2018 VOLUME V Focus on Christmas
~
Gift Ideas
~
Festive French Markets
In this issue...
16 A REASON TO “TRI”
18 YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
As part of our hobby series, this month we get to grips with triathlon and why you should give it a go.
From the stocking filler to the extravagant, our Christmas gift idea feature is packed full of unusual ideas.
20 JOYEUX NOEL
24 IN THE DIARY
Travel writer Janine Marsh gets festive with some of the best Christmas markets of northern France.
Enjoy the very best the season has to offer, with our handpicked selection of Christmas events.
10 LEARN SOMETHING NEW
36 THE CHINESE ZODIAC
The Surrey Hills has a unique and intriguing selection of artisan workshops fo you to discover.
In the second of this series, Janine Lowe explains what it means to be born in the year of the dog or the pig.
32 A CHRISTMAS FAYRE
37 SURVIVING WINTER
Award winning Sussex chef invites you to gather round the fire and enjoy his unique Christmas menu.
Fine nutritionist brings you healthy eating ideas to help fight the season’s coughs and colds.
4 | fine
28 AN INTERVIEW WITH FRANCES KNIGHT
Arundel based artist explains how Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (the Beatles’ guru) and the Sussex landscape both influence her work.
56 BONHAMS VETERAN CAR RALLY Peter Benner reveals why this remains one of the great events of the British motoring calendar.
30 DISCOVERING SHERE
66 ALL ABOARD
Lucy Pitts unearths some of the delights to be found in the historic village of Shere, in the Surrey Hills.
St. Catherine’s Hospice team up with the famous Belmond British Pullman to offer you an amazing and historic journey
40 EXPLORE KEW’S NEW WINTER GARDEN 54 CHRISTMAS GIVING! 33,000 plants fuse together to give you the perfect reason to embrace the winter weather at Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex.
53 A WELL TRODDEN PATH Fine editor reviews local author Louisa Thomsen Brits latest short story, Path.
As Christmas gets underway, local accountant Carolyn Burchell explains why charitable giving might help pay the costs.
62 THE WHITE SLOPES OF SEEFELD, AUSTRIA
Pull on your winter woolies as we explore this stunning and diverse corner of the Austrian Alps.
In this issue | 5
The Outdoor Room is a multi-award winning company. We are passionate about designing, creating and caring for beautiful gardens and landscapes. Our knowledgeable, experienced and creative team offers a professional, comprehensive service to private clients, developers, garden designers and landscape architects.
www.theoutdoorroom.co.uk +44 (0)1403 865 285
A word from the
editor
H
ello and welcome. This year certainly seems to be flying by and hard as it is to believe, this is our Christmas edition of Fine! And what a packed edition it is, filled with all sorts of festive treats, ideas and delights.
FINE MAGAZINE LTD finemagazine.co.uk 01243 717578
EDITOR
We’ve put together a Christmas gift feature full of ideas to give you a head start with the shopping and you’ll find a selection of some of the wonderful events our region has to offer at this time of year, in our In The Diary feature. If you fancy really making this season super special, why not try some of the tantalising Christmas markets of northern France as described by travel writer Janine Marsh or get hands on with some of the wonderful courses run in the Surrey Hills. Or you could just get stuck in and get sticky with our stocking filler recipe. Of course, it’s not all about Christmas at this time of year, and for motoring enthusiasts, we take a look back at the London to Brighton veteran car rally which is held in November and includes former Spice Girl’s Geri Horner this year. Let’s just hope the weather holds! Or for a different kind of challenge our new hobbies feature reveals some of the many reasons why (especially after one too many Christmas parties), you might want to try a triathlon. It’s not as terrifying as it sounds, honest! This month we’ve also put the spotlight on the village of Shere in the Surrey Hills. Quirky, historic and surrounded by stunning countryside, it’s got some unusual boutiques for that Christmas shopping and some great places to eat. And we
Lucy Pitts lucy@finemagazine.co.uk
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Philippa French production@finemagazine.co.uk
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
managed to grab 5 minutes of Arundel artist Frances Knight’s time, to find out more about the inspiration and curious history behind her work. Our region is blessed with an abundance of fabulous places to eat, many of which are really embracing local produce and seasonal menus. We’ve featured some of the best and will be keeping an eye of the Sussex Food Awards, the winners of which will be announced later this month. So, pull up a chair, pour a glass of your favourite tipple and dig in. I hope you enjoy this festive edition, and may I wish you all a very happy Christmas from the team here at Fine. Lucy Pitts EDITOR
On the front... Pots and Pithoi, the worlds largest selection of Cretan Terracotta pots with over 14,000 in stock. These hand thrown, frost resistant pots are capable of withstanding UK winters. See page 43 for more information.
Carolyn Burchell Suzanne Sawyer Janine Lowe Peter Benner Janine Marsh
CIRCULATION distribution@finemagazine.co.uk
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Terry Oliver toliver@finemagazine.co.uk
DIRECTOR Jennifer Oliver
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 2018 Volume V This publication is protected by copyright. ©2018 Printed in the UK by Foundry Press
A word from the editor | 7
AV PR N AI O EW LA PE BL RT E IES N O W !
Visit Charters Village and experience private retirement living at its best
• Resident-exclusive clubhouse and facilities, including restaurant and bar • Stunning parkland setting • New one and two bedroom properties • Part exchange** and rental options available • Show Home and Marketing Suite open Monday - Saturday 10:30am - 5pm • Prices from £299,950*
Charters Village, Felcourt Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 2JR | www.chartersvillage.co.uk chartersvillagesales@retirementvillages.co.uk
COFFEE MORNING Thursday 11th October, 10:30am – 12pm.
01342 870871
Call to let us know you are coming or to arrange a personal village tour.
Want to know more? Call 01342 870871 for your FREE copy of Village Life magazine or to arrange private viewing.
**You may achieve a higher value by selling independently of part exchange (PX). An offer is subject to a survey, not guaranteed, and you are not obliged to accept it. Please take advice to ensure PX is for you and, note, commission may be payable to Retirement Villages in the event of a PX sale. *Other charges apply and leases are subject to an assignment fee. Please ask for details.
Explore Surrey Hills For business, for pleasure For Fantastic Courses & Experiences
Adam Aaronson glass sculptures at the Surrey Hills Sculpture Garden, Birtley House – photo by Paul Deach
Explore the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and learn a new skill or enjoy a new experience. Surrey Hills has the most extraordinary local producers, businesses and artisans. Join them for a course this autumn from glassblowing to wood sculpting, leathercrafts and wine tasting. They are great fun and a fantastic way to learn a new skill, find out more about local produce and artisans and explore the Surrey Hills. 10 | fine
Surrey Art School
Hedges & Hurdles – country skills & crafts Learn traditional woodland skills – wood craft workshops, hedgelaying courses, hurdle making for fences or arches for the garden or learn how to make your own Hazel Wreath or Table Centre Piece and decorate with natural materials for Christmas! Suitable for children and adults. The magic of Glassblowing An exciting experience with courses and taster sessions for beginners with Adam Aaronson, renowned and highly skilled glass artist at his studio in the Surrey Hills. Visit his workshop and browse the range of beautifully crafted glass art. Makes a great gift voucher or a ‘friends and family’ experience and at this time of year it’s great fun to blow your own Christmas Bauble! Leathercraft workshops with Rosanna Clare Learn the art of leathercraft with Rosanna at her studio in Smithbrook Kilns near Guildford. A fantastic experience and great for making Christmas presents or as a gift voucher. PlantPassion Growing fresh seasonal, scented and sustainable flowers in the Surrey Hills, PlantPassion run open days, workshops, talks and courses ranging from growing flowers from seed to flower arranging, Christmas wreath making, plant photography to grow your own wedding flowers. Expand your skills and enjoy a fantastic day in the Surrey Hills.
Wood sculpting Learn to create beautiful wood products with Ruth Wheeler at her Woodland Art Space in Bramley. Ruth also runs a range of yoga courses set in beautiful Surrey Hills locations. Surrey Art School A fantastic range of Art Classes & Courses from calligraphy, ceramics, dying & printing to soap making and watercolours. Run
Gate Street Barn – photo by VLA Wedding Photography
by experienced artist Ellie Green in the tranquil village of Newdigate. A great experience for children and adults. Bean to Cup Coffee Experience Explore coffee origins, roast your own coffee beans and taste the Chimney Fire Coffee range at their roastery in the converted stables at Ranmore in the stunning Surrey Hills. Buy direct from the roastery or order on line and stock up in time for a great coffee experience in time for Christmas. Elstead Village Gin Distillers Gin Tasting & distillery tour - discover how the gin is made, chat to the distillers and taste the gins. A great way to learn more about gin making and buy some bottles of Thundry Hills Gin in time for Christmas. Wine tasting and vineyard tours Choose from the multi-award winning Vineyards in the Surrey Hills – Denbies Wine Estate, Albury Organic Vineyard, Greyfriars, Chilwoth Manor and High Clandon Vineyard. All welcome visitors and you can enjoy tours, wine tastings and purchase direct from the vineyards. Cookery Mornings with Gate Street Barn Christmas is coming! Visit the stunning Gate Street Barn and enjoy lots of new ideas for festive entertaining with Tandem Catering on 4th or 5th December.
Hedges & Hurdles
Visit our directory Sign up for our e-newsletter Book on-line for Surrey Hills events The Trade Mark Surrey Hills is a new accreditation and a Mark of local provenance and quality. The Award promotes the best of what Surrey has to offer and celebrates those businesses of high quality that reflect and support the distinct and special nature of the Surrey Hills.
Rural Life Centre Hands on workshops and demonstrations for children and schools at the special Rural Life Museum in Tilford Wey & Arun Canal Trust Join volunteers to help restore the Canal. From all walks of life volunteers offer and develop a range of skills and meet weekdays or weekends.
Surrey Hills Enterprises is a Community Interest Company working with local businesses to support the rural economy and promote, protect and enhance the Surrey Hills.
Find out more about these businesses awarded The Trade Mark Surrey Hills and discover the best of the Surrey Hills www.surreyhillsenterprises.co.uk
Surrey Hills Enterprises | 11
Surrey Hills Enterprises
Members SURREY ART SCHOOL Surrey Art School is a Contemporary Art school with a focus on creativity for wellbeing, nestled in the quiet village of Newdigate, Dorking. We encourage learners of all abilities to engage in creative workshops and courses that foster confidence in creativity whatever their starting point. Inspired by the Surrey Hills, our seasonal menu of workshops led by contemporary artists offers a wider range of activities including drawing, painting, weaving, print-making, ceramics, sculpture and seasonal crafts. Find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @Surrey Art School Email: Surreyartschool@gmail.com Or visit our website: www.surreyartschool.com
ELSTEAD VILLAGE DISTILLERS Based at 500 year old Thundry Farm in the Surrey Hills, Elstead Village Distillers is the brain child of Paul Shubrook and Neil Redit and we are the happy result of years of friendship, passion and commitment. Having selflessly sampled many gins and researched their botanical contents, Neil and Paul came up with our flagship Thundry Hills Gins, which they are thrilled to be able to let loose on the gin community. Sold locally and with the ability to ship nationwide, our gins would be a great addition to any gin lover's portfolio. If you’d like to come and visit us to buy some gin, please call before you arrive so that we can make sure we’re around to serve you.. Come and visit for a tasting and buy gin direct from the distillery. For more information: www.elsteadvillagedistillers.com
HEDGES & HURDLES – COUNTRY SKILLS & CRAFTS Highly skilled and award winning land and woodland management services including traditional hedgelaying and hurdle making for fences and garden arches. Buy from their range of high-quality rustic craft products made from local wood – birch hearts, cheese boards, candle holders and Christmas wreaths or join them on a training course or workshop in stunning locations in and around the Surrey Hills. Find out more: www.hedgesandhurdles.com tel: 07446837492
12 | fine
A more personal approach
to the law
Surrey Hills Solicitors explain why they’re different
W
hen the four partners at Surrey Hills Solicitors founded the firm two years ago, they wanted to be and do things a little differently, valuing their clients and treating staff properly. In a world where smaller firms and the personal touch are fast disappearing, they wanted to buck that trend. Motivated by people “Being able to offer the expertise and experience that comes with being a partner, and the personal touch of being a smaller firm, were what motivated us both then and now. People want to know the person they’re dealing with. People also want to know that their solicitor is local, with local knowledge and connections, and that the solicitor they speak to or meet, will be the person who works with them.” explains partner Ian Davison. A high level of expertise across the board As a firm, Surrey Hills Solicitors offer an impressive range of expertise. Ian has well over 30 years’ experience of local
government matters, including both governance and transactional work and frequently works with both parish or district councils. Sarah Christmas is the firm’s conveyancing and property specialist (dealing with both residential and commercial) whilst Kate Jackson deals with employment, litigation/ dispute resolution including contract and landlord & tenant issues, as well as probate. Last but not least, Rachael Anderson is the firm’s family expert, an accredited mediator and member of Resolution. It’s a slightly eclectic mix but what it does mean is that they can offer a partnership level service in respect of most common problems.
remain hands on. We also believe in being part of our community, building good relationships with other businesses and keeping in touch and involved with those working and living around us.” With modest premises, just off the High Street in Dorking and a warm and welcoming atmosphere when you visit or call, it’s a refreshing approach that seems to be working, with much of their work coming via personal referrals. If you’d like to know more about Surrey Hills Solicitors please visit www.surreyhillssolicitors.co.uk or at 296 High Street, Dorking, or call 01306 877592.
A winning formula “We aim to offer a very personal and client focused service. That means being both proactive and responsive, making sure every client gets the expert attention he or she deserves. We don’t have half a dozen assistants doing all the work because we believe the partners should
| 13
... and let us look after you every step of the way because your holiday deserves the best arrangements ... independent tailor-made travel flights - accommodation - insurance - luggage delivery car hire - event planning - financial protection - escorted tours airport & cruise terminal limousine transfers
Kingswood Branch 43 Waterhouse Lane Kingswood, Surrey KT20 6EB
Tel:
01737 36 26 26
Email: sherrie@symphonyworldtravel.com Web: www.symphonyworldtravel.com
The Resort at Paws Up 5* outback wilderness chic – the ultimate adventure holiday A closely-guarded secret set in Montana’s jaw-droppingly beautiful big sky country, The Resort at Paws Up is the ultimate back-to-nature destination where outdoor activities combine with cosying up in front of the fire in the evenings. A working ranch set over 37,000 acres, Paw Up offers an unforgettable getaway for families and couples alike. A 10mile sweep of the legendary Blackfoot River passes through the ranch, which is surrounded by the timber-clad mountains of the Montana wilderness. With a rich native heritage, from pioneer gold-mining to ranching, every aspect of the Paws Up experience is authentic but finely-tuned to perfection. Converted Barns, Rustic-Chic Houses and Riverside Safari-style Camps Guests stay in a portfolio of rustic houses or riverside safari-style tented camps that combine a wilderness vibe with rustic designer chic. The camps include luxurious one, two and three-bedroom tented suites and the newest camp, North Bank, offers tented suites built on stilts and cantilevered over the stunning waters of the Blackfoot River where Robert Redford filmed the iconic movie ‘A River Runs Through It”. Cowboy Gastronomy Paws up provides world-class cuisine using sensational local ingredients, culinary finesse, and fabulous wines. Huckleberries picked from the slopes of surrounding mountains might complement French toast and homemade sausages at the Ranch Table for breakfast. Rocky Mountain trout sautéed with fresh herbs makes for a delicious dinner at the smarter restaurant or soak up the rustic gastronomy at the casual Bar and Grill for more informal meals with bison burgers, big fat juicy steak or just a delicious pizza. Or for the inner cowboy, join our authentic chuck wagon dinner or dine alongside the Blackfoot River in our tented camps. Paws Up are now open all year round. Activities Highlights include: • Sky Line Aerial Adventure Course - a 2-hour long multi-platform trail through the treetops • Horseback Riding • Fly-Fishing • Lake Activities • Ranch Activities • Spa • Sporting Clays • Wagon Team Driving
Travel | 15
Why not try
triathlon? Lucy Pitts explains why you should consider doing a tri!
16 | fine
h ere are many reasons why you might join a Triathlon Club. And for some, there are probably twice as many reasons for not joining. Certainly, and until recently, I was part of the “not for me” school of thought. After all, surely triathlon is the sport of super athletes, not for the likes of little old, middle aged, slightly overweight me. How wrong I was.
T
And that’s exactly how I unexpectedly ended up at a Triathlon Club. Having followed the Couch to 5k App, I was frustrated when an injury meant I couldn’t run for a few weeks. Eager not to lose the (moderate) level of fitness I’d gained, a friend suggested I tried swimming. In fact, she suggested I came along to a Swim 1st Triathlon Club swim.
Many of us of a certain age need to exercise a little more than we once did to keep off those unwelcome extra pounds or keep away those creaks and groans. Running works for some but pounding the streets can take its toll.
A sport for all ages and all abilities Far from being a sport for super athletes, to my surprise triathlon really is a sport for all ages and abilities and at 49 (and ¼) when I turned up slightly awkwardly to my first swim, I was by no means the oldest there.
And although there certainly were some very powerful and impressive swimmers, there was also a handful of us “not quite so powerful” swimmers, as I like to think of myself. And we weren’t made to feel bad about the fact that we weren’t quite so powerful, not at all. In fact, I learnt more about swimming in that first hour than I’d learnt in the previous 37 years of not swimming very well. It was hard work, yes, but doable and the warm welcome and encouragement I received from other club members over a coffee after the swim, meant I didn’t feel like an imposter. So far so good, but next up, the bike ride. Buckle up, that’s quite a ride I knew that if I was going to take part in a triathlon (and by then I’d somehow been talked into giving one a go), then I had to do slightly more than cycle up and down the Downs Link on a leisurely Sunday. So, I borrowed a road bike and met up with the Tri Club once more. Again, it was hard work but doable even if it was slightly terrifying at times being out on the Sussex roads. But being part of a group felt very … well it made me feel like a proper cyclist who could do this. The leader of the group waited for us stragglers, encouraged us and advised us and once again, I was surprised that I was not necessarily the weakest link. Well, not all the time anyway. A Sprint Triathlon Having run, swam and occasionally cycled my way through the winter, I signed myself up for the club’s Sprint Tri. As the shortest type of triathlon, this Sprint Tri involved a 300m pool swim, a 20 km bike ride and a
5km run. All perfectly achievable on their own, the challenge being of course to pull it all together in one morning. The atmosphere on the day was amazing. People of all ages and abilities lined up for the 7am start. People I’d barely met from the club were cheering me on and calling my name, willing me to keep going and succeed. And succeed I did in a reasonable time, without the need for hospital treatment and with a medal to prove it, one year to the day after my first ever run. Give tri a try On the whole, I’m not a team player. But I cannot deny the appeal and support of being part of a club. You can train on your own. You can train together. You can compete on your own or together, as part of something bigger with people who genuinely want you to succeed. It’s social, inspirational and you get all the benefits of affordable but professional training. And you’re much more likely to exercise regularly when you have people cheering you on. Of course, your physical health improves. I’ve lost weight, gained stamina and over come type 2 diabetes. But your mental health and sense of self benefits just as much. You meet new friends (who aren’t super athletes at all), push yourself and have that sense of pride as you achieve new fitness goals which in my case, I never thought would be possible. You don’t have to be super fit to start. You don’t even have to compete. You just have to give tri a try. And then take it from there.
Swim 1st Triathlon Club There are Tri Clubs throughout the region. The Swim 1st Club run training all year long and host and take part in lots of different events which include lake and sea swimming for those interested. They also have a junior club and you can find out more at: https://www.britishtriathlon.org/clubs/ swim-1st-triathlon-club_1916
Hobbies | 17
Your Christmas
gift guide Here at Fine HQ, we’ve spent the last few months trying and tasting some of the region’s (and beyond) delights in order to bring you some of the best and ever so slightly unusual Christmas gift ideas.
For her
For him
Valerie Paris Kimono £45.00
The Chilgrove Bramble Edition gin £34.95
This gorgeous Valerie Paris Kimono featured in the film Mamma Mia – Here we go again, and we just love the vintage style map design.
For gin connoisseurs, this new ‘SuperPremium Gin’ edition to the Chilgrove family is a seriously-smooth, ruby-red gin just bursting with fruit, including blackberries. Perfect on ice in front of the fire.
Available at www.lavidaboutique.co.uk or in store at La Vida Boutique, 5 The Courtyard, Stans Way, Horsham
www.chilgrovespirits.com
For someone special Mini Molten Stud Silver Earrings - £138.00 Make someone’s Christmas extra special with Simon Pure's stunning silver stud earrings, each set with a brilliant cut diamond. Available at www.simonpure.co.uk or in store at Simon Pure, 5 Swan Lane, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4EQ
18 | fine
Star gift Endurance watch - £4,795 Timeless – this beautiful and limited-edition satin watch with polished titanium and bio-directional rotating compass bezel is one of only 300 and is the Christmas gift that will last a lifetime. Available at https://wakefieldsjewellers.co.uk/ or in store at 11 West Street, Horsham RH12 1PF
For the little ones Ride on Racing Car Silver - £85 What’s not to love about a sleek, gunmetal silver retro racing car! The classic vintage design makes it the perfect ride-on racer toy. Available at www.mulberrybush.co.uk
For the gourmand Cookery course vouchers starting at £60 The Abinger Cookery School just outside Dorking, offer a huge selection of day and evening classes for both beginners or the more advanced.
For your fury friend Rowdies Jefferson £27.95 For the big dog who’s got everything, but sometimes plays rough, this super tough soft toy is for medium or large dogs who love to shake, tug and chew. And they even come with a guarantee – so if your dog damages it, they’ll replace it! Available at www.bigdogworld.co.uk
Available atwww.abingercookeryschool.com
For their teacher Lavolio’s Miniature 5 Gift Wrapped set £25
Stocking fillers
For the home
1 Pack of Native Wildflower Beebombs £7.99
Red diffusers and candle £27 and £25
We just love the idea of these Beebombs! Each pack has 1000s of seeds from 18 native wildflower species, mixed with local, protective clay and sifted, nurturing top soil.
Treat yourself to these beautifully indulgent essential oils and candles created by Elli and Tish. Hand blended and environmentally friendly from natures finest aromatic & botanical essences.
Described as “grown-up confectionery”, Lavolio are real pieces of fruit, nuts or vegetarian apple jelly, coated in chocolate or mixed with spices. It’s a great way to say thank you with this collection of 30 flavours in five stylish 60g tins, all beautifully gift wrapped with a hand-tied ribbon.
Available at www.beebombs.com
Available at www.elliandtishnaturals.co.uk
Available from Ocado and on www.lavolio.com
Gifts | 19
Joyeux Noel
...enjoyy the finest bubbles, bu sa learn the art of sabrage (opening a bottle with a sword), take a workshop and buy some of the delicious Champagne at a great price
20 | fine
A mouth-watering selection of northern France’s best Christmas markets and treats
F
or a Christmas shopping experience with a soupcon of French flavour, hop across the Channel to visit one of the many festive Marchés de Noel. Enjoy a fabulous day trip with friends and family or spend the weekend and indulge in a spot of shopping, a relaxing meal and a glass of wine, champagne or local beer…
Arras: The magical Christmas market on the Grand Place is a place of enticing smells and tastes where hot spiced wine and fluffy waffles warm you up in the winter air. A market with something for everyone, +100 exhibitors, an ice rink, carousel, sleigh run, German style winter bar and oodles of charm.
Top tip: For a great meal, the Assiette au Boeuf, Grand’Place serves steak-frites that the locals adore. Christmas market 30 November to 30 December www.explorearras.com
Montreuil-sur-Mer: The pretty little hilltop town on which Victor Hugo based Les Miserables, is laying on a Winter Wine Fest – a brilliant way to stock up for Christmas. On the weekend of 8-9 December, a wine fair will take place at the historic citadel, it’s just 5€ for a day pass, glass included. Top Tip: This is a town that packs a gastronomic punch way above its size, check out www.ladestinationgastronomique.com website to discover dozens of fabulous foodie destinations. www.lacavedemontreuil.com for details of the Winter Wine Fest. Champagne: The Christmas market in Reims, capital of Champagne is positively effervescent. Beautiful illuminations, lots of chalets, street music and events. But, a trip here is all about Champagne and one of the best places for a tour and to stock up is at the Maison Ruinart. The oldest Champagne house in existence, they make just six types of Champagne and their Blanc de Blanc at around €62 is not cheap, but it is legendary and easily as good as some of the bottles that retail for twice the price. This is the ultimate posh Christmas Champagne. www.ruinart.com Maison Mumm in the centre of Reims also offer a great tasting tour and the chance to buy Champagne, direct from their stellar cellar. www.mumm.com Visit the pretty mountains for excellent value bubbles where you’ll get to meet the producers and buy direct. Head to the
pretty town of Ville-Dommange to meet the makers at Champagne BergeronneauMarion to taste their multi-award-winning sparkling range and stock up on terrific value bubbles for the festive season. www.champagne-bergeronneau-marion.fr Top Tip: Head to Pol Couronne (11 Cours Jean-Baptiste Langlet, Reims), a Champagne boutique in the shadow of the majestic Cathedral, you can enjoy the finest bubbles, learn the art of sabrage (opening a bottle with a sword), take a workshop and buy some of the delicious Champagne at a great price. www.champagne-polcouronne.com Christmas market 21 November to 28 December www.reims-tourism.com
Boulogne-sur-Mer: For one weekend only, but this Christmas market more than makes up for it with loads of charm in the perfectly preserved Medieval upper town. Elves, Santa, petting zoo, light show – this is a super family Christmas event. Stroll around the ramparts, pop into the magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica and check out the quirky shops in Rue de Lille for great present buying opportunities from antiques to art. Top tip: If it’s raining or the kids want a break from Christmas shopping, Nausicaa Boulogne-sur-Mer, Europe’s biggest Aquarium, is perfect. Meet sea lions, penguins and sharks and get up close to sea life in the touch pool. Christmas market 14-16 December www.tourisme-boulognesurmer.com
parades and chalets selling art, gifts and accessories. The shops here are of the high-end Paris style and there are lots of bars and brasseries to enjoy a celebratory meal to suit all budgets; splash out at the oyster and wine bar at Chez Perrard (67 rue de Metz) or dine in their fabulously authentic sea food restaurant which is famous all over France and lures Sir Alan Sugar to fly over regularly! See the lights from 24 November to 7 January; www.letouquet.com Top tip: The town boasts several fabulous chocolatiers and specialist food shops - try Beussent for hand-made chocolate and Arts et Gourmand for artisan-made marshmallow.
Licques: One of the most authentic and fun festive events in the north of France. The annual Turkey Festival held in the ancient town of Licques, known to the locals as “Turkey Town” as the birds have been bred here since medieval days. A weekend gastronomic fair culminating in the release on Sunday morning of 100 turkeys to “rampage” through the main street. Actually it’s more of an amble but it is great fun to watch them accompanied by local guilds in all their finery. Afterwards indulge your taste for mouth-watering French goodies in the huge gourmet marquee and buy a turkey for Christmas Day. Top tip: There are a few bistros in the town, but it does get packed so head to Boulogne for more choice, or buy an artisan baked loaf, cheese and ham at the fair and have a winter picnic. Fete des Dindes 15-16 December www.licques-volailles.fr
Le Touquet: This chic seaside resort beloved by Parisians and savvy British tourists, bursts into festive mood with beautiful twinkling lights throughout the town. There’s an enchanted forest,
Janine Marsh is the author of My Good Life in France (available from Amazon) and editor of www.thegoodlifefrance.com
Travel | 21
15%discount on all coffee orders for
readers of Fine Magazine. Use the code 'FINE15' at checkout
Good ideas start with
Great Coffee Horsham Coffee Roasters began in the garage of Amelia and Bradley Steenkamp in 2012. Since then we’ve grown (though we’re still a small team of just 6 people) but what drives us stays the same. 22 | fine
O We are fana fanatical atical about a c the quality our coffee, and this obsession goes from the green coffee we purchase right through to the final cup.
ur goal is to source the best, ethically traded coffees in the world and through developing a highly methodical approach to roasting with the highest possible focus on quality control, bring them to our customers.
Coffees and Social Projects Alongside the philosophy that has informed our development over the years our core focus for sourcing has become our Relationship Coffees. These are coffees sourced by us through direct links with farmers and producers alongside our import partners. Currently we have established partnerships in Rwanda, Kenya and Nicaragua. Well chosen importing partners are essential to match us with farmers and co-operatives that are dedicated to producing specialty grade (i.e. the highest possible quality) coffees. We are committed to purchasing ethically traded coffees with full traceability to its origins. We also endeavour to obtain full transparency of our coffee’s financial trail, giving us and our customers, peace of mind that each farmer has been well paid for the outstanding coffee they produce. During our visit to Rwanda is 2017 we visited the nearby school to get a richer feel for the community and an insight into what life is really like there. Thoughout 2017 we donated a proportion of the money made from coffee sales as well as
held fundraising events to raise money to make the school safe. We were delighted to be able to give something back to the community that has given us such delicious coffee. Works were completed in the summer of 2017 and now we have begun fundraising for another school in Bishwasa, Rwanda to enable them to build a toilet block.
Our Coffee The coffees we stock will typically be exclusive, specialty lots that have been carefully scrutinised by us through our own cupping and quality control procedures. We roast in the medium to light colour range allowing for the characteristics of each coffee to dominate and enabling versatility across multiple brew methods. We are fanatical about the quality of our coffee, and this obsession goes from the green coffee we purchase right through to the final cup. We love gadgets and view coffee production as a fantastic science. Our roastery in Lower Beeding is open Monday- Friday 9.30-4pm and you are welcome to come in and have a coffee in our cafe area whilst watching the roasting in action. We also offer Barista and Roasting training, please see our website www.horshamcoffeeroaster.com or email info@horshamcoffeeroaster.com for more information.
| 23
In the
diary CHRISTMAS MARKET, WEALD AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM, NEAR CHICHESTER 23 – 25 November 10.30am - 4.00pm Find that perfect gift and enjoy a great day out at the Museum! The Weald and Downland Museum’s Christmas Market has over 140 stands (selling arts, crafts, food, unusual gifts) which ‘pop up’ around the Museum site. http://www.wealddown.co.uk/events/christmas-market/
THE ROYAL PAVILION ICE RINK, BRIGHTON 3 November – 13 January 2019 A winter season of enchantment beckons at the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink in Brighton, beautifully lit at night and with a rink side bar and café. www.royalpavilionicerink.co.uk
24 | fine
A GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS, PETWORTH 1 Dec – 1 January 2019 See Petworth House decorated for a reimagined Christmas that reignites the old traditions of the Georgian era with selected rooms of the House and servants’ Quarters dressed for an opulent occasion and a ‘below stairs’ Christmas scene. Warm yourself by a lit fire, hear traditional music, sample Georgian recipes and take part in parlour games, traditions and craft. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworthhouse-and-park/features/christmas-atpetworth
WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS, HORSHAM 1 December 10.30am – 1pm and 8 and 15 December 1.30 – 4pm Learn how to make a beautiful rustic wreath for your front door using evergreen foliage and ribbons. https://www.blossomflowers.biz/
ARUNDEL BY CANDLELIGHT 8 December 12 noon - 7pm Real Christmas trees decorated with simple white lights, a traditional tall Christmas tree in the town square and a host of stalls and treats including roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and hog roasts make this event super special. https://www.arundelbycandlelight.com/
COLOURED GLASS MAKING, WEST DEAN 17 December Make your own set of three glass Christmas decorations – an angel, a Christmas tree and a bell. Each decoration measures about 11cm high. https://www.westdean.org.uk/study/short-courses/courses/s1d08420make-coloured-glass-christmas-decorations-a-taster-day
FAMILY CHRISTMAS CAROLS, HATCHLANDS, EAST CLANDON Sunday 17 December 12pm - 1pm and 2pm - 3pm Enjoy a festive sing-song in the music room at Hatchlands. Exercise your vocal chords with a fun, family-focused carol concert where you’ll be joined by special guests. https://www.nationaltrust. org.uk/hatchlands-park/lists/ christmas-at-hatchlands-park
In the Diary | 25
Exper ts in wedding and engagement jeweller y since 1888, of fering hand-picked diamonds and a specially selected wedding ring collection. From our family to the be ginning of yours
C h u rc h i l l Squ are S h o ppi n g C e n t re , B ri gh t o n T e l e ph o n e : 01 2 7 3 7 1 035 7 W e s t St re e t , H o rs h am T e l e ph o n e : 01 4 03 2 5 8 5 8 2
T H Baker
Gift Ideas For Men Gucci Mens G Timeless Two Tone Bracelet £670.00 Available from T H Baker
TAG Heuer Mens Carrera Watch £1,850.00 Available from T H Baker
TAG Heuer Mens Aquaracer Bracelet Watch £1,700.00 Available from T H Baker
Gucci Silver Britt GG Cufflinks £175.00 Available from T H Baker
For Women
Gucci Running G 18ct Gold Logo Earrings £295.00 Available from T H Baker
Gucci Ladies Bangle Watch £575.00 Available from T H Baker
Rosa Lea Rose Gold-Plated Open Flower Mandala Pave £34.95 Available from T H Baker
9ct White Gold Diamond Pendant Set £2,000.00 £995.00 Available from T H Baker
Rosa Lea Silver Pave Infinity Bracelet £22.95 Available from T H Baker
Horsham • Brighton • www.thbaker.co.uk
| 27
An interview with
Frances Knight From her experiences in India to the Sussex landscape, Lucy Pitts finds out more about local artist
F
rances Knight is a contemporary landscape artist based in Arundel. She likes to paint outside directly from nature, exploring the effects of light, colour and structure on the landscape, seeking to express an inner dialogue between subjective experience and objective reality. After graduating from Camberwell School of Art, Frances won a Commonwealth and British Council Scholarship to complete
28 | fine
her Master of Fine Arts in India. Frances worked as a professional painter for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (the Beatles’ guru) and the Transcendental Meditation organisation (a non-profit charity dedicated to creating world peace), for more than 30 years. Frances has exhibited her work internationally as well as widely across the UK, and her paintings are in private collections in the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada and India.
everyday perception and experience and consequently I think some of that influence expresses naturally in my painting. Over the years, how has your style and technique evolved? It has become looser and freer, and I have learnt to be more decisive about making the marks that matter and having less extraneous details that distract from the essence of what I want to express. I continue to experiment with different media and techniques, and this is constantly evolving. Recently I have been experimenting in the studio, working on much larger paintings than would be possible to paint outside plein air, and this is a different process of building up layers over time and also exploring more abstract subjective qualities that progress beyond observational reality.
Your time in India working for and with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi must have been a fascinating and unique experience. How did it shape you as an artist? On my first visit to India I was struck by the incredible light and colours and then decided I wanted more time there to paint. I was deeply influenced by the quality of the light and atmosphere and the way people used colour in their everyday objects and surroundings. Working for Maharishi was a very special privilege. I learnt a lot. I gained a deeper understanding of life as a whole. He often would ask me to do something in my painting which I thought was impossible to do, so I had to stretch the boundaries of my thinking and develop a way to work step by step and trust the process would guide me to discover the solutions needed. Can you explain the influence of Transcendental Meditation in your work? TM has had a profound influence on my development as an artist, not only as a means of dealing with the pressure and creative blocks that every artist has to deal with, but also it has opened up an inner depth of awareness that has affected my perception as a whole and increased my sensitivity to colour and light. The subjective experience in TM of pure consciousness, pure awareness, an unbounded reservoir of bliss and creativity within, has naturally spilled over into my
When you come across a scene, do you immediately know that you want to paint it and how do you manage the changing light of a location? Sometimes I see something that sort of pops out at me, and I know right away I want to paint that. Other times when I am having difficulty finding something I just start somewhere, and then something emerges that engages me. For changing light, I have learnt to work very fast, but I have to make a decision at the beginning before the shadows move to lock them in at the beginning, and then paint from memory as the light changes. Looking at the next generation of local artists, are there any which you think are worth watching out for? What advice would you give them? I would love to come across some other plein air painters in West Sussex. I like the work of Kate Boucher, Matt Bodimeade, Katie Sollihub, Andy Waite, Tom Marsh. I am not sure if they are next generation. I think it is important for an artist to know how to draw and to work from observation as much as possible. Much of the new generation art is conceptual which I find hard to relate to. Frances will be exhibiting at the ‘Art Wittering’ Exhibition, West Wittering Memorial Hall, West Wittering, 3rd - 4th November 2018 and at West Sussex Art Fair, Goodwood Racecourse, 17th - 19th May 2019. Current work can be viewed at the Nigel Rose Gallery in Brighton, West Wittering and Maud Lifestyle in Thames Ditton. Frances also hosts a series of open studio days and classes at The Victoria Institute in Arundel. You can find out more about her at: www.francesknight.com
| 29
Shere A seductive Surrey village
S
here (almost half way between Guildford and Dorking) is surprisingly seductive. If you travel up from Ewhurst, chugging your way along the craggy single-track lane that cuts through the Surrey Hills, you arrive unexpectedly, emerging from the shade of the woods into the bustle of Middle Street.
A melting pot of architectural styles Dating back to the Domesday Book (when the entry included 50 hogs!), the village has an eclectic mix of medieval to 19th century architecture, with the centre of the village being mainly 16th and 17th century timber framed buildings. Even the public lavatories are housed in an attractive sage green clapboard house, bedecked with hanging flower baskets. The house was built in 1885 and converted to a public toilet to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee in 1977. And although a commemorative toilet may feel like a bit of a back handed compliment, it gives the centre of the village, a slightly unusual feel, as if you’ve just dipped a toe into a town in America’s New England. A slower pace of life It’s a quiet village while being busy at the same time and Middle Street widens and narrows a bit like a river. People seem to visit with the soul intention of lingering, browsing the quirky selection of little boutiques, enjoying a coffee or al fresco lunch or just soaking up the unusual mismatch of architecture. Intriguing names and mysterious alleyways Shere is arboreal and fragrant too, and visiting in early September, the smell of cut lavender, late summer flowers and fresh baking surrounds you. Chestnuts, firs, birch all sway to the rhythm of the village and every house or shop seems to have paint work in soft shades of green and an unusual name, a quaint little gate or a quirky alleyway. There’s Cuckoo Corner, Rookery Nook, Archway Nook and Mad Jak. And that’s before you get to the more traditional
names that betray the village’s past and link to the wool industry: Weavers House, Wheelright Cottage and of course, The Old Prison. And while there’s nothing left of the wool industry that once thrived here, you can feel its presence still, in the bend of the road and the style of some of the buildings. Feed the ducks or replenish your soul The pretty Tillingbourne River, well equipped with ducks, meanders through the centre of the village in the shade of two willow trees. And just a short walk from there, Sir Edwin Lutyens (the architect who designed the Cenotaph in London), designed a number of buildings including the Manor House and the church Lych Gate. Whether you’ve been exploring the Surrey Hills by foot, bike or just passing by car, the village has everything you need to replenish your body and soul, from a tea shop, to two pubs, a museum (although it looked pretty shut) and a 12th century church. Or, if you’re looking for more of a spiritual respite, take inspiration from Christine Carpenter who in 1329 decided to devote herself to God by being enclosed in the local St James’ Church and being fed through a grate! I just hope she couldn’t smell the bakery from her cell. Luscious green hills and ambling footpaths Head out of the village, in almost any direction (passed the bakery, an old stone wall and the jumbled allotments of Lower Street would be my recommendation), and you’re almost instantly into the luxurious countryside of the Surrey Hills. A signpost helpfully directs you to ‘This way’, ‘That way’ and ‘Somewhere else” should you be in need of directions or you can just amble off down one of the many routes of the historic Tillingbourne Valley. So, if you find yourself thundering along the A25 or worse still, the M25, just once in a while, it’s worth heading only slightly off the beaten track, slowing the pace down and enjoying all that is good about life in the Surrey Hills and taking a moment to potter around Shere.
Village Life | 31
The Chequers
at Rowhook
A warm welcome and a tantalising festive menu 32 | fine
Pull ull up a chair on o the flag stones of the traditional bar and warm your toes in front of one of the two roaring log fires...
A
s the afternoons get darker and decidedly colder, and Christmas lights start to twinkle, there are few warmer welcomes to be had, than at The Chequers at Rowhook. Pull up a chair on the flag stones of the traditional bar and warm your toes in front of one of the two roaring log fires, as you browse the outstanding menu and fine selection of wines or listen to the gentle buzz of local life coming together from the cold outside. A Fine Christmas Fayre Alongside its winter a la carte menu, in December, The Chequers offer a Christmas Fayre menu with the likes of honey baked fig and goats cheese with crispy Serrano ham, local bronze turkey with a chestnut and orange stuffing or braised ox cheek with honey roasted winter roots and a red wine jus. And no Christmas celebration is complete without traditional Christmas pudding with brandy
cream or Christmas spiced poached pear with ginger bread crumb and clotted cream. Slow cooked dishes and comforting flavours The Chequers is all about wholesome, comforting flavours which combines the best of British, with French-inspired cuisine. Every dish is freshly-prepared in the country kitchen and the emphasis is always on local (and when possible foraged) produce such as pheasant, partridge, duck, venison and wild mushrooms, home grown vegetables, herbs and fruits for their jellies, apples, tarts and desserts. A unique Sussex pub In a beautiful 15th century building, surrounded by the very last of the autumn colours, The Chequers is in the AA, Michelin and Master Chefs of Great Britain guides and offers exceptional quality with the less formal atmosphere of a traditional pub.
With two restaurants, and plenty of seating and parking, The Chequers is ideal for Christmas parties and celebrations, but early booking is essential. Call now to book:The Chequers Inn 01403 790480 Rowhook Road, Horsham, RH12 3PY www.thechequersrowhook.com
Food | 33
Photography provided by Lise Fjulsrud Easton, www.lisemariedesign.squarespace.com
Sussex is an area rich in seasonal ingredients. Abundant with some of the best growers, makers, brewers and vineyards in the country. The Three Crowns in Wisborough Green tells of how Sussex inspires their menus
The Three Crowns proudly stands on the A272 in the quintessential Sussex village of Wisborough Green. The pretty village with its spired church, duck pond and village green is the perfect destination for a pub lunch, quick pint or long leisurely dinner. The pub is perfectly located in some of West Sussex’s most beautiful countryside, an ideal destination for a walk with the dog, some antique searching in nearby Petworth or after a fun morning with the children at Fishers Farm Park which is just around the corner. The menus are inspired by the seasonal calendar with the ambition of a vast proportion of the food and drink sourced from local producers and makers. The Three Crowns owner Tim Skinner firmly believes in supporting local Sussex produce “We certainly take advantage of our position and take delight in being able to serve our guests the freshest locally sourced food from the surrounding areas. By building relationships with our local suppliers we are able to offer our guests food with a story, with provenance and able to give much more information of the origin of our ingredients. Who better to give you advise on how to cook and serve your food than the people who created it. We get a huge amount of pride in supporting our local suppliers many of whom are now friends and in turn are now “locals” themselves. You will often find our local brewer at the bar enjoying a pint or our wine merchant grabbing a quick lunch. We are proudly independent and by supporting the local businesses cuts out the middle man meaning all of the profits go back into the local area’
Our food menu is evolving all of the time, as well as our delicious seasonal creations we also proudly serve our Crowns Classics such as Steaks, Fish & Chips and Burgers available daily.''
The Three Crowns, Wisborough Green, RH14 0DX www.thethreecrownsinn.com 01403 700239
Chinese Animals What it means to be a dog or a pig!
©
I
n the Chinese Zodiac each year represents an animal sign. The signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Your sign will depend on the year of your birth and this month, I’m explaining what it’s like if you’re born in the year of the dog or the pig.
Look ok out for the next n ion of Fine edition Fine, w when I’ll be talking about the rat and the ox
©
Dog You have a dog in your life chart if you were born in the years 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 or 2018.
Pig You have a pig in your life chart if you were born in the years 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 or 2007.
The characteristics of the dog are that they are loyal, trustworthy, honest, straightforward, persistent and love to have a laugh. Although they can get stuck in the detail! In love, if you want a long-term relationship, a dog is an ideal partner.
Typical characteristics of a pig are that they are independent, optimistic, considerate and always generous, although they can be short-tempered. In love, the right partner is often the tiger, rabbit or sheep with whom they will settle down, but otherwise they are happy with their own company.
Careers Those with a dog in their life chart are suited to a career as a solicitor, doctor, teacher, in money management, as a civil servant, or a programmer or philosopher.
Careers If you have a pig in your life chart and are thinking about careers, think accountant, programmer, scientist, social worker or charity organiser.
The “element” of the dog is earth which means they may need the fire months (like May and June) to get them unstuck. Other good months for “dogs” are February, July, and October but beware of April which is a clash month!
The “element” of the pig is water which means they may need some metal months (August and September) if they want to travel. Auspicious months for pigs are February, March and July, and their clash month is May.
Auspicious days for dogs Auspicious days for October are 13th, 14th, 21st, 25th, 26th & 29th.
Auspicious days for pigs Auspicious days for October are 10th, 13th, 18th, 22nd and 26th.
Auspicious days for November 7th, 18th, 19th, 22nd.
Auspicious days for November 3rd, 7th, 11th, 18th, 19th, 23rd.
If you’d like to know more about the Chinese zodiac, visit Janine at you at www.janinelowe.co.uk
36 | fine
Winter nutrition
Healthy eating offers good protection during the winter season
E
ating healthy food during the winter months can be challenging for many reasons. Food plays a large part in most winter celebrations which not only leads to weight gain but can wreak havoc with the immune system. The time between Halloween and New Year can really stress the immune system with the additional refined sugar and alcohol consumption. Eating for immunity A healthy immune system can help to ward off the germs that cause colds and flu. It can minimise the duration of a cold, so increase your intake of fruits and vegetables rich in powerful nutrients. To help fight infections, increase your intake of zinc found in shellfish, poultry, legumes i.e. chickpeas and lentils, seeds, nuts, dairy, eggs and whole grains. Suzanne Sawyer Nutritional Therapist Healthwyze www.healthwyze.co.uk
The winter blues We get less sunlight in the winter due to the shorter days which can lead to
a drop in serotonin, which may cause depression and food cravings. Serotonin levels can be boosted by high quality carbs such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash and protein such as salmon, poultry, eggs, soy products milk and nuts. It is often easier to put a ready-made meal in the microwave than prepare one from scratch due to time constraints and availability of good fresh produce. Don’t be afraid of using frozen vegetables – they can be more nutritious than fresh and will last well in the freezer. Resist the temptation to comfort eat, try homemade vegetable soup or stewed fruit to fill the gap. Sticking to a healthy diet won’t prevent you from picking up infections but it can help to maintain your immune system to give protection and should you fall ill, a nutritious diet can help speed up your recovery.
Food | 37
James is Inspired. And all he needed was a little extra support to feel fit for the lake. Retire in style with Durrants Village, and enjoy lakeside bliss with fantastic connections to London and the south coast. Homes to feel proud of – from £470,000*.
Feel relaxed. Feel Inspired. DurrantsVillage.co.uk info@durrantsvillage.co.uk 01293 737 083 Durrants Drive, Faygate, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4GB *For a three-bedroom cottage.
Villages located in West Sussex, Cheshire, Exeter, Hampshire, Warwickshire and coming soon in Kent.
Sweet & sticky Easy and fun to make Christmas treats by Clare Pope
J
azzing up a Terry’s chocolate orange is a perfect homemade present that you can make with the kids or a fun and unusual stocking filler. Just watch out for the big kids stealing all of the treats!
Remove the chocolate orange from its wrapper, resist the urge to eat any of it and decide what you’re going to decorate it with.
100g milk or dark of chocolate
If you’re adding white or light-coloured treats, then melt some white chocolate in the microwave in 10 second bursts until it has mostly melted. It will finish melting as you stir it with a spoon. Leave it to cool for 10 minutes or so before you start so that it sets quicker when you’re adding your decorations. The same principle can be applied to dark chocolate.
Pre-made sugar paste / rolled fondant (in colours of your choice)
Once you’re ready, have your sweets and melted chocolate all to hand. Dip your
You’ll need: A Terry’s chocolate orange An assortment of sweets to decorate (I recommend Maltesers, marshmallows or Dolly Mixtures)
sweets into the melted chocolate and then attach onto the chocolate orange. It is easiest to start at the bottom and work up. White marshmallows make a lovely snowball effect whereas adding Maltesers and some fondant eyes, beak wings and red chest make a really cute robin. Alternatively, try some white icing and icing holly leaves and berries for a Christmas pudding! Finish off by wrapping this in cellophane and tying with a pretty ribbon. You can find Clare at www.clarescakeboutique.co.uk.
| 39
A fabulous new Winter Garden at Wakehurst It wasn’t that long ago when winter was a terrible time to visit gardens. Why brave the cold weather and grey skies to see bare soil and branches? Some gardens even close from October to April, welcoming post-hibernation visitors back once flowers could be guaranteed. 40 | fine
T
hankfully times have changed and Wakehurst, in Ardingly, is blazing the trail with reasons to get outside during the winter months. Its newly planted Winter Garden will launch midJanuary but is obviously in situ now and busy bedding in to look its best during the winter months. Winter gardening is now a fully established discipline and last year Wakehurst’s Landscape and Horticultural team decided it was time to replant its slightly tired looking original Winter Garden, planted back in the 1980’s. Revitalised Winter Garden to lift your spirits Wakehurst’s revitalised Winter Garden has one clear mission: to lift spirits during the coldest darkest months and provide sensory delight to those enclosed within. A rich and varied composition of shimmering bark, vivid stems, soft foliage and fragrant scent, coming together in a contemporary and immersive sign. The new Winter Garden is underpinned by a stately frame of elegant Himalayan Birches (Betula utilis var jacquemontianii) interspersed with the coppery gleam
of the Tibetan Cherry (Prunus serrula tibetica). Within this canopy, Daphne and Witch Hazel’s rich, penetrating fragrance (a tactic evolved to overcome the sporadic presence of winter pollinators), will be harnessed for our noses by placement close to paths. Texture and colour come from massed blocks of Cornus (including the cultivars ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’ and ‘Bud’s Yellow’), succulent bronze Bergenia ‘Eroica’, soft, feather-like Calamagrostis and Pennisetum grass, and Hellebores, amongst many others. Aside from the new planting, Wakehurst has its own special winter beauty. There are more than 500 acres of woodlands and a stunning nature reserve.
Enjoy the glow of winter Running from 22 November – 16 December is Glow Wild, an iconic winter lantern trail that sees the grounds lit with thousands of handmade lanterns. The tallest living Christmas tree in the UK is adorned with lights, and delicious winter food and drinks complete a perfect day out.
Children love letting off steam whatever the weather and Wakehurst is interspersed with natural play spaces and Tree Trunk Trek in Coates Wood is one of the most popular. The ‘woodlands of the world’ are always exciting to walk through and everyone will love spotting hickory, sweet gums and even a Wollemi, dubbed the oldest living fossil. The Millennium Seed Bank is a hit with older children - with a new exhibition this March in the atrium; Every breath you take – state of the world’s plants. We depend on plants for so many things; food, medicine, fuel, clothes as well as the simple delight of their beauty. Kew has been investigating the state that the world’s plants are in and this exhibition brings you the highlights – the good, the bad and the ugly. Wakehurst is run and financed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Day entry is £12.95, children are free. Membership from £27.50 - the perfect Christmas gift for someone that loves the outdoors. www.kew.org/wakehurst
| 41
Your Winter Skin Survival Guide By Debbie Pickles from Beauty Works Horsham
W
ith the sparkling summer having taken its final bow, and the autumn leaves falling crisply at our feet, we start to feel the effects of the colder weather on our skin, and especially on our faces. It’s the one part of our body which cannot be covered up and which takes the full blast of everything that winter throws at us. We wake to central heating, we walk in icy conditions and have car heaters blowing. All too soon, our skin can start to dehydrate, show fine lines and wrinkles and signs of irritation through dryness. It can lose its resilience, its bounce and its youthful glow. Thankfully, at Beauty Works Horsham, we offer not only preventative facial treatments which will give your skin the ability to fight back against the weather warriors but also some therapies and delicious products which will put the Elixir of Life back into your skin. All without the need for surgery, needles and the false effect of Botox and Fillers. Our Skin Rejuvenation treatments
42 | fine
exfoliate, soothe and deeply moisturise, leaving brighter, fresher and youngerlooking skin which feels as good as it looks. That goes for men and women too! Our excellent, all-rounder, Genesis facial uses sophisticated sound wave technology which penetrates deep below the surface of the skin promoting cell renewal, toning and lymphatic drainage. The technology is clinically proven and cutting-edge as it also delivers LED Light Therapy – a nonchemical, non-invasive, skin strengthening, anti-aging treatment. It’s recognised as one of the safest, quickest and most affordable ways to achieve younger looking skin, with immediate visible results, and can also improve a multitude of skin ailments like Acne, Eczema, Rosacea and sun damage. Consultations are free of charge and we offer Gift Vouchers for Christmas or any other time of the year! Find out more or book at www.beautyworkshorsham.co.uk or call 01403 267728 • 0771 954 3410
The worlds largest selection of Cretan Terracotta Pots Exclusive • Hand Thrown • Frost Resistant
www.potsandpithoi.com
The Gift Shop
¶
Supporting Cretan and UK businesses and offering gifts for everyone 6YKW ¶ 0EQTW ¶ /MXGLIR[EVI ¶ 'IVEQMGW ¶ +EVHIRMRK %GGIWSVMIW ¶ 'ERHPIW Our friendly staff are always on hand to help or advise you with a choice of pots or simply come down to be inspired by our courtyard and gift shop and enjoy browsing amongst our handcrafted products. The Barns, East St,Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4QA +44 (0) 1342 714 793
welcome to pots and pithoiâ„¢
4SXW ERH 4MXLSM ½VWX MRXVSHYGIH 'VIXER XIVVEGSXXE XS XLI 9/ MR 8LI GYVVIRX S[RIVW RS[ [SVO exclusively with one pottery. This is due to the fact that they are the best potters in Crete producing the QSWX VIQEVOEFPI XIVVEGSXXE ERH [I SRP] [ERX XS WIPP XLI LMKLIWX TSWWMFPI UYEPMX] LERH XLVS[R TSXW EZEMPEFPI 8LI 'VIXERW LEZI FIIR QEOMRK XLI FIWX TSXW MR XLI [SVPH JSV XLSYWERHW SJ ]IEVW 3YV GSRXMRYMRK GPSWI VIPEXMSRWLMT [MXL XLI ½RIWX TSXXIVW IRWYVIW XLI XVEHMXMSREP ERH ERGMIRX QIXLSHW EVI QEMRXEMRIH &IMRK XLVS[R SR XLI [LIIP ERH XVEHMXMSREPP] ½VIH KMZIW IEGL TSX MXW YRMUYI GLEVEGXIV ERH GSPSYVEXMSR We have by far the largest range, of these beautiful handmade pots, anywhere in the world. With over MR WXSGO [I EVI HIPMKLXIH XS WXMPP FI MRXVSHYGMRK RI[ HIWMKRW XS GSQTPIQIRX XLI EPVIEH] I\XIRWMZI range. 3YV TSXW EVI GETEFPI SJ [MXLWXERHMRK 9/ [MRXIVW HYI XS XLI YRMUYI ³WIGVIX VIGMTI´ SJ XLI GPE] ERH XLI JEGX XLEX XLI] EVI TVSTIVP] ½VIH XS EVSYRH °C using crushed olive stones and grape seeds. 8LI 'SJJII 4SX 'EJq SJJIVW E PEVKI WIPIGXMSR SJ GSJJIIW XIEW GEOIW FVYRGLIW ERH PYRGLIW -R XLI JYXYVI XLI Café will provide a venue for lectures and demonstrations about garden design and how to use pots in your garden to their maximum effect. Visit us Pots and Pithoi, The Barns, East St, Turners Hill, West Sussex, RH10 4QA
Opening Hours HE]W E [IIO EQ XS TQ Closed: 24th December to 2nd January
Delivery Nationwide from £20 and can FI UYSXIH JSV HSSV XS HSSV anywhere in the world
+44 (0) 1342 714 793 info@potsandpithoi.com www.potsandpithoi.com
Terracotta pots
APOLLO
GEORGIOPOLI
pelagia jug
Long Tom
CITRUS
short tom
IRAKLIS
decoratives & Planters
beehive
labyrinth (ribbed)
MINOAN JAR
Excellent all-round education with strong academic core
What particularly strikes visitors to Hurst College is the vibrant, dynamic community and the importance placed on an all-round, as well as a core, academic education for every pupil. Above all else nobody is ‘beneath the radar’ or ‘on the bench’, rather each child will be an active member of the community and enabled to realise their potential – academic and otherwise - being recognised for both engagement and achievement. 48 | fine
E
ducation at Hurst is deliberately outward-looking, with the range of activities providing many opportunities for pupils to try new ventures, confront risks and learn from experience. ‘Work hard, do good and engage’ is one of the core mantras, meaning pupils are encouraged and challenged to make the most of the talents that lie within them and the huge opportunities which are available at the college. They gain the confidence and necessary skills to achieve the best they can in all they do, ensuring that they not only enjoy their time at Hurst, but thrive and excel. They also learn the importance of developing certain values – a sense of duty, an awareness of right and wrong, and a respect for others. Hurst pupils are ambitious with a clear sense of purpose, acquire a balanced view of life, develop persistence and determination when faced with new challenges and emerge as independent, mature individuals. Academic excellence is the foundation of a Hurst education, not just in its own right, but because it opens doors to the next stage of pupils’ lives. However, Hurst also offers extensive sporting, cultural, intellectual and social programmes, to help pupils develop as rounded, accomplished individuals who make a real success of their lives after they leave. The college understands that the best possible grades are critical, but at the same time, the development of key skills, qualities and values which are so important come from engagement with life beyond the classroom.
Pupils in years 9 and 10 have two activity afternoons each week with a range of options to choose from including academic enrichment activities such as forensics, STEM projects and poetry, alongside more physical ones including football, golf and table tennis. In addition there is also dance, drama, electronics, astronomy, film, personal fitness and clubs for creative arts, jewellery making and ICT. The outdoor education programme includes specialist sports such as climbing, skiing, water sports and mountain biking, as well as the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and Duke of Edinburgh Award from year 10 onwards. With all this activity taking place, it is no wonder that Hurst is a very friendly and warm community with a genuine family feel, particularly apparent in the houses
which are key to the school’s structure. Pupils develop a strong sense of house identity and loyalty, whether they are part of a day or boarding house. Hurst pupils are characteristically very supportive of each other and close friendships are often formed which last a lifetime. The strength of the school rests on the strength of their smaller communities and pupils are encouraged to integrate with those from other houses, so that there is a relaxed social atmosphere which extends from house-to-house and year-to-year, allowing the different age groups and communities within the school to mix naturally. In short, the college aims to provide an educational experience which enables every pupil to become an independent, successful, well-grounded individual capable of leading worthwhile, happy, healthy and rewarding lives.
Outstanding and committed staff ensure that Hurst’s five-day academic week provides the right environment to challenge and support every pupil’s learning and personal development. Their timetable allows them to maximise the use of academic time, structure more sessions for sport and co-curricular activities and create a better rhythm to the working week. Co-curricular activities (sport, creative, performing arts, outdoor education etc) are regarded as being key to the all-round education of every pupil, in that through such activities, pupils will not only acquire certain skills and develop certain qualities, but will also be introduced to a sport, hobby or past-time which they can enjoy throughout their lives. Hurst offers a wide range of activities for all pupils during the school day, and their activities programme is designed to encourage pupils to try new skills, move beyond their comfort zone and gain experience in a safe and supportive environment. Such activities could be physical or challenging, serviceorientated or cerebral, but whatever their talents, pupils are encouraged to pursue at least one significant activity throughout their time at the college.
Education | 49
Benefit from pension tax relief:
while you still can
Would you like to get more out of your pension? As calls grow to cut tax relief on pension contributions, wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin explains why now could be the time to get your plans in order. ears of a ‘pensions tax raid’ have been reignited as the government faces growing pressure to scrap the current valuable tax perks on pension contributions, suggesting those able to benefit from the current arrangements should make use of them while they can.
F
A higher-rate taxpayer paying 40% tax and making gross pension contributions of £10,000 a year would receive £1,500 less in tax relief annually if the rate were to be set at 25%. If it were set at 33% they would lose £700 a year. Higher earners paying 45% tax could lose even more.
Speculation is mounting that the Chancellor Philip Hammond could target pension tax reliefs as early as the Autumn Budget, following prominent calls for reform over the summer.
Over the longer term, the potential impact of a flat-rate of tax relief could be profound as savers would miss out on investment growth on the tax relief they no longer receive.
In July, the influential Commons Treasury Select Committee called for tax relief on contributions to pensions to be scaled back. Its key recommendations, in a report into household finances, included introducing a lower annual allowance and a flat rate of tax relief1.
Making the next move There is no certainty about what changes, if any, will be made to pensions in the Budget. However, tinkering with pensions has been one of the Treasury’s favourite pastimes in recent years. The lifetime allowance – the maximum you can accumulate in all your workplace and personal pension plans – has been reduced and now stands at £1,030,000. In addition, the annual allowance has been tapered for those with adjusted income of over £150,000. The £40,000 allowance goes down by £1 for every £2 of income above £150,000 until it reaches a lower limit of £10,000.
The think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies, went even further in August, demanding that tax relief on pensions be abolished and replaced with bonuses on pension contributions2. Both proposals would have the effect of reducing tax breaks for higher earners. Lower relief, lower growth When the government last considered an overhaul of pension tax relief in 2016 it decided that the time was not right to make such a significant change. However, we warned that this was only likely to be a stay of execution: now the savings on offer to the Treasury by cutting tax relief may be too tempting to dismiss. The government has made no secret of the fact that it is urgently looking for cost savings to finance increased spending on health and social care. Given the political climate, it may be prudent for higher and additional rate taxpayers intending to make further pension contributions to do so ahead of the Autumn Budget, which is expected in November. Currently, contributions to pension schemes are made out of income before tax and national insurance is deducted, up to an annual limit of £40,000. Higher earners receive tax relief at 40% or 45%, while relief is just 20% for basic rate taxpayers. Previous proposals to switch to a single ‘flat rate’ of relief for everyone have suggested a level between 25% and 33%. Under that scenario, basic rate taxpayers would be better off but higher and additional-rate taxpayers could receive thousands of pounds less in tax relief.
With the pensions landscape ever-shifting, Brewin Dolphin can help you take action now to make sure you are making the most of the existing tax allowances. Even if you already have a significant pension pot you want to be certain that your retirement plans are on target. Plans should be reviewed every year while you are still in the savings or ‘accumulation’ phase to ensure that your financial goals remain appropriate and are likely to be met. If you haven’t started saving for retirement, the earlier you begin the better. Starting early, when you have a long time to save, can have a dramatic effect on the size of your pension pot and the retirement income that you are able to draw from it. If you have time on your side, even saving a little more each month can make a substantial difference to your retirement savings as you benefit from compound interest and tax-free growth.
1
Parliament.uk: Household finances: income, saving and debt, 26 July 2018.
2
Centre for Policy Studies: Government must reform pensions tax relief to broaden Britain’s savings base, 27 August 2018.
Compound returns, or compounding, involves investment returns themselves generating future returns; the longer you invest the greater the returns you will accrue on your original sum. It requires only two things – that money earned is reinvested and that you keep your hands off the money to allow for time for compounding to work. Don’t leave things to chance If you are unsure what you want your pension to achieve and whether it is on course to deliver at retirement there is always the danger that it could disappoint. Establishing when you would like to retire, how much money you will need to live on and whether your savings are on target gives you the basis around which to create your retirement plan. These are important decisions that will affect not only your own future but that of your family. They shouldn’t be left to chance. A highly-trained adviser will be able to help you frame and articulate your retirement goals with clarity. Lee Clark Head of Office, Brewin Dolphin Reigate
Reigate: 45 London Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 9PY | t: 01737 223 722 London: 12 Smithfield Street, London EC1A 9LA | t: 020 3201 3900 Disclaimers The value of investments and any income from them can fall and you may get back less than you invested. Please note that this document was prepared as a general guide only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. While we believe it to be correct at the time of writing, Brewin Dolphin is not a tax adviser and tax law is subject to frequent change. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances; therefore you should not rely on this information without seeking professional advice from a qualified tax adviser. No investment is suitable in all cases and if you have any doubts as to an investment’s suitability then you should contact us. The information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Brewin Dolphin Ltd
This is the life | 51
Printing Quality printing; one of your ingredients for successful marketing communications.
For sageful advice on how we can add avour to your marketing and communications call 01403 216 120.
Enabling you to communicate your messages through print Foundry Press, Unit A, Foundry Lane, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5PX t: 01403 216 120
f: 01403 242 700
www.foundry-press.co.uk
info@foundry-press.co.uk
The Library
Where we bring you reviews of the latest books with a local connection This month’s review - Path: A short story about reciprocity by Louisa Thomsen Brits This book is for anyone who has ever walked along a country track and wondered about who has walked it before them. For anyone who loves our countryside or enjoys quiet moments of inspirational reflection. ‘Up scrambly bostal, over rill and rimple, fists of thistles, rutted sod” Path is a charming and evocative little book. It brings together some of life’s greatest pleasures: the barren beauty of the Sussex South Downs, the rich language of the county’s past, haunting photography and illustrations and an approach to life that gives the reader much to reflect on and take comfort from. ‘To braid your story to the ribbon of lives that pass this way’ Thomsen Brits is a master of language and captivates our imagination with vivid yet nostalgic imagery. Each word feels like it has been caressed into being as the reader is taken on a thought-provoking journey, using stunning descriptions of our landscape at its most uncorrupted best, and the musicality of poetry to sweep us along.
‘Tread lightly through shared stories shaped by seasons’ Starting at early dawn, as the reader walks the chalky paths of the South Downs, Thomsen Brits brings life into perspective, reminding us that whilst we may feel we are alone, walking a solitary path, in fact, ours is a path well-trod. It reminds us to enjoy our journey, to trust in the process of life which will bring us clarity and comfort, to be kind to ourselves and be aware that our lives our interconnected with thousands of others. You’ll come back to this book over and over again. And each time you do, you’ll gain fresh insights and perspective into yourself and into our countryside or unearth another captivating description. It’s profoundly evocative and quietly uplifting, and an ideal stocking filler for Christmas. About the author Louisa Thomsen Brits is also author of the bestselling The Book of Hygge: The Danish Art of Living Well and is interested in our response to the natural world. She writes about common life and the rhythms and rituals that unite and define us all. She is based in Sussex. Published by and available from The Do Book Company (https://thedobook.co/ ) and costs £10.
| 53
Looking forward
to Christmas?
Contributor Carolyn Burchell reminds us of the benefits of giving
54 | fine
A
ccording to the Bank of England, the average family spends £2,000 per month with typical £500 additional spending in December. The increase is mainly driven by people going out, eating and drinking more, but we also spend an extra 80% on books during December than we do at any other time of the year.
Photo by Sophie Ward Photography
Myy children children cannot cann gine a time when w imagine you had to go to a shop or, shock horror, waited more than 24 hours for something to arrive.
Online spending for Christmas 2016 accounted for £1 in every £6 spent but, by 2017, this had increased to £1 in every £4 spent for non-food purchases. “Experts” believe that this may now have plateaued. Personally, I think it has further to go – I would estimate that 80% of what my own household consumes is ordered online and delivered to our door. My children cannot imagine a time when you had to go to a shop or, shock horror, waited more than 24 hours for something to arrive. For most people, Christmas is about family and giving. If you have children, giving quite a lot by the sounds of it. An article from 2015, setting out the findings of research commissioned by a high street bank, reported that the average parental spend per child was £177 per year – a total of £3,186 by the time the child turned 18. That figure doesn’t include grandparents, aunts and uncles. On top of this, the average child receives £120 in cash from friends and relatives. What will be this year’s most wanted Christmas present, I wonder? It seems unlikely that any one toy could rival the toy sales of yesteryear which have decreased sharply since the eighties and early nineties. Gone are the days of selling 115 million Cabbage Patch Dolls, 76 million Tamagotchi or 125 million Bratz dolls. Oh, the irony too of the best-selling toy of 2012, the Nerf gun: designed in 1969 for “safe indoor play.” Anyone whose child has one of these will testify that they are rarely used with the word “safe” in mind. There are few hallowed toys that make the best-seller list more than once. Furbies (seriously, why?) and the craze that gripped us all in 1980 – the Rubik’s Cube, invented in 1974 by Erno Rubik, a Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture, and of which 350 million have been sold worldwide to date.
The information in this article is general guidance and does not constitute advice. If you require advice, you should contact a qualified accounting or taxation professional. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Chartered Institute of Taxation maintain registers of members and firms.
‘Tis far better to give than to receive Christmas is an important time for charities as well as retailers. Charity cards alone raise £50 million per year which seems quite a lot until you realise that this is only 3% of the total £1.7 billion spent each year on greeting cards. The Royal Mail estimated that around 1 billion Christmas cards would be sent in 2017 and say that 80% of people would rather receive a traditional card to an electronic message (go figure). There was however a 600% spike in the number of people choosing to donate to charity the money they would have spent on cards.
The charities that really resonate with us all during the festive season are the ones that support the vulnerable in our society – the homeless, the elderly and children. Save the Children has a jumper day in December and the Salvation Army, Centrepoint and the NSPCC all run powerful, multimedia campaigns. It’s not just online retail sales that are on the up either. In 2017, online giving increased by 12.1% year on year, bringing the value of donations via websites, social media and apps to £2.4 billion – 26% of all donations. From me to you It would be remiss of me not to give you a little present of my own – a bit of free tax advice on charitable donations. Companies can claim tax relief for donations made to charities provided they really are a gift and the company is not receiving something of value in return. This is not restricted to donating money – it could be equipment, stock or employees’ time. As you would expect there are rules governing the valuation of non-cash donations, but your accountant can help you with this. Companies cannot however Gift Aid their donation. If you work as a sole trader or as part of a partnership, you are governed by the same tax rules as private individuals. This is where Gift Aid comes into play. Gift Aid is a system through which the donation you make is deemed to be net of income tax at the basic rate (currently 20%). If you sign a Gift Aid declaration, the charity can then reclaim the income tax and this boosts your donation by 25p for every £1 you give. There is a caveat here though – you must have paid at least as much income or capital gains tax as the charity is reclaiming and you must also inform the charity if your donations cease to qualify. What’s more, if you’re a higher rate taxpayer, you can also reclaim higher rate relief through your tax return or by asking HMRC to amend your tax code. Effectively you are taxed at the basic rate (20%) rather than the higher rate (40%) on the amount you have given to charity. Wherever and however you choose to spend your money this Christmas, may yours be merry and bright, and, if we’re lucky, maybe it will also be white.
P.S. I know that I have mentioned this before, but it would also be remiss of me not to sneak in a mention of an incredible local charity; at Composure we are proud to support Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice for Sussex and South East Hampshire which cares for 300 children and young adults with progressive life-shortening conditions. They are an amazing organisation – you can find out more about them at: http://www.chestnuttree-house.org.uk/
Your money, your business | 55
London to Brighton Fine contributor Peter Benner looks back at this infamous veteran car run
O
ne of the things that unites our counties of Surrey and Sussex is the “Brighton Road”, still (as the M23/ A23), one of the shortest of the major roads out of the capital.
The long and winding road Various routes to Brighton were developed over the years from 1750 to 1850 but the main road that led there soon evolved as a route for feats of endurance and competitive performances – over the years it attracted Stock Exchange walkers, cyclists, unicyclists, runners, people with
56 | fine
bears and other eccentrics, all hell bent on getting to the sea. The beginning of the Old Crocks However, the most important and well known of these pilgrimages was probably the annual “Emancipation Run” held on the first Sunday in November. Also formerly rather rudely known as “The Old Crocks Run”, we now know it as the London to Brighton veteran car rally. The “run” originated in 1896, when an Act of Parliament was passed to relieve the
emerging band of motorists from some of the draconian restrictions imposed upon these “horseless carriages”. It’s widely thought that this was to remove the requirement to have a man with a red flag walking in front, but this was in fact abolished some time before. A slow celebration of speed Enthusiasts felt that this new emancipation deserved to be celebrated with a “run” down to Brighton. At first, just a couple of dozen turned out, including several pioneers of motor travel including FW
Simms, HJ Lawson and SF Edge (himself a former winning cyclist to Brighton). Most of them made the 52 miles (although one or two were suspected of putting their cars on the train to complete the journey!). After a break, the run was reintroduced after the First World War and has been held every year (apart from 3 during WWII) since. In the 1950s it gained publicity from the film Genevieve and the car of that name still takes part. Old and exotic The qualification for entry is that the car must have been made before 31st December 1904 (which is the same cut-off date to qualify as a “veteran car” (those that come after 1905 being successively: Edwardian (1905 -18), Vintage (1919-30) and PVT or Classic (selected vehicles up to 1970)). The event has at various times been organised by the Veteran Car Club and the RAC, with various sponsors, the current one being Bonhams the auctioneers. They also hold a “Concours D’Elegance” for selected vehicles in Regent Street on the Saturday before, and an auction sale for qualifying vehicles and other “Exotic”. One of the cars in this year’s sale will be the ex-Beaulieu Motor Museum “Panhard et Lavassor”. Hyde Park at dawn Amazingly, the entry that is marshalled in Hyde Park before 7am on the Sunday now attracts between four and five hundred qualifying vehicles each year, some coming from Europe and as far afield as the USA and Australia. There are also often celebrities in the line-up and over the years these have included Damon Hill,
Eddie Jordan, Charlie Boorman and Chris Evans. The cut off time for the finish is 3pm on Madeira Drive, Brighton. It is still quite a spectacle, bearing in mind that this year, to take part, each vehicle must be at least 114 years old. Many of them are three wheelers, some carry only the driver, and many are without any form of protection from the weather (which has sometimes been quite horrid). Diehards of the road The make most frequently seen is probably the De Dion Bouton (a company that also supplied engines for other makes) and, from America, the “curveddash” or “buckboard” Oldsmobile. Qualifying cars are often offered for sale with a confirmed entry to the run. One of last year’s bravest enthusiasts Duncan Pittaway bought a Salvesen Steam Cart at Bonhams Auction on the Friday and drove it to Brighton on the Sunday, with the previous owner John Brydon stoking the boiler! While the late Ron Shaw, who ran a garage in Crawley, keenly took part in almost every run from WWII up to his death in his eighties. A labour of love Rodney De Little who lives just off the route, usually takes part in his 1902 Pierce with his daughter Cressida as “riding mechanic”. Cressida has now acquired her own veteran, a Hurtu but won’t be entering this year as she’s still completing the lengthy and complicated process of obtaining the appropriately dated plate to qualify. “The atmosphere before dawn at the start is fantastic, but for novices, creeping out
into the traffic at Hyde Park Corner can be daunting.” explains Rodney. David Ralph from Crawley has been taking part since 2003, first with his Humberette, then his 1904 Wolseley and more recently as “riding mechanic” (often a very important role) for a friend who enters her 1903 De Dion. He says the one thing that can deter entrants (apart from the pressure from modern traffic getting in the way) is that it is a rather expensive outing. The entry fee is currently £470 and to that must be added the cost of fuel including for a tender vehicle to bring the Veteran back home from Brighton or in the event of breakdown: for some there’s also the cost of one or two nights in London, or Brighton, or both! One of the major motoring events of the year Almost all petrol heads local to the route turn out to watch: some car clubs foregather at a chosen “watering-hole” - Morgan and Triumph owners do so at Staplefield Common. This year’s London to Brighton Run is on the 4th November 2018 and Christian and Geri Horner will be taking part. Christian is Team Principal of the hugely successful Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team while his singer-songwriter wife Geri, became internationally famous as a member of the Spice Girls, the most successful girl group in pop music history. The couple will share Lord (Irvine) Laidlaw’s 1904 PanhardLevassor! You can find out more about the rally at https://www.veterancarrun.com/
| 57
58 | fine
Traditional Elegance No Naked Walls are honoured to be Shen Ming Cun’s exclusive UK Gallery partner and will be hosting their fourth major Shen Ming Cun exhibition in the Bramley Gallery. Shen Ming’s work is un-rivalled due to its masterful complexity and attention to detail, with a long list of collectors awaiting his latest pieces.
Professor Shen Ming Cun is a teaching and research Director at Guangxi Zhuang University, specialising in European Classical painting. His paintings focus on capturing, distilling and representing the unique traditions, costumes and heritage of the minority tribes of Southern China, especially the Miao, the Dong, the Zhunag and the Yao. The affinity and respect that Shen Ming has for these people is clear in his work as he preserves in paint the realities of their lives. In his figurative pieces he focuses on the ornate costumes worn for religious festivals, weddings and holiday celebrations. These stunning individual portraits contrast sharply with his large interiors, which give an intimate glimpse of the daily life of millions. He has an empathy for the way in which these tribes live, their attitudes, culture and history. He says “I have spent a long time researching the richly colourful cultural heritage of the Yao and Miao nationalities and the Dong minority. Over the years I have lived amongst them and become friends with these beautiful people who radiate pure goodness and a simple love of life. Cultivating their ancestors’ achievements, they turn life into immortal art.” These highly sought after and collectable pieces have met with international acclaim and feature in private collections
worldwide. He has exhibited in Britain, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and New Zealand and has taken part in several important national exhibitions in Beijing, winning several major awards. No Naked Walls Gallery owner Sharon Withers has a long established relationship with Shen Ming and has built a unique partnership. Sharon says “Shen Ming Cun is a delight to work alongside, his work translates the emotional and physical aspects of the authentic Chinese nationalities. His commitment to perfection is unparalleled, his passion for his subjects and their environments is prevalent in every detail.” This special exhibition opens on Thursday 25th October with a preview evening between 6 – 9pm. Please email info@ nonakedwalls.co.uk for your invitation to the opening event. The exhibition then continues until the 10th November. No Naked Walls Bramley 24 High Street, Bramley, Surrey, GU5 0HB (01483) 894466 info@nonakedwalls.co.uk www.nonakedwalls.co.uk No Naked Walls, Chertsey 6a Windsor Street Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8AS (01932) 561758
| 59
From design to reality
5, Swan Lane, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4EQ • 01483 506111 www. simonpure.co.uk 3 Smithbrook Kilns, Horsham Road, Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8JJ • 01483 273111
Each design invites you into Simon Pure’s world of indefinable beauty
5, Swan Lane, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4EQ • 01483 506111 www. simonpure.co.uk 3 Smithbrook Kilns, Horsham Road, Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8JJ • 01483 273111
Aktivhotel Veronika Seefeld in Tirol
You are most welcome. Immerse yourself in a world full of fun and joie de vivre.
S
pecially selected culinary delights, excellent service, rooms that are lovingly and individually designed – these are just a few of the amenities that await you when you holiday at the Aktivhotel Veronika in Seefeld. We offer all-round comfort and all the benefits of a 4-star hotel. Whether you want to concentrate on hiking, mountain biking, walking or wellness with your family, you can be sure that we have facilities which are perfectly tailormade to your needs. Our child and dog-friendly hotel holds many surprises for old and young guests alike. Our friendly, professional Veronika team is
62 | fine
always on hand to ensure that your holiday on the snowy Seefeld Plateau will be a truly memorable one.
or a leisurely get-together with family and friends, we invite you try out our fancy delicacies.
The Kirchmair Family and the Veronika Team
Bar Let your eventful day draw to its close over a glass of whisky, wine or cognac … at our bar. We serve an extensive selection of choice spirits, wines and teas that you can enjoy with old and newlyfound friends.
HOTEL FACILITIES Spa, Pool & Fitness Areas In addition to our indoor pool with its counter-current system, built-in whirlpool and relaxation area, sauna and gym, our hotel also has a well-appointed wellness centre. We offer an extensive range of massages which can alleviate muscular tension, stress and improve your mood. Restaurant Whether enjoying a romantic candle-lit dinner, a meal with a business colleague
Meeting Facilities Hold your meeting in the idyllic mountain air in a central, modern location. Experience the beauty of the Seefeld Plateau at the elegant AktivHotel Veronika! You can rely on our professional organisation and facilities. You can devote yourself fully to your colleagues, customers or associates, while we offer every support.
Chef Our chef will indulge you with the finesse of his homely and traditional delicacies, and a touch of fine, modern cuisine. He is happy to greet our guests personally and give away one or two of his secret recipe tips. And he’s looking forward to meeting you! Kids Club The whole family will feel particularly at ease in the Seefeld Olympic region. What’s more, our young guests can enjoy the tremendous fun of our carefully devised children’s programmes led by our team of outdoor professionals, the SportAktiv ski school, and numerous attractions in Seefeld. The Seefeld Card with loads of reductions and competitive all-in offers will do the rest to make for relaxing holidays for young and old! Rooms & Suites All of our rooms and suites are intentionally spaciously designed, using the choicest materials, stylish colour schemes and furnishings, and naturally offering you the highest levels of practical comfort. Whether you are single, a couple in love or a family with children and/or pets, the Aktivhotel Veronika is the right retreat for you.
The Seefeld Olympiaregion in Tirol offers unlimited opportunies equally for cross-country and alpine skiers.
www.aktivhotel-veronika.at/en/ +43 5212 2105
In the winter months the Olympiaregion Seefeld transforms itself into a white paradise. The Alpine landscape offers a perfect backdrop for the extensive
winter sports on offer and the wide range of winter walking trails. Crosscountry skiers take advantage of the perfectly-prepared kilometres of awardwinning trails which are some of the best in the world, only a few minutes walk from the Seefeld pedestrian area. Those who want to carry on skiing once the sun has gone down can use the night trail, which is illuminated after dusk. Cross-country skiing is complemented by the Nordic Competence Centre in Seefeld, that acts as a pre-season training centre for many international athletes and national teams because of its ideal altitude. It has two new ski jumps and one of the most modern fully-electronic biathlon areas in Europe, equipped with an innovative snowmaking installation for the trails and a roller ski course for summer training. The region also makes family holidays a pleasure with well-equipped children’s areas, where the young ones can experience their first taste of skiing. Guests who do not want to strap skis to their feet can look forward to an extensive network of winter walking trails leading to breathtaking panoramas and with wonderful places to stop along the way. The many ice skating and curling rinks are a little bit livelier, with children and adults competing. Families will enjoy the (natural) toboggan runs, with lightning-fast descents from the mountain. Joggers have the option of prepared trails in the winter running and Nordic walking arena. People have many individual interests, but everyone can experience their personal winter dream holiday in the Seefeld before meeting up at the end of the day over a meal in one of the many mountain huts.
Travel | 63
C O N S E R VAT I O N
The Timber Windows range includes a host of window & door options to improve your home. For most of our customers, the style of their property will inform the design choices they make, so whether you live in a period home or something more contemporary we can help enhance both appearance and performance.
&
We can also provide advice RQ WKH Ĺ“ QH GHWDLOV RI JOD]LQJ hardware and colour, helping you to make your property authentic to the area.
CONTEMPORARY
styles
Stylish stainless steel hardware choices and an extensive colour palette echoing today’s preferences enable you to achieve the looks you want combined with exceptional timber performance.
In locations with more design freedom then we can help bring your ideas to life, balancing design and practicality to enhance your home, whilst still maintaining traditional looks. Timber has proven to be the perfect material for contemporary style windows and doors, characterised by FOHDQ SURĹ“ OHV DQG OLQHV When it comes to conservation areas we have proven experience in helping to restore the original character of a property through carefully selected windows & doors, always with an eye to any planning considerations.
Etched and patterned glass for front door panels, even incorporating your house number or name, can help add personality. And in locations where there is more latitude for creativity Timber Windows can help to combine elements of both our traditional and contemporary ranges in a single unique look perhaps by pairing beautiful sash windows with a contemporary front door.
Beautifully crafted
HAND-MADE timber windows & doors
THE REASSURANCE OF DEALING WITH A
local SPECIALIST
Timber Windows of Horsham install the award-winning range of hand-made, engineered timber casement windows, sash windows and doors throughout Sussex and surrounding areas. Whether your home is a country cottage, a Victorian semi, a modern townhouse or a converted barn, we have a range of traditional and contemporary timber windows and doors that will complement it perfectly. Our beautiful timber products do not stick, warp or twist, require very little PDLQWHQDQFH RIIHU PRGHUQ VWDQGDUGV RI VHFXULW\ DQG VLJQLÅ“ FDQW HQHUJ\ VDYLQJV
visit our showroom: Unit 1, Blunts Yard, Newbuildings Place, Dragons Green Road, Dragons Green, Horsham RH13 8GQ
Tel: 01403 732822
enquiries@timberwindowshorsham.com
www.timberwindows.com
Showrooms also in Wimbledon & Guildford
A unique experience G vintage tage pleasure w with riages restored restore to carriages the former glory of their 1920’s heyday
66 | fine
et ready to join St Catherine’s Hospice for an unforgettable trip on a very special train service next spring. The famous Belmond British Pullman, the sister train to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, will be pulling into Horsham on Saturday 18 May 2019. When you arrive at Horsham station you’ll be met by stewards who will welcome you on board the impressive train headed for Windsor. On your outbound journey, you’ll indulge in a Bellini Brunch accompanied by live music. You’ll then have time to explore historic Windsor, including the Queen’s favourite weekend home, Windsor Castle
Belmond British Pullman is arriving into Horsham
(entry included) before heading back to Horsham. On your return journey, you’ll be welcomed back on board with a glass of champagne before enjoying an exquisite three course dinner and wine. This bespoke trip has never been available locally before and will provide a dash of adventure in the English countryside. And it’s an adventure you can feel good about, as it’ll help raise vital funds for local families living with a terminal illness. A trip on the Belmond British Pullman is a true, vintage pleasure with carriages restored to the former glory of their
1920’s heyday. Over a century ago, George Mortimer Pullman, the father of luxury train travel, realised that his passengers would expect high-quality luxury and comfort when travelling. To make sure his train provided this he instructed the finest craftsman of the time to create in his words, “A Palace on Wheels.” And today, the Pullman train and its carriages continue to be just that. Giving passengers an exclusive chance to step back in time to an age of glamour, luxury and comfort, the Pullman provides guests with impeccable onboard service in 11, 1920’s art decor carriages. Each of these carriages has its own name, personality, and story. Here, we share highlights of these. Audrey Sit in Audrey and you’ll be following in the footsteps of the Queen, the Queen Mother and the Duke of Edinburgh. Cygnus Cygnus is the carriage usually reserved for use by Royalty and visiting Heads of State. It was used in the special Festival of Britain rake in 1951, which celebrated British industry, arts and science, and has also featured on the big screen in the film Agatha. Gwen Gwen was preserved as a restaurant at the Horseless Carriage in Chingford, Essex, and
later at the Colne Valley Railway at Castle Hedingham Station in Essex. Ibis Purchased by the Pullman Car Company Ltd in 1928, Ibis is the oldest carriage. From 1952 until 1968, it also served as a deluxe Cunard boat train service between London and Southampton. Ione Built in 1928, Ione has served many train routes including; Ocean Liner Services, the Bournemouth Belle, the Queen of Scots, Golden Arrow, the Yorkshire and South Wales Pullman, and the high speed Talisman route (which ran at 880 miles per day). Lucille Lucille was orignally built for the Queen of Scots Pullman. It was then transferred South where it transported passengers as part of the Bournemouth Belle. Minerva Built in 1927, Minerva has travelled as part of the Devon Belle and the Golden Arrow. The carriage also appeared, alongside Cygnus, in the special Festival of Britain rake in 1951. Perseus Perseus formed part of Winston Churchill’s funeral train in 1965. In 1972, it was also part of the Golden Arrow’s last journey.
Phoenix Phoenix was the favourite carriage of the Queen Mother. It was also used by General de Gaulle and visiting Heads of State. Like Perseus, it made the last Golden Arrow journey in 1972 before becoming a stationary restaurant in France in 1973. Vera Vera is always paired with Audrey as a two car unit and, alongside Audrey, was hit in an air raid at Victoria Station in 1940. But Vera survived and went on to carry Prince Charles and Princess Anne in their first trip on an electric train in 1954. Zena Built in 1928, after the war, Zena joined the Queen of Scots and Yorkshire Pullman until 1955. Zena was also on the final run of the Tynes-Tee Pullman. Now the only choice left for you to make, is which historic carriage you’d prefer to sit in when the train pulls into Horsham next May.
Tickets are £420 per person. Places are strictly limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. Ready to experience a top class train journey? To book your exclusive ticket and preferred carriage, please contact Hannah Shorter at St Catherine’s Hospice on 01293 447364.
Charity | 67
SLINDON, WEST SUSSEX An elegant Regency house, Listed Grade II, commanding one of the best positions in this predominantly National Trust village in the rich countryside of the South Downs National Park, with breath-taking views over open countryside to the West Sussex coast and beyond. This truly wonderful property has all the elegance and proportions of the Regency period with high ceilings, large sash windows, flagstone floors and impressive fireplaces.
01903 885886
Reception Hall • Drawing Room • Dining Room • Family Room • Study • Playroom • Cloakroom • Kitchen/Breakfast Room • Utility Room • Cellar • Master Bedroom Suite • 7 Further Bedrooms and 4 further Bath/Shower Rooms • Formal Gardens • Paddock/Pasture Land • Outbuilding and Garaging • Garden and Grounds of approximately 4.75 acres • LEASEHOLD
Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices
GUIDE PRICE £3,250,000
ARUNDEL arundel@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk
ARUNDEL
01903 885886 arundel@jackson-stops.co.uk
modern interior
4-5
4
4-5
1
Maplehurst, West Sussex The property has been expertly designed and crafted to deliver a wonderful modern home. The result is charming and intriguing from the moment you arrive.
Our West Sussex expert, James Nowak, looks forward to helping you. james.nowak@knightfrank.com 01403 453179
• Horsham station 5.6 miles • Brighton 19.2 miles • Central London 42.6 miles knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £1,295,000
Freehold
Scandia Hus
3
3
4
7.6
Lower Beeding, West Sussex Elevated Scandia Hus benefiting from beautiful views onto a substantial lake with ongoing Fishery. With plenty of opportunity to develop a more profitable fishery business with an existing fishing lodge, south facing solar panels and outbuildings with annexe potential, this well maintained property offers plenty of potential to the next owner.
• Horsham rail station 4.3 miles • Haywards Heath rail station 9.9 miles • Gatwick airport 14.6 miles • Central London 40.1 miles
Our West Sussex expert, Christopher Burton, looks forward to helping you. chris.burton@knightfrank.com chris.burton@knightfrank.com
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.
Guide price £1,300,000
Freehold
Horsham 35 Carfax, Horsham RH12 1EE 01403 886860 | horsham@struttandparker.com
West Sussex | Sayers Common
Guide Price ÂŁ1,795,000
A charming period farmhouse, with a variety of outbuildings, set in a rural, yet convenient, location. Kitchen/breakfast room | 2 Reception rooms | Utility | Master bedroom suite | 4 Further double bedrooms | Family bathroom | Swimming pool with retractable cover and pool house | Tennis court | Stable block comprising 4 stables | Garage with attached gym Detached office | Cow shed and detached barn (both with Planning Permission) | EPC: F Gardens and grounds of just under 3 acres
Horsham Ken Roberts | 01403 886860
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including Prime Central London
Horsham 35 Carfax, Horsham RH12 1EE 01403 886860 | horsham@struttandparker.com
West Sussex | Woodmancote
Guide Price ÂŁ1,850,000
An impressive Grade II Listed country house offering spacious and versatile accommodation. Entrance hall | Kitchen/breakfast room | 4 Reception rooms | Utility | Cloakroom Cellar | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room | 6 Further bedrooms | 2 Family bathrooms Various outbuildings including block and steel framed barn | Timber built garage flint | Brick built double garage Gardens and grounds of just over 10 acres
Horsham Edward Jackson | 01403 886860
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including Prime Central London
LITTLEHAMPTON, WEST SUSSEX A WONDERFUL TWO BEDROOM FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT, FORMING PART OF A SUBSTANTIAL GEORGIAN PROPERTY ON THE WEST SUSSEX COAST. Located within a quiet Conservation Area, steps from the beach and seafront promenade connecting to coastal walkways and the vibrant Arun River harbour with an abundance of coastal leisure activities, local cinema and cafes. Great opportunity for investment in a coastal retreat or to retire. Single Garage in adjacent block and the ability to park one car in front. New 999 year lease & share of freehold. 1hr 45 mins from London Victoria.
Guide Price £320,000
EPC rating D
Arundel 01903 885886 arundel@jackson-stops.co.uk
WESTHAMPNETT, WEST SUSSEX A BEAUTIFULLY PROPORTIONED REGENCY HOUSE IN NEED OF REFURBISHMENT WITH ANNEXE AND BARN, SURROUNDED BY GARDENS OF ABOUT 0.9 ACRES. Reception Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study, Cellars, Cloakroom, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, 4 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Self-Contained Annexe with Sitting Room, Kitchen/Dining Room, 3 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Flint-Built Period Barn, Garage & Store Rooms, Gardens.
Guide Price £895,000
Chichester 01243 786316 chichester@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices PROPERTY EXPERTS SINCE 1910
NEWDIGATE, DORKING, SURREY AN OUTSTANDING VICTORIAN HOME WITH EXCELLENT EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES ON THE FRINGE OF THIS MUCH ADMIRED VILLAGE. Entrance porch, reception hall, cloakroom, sitting room, impressive dining room, study, family room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, boot room, further cloakroom, cellar, master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, five further bedrooms, family bathroom, delightful gardens and grounds, long private driveway, stable blocks, hay barn, store rooms, garage, paddocks, sand school, in all, about 7.5 acres.
Guide Price £1,895,000
EPC rating G
Dorking 01306 887560 dorking@jackson-stops.co.uk
THE BUCKLAND HILLS, SURREY A SPECTACULAR SETTING ON THE NORTH DOWNS WITH COMMANDING VIEWS. Reception hall, dining room, cloakroom, study, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, main bedroom with en-suite shower room, two further bedrooms, bathroom, large enclosed courtyard with parking, garage, delightful formal gardens, enclosed terrace, extensive sweeping lawns, paddock, stables, mature woodland, extensive views on Surrey into Sussex, in all, about 3.6 acres. Outline planning consent to build a detached house on condition of demolition of existing dwelling.
Guide Price £1,250,000
EPC rating F
Reigate 01737 222027 reigate@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices PROPERTY EXPERTS SINCE 1910
Greyffria rs L a ne e, Storrri ng gton,, We estt Susse ex
Price Guiid e £1 ,000,, 000
One of the six unique former Abbey homes at St Joseph’s, Joseph’s, a stroll from the Village & Downs St Joseph’s is described as “an oasis of calm” and this practical 3,000 sq ft home has the feel of a London London home over 4 floors with light & space. Ideal as main home or escape from from the bustle of city life, it has stone-mullioned windows, its own walled garden & garden room through to 5 acre communal parkland parkland grounds | Residents’ tennis court | 20 x10 garage with loft storage included | 4 main bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 suites) | Imposing own hall & entrance | Elegant d drawing rawing room | Formal dining room | Study | Carpet option for living, living, dining room & study | Appliance-fitted kitchen | Breakfast room opening to garden | Lower TV room and occasional bed 5 | Wine store & original “silver safe” | Feature staircases staircases | Top floor ideal as an “apartment suite” for home office, office, guest suite or uni age offspring | Gas CH | Walled Walled secret garden | Garage and parking | EPC not applicable (Listed Building) Building)
We estt Chii l ti ng gton,, We estt Susse ex
Price Guiid e £850,, 000
In an e xc cl ussive e cl osse on hiigh grround d , a wa al k frrom viil l a ge e s hop ps & a me e niitie s A 4 bed, 3 bath/shower room home in a lovely garden, garden, the house enjoying distant views to the South Downs. Downs. Excellent day space with a fine drawing room, dining room (both with garden views) | Over 2,000 sq ft plus large Double Garage with hobbies/work area | Entrance lobby | Good Good size hall | 4-window drawing room (fireplace) | French French windows out to Mediterranean-style terrace | Study | 17x11 Kitchen Kitchen | Separate utility room | Cloakroom | Main bedroom bedroom and ES bathroom Guest bedroom & shower room 2 | 2 further bedrooms & family bathroom 3 | Good storage | Delightful gardens and long drive | Home produce section section | Sunny side terrace and rear patio | Extensive Extensive drive & parking | Large attached garage with hobbies/work area | Woodland/country Woodland/country walks nearby and village shops | EPC D 61 | NO CHAIN
Clarke & Charlesworth
01903 74 12 12 e: property@clarkeandcharlesworth.com
Storrri ng gton,, We estt Susse ex
Pri ce £800,, 000
A be autti full l y pre e se e ntte d home e se e t in a l eafy l ane e ab boutt 1.5 5 miil e s from the e viil l age e , wiith wond de rfull wood dl and d and d counttry wall ks ne e arb by Light and well-appointed 1973 sq ft interior with a new kitchen and many luxury features | South facing, facing, looking out over glorious gardens | Large 3-window sitting room opening to terrace | Re-planned Wren kitchen | Lots Lots of natural light | Separate utility room | South facing rooms | Separate Separate bay-window dining room | Spacious central hall | Luxury cloakroom | 4 bedrooms, or 3 plus a good size study | 2 contemporary contemporary bathrooms, one en-suite | Light neutral décor décor & floor coverings | Gas CH, high performance double glazing | Landscaped gardens with high natural privacy | Sunny south terraces terraces | Superb summerhouse | Wide gravel drive and extra parking | Matching double width garage | EPC D (67) |
Storrri ng gton,, We estt Susse ex
Pri ce Guiid e £850,,000
A contte mp porary sp pl it -l e ve e l home e in a priivatte l ane e , e njjoyiing a gre e e n outtl ook k wii th e xtte nsii ve e wrap parround d garrde ns Light living space and bedrooms are set above a useful useful semi-basement level floor | 2,583 sq ft interior including workrooms/ office/bed 4 and double garage | 3 or 4 bedrooms with with 2 stylish bath and shower rooms, one en-suite | Gas Gas heating system | Architectural oak-style double glazing | Light principle principle rooms all enjoy garden or more distant views | Extensive south and west terraces | Large sitting room, separate dining room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Utility room | Cent Central ral reception hall and new cloakroom | Integral workshop and hobbies/store room on lower floor | Double carport | Gated entran entrance ce and drive | Summer house and outbuilding | Beautiful gardens with with colour and privacy | EPC D (68) |
Village & Country Homes for sale & wanted in West Sussex
01903 74 12 12 Independent Estate Agents, Residential Sales & Lettings
www.clarkeandcharlesworth.com
THE BED CENTRE BRAMLEY
Autumn Promotion up to 40% off selected products Old Barn, High Street, Bramley, Surrey GU5 0HS Free Parking front and rear Open: Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 5:30pm. Closed Sundays
Telephone (01483) 898209 www.bramleybedcentre.co.uk FREE DELIVERY AND FREE DISPOSAL OF YOUR BED
PRIVATE RETIREMENT LIVING AT CHARTERS VILLAGE Medway House
Medway House
A delightful one bedroom first floor apartment with views to the rear.
A one bedroom ground floor apartment, with a private balcony, boasting fantastic countryside views from the rear.
Price: £345,000*
Price: £299,950*
Bush Davies House
Felcourt House
A newly built ground floor apartment with a large living/ dining area, and master bedroom with floor to ceiling picture frame window.
A ground floor two bedroom property on the end of the block, with a south facing patio area.
Price: £515,000*
Price: £455,000*
Charters Towers
Felcourt House
A stunning first floor, two bedroom apartment. Rarely available, this apartment was originally the Show Home.
A spacious two bedroom, two bathroom apartment on the first floor, with spectacular views overlooking an ornamental pond.
Price: £415,000*
Price: £500,000*
Call us on 01342 870871 to request a free village brochure or to book your private viewing. Charters Village, Felcourt Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 2JR www.chartersvillage.co.uk *Other charges apply and leases are subject to an assignment fee. Please ask for details.
FIRST TAG HEUER MODULAR SWISS MADE WATCH 50M WATER RESISTANT | GPS
63 Churchill Square, Brighton, BN1 2RG
43 High Street, Reigate, RH2 9AE
Telephone: 01273 710357
Telephone: 01737 249357
49 West Street, Horsham, RH12 1PP
Explore the collection
Telephone: 01403 258582
at thbaker.co.uk