecting people to new developments, forming strong bonds within new and established communities and bringing people together to celebrate their special places.” Says Alison Turnbull, who is working with house builders, Countryside, who are funding public art for the new development at Broadbridge Heath. Tim Ward and Will Nash, two highly talented artists, have been working with local residents and schools to create works of art that will reflect the community and the heritage of the village. Thanks to the extensive work by the village historian Jonathan England and recent archaeological work on Countryside’s Wickhurst Green development, there is a lot to explore.

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During the autumn term Tim and Will worked with Shelley Primary School and Tanbridge House School. The group ‘Hands on History’ provided experimental archaeology activities for Shelley Primary based on ‘finds’ and archaeology reports from the site. Another artist, Maia Eden, helped create a series of amazing willow and tissue ‘prehistoric’ animals. The sculptural forms created by the schools went on display in November to encourage the local community to engage in the project.

Using themes and ideas revealed at these sessions, the artists have designed sculptural pieces, which they will create for permanent installation near to the entrance to Wickhurst Green and Newbridge Nurseries and outside the new Neighbourhood Centre in the village. Additional wayfinding pieces and landforms will also be situated within the development. The designs are being shared with the parish council and will then be exhibited in the village.

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Fair Funding for

Sussex Schools If you have a child at school in West Sussex, you may have received a letter about the Worth Less? campaign, which alerts parents to a looming funding crisis caused by an out-dated funding formula. Representatives from the Worth Less? campaign told Fine what the campaign is aiming to achieve and how we can get involved.

he impact of austerity on public sector services is well documented. Across the education sector, school staff and local authorities are having to manage limited finances very carefully, but in West Sussex, schools are facing much greater challenges than elsewhere. Central government uses a funding formula based on a cost per child. Schools receive just two thirds of the amount per child paid to schools in London, and £400 per child less than the national average, despite operating in one of the most expensive areas of the country to live and work. Publicly funded schools in West Sussex receive £4,198 per child per year. The national average is £4,612 and in areas of London, schools receive in excess of £6,000 per child per year.

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finances carefully. Schools in West Sussex are, however, facing much greater challenges than many others. An out-dated funding formula used by central government, continues to create a situation where pupils across the county are being short changed. The result is that West Sussex schools are struggling to make ends meet to the disadvantage of the children. Schools are struggling to be financially competitive, which has an impact on their ability to attract and retain the very best staff. It also has an impact on schools’ ability to pay for resources like computers, text books and sports equipment. Youngsters with particular needs and disabilities are also suffering from a lack of funding.

As a result, schools in West Sussex are being underfunded by £40million per year compared to the national average, and £200million less than parts of London

A coordinated approach by Headteachers from every primary, special and secondary school across the county has been given universal support by parents, carers and other key stakeholders.

Financial settlements for all public sector services are under pressure and education is not alone in having to manage limited

Your input on Facebook and through letters to your MP has made a real difference.

The government has recognised that the current situation is grossly unfair and has announced that a new national funding formula would be introduced from 2017, but it’s not soon enough for West Sussex students who are being disadvantaged right now. An interim payment of £930,000 split between the 300 schools across the county between April 2016 and March 2017 equates to just £10 per child.

West Sussex schools are struggling to make ends meet to the disadvantage of the children.

Headteachers across West Sussex are campaigning for an additional £200 per pupil from April 2016 while the new formula is agreed. This would generate £20million for West Sussex schools, a significant increase, but still well below the national average. To add your voice to the campaign, join the Worth Less facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ WorthLessWestSussex

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In the

diary

Don’t let the winter blues get you down. Get out and see what Sussex and Surrey have to offer instead, with our pick of the top events. February NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME OPEN GARDENS As part of the National Gardens Scheme first ever Snowdrop Festival, visitors can enjoy watching winter give way to spring in a selection of gardens that are rarely open to the public, including West Dean Gardens, Cissbury at Findon, Westlands Court in West Grinstead, Gatton Park in Merstham and Timber Hill in Chobham. Visit www.ngs.org.uk for full listings.

Tuesdays throughout February and March LUNCHTIME CONCERTS AT CHICHESTER CATHEDRAL Starting at 1:10pm these free concerts last approximately 50 minutes and visitors can come and go as they please. Sit in for a few moments of peaceful reflection, or enjoy the entire concert as it was intended. Visit www.chichestercathedral.org.uk

Until 6 March BUTTERFLIES IN THE GLASSHOUSE AT RHS WISLEY This tropical highlight at Wisley provides a truly beautiful winter-time escape amongst the extensive exotic plant collection in the Glasshouse. Over 1,000 tropical butterflies of all sizes and colour will once again be looked after by staff from the Glass Team behind the scenes before being released to take flight amongst tall palms and lush foliage.

3-28 February WORTHING MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Take your pick from a broad programme of dance, music and drama across Worthing’s peforming arts venues. Visit www.wmaaf.co.uk for a full timetable.

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2-28 February BRIGHTON SCIENCE FESTIVAL From behind the scenes in intensive care to a science-themed poetry slam by way of making a pinhole camera from a drinks can and a range of other enthralling and enlightening science projects, there’s plenty to entertain adults and children as they explore how the world works. Visit www.brightonscience.com for events listings.

12 March to 10 April LAMBING SEASON AT FISHERS FARM PARK Nothing says springtime better than newborn lambs. At Fishers Farm Park you can bottle feed the new lambs and might even get to see a baby lamb being born.

Sunday 13 March, 10am until 4pm CHOCOLATE FAIR AT DENBIES VINEYARD Chocolate lovers can indulge their passion and discover the world of premium chocolates. Showcasing a selection of award-winning chocolates, handcrafted by skilled chocolatiers, Denbies will be offering a collection of chocolate-related stalls, selling and showcasing handmade chocolates, truffles, fudge, marshmallow and more.

24 March to 5 April CADBURY’S EASTER EGG HUNTS AT THE NATIONAL TRUST Your favourite National Trust property, including Nymans, Petworth, Uppark and Woolbeding, will be hosting a Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt this Easter. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for details.

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Petworth

Antiques Fair

After an impressive inaugural event last year, The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair returns from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 May.

aking place in the year celebrating 300 years since Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown was born, the fair not only enjoys being part of his landscape for three days, but gives antiques fair ticket holders complimentary access to take in one of ‘Capability’ Brown’s creations, as well as the treasures of Petworth House and its ‘Capability’ Brown Festival exhibition. Over 40 exhibitors from around England, predominantly members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association or LAPADA The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, are gathering in The Marquee in Petworth Park to showcase their finest pieces, sourced from this country and around the world, including traditional and decorative furniture, lighting, glass and ceramics, contemporary and antique sculptures, fine paintings from living and past artists, oriental carpets and rugs, ancient fossils, silver, clocks, barometers, jewellery and objets d’art. Highlights for sale include a large split pair of 120 million year

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old Russian ammonites, found in the Volga river region of Russia and priced at £2,500 and ‘Thoroughbred Grazing’, a contemporary sculpture by JK Brown, ingeniously made of recycled kitchen utensils, £8,950, with a specially commissioned polo piece. Sticking with the equine subject ‘Cheval Turc’ is the most important single animal sculpture of the 19th century by Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1875), £48,500. Decorative items of furniture include an early 18th century Anglo-Dutch painted pine hanging bow-fronted corner cupboard with original paint decoration and pierced butterfly hinges, c1730, selling for £3,950 and an impressive 19th century Dutch rosewood, ivory and marquetry six-leaf dressing screen, £11,500. Each leaf is sparsely decorated with parrots, foliage, vases of flowers, butterflies and other insects.

A wide selection of jewellery is for sale from seven different jewellery specialists, one of which has a selection of attractively coloured 19th century scarab beetle jewellery, sometimes known as ‘Cleopatra ornaments’. Celebrating British art is an exhibition of eight tutors from the acclaimed Newlyn School of Art in Cornwall. A wide variety of fine antique and contemporary watercolours, drawings and oil paintings, featuring portraits, still life, wildlife, land and seascapes, can be found from the specialist galleries exhibiting. Clocks always bring a room to life and a diverse collection of antique clocks and barometers catering for most tastes can be found, amongst which is an attractive French porcelain and ormolu mounted mantel clock, French, c1860, selling for £8,500. English people have always enjoyed Oriental works to decorate their homes, a selection of which can be found at the fair, including rugs and carpets, a most unusual Burmese silver monk’s bowl, c1890, made in Mandalay, probably as an exhibition piece, £980 and from ceramics specialists is a Chinese dragon plate, Kangxi

period, c1700-20, £795. Other English and Continental ceramics are also for sale. Organised by The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited and supported by Savills, National Trust ticket holders can visit the fair free-of-charge. Light refreshments are served within the fair, enabling visitors to spend a leisurely day perusing the riches on offer and mulling over potential purchases. Parking, just outside The Marquee is free for antiques fair visitors for as long as they wish to stay on the day, so can leave their car while they walk around the Park or visit Petworth House itself. Alternatively, there is a courtesy shuttle between the fair and the town centre daily between 11 am and 6 pm. The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair, supported by Savills, opens in The Marquee, Petworth House & Park, The Marquee, Petworth House & Park, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0QY from Friday 6 until Sunday 8 May 2016. Enquiries and tickets (£10 each) from The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited, telephone: +44 (0)1797 252030 or email: fine@adfl.co.uk, www. petworthparkfair.com

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Art

in silver and gold Pugs are popular right now, but at Glyndebourne, they are more than just a passing trend. There have been pugs at Glyndebourne since the 1870s, with successive generations of the Christie family enjoying the company of those funny little dogs. This season, Glyndebourne has teamed up with Lewesbased fine-jewellery designer, Alexis Dove, who has created a limited edition collection of stunning jewellery featuring pugs and Glyndebourne roses.

lexis’ collection takes inspiration from the Glyndebourne Rose - a species of rose unique to the gardens at Glyndebourne and the famous Glyndebourne Pug. Alexis has created a delicate and timeless collection of pendants, drop earrings, bracelets and studs in silver and gold vermeil. Alexis’ whimsical and eye-catching Pug pendant is bound to be popular given the current fashion for the cute little dogs with bags of personality. Her silver and gold pugs stand boldly within a selection of bracelets and bangles.

DOUBLE ROSE LEAF STUDS EARRINGS IN SILVER £45

GOLD PUG NECKLACE £140 64 | fine

GOLD ROSE STUD EARRINGS £70

Alexis Dove says of the collaboration: “I was very excited to be approached by Glyndebourne to design a collection exclusively for them. We make all of our jewellery in Lewes, which is very close to the opera house and based in the South Downs National park. I was inspired by the new Rose Garden, which features the Glyndebourne rose, and felt this was a lovely focus for the collection. The resulting Rose Garden collection bring together rose buds, leaves and roses in full bloom.”

SILVER ROSE BUD CUFFLINKS £150

She adds: “It has been a pleasure to work with Glyndebourne to create the collection, as I have spent most of my life living and working in sight of the South Downs, which influences much of my work. Glyndebourne is an important part of this beautiful landscape.” Alex Warner, Glyndebourne’s Head of Retail said: “The exclusive collection by Alexis Dove is designed with Glyndebourne at its heart. The collection embraces our quirks and traditions and presents wonderfully intricate and delicate pieces, which convey the same attention to detail that Glyndebourne’s operas are renowned for.”

ROSE & LEAF CHARM BRACELET £150

PUG BRACLET £135

The Glyndebourne Collection is available online at www. glyndebourneshop.com in combinations of sterling silver and yellow and rose gold vermeil, and reflects Alexis’ love of nature, ancient curiosities of the New World, creating modern day keepsakes.

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Antiquities Arundel Nestled in the picturesque town of Arundel, Antiquities is a haven of dazzling decorative inspiration for style seekers, tastemakers and those â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;in the knowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. And over the past twenty-five years, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where husband and wife team Ian and Christina Fenwick, have charmed an international clientele of trade buyers, designers, decorators and private clients.

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Photos by Alan Wright Photography

he Fenwicks take immense pride in hunting for the most unique and stylish items available; scouring auctions, markets and private collections across the UK and Europe to personally select each piece for their showroom. The result is uncluttered, playful and never less than beguiling. And means in-store you’ll discover a refined eclecticism, which on any day could range from 17th century carved stone figures and 18th century walnut buffets, to 19th century painted servers and 20th century industrial tables. But if you see something you like you’d best be quick, because the stock may have changed completely by the following week. Antiquities is also a must stop destination for its wide range of contemporary lighting and accessories. The Fenwicks understand that the demands of decorative living are no longer uniform (that rulebook was thrown out long ago), and in 2016 the present must exist alongside the past. Which is why the modern side of the inventory is curated with the upmost care; carefully complementing, but never competing with the antiques. Of course, what the heart desires isn’t always immediately obtainable. But for Antiquities, disappointment is a dirty word, which is why they run a finder’s service; attempting to track down specific items requested by their clients. If there is an interior lacking decorative charm, be sure Antiquities have someone on the case trying to find that perfect item, just for you. It’s said that you can’t have it all. But with an effortless blend of decorative elegance, industrial chic, country charm and daring old world glamour, Antiquities tries to prove that adage wrong. And is why this hidden gem on the south-coast of England, is widely regarded as one of the finest decorative antique specialists in the UK. 5 Tarrant Street. Arundel. 01903 884355 www.antiquitiesarundel.com

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What happens when two friends with a lifelong passion for cars set out to establish the most exciting specialist car boutique in the South East....

Automotive W

heaven

hile John Heywood has worked in the motor trade for 35 years, fellow director Chris Chadwick previously enjoyed a career in corporate events production, while pursuing a passion for racing sports cars. Mole Valley Specialist Cars has over the last five years built an enviable reputation for the supply of quality specialist and performance cars, both new and used. It has long been well-known for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s association with TVR , Morgan and Noble cars and now also specialises in low-mileage sports and performance cars such as Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar, Aston Martin and other exotica such as Weismann and Spyker with a few carefully chosen classic cars thrown into the mix so there is always something interesting to appeal to the car enthusiast! Customers can browse classic and modern models in the large boutique-style indoor showroom in an environment that understands the love of beautiful cars and is free from sales pressure. It is a rare place where customers and enthusiasts alike can compare rival marques under one roof. The service department is always busy, servicing and repairing Morgan,

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Photos by Alan Wright Photography

It is a rare place where customers and enthusiasts alike can compare rival marques under one roof.

Noble and TVR, and again has an enviable reputation in this area due to the knowledge and expertise of the technicians, one of whom has over thirty years’ experience in these marques. Mole Valley’s reputation is such that customers return time after time and many cars are sold unseen to customers over the phone in the UK and overseas. Really exciting news is that TVR has announced that it is producing a new model which will be available in 2016. As a TVR Heritage dealer, Mole Valley will be eagerly awaiting details of the new car, which is being designed by Gordon Murray and will be powered by a new Cosworth V8 engine. For this and the full range of Mole Valley’s prestige brands, visit the showroom and workshop on the A24 between Dorking and Horsham where you will be assured of a warm welcome whether looking for a new car or just to browse and dream!

www.mole-valley.co.uk

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Range Rover Sport Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it, when it comes to luxury and four wheel drive there is nothing more iconic than the Range Rover, since its launch in 1970 it has not only been a staple of the 4X4 world but also the very epitome of country luxury. Fineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new motoring writer, Ade Holder, takes the latest Range Rover Sport for a spin.

ronically the initial versions of the Range Rover were not actually designed as luxury vehicles; simple interiors designed to be hosed down and easily cleaned were the order of the day. However, luxuries like power steering were introduced early on and over the next 45 years the Range Rover took on more and more of a high end feel. The interiors grew in style as well as substance and when the second generation Range Rover was launched in 1995 it came with built in Sat Nav as an option; at that time this kind of technology was not the preserve of the everyday car. As well as the exclusive interiors and gadgets the Range Rover was also blessed with an ever growing range of engines and eternally capable 4X4 technology.

TO SPORT OR NOT TO SPORT Having driven both incarnations of the Range Rover the sport model is certainly more suited to my tastes. It has a firmer ride, sporty driving options and a little less waft about it, however for many there is

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simply no option other than to choose the anything but standard Range Rover.

A VERY SPECIAL PLACE Getting into any car is an experience; it is not always a good one but it is an experience nonetheless. Getting into the Range Rover Sport, however, is really more like climbing through an escape hatch from the real world. You are literally transported to an environment of quiet luxury with a strong air of power and confidence to boot. The interior materials are gorgeous, everywhere you look you see hand stitched leather and carefully chosen materials to suit the needs and tastes of even the most discerning owner. Add this to the high tech but subtle dashboard and screen and you have a world beating interior experience and one that sits on a very substantial off-road vehicle.

UNDER THE SKIN For many people owning this car on a day to day basis will be more about enjoying the interior and luxury than the potential brute force of the beast. This comes as no surprise as most people do not need to drive up a mountain every day, most people rarely venture into a field unless they partake in country sports, which many owners probably do. So in a normal situation the amazing selection of off-road settings, locking independent differentials, 340 bhp and 740nm of torque probably don’t come into play. But that doesn’t mean they are not there and that they do not provide pleasure. I personally found all that potential very comforting. As winter gets a grip on our part of the world owning a Range Rover Sport starts to make a great deal of sense.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS The Range Rover is about style, class and strength. The test car I had came in at around £82,000; a number that maybe slightly irrelevant. The cost of a Range Rover has never really been a talking point for anyone who owns one. It is not an everyday car and so it is not priced as such. What the Range Rover Sport is, is a triumph. Its 4.4 litre diesel will propel you around with more than enough power and all the while you can enjoy stunning touches like a panoramic glass roof, screens for each passenger, individual climate control and so much more. If at any point during ownership you found yourself wanting to see what the Range Rover sport can really do, simply take your Range Rover to an off-road centre and see just how amazing it really is; it will thank you for getting it a bit muddy from time to time.

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Sitting on the west coast of Norway, Bergen is known as the Gateway to the Fjords. Home to not one, but two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it’s no wonder visitors flock from all over the globe. Fine editor, Catherine Ross, packed her bag took a quick hop across the North Sea to see Bergen for herself.

s the plane starts its descent into Bergen airport, travellers can start picking out distinctive features of the Norwegian landscape. Fish farms of varying sizes litter the surface of the sea, remote cottages sit atop rocky outcrops offering a glimpse of how tough and isolated life can be for their inhabitants and the steep sided fjords come into view. It’s easy to imagine how Norway became the setting for fairy stories. It certainly looks very different

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from the green and pleasant land of South East England. Norway has become a hot destination for weekend-breakers and spare-time explorers. Offering an enticing mix of good food, varied culture and access to the outdoors, people flock to Norway from all over Europe and the world. It’s an easy place to get to, with Norwegian offering several flights to numerous Norwegian airports including Bergen, Oslo, Tromso and Trondheim from Gatwick every day.

Offering an enticing mix of good food, varied culture and access to the outdoors, people flock to Norway from all over Europe. The rise of “Scandi” culture means Norway and neighbouring Sweden and Denmark are right at the top of many must-see lists.

Fjords, it combines cosmopolitan café culture with beautiful architecture and a rich heritage.

Arriving in Bergen, it’s easy to feel at home straight away. The atmosphere is relaxed, the people are friendly and the standard of English speaking is excellent, but if you’re used to southern Europe (France, Spain, Italy), it definitely feels different. For a start, there’s the climate.

The Bryggen Hanseatic wharf buildings (protected by UNESCO World Heritage Site status) on the harbour’s edge are centuries old and have been repeatedly rebuilt and refurbished every time they have been consumed by fires or floods.

Bergen is a rainy city and sits about level with the Shetland Islands, so is colder than home. Even in November, the mountain tops have a good coating of snow, which certainly adds to the charm. And while everyone seems to speak English, if, like me, you’re used to the Mediterranean languages, the Nordics might seem entirely inaccessible. Bergen itself is a beautiful city. Set on a harbour at the end of the Norwegian

Whereas once those buildings would have formed the commercial, craft and trade centre of the town, they now house shops, restaurants, hotels and a museum. The narrow alleyways between the buildings and the maze of paths and courtyards behind them are well worth exploring. Immediately behind Bergen are a couple of mountains, Ulriken is the higher of the two and slightly further away, while Mount Floyen feels like part of the city itself and is a well-used outdoor pursuits venue.

Great escapes | 73

Where to stay DET HANSEATISKE Det Hanseatiske Hotel is housed in two of the Bryggen wharf buildings. Easy to find and centrally located, this 37-room hotel offers an extremely warm welcome. It is elegantly furnished with comfortable rooms and great food. Because it’s in an historic building, the hotel is bursting with period charm. Narrow corridors with uneven floors, huge wooden doors, a glassed in atrium between the two parts of the building and cosy nooks for reading by the fire combine to make Det Hanseatiske a charming world away from the big, bland hotels that are so common these days. The breakfast buffet offers something for all tastes and the staff really couldn’t be more helpful.

Where to eat 1877 For a full-on fine dining experience, look no further than Restaurant 1877. Named after the year in which the building originally opened as a governmentsponsored food market hall, 1877 celebrates the very best in Norwegian cuisine and European wine. Each evening, the restaurant offers a three or five course menu and accompanying drinks menu. The five courses are shellfish, fish, meat, cheese and dessert. Each course is served by the restaurant chefs who also provide a description of the dish they are serving and where the ingredients have come from. The restaurant’s sommelier serves drinks

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to accompany each course, providing detailed information on the wines, vineyards and interesting anecdotes about the wine making family. Wines are sourced from all over Europe. The entire experience is exceptional, from the attentive service to the carefully prepared food and drink. The building has been carefully converted and comfortably and tastefully furnished. If you go to Bergen, don’t miss it!

PINGVINGEN A much lower key affair, Pingvingen (or Penguin to you and I) is more rustic, with a great selection of local ales and people dining at the bar. Head chef, Chris, combines traditional Norwegian dishes with his knowledge of world cuisine to create delicious, hearty meals, packed full of the freshest local ingredients.

What to do There’s so much to do in and around Bergen, it’s difficult to narrow down the choices. Visitors to the city can easily fill three to four days, but pack for the weather and prepare to be outdoors.

NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL These popular tours are a great way to see as much of the Norwegian landscape as it’s possible to squeeze into a day. Combining local train services, the world famous Flam Railway and a Fjord cruise the tour will take you from sea level to mountain top and from sun to snow in the space of just a few hours. The first leg of the journey is the train from Bergen to Voss. The train passes through rugged countryside and sheer, rocky mountains climb straight up from the smooth, dark surface of the water. Tiny enclaves of homes are dotted along the shoreline, many accessible only by boat and their position on the water’s edge leaves them and their inhabitants exposed to the elements. At Voss, passengers transfer to a bus – don’t be put off, the modern, comfortable bus travels smoothly up into the mountains through pine forests and picturesque hamlets. When I visited in November, the mountains were covered in snow, making the forests look like a Christmas tree showroom. The bus stops at Gudvangen, where the Gudvangen Fjordtell hotel offers a warm welcome, a selection of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks and s souvenir shop with a wide range of troll ornaments.

The train stops at Myrdal, where passengers transfer back onto the Bergen Railway to travel back to town. All in all, I’d have to say Norway in a Nutshell is well worth doing, despite the weather on the day of our tour. It’s a great way to see a variety of Norwegian landscapes in the space of a day.

MOUNT FLOYEN FUNICULAR RAILWAY The departure station for the funicular railway is just behind the Bryggen wharf in the centre of Bergen. From here, you’ll rattle up the mountain in just a few ten minutes. At the top, you can enjoy views down over Bergen. It’s a great way of seeing the city from a different angle. There’s a coffee shop, adventure playground and a range of rambling tracks at the top too. I recommend walking back down if your knees are up to it. There’s a tarmac road all the way, making it an easy stroll.

BRYGGENS MUSEUM If you’re taken by the Bryggen buildings and want to know more, the Bryggens museum offers an interesting perspective. Archaeological remains of some of the original buildings are housed within the museum as well as a timeline showing how often the buildings were built and burnt down and how archaeology has been used to map the history of the city. There’s also a fascinating display of medieval runic inscriptions running throughout 2016, which explains how the local population used runes to send messages.

From Gudvangen, travellers board the boat for the Fjord cruise. Get to the front of the queue to get a good seat by the window on the boat. The Fjord cruise lasts two and a half hours and includes the Naeroyfjord, Bergen’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site. What you see is very much weather dependant. When the sun shines, the views are exceptional, when the weather comes in, you’re just stuck on a boat with a lot of strangers. After the Fjord cruise, you’ll board the Flam Railway. This was my favourite section of the tour. The incredible train ride winds up through the mountains, offering spectacular views back down to the Fjords and past waterfalls.

Great escapes | 75

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Resolution

revolution Resolving disputes in the civil courts has long been too expensive, slow and uncertain for many consumers and small businesses. The hike in court fees, changes to legal aid and the forthcoming £5K lower limit on some small claims, means it’s probably time for everyone to take a closer look at ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution. Richard O’Sullivan of 1215 Chambers explains. AND WHAT IS THIS ALTERNATIVE? Its not one specific thing. ADR encompasses a range of means outside the formal court system for sorting out disputes between individuals or businesses. The main forms are currently mediation, arbitration, expert determination and construction adjudication.

OUTSIDE THE COURT SYSTEM, YOU SAY. SO I DON’T NEED A LAWYER? HOORAY! Steady on! Some forms of ADR are designed to be lawyerless, but as ever there is a distinct advantage to being professionally advised and represented.

SO WHAT IS MEDIATION? Mediation is probably the form of ADR that most people have heard of but the process is little understood. A good mediator can help the parties find solutions that they are unable to reach by themselves through useful reality checking. A court hearing and judgment is limited to solutions available in law and cannot provide, for example, an apology or a guarantee of further business from the other party or a creative land swap decision to a boundary dispute. A

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mediated solution often leads to a better, sustainable solution that retains or rebuilds goodwill between the parties. A mediation that succeeds results in a settlement that both parties can live with. Mediation is now effectively compulsory in some family cases and highly advisable in others as there can be serious costs consequences for a party that finds itself at court before a judge who suggests that they have unreasonably refused to mediate.

ARBITRATION? Arbitration is effectively the hiring of a private judge and court. It has advantages on two fronts. For low value cases (under £125,000) a fixed fee arbitration can often be cheaper and almost always quicker than pursuing the matter through the civil courts. For large value international matters Arbitration can provide the certainty of a decision maker or panel of decision makers that have a solid industry background or clear legal experience in the areas that require determination.

THE OTHER TWO? Expert determination requires the parties to refer the essential technical question to an expert in that field, who then decides the technical issue that the whole dispute hinges on.

Many homeowners have already signed themselves up to this form of alternative dispute resolution through use of a Party W all Act Notice which amounts to an agreement to refer a dispute to a surveyor for expert determination.

A mediated solution often leads to a better, sustainable solution that retains or rebuilds goodwill between the parties.

Expert determination can also be useful in other areas where the only real dispute between the parties is one that would in court result in expert evidence. Construction Adjudication is special procedure for all non domestic construction contracts that can swiftly and relatively cheaply determine issues in construction contracts on an interim basis so that work can continue or payments can be made without having to wait the 12 to 18 months for the listing of court case that used to grind the industry to a halt in the event of a dispute. The time scale for construction adjudication is only 28 days and parties who find themselves on the receiving end of an adjudication notice are strongly advised to seek legal advice as soon as possible to ensure they put their case to the adjudication in the best possible way.

ANYTHING ELSE? Other models are available… always read the small print… etc.

OKAY, SO HOW DO I ACCESS ADR? Most big business B2B contracts include some form of ADR clause and most arbitral institutions have a model clause on theeir websites to allow for a determination using their procedures (see e.g. www.ciarb.com or www.lcia.org of www.rics.com ). The disadvantage of those model clauses is that they leave you at the mercy of those institutions and their rules. A far better solution for any SME is to have an ADR clause specifically drafted for their contracts, preferably a stepped clause (that allows for any dispute to escalated through a number of steps before having to result in court action or arbitration, that uses an institution that has been properly costed as proportionate to the nature of the dispute. If an ADR clause hasn’t appeared in the main contract it isn’t too late, references to mediation can be achieved after the dispute has arisen as can an agreement to arbitrate a dispute. For more advice on this or any other legal issue contact 1215 chambers on 02032 911 215, email admin@1215chambers. com or visit www.1215.london for more information.

Your money, your business | 79

New (tax) year

resolutions

As the tax year draws to a close it’s a great time to take stock and make plans for the year ahead. Carolyn Burchell, Director of Composure Accounting offers some advice.

he top of your new tax year resolutions should be Savings.All of us should be saving but if you’re in business, I can not stress enough that you need to save money towards your your tax bills. Sole traders and partnerships should keep funds aside to pay the income tax and National Insurance that will be chargeable on their profits (not the cash withdrawn). If you are the owner-director of a limited company, you need to think about the company’s corporation tax and your own personal tax. Not forgetting VAT for registered businesses and PAYE & NIC for employers.

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How much should you save? We work on a “tax profile” for each of our clients to estimate their bills to make sure they’re prepared. Your profile will be affected by the nature of your business and your personal circumstances, so get your accountant to work out what is right for you. It will change over time so I would recommend reviewing your tax profile at least once a year. Importantly, the money to pay the bill should come from the income that generates the liability. If you pay last year’s tax bill from this year’s earnings, you will end up feeling like you work for nothing.

Your second resolution should be to take control of your finances. Simply put, you can not run a business without knowing your numbers. Initially you can keep important information in your head but, as your business grows, you will need to have systems in place and to keep them up to date. Look for a bookkeeping package with rolling, monthly contracts and ongoing support from a reputable provider. I am a fan of Cloud software but make sure you check out important details like frequency of data back-up and where the servers are physically located. As part of being on top of your finances, these are the 3 things that every businessowner should know every day: • What you have in the bank. • What your customers owe you. • What you owe your creditors (including HMRC). Once you have cash flow sorted, you can focus on other key performance indicators using the information available in your accounts. Remember the mantra: “Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity but cash is king.” Pensions are big news at the moment with auto enrolment taking centre stage. Getting your pension sorted should be your third resolution and is one that is close to my heart as I will be setting up an auto enrolment scheme for my employees this year.

What is auto enrolment? Auto enrolment makes it the responsibility of all employers regardless of size to set up pension schemes for their employees and, broadly speaking, employers and employees will be obliged to make contributions of specified percentages. If you’re an employer: • Make sure you know your staging date • Check whether your payroll software is compliant • Start thinking about your workforce and who will fall into which category • If you’ve already got a pension scheme, talk to your ﬁnancial adviser about whether it can be converted • If not, get looking! It is estimated that it takes 12 months to get a pension scheme set up so start at your staging date and work back. For employees, you should be taking a look at your personal situation so that you’re ready to decide if you want to join your employer’s scheme when the time comes. Whether you pay into a company scheme or start a personal pension, everyone gets a tax relief on pension contributions equal to their pensionable earnings* or at least £3,600. There is a maximum annual limit of £40,000 but you can increase it by any unused allowance from the last three tax years.

To illustrate:

Pensions are big news at the moment with auto enrolment taking centre stage. Getting your pension sorted should be your third resolution...

Pensionable earnings

Contributions eligible for tax relief

£1,800

£3,600

£10,000

£60,000

£40,000

*Pensionable earnings include income from self-employment and/or employment plus benefits-in-kind. Interest, dividend and pension income are excluded. So, to recap, your 3 resolutions for 2016 should be: Savings, Financial Control and Pensions.

Composure is an independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers based in West Sussex with UK private and corporate clients and overseas private clients. For more information visit www. composureaccounting.co.uk or Tel: 01403 211865.

Your money, your business | 81

Networking =

opportunities To be successful in their business and social lives it is important for young adults to surround themselves with people whose dreams, desires and ambitions match their own. Etiquette Expert, Emma Dupont, explains why sixth-formers and graduates should start cultivating their network of contacts to give them the best career opportunities.

he old adage of ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ is still true today and despite the endless possibilities of reaching out via social media, building relationships face to face will always triumph over other avenues. Did you know that 60% of jobs occur in the ‘hidden job market’ where roles are not advertised but instead offered to someone who has been ‘recommended’? Networking is not only for established business people; from a friend’s birthday party to a relative’s retirement gathering, most occasions present the opportunity for meeting new acquaintances, both young and old, and offer the chance for young adults to expand their circle of contacts. Whether they are naturally an introvert or an extrovert, networking well will have a direct correlation with the opportunities presented to them and, whilst the thought may fill them with some apprehension, there is a simple process that can be applied to most situations. Here is my seven-step approach for young adults to network with confidence: • Find out who is going to attend before you go. If it is a formal event then there may be a list of attendees that you can ask for. • Decide who you want to meet, what you might have in common and how they can help you achieve your

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aspirations. If you do not know who is going to be there then simply aim to talk to one new person. • A couple of hours before, spend some time visualising meeting new people and looking and feeling confident. This can have a profound effect on the outcome. • Prepare a social elevator pitch (a few sentences that highlight your strengths and interests) so you are confident in those first few opening sentences. • If the discussion is successful then be prepared to make the next move. Have some social cards printed with your contact details (these are similar to business cards and more professional than searching for some paper). • Follow up the next day with an email saying how much you enjoyed talking with them and, if possible, send them something that is relevant to their interests e.g. a social media link or the contact details of someone. Always try to give something before asking for anything in return. • Finally if you do wish to develop a relationship then suggest meeting for coffee and propose a date, time and venue. Remember, as you have issued the invitation then you need to pick up the bill. They should try not to feel discouraged if there appears to be no synergy between

them and the person they have just met and it is vital that they always conduct themselves well; that person may just know someone who can help them so they need to be careful not to burn any bridges early in their careers. With over twenty years in the corporate world, Emma Dupont’s Young Adult’s Business Training Programme focuses on helping people to understand the importance of carrying themselves with confidence and authority, introducing themselves and others correctly along with interview etiquette and why this is so often overlooked. She will also ensure that their dining skills are at the correct level for a corporate environment and check that their social media channels portray the right image for the new stage of their life. The course offers students the opportunity to be placed above their peers and installs skills and confidence that they will benefit from and can build on for the rest of their career. For more information on the course content please go to www. emmadupontetiquette.co.uk/ youngadultsbusinessetiquetteskillstraining/ or call Emma Dupont on 07528 062130

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