Kudos issue 18 by Kudos Kent

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lifestyle magazine for Kent and East Sussex

Issue 18

Hello Welcome to the September/October issue of Kudos – and that delicious cake on our cover! It was created by Master Pâtissier Eric Lanlard – you can meet him, along with Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, and some delicious recipes, in our feature on page 56. Great British Bake Off was responsible for a huge rise in enthusiasm for baking when it first aired back in August 2010 and it shows no sign of waning, with the new series currently running to huge audiences on BBC1. I, for one, am still working on my soggy bottom! Elsewhere in this issue we meet musical star Lee Mead, who, like Nadiya Hussain, found fame via BBC1 in the talent show Any Dream Will Do. As well as starring in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, he’s coming to the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells in October with his Some Enchanted Evening concert. On the subject of the Assembly Hall Theatre, we also talk to JohnJackson Almond, their new Theatre Director, about his plans for the venue. He has some exciting ideas – read about them on page 18. Parents are probably breathing a sigh of relief as it is back to school time after the long summer holiday. We've found some fun accessories to make your children excited to return to school. Our panel of headteachers address the merits of single-sex and mixed schools on page 82, and we also catch up on news around the local schools. Also back in September is the musical entertainment at Scallywags in Tunbridge Wells. This lively cabaret bar and café offers a menu of everything from jazz to a murder mystery evening. You really should visit when you can – it's great fun!

Twitter: kudoskent Facebook: kudoskent www.kudoskent.co.uk Managing Director: Robin Tucek Publishing Director: Hannah Tucek Editorial Director: Ann Wallace Creative Director: Neil Constant Media Sales Manager: Taz Pishbin Fashion Editor: Sally-Ann Carroll Photographer: Matt Harquail Cover image credit: Kate Whitaker

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Hannah Tucek Publishing Director

Contents 8 Kudos loves... 10 News & events 23 Pets corner 27 Love celebrity 30 Love fashion 40 Men only 44 Love health & beauty

Kudos is published

50 Love food and drink

While every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. Prices and details correct at time of going to press.

78 Love garden

bi-monthly by:

No part of this publication may be produced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder and publisher, application for which should be made to the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Our inspirational local hero for this issue, Liz Norton, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of six weeks but it hasn't stopped her from becoming a motivational speaker and author. All this, plus our usual mix of fashion, beauty, home and business features, plus much more. Enjoy!

WELCOME TO KUDOS

64 Love home

81 Love travel

82 Love education

92 Love business

88 Love family

98 Love heroes

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Birchden Wood,

LIV E LOC AL

Groombridge

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6pm

Taken by Matt Harquail

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LOV E LOC AL

Things we love this issue Cool for cats

OK, we've seen it all! A company in Denver, America, is making non-alcoholic “wine” for cats. It looks like wine but bears little resemblance to the stuff ingredient-wise — it’s both alcohol-free and grape-free. In varieties like Pinot Meow and MosCATo, Apollo Peak wine is made with organic catnip and water, and coloured with organic beet juice (the “white” varieties are coloured with golden beets). And what do they do to your cat? Well, depending on how much they drink, the effects will vary. When cats smell catnip, they liven up, move around more and play a lot. The exact opposite occurs when they ingest catnip, so they'll become more mellow and chilled out when they drink the wine. In fact, it turns them into cool cats. www.apollopeak.com

Bubbleicious

But why stop at wine for cats? A revolutionary new ingredient has just burst onto the mixology scene – Bubble Lick Edible Bubbles – so you can literally chase your drink around the house! It was conceived by two kids, who innocently asked their Dad: “Why can’t bubbles be lickable and made from any liquid?” Months of research and development later and this safe, non-toxic (and incredibly delicious) bubble mixture was created. It comes in a pack of six bottles, each containing 25ml of bubble solution with space remaining in the bottle to add any beverage you fancy, like lemonade, cola, gin or tequila. Screw the lid back on, give the bottle a gentle rock and just like that, your favourite drink has been transformed into bubbly deliciousness, ready to be blown all over the place with the included wands. They're the perfect addition to cocktails, picnics, festivals and bath-time. If you thought that trying to catch an elusive bubble was fun before, just wait till these scrumptious orbs are floating around you. Price: £12.99 www.firebox.com

Tote that wine

Only in America! For those that just love their wine, happy hour hits the road in this fashionable tote by Tracey Luebbers. Designed to discreetly hold a boxed wine bag, this multi-purpose tote also comes with its own dispensing bag, so you can take your favourite, fully-insulated drink to go. An attached spout lets you serve up Bloody Marys, Margaritas or wine with ease, while the ample interior allows plenty of room for your wallet, phone, and even travel cups. Let’s hope it makes it this side of the Pond! www.uncommongoods.com

KUDOS LOV ES

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Retribution time

Local couple finish filming their Max Payne tribute

To mark 15 years since the video game Max Payne was first released, two ambitious local filmmakers have re-ignited our love for the franchise with a Max Payne teaser trailer to their short fan film Max Payne Retribution, which has been in production since January 2016. Director Leroy Kincaide and Producer Chloe Chudasama, from Maidstone, have now wrapped filming after five months of long nights and early mornings. Post production is now fully in motion and the film will hopefully be released online in November. Who knows, perhaps in the future we'll see a feature film adaptation on the big screen! www.maxpayneretribution.wordpress.com

Round of applause Local arts organisation pioneers live performances in pubs

Applause Rural Touring, based in Tunbridge Wells, is to receive £449,850 from Arts Council England Strategic Touring Fund for Inn Crowd, a new project that will bring high-quality live literature events to rural pubs across the South East and East of England. Inn Crowd is a three-year programme of exciting spoken word, poetry and storytelling performances across six different counties. Village pubs can play a central role in rural community life. Inn Crowd offers landlords a new way to attract customers and creates a unique performing environment for some of the UK’s most talented up-and-coming spoken word artists. Applause has over 18 years experience of successfully touring excellent professional arts performances to village halls, community centres, schools and summer fetes and festivals in Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex. Inn Crowd is a trailblazing project that could eventually be rolled out across the UK and will mean rural communities without easy access to cultural activities in major towns and cities can come together in their local pub to enjoy an evening of great entertainment, right on their doorstep. Hedley Swain, Arts Council England, Area Director, South East, said: “Our Strategic Touring Programme is all about reaching new audiences, ensuring those in areas of low engagement have an opportunity to enjoy great art. Inn Crow is a great example of this and we are really pleased to be supporting it. Pubs can be important community spaces and so it is fantastic to see Applause Rural Touring and Creative Arts East harness them as venues for spoken-word performances.” www.applause.org.uk

Upfront What’s new and happening

Success for Baldwins Travel Group Travel company wins two top awards

Baldwins Travel Group has won both the National High Street Agency Award 2016 and the Regional Travel Agent of the Year for London and the South East of England at this year's Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards. With more than 850 people attending the ceremony at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, the prestigious awards are recognised as the travel industry's top accolade for excellence and achievement in the UK's travel agency community. Baldwins’ Joint Managing Director Chris Marks says, “This is phenomenal; a great achievement which is all down to our highlyknowledgeable team who always have their clients’ best interests at heart.” On winning the regional Award for London and South East England for the 10th time in a row, joint MD Nick Marks adds, “This is a victory for all our team and a huge accolade for our father, Ron. The business is his ‘baby’ and our success is down to him; we are just taking it to the next level.” Trevor Ridler, Branch Manager of Baldwins Travel – Tonbridge office, also received an Aspire Travel Award for his dedication, hard work and focus on customer service. Baldwins Travel Group, which has Baldwins Travel stores in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Maidstone, Uckfield, Cranbrook, Lewes, and also Sevenoaks Travel and Travelux – Tenterden, is a family-owned and

Left to right: Lucy Huxley, Editor in Chief, Travel Weekly Group; Chris Marks and Nick Marks, Joint Managing Directors, Baldwins Travel Group; Andrew Strong, Chief Executive, Saga Travel; and presenter Stephen Mulhern

run business that was established in 1895 and is now the largest independent retail and business travel agency in Kent and Sussex. The company has an annual turnover of £30 million and employs over 60 expert staff with a wide knowledge of holiday destinations across the world. www.baldwinstravel.co.uk

Baking mad!

Join local chef Rosemary Shrager and friends at this year’s Cake and Bake Show Catch local chef Rosemary Shrager at The Cake and Bake Show, which comes to London's ExCeL from 7th-9th October and brings the nation’s best-loved bakers, chefs, TV personalities, cake experts and enthusiasts together under one roof in a celebration of all things baking. The UK’s only dedicated baking show promises a delicious array of culinary activity, inspiration and entertainment. Five of the biggest celebrity names in the baking world will be headlining the show this year and visitors will be able to see them live on stage, sharing their skills and expertise. Alongside Rosemary Shrager will be Jo Wheatley (winner of 2011 Great British Bake Off), John Whaite (winner of the 2012 Great British Bake Off) as well as current title holder of the 2015 Great British Bake Off and the nation’s sweetheart – Nadiya Hussain – and Eric Lanlard – Master Pâtissier, author, cake boutique owner and cake-maker to the stars. We caught up with Nadiya and Eric to find out about their involvement in the show. Read their interviews on page 56. They have also shared some delicious recipes from their latest books! Alongside the celebrity line-up who will be delighting the crowds in the Cake and Bake Super Theatre and the Baking Classroom, there will be non-stop demos in the Decorating Skills Classrooms, where some of the best experts in the decorating world will be sharing their skills, including, for the first time, Le Cordon Bleu, as well as Show regulars and favourites Danielle Gotheridge, Charlotte White, Juliet Sear and more!

LOV E NEWS

Top row, left to right: Jo Wheatley and Nadiya Hussain. Middle: Rosemary Shrager. Bottom row, left to right: John Whaite and Eric Lanlard

When not learning new skills, visitors can head to the bustling Exhibition and Market Stands for baking and decorating innovations from leading experts, as well as an array of delectable foods from the finest artisan bakers and producers in the country. www.thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk

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Out and about with

Kudos

Top 5 autumn walks

Put on your walking boots and enjoy the trees as they change from green to the magnificent shades of autumn Bateman’s, Burwash, East Sussex

The Wild Garden is the focus of autumn colour at Bateman’s, with a range of ornamental trees and shrubs, such as Liquidamber styraciflua and Fraxinus excelsior. The family home of Rudyard Kipling is also renowned for its orchard, which turns vibrant shades of red, green and auburn as the apples, pears, plums and greengages ripen.

Friston Forest, near Eastbourne, East Sussex

Walk through colourful forest tracks, taking the time to enjoy the wildlife that calls the forest its home, like badgers, buzzards and dormice – you may even be rewarded with a view of the secretive roe deer. The walk continues through the forest, opening up to a wonderful view of the white horse, carved into the chalk hillside on the fabulous South Downs.

Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks, Kent

Don’t miss Ightham Mote’s very own Katsura toffee apple tree near the North Lake, which starts to smell of burnt sugar from late September. Whilst there, test your map-reading skills during a scenic walk across the 546-acre estate, where a series of circular walks will lead you to some of Kent’s most iconic spots in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

10th & 11th September

Hops ‘n’ Harvest Beer Festival, Kent Life, near Maidstone

Experience a slice of rural history at the Hops ‘n’ Harvest Beer Festival, – and there’s a free pint for all full-paying adults who book tickets online in advance. Sample a wide selection of rare and locally-brewed ales and ciders, along with some tasting notes and a commemorative beer glass. Join in with the time-honoured tradition of hand-picking the hops, meet some of the historic characters from Kent’s past, see one of the last working coal-fired oast houses in the country and witness the process from picking to drying before tasting one of Kent Life’s lovely beers. There will be plenty of other entertainment for the whole family, including a jam-packed set of live music, the popular Cuddle Corner, tractor rides around the farm, water zorbing, tug-of-war, family races, donkey rides, Paint-a-Pot studio and animal feeding sessions. www.kentlife.org.uk

16th September Twilight Walk, Gravesend

Charity ellenor’s popular Twilight Walk will give participants the opportunity to enjoy an evening of smiles and memories. It’s a chance to join with others and remember a loved one or simply to get out into the streets and raise money for local hospice care.

LOV E GOING OUT

Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent

An autumnal must-see, as the jubilant colours framing the magnificent medieval castle take on new tones over the autumn. The moated reflection offers a new perspective on the golden-hued delights, whilst on the wider estate, the view of the Weald from the Claypits Field near the Wilderness Camp is one not to miss. The 100-year-old purple cut-leaved Japanese maples, below the Bastion, are an autumn staple that people return for year after year.

Weardale Walk, Westerham, Kent

Linking Emmetts Garden with nearby Chartwell, the five-mile circular walk passes the woodland area of Toys Hill and Hosey Common, as well as the pretty hamlet of French Street. Whilst at Chartwell, admire autumn borders featuring a variety of seasonal species such as Yellow Wax Bells (Kirengeshoma palmate), Cyclamen, Brunnera and heathers. In particular, make sure not to miss the stunning ‘charity’ border in the shade of the walnut tree.

As walkers make their way through Gravesend, creating a carnival atmosphere as they go, the streets will turn orange and, as the light fades, the evening sky will be lit up with torches and flashing lights. On the back of their T-shirts, participants can write the names of loved ones – family, friends or perhaps colleagues – that they are remembering. More than 500 people are expected to take part in Twilight and have a choice of two routes, 8km or 12km. In addition to being cheered on by supporters, there will also be some treats along the way – including chips, ice cream and hot chocolate. Entry is £15 for adults and £10 for children. Book online today at www.ellenor.org/events or call Emma Whittington or Kirsty Doubleday on 01322 626506.

18th September Something Silver Fun Run, Knole Park, Sevenoaks

It’s 25 years since Hospices of Hope founder, Graham Perolls, introduced pioneering hospice care into south-east Europe and to celebrate this they are holding a 2K or 5K fun run. Hospices of Hope is the only international charity dedicated to relieving the suffering of adults and children with terminal and life-limiting illnesses in southeast Europe. They believe that everyone affected by terminal or life-

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limiting illness should have access to pain relief and care free of charge and have already helped to bring hospice care to more than 30,000 patients and train more than 20,000 healthcare professionals. Contact Amy on 01959 525110, or amy@hospicesofhope.co.uk

23rd September

Tcha Limberger and the Budapest Gypsy Orchestra, Frant Church

Soaring music, with an outstanding purity of sound, this brilliant seven-piece orchestra is led by violin and guitar virtuoso Tcha Limberger. Tcha, a violin and guitar virtuoso, composer and singer, is considered to be one of a handful of world-class musicians, having received unparalleled praise since growing up in the world of gypsy music in the style of Django Reinhardt. The concert is at 8pm (doors open 7:30pm). Tickets £18 from Frant Stores, Britten’s Music Shop in Tunbridge Wells, online at www.wegottickets.com, by telephone 01892750665/01892 752261, or by emailing tickets@frantmusic.org.uk www.frantmusic.org.uk

1st October

Otford Village Memorial Halls

French Flea comes to the village with a huge array of French vintage products and more. Listen to Miss Vintage sing and visit the café, too. Entry: £1 Adults and free for accompanied children. Open 10am to 3:30pm. FB: Cherish Vintage Fairs

1st & 2nd October

Apple and Cider Fayre, Kent Life, Near Maidstone

Come and celebrate Kent Life’s fruit harvest, where you’ll find more than 60 varieties of apple, some of which date back as far as the 1500s, local cider, demonstrations and tours, plus plenty of live music from some of the county’s best young musicians. You can taste and buy the fruit, which will be hand-picked from Kent Life’s historic orchards just days before the festival, and pick up a free apple cookbook featuring some old-fashioned favourites. You can even watch the traditional process of apple pressing, when fresh apples are cut, crushed, pulped and then squeezed in Kent Life’s giant Victorian press to produce delicious apple juice. Explore the craft and produce stalls and enjoy all your favourite entertainment, from Cuddle Corner to tractor rides, as well as local Morris dancers showing off their fancy footwork. www.kentlife.org.uk

28th October

John Etheridge, Chris Garrick and Vimala Rowe, Frant Church

Frant is delighted to welcome back one of the world’s most versatile musicians – the great John Etheridge. John’s playing history includes appearances with Soft Machine, Stephane Grappelli, Nigel Kennedy, Andy Summers, Yehudi Menuhin and John Williams. He is renowned as a brilliant jazz guitarist on both acoustic and electric instruments. The evening also features jazz violin virtuoso (and one of the finest jazz musicians of his generation) Chris Garrick, and the sensational singer Vimala Rowe, (winner of The Indy Music Award) who has been captivating audiences around the UK, including many great nights at the world-famous Ronnie Scott Jazz Club. The programme starts at 8pm (doors open 7:30pm). Tickets £15 from Frant Stores, Britten’s Music Shop in Tunbridge Wells, online at www.wegottickets.com, by telephone 01892750665/01892 752261, or by emailing tickets@frantmusic.org.uk www.frantmusic.org.uk

Topiary Trees by Carol Davies

28th-30th October Annual Art Exhibition and Sale, Sevenoaks School

With one in four people in the UK suffering from a mental health problem at some point in their life and 1.5 million people in the UK with learning disabilities, the effects on the individuals and their families are just as real as severe broken bones and other injuries, even though there isn’t a sling or plaster cast to be seen. The Kent Painters Group KPG, held its first art show in 1990 to raise money for local mental health and learning disability charities. Now they are hosting their 26th Annual Art Exhibition and Sale, with free entry all weekend. On Friday evening you can meet the artists between 6:30pm and 9pm. It’s the chance to come along and view the art, with a first chance to buy, perhaps with a glass of wine in your hand! On Saturday and Sunday, the exhibition is open from 10am-4pm. Unframed work and artists’ proofs are also for sale, along with coffee, cakes and light lunches. KPG was initially founded by three good friends who held a small art sale to raise money for local mental health charities dear to their hearts. To date, they have distributed more than £250,000 to mental health

and learning disability charities throughout Kent. There are 60 acclaimed artists and sculptors exhibiting this year, using a wide range of media and techniques, and all of whom have a close affiliation with Kent. Many now exhibit in London, for example Crawfurd Adamson, Nick Hebditch and Dani Humberstone. KPG offers the public the opportunity to buy quality art at modest prices. Without gallery overheads, the proceeds are divided between the artist and KPG, who are then able to support their chosen charities. This year’s charities are Sevenoaks Mencap, Rethink, Fynvola and MacIntyre, and the event is sponsored by Sevenoaks-based kitchen and furniture manufacturer Rencraft and Warners solicitors. For more information on the event phone 01732 810338, visit their new-look website www.kentpaintersgroup.co.uk which has lots of details of the artists and images of their work, or see their Facebook page, Kent Painters Group-KPG and Twitter @KentPaintersGp

September & October

Everyone can get creative with Kent Wildlife Trust during September and October on one of the many workshops available at their visitor centres in Bough Beech, Sevenoaks or Maidstone. Bough Beech is a great place to be inspired by nature and learn how to use your iPhone to take great photographs – there are workshops on 17th September or 15th October. You can create a beautiful textile folding book at Unfolding Landscapes: Flora and Fauna at Tyland Barn on 8th October or explore different printing techniques at Creative Mono Printing at Sevenoaks on 15th October. During October half term, children can make Halloween broomsticks and spider’s webs on half-day forest craft workshops at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve on 27th October and Tyland Barn on 28th October. They can also learn all about bats, make some batty crafts and then get to meet a real live bat at Wild about Bats on 25th October at Tyland Barn! For more information call 01622 662012 or book online kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

24th-28th September Festival of Flowers: A Queen’s Castle, Leeds Castle, near Maidstone

Visitors never forget their first breathtaking vision of 900-year-old Leeds Castle, rising majestically from the moat and set within 500 acres of beautiful parkland in the heart of Kent. Amongst the formal gardens to be found on the estate, people are always delighted by the Culpeper Garden in an English cottage-style with neat box hedges, irises, hollyhocks and roses. The Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden features plants with exotic foliage to create illusion and theatre. During the popular Leeds Castle Festival of Flowers, visitors will be able to see the state rooms adorned with beautiful floral creations as part of the celebration of the Year of the English Garden. The official opening will be hosted on Saturday, 24th September by English garden designer and TV personality Joe Swift, with a guest talk at 3pm, included as part of the entrance ticket. Head Florist Louise Roots oversees the creative entries from internationally-award-winning floral designers during the Festival of Flowers and will host a series of demonstrations with guest floral designers. Specialist talks will include ‘A history of flower arranging from ancient Egypt to modern wedding bouquets.’ Tours of the formal gardens with the Castle Gardening team will take place throughout the event. Leeds Castle Floristry Team designs flowers for over 100 weddings, corporate functions and events every year, as well as providing fresh

flower displays to adorn the state rooms of the Castle every day of the year. Head Florist Louise recently won Gold for her exuberant floral interpretation of a Rio Carnival float at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Read more about it on page 78. www.leeds-castle.com

Open secret

Tunbridge Wells’ best-kept secret opens its doors to the public

As part of the Heritage Open Days Festival, Mabledon, the unique venue tucked away on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells, will be opening its doors to the public. On Sunday, 11th September, you can explore parts of the house and grounds, and enjoy tea, coffee and cake. As this is by appointment only, make sure to contact The Civic Society on 01892 538307 to avoid disappointment. Heritage Open Days were established in 1994 as England’s contribution to the European Heritage Days and has since grown into the country’s largest heritage festival. Every September, some 40,000 volunteers across England organise 5,000 events to celebrate our fantastic history, architecture and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are free to explore. Heritage Open Days celebrate England’s architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee. The Civic Society manages Heritage Open Days across the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, which runs from Thursday, 8th September to Sunday, 11th September. Mabledon was bought in 1991 from the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS). The house has a long and fascinating history. It was built mainly of Tunbridge Wells sandstone in 1805, with a park and farms that originally extended to some 500 acres. The main part of the present house was built by developer and builder James Burton in 1804, and later extended by his son, the renowned Decimus Burton, who was brought up in the house. The conservatory beyond the library was a great feature and contained many beautiful and exotic plants. Against the north wall of the large kitchen garden were extensive greenhouses in which were grown all kinds of citrus fruits, including pineapples, tangerines and grapefruit. During the Second World War, the Army occupied the house for seven years. Officers were quartered in the house, and 50 Nissen huts were erected in the fields for other ranks. Next it was used by the Ministry of

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Health as a psychiatric hospital before the CPAS bought it. They restored much of the house and turned part into a conference centre. By 1989, the house was no longer required by the CPAS and was put up for sale. Mabledon has since been transformed into a magnificent venue for hire – perfect for parties, events and exhibitions – for which it is referred to as The Secret Manor, a rather apt name due to its hidden location. With Christmas around the corner, it’s the ideal solution for your celebrations. The best party rooms are the library, bar room and terrace, and it can accommodate 100 standing – and dancing! – with room for a buffet plus the bar room. The best part about The Secret Manor is that it’s a blank canvas. You can decorate it just the way you want, organise your own catering and bring your own drinks. And you can party all night, as there are no time restrictions. If you would like to book The Secret Manor for your party or special event, email info@thesecretmanor.com www.thesecretmanor.com

LOV E GOING OUT

That’s entertainment Latest releases on stage and screen

Mr Popper’s Penguins

Assembly Hall Theatre, 28th September-1st October Mr Popper’s Penguins is popping into Tunbridge Wells ahead of an off-Broadway and West End season. Painter and decorator by day, Mr Popper spends his time dreaming of Antarctic adventures. He is astounded when one day, a packing crate arrives on his doorstep, out of which waddles a penguin! With songs, puppets and a family of performing penguins, this delightful musical adaptation of Richard and Florence Atwater’s popular book (also made into a Hollywood film starring Jim Carrey) is brought to you by the producers of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Suitable for ages 3+ Box office 01892 530613 or book online on www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Sausage Party

In cinemas 2nd September Sausage Party reveals the secret lives of the food on our shelves. All food wants is to go home with us, unaware of the horror that awaits it. A hot dog named Frank witnesses the reality first hand: potatoes have their skin flayed, cabbages are ripped in half and baby carrots are eaten alive. With the help of his friends, he tries to get back to the supermarket and warn everyone else. Sausage Party is a twisted, macabre animated comedy from the creators of This Is The End and Bad Neighbours. You’ll never look at food the same way again. Stars Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig and Jonah Hill.

Doctor Strange

In cinemas 28th October Doctor Strange is the world’s best neurosurgeon, and has saved thousands of lives. When his career is destroyed in a car accident, he seeks a new way to help people. He sets out on a journey of healing and encounters the Ancient One, a mystic who claims to see “possibility” in his future. Strange doesn’t believe in magic, but he’s about to have his mind opened as the Ancient One pulls back the veil on our reality – and the forces that lie beyond it. Benedict Cumberbatch joins the Marvel Universe as Doctor Strange, bringing magic and mysticism and opening up a whole new side of this world.

LOV E GOING OUT

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Enter, stage right Meet John-Jackson (JJ) Almond, the new Theatre Director of the Assembly Hall Theatre and a man with a vision

Will Young as Emcee and the Company in Cabaret 2 Photographer: Keith Pattison – 2012 production

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Tell us about your career to date

What attracted you to the Assembly Hall Theatre?

It started at the age of 17 when I got a job as Box Office Manager at a small, 100-seat venue called the Barbican Theatre in Plymouth. Whilst I was there, I worked alongside Frances May, who ran the Junior Youth Theatre. We worked on a BT National Theatre Connections project with a play called King of the Castle by Christina Reed, and that’s where I first experienced directing. Frances also ran the Plymouth branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts, the part-time performing arts schools for children, and after working with her for a while at the theatre, she said that she thought I would be great at teaching the younger children at Stagecoach. I was only 18 at the time and wasn’t sure that I had enough experience to take on such a role, but Frances really believed in me and thought I had a lot to offer the children. So I accepted and gained my first experience in teaching. I then did a business degree at the University of Plymouth, and after that joined the Theatre Royal in Plymouth as a Box Office Manager, moving to a 1,200-seat theatre with massive production facilities. I enjoyed my time there but directing was where my heart lay, so I applied to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts to train as a Theatre Director. I got in and worked at Poole Arts Centre for a year to help fund it, and Frances May even sponsored me to go. After graduating, I went into freelance directing as well as working at the Pleasance Theatre in London, where I ran front of house for the Edinburgh Festival for a year. Then I went to work for a company called Off West End Theatres that ran the New End Theatre in Hampstead, the Shaw Theatre on Euston Road in London and the New Players Theatre at Charing Cross, now called the Charing Cross Theatre. I was Associate Director and responsible for the general management across the three venues. I worked there for nearly seven years before doing some freelance directing and then working as the Executive Director at Park Theatre in London for three-and-a-half years. And now I am here.

LOV E THEATRE

I brought a show here a few years ago, Cissie and Ada: An Hysterical Rectomy, but I didn’t have the most positive experience as a producer. So when I heard about this position, that was in the back of my mind. I thought I could really make a difference in the culture of the organisation and how the organisation sees its relationship with a producer. That relationship is the key to everything and if it doesn’t go well, you think twice about whether you want to go back to that venue. In addition, it’s a bigger venue, and I can have the direct impact that I want to have. When I was at the Park Theatre, I shared Chief Executive responsibility with the Artistic Director, which is brilliant when you are both on the same page but very difficult to drive an organisation forward when you are not. In the future, there is also the possibility of having a brand-new theatre to inform, influence and deliver from, so that’s hugely exciting for me. The Barbican were pioneers of theatre in education, and as a socialissue based company, I gained experience in how the theatre can help with social regeneration by using theatre to give people skills to deal with their problems. So I feel there is a definite way that the Assembly Hall can make a wider social impact outside of these walls – it’s not just about what happens on the stage.

What do you think will be your biggest challenge and how do you hope to fulfill that challenge moving forward?

The biggest challenge would be filling every seat regularly. That’s why I have introduced a customer survey, because we haven’t been very good at talking to our audience and finding out what they think. That is very important because it gives us feedback about what we are doing right and what we are not doing right, and what people

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want but are not getting. As we gather more and more feedback, it will form a subconscious plan for the venue and will influence how we make decisions. It’s also part of a different journey, which is about the fact that this space is empty all day, every day, and I would love to see it used differently. Perhaps it could be a space where the Women’s Institute come and meet once a month or a local drama group rehearse. It could be a whole set of things to our community that it isn’t at the moment and I want it to be because I want animation through the building, I want community ownership of the building.

What style of production do you feel is best suited to a theatre like the Assembly Hall and how far would you intend to broaden the reach beyond this?

One of the things that I have been asked quite regularly is what do I want and what’s my vision. My immediate response is that it isn’t about me. Part of my job is to identify from our data and history analysis what is popular, and to use my skills and experience to create and curate a programme that will serve the audience well. The only way for me to achieve this is to work with the marketing team on what we know about the audience and what we know they come to in high numbers, and this in turn will create a populist programme. A primary example of something we know we did very well is Cabaret with Will Young. It sold out. Brilliant. It shows us we’ve got an audience, and it shows us we could have sold more seats. That type of show goes down really well here. Same for Jools Holland; every year he sells out. There’s also a practical element to the process in that we look at each show and forecast what we think the attendance will be. If anything has a forecast of under 300, I have started to refer these to the nearby Trinity Theatre so they can think about whether they want to programme it. I would rather have 300 people sitting in a busy auditorium with an intimate experience than 300 people sitting here with 600 empty seats around them, because the experience of being a theatregoer is then very different. To work commercially, we have to pick the populist stuff that we know people will want to come and see, but the next step in that journey is also about audience development and identifying where there is an audience that we are not currently serving. That’s a much bigger piece of work but once we have established that, we can try to source the type of shows that we currently lack. It may be that it is a smaller market for us that will not sell out, but as a theatre, particularly one that is publicly funded, I think we have a responsibility to use our subsidy to underwrite that shortfall to make sure that the theatre is available and accessible to everyone. At the end of every year we can then celebrate the things that we have done with that subsidy really clearly.

Can theatregoers expect any surprises from you?

Probably. They are not jack-in-the box surprises but they are challenging. I think the main surprise is that we will be reaching outside the doors of the theatre and trying to work with the local community and further afield. I also want to have more weekly products at the higher end of the range. One of the shows I am considering is Rent. I think it’s a challenging piece of work. It fits the bracket of cabaret for me in terms of modern contemporary theatre, but I think that piece of programme might be surprising because it is not so traditional. We will also launch a membership and loyalty scheme to look after and retain those that support us regularly, and I will deal with any serious complaints personally.

With your experience of directing and producing, would you consider starting your own theatre group for performances?

Trinity run their own theatre groups and put their own shows on so I wouldn’t want to step on their toes and take away from something they do really successfully. However, there is definitely scope for Trinity moving some of their productions here. In the longer term, there is the possibility of us to produce by forming clever partnerships with other venues that can provide different parts of the producing mix that we are not able to do.

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From speaking with JJ, it's clear that he is living and breathing his new role at the Assembly Hall. There are a lot of challenges ahead but JJ is ready for the biggest performance of his career so far. www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Twitter: @ahttw FB: AssemblyHallTheatre

LOV E THEATRE

Best night in town Fall back into September fun at Scallywag

Scallywag Live will be reopening with a bang on 7th September after the summer break. Everyone has hopefully enjoyed the sun, sea and countryside in this beautiful corner of England or maybe further afield. Kicking off with the much-loved Tom Carradine’s Cockney Sing-a-long, Scallywag will be open in the evenings now from Wednesday to Saturday every week. The Singalong evenings are truly uplifting, with everyone joining in. There’s a printed song book, so there’s no excuse not to have a great time and a good, old-fashioned knees-up during the show. Whilst on the subject, you can now book your very own Singalong evening with Tom Carradine for private parties, family, office or corporate Christmas evenings at Scallywag, right through to the end of the year. A truly grand evening of Musical Cabaret Murder Mystery follows on Saturday, 10th September with The Fah Fah Fabergé Affair or What the Butler saw in The Eggnog, performed by a group of top West End cabaret stars. Complemented by The Dapper Dudes for an evening of 1920’s madness, you are all invited to attend in true Gatsby-style dress to add to the evening, although it’s not essential. As always, the ever popular, peaceful and relaxed Friday evenings with pianist Ed Watts, will resume on 9th September, so make sure you book in time. There will be one small exception, however, on 16th September, when TWODS the Tunbridge Wells Operatic and Dramatic Society, will perform a preview of their upcoming show Guys & Dolls. The wonderful Cabaret Open Mic Night each month, hosted by Champagne Charlie with Tom Carradine on piano, has attracted such a following of talent from professionals to highly-talented amateurs coming to relax and have fun, that it has become an evening laced with moments of real magic in a venue that is truly perfect for the occasion. Quite where you would go to enjoy such

LOV E MUSIC

a diversity of true talent in one evening in one venue outside London, we're not sure. All of these evenings come with a menu of nibbles and light meals to complement fine wines, a lovely beer or two, or your favourite whisky whilst enjoying the music and the outstanding atmosphere that Scallywag has become renowned for. In the coming months, some of the UK’s top jazz stars are lined up to appear at Scallywag, along with more West End cabaret stars, a little opera and classical music. The Hot Club of Scallywag will also bring the best in Gypsy Swing from the era of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. There’ll be more surprises to follow, so pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and join in the fun. Don’t forget to check on future acts at the website www.civilisednaughtiness.com

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Pets corner

It’s time to turn the spotlight on your best friends! Star pets

In celebration of the 125th year of the charity, Dogs Trust presents Dogs and their Faithful Celebrities, a book for dog lovers around the world. This charming book contains 176 pages full of some of the best-known people from the worlds of music, sport, movies and television, and their lovely dogs. Starring a brief history of Dogs Trust, statistics and details on every pooch, as well as some words of wisdom from their proud owners, this is a book for dog lovers far and wide, and a lovely way to celebrate the charity. Readers will meet some of the most adorable pooches alongside their adoring owners and hear anecdotes about the joy and diva moments they’ve endured with their furry friends. The book features more than 50 celebrities and their dogs, including actor Ryan Gosling, singer Pink, racing driver Lewis Hamilton and many more. Price: £9.99 All royalties go to Dogs Trust charity. www.DogsTrustGifts.com

Meet Barney

This gorgeous Pug is the loving companion of JJ Almond, the new Theatre Director at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells. Barney is currently living it up in the Big Smoke but is soon to be a resident of Tunbridge Wells! According to JJ, Barney doesn't really do much on account of the fact that he sleeps for 20 hours a day! Read about JJ in our interview on page 18.

Doggie takeaway

Wonderboo, the Swedish creators of luxury pet food which has just launched in the UK, has created the perfect product to ensure your four-legged friend remains suitably fed whilst on the go. The Swedish ox or cod comes stylishly packaged, ready for your dog to enjoy straight from the box. For a leisurely meal, there’s a compartment in the box for water which your dog can sip along side their Wonderboo gourmet meal. The boxes are securely sealed and can easily be popped into a bag to take and use while you’re out and about with your dog. www.wonderboo.com

Rehoming corner

We are proud supporters of South East Dog Rescue & Rehabilitation, who are committed to helping even the most troubled of dogs. In this issue, we give you an update on Storm and Willow...

A happy ending

Last issue we told you about Storm (above left) and Willow – the Husky littermates that were both born with a deformity in one of their front legs. Understandably, they captured your hearts so we just had to give you an update! You’ll be pleased to hear that they have found their forever home together (yay!) and are currently awaiting their surgery. If you are interested in making an unwanted dog as happy as Storm and Willow are now, visit www.sedogrescue.co.uk

Email a photograph and details of your pet to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

LOV E PETS

The cat’s whiskers Currently running owner and behaviour courses at The Secret Manor in Tunbridge Wells, Ross Simpson, who founded the Natural Animal Centre with his wife, Heather, reveals some of the secrets of why your cat behaves the way it does…

As cats are probably the most misunderstood of all our pets, we thought you might like to understand the world from your cat’s point of view... Our domestic cat shares a similar social structure to the African lion and if you understand the social structure, you will be able to unravel what your cat does and why. The common myth is that cats are solitary animals, a myth which arose from the fact that they do hunt on their own. But for the rest of their lives, they are one of the most social species on the planet! If our cute little felids go wild (feral) and live as they choose, females live in colonies where all the cats within each colony are genetically related, with each colony controlling a territory. This means it’s worth their while to be highly co-operative and collaborative; they even share the suckling of each other’s kittens, allowing a mother to go out and hunt. Sharing suckling is a highly-unusual strategy in the animal kingdom because giving milk to another’s young is very costly for a mother. This co-operation is borne out by the study of feral domestic cats at Southampton Docks, where there was virtually no social hierarchy, with virtually no dominance contests or fighting. They lived in complete harmony, as long as there were adequate resources such as shelter, warmth and food. The males live in all-male groups called brotherhoods, and move amongst the female groups. One male becomes the Tom cat – he is the only one who mates with the females of a number of colonies. So there is a high degree of co-operation within the male groups as well, subject to there being no resource shortages. So why do our domestic cats carry on at night as they do? The problem is rooted in the fact that they are living in an abnormal social structure: • Almost all the females are unrelated • The males do not live in brotherhoods so they can all potentially act as Tom cats • New, unrelated cats arrive and leave as we move house

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So there is vast potential to create disharmony. Fortunately for us there is another helpful behaviour – avoidance. If at all possible, domestic cats avoid conflict. This avoidance strategy is facilitated by marking, using chemicals called pheromones. Using pheromones they can tell, just from a sniff, who has been past and when they were there. So if the population stays stable in a suburb, they learn to share patrol routes so that even in a restricted area they can each have a territory, just using the common ground at different times. So the problems we see in the domestic environment are not due to badly-behaved cats – it’s us, as humans, who have created an unnatural environment for their complex social structure. If you would like to know more about the natural hunting and eating behaviours of your cat, you will be even more astounded. For animal behaviour courses or Distance Learning Programmes, visit www.NaturalAnimalCentre.com. The Equine Distance Learning Programme is currently selling at half price, email us for details NaturalAnimalCentre@gmail.com The Natural Animal Centre runs courses on canine, equine and feline behaviour and provides facilities for the long-term rehabilitation of animals. They run various owner and behaviour courses at venues throughout the country. One of the venues that they hire is The Secret Manor, located on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. If you would like to book The Secret Manor for your corporate event, email info@thesecretmanor.com www.thesecretmanor.com

LOV E PETS

Living the dream Since winning the TV talent show Any Dream Will Do, Lee Mead’s dreams have come true, as he reveals in our exclusive interview

He’s been Joseph in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and lovable nurse Lofty Chiltern in Casualty. Now Lee Mead is touring the UK as Caractacus Potts in the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as well as with his own show, Some Enchanted Evening, based on his latest album. Lee’s big break came when he won the 2007 BBC TV talent show, Any Dream Will Do, a search for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Since starring as Joseph, Lee has taken on other roles in West End productions including Wicked and Legally Blonde. Lee combines his acting with a recording career. His latest album, Some Enchanted Evening, hit the top 20 and sees him fulfill a personal ambition to record classic songs from the Hollywood musicals. Kudos caught up with Lee as he joined the cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on tour.

When did you first realise you could sing?

I first realised I had some kind of singing voice when I was 16 and I did an amateur show of the 60’s musical A Slice Of Saturday Night. I played the role of Rick and had to sing a song called Seventeen about a lad desperate to lose his virginity!

Did you ever want a pop career or was musical theatre your first love?

Musical theatre was my first love but I was fortunate enough to get a record deal after Joseph and have released four albums featuring a mix of musical theatre and more contemporary material.

What was your career until you won Any Dream Will Do?

Words: Hannah Tucek Images: Nicky Johnston, photographer

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I was in the chorus of musicals such as Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon and The Who’s Tommy. I also did a couple of plays, one of which was Abigail’s Party, playing the role of the bumbling estate agent, Lawrence.

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I always wanted to make a musical theatre album, but not one of songs from current musicals as that has been done before You quit Casualty earlier this year, but your role as Lofty was left open-ended. Will you return? The fact that it was left open-ended means there is always a possibility that I will return. I really enjoyed being in Casualty.

And now Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. How has the run gone so far?

I am having a great time playing Caractacus Potts. It’s the biggest role I have ever played in a musical as I’m on stage most of the time.

What do you enjoy most about the part?

Getting to fly Chitty, the car, is great. I can remember watching the film when I was a child, so it’s like living a bit of a childhood memory.

Is your daughter, Betsy, more impressed by your acting or your singing?

How did that win change things?

It opened up many opportunities for me, including TV roles and touring my own show, which I love to do.

How did you cope with being catapulted into the West End in Joseph?

Has she watched you in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

I think because it happened when I was around 26, I was that bit older so I could cope with all the media attention.

Yes, she came to see me at the New Wimbledon Theatre. She has watched the film a few times and knows the words to many of the songs, which is very sweet.

Tell us about your latest album, Some Enchanted Evening.

Which of your roles has she been most excited about?

I always wanted to make a musical theatre album, but not one of songs from current musicals as that has been done before. I decided to put together a collection of songs from the musical film era which I have loved since I was a young boy.

Who is your audience?

My audience is quite diverse and covers a wide age range, especially since being in Casualty as Lofty.

Your first big TV acting role was in Casualty. How did that come about and how did you enjoy the experience?

It came about when the executive producer Oliver Kent contacted my agent following a guest appearance four years previously. He had me in mind for the role of Lofty and I was asked to go in and read for the role. I was filming two weeks later.

I’m not sure that she’s impressed by either! I did the whole Joseph thing before Betsy was born, but last year I sang Any Dream Will Do at a Salvation Army concert in London. I took Betsy along with me and I brought her up on stage with about 30 other kids to sing it together. And since then, she’s been singing the song all the time, which is really sweet. So, she enjoys the singing and I’ve shown her a few clips of me as Lofty in Casualty. But I have to keep reminding her that I’m not a real nurse.

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Probably Aladdin at the Birmingham Hippodrome last Christmas.

So singing, acting, musical theatre. Which do you love best?

I really enjoy having a varied career and feel very lucky to have that.

And what’s next?

Touring with Some Enchanted Evening in October and then playing Prince Charming at the London Palladium in Panto at Christmas. Lee Mead: Some Enchanted Evening is at the Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells on 27th October. www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Twitter: @ahttw FB: AssemblyHallTheatre Catch up with Lee Mead at www.leemead.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Style

Fashion health & beauty

Designs on the future Young fashion designers crowned in biggest South area finals yet

Julie Lodrick, Headmistress of Kent College, with the prizewinners

The Young Fashion Designer UK national competition was established by Kent College Pembury in 2010 to celebrate talented students at GCSE, AS and A Level. Every year it is judged by a select group of 10 judges who each bring experience and professionalism from a range of fashion, textiles and design backgrounds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; many of which are local Kent businesses. Since 2010, the competition has gained significant momentum, with a year-on-year growth of entries. This year was no exception, with a record-breaking 175 entries for the South region. Kent College Pembury held the judging and awards ceremony with students from schools including Walthamstow Hall, Hillview, Burgess Hill and Bedales. They welcomed judges from businesses across Tunbridge Wells, including Sophie Bland from Bod and Ted Boutique, Hannah Gee from Love Inc and Siobhan Young from Well Styled. Students were treated to workshops throughout the day including a Photoshop design workshop presented by Anwin from Burberry.

www.youngfashiondesigneruk.com

LOV E ST Y LE

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ODYL High Street, Cranbrook, www.odyldesign.com

Clockwise from top left: Allie dress, £259, Drina coat, £399, and Maris shirt, £189, all by Baum und Pferdgarten. Luna waistcoat, £120, and grid pants, £99, both by Second Female. Shirt from a selection starting at £33.

LOV E FASHION

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

SAHAR A

77 High Street, Tunbridge Wells

www.saharalondon.com

Clockwise from top left: Magnolia jersey dress , £159, painter's palette print dress, £145, splash print bubble dress, £159, and shibori box shirt,£125

LOV E FASHION

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Clockwise from top left: Magnolia jersey cocoon top, £129, tencel shirt, £119, pintuck cotton box top, £99, painter's palette print top, £119, and jersey curved hem top, £89

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LOV E FASHION

Fashion Editor’s notes The Autumn/Winter catwalks are brimming with brilliant buys. Sally-Ann Carroll has been behind the scenes to bring you the latest looks from the high street.

Sheer lace ruffle top, £33, and metallic pleated skirt, £45. www.wallis.co.uk Navy floral dress, £209, and pink floral dress, £225. www.josephribkoff.com

Black boots, £269. www.hobbs.co.uk Animal print loafers, £69, and red loafers, £79. www.jonesbootmaker.com

LOV E FASHION

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Above from left to right: Cream lace-up sleeve jumper, £219, pleated skirt, £119, and white leather plimsolls, £65. www.thewhitecompany.com Black jacket, £89, metallic pleated skirt, £49.50, brown jumper, £35, and ankle boots, £85. www.marksandspencer.com Tan leather culottes, £199, white shirt, £39.50, and shoes, £19.50. www.marksandspencer.com

Brown leather jacket, £259. www.mintvelvet.co.uk

Green Shetland wool jacket, £65. www.laredoute.co.uk Midnight coat, £249, trousers, £110, and blouse, £89. www.hobbs.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

LOV E FASHION

Kid’s stuff

Fun, fabulous new-season styles for junior fashionistas

Above from left to right: Yellow Fisherman’s cape, £29, jersey cord leggings, £16, and wellies, £16. www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk Blue shell jacket, £16, dinosaur top, £20, jeans, from £18, and organic cotton hat, £12. www.polarnopyret.co.uk Knit pocket cardigan, from £24, dinosaur Tee, £9, and leggings, from £12. www.polarnopyret.co.uk

Left: Pink duffle coat, £39, dress, £19, cardigan, £20, and tights, £6. Right: Floral fisherman’s coat, £39, cord dress, £20, and tights, £6. www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

LOV E FASHION

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Clockwise from top left: Black sequin sweater, £45, by Fun & Fun, tracksuit trousers, £43, by Little Eleven Paris, trainers, £125, by MSGM, bag, £73, by KARL LAGERFELD Kids, and black and ivory skirt, £72, by MSGM. All available from www.childrensalon.com

Black and white jacket, shirt and trousers, by Cesare Paciotti, from a selection. www.childrensalon.com

Left: Dinosaur dress, £16. Right: Dinosaur romper, £22, and organic cotton stripe body, £16. www.polarnopyret.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

LOV E FASHION

Men’s notes From fashion to gadgets...

Sally-Ann Carroll has picked out all the key trends to help you look simply top-notch...

Clockwise from top left: Grey check sweater, £99. www.jaeger.co.uk Rust suede jacket, £50. www.burton.co.uk Camel blouson jacket, £250, by Lou Dalton and available from www.jaeger.co.uk Brown jacket with Borg collar, £65. www.next.co.uk

MEN ONLY

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Brown Chelsea boots, £65 and navy trainers, £38. www.next.co.uk

Camel coat, £85, bomber jacket, £25, shirt, £20, jeans, £25, and boots, £25. www.burton.co.uk

Above from left to right: Brown flannel jacket, £275. www.jaeger.co.uk Camel Epsom coat, £199. www.next.co.uk Prince of Wales check coat, £395. www.jigsaw-online.com

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

MEN ONLY

Oh, daddy

Online video series of antenatal classes for dads-to-be Dean Beaumont, author of the best-selling book The Expectant Dad’s Handbook, has just launched daddynatalonline.com – a unique new 10-part video-based pregnancy and parenting course for dads-to-be. It’s perfect for busy expectant fathers who might not have time to attend all the classes or perhaps need a bit of extra guidance and reassurance. It provides a raft of useful information from what to expect at each trimester of pregnancy, do’s and don’ts, Dad’s role in labour and even tips on what to pack for the hospital. It also explores strategies for coping with worries and fears about becoming a dad, along with key techniques for improving the birth and adjusting to bringing a new baby home. Price: £49; www.daddynatalonline.com

Vroom vroom!

The smart way to apply fragrance The new Ferrari fragrance iPhone case is an innovative concept which has been developed so you can experience your fragrance in a new way – every time you pick up your phone! The spray is located at the back of the phone so there is no need to worry about the screen getting wet. The fragrance is kept away from the battery’s heat, with an airtight seal that guarantees total safety, ensuring the fragrance will never come into contact with any part of the phone. The Ferrari iPhone fragrance case is a smart, stylish new way to make sure you never have to go without your fragrance. The case is designed for iPhone 6 and 6S and comes with 25ml of Ferrari Black or Ferrari Red fragrance inside, plus an extra 25ml refill. Price: £30. Exclusively at Boots.

Nostalgic fun

Reignite your inner child with some old-school gaming For all you Nintendo fans out there, you’ll be pleased to hear that they will be releasing a miniaturised version of the NES, originally released in 1985. Plug it directly into your high-definition TV and you can enjoy the 30 built-in NES games, including Castlevania, Dr Mario, Kid Icarus, Metroid, Mega Man 2, Final Fantasy, the Legend of Zelda and, of course, Super Mario Bros 1, 2, and 3. The mini NES will be available on 11th November and will come with a NES Classic Controller. Price: £49.99; www.store.nintendo.co.uk

MEN ONLY

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Beauty notes Latest products and news Matte makeover

Matte is the new black. Mix and matte your lipstick wardrobe with new additions to the Clinique Pop family; Matte Lip Colour + Primer and Liquid Matte Lip Colour + Primer. Typical matte lipsticks leave lips parched, but these new non-drying formulas lock in moisture giving drama without the dry-out. £16 each

Going for gold

Gold Collagen Defence helps to protect from collagen loss by defending your skin from pollution, UV rays, poor food choices and stress. It utilises 17 active ingredients, including super-antioxidant Astaxanthin, which is 65 times more powerful than vitamin C, 54 times more powerful than beta-carotene and 14 times more powerful than vitamin E. Price: £14.95 Available from www.gold-collagen.com and at Boots stores nationwide

Golden eye

Australian makeup brand Eye of Horus has launched a range of liquid metal eyeliners. They come with a precision, felt-tipped applicator that delivers illuminating metallic mineral pigment effortlessly onto the eyelids for smudge-free, long-lasting impact. Available in Alchemy Gold, Ancient Pewter, Imperial Bronze and Sphinx Copper. Price: £16.50 each www.beautybay.com

Power of the sea

New Seacreme Hydrating Beauty Cream and Hydrating Night Beauty Cream have been specially developed to harness the healing and rejuvenating powers of the sea. The creams are formulated with a blend of ingredients including Himalayan sea salt, beeswax, Aloe Vera, algae and Sea Mayweed which help to stabilise the minerals that aid skin conditioning, moisturisation and repair. They also have anti-inflammatory properties which calm and soothe the skin and can also be beneficial for those prone to acne and dry irritated skin. Price: £21 each www.seacreme.com

LOV E HEALTH & BEAUT Y

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Winning smile

How Dr Sophie Shotter from Illuminate Skin Clinics helped Laura to smile with confidence. Here’s Laura’s story...

Before I’m a big believer in doing what makes you happy. In fact, this year one of my resolutions was to do just that; stop letting fear and worry take over and to look after myself inside and out. I joined the gym and attempted to tackle my inner issues head on. I’ve made time to reflect on how I’m feeling and what I actually want. Some of you may think this is really irrelevant or petty, but a major part of me being happy is to be happy in my own skin and wanting to really smile! But one thing that’s always bothered me is my smile. I have what’s called a hypermobile lip which means my lip rises much higher than normal when I smile revealing more of the gum, which really isn’t helped by my thin top lip. For years I’ve spoken about doing something about it, only to be met with disapproving looks and comments along the lines of ‘what a waste of money, you look fine’. It made me feel vain and silly for letting it get to me. But the truth is it really bothered me. Unless you actually met me face to face, chances are you wouldn’t have known about it. It bothered me so much, I found myself covering my mouth, controlling my smile and not really smiling in any pictures. If someone caught me unaware and took a snap, I was guaranteed to hate it. I was always conscious of people looking at my mouth. Over the years, my gummy smile didn’t stop me getting boyfriends or people saying I was pretty. I'm engaged to the gorgeous Dave, who is always telling me how beautiful he thinks I am. I wasn’t looking to get it fixed to be more attractive to other people (anyone shallow enough to not like someone because of showing a bit more gum isn’t worth the time of day anyway.) I just wanted to finally feel good about something that constantly played on my mind. So, after years of thinking about it, I thought enough is enough. After some online searching, I read about the use of Botox to help reduce the look of a gummy smile. If something as simple as a few injections can make me more confident, I thought, it’s worth doing! I wanted any treatment I underwent to be carried out by a healthcare professional. Your face is something you can’t hide and after reading how injecting in slightly the wrong place can

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After cause unwanted and sometimes deforming results, I wanted to reduce any risks of it going wrong by getting the experience and knowledge of a reputable cosmetic practitioner. I spent weeks searching through all the different clinics, scrolling through pages of reviews and recommendations. Then I came across Illuminate Skin Clinics. Although it was further away than most of the clinics I was contemplating, procedures are carried out by Dr Sophie, who has won many awards, has amazing reviews and is well known in the industry. She has even created her own formulation of Botox. I got in touch straight away. After chatting away to Ellie, the Clinic Coordinator, I was booked in for a free consultation. I was really nervous but both Ellie and Dr Sophie made me feel really comfortable. After a long discussion, Dr Sophie agreed I’d be the perfect candidate for Botox to reduce the rise of my upper lip and possibly lip filler to help fill out my lips. Although slightly scared, I had total faith in Dr Sophie and knew she had understood what my fears were. I wanted to still look natural and still have my own smile, just improved. After a couple of visits and a few injections later, I was well on my way to finally feeling comfortable with my grin. So here are my amazing before and after pictures. Although my smile isn’t totally gum free, I have become so much more confident in myself. It still looks natural and so much better than I could have imagined. If you are looking to get a nonsurgical confidence boost I can’t recommend Illuminate Skin Clinics enough. Injectables are available at Illuminate Skin Clinics, along with other treatments including Coolsculpting, vein treatments, skin rejuvination, non-surgical facelifts, chemical peels, threadlifting, microdermabrasion, clinical facials and treatments for men. There are Illuminate clinics in Kings Hill, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks.

T: 01732 647007 www.illuminateskinclinic.co.uk

LOV E ADV ERTORI ALS

Two million dollar baby New MRI scanner arrives in Tunbridge Wells to improve diagnostics and outcomes for patients

Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital has taken delivery of a new £2 million head-to-toe MRI scanner. The state-ofthe-art, child-friendly machine will improve patient experience and deliver more detailed diagnostic imaging to provide better-informed diagnosis and treatment for people in West Kent and East Sussex. It also increases imaging capability at Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital from three days to five days a week, meaning that the number of patients who can be booked to use it could increase from 120 to 160 a week. The wider bore and built-in entertainment systems also make it a more comfortable experience. But it’s not just available to patients with private healthcare insurance and those who opt to pay privately. This increased capacity will complement the facilities available to all patients in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas, with consultants being able to refer NHS patients. Tim Atter, Director of Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells, said: “We are delighted to be able to make this state-of-theart diagnostic tool available to patients referred through consultants within the NHS, especially younger patients for whom the in-bore entertainment system is likely to be so appealing. It’s availability to the people of Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area will enable their medical advisers to make the best informed decisions about their treatment and may be able to reduce the time patients wait for diagnosis and subsequent treatment.” Wayne Muganiwah, Radiology Manager, added: “The new system is capable of undertaking much more complex examinations in much shorter times, meaning a better experience for patients when they attend in terms of the length of time their scan will take. The scanner also has a wide bore, which means that there is more space between the patient and the scanner, making it more comfortable for the patient, particularly those who may feel claustrophobic during their examination. “This incredible technology from Philips makes our MRI stand out from all the others in the region. Our goal is for the best patient experience during examinations and for them to be as comfortable as possible with the engaging visuals and music they can watch and listen to during their scan.’’ Sam Cowley, Paediatric Nurse, said: “The mood lighting and in-bore entertainment system will be a huge benefit for younger patients and children with sensory disorders.

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Parents can also sit next to the scanner so their child can see them during the procedure. These added extras will make the whole experience much more enjoyable for younger patients and enable us to offer even better diagnostic imaging to inform diagnosis and treatments across our paediatric services.” To discuss diagnostic options, call 01892 882842 www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/tunbridge-wells

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The best fit Why wearing the right-sized bra can help relieve breast pain and discomfort

Most women suffer some kind of breast pain and discomfort at some time in their life. For some, it is a monthly occurrence; for others an irregular but still unpleasant experience. But a good-quality, well-fitted bra can help. Here, Mr Haresh Devalia, a Consultant Breast & Oncoplastic Surgeon at Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital, answers some common questions on the subject of breast pain and bras.

What are the most common health problems among women who wear ill-fitting bras? Can ill-fitting bras cause back and neck pain? Adequate bra support is very useful in relieving cyclical mastalgia. Cyclical breast pain is related to hormonal imbalance and is often experienced before and during menstruation. However, much of the non-cyclical breast pain is also related to the hormonal changes in the body. A wellfitted bra is not going to end the problem, but it could make sufferers more comfortable during such times. Bra support is also important in women with large breasts as it helps to relieve shoulder and back pain. Unfortunately, more than 70% of women wear the wrong-size bra, and that can aggravate the symptoms. In my surgical practice, I have noticed that bra support is important in reducing the post-operative analgesia requirement. In general, most patients with adequate bra support do not need anything other than paracetamol tablets to help with pain relief. At the Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital, all patients having surgery under my care get information and advice on bra support to assist pain relief.

There have been different rumours on the internet suggesting that underwired bras can cause breast cancer. Is there any medical evidence to support this? Underwired bras do NOT cause breast cancer! Evidence suggests there is no link whatsoever between wearing a bra and breast cancer. I don’t know how these rumours get started but there is no research to support this one.

Most women experience general breast tenderness at some stage of their lives. Is there a way to reduce or prevent this? Can sports bras help with breast tenderness? Most of the breast tenderness is related to hormonal causes. Simple reassurance is all that is required, along with an adequate support bra. There is no evidence to suggest that Evening Primrose Oil can help ease tenderness, but reducing fat intake and using phytoestrogens such as soya beans, nuts and cereals or certain fruit extracts can.

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Why is it so important to get a bra that fits correctly? What would you suggest to women who are looking for the ‘perfect bra’? A perfect bra is one which supports the breast adequately against the chest wall. Wearing the right-size bra can help in supporting the natural Cooper’s ligaments which run from the breast skin to the pectoral (chest wall) muscles. Bra size can be accurately measured by using the measurements of the chest wall circumference (measurement taken just below the breasts) and the true breast circumference (the measurement taken at the fullest part of the breasts). However, as quite a few women experience breast engorgement during their periods which can lead to a change in breast size, it is sometimes a good idea to have a larger cup size to get them through that temporary change.

Is it bad for women to sleep in their bras? There is no compelling evidence to suggest that. In fact, one would advise women awaiting a mastectomy and suffering severe pain to wear a bra for 48 hours if the breast pain is excruciating.

French research has suggested that NOT wearing a bra might actually be better for us. French research does indeed suggest that not wearing a bra can improve the tone of breast tissue by increased collagen production and elasticity. One should be cautious in implementing this evidence, though, as the sample size is small and not representative of the population as a whole. Further research and evidence would be needed before we could give clear guidance on this. www.spirehealthcare.com/tunbridgewells

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Food notes

Catch up with the latest restaurant news, produce and foodie events

Fair game

An update from The Kentish Hare

After a busy summer, the months seem to have flown by and here we are already in September and a lot nearer to Christmas! However, we still have autumn to look forward to, a lovely time of year with the muted autumnal colours of the trees and an abundance of blackberries, plums, currants, apples, pears and the beginning of the venison and game season! Bobby Brown, the Kentish Hare Head Chef, and his team have some exciting new seasonal dishes on the menu, so why not book a table and be tempted by everything from Roast Venison Loin with Venison Meatballs, Pickled Blackberries and Blackberry Mustard to Steamed Thai Mussels. He has also included a Plum Frangipane Tart recipe for you to try at home On Wednesday, 14th September by popular request we are holding another Taste of the Kentish Hare Evening with the Tanner Brothers. The evening will consist of a six-course tasting menu with a wine expert present to explain each wine chosen by him for each course. Details of the menu are on our website www.thekentishhare.com. Places for this event go quickly. To book, either telephone 01892 525709 or email enquiries@thekentishhare.com

Plum Frangipane Tart Serves 6

Ingredients

• 125g soft unsalted butter • 125g caster sugar • 125g ground almonds • 3 free-range eggs • 1 pkt ready-to-roll sweet shortcrust pastry or a 25cm ready-made sweet shortcrust pastry case • 4 ripe English plums, halved • 2 tablespoons of plum jam • Flaked almonds to finish

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We are also now taking bookings for Christmas parties and Christmas Day. Menus are on the website or call and speak to Paul or Melvyn for further details.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4. 2. Cream together the butter and sugar in a mixing

owl. Add the ground almonds and eggs and beat b until well combined. 3. P lace the plum halves skin side down on the pastry base. Place the almond mixture in a piping bag with the tip cut to 1.5cm or fitted with a 1.5cm nozzle and pipe it over the plums. 4. Bake for 30 minutes until golden, then cool on a wire rack. 5. Melt the jam over a low heat and when runny, brush on top of the warm tart. Scatter the flaked almonds over the tart to finish. 6. Serve the tart at room temperature with thick cream or Greek yoghurt. KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Season’s eatings

An update from The Warren

September is a very exciting time for us, both on the estate and at the restaurant, as some of our county’s best produce comes into season. Our kitchen brigade will be showcasing the very best of what the Garden of England has to offer as we move from a great summer into the season that is my favourite, and the favourite of our chef and estate manager, too. Looking at the changing leaves on the estate as we gather wild crab apples or Kentish cobnuts and blackberries is a pleasure you cannot measure. During the autumn months we’ll be serving a host of locallysourced game dishes. Pigeon, pheasant, rabbit and venison will be on the menu. They are the most organic, healthy and flavoursome wild foods which are only abundant for a short season, making this the time to embrace them while we can! Our farm-to-table dishes will feature our usual supply of beef, lamb and wild boar, alongside Guinea fowl and duck that we are raising at Crowborough Warren Estate. As the grouse season commences we will also be anxiously awaiting our first delivery, which we will be serving with traditional garnish – a great classic! Our puddings will shift away from the summer soft fruits towards fresh Kentish apples and pears and plums. Mid-week we are introducing themed nights featuring steaks and our hand-made pies, which represent great value and

quality – all in accord with our nose-to-tail dining ethos. And we’re already taking bookings for the festive season and in December our resident pianists will be playing Christmas songs and carols up to and including Christmas Day. So whether you are game for a terrine, consommé or a traditional pie, or want to enjoy our revival of some of the best Great British puddings packed with Kentish orchard fruits, then The Warren is where you belong. See you soon!

www.thewarren.restaurant

Christmas is coming… Get your festive meal or party booked now at Woods Restaurant

Perfectly placed on the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, Woods Restaurant is well known for its fabulous parties and dinner discos. And with Christmas coming, where better to book for a festive meal or Christmas party? Woods has three areas available in their beautiful Georgian building, catering for everything from a table of six to up to 200 people. The Christmas Dinner Menu is available with a Disco Party on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from Thursday 24th November to Friday 23rd December at £34.95 per person on a pre-booked basis only. Disco Parties for a minimum of 50 can also be arranged on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday nights at £29.95. The Christmas Dinner Menu has starters of Butternut Squash, Apple & Cranberry Soup, with fresh bread; Smoked Salmon Trio with Dill Crème Fraîche and granary bread; Deep Fried Brie with Chilli Cranberry Relish; and Duck Paté with Cranberries, Pistachios, Apple Chutney, Cornichons and Melba Toast. Mains are traditional Christmas Roast Turkey; Venison & Root Vegetable Casserole with Dauphinoise Potatoes; Seared Tuna Steak with Festive Braised Red Cabbage, Basil Oil and Champ Mash; and Parsnip, Cranberry, Lentil & Chestnut Loaf. For dessert, go for Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce; Chocolate & Caramel Tart with Hazelnuts & Salted Caramel Ice Cream; Sticky Toffee Pudding; Banana Ice Cream with Toffee

& White Chocolate Sauce; or Duo of Poached Pears with Cinnamon Ice Cream. The delicious Christmas Lunch Menu offers a choice of starters including Tomato & Basil Soup with fresh bread; Smoked Salmon Mousse, Beetroot & Horseradish Purée, Caper Berries and Toast; and Chicken Liver Paté with Red Onion Marmalade and Toasted Brioche. There’s traditional Roast Turkey with all the trimmings, or you can choose Roast Salmon or Wild Mushroom Risotto. Follow up with Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce, or Duo of Poached Pears with Cinnamon Ice Cream. All for just £19.95 per person! It is available Monday to Friday form 21st November to 23rd December, on a prebooked basis only. Celebrate Christmas with a party to remember this year. www.woodsrestaurant.co.uk

Cocktail Kudos

Pick-me-up

We all expect froth on our coffee or a sudsy head on a beer, and now with the launch of innovative Siphon-Evolution cocktail foams, it won’t be long before we do the same on cocktails and culinary creations. Siphon-Evolution cocktail foams are the latest innovation by Albert Adrià, the creative force behind elBulli’s famously pioneering dishes. The Vodka Siphon-Evolution frothed over a Cosmopolitan can make an impressive impact, the Gin Foam is ideal for gin and juniper-cured salmon, and the Sangria Foam is perfect for fruit, creams, jellies and sorbets. Price: from £11.90 www.fbpremiumbrands.com

Using herbs and plants which for centuries have been known to assist with hydration, digestion, detoxing and cleansing, Belvoir Botanical’s Refresh gently alleviates the symptoms of a hangover and aids recovery. The drink contains extracts of milk thistle, known to be a liver tonic, and dandelion, which since the 11th century has been used to cleanse the liver. In addition, Refresh also contains cucumber which aids hydration, mint extract which helps to settle the stomach, and added Vitamin C to also protect the liver and boost the immune system. Refresh is one of four drinks in the Belvoir Botanicals range, each with its own health promoting properties. Price: from £1.70; available from Waitrose and Asda www.belvoirbotanicals.co.uk

Cuppa good health t plus drinks have launched the UK’s first range of vitaminenriched green tea with a targeted health kick for the new generation of health-conscious tea drinkers. A clever blend of fruit, herbs and vitamins means that one cup is 50% of the recommended daily intake of nine essential vitamins. Not only that, but 10p from every box sold is donated to Vitamin Angels – a charity that works to help at-risk populations in need. Every two boxes of t plus sold supplies lifesaving vitamin A supplements for a whole year to mothers and children under five at risk of malnutrition. Price: £3.69 per box of 15 tea bags tplusdrinks.com

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KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Bake off!

The Cake and Bake Show in London and Manchester promises to be a feast of food from some of the countries top bakers. We met two of its stars, Master Pâtissier Eric Lanlard and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain

Meet Eric

Eric Lanlard, Master Pâtissier and twice winner of the prestigious Continental Pâtissier of the Year at the British Baking Awards, has earned himself an international reputation for superlative baked creations for an impressive A-list clientele. He is, according to Vanity Fair magazine, one of the best pâtissiers in the world.

What first brought you here to England?

I came to England to improve my English! Twenty something years on, I am still here and I now consider England to be my home. I was a qualified pâtissier and having had an amazing opportunity to travel as part of my national service, I wanted to see more of the world. I was the pastry chef for the French Navy and created bakes and desserts for presidents and dignitaries. I got to see some beautiful places and had an amazing 18 months during the time I spent at sea. I came to London to work for the Roux Brothers – I was the Head Pastry Chef in their production kitchen aged 22. We made desserts for Harrods and Selfridges, as well as all of the Roux Brother restaurants. We also developed recipes for retailers such as Marks & Spencers.

What are the main differences between baking traditions here and in France?

In France people go to the pâtisserie to buy cakes and desserts – usually on a Sunday after church. They will spend a lot of money and it’s usual to buy a dessert or a cake to take to someone’s home if you have been invited as a guest. Here, it’s much more about home baking. There are a few pâtisseries popping up in London but it’s still not like in France where, no matter how small the town, there is a pâtisserie on every street corner. It’s like stepping into a jewellery store – the packaging and the presentation is a marvel.

a baking school. We run weekly classes at Cake Boy – we have serious bakers, professional pâtissiers and people that enjoy learning a new skill. They are a lot of fun but we do a lot of work and bake some serious cakes!

With your books, classes, TV work and events like the Cake and Bake Show, how do you find time to fit it all in?

I think it was the creativity and the glamour. I wanted to be a pastry chef since the age of six – it was my calling.

Hard work and discipline. I’m lucky – I love what I do and am good at what I do. I start work very early and am the first in my kitchen. I have the same feeling every time I step through the doors – I am excited to be doing what I am doing and to run my own business. I think chef training is about discipline. It’s not easy to work in the food business. You need stamina and enthusiasm. For me, the variety is what keeps me fresh and events like the Cake and Bake Show are a treat – you get to meet your audience and fan base. It’s also a great catch-up opportunity with my fellow chefs and bakers.

You run a cookery school in London. Why did you decide to start teaching people the art of baking?

What do you love most about baking and what do you dislike?

What was it that appealed to you about pâtisserie?

Teaching is what I love to do. I was fortunate enough to have had the best teachers and mentors whilst undertaking my training, and also when I worked in pâtisserie kitchens. I wanted to pass on the tips and craft of baking. It had always been a dream of mine to open my own pâtisserie and to own

Image credit: Kate Whitaker, photographer

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I don’t think there is anything that I dislike. It’s my trade! I love working with new ingredients and interesting flavours. Baking is a science so I also admire the precision that creates first-class results. I always tell my students ‘you must follow the recipe – do not ever attempt to cut corners or miss out steps’.

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How do you develop new recipes?

I travel a lot with my work and for pleasure so I am influenced by that, and also by the food that I eat whilst abroad. I have an instinct for flavours and ingredients that ‘marry’. Sometimes it can be just a visual reference – I love art, so often the creative will stir up a thought of how a cake should look.

You’re famous for your afternoon teas – what do you find appealing about them?

It’s so British – I’m an Anglophile. The influence came from my mother. She too was an Anglophile and would organise family day trips to Devon and Cornwall from our home in Brittany. We’d go off to find an afternoon tea with varying results. I admire the sophistication of afternoon tea – it’s a real treat, yet at the same time a celebration. It’s a great way to catch up with friends and family.

What can we see you doing at the Cake and Bake Show? I will be doing demonstrations based around my latest book Afternoon Tea. I’ll also be updating the fans on my latest news and will have plenty of baking tips to share.

And what do you have coming up in the future?

After the Cake and Bake Show in London and Manchester, there will be more travel in the Middle East – we work with a retail partner and I do lots of baking classes. The whole world is baking mad!

Describe your perfect meal.

At home, it would be a rustic Breton meal – Coq au Vin that is slowly cooked and then some delicious cheese followed by my pear tarte tatin. Le Gavroche is my favourite restaurant and that would be my ‘last supper’ restaurant meal.

Eric’s recipes...

Fresh Fig Cake

Serves 12 Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus cooling Cooking time: 45 minutes I always try to bake with seasonal ingredients, both at work and at home, and I can’t wait for the fig season as I simply love them. In this cake, the fruits are baked in the batter and the finished cake is drenched in a sweet cinnamon and orange syrup.

Ingredients

• 125g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for greasing • 4 eggs • 150g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting • 100g plain flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 150g ground almonds • 9 just-ripe fresh figs, halved

For the syrup

• 200ml orange juice • 70g golden caster sugar • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Method

1. P reheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4.

Grease a 23cm diameter springform cake tin and line with baking paper. 2. I n a large bowl, whisk the eggs and icing sugar together using an electric hand whisk until pale and fluffy. Sift the flour and baking powder together, then fold in with the almonds. Add the melted butter and mix together until smooth. KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

3. S poon the mixture into the prepared tin and level

the top. Arrange the figs, cut sides up, over the surface. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, put the orange juice, caster sugar and cinnamon into a small saucepan and heat over a low heat for 10 minutes until they form a syrup. Pour over the slightly warm cake and leave to cool completely. 5. R emove the cake from the tin and lightly dust with icing sugar to finish. LOV E FOOD AND DRINK

Triple Marble Bundt Cake Serves 16 Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus cooling Cooking time: 45 minutes

I am very proud of my vintage bundt cake tin, as it produces an amazing centrepiece cake every time. This particular cake offers a spectacular surprise – when cut, you will discover a trio of flavours and colours that provide a wow factor for your guests.

Ingredients

• 250g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing • 325g plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 350g golden caster sugar • 5 eggs • 2 tsp vanilla bean paste • 2 tsp baking powder • 2 tbsp milk, plus extra if needed • 20g unsweetened cocoa powder • 1 tbsp raspberry extract • 2 tsp red food colouring

For the icing

• 150g icing sugar • Juice of 1 lemon

Method

1. P reheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/gas mark 3.

Generously grease and flour a 22cm bundt cake tin.

2. I n a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together

until very pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then add the vanilla paste. Sift the flour and baking powder together, then fold in, adding a little splash of milk if the mixture is too stiff. 3. D ivide the vanilla cake mixture into three separate bowls. Mix the cocoa powder and milk into one, and the raspberry extract and food colouring into another. Leave the third one plain. 4. Spoon the plain vanilla mixture into the prepared tin, followed by the red raspberry mixture, and finally the chocolate mixture. Using the blade of a knife, create waves in the batter to form a marble effect. 5. B ake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes. 6. Meanwhile, make the icing. Put the icing sugar and lemon juice into a bowl and mix together. 7. Turn the cake out on to a serving plate and pour over the icing while the cake is warm. Leave to stand for at least 2 hours before serving. 58

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Recipes are taken from Eric Lanlard’s Afternoon Tea published by Mitchell Beazley © Kate Whitaker

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Meet Nadiya

Nadiya Hussain won the sixth series of BBC’s The Great British Bake Off and is now an author, columnist and star baker

How did you get to take part in The Great British Bake Off?

I wasn’t too sure to begin with but my husband felt like I needed to do it. So he filled in the application form and attached pictures. I originally did it just to humour him but the best thing he ever did was to push me to do something I didn’t know I wanted to do.

What is it that you love about cooking?

Picture credit: John Moore

I love being in the kitchen. I love the creative aspect of not knowing what I will make and what I will come up with. The process from start to finish brings me sheer joy! Especially when it is enjoyed and I am sat listening to yummy food noises from my family and friends.

There’s also going to be a two-part BBC1 series called The Chronicles of Nadiya. What’s it about and when can we see it?

Is baking what you enjoy best in the kitchen?

You’re going to be at the Cake and Bake Show at ExCel London. What will you be doing at the show?

I love baking when I’m stressed out. I love just putting everything down and concentrating on one thing and one thing alone.

How has your life changed since you won?

It has changed so much. I was a stay-at-home mum a year ago and here I am today with a totally different life.

Tell us about the Queen’s 90th birthday cake. How did that come about and what was your inspiration for the design?

It came completely out of the blue via a phone call and email. I decided to go for something bold and something simple.

That’s about my travels to Bangladesh where I haven’t been for over a decade. It will be out this year.

I can’t wait to be at the Cake and Bake this year and showcase some of the baking recipes from both my cookbooks. In the Super Theatre I’m going to be cooking my Cherry Bakewell Macaroons and Za’atar and Lemon Palmiers, whilst in the Classroom I’m going to be showing how to get the best out of cooking with kids and cooking Very Berry Muffins and The Goat’s Cheese and Onion Tart from the children’s book.

Describe your perfect meal.

Pink peppercorn steak with crispy sweet potatoes. Then chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.

Tell us about your two books, Nadiya’s Kitchen and Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story.

Nadiya’s Kitchen is exactly that: recipes I love to cook for my family. Not just traditional recipes and not just cakes. It’s cooking in all its variations and in the way my family best enjoy. Bake Me a Story is a combination of modernised fairytales which interweaves ingredients to relate it to a recipe that goes with the story. It’s an ideal medium to work in the kitchen interactively, making it fun, hands-on and interesting with the addition of the story.

Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story is published on 8th September in hardback, price £14.99 from Hodder Children’s Books.

Do you find it easy to come up with new recipe ideas?

It’s something that comes to me when I least expect it. Sometimes I could be in the garden or in bed and if I get an idea I will write it as soon I think of it in notebooks dotted around the house.

How has your family life changed since your success? Life has changed massively!! We have taken a few months to adjust to the changes but we are happier for it.

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

The Cake and Bake Show

Eric Lanlard and Nadiya Hussain will be appearing at the Cake and Bake Show in London, Excel Centre 7th-9th October 2016, and at Event City in Manchester on 10th-13th November 2016 alongside Great British Bake Off winners Jo Wheatley and John Whaite, and our own local baking star Rosemary Shrager. For more information and ticket details, visit www.thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk.

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Nadiya’s recipes...

Star Anise Gingerbread Men Makes about 30 Ingredients

• 175g golden caster sugar • 6 tbsp clear runny honey • 1 tbsp orange juice • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 2 tbsp ground ginger • 1 tbsp ground star anise • 200g unsalted butter • 450g plain flour, sifted, plus extra for dusting • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • ¼ tsp salt • Writing icing tubes, for decoration

Method

1. P lace the caster sugar, honey, orange juice, vanilla

extract, ginger and star anise in a pan over a medium heat and stir until all the sugar has dissolved. 2. R emove from the heat and add the butter. Stir until it has melted, then set aside and leave to cool. 3. O nce cool, add the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt, and bring the dough together. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill for at least 2 hours. 4. Line two baking sheets with greaseproof paper.

Image credit: Joe Woodhouse

5. R emove the dough from the fridge, unwrap it and roll it

out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 0.5cm. Cut out shapes with a gingerbread-man cutter – a 7.5cm cutter will make around 30 biscuits. 6. Gather off-cuts and re-roll the dough as necessary. 7. Place the gingerbread men on the lined baking sheets and transfer to the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up. Preheat the oven to 2000C/1800C fan/gas mark 6. 8. Transfer the sheets from the freezer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until golden around the edges and paler in the centre. 9. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. 10. Have fun decorating your gingerbread men with icing!

Blueberry and Orange Soda Bread Makes one loaf Ingredients

• 400g plain flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 50g caster sugar • 2 tbsp light olive oil • 100g dried blueberries • Grated zest of 2 oranges • 1 large egg • 185ml buttermilk

Method

1. P reheat the oven to 2000C/1800C fan/gas mark 6. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

2. S ift the flour into a bowl, then add the baking powder, salt, sugar, olive oil, blueberries and orange zest and stir to combine. 3. Beat the egg with the buttermilk in a jug. 62

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Image credit: Joe Woodhouse

4. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients with

a spatula, then gently bring the dough together by hand, to form a ball. Don’t overwork it! 5. P lace the dough on the lined tray and make two deep cuts on the top in a cross shape, nearly all the way through. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the base. 6. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Property portfolio Home & garden

Make it a smooth move Moving to a new area and settling in can be particularly stressful, but Justine Docherty can help smooth the way

Local mum and ex-City recruiter Justine Docherty is using her well-honed networking skills and local expertise to help those relocating to Sevenoaks and the surrounding villages. MovingYourLives.com is a personalised service designed to ease families into their new environment. Whether it’s lifestyle advice, guidance navigating the local schools, tradesmen recommendations or a cheery welcome at an exhausting time, Justine and her trusty little black book are on hand to help. The idea for MovingYourLives.com came about when Justine got to wondering what locals know that newcomers don’t. Following some research, she discovered that whilst Kent is undoubtedly a fabulous place to live, it is full of hidden (often unadvertised) wonders that newcomers know nothing about. So MovingYourLives.com was launched as a one-stop shop for busy families seeking to fast-track the hurdles of moving to Kent. Says Justine: “I moved to England from Australia in 1997 to work in London for a recruitment agency. I spent four years in London before moving to Sevenoaks with my husband, Adrian, and daughter, Lucy, in 2003. I now have two children and live in Bayleys Hill, an area just outside Sevenoaks. “When we moved to Sevenoaks in 2003, I didn’t know anyone and, having come from Australia with no local family and friends, I felt very isolated and lonely. “Luckily, on the advice of a neighbour I joined the Kent International Club and within weeks had met a lovely bunch of girls who were in the same boat as me and we all become wonderful friends. Now that my children are growing up, I feel it is time to put my years of experience and local knowledge to good use by offering those moving into this

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area the advice that I would have found invaluable at the time of my move. “Creating those crucial new networks which ultimately help you to feel part of a community can take a lot of time and effort. I can provide the groundwork and links which will bridge the gap to help form your new life in the local community.”

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Home notes

Fresh ideas and style tips on the home front

Learn a new craft with Laura

When Laura Parker gave up her career in London to have her two monkeys (her words, not ours!), she soon realised that she really needed some form of work outside parenthood. She didn’t want to go back to a corporate life and, having always made gifts, clothing and homewares, she decided to start doing craft markets. Then a friend asked her to teach her how to make some 3D snowflakes for Christmas. And that was the start of her company, feckles and fire. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength and Laura now has a permanent home in the basement of the Fine Grind Espresso Bar in Tunbridge Wells, where she teaches adults and children all sorts of creative skills.

The kids clubs are really popular and have become a constant for quite a few boys and girls in the town. Laura has also done six birthday parties so far this year as well as two hen parties, plus some crafting at a beautiful wedding celebration in August. She also holds a monthly pop-up shop in the basement of Fine Grind – its a haberdashery and giftwares shop, so you’ll find fabulous wools and yarns, Liberty fabrics, sewing accessories and a wide range of her handmade items. Says Laura, “In a nutshell, freckles and fire is all about inspiring and nurturing creative spirit. Creativity and crafting is incredibly important and can really help everyone’s emotional stability and development. I feel so, so lucky to be doing this and to be able to help people to learn a new skill or simply indulge in a few hours of creative peace and quiet!” www.frecklesandfire.co.uk

Table art

Designed in Colour have teamed up with Portuguese artistic stoneware brand Bordallo Pinheiro to showcase their beautiful ceramic collection. The collection was founded in 1884 by the renowned Portuguese artist Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro and comprises functional yet beautiful ceramics, which allow nature, humour and joy to be served at the table. Natural cabbage 3-litre tureen, £71.10, melon salad bowl (15cm), £20.60, and orange pitcher, £44.50, all from Designed in Colour and available to buy at Liberty. www.liberty.co.uk

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Getting the boot

With the growing popularity of open-plan spaces, having a designated boot room can be priceless when it comes to maintaining a clean, organised home. However, the perfect boot room is just as much about creating a practical space for the whole family as it is about clearing clutter. Strong wall shelves and coat pegs are crucial, so make the most of any available wall space by making sure you have somewhere to hang coats up to dry. Overhead storage with cubby holes for hats and gloves is always helpful, along with a boot storage bench, which provides storage space as well as somewhere to sit and pull boots on when you’re getting ready to face the great outdoors. Hide wellies and everyday shoes out of the way if you can, but be sure to plan this area close to the door to avoid treading mud through the room. If you have the space, a large butlers sink for rinsing off muddy pets and shoes will prove incredibly useful and practical. How about including some built-in storage for your pooch by creating a handsome pet bed with useful cubby hole storage above for shoes, wellies, dog leads and toys? Rencraft’s team of designers have years of experience in creating stunning bespoke furniture, including storage solutions for boot and utility rooms. Their traditional, classic designs are ideal for making your home as practical as possible, in a way that will look beautiful for years to come. www.rencraft.co.uk

Reclaiming life

Setting up a new business is tough at the best of times, but Chris Marlowe, founder of No.4 Furniture in Heathfield, has had to tackle his own set of challenges. His first career was as a builder and plasterer, but a serious fall resulted in lower body paralysis. While he was recuperating in hospital, he kept thinking back to his childhood love of Lego and how he used to enjoy taking things apart and rebuilding them. Chris vowed there and then to never forget how Lego made him feel, and to keep alive his passion for engineering and building new objects. When he was discharged from hospital, Chris, who is from Tunbridge Wells, embarked on a Robotics degree at the University of UWE Bristol, graduating with a 2:1. But during the course he realised that he preferred to be more hands-on, constructing in real life rather than inputting data on a computer screen, so he set up a property company. Even so, he struggled during the building project – a construction site is not that wheelchair-friendly, he discovered.

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Determined to find a business that would suit his more restricted lifestyle, when a friend showed him a piece of furniture he’d made out of reclaimed scaffold boards, Chris was inspired. Excited to have found something physical that he could do that combined his love of engineering design with a nod to his building roots, No.4 Furniture was born. The furniture he makes is all about seeing things differently, and comes from a love of creating something new out of the unexpected, using unusual, reclaimed or repurposed materials sourced from all over the UK. Chris hasn’t looked back, and in May of this year, he even exhibited at the prestigious Clerkenwell Design Week in London. You can view the No.4 Furniture collection on the website www.no4furniture.co.uk and contact Chris on 0800 599 9422 or by emailing info@no4furniture.co.uk

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Out of this world

For beautiful kitchens and furniture, Neptune’s stunning showroom in Tonbridge is the place to go. Owner James Buck talks about the business When was the company formed and by whom?

We started as Garden House Collections in 2010. We were an independent retailer stocking Neptune kitchens and furniture in a shop on Tonbridge High Street. We very quickly outgrew those premises as Neptune increased its range, and we moved into our current, very large, showroom two-and-a-half years ago.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

We were Neptune customers, whilst renovating our own house. We fitted a Neptune kitchen and were so impressed with the quality and service we investigated the business further.

Have you always wanted to run your own business?

I had been working in the City and the idea of working for myself, close to home and my family, without the commute was very appealing. I work very hard, but it is very rewarding.

How did you get the business off the ground?

We set up Garden House Collections ourselves, with a prominent position on the High Street and lots of local marketing. We soon got lots of lovely, loyal customers. Neptune then approached us with the idea of opening a much larger franchise store, where they assist with the design and layout.

How big was your team when you started and how big is it today?

It was basically just me when we started. The team is now around 15, with four kitchen designers based in Tonbridge, a showroom manager, sales staff and accounts. We have recently opened a beautiful second showroom in Canterbury, and have around the same number of staff working for us there.

What products does Neptune make?

Neptune designs and manufactures all its own products, including the furniture and kitchen cabinetry. We own two factories where products are produced by highly-skilled craftsmen. We believe in making things well, and use traditional techniques, like mortise and tenon joinery.

How has the business developed over the years?

Initially, Neptune was founded by two friends in 1996 – their first product was a hammock. This was followed by manufacturing further ranges of garden furniture, but this was seasonal and not the optimal way to run a business. Progress really came when a range of five items of painted furniture, including a five-foot dresser and stand-alone kitchen island, were introduced. They then launched a kitchen to match and

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the business grew rapidly from there. We now offer a huge range of accessories, upholstered furniture, four kitchen styles, cabinetry and dining furniture – in fact, pretty much everything you would need to furnish your home.

Did you have a big breakthrough or has business grown slowly but steadily?

The business has grown very rapidly in the last few years. Neptune has become a favourite of the interior design media, and they share our view that our easy and classic style offers remarkable value for heirloom-worthy pieces of furniture.

What’s the inspiration behind your designs?

The inspiration for art and accessories is often seasonal, with the focus on timeless design. Our furniture is borne out of a love of quality materials and attention to detail. We make products that can be enjoyed every day; luxury needs to be lived in to enjoy it properly.

Do you create bespoke pieces for customers?

We can resize many of our standard pieces of cabinetry to fit customers’ needs. We just need measurements for our Bespoke Team to manufacture. Our upholstered ranges are available in around 40 fabrics of our own design. We also stock the ranges in a smaller selection of our most popular standard fabrics if you need your sofa or piece of furniture quicker. As well as the standard colours, all our painted furniture and kitchens can be finished in our customers’ choice of any one of around 30 handmixed paint colours.

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How many stockists does Neptune have?

There are approximately 16 Neptune stores in the UK, as well as many stores-within-stores who may only display a few pieces of our furniture. We have a few of our own franchise stores in Europe, but our products can be found in stores from Russia to Monaco.

What can visitors expect to find at your Tonbridge showroom?

A showroom full of beautifully-designed and curated interiors inspiration. There are our four kitchen ranges: The Henley, a warm oak kitchen with large pan drawers and velvet-lined cutlery drawers; The Suffolk, shaker-style, hand-painted with oak features. Inspired by a modest chair from the 1700s spied on a family holiday, it is clean in character, simple and timeless; our Chichester kitchen, our very first kitchen, properly-made components that work together offering a very bespoke look; and The Limehouse, our most contemporary kitchen, handpainted but with strong, sharp lines. It’s full of hidden secrets – stone prisms which divide cutlery, a washing-up store beneath the sink. Alongside our kitchens, we have a vast range of our classic cabinetry on display; including living and dining furniture, bathroom washstands, beds and bedroom furniture and upholstered pieces. Furniture gives a home a framework, but accessories are what bring it to life. We offer everything from the tablecloth to candles for your dining table. Beautifully made and luxurious bedlinen, cushions, rugs along with mirrors and art for your walls. In fact, most things that will make your home feel lived in and loved. Our customers are particularly taken by our bunches of lifelike flowers. Whether you’re coming in for a kitchen or a single stem, there is something that will make you smile every time.

Sum up the ethos of your company.

Making things well, to last, with great-quality materials and craftsmanship, offering great value. We love lived-in luxury; everything we sell should be enjoyed every day. www.neptune.com/tonbridge

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Create a beautiful home Whether you’re renovating your home from scratch or simply want new cushions or curtains, professional advice will help you achieve the best results

Creating a beautiful home can be fun, but confusing too. There’s a wealth of home furnishing, styling and interior design advice and products on the market, so it’s good to talk to someone who can give you expert, impartial advice. That’s just what you’ll find at Battle Interiors. It has been established in Battle for over 25 years, offering everything you need for your home, from cushion-making to a complete makeover service. The small, independent business changed hands in January 2014, retaining the best of the original business but introducing lots of new products and ideas. It prides itself on being a one-stop shop for everything you might need to create a beautiful and functional home.

Clockwise from bottom left: Riley by Heather Fitz, £51, cricket boot door stop, £64.50, bronzed Mr Toad paperweight, £195, fabrics, from a selection, Mackenzie chair, available in different tweeds, £1,375, and Rajah sofa by Michael Tyler, £2,335. www.battleinteriors.co.uk

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Sweet dreams Is it time you replaced your bed and mattress and got a really good night’s sleep?

To get a good night’s sleep, you need a comfortable bed and the right mattress. Research shows that sleeping on an uncomfortable bed could rob you of up to an hour’s sleep. Beds don’t last forever. Even if it looks okay, your bed and mattress may not be giving you the support or comfort you need. So perhaps it’s time you replaced your bed with a new one. When it comes to size, it really does matter. With a larger bed you are less likely to disturb your partner. You should be able to lie side by side, with your arms behind your head and your elbows out, without touching. Ideally, your bed should also be 4-6in (10-15cm) longer than the tallest partner. There are literally thousands of beds from which to choose and there’s no such thing as the perfect type of bed for a particular condition or situation. With so much to take into account when choosing a new bed and mattress, it pays to visit the experts. The Bed Post first opened for business 28 years ago in Lee Green in south London and the company has grown slowly and steadily over the years. Today, it has branches in Sidcup, Petts Wood, Crayford and Dunton Green, near Sevenoaks. The business has expanded not only because of its excellent range of beds, mattresses and furniture, but also because of its level of customer care. The professional Bed Post team really do care about their customers, and growth has been achieved largely by way of personal recommendation from satisfied customers who have spread the word about the superb customer service and care. This was recognised by the London Borough of Bexley in 2007, when they awarded The Bed Post the accolade of Retailer of the Year in recognition of these important qualities. The Bed Post also ensures exceptional value for money by constantly checking their prices against the large high-street retailers and competitors on the internet. This is the reason that The Bed Post can offer their price promise to match any other price quoted on any bed or mattress. The Bed Post also takes pride in offering a delivery service cheaper than anyone else – it’s even free of charge in their van area. Their aftersales service has also been a major factor in their continued success. If you have any problems once your bed has been delivered, they will always be there to provide customer support. To add to the overall package, The Bed Post offers an assembly service, and a morning order from stock means an afternoon delivery and old mattress recycling service. With The Bed Post’s increased buying power backed with their price promise and interest-free credit, they are hard to beat. If you want a wide range of quality beds, mattresses and bedroom furniture from a reliable company who offer outstanding value, a personal and professional service combined with friendly expert advice, visit The Bed Post today.

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From top to bottom: Durham White: Double, £399.99, and King, £449.99 Victoria Chrome: Double, £369.99, and King, £399.99 Anastasia Mink: Double, £299.99, King, £329.99, and Super King, £379.99

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Style your home The latest trends for stylish living This issue, it’s all about metallics. Whether just a few accessories or an all-out-statement like a new kitchen, it’s time to shine.

On the wing

Set of three metallic butterflies tiles in either teal or green, £20. www.arthouse.com

Splat!

Metallic splatter cushion in green or blue, £28 each, metallic splatter cushion in pink, £26, and metallic foiled dhurrie rug, £20, all available from www.oliverbonas.com

Trunk call

Space industrial three-drawer metal trunk chest, £275. www.alexanderandpearl.co.uk

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Shine on

A metallic-effect brings a whole new look to today’s kitchen. The stunning new Liquid Metal Pewter effect finish from Chamber Furniture displays a subtle elegance and contemporary style. Natural wood finishes on the island and seating area blend seamlessly with the full metallic wall cabinets which cleverly conceal storage and appliances. This innovative finish creates a wonderful sheen on the drinks cabinet, whilst deep outsized drawers provide endless storage on the Island. Bespoke kitchens are priced from £40,000. For more information, drop into Chamber Furniture’s extensive showroom in Halstead, near Sevenoaks. www.chamberfurniture.co.uk Tel 01959 532 553

Wild!

Upcycled metallic gold dinosaur planter, £21.38, by DingaDing Terrariums, available from en.dawanda.com, and gold piggy bank, £19.95, by &klevering, available from www.debbieblisshome.com

Metal for petals

Metallic ceramic lattice plant pot, large, £22, and small, £16, available from The Contemporary Home. www.tch.net

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Treasure trove

A shop full of delights old and new Since opening its doors in Heathfield last year, Tinker & Toad has been on the hunt to find you the very best of ecclectic style. Husband-and-wife owners, Miles and Alison Ingram, travel the length and breadth of the country to source beautiful furniture and accessories that are one of a kind – old and new – and also some fun and unusual pieces! Tinker & Toad is a cornucopia of treasures – an Aladdin's Cave of everything from statement pieces to handmade soaps and toiletries. So whether you are looking for an unusual gift, or something quirky for your home, head to Tinker & Toad. Here's a taste of what they have in store...

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The finishing touch

The place to go for the perfect interior As a major fabric stockist, Bell House Fabrics & Interiors has worked for customers not only from Kent and Sussex but often from further afield. They have an extensive and up-to-date pattern book library of designer fabrics and wallpaper, pole solutions for bays and roundels, high-quality curtain making, shutters and blind motorisation. To add to your interior needs, they also mix Little Greene paint and Paint & Paper Library in their shop in Cranbrook. That's why they are the destination for a perfect interior â&#x20AC;&#x201C; here are some examples of their work...

Fabrics featured clockwise from top left: Casamance Calton Hill, Casamance Maral, Sanderson Beaufort Mulberry, and Colefax & Fowler Mirella Old Blue.

High Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3DN t. 01580 712555 www.bellhousefabrics.co.uk

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Garden notes All you need for your outside space

Blooming marvellous Leeds Castle florist wins gold award

An exuberant and colourfully-creative floral interpretation of a Rio Carnival float caught the attention of the judges at the recent RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show to win a Gold RHS Award for Louise Roots, Head Florist at Leeds Castle in Kent. The 360-degree floral design lavishly represents the bold colours, music and costumes from the Rio Carnival when viewed from any angle. Tall purple delphiniums, fushia-pink orchids, bright gerberas in pink and yellow, orange and yellow dahlias, dark pink gloriosa lily and orange roses create an explosion of vibrant colours, shapes and heights. The design also features gold dragons created by Colin Swain, Leeds Castle carpenter, to represent the mythical creatures found at Rio Carnival. Commenting on her award win, Louise Roots said: “I was inspired to submit an entry this year after running the Leeds Castle Festival of Flowers successfully for the past three years and seeing the wonderful creativity from floral designers to showcase design concepts on a theme. I am overwhelmed to win an award on my first attempt at exhibiting at a flower show. My ambition for this year was to get on the competition circuit, so to be awarded Gold is an unexpected honour.”

So vane

The Barrington aged weathervane is made of cast iron that has been deliberately aged. Price: £45

www.gardentrading.co.uk

Light effect

Orla Kiely tealight lanterns. Price: £11.95 each

www.bloomsburystore.com

Perfect planters

These square Royal Elite planters in olive green have a vintage-style crest with a slightly rustic aged finish, are lightweight, UV stable and frost resistant. Price: £29.95 (small) and £49.95 (large)

www.thefarthing.co.uk

Your garden this autumn

• •

Plant hyacinth and amaryllis bulbs for forcing, to ensure colourful blooms at Christmas. Perfect for a home made Christmas present! Plant spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths now • September is a good time to plant new perennials as the soil is still warm but there is generally more rainfall. • Keep deadheading annuals and perennials to extend their performance • Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they've finished flowering (unless they are repeat-flowering, in which case leave them). • Keep your Camellias and Rhododendrons well watered at this time of year to ensure that next year's buds develop well.

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Escape with Kudos Adventure is calling

Small groups, local tour guides giving you an insight into the places they live and characterful hotels in the best locations. These are the three ingredients for an in-depth discovery, and Kuoni has got the recipe right – and the awards to prove it. Here are five reasons we want to book their Taj Tour of India…

Watch the sun rise over the Taj Mahal

The glistening white tomb in Agra is an exquisite monument to eternal love, created by Shah Jahan in response to his adored wife’s dying wish that he should ‘build a tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before’. The Taj’s beauty is truly dazzling and it appears to change colour throughout the day as the gleaming marble reflects the sky.

Explore an abandoned city

Discover Fatehpur Sikri, a magnificent fortified ghost city built by Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16th century to honour the Sufi saint Sheikh Salim. Abandoned soon after its construction when local wells went dry, the wonderfully-preserved city has remained much in its original condition. See Hindu and Persian architecture, including stunning palaces and mosques, as you journey back in time at this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discover an ancient fort

The huge Amber Fort in Jaipur is located on the top of a very steep hill and there’s a good chance you’ll be welcomed by the sound of drumming, much like those who entered the fort back when it was functional. Full of Hindu elements, large open areas and beautiful gates, there is so much to see and explore here. The Maota Lake below the fort was the main water source and there are beautiful gardens waiting to be discovered. With so many nooks and crannies to explore, the Amber Fort cannot be missed.

Travel like a local

A rickshaw is a great way to get about Jaipur. Not only is it a very inexpensive way to travel, but it is how the locals do it. There are two types of rickshaw – cycle and engine-powered – and it gives you a much more personal experience, dodging and weaving between other rickshaws and cars. Although slightly scary at times, it’s fun, exciting and certainly memorable.

Walk in the footsteps of royalty

The City Palace in Jaipur, like many of the palaces and residences of India’s past, is a myriad of courtyards and walkways. Each new leader has added a new section onto the palace, so it’s a real mix of styles, decoration and architecture. Walk through the brightly-coloured peacock gate to visit the Mubarak Mahal (Auspicious Palace) as it houses fine textiles from past royal families. These include those of the 250kg – or 1.2-metre wide – Sawai Madhosingh.

Inspired?

You can book Kuoni’s Taj Tour – Highlights of India with Baldwin’s Travel Group, a Kuoni partner store. Kuoni offers guaranteed 2017 departure dates, small groups, expert guides and single traveller dates on the most popular tours. For more information, please contact your local Baldwins Travel Group branch: Baldwins Travel – Maidstone: 01622 762141 / Baldwins Travel – Tunbridge Wells: 01892 511999 / Baldwins Travel – Tonbridge: 01732 351223 Baldwins Travel – Uckfield: 01825 76048 / Baldwins Travel – Cranbrook: 01580 714411 / Travelux – Tenterden: 01580 764344 Sevenoaks Travel: 01732 458255 / Baldwins Travel – Lewes: 01273 472466 www.baldwinstravel.co.uk/#HolidayInspirations

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Family

Heads up!

Top local headteachers answer your questions

We are considering schools for our son and can’t decide between a single-sex and a mixed school. My husband went to a boys’ school and is keen for our son to do the same, but I think a mixed school would give him more confidence as he grows up – he’s quite shy and although we have two daughters, he seems awkward around girls. What are the benefits of both types of schooling and how can we decide what’s best for our son? Fiona Miller, Sevenoaks

Angela Culley, Headmistress

The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells Co-educational preparatory school for boys and girls aged 3-11 This is the age-old dilemma – single-sex or co-education – and one about which people have very strong feelings, normally related to their own school experiences. It does boil down to personal choice and the individual schools. Every school has its own USP and soul, which you should be able to feel the moment you walk through the door. If you can feel it, your child certainly will. Every head will be the greatest advocate of their school and system, so listen to their arguments, walk around the schools during a working day, look at their teachers and their relationship with pupils and, most importantly, at the pupils themselves, and if possible talk to them. You don’t mention the age of your son and this will have a significant impact on your decision. If he is still of primary age, should you choose single-sex now it will mean he will never have the opportunity of ‘pitting his wits’ or socialising with the opposite sex. If he is moving from co-ed primary to single-sex secondary then he will already have cemented, I hope, some sound mixed friendships.

Shortlist your schools, take your son to visit, organise some taster days and listen to his thoughts, opinions and concerns. He will know where he feels most comfortable and understood. Never forget, a happy child is one who will thrive and grow into the confident adult he was born to become.

Craig McCarthy, Headmaster

Russell House School, Otford Independent prep school for girls and boys aged 2-11 For me, co-education is the better way to educate all children. In Kent, single-sex schools are widespread for largely historical reasons because in truth, there is no conclusive body of evidence that pupils in single-sex schools perform better by virtue of simply being in singlesex schools. Nor is it better because boys and girls have different learning styles. Excellent quality teaching does not recognise gender boundaries and caters for boys and for girls equally. Similarly, a good co-educational school like Russell House will have sound pastoral care at its heart, ensuring that boys and girls are able to get the best from each other’s company and not be inhibited by each other. With universities and employers crying out for youngsters with confidence, self-awareness, rounded thinking skills and those much-vaunted ‘soft’ skills, a good co-educational school provides a natural platform for developing those character facets that will serve them throughout life, both in and out of the workplace. What you need is a co-educational school that will treat your son as an individual and will provide care and extra-curricular opportunities in an environment that naturally looks to the future and reflects the wider, modern world. 82

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Jill Milner, Headmistress

Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks An independent day school for girls 3-18 The long running single-sex versus co-ed debate has understandably placed the question uppermost in some parents’ minds when choosing a school. Parents drawn to hard facts will, of course, know that there is a strong and well-established body of statistical evidence showing that girls are more likely to continue and excel in STEM subjects in a single-sex environment whilst boys’ academic results benefit from having female peers. My advice, however, would be for parents to put the notion of single-sex versus co-ed to one side and consider that other factors are likely to be more important in getting the right match between child and school. For example, does the school’s atmosphere and culture feel right; what sort of class and year group size would best suit their child and what will be the real opportunities for their child to participate in the extra-curricular activities on offer? If the school with the ‘best fit’ happens to be a single-sex one, parents should rest assured that their children will have plenty of contact with boys and girls in the normal way in their out-of-school activities, something which is especially true in the case of day schools.

Kate Elliott, Head Teacher

Bricklehurst Manor School, Stonegate Mainstream independent school for pupils aged 3-11 The purpose of education is to prepare children for life, both academically and socially. The world is full of different people so it is vital that children are able to get on with people of all backgrounds. The main argument for single-sex schooling tends to be that girls’ learning needs are different from boys. The case often presented is that girls tend to prefer cooperative, discussion-based learning, whereas boys tend to dominate discussions, putting themselves forward in group activities. However, ask any teacher and they will know many exceptions to these so-called rules. Boys do not learn like boys, nor girls like girls, rather children learn like children. In a coeducational school, boys and girls learn together, play together, work together and grow together. Integration at a young age means that they’re at ease with one another and consequently more at ease with themselves. What better reason could there be for a shy boy to attend a coeducational school to help him become more familiar and comfortable around others. Finding a small school, where children are nurtured and encouraged to work together regardless of difference, will be beneficial to help him become a secure and confident person in the future.

Antonia Beary, Headmistress

Mayfield School Independent Catholic boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18 Boys can benefit from single-sex education just as much as girls. There are more important considerations than just girls when choosing a school for your son: the quality of teaching, provision of extra-curricular activities that will play to his strengths and broaden his horizons and, most importantly, the pastoral care. A good boys’ school will help your son’s confidence in allowing him to find his strengths, and address his weaknesses without the added pressure or distraction of girls. Boys grow and mature at different rates and learn in different ways: being taught in a way that works for them and directing their energies constructively is what allows them to flourish. When he has established a strong group of friends and wide range of interests (remember more opportunities are available as none of the positions of responsibility, places in the orchestra, or roles in plays have to be shared ‘equally’), he will be better equipped to get to grips with the complexities of the teenage girl. Giving your son the confidence to be himself will allow him to establish positive, equal relationships with girls, boys, men and women in the future. It is less dependent on where he goes to school than what role models he has there and also at home.

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Mike Piercy, Headmaster

The New Beacon, Sevenoaks Independent preparatory school for boys aged 4-13 Having previously been Headmaster of two co-educational schools, I can categorically say that boys ‘achieve’ more in a boys’ school. I use the word ‘achieve’ in the broadest sense: in personal development, academically, in every pursuit and opportunity open to them. Why is this? Teachers can be forgiven for tailoring teaching to the compliant. Boys (generally speaking) learn in a different way to girls: they need challenge, clear boundaries, frequent assessment, deadlines – and to be kept moving. At The New Beacon, there are approximately 40 boys in each year group – from the ebullient and bouncy to the less confident. A good boys’ school caters for every character, calming the lively, encouraging the reticent. Last year’s leavers had sports scholars and music scholars amongst them – the rugby player, the cerebral, the quiet and the noisy. All left as confident young men with learning habits beyond their years, realistically ambitious, empathic, respectful. It is not unusual for boys to be awkward around girls and this tends to go in phases as they grow up. Your son has sisters, while the family environment is clearly (and rightly) aware of social development. Some parents believe that the co-educational school environment prepares children – boys in particular – for ‘the real world’. For children, it really is a co-educational world. School, however, is slightly different. It’s for learning, developing good habits and study skills. Provided that the boys’ school looks after the individual and engenders confidence, there’s no doubt which route to take in my mind – as you may have gathered!

Do you have a question for our Heads? Email: editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

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Preparing for his new role

New Head for Kent College Preparatory School

Nik Pears has been appointed the new Preparatory School Head of Kent College Preparatory School, which educates girls aged three to 11 in Pembury, Tunbridge Wells. Formerly Head of Pre-Prep at Sevenoaks Preparatory School, Nik brings a wealth of experience across the whole age range, having previously been a Sports Coach and Head of Music. Alongside his role at Sevenoaks, Nik is also an Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) Inspector. He is married to Emma, a professional musician and qualified teacher, and is father to Josiah, aged eight, and Jessica, five. Together, Nik and Emma are Ambassadors for We See Hope, a charity working amongst AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa.

Helping hand

Bursary helps local students make the most of their arts courses

Two budding arts undergraduates have spoken about their first forays into university education after securing funds from a partnership between AXA PPP healthcare and Tunbridge Wells’s Trinity Theatre last year. Following an application and shortlisting process, Monica Young and Hazel Low, former pupils of Bennet Memorial and Mascalls School respectively, each secured £500 from the Trinity Bursary scheme, which seeks to assist with the financial burden of studying the arts in order to support and nurture local talent. Monica, 19, from Pembury, now a Theatre Arts course student at East 15 Acting School, says, “This bursary has allowed me to not only travel and see more theatre but also to purchase more plays and actors’ journals to help broaden my understanding and knowledge for my course and my auditions. It has been extremely beneficial and I don’t know what I would have done without it.” Hazel, 19, from Brenchley, studying Theatre Design and Scenic Arts at Wimbledon College of Arts, said: “Receiving the bursary from Trinity was amazing,” as she continues to enjoy studying with “new, likeminded people”. She continued: “It grants me more freedom on the course, such as trips, materials and experiences I may have otherwise lost out on.”

Just champion!

Kent College schoolgirl wins rally championship title

Catie Munnings, 18, took her final A-level exam at Kent College on the same day that she competed in her first European Rally Championship in Ypres, Belgium, and won the European Rally Championship Ladies title! Says Catie: “Ypres rally was a whole new experience for me, and one I will never forget. After crashing during extremely harsh conditions whilst testing on Tuesday, I never thought I would make it to the start of the rally, let alone come over the podium at the finish. For this I owe so much to the team at SainteLoc, from the moment I got out of the car after rolling it to scrutineering, the team worked tirelessly to get me to the start in a scratch-less car. “On Wednesday evening, whilst the team were burning the midnight oil getting the car ready, I was buried in a biology textbook on the way back to the UK for my final A-level exam. That was on Thursday morning at Kent College, where I was met after by the Special Stage Rally Review camera crew, who documented the mad dash back through the Eurotunnel to Belgium in time for qualifying on Thursday afternoon. Although my head was not fully in the exam hall, it went well and by Thursday afternoon, I was not only about to start my first International rally in the European Championship, but I had also finished school for good.” www.catiemunnings.com

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

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Calling all budding young actors and actresses...

Saturday morning drama, dance and singing lessons to a professional standard for children at the Theatre Academy Using Kent College’s outstanding facilities and professional body of specialist staff, the school’s Theatre Academy delivers the drama, dance and singing lessons to a professional standard through small workshops of no more than 18 students on Saturdays, for boys and girls aged five to 18 years old. Staff with specialist knowledge and experience are able to offer support and advice for students who would like to pursue their passion in the Arts. Classes look at skills such as emotion, theme engagement, projection, audibility and clarity, highlighting that the performing arts offers enormous benefits to a child’s development. Each student is encouraged to realise their individual potential,

whether they aspire to have a career on the stage, or simply enjoy theatre as a fun pastime. Students at Kent College’s Theatre Academy regularly perform full-scale productions on stage, with the help of professional sound and lighting technicians. Costumes are hired and sets built to ensure the production is of a first-class quality. Students are also offered the opportunity to take established exams based on the LAMDA syllabus for Musical Theatre and develop their confidence further. Says one parent: “Sophie has thoroughly enjoyed her time at the KC Theatre Academy. Not only has she thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the Saturday morning classes, whether it be drama, dancing or singing, but we have noticed how much she has grown in confidence in all aspects of her school and home life. We were absolutely blown away with the professionalism of the end-of-year performance. We loved the fact that it was inclusive of all ages and abilities and the teachers have an insatiable desire for all students to do their very best whilst having a great time. A big thank you to them all.” For further information or to book a FREE taster session for your son or daughter, contact the Theatre Academy Manager, Gilly Cable, at theatreacademy@kentcollege.kent.sch.uk or 01892 820237. www.kent-college.co.uk/thrive/theatre-academy

Special Kudos Discount Sign up today and receive a 10% discount on your first term’s fees! Book at: theatreacademy@kentcollege.kent.sch.uk using the code KUDOS

Asian adventure

Mayfield School volunteers teaching English to local children A group of volunteers from Mayfield School recently arrived at Siem Reap in Cambodia to teach English to local children. They have rapidly entered into the spirit of their experience, trying new delicacies – sheep’s brain having a mixed reaction – and starting their teaching duties. Lessons have centred on such topics as Family, Home and School, and My Body. ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes’ apparently went down a treat! While the long teaching week is giving the girls a new-found respect for teachers, they have also found time to visit the 400-acre site of Anghor Temples, learn about the basic beliefs of Buddhism from some Buddhist monks, and throw in a bit of local shopping.

Remember, remember...

Alfie is second in National Memory Championship A brilliant memory has won Mead student Alfie Phillipson second place at the final of the National Junior Memory Championships. Alfie, aged 11, was one of 20 finalists who were selected from a field of around 30,000 children around the UK. The Junior Memory Championship is an educational project from The Learning Skills Foundation, promoting memory techniques and learning strategies. Alfie says: “It was great. I really enjoyed it. I didn’t feel too nervous as everyone was very friendly and I stayed quite calm. It was the hardest I’ve ever had to concentrate, and I was very surprised and excited when I found out I’d come second.”

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KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Musical star is Kent College guest Masterclasses for pupils with West End star, Layton Williams Students and staff at Kent College Pembury were given a unique opportunity when they welcomed talented dancer and actor Layton Williams as a guest tutor during the school’s Enrichment Week. Layton instructed dance masterclasses to the school’s most advanced dance students to advise on their upcoming devised pieces. All year groups had a chance to meet Layton during a Q&A session where they could find out more about his background and career. Layton Williams was just 12 when he took on the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London’s West End, as well as a young Michael Jackson in the West End musical Thriller Live. He became well known to TV audiences as Kylie in the BBC2 comedy Beautiful People, and as Stephen Carmichael in the BBC comedy and film Bad Education. In September, Layton starts rehearsals for the West End production of Rent the Musical. Here are some of the questions Layton was asked by pupils: In musicals such as Rent and Hairspray, which have a deeper political and social message to the story, do you think people should pay attention to this or just enjoy the music and dancing? The beauty of a musical is to try and appeal to a wide, captive audience, so you can take a seven year old and they appreciate the glitz and the glamour, not realising, or being aware, of the darker message in the story line that someone older can absorb and engage with. You go to the theatre to be entertained but also end up learning as you watch. There are political and social elements in reality and these are played out in musicals and theatre performances to highlight the importance of addressing them. Did you ever consider going on Strictly Come Dancing? I would absolutely love to do it but because I am professionally trained, I think it would be a tad unfair. I also would be very upset if I went out in the first few rounds! Skating on Ice would be more of a challenge for me, but I think that has ended now.

How did you combine studying and dance when you were younger? During Billy Elliot, we would have tutoring in the morning, then in the afternoon we would rehearse for the show – every single day. I was there for a year learning the show, and then we would have to continue practising and go to dance lessons to make sure we were at the top of our game. I made sure that I put my head down and got the school grades, though. When you’re doing stage shows do you still feel nervous? I don’t really get nervous. Once you feel comfortable in the role, you learn to enjoy it and appreciate each night. If you do something 200-odd times, you won’t get nervous. Is there a type of dance you would like to try? I would love to be able to do Ballroom or Latin dancing, but you have to be realistic about what you can focus on and do to the best of your ability. How often do you train? To be honest, most of my training comes through my work. If I am still for a month or so I will take a dance class. This time around I have four months off between projects so I have decided to teach classes in schools, offering something new each time, giving back, meeting amazing people and making a difference.

Top marks

Primary school’s SAT results beat national average A Tunbridge Wells primary school has achieved its best-ever SATs results, some 12% above the national average and despite the tests becoming tougher this year. Year 6 pupils at Temple Grove Academy, Friar’s Way, scored 65.3% in reading, writing and mathematics, compared to the national standard of 53%. Sam Linton, Headteacher at Temple Grove Academy, joined the school in November 2013 and has overseen a huge turnaround in standards, which have always been considerably below the national average. He said: “I am so pleased for our hardworking 11 year olds who should feel extremely proud of themselves, as well as the staff who have put in a massive amount of effort over the last couple of years. We’ve been on a roller coaster to turn the academy around but it has been completely transformed. The children are proud to come here and their behaviour is outstanding – they are proud of the uniform they wear and of representing the academy in the community.” KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

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Yummy mummy corner Whether you’re a yummy mummy, a loving partner or a doting grandparent, this is for you...

Set up camp

Teepea specialises in beautiful, handmade play tents for children. Each fabric is chosen to inspire creative play and ignite the imagination as well as being hardwearing. Teepea also makes coordinating bunting, cushions and play mats and will take on commissions if a customer has a specific theme in mind. For children, they are fun, cosy, pop-up play spaces that provide a perfect little hideaway in a big big world. For parents, they are the ultimate in convenient toy. They pop up and down in seconds, are easy to clean and store and can be used in the house, in the garden or even on the beach. And unlike many toys they last for years and years.

Despite only setting up the business in November 2015, local mums Ella Blackwell and Emma Jefferys have already won Small Business Sunday, an initiative set up by former Dragons’ Den star Theo Phaphitis, to help small businesses. Teepea is now a member of his business network, and their products will be stocked by his upcoming online marketplace, SBS Shop. The company is so far proving a hit locally, with PUP café, Perk and Pearl and soon Manna all proudly displaying a Teepea, and with three international orders already fulfilled it’s not just local love. Teepeas retail for £125. Giant comfy floormats are priced at £50. Contact Emma and Ella for more information by emailing myteepea@icloud.com or FB: myteepea

Date for the diary!

Halloween Spooktacular Sunday 30th October, 2:30pm-4:30pm Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells This Halloween grab your witches hat and broomstick and head to an afternoon of fiendish, family fun! On the back of two successful sold-out summer parties, #Wild_Child family dance party is back with a bone-shaking bang this autumn. The Halloween Spooktacular will take place over two hours and tickets include a top devilish DJ (playing ’90s dance, garage and Halloween monster mash-ups), Halloween-themed craft activities for all ages at the ‘creepy’ craft station, free photo booth and dressing-up, bubbles, balloons, a giant parachute, colouring wall, frightening face and nail painting, street dance for the over 7s, chill-out area, baby zone and a licensed bar for the parents – all that Thriller dancing is thirsty work! Halloween fancy dress for Mums, Dads and their little monsters is very much encouraged and there will be competitions for the best-dressed throughout the afternoon! Tickets cost £9 each and are available on the Mums the Word website at www.mumstheword.online 88

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KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Fairy magic

Children love the idea of fairies and elves impishly appearing while they are sound asleep. These little ‘Magic Doors’ and a host of fairy and elf-sized accessories help Mum and Dad to interact even more with their children in a land of make-believe. The fairy and elf doors come in a variety of colours and are easily mounted at the base of a wall or on a shelf or mantle using putty that is supplied with the door. My Fairy and My Elf Doors (including a small bottle of magic dust) are priced £20 each. Accessories include a post box, £6, footprints stencil kit, £4, door number stickers, £1, fairy message board, £4, stepladder, £6, fairy tooth pouch, £3, bench £6, magic dust, £5, and milk bottles, £3. There are also Magic Elf and Magic Fairy books at £6 each. www.themagicdoorstore.co.uk

Baby talk

Enjoy a relaxed and stress-free pregnancy and birth The award-winning Natal Hypnotherapy package is a complete home study course in hypnotherapy that will assist women from the early stages of pregnancy to birth and beyond. It will help you to have a relaxed, stress-free pregnancy and birth experience, as well as supporting you in the first few weeks of motherhood. There is even something included for your birth partner. The course is available either in CD and book format or in MP3 format (memory stick) and includes: Effective Birth Preparation – A Practical Guide (book), Pregnancy Relaxation, Effective Birth Preparation – Hospital/Birth Centre, Relaxing Birth Music, Fast Postnatal Recovery, Labour Companion, Breast Feeding Companion and Relaxation and Stress Management. The package explains clearly how self-hypnosis works, how to get the most out of the programme and also offers top tips for birth partners. By practising hypnosis daily before the birth, a woman is effectively rehearsing or experiencing an instinctive birth over and over again in her mind, so that when the actual birth begins, her body will respond in the way she has rehearsed it. Maggie Howell, founder of Natal Hypnotherapy, used self-hypnosis for the birth of her first son in 2000. She was instantly inspired by the power of hypnobirthing and, in a complete career change, trained to become a clinical hypnotherapist. Since 2001, her work has helped over 100,000 women worldwide to have a better birth. Natal Hypnotherapy Premium Home Study Package – CD set and book £60, MP3 £50. www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

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Back to school Send them off with these fun accessories

Finding friends

Nemo and Dory are new arrivals to Samsonite’s Disney Ultimate Collection, which includes a school trolley bag, two backpacks, a wallet, toilet kit and pencil case. There’s also a hard spinner and an upright case. Price: from £14 www.samsonite.co.uk/dory-nemo

Creature comforts

The Colourful Creatures range includes lunch and snack boxes, rulers, notepads and even a cute set of plasters in a tin. The Navigate sets are available in three fun designs (koala, shark and giraffe), and feature an insulated back pack and drinks bottle. Price: from £3.50 to £14.99 www.steamer.co.uk

Go large

BFG fans will love this Roald Dahl stationery set. There’s also The Enormous Crocodile pencil case. Price: £6.98 each www.beckyandlolo.co.uk

Write on!

Encourage young writers with these Magical World Journals in Unicorn or Treeman. Price: £14.99 each www.totally-funky.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

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Business notes A round-up of local business news

Who’s for coffee? Founder of digital media coffee publication wins Young Entrepreneur Award Congratulations go to 24-year-old Henry Wilson from Kent, who received the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe’s Excellence Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year for his digital media site, Perfect Daily Grind. Two years ago, Henry Wilson was a trainee barista in Ecuador. A year ago, he was a Management Consultant. And today, he’s the CEO of Perfect Daily Grind, one of the fastestgrowing web publications on speciality coffee. Henry’s love of coffee and understanding of business principles have proved to be a winning combination. He founded Perfect Daily Grind in June 2014 and since then, the site has seen an 850% increase in readership to over 170,000 monthly views – not to mention a social media following of over 70,000. Perfect Daily Grind publishes a wide range of articles on the speciality coffee industry, from experimental farming techniques to the economics of the global coffee market, and from HR advice for café owners to roasting guides. It aims to be at the forefront of innovation in the digital coffee world, and has become renowned for its unique content that shines a light on the industry. www.perfectdailygrind.com Photo credit: Joel Smedley for Perfect Daily Grind

Photo credit: Camilla working from life in Kenya by Thomas Rowell

Iconic white rhino captured Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, is remembered in bronze and shortlisted for an international art prize In a statement against extinction, Camilla Le May – an awardwinning Sussex-based artist – has sculpted Sudan, the world’s rarest large mammal and the last male of his species, with the bronze being shortlisted for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of

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the Year award. Known for her life-size bronze of the Household Cavalry horse, Sefton, Camilla Le May decided to sculpt the elderly Sudan with some urgency, given his species are on the brink – only three remain. Her aim: to preserve the memory of this iconic animal, in bronze, least we forget, and to draw attention to the northern white rhino’s plight. The bronze was also conceived to raise funds for rhinos with the first edition already auctioned at the Wild Aid Charity Gala in Beverly Hills. Camilla’s sculptures have raised $71,000 for various charities since 2000, with over half of this for rhino conservation in Kenya. No northern white rhinos remain in their war-torn home ranges, having all been poached for their horn, which is prized in the east as a traditional Chinese medicine and worth more per kilo than gold. Ironically the horn is keratin, like our nails, and has no medicinal value whatsoever. Sudan was captured from the wild at the age of two, in 1975, and taken to the Dvur Kralove Zoo, Czech Republic, then in 2009 moved to The Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya, with three others. It was hoped that the climate and rich grasslands would provide favourable breeding conditions but sadly it was in vain. Scientists are now endeavouring to save the species, using IVF and stem-cell techniques. Camilla’s latest donation of $3,000 will fund laboratory equipment needed by the vets for this effort. www.camillalemay.com

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Is your Apple Mac in Apple-pie order? Richard Ellis McCallum from A&E IT explains why supercharging your current Mac can make it perform better than it ever did. Even when new... If your Mac is a few years old, you may have noticed it beginning to slow down. It may regularly display what is known as the ‘spinning beach ball’. Whatever the symptoms, you’ll certainly know how frustrating it is to work on a computer that is no longer running at its best. Your thoughts will probably turn to replacement and the inevitability of investing a sizeable sum in a freshly-selected Apple. Well my advice is don’t. There are plenty of ways your current machine can be made to run faster and more efficiently than it ever has. New technology can be applied to older machines and the performance benefits are immediate. You will certainly save money and end up with a more versatile machine than can be bought new. It will last just as long too! Moving to a new machine is never plain sailing no matter what the marketing men tell you. Vital software tools have to be reinstalled and licensed, the machine must be connected to an existing Apple ID to protect your Cloud data and most importantly of all, your irreplaceable personal files such as photos, videos, documents or music must be properly migrated. Not all Apple specialists can guarantee to do this successfully. Official Apple stores may only do the bare minimum and will not reconnect your wireless or your email accounts for example. Retail chain or department stores will offer even less support. When it comes to

anything more complicated than swiping your credit card for a new machine, they’ll more than likely leave you to sort your own devices. It makes no difference if you choose new or opt to supercharge what you own; for a turn-key upgrade solution with professional data migration, you need experts with the specialist skills and genuine know-how to properly set up a new Mac, or propel your slow-running computer into the high-octane world of Usain Bolt. A&E IT are local leaders in the provision of custom designed, highperformance upgrades where both blistering speed and high data capacity can be applied to virtually any Apple Mac built since 2008. The data migration service will deliver a machine fully configured and ready for work. No other specialist offers such a complete and tailored service. A&E IT will even collect your ailing machine and then professionally reinstall it in your home or office completely free of charge. A&E IT calls this ‘SpeedThrills’. The ‘SpeedThrills’ program is the epitome of a customer-focused ‘turn-key’ upgrade service and clients have consistently rated it with 5 stars on Google+. To learn more about ‘SpeedThrills’ visit www.aande.it/speedthrills. If you’d like any other Apple advice or service then please email gethelp@aande.it anytime or call 07701 079954.

Local gym goes global Workouts, diets and encouragement, wherever you are in the world Award-winning Tonbridge gym The Strength & Conditioning Institute (The SCI) has launched an online service which delivers world-class training and nutrition programmes directly to Internet devices around the world. THESMARTCOACH is the brainchild of National Level Strength & Conditioning Coaches Alex Shoebridge and Martin Shyvers, and filmmaker and photographer Christopher Shoebridge. The service will deliver the world-class body transformation programmes for which The SCI has become renowned, directly

to smartphones, tablets or desktops. No matter where in the world users are, an internet device will provide 24/7 access to the very best, along with personalised health, fitness and nutrition instruction. THESMARTCOACH benefits from Martin and Alex’s more than 30 years’ combined knowledge and experience as National Level Strength & Conditioning Coaches along with the skills of professional chef Ben Sulston. The service aims to help people achieve their goals, change their lives, and dramatically improve their health, anywhere in the world. Director and Head Coach Alex Shoebridge said: “We provide a level of training and expertise for people of all ages and abilities previously unseen in the sector, and this is what has lead people from all over the UK, and from as far afield as Australia, to contact us for guidance. THESMARTCOACH means that anyone with an Internet device can now benefit from our expertise and revolutionise their health.” Martin Shyvers, fellow Director and Head Coach said: “Our mission has always been solid but simple: to improve the health of every single person who walks into The SCI. The development and launch of THESMARTCOACH now allows us to expand and realise this vision on a global scale.” Twelve-week courses are available for £127.50, and offer detailed workout videos, healthy cooking tutorials based on carefully devised and balanced recipes, and continual encouragement and guidance. For more information, contact Sarah Crichton on 07764 491241 or email sarah@thesci.co

Top award for Sarah Cranbrook personal trainer wins top award Cranbrook-based personal trainer Sarah Maxwell has been named as Kent Personal Fitness trainer of the year 2016. Sarah, who has been a personal trainer for over two decades, has trained a wide variety of clients, ranging from celebrities such as Loose Women’s Andrea McLean and Anton du Beke of Strictly Come Dancing and sports teams such as Harlequins RFC, as well as hundreds of ordinary men and women. Since moving to Kent five years ago, she has established a thriving business, building a new personal training client base, as well as running open-air fitness classes in Goudhurst and Cranbrook. Sarah also arranges and hosts regular health and fitness retreats in Seville in southern Spain. Originally from Newcastle, Sarah is married with two children and therefore appreciates the demands of juggling full-time work with children and a busy social life. “I am thrilled to win this award, the competition included many of the fitness finest in Kent,” says Sarah. “My philosophy is pretty simple: I cater for real people, with attainable fitness regimes that fit around people’s busy lifestyles. I don’t believe in dieting, excessive amounts of exercise or obsessive approaches to health and fitness. But I really love meeting so many different people, and hopefully helping them increase their fitness and confidence along the way.” www.sarahmaxwell.co.uk

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KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Helping hand A round-up of local charity news

Stars turn out for ellenor

Local charity chosen to benefit from remarkable event Every year, BGC Partners – a global financial brokerage – commemorates the loss of 719 of its employees in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre on 11th September 2001 by hosting its BGC Charity Day, and this year will see a new charity face among the big names. Kent hospice care charity ellenor has been chosen as one of only a very few local charities nationally to be hand-selected to take part in and to benefit from the day, following a rigorous four-month selection process.

On a wing and a prayer Supporters fly high for Pepenbury

Two dedicated supporters of Pepenbury, a local learning disability charity, took to the skies recently to challenge themselves to a wingwalk to fundraise for a new minibus. Pepenbury volunteer Angela Cartwright described the experience. “Frances and I arrived at Headcorn and changed into our fantastic Superwoman costumes. By the time we eventually took off, at about 6:30pm, the wind had completely died away. We zoomed over the aerodrome and surrounding fields, travelling at 100 miles an hour from a height which made everything look

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

This remarkable event sees a carefully-selected group of good causes represented by hundreds of celebrity ambassadors, including actors, sports personalities and royalty, who take to the trading floors at BGC’s offices in Canary Wharf and around the world, to raise money for charity, with 100% of its global revenues on the day being donated. Over the past 11 years, BGC Charity Day has raised a phenomenal $125 million for charity. ellenor will be represented on the day by TV property expert Phil Spencer, ITV’s Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins, Tom Parker of platinum-selling boy band The Wanted, BBC journalist and presenter Chris Hollins, TV presenter Gethin Jones, and England and Kent cricketer James Tredwell, amongst others. Says Rachel Holweger , Director of Fundraising for the charity, “We are absolutely delighted and thankful to have the support of not only three of our dedicated celebrity ambassadors, but also from some other well-known faces who are all generously giving up their time to help families in need of our care.” Funds raised on the day will go towards the provision of ellenor’s unique in-home oncology service to children, meaning that children living with cancer can receive their cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, in the comfort and security of their own home. BGC Charity Day is held in BGC offices across the globe including: London, New York, Paris, Hong Kong, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, and other locations. This year’s event is to be held on Monday, 12th September 2016.

minuscule. The worst bit about the whole adventure was climbing up onto the top wing of the plane to be strapped in.” Angela Cartwright has been a volunteer at Pepenbury for the last eight years. Having previously abseiled down the Spinnaker tower and Express Tower, she is well used to the dizzying heights. Says Angela: “I am a passionate supporter of Pepenbury and the great work that goes on there helping adults with learning disabilities. We were aiming to raise £10,000 in sponsorship to enable them to buy a new minibus. We are delighted that we are very close to our target now. It’s something they desperately need and I’m really happy to help them achieve that.” Although both ladies agreed it certainly felt like a lifetime before they were back on solid ground, they thoroughly enjoyed their experience up in the skies. Pepenbury Fundraising Manager Camilla Slattery said, “It is thanks to people like Angela and Frances that we can continue to develop new initiatives here and purchase new equipment. We are so grateful to them and everyone who has sponsored them. The minibus will make such a difference to the people we support to enable them to get out and attend activities in the community.” If anyone would like to sponsor these brave ladies, please post your donations to Friends of Pepenbury, Cornford Lane, Pembury TN2 4QU.

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Fighting back Liz Norton hasn’t let cystic fibrosis stand in her way, as her book Step Back, Move Forward, reveals

Liz Norton is nothing if not a fighter. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of six weeks, her parents were warned not to expect her to live beyond her teens. It was heartbreaking news for Liz’s devoted mum and dad, who had thought long and hard about having a second child, after their son, then nine, was born with the same condition. There was a 25% chance their new baby would also have CF – and the odds proved not in their favour. Yet feisty Liz, now 34, has defied all the odds. A self-confessed bookworm – partly fuelled by weeks spent in hospital – she excelled at school and graduated from university not only with an honours degree, but a Masters and, most recently, a PhD. She completed her ‘bucket list’ of things to do before reaching the age of 30 and has now written an inspirational book to help others overcome their fears to achieve their potential and ambitions. Step Back, Move Forward is a fascinating mix of Liz’s own life story and valuable advice gleaned from the lessons she has learned on her fairly rocky road through life. Not only did she have to endure a debilitating drop in lung function and chronic stomach pain – a common side-effect of CF – but she also had to watch her beloved brother die at the age of just 21 from their shared condition. A year later, her heartbroken father suffered a breakdown, leading to his early retirement and, she believes, early onset dementia, which ultimately led to his death in 2014. Liz is a seemingly-confident, chatty and bubbly public speaker. But appearances can be deceptive, as Liz is the first to admit. And, as she battles on, tackling her illness with a time-consuming daily routine of vapour inhalation, medication, physiotherapy and exercise, she remains optimistic that the longer she fights, the closer medicine will come to finding a solution which will help the next generation. One gets the impression the sky’s the limit for this formidable young woman who truly believes there is no such word as “can’t”. Step Back, Move Forward is not – nor was it designed to be – a sorry tale of Liz’s problems. Instead, it takes a humorous, yet serious, look at how everyone can change their lives by looking at it from a different perspective.

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Liz says: “I’m not special – and that’s the point. I’m an ordinary person who has had some extraordinary experiences and has learned to deal with them. The fact that people come to me for both personal and professional help is an absolute delight to me.” Written in Liz’s own inimitable style, the book doesn’t set out to lecture, but to give plenty of food for thought – and sets targets that all of us can achieve. “Putting yourself first is not selfish and limiting your activities is not a weakness. We live in a society where ‘having it all’ is the ultimate goal and people who don’t go all out in every aspect of their lives are branded lazy or unambitious,” she says. “I believe that the meaning of life, if there is one, is simply to be happy.” Liz admits she doesn’t always succeed in being happy and said: “I am not a motivational writer and speaker because I am happy all the time; I am a motivational writer and speaker precisely because I am NOT happy all the time, but when the worst does happen, I tackle it head on. “I am a fighter. Not a victim, not a survivor, but a fighter. I fight my challenges every day and I get knocked back by them on a regular basis, but I keep fighting and I have developed tools to help me do so. My reason for writing this book was not to tell my own story, but rather to help those who read it to understand how I have kept fighting all these years and how, if they choose to, they can do likewise.” “Ultimately, what you have to realise is you cannot simply sit back and wait for things to get better. If you expect the universe to fix things for you, you are bound to be disappointed. Even when a situation is seemingly out of your control, such as illness or financial crisis, you can still take steps to make things better. “You need to take a stand and fight back against adversity and, if platitudes and niceties aren’t working, try getting stubborn and saying to your challenges – Don’t. You. Dare.” She concludes: “It takes hard work and commitment to improve your life, but by taking responsibility for your own betterment, you are one step closer to overcoming your challenges.” Step Back, Move Forward is available in paperback on Amazon, price £12.97, or Kindle edition, price £9.99. www.liznortonpresents.com

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016