CHISLEHURST & BECKENHAM LIFE
CHISLEHURST LIFE & BECKEN HAM W E S T E R H A M , OX T E D, D U LW I C H , B L A C K H E AT H , S E V E N O A K S , G R E E N W I C H , T U N B R I D G E W E L L S A N D T H E E XC LU S I V E S U R R O U N D I N G A R E A S
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SPOOKY CHISLEHURST CAVES FASCINATING FAVERSHAM BROMLEY MUSEUM PLANS
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BRAD
PITT In The Flesh
PLUS: OLYMPIC REVIEW OLympics speciaL
THE QUALITY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 JANUARY 2012
The london 2012 SUMMER Ol Pic GameS areym here
l
in London from 27th July – 12th august 2012 paralympic Games 29th august – 9th september 2012
ondon will become the fi rst city the modern Olympic Games to officially host three times having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948 London was selected as the host city during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore, defeating Moscow, New York City, Madrid was headed by former Olympic and Paris. The successful bid champion Sebastian Coe
Olympics section V2.indd
The Olympics has prompted a redevelopment of many of areas of London. The Games will make use of many venues which were already in place before the bid, including Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena, Wimbledon All England Club, Lord’s Cricket Ground, The O2 Arena, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and the Excel Centre
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Welcome to the January issue and Published by the Fish Media group Ltd. 2nd Floor, titan Court, 3 Bishop Square, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9NA here’s to a happy and 0844 800 8439 successful 2012 to email: rory@fishmediagroup.co.uk all of our readers. PUBLISHED BY THE FISH MEDIA GROUP LTD
EDITOR Faye Manning EDITOR ASSISTANT Katie Miller SUB EDITOR Alex Lux FASHION EDITOR Hazel Englander
The Ridings, Woodfi Lane, BUSINESSeld DEVELOPMENT Essendon, Herts, MANAGER AL9 6JJ Vanessa Lane DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Tel : 0844 Toni Perry 800 8439 Fax : 01707 655 718. ACCOUNTS/ADMIN Kathy Manning
SALES Jason Trotman Barry John James Marshall DIRECTORS Rory Smith Patrick Smith Peter Smith
Ken Fleet www.thelifemagazines.com Email: peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk
2012 promises to be a very varied and interesting year so where better to start our January issue off than an 8 page, in depth look at what many people describe as the greatest show on earth - the olympic games and Paralympic games. london is the first City to host the modern games three times - 1908, 1948 and 2012 - and as the opening ceremony approaches I am sure that the whole country will catch olympic fever. As usual our local life writers visit more towns and areas of local interest, this month we turn the spotlight on Chislehurst Caves, Faversham, maidstone and the Bromley museum, whilst our renowned local historian John Ruler takes us back centuries to show how clerics shaped Bromley’s future.
© all Rights Reserved. St albans Life, Harpenden Life, Radlett Life is copyright and January not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. Whilst the Fish Media group Ltd takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can be accepted for any property, services or products offered in these publications and any loss arising therefrom. Whilst every care editor is taken with all materials submitted to the St albans Life, Harpenden Life & Radlett Life the publisher cannot accept responsibility faye for the loss or damage to such material.Fish Media groupManning Ltd reserves the right to reject or accept any advertisement, article or material prior to publication.opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Fish Media group Ltd.We accept assistant no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be taken for editor the content of these pages.
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INNER 070111 LONDON Jan i31.indd 3
Sub editor alex lux fashion editor kitty Shead contributors wendy Stevenson John ruler John Bly Bruce edwards Jack Smith
Design & Production Jules Breckenridge www.breckenridgedesign.co.uk Photography adam Swaine accounts kathy Manning ken fleet Business Development Managers lisa westerman Sinead Sheil SaleS lorna ferrin vanessa lane James Marshall DirectorS Peter Smith rory Smith Patrick Smith
All Rights reserved. All Fish Media Group Ltd magazines are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. Whilst Fish Media Group Ltd takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can be accepted for any property, services or products offered in any of our publications and any loss arising. Whilst every care is taken with all materials submitted to all of our magazines the publisher cannot accept the loss or damage to such material. The Fish Media Group Ltd reserves the right to reject or accept any advertisement, article or material prior to publication. Opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Fish Media Group Ltd. We accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be accepted for the content of these pages.
as the opening ceremony approaches i am sure that the whole country will catch olympic fever.
we kick the year off with the Hollywood heart throb Brad Pitt on our front cover. Brad is one of the biggest stars on the planet but has announced that he is retiring in three years when he is 50. He talks about head scars, losing streaks and bad choices – you wont want to miss it.
19/01/2011 14:08:07
our superb Fish media team of writers bring you a wide variety of features and articles to enjoy again this month. Regan maloney our Food editor reviews more local restaurants. John Bly takes us on another fascinating journey through his wonderful world of antiques. Bruce edwards reviews more recent book releases and our what’s on guide offers you and the family a range of local events to visit and enjoy. the January Fashion pages can help to make you Chalet Chic. the Beauty section looks at Star Style 2012 resolutions. we travel to the Canyons of america, our recipes this month will help you lose weight with top tips from Jennifer Joyce author of Skinny meals in heels. our home and garden article says it’s a New year so lets give your home a new look. As you will see there is so much for you to enjoy in this issue. Until next month………
You will be pleased to know that you and your friends can now read our magazines online at www.thelifemagazines.com
to advertise contact Peter on 077111 43342 or email peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk january2012
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A gentleman’s stainless steel automatic Cartier Roadster bracelet watch. With box and papers. Estimate £1,600 - £2,200 A gentleman’s bi-metal automatic chronograph Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona bracelet watch circa 2011. With box and papers. Estimate £6,200 - £7,200 A gentleman’s stainless steel automatic chronograph Breitling Chronomat B01 bracelet watch. With box and papers. Estimate £1,800 - £2,200
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KeNT eveNTs
what’S oN... January 2012
✱ BroMley SyMPhony orcheStra Conductor: Adrian Brown. Founded after the First World War, the BSO has developed into one of the most distinguished non-professional orchestras in the country. We open with Walton’s “Crown imperial” written for the coronation of the Queen’s father, George Vi, in 1937. The poignant “Sospiri” (sighs) is followed by Arnold’s jazzy concerto, written for Benny Goodman. in 1830, Berlioz in his Symphonie Fantastique transformed the musical landscape with his vivid picture of passionate but unrequited love that eventually turns into a wild nightmare. Saturday 21 January 2012 at 7.45pm. Ravens Wood School, oakley Road, Bromley, BR2 8HP. Tickets £6 - £10, from 020 8464 5869 www.bromleysymphony.org ✱ launch of the Portico art PriZe young artists in Sevenoaks and Tonbridge are being urged to enter a new art prize competition that will see schools and students across West Kent given the chance to exhibit their works professionally. The Portico Art Prize, sponsored by Strutt & Parker and in partnership with national Trust, Knole, is asking artists in years 10 to 13 to create works on the theme of one of the great treasure houses of England, Knole in Sevenoaks, Kent. The competition opens on Monday, January 9 and entries will be accepted until Tuesday, February 21. 1st prize £200 / 2nd prize £100 / 3rd prize £50. 4th & 5th prize £25 art material vouchers To enter, students should bring their completed works to Portico Art Gallery, 25 London Road, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Kent, Tn13 2BU by noon on Tuesday, February 21 with their contact
6 january2012
details attached or on the back. The size restrictions are 2D 91.5cm x122cm; 3D 61cm x 61cm. All mediums accepted (except photography). For further information, contact Malcolm Dent on 01732 456 655 or email malcolmdent@porticogallery. co.uk or visit the website www.porticoartprize.co.uk . ✱ lonDon Potato fair This is the event where you can purchase seed potatoes by the single tuber and in loads of different varieties. Other stalls selling fruit and vegetable plants and other garden related items. Pennard Plants will be there with Heritage seeds, Rhubarb, Asparagus and other fruit bushes. 10.30am-3.00pm. Admission charges apply, see website. Sydenham School, Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill London SE26 4RD.Sunday 22 Jan 2012. Website: www.potatofair.org ✱ royal tunBriDGe wellS SyMPhony orcheStra To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, this concert, conducted by Roderick Dunk, features ceremonial pieces by Walton, Coates and Elgar. Callum Smart will be the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s lyrical Violin Concerto. Sunday 5 Feb 2012. 3pm, Tickets from £10, Telephone 01892 530613. assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2Lu. Website: www.rtwso.org ✱ GaBrieli centenary celeBration The Temenos Chamber Choir and the English Sackbutts and Cornetts celebrate the 400th anniversary of the death of Giovanni Gabrieli, the famous composer and organist at St Mark’s in Venice. 7:30pm. For ticket prices and further details see website. King Charles the Martyr church,
London Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1yX. Saturday 4 Feb 2012 Website: www. kcmtw.org/concerts.html ✱ JaZZ SinGer’S oPen Mic niGht Jazz Singer & Host, Sue Rivers invites you to sing with a jazz pianist and a bass player. Singers should bring a lead sheet in their key. Listeners and singers are both welcome. One song guaranteed, two if time allows. Singing lists taken from 7:45pm. Singing List taken from 7.45pm. Singing 8.15pm 10.45pm. Singers and Listeners £5. Enquiries to John Levett 01732 460143. The Grey Lady, 70 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 5TW. Monday 30 Jan 2012, Mon 27 Feb, Mon 26 Mar. Website: www. listeningroom.co.uk/flyer.asp ✱ oXteD coMMunity Market The friendly alternative to the High St, Oxted Community Market has traders selling, Plants, Beads, Costume jewellery, Handbags, Ladies Fashion & Accessories, Collectables, Hand-made Greetings Cards, other services include an Award Winning Pencil Artist, Picture Framing, Photographic Restoration, Alterations. Enjoy our lovely modern hall where refreshments are available. Disabled & Child Friendly Free Admission and Parking. Every Monday 9.30am until 1.00pm. Free admission. Contact John on 01883716056. oxted Community Hall, 53 Church Lane, oxted, Surrey ✱ Meet the author: Blood, Butterflies and Beasts a talk by author Denise Meredith. English Heritage has teamed up with the Historical Writers Association this winter to offer visitors a unique opportunity to ‘meet the author’ and delve into the fascinating
world of historical writing. With its unique place in the history of science, Down House, the home of Charles Darwin, is one of the major visitor attractions in the South East. See the study where Darwin wrote ‘On the Origin of Species’, still as it was when he worked here, and stroll through the extensive gardens that so inspired the great scientist. Equally fascinating are the glimpses you get into the life of the Darwin’s in the family rooms. And there’s an exciting interactive multimedia tour, narrated by David Attenborough, to tell you more about how Darwin developed his ideas. £20 per person (£15 per person for English Heritage members) Maximum capacity 30 – pre-booking essential 11am 0870 333 1181. Down House, Luxted Road, Downe, Kent BR6 7JT. Wednesday 1 Feb 2012. Website: www.englishheritage.org.uk/daysout/ properties/home-of-charlesdarwin-down-house/events ✱ McB Swan lake at the churchill Moscow City Ballet return by popular demand with two extraordinary full-scale ballets, Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake. Probably the world’s best- known love story is set to Prokofiev’s dramatic score, a masterpiece of 20th century music. All the hustle and bustle of Renaissance Verona is brought to life in this powerful production. Set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score, Swan Lake is a flawless production with a stunning demonstration of precision, artistry and sheer grace. Following the fate of Prince Siegfried and the beautiful Swan Queen, Odette, Swan Lake’s soaring climax sees the power of true love conquer the forces of evil. Moscow
City Ballet features some of Russian’s best young dancers, accompanied by the Moscow City Ballet orchestra. The Churchill, 108 High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1HA. Friday 27 Jan 2012 and Saturday 28 Jan 2012. Website: www.atgtickets. com/1585/651/Bromley/TheChurchill/MCB-Swan-Lake ✱ Greenwich Clocktower Market This quirky weekend market has 50 stalls, specialising in vintage, retro and antiques, with a few contemporary craft stalls thrown into the mix. Every Sat and Sun 10 – 4. Free entry. Tel 07940 914204. 166 Greenwich High Road, London SE10 8NN. Website: www.clocktowermarket.co.uk ✱ The Art of Harmony: The V&A and Horniman Music Collections. This exhibition showcases Western classical musical instruments on loan from the V&A and complementary objects from the Horniman. Venue: Balcony Gallery Until 31 Dec 2012. Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill London SE23 3PQ. Free admission. Until Monday 6 Feb 2012.Website: www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/ exhibitions/exhibition/ the-art-of-harmony/ exhibition-chapter/represe ✱ Clay Pigeon Shooting in Dartford, Kent. £31.50 Member - 25 Clays, £34.50 Guest - 25 Clays, £51.50 Member - 50 Clays, £54.50 Guest - 50 Clays. Spice London is an Activity, Adventure Sports and Social club where members can meet new people, make new friends and have fun. We offer around 100 events each month for members to book. Badgers Mount, Darenth Woods, nr Bean DA2 8DA, Kent, DA2 8DA.Sunday 22 Jan 2012. Website: www. spicelondon.co.uk/bookit/ bkiteventwriteup.asp ✱ Save The Last Dance For Me at The Churchill. From the writers, producers
& directors who brought you Dreamboats and Petticoats. Save the Last Dance for Me will take you back through the ‘music and magic’ of the early 60’s, a time when each passing week brought another Rock ‘n’ Roll classic. This nostalgic, feel-good musical journey will transport you back to music’s golden era as we follow two teenage sisters, Jennifer and Marie, through the summer of 1963. Full of freedom and high spirits they embark on a family holiday to the coast and a traditional seaside town. The young siblings soon discover much more than just sea and sand when they meet a handsome American airman, who invites them to a dance at the nearby United States Air force base. Please check the website for performance times and prices. The Churchill, 108 High Street, Bromley Kent BR1 1HA. Friday 13 Jan 2012 to Saturday 21 Jan 2012. Website: www. atgtickets.com/3117/651/ Bromley/The-Churchill/SaveThe-Last-Dance-For-Me ✱ Family Fun Trail. Join us this February half term for our Family Fun Trail, find the hidden clues to solve the puzzle and win a yummy prize. Opening times:11am4pm. Please visit the website for prices and other information. Eltham Palace and Gardens, Greenwich, London, SE9 5QE. Sunday 12 Feb 2012 to Wednesday 15 Feb 2012. Website: www. english-heritage.org.uk/ daysout/properties/elthampalace-and-gardens/ ✱ Morris Dancing for All! Join in and learn some traditional English folk and Morris dancing with live music! Children are recommended to be aged 4+ to take part. Please note: sticks and scarves will be used in the dancing. 2pm and 3.30pm. Free, drop in. Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill London SE23 3PQ. Wednesday 15 Feb 2012. Website: www.horniman. ac.uk/visit/events/event/ morris-dancing-for-all-96
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Keuco • Hansgrohe • Axor • Daryl • Majestic • Tiles
CONTENTS
PAGE
Contents
EDITOR’S LETTER
3
WHAT’S ON…
6
Editors letter LOCAL LIFE
Eynsford - Well hidden within a secret pocket in Kent
WHATS ON
Cranbrook - The capital of the Weald
3
10
6
14
LOCAL Langton Green - A LIFE perfect mix of town and country
18
Chislehurst Caves Spooky Tales Greenwich - Drunk for one penny, dead drunk for two Faversham A Lovely Market Town Bromley’s Bromley Freak Weather – It’s no great deal Museum Preparing for Expansion Maidstone Once the Home of Revolting Peasants STONEHAMS KITCHENSl Historical Bromley A Monk called Gundulf
10 22 14 26 18
Fine furnishings win Royal seal of approva
22 29 26
Cover story Brad LIFEPitt – Supplement WEDDING
30 35
HYPNOTHERPY
OLYMPIC PREVIEW The Greatest Show on Earth
33
Art with A era Smile COVER STORY - A new of luxury at the Savoy
42 49
FASHION Chalet Girl Chic
44
BEAUTY Star Style Resolutions
48
ANTIQUES with John Bly
FASHION – Put Spring in your Style
Bio Sculpture Beauty at your Fingertips
48
52 54
50
BEAUTY –HOME Foundation Finesse & GARDEN
58
Romantic Interiors Valentines around the corner DESIGNER LIGHTING Garage Tek The Worlds Cleanest Garage Tudor Blinds Class to Your Glass HOME - New Snap Year up your signature Style – New Look Home Shutters Up Love Shutters Kitchen Design – Dreams that Take Shape
52 60 54 56 62 58 60 64
QUALITY WINDOWS
Antiques with JOHN BLY
The Dilemma of Divorce and Separation
65
66
66
Crown Pavilion A room for all Seasons
68
FOOD & DRINK Diet Another Day
70
Regan Maloney’s Restaurant Review
72
Travel A Love for America’s Canyons
76
Books Review
78
i
chiSlehurSt
route map of the three historic periods
t’s not just its chalky passages of Middle Earth proportion that makes Chislehurst Caves a talking – or should that be a Tolkien – point. It was also their use as a World War Two air-raid shelter protecting over 15,000 people from the Blitz and later Hitler’s rockets. It was here, too, that skiffle and jazz band giants flourished; so later did local lads Mick Jagger and David Bowie, along with the legendary Jimi Hendrix. Even scenes from Dr Who, starring Jon Pertwee, were filmed here. Once you waited for a tour TRAVEL THROUGH sitting outside on a draughty HiSTORy in THESE wooden bench. Now a bright TUnnELS OF TiME and airy reception area bristles WORDS: JOHn RULER with photos and items from the past, a gift shop and a café. What has not changed is the anticipation as you descend into the 22 miles of intersecting man-made tunnels, a labyrinth of over 14 acres (six hectares) and up to 98 feet (30 metres) high below suburban homes and woodland. The caves’ use, too, for storing World War One ammunition from the hardpressed Woolwich Arsenal, easily transportable by train, is a further reminder of their diverse use. A soldier smoking a crafty fag next to ammo in one of the many tableaux is a stark reminder of the danger of smoking. ‘If that had blow up we would this remarkable now be looking wall carving took at Chislehurst new Zealand Quarry!’ stressed our artist Sandy guide Jason, whose Brown 18 months subtle fact-filled to complete commentary laced using a hand with lurid tales in chisel only. it a shadowy setting certainly sums quickly won over up the mystery a family audience of the caves, but even in an age of don’t be fooled high tech wizardry. by the ancient First stop, after a symbolism. it also warning from Jason takes in canary to beware of burning wharf tower! your fingers on the hurricane lamps or
10 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
Don’t cave into the
spooky tales
ammo was stored here in world war one
Guided tours last 45 minutes
local life
worse still wander off, is a wall map dividing these unique man-made mines carved from solid chalk and flint into three historic periods. These include the Druids, disappointingly less gory than some young visitors might have liked. Even a sacrificial altar with a hole to collect a victim’s blood (more likely an animal, though naughty children may not be exempt, jested Jason) may simply have been a ledge used by Stone Age miners who heated the chalk to produce lime, an essential ingredient in building simple wattle and daub dwellings. The Romans likewise used it to make mortar, the equivalent of present day cement and concrete. The earliest recorded evidence of chalk mining at Chislehurst is a Saxon Charter written between 1250 and 1274; this records the gift to the Bishop of Rochester of an annual payment of eight pence, a princely sum in those days, from the mining operation. A large collection of commercial produced flints, possibly used by the British army for their flintlock muskets in the Battle of Waterloo was also found when the caves first opened to the public in 1900 amid headlines over archaeological arguments as to their true origin. All of which no doubt helped swell trade at the Bickley Arms which was instrumental in using them as a tourist attraction. Guides were often accompanied by a dog famous for finding those who had strayed from the main group. But arguably its biggest role was when the caves, still strewn with debris from the Great War into the1920s and from 1933 to 1939 living off mushroom growing, became an underground refuge as the Luftwaffe’s bombing of London began on September 7th, 1940. At first only a
handful of people sheltered in the entrance. But within a few days thousands escaping from the Blitz began arriving by train, bus or on foot. At first families, predominantly mothers and children, with fathers mostly fighting in the war, slept on bare earth, in deck chairs or anything they could bring with them. Candles, torches and oil lamps were used for lighting. Water came from a single tap. Sanitation was an oil drum or dustbin containing a little creosote – an aspect which youngsters on our tour seemed to shock them most. That and the fact children still went to school… … Eventually electric light, a cinema and a theatre, along with a Post Office, library and gym were introduced. The Red Cross opened a fully staffed medical centre and the WVS a canteen. There was
Need to Know
Chislehurst Caves, Old Hill, Chislehurst, BR78 9NL; tel: 020 8467 3264 or visit www. chislehurstcaves.co.uk. ✱ Accessible by rail and bus ✱ Open: Wed–Sun. 45-minute guided tour on the hour from 10.00–16.00. ✱ Open daily in school holidays, ✱ Admission: adult/ child (3-15) £5/3 (also OAPs) Children must be accompanied. No minimum number but limited to 40 at peak periods.
Did You Know?
✱ It was in 1903 that
William Nichols, a local resident and vice-president of the
It was here, too, that skiffle and jazz band giants flourished also a church – a ‘cathedral of the rock’, consecrated in 1941, with its own choir. And in October last year Rose Razzell, 70, the only child born in the caves, returned to see the hospital where she was born during an air raid in 1941. Her mother, Polly Wakeman, from Mottingham, unable to think of a middle name took up the midwife’s suggestion of Cavena. By the mid-1950s the caves reverberated to the sound of jazz and rock’n’roll; in the ‘sixties and ‘seventies budding ‘underground’ musicians were playing in the flickering light of the acoustically perfect chalk wall enclaves. It was
British Archaeological Association, put forward the theory of the three time zones – Druids, Saxons and Romans. ✱ Tales of the caves extending to the Kent coast, or even the Tower of London, are nonsense. Longer Sunday one-and-ahalf-hour afternoon tours which at one time took up to 100 people to lesser-known parts stopped around ten years, due mainly to lack of support.
noisy, it was snug thanks to the constant temperature of 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) all year round, with the heaving masses apparently oblivious to the healthy and safety regulations of today. I, for one, survived, though used their risqué reputation to prevent my little sister from tagging along with my jazz-loving mates. Finally the caves’ use by DJs from the pirate radio, Radio Caroline, attracted not just huge crowds but the attention of the government who threatened prosecution under the Wireless Telegraphy Act. In 200l gigs by some the best in the business were finally halted by Health and Safety requirements. But at least the ghost stories continue. Reports of children laughing, crying and playing have long been around. So, too, have those of unexplained shadowy figures seen by hardened guides. The best of the bunch surrounds the figure of woman, said to have been weighted down by rocks and drowned in the so-called haunted pool. Her bones were found and removed in 1956. Later a policeman who attempted to spend the night alone after a £5 wager swore he would never do so again for any amount of money. A carving he made on the cave wall close to the pool to keep himself occupied, after sensing a presence behind him, remains there today. The last attempt in 1985 by two cave guides at Halloween ended with one reportedly being taken to hospital with a dislocated shoulder but remembering nothing of being attacked or even of the incident. Further attempts have now been banned, Spooky or what? I suggest you decide for yourself in what is a uniquely atmospheric setting. But please do what Jason tells you … he does go home at five o’clock! january2012
11
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faversham
Images: Adam Swaine Photography
WORDS: WEnDy STEVEnSOn
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local life
f
aversham was at one time a place of rest for weary pilgrims on their way to the holy shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury, whereas today the town has become the place of pilgrimage for enthusiasts of real ale keen to sup a pint of the aptly named Bishops Finger in the home town of Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame. It is a family owned business that has been brewing in the town since the 17th century and produces a number of well known and loved cask ales and filtered beers. Faversham’s first link with the brewing industry preceded the arrival of Shepherd Neame by a number of centuries and came about because of the abbey founded by King Stephen in 1147. Within the compounds of the Medieval abbey was a brew house which was probably one of the abbeys most important buildings alongside the church, kitchen and refectory! No one drank water in those days because it was believed to be unhealthy and the refreshing beer would have made a welcome break in the austere lifestyle of a monk and could even be enjoyed during times of fasting. Monks soon acquired a taste for ale and records show that in some monasteries consumption up to five litres a day was allowed. Faversham is however much more than just the birth place of Shepherd Neame, it is one of Kent’s loveliest market towns and was once a major port to boot! You can still smell the salt on the air when the wind blows in a north easterly direction but nowadays the merchant vessels plying their trade are long gone and in their place is a flotilla of sailing boats moored up waiting for the return of summer. As soon as the fair-weather human visitors depart the wetlands become a magnate for wading birds from all over Europe attracted by the sheltered surroundings and plentiful food supply Faversham was established as a settlement long before the Roman conquest and was probably home to Celts belonging to the Cantiaci tribe and even further back to the Bronze Age and beyond. The Romans gave the town the name of Durolevum, which literally means “the stronghold by the clear stream” which is the Latin derivative of its Celtic name. As the Roman Legions traipsed across the country from Port Richborough gaining control of towns and villages as they went. Faversham or Durolevum as they knew it was ideal, its strategic position on the Swale Estuary meant that it was an ideal port for barges bringing goods from the continent. Faversham was surrounded by villas belonging to wealthy Romans who made good use of the public baths and other buildings that were considered necessities of Roman life. Unfortunately all good things come to an end, the Romans had overstretched themselves and found it increasing difficult to defend their vast empire and so started to withdraw from Britannia, Gaul and other countries to shore up the defences in
their own country. The Romanized Celts who were left behind recruited mercenaries - Jutes, Angles and Saxons to help defend them from the invading barbarians. As is quite often the case the invited “guests” soon outstayed their welcome and refused to leave and quickly set about building farmsteads across the county. Another wave of invaders were the Normans who started a building spree that had never been seen before in this country, great stone abbeys and cathedrals were quickly built by William the Conqueror. His apologists would say that they were built in thanks of his great victory ... others might look at the facts and say they were more of a penance for a misdeed! One of William’s grandsons, King Stephen was responsible for the establishment of Faversham Abbey; he was eventually buried in its confines along with his wife Matilda of Boulogne and his son Eustace. Although he was a good man his reign was fraught with difficulties namely that his uncle King Henry I had appointed his daughter Maud also known as Matilda, his successor. At this time in history it was believed that women were incapable, they were objects owned by a husband and only suited to domesticity, this was before the coming of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Isabella of France better known as the “She Wolf ”; both proved to be more than capable rulers! Faversham was important during the reign of King Stephen and was to grow even more so under King Henry III when it became a member of the Cinque Ports. Along with Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich all of the members had to provide both ships and men to protect England from the French. In return the members of the federation were given a number of privileges from exemption of taxes and duty on goods imported, to self government. All of this enabled Faversham to become extremely prosperous. The coming of the 16th century brought with it the start of the gun powder industry and it is believed Faversham supplied Nelson with ammunition for the battle of Trafalgar! This particular industry was well suited for the area with a ready supply of alder and willow needed for the production of charcoal – one of three important ingredients, along with water to provide power plus transport for the other key ingredient sulphur. Faversham was also situated near to its point of use, Europe or more pointedly France! The munitions industry continued until 1934 when production was transferred to Scotland, which in some respects was a good thing for the town for what was left is the lovely tranquil place that we see today and quite rightly deserves the accolade of the “loveliest market town in Kent”, full of ancient buildings in well preserved streets, tea shops, boutiques and cosy pubs.
Images: Adam Swaine Photography
You can still sMell the salT on the air when the wiND blows in a NorTh easterly direction
january2012
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A
t one time Orpington Museum, as it was then known, was just one room housing purely local artefacts. Now bursting at the seams with a veritable treasure trove of boroughwide items – from Keston to Penge – Bromley Museum is waiting with bated breath for a lottery grant which could see it develop as one of the best in Greater London. It certainly deserves to. Chatting to curator, Marie-Louise Kerr, her undoubted enthusiasm for The Priory – its flint-flecked home since 1965 – quickly becomes evident. ‘We’ve got here this wonderful old building, probably the oldest in the borough, highly suited to a museum, the story of which goes back to the 13th century.’ Gaining a grant – with the bid lodged in March and the
result known in June – will also mean work can be carried out on repairing the flint walls, badly damaged during last winter’s foul weather. So, too, can an overhaul of rooms left by the 1960s’ public library, which, last May, moved to new premises in The Walnuts off the High Street. This could be achieved without fear of damaging historic features, which, even now, makes this all too often overlooked building worthy of a visit. Though never an actual priory, but attached in name only to the Priory of Christ Church, Canterbury – with the former Saxon land granted to them in 1032 – was first referred to in the 13th century as the centre of a large farming estate that generated cash for the Church. By the late 13th century, the current car park would
orPinGton
aS mUSeUm PrePareS For eXPaNSioN... PEEP iNTo THE PaST iN THE PRioRy’S HiSToRiC SETTiNG. WoRDS: JoHN RuLER
the italianate gardens, a major attraction for the museum
18 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
local life
have been the farmyard with the facing museum building, for car-parking; in 1961 the library opened in what mainly built from flint and stone, undergoing a number of were once the 17th century servants’ quarters. changes over the centuries. These included a timber-framed Future plans? Lottery funds willing, the ‘lovely selection of extension in the 15th, with a surviving fireplace and a Tudor paintings’ (some of which we have already featured) can, for one, spiral staircase in Your Place, an interactive family space go on show in galleries ideally suited to the historical setting. with dressing-up clothes, games and other such activities. Other areas will be devoted to the Georgian and Victorian But all’s not quite what it seems. The windows are 19th century eras, as well as the Tudors. The museum also plans a room of additions, as are those in the Events Room, though one, rather less Famous Local Faces; the two world wars will likewise feature. impressive, is said to be genuine. This, and rather swanky ‘Tudor’ All this will take some three years of environmentally friendly wooden panelling, was the work of private owner Benjamin restoration, along with further use of hands-on and visual Green Lake who decided the building, though ancient, still technology. As Marie-Louise points out: ‘ This will make it much didn’t look old enough. It was also around this time it acquired more accessible not just to children but to a lot more grown-ups the title of Priory. A Member of the Law Society and of Kent too. We don’t want people to come into a room with just masses Archaeological Society, he was later to face Bankruptcy charges. of text… I meet many who say “oh no, it’s not for me. I had a Quite a character it seemed, as was the Honourable Richard horrible history teacher, and anyway I can’t remember dates”. Spencer, but this time for all the right reasons. The second son But there’s so much more than just dates; our job is to show how of Lord Spencer, the richest wonderful history is with so man in England at the time, many wonderful characters. from whom the Duke of It’s not old fashioned, but Marlborough, Winston relevant to our life today.’ Churchill and indeed I could not agree Lady Di are all descended, more… let’s cross-fingers he took up residency as they get that grant! a newly-wed in 1620. A renowned Royalist, he raised two cavalry regiments Need to Know from Kent on behalf of ✱ The Priory, Charles I, with what is Church Hill, believed to be either his orpington, helmet, or one of his men, BR6 0HH; found in a pond in the Priory tel: 01689 873826; gardens. This is displayed email: Bromley.museum@ in the museum’s Civil War bromley.gov.uk. section. Richard who was ✱ opening hours: forced to flee to France 10.00–17.00 (closed for returned when the monarchy lunch 12:30 –13:30pm) was restored under Charles II. Mon–Fri & and 1st and 3rd He died soon after, virtually this painting by lady farnborough, the artist Sat of the month; closed penniless, with the estate in amelia long, shows the front of the Priory in 1819. Sun & Bank Holidays. ruins. A successful appeal by ✱ Guided tours: his widow to Charles for her Free tours of the building to keep the estate, however, froM left: was this the (including areas not led to the lease passing to helmet worn by royalist usually open to the his son-in-law William Gee richard Spencer who raised two public) These must be in the late 17th century, cavalry regiments on behalf of arranged in advance. with the Gee-Carew family charles i?; curator Marie-louise ✱ Priory tours can remaining there until 1840. kerr: an enthusiastic supporter also be combined They not only made further of showing the relevance of with a tour of Crofton changes to the building but, history to life today; a stand Roman villa between as keen gardeners, left their showing the Georgian, Stuart april and october. horticultural stamp by laying and tudor periods. ✱ only the ground floor out hedges, trees, lawns and is currently wheelchair borders; the large redbrick accessible: staff will assist wall in the Priory Gardens in any way possible. was built around this time. ✱ Toilet facilities are The formal Italianate available within the gardens behind the wall was garden grounds. the work of Cecil Hughes, a publisher and keen landscape artist, whose family lived at The Priory from 1919 until his death in 1941. In 1947 the district council purchased the building
Main Images: Adam Swaine Photography; Courtesy of Bromley Museum
work can be carried out on rePairiNg the fliNT walls, badly damaged during last winter’s foul weather
january2012
19
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MaiDStone
The home of
revolting Peasants!
22 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
long and colourful past, from the Archbishops Palace, which today plays host to scores of weddings, to the timber framed buildings that house the ever popular shops and restaurants. There is plenty of evidence of Maidstone’s past, with some of the previous inhabitants having a much greater impact on the present day than others! Although the area around the town was most certainly home for Stone Age man they left few mementoes of their time on earth, it was the Romans who really left their mark upon the town and the country as a whole; bequeathing Maidstone with the remnants of two villas and the country with a name and national identity. This small green island was known as Britannia and instead of being a disparate set of people belonging to a multitude of tribes as they once were when Caesar first stepped upon these shores. They now welcomed the fact that they were British and had a far greater claim to this land than the peoples who came after the Romans. The name Maidstone is believed to come from the words “maeides stana” or “maegdan stane” meaning stone of the maidens or stone of the people. By the time that William the Conqueror
Images: Adam Swaine Photography
T
he county town of Kent can be found set amongst a scenic backdrop of orchards, hop gardens and rolling countryside, probably better known as the Garden of England! Maidstone probably has one of the most idyllic settings for a county town especially as the River Medway cuts through its centre providing a peaceful place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre. The river itself was once much more than a pretty vista, it provided a means of transporting local produce into the city of London via the River Thames. This was quite a lifeline as the transport network was rudimentary to say the least; roads were little more than dirt tracks that quickly turned into bogs as the weather deteriorated in the winter. They also provided a lucrative income for the many highway men that plagued the main roads into the surrounding towns and especially London! Although the river today is a tranquil place to be it could at one time be compared to the M25; it has been said that the whole of the Weald and even parts of Sussex received their groceries via Maidstone and this watery highway the River Medway. Unlike other county towns it has retained its charm and popularity and is a brilliant place to relax shop, eat, drink and enjoy the finer things in life. Most county towns and city high streets are so similar that the retail experience has become increasingly mundane; not so Maidstone! Which offers not only the well known high street chains but it also provides the more discerning shopper with one of the largest selections of independent retailers in the country. There are plenty of intimate little shops selling everything from artisan jewellery to exclusive clothing. These small retailers tend to offer a far better shopping experience, customer service is paramount and many of them are able to provide their customers with a provenance for the goods that they sell. People increasingly want to know where their goods come from and that they are not costing the earth or someone else where! Walking through the cobbled streets of Kent’s County Town, the many unique listed buildings are testimony to Maidstone’s
WORDS: WEnDy STEVEnSOn
had instigated the Domesday Book (basically a tax census) it was known as “Medestan or Meddestane eventually changing to its present name. At this time the settlement was home for some 250 individuals, which was quite large given that most villages consisted of around 100 to 150 inhabitants. By the thirteenth century Maidstone had become a thriving market town with a lucrative charter to hold weekly markets and annual fair attracting visitors from all over Kent and much further afield! The industrious residents transported fresh fruit and vegetables quickly into London using the River Medway and the boats on their return journey brought hides for the local tanners to tan. Fate has a habit of throwing the odd googly from time to time and this came in the form of the Black Death, a plague that swept through the whole of Europe during a three year period from 1348 until 1351. The town at the time had a population of around 2000 but this was devastated by the plague and in total a third of the residents died. The loss of so many people created a number of problems from a shortage of labour to a scarcity of food. You would think that the poor
peasantry would be able to benefit from the labour shortage by demanding higher wages however their “betters” were having none of it and a law was passed making it illegal for peasants to take advantage of the situation. This however didn’t stop the wealthy from reaping the rewards created by the shortages. Life was incredibly hard for the poor and it took quite some time for living standards to improve which they eventually did. Maidstone flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; its markets attracted merchants from all over the country and beyond. It was also an industrial hub – wool, paper making and brewing were very lucrative industries for the town. At one time there were a number of small breweries but these were amalgamated by Ralph Fremlin, the founding father of the Fremlin Brewery. Under his leadership the company began a rapid rise to fame. By 1887 the company had become Kent’s largest brewer; unfortunately this Kentish concern was taken over by Whitbread and left the area. What was once a Victorian brewery is today a shopping centre named in memory of the famous brewers - Fremlins Walk. Whatever your needs Maidstone has something for everyone!
The name Maidstone is believed to come from the words “maeides stana” or “maegdan stane” january2012
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LOCAL LIFE
How the clerics shaped the borough’s future
O
nce upon a time, around 1066, a humble Norman monk called Gundulf was selected as the first Bishop of Rochester, with a ‘palace’ based in Bromley. And, that, dear readers, is how many local roads, including Gundulph (sic), Glanville, Murray and others got their names. By 1086 the Manor of Bromley was within his grasp even though the 13 caracates (the equivalent of how much arable land 13 teams of eight oxen apiece could plough in a year) had shrunk from the ten so-called plough lands allocated by Ethelbert, the Saxon King Of Wessex and Kent to his minister Dryhtwald in AD862. These were described as the ‘heath where the broom grows’ – or Bromleag, hence Bromley – with From top: Gundolf: broom still seen today on St Martin’s Hill, Shortlands. the Norman monk The palace, little more than a timber construction using who became the first surrounding trees, with a thatched roof, was probably Bishop of Rochester built under Gundulf ’s supervision; a skilled military with a palace in architect, he was behind the design of the White Tower Bromley; An early at the Tower of London as well as the huge defensive painting of the palace tower at Rochester Cathedral and the early stages of and its grounds; a far the castle. Set in two acres, it was more an episcopal cry even then from manor, far less lavish than what was later to become the original timber home to the Civic Centre, of which more later. buildings; Bishop Fast forward to 1205 and Bishop Glanvill, (yes, Warner: royal chaplain another road) obtains a charter from King John to hold ousted by Cromwell a weekly Tuesday market; a second granted by Henry and founder of VI in 1447 changed trading to Thursday as it is today. Bromley College He also restores the bishop’s palace by then in a ruinous condition. Both actions add weight to the bishop’s status in what was becoming a fast growing market town. Tudor times saw further upheavals as the protective moat and stockade, made redundant by the use of gunpowder, became fishing ponds and an ornamental lake in the case of the former, and a walled courtyard, more for privacy than protection, in the latter. Out went thick walls, arrow slits and the like. Gardens and parks were introduced. Bricks and tiles were the new materials, framed together with timber from the native oak. The Bishop’s personal grip likewise tightened thanks to Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. He was not just lord of the manor but the largest landowner in town lording it over a population now approaching 700. But trouble lay ahead: only four years before the Civil War broke out in 1642 John Warner took up residence in Bromley as the new Bishop of Rochester. Previously Chaplain to King Charles I, he quickly crossed swords in the struggle between the power of the Puritans and that of the bishops, every bit as bitter as that between Parliament and the Crown. In 1647 he was out on his ear, with the manor, along with the palace farm, sold to Augustine Skinner for the sum of £5,665 11s 6d. A former officer in Cromwell’s army, he hailed from East Farleigh, near Maidstone, and like his brother, William, held extreme views. However, probably sensing the restoration of the monarchy after Cromwell’s death in 1658, the Skinners prepared a valuation of the palace lands, possibly with the idea of selling before being told to hand them back. But there were no buyers and, on the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, Bishop Warner, by then 79 – one of only eight surviving bishops to regain his see – was back in his palace But many days of wandering while exiled in the West Image: John Ruler
Image: Bromley Library
Bromley’s bishops began with a monk called Gundulf. Words: JOHN RULER
26 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
Image: Portrait by Samuel Lane © National Portrait Gallery London
Image: Bromley Library
County and Wales – tough for a man of ‘ decided character and cheerful and undaunted spirit’ – took its toll, though not before helping fellow clergymen even more deprived than himself. Such was his concern, too, for their widows, often badly neglected and with large families, that he left a legacy of £8,500 to found Bromley College in London Road (featured in our July, 2011 issue) as a home for 20 poor widows. Another controversial cleric Thomas Sprat, appointed bishop in 1684, arrived just in time for ‘The Glorious Revolution’ of 1688 when the last of the Stuarts, James II, was deposed and William and Mary installed as joint monarchs. Fortunately a plan to involve him in a fictitious plot to restore the Stuarts failed, and he was released – the anniversary of which he celebrated annually until his death in Bromley of apoplexy in May, 1713. This, however, did not prevent him being first interrogated by a committee of the House of Lords. It is rumoured that he was the nursery rhyme Spratt ‘who could eat no fat.’ The next bishop, Francis Atterbury, though a favourite of Queen Anne, was likewise accused of trying to restore the Stuarts, spent seven months in the Tower of London and then banished from Britain. He sailed for France in 1723, dying in Paris nine years later. He said of Bromley: ‘ I never part from this place but with regret.’ By 1744 on the arrival of Bishop John Thomas the palace could no longer continually be patched up. The following year he had replaced by a Georgian-style building with walls faced by red hand-made bricks. With his coat of arms, impaling that of the Diocese of Rochester, carved into the wooden surround of the library fireplace, this was to prove a pad worthy of the wealthy or aristocratic backgrounds of the bishops of the day, full of elegance and rich furnishings. The gardens, too, were extensive, complete with vinery, glass houses and a circular wall for growing fruit. There were also exotic plants and trees. John, himself – chaplain to George II and III – married first Lady Blackwell, in whose house he was a tutor, and secondly Lady Yates, widow of a judge. All of which set the tone for subsequent incumbents, with George Murray, the 96th Bishop of Rochester being the grandson of the third Duke of Atholl and son of Lord George Murray, Bishop of St David’s. Previously nominated Bishop of Sodor and Man at 29, one year below the minimum age for attaining the rank, he arrived in 1827 to watch Bromley’s population burgeoning to around 4,400 by 1841. Most lived around the Market Square and along the long High Street; four big landowners owned some 65 per cent of the parish, including the Bishop with adjoining palace lands to the east. Imagine the shock, therefore, when in 1845 Bromley Palace, home to a bevy of bishops over the centuries, was sold by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and moved to an estate near Chelsmford, Essex. The fact that the almost fatherly Bishop Murray was a liberal supporter of school and charities and encouraged local trade only made matters worse. Many traders, feeling his departure foreshadowed ruin, packed their bags and left or retired to the outskirts to live on their savings. What they did not know was that the new owner, 33 year old William John Coles Child a wealthy Greenwich coal merchant and wharfinger from a family going back to Tudor times would have a profound effect on Bromley.(A feature on him will appear later this year.) His home, the further and much extended palace, later a girls’ school and teacher training college became an integral part of Bromley Civic Centre in 1982.
From top: The palace was always a grand affair even before being rebuilt by Bishop Thomas in the 18th century; Bishop Murray: a popular figure locally, but the last bishop to reside in Bromley; Bromley Civic Centre: the palace still remains an intregral part of it
january2012
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i nt e r v i e w
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He’s one of the biggest stars on the planet but Brad Pitt has announced he’s going to retire in three years time at the age of 50. By Susan Griffin
W
hen you say you’re off to see Brad Pitt in person there’s one request that will inevitably be made by men and women alike: ‘Tell me what he looks like in the flesh.’ That’s because Pitt is so famous he’s almost taken on an otherworldly status. The truth is the actor, voted ‘sexiest man alive’ countless times during his career, doesn’t disappoint when he casually strides out onto the terrace of a Mexican hotel for a photocall to promote his new baseball movie Moneyball. He’s tall (a rarity among Hollywood’s elite) and broad, having spent the last few months in training for the film World War Z, a postapocalyptic horror, which has seen Pitt, his partner Angelina Jolie and their brood of six reside in Glasgow, London and Cornwall during filming. His dark blonde hair is grown out and tucked behind his ears, his stubble is salt-andpepper grey and, despite the balmy temperatures, he’s wearing a long-sleeved top. He may be an A-lister, but he’s rarely spotted on the red carpet these days, and while he smiles for the assorted cameras and cracks jokes with 30 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
co-star Jonah Hill, his eyes remain hidden behind aviator sunglasses and his hands stay tucked into the pockets of cream linen trousers. Given the theme of his new film, baseball is the name of the game later that day when, in a quiet, shady spot, Pitt reveals that while he likes to play ball with his kids, his own relationship with the all-American sport has been traumatic. “I knew very little about baseball besides taking one in the face when I was in junior high,” laughs Pitt, 47. “Eighteen stitches was the result of that incident. This scar here,” he says pointing to the side of his head. It takes iron will not to lean in for a closer inspection. Moneyball is based on the controversial 2003 book Moneyball: The Art Of Winning An Unfair Game in which the author Michael Lewis wrote about the exploits of Billy Beane (Pitt), a former baseball player turned general manager of Oakland A’s baseball team. Beane revolutionised the way the baseball industry assessed its players by employing a statistical analysis that showed the qualities historically used to value players were outdated.
He then bought players who’d been ignored by larger, more lucrative teams, but who would help his team to victory. “The film didn’t fall into convention and it was a difficult one to get made,” admits Pitt, looking a little shiny-faced despite the shade (so the man is a mere mortal then.) “We’re in tough economic times and people start betting on safer, more tried-and tested brands,” he says, before adding that while he’s never spent a lot of time watching baseball, he became obsessed by the book. “Billy Beane’s team had a
ran a truck company, and his mum Jane, a school guidance counsellor, Pitt was studying for a journalism degree when he decided to give acting a whirl. Like thousands of other goodlooking hopefuls, he travelled to Los Angeles where he subsidised his acting classes with odd jobs, including dressing as a chicken, before earning his big break in Ridley Scott’s 1991 movie Thelma & Louise. His screen time totalled less than 15 minutes but when the film was released everyone was asking who the man who seduces Geena Davis was, and it led to parts
“I knew very little about baseball besides taking one in the face when I was in junior high” $40 million payroll and they were trying to compete with teams with $240 million payrolls. It forced these guys to back up and say: ‘We can’t fight how the other guys fight. We have to search for new baseball knowledge. We have to re-examine the sport and where we place value’.” Through that process they discovered great inefficiencies on how people were judged, and Pitt says: “The film is ultimately about how we place value on people and how society informs how we value ourselves. “These themes are universal. And the ideas these guys employed have now permeated other sports, like football, various arms of business even the film industry.” Raised with his brother Doug and sister Julie in Missouri by his dad Bill, who
in Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It and the dark thriller Kalifornia. Pitt says it was only when Legends Of The Fall was released in 1994 “that celebrity hit me”. “You get no warning and you’re kind of overwhelmed. I didn’t understand all the attention,” says Pitt, before returning to the recurring theme of value. “The attention doesn’t come from a place of real value. People want to get near you but it has nothing to do with you as a person. It has more to do with something those people are missing in themselves.” In the 20 years since his scene-stealing performance in Thelma & Louise, Pitt’s managed to keep the audience guessing his next move. He’s depicted death in Meet Joe
Black, an incoherent Irish brawler in Snatch, a Nazi killer in Inglourious Basterds and aged backwards in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. “Film-making is about longevity,” says Pitt. “Is it a quality picture? Is it a quality story? Is there something original about it?” These are the questions Pitt asks himself before embarking on a project today but admits he may have lost focus for a while and the result was The Mexican (2001), Spy Game (2001), Troy (2004) and Mr & Mrs Smith (2005). The latter remains a personal favourite though, as it was the film on which he met Jolie, with whom has adopted children Maddox, 10, Pax, seven, and Zahara, six, and biological children Shiloh, five, and twins Knox and Vivienne, three. Today he’s less concerned about a film making money. “There’s such a thing as the quiet victory, the personal victory that only you and you alone experience. And that’s enough,” he explains. “Films that I’ve loved [making], like The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and The Tree Of Life, they’re ‘fine wine’ pictures - they’ll age well.” Pitt recently announced he’s looking to retire at around 50, and as the producer of 20 titles perhaps he’ll spend the autumn years of life behind the scenes. “It’s just about getting stories across that may have a more difficult time seeing the light of day,” he says. “That’s all I want, to see movies get made that I believe should be made. And if my name, whatever it may or may not be worth, can help that process, then that’s what I’m going to do.” january2012
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in the event of the breakdown of their new relationship, it is at this stage that individuals are seeking advice about the protection prenuptial agreements could bring. PrenuPtial aGreeMentS
family laW: new relationships and prenuptial agreements With the Christmas break now over the reality for some may have been a holiday fraught with arguments and the realisation that their relationship has come to an end. A recent survey by an on online advice centre surveyed 100 UK law firms, as well as 2,000 people who were either married, divorced or separated. It found that nearly one in five of all marriages (19%) was on shaky ground, with partners believing it could end in divorce. relationShiP BreakDown
While many people choose to use the holiday to give their relationship a chance, it sometimes proves to be the final straw. Over the holidays couples spend much more time together which in turn, increases the likelihood of arguments breaking out. Reasons cited for the ensuing breakdown often include financial stresses, issues with in-laws, the strain of looking after children for extended periods, lack of intimacy and of course infidelity. With the start of a new year being the period where people typically re-evaluate their lives, it is no surprise that a family lawyer can expect to be inundated with new clients seeking a divorce. However while this is undoubtedly the case, a new trend seems to be emerging with many people pre-emptively seeking advice from a solicitor at the start of a new relationship. The fall out from Christmas often results in couples entering new relationships which can move forward very quickly, with some couples choosing to cohabit almost immediately. With the aim of avoiding protracted legal proceedings
While the use of prenuptial agreements may be far more commonplace in America, their use in the United Kingdom is on the rise. Here in Britain, use is generally restricted to setting out the interest each party intends to retain in respect of any assets being brought to the marriage. While it is important to note that a Prenuptial agreement is not legally binding in this country, a Court will use it to determine what the intentions of the parties were at the outset of the marriage. The Court will bear this in mind when deciding how any assets should be distributed in the event that the marriage fails. As the Court has such wide ranging power to divide marital property, having a prenuptial agreement in place will give a greater chance that the division of assets is in accordance with the expectations both parties held when entering the marriage. For those contemplating cohabiting, an agreement can be made to define any interest each party will either retain or surrender should the relationship break down. The Courts do not have such wide powers when it comes to adjudicating the division of the property of unmarried couples. For this reason it can be even more important that there is a clear agreement in place documenting the intentions of each person before the relationship began. The average age that people are choosing to get married is increasing. It is therefore the case that many new couples now view cohabitation agreements as a practical way of allowing their relationship to develop in line with their needs and expectations but safe in the knowledge that their interests are protected. Paul Antoniou is a Partner at Thackray Williams Solicitors specialising in separation, divorce and prenuptial agreements. For more information email: paul.antoniou@thackraywilliams. com or telephone 020 8290 0440. www.thackraywilliams.com
olYMPics sPecial
The london 2012 SuMMER OLyMPiC GameS are here in london from 27th july – 12th august 2012 Paralympic games 29th august – 9th september 2012
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ondon will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948 London was selected as the host city during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore, defeating Moscow, New York City, Madrid and Paris. The successful bid was headed by former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe
The Olympics has prompted a redevelopment of many of areas of London. The Games will make use of many venues which were already in place before the bid, including Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena, Wimbledon All England Club, Lord’s Cricket Ground, The O2 Arena, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and the Excel Centre january2012
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The Sports The London 2012 Olympic Games will feature 26 sports, which break down into 39 disciplines Aquatics Diving Swimming Syncronised Swimming ✱ Archery ✱ Athletics ✱ Badminton ✱ Basketball ✱ Beach Volleyball ✱ Boxing ✱ Canoeing Sprint ✱ Canoe Slalom ✱ Water polo ✱ Cycling - BMX ✱ Cycling Mountain biking ✱ Cycling - Road ✱ Cycling - Track ✱ Equestrian - Dressage ✱ Equestrian - Eventing ✱ Equestrian - Jumping ✱ Fencing ✱ Hockey ✱ Football ✱ Gymnastics ✱ Artistic Gymnastics ✱ Rhythmic Gymnastics ✱ Trampoline * ✱ Handball ✱ Judo ✱ Modern pentathlon ✱ Rowing ✱ Sailing ✱ Shooting ✱ Table tennis ✱ Taekwondo ✱ Tennis ✱ Triathlon ✱ Volleyball ✱ Weightlifting * Wrestling ✱ ✱ ✱ ✱
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Paralympic Sports There are 20 sports in the Paralympic programme for the London 2012 Games. Paralympic Cycling breaks down into two disciplines: ✱ Road and Track ✱ Paralympic Archery ✱ Paralympic Athletics ✱ Boccia ✱ Paralympic Cycling - Road ✱ Paralympic Cycling - Track ✱ Paralympic Equestrian ✱ Football 5-a-side ✱ Football 7-a-side ✱ Goalball ✱ Paralympic Judo ✱ Powerlifting ✱ Paralympic Rowing ✱ Paralympic Sailing ✱ Paralympic Shooting ✱ Paralympic Swimming ✱ Paralympic Table Tennis ✱ Sitting Volleyball ✱ Wheelchair Basketball ✱ Wheelchair Fencing ✱ Wheelchair Rugby ✱ Wheelchair Tennis
Venues of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics The Aquatics Centre
The Aquatics Centre will be the venue for Swimming, Paralympic Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and the Aquatics discipline of the Modern Pentathlon. Location: South-east corner of the Olympic Park. Number of events: 192. It will be the ‘gateway’ to the Olympic Park, with more than twothirds of spectators expected to enter the Olympic Park over a vast bridge that runs over the top of part of the venue. After the Games, The Aquatics Centre will be transformed into a facility for the local community, clubs and schools, as well as elite swimmers. The two temporary wings will be removed, although it will be possible to increase the capacity for major competitions. The Aquatics Centre will also have a creche, family-friendly changing facilities and a cafe, alongside a new public plaza in front of the building.
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Eton Dorney, Berkshire
Eton Dorney will be the venue for Rowing, Paralympic Rowing, and Canoe Sprint events, during the London 2012 Games. Eton Dorney Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake, is a world-class venue near Windsor Castle. Number of events:30. The venue is a 2,200m, eight-lane rowing course with a separate return lane constructed to international standards. It is set in a 400-acre park with a nature conservation area. In 2006, it hosted the Rowing World Championships, with high praise from both competitors and spectators.
The Basketball Arena
The Basketball Arena will host Basketball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby and the final stages of the Handball competition. Location: In the north of the Olympic Park. Number of events: 7. It is one of the largestever temporary venues built for any Games. Parts of it are expected to be reused or relocated elsewhere in the UK. The BMX Track
The BMX Track will host the Olympic BMX competition during the London 2012 Games. Location: In the north of the Olympic Park. Number of events: 2. The 400-metre circuit is located next to the Velodrome. After the Games, the temporary seating will be removed and the BMX Track reconfigured to make it suitable for community use. Brands Hatch
During the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the Road Cycling discipline will be held at Brands Hatch, home of numerous international racing events. Both the Road Race and Time Trial events will be held at the venue. The riders will race round a course that passes through the Kent county and the district of Sevenoaks. Brands Hatch will be the base of approximately half of the course, including the start and finish. After the Games, Brands Hatch will
revert to its role as one of Europe’s leading motor racing venues. City of Coventry Stadium
The Stadium is home to Championship club Coventry City. It is ideally located in the centre of England, in a city which already has strong links with London 2012. The stadium will play host to 12 Football matches, including the women’s bronze medal match. After the Games, the stadium will continue to host Coventry City matches Earls Court
During 2012, Earls Court will be transformed into a spectacular Volleyball arena ready for the Games. The Volleyball competition will have 288 athletes taking part, with the action beginning on 28th July. Earls Court is close to the Victoria and Albert, Science & Natural History Museums. After the Games, the venue will continue as one of London’s best exhibition and event spaces. Eton Manor
The sporting facilities at Eton Manor will be the venue for Wheelchair Tennis. Location: In the north of the Olympic Park. Number of events: 6. Eton Manor will have temporary training pools for participants january2012
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in Aquatics events. It will have three 50m pools for swimmers, and smaller pools for synchronized swimmers and Water Polo players. It will then host Wheelchair Tennis during the Paralympic Games, and remain a training facility for Aquatics competitors. After the Games, It is intended that Eton Manor will be transformed into a unique mix of sporting facilities for local and regional communities, including a tennis centre with four indoor and six outdoor courts (four of which will be used for Wheelchair Tennis during the Games), a hockey centre with two competition pitches and five-a-side football pitches. The facilities will be able to accommodate elite hockey events for up to 15,000 spectators. ExCel
With it’s five arenas, ExCeL will host a total of 143 sessions across a wide range of Olympic and Paralympic sports including: Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Boccia Paralympic Table Tennis, Paralympic Judo, Paralympic Powerlifting, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Fencing, Location: ExCeL is situated near London City Airport in east London’s Royal Victoria Dock. After the Games, ExCeL will revert to its role as one of Europe’s largest and most versatile exhibition spaces.
Hampden Park, Scotland
Hampden Park is Scotland’s national football stadium. It recently underwent a £70m refurbishment and is situated a few miles to the south of Glasgow in Scotland. Number of events: 2.The stadium will host a total of eight Olympic Football matches, with action in both the men’s and women’s competitions. The Handball Arena
The Handball Arena will be the venue for Handball, Goalball and the Fencing discipline of Modern Pentathlon. Location: In the west of the Olympic Park. The Handball Arena will host the preliminary rounds and quarter-finals of the Handball competition. It will also be the venue for the Fencing discipline of Modern Pentathlon. In the Paralympic Games it will be the venue for Goalball. After the Games, the Handball Arena will be adapted to become a multi-use sports centre for community use, athlete training and small to medium-sized events. It will be able to cater for a wide range of indoor sports, including basketball, handball, badminton, boxing, martial arts, netball, table tennis, wheelchair rugby and volleyball. It will also include a health and fitness club with changing facilities and a cafe for use by the local community.
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is London’s oldest Royal Park, dating back to 1433. Within the Park is The Royal Observatory and the home of Greenwich Mean Time. Greenwich Park will host the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian competitions, plus the combined running and shooting event, of the Modern Pentathlon. Greenwich Park is on the south bank of the River Thames, in south east London. Number of events: 19. The temporary structures will be taken down after the Games. Hadleigh Farm, Essex
A new Mountain Bike course will be provided in Hadleigh Farm, Essex, with temporary grandstands and facilities to be built in the run-up to the 2012 Games. Number of events: 2. Hadleigh Farm is owned by the Salvation Army. The venue covers a 550-acre site including beautiful grassland and woodland. It also includes the surrounding countryside of Hadleigh Castle Country Park. Spectators will be able to watch the action along a course winding through woods and parkland.
Hampton Court Palace, Surrey
During the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Cycling Time Trial will take place on the roads around the stunning Hampton Court Palace, formerly home to many famous monarchs. Hampton Court is located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Hampton Court will host the start and finish of the men’s and women’s Time Trials in the Road Cycling competition. Both the men’s and women’s Time Trials are free events. Number of events: 2. Hockey Centre
The temporary Hockey Centre located in the Olympic Park will have two separate pitches, one with spectator seating. The facility will also be used for Paralympic 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football.Number of events: 4. The Hockey Centre will have two pitches, one with spectator seating and one for use as a warm-up area. As well as the Olympic Hockey competition, the facility will host Paralympic 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football. After the Games the Hockey Centre will move to the north of the Olympic Park, joining a group of facilities in the area known as Eton Manor. It will have 3,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase to up to 15,000 for major events. 36 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
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Horse Guards Parade
The Beach Volleyball competition will take place on the Prime Minister’s doorstep at Horse Guards Parade, at the heart of Whitehall, the political centre of the UK. It is close to Downing Street and across St James’s Park from Buckingham Palace. A temporary arena will be built in 2012, with sand brought in to create London’s very own ‘beach’. Number of events: 2. Not surprisingly, the temporary facilities will be taken down after the Games! Hyde Park
The largest of London’s Royal Parks, Hyde Park has been open to the public since 1637. It will host the Marathon Swimming and Triathlon events. Spectators will enjoy a grandstand view of the finishing area for the London 2012 Triathlon, with many thousands more able to watch as the athletes swim, cycle and run on the course. The park is also expected to be home to the music, theatre, film and cultural events that will take place throughout the summer of 2012. Hyde Park lies within London’s West End, within easy walking distance of top class accommodation and shops. Number of events: 4. After the Games, the grandstand and course will be removed. The Lee Valley White Water Centre, Hertfordshire
Located in Hertfordshire, it will host the Canoe Slalom competition. Located on the edge of the 1,000-acre River Lee Country Park, part of the 26-mile long, 10,000-acre Lee Valley Regional Park in Hertfordshire. Number of events: 4. Two new canoe slalom courses are being built for the Games: a 300m competition course and a 160m intermediate/training course. A new 10,000sqm lake is also being constructed. After the Games, the two courses and the
facilities building will remain and the Centre will become a venue for canoeing and kayaking for the local community and visitors, and be suitable for beginners to elite athletes. It will also be a major leisure attraction for white water rafting. Lord’s Cricket Ground
Lord’s Cricket Ground has been home to cricket since 1814 and will host the Olympic Archery competition. Lord’s is in St John’s Wood, near Regent’s Park. Comparatively little preparation will be needed to get this world-class venue ready. An Archery range will be created on the outfield of the main ground and the Nursery ground. Number of events: 4. After the Games, Lord’s will return to its traditional role as the home of cricket, providing a base for the Marylebone Cricket Club and Middlesex County Cricket Club. Archery equipment from the training, warm up and competition venues will be given to clubs and schools across the country. january2012
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The Mall
During the London 2012 Games, the Olympic and Paralympic Marathons and the Olympic Cycling Road Races will start and finish in The Mall - an iconic location in the heart of London. Following the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and birthday in 2012, there will be a period of 36 days in which to erect the required temporary seating, scoreboards, video boards, tents, cabins and generators. The Marathons are free events, but spectators can apply for tickets to some viewing areas. The same applies to the Race Walks and Road Cycling races. Number of events: 11. After the Games, all the temporary structures will be dismantled and The Mall returned to its usual state.
Wembley Stadium
Wembley is the biggest of the six stadiums staging the London 2012 Olympic Games Football competition. It will host the gold medal events in both the Men’s and Women’s competition. It was announced in November 2011 that both the men’s and women’s Great Britain teams will play group matches at the stadium. The new stadium’s arch soars over 130m into the sky, more than four times the height of the towers of the old Wembley Stadium. Each seat has an unrestricted view of the pitch and plenty of leg room. Number of events: 2
The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
The Millennium Stadium is located on the banks of the River Taff, right in the heart of the Welsh capital, Cardiff. The Millennium Stadium has the honour of hosting the very first event of the Olympic Games, with women’s Football matches starting on 25th July. It will also host the men’s bronze medal match. It was announced in November 2011 that both the men’s and women’s Great Britain teams will play group matches at the stadium. Number of events: 2. After the Games, the venue will continue to be used as the home of the Welsh football and rugby teams. North Greenwich Arena
Originally built for the Millennium celebrations, North Greenwich Arena has been transformed into a sports and entertainment arena with shops, restaurants and more. North Greenwich Arena will host Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline Gymnastics and the Basketball finals during the Olympic Games and then, a few weeks later, Wheelchair Basketball during the Paralympic Games. North Greenwich Arena sits on the point of the Greenwich peninsula, right on the Meridian Line. Number of events: 20. When the London 2012 Games are over, the North Greenwich Arena will revert to being a multi-faceted music,sports and entertainment venue. Old Trafford, Manchester
One of the most famous football grounds in the world, the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ is home to Manchester United Football Club. Old Trafford will host nine Football matches during the Olympic Games, including a semi-final in both the men’s and women’s competitions. It was announced in November 2011 that the men’s Great Britain team will play a group match at the stadium. Number of events: 2 Olympic and Paralympic Village
The vibrant Olympic and Paralympic Village will be located in the Olympic Park. It will comprise residential apartments for around 17,000 athletes and officials, along with shops, restaurants, medical, media and leisure facilities and large areas of open space. Athletes will have easy access to the travel and leisure facilities of the adjacent Stratford City complex, and the High Speed 1 Javelin® shuttle service will link the Village to central London in just seven minutes. After the Games, the Olympic and Paralympic Village will be a lasting legacy of essential new housing for east London. It will be transformed into 2,800 new homes, including 1,379 affordable homes. The communities that develop in the area after the Games will be supported by new parks, open space, transport links, and community 38 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
facilities including Chobham Academy – a world-class new education campus with 1,800 places for students aged 3-19. Olympic Stadium
The Olympic Stadium will host the Athletics and Paralympic Athletics events, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Number of events: 208. The Stadium will have a capacity of 80,000 during the Games: 25,000 permanent seats in its permanent lower tier, and a temporary lightweight steel and concrete upper tier holding a further 55,000 spectators that can be removed after the Games. The Stadium is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate a number of different requirements and capacities in legacy. Itwill continue to be a venue for sport and athletics, as well as cultural and community events - leaving a lasting legacy. The Royal Artillery Barracks
The Royal Artillery Barracks will be the venue for Shooting, Paralympic Shooting and Paralympic Archery. Location: On the edge of Woolwich Common in south east London. Number of events: 36. The London port of Woolwich has a long military history and the construction of the current Royal Artillery Barracks buildings began in 1776. Four temporary indoor ranges for Pistol and Rifle Shooting will be built together with outdoor shotgun ranges for Trap and Skeet events. After the
o l ymp i c s special
Water Polo Arena
The temporary Water Polo Arena on the Olympic Park will host both the men’s and women’s Water Polo competitions. It will contain a warm-up pool and a competition pool. The Aquatics Centre and Water Polo Arena will be adjacent to each other in one of the most compact areas of the Olympic Park. The Water Polo Arena will be taken down after the Games. Elements of the venue are expected to be reused or relocated elsewhere in the UK. Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena will host the Badminton and Rhythmic Gymnastics events. Number of events: 7. The Badminton World Championships took place at the venue in August 2011, acting as a test event for the Games. Around 6,000 spectators will be able to enjoy the action during the Olympic Badminton and Rhythmic Gymnastics competitions. Wimbledon
Wimbledon is the home of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and the setting for the famous Wimbledon tennis tournament since 1877. The London 2012 Olympic Games Tennis competition will take place just three weeks after the end of the annual grand slam tournament. Wimbledon is in south west London, near Richmond Park and the World Heritage Site of Kew Gardens. Number of events: 5 Weymouth & Portland, Dorset
Games, London 2012 is working with the Government and other key parties to identify opportunities where elements of the venue and sports equipment could be reused after the Games. St James’s Park, Newcastle
Home of Newcastle United football club, St James’ Park has hosted many exciting matches, and has a great atmosphere created by fans - so it is well prepared for what’s to come in 2012. St James’ Park will host a total of nine matches, including a quarter-final in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour will be the venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing competitions. Location: Dorset, on the south coast of England. Number of events: 13. Weymouth and Portland provides some of the best natural sailing waters in the UK, with facilities on land to match. Weymouth and Portland Bay is a natural amphitheatre and there are several vantage points to watch the Sailing events from if you do not have a ticket. The Local Authority will be also providing a big screen to watch the Games coverage on Weymouth beach, and putting on a range of free sporting and cultural activities. There is no seated ticketing for the Sailing event, so spectators will be sitting on the ground or standing.. After the Games, The National Sailing Academy will benefit from the improved facilities that the Games will leave behind, providing a state-of-the-art facility for elite training, competition and local community use.
Velodrome
The Velodrome will host Track Cycling and Paralympic Track Cycling. The Velodrome’s concrete lower tier will have 3,500 seats located around the track. A further 2,500 seats will be suspended in two upper tiers within the two curves of the venue’s roof. In between the lower and upper tiers there will be a glass wall, giving spectators a 360-degree view across the Olympic Park and allowing people outside the venue to see the sporting action taking place inside. The back-of-house area - including broadcast, catering and security facilities - will be shared with the Basketball Arena to make efficient use of space. january2012
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TEAM GB
although we are waiting for the Team gb squad to be officially confirmed, there are some stars we are pinning our hopes on to take us to olympic gold!
the lonDon 2012 olyMPic MeDalS
In 2010, it was announced that the Royal Mint would produce the medals for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.The medals are 7mm thick and weigh between 375400g. Each medal will have the sport and the discipline engraved on the rim. Like the last few Olympic medal designs the front will once again have the Greek goddess of victory, Nike stepping from Parthenon.The reverse side has the Games logo, and a ribbon depicting the River Thames with a grid symbolising pulling together and radiating energy. The medals will have a purple ribbon attached to them which symbolises Royalty and protocol. 40 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
Mo farah LONG DISTANCE With World Championship gold for the 5,000m and silver for 10,000m plus setting two new British records last year, this man is fast!
richarD whiteheaD - PARALYMPIC MARATHON & 200M. Richard is a congenital double amputee, and is World Record Holder for 400m, 200m and Marathon.
Sir chriS hoy CYCLING The first Briton for a century to win three gold at one olympics (Beijing, 2008). He now boasts four olympic and 10 world titles.
Dai Green 400 METRE HURDLES The 25 year old was one of just two British athletes to celebrate a win at the 2011 World Championships, and is already European and Commonwealth Champion. Hopefully we will be jumping for joy when he jumps for glory
alaStair & Jonny Brownlee TRIATHLON The brothers came first and second in the 2011 World Championships. So between them, we hope they can achieve gold and silver!
toM Daley DIVING Britain’s youngest-ever world champion in an olympic sport when he won gold on the 10m platform in 2009, at just 15. Now at 17, we hope he will do it again.
JeSSica enniS HEPTATHLON She is former world heptathlon champion and current world indoor pentathlon champion. Hugely talented.
Beth tweeDle GYMNASTICS With three world titles and six European gold medals there are high hopes for Beth.
BEN aiNSLiE SAILING The most successful British yachtsman in history, so hopefully it will be plain sailing all the way for Ben!
olYMPics sPecial
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Mark cavenDiSh ROAD RACE CYCLING The 2011 Road World Champion was Britain’s first world road race champion for 46 years, and is favourite to win gold for GB.
Shelly wooDS PARALYMPIC WHEELCHAIR RACING Shelly Woods is one of Britain’s top wheelchair racers, and she currently holds the British records in the 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and marathon.
viCToRia PENDLEToN CYCLING victoria won gold in Beijing and received an MBE for her sporting achievements.
reBecca aDlinGton SWIMMING at 22, she is the first British swimmer to win two gold medals since 1908, and is Britain’s most successful swimmer in over 100 years.
Stefanie reiD PARALYMPIC LONG-JUMP AND SPRINT achieved bronze in Beijing & 2011 World Championships, and is 2010 Long Jump World Record holder. She has a great sense of humour and has legs for every occasion - including a water leg, a high-heel leg, an everyday leg, a general sports leg and a cheetah leg, which she wears for competition.
aNDy MuRRay TENNIS Let’s hope the Scot can play an ace and clinch a gold for Britain.
The biggest festival the UK has ever seen! Leading artists from all over the world will come together with a chance for everyone to get into the spirit of London 2012 through dance, music, theatre, the visual arts, film and digital innovation and leave a lasting legacy for the arts in the UK. The London 2012 Festival will open on 21st June 2012 and run until 9th September 2012 - the last day of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. A series of countdown events from January 2012 will give you a taster of what’s to come. In total, the festival features more than 1,000 events, with 10 million free opportunities to get involved. Some of the events are ticketed and the majority are free to attend. Many have already been announced, with more to come over the coming months. Please see www. london2012festival. co.uk for more details.
we welcome millions of people to london and the uK for an unforgettable experience...The london 2012 olympics. january2012
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AR T
Art with a smile David Smith is a Yorkshire based artist rapidly building a reputation with clients not only in the UK but also in America and Europe. He paints a whole range of subjects using various mediums
but is probably best known for his whimsical paintings with a touch of humour.
a career as creative director with advertising agencies, eventually establishing his own agency.
David studied at Hornsey College of Art in London and went on to
In recent years he has returned to his love of painting and now tries
‘JACK THE LAD’ ORIGINAL ACRYLIC ON CANVAS. 60CMS X 60CMS £250
4 GEESE - ORIGINAL ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 60CMS X 60CMS £175
Prints of pencil drawings
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to spend more time with a brush than with a computer mouse. Here are just a few examples of original paintings in acrylic on canvas, limited edition watercolour prints and prints of animal drawings.
EGGS ON TOAST - LIMITED EDITION OF 10 GICLEE PRINT ON CANVAS. 90CMS X 60CMS £200
IN MOUNTS £45 EACH. SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS.
The ‘Blokes’ paintings are an unusual and quirky concept using little characters at work in unusual situations that have a big impact on the wall of any room. As a further dimension each painting has a hand-made clay model of a ‘Bloke’ mounted on a plinth at the base of each picture. 50CMS X 40CMS AND 40CMS X 50CMS EACH £75
Limited edition prints of watercolour paintings
ORIGINAL ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 90CMS X 90CMS £1200
Each of these limited edition prints is supplied mounted without frame so you can have it framed to suit your own decor.
www.davidsmithart.co.uk Purchase direct from david@davidsmithart.co.uk or 01759 318553
ORIGINAL ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 60CMS X 90CMS £950
ORIGINAL ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 90CMS X 90CMS £1200 january2012
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fa s h i o n b e a u ty
w
hether you’re a whiz on the slopes or snow bunny beginner, your skiwear wardrobe should always be your first priority. “If your skiwear isn’t appropriate, or perhaps not warm enough for the conditions, you may look a little silly shivering at the top of the slope,” warns Andy Barrett, Decathlon ski product trainer. “There’s a reason why the best skiers and snowboarders always look so comfy and relaxed.” Thankfully, the typical ski queen wardrobe has come a long way from mismatched salopettes and jacket rentals. These days, you can hit the slopes in outerwear that’s both functional and fashionable. Turn the mountain tops into your snow-capped catwalk with our guide to looking good on - and off the slopes. It’s time to take the ski lift to style... On-piste panach
Technical clothing is essential to withstand those freezing climates and make like Eddie the Eagle - but that doesn’t mean you can’t look ice-hot. “Make sure you adapt your skiwear to the conditions,” advises Barrett. “For example, skiing in America will require much warmer clothing than skiing in Europe. For those who are unsure of what to buy, always seek out sound technical advice.” They may not be visible but base layer thermals are the essential starting blocks for your ski wardrobe. Either go with basic neutral colours, or try bold colours and quirky prints as you don’t have to worry about them matching with anything. Ski jackets and salopettes are the slope staples where 44 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
Chalet girl chic you can really flaunt your fashion prowess. For stand-out ski glamour, you’ll be easily spotted in out-there animal print or flashes of neon. “The trend at the moment is the brighter the better; yellows, greens and blues are currently very popular on the slopes,” Barrett says. Goggles are another necessity to ensure you can see those risky runs safely and clearly. Apres-ski attire
With technical wear hanging out to dry for the next day on the slopes, the stylish snow bunny can come out to play with an apres-ski wardrobe. Layering is key to your look since you’ll be pinging from the snowy outdoors, to bar, to sweaty dance floor. Snug ribbed leggings are a good place to start, which you can add to with chunky contrasting socks or leg warmers to ensure you can still feel your feet. Heels are a no-go when you have potential ice and snow to encounter en route to the bars - invest in a good snow or moon boot instead. Famed for its wellies, Hunter has even come up with a patent-trimmed snow boot in time for ski season. Balance out your proportions with oversized knitwear that you can pull on and off easily, like poncho shapes. For a trend-led take on apres-ski style, try the Navajo-inspired look, as seen on Isabel Marant’s autumn/
Look stylish on the slopes whether you’re a snow bunny or beginner. Lisa Haynes reveals how to stay warm and look cool with statement skiwear.
winter catwalk. Choose big knits with shearling-lined collars, bold graphic prints and vibrant hues to brighten up your cold weather wardrobe. Apres-ski is the perfect excuse to overdo it with accessories, too. Go wild with woolly hats, scarves and mittens that you can stash in your bag while you’re throwing dance floor shapes after one too many peach schnapps. Skiwear essentials
Don’t get bogged down on the slopes with an all-style, no substance attitude. Simply wearing a neon coat isn’t going to get you promoted to the black runs. Phil Power, head of equipment at Surfdome.com, has this advice on the skiwear fashion features to look for: :: Vents - Usually placed in the arm pits (pit zips) or on the front of the jacket, these are great for those bluebird days where temperatures can rise. :: Snow skirts - They attach your jacket to your ski pants, and are very important for keeping the snow out of your underpants! You can get removable or fully fixed varieties, so investigate whichever you prefer on the jacket you’re buying. ✱ Zips and Seams Ensure they’re waterproof or sealed, because not all are and can let water in. ✱ Pockets Those all-important ski essentials including goggles, MP3 players and ski passes need a home, and pocket positioning should be dependent on where you like these items placed. ✱ Hoods Check to see if they have a peak, or are removable. If hoods have a faux fur trim, can you take it off so it doesn’t get wet or can be easily dried? ✱ Cuffs Make sure your jacket’s cuffs are adjustable and waterproof, and that they fit with your snow gloves, depending on whether you wear them over or under your sleeves. january2012
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Laban’s Pilates Studio is one of the largest fully equipped Pilates facilities in the UK Open 7 days a week
NEW!
*New* Reformer classes and Antenatal and Postnatal classes Mat classes available For further information or to make a booking:
Photography: Kyle Stevenson
Telephone 020 8469 9482 email pilates@trinitylaban.ac.uk online www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/pilates TriniTy Laban ConservaToire of MusiC and danCe Laban buiLding, Creekside se8 3dZ
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Star style reSolutionS
TAKE yOUR FASHiOn CUE FROM THE CELEBRiTiES in 2012 AS THEy REVEAL THEiR nEW yEAR FASHiOn AnD BEAUTy GOALS. By LiSA HAynES Making a resolution doesn’t have to be all about quitting. Whether it’s stocking up the beauty cabinet or adding to your wardrobe, overindulge your favourite habits instead and make 2012 your most beautiful year yet. If you’re stuck for good intention inspiration, these celebrities have their New Year goals sussed. Here are some resolutions you’ll surely want to keep...
looking healthy and shiny, so I may experiment with the style a little now. It’s always nice to have a change.” ✱ TV presenter Louise Redknapp is the face (and hair) of Schwarzkopf ’s LIVE Salon Style range, available from Boots anGelic routine
Lauren Goodger: “To always remember to take off my make-up before going to bed. I also aim to drink more water and start taking vitamins.” ✱ TOWIE’s Lauren is founder of Lauren’s Way beauty range (www.laurensway.com)
facial fineSSe
Coleen Rooney: “I already cleanse, tone and moisturise every morning and night, but I’d love to get a facial every six weeks. I like the natural look, so fresh, clean skin is key.” ✱ Entrepreneurial WAG Coleen’s latest fragrance Butterflies (from £25) is available at Selfridges
Skin-kinD Diet
Me-tiMe treat
Gok Wan: “My beauty New Year’s resolution is to set aside at least an hour a week for some much needed pampering. You forget how great it makes you feel and with my busy schedule, I never get enough time to indulge in it.” ✱ The TV stylist’s pampering range Gorgeous by Gok is available from Boots liGhten uP
Sadie Frost: “My New Year’s fashion resolution is to wear more colour - I wear far too 48 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
reGular reJuvenation
Liv Tyler: “i aim to use a mask on a weekly basis. i don’t get enough sleep being a mum, working and travelling, so masks are important - i use givenchy black for light Mask (£59.50) to instantly brighten my skin.” actress liv tyler is the face of Givenchy
much black. I also need to stop living in my yoga clothes for business meetings.” ✱ Fashion designer Sadie Frost is co-founder of Floozie by Frost French lingerie, available at Debenhams
heavenly hair
Louise Redknapp: “I’m all about hair for 2012. It’s much easier to keep my new darker shade
Pearl Lowe: “My New Year beauty resolution is going to be cutting out dairy, wheat and sugar - I find it’s so much better for my skin.” ✱ Fashion designer Pearl Lowe has collaborated with DP London to design a limited edition candle collection (www.dplondon.com) crowD PleaSer
Jade Thompson: “I’m going to try and stand out in 2012 by making bold outfit choices that showcase my individuality at red carpet events. I want to make a statement through fashion.” ✱ Model Jade Thompson is the winner of Britain’s Next Top Model 2011 and face of Peugeot RCZ Sports Coupe More PaMPerinG
Fearne Cotton: “My
I also plan to go to bikram yoga weekly, not monthly!” ✱ TV stylist Grace Woodward is Wella Professional’s fashion ambassador clean livinG
Jamelia: “My beauty resolution is to begin a healthier routine, but my birthday is on January 11 so my New Year resolutions always start on the 12th, not the 1st!” ✱ Singer Jamelia is backing the music industry’s Parental Advisory scheme SaDDle uP
Anna Ryder Richardson: “For 2012, I’d really like to focus on expanding my equestrian look. Everything from leather riding boots, vintage pocket squares and even a button front cape and scarf. Fabulous!” ✱ TV presenter Anna Ryder Richardson is a style consultant for Magnet Kitchens faShionaBly fit
Davina Mccall: “Postworkout, i love easy-to-wear pieces such as slouchy tops that fall off the shoulder. but when i’m working out, i want to wear something a bit wow and zingy - i really like bright colours.” Presenter Davina has teamed up with next to design a new fitness range, out spring 2012
warDroBe DetoX
Lynda Bellingham: “I will be getting rid of any clothes I haven’t worn for more than six months and making sure that everything I have is a wardrobe staple that I’ll wear time and time again.” ✱ Actress Lynda Bellingham is style ambassador for ladies fashion retailer Isme (www.isme.com) effortleSS treSSeS
New Year’s resolution is probably just to relax a bit more - to chill out and be a bit less hyperactive!” ✱ DJ and TV Presenter Fearne Cotton has a clothing range at online retailer Very (www.very.co.uk)
drink more water, and have more massages. Also, I want to have a facial because I’ve never had one before.” ✱ TV presenter Emma Willis is the celebrity ambassador of Regis Hair Salons
allow myself some time off from work and look for fashion inspiration outside the studio.” ✱ Fashion designer Matthew Williamson is behind Debenhams’ Butterfly range
chill out
MaSSaGe MiSSion
Matthew Williamson: “My wish for 2012 is to try and
Grace Woodward: “Drink more water. I hate drinking water but it’s great for your skin.
Emma Willis: “Sleep more,
healthy hyDration
Lauren Pope: “To finally achieve Sarah Jessica Parker-style ombre hair, my hairdresser has been taking my roots darker for the last few months. 2012 is all about low maintenance, effortless style and ombre hair means I’ll never have to get my roots done.” ✱ TOWIE’s Lauren recently DJ’d for Glam Rock Watches at boutique.Goldsmiths january2012
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fa s h i o n b e a u ty
Beauty At Your
Fingertips…
Every Woman deserves beautiful nails
W
hen times are tough, money is short and life is not easy, we all need a little “pick me up” and what better than treating ourselves to a lovely set of beautiful nails that will cheer us up, make us feel good and put a smile back on our faces! Women will always find the extra pennies for that little treat, and nails are top of the list, because they are visible and we feel great when people notice and comment on our lovely nails. Nails are one of the few parts of a person where it is not required to look in a mirror to see what they look like, nails allow women to see beauty at their fingertips.
How do you choose a nail product with so many now on offer?
Choose a product that you are 100% sure will be good for the nail plate. Don’t just select the cheapest product or the most convenient, make sure the product you choose is well investigated and that the company is well established and has a good reputation. Unlike other nail finishes, Bio Sculpture Gel is a nail treatment applied as a coating
Your hands are your calling card in life your nails their focal point
onto your own natural nails to strengthen and condition them with no damage. Also fantastic on toe nails and will last for weeks. Clients will enjoy seeing their nails transformed to their exceptional potential, with no fumes, no odours and minimal buffing. No more waiting around for nail polish to dry as the Gel dries instantly under a UVA Curing Lamp in a choice of over 140 different colours, French or natural finish. The gel is easily removed without any damage to your natural nails. No more chipped nail polish as your gel nail colour will be long wearing and chip proof and your nails will keep their well manicured look long after
application. Matching colour varnishes allow flexibility of Permanent Colour Gels – simply apply one of our 140 different coloured varnishes over the Colour Gel. This can be removed easily with our specially formulated “Non Acetone Cleanser” and you are back to your Permanent Colour Gel. “Your hands are your calling card in life – your nails their focal point” For your nearest salon or information on training courses for beginners or experienced nail technicians: Tel: 0845 331 2347 www.biosculpture.co.uk
Festive Fun! Nail Collection Bio Sculpture Gel is the latest must have nail care product. Unlike varnish that chips and peels, this durable Gel is applied as an overlay onto natural nails by a qualified nail technician. The Gel is set under a UV Lamp giving it that strong, flexible, glossy finish which lasts for three weeks. Easy removal without damage to nails. For your nearest salon or information on training courses for beginners and experienced nail technicians, call 0845 331 2347.
80 Starry Night 63 Moulin Rouge 2022 Emerald Touch 2043 Solid Silver 117 Breaking Dawn
www.biosculpture.co.uk
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T roMaNTic iNTeriors WiTH VALEnTinE’S DAy JUST AROUnD THE CORnER, THOUGHTS TURn TO ROMAnCE.
52 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
T
o set the right mood throughout the year, here are some simple interior tips and a handful of extra special touches to dress your home. So whether you are planning a Valentine’s Day party or some intimate time for two, check out these romantic ideas. Consider printed pillows, woven throws, porcelain figurines, classic framed prints and the like, creatively displayed throughout your home. Treat yourself to flowers. There are not only florists, but great sources on-line and in catalogues for a wealth of pretty posies. While roses are the original symbol of romance, tulips in white, red, and pink or even a bouquet of carnations can brighten any room. Paperwhites and other bulbs will bring a welcome touch of Spring, as well. Consider using paper or silk flowers if live aren’t your bag. For those with a sweet tooth there is always a treat for Valentines! Consider well placed candy dishes, heart-shaped of course, in crystal, silver, or ceramic. Whether filled with chocolate kisses, or pastel melts, it adds that sense of sweetness. Get the kids involved with baking special Valentine’s sugar cookies, heart shapes with pink and red sugar sprinkle topping to share with family and friends. Honour those close to your heart. Choose favourite pictures of your children, spouse, significant other, or friends and group them in heart shaped frames. If red, pink, and white aren’t your favourite colours, go with gold or silver, but do promote the sense of romance with sparkle and elegance. Romantic bedroom decoration is created by using curved lines flowers, curved lines, light shade colours, floral patterns, soft fabrics, floral patterns and dim lighting. The colour of the room has a great effect on the mood. Add some romance with rich red, make an elegant look with regal purple or go for fantasy by using a deep blue colour hue painted on the ceiling. Romantic bedroom decoration can also be done by creating a cozy canopy bed. It gives a feeling of privacy with draping fabrics along the corners of the wall. For bedding soft, warm and comfortable fabrics should be used. You can also create a sense of luxury by having some assorted cosy pillows and throw pillows of different shapes and sizes. Hang some candles on the wall or arrange them artistically on the tables. You can also use floating candles. If you feel candles are risky if left unattended then you can also use battery or electricity operated dim lights can be used for romantic bedroom decoration. Fill the air with some exotic perfumes to set up the mood. Try to sprit the linens with scented oils before making the bed. Use subtle scents like patchouli, lavender or sandalwood to make it irresistibly romantic. One more important thing that can be considered for romantic bedroom decoration is headboards. Some fascinating headboard ideas contain full length mirrors, tapestry or quilt, room divider screens, garden lattice, or you can make a nice headboard (padded) of your’ own. What makes you feel romantic?? These days the opportunities are endless, take advantage of the day and make it special.
consider using PaPer or silk flowers if live aren’t your bag.
january2012
53
&
HO U SE GA RD E N
WE DESIGN IT WE INSTALL IT YOU ENJOY IT
O
ver the last twenty years every aspect of the home has been the subject of makeovers and upgrading. We have seen kitchens, bathrooms, conservatories, soft furnishings, gardens, sundecks, swimming pools: the list is endless. Or almost endless. e only area in a home that has not had the usual loving care is the garage: until now that is. After years of abuse, the lowly garage is finally getting a second chance thanks to GarageTek who are the leading garage storage and organisation company in America and have been operating in the UK for five years now. Alastair Broom, the Managing Director in the UK had been researching the options for garages for a number of years because, coming from a property background he could see the enormous potential that has been the garage.
754 6 J An NuUaArRyY2 2 ja 00 1 21 2
THE WORLD’S CLEANEST GARAGE BY GARAGETEK “In many cases the garage is over 10% of the space in a house and yet owners have not had a sensible proposition to do anything with it. ey will happily leave their £50,000 Mercedes on the drive in all weather whilst there is probably £1,000 of odds and ends lying all over the garage floor. is really doesn’t make a lot of sense and I was determined to find a solution,” says Alastair Broom. “Added to that in a house with a value today of, say £750,000, 10% equates to the garage having a potential value of £75,000. Does it feel like that value to most owners? Why not increase its value and therefore the value of the house as well as making maximum use of the space?” THE BENEFITS OF GARAGETEK GarageTek will design and install a storage solution that gets everything off the floor and onto the walls in specially designed cabinets, baskets,
racks and hooks. e main benefits are that it is: n n
n
n
n
n
Easy to keep clean and tidy Gives a bright glossy look thereby increasing light Easy to move and re-organise everything whenever you want Weather-proof and bug-proof
Professionally designed and installed Covered by a 10 year warranty
With options for the walls, floor, ceiling and over 80 different units there is clearly something for everyone. And there is no need to have the whole garage fitted: the system is so flexible that it is possible to have just one wall fitted, maybe with a new floor and the rest can be done at a later stage if that fits the budget better.
THE VALUE OF VERSATILITY e foundation of the GarageTek system is the patented TekPanel, a strong, attractive wall panel on which other system elements are attached. TekPanel is bright, strong and covers the walls of the garage and then a modular system of high performance cabinets, shelves, baskets and activity racks are added to the slotted walls with clip-on brackets. e GarageTek system can easily accommodate storage of various items. For example:
n Sports enthusiasts can select activity racks specifically designed for stowing bicycles, fishing rods and tackle, sailing equipment, canoes, golf clubs and shoes, ski equipment or tennis equipment n Kids will love to have their own private lockers and racks for sports gear
n Gardeners can organise their tools handily
&
HO U SE G AR DE N
n Brackets, baskets and shelving handle household supplies, while lockable cabinets can keep paints and chemicals safe from young hands.
n Woodworkers or hobby enthusiasts can create a well-organised workshop area with benchs, cabinets, part bins, tip-out bins, tool holders and hooks
If storage needs or hobbies change, the beauty of GarageTek is its adaptability. Any layout changes are easy: the owner simply lifts and
of colours and patterns to choose from. CUSTOM DESIGN AND INSTALLATION When a homeowner is interested in a GarageTek system, the first step is a no strings attached free consultation where a GarageTek designer will create a custom rendering of the proposed garage organisation system using the Company’s own GarageVision software. e garage will be measured and designed to the owner’s needs and requirements and a comprehensive colour layout
GarageTek system which will create or enhance a lot of space in their home.” ENJOY THE GARAGE e final piece in the jigsaw is the enjoyment. It is the most important step. A GarageTek system gives so much more flexibility. Owners can re-configure the accessories anywhere on the walls at any time without the need for tools. If you need more accessories – no problem. GarageTek have them in stock and they can easily be added to the system at any time.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
slides the item to a new location. GarageTek also offers a choice of flooring system: an extraordinarily strong, stain resistant and easy to keep clean interlocking tile or a very popular seamless Resin coating that gives the garage a car showroom look. Like the entire GarageTek system, the flooring is custom designed and versatile with a wide range
and price structure is given to homeowners so that they can see exactly how their garage will look. “Whilst the do-it-yourself on a budget is not our core market we have sold a number of our systems and the owners will do the installation themselves” says Broom. “Our market is the homeowner who understands value and wants the convenience and style of a
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CUSTOMERS GENUINELY ENJOY USING THEIR GARAGE BECAUSE THEY ARE SUDDENLY A PLEASURE TO BE IN!
Alastair Broom’s vision is for the garage to be considered on the same level of thinking as the rest of the home. “ In a few years I expect to see the GarageTek brand as a part of Estate Agents’ details in much the same way as the quality brands for kitchens are today.” One thing is clear: homeowners now have a serious and quality option for upgrading their garage to make it a highly usable space be it for storage, recreation or keeping that car in throughout the year. You can learn more about GarageTek and the
World’s Cleanest garage at www.garagetek.co.uk For more information please contact: Alastair Broom at GarageTek on 01491 579 975 info@garagetek.co.uk www.garagetek.co.uk n
J Aj a Nn Uu AaRrYy220011 22 755 7
Ajuga reptans
house garden
class glass! Let Tudor Touch put
to your
T
udor touch was established in 1976, and has been providing London and the south east with window dressing ever since. Last year saw Tudor Blinds and Shutters become Tudor Touch, with a new name brought in new products. As well as bringing in new products, Tudor Touch has updated their fabric ranges and now has an even wider range of colours and designs. The focus at Tudor Touch is to give you home inspiration by providing bespoke blinds, shutters and more. As well as providing clients with bespoke products Tudor Touch like to provide a first class service, from presale to after sale service. As Tudor has been trading since 1976, history has taught them the value of building long lasting relationships with customers. This is why they take great care to get to
56 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
know you and understand what your needs are. Tudor Touch has a wide selection of products, which are designed to help you fall in love with your home. Tudor cater to a wide audience of whom all have their own style and budgets, this is why they are always updating their ranges to meet customers needs. This is why each customer is provided with professional services whether it be in the showroom or in the comfort of their home, where one of Tudor’s experienced surveyors will give you a free no design & obligation quote. Tudor Touch products and services are not just for homeowners but also for commercial companies. Over the years, Tudor Touch has built relationships with local schools, banks, authority offices, pubs, local museums, and restaurants on many occasions providing blinds
New range Vinyl shutter
Panel blind
and shutters always providing the same level of service. Tudor touch understand that natural light can sometimes be an unwell visitor, so whether your need is for a simple blackout roller blind or something more contemporary Tudor Touch are ready to advise and help you select the right window décor for your window. The latest product Tudor Touch has introduced to their product line is vinyl shutters, these are the prefect solution for wet areas such as steamy bathrooms and kitchens. Just like the rest of their products, they are made to measure and can be fitted to any window size. The Vinyl shutter has an excellent turn around time as they can be made in as little as 2 weeks they are produced in the UK and come with a manufactures guarantee of 25 years. Last year saw Tudor Touch introduce their radiator covers just like with all other products the radiator covers are also bespoke. Therefore, whether you are looking to make a statement with a radiator cover or trying to conceal a radiator Tudor Touch has the answer. The design of the radiator covers has based on the shutter; the cover allows the radiator to be concealed with elegant. To see a selection of what Tudor Touch has to offer or to see their ever changing window display come down to Tudor’s London showroom. The friendly staff are always ready to answer any questions you may have and are always happy to demonstrate how to operate all the products. Alternatively, visit the website www.tudortouch.com
Heritage Sofas and Chairs
Purveyors of Fine Bespoke English Upholstery
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Harvey Suite by Peter Guild up to 35% Off r.r.p. (Choice of 20 fabrics) ALSO up to 40% Off selected Wade Suites For more information and a brochure Call Jason on 01689 875277 Heritage Chairs, 8 Station Square, Petts Wood, BR5 1NA www.heritagesofas.co.uk
Less L ess tHan tHan tH
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BEHAR PETTSWOOD. NEW YEAR – NEW LOOK – NEW FLOOR! A brand new year provides the perfect opportunity to shake off the cobwebs of the winter and look forward to the freshness of a new beginning. And what better place to start than in your own home – now is the time to change the look and freshen up the entire house. Floors are the obvious starting point – they say so much about your taste and style – and can create the perfect interior design ambience. And there’s no better place to look at the new season’s exciting flooring choices than at Behar Carpets in Pettswood. Behar, with over 90 years’ of quality, service and value behind them, has so much to offer to excite and stimulate your creative instincts. Massive choices in carpets in natural and man-made fibres – with seemingly limitless options in plain or patterns – understated neutrals to the dazzling funky. Rugs – from all over the world – in traditional or contemporary styles and in just about every size and shape imaginable – the choice at Behar is seemingly endless. And hard floors – real woods and durable laminates in every wood species that you can think of. And right now there has never been a better time to buy – the famous Behar Winter Sale is now on – with many ranges now at less than half price. And with free fitting on all carpet orders for floors over £300 – you get tremendous value at Behar as well as incredibly low prices.
witH free fittinG* Pettswood Unit 2b/2c, Fairway, Station Square, Pettswood, Kent BR5 1EG
Tel: 01689 822100
SINCE
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Choice, value, expert, honest advice, exceptional service – and the lowest prices in town guaranteed (see website for Price Promise details) – there is only one place to go to ring in the flooring changes for the new year – it has to be the Behar Winter Sale, at Pettswood – now on. ‘See you there!
www.beharcarpets.co.uk
*Free fitting minimum order £300 - £25 surcharge for stairs. Photograph used for illustration purposes only. All offers subject to being unsold.
Behar – over 90 years of quality, value and service
house garden
New year, new look home
Your home may look a little bare now it’s free of decorations - but now’s the perfect time to view it anew. Get a fresh deco strategy for 2012 with advice from interiors experts. By Gabrielle Fagan
t
he holiday’s over and while it’s common to feel you’re suffering from a little too much partying, there’s another often overlooked symptom - a decor hangover. Once you’ve disposed of that sparkling tree and taken down colourful cards, even the best of rooms can look dull and bare by comparison. Winter’s harsh light can expose past-their-best colour schemes and furnishings, too. “Don’t suffer from decor doldrums. Instead, take this as the perfect time to look at rooms afresh and decide whether they really work for you,” says Clare Nolan, stylist and interiors author, whose new book, Making A House Your Home, is packed with inspiration and clever tips to help with a New Year revamp. “Step away from questions of style and think about what
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it is you actually do at home. How do you spend your time? “Making changes to your home so it fits your lifestyle can be just as important as choosing the colour of the walls. So if you love a hobby, you should be trying to make a space where you can enjoy it or, if you entertain a lot, the dining area should be a feature.” To revamp a home, you may only need to re-arrange furniture, which could also open up a new area. By repositioning artwork, mirrors, rugs and lighting, you can create different focal points and change the atmosphere. “Avoid the knee-jerk reaction of chucking out and buying new,” says Nolan. “When relocating things, start with anything that isn’t working hard or earning its keep in its current position, but think outside the box.
“A bed quilt could become a chair cover, a tablecloth or even a wall hanging. A chair could double as a bedside table, and a bench transform into a console table. Get creative!” Renovate and revive
Makeovers don’t have to be confined to TV programmes and DIY experts. An old piece of furniture can be given a facelift easily. “It’s really quite astonishing just what a difference paint can make,” Nolan says. “An old-fashioned piece of brown furniture that you wouldn’t look twice at, can be elevated to perfectly chic with a couple of coats of solid colour.” Stylist tricks: You can paint almost anything you love the shape of - the surface finish and colour won’t matter. Simply apply a specialist primer to suit it, whether plastic,
metal or wood. “Painting and wallpapering a piece can be truly stylish,” Nolan says. “You can wallpaper drawer fronts, add a coat of varnish to protect the finish and paint the frame. Add new handles and you have an individual, distinctive feature for little cost.” Colourful me beautiful
“Colour has a huge impact on the mood of a home,” says Nolan. “It’s a powerful tool and has the ability to make your heart sing or sink, so repainting a few walls could be just the boost your home and wellbeing needs for a new year.” In a small home, she advises using a palette of tonal colours, which are only slightly darker or lighter than each other, to make the space feel bigger. Stylist tricks: When you’re choosing the background
colour for a room, usually the wall paint, consider the amount of light a room gets. “If bright light’s the problem, opt for deeper, cooler colours such as blues and greens, and avoid warm colours,” advises Nolan. “If you lack natural light, either embrace it and create a den-like space using moody colours, or maximise the light by painting with light neutrals and using reflective finishes. By contrast, matt surfaces absorb light and make colour appear denser and more intense.” Kill the clutter
Dejunking and decluttering can be painful, says Nolan, but as well as giving you space, it will also allow your decorative items to star and earn their place in the home. “Your mantra should be ‘use it, love it, or lose it’,” she says. “If you really can’t bear to part with something and you’ve got enough storage space, consider having winter and summer looks. Just pack things away and bring them back into use when the season changes.”
Stylist tricks: Sacrificing a whole wall to storage may seem excessive, but once fitted, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it, says Nolan. “Don’t overlook the potential of lighting in cupboards. Recessed spotlights in cabinets and strip lights under shelves all shed light just where you need it,” she says. “Painting the inside of cupboards helps too - a bright, zingy shade can turn it into a real feature.” Clever kitchen
Kitchens are the hub of a home, but they can feel overcrowded and unwelcoming unless there’s careful planning. “If you’re going to use the kitchen as a snug, or informal playroom and TV room as well, furnish it as you would other rooms,” she advises. “Bring in decorative elements to soften its functional kitchen aspects. While lighting needs to be practical, there’s no reason why you can’t have a chandelier or a sculptural floor lamp as well.” Stylist tricks: A calendar pinned to a wall is fine, but a
chalkboard wall for notes, lists and dates is more effective and can make a focal point. “Use blackboard paint to paint the area you want,” says Nolan. “Your chalkboard will look much more impressive when it’s wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling.” In a small kitchen, replace wall-hung units with rows of open shelves, which will look less overpowering than closed cupboards and ensure everything is easily visible. “Think outside the box when it comes to groceries,” she suggests. “Fruit and vegetables make instantly gorgeous displays when stored in cake stands or piled into clear vases, and even a bunch of herbs can look as pretty as a bunch of flowers.” Coffee table chic
Never overlook the power of the coffee table, advises Nolan, as it’s one of the most important pieces in a living room. “Everything circulates around it and it’s the equivalent
of that other essential - the kitchen table,” she points out. “But don’t think it has to be a neat square or rectangle. It doesn’t even have to be a table - a blanket box, trunk or even a few wine crates screwed together will work fine.” Stylist tricks: If you have the room, go for an oversized upholstered ottoman or large footstool which can double as extra seating. “Harden and level out the soft, squishy surfaces of upholstered coffee tables with a pile of books or an oversized tray,” she suggests. “Soften a wooden table with a throw. Fold it so it creates a runner that you can lay across the middle and it will have the advantage of hiding any spills or stains.” Utilise its decorative potential by grouping treasured items in clusters, but ensure they’re easily portable by standing them on a tray. Making A House Your Home by Clare Nolan is published by Kyle Books, priced £25 january2012
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ith the prospect of moving house or home becoming ever more daunting in the current economic climate, now is the time to rejuvenate the home you love and live in. There are many ways to improve the look of your home with simple but effective results. One way to do this is by installing plantation shutters. Widely regarded as the ultimate window dressing, shutters are now considered as the modern
60 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
must have alternative to the otherwise traditional and dull window dressings. Plantation Shutters provide a great look from the inside and out. However, they can also benefit your home in other ways. Acting as a second layer of insulation means that minimal heat is lost through your windows during the winter months whilst in the summer they prevent rooms from overheating -Saving money on gas and electricity bills. Contrary to what most think, plantation shutters can also be installed just about anywhere. Whether in bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, old houses or new, shutters can offer an array of stunning solutions for difficult to dress windows/doors which you may have previously thought could never have been done. Backing up claims of excellent workmanship with their long list of recommendations and pictures from previous installations,
ShuttersUp ltd. have established a reputation for being one of the top retailers of window shutters and blinds within in the South London and Kent area. Their ethos is simple, to provide a professional and completely honest service that you can rely on whilst providing free NO PRESSURE quotations within the M25 and surrounding areas. What’s more, they only employ friendly and professional in-house fitters and surveyors who are readily available to answer any questions or queries that you may have. With an amazing range of materials, colours and shutter designs to choose from, their clients are often able to match their specific ideas and budgets whilst ultimately achieving their desired finish. Why not check out the website at shuttersup.co.uk or even book a free measure and quotation today on 020 8776 1484.
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aNTiQues
n
ot for the first time we have a crazy situation wherein some types of antique silverware are worth more money for their scrap metal value than they are for their historic and functional qualities. Currently this applies to those large Victorian tea services, trays, memorial centre-pieces and presentation cups. Thankfully most people today are resisting the temptation to scurry along to the nearest collection point and cash in, unlike the similar temptation of late 1970’s. This was when a demand for the scrap metal saw even fine Georgian coffee pots, candle sticks, teapots and tankards being melted down for cash. This is of course a tragedy because antique silver from the UK and C.I. is one of the few classes of antiques that by means of the finest guarantee system in the world, it is possible to tell from the hall marks stamped upon it when a piece was made, where it was made, where it was tested for quality, who tested it, what the quality is, when it was made, whether duty was paid, and most fascinating of all, the life story of the person who made it. It all began way back in the 12th century when King John 1167 – 1216 recognized that some semblance of order and uniformity needed to be introduced to the manufacture of coin of the realm and functional and commemorative silverware, correctly termed ‘wrought plate’. This is because pure
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John Bly
antique Silverware waS worth More for Melt than it waS aS a tanGiBle Piece of hiStory
silver is too soft to be durable and so is mixed or ‘alloyed’ with a hardening agent. At first copper alone was used but over the centuries many other ingredients have been introduced. The problem was that copper does not alter the colour of the silver and so it was not beyond the temptation of a silversmith to dilute the quality of the costly primary metal by adding any amount of copper before starting to make coin or object. At the time of King John the leading silversmiths in the Western world were Germans, and so a party of them were invited to come to England and advise on a ‘fineness’, that is a maximum percentage of silver to copper to make a metal pure enough to have maximum intrinsic value while being soft enough to ‘work’ or make with, yet be hard enough to withstand handling and use. The Germans settled on a ratio of 92.5% fine (pure) silver to 7.5% copper, which standard has remained the same (officially) from the 12th century to the present day with the exception of a short break between 1697 – 1720. Legend has it that the Germans were not overly welcome and were given the nickname ‘Easterlings’. The silver they produced was labeled the same and over the years the first two letters were dropped – we were as lazy with our language then as we are today – and the word ‘sterling’ became used to describe fine silverware and anything
else of guaranteed quality. As coin and wrought plate were the same material it was possible and much practiced to melt coin to make wrought plate when you got rich and melt wrought plate to make coin when things got tough. It was on such an occasion that any substandard silver was discovered but to date there was no true means of tracing the perpetrator. So in 1300 a statute of King Edward I provided that no ware of gold or silver should be sold until it had been taken to the headquarters of the guardians of the craft of silversmiths - correctly referred to as goldsmiths later to become known as an Assay Office. There it was to be tested, the details of which we shall look at later, and if approved be stamped with a mark as a guarantee of quality. The mark, known at first as ‘the King’s mark, depicted the head of a lion, but as it was symbolic, and the then popular French language term for a lion in heraldry was ‘leopart’ it soon became known as the Leopard’s Head mark. At this time the headquarters of the Guild of Goldsmiths, already established earlier in the 13th century, was in London and it was not long before the Leopart’s Head mark in turn became known as the London town mark. Now this was all very well but there was still no definitive method of tracing an unethical goldsmith who had cheated in his material structure by
putting too much copper into his mix. So to protect the honest smith and his clients as well as to trace the crooks a second mark was added in 1363 through a statute of King Edward III which provided that every goldsmith “should have a mark by himself ” to be struck next to the King’s (London town) mark. Then, before any wrought plate
was melted down a note was made of the maker’s name and if the silver was found to be substandard, he could be traced and held responsible. Now this is taking longer to cover than I had imagined, and we haven’t even begun to talk about Channel Isles silver, so I’m going to make this the first of at least three episodes in the coming months, and I
hope you will stick with it. Just briefly back to that crazy situation I mentioned at the beginning in the early 1970s. It was when the American oil billionaire Nelson Bunker Hunt and his brother William Herbert began accumulating large amounts of silver in an attempt to corner the market in this raw material. They nearly succeeded for
by 1997 they had acquired estimated silver holdings of 100 million Troy ozs. Between 1979 and 1980 the scrap price rose from around £6.50 an ounce in September 1979 to just over £30 an ounce in January 1980. Such a value was unsustainable and silver prices ultimately collapsed to below £6 an ounce two months later. It was estimated that the brothers benefitted by between $2billion and $4 billion before Nelson filed for bankruptcy in 1988. But such a phenomenal rise meant that old and new wrought plate was worth more for its material content than it was as an object, whatever it was. So antique silverware was worth more for melt than it was as a tangible piece of history, and I hope to show you in the ensuing chapters just how extraordinarily detailed that tangible history is. Incidentally apart from his failed attempt to control the world’s silver supply and his spectacular bankruptcy, N. Bunker Hunt is accredited as saying - words to the affect that - “A billion dollars isn’t what it used to be” and “People who know how much they’re worth aren’t usually worth that much”. Read that with a rueful smile. John Bly Est Antiques 1891. Tel: 01442 823030 Mobile: 07831 888826. Website: www.johnbly.com Email:john@johnbly.com january2012
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A ROOM FOR ALL SEASONS Y You want to move.! You need to move! You need more space for living, relaxing, entertaining. But moving is expensive and uncertain, and you have lavished a lot of time and money on your house and garden. Fortunately there are many ways to extend your property, from creating rooms in your loft, building a conservatory, to adding a garden room. All of these options create space and add value. Much has been written about loft conversions and conservatories, but garden rooms are still a largely undiscovered way of providing flexibility and fun. When most people think of outside structures in the garden they think of gazebos and summerhouses. But these days the range of options is staggering. Given our British climate, rooms open to the elements might seem a risk. 68 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
How many days a year would you use it? What would you use it for? How would it fit into my garden? Fuman Dejahang, Managing Director of Crown Pavilions, one of the UK’s leading
changing needs. Don’t think only of open gazebos any more. Our garden gazebos are for all year use. They have durable canvas side panels that can be rolled down in the winter. The blinds come with zips and PVC windows as well as
A garden room should be an extension of your house, and you can put it wherever you want. You can landscape around the garden room to create an integral part of your garden... manufacturers of garden rooms, provides some of the answers. “Times have changed” he said, “and the design of garden rooms has developed to meet people’s
highly effective infrared heaters. All these features mean the gazebos can be used all through the year. But you can also think about outdoor kitchens, sitting rooms with plasma screens, studies with storage
When you are looking at extending your house, a garden room could be the answer that you are looking for...
and internet connection, screens to protect you from the weather, mood lighting for evening entertainment, heating, hot tubs. These days we can provide a wide range of buildings for a variety of requirements, all designed around the needs of the families we build them for”.
A garden room should be an extension of your house, and you can put it wherever you want. You can landscape around the garden room to create an integral part of your garden. Fuman explained, “When we install a garden room we are especially mindful of the landscaping around it. Our sister company, Crown Gardens, will look after every aspect of planting and creating a beautiful setting which fits in with your existing garden. After
all, the garden room should be a sanctuary that reflects your house and enhances your garden. The lighting and heating are also important, especially if you want to entertain in the evening. We take care of all that too. We make sure that all parts of the structure work together in harmony, whether you are just relaxing or whether you are entertaining guests.” Of course, these days we also have to be especially careful about our green credentials. The beauty of a garden room created by a company such as Crown Pavilions, is that you can be sure that the timber is ethically sourced as well as deigned for easy maintenance with a quality and natural finish. The structure must be sturdy and the soft furnishings need to be resistant to everything our
climate can subject it too; fade and insect-resistant in the summer and mould-resistant in the rain.
Fuman Dejahang Managing Director of Crown Pavilions
The possibilities are endless. Whether your garden is large or small, or merely a paved courtyard you will find a garden room to suit your taste. Fuman comments “People want to enhance their homes and gardens and create spaces which are flexible for family life and entertaining friends. Garden rooms extend the scope of how you use your house and garden, create exciting and beautiful focal points, potentially increase the value of your property, and they are fun”.
www.crownpavilions.com january2012
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f
orget mundane healthy cooking, what every girl looking to drop a dress size needs is food she can get her teeth into. So says Jennifer Joyce, author of new book Skinny Meals In Heels. Don’t deny yourself, she suggests: “Keep using bacon, nuts and cheese, but just use far less. Instead of eight slices of bacon in a stew, use two. You’ll get all the taste but not so much fat. Healthy cooking without these can be a little too virtuous.” Considering more than a third of women on rapid weight loss diets gain back more than they lose, according to a recent report by Hovis, delicious meals such as Joyce’s (none of which take longer than 30 minutes to prepare) may well be the answer for New Year slimmers. “I truly love to eat lean, piquant food. Wondrous things can be made from Asian sauces, spice pastes and fresh aromatic herbs,” she says. True to her word, Joyce makes her sandwiches skinnier by taking out the mayonnaise and replacing it with grainy mustard or chutney. “It tastes great and is practically zero fat.” She also makes sure her cupboards are packed with tasty, low-fat ingredients. “Stock up your fridge and cupboards with options like smoked fish, cooked chicken breasts, Ryvita crackers and Greek yoghurt.” Skinny tips from Jennifer Joyce
Don’t snack Snacking is one of the biggest reasons for weight gain. Eat three meals a day that include protein and you won’t feel famished in between. It also gives your body a chance to burn off the calories you’ve eaten already. Quit when you are full Forget what your mother said. There isn’t a law that says you have to finish what’s on your plate. Overeating stretches 70 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
your stomach and will end up increasing your appetite. Wine and coffee are ok Within reason, both of these can suppress your appetite. If you’re making dinner and hanker for a piece of bread with butter, drink a glass of wine instead. Likewise, if you can’t wait for lunch, drink a cup of coffee or tea to stave off hunger pains. Less butter and more olive oil Butter is saturated fat, which causes cholesterol and faster weight gain. Start replacing it with olive oil and use it for cooking onions, on steamed vegetables or drizzled on toast. Vary what you eat Avoid cooking the same things over and over, such as pasta or steak. Go vegetarian a few nights a week and incorporate grains and pulses whenever you can, to ensure healthy eating habits. Use your freezer more Next time you cook, make double the amount and freeze the excess in single portions. Your freezer will then be stocked with instant ready meals for when you’re not in the mood to make something. Here are four recipes to get your non-diet started...
Diet another day
Skinny Meals In Heels by Jennifer Joyce is published by Murdoch, priced £14.99. Available January 5
It’s been proven that exercise alone won’t make you lose weight, it’s all about what you eat. But don’t just count calories, use those cooking skills to get skinny with these top New Year tips. By Sarah O’Meara
fooD DriNK
BaBy leaf SalaD with roaSteD Beetroot, SuGareD alMonDS anD criSP JaMon
(Serves 4) 4-5 baby beetroot, scrubbed and trimmed 1tsp extra virgin olive oil 2 slices serrano or Parma ham 4 handfuls mixed baby lettuce leaves 1 head chicory, leaves separated Salt and pepper For the sugared almonds: 3tbsp blanched almonds, roughly chopped 1tbsp honey 1tsp extra virgin olive oil 1tbsp caster sugar Salt For the dressing: 1tbsp sherry vinegar 2½tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1tsp Dijon mustard Salt and pepper ✱ Preheat the oven to 180C/ Gas mark 4. Cut the beetroot into quarters and place on a baking tray. Drizzle over the olive oil and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roast for 25 minutes or until tender and caramelised. ✱ To make the sugared almonds, place the almonds on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Drizzle with the honey and olive oil, sprinkle over the sugar and season with salt. Stir to evenly coat, bake for 10 minutes until golden, then remove and allow to cool. ✱ Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the ham for one minute each side or until crisp. Cool and break into pieces. ✱ To make the dressing, place all the ingredients in a small glass jar with a lid, season and shake well. ✱ Place the leaves on plates or in a big bowl. Arrange the beetroot, crisp ham and sugared almonds on top. Drizzle over the dressing and serve.
BakeD SeSaMe PrawnS with roaSteD chilli DiPPinG Sauce
(Serves 4) 16 raw large prawns, peeled and deveined with tails left on 2 egg whites 4tbsp toasted sesame seeds Cooking oil spray Salt and pepper Thinly sliced spring onion, to serve For the Chilli Dipping Sauce: 200ml rice wine vinegar 100g caster sugar 2tbsp chilli flakes 1 shallot, thinly sliced Salt ✱ Preheat
the oven to 200C/ Gas mark 6. To make the sticky Chilli Dipping Sauce, heat the vinegar and sugar with a large pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil, then simmer for five minutes or until syrupy. Remove from the heat and add the chilli flakes. Set aside until cool, then add the shallot. ✱ Butterfly the prawns by making a deep cut down the back so they lay nearly flat. Whisk the egg white until just foamy, then dip the prawns in, allowing any excess egg white to drain off. ✱ Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then roll in the sesame seeds. Place on a baking tray, spray with a bit of oil and bake for five minutes, or until they turn opaque and start to curl. ✱ Serve warm, garnished with the spring onion, with the dipping sauce on the side.
Stir-frieD fiSh with Dill anD rice nooDleS
chewy MerinGueS with BlackBerrieS
(Serves 4) 1 small onion, coarsely grated 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2.5cm piece of ginger, finely chopped 2tsp ground turmeric 2tbsp fish sauce 2tbsp peanut oil 900g piece of skinless monkfish or tilapia fillet, cut into 4cm chunks 200g dried rice vermicelli noodles 6 spring onions, thinly sliced 40g roughly chopped dill stalks and leaves
(Makes 16) 150ml egg white (from about 4 eggs), at room temperature 200g caster sugar 2tsp cornflour 1tsp white vinegar 300g blackberries (or other berries) 1½ tbsp icing sugar 250g low-fat Greek yoghurt Tiny mint leaves, for garnishing
✱ Chopped roasted peanuts, coriander sprigs, sliced red chilli marinated in rice vinegar and lime wedges, to serve ✱ Combine the onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, fish sauce and one teaspoon of the peanut oil in a bowl. Mix well, then add the fish and allow to marinate for 10 minutes. ✱ Meanwhile, place the noodles in a large bowl and pour over boiling water to cover well. Leave to sit for about five minutes or until tender, then drain. ✱ Heat the remaining peanut oil in a large wok over high heat. Add the spring onion and dill and cook for one minute, then add the fish mixture. Stir-fry for three to four minutes, or until the fish is cooked through. ✱ Divide the noodles among bowls and serve the fish on top with its juices spooned over. Serve with a small sprinkling of peanuts, coriander, chilli vinegar and lime wedges.
✱ Preheat the oven to 150C/ Gas mark 2 and line two large baking trays with baking paper. ✱ Place the egg white in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until soft peaks form. Add the caster sugar a tablespoonful at a time until incorporated. Keep whisking for one to two minutes, or until stiff, glossy peaks form. ✱ Sift the cornflour over the top, add the vinegar and gently fold through the mixture. ✱ Place 16 dollops of meringue, about 7.5-10cm in size, leaving plenty of space in between. Reduce the oven to 120C/Gas mark ½ and bake for 35 minutes. ✱ Turn the oven off and allow the meringues to cool for a couple of hours. This is an important step, because if you take them out at this point, they will be soft; the cooling process makes them crisp. ✱ To serve, gently crush the berries in a bowl with the back of a fork and mix in the icing sugar until dissolved. Serve the meringues with the berries and yoghurt, garnished with the mint. january2012
71
fooD DriNK
restaurant reviews
This month, food editor regan Maloney has visited three restaurants in Kent and se london, to give you her verdict. full reviews of all restaurants can be found at www.whatiatelastnight.com if you own or have a local restaurant that you’d like to recommend for review, please email regan@whatiatelastnight.com
l Day DininG chaPterS al er vale, li MontPe Blackheath
Due aMici , royal ParaDe chiSlehurSt
luJon coMMonSiDe, keSton
The restaurant was full to buzzing and had a very informal but sophisticated feel. Some people were having snacks and cocktails, whilst others were enjoying a meal with friends and family.
From the moment you walk through the door, you feel like you’re holidaying in Italy. The staff were bustling around speaking in English and Italian, and the restaurant was filled with sites of fresh fish, seafood, dessert trolleys and Italian wines.
We visited Lujon for a special ‘Great 8’ event whereby 8 top chefs from around the UK got together to each inspire an eight course tasting money to raise money for Hospitality Action.
Service was very efficient with genuinely friendly staff. The barman suggested the cocktail of the evening upon arrival, and our waiter talked us through the Josper oven and well put together menu.
Service was warm, welcoming and efficient, with great Italian humour.
Lujon staff worked amazingly well to service a full restaurant and great event. The restaurant itself really sparkled throughout the night.
There are different menus for the time of day that you visit. We were there in the evening for the all day menu. Our favourite was the pork chop, reared and butchered in Kent, and cooked in a Josper Oven, which cooks at a high heat with charcoal embers, leaving the meat extremely juicy and full of flavour.
The menu is very extensive, to the point where I couldn’t decide and so ended up with the chef making an amalgamation of different dishes. We started with a plate of very fresh, large oysters, and I had a mix of fresh homemade tomato pasta, served with a perfectly cooked medium rare fillet steak.
Eight courses of excellence worked to inspired themes ranging from ‘Liquid’ to ‘Feathers’. A resounding favourite of our group, was Lujon Chef, Alan Irwins ‘4 legs’ which consisted of a beautifully rich venison shepherds pie.
Drink
A cocktail bar with a cocktail of the day makes Chapters perfect for a pre-dinner drink, and a very nice wine list complements all dishes on the menu. We went for the Malbec, which had great flavours and was priced at £20.50.
The wine list was as you would expect from a good Italian restaurant – plenty of light, crisp whites and a great full-bodied Valpolicella that was priced at £19.90
Each dish was accompanied by a matching wine, supplied by Hatch Mansfield. One of my favourites was a wonderfully rich, and honeyed Sauvignon Blanc from Chile that was served with a blue cheese panacotta and quince, from chef Rupert Rowley.
Overview
A perfect choice for cocktails if in need of a shopping break, or food - whatever time of the day.
Old fashioned Italian charm with great quality produce.
A very enjoyable and educational evening set in a great restaurant with amazing food.
Ambiance
Service
Food
72 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
celebratewith withexotic exotic thai Celebrate Thai food this valentine’s Day. food this Festive Season Enjoy the elegant surroundingsthatThaiMoom has to offer. This spacious restaurant can comfortably seat upto 110 people, perfect for dining out with friends and family. Experience the distinctive flavour of Thai cuisine, with a hint of fresh spices, chilli, lemon grass, coconut and fish sauce, fused together to create exotic dishes.
Christmas Set Menu (5 courses) Available all December £25 per person Family Sunday Buffet
BooK noW for 12 noon- 10p.m. ValenTine’S Adults £13.95 £6.95 children under 10 day Express Lunch Menu
(Eat as much as you like from our selection)
£7.95 (2 courses) (Monday-Saturday) Take away service available
131 Queensway Petts Wood Kent BR5 1DG Reservations: 01689 872737
www.thaimoom.co.uk email: booking@thaimoom.co.uk
Large car park opposite
CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S AT
Bengal Lancer offers superb Indian Cuisine that makes you want to come back again, and again. The stylish décor and exquisite food makes this an Indian Restaurant that stands out from the rest. Using the best quality ingredientswithauthentic Indian spices, each dish has a unique flavour of its own. The extensive menu includes some of the most loved favourites to the more exotic dishes especially prepared exclusive to The Bengal Lancer, so there is something for everyone.
“Passionate about Indian Food”
Christmas Set Menu
Book (FourNow courses)for Valentine’s Day! £20.00 per person Live piano music Tuesday to Saturday Evenings
15 ROYAL PARADE CHISLEHURST BR7 6NR 020 8467 7088 www.bengallancer.co.uk email info@bengallancer.co.uk
A deep love for CLaRE WaLKER PaCKS HER HiKiNG BooTS aND HEELS FoR a WHiSTLE SToP TouR oF CoLoRaDo’S NaTioNaL PaRKS aND THE BRiGHT LiGHTS oF LaS vEGaS.
“F
irst time in Vegas ma’am?” the taxi driver deduced from my dazed expression. Despite having seen this neon wonderland in countless movies and television shows, I still wasn’t quite prepared for ‘the strip’ in the flesh, especially after a 12-hour flight from the UK. Little did I know, however, that over the next week I’d see sights more surreal and incredible than anything Vegas could throw at me - and all of them completely natural. My Grand American Adventure would begin and end in Sin City, taking in Route 66 and the mighty Grand Canyon; but before that, I’d be hiking my way through two other national parks and traversing one of the most wild and dangerous valleys in the world - well, if you believe the John Wayne version. After meeting the rest of the tour group: 12 intrepid travellers aged from 28 to 80-something, we boarded our bus and set off for Zion National Park. Early Mormon settlers considered the canyon their promised land, and as a result most of its towering sandstone cliffs bear names with a religious link: the Three Patriarchs, Cathedral Mountain and the Altar of Sacrifice are all reminders of Zion’s early beginnings. One of the park’s most famous peaks is Angel’s Landing, and the climb to the top - 1,500ft above the valley floor, is also one of its most popular. Following the advice of our guide Jeff, we were on the trail by 8.30am to avoid walking in the searing midday sun, but even that couldn’t help me on the last leg of the journey. One look at the people in front scrambling up and down an almost vertical cliff face with nothing more than a single chain rope to guide them and I wimped out, opting instead to walk the West Rim route to a sun-soaked plateau and the perfect picnic spot. There are walks for all abilities, with the easiest also proving among the prettiest. The 5km Pa’rus Trail traces the Virgin River as it carves its way through the canyon, and seems to 76 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
capture the tranquillity and integrity of the park perfectly. The next morning we left Zion, climbing the Colorado Plateau in our coach to Bryce Canyon National Park - and one of the most remarkable landscapes on earth. Bryce is famed for its hoodoos - surreal rock spires in a kaleidoscope of colours that create forests made of stone, like something out of a George Lucas fantasy. Technically Bryce isn’t a canyon at all, as most of the sculpting is done by a constant cycle of freezing and thawing, rather than by a river. Its elevation means that for around 200 days a year, ice and snow cover the park, melting during the day and refreezing at night, eroding the rocks from the inside and creating the hoodoos. The walk around the rim gave plenty of photo opportunities, but getting in among the spires is the best way to appreciate the true scale, and fragility, of this bizarre landscape. Starting off at Sunrise Point, we walked down into the canyon while enjoying a game of hoodoo bingo - trying to match the distinctively shaped rocks to those named in our park guide, with varying degrees of success. Each of the National Parks on our tour produces a free newspaper full of essential info, great maps - and some terrifying statistics. There are mountain lions and black bears at Bryce, although your chances of seeing them are slim; no, here you’re much more likely to be killed, or seriously injured, by falling off a cliff or being hit by lightening. Rockfall is another threat. The walk up the winding switchbacks of Wall Street, one of Bryce Canyon’s most spectacular hikes, is a must for any fairly fit visitor. But don’t linger too long, crumbling cliffs are common and the route is regularly closed off because of rocks falling from above. As well as its hoodoos, Bryce is famed for its dark night sky. So one night we convinced Jeff to forego his nightly adult beverage and drive us back into the park to see nature’s great light show. Edging my way towards the brink of the amphitheatre in
Travel
the pitch dark, I began to wonder how bright an idea it’d been, but one look skywards confirmed it. Experts say that even without a telescope you can see up to 7,500 stars here. Back on the road we made a brief stop to admire Lake Powell and Glen Canyon, before arriving at Monument Valley, Arizona, home to the Navajo people and the location of countless Western movies. Looking out across the dusty valley, the huge red monoliths of The Mittens and Merrick Butte staring defiantly back, I could almost hear the The Big Country theme tune playing in the background. Local guides offer jeep tours, providing a fascinating insight into Native American culture and the valley’s colourful history. As our guide Leonard ran through the long list of movies shot here, I suddenly realised the Indians weren’t really the ‘baddies’ at all. “John Wayne films are like horror movies for us because we always lose,” he chuckled. We were also introduced to ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings), beautiful natural arches, traditional cedar flute music, and given some useful survival tips: “If your friend gets bitten by a rattle snake, don’t try and suck the poison out like they do in the movies - you just end up with two dead bodies instead of one,” says Leonard jovially. I suspect most of the men in our group would have liked to stay a little longer, saddle up, and live out their boyhood daydreams, but it was time to get our first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. At 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and over a mile deep, it really is impossible to comprehend the true scale of this wonder of the world. I stood mesmerised as the changing light brought the canyon to life. With every passing cloud it seemed to shift, its multicoloured layers deepening to bold reds and greens, or fading to a gentle painted haze. It’s a truly humbling sight. Grand Canyon Village is busy with day trippers but it’s worth enduring the crowds to check out historic buildings such as the Kolb Studio and Hopi House. And an escape from it all is just a short walk away on the Hermit Road route. The view from Hopi Point is a particular highlight, a breathtaking 90mile east-west panorama of the canyon, and on the walk from Hopi to Mohave Point, I didn’t pass a single other person. Heading west, we watched the Colorado River slice through the canyon, as six Californian Condors circled serenely overhead. This is one of few places on earth you can still see this rare bird in the wild. The next morning, a helicopter ride over the canyon gave me my very own bird’s-eye view, and even though I’d looked at little else for the previous 24 hours, the sight of the canyon as the chopper dropped off the edge of Kaibab National Forest down into the valley literally took my breath away. It’s incomparable. A two-billion-year-old masterpiece. After that we had just a few hours to get our kicks on Route 66 and check out the Hoover Dam before returning to Las Vegas. Back in the city, I swapped the hiking boots for my heels and hit the strip. I grinned like a kid at Christmas as the Bellagio’s dancing fountains performed to Elvis’s Viva Las Vegas, and was able to visit the Pyramids, Paris, Venice, New York and some of the world’s most famous casinos, all in a single evening. But despite the glitz and glamour, it’s the dignified walls of Zion glowing red in the late afternoon sun, of Bryce’s otherworldly spires and striking blue skies; of Monument Valley’s proud monoliths, and the awesome, ever-changing sea of stone that is the Grand Canyon that remains in the foremost of my mind. Next to them, the bright lights of Vegas pale in comparison. january2012
77
booK reviews
The Bookshelf
Three offerings to keep the literary wolf from the door after all the christmas excesses make reading ‘proper’ books a New Year resolution! WORDS By BRUCE EDWARDS
wraPPeD uP in you Wrapped up in you CaRoLE MaTTHEWS ✱ PuBLiSHED By SPHERE, PaPERBaCK £6.99
Though we’ve been blessed with a mild winter (so far), it is as well to keep the prospect in mind and the Christmassy snowy cover will do just that; prolonging the festive season maybe, but this is as good a way as any. When Janie Johnson decides, on a very spur of the moment thing, to leave winter behind and take a holiday in Africa, she embarks on such an eventful journey that it leaves you wondering just what the girl thinks she’s doing. There’s a touch of the Crocodile Dundee about this story line and that was full of fun and frolics, so expect the same. You may even borrow the odd Swahili phrase to try out at the next dinner party - though if you share a table with a domesticated Maasai warrior, make sure you don’t enter into a jumping contest. Intrigued? I hope so, for it is well worth a post-Christmas laugh or two.
uch the DeaDly to SS of the tiGre
f
the houSe o eliott
The deadly Touch of The TiGreSS iaN HaMiLToN ✱ PuBLiSHED By SPHERE, PaPERBaCK £12.99
The houSe of elioTT JEaN MaRSH ✱ PuBLiSHED By PaN, PaPERBaCK £7.99
If the girls go dreamy-eyed over Ian Fleming’s hero, maybe Ian Hamilton’s heroine can elicit the same emotions in the men. Simplistically, Ava Lee is the sort of girl you truly wouldn’t want to meet on a dark night when you’re running away with lots of someone else’s money, for she packs more into her delightful feminity than villains really want to know. You can imagine her getting on very well with Doyle; in pursuit of said villains, she travels light, treads dangerously, takes risks, and with a Canadian background, of course she always gets her man - it’s what the Mounties do, though the one she meets gets close to ruining matters. And it’s a surprisingly fishy story, which may surprise you. Once launched into her exploits, the men will find it difficult to put her down, and some girls may envy her way of dealing with recalcitrant males . . .
A familiar name to lovers of ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’, Jean Marsh’s foray into print can be expected to offer them the same tinges of nostalgia with the elegant descriptions of nineteen twenties London and pencil-sharp character drawing. Beatrice and Evangeline have to deal with their father’s demise and are beginning to realise they are now free to follow their own inclinations - against all the best society drawing room concepts. Followers of Downton Abbey will detect some similarities young ladies kicking over the traces and experiencing many a dangerously avant garde mini-adventure on the way. Maybe there are overtones of the dressmaker sisters in ‘Lark Rise to Candleford ’or a touch of the Jane Austen’s too - but from wherever the parallels are drawn, this is a delightful tale that will certainly help satisfy cravings for any of those who experience costume drama withdrawal symptoms now Christmas is over.
Your comments on any reviewed title are always welcome: writerselect@gmail.com 78 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
It looks even better with the price on.
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Bathstore
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Tel: 01892 557744
Now everyone can have a beautiful bathroom
BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS STONEHAM PLC. SIDCUP, KENT.
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