Sevenoaks Life Magazine September 2013

sevenoaks LIFE WESTERHAm, OxTED, BECKENHAm, CHISLEHURST, TUNBRIDgE WELLS AND THE ExCLUSIVE SURROUNDINg AREAS

ISSUE 54

SEPTEMBER 2013

www.thelifemagazines.com

Autumn Brides Special

Gorgeous Groombridge Education Supplement kent EVENTS

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HISTORY

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fashion

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HOMES & GARDENS

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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FOOD & DRINK • travel

2 SEPTEMBER 2013

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WELCOME

ello and a very warm welcome to the September issue.

PUBlIShED By ThE FISh MEDIa GRoUP lTD

The Ridings Woodfield Lane Essenden, Herts AL9 6JJ Tel : 0844 800 8439 Fax : 01707 655 718 www.thelifemagazines.com Email: peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk Editor Faye Manning Assistant Editor Katie Miller Sub Editor Alex Lux Fashion Editor Kitty Shead Contributors Maureen Cole John Ruler John Bly Bruce Edwards Jack Smith Regan Maloney Design & Production Mandy Wenman Photography Adam Swaine Accounts Kathy Manning Ken Fleet Business Development Managers Lisa Westerman Sinead Shell SALES 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.

After enjoying some of the hottest summer days for years the weather is now inevitably turning colder, so to continue this feeling of wellbeing we are delighted to publish our Autumn Brides Special Supplement this month. Weddings are amongst the most important days of our lives therefore we have dedicated our main feature and front cover to this wonderful occasion. If you are getting married or know someone who is is about to ‘tie the knot’ this excellent wedding supplement includes the very best local Wedding specialists offering expert advice, tips and services to help you make the very most of your special day.

Once again our superb Local life team of writers have been out and about to some more towns and places of interest for you and your family to visit.

This month Maureen Cole has been to Groombridge and Sutton Valence, John Ruler has travelled on the Spa Valley Railway and takes an affectionate look at the changing face of Bromley, whilst our chief photographer Adam Swaine focusses his lens on a variety of Kent walks.

As most children are now back at school, this month we focus our attention on helping parents choose the right school for their children in our Education Life Private and Independent Schools Special. This supplement is a must read for all parents considering private education.

As usual we have features and atricles on all of your favourite interests. Our Beauty section reviews some ‘Post Summer Saviours’. The Fashion feature is on a ‘Fast Track to Feminity’. Regan Maloney our Food Editor reviews more local restaurants. The Home and Garden pages show you how to ‘Plug into the French Connection’ and there are more local events in our Whats On section.

Finally we look at some more highly recommended professional local businesses including County the Home Improvers in Tunbridge Wells, Thomas Dunton Solicitors in Orpington and the Portico Gallery Riverhead.

As you will see there is so much for you to read and enjoy.

Until next month...

.....we are delighted to publish our Autumn Brides Special Supplement this 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 Lisa on 07904 251984 or Peter on 077111 43342 or email peter on peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2013 3

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6 SEPTEMBER 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013 7

loc a l events 13 SEPTEMBER 20

what’s on...

Cherish Vintage Fair. A host of Vintage traders in fashion, accessories, homeware & collectibles.

Together with our traditional tea room & beauty parlour for mini vintage make overs. Donations to Hospice in the Weald. Parking behind venue. 10.00 - 3.00pm. £2.00 per adult. Stag Community & Arts Theatre Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1ZZ. Sat 12 Oct 2013. Tel: 07885 610912 www.cherishthevintage.co.uk BROMLEY PHILHARMONIC CHOIR Autumn Britten Centenary Concert including St Nicolas with Bromley Boy Singers. Also performing the Choral Dances from Britten’s 1953 opera Gloriana and his Antiphon of 1956. We will also hear music sung

by Bromley Boy Singers in advance of their tour of the continent at the end of October. Christ Church URC, Tudor Way, Petts Wood, at 7.30pm. Sat 19th Oct. Tickets: £8.00 in advance, £10.00 on the door. Box Office: 020 8460 4898 Food for Birds: Brian Nobbs. Brian is a retired Clinical Biochemist and has been keenly interested in wildlife since his youth.

He has been an RSPB volunteer for over 30 years and is currently on the committee of the Sevenoaks Local Group. This talk is sub- titled Eat in or Takeaway and looks and at how birds from hummingbirds to vultures exploit the wide range of food sources available. 7.45 pm. Tickets RSPB member - £3.50, Nonmember - £4.50, RSPB Concession - £2.50. St Philip’s Church, Salisbury Road, Cage Green, Tonbridge Kent TN10 4PA. Wed 16 Oct 2013 www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ tonbridge/events Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle Challenge for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. For more information please visit www. cftrust.org.uk/ Thursday 26 Sep 2013. Cystic Fibrosis Trust, 11 London Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1BY London BR1 1BY 8 SEPTEMBER 2013

Craft and Gift Fair. Over 35 stalls with a wide range of local crafts 11am to 3pm. 07935 700 417.Stag Theatre Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1ZZ. Sat 5 Oct 2013 www. silvermagpiefairs.com Sculpture Show. Marle Place Gardens and Gallery. Now in its 10th year with over 100 contemporary artworks for the garden on view and for sale. Entry to the show is included in our normal garden entrance. Homemade cake, cream teas, plant sales and nature trail. Adult £6.00 Concessions £5.50 Child 4 -12 £2.00 Wheelchair users free. Sun 15th to Sun 29th September 2013. 11am to 5pm.

Marle Place Gardens and Gallery.

Brenchley,Tonbridge, Kent TN12 7HS www.marleplace. co.uk tel: 01892 722304 email : lindelwilliams@googlemail.com Ben Nevis Challenge Weekend 2013 for Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Ever considered conquering Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, standing proud at over 4,400ft? This is a challenging ascent with some steep sections but there’s no technical climbing involved and everyone should conquer Ben Nevis at least once in their lifetime! Location: Scotland Date: Fri 20th - Su 22nd Sept 2013 In return for a minimum sponsorship pledge of £460 your Ben Nevis Challenge includes - 2 nights BB&D accommodation Transfer from Glasgow to Fort William, Packed lunch for your walk, Experienced guides to lead your challenge, A CF Trust T shirt to wear during the event. To apply visit our website. Entry is £45, please apply online. Non-refundable deposit. TBC Kent BR1 1BY www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/ get-involved/join-an-event/ events/ben-nevis-weekendchallenge-2013 Westerham’s Scarecrows & Soldiers Weekend 7th & 8th September. Behind British lines at Battle of Quebec re-enactment 15 Sep 2009. www. visitwesterham.org.uk

Barn Theatre Events.

Musical Memories. The ‘Surrey Guards Ensemble’ bring you an evening of music from Broadway to the West End, in memory of Terry Rolph and John Sturgeon, two lifelong supporters of the Barn Theatre. Sun 22nd 7.30pm. Tickets £15.00 available from www. barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01959 561811.

Bach to Baby Presents: Flights of Fantasy Miaomiao Yu, piano. Hop on-board as we take flights of fantasy with the greatest composers of the classical world. Bach impresses with his pyrotechnical Chromatic Fantasy while Mozart muses on the theme Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Mendelssohn visits Ireland and improvises on the song The Last Rose of Summer. Tickets: Adults £10, children FREE; Concert start 4.00pm (doors open at 3.30pm for “Monmouth Coffee Mingle”), concert ends at 5.00pm. Bromley Parish Church, Church road, Bromley London BR2 0EG. Tues 24 Sep 2013 www.bachtobaby. com

Let Us Entertain You. A special, spectacular song and dance show featuring Oxted Glee Choir, Starmakerz Theatre School, Bastet School of Dance, St. Mary’s School, Kenley Holiday Workshop and the Charisma Singers. Sat 26th 2.30 & 7.30pm. Tickets £12 available from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01959 561811.

West Wickham Arts Association annual Art Exhibition. Free entry Bromley Central Library High Street, Bromley Kent BR1 1EX Wed 16 - Wed 30 Oct 2013. Tel 020 8462 3642 for opening times.

The Oxted Players – Outside Edge. A comedy by Richard Harris about a cricket team trying to win a game of cricket whilst sorting out their various marital problem. Wed 16th – Saturday 19th Oct 2.30 & 7.45. Tickets £7.00 - £9.00 available from www.barntheatreoxted. co.uk or 01883 724852.

Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle Challenge for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. For more information please visit www. cftrust.org.uk/ Thursday 26 Sep 2013. Cystic Fibrosis Trust, 11 London Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1BY London BR1 1BY chYps Krazy Kart Challenge. Rally your team mates and race against the clock to take the winning trophy. A challenging circular route, from High Rocks in Tunbridge Wels. Each team of 4 will need to build a manually powered kart with functioning steering and brakes to race around the challenging 2-mile course starting and finishing at High Rocks. This is going to take some serious teamwork as the course presents some real challenges! Entry is £200 per team 1:30 pm £200 per team plus sponsorship. High Rocks, High Rocks Lane, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN3 9JJ. Sun 6 Oct 2013. Tel: 07501 168897 www.chyps.org

Age UK Bromley & Greenwich Intergenerational 5k Sponsored Walk on Grandparents Day. Come and enjoy the great outdoors on our family circular walk around Chislehurst and through Elmstead Woods while raising much-needed funds for Age UK Bromley & Greenwich to help make life better for all older people. Followed by a fun afternoon for the whole family, with stalls, raffles, refreshments and much more There is no sponsorship target for this event but please raise as much as you can as every penny gained will help Age UK Bromley & Greenwich to fund their work with and for older people. If you just want a way to help support older people locally, then please give a donation to Age UK Bromley & Greenwich by going to www.ageuk.org.uk/ bromleyandgreenwich/ Reg fee: £10 per adult, £5 per child (up to 16yrs), family (2 adults 2 kids for £20) Start Point and Finish: The Garden Room, 85 High Street, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5AG. Sun 6 Oct 2013. Tel: 0208 406 8475

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The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Presented by the Baroque Theatre Company by Dodie Smith, Adapted by Glyn Robbins Directed by Adam Morley Produced by Claire Bibby. This well-loved children’s classic is perfect entertainment for all the family! A heartening story, with courage and love triumphing over evil. Suggested age: 5+ 2.30pm Ticket Price: £8.00 (adults and children). Trinity Theatre Church Road, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1JP. Sun 22 Sep 2013. Tel Box Office: 01892 678678 www.baroquetheatre.com Paul Millns Concert.

Talented singer/songwriter/ pianist, appearing one night only in Orpington. Bluesy style with some terrific songs. Start at 20.00 Price £10. Panacea, 190, Orpington High St, Kent BR6 OJW. Sat 21 Sep 2013. Tel: 07801089375 www. paulmillns.com Wild Mushroom Foraging with John Wright. John Wright is a regular contributor to River Cottage and author of 3 River Cottage Handbooks, ‘Mushrooms’ ‘Hedgerow’ and ‘Edible Seashore’ at our Wild Mushroom Foraging Day at Moon Down. Last year we found sixty species on each of the two days, giving a grand total of about eighty-five – our show and tell tables looked magnificent.10.00 am to 4.30/5.00 pm. £90.00 per person. No children under 16 or dogs. Contact Lisa on 01892 535432 for more information. Moon Down, Court Lodge Down, Hawkenbury Road, Bells Yew Green, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN3 9AP. Wed 9 Oct 2013 www.moondown.co.uk Paul Malsom, Guitarist.

An entertaining set of familiar relaxing tunes played by Paul Malsom on guitar every Saturday evening in this atmospheric Pub in a rural woodland setting. FREE to diners and drinkers. 7.30pm - 10.30pm.

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Racing At Lingfield Park. This is a public equestrian event. Please see the event link for names and times of races. Lingfield Park Racecourse Surrey RH7 6PQ. Tues 24 Sep, Wed 16 Oct, Tue 22 Oct. horseeventsuk.com/ horse_event Burrswood Autumn Concert. The 45 strong Royal Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Male Voice Choir and guests will be performing a fabulous evening of spirituals, classical, show, popular & hymn music to fundraise for Burrswood Hospital in Groombridge. The Choir celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year and its last concert in Tunbridge Wells was a sell-out, so make sure you book your tickets early! 7.30pm Tickets £10 (concessions £8) Burrswood, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN3 9PY. Sat 12 Oct 2013. Tel 01892 865982 www.burrswood. org.uk Family and Teen Roller Disco. We’re back on Fridays!

HUGE rink, Cafe, Air-con. This session, which follows immediately after our Mini Rollers session is for a slightly older age group or our more experienced Mini Rollers.

We offer full skate and safety equipment, experienced marshals, live DJ, sound and lighting and a few games thrown in too!. There’s an on-site shop for everything from TuTus to glowsticks. This is an event designed for Teens and Families alike. Under 11s must be accompanied. These events are very popular and pre-booking of skates via our website is advised. Why not book your next Birthday Party with us? Doors Open at 6.45pm and it all starts at 7pm. Skaters £7.50 (inc full skate/pad hire), Spectators £2, Own Skates £6.00 Pre Booking of skates is advised. The Walnuts Leisure Centre, Lychgate Road, Orpington Kent BR6 0TJ. Every Friday. Tel 0208 6560513 www. rocknrollerdisco.com

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ith a personal injury, being able to meet your Solicitor face to face is important because not only are they able to see your injuries first-hand but also the effect they have on you as a person.

Solicitors who advertise on TV or in the national press need to communicate by telephone or letter and may engage a number of people on your case which you may find overwhelming. If you instruct your local Solicitor, it will be he/she who deals with your case from start to finish and therefore they will become familiar to you and with the details of your case, thus enabling a more personal, caring service.

Your local solicitor will also be more familiar with local services should you require treatment such as Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry etc and at Thomas Dunton we encourage the defendant to fund additional medical treatment to speed your recovery.

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SEPTEMBER 2013 9

Contents EDITORS LETTER

3

WHATS ON

8

LOCAL LIFE Groombridge – Full of Enchantment 12 Sutton Valence - High on a Hill

16

The Changing Face of Bromley

20

Spa Valley – Full Steam Ahead 24 A Focus on Kent Walks

28

Portico Gallery - A new Exhibition

32

Fellow Auctioneers - Hidden Treasure 34 Thomas Dunton - Clinical Negligence?

36

Education Life

38

Bromley High School – Open Morning 39 Why Art A Level is Good for your Child 40 Kent College – 1st Class Education 41 Combe Bank School – A Thriving School 42 St Dunstans College – Outstanding Education 44 Sydenham School – High Flying Results 45 An Educated Choice 46 Sackville School - Invest in the Future 47 Breaside School – Outstanding Results 48 Babington School- The School of Choice 49 County Home - Technology in the Kitchen 50 WEDDING SUPPLEMENT

I NT ER IOR DE SIG N SE RV ICE FA BR ICS CU RTA I N S & BLI N D S WAL LC OVE R I NG S F UR NIT U R E L IG H T I NG M I R RORS BAT H RO OM SHOW RO OM

53

Blackburn Boutique – Belle of the Ball 54 Rowhill Grange Hotel - Perfection 56 Your Wedding Planner 58 Hotel du Vin – The Ultimate Venue 59 White Hot Numbers 60 Brides Dress Revisited – Strict Budget?

61 Bromley Palace – Stunning Venue 63 Honeymoon in Borneo 64 Victoria Allinson – Fall in Love with your Wedding Dress 67 FASHION AND BEAUTY Fast Track to Femininity

70

Post Summer Saviours

74

Pure Collection

75

HOME AND GARDEN

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Plug into the French Connection

80

Sandbanks Yacht Club – A new way of Life 86 FOOD AND DRINK Regan Maloney’s Restaurant Review

88

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SEPTEMBER 2013 11

LOCAL LIFE

GROOMBRIDGE

A Place Full of Enchantment Words: Maureen Cole

Pictures: Adam Swaine

Take a journey on a steam train, visit Groombridge Place, explore the Gardens and have fun in the Enchanted Forest. There is plenty to attract visitors to this village.

T

his delightful village straddles the borders between Kent and East Sussex, lying about 4.5 miles from Tunbridge Wells. The main part of the village, known as New Groombridge, lies in the parish of Withyham, within the Wealden District of East Sussex. Old Groombridge lies within the Speldhhurst civil parish ,which is part of the Tunbridge Wells Borough of Kent. The village population has grown slowly over the years. In 1911 it was recorded as 792 and today it is still only in the region of 1600.

Groombridge has a general store, bakery, post office, two churches and two public houses, as well as a cricket ground and a recreational ground with a children’s play area. If shopping is your forte however, there is more extensive shopping to be found in Tunbridge Wells.

The name Groombridge is derived from the AngloSaxon,” Grome brig”, which probably meant “furious 12 SEPTEMBER 2013

river bridge” or “young men’s bridge,” and was first recorded in 1239 as “Gromenabrigge”.

The old village was the main area until 1866 when, following the arrival of the railway to the south of the village, many businesses and houses were set up near the station. The station opened in 1866 but closed in 1985. The station house is now a residential property while the station building is an office. Shortly after the closure, the Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society was formed, with the intention of reinstating the passenger line. The Society acquired the line in the 1994 with the help of a loan from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and set about refurbishing the track. By 1996 they were able to run a steam service on part of the old Tunbridge Wells West station site.

The society later merged with the North Downs Steam Railway at Dartford and the line, which reopened

LOCAL LIFE through to Groombridge in 1998, is now known as The Spa Valley Railway. A new station was built on the opposite side of the road bridge and Groombridge Station is now the principal intermediate station, where visitors can alight to visit the picturesque village and Groombridge Place Gardens.

The Spa Valley Railway offers a variety of colourful services outside the regular scheduled passenger services. It is possible to hire a private train or even arrange pre or post wedding transport. For further information on special events and bookings please visit – www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/visitor_information Groombridge has two main places of worship. St John’s Church, which is situated in Old Groombridge within the parish of Speldhurst, Kent and the church of Thomas the Apostle, which is in New Groombridge.

New Groombridge was formed as a separate parish from Withyham in August 1896.

St John’s was built in 1625 and probably replaced an earlier manorial chapel which had been to the southeast on a moated site. It has a simple rectangular plan and the walls are constructed of red brick. The church serves as a reminder of the time when Prince Charles, who was later to become King Charles 1, travelled (in disguise) to Spain, in an attempt to persuade the daughter of the Spanish King to elope with him. John Packer, who at the time lived in the manor house, vowed that if the prince returned safely he would build a chapel in his park as a thanks offering to God. The chapel was subsequently built on the prince’s return and was completed in 1625. This is recorded in the Latin inscription above the porch. Up until the completion of

the Chapel the villagers had had to travel to Speldhurst to attend church and for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Church registers show that the first person to be buried in the small graveyard at St John’s was John Lee on 13th June 1633.

The Church remained a private Chapel from 16251872 but after the death of the last male member of the Packer family it fell into serious disrepair. When William Camfield, a Tunbridge Wells builder, bought Groombridge Place in 1754, he carried out essential repairs and made improvements to the Chapel. He also added his name to the Packer stone over the porch, in letters twice as large as the original!

The church has a wealth of beautiful stained glass windows, many of which were added in the latter part of the 19th century. The centre light of the S.E. window, which features the armorial bearings of the Packer family, is the original glass and dates back to the building of the church. The church also has some fine brass chandeliers and candlesticks and the clock at the west end, dated 1792, is one of the few remaining clocks with only one hand.

When the railway was built it brought with it new houses and the church of St John’s was considered too small to meet the needs of the people. The Goldsmiths Company gave some land and it was decided to build a room with a house attached, which might serve as a Mission Church and be used as an elementary school.

It was opened by the Bishop of Chichester in June 1872 and was used for about 12 years until money was eventually raised for a new church. The parish church of St Thomas the Apostle was first opened for worship in

SEPTEMBER 2013 13

LOCAL LIFE

1884 and was designed by the famous architect Norman Shaw, who also designed New Scotland Yard and Piccadilly Hotel in London.

A visit to Groombridge could not be considered complete without a visit to Groombridge Place, its gardens and the Enchanted Forest. The house is a classical 17th century moated manor surrounded by acres of beautiful parkland and garden and is situated on the site of earlier manor houses. The first mention of a manor on the site dates back to 1239 -when the Lordship of Groombridge was granted to William Russell who, with his wife, built a small moated castle.

William died in 1261 and the house changed hands several times over the years. Among the owners were the influential Kent family of de Cobhams and the de Clintons. The house was sold c.1400 to Thomas Waller, whose family owned Groombridge Place for over 200 years.

In 1604 the house was sold to Sir Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset the Lord Treasurer of England.

Unfortunately for the family Richard Sackville 3rd Earl of Dorset was forced to sell the manor in 1618 having accrued gambling debts and it was then acquired

by John Packer. Two generations later in 1662, Philp Packer, who was an architect, built the present day manor with the help of his friend Christopher Wren.

The house today remains a private residence but the gardens and forest are open to the public. The gardens were designed by John Packer with the help of John Evelyn, a horticulturalist and the Scots Pine, by the front moat bridge, is believed to be one of a pair originally planted by Evelyn. There are several individual themed gardens which include- the Knot Garden, the White Garden, the Oriental Garden and the Drunken Garden.

The latter was a favourite with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who used to frequent the house for séances and used the estate as the setting for his, “The Valley of Fear” mystery in 1915.

Although planting within the gardens has changed, much of their original structure remains the same. In the Draughtsman’s Lawn a beautiful mulberry tree can be seen, which was planted in 1993 to mark Groombridge’s connection with the smuggling trade.

The Enchanted Forest is a children’s delight with its giant swings, zip wires and Crusoe’s World. There are animals to see, including peacocks, piglets and Golden 14 SEPTEMBER 2013

Guernsey Kids. Free with admission are the daily Birds of Prey Displays (except Mondays). It is worth noting that quite a lot of walking is involved and there are some fairly steep areas. The walks can also become muddy following heavy rain and it is certainly not a place for ladies to wear high heels, as my daughter did on a visit. Does stupidity run in my family you may well ask? If you don’t relish a walk, take the boat ride into the forest!

There is so much to see and do in the forest that you certainly won’t hear the children saying that they are bored. For further information and what it costs please visit-www.groombridgeplace.com If you are likely to want to visit a local pub for a drink and a meal you could try The Junction Inn. The Inn is currently in the process of changing hands. Originally a Coaching Inn it offers simple, well cooked meals and there is even a take away pizza service available. The bar stocks a wide range of quality wines, as well as sparkling wines and champagne and there is a really excellent choice of ales. If you are visiting the Inn try Black Cat Beer, which comes from the local Marcus’s Microbrewery and is popular with the locals.

The Crown Inn is a pretty hung tiled 16th century pub overlooking the village green. Inside there are low beams, flagstone floors and a large inglenook fireplace.

It is situated in an area popular with walkers and railway enthusiasts. In the 18th century it was a popular haunt of the notorious Groombridge Gang, who smuggled tea from the coast. The Gang, which was most likely formed in 1733, was led by Robert Moreton and John Bowra, who worked closely with the Hawkhurst Gang and the Hooe Company. John Bowra was arrested for smuggling tea in 1737 and then disappeared. The Gang was uncovered to the authorities by an informer Jerome Knapp.

Groombridge is a pretty village with spectacular countryside. The manor gardens and Enchanted Forest make the village very attractive to visitors and it is almost certain, that if you visit with children, they will be keen to return. I have been with children several times and there is always something new for them to see and explore. It would certainly feature in my top ten for days out with them in the countryside.

maureenc411@btinternet.com

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SEPTEMBER 2013 15

LOCAL LIFE

SUTTON VALENCE

High on a Hill!

Words: Maureen Cole

T

Pictures: Adam Swaine

This delightful village sits high above the Kentish Weald, with the ruined fortress of Sutton Valence Castle looking out over the Stour Valley.

he historic village of Sutton Valence is situated on the Greensand Ridge and looks out over the Kentish Weald. One of the main landmarks in the village is the fortress of Sutton Valence Castle, of which only the ruins of the 12th century Norman keep remain.

The village has a population of around 1500 and is situated approximately 6 miles south -east of Maidstone.

London is an hour away by rail from Headcorn Station, which is 4 miles south of the village. Today the pretty, rural village remains primarily a farming community, although with improved transport facilities many people now commute to London.

At the time of the Domesday Book the village was known simply as, “Sutton” and only later was the word Valence added due to the villages association with the Valence family. Records show that at the time of the Norman Conquest the estate was held by the halfbrother of King Harold, Leofwine Godwinson. However, following the Norman Invasion, William the Conqueror granted the estate to his half-brother Odo, the Bishop of Bayeux. At a later date, the manor passed to Faulk de Breaute, who was granted the right to hold a three day market in the village each year. The market grew over time, to become one of the busiest markets in Kent and lasted well into the 19th century.

Sadly, Faulk was a less than honest man and

16 SEPTEMBER 2013

was eventually banished overseas after attacking and robbing the abbeys of Bedford and St Albans As a result of Faulk’s departure Henry 111 granted Sutton to the de Betun family and it eventually passed by marriage to Simon de Montfort, the Earl of Leicester.

Like Faulk, Simon failed to live up to expectations when he rebelled against the crown and he was eventually killed at the Battle of Evesham in 1265. The king then granted Sutton

LOCAL LIFE to his own half-brother, William de Valence, the Earl of Pembroke and the village became known as Sutton Valence. Following his death the village passed in 1344 to the Hastings family and became known as Sutton Hastings. The manor was sold in 1401 and then passed to the Clifford family (1418) and the Filmer family (1548).

Robert Filmer was killed in France in 1916 and following his death all the property was sold at auction.

The castle is a major landmark, although little of it remains today apart from the remains of the 12th century keep. It was probably built by Baldwin de Betun in the middle of the 12th century and was used for over 150 years as a residence for important dignitaries. The castle was located in a prominent position, overlooking the road from Maidstone to Monchelsea and with commanding views over the Weald of Kent. During its history it passed down through various marriages and was owned by Simon de Montfort and William de Valence. William’s son inherited the castle in 1307 but little is known of the castle’s history after this date.

Although there is little of the castle remaining, apart from the ruins of the keep, it is well worth visiting in order to appreciate its location and spectacular views.

The beautiful Grade 2 listed church of St Mary stands in Chart Road and, like the castle, it has some beautiful views. The earliest stone church dates back to the

Norman period although there was almost certainly a church here before the Norman Conquest.

In 1396 the church was granted to the Prior and Convent of Leeds, having previously been in the hands of the Lords of Sutton Valence and at the time of the Reformation Henry V111 granted it to the Dean and Chapter of Rochester, where it remained until 1914 when it finally passed to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The 14th century church which stood on the site was a notable building but by the early 1800’s it had become unsafe and it was demolished in 1823. The new church is constructed from Kentish rag stone and took over five years to build. Spiralling building costs seem to have been a cause for concern even then, for an initial estimate of £3000, eventually stretched to £6000.

Having recently completed a self-build house I can sympathise with the spiralling costs, although the final church cost seems minuscule!

Although some features of the old church remain, probably the most notable of these- an unusual 14th century altarpiece (carved by English craftsmen from French Caen stone) can no longer be seen in the church, as it now resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The altarpiece was purchased by the museum in 1921 and takes the form of a triptych with a central figure of a Madonna and child.

SEPTEMBER 2013 17

LOCAL LIFE

If you enjoy wandering through graveyards and searching out old and interesting memorials (as my family frequently do), look out for the memorial at the east end of the churchyard to John Wilkes of Sutton Valence.

Wilkes was credited with having introduced roundarm bowling to the game of cricket in 1822. At that time all cricket deliveries were bowled under arm but when playing with his sister, who was unable to bowl underarm due to her voluminous skirt, Wilkes found a solution to the problem by adapting the bowling style.

However, the change was not well accepted to begin with and when he tried to use it in a match at Lords it was declared a no-ball. Wilkes is reported to have marched off the field and maybe as a result of this he retired from playing cricket shortly afterwards.

Sutton Valence, like other Wealden villages, was heavily involved in the broadcloth industry which was introduced into Kent by Edward 111 in 1331. Edward made the export of unwashed wool from England illegal and he encouraged weavers from Flanders to come to England and live. As a result the area became famous for the production of broadcloth.

In 1531, William Lambe, the village’s most famous citizen, became master of the Clothworkers Company in London and an advisor to Henry V11. He also became a patron of St Mary Church, where he had a chapel dedicated to him.

Lambe also founded the Sutton Valence Free Grammar School, which continues to flourish today.

The school is situated in the North West part of the village and is now a leading independent school. The school was an extension to the alms houses Lambe had founded some years earlier.

Sutton Valence has a post office and three public

18 SEPTEMBER 2013

houses. The Clothmakers Arms, in Lower Street, sits on top of a hill and commands beautiful views over the Weald. The pub, which was formerly a 19th century inn known as “The Drovers” is popular with walkers and cyclists and provides a welcome resting place.

The Queens Head is situated in the High Street. The heart of the pub is circa 1460 with various extensions being added over the centuries. The pub offers a good selection of ales and wines and the Queen Head barn/stables is available for functions. The pub is also approved as a venue for marriages and civil ceremonies.

The Kings Head dates back to the middle of the 16th century and is situated in North Street. The pub has a lovely open fire and is popular for its Sunday lunches.

This pretty, rural village with its quaint streets and historic buildings seems a life time away from the hustle and bustle of towns, such as Maidstone. It is place to visit on a fine, clear day, when its views and rural tranquillity can be fully appreciated.

maureenc411@btinternet.com

Royal PhilhaRmonic oRchestRa

Saturday 16th November 2013, 7.30pm The Orchard Theatre, Dartford Capriccio Italien Piano Concerto No.1 Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture 1812 Overture Timothy Henty Conductor Tae-Hyung Kim Piano Following the success of their Last Night of the Proms concert in June, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra return to The Orchard Theatre for a spectacular concert paying tribute to the genius of Tchaikovsky. With special guest soloist, winner of the 2013 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, Tae-Hyung Kim. Ticket Prices: £15.50-£32.00 Online Bookings: orchardtheatre.co.uk Ticket Office: 01322 220000 Online Bookings: orchardtheatre.co.uk Premiere Card, concessions, groups and under 16s’ discounts available.

Booking fees apply.

SEPTEMBER 2013 19

LOCAL LIFE

Simpsons Road opposite Bromley South Station vanished in the mid–1960s’ when the Westmoreland Road corner was developed.

Lifelong resident JOHN RULER ponders on the

Changing face of Bromley

W

Are we facing a repeat of the ‘sixties ?

20 SEPTEMBER 2013

The latest action plans (see panel overleaf) have likewise sparked protests. But this time, it seems, despite still wistfully wishing to woo shoppers (now more likely to head for Bluewater than even Croydon) the council increasingly find developers keener to build blocks of flats whose owners’ shopping habits, claimed one critic, would not be centred on Bromley.

It’s a Catch 22 situation, which, one way or another, could see big changes once again as our portrait gallery vividly illustrates.

Bishop Gundulf: As Bishop of Rochester, he held sway when, by 1086, Bromley was a straggling Episcopal manor mainly made up of thick woods and wasteland. Picture by John Ruler

Old prints: courtesy of Bromley Library

hither Bromley? Or should that be wither Bromley, warn some, as a spate of controversial proposals threaten protests reminiscent of the ‘sixties and ‘eighties.

Then it was all about promoting the town as a premiere shopping centre, shooing off the competition from Croydon – a pretty futile exercise. The towns are fundamentally different in character, as I have learnt from a lifetime of living in Bromley and 30 years of having worked as a journalist in both. I have since also written a history of the town.

Croydon, unlike Bromley, was never a truly market town, its growth as a leafy suburb owing more to being a significant stagecoach halt between London and Brighton.

Even the latter’s bustling brashness rubbed off, from the early palace of variety and later theatres like the Grand and Davis; Kennard’s was my childhood version of Brighton Pier; complete with donkey rides in gaudy arcades, matched only in retail grandeur by Grants and Allders. Even the late–lamented Medhursts in Bromley was hard pushed to match this trio of giants.

Even now Croydon, seen as the South-east’s second largest place to shop outside of Central London, has plans for a £1billion Westfield shopping centre. Try matching that.

Add a once famous airport and nowadays their own Tramlink you have – along with its image as an ever changing Dallas style centre for shopping and commerce – all the makings of a city, a long held wish which has won the backing of Boris Johnson.

Bromley, all too often lumped together by developers as being in somewhat similar vein, should have learned its lesson when, fired up by the challenging new ideas of the ‘sixties, allowed some appalling lapses in architectural taste. In 1983 there were angry calls to ‘Halt the further Croydonisation of Bromley.’

LOCAL LIFE Bishop’s Palace: By the late 18th century the Bishops of Rochester had their own palace in Bromley, using it as a staging post on the way to London or often as their residence.

If it seems familiar, look more closely at the current civic centre …

1: Unseen past: Hidden by a long red brick walk in London Road, Bromley College dates back to 1666 when Dr John Warner, the then Bishop of Rochester, left £8,500 for a hostel or almshouses for 20 widows and children of clergy put to death during the Civil War. Look out for open days or talks: the history is extraordinary. 2. Gorgeous Georgian: This view of parkland with cattle was captured on canvas by Amelia Long, artist wife of Lord Farnborough from the terrace of their Bromley Hill home around 1820. (By kind permission of Bromley Museum) 3. In days of yore: My all time favourite picture, this shows the High Street and the White Hart rebuilt in 1964 at a cost of £600,000 by ‘ a very different building’; this, too, was later to disappear. 4. Market Square: Once the beating heart of Bromley: many will still remember Maunders, the bakery on the corner, and Skilton’s the butchers – the site in 1958 of Caters, the town’s first supermarket.

5. 20th century: By 1935 Bromley was a major residential and shopping centre. Among major stores was Harrison Gibson, left, dramatically gutted by fire in 1968.

Civic Centre: In 1845 the prestigious palace was sold to Coles Child who, by the age of 33 and now lord of the manor, virtually transformed much of late 19th century Bromley into a thriving market town. He also remodelled the superb setting which is now Bromley Palace Park.

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SEPTEMBER 2013 21

LOCAL LIFE Times they are a’ changin: Work gets going on a new look High Street in which The Glades were later to play a key role: this meant goodbye to the likes of Wilson’s Café.

In the pipeline…

One of the most explosive issues is over what protestors see as ‘environmental thuggery’ by The Glades (now changed to the largely ignored name Intu Bromley) in seeking to build five restaurants overlooking the historic Queens’s Garden.

Below, the GPO Tower, widely regarded in 1968 as the ugliest building in Bromley: if it had not been for the then borough architect Ken Wilson, and others, the old Westmoreland Place, generally known as Windy City, could have been of Croydon size proportion.

Protests grow: In October 1991, The Glades opened.

Ironically it only won council approval as the preferred choice when a 1985 pilot scheme, called the Holwood Centre, was abandoned after the proposers pulled out declaring that shopping malls were out of fashion. This was not before the Heart of Bromley Residents’ Association, formed in 1982, had already stepped in with a massive attack on the ‘Croydonisation of Bromley’

22 SEPTEMBER 2013

This will involve the council selling land known as the Italian Gardens to Intu (a sprawling corporation of 16 shopping centres, some as far afield as Gateshead and Glasgow).

Ironically the controversy came to a head during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year. For it was back in 1897 that the larger part of the White Hart Field was presented to the town to mark Queen Victoria’s own Diamond Jubilee on condition that it was converted into a public garden. This eventually became Queen’s Garden.

Since then there has been quibbling over whether the orginal covenant had been broken, let alone the need for more restaurants. ‘We need more chain restaurants like a hole in the head,’ is the reported view of Bromley Baptist Church Ministry leader Simon Jones.

It was the church along with campaigners from Bromley Civic Society, Bromley North Traders’ Association and Friends of Bromley Town Parks and Gardens – ‘I think the whole thing is a piece of environmental thuggery’ said their chairman Tony Banfield`– who initiated a petition attracting over 1,000 signatures.

While the argument lingers on fears remain that the restaurants are merely the thin end of the wedge.

Also raising the temperature are proposals now being formulated for redeveloping the west side of the town from the Central Library to the railway: the fear here is the loss of homes, places of worship, a doctor’s surgery and familiar High Street shops including, it is claimed, those within the conservation area.

Of three would-be developers, one, it appears, dropped out as being interested only in residential projects, not retail, a current trend which flies in the face of council plans for a mixture of both . If it did go ahead the familiar clock on the old Wolfe & Hollander store (now Laura Ashley) would go. This was used by Lord Haw-Haw who during the Nazi Blitz taunted Bromley residents by proclaiming it was five minutes fast and ‘ It will not be there tomorrow.’

The final bone of contention is a total revamp of the 1960s’ Westmoreland Road corner (see picture gallery) on which work has already started. This includes a nine-screen cinema, 200 residential apartments, restaurants/cafes at plaza level and a 130-bedroom hotel.

‘I think people will get a shock when they see what it involves,’ said Tony Banfield, chairman of Bromley Civic Society ‘Basically it is a block of flats which is enormous. It will be the biggest thing ever built in Bromley’.’

The council understandably defend their decisions as being in line with the 2010 town centre Area Action Plan that ‘ marks an exciting and challenging period … which ensures a long –term viable and sustainable future.’ Which is roughly what was said in 1962 – with one big difference.

This time they acknowledge that ‘other areas including Bromley North Village, contain buildings of heritage importance, such as Bromley College and the Bishop’s Palace… which together with the parks and open spaces have significant cultural and environmental value which must be enhanced.’

This, and the fact they have listened to civic groups and held numerous public meetings is a hopeful sign that some sort of compromise is reached for what remains a town I still care for.

Watch this space…

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47

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SEPTEMBER 2013 23

LOCAL LIFE

Rail closure signalled the saving of the Spa Valley line

It’s still full steam ahead !

S

Words: john ruler

main Pictures: Adam Swaine

martly attired in a uniform from a bygone age of steam, complete with peaked cap and whistle, Brian Halford looks every inch a stationmaster. And rightly so. After 33 years working for British Rail it proved a godsend when asked to help TWERPS (Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society) restore a section of the old Tunbridge Wells West to Uckfield line, closed by British Rail in 1987.

Today Spa Valley Railway, based at the old West station loco shed is a major tourist attraction, drawing some 35,000 visitors last year alone. Not bad going for an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers who thanks to initial backing by Sainsbury’s – on whose site, acquired in 1987, the current station offices were reconstructed –is steaming ahead with special events.

These are mainly for families, which make up some 95 per cent of visitors. Days Out with Thomas the Tank Engine, including four in October, are well on track; so, too, are fish and chip and real ale trains.

Alternatively sit back as I did in the comfortably familiar surroundings of Kate a second-class corridor

24 FEBRUARY SEPTEMBER2013 2013

coach built in Derby in 1961. With a licensed bar serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and cream teas, it’s all a far cry from my early experiences with British Rail! In 2000 it won the Heritage Railway Association award for the best restored coach.

Serenaded by the cheerful clatter of train on track, we wended our way along the five and half miles to Eridge, soaking up the hiss and smell of steam locos so eloquently captured

LOCAL LIFE on screen in Brief Encounter. Dinky pots of flowers decorating the tables, along with prim china pots and cups helped complete the heady sense of days gone by. Even the scenery had a timeless quality, with clusters of copses dotting tilled fields lined with ancient trees and woodland.

High Rocks, the first stop, with glimpses of converted oast-houses can still hold its own today, as can the rocks themselves now a site of special scientific interest. Hop off at Groombridge, straddling the Kent and Sussex border (it lies in the latter) if simply to admire the troughs of seasonal flowers and bags to buy in the way of books and other souvenirs. Oh yes, and Groombridge Place, a moated setting for some superb gardens and in 2005 the central location for the filming of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

Eridge, marking the Interchange with the mainline services, was once central to Britain’s iron industry; the little known Harrison Rocks which, in 1968 and again in 1982 were used for filming episodes of Doctor Who, gained their name from iron master William Harrison.

Back at Tunbridge Wells, Brian, 63, was busy at the ticket office, handing over oh-so-familiar green cardboard tickets before checking the 10.10 was ready for departure. No British Rail apologies for delays here … the Spa Valley runs like clockwork, thanks to volunteers like Brian whose career background in bookings, coordinating rail and coach connections, along with courses in signalling and engineering works, makes his retirement role come second nature.

Now living in Tonbridge, and happy to escape London office life – ‘I began with helping cut down trees as well as working in the shop’ – he stresses

East Kent Railway Former coal line still fuels interest Originally built between 1911 and 1917 to serve the increasing number of coalmines being sunk locally, the East Kent Railway now runs lovingly restored heritage trains between villages of Shepherdswell and Eythorne, neat Dover, a distance of two miles.

There is also a miniature and model railway, café and woodland at what the volunteers like to see as East Kent’s best kept secret. Its history is certainly intriguing. Though planned to reach Richborough – site of an important port during World War One ­ ­– ­the line never crossed the River Stour until the war was over and the port by then in decline.

Even though it carried passengers in 1916, few facilities were provided: following the collapse of coal mining and starved of cash it closed after nationalisation in 1948.

One section, however, remained operational until the Miners’ Strike of 1984. Inevitable closure followed in 1987. In 1989 volunteers began clearing the tangle of trees and foliage – and in 1993 regular passenger trains were running on the East Kent Railway after an absence of over 40 years. See www.eastkentrailway. co.uk for further details and events.

that everyone is a volunteer. ‘ Most are not ex-BR staff but have a specialist knowledge or a hidden talent which can be put to good use.’ The Spa Valley now has 800 supporters of which over 230 are classified as working volunteers with courses and exams to develop new skills.

But it was down to the TWERPS that this once thriving Stationmaster Brian line was saved for Halford the enjoyment of future generations. ‘ The British have always had a love of a steam, ‘ said Brian. ‘The Beeching cuts of 1963 (in which a third of the rail network especially in rural areas was axed) helped magnify the fact that steam locomotives could disappear entirely.’

Restoration was no easy task: new track had to be laid on a line obstructed by six years of tree growth, the by then derelict loco shed at Tunbridge Wells West needed revamping for its new role and a fight was on to save Groombridge railway station.

But by 1990 the first carriage was bought and in March 1996 the purchase of the railway, with more locos and carriages, was finalised. This was helped when the North Downs Steam Railway relocated to the Spa Valley, along with most of their stock. It was full steam ahead and has been ever since.

And though diesel locomotives from the late ‘fifties and ‘sixties are frequently used, for me it’s steam that truly brings that sweet, albeit slightly acrid, smell of success…

NEED TO KNOW Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY; see www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk; email: enquiries@spavalleyrailway.co.uk; tel: 01892 537715. Private hire available for wedding, birthdays etc, also learn to drive an engine packages.

DID YOU KNOW * Twice in the 1950s the famous Bertram Mills Circus came to Tunbridge Wells by rail.

SEPTEMBER 2013 25

LOCAL LIFE

Mini track attracts schools and fetes Gauging renewed interest in railways, the North West Kent Miniature railway, tend to take their portable 150 feet of track to school and village fete’s around the Meopham, Kent, where they are building a permanent track.

* A symbolic plywood coffin, complete with wreath, stood in the booking hall at Tunbridge Wells West to mark the closing of the former line on July 6, 1985. * The grandiose architecture old Grade II listed West station built in 1866, now home to Smith & Western a lively Western style restaurant, is said to have been based on Calais Town Hall.

* The loco shed received a direct hit in World War Two, but the bomb failed to explode.

Kent & East Sussex Railway I have made two memorable visits to the Kent & East Sussex Railway at Tenterden – the first being as a substitute Father Christmas on one of their popular Santa Specials. It was darned hard work, but nothing compared with the back-breaking effort put in by many London East Enders whose annual holiday was up to six weeks of hop picking ‘ in fresh countryside air.’

And hopping back 55 years, the annual Hop Pickers Weekend, from September 14 to 15, will mark the last time a special train arrived at Bodiam station for a blend of hop–stripping (either a very easy or very hard task depending on the weather and the state of the bine) and a good old knees–up.

You can experience the way of life first hand in a recreated hop garden and hopper’s hut, often given a more ‘homely’ touch with wallpaper and pictures. Test, too, your skills at hop stripping, or join the pickers in a sing–a­– long around a campfire. A hopper kitchen will serve refreshments and homemade cake. An open top heritage double-decker bus links Bodiam Station and Bodiam Castle.

Full details on www.kesr.org.uk. PICTURES: JOHN RULER

26 SEPTEMBER 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013 27

FOCUS ON

Kent Walks Pictures: Adam Swaine

Left to right - from top: 1. Penshurst Place, 2. Offham, 3. Matfield Village, 4. Darent Valley - near Eynsford, 5. Aldington, 6. Meadows at Shipbourne, 7. East Farleigh.

Adam Swaine Photographer www.adamswaine.co.uk email: adamswaine@rocketmail.com mobile: 07798 526 569

28 SEPTEMBER 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013 29

FROM BRITAIN'S LEADING INDOOR POOL COMPANY THE ULTIMATE OUTDOOR POOL! Why Origin clients are enjoying every minute of this great summer…

O

rigin has been designing and building indoor pool houses for over thirty years now, but the company is the first to admit that, when the weather is as beautiful as this, there is nowhere better to be than in an Origin outdoor pool.

A sunny day, surrounded by friends, children, and the remains of a spectacular barbecue, and life begins to look perfect. Ease into the cool water and just relax. is is what you've worked for.

What you deserve…

And it need not just remain the ultimate dream. Outdoor pools are timeless in appearance, add considerably to the perceived value of your home and are less expensive than you probably imagine.

But it's not all about good looks. e fair face of an Origin pool hides some state-of-the-art technology that makes it easy to run and to keep clean. ere are even pool covers that work silently at the touch of a button, to keep out leaves when that season of mists and mellow fruitfulness arrives!

AND OF COURSE, ORIGIN'S TRADEMARK INDOOR POOL HOUSE… But summers don't last forever, so take a look at the pictures in this article and see how your garden, and your lives, could be improved by adding a pool house! is is Origin's stock in trade, and they have been building these cutting edge designs for over thirty years. Origin’s team is recognised for its constancy – many of Origin’s designers, service people and construction craftsmen have been with the company for over twenty years, and the sales and client contact have always been handled at director level.

Origin's has developed a range of indoor pool houses to meet every requirement, but these styles are always adapted to suit your home, and your taste, perfectly. ese changes are often as simple as fitting in with the colour and texture of the home, or as complex as adding changing rooms, games rooms, or a unique pool shape. Origin’s unique service offers you a wealth of choice. e company offers a totally bespoke service too - the design team has matured into this role as design and build has gradually became a natural progression of the company’s skills. e results not only looks stunning, but blend in perfectly with their surroundings too.

Origin has become the benchmark for swimming pool construction, making it easy for you and your family to enjoy the fun and healthy exercise of a swim … every day of the year.

ORIGIN CREATES YOUR POOL FROM BEGINNING TO END. Initial sketches. Architectural drawings. Unique ideas in collaboration with you. e building process. e engineering. e technology. All this is done by Origin, a company that has been at the forefront of this complex business for over thirty years.

30 SEPTEMBER 2013

Look at the pictures, meet the people, and decide. ey do exactly what it says on the tin!

CONTACT ORIGIN For full details of all Origin's pools and pool houses the very best way to start things off is to get in touch with Fiona on 01895 823366, email is fiona@originleisure.com Fiona will send you brochures, fill you in with all the details, and even arrange for you to meet one of Origin's directors on site to get the whole process going.

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SEPTEMBER 2013 31

Portico Art Gallery

launches a new exhibition of lino prints by Melvyn Evans Popular Sevenoaks based artist, Melvyn Evans has unveiled a stunning new lino print of ‘The Vine’ in his latest exhibition at The Portico Gallery in Riverhead, Sevenoaks which launched on the 14 September. His design masterpieces are inspired by the natural world and classic design including Knole House and the parkland and most recently Whitstable Bay. Melvyn has also produced award winning depictions of the London skyline.

There is no doubt that Melvyn is drawn to depicting beautiful places that surround us but he is also interested in the spiritual and historical side of the landscape.

In 2005 he was a finalist in a competition for designers run by London Transport Museum and Association of Illustrators (AOI). The artwork was used to advertise and promote the awards event in future years and he also

achieved a Silver Award in 2011 for the London print featured.

Restoring a Victorian lino print press fuelled Melvyn’s passion for creating lino cuts. The technique begins with a charcoal drawing which is then adapted from tones of black and white into three or four colours. The colours are then worked out in a sequence usually from lighter to darker tones. Each colour is then drawn out and cut from a block of lino and printed onto paper.

Visitors to Portico Art Gallery are invited to browse and enjoy the complete portfolio of Melvyn Evans lino prints in a relaxed environment. There are prints framed in oak and black as well as unframed prints with the opportunity for you to choose from the 600 frames at the gallery.

Open: 10.00 to 5.00pm Tuesday to Saturday Admission: Free Address: Portico Art Gallery, 25 London Road, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2BU www.porticogallery.co.uk T| 01732 456655

32 SEPTEMBER 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013 33

F E AT U R E

Hidden treasure 7th

OCt

2013 Vintage clothing and accessories seem to be getting more and more popular by the day. From little vintage shops to stadium-sized kilo vintage fairs, the proliferation of suppliers means that finding a perfect vintage piece can be a daunting task.

H

ours, days or even weeks of rummaging through piles of old, musty, moth-bitten garments or endlessly searching ebay and clicking through hundreds of Etsy startups mean that vintage shopping is, well, hard work. And yet, finding a beautiful vintage dress with a story to tell is one of the most rewarding shopping experiences.

Did she wear it on a first date? How long did it take her to save for it? Did she fall in love with it like I did? All rather romantic ideas, admittedly.

Just as a beautiful vintage dress has a story to tell, so too does vintage jewellery – and arguably more so. Very few things are more sentimental to woman than a beautiful piece of jewellery, often given as a gift by someone special or as a token of love. Yet, quality examples of genuine vintage jewellery can be surprisingly difficult to find both on the high street and online.

So obvious that it is easy to miss, auction houses offer the perfect solution to the difficulty one may encounter in the hunt for the perfect vintage piece of jewellery.

With hundreds of items that have been beautifully photographed and verified by specialists, it would be virtually impossible to not find something to fall in love with in one of Fellows Vintage Jewellery & Accessories auctions. Taking place six times per year, this auction offers gorgeous pieces from the 18th century onwards.

The best part - you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your living

2 0 S E34 PT E M B E R 2013 2013 SEPTEMBER

room as all of Fellows auctions are available to view and bid online. You also don’t have to worry about bidding on an item and then opening the parcel to find something unexpected. All of the items have detailed condition reports – if the report says you are bidding on a slightly worn Victorian ring, then that will be exactly what you receive.

Shakudo, cameos, French jet, agate, lockets, paste, as well as an impressive selection of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian are just some of the styles of jewellery on offer.

You’ll also find designer jewellery and accessories from more modern designers such as Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. Novelties and hair accessories also feature, as well as vintage furs, shoes and bags.

So the next time you feel like updating your wardrobe with a vintage twist, forget a fight-to-the-death for the best picks at a packed vintage fair or and rummage through a sporadically-stocked vintage shop, visit www.fellows.co.uk and browse the huge catalogue from the comfort of your own home.

An auction of Vintage Jewellery & Accessories, Monday 7th October at 10am.

Fellows Auctioneers, 2nd floor, 3 Queen Street, London W1J 5PA 020 7127 4198 www.fellows.co.uk

Vintage Jewellery & Accessories

Monday 7th October A selection of items from this auction.

Vintage & Modern Wrist Watches

Monday 14th October An 18k gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.

Estimate £4,000 – £6,000 A stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Estimate £1,500 – £2,000

An auction of Silver & Plated Ware

An 18k rose gold Omega Planet Ocean chronograph.

Estimate £5,000 – £7,000

Monday 16th September at 10am A selection of items from the Silver & Plated Ware auction.

Visit www.fellows.co.uk/life for a complimentary catalogue Fellows Auctioneers | 19 Augusta Street | Birmingham B18 6JA | 0121 212 2131 London Office (Valuations By Appointment Only) | 2nd Floor |3 Queen Street | London W1J 5PA | 020 7127 4198 SEPTEMBER 2013 35

THOMAS DUNTON SOLICITORS

claim?

Are you considering a Clinical Negligence What Thomas Dunton can do for you We are a firm of well qualified and accredited independent lawyers offering a personal service tailored to your individual circumstances.

Our Personal Injury team will provide you with the support and expertise that you need to pursue a successful claim

Initial action to take

Upon making a formal complaint, you should receive an apology, an explanation and assurances that the problem has been addressed and other patients are not at risk If there has been negligence, compensation may be due to you and legal action may be required.

Do you have a claim?

Instructing a Solicitor

The law only enables you to claim compensation if “on the balance of probability” your medical treatment was carried out negligently and this caused your injury.

Legal action can be costly, lengthy and very stressful. Your specialist solicitor will assess the strength of your case and possible value of the damages.

Claims must be made within three years from when you first realised you had suffered an injury.

In the case of children under 18, they can make a claim at anytime up to their 21st birthday.

Negligence and Causation For a successful claim you need to prove both Negligence and Causation.

Negligence: that the medical attention you received fell below acceptable standards.

Causation: that the negligence directly resulted in an injury to you.

It is not enough to prove negligence, you must also prove that you received an injury as a result.

Examples of Clinical Negligence

Failing to diagnose your condition or making the wrong diagnosis.

Making a mistake during a procedure or operation.

Giving the wrong drug.

Failing to warn about possible risks or side effects.

36 SEPTEMBER 2013

They will need the positive opinion of an independent medical expert. If a supportive report cannot be obtained, then your case will not succeed.

Essential Information Details of any injury sustained, the treatment received and your current condition.

All expenditure resulting from injury, including all prescriptions, travel costs to hospital etc.

Any loss of earnings and any state benefits received.

People caring for you and the number of hours they help.

Any activities or work you are unable to do as a result of the injury.

Funding your claim There are various options open to you.

Private funding: you fund the claim yourself.

Legal Aid: is now only available for birth related negligence.

No win, no fee: also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement Legal Insurance: found in many home and car Insurance policies Trade Union: members may receive legal services

For full details of funding options and more information on Personal Injuries, please visit our website www.thomasdunton.co.uk

For a free interview where we can assess your claim, please call Freephone 0800 146340 or email accident@thomasdunton.co.uk

Why choose Thomas Dunton?

Specialist Personal Injury Team: our specialist team is headed by Robert Sardo who has Senior Litigator Approved Status with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is an Approved Member of the Law Society’s Specialist Personal Injury Panel.

Qualified lawyer: When you speak to us you will be talking to a qualified lawyer, not a legal advisor at a call centre.

Free one hour face to face interview: We offer you a free one hour interview without any obligation.

This puts us in the best possible position to judge the merits of your case and provide the best advice.

Home & Hospital appointments: should you unable to attend our offices, we will be pleased to meet you at your home or hospital.

Maximum compensation: We will strive to achieve the maximum compensation for your injuries. Accident victims who turn down an insurer’s initial offer and seek legal advice get on average 2–3 times more compensation?* No win, no fee: We can offer you a full range of funding options including “No win, No fee”. There will be no hidden costs or extra fees.

Rehabilitation: Apart from striving for the maximum compensation, we will be actively pursuing the defendant to fund additional medical treatment to enable you to get back to full health as quickly as possible

Information in this article is of a general nature and details are prone to change. *(Source: The Law Society 2013)

For all Personal Injury inquiries, please call Freephone 0800 146340 or email accident@thomasdunton.co.uk

217-219 High Street Orpington, Kent BR6 0NZ

01689 822554 enquiry@thomasdunton.co.uk www.thomasdunton.co.uk

Dear Debbie Call our professional teams in Bromley Call our professional team in

DEBBIE MOULTON, CARE MANAGER OF BLUEBIRD CARE BlueBird offers her aDviCe OFFERS Care, HER ADVICE Debbie Moulton, Care Manager of

0208 315 0236

bromley@bluebirdcare.co.uk Sevenoaks 01732 471 541 Sevenoaks 01732 471 541 sevenoaks@bluebirdcare.co.uk sevenoaks@bluebirdcare.co.uk

Dear Debbie Debbie Dear

My father is coming out ofpeople hospital after a fall at home.

Can you explain why some are given money to He has lost a lot of confidence and is now quite help them with care costs and others have to pay fearful. for it I fear that day care visits will not now be enough and that all themselves? fair -Are they are all residential care itisdoesn’t the onlyseem way very forward. there any oaP’s after all. other options that I should think about first?

Yours Yourssincerely, sincerely Charlotte Godley Claire Chester

Dear Claire Charlotte Dear

the is that social Care isand considered to be different Dayreason care does have its limits, if he’s now worried about being left unattended, then “staying home” from Health Care, which is covered by the NHs and is may createavailable anxiety. without One option that“Fairness” may be worth universally charge. is a investigating is Live-in Care – finding a carer ( or difficult concept in social Care! at present, have “Personal Assistant” (PA)) to live full timeifinyou a spare more than £23,250 in savings or capital, you have to pay room, if you have one, in your father’s home. Many people this concept as the last step beforethat for your“trial” own social Care. if your savings are below accepting residential care.

Forassistance many, it’s from a good option, level, you may qualify for some your local and the trial becomes permanent. authority - which will provide guidance.

A trained, experienced and supported PA can provide if youand havereassuring to pay forpresence, your own social Care, youof aeven constant can take care may qualify forhousework, attendancecan allowance, is not means nutrition and providewhich personal care if needed, can withdraw to their space if tested. tobut be eligible, you must be 65personal or over and have friendsa or familyor drop in. disability that is severe enough either physical mental The most cost effective way of doing this is to do your for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to own search and to employ the PA directly. A PA can’t supervise you, for your someone else’syou safety. the be self-employed and own thereorare risks which should payment is presently understand if you’re either: told otherwise.

If £53 “becoming anifemployer” seems daunting, you could l per week you need frequent help or constant find a day care or other agency to source the PA,or provide supervision during the day, or supervision at night, support and deal with the admin. l £79 per week if you need help or supervision Best wishes throughout both day and night, or you are terminally ill.

Debbie Moulton You can claim by filling in Form aa1a, available from the Care Manager Post office, or by going online at www.dwp.gov.uk/eservice/ Bluebird Care (Sevenoaks) Best wishes, Debbie Moulton Care Manager Bluebird Care (Sevenoaks)

SEPTEMBER 2013 37

Education LIFE T h e

q u a l i t y

e d u c at i o n

s u p p l e m e n T SEP T EM B E R

2 0 1 3

Welcome...

The Independent school system in the UK is one of the finest in the world and you are fortunate to have some of the best schools in the country right on your doorstep. In today’s economic climate, making the right choice for your child’s education is of paramount importance. Sometimes every parent needs a helping hand in deciding what is best for their children. Our Education Life series is an invaluable resource for any parent considering private education.

Many schools will be having their first open days of 2013 soon. Encourage your children to come with you and get their feedback after each visit. Take a note book with you and write down positive or negative things that your child brings up. This will be a useful tool when you are comparing notes! It also provides an insight into the way a child sees a prospective future school.

This month sees the second of our ongoing Education Life series. If you would like to appear in our Education section please contact:Lisa@fishmediagroup.co.uk 07904 251 984

38 SEPTEMBER 2013

The finest schools in KENT

280mm x 105mm wide:Layout 1 22/08/2013 16:42 Page 1

Each summer there is a deluge of comment in the press about how tough it is to secure a place at the most competitive university. Parents and pupils are made to feel that the stress and hard work of the last two years are nothing compared to that endured by commentators and, most frustratingly, Universities start issuing statements about what may be useful as a way of securing that place. One of the themes explored by the most academic Universities is the balance between the academic and the extra-curricular offered in the applicant’s CV. Recent commentators seemed to think that, to secure a place at one of the most prestigious Universities, the activities beyond the academic were pointless. Bromley High School’s Head, Louise Simpson, disagrees and wonders what one would find when surveying the first years at this institution? The likelihood is that virtually every one of them is an enthusiastic and high level performer in sport, music, the arts or some other extra-curricular field. Certainly, in Bromley High School’s experience, pupils with these additional strings to their bows seem to secure these places. Of course, they are also highly academic, that goes without saying, so perhaps there is a link, perhaps the co-curricular actually develops the academic?

Schools that care about the development of the whole pupil find a balance between the academic and these enrichment activities that are, in Bromley High School’s view, so crucial.

Pupils who balance their academic work with a wide range of other activities are developing their time management skills, finding passions and interests, developing their social skills, increasing their levels of confidence, learning crucial communication and team working skills and, perhaps more important than all of this, committing to something optional in which they find pleasure and enjoyment. To be an effective academic every single one of the above skills is crucial – and in order to be a successful independent learner, capable of being a great success at university and in the world of work these are even more crucial.

Open Events: Saturday 28th September 2013, 9.30am-1.00pm; Sixth Form Open Evening Monday 7th October 2013 from 6.45pm Please contact the school via our website: www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net or our admissions office on admissions@bro.gdst.net or telephone 020 8781 7000 to arrange a visit.

BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Excellence CELEBRATES 130 YEARS OF

OPEN MORNING Saturday September 28th 2013, 9.30 am ‐ 1.00 pm

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING Monday 7th October 2013 from 6.45 pm

Find out more about life at Bromley High School

4+, 7+, 11+, 13 + and 16+ S BH

130

Extra or co-curricular, what’s the difference?

Fees Assistance & Scholarships available in the Senior School admissions@bro.gdst.net Tel: 020 8781 7000 www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net/Dul1 SEPTEMBER 2013 39

E D U C AT I O N

Why Art A Level is good for your child’s career prospects

T

BY CHRIS OTLEY HEAD OF ART, MERCHANT TAYLORS’ SCHOOL

oday’s students face intense competition for places at the top institutions. University education is also expensive; and 46 applicants for each graduate job advertised. Given this situation, the perennial parental question - ‘why should my child study Art & Design at A-level?’ - seems unlikely to disappear any time soon.

The Russell Group of top UK universities was no doubt well-intentioned in publishing its list of ‘facilitating’ subjects in 2011. It defined these as those most frequently required by Admissions departments and therefore most likely to offer a range of routes into Higher Education. However, given media and government concerns about falling standards, pupils and parents worried all-too-often that subjects not on the list were second class ‘soft options’, rather than simply more specialist, vocational, or practical (Economics, for instance, did not make the list). The popular perception of Art & Design as merely a relaxing and enjoyable alternative to academic study endured, and with it, the related assumption that to study the Creative Arts at university level is to take an enormous gamble with one’s career chances.

The reality of the situation, however, is that a rapidly diversifying range of undergraduate courses are out there, which lead to very viable creative careers. Architecture and Product Design are obvious popular examples, but many of our former pupils can now also be found working in advertising, branding, fashion, vehicle design, graphics, publishing and illustration.

Prospective Art & Design undergraduates should not be naïve though: just as with any other subject, there are good and bad courses, and the fact remains that graduate employment rates are indeed somewhat lower than in other subject areas. Choosing the right university is critical. It comes as a surprise to many to learn that the best creative courses attract Oxbridge levels of competition – the one-year pre-degree Foundation Course at Kingston attracts well over 1000 applicants for approximately 90 places each year. A further complication is that many of the most-respected specialist courses are not necessarily found at the most famous institutions. Want to study Vehicle Design? Coventry and Northumbria both remain clear world-leaders.

Interested in animation? Bournemouth University is a major specialist. Good research coupled with up to date advice from schools is vital.

There is also a growing trend of graduates from other disciplines joining 40 SEPTEMBER 2013

creative industries, having first developed their creative skills while still at school. Recently, we took a group of pupils to visit renowned post-production/ special FX company ‘The Mill’, who were keen to highlight the creative skills shortage they face in the UK. While they of course recruit from specialist graphics degrees, their dream job applicant might have studied Art, Maths and Physics at A-level, before undertaking a ‘good degree from a good university’, maintaining their practical art skills alongside – we were led around the agency by a history graduate, and a chemist. The unfortunate tendency of some schools to pigeonhole pupils into either the Arts or Sciences at an early age is out-of-kilter with the increasingly fluid and collaborative approach of the workplace, particularly in this rapidly developing sector.

Art & Design has the potential to positively affect the quality and circumstances of peoples’ lives, from a vocational viewpoint or indeed from the perspective of recreation. An understanding of the human impulse to express and create, and the satisfying of this urge ought to be seen as fundamental to the development of children. At their best, schools should view Art & Design as an important and integral means through which they can educate. Art is concerned with visual communication and the making of imagery in response to human experiences, and so it can be a major tool through which we learn to measure the world around us, by making judgements concerning issues and relationships, no matter how straightforward, abstract or esoteric they might be.

In my own department, I am delighted that there are usually as many pupils who see Art as their ‘first-choice’ A-level as there are those who see it as their third or fourth; some of our strongest artists have gone on to read Medicine, Law or Engineering. Pupils should be encouraged to find common ground in Art & Design with all their other subjects; in learning how to research context, develop an idea, make their own judgements, resolve problems, work collaboratively, and develop their own personal interpretations and outcomes around a theme or idea.

A-level Art offers pupils the chance to develop and prove their visual literacy.

Coupled with a strong package of other subjects, this ability to decipher and exploit images can really make them stand out from the competition in the multi-media workspaces of an increasingly visual world.

Offering a first class academic education Kent College is the leading HMC independent day and boarding school for girls based in a beautiful rural 75 acre parkland estate just outside of Tunbridge Wells. The high achieving school nurtures pupils by finding unique abilities in each girl and cultivating them through an excellent academic and pastoral programme which focuses on meeting the individual needs of every girl.

Kent College’s 2013 A Level results demonstrate the successful academic approach with an outstanding 100% pass rate. 36% A* - A grades were gained at A Level and, following the analysis of the school’s value added data and baseline predictions, the school has demonstrated its ability to double a girl’s chance of getting an A at A Level.

Recent academic developments and the school’s unrivalled ability at nurturing its students potential has also produced the best AS results in the school’s history with 72% A & B grades. 85% of pupils gained their first choice university places into Russell Group Universities and other highly competitive courses.

A glance at the destinations of Kent College’s A Level girls indicates how successful they are in meeting a range of individual aspirations. If your daughter wants to read history at Oxford, become a doctor or an engineer, an actress or a fashion designer, she can launch her career from a Kent College classroom.

To find out how Kent College can help your daughter to surpass her expectations and to learn more about living at Kent College as part of our special boarding community, visit one of their forthcoming Open Mornings on Saturday 5th October and Tuesday 8th October 2013. Contact 01892 820218 or visit www.kentcollege.co.uk

thrive .

.

believe grow surpass

“Everyone is celebrated for what they can achieve” Current Parent

Senior School Open Mornings Saturday 5th & Tuesday 8th October Kent College is a leading independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 - 18

www.kent-college.co.uk Kent College Pembury, Old Church Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 4AX, UK Registered charity no 307920 and is a member of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust SEPTEMBER 2013 41

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Combe Bank School -

a unique thriving independent girls’ school Founded in 1924, Combe Bank School is a flourishing independent girls’ school that stands in 27 acres of gardens and grounds, on the Kent/Surrey borders within easy reach of the centre of Sevenoaks.

The school is set within a Grade I Eighteenth Century Palladian country house, this beautiful setting provides extensive sports grounds, tennis and netball courts, alongside our sports complex which houses a 25 metre pool, fitness suite, and large multi-purpose sports hall.

The Preparatory School is housed in an original stable block and affords a unique environment in which the children feel secure and comfortable. Specialist teaching rooms include those dedicated to ICT, French, Music, PE, Speech and Drama.

EYFS Nursery classes, housed within the courtyard area, having recently undergone refurbishment provides first class facilities for both indoor and outdoor activities including a specially designed Secret Garden.

Beech Walk with its secure adventure play area, gives the children greater freedom at break times. All pupils including the Nursery use the indoor heated swimming pool weekly throughout the year.

Classes are small to ensure effective learning and to better enable our girls to develop and grow in confidence. Our extensive enrichment programme also provides students with opportunities beyond the purely academic, including sports, music and the performing and visual arts.

Our Sixth Formers are privileged to have their own purpose-built centre, opened in 2003, where they are able to study and socialise in a more adult environment.

This provides them with the ideal progression onto university life.

42 SEPTEMBER 2013

We would like to invite you to our Open day on Saturday 5th October 10 – 12.00 all are welcome. You will have the opportunity to tour the school, Nursery Prep and Senior school and to meet the Headmistress, the staff and the girls and if you have time enjoy a fabulous Combe Bank lunch. If you are not available on Saturday 5th October but would still like to view the school we have an Open Working Morning on Tuesday 8th October from 10 – 12.00 noon. For full details of entry into our Sixth Form with detailed information on all subjects on offer please come along to our Sixth Form Open Evening on Tuesday 15th October.

Please call 01959 567166 to arrange a private visit. We would love the opportunity to show you our successful, friendly and vibrant school.

Beaverwood School for Girls CHISLEHURST

OPEN EVENING

OPEN MORNINGS

Tuesday, 24th September 2013 6:00pm until 9:00pm

Tuesday, 8th October 2013 and Thursday, 17th October 2013 10:30am until 12.00pm

Headmistress’s Presentations: 6:30pm & 7:30pm Plus Tours of the School

Headmistress’s Presentation 10.30am Selected Activities 11am to 12 midday

• An Academy (Converter) School with Humanities Status • A charitable trust for the purpose of educating children Headmistress: Mrs K J Raven, BA, MA Beaverwood Road Chislehurst Kent BR7 6HE Telephone: 020 8300 3156 Facsimile: 020 8300 3251 Email: office@beaverwood.co.uk www.beaverwood.bromley.sch.uk

Combe Bank School

Open DAY

Nursery • Preparatory • Senior • Sixth Form A ceNtre oF excelleNce For girlS’ educAtioN From 3-18 yeArS

Saturday 5 october 2013•10am-12noon

Open WORKInG MORnInG tuesday 8 october 2013 10am-12noon SIXTH FORM Open eVenInG tuesday 15 october 2013 7pm-9pm No appointments necessary for these events

combe Bank School, combe Bank drive, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, Kent tN14 6Ae. contact our registrar on 01959 567166 or registrar@combebank.kent.sch.uk

www.combebankschool.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2013 43

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An Outstanding Educational Experience

At St Dunstan’s College we aim to provide every one of our pupils with an outstanding educational experience. We focus not only on the academic subjects our girls and boys need to gain entry to a top university, but also encourage and develop their interests in the wider curriculum – be it art, sport, music, performing arts, or design. We offer a wide range of clubs, activities and trips to put all learning into a local, national and global context.

Why should you consider St Dunstan’s? One reason is that we are currently the only independent, co-educational school in South East London to offer our sixth formers the choice of studying A Levels or the IB Diploma and in 2013 we celebrated record results in both programmes.

The IB Diploma gives students the opportunity to study a broader range of subjects, including languages, sciences and maths, whilst still requiring depth in enough subjects to progress with them at university.

Or, you might prefer to concentrate on fewer subjects, making A Levels a more appealing option.

Whatever programme our sixth formers choose, they benefit from a high standard of teaching, enjoy our down-to-earth and friendly atmosphere and receive all the encouragement they need.

St Dunstan’s College is an independent coeducational day school for 3-18 year olds. Come to one of our Open Events this Autumn, please see our website www.stdunstans.org.uk for more information.

Your child’s future starts here

Senior School Open Mornings 2013

Saturday 5 October, 9.30 -11.30 I Saturday 16 November, 9.30 -11.30

Sixth Form Open Afternoon 2013

Thursday 17 October, 14.30 I To book your place, please contact Sophie Stammers on sstammers@sdmail.org.uk

St Dunstan’s College

Co-educational Independent day school for 3 -18 year olds

Stanstead Road, London, SE6 4TY www.stdunstans.org.uk Charity number: 312747

44 SEPTEMBER 2013

High flying results

For the second consecutive year Sydenham High School GDST has seen an increase in the number of students gaining top grades at A Level, along with its consistent 100 per cent pass rate, thus bucking the trend nationally.

Seventy-eight per cent of Sydenham High girls achieved A*/B grades, versus 72 per cent in 2012, with over a third securing A*/A in their subjects.

There was also celebration for confirmed university places for the girls taking courses ranging from medicine, physiotherapy and environmental science to law, history, politics and psychology as well as a clutch of places on prestigious art foundation courses.

Celebrations continued with the GCSE results. Despite tougher marking being implemented nationally, the school achieved some remarkable all-round performances with an increase in both passes per pupil and points per candidate.

Sixty-seven per cent of students gained A*-A grades and 26 per cent achieved specifically A*s, with four girls achieving the magic number of ten A* grades.

Kathryn Pullen, Sydenham High’s Headteacher, said: “Our girls have once again achieved great results, particularly in a year when it has been harder than ever to score top grades. We are very proud of them. They have had the determination to succeed and will surely continue to further success in their chosen study and career paths.”

For more information about Sydenham High School, 15 and 19 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL contact the admissions team on 020 8557 7004 or email admissions@syd.gdst.net www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

An outstanding* education that goes way beyond exams *Inspection Report 2012

Open Days Junior: Sat 28 Sept 10am - 1.00pm Senior: Sat 21 Sept 10am - 1.00pm See website for additional dates in October and November

020 8557 7004

ial nt m e s a es .00

www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net admissions@syd.gdst.net 19 Westwood Hill London SE26 6BL Junior School

Senior School

Sixth Form

1 m ing.15-1 .45a k 1 oo r 9 -1 - b be .00

s cto r 9 ings 3 O tobe n or ur Oc M n Th ds 9 r o ste ti We Ta ecep r 7 R Yea

SEPTEMBER 2013 45

e d u c at i o n

E D U C AT I O N

aN eDucaTeD choice THere are 2,500+ independent schools in the uK offering a wealth of facilities and high teaching standards that enable students achieve great results year after year. independent schools are in the unique position to provide a truly bespoke education for your child. Choosing the right school is an important decision that takes time and research, with each school specialising in different age groups and needs.

PRE-PREPARATORY SCHOOLS (AGES 2 YEARS - 7 YEARS) PREPARATORY SCHOOLS (AGES 7 YEARS -11+ OR 13 YEARS)

their teachers, and with you?

• The head: How does the head deal with your questions? Does he or she show an interest in your child?

• Pastoral care: Do the arrangements for looking after your child’s health and welfare satisfy you?

• Discipline: Is discipline stricter or more relaxed than you would expect?

• Curriculum: Is it broad and balanced? Will your child have an adequate range of options?

• Extra activities: Does the school offer an extra-curricular activities programme that will stimulate your child’s interest?

• Exam results: Although academic success is important, don’t be tempted to go just for schools high in the “league tables”. education isn’t a one-size-fits-all affair and thankfully independent schools come in all shapes and sizes.

The independent sector gives parents the opportunity to choose a school that is right for their child. Whether it is the breadth and flexibility of the curriculum that appeals or perhaps the extra curricular activities, you can be assured that your child will receive a well rounded education helping them to achieve their full potential.

SENIOR SCHOOLS (AGES 11 YEARS -18 YEARS) SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS BOARDING SCHOOLS VISITING THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS OF YOUR CHOICE

Most private schools have open days but do ask to make an appointment to visit on a normal working day. amongst the important things you should look out for are: • The children: How do they behave and interact with one another, with 46 SEPTEMBER 2013

FEBRUARY2012

3

Sackville School Invests in the Future

Students returned to the school in Hildenborough after the summer break to a range of new facilities.

Set in beautiful and extensive parkland, the school is a Grade Two listed building which has undergone a programme of refurbishment over the holidays to deliver some significant improvements to the learning environment.

A new Science block was created along with a fully equipped Design Technology workshop. Sixth Formers have a new independent study area with a suite of classrooms devoted to A level study. Continuing examination successes- students go on to a range of universities including Oxford and other Russell Group institutions- are testament to Sackville’s approach to individualised learning. Very small classes enable staff to know each student well and ensure they are

motivated, challenged and make real progress. This approach to teaching begins in Year 7 when work is differentiated according to learning styles and appropriate levels of extension or support provided.

To compliment academic study Sackville provides an extensive programme of extra- curricular activities designed to ensure all students leave as well rounded individuals. The school also believes the performing arts play an important part in building confidence and has therefore invested in a new studio theatre- The Space- with audience seating and professional stage lighting and sound systems for drama, dance and music performances. This is also home to the newly launched Curious Theatre Company which welcomes all young people aged 5-18 years and meets after school on Fridays.

Why not visit Sackville to discover what it can offer your child?

Sackville is part of the Cognita group of schools.

Sackville School, Tonbridge Road, Hildenborough. TN11 9HN 01732 836401 office@sackvilleschool.co.uk www.sackvilleschool.co.uk

We don’t want you to be happy with your child’s progress.

We prefer astounded Open Days Saturday 5th October Thursday 7th November

• Very small classes and individualised teaching enable students to achieve excellent results

For further details please contact office@sackvilleschool.co.uk or admissions on 01732 836401

• New facilities opened September 2013 include a new Science block and a Performing Arts studio P E S

www.sackvilleschool.co.uk Sackville School is part of the Cognita Group of Schools

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An Independent school for boys and girls aged 11-18

SACKVILLE

Hildenborough, Kent TN11 9HN

PE

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SACKVILLE SEPTEMBER 2013 47

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Breaside Celebrate Outstanding Examination Results

Breaside Preparatory School in Bromley was honoured to welcome Ms Elizabeth Truss, Under Secretary of State for Childcare and Education at the end of last term. Ms Truss visited the School’s Kindergarten and Pre-Prep and was very impressed with the learning environment in which the youngest pupils are accomplishing so much.

Breaside prepares pupils from 2½ to 11 years for both Grammar and Independent Senior Schools in a caring and nurturing environment.

Once again, SATs and 11+ entry results for 2013 were outstanding with pupils gaining places to Grammar Schools including St Olave’s, Bexley, Chislehurst and Sidcup and Wilmington and Independent Schools including Dulwich College, Trinity and Bromley High, with many gaining academic, creative and sports scholarships.

The School’s latest “Outstanding” Ofsted report stated that “Pupils are articulate and confident, their behaviour is outstanding, and they are extremely enthusiastic about their learning and about the exceptional breadth of learning opportunities in the outstanding curriculum.”

Breaside is committed to achieving the very best for each individual child from Kindergarten through to preparation for secondary transfer at the end of Year 6.

Executive Principal, Mrs Karen Nicholson, said “We are delighted with our 2013 examination results and wish our leavers every success in the future”.

                   

 

48 SEPTEMBER 2013

Have you heard of Babington House School?

Fast becoming the school of choice in the Bromley area

Babington House School is an independent day school in Chislehurst for girls aged 3-16 and boys aged 3- 11 years. Babington House is an outstanding school in every way. The boys and girls receive first class education in a supportive and academic environment. The school is in a convenient location just 3 minutes’ walk from Elmstead Woods station and with our Breakfast Club and Homework Club it is an ideal choice for working parents.

We select children on their academic ability and potential, as well as personal qualities. Once at Babington, they are expected to surpass their own expectations and we achieve excellent results.

Babington House has high standards of behaviour, dress and conduct, benefiting from small class sizes of no more than 20 pupils and a strong sense of community. We are committed to outstanding sport, music, drama, and the arts and offer a vast array of extracurricular opportunities.

Since the arrival of the new Headmaster, Mr Tim Lello in January 2013, there have been many positive changes at Babington House School.

• We are now accepting boys until the age of 11 years on the Prep School; • Rather than being a mixed ability school, we now select children on their academic ability and potential; • From September a School mini-bus will be available from the Beckenham area to bring children to and from school making it more accessible.

01337_Babington_News Shopper_Press_Ad_Layout 1 15/08/2013 20:55 Page 1

Come and see for yourself.

Babington House School Independent School for girls aged 3 – 16 & boys 3 – 11 Rated outstanding and excellent in ALL areas of school life (ISI Inspection).

Come and see for yourself Scholarships available

Open Morning Saturday, 5th October 2013 9.00 am - 12 noon

Headmaster’s address at 10.30 am

Grange Drive, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5ES Tel: 020 8467 5537 Email: alee@babingtonhouse.com

www.babingtonhouse.com SEPTEMBER 2013 49

&

HOME GARDEN

Technology with tradition, in the kitchen

Okay – lets agree this right at the start: your food won’t taste any better if you cook it on a log fire or the very latest induction hob! However, what will be considerably enhanced is your enjoyment of the cooking process.

New technology gives you the tools to help you create delicious meals quicker, cleaner and more energyefficiently.

The speed of induction cooking is one of its major benefits – contents in the pan heat up remarkably quickly.

But because induction heats only the base of the pan and then the contents, the ceramic glass surface remains much cooler than traditional ceramic of gas hobs, making them safer to use, and safer and easier to clean. And the smooth surface of an induction hob lets it blend into any style of kitchen – so you can as easily combine the latest technology with a traditionally styled kitchen as you can with a sleek modern one.

50 SEPTEMBER 2013

To help you see how the latest technology can fit into your new kitchen, local firm County – The Home Improvers are holding a cookery demonstration day at their Tunbridge Wells showroom (in London Road, Southborough, TN4 0PB) from 10.00 a.m. on September 20th 2013. County is an approved NEFF Kitchen Specialist and on show will be several of the latest NEFF appliances including induction hob, single oven and multifunction oven with microwave.

To reserve your place call County’s head of kitchen design Roy Shepherd free on 0800 5426102, or simply turn up on the day, and see how technology could transform and enhance your cooking enjoyment.

County – The Home Improvers Phone free on 0800 5426102 or visit their website www.thecountygroup.co.uk.

Perfect

Conventional Flush Casements with 36mm horizontal bars in Oxford Clay

hen you’ve worked hard to achieve the good

With local showrooms in Tunbridge Wells, Heathfield and

things in life, quite often it’s the small details that bring a smile to

now Haywards Heath, why not see for yourself how Timber

your lips. That’s why our timber windows are crafted to authentic

Windows can make your home perfect?

period designs – but with modern technology to ensure smooth operation and low maintenance.

FREE FORTNUM & MASON GIFT CARD For all orders placed before 30th September 2013

For example, we use multi-layer timber sections with opposing

OFFER EXTENDED until end of September 2013 Call for terms & conditions.

grains which balances warping and combats twisting, giving you windows and doors which shut snugly every time.

And factory applied micro-porous coatings provide maximum

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS & HEATHFIELD

protection but minimal maintenance, which means you can be enjoying the company of your family rather than spending time

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painting windows. Or, indeed, any of our complementary-styled doors, conservatories and orangeries.

hand-made

TIMBER WINDOWS & DOORS Timber Windows of Tunbridge Wells 57 – 59 London Road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 0PB

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Timber Windows of Haywards Heath 49 – 53 Sussex Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 4ED

Tel: 0800 542 6102

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SEPTEMBER 2013 51

C hristmas AT LO N D O N GOLF CLUB

Party Nights Join our ever popular Party Nights, they are not to be missed and are ideal for groups of 4 and above. Party in style with a festive drink on arrival followed by a gourmet three course Christmas dinner, then dance the night away with live music.

Available on Thursday 12th, Friday 13th & Saturday 14th December Timings: Arrival drinks 7pm. Dinner at 7.30pm. Dancing until Midnight

To request a brochure, make a booking or for help planning your party please call Becky on 01474 875 720 or email becky@londongolf.co.uk

ÂŁ43.00 per person INC. VAT

52 SEPTEMBER 2013

WEDDING LIFE THE QUALITY WEDDING GUIDE • SEPTEMBER 2013

Bespoke Wedding Dresses Your Wedding Planner Fall in Love with Your Wedding Dress The Happiest Day of Your Life

LOCAL WEDDING SPECIALISTS Adam Swaine Photography 07798 526569

Dominic Walmsley Riverhead 01732 779555

Blackburn Boutique Blackheath 0208 318 2333

Hotel du Vin Tunbridge Wells 0844 748 9266

Brides Dress Revisited Otford 01959 525834

Rowhill Grange Hotel Wilmington 01322 615136

Bromley Register Office Bromley Victoria Allinson Limpsfield 020 8313 4666 01883 722663

SEPTEMBER 2013 53

Belle of the Ball 0208 318 2333

By Appointment Only www.blackburnoccasionwear.co.uk

54 SEPTEMBER 2013

W

Event Dressing

ith all those events coming up look no further for that perfect outfit!

Whether it be a Wedding the Races or a summer Ball Blackburn Studio has something for every Occasion.

Russell Blackburn opened his Occasion Wear studio to compliment his already established Bridal Boutique last Summer and offers a wide range of collections from designers not found on the high street giving you the Exclusivity you need when choosing that outfit for a special event. The private 1st floor Studio is located two minutes from the stores Bridal Boutique in Blackheath Village and is run on a strictly by appointment only basis.

Please call to arrange an appointment on Tel 0208 318 2333. Hire is available on certain evening wear for Prom and Ball's from ÂŁ175.

10% off on all Occasion Wear in September.

www.blackburnbridal.co.uk www.blackburnoccasionwear.co.uk 0208 318 2333

or email info@blackburnbridal.co.uk Brigade House, Brigade Street, Blackheath SE3 OTW

SEPTEMBER 2013 55

WEDDING SPECIAL team of dedicated wedding co-ordinators who will help bring your dreams to life.

Are there any special wedding offers at the moment?

As a special treat for new couples we are offering free photo booth hire worth £650.

The offer is available when you book your wedding to take place between 1st March 30th September 2014. For full details visit rowhillgrange.co.uk.

Just Say the Word

Perfection Set at the end of a sweeping driveway, Rowhill Grange Hotel is one of Kent’s finest countryside retreats and a magical wedding venue.

Rowhill Grange at a glace Built in 1868, Rowhill Grange was once a Victorian Summer House. Today the hotel is a stunning property brimming with natural character, modern finishes and it’s very own award-winning Utopia Spa.

Tell us about the key features The immaculate grounds and delectable views add to the unique qualities of our stunning property. The hotel itself has 38 impressive bedrooms, a newly refurbished lounge bar as well as a collection of intimate lounges and a private function suite that sits separate from the hotel. The spa is one of the hotel’s most notable features and with awards such as Best Hotel Spa of the Year and the World’s Top 50 Spas it is unsurprising that Rowhill Grange is one of Kent’s most sought after venues.

What makes Rowhill Grange a special wedding venue?

Brides and grooms have a wealth of options for their special day.

Not only can you exchange vows in the stunning outdoor gazebo but the Clockhouse Suite will be all yours for the entire event. The suite can cater for up to 150 guests and has its own courtyard, entrance and bar. Throughout your event you will receive full support from a

56 SEPTEMBER 2013

Rowhill Grange Hotel and Utopia Spa Wilmington, Kent, DA2 7QD 01322 615136 ROWHILLGRANGE.CO.UK

WEDDING OFFER

BOOK YOUR DREAM WEDDING

WITH ALEXANDER HOTELS AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY PHOTO BOOTH WORTH £650!

OFFER INCLUDES:

• 4 hour photo booth hire during your evening entertainment • Memory book to take home • Memory stick with ALL pictures • Double prints for you and your guests

B O O K N OW !

01342 859753

01322 612778

01293 780080

Turners Hill, East Grinstead, Sussex RH10 4QD

Wilmington, Kent DA2 7QH

Near Gatwick, Surrey RH6 9LN

Valid at Alexander House Hotel - Sussex, Rowhill Grange Hotel - Kent and Langshott Manor Hotel - Surrey. Wedding must take place between 1 Mar to 30 Sep 2014. Minimum numbers apply. Subject to availability. Only available to new bookings until 31st December 2013. For full terms visit alexanderhotels.co.uk or email sales@alexanderhotels.com SEPTEMBER 2013 57

ALEXANDERHOTELS.CO.UK

WEDDING SPECIAL

Your

Wedding Planner

By Sarah O’Meara

I

n our day-dreams, the romantic proposal of marriage is effortlessly followed by a Cinderella-style wedding day, and the planning process is carefully edited out.

As lovely as these fantasies are, they’re hardly a blueprint for organising the big day.

Whether you’re planning a modest yet elegant affair or a week’s worth of wild hedonism, every dream wedding needs a strong plan to transform it from an idea into reality.

Don’t panic, just make sure you’re asking the right questions at the right time, says wedding planner and author of Wedding Bible Sarah Haywood.

There’s no point in worrying about the details of the day until you’ve made five key decisions.

Your big five are... how, where, when, who and budget.

Do you want a religious or civil ceremony, in which geographic location, at what time of year, who will you invite and how much can you spend?

People rush out and buy magazines and make decisions about having peonies before they know what month the ceremony’s going to be in. You wouldn’t think about furnishing

58 SEPTEMBER 2013

your home, until you’d found the house, would you!

“The Big Five, as I call them in my book, are your road map and until they’ve been agreed upon you can’t get down to the details.”

Follow Haywood’s tips to make sure your wedding day is a success... tWelve to nine months to Go

Having enjoyed the luxury of travelling to venues, perhaps trying on a few gowns and looking at pretty pictures in magazines, now’s the time to firm up those plans.

Imagine that this phase is called ‘Ideas and Decisions’ and that now you’ve got a sense of the key elements which will define the look and style of day, it’s important to hire suppliers who can make sure those are all in place. ✱ Set the date, book the ceremony and venue(s) ✱ Book key suppliers (catering, florist, photography, transport, stationer) ✱ Compile guest list ✱ Book entertainment (band, DJ etc.) ✱ Reserve suits, purchase bridesmaids’ outfits and select wedding gown ✱ Send out ‘Save the Date’ cards/email

nine to three months

don’t forGet:

Having sketched the outline of your wedding and hired the key players, it’s now the fun part - filling in the details of the day and designing your perfect wedding!

Think about what it’s going to look like - and if you’re not sure, get help. It’s important for all the elements to be coordinated otherwise you’ll end up with something random, like a cake that doesn’t work with the venue.

You need a design overview.

✱ Confirm menu ✱ Mail invitations 12 to 8

don’t forGet: ✱ Menu tasting ✱ Choose cake, flowers,

readings and music ✱ Purchase wedding ring(s) ✱ Register for gift list ✱ Choose stationer and agree invitations ✱ Book honeymoon three to one months to Go

At this point, you’ll hopefully be tying everything together, confirming all your plans and adding those final details.

For those who feel that there’s simply too much left to do, or are worried about being stressed on the day, you might consider bringing someone in to bring it all together.

weeks before wedding ✱ Confirm order of service with officiant ✱ One month to go, chase outstanding RSVPs ten days Before the WeddinG

A key point to remember is that if everyone involved has the same expectations of the day, then the day should run smoothly.

If you’ve talked through the Big Five at the beginning, then any last minute controversies should be avoided.

Listen to suggestions from friends and family throughout the process. Some people just want to be heard and by hearing them out, you know they’ll be supportive on the day - even if you’ve ignored what they said! don’t forGet: ✱ Confirm final guest numbers with venue and caterer ✱ Collect Orders of Service, menu and place cards if necessary ✱ Prepare ‘Wedding Day Schedule’ and distribute as required ✱ Confirm shot list with photographer

The ultimate venue

Hotel du Vin & Bistro Tunbridge Wells is set in one of the town’s architectural landmarks, a Grade II-listed sandstone mansion built as a private residence in 1762. Elegant and unpretentious.

Housing a plethora of features such as unique event spaces, heated cigar shack, an outstanding outdoor area on the garden terrace with wonderful views out across Calverley Park, and most importantly 34 timelessly styled bedrooms, all of which have been sensitively converted to retain many of their original features and complemented beautifully with antiques and memorabilia.

The beautiful private event rooms include Ruinart, which is a large versatile room seating up to 84 guests and has drawn its decorative influences from the famous mirrored room in the palace of Versailles. Add views over the hotel gardens and you have the perfect place to celebrate with friends or family.

Havana is a 1950's Cuban style room which can seat up to 24 guests that floods with natural daylight through its French doors.

Mouton Rothschild is the smallest of our rooms, and like Havana also benefits from an abundance of natural daylight through French doors and can also be opened out onto its own veranda.

The hotel creates the prefect stage for your Big Day. Bursting with character this luxurious hotel offers various options for every occasion from rehearsal dinner to photographs in the garden, combine this with divine dining, attentive service and an exceptional wine list. Hotel du Vin Tunbridge Wells is the ultimate host for your wedding celebration.

HOTEL DU VIN TUNBRIDGE WELLS

FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY, CHOOSE SOMEWHERE REALLY RATHER SPECIAL

Sublime. One word to express this the greatest of all days. With exquisite private rooms, gorgeous suites, a tranquil terraced garden, heavenly dining and your own dedicated events organiser, there can be no more fitting a stage as you glide elegantly from ceremony to wedding breakfast and beyond.

Hotel du Vin is the perfect venue for weddings and civil partnerships.

0844 748 9266 events.tunbridgewells@hotelduvin.com w w w. H OT E L D U V I N . c o m

SEPTEMBER 2013 59

WEDDING SPECIAL

White Hot Numbers

By Lisa Haynes

You might associate falling in love and finding ‘the one’ with your husband-to-be, but the very same principles apply to your wedding dress.

Just as you need to kiss a few frogs in the dating world, the search for your dream frock can be a real journey.

You’re looking for the right shape, the right shade and exactly the right amount of sparkles, feathers or flounce.

If in doubt, turn to the catwalks for inspiration. Bridal designers are seasons ahead of the aisle game so you can tap into the fashion mood for your upcoming nuptials.

Check out the trends and find a wedding ensemble you’ll be smitten with. Fabrics to fall for Satin, silk, tulle, taffeta - the bridal options are endless but one fabric is sending everyone wild. “For this season, it’s lace, lace and more lace,” explains Susi Rogol, editor of trade magazine Bridal Buyer.

Not only as full-on gowns, but as accents too. “Lace is being used in little sculpted shrugs to give a hint of cover-up through to strapless gowns and as detachable straps to complete top layers,” says Rogol.

Meanwhile edgier brides are loving laser-cut fabrics to create surface texture and 3D effects, also achieved with swirls of ribbons or fabric forming an entire skirt of flowers or petals.

Briding your time If you’re looking ahead to a wedding next year, look back in time for inspiration. 2013 will be a vintage year, according to Rogol.

“Vintage is the direction that every influential designer is taking, harking back to the Thirties and Fifties in particular.

“So, slinky body-clinging dresses in slippery satins with clever fabric manipulation to form shape and accentuate curve on one hand, boat necklines and ballerina lengths on the other.”

Think Audrey Hepburn for inspiration, with Fifties hallmark details like nipped-in waists, bell skirts and crisp silhouettes.

Sweet on Silhoutte Use your body as a guide to choosing a shape that will flatter as you saunter down the aisle. There are two major silhouettes this season: curve-enhancing fishtails or retro ballgown styles.

Samantha Neville, founder of Mamfii Bridal, says: “Fishtail shapes accentuate the classic hourglass figure and look fabulous in full lace, or very simply made in the finest silk duchess where the beauty of the gown is all in the fabric and cut.

“Ballgowns are cut with a slightly lower waist, ensuring a flatteringfit for all figures. Damask fabrics are making a comeback in classicshapes and are a beautiful choice for the fashion-forward bride, as are softer fabrics such as tulle and chiffon but cut into a fuller shape.”

Heart the high street For brides who are short on time or cash flow, buying off-the-peg is the obvious option and, thankfully, the trusty high street is going from strength to strength.

60 SEPTEMBER 60 SEPTEMBER 2013 2013

Getting married this year?

Working to a strict budget?

If so, it seems you are not alone.

This year the average cost of a UK wedding is expected to drop from £20,000 to just £16,000.

So when it comes to your wedding dress, how can you have the dress of your dreams without breaking the bank? Sarah Wood, owner of Brides Dress Revisited, says “There was a time that brides would be embarrassed if their friends knew they were wearing a second hand wedding dress but now, when recycling is so fashionable, there looked upon as trendsetters.

Most dresses have only been worn for a few hours and, once professionally cleaned, you would never know that they weren’t new. That is, except for the fantastic price tag!”

Brides Dress Revisited, 24 High Street, Otford, Kent TN14 5PQ Telephone: 01959 525834 Email: sarah@ bridesdressrevisited.com www.bridesdressrevisited.com Continued from page 60

“It’s obviously a completely different experience to buy your wedding gown from the high street to experiencing the service of a boutique,” Neville warns.

“But stores such as Coast and Monsoon have some lovely styles that are both stylish and cost-effective.”

Increasingly, big bridal manufacturers are also introducing diffusion lines at accessible prices so brides can still get a killer cut andperfect fit, all within budget.

Bride on a budget

• Consider simple designs without embroidery.

Machine work instead of hand beading can greatly reduce costs. A simple dress with simple accessories can look very stylish.

• Asking a local dressmaker to copy a style of dress in a cutting-edge magazine could help save hundreds (and even thousands) of pounds.

• Consider selling your dress after the wedding to recover some of the cost.

Don’t begin married life in debt so you can wear a fairytale designer gown for less than 24 hours. Elizabeth Catherine Myers, author of new book Pocket Wedding Planner, has these cost-cutting bridal shopping tips: • Wait for the sales in wedding dress shops to try and pick up a bargain.

• Check the small ads in your local paper for a secondhand dress.

• Check auction websites like eBay to look for a second-hand dress. (But take care as the photo provided on the site and the final product may look very different). Check the item description, read the feedback comments about the seller and ask any questions you have before bidding.

• Research the types of fabric that suit the style of dress you like. The type of fabric you choose could have a big impact on the overall price of your dress.

• Carefully consider the style of dress you would like.

If you choose a style that requires a lot of fabric, for example a dress with a long train or a full skirt, the price will increase.

SEPTEMBER 2013 61

romantic like you

Elegant bespoke jewellery created with only you in mind

3 The Square  Riverhead 01732 779 555

www.dominicwalmsley.com

Made in London

ADAM SWAINE PHOTOGR APHY

07798 526 569

w w w. adam s w ai n e . co . uk a d a m swa i ne@ro c ketm a i l . c o m I N T E R I O R S

62 SEPTEMBER 2013

•

W E D D I N G S

•

L A N D S C A P E

© Camilla Harney

SEPTEMBER 2013 63

WEDDING SPECIAL

Building a Future for Borneo

A honeymoon with a difference

A view of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo.

One of the most important biological sites in the world, it is home to a rich variety or pitcher plants and orchids.

“Pro! Pro!” The honking, nasal call is quickly absorbed by the uncomfortably moisture-heavy forest canopy. We scan the dense tangle of tree trunks and twisted vines, waiting for a response.

Nothing.

Naturalist Justin Juhun has spent months out here, slowly attempting to gain the trust of a group of proboscis monkeys.

As resident naturalist for the luxury eco-friendly Gaya Island Resort - built on a protected island of the same name, a short boat ride from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Borneo’s Sabah region - Juhun hopes he can one day bring visitors here to observe the lithe-limbed primates’ behaviour.

But today is not that day.

The monkeys, who are endemic to Southeast Asian island Borneo, and who locals historically referred to as Dutchmen thanks to their distended bellies and long, ruddy paddle-board noses, appear to be shy or sleeping.

Fortunately Juhun doesn’t expect to see results overnight. “This is a big job and I’ve been working alone,” he says with an element of

64 SEPTEMBER 2013

frustration.

Brought up in Tawau, in southeast Sabah, he’s been surrounded by animals all his life. One day his father asked him to rear a deer rather than kill it, and from that point on he developed a Dr Doolittle-esque empathy with wildlife.

Of his past 40 years, he’s lived just four of them outside the jungle; he’s swung through the trees with orang-utans, and spent six months guiding scientists through the pristine primary rainforest of the Maliau Basin.

“Some of the species I remember as a child, I’ve never seen again,” he says with sadness.

Borneo’s woeful story of deforestation and near extinction of species has been told many times, and is far from reaching a happy ending. But the opening of luxury eco resorts, such as oneyear-old Gaya Island, is bringing attention and money to the world’s third largest island, with a greater commitment to investing resources in conservation.

Juhun’s joined in his vision by Scott Mayback, a marine biologist

who hopes to grow Gaya Island’s house reef, home to clown fish, blue-spotted stingrays and parrot fish. The remaining hotel staff are locals, including Nonny, a spa masseuse who’s terrified of the sea, and young waiter Adzeen, who grew up on a water village in the Philippines.

They belong to a melting pot of cultures in Borneo: there are 52 tribes and 82 dialects spoken on the island, which is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

On a visit to the weekly Gaya Street Sunday market, on the mainland, I’m bombarded with a chaos of smells, sounds and snapshots of different cultures.

Young girls, giddy with excitement, choose pet rabbits from metal cages, while frowning women queue up for heavy-handed foot massages.

A band, with synthesizers protruding from plastic laundry bags, belt out a muzak version of ‘You Are Always On My Mind’, as a sausage dog waddles past, dressed in oversized pink plastic shades.

We’re undoubtedly in Asia, but I’d struggle to pick out where.

Borneo’s flora and fauna is no

Gaya Island luxury resort off the coast of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo.

The Kampung Luanti fish spa in Ranau, Sabah, Borneo, which has become a popular tourist attraction.

Locals enjoying a foot massage at the Gaya Street Sunday market in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo.

Rothschild’s slipper orchid, the most expensive orchid in the world, which can be found at Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo.

An orangutan sheltering from the rain with an ‘umbrella’ made from leaves at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Center in Sandakan, Sabah, Borneo.

MONTH 2013 65 SEPTEMBER

WEDDING SPECIAL

Proboscis monkeys, which are endemic to Borneo.

less varied, and despite David Attenborough’s shocking observations about the colossal loss of habitat to palm oil plantations, people are still drawn here by the lure of species found nowhere else on the planet.

The Mount Kinabalu national park is home to half of Borneo’s bird life and is the most researched region in Southeast Asia, due mainly to the number or rare orchids and pitcher plants found here. During my visit, a TV crew are filming in the botanical gardens; their focus is a Rothschild’s slipper orchid, which I’m told can fetch 40,000 US dollars on the black market.

But despite the many natural riches on offer, locals are more interested in the nearby Kampung Luanti fish spa, where toothless, foot-long fish suck dry skin from any body part they can slap their slimy chops around.

It’s so popular, visitors are restricted to 15-minute slots, making this the Bornean equivalent of an express pedicure.

In many ways, locals are starting to realise they’re sitting on a gold mine. A key ingredient in bird’s nest soup, swifts’ nests, found high up in the limestone Gomantong Cave on the other side of Sabah in Sandakan, sell to the Chinese market for up to 6000 ringgits (£1,150) a kilo.

Clusters of squealing bats flit overhead, as I enter the dark caves, filled with mounds of droppings, slithering and hissing with cockroaches and poisonous centipedes. Struggling not to slip in the muck, and almost choking on the toxic smell of ammonia, I’m astonished workers can spend up to 12 hours at a time in here, guarding the precious nests.

The caves, famously visited by David Attenborough in one of his early documentaries, are also close to the Kinabatangan River, one of the best places to view wildlife. We stay at the simple two-star Borneo Nature Lodge, where guests can peddle bikes to help power generators.

During trips along the river, we see baby-faced pygmy elephants playing in the water, and watch a 100kg alpha-male orang-utan, his cheeks swollen to the size of two giant saucers, building a nest in a tree.

“Males can build up to five or six nests in a day,” our guide tells us, “for sleeping or just for comfort.”

Although there are 10,000 wild orang-utans living in Sabah, for a guaranteed sighting tourists head to the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan. Home to 45 rescued animals, who will eventually be released back into the wild, the site is most popular at the 10am and 3pm feeding times.

66 SEPTEMBER 2013

Slowly, orang-utans gather at the platform. To tourists’ delight, a six-year-old male called Ceria performs a roly-poly along the timber walkway.

But it’s after leaving Sepilok to explore the neighbouring Rainforest Discovery Centre that I have my closest encounter with an orang-utan in the wild.

We’re watching red-leaf monkeys from an observation tower, when a female’s pendulous arms swing into view.

There is nothing between us but fear and caution, so we keep a respectable distance.

Ravenously hungry, she rifles through the bins, tipping her head back to drain dregs from a water bottle, and licking the crumbs from a discarded crisp packet. Occasionally she eyeballs us as if to say, ‘What’s your problem?’

I feel much more comfortable when she climbs into a tree and tears apart a more familiar breadfruit.

As she passes by I catch the stale stench of a PE changing room. “Just like humans, orang-utans get BO too, “ our guide says, chuckling.

As if overhearing us, she disappears into the forest to make her nest for the night.

But I wonder how long it will be before she’s back rummaging through the bins again.

As animals slowly adapt to a world dominated by humans, their habits will inevitably change. Both Juhun and Mayback have challenges ahead of them.

Whether it be for money, love or even entertainment, people have different motivations for protecting wildlife.

I recall a story Juhun told me about a lodge he once worked in, where he almost died trying to pacify a rutting stag. He succeeded and the creature returned to normal once it’s hormones had calmed down.

But when he visited the lodge the following season, the stag had been shot dead.

“They couldn’t be bothered to find a solution,” recalled Juhun. “I suppose there’s only so much one person can do.”

Travel facts Borneo • Doubles at Gaya Island Resort (www. gayaislandresort. com) from £140 per night (based on two sharing) with breakfast.

• Malaysia Airlines flies to Kota Kinabalu from London Heathrow via Kuala Lumpur from £669 in economy, inclusive of taxes and charges (0871 423 9090/www. malaysiaairlines. com/uk).

• For more information on Sabah, visit www.sabahtourism.com

Justin Juhun, in-house naturalist at Gaya Island resort, hoping to introduce guests to Sabah’s diverse flora and fauna, Borneo.

Fall in Love with your Wedding Dress at Victoria Allinson Bridal Boutique.

Victoria Allinson Couture is a gorgeous bridal boutique offering dresses by award winning British designers Alan Hannah, Naomi Neoh and Lyn Ashworth as well as their own couture label.

We are proud to fly the British flag with all our gowns being designed and made in the UK with love.

Our New Victoria Allinson Couture label is very exciting as our gowns are made onsite at our Surrey boutique and are made using the finest silks and French laces. We offer the flexibiltiy to choose which skirt shape, neckline and bodice you desire and what mix of fabrics. With lavish accessories, veils, lace boleros and sashes, once the gown has been styled to suit you it means each bride will have a unique gown.

We have recently moved from Westerham to our stunning new Limpsfield, Surrey boutique. Crisp white walls, sparkling chandeliers and lavish highlights of gold whisk you into a wedding wonderland. It is a treasure trove of all things gorgeous, bridal and romantic. Our two sumptuous fitting suites will transform you into the bride you’ve dreamt about before you stand and admire in our large swept gold mirror. Browse the vast collection of accessories whilst sipping champagne or eating one of our freshly baked cakes.

Run by a mother and daughter team with a wealth of experience in the bridal industry, we believe that choosing your wedding dress should be one of life’s most magical experiences. Brides are welcomed into the boutique with open arms, your experience at Victoria Allinson is a little bit like going shopping with a really good friend – honest advice and expert knowledge. Masters at styling, Victoria and Jayne will ensure your look is perfect.

To receive the best possible expertise and guidance, Victoria and Jayne operate an appointment system to guarantee you get the best customer service from the moment you arrive in store until you have left with your gown. For more information or to make an appointment please call 01883 722663, email info@ victoriaallinson.co.uk

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SEPTEMBER 2013 67

Kent’s Beoshop Bang & Olufsen retail group goes from strength-to-strength

“The Mayor of London was pleased to hear that we’ve been here for over 23 years and he asked plenty of questions about the business and our products,” explained Paul, who also owns the trio of other retailers in the Beoshop retail group.

“He liked the layout of our showroom and was already aware of Bang & Olufsen, but he was quite surprised to hear of how advanced the technology is and how it’s now possible to control all your audiovisual equipment from a mobile telephone or tablet.”

Building on its success earlier in the year, the Beoshop group added the Bang & Olufsen of Maidstone operation in August. The move makes the group the largest in the entire Bang & Olufsen UK retail network and enhances the service and expertise that Kent’s audio-visual enthusiasts can enjoy.

Whether customers require a pair of headphones or a bespoke home automation installation that will revolutionise their living environment, the Beoshop group can provide the perfect solution. The group’s retailers offer the full range of Bang & Olufsen and Apple device-compatible B&O PLAY products, which span 3D Smart televisions to loudspeakers to speaker docks to space-saving digital audio systems. Full after sales facilities are available and many products can be demonstrated in-store or even at customers’ homes.

“The service and products we have available have never been so impressive, but while we deliver a prestigious product and retail experience we also very much believe that it shouldn’t come with a premium,” said Paul Blake.

Paul Blake, Dealer Principal of Bang & Olufsen of Bexleyheath (left) welcomes The Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Ian F Payne, Bexleyheath Business Improvement District Manager, to the awardwinning Bang & Olufsen of Bexleyheath.

“We are constantly looking at ways to enhance the value we provide – including establishing exclusive offers – and our door is always open to anyone who wishes to discover how we can take their audio-visual enjoyment to an unprecedented high.”

Bang & Olufsen of Bexleyheath Tel: 0208 303 2760

The champagne corks are popping at the Kent-based Beoshop Bang & Olufsen retail group after its success in a brace of coveted business awards and the acquisition of Bang & Olufsen of Maidstone.

Bang & Olufsen of Bromley Tel: 0208 466 8080 Bang & Olufsen of Maidstone Tel: 01622 756756 Bang & Olufsen of Tunbridge Wells Tel: 01892 527 525

Its Bexleyheath showroom – the longest established out of the four Bang & Olufsen retailers that make up the Beoshop group (Bexleyheath, Bromley, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells) – first won the prestigious ‘Retailer of the Year’ category in the 2013 Bexley Business Awards and was later a finalist in the 2013 South London Business Awards.

As a result of its success, Bang & Olufsen of Bexleyheath also recently welcomed a very well-known guest – Boris Johnson. The Mayor was in the borough to see the results of Bexleyheath’s successful bid to revitalise the area and make it a nicer shopping venue through Transport for London (TfL) funding and the occasion also included a visit to key businesses, such as the award-winning Bang & Olufsen of Bexleyheath.

Paul Blake, owner and dealer principal of Bang & Olufsen of Bexleyheath, was delighted to welcome his famous visitor in-store.

68 SEPTEMBER 2013

Bang & Olufsen of Maidstone, the latest addition to the Beoshop Bang & Olufsen retail group.

www.beoshop.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2013 69

FA S H I O N

Fast Track to Femininity

T

omboys take cover - fashion is embracing all things feminine with the ladylike trend.

Perfect for transition season, womanly styling looks equally as pretty in summer or autumn - just add a coat or cape when temperatures drop.

“There’s nothing like a favourite dress or skirt to make you feel oh-so-feminine,” says Gok Wan, who plays on elegant silhouettes for his latest Gok for TU collection at Sainsbury’s.

“I’ve applied a Forties American twist, seen in the fit, flared hems, long, plunging necklines and billowing fabrics, for a look that’s sophisticated, smart and chic.”

From hourglass curves to cinched waists, flaunt your female form with some grown-up glamour.

Flared volume

Look to the runway of Dior for the ultimate in ladylike dressing: billowing full skirts that gracefully skim the shins, pointed heels and neck scarves to really raise the retro glamour factor.

Full skirts with maximum volume have an instant ladylike appeal from the moment you secure the zip.

“Layer up with net underskirts to add as much volume as you want,” recommends Gok. The trick to wearing swooshy skirts the modern way is to team them with simple and elegant tops. Even a plain T-shirt will pull the biggest of skirts back down to earth for a daytime-friendly look.

Prom-style skirts and dresses will skim the hips and disguise heavy thighs making them perfect for pear shapes.

Form fitting

Say hello to the hourglass silhouette with curve-clinging frocks that enhance the waistline.

You don’t have to have perfectly-proportioned curves like Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks to pull off this look. Seek out dresses with pull-in panels around the middle or bottom for a figure-boosting cheat.

If your bust is your best asset, look for scooped necklines but always balance out the decolletage on show with a longer hemline.

Separates are more flattering for those who are top or bottom-heavy and need to vary sizes.

Gok describes pencil styles as “the sexiest skirt shape on the planet”. Try teaming one with a wrap-blouse to achieve the form-fitting effect and stick to darker colours on the half you want to slim down.

Pretty pleats

Pink blouse, £35; skirt, £35; both Damart (0871 423 0000/ www.damart.co.uk)

70 SEPTEMBER 2013

Forget fine and dainty pleats and aim for the catwalk’s box-fresh versions.

Pleated dresses and skirts are still ladylike, but the larger box pleats look more powerful than pretty, making them ideal for the office.

“Sophisticated A-line skirts flatten a bigger bottom and balance out curvy cleavages,” Gok advises. “Balance out the volume by keeping everything else as simple as possible.”

For a floatier look, opt for lighter fabrics with movement or go structured with heavier fabrics that won’t budge at the slightest gust

FA S H I O N of wind.

Box pleats can easily be dressed up or down - just adjust your top, jewellery and shoes accordingly.

Elegant extras

For top-to-toe demure, accessories will complete your ladylike look.

Gok says: “For a Grace Kelly look, team a fine-knit sweater with a pearl necklace and mid-height heels or ballet flats.”

Whether you opt for above or below the knee hemlines, heels

instantly elongate legs and boost the slimming effect. Keep things prim ‘n’ proper with round toes, or vamp things up with points.

Take inspiration from Her Majesty the Queen with the ultimate ladylike accessory - pearls. If you don’t fancy wearing them the traditional way around your neck, experiment with an arm cuff or clutch bag, for a modern twist that won’t remind you of an eccentric auntie.

Kandee Shoes Dream heels, £65 (www.kandeeshoes.com)

Meslita skirt, £125; jumper, £89; both Coast (www.coast-stores.com)

Mango red belt pleated dress, £59.99 (shop.mango.com)

The Vestry black and nude skater dress, £120 (www.vestryonline.com)

SEPTEMBER 2013 71

FA S H I O N

Get the look

Buy it now Model Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley’s collection for Autograph has gone down a storm in the lingerie aisles at M&S. The one-year anniversary collection celebrates the collaboration with updates on favourite styles, like the Pure Silk Rose Print Wrap, as well as brand new pieces like the Pure Silk French-Designed Rose Lace Teddy. Prices start from £12.50, available now.

Fashion flash

bridge 2013

Cam Duke and Duchess of Copyright of TRH The

♦

Knee-high socks could be consigned to the closet history books if sales are anything to go by. After a century as a traditional menswear staple, demand for men’s knee-highs has dramatically slumped, Debenhams reports. Modern men are opting for ankle socks, sport socks or - in high fashion circles - the sock-free look instead.

Debenhams spokesperson Ed Watson says: “The common phrase ‘pull your socks up’ could mean nothing to future generations. Knee-length socks once conquered an empire, but now they seem to be fading into history.”

The Duchess of Cambridge takes a break from baby boy blues in bright pink to show off George to the world. New and expectant mums can pre-order her exact maternity Fuchsia Knot Front Seraphine Dress for £46 (www.seraphine.com).

♦

Model wearing a full-length skirt, which is a creation from Belgian fashion designer Raf Simmons for Dior, at Spring-Summer 2013 collection in Paris.

72 SEPTEMBER 2013

Sock swan song

Recessionista alert

Time for a wardrobe detox?

The average woman has approximately 22 garments in her wardrobe that she will never wear, worth a total of £300, according to a recent survey

by Tags-On.com. Placed on a clothes rail, the great unworn would stretch for 15,534 miles.

Empowering people to free up their wardrobe space and secure extra cash, Tags-On allows shoppers to re-sell unwanted designer items languishing at the back of their closet. To find out more, visit www.tags-on.com/ sell-now

SEPTEMBER 2013 73

BEAUTY

F

ridge magnets and postcards may not be the only mementos of your summer holiday. Frizzy locks and sun-parched skin are common after-effects of a sun-filled vacation period.

Just as we stock up on SPF potions before heading out into the sunshine, looking after skin and hair post-exposure is just as important.

You may be looking tanned and gorgeous as summer draws to an end, but that ‘healthy glow’ is actually a sign that your skin is responding to UV damage, when melanin (our body’s natural sunscreen) moves towards the outer layers of the skin, making it darker.

Restore and revive with these post-sun saviours.

Frazzled hair

PostSummer Saviours

Symptoms: Frizzy texture, split ends and a dehydrated mane thanks to UV exposure and excessive heat.

Solution: “Treat your hair to a nourishing weekly intensive treatment or mask that will feed your tresses,” recommends Norris Ogario, founder and creative director of Ogario salon.

“For added therapy, pop on a shower cap after applying the mask to trap in the moisture and encourage the ingredients to absorb faster and penetrate deeper into the shaft to leave locks shiny and manageable.”

SOS: There’s only one thing for it if your ends are looking beyond repair - a trim.

Split ends will impede healthy growth so just half an inch snipped off will make your hair stronger in the long run.

Burnt-out skin

Symptoms: Dull, dry and lacklustre skin due to a build-up of sunscreen over the summer.

Solution: “Use a gentle body exfoliator that contains alpha hydroxy acids or fruit enzymes that will help purge product buildup and remove dead skin cells to pep up bronzed limbs,” suggests Jill Zander, founder of Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic.

“If you want to keep skin soft, smooth and glowing, a tan extender will also help boost your glow.”

SOS: Embrace a body oil daily, using on slightly damp skin for extra absorption.

Choose one with restorative ingredients such as evening primrose to boost your skin’s structure and elasticity.

74 SEPTEMBER 2013

Sun spots Symptoms: Dark marks on the forehead, cheeks and upper lip from over-exposure to the sun.

Solution: “To combat pigmentation and sun spots, use an even skin tone corrector to help fade away summer splotches and give a more even skin tone,” says B. skincare expert Ian Baynes.

“It’s also important to protect the skin with a moisturiser containing SPF daily, no matter what the weather outside.”

SOS: If your sun spots and pigmentation marks are starting to affect your confidence, look into a professional laser treatment, which can permanently dissolve them using gentle targeted micro-pulse technology.

Dehydrated face Symptoms: Tight-feeling skin which may have a crepey appearance, especially if you’ve suffered sunburn.

Solution: “Dehydrated skin tends to look worn and lined so you need to restore balance with a routine that includes a serum, mask and moisturiser,” advises make-up artist Jemma Kidd.

“Use a night cream that stimulates cell regeneration. Skin repairs itself at night and the temperature of the skin increases during sleep, aiding the absorption of active ingredients.”

SOS: The combination of planes, pina coladas and sun-baking can lead to a seriously dehydrated complexion. Book in for a post-holiday facial, such as a HydraFacial (www.hydrafacial.co.uk), for instantly hydrated and radiant skin.

Argan + Precious Oil Elixir, £12.99 (Boots)

Tried & tested Accentuate your summer glow and make skin sparkle with a bronze dry oil. Our testers try three pots of gold:

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil, £16 for 100ml (www.thebodyshop.co.uk) This lightweight oil is non-greasy with a gorgeous smell and glittery finish that left my limbs sparkling. It’s also available in two shades, making it suitable for pale skin tones.

3/5 NARS Body Glow, £44 for 120ml (www.narscosmetics.co.uk)

Best reserved for those with a medium to dark skin tone or tan.

The deliciously fragrant oil made my tan look more intense and glossy and didn’t have an obvious shimmering, glittery finish, so it was more of a grown-up glow.

5/5

Green & Spring Repair & Restore range, from £20 (www.greenandspring.com)

Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, £16.55, and Hydrating Conditioner, £17.25 (www.moroccanoil.com) SEPTEMBER 2013 75

BEAUTY Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Usage Dry Oil Golden Shimmer, £34 for 50ml (uk.nuxe.

com) My skin instantly looked and felt more hydrated after using this golden shimmer. The sparkle is pale and subtle when it catches the light but I’m most impressed with its incredible skin softening qualities.

4/5

Buy it now Give Cowshed a pampered birthday wave. The spa brand has launched a new hand care duo to celebrate its 15-year anniversary. The pack includes Mucky Cow Exfoliating Hand Wash, £14, and Cow Herb Restoring Hand Cream, £16, available now at www. cowshedonline.com.

Beauty bulletin Beauty shirkers

It’s official, British women aren’t spending enough time with their sinks.

More than one third fail to wash their face every day (37%), according to a recent survey

by Asda Beauty, and almost a quarter (22%) of females admit leaving their make-up on when they go to bed. While Scots top the chart for sticking to the best skincare routine in the UK, London ladies came up worst, with only 8% of those surveyed admitting to the same regular daily rituals. Welsh women opted for the quickest cleansing routine, with 12% using face wipes on a daily basis.

Famous Dave’s Gradual 10 Self Tanner and Tan Extender, £17.99 (www.famousdave.co.uk)

Joico K-Pak Intense Hydrator, £15.95 (0845 071 2326/ www.joicoeurope.com)

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, from £40 (www.clinique.co.uk)

76 SEPTEMBER 2013

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www.granitetransformations.co.uk/tunwells 78 SEPTEMBER 2013

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SEPTEMBER 2013 79

&

HOME GARDEN

S

tepping inside Carolyn Westbrook’s home, it’s impossible not to notice that romance is in the air.

It’s not just the traditional scenesetters of soft lighting, candles, plumped cushions and vases filled with fragrant flowers. There’s also an abundance of gilding, sensuallycurved furniture, mirrors with decorative detailing and luxurious fabrics, which provide the clues to the real passion of Westbrook’s life French style.

“My love affair with France began long before I ever set foot in Paris,” says the designer, as she shows me around her beautiful 1800s plantation home, in Texas, America.

“I’ve always been drawn to the intricate detailing that’s evident from French furniture, and the way they decorate their homes with elaborate mouldings, aged objects and pieces that have become antique as they were passed down the line, from one generation to the next.”

It’s a decor approach she’s interpreted in her own distinctive way and which she reveals in her book, Through The French Door.

Her gorgeous home could be a 80 SEPTEMBER 2013

Plug into the French Connection

template for Francophiles (17 million Britons holiday in the country every year, according to Foreign Office statistics, making it one of our most enduringly popular overseas destinations) who want to replicate the nation’s sophisticated style this side of the Channel.

What makes Westbrook’s abode so interesting is that she embraces a variety of approaches, from the appeal of a grand salon through to French rustic and contemporary Paris chic.

Her airy entrance hall has walls decorated with a collection of oil paintings and antique brown transferware plates, all picked up on her frequent visits to French flea markets.

Formality is avoided - nothing should be too regulated or coordinating - with an eclectic mix of armchairs.

Clutter is tidied away in vintage suitcases, while potted palms and plants give what Westbrook regards as an essential injection of colour and interest.

“Many people are faced with a blank canvas when decorating their homes and all those white walls and

empty spaces needing to be filled can be daunting,” she says.

“It’s often a good idea to break the space down into smaller areas, which will help warm up a room and make it more intimate and comfortable. Oil paintings and diverse collections create a layered effect, tell a story and make a room interesting.”

A lounge encapsulates the essence of French salon living where the aim is to be able to instantly relax in time-worn comfort.

“But there’s no hint of

&

HOME GARDEN pretentiousness or stuffiness, which is what I love about this style,” says Westbrook.

“Everything in the room’s been carefully chosen, which takes years of collecting the right ingredients.”

She’s chosen a range of fabrics for curtains and sofa and chair upholstery, but the colours and patterns blend harmoniously and the profusion of table lamps means lighting is soft and balanced.

As she redecorates and experiments, she moves favourite pieces from room to room, to avoid the ‘look’ of each area stagnating.

In the dining room, wood and texture star and there’s an aura of calm serenity, enhanced by the views of the surrounding 53 acres of countryside.

Pale walls and a varnished wood floor are the perfect backdrop for a pine sideboard housing an array of blue French china, and a pine farmhouse table.

Refreshingly, there’s no lack of surprises, because slavishly following a style is an anathema to Westbrook, who believes decor should continually evolve.

So in her kitchen, instead of a rustic French farmhouse theme which would be all too predictable, she’s evoked a sense of drama with a black and white scheme.

“When I opted for black cabinets, that was unheard of at the time, but they set off the white countertops and sink perfectly,” she says.

“I have various collections of antique dishes, and I swap around each collection so they can all be appreciated. I love to use bold, colourful flower arrangements to bring life to the space.”

Monochrome continues in the sun porch with black and white striped curtains, and a white vintage dove cage and zebra rug. She’s continued this theme in one of the bathrooms, where exuberant Toile de Jouy fabrics contrast

SEPTEMBER 2013 81

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HOME GARDEN

with glossy black walls.

Nowhere is her enthusiasm for French romance more evident than in the bedrooms.

One is totally feminine with her favourite shade of Gia 6-Arm pink used Gilded Silver subtly in Crystal Chandelier, £495, flowers Alexander & Pearl and paisley bedding, with a bright pink chest flanked by simple white chairs.

Another has theatricality, with the bedhead a stunning antique mirror and velvet drapes, which once dressed a stage, providing the backdrop beyond.

When she decided to refresh one bedroom she gave it a zingy injection of lime green, contrasted with white mirror frames and plaster busts. It has a fresh modern feel even though its basic ingredients are still vintage French.

“Green and oatmeal bedding was the inspiration for the new look, and this is often a good way to decide on a colour scheme. Focus on one item which always attracts your eye and introduce it gradually on a larger scale,” she says.

Westbrook hopes to inspire others to enjoy the beauty of aged and antique treasures, and to create homes which have their own spirit and reflect their owners’ personality.

“The beauty of French style is that it’s so versatile and can be adapted to suit. All that’s essential is that your home should envelop you in beauty, familiarity and comfort.”

The Plantation home of Carolyn Westbrook 82 SEPTEMBER 2013

If you’ve fallen in love with the style, have your own French affair by sourcing classic touches that will turn your living room into a salon and your bedroom into a boudoir...

Get the Gallic look A variety of companies import French homeware, or take inspiration from across the Channel in their designs.

• Monogrammed linen is characteristic of French style.

Monogrammed Linen Shop embroiders your choice of design and colour of thread on its linen. A small pillow case, from £45, and monogramming, from £16, for two initials (www. monogrammedlinenshop. co.uk/020 7589 4033).

• The struggle to find good quality French-style furniture for her own home inspired Jacquie Dunton to set up her online boutique Sweetpea & Willow in 2006. Its selection includes art deco lighting, cherry wood furniture and silver and gold leaf mahogany pieces. Gold Gilt Dragon Wall Mirror, £601; Gold Gilt Silk Love Chair, £326, and a cupboard inspired

by Marie Antoinette, La Muse de Versailles, £1,895 (www. sweetpeaandwillow.

Pillowcase, from £45 and monogramming from £16, Monogrammed Linen Shop

com/0845 257 2627).

• ChiChi Furniture takes French designs and gives them a modern twist to create a shabby chic look. A ‘La Rochelle’ Bedside Table in vibrant pink, £449.99, has cabriole styled legs and intricate, brushed gold handles (www.chichifurniture.com/01245 421 122).

• Laura Ashley’s Provencal range is inspired by the traditional style of the French region. Provencal Armoire in an ivory finish, £1,450 (www.lauraashley.com/0871 983 5999).

• Alexander & Pearl has luxury French furniture, mirrors and lighting. A Gia 6-Arm Gilded Silver Crystal Chandelier with hand-polished crystals, £495 (www.alexanderandpearl. co.uk/020 8508 0411).

• A glamorous collection of furniture, mirrors, chandeliers and accessories can be found at The French Bedroom Company.

A Cafe de Paris Dressing Screen, £195, features a view of the Eiffel Tower on one side and the Arc de Triomphe on the other (www. frenchbedroomcompany. co.uk/08456 448 022). ♦ Through the French Door: Romantic Interiors Inspired

By Classic French Style

by Carolyn Westbrook is published by CICO Books, priced £19.99.

Available to readers for £17.99 (inc P&P). Call 01256 302 699 and quote ref GLR 7WE.

JP01 Sofa– £8,018. JC01 Coffe table Gloss– £794. JCT01 Small Coffee table Gloss– £349. JM01 Book Shelf Matt lacquer– £2,875.

Kitchens, sofas, beds, wardrobes, bookcases, mirrors, tables, chairs, coffee tables and sideboards... there is no end to our product range. We just love furniture and our sole objective is to create products of beauty, rich in quality and daring in combination.

For all enquiries contact us on 01892 619 721 or email sales@krieder.com alternatively view our products online at www.krieder.com

SEPTEMBER 2013 83

84 SEPTEMBER 2013

Project3_Layout 1 05/07/2013 17:28 Page 1

FIRST FLO OR BATHRO OM SHOWRO OM DESIGN SERVICE AVAIL ABLE 11-12 Sundridge Parade Plaistow Lane Sundridge Park Bromley BR1 4DT 020 8466 6313 www.sundridgeinteriors.com

SEPTEMBER 2013 85

SANDBANKS YACHT CO. A NEW WAY OF LIFE FOR SANDBANKS! SANDBANKS YACHT CO ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR CAFÉ, GYM, THERAPY ROOMS AND MEMBERS LOUNGE WILL BE OPENING IN JANUARY 2014. READY TO LAUNCH IN THE NEW YEAR, WE ARE OFFERING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESERVE MEMBERSHIP AT OUR EXCITING NEW CLUB AND BOATYARD. READ ON TO GET A FLAVOUR OF WHAT’S ON OFFER AT 180° HEALTH AND FITNESS. At 180 Degrees our philosophy is to deliver unique, unparalleled training and coaching day in day out to our clients, so that they achieve a total mind and body transformation. Whether your goals are to lose weight, build muscle, look and feel younger, perform better or just get back on track, our expert trainers, therapists and coaches are here to support, guide and motivate you all the way.

SOFIA RUFUS: HEAD OF THERAPIES.

MEET YOUR TEAM

JAMES RUFUS: BIOSIGNATURE MODULATION, NUTRITION AND PERFORMANCE COACH.

Effective, dedicated, and knowledgeable: Even with 17 years of experience, I still have a passion to continue learning, to get you the most efficient results possible. Once you know how, getting results is simple. Energy and hormonal systems can be manipulated by selecting the correct exercises and intensity.

Combining this with encouragement and advice on nutrition and lifestyle management we always achieve great results. Are you ready?

James@180degreesgym.com

ALEX CHISNALL: SPORTS THERAPY PRACTIONER

I manage the therapeutic side of the business. My training has taken me to understand that achieving complete happiness and fulfilment relies on not just the body but also the mind. We will have offerings from skin care & anti-ageing specialists, hypnotherapy & holistic treatments, my team will be dedicated to making you look & feel great. We look forward to meeting you in the New Year!

Sofia@180degreesgym.com

I am excited to be bringing my team of Sports Massage and Sports Injury therapists from Alex Chisnalls’ Bournemouth Body Clinic to Sandbanks Yacht Co. If you are suffering from a work -related ache or pain, suffer from muscular tension or have a sports injury we can help you. My team of male and female Sports erapists are all highly qualified and experienced. We have treated customers from world championship swimmers and world cup winning rugby players to people from all walks of life and all ages. You don't have to be an athlete to benefit from Sports erapy. We will be offering Deep Tissue Sports Massage, Sports Injury Treatment, Acupuncture and Kinesiology taping services 6 days a week from Sandbanks Yacht Co. Alex@180degreesgym.com

www.sandbanksyachtcompany.com ■ 86 SEPTEMBER 2013

L I V I N G - B O AT I N G - D I N I N G - H E A LT H - F I T N E S S

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SEPTEMBER 2013 87

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FOOD DRINK

Restaurant Reviews - lunchtime favourites

This month, Food Editor Regan Maloney has visited two restaurants in Kent to give you her verdict on their lunchtime menu’s. Full reviews of both restaurants, along with other great recommendations, recipes and dinner party game ideas can be found at www.whatiatelastnight.com

If you own or have a local restaurant that you’d like to recommend for reveiw, please email regan@whatiatelastnight.com

Ambiance

Service

Food

Drink Overview 88 SEPTEMBER 2013

AT RG’s RESTAURANT TEL, HO E ANG ROWHILL GR NT KE , RD FO RT DA

THE PLOUGH INN, RIVERSIDE, EYNSFORD

Rowhill Grange is set in beautiful grounds with RG’s restaurant situated in its conservatory. The restaurant has a relaxed but also sophisticated feel with people enjoying afternoon teas and lunches.

Being situated next to the river with tables and chairs available outside, makes The Plough a perfect spot for lunch on a sunny day. You can take in the sites of people picnicking on the riverbank and children dipping their toes in the water to cool off.

The staff were welcoming, friendly and efficient. Recommendations were made from the summer lunch menu and drinks were topped up throughout.

Food and drinks have to be ordered at the bar, and food is served to the table if eating outside.

There is also a restaurant area inside with full table service available for the chillier days or nights. Food arrived in good time and staff were all friendly and helpful.

The menu has something for everyone with simply cooked meats from the grill to fish and risotto’s. To start, our favourite was the roasted scallops with air dried ham and pickled apple salad. The scallops were plump, juicy and perfectly cooked and the richness of the meat was complimented with the freshness of the apple.

There is a good selection to choose from on the menu with classic favourites such as fish and chips, to freshly made pizzas and pastas. There is a fixed price menu available Monday to Friday (from 12 to 7pm) offering two courses for £11.95 or three courses for £15.45. we chose two as portions sizes were good. Main, I chose for the gammon and pineapple Hawaiian pizza. The base was nicely cooked with a chewy centre and crunchy crust and there were good-sized chunks of tasty gammon.

For main, the grilled lemon sole with new potatoes and parsley butter hit the spot, served with a side of crunchy fresh green beans. The sole fell from the bone and melted in the mouth – again, perfectly cooked and full of flavour.

Dessert was the star of the lunch – sharp passion fruit crème brulee with sweet caramelized mango and rich creamy coconut ice cream.

For dessert, we enjoyed the Spanish doughnuts with chocolate sauce. These reminded us of being on a seafront enjoying warm sugary doughnuts but with the luxuriously rich chocolate sauce to dip them in. A lovely end to a meal, or even something for the kids to enjoy.

There is a good selection of wines available by the bottle or the glass. We opted for a glass of the pink Prosecco - a refreshingly dry flavour with a hint of sweetness that accompanied the scallops well.

There are a good selection of wines by the bottle and the glass, and being a pub, everything else is on offer – from cocktails to Champagne and sparkling wines. We enjoyed a refreshing virgin Mojito of cracker apple, lime mint and soda.

The perfect location for ‘ladies that lunch’.

Perfect for a sunny lunch by the river.

LUJON welcomes new head chef –

James Lidsey

Keston, September 2013

Lujon Lujon restaurant, restaurant, Keston, Keston, Kent, Kent, are are pleased pleased to to announce announce James James Lidsey Lidsey has has joined joined as as the the new new Head Head Chef.

Chef.

Lujon Lujon is is aa relaxed, relaxed, and and sophisticated sophisticated restaurant restaurant specialising specialising in in modern modern European European cuisine. cuisine. Founded Founded by by Angela Angela Bell Bell in in April April 2011, 2011, Lujon Lujon has has already already received received high high recognition recognition for for its its quality quality of of food food and and service service gaining gaining two two AA AA Rosettes Rosettes and and entry entry into into the the Michelin Michelin Guide.

Guide.

Overlooking Overlooking Keston Keston Common, Common, Lujon Lujon is is an an eclectic eclectic fusion fusion of of vintage vintage French French and and period period design. design. Service Service is is both both warm warm and and welcoming welcoming providing providing an an informal informal and and comfortable comfortable ambience. ambience. With With aa ‘Certificate ‘Certificate of of Excellence’ Excellence’ in in both both 2012 2012 and and 2013 2013 by

by TripAdvisor, TripAdvisor, their their customers customers clearly clearly agree. agree.

James James Lidsey Lidsey has has had had an an exceptional exceptional career career so so far. far.

Amongst Amongst other other rosette rosette and and Michelin Michelin establishments establishments James James has has spent spent eight eight years years working working in in the the kitchens kitchens of of Marco Marco Pierre Pierre White White restaurants, restaurants, culminating culminating in in the the Head Head Chef Chef position position at at l’Escargot. l’Escargot.

James James is is extremely extremely excited excited to to join join Lujon Lujon and and has has some some wonderful wonderful ideas ideas on on how how he he can can improve improve on on the the success success already already accomplished. accomplished. He He aims aims to to make make the the restaurant restaurant the the most most consistently consistently excellent excellent establishment establishment around; around; emphasising emphasising on on local, local, seasonal seasonal produce, produce, never never neglecting neglecting the the classical, classical, but but approaching approaching it it in in aa modern modern way. way.

James James has has already already begun begun to to make make his his mark. mark.

If you would like to make a reservation to find out how, or for any other information on either James or Lujon please visit www.lujon.co.uk or call 01689 855501.

Contact: Dominique Schefferlie, Lujon Ltd 6 Commonside, Keston, Kent BR2 6BP 01689855501 dom@lujon.co.uk www.lujon.co.uk

Pork Belly, braised cheek, hispi cabbage, potato hash, cider jus

If you would like to make a reservation to find out how, or for any other information on either James or Lujon please visit www.lujon.co.uk or call 01689 855501.

Contact: Dominique Schefferlie, Lujon Ltd 6 Commonside, Keston, Kent BR2 6BP 01689855501 Strawberry and Champagne terrine, pepper dom@lujon.co.uk meringue, basil, clotted cream ice cream www.lujon.co.uk

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER MARCH 2013 892013 89

Aqua

is a friendly local restaurant in Bromley, with Mediterranean cooking and charming service.

The refurbished site with natural stone walls and bespoke design creates a welcoming atmosphere, and this Mediterranean warmth provides the ideal setting for a wedding or special occasion.

Come and celebrate the festive season in style at

Aqua CHRISTMAS PARTY MENUS from £18.95 Christmas Day Lunch Menu £50 per person Boxing Day, 3 Courses from £22.95

NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA MENU Dinner Dance with DJ til late £60 per person

£25% OFF food bill

Aqua serves carefully sourced meat, game and fish from which we produce quality, tasty food cooked to perfetion and presented beautifully.

All our beef is British and dry aged for 28 days.

with this voucher

Our attentive and welcoming team of staff will ensure your experience at Aqua will want to be repeated.

The attentive staff will ensure that each visit to Aqua Mediterrranean Bar and Grill is a special one you won’t be disappointed.

Maximum 6 people dining

Come Dine With US Monday - Thursday Set Menu

2 Courses - £15 3 Courses - £18

Traditional Sunday Roast 2 Courses - £15 3 Courses - £17

Steak Night Monday Nights

50%

OFF All Steaks

4-6 Market Parade, East Street, Bromley BR1 1QN - 0208460 2346

90 SEPTEMBER 2013

info@aquabarandgrill.co.uk

Only valid when dining from a la carte menu expires 31.10.13

Let’s Do Lunch Monday - Saturday Lunch Menu

2 Courses - £12 3 Courses - £15

F i n e

I n d i a n

D i n i n g

&

C o c k t a i l

B a r

NEW GAME SPECIALS Launch 1 October

Christmas & New Year's Eve Celebrations Party menus from £20 Christmas Day Lunch £40 New Year's Eve Dinner & Dance £49/£56

46 Plaistow Lane, Bromley, BR1 3PA t: 020 8289 0322 e: info@cinnamonculture.com w: www.cinnamonculture.com Saffron Culture Catering e: info@saffronculture.co.uk w: www.saffronculture.co.uk

R e c o m m e n d e d

i n

t h e

M i c h e l i n

G u i d e

2 0 1 3 SEPTEMBER 2013 91

BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS STONEHAM PLC. SIDCUP, KENT.

STONEHAM FINE

FURNITURE

SINCE

®

1864

Strata Walnut/Worksurfaces – Solid Walnut 40mm and Polar Cap Quartz

Designed for living Achieving simplicity can be the most complex of challenges, yet every hand-built Stoneham kitchen fulfils its own streamlined elegance both effortlessly and exquisitely. It’s about making the very best of the best – the finest woods and natural materials, the most innovative features and latest technology, supremely crafted by the most knowing and capable hands.

Appointed kitchen centres available locally and nationwide. For a colour brochure and details of the Centre most convenient to you call 020 8300 8181 or visit www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk Stoneham plc, Powerscroft Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 5DZ. Factory Showroom Opening: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 12 midday.

92 SEPTEMBER 2013