Your free
lifestyle magazine for Kent and East Sussex
Issue 19
2
Hello Welcome to the November/December issue of Kudos. The build-up to Christmas is always a busy time of year, what with present shopping and planning for the festive break. In this issue, we’ve hopefully made things a bit easier for you with plenty of gift ideas for the whole family – even the dog! We’ve also found some delicious recipes from around Europe to give your Christmas menu a bit of a twist. We particularly liked the Saffron Buns and Pain d’Epices. Why not try them – and our other recipes – yourself? This is also the time of year that panto comes to town. This year, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs hits the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, starring Su Pollard as the Wicked Witch. Oh, yes she does! We talk to Su about Hi-di-Hi!, her singing career – and her passion for ironing! If you prefer drama to laughs, then you’ve got a treat in store. Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit, The Mousetrap, is also coming to Tunbridge Wells. We meet Lewis Collier, who plays Detective Sergeant Trotter, in this touring production. Looking for a new Christmas outfit? Then look no further than our NEXT fashion pages. We photographed on-trend outfits in the stunning location of Leeds Castle – they’re perfect for those Christmas parties. But along with all the fun and festivities, November is the time that we remember those who died in the war. Alexis Casdagli tells the story of her father, Major A T Casdagli, who met the Second Earl Haig in a prison camp and became a subject for one of the Earl’s paintings. The story of that painting’s 14-year journey from Germany to Hertfordshire makes fascinating reading. I also share my own grandfather’s war experience, and our panoramic photograph on page 6 is of Cite Bonjean Military
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
Advertising Sales:
sales@badbettymedia.co.uk
Cemetery in Armentières, France, which our photographer Matt Harquail visited recently. We also have our regular features, including local hero, British National Carriage Driving Champion, Anna Grayston. Have a wonderful Christmas. See you in the New Year!
Hannah Tucek Publishing Director
Contents 8 Kudos loves... 10 News & events 23 Pets corner 27 Love celebrity 30 Love fashion 46 Men only 50 Love health & beauty
Kudos is published
52 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.
74 Love home
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.
4
WELCOME TO KUDOS
63 Christmas gift guide
78 Love garden
27
82 Love education
90 Love business
86 Love family
98 Love heroes
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
6
Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery,
Armentières, France
LIV E LOC AL
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
11am
Taken by Matt Harquail
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E LOC AL
7
Things we love this issue
Country-house style Christmas Day is all about the traditional dinner with your family and loved ones. Oh, and the presents, of course! The kitchen is the hub of the home and this stunning bespoke kitchen from Chamber Furniture is where we would love to be cooking our festive meal this year – if only! It features solid, clear-lacquered walnut units combined with cool grey quartz worktops, creating a very traditional grand country house feel for this modern home. The island features the latest Gaggenau appliances, including an induction hob, a teppanyaki grill and a Quooker boiling water tap, keeping everything close to hand for a spacious and easy working space. A matching freestanding walnut cabinet encases two wine fridges with a central display area. In-frame outsized doors and drawers throughout the kitchen provide endless storage and have been designed to work in harmony with the room’s proportions. Kitchens start from £40,000. For more information, visit www.chamberfurniture or call 01959 532553
8
KUDOS LOV ES
Festive fragrance Fill your home with the smell of Christmas with All About Eve candles and diffusers, from Skinners of Tunbridge Wells. Available in a variety of fragrances – the Fig & Cranberry is the perfect festive scent. Price: Candles, £21; diffusers, £25
www.skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Down the lane A Slice of Eggpie Lane – Poems of a delicate essence and delight, created by David Jinks and Alison Berry, is a nonsense poetry book that describes creatures and adventures down Eggpie Lane, a real place just south of Sevenoaks. Traditional in style with the odd contemporary twist, David’s poems are influenced by the likes of Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll and Spike Milligan. Alison has illustrated the book with pen-andink drawings and published the book under the name Sense in Nonsense Publishing. They perform the poems at schools and festivals and run illustration workshops. Bound in a dark green hardback cover with gold foil block design, the aim has been to create a quality book that will be treasured. The poems are thoroughly enjoyed by children aged five to 11 years, but the quirkiness of the book also entertains adults. The book, which would make the perfect Christmas present, is currently for sale for £16 from Sevenoaks and East Grinstead bookshops, as well as from the website where signed prints are also available. www.sense-in-nonsense.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
KUDOS LOV ES
9
Upfront What’s new and happening
Open house
The Secret Manor lets visitors in on its secrets On a beautiful sunny day in September, we popped along to a special open day at Mabledon, also known as The Secret Manor, which opened its doors to the public as part of the Heritage Open Days Festival. Owner Boo Saraff was joined by Tunbridge Wells Mayor David Neve and 350 visitors during the day. Says Boo, “The Tunbridge Wells Civic Society were instrumental in making the Open Day the success it was. If you missed out this year, do look out for us next September, as we are planning to open the house to the public again.” We also have to give a big mention to Juliets in Tunbridge Wells who provided the catering. There were the most delicious sweet potato towers with carrot, spring onion and smoked chilli, topped with a poppy seed, pumpkin and sesame crust, served with herb yoghurt dip, and, according to our Publishing Director, “The best brownies ever!” In fact, Hannah – heavily pregnant at the time – was so impressed with the brownies and carrot and walnut cake, she snuck off with about 10 of them for the journey home. Well, she was eating for two! If you would like to book The Secret Manor for your party or special event, email info@thesecretmanor.com www.thesecretmanor.com
Poetry, please
Local author wins an award for inspirational book David Ellis, an award-winning author of poetry, fiction and music lyrics from Southborough, has been awarded a silver medal in the Poetry Inspirational Category of the US-based 2016 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award contest for his poetry collection, Life, Sex & Death. Life, Sex & Death is David’s first full-length collection of emotional, contemporary poetry that celebrates time-honoured themes, predominantly love and romance, inspiration and philosophical musings, and finds new and interesting ways to present them. Say’s David, “I’ve been writing poetry and song lyrics for several years now, so to receive this Readers’ Favorite Award for my words means the world to me. “Time and again, I have been told that I am a very inspirational poet and that I give people hope, kindness, courage, fun and encouragement in their lives or I inspire them to create great works of art. I am humbled and feel privileged to have won the award, which I believe is a proud moment for Britain, for the people of Kent and especially the people of Tunbridge Wells. I would encourage all writers to not be afraid to submit your work for praise, to remain passionate about your craft, to find new ways to share your work
10
LOV E NEWS
The Readers’ Favorite Award ceremony took place in October in Miami. David was unable to attend but created his own award picture with a borrowed Olympic silver medal, Champagne and his little lucky giraffe mascot, Chico!
wherever possible and to never quit, for the journey to success might require one more single step.” Learn more about the book at readersfavorite.com/book-review/ life-sex-death or email David at: davidellisbusiness@gmail.com
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Out and about with
Kudos
5th November
Penshurst Vintage Christmas Fair, Penshurst Village Hall
Showcasing vintage homeware, clothes, jewellery, furniture and gifts, this fair is a must for all lovers of vintage. Enjoy live music from past decades by Miss Vintage and stop for a well-deserved break in the pop-up tea room by Dolly’s Diner. Open 10am-4pm. Entry is £2 with proceeds to the Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance. www.cherishthevintage.co.uk
Christmas on the Home Front at Kent Life
16th November
The Christmas Collective, The Royal Wells Hotel, Tunbridge Wells
Three local businesswomen are launching an exclusive evening of ‘sipping and shopping’ to kickstart the festive season in Tunbridge Wells. The Christmas Collective, organised by Emma from Little Mole Boutique, Emma from Peas-in-a-Pod and Zoe from Ollie and Roo, will be held from 6pm – 9pm in aid of the Tunbridge Wells Pickering Cancer Smile Fund. The evening event promises a selection of 13 hand-picked Christmas collections from top local businesses and designer makers. It will give Tunbridge Wells shoppers a great weekday treat and start their Christmas shopping with unique finds and bespoke gifts for the whole family. There will be a £2 entry fee and raffle with all proceeds to the Pickering Cancer Smile Fund. To find out more, please ‘like’ The Christmas Collective facebook page at TheChristmasCollectiveTunbridgeWells or Instagram account @thechristmascollective
19th November
Autumn Concert, St Dunstan’s Church, Cranbrook
Cranbrook Choral Society’s Autumn Concert is a performance of The Season’s by Joseph Haydn. His work is a celebration of the seasons of the year, from spring to winter’s end, featuring a magnificent overture, glorious choruses and sublime arias. Sung in English, the choir will be supported by the Cranbrook Sinfonia, an orchestra of mainly professional musicians, and guest professional soloists. Time: 7:30pm. Tickets are £15. www.cranbrookchoral.org.uk
25th November
Nigel Kennedy plays Hendrix, Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival proudly presents Nigel Kennedy Plays Hendrix. The world’s biggest-selling classical violinist of all time, maestro and maverick Nigel Kennedy performs the music of Jimi Hendrix for a very special exclusive UK concert. In 1967, a young and emerging Jimi Hendrix performed at the Brighton Dome which, almost 50 years on, makes this unique event even more poignant. Kennedy, who was born in Hove, Brighton, is a lifelong fan and has been heavily influenced by the music of Hendrix. This concert sees the virtuoso work with a brand new international lineup, including guitarist Doug Boyle (regular collaborator with Robert Plant), 18-year-old guitar prodigy Julian Buschberger, vibraphonist Orphy Robinson (founding member of The Jazz Warriors), and leading European rhythm section Tomasz Kupiec and Adam Czerwinski (the Jarek Smietana Band). Tickets from £32. To book, call 01273 709709 or visit www.brightondome.org
12
LOV E GOING OUT
25th November
Pride And Prejudice, Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
This adaption, by Two Bit Classics, which toured the UK in 2014 to wide acclaim, offers a unique experience, as two actors – playing 21 characters – bring fresh energy and intimacy to Jane Austen’s novel. Switching – via innovative and often entertaining quick changes – between the double acts of Elizabeth and Darcy, Mr and Mrs Bennet, Kitty and Lydia, and the rest of Austen’s beloved characters, performers Joannah Tincey and Nick Underwood deliver a unique and masterful version of this English classic. To book tickets visit www.trinitytheatre.net or call the Trinity Theatre Box Office on 01892 678 678.
26th November
Silver Soiree, Salomons, Tunbridge Wells
Celebrate 25 years of providing hospice care in the South East with Hospices of Hope. Starts: 7pm. Carriages at midnight. Tickets are £40 per person (10% discount for booking a table of 10) to include a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, three-course meal, wine and coffee, followed by dancing. Dress code: best party attire with a hint of silver! Contact Amy on 01959 525110 / amy@hospicesofhope.co.uk
26th & 27th November
Artisan Gift Fair, The Canterbury Tales
The fair will fill the award-winning attraction, transporting shoppers back in time to browse gifts from a host of talented Kent artisans and crafters, surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of 14th century England. Entry to the gift fair is free throughout the weekend. www.canterburytales.org.uk
26th & 27th November
Christmas on the Home Front, Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, near Maidstone
Find out how to ‘make do and mend’, learning how civilians coped with rationing by preserving and re-styling clothes from the era; and discover how to rustle up some genuine 1940’s recipes issued by the Ministry of Food – including a sponge cake made with liquid paraffin instead of fat – at a wartime cookery demonstration. Other activities include drill displays by the Home Guard, a 1940’s school lesson, shops from the era and a rehabilitation centre for injured RAF pilots. www.kentlife.org.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
30th November – 11th December
The Garden Of Stars, Southover Grange Gardens, Lewes
The gardens will once again be transformed into a festive outdoor wonderland, with arts producer Enchanted Places returning to stage a new production featuring spectacular lighting, projections, visual arts, theatre and sound installations. The event has been inspired by the constellation of stars, the Christmas star in the East and navigation by stars. Visitors are being encouraged to journey through the garden to see which stars will light their way and discover stars that have fallen to earth. www.enchantedparklewes.co.uk
3rd December
Singers Christmas Concert, Uckfield Civic Centre
The Singers will be performing a range of music, from traditional carols to seasonal popular and choral music, as well as a medley from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. There will also be guest appearances from Tom Wasels & Oscar Richardson, and Zoe Mattelaer & Andrea Lobley. Time: 3pm. Tickets will be on sale at Gale & Woolgar in Uckfield High Street, Adults £7, children £5. The raffle will support Sussex Air Ambulance. www.uckfieldsingers.co.uk
3rd December – 2nd January
Tale of Christmas, Leeds Castle, near Maidstone
Visitors will delight in the wonderfully-themed Beatrix Potter rooms in the castle. The annual Christmas Market will take place from 10am to 5pm on selected dates in December with a splendid array of seasonal gifts, toys, festive decorations, specialist food and drink and a chance to meet the reindeer and birds of prey. In the centre of the market, visitors can enjoy a nostalgic fairground with rides on the Victorian carousel and the high-flying ‘chair-o-planes’, or a leisurely trip on the big wheel for a spectacular view of the castle, plus a festive programme of live musical entertainment. The two on-site gift shops will be stocked with up to 40 lines of Peter Rabbit licensed merchandise, and a series of events including Beatrix Potter storytelling, wreath-making and visits from Father Christmas, will ensure that all visitors to Leeds Castle become re-acquainted with the magic of Beatrix Potter this Christmas. www.leeds-castle.com
14th December
Sloe Gin World Championships 2016, George Inn, Frant
Artisan sloe gin makers from across the world will gather at the George Inn village pub to vie for the coveted ‘Sloe Ginster World Champion’ title for 2016. Sloes, a smaller relative of the plum, are used to make the red liqueur normally with an alcohol content between 15% and 30% abv. Traditionally it is made by infusing gin with the bitter-tasting drupes, using sugar to extract the sloe juices. All proceeds from the event are donated to the MS which supports people with Multiple Sclerosis. For further information on entering the Sloe Gin World Championships, visit www.moondown.co.uk
17th & 18th December
Medieval Christmas Experience, The Canterbury Tales
Guests will start their adventure at the Tabard Inn, where Santa’s elf will be busily wrapping gifts in front of the roaring fire. Setting off through the snow-filled streets of old London, groups will be entertained by carol singers and jolly pilgrims along the way. The whole group will have the chance to dress up in elf costumes for a fun photo opportunity and youngsters will be invited to write down their Christmas wishes and pop them in the post in Santa’s special mail box. Continuing along the cobbled road, be sure to stop for mulled apple juice (or cider for grownups!) before visiting Santa’s grotto, where there will be a gift for every child. Entry for adults is £7 and for children, £10. www.canterburytales.org.uk
Ice, ice baby
Get your skates on for the Calverley Grounds ice rink
Once again, the ice skating rink returns to Tunbridge Wells this Christmas, from Friday 18th November to Monday 2nd January. Set within the beautiful and historic park, Calverley Grounds, the real 35ft x 20ft ice rink is a perfect Christmas outing for friends and family. The dedicated 30-minute parent and toddler (two-four years old) sessions are great fun and provide a safe environment for little ones to try ice skating. The sessions cost from £7 and seal skating aids are available to hire for children. Councillor Jane March, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Tourism, Leisure and Economic Development, says: “When the ice rink
WIN ICE RINK TICKETS!
opens in Royal Tunbridge Wells, it’s a sign that Christmas is coming! If you haven’t visited the rink in Calverley Grounds you really should, it’s a lovely thing to do with a truly festive feel. Younger visitors are always entranced by the beautiful setting of the rink in the park with its wonderful lighting. There are also fantastic food and drink choices at the rink for you to warm up and refuel when you’ve finished skating.” Booking for peak times is essential – Thursday and Friday evenings, all day Saturday and Sunday and Christmas week. Adult tickets cost from £10.50 and children’s tickets (aged four years and above) from £7. Family tickets and concessions are available. Ticket price includes hire of skating boots and lasts for 45 minutes. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Assembly Hall Theatre Box Office, online at www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com and by calling 01892 554645. The onsite ice rink Box Office opens on Friday, 18th November. Why not add to your ice skating fun and come and see Father Christmas in his cosy, warm log cabin set in the trees and snow? Each personalised family visit will allow plenty of time to talk to Father Christmas before children choose an age-appropriate gift and have their photograph taken with Father Christmas as a family memento of their visit. The mounted photograph, children’s gift and visit is included in the ticket price of £12.50 per child (all adults pay just £2). To book your tickets in advance to see Father Christmas or for further information and reviews go to www.fatherchristmasinkent.co.uk
The Assembly Hall Theatre is giving away a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) to one lucky reader for the opening weekend, Friday 18th to Sunday 20th November. For your chance to win, email your name, address and contact number to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk by the closing date of 11th November 2016. One winner will be picked at random. There is no cash alternative. Good luck!
14
Rachel Jenman
All together now
Businesses unite for The Big Christmas Get Together
There has not been a Town Centre Manager in Tunbridge Wells for many years but that has all changed now with the appointment of Rachel Jenman. Royal Tunbridge Wells Together (RTWT) is a not-for-profit town centre partnership made up of several large businesses who all share the common goal of making Tunbridge Wells a more vibrant and connected town and driving increased footfall, which will be beneficial to everyone. The first big project is to co-ordinate the launch of Christmas in Tunbridge Wells with a three-day event which brings together the whole town. An open-top bus will take Santa and the Assembly Hall Theatre’s panto cast from the Pantiles to Royal Victoria Place on Thursday 17th November, ready for light switch-on and the opening of Santa’s grotto. There will be entertainment from the team at Heart FM hosted by presenter Jeni Falconer and performances by Boogie Storm, who featured on Britain’s Got Talent, and Ben Haenow, a previous X Factor winner. The festive fun continues on Friday with the opening of the ice rink in Calverley Grounds, which will include breakfast presenters from Heart FM, James and Becky, and the first official public skating sessions of the season. On Saturday, A Christmas Cracker on the Pantiles commences at 5.30pm, with their very own light switch-on followed by an evening of live music.
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Ben Haenow
Following the Christmas launch weekend, there will be plenty to keep everyone entertained in the run-up to Christmas, with street theatre in town and the Santa train running between the Pantiles and Mount Pleasant Road at the weekends, Santa’s grotto in Royal Victoria Place and two seasonal shows – Cinderella at Trinity Theatre and a classic pantomime, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, at The Assembly Hall. There will also be a special Christmas Farmers’ market on 22nd December outside the Town Hall. RTWT will also be running a Best Dressed Window competition which will be open to all businesses in the town, judged by Rachel. If you would like to find out more about Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, visit www.tunbridgewellstogether.co.uk, email Rachel at rachel.jenman@tunbridgewellstogether.co.uk or pop in to 7, Ely Court, Royal Victoria Place. You can also follow RTWT on twitter at RTWTogether and Facebook. Says Rachel: “We value everyone’s opinions and views on how Tunbridge Wells could be an even better place for residents and businesses alike, and the more people who get involved, the stronger we will grow.”
LOV E GOING OUT
15
That’s entertainment Latest releases on stage and screen
Oliver Tourle: Live and Backstage Assembly Hall Theatre, 26th November at 8pm
Following the success of his first one-man show in 2015, Oliver Tourle returns to the stage with his latest show, Live and Backstage. His show gives a unique glimpse into how the theatre really works, both backstage and on stage, as audience members will watch his performance from the stage itself, allowing them to appreciate the unique vantage point, which most audience members will never get to experience. Oliver is a singer and performer from Kent who has experienced all angles of the industry. Last year, he produced his first solo show Oliver Tourle: This is Me at the Ship Theatre, Sevenoaks and he is looking forward to releasing his new album Live Acoustic Session. The Assembly Hall Theatre provides the stepping stone for young people to acquire the experience of professional theatre and provides opportunities to grow and nurture future talent. New Theatre Director John-Jackson Almond is keen to encourage creative local talent and enterprise: “Young people create brave theatre, but are rarely given the opportunity to showcase it,” he says. “There is a breadth and depth of home-grown talent on our doorstep and the Assembly Hall Theatre is an ideal outlet for producers of the future.” He is delighted to give Ollie the opportunity to perform his show at the Assembly Hall Theatre. Says Ollie: “As an aspiring singer and performer, producing my own one-man show has been a very rewarding venture, and being able to showcase my show, in a venue so close to my heart, is really exciting. It’s total creative freedom and something which I hope will lead to furthering my career as a multi-disciplinary artist.” For his latest, self-produced, one-man show at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Ollie has added a twist! For the first time, the Stage Door will act as your entrance… experience backstage in its full working state and see the view of the auditorium from the performer’s eye. Hear Oliver sing the songs from his new cover album with a fivepiece band and expect a lot of stories, laughs and music that everyone can relate to.
Tickets £18 – only available from www.olivertourle.com www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Box office 01892 530613
Moana
In cinemas 2nd December Millennia ago, the greatest mariners in the world sailed the Pacific and charted its islands. But then, their voyages stopped. Now, Polynesian princess Moana is undertaking her own adventure. She’s a young, spirited, headstrong girl who yearns for adventure, descended from a long line of legendary navigators. Along with Maui, the (self-proclaimed) greatest demigod in all the Pacific islands, she sets out on an epic quest to discover the mysteries of her ancestors. Join Moana on her voyage across the Pacific, and experience a world of magic and monsters inspired by the mythology of Polynesia.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story In cinemas 16th December
Set shortly before the events of A New Hope, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story reveals how the Rebellion got their hands on the designs for the Death Star. The Galactic Empire is at the height of its power, and their ultimate weapon is nearly complete. Along with a team of rebel soldiers, former criminal Jyn Erso sets out on a desperate mission to steal the plans so they can figure out how to destroy it. The Galaxy Far Far Away gets even bigger with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, shining a light on a part of this universe that we’ve never seen before.
16
LOV E GOING OUT
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Murder most foul
As Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap comes to Tunbridge Wells, we talk to actor Lewis Collier, who plays Detective Sergeant Trotter in the iconic murder mystery play
A
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is famous around the world for being the longest-running show of any kind in the history of British theatre. To celebrate 60 incredible years on stage, it started touring five years ago for the first time, and will be visiting the Assembly Hall Theatre this November. During its phenomenal 65-year run, there have been no fewer than 442 actors and actresses appearing in the play, 256 understudies, 142 miles of shirts have been ironed and over 500 tons of ice cream sold. Some cast members are even in the Guinness Book of Records – David Raven as the ‘Most Durable Actor’ for 4,575 performances as Major Metcalf, and the late Nancy Seabrooke for a record-breaking 15 years as an understudy. The Mousetrap is a classic murder mystery. When a group of people gathered in a country house get cut off by snow, they soon discover there is a murderer in their midst. One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until, at the last, nerve-shredding moment, the identity and the motive are finally revealed. We catch up with actor Lewis Collier, who is playing Detective Sergeant Trotter, a role that was first played by the late Richard Attenborough in 1952.
When did you first get into acting?
I dabbled a little bit when I was at primary school, doing the usual school plays and nativities, but I didn’t find my feet with it until I was in the sixth form. It was through those two years of theatre studies at AS and A level that I fell in love with it; the process, the plays that we were studying. We went to see some live theatre and at that point, I realised it was something that I really wanted to do as I loved performing.
Where did you train?
After school, I was keen to go to university so I went to Royal Holloway College, University of London, graduating with a BA(Hons) degree in drama and theatre studies. Straight afterwards, I gained a postgraduate diploma in acting at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. I feel quite lucky to have had the best of both worlds; the experience of university and drama school.
You’ve mostly appeared on the stage so far. What’s been your favourite role?
My favourite role so far is probably Detective Sergeant Trotter in The Mousetrap but every role I have played is different. You take a lot from each show you are in, working with various casts and directors. The nice thing with acting is that your job is always different; you are constantly learning, your environment is always changing, and so are the people you work with. So they are all special in their own right.
18
LOV E THEATRE
You’ve also made a couple of short films. Tell us something about them.
The last one that I did was in December 2014 called Checkmate with Dame Siân Phillips where I ended up running around Snowdonia in Wales at 7am as a hunter! That was a fantastic experience. I remember standing on top of that mountain and thinking to myself that there are not many jobs that would give me the opportunity to be where I was.
Do you prefer film or theatre?
Film is very different to theatre because it’s such a different environment and process. But I think nowadays, actors don’t need to specialise. You can do anything – it’s more a case of personal preference. I’ve had a lot more experience in theatre, I know how the process works and I really enjoy it. I love the fact that you get a rehearsal period, two or three weeks where you can really get your teeth into what you are doing with the rest of the cast and the director, to form and create a show. Film is a bit different; it’s a quicker process, which is also really exciting. I don’t think I have a favourite. It’s all down to what you are doing, the script and the story. If it’s something that inspires you, then the process is going to be fun, whether you are standing on top of a mountain at 7am or performing nightly in theatres around the country.
How are you enjoying The Mousetrap?
It’s brilliant. It’s such an iconic piece of British theatre, and as a young actor it is an absolute pleasure to be a part of it and to have The Mousetrap experience. The tour is amazing, going round fantastic theatres all over the country and performing to really receptive audiences. It’s a dream: a fantastic play and a great story, with something for everyone.
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
How long have you been touring with the production, and what’s it like playing the same role night after night?
We started rehearsals in January and then began touring in February. It’s healthy for a show to tour as it keeps things fresh – new auditoriums and new audiences keep you on your toes, and when you are touring together like this you become really close and form a professional bond. The most I have done for a show before was around 124 performances for Pygmalion in 2014. I don’t know the exact number we are up to for The Mousetrap, but I think we are currently around 215 shows, so that for me is a new learning curve, to be doing the same part for such a long time. We are all passionate about it, we all care about the show, and even though it has been done many times before, this is our version, this is our show, this is the one we’ve created, so it’s something that we are all very proud of.
Which actors do you most admire?
The one that always springs to mind is Joaquin Phoenix. There’s something about his performances that I really enjoy. He’s got that ability to transform himself and be so enigmatic, which makes him really interesting to watch. Another one is Michael Shannon. He’s been in countless films but is not generally a leading man. In fact, when I was visiting my brother in New York recently, we went out one morning to get breakfast and literally one of the first people that I walked past was Michael Shannon, but my brother didn’t even know who he was!
What’s your big ambition?
Just to carry on working. I think for most actors, that’s the answer they’d give. It’s being able to carry on in the context that I am excited
about working with wonderful companies, to keep telling stories and being given the opportunity to do so. You want to enjoy your job, you want the next one to come along. You just want to keep rolling with it!
The Mousetrap is at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, 7th to 12th November. Tickets: Monday at 7:30pm: £28, £26, £22RV Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30pm: £32.50, £30.50, £25RV Wednesday and Saturday at 2:30pm: £32.50, £30.50, £25RV Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm: £35, £32, £30RV www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk / Box office: 01892 530613 Twitter: @ahttw FB: AssemblyHallTheatre
Talk of the town A room with a view, intimate ambiance to die for, a new menu and all that jazz at Scallywag
w
When you cross the threshold of Scallywag and experience an evening full of atmosphere and the ambiance of a homely Regency living room, you’ll want to become a regular at this special venue. Scallywag hosts a variety of fabulous evenings, with top cabaret and jazz, Cockney sing-a-longs, cabaret open mic nights, Murder Mystery evenings, jam sessions and more. Kicking off the Autumn jazz season is Liane Carroll on 18th November. With a powerful, soulful voice, Liane is one of the UK’s favourite and best jazz singers. She fills the room with warmth, playfulness and good humour. A larger-than-life character, full of passion, you’ll feel as if you’ve known her all your life as she lifts you up with an evening of effortless talent that will leave you relishing the thought of her next visit. There are also regular Wednesday evenings when Scallywag hosts jazz jam sessions, with highly-talented young jazz musicians of the area playing to very well attended evenings, so be sure to book ahead. On 19th November, the next in the trilogy of Cabaret Musical Farces is Blue Murder, a cabaret musical murder mystery, starring Dusty Limits, Champagne Charlie, Michael Roulston and Tricity Vogue, who also wrote these wonderful pieces. Scallywag is also perfect for holding your own party, with whatever drinks, food or entertainment you desire. The private function and event bookings continue to grow as word travels of the amazing atmosphere at Scallywag during
20
LOV E MUSIC
Clockwise from top left: Tom Carradine, Blue Murder and Liane Carroll
the evening parties, so be sure to book in good time. Christmas is coming and Scallywag is now taking bookings for corporate, office, family or other private Christmas parties. You can even book your own Christmas Cockney Sing-a-Long evening with the fabulous Tom Carradine, complete with song books, so there is no excuse for not joining in the fun. You can also book any of the other artists or swing bands for any of these events, subject to availability. And for the ladies in the area who lunch, Scallywag is bringing a new brunch and lunch menu to complement their lovely wines. Enjoy a delicious meal while you relax and take in the view over the town from the top of the hill on Mount Ephraim. For full details, visit www.civilisednaughtiness.com
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
22
Pets corner
It’s time to turn the spotlight on your best friends!
Eat neat
PetWeighter is a totally stable, two-part bowl that your dog won’t be able to push around the floor, spilling water and food as it goes. The base can be filled with sand, water, or a combination of both. The bowl then clips off and on to the base, allowing you to fill and clean it. The base is a stylish dark grey, but you can choose your own favourite bowl colour from Festive Red, January Blues Turquoise, or a partypopping Pampered Pooch Pink. Price: £24.99 www.amazon.co.uk
Product developer, Charlie the Schnauzer, with PetWeighter bowl
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, Dilly is looking for a home...
Meet Dilly
Play away
Pawbo is the fun and interactive Wi-Fi pet camera and treat dispenser that lets you watch and play with your pets while you’re out. Thanks to a two-way communication system you can listen in, say hello and trigger a range of sound effects to keep your pets occupied. Reward good behaviour by dispensing treats from the Pawbo unit itself, and play games with the builtin laser pointer. It’s easy to use, with a free downloadable app for smartphone or tablet. Price: £179.99 www.thefowndry.com
Dilly is an approximately four-year-old Lurcher/Collie cross. She came to the SEDR after she was abandoned in a house and left for dead. She has been severely abused by humans and remains very scared of new people but has never shown aggression, she is just extremely fearful. Dilly loves other dogs and they provide her with a lot of confidence, so she will only be re-homed where there is another resident dog. Dilly appears to be unfazed by cats, chickens and ducks and is clean in her kennel. She needs a quiet home either without children or with older children. Her new owner must have a lot of time, patience and love, someone who understands her fear and who will give her the space and time she needs to learn to trust again. In the right home, Dilly is going to flourish into the dog that she should be. Dilly has been neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. If you can show Dilly that not every human means abuse, and that she can live a life free from harm, then please fill in the pre-adoption form, located under ‘Our dogs’ at www.sedogrescue.co.uk
Email a photograph and details of your pet to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
LOV E PETS
23
It’s a dog’s (and cat’s) life Here at Kudos we love our dogs, so we were thrilled to find out that Collared, the dog accessory and gifts boutique, is launching an online shop to complement their branches in Tunbridge Wells, Hastings and Canterbury. We caught up with owner Catherine Parr, to find out more
When did you start Collared and why?
We opened our first store around six years ago. We are dog lovers and our first business – The White Rock Hotel on Hastings seafront – is dog-friendly, which gave us insight into how much other people love their dogs. An opportunity came up to rent a fantastic shop right on the seafront, so we snapped it up and now here we are with two more.
Tell us about the range you stock.
We have a huge variety of dog collars, leads, harnesses, coats, beds, treats, feeding bowls and gifts for dog and cat lovers. We pride ourselves on having a really wide selection of dog toys, too. You’ll find something suitable for every type of dog. We also have a cat range, including collars, toys, beds and feeding bowls.
You currently have three stores. Which opened first?
Hastings was the first store to open six years ago, then Tunbridge Wells three years ago and Canterbury last December. The Canterbury shop is in a fantastic location on Burgate, just next door to the Cathedral’s own gift shop and opposite Crabtree & Evelyn. This will be our first full run-up to Christmas there so we’re really excited. The Tunbridge Wells shop is on The Pantiles, opposite Jack Wills. It used to be a butcher’s shop and still has many of the original features. We think it’s so special that we’ve put something up about its history in the window, and have a collection of old postcards on the wall inside, showing dogs on The Pantiles and old views of the shop.
Where do you source your pet products from?
We go to trade shows in the UK and in Europe and are always on the look-out for new products and suppliers from all over the world. However, most of our suppliers are based in the UK as we feel it’s important to have a really good range of products that have been made in the UK. We do source products from overseas, too, and we have suppliers in Europe, Australia and the USA.
Which brands or items are particularly popular? That’s really hard to say as we sell so many! A current favourite is Doog, an Australian supplier who make Doog walkie belts (a kind of bum-bag for dog owners with pouches for poo bags, hand wipes and more) and from the new year we will be selling their collars, leads and harnesses, as well. We really like them because, like us, they recognise that dog owners want things that look good on them as well as their dogs. We are also quite excited about all the fantastic leather purses and handbags with dog or cat designs that we have this year.
Do you design any of your own stock?
We have had a couple of lines made in the past, but it has been difficult to get the price right without burdening ourselves with lots of one type of stock. It’s something we are really interested in pursuing as we get bigger and go online.
24
LOV E PETS
We are assuming you are dog lovers! Do you have your own dogs?
Absolutely! We have two standard poodles, Rocky and Barney, and a tabby cat, Frankie (who is obviously in charge). Rocky and Barney don’t really look like poodles as we don’t have them groomed ‘poodleish’ but just get them a short back and sides when they get too woolly. All our staff have or have had dogs or cats. It’s the first question we ask at the interview – they wouldn’t get Collared otherwise.
You are going to be launching an online shop soon. Tell us about that.
We are very keen to get our new website up and running and start selling online. We get asked about it all the time by our current customers, who want to combine shopping in store with online. As our stores are in towns with large numbers of tourists, we also hope that many of our visitors from further afield will want to shop online with us. We also expect new customers will see that we have three shops, and so trust us as an online supplier.
Apart from the online shop, do you have any other plans for the future?
We’d love to open more high-street shops, of course. People are always suggesting places but we have to be patient and get everything up and running online first.
www.collared.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
26
I’d love to play Lady Macbeth Loveable actress Su Pollard, she of the mad glasses and even madder outfits, professes a desire for Shakespeare, as she takes to the stage as the Wicked Witch in panto
I
In 1980, Su Pollard burst onto our TV screens in the hit comedy series Hi-de-Hi!. She hasn’t stopped working since and now turns her talents to the role of the Wicked Witch in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in this year’s Tunbridge Wells panto. Here, she looks back over her career – and reveals a secret love of ironing...
It was wannabe Maplins yellow coat Peggy Ollerenshaw in Hi-de-Hi! that turned you into a household name. Looking back, what are your overriding memories of the show?
Absolute total fun. We just laughed and laughed and laughed for 10 years and I made some wonderful friendships. It was a dream job in every way. We were looked after properly by the directors and the writers, they always made sure things were right. If it chucked it down with rain one day when it wasn’t in the schedule, they just rewrote something within five minutes. It was tremendous fun.
Did you realise when you began to make it that it would be the hit it was?
Funnily enough, I remember once we were all sat on the edge of the bed in one of the chalets. It was really cold and we’d just done a scene outside, the last scene of the day. So Paul Shane, lovely Shaney, who played Ted Bovis, myself, and Ruth Madoc, who played Gladys Pugh, we were all sat on the bed asking each other what we thought of it, and Paul said, “Looks guys, we’ve done the best we can. We’ve got faith in it, the crew loved it because they were all laughing, so let’s have a toast to its success.” After the first series, people were coming up to us in the street saying, “I saw the show last night, God it was good!” And the critics were saying that they really enjoyed it. So we kind of knew then that we’d made something good.
You went on to play maid Ivy Teasdale in You Rang, M'Lord?, which was also hugely popular. How do you think those two series would play with audiences of today? They would certainly embrace You Rang, M’Lord? because it was a kind of comedy version of Downton Abbey, which is Words: Hannah Tucek / Photos: David Bartholomew
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E CELEBRIT Y
27
hugely popular. Before that there was Upstairs Downstairs, and now The Victorians, which has been a huge hit, so clearly people will always embrace period shows. I’m not sure how Hi-de-Hi! would go down but I still think that there is an outlet for it. I have had the younger ones, who might only be about five or six, coming up to me in the street to tell me that their granny showed it to them last night and that they really enjoyed it and found it really funny. So it does still appeal to the younger generation, but I would imagine it would have to be set in a different kind of situation.
You actually began your career as a singer. What are some of the highlights?
I really enjoyed being on the Royal Variety Show, that was fabulous, a real highlight and the first time I’d met the Queen, who loved Hi-de-Hi!. She’d say [impersonating the Queen], “Oh I love to watch it with Philip.” Sorry, that’s a terrible impression, forget that! I’m not very good at impressions! And then of course it was fabulous because I got to number two in the Hit Parade, or The Charts as it’s called now, with a song called Starting Together, which began life as, I think, a signature tune for a documentary. It’s all been a highlight, to be honest.
When did you cross over into acting?
I did a lot of musicals, like Godspell, and my then agent said that David Croft and Jimmy Perry, who wrote Dad’s Army, were looking for a cast for this new series, which turned out to be Hi-de-Hi!, and he thought I’d be perfect for the chalet maid. So I met with them and basically that was the start of the crossover for me. We were very lucky because we also did Hi-de-Hi! the stage musical, where we all had a song to sing. That was the great thing about Hi-de-Hi! – although it’s basically a sitcom, it enabled us to do other things, and it’s a great springboard for panto. Touch wood, when you get one break, darling, it leads to something else. So it’s been really nice, I’ve been lucky.
So where did the comedy come in? When did you realise you could make people laugh?
Oh, I think when I was about five! I was playing the part of the assistant to the Angel Gabriel and I had to stand on this plinth but it was ridiculous, it was only a cardboard box, so of course I was there saying, “Fear not Mary, the Angel Gabriel, he’ll be coming
28
LOV E CELEBRIT Y
in a minute and you will be with child,” when I fell through the cardboard box. All the audience started laughing and I thought, “Oh, this is quite good!” And from then on I was always having a bit of fun with people.
You’ve appeared in many stage shows over the years. Do you have a favourite?
Yes, I have an absolute favourite called Don’t Dress for Dinner. It’s a beautifully-written farce – you know, a really good farce where straight away one goes in one door, one comes out and then there’s another coming, and it’s total mayhem with people getting the wrong end of the stick. That was absolutely superb. We went all round the world with that. I also adored doing Shout, which was about 10 years ago, and then I also loved playing the nurse in Romeo and Juliet. It was marvellous. I thought, “Yeah, bring it on!” I’d never done Shakespeare before, but it was another experience and I really enjoyed it.
Pantomime is obviously something you love. What is it about panto that appeals to you?
Simply because of the fun that you have. Knowing that everyone is absolutely up for it, and the audience genuinely wants to come. It’s not like you are having to drag somebody in, like to see The Seagull. I mean there’s nothing wrong with The Seagull, it’s Chekhov, it’s very highbrow, but most people want to come to panto because it’s fun and it’s colourful. So you more or less have a captive audience and you just want to give them more of the same, the excitement in the show and the story. By the end, they’ve sat there and got value for money, and go home saying, “Oh, that was fantastic. I’ll go again.”
What will you be bringing to your role as the Wicked Witch in Snow White?
I hope I will be giving, shall we say, a rounded characterisation. What I mean by that is she doesn’t like being evil and mean at all, so there is all that to contend with. Then there’s this lovely scene with the prince where she tries to seduce him. So I try and have a little bit of fun with it – she’s tongue-in-cheek evil, really. I encourage the audience to boo and then I tell them, “Shut up, I’ll tell you when to boo!” So I’m trying to hopefully bring a little bit of everything.
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Stage shows are pretty demanding. How do you keep your energy levels so high?
Basically, you’ve got to absolutely stay focused because if something goes wrong you’ve got to be able to get yourself out of it, to be on the ball. You’ve also got to make sure that your meal times are different. When I am just doing one evening show, I never eat after 4pm. If I’ve got two shows including a matinee, lunchtime goes out the window, so I’ll have something around 11:30am because you don’t want to be full during your performance. And then you have to know when you can go out. If we are doing a 10:30am show for kids, you might be able to go to the pub and have one drink but you can’t have any more, you’ve got to be disciplined because you’ve got to be up at 6am and you have to give the same energy to the morning show as you do for the one at 7 o’clock at night. It’s also a question of how much stamina you build up.
Is there a part you would really love to play, in any medium?
Oh, most definitely, I would love to play Lady Macbeth. There’s no reason why you can’t cross over to something like that just because you’re not a regular Shakespeare performer. You can if you put your mind to it and feel that you can do it and you’ve got a good director. Judi Dench once said to me, “Oh, I’d love to do a panto, darling. How marvellous. I’m stuck in these roles full of angst and drama.” Isn’t it funny? But basically, I like to do any role as long as it’s good.
WIN PANTO TICKETS!
Who are your heroes?
Barbara Streisand. I love her. I think she is just the epitome of a good performer. I don’t care that she’s demanding and this, that and the other. Half of it is rubbish anyway, performers are not always demanding. I mean, the only thing I have ever demanded is M&M’s when I’ve run out. I also really like Adam Woodyatt who plays Ian Beale in EastEnders. He doesn’t get many plaudits but he’s had that part since day one. A lot of these soap stars, they don’t get their just recognition and it’s graft and graft and graft. I also think it’s great to see the cast of Cold Feet back, they’ve done a great job. So, I think my heroes are anybody who is a good pro and does the best they can. They are my idols because they are doing it for real and not just walking through it.
Reveal some things about you that people don’t know.
Every so often I like to put on my best boots and go hill walking – it’s fantastic for the glutes. I don’t tell people that every often. Oh, and I like ironing. I find it quite relaxing and I learn my lines as I do it, so it’s a really useful tool. But I don’t want anybody to send me their ironing! Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, from 9th December to 2nd January. www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk / Box office: 01892 530613 @ahttw AssemblyHallTheatre
The Assembly Hall Theatre is giving away a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) to one lucky reader for the performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Saturday 10th December at 1pm. For your chance to win, email your name, address and contact number to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk by the closing date of 30th November 2016. One winner will be picked at random. There is no cash alternative. Good luck!
Style
Fashion health & beauty
THE NEXT LADY OF THE CASTLE Kudos Leeds the way to show you what is coming NEXT in the shops for the festive season ahead. If you want to add a touch of sparkle to your winter wardrobe, why not pay NEXT a visit either in store or online and see for yourself? Outfits and accessories are utterly fabulous, says Fashion Editor Sally-Ann Carroll Photographer: Matt Harquail
Our location was Leeds Castle – “The loveliest castle in the world”. The 900-year-old Leeds Castle in Kent is set within 500 acres of beautiful parkland. Originally a Norman stronghold, it was the private property of six medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion and an elegant early 20th-century retreat. With daily events and attractions, it’s not just the glorious history of Leeds Castle that brings visitors back again and again.
CREDITS
All clothing from NEXT: www.next.co.uk £3.99 for home delivery. Free to store. Location: Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent. www.leeds-castle.com Model: Juliana Aneli at Nevs. www.nevsmodels.co.uk Fashion Editor: Sally-Ann Carroll Assisted by: Martha Rumble Turley Photographer: Matt Harquail. www.mattharquail.co.uk Hair: Jade Betson at The Gallery, Southborough using L’Oreal Professionnel. www.thegalleryhairandbeauty.co.uk Make up: Jo Lelean using MAC, Bobbi Brown and Clinique. www.kentmakeupbyjo.com If you are interested in being part of our fabulous fashion, please email editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk
30
LOV E FASHION
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
TO DINE FOR
Long black dress, £85, black studded shoes, £45, and bracelet, £14
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E FASHION
31
PICTURE PERFECT
Silver sequin top, £38, black sequin skirt, £38, black velvet shoe boots, £40, and bracelet, £12
32
LOV E FASHION
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
BOOK WORM CHIC
Black and gold devoré jumpsuit, £80, and black platform sandals, £35
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E FASHION
33
WELL READ
Black floral embroidered blouse, £55, green pleated skirt, £35, black ankle boots, £45, and bracelet, £14
34
LOV E FASHION
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
IN THE LEED
Black lace dress, £80, black mesh shoe boots, £68, and earrings, £8
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E FASHION
35
FOUNTAIN OF STYLE
Black and nude printed dress, £42, gold court shoes, £35, earrings, £5, and bag, £38
36
LOV E FASHION
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
Berry metallic top, £16, black floral full skirt, £55, black ankle boots, £68, bangle, £12, and necklace, £22
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E FASHION
37
A NOD TO LADY BAILLIE
Black spot playsuit, £55, black platform sandals, £35, and earrings, £8
38
LOV E FASHION
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
SAHAR A
77 High Street, Tunbridge Wells www.saharalondon.com
Clockwise from top left: Cashmere blend box jumper, £125, textured knit cardigan, £189, crinkle check crepe dress, £155, painter’s palette print dress, £145, and cross grain jersey dress, £149
40
LOV E FASHION
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Clockwise from top left: Black occasion top, £129, silk velvet button dress, £229, multi-colour shirt in greens and golds, £169, magnolia print jersey dress, £159, silk velvet tunic, £189, and crinkle shimmer shirt, £155
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E FASHION
41
Photo finish Elegant make-up by Jo for our NEXT fashion shoot
Flawless make-up is essential to looking good, especially on your wedding day, and a professional make-up artist can help you achieve it Jo Lelean has been working as a make-up artist for the past 12 years, since graduating from the acclaimed Delamar Academy of Makeup & Hair in 2004. Says Jo: “Since graduating, I have worked all over the UK and across Europe, as well as on international projects. I have supported celebrity make-up artists Sue Sian and Lisa Stokes on numerous shoots and TV programmes, and my work on the short film The Run was nominated for Best Make-up at the Malibu Film Festival. “I work primarily with MAC products, but my make-up kit includes products from Benefit, Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder and Clinique. I can also work with your own make-up, as well as advise on specific products for your particular skin type.”
42
Jo particularly enjoys working with brides for their wedding make-up. “I believe that the perfect wedding make-up artist should be able to listen to what you want, advise you on the best way to achieve it and then bring your idea to life to give you the perfect bridal makeup. It isn’t just about looking amazing for the ceremony and photographs, either. I want your look to last till you bid farewell to your guests at the end of the evening. “I’ll spend time at your trial session detailing everything you want, looking through a digital portfolio with you for inspiration or discussing looks you have already found. This time ensures that your actual wedding day make-up will be everything you want it to be. “Having worked in fashion and print, I fully understand the impact of flash photography on make-up. The harsh strobe of the camera will often bleach your features, so I will balance your make-up to give you a subtle and flawless look to the eye, but with the weight to give the definition needed to survive all those photocalls on your big day.”
‘Tis the season to
shine
The Autumn/Winter trends are making ripples on the Christmas party season, says Sarah Gillmore The overriding feel of the season is decadence, with sumptuous embellishments and embroidery. I’ve picked out a selection of the top trends which are workable with most wardrobes and would easily survive past the festive season to become staples if you cleverly play with the theme each time. First, there’s the practical trend of winter cover-ups in various guises: puffa jackets, leather coats, capes and military coats. The military look is certainly eye-catching in its double-breasted way, with metal buttons, epaulettes and braiding, and is appearing in more affordable versions everywhere (Tommy Hilfiger and Zara, for instance) as well as high end. It’s both smart and practical. A cape is an elegant way to keep warm and reassuringly easy to wear. It’s a throw-on piece which effortlessly and comfortingly covers any concerns or insecurities underneath and can be found in the trending fabrics and styles – military and embellished.
The fabrics of choice this season include tweed, tartan and velvet. But they are not all as they seem; these traditional, classic fabrics are turned on their heads and made sporty or street for daytime. This doesn’t preclude the use of velvet in a glamorous evening look. Its plush texture softly gleams in the light and lends a richness to jackets, suits and dresses. Christmas party glamour makes use of the trending embellishments, brocades and ruffles in shimmering textures, as seen in Burberry, Michael Kors and Mary Katranzou. Dressing like a night sky, with motifs of glittering galaxies of stars, moons and planets adds sparkle to eveningwear. This was the outstanding look for Alexander McQueen’s A/W 2016 collection. Bringing all this into the dominant shades for the season, which include an unexpected lilac, red, dusty pink, blues, greens and mustard, creates an opulent palette which will bring a welcome splash of colour into the dullest of winter days – and nights.
Kid’s stuff
The latest looks for junior fashionistas from NEXT
Skirt, from £10 Rainbow party dress, from £32
Embroidered bomber jacket, from £36
Pom pom jumper, from £14
Jumper, from £16 44
LOV E FASHION
Shearling jacket, from £24, stripe top, from £9, denim skirt, from £7.50, tights, from £10.50, and fringe boots, from £28
Rainbow long sleeve t-shirt, from £9.50
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Embroidered bomber jacket, from £38
Camo joggers, from £11
NYC cap, from £8, PU biker jacket, from £32, and slogan t-shirt, from £7
Fairisle jumper, from £14
Long sleeve t-shirt, from £5 KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Pom beanie, from £6, and shacket, from £17
Santa jumper, from £15, and tartan shirt, from £12 LOV E FASHION
45
Men’s notes From fashion to gadgets...
Check out the best of NEXT’s winter collection
Short parka jacket, £75
Epsom coat, £99 46
MEN ONLY
Bobble hat, £12, and Harris tweed hipflask, £24
Velvet blazer, £80
Shoes, £80, and Chelsea boots, £50 KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Reefer coat, £85, cable roll neck sweater, £35, and fatigue pants, £28
Ribbed turtle neck sweater, £45, and snood, £16
Fairisle hoody, £32, chinos, £20, and boots, £65
Borg collar bomber jacket, £65, and wool checked shirt, £35
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
MEN ONLY
47
May the Force be with you The Star Wars Death Star Levitating Speaker levitates in thin air, spins and plays your music. What more could you possibly ever want? Inspired by the Empire’s most destructive weapon, this gravity-defying orb is suspended by magnetic levitation, allowing it to hover magically above the base unit. But that’s not all. Want to add a little motion to your music? Give it a nudge and it will continue to spin through 360 degrees whilst pumping out your favourite tunes with amazingly clear and sharp sound. Price: £149.99 www.thefowndry.com
Coffee time And while you are listening to music through your Death Star speaker, why not enjoy a freshly-brewed coffee from your Star Wars R2-D2 coffee press. Price: $39.99 + international shipping charge www.thinkgeek.com
Smooth operator From a one-day stubble to a light beard, Clinique for Men 2 in 1 Skin Hydrator & Beard Conditioner grooms facial hair while treating and hydrating the skin underneath. Many men with facial hair avoid applying moisturiser to the area, so the skin beneath often becomes flaky, dry and irritated. This fast-absorbing, lightweight moisturiser softens facial hair and hydrates skin without adding shine. Price: £28 www.clinique.co.uk
Light up Oliver Zissman of All Home Everything is an entrepreneur and works to launch brands to stockists in the UK. As a former interiors store owner dedicated to male customers, he is the first to spot trends and one that is emerging for 2017 is the role men have to play in the purchasing of goods for the home and, more specifically, candles. Dubbed ‘mandles’, these are candles specifically aimed at the male market. All Home Everything is the sole European distributor of Rewined wineinspired candles, and ROAM by 42 Pressed candles, which are inspired and themed around popular cities around the world. www.allhomeeverything.com
48
MEN ONLY
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Beauty notes Latest products and news Magic touch
Retouching Wands and Pencils are Bobbi Brown’s secret to a retouched yet natural look. Use the Wands to even out bare skin, give skin a glow and give foundation a polished look. The creamy-matte Pencil undetectably lightens shadows, covers dark spots and neutralises redness. Both come in a range of shades. Price: Wands, £26.50, and Pencils, £22 www.bobbibrown.co.uk
Skin saver
Take it as red
An ultra-weightless version of the original cult Crème de la Mer, Moisturizing Soft Lotion contains La Mer’s legendary Miracle Broth formula to leave skin looking firmer, reduce lines and wrinkles as well as calm and soothe the complexion. Offering a satin finish, the lotion is ideal for normal to dry skin types and in warmer weather, when a cream may be too rich. Price: £170 www.cremedelamer.co.uk
Estée Lauder’s Modern Muse Le Rouge Gloss Shine On is a bold, new, seductive fragrance inspired by sexy red lacquered vinyl. Succulent red fruits are intensified for a ‘gloss’ effect, while the heart deepens with flowers, a hint of spice and a sensual edge of supple leather with dark woods. Price: from £46 www.esteelauder.co.uk
Scent of escape Lip service
MAC’s new Liptensity collection is the most pigmented lipstick they have ever created, using groundbreaking technology to produce incredible colour and a lasting finish. There’s a veritable rainbow of shades, from Blue Beat, a deep, dark blue, and Marsala, a deep magenta pink, to vibrant, orange-red Habanero and the peachy cinnamon of Toast and Butter. Price: £17.50 each www.maccosmetics.co.uk
50
LOV E HEALTH & BEAUT Y
Wonderlust, the new scent by Michael Kors, is a blend of blossoms with an oriental twist, inspired by the carefree luxury of an impromptu escape. Top notes of Italian bergamot, Sicilian mandarin and almond milk with a pop of pink pepper, give way to mid notes of jasmine, dianthus and heliotrope, and finish with lingering woody tones, including sandalwood. Price: from £43 www.michaelkors.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Food notes
Catch up with the latest restaurant news, produce and foodie events
Make a date
An update from The Kentish Hare
November and December both contain events that we all like to celebrate. November, of course, reminds everyone of Guy Fawkes, the 5th November Gunpowder Plot, the Houses of Parliament, Bonfire Night and fireworks! Most families now attend organised firework displays and opposite you’ll find a James Tanner recipe for Sausage and Cheese Loaf for you to enjoy, either at home or to take with you if you are intending to join an organised event. James says, “I came up with this one on Bonfire Night when I cooked it for my daughter and her friends. I think of it as an all-in-one hotdog! It’s massive, so looks impressive and is ideal for tearing and sharing.” Easy to make, it serves 6-8 people, so why not have a go and enjoy the compliments? It’s delicious for a summer picnic too! December is Christmas party season and our popular Christmas party menu starts on 29th November through to 23rd December, price £26.95pp Tuesday-Thursday, and £29.95pp Friday and Saturday. Whether a club, work or just a few friends or family ‘get together’ party, our delicious menu has something for everyone. Menus and Christmas opening times are on our website or in the snug area of the Kentish Hare if you wish to collect one personally. Please contact Paul Barber on 01892 525709 or email enquiries@thekentishhare.com if you have any queries or special requirements. Unfortunately we are fully booked for Christmas Day but we do have reservations available for Boxing Day lunchtime, so why not give the cook of the house a treat and book a table. On New Year’s Eve as in previous years, we have an à la carte menu with some specials and if you stay until midnight, you
can enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz with us to welcome in 2017. Aside from parties, the 1996 Lionel Ritchie song Easy Like Sunday Morning perfectly expresses our new Sunday brunch menu. So why not chill out with a coffee, read through our Sunday papers and order a delicious brunch to set you up for the rest of day! This new menu started on 9th October and is proving very popular. It runs from 9am to 11am, booking is always advisable and the menu is on our website www.thekentishhare.com We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year. We hope to see you soon!
Tea time
Brighton’s indie tea mixologists come to Tunbridge Wells
The home-grown independent tea brand Bluebird Tea Co has opened a new store in Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells to join their branches in Brighton and Bristol. They use their innovative and fun tea-blending approach to create the widest range of flavoured teas in the UK, all hand-blended in the south of England. They scooped 14 Great Taste Awards this year, and have many famous fans including HRH Prince Charles, Chef Michel Roux Jr and blogger Zoella. www.bluebirdteaco.com
52
LOV E FOOD AND DRINK
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Sausage and cheese loaf From James Tanners’ Old Favourites, New Twists – Kyle Books (pictured left) Serves 6-8
Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil • 300ml whole milk • 15g caster sugar • 3 x 7g packets of dried yeast • 1kg strong white flour, sifted, plus extra for dusting • Pinch of crushed sea salt • 6 good quality British sausages • 6 tablespoons of onion relish • 150g Cheddar cheese, grated • Leaves from 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, chopped
Method
1. P our the oil and milk into a small saucepan with 300ml water and the sugar and heat over a low heat until just warm. Remove from the heat, add the yeast and stir until dissolved. 2. T ip the flour into a large mixing bowl with the salt. Make a well in the centre and gradually add the liquid,
using your hands mix to form a soft dough. It may need a little more or less liquid. The dough should be soft, but not sticky. If it is sticky, mix in a little extra flour. 3. T urn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. Return the dough to a floured mixing bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place to prove for 40 minutes (or at room temperature for 1 hour) until doubled in size. 4. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. 5. H eat a large non-stick frying pan and sear the sausages until they are lightly browned on all sides. Remove the sausages from the pan and cut into 2.5cm chunks. 6. K nock back the dough and form into a large rectangular shape about 5cm thick. Place the loaf on the lined baking sheet. Using your fingers make deep indentations all over the loaf. Fill some of the holes with the sausage pieces and others with the onion relish and scatter over the cheese and rosemary. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place for 40 minutes (or at room temperature for 1 hour) until doubled in size. 7. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6. 8. Bake the loaf for 30-35 minutes until well risen and golden. Carefully remove from the sheet and check it is cooked by tapping the base; it should sound hollow. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
The true taste of Italy
Enjoy deliciously authentic southern Italian cooking with a healthy twist at La Cosa Nostra Café Having spent 30 years working in the City, Bruno Pace decided it was time to change pace and spend more time with his family. He invested in various commercial and residential properties in the Tunbridge Wells area, one of which was on St John’s Road. It was here that he would combine his passion for property development with his passion for food and his Italian roots, and so La Cosa Nostra Café was born. Says Bruno, “The building was a complete mess when I bought it. So we took everything apart and rebuilt it. The building is over 200 years old and we felt that it was important to put all the original features back. The result is a very rustic place with lots of oak. “I’ve always had a passion for food. My parents are Italian, so I decided to turn the property into a rustic Italian café/ restaurant with everything completely authentic and fresh. It took 13 months of planning and nine months of building and we finally opened in July.” Bruno is very hands-on with the business. “I’m very much a part of what’s going on here. We have a Neopolitan chef, Erminio Giugliano, who has cooked all over Italy and the UK for the last 40 years and totally understands southern Italian
54
LOV E FOOD AND DRINK
cuisine. The inspiration for the dishes has come from my upbringing and his understanding of food, and we have put together a menu which we hope local people will enjoy. “We have a very short menu because all of our food is cooked fresh and to order – there are no microwaves or frozen preprepared food here. We serve various Italian breakfasts and lunches and a range of Italian dishes, We also have a full licence so we even have authentic Italian liquors, just like the cafes you find in Naples. “We try to encourage healthy eating. For instance, we make our own cakes using traditional Italian and English recipes, but we substitute the high sugar content with the sugars found naturally in fruits. So our cakes contain less than 200 grams of sugar and yet taste the same as a typical chocolate cake or carrot cake but they are a lot better for you. Our milkshakes are ice-cream-based, and all our ice cream is made to an authentic Italian recipe on the Kent coast using real fruit, not syrups. “We have also taken some of the English breakfasts and turned them around. We have our own version of Eggs Benedict, and scrambled egg and salmon, all with an Italian twist. Lunchtime dishes are pure, southern Italian cooking, very traditional dishes. A lot of the recipes are based on ones my grandmother used to cook. We have made them healthier without losing the heart of the dish. “We are here to give people a taste of Italian culture, a little bit of authenticity in the way we grew up eating and drinking. What we are serving is real food that I would serve my family at home.”
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Don’t forget your baubles Heck has made sure it’s not just the Christmas tree that’s adorned with baubles this festive season. The Yorkshire food company has created three limited-edition Christmas Bauble recipes that make tasty sides for Christmas dinner or perfect party pick-up food. As well as Traditional Chicken, flavoured with sage and onion, there’s Festive Pork – prime pork sausage balls with Wensleydale and cranberry, and Jewelled Chicken – balls of chicken studded with golden apricots. Price: £2.99 for a pack of 12 balls. www.heckfood.co.uk
Log on for healthy eating For healthy, all-natural, delicious food online, visit Yumbles. They search and discover smallbatch, ethical and socially-responsible British food makers, taste-test their produce and then add them to their online store, bringing artisan, home-made foods to your doorstep. Their range includes gourmet marshmallows; kid-friendly, sugar-free snack bars, desserts and cakes; insect snacks (Natural Whole Roasted Crickets, anyone?) and unusual and delicious foodie gifts and hampers. www.yumbles.com
In a jam If you like jam and marmalade, you’ll love marmajam. New from The Bay Tree in two fruity combinations – Blueberry & Lemon and Strawberry & Orange – marmajam combines the sweetness of soft summer fruits with a citrusy edge. The Bay Tree’s new season of preserves also includes Fig, Rum & Vanilla Jam, Awesome Aubgerine Pickle and an aromatic Red Onion Marmalade. www.thebaytree.co.uk
New free-from range
Gosh! is a new range of delicious and nutritious chilled meals that heralds a new era in everyday free-from eating, including the 14 most common allergens: gluten, eggs, milk, soya, nuts, peanuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, lupin, sulphur dioxide, crustaceans, fish and molluscs. The Gosh! range is full of natural and superfood ingredients, including chia, flax, kale, goji berries, puy lentils, pumpkin seeds, spinach and quinoa – all of which are respected for their nutritional properties. Dishes include Beetroot, Kale & Quinoa Burgers, and Mushroom, Puy Lentil & Butter Bean Burgers, which take the traditional veggie burger to new gastronomic heights. Price: £2.50 from Tesco and Morrison stores www.goshfreefrom.co.uk
56
LOV E FOOD AND DRINK
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Have yourself a tasty Euro Christmas Ring the changes this festive season with some traditional Christmas treats from around Europe
Stollen
This traditional German fruit bread makes a great alternative to Christmas cake Ingredients
• 100ml warm milk • 2 tsp dried yeast • Pinch salt • 1 tsp caster sugar • 225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 1 tsp ground mixed spice • 200g mixed dried fruit (including glacé cherries) • 25g flaked almonds • 50g unsalted butter • 1 egg, beaten • 250g marzipan To finish • 25g butter, melted • 50g icing sugar
Method
1. P lace the milk and yeast into a bowl and mix well. Leave to sit for 5-6 minutes.
2. M eanwhile, sift the salt, sugar, flour and mixed spice
into a large bowl. 3. A dd the dried fruit, almonds and butter and mix well. Then add the yeast and milk mixture and mix well. Add the egg and stir well to make a dough. 4. K nead the dough for 5-6 minutes, then cover and leave to prove for 20 minutes. 5. U ncover the dough and turn out onto a clean, floured work surface. Using your hands, knock the dough back to reduce the volume, then knead it for 3-4 minutes. 6. Push and work the dough out by hand into a flat oval shape about 23cm x 18cm. 7. Roll the marzipan into a piece about 18cm x 5cm. Place the marzipan into the centre of the dough, then fold over the sides of the dough to seal in the marzipan. 8. Place the stollen seal-side down onto a greased baking tray. Cover and place somewhere warm to prove for one hour. 9. Preheat the oven to 1800C/1600C/gas mark 4. Place the stollen on the baking tray into the oven to bake for 40 minutes, or until golden-brown and cooked through. 10. To finish, remove the stollen from the oven, brush with the melted butter and dust with icing sugar immediately. Allow to cool, then serve in slices. 58
LOV E FOOD AND DRINK
Stollen
Baked Ham
Mustardy baked ham is a seasonal favourite in Finland Ingredients
• 4-5kg raw smoked ham on the bone • 90g soft brown sugar • 6 tbsp wholegrain mustard
Method
1. P lace the raw ham in a large, clean bowl or bucket. Add
enough water to cover and soak overnight, or up to 24 hours, changing the water twice. 2. H eat oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4. Drain and place the ham in a large roasting tin, cover tightly with foil and bake for 3 hours. 3. R emove the ham from the oven and turn the heat up to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the rind off the ham, leaving about 1-2cm of fat; cut a diamond-shaped pattern into this. 4. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and mustard, then rub all over the ham. Roast for 30 minutes until the ham is tender and the outside nice and sticky. To serve, cut into 1cm-thick slices. KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Roast Duck with Apple & Prune Stuffing Danish families tuck into succulent duck with stuffing at Christmas Ingredients
• 1 free-range whole duck, around 2 to 2.2kg
Method
1. P ierce the skin of the duck all over with a skewer. Place
on a rack in the kitchen sink, and pour over 2 full kettles of boiling water. This will release the subcutaneous fat layer under the skin to give crispy, not fatty, duck. Pat it dry with kitchen towel and leave it to dry on a plate in the fridge for an hour. 2. P reheat the oven 200°C/180°C /gas mark 6. Place the duck on a rack over a deep roasting tin. 3. A dd plenty of sea salt and roast for 90 minutes. Strain off the fat and keep it for roasting potatoes. 4. Joint the duck by removing the legs then taking the whole breasts off the bone, before slicing it. For the Apple & Prune Stuffing
Ingredients
• 100g butter, plus extra for greasing • 3 medium onions, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1 stick celery, finely chopped • 225g fresh white breadcrumbs • 2 eating apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped • 225g soft pitted prunes, chopped • 2 eggs, beaten
Method
1. B utter a 28 x 18 x 3cm deep baking tray. Melt the butter
in a large frying pan, tip in the onions, garlic and celery, and fry for about 12-15 minutes until softened and just starting to turn golden. 2. R emove the pan from the heat. Stir in the breadcrumbs, apples, prunes and the beaten eggs. Season with salt and pepper. 3. S poon the stuffing loosely into a buttered dish, cover with foil and bake at 180°C/160°C/gas mark 4 for 30 minutes. Serve alongside the duck. KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Gingerbread
Popular all over Europe at Christmas in a variety of shapes, including a Gingerbread House Ingredients
• 350g plain flour, plus extra for rolling out • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 2 tsp ground ginger • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 125g butter • 175g light soft brown sugar • 1 egg • 4 tbsp golden syrup To decorate • Writing icing • Cake decorations
Method
1. S ift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and
cinnamon and pour into the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. 2. L ightly beat the egg and golden syrup together, add to the food processor and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Tip the dough out, knead briefly until smooth, wrap in clingfilm and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes. 3. P reheat the oven to 180°C/160°C/gas mark 4. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper. 4. Roll the dough out to a 0.5cm thickness on a lightly floured surface. Using cutters, cut out the gingerbread shapes and place on the baking tray, leaving a gap between them. For decorations, use a skewer to make a small hole in the top of each biscuit. 5. B ake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden-brown. Leave on the tray for 10 minutes and then move to a wire rack to finish cooling. When cooled decorate with the writing icing and cake decorations. LOV E FOOD AND DRINK
59
Saffron Buns
These buns are traditionally eaten in Sweden during Advent Ingredients
Saffron buns
Pain d’Epices
A spiced bread that’s a favourite in France during the festive season Ingredients
• 450g plain flour • 50g rye flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 1½ tsp ground ginger • ½ tsp nutmeg, grated • 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground • Seeds from 6 cardamom pods, ground • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 tsp caraway seeds, roughly ground • ¼ tsp ground cloves • ½ tsp salt • 60g butter, at room temperature • 1 egg, at room temperature • 300g honey • Zest of 1 orange • Zest of 1 lemon
Method
1. P reheat the oven to 1800C/1600C/gas mark 4. Grease a 23cm loaf tin and dust with a little flour.
2. S ift together the flours and baking powder and stir in the spices and salt into a bowl.
3. B eat together the egg and butter (they must both be at room temperature) and the honey and zests.
4. Add half the dry ingredients, followed by 125ml cold
water, then the remaining dry ingredients and another 125ml water. Mix until smooth and well incorporated. 5. P our into the loaf tin and place in the middle of the oven for 60-75 minutes, until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin, then serve. 60
LOV E FOOD AND DRINK
• 500g strong plain flour • ½ level tsp salt • 1 large pinch, saffron strands • 60g butter, plus extra for greasing • 60g lard • 90g caster sugar • 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast • 200g currants • 1 large egg • 100ml milk, lukewarm
Method
1. P lace the strands of saffron in a small ovenproof dish
and put in a warm oven set to a low heat for a few minutes to dry them out. Remove from the oven, leave to cool slightly, then use your fingers to crumble them up. Pour over 4tbsp boiling water and leave to infuse for about 10 minutes. 2. T ip the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and lard, and rub into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, dried yeast and currants. 3. L ightly beat the egg into the milk, then pour into the flour mixture, along with the saffron and its liquid. Stir to bind the ingredients together, then turn the mixture out onto a lightly-floured surface and knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it’s elastic and stretchy. 4. Using a knife, divide the dough into quarters, then cut each quarter into 8 equal-size pieces. Working with one dough piece at a time, roll each dough piece into a 20cm-long rope. 5. T wist one end toward its centre and curl the end into a tight spiral shape until you reach the middle of the rope. 6. Repeat with the other end, twisting in the opposite direction, so that you end up with an S-shaped pastry. 7. Transfer the shaped dough pieces, spaced 5cm apart, to a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the buns with a sheet of oiled cling film, and leave in a warm place until they have doubled in size. When ready to bake, place a raisin in the centre of each. 8. Set the oven to 220°C/180°C fan/gas mark 7. Bake the buns, towards the top of the oven, for about 15 minutes, until they are a light golden colour and they sound hollow when tapped underneath. 9. Remove the buns from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or cold. KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
62
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
CHRISTM AS GIFT GUIDE
63
The gift of style... To help solve tricky Christmas gift dilemmas of what to buy someone who has everything, a voucher for a Colour Consultation and Styling, or for a Styling and Shopping Trip, is the perfect solution. And Sarah Gillmore is just the person to go to. A Personal Stylist and Colour Consultant, she takes a therapeutic, intuitive, positive approach to styling. Sarah’s clients come from all different stages of life and situations: women who have lost a sense of self during child-rearing; men or women who have gone through a separation and need confidence to step out again; those who have changed career or returned to work and need a new way of representing themselves; women who have lost body confidence as a result of childbirth or the menopause; or those who just need pulling out of a style rut which no longer reflects who they are. Says Sarah: “I also help confident, professional men and women who just don’t have the time to shop for a working wardrobe which helps them look both professional, stylish and approachable. “Many busy women and men find shopping overwhelming, boring, demoralising or uninspiring. Once I have all the information I need, I enjoy taking that pressure away and doing it for them!” For more information, email Sarah on sarah@sarahgillmorestylist.com
Soft touch Skinners of Tunbridge Wells has some fabulous gift ideas for the home
10% discount
on faux fur throws and cushions until 10th December 2016.
Faux fur cushions, £48 for a pair
64
CHRISTM AS GIFT GUIDE
These luxurious faux fur throws will make perfect presents – or why not treat yourself? Prices from £186
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
66
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
For the dog in your life Treat your treasured pooch to a Christmas gift from Collared
The Sticks, from £12.95
Walkie bags, £33.95
Collar and lead, available in a range of colours, from £41.80
Collar, available in a range of colours, from £19.90
Squeaky reindeer and santa, £5.95 each
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Alf the Elf, £8.95
Reindeer jumper, £13.99 – £16.50
CHRISTM AS GIFT GUIDE
67
Let’s party! Steamer Trading has a whole range of party tricks and treats, from fabulous fondue sets to gorgeous glasses
Clockwise from top left: Artesa mini tri-ply copper pans, £15.99 to £19.99; Boska candle light fondue set, £60; Himalayan rock salt shots set, £24.99; Le Creuset star ramekins, £20 for a set of two; and LSA Champagne tower set, £50
Sit back and relax... ...with beautiful seating from Sofas & Stuff
68
CHRISTM AS GIFT GUIDE
Clockwise from left: Haresfield large sofa in Plush Teal, also available as a corner unit, £1,800; Alwinton Large in Walloon, £2,086; Weybourne large sofa in Designers Guild Floreale natural, £2,302; and Abbotsbury Large in Linara Bison, £1,931. All prices from the autumn sale.
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
70
Aladdin’s cave Head to Tinker & Toad for an eclectic mix of vintage and modern style
Nomad natural wool knitted stool, £119
Vintage mannequin, £225, antique marble wash stand, £495, and vintage leather club chair, £495
Caversham buttoned back two seater sofa, £1,190, and Caversham buttoned ottoman, £495
Edwin Jagger brown leather travel shave kit, £114, three piece imitation ivory nickel-plated shave set, £90, and black porcelain shaving bowl, £21 Petersham zinc topped dining table, £695, Petersham industrial dresser, £1,295, and vintage brown leather dining chair, £340
Tyler & Tyler luxury Italian hide leather washbag, £79, and Marilyn cushion, £49
Left to right: Rugs, £33-£95 depending on size, cowhide, £250, and sheepskin, £75-£85
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Oriental carved hardstone figure of oxen and child, £295, and Tyler & Tyler card holder, £20
CHRISTM AS GIFT GUIDE
71
72
High-tech gifts Here’s our pick of the latest gadgets
The Smart Halo is a simple yet effective way of giving your bike GPS navigation, along with a selection of other features, including being a personal assistant, fitness instructor and security guard. Price: £169.95 www.thefowndry.com
Varidesk Pro Plus 36 is a standing desk designed to accommodate a dual monitor system in your place of work. A two-tiered design gives your monitor and keyboard a separate shelf, helping you keep active at work as you burn 50 calories per hour more if standing! Price: £335 uk.varidesk.com
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Aiptex i70 Mobile Cinema is a crystal-clear cordless projector and Windows 10 tablet with a stackable design and HD resolution. It also has an internal memory, Wi-Fi, bluetooth, USB and Micro-USB interface. Price: £249.99 www.amazon.co.uk
Walli Smart Wallet is the high-tech way to ensure your cash and cards are safe, by conveniently being connected to your phone at all times and triggering an alert if your wallet gets left behind. Price: £89.99 www.thefowndry.com
CHRISTM AS GIFT GUIDE
73
Property portfolio Home & garden
DESIGN SECRETS
Dan Stronge, Managing Director of Jones Britain Kitchens, explains how they achieved this stunning modern kitchen with a retro feel
W
What was the initial brief?
The brief was to design and create a modern, clean, handleless kitchen, which still stayed true to the ‘kitchen being the heart of the home’ ethos but could be used for entertaining as well as being functional and practical for day-to-day life.
How do you start to design a kitchen like this?
With our CAD system, everything is drawn from scratch. We tend to draw an entire room as this will help to understand the space when we start the design process. We look at where living meets dining and gauge the overall space left for the kitchen. Then we move simple boxes into place and build a working model from there. Function is key, so to test out how an area works we place units the correct distances apart knowing we need more space between, say, an oven opposite an island versus a corridor area. The design starts to take shape and then we will add detail. Colours and finishes are equally important in the design and we aim to be as lifelike as possible so the client knows what the finished kitchen will actually look like.
How long was required from inception to completion?
Design stage for a kitchen like this was probably around two days. The client will then view the design and make any amendments. Lead-in time for fitting is generally six to eight weeks. The installation of this kitchen took around three weeks to complete.
What was the inspiration behind it?
The design probably had its origins in the high-end London villas. The inspiration came from past designs, using some
74
LOV E YOUR HOME
ideas from magazines and brochure shots. It’s like a chef who looks up a recipe and then adds some extra ingredients they think will make the original recipe even better. They may even take certain items away, so in the end it becomes your own bespoke piece.
www.jonesbritain.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E YOUR HOME
75
Style your home
The latest trends for stylish living This issue, it’s all about Christmas, and interiors brand, Neptune, has taken its autumn/winter inspiration, Modern Mixology, a step further by blending rustic woodland with antiqued metallics for a range of stunning decorations. It’s the best of old combined with the most elegant of new. Their use of solid timber and natural materials creates a pared-back and slightly Nordic woodland vibe. The best Christmas creations are those that don’t appear too try-hard, and that’s where Neptune’s collection of sophisticated metallics come in. A touch of dappled silver mercury and a drop of beautifully-antiqued gold in bauble, tealight and coaster, balances just the right amount of glamour and aged appeal. Make this Christmas the most beautiful one yet.
Top: Aurelia bauble, £17 Above: Erith tealight holders, from £16 Left: Ferne large frosted wreath, £51, Francis double bed base, £820, and George double headboard, £440, both upholstered in Angus Flint, Fairfax lamp in aged white with Oliver shade, from £120, and Aldwych low side table in snow, £265 www.neptune.com/tonbridge
76
LOV E YOUR HOME
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Distinctive design Need help with interior design? Sarah Bellamy, owner of Skinners of Tunbridge Wells, has the experience and flair to help you create the perfect home An inspirational interior design service for clients looking to create the home of their dreams, Skinners of Tunbridge Wells has been synonymous with distinctive interior design in Kent and the surrounding areas since 1886. Their store, situated in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells, offers an extensive range of fabrics, wallpapers, floor coverings and accessories combining contemporary design with traditional quality and craftsmanship. In fact, Skinners is renowned for maintaining one of the largest fabric libraries in the area, giving it a unique advantage in serving its customers. Owner Sarah Bellamy runs one of the most prominent interior design consultancies in the south east. She has over 30 years’ experience in the property business, and has worked alongside property developers as well as private clients, providing advice on acquisition, planning and full project management, as well as interior design. Skinners’ services also include sourcing, specifying and supplying fabrics and materials, bespoke furniture and soft furnishings, and planning and implementing residential and commercial interior design projects, including turn-key projects to defined budgets and timescales.
Garden notes All you need for your outside space
Blooming marvellous
A flourishing flower display throughout the summer has resulted in WA Turner, a leading food producer for over 150 years based in Tunbridge Wells, being recognised for the Best Business Grounds, as well as winning the Gold award in the Tunbridge Wells in Bloom competition. David Whelan works at WA Turner and it was his horticultural efforts which helped secure the
top slot for the company. He coordinated the flower displays, nurturing them throughout the summer, producing beautiful blooms and sweet scents for his fellow workers and visitors to enjoy. The project was part of RHS’s Britain in Bloom initiative, a nationwide community gardening campaign that aims to transform cities, towns and villages. It's been helping people to improve their local environment since 1964.
Fill your home with our top four Christmas flowers
1. Poinsettia – comes in many colours but bright
2. Amaryllis – popular for their large
3. Helleborus niger – the simple Christmas rose
4. Narcissus 'Cedric Morris' – this bright yellow miniature daffodil is almost always out by Christmas Eve
soldier red is the most popular
78
LOV E YOUR GARDEN
trumpet-shaped flowers
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
79
80
Plan the perfect patch Edward Erith from GardenEye says structure is all-important
I
I was fortunate to ride in a friend’s helicopter all the way from just outside Hastings up to Chester earlier this month. It was a breathtaking trip. We flew at 1,200ft pretty much all the way on a beautiful cloudless day, which is about the perfect height to snoop on the gardens the length of the country and to marvel at the astonishing beauty of our countryside and the historical infrastructure of roads, rail and canals, factories and cricket pitches. Obviously, being so high up, you can’t see the detail – but you can see the structure of the gardens, particularly in the incredible formal gardens of stately houses and larger properties. But you can also see the complete absence of structure in 90% of our gardens. This got me thinking. Generally, we instinctively love a well-structured, large garden but it seems to escape most people that the structure of all gardens is equally as important. When I do my garden consultation exercise, it is this one thing that I concentrate on more than anything else and sometimes the only thing that needs to be looked at. In my opinion, it’s vital for me to understand structure and get this right. What do I mean by this? The structure is the definition or layout of the garden. It encompasses all the obvious main features or items – the drive, beds, hedges and fences, and then it relies on the correct proportion between the paving, the lawns and the beds in relation to one another and the overall effect of existing trees and shrubs. It has to work for you, should suit the house and fit in with the surroundings. This applies to a big garden, a medium one, to a town garden and to a courtyard garden; it is the most important thing to consider for any garden. It is the balance, the feng-shui, the karma, the harmony, whatever you want to call it – a feeling that the garden just works well! When you go into your garden now that summer is over, ask yourself if each of those elements mentioned above fit together well. Is the garden dominated by one or two particular features, is it lopsided? Is it empty or too full? Have you been out this summer and enjoyed all of the garden or just a small bit of it? Do you not enjoy going to parts of it? Is it ugly from a particular place? Could you do better…? You can do this yourself quite easily – but the hardest thing of all is to be critical when you are overly familiar with it. In other words, you get so used to seeing something, it becomes a part of how you look at the whole. Here’s an example. I see a rogue ash sapling that has grown into the start of a mature tree up against the side of an old house. It has grown well and seems to fit in with everything else. But I see this as a weed and potentially hugely problematic, undermining the house and in time covering the house and garden with shade and leaves. And you might not even have noticed it was there, as you just like the fact the it is growing well! I’ve had a lot of fun this last year helping countless people with their gardens, even if it is just to point them in the right direction or to hand-hold them through a project, so thank you all. Preparing the garden and its structure for next year is now the key! If you do need a fresh look at your garden, it would be my pleasure to help. www.gardeneye.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E YOUR GARDEN
81
Family
Heads up!
Top local headteachers answer your questions
My daughter has been diagnosed with mild dyslexia. What help can I expect from school and how can I help at home? John Peters, Brenchley
Angela Culley, Headmistress
The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells Co-educational preparatory school for boys and girls aged 3-11 For any parent, the diagnosis of dyslexia brings with it an emotional outcome; relief that there is a reason for your daughter finding literacy more difficult than her peers, sadness that she will find academic studies involving literacy trickier, and protection in as far as you want to make everything as right and easy for her as you can. In the first instance, it is vital that you share the diagnosis and any Educational Psychologist’s report you may have with your daughter’s school. This report will include valuable data and recommendations. Make an appointment to meet with the school’s SENCo (Special Needs Co-ordinator) and find out what resources (time, specialist teaching, classroom expertise and practical) the school has in place to help meet the recommendations of the report and your daughter’s personal and individual needs. As a parent, you will need to give the time and commitment to supporting any provision put in place. There is a plethora of resources on the market but please do not overload your daughter. The best results come through a carefully-prepared educational plan, agreed
by all parties – teachers, parent and child – which is adhered to and routinely worked through. Most important to remember is that your daughter’s dyslexia must be managed but not allowed to identify her, rule her life or limit her educational aspirations.
Craig McCarthy, Headmaster
Russell House School, Otford Independent prep school for girls and boys aged 2-11 It is widely understood that Einstein, Da Vinci and Richard Branson all had to cope with dyslexia but clearly did not let it prevent them from doing great things, so first of all – relax. Dyslexia can make some things harder but, in general, those barriers can be overcome, especially with the right kind of help and support. Schools are much better prepared to encourage children with specific learning needs nowadays, so expect there to be plenty of advice and assistance available. At Russell House, it is nearly always teachers who flag up issues with pupils and we discuss with parents the need, or otherwise, for a referral. A good school will have a specialist who will draw up an individual plan for your child. The plan will likely involve all your daughter’s teachers because adjusting for dyslexic pupils should not be confined to English lessons! It may include simple routines, such as using colour overlays for reading, having work marked primarily on content, limited rewriting, proofreading assistance, encouragement for your child to dictate her thoughts before writing, being given spellings of keywords and access to regular or possibly even speech activated word processing. The school can also advise on practical ways for you to help your daughter at home. Nothing beats lots of positive encouragement and there are strategies you can use to help her develop her enjoyment of reading. Dyslexia Action (www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk) is an excellent resource. 82
LOV E EDUC ATION
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Julie Lodrick, Headmistress
Kent College, Pembury Independent boarding and day prep and senior school for girls aged 3-11 and 11-18 Many schools will have a specialist Learning Support department which parents can liaise with from the very beginning of their child’s school life, in order to ensure that their learning needs are met. At Kent College, dyslexia is simply seen as a different way of learning and it is our job to give girls the tools to enable them to shine. The Additional Educational Needs (AEN) Department at Kent College provides lessons for individuals, or small groups, offering tailored support and guidance as necessary. These sessions give advice on study, organisation and revision techniques appropriate to each girl’s learning style. It is especially useful for when children have independent study periods and may need guidance on how to prioritise this time. The AEN Department regularly communicates with subject tutors and parents, so that lessons and homework are differentiated to ensure that every girl reaches their full potential. At home, parents can gain information from the Kent West Dyslexia Association and the Dyspraxia Foundation regarding forthcoming classes and courses for parents, exhibitions and Fun Days. In addition, ‘Dys Talk’ is a very useful information-sharing social enterprise which helps parents optimise their child’s learning.
Kate Elliott, Head Teacher
Bricklehurst Manor School, Stonegate Mainstream independent school for pupils aged 3-11 Dyslexia is becoming a more recognised need amongst children and as such, all good schools have evolved to ensure that staff are aware of their responsibility to make sure all learners can access the curriculum. Good practice includes a thorough understanding of the child’s needs, through scrutiny of the report provided, or undertaking an assessment. The school would also employ known methods such as colour screens, or differentiated work/print/paper, amongst others. You can always request to see the school’s SEND Policy, or just ask to speak to the SENCo for further clarification and to keep communication open. A child struggling with dyslexia can feel very frustrated and this may result in challenging behaviour or emotional withdrawal, so this is where parents need to help. They may also have low self-confidence as they can feel their work is inadequate, so lots of encouragement and praise is required. One-to-one tuition can be very helpful as long as the child is happy to do this and feels it is helping them learn useful strategies. Ultimately, all children need to enjoy learning, regardless of their difficulties, so school and home must work to promote the child and celebrate their success.
Jill Milner, Headmistress
Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks An independent day school for girls 3-18 Dyslexia presents in many ways and affects children differently. A dyslexia diagnosis is often accompanied by a report which will include initial recommendations for helping each child. Forwarding your child’s dyslexia report to the Head of Learning Support at their school and arranging a follow-up meeting is a good place to start. The Head of Learning Support will be able to tell you how any recommendations will be implemented within school and perhaps suggest other strategies to help your child. They will often be responsible for briefing all of your child’s teachers, monitoring their progress, arranging dedicated support and, where appropriate, establishing the need and case for extra time in public exams. Common strategies for assisting children with dyslexia in school include additional one-to-one tuition to consolidate what has been learnt in lesson time, the provision of lesson notes, additional use of visual learning resources and working on iPads and laptops in lessons. At home, all children benefit from having time ring fenced for their studies and from working in a calm and ordered dedicated space for learning, such as a desk in their room. It is helpful if distractions, like smart phones, are not available at this time. KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E EDUC ATION
83
Martyn Ward, Headmaster
Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst Co-educational preparatory school for girls and boys aged 3-13 The school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator will meet with you and write an Individual Education Plan outlining your daughter’s provision. This may be in the form of in-class support, small group sessions or one-to-one lessons. Classroom strategies to help your daughter will be shared with her teachers and her work will be differentiated appropriately. Your daughter may be entitled to extra support in exams, in which case the teachers will encourage her to become familiar with any relevant technology or aids. In terms of helping her at home, learn all you can about dyslexia. Getting an idea of what your child might be experiencing and understanding her challenges is the key to giving her the best help. A child struggling with dyslexia can feel frustrated, which can result in challenging behaviour or emotional withdrawal. A dyslexic child may be aware of not keeping up with other children and feel their work is inadequate. Try to build her confidence, by balancing praise for effort, with suggestions on how to improve. Show her you understand her difficulties, but reinforce your belief that she can overcome them when she learns and develops the right strategies. Look into fun and multisensory ways to encourage reading and writing, by tapping into her interests and using her strengths, in turn building her self-esteem and helping her to stay motivated.
Hilary Blake, Headmistress
Sacred Heart School, Wadhurst Independent Catholic mixed primary school for 3-11 If you have not done so already it is important to share the diagnosis with the school, including copying any written report and recommendation to the school’s SENCo and your child’s class teacher. It is important that you do this ahead of any meeting so that the time can be used productively for both parties to share their observations and concerns. A good report will include strategies to be employed at home and at school to support your child in their learning and the school will be a further source of support and advice. It is important to establish an open and honest dialogue with the child’s teacher and with the SENCo who will draw up a provision map specific to your child, detailing targets and planned support which the school will provide. You can anticipate regular reviews and updates. Be aware that dyslexia can have an impact on different areas of your child’s learning and personal organisation: it is not necessarily just going to impact on reading ability and progress. At the same time, be reassured that you can expect expert help and support from any good school and that a diagnosis of dyslexia is not an insurmountable obstacle to your child’s happiness and success.
Do you have a question for our Heads? Email: editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk
84
LOV E EDUC ATION
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Centenery Vision kicks off
Davina McCall opens new sport facilities at Benenden The first two capital projects of Benenden School’s ambitious Centenary Vision development programme have been officially declared open. Cheered on by enthusiastic girls, TV personality Davina McCall opened the new all-weather sports pitch and pavilion in front of dozens of parents, guests and supporters. The guests were also entertained by cheerleaders from the John Wallis
Church of England Academy and two international hockey players, Sarah Haycroft and Zoe Shipperley, were also in attendance. In addition, the eight new staff homes on the Benenden campus were officially declared open by two students and Chairman of Council Anna Birkett, herself a former Benenden student. The completion of these two projects, which have cost around £4 million in total, represents significant progress in realising the School’s Centenary Vision. This Vision is dedicated to further enhancing the complete education offered to girls at Benenden, which includes supporting an innovative curriculum with state-ofthe-art new facilities. The all-weather pitch will allow the girls to play sports, primarily lacrosse and hockey, all through the winter, which will dramatically increase the amount of training time they receive. Benenden’s U15B Lacrosse team are already national champions and this new facility will help enhance their standard even more. The accompanying pavilion includes changing rooms for players and officials, as well as catering facilities, together with covered and terraced spectator areas, which the school hopes will further attract support from families and friends at matches. After declaring the facility open, Davina McCall said: “I was delighted to be invited to open the all-weather sports pitch and pavilion here at Benenden. It’s so important for young people to lead an active lifestyle and this awesome new sports facility will be a huge asset for Benenden girls. I wish I’d had something this good when I was at school!”
A bright future
Top advice for students at the Kent College Careers Fair Kent College Pembury welcomed over 100 national and local businesses for an evening of careers advice and higher education planning. Families made the most of a dynamic event, which delivered an evening of industry expertise from biochemistry to banking and stage management to surveying. Girls gained top advice from a wealth of businesses across the industry, including the HSBC Group, Markerstudy, Balfour Beatty, Lightmaker, the NHS, the Cordon Bleu School of Cookery and the BBC, amongst many more. Louise Wheeler, a chartered surveyor from AMC Property Consultants, said: “I’m thrilled to be at this event. When I started in surveying, only 10% of us were women and there is still only 25% today, so more work is needed to bring women into the industry. Surveying is an interesting career path and offers a lot of opportunities.” Phoebe Wilder, a goldsmith from the Goldsmiths’ Centre, added: “Goldsmithing is largely a male-dominated industry. At university, most students are women but professionally, it is all men. We encourage students to do a foundation year after A-level and nurture them to the next stage.” Emily Zihute from the Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone NHS commented: “We are here to raise awareness of our service so that young people have a wider knowledge of the careers in the NHS. As the Health Visiting Service, we want to sing about the service we provide.”
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E EDUC ATION
85
Yummy mummy corner Whether you’re a yummy mummy, a loving partner or a doting grandparent, this is for you...
Soft shoe shuffle
These festive soft leather shoes by Dotty Fish would be the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas outfit. They have non-slip suede soles and an elasticated ankle, so you don’t have to worry about losing them! They come presented in an organza drawstring gift bag so would also make an ideal gift. Price: £7.99 www.dottyfish.com
For baby
High and dry
Keep your baby warm and clean with this cute animal print organic cotton hat and bib from Lala and Bea. Price: Bib, £8; hat, £10 www.lalaandbea.com
This reindeer-themed towel features a dotty back and adorable antlers on the hood. Made from Cuddledry’s signature blend of pure cotton and bamboo, it is twice as warm and snuggly as regular towels, 60% more absorbent than cotton towels and has a lasting silky softness – perfect for young skin. Price: £26.99 www.cuddledry.com
Play time Forget about computer games this Christmas and encourage your child to find their future career with the help of Le Toy Van, which has a range of inspiring toys, including My First Tool Bench, £70, Doctor’s Set, £39, and Honeybake Oven, £64.50. All suitable for 3+ years, they’ll give your little ones hours of fun. www.naturalbabyshower.co.uk
86
LOV E FAMILY
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Works of art
Two local mums, Catherine and Jennifer, thought how wonderful it would be to combine their love of their children’s artwork, from the gluey, glittery masterpieces to the tatty, unrecognisable scribbles that are proudly handed to them on a daily basis, with their appreciation of grown-up art. And so, Barney & Wilf was formed to create a piece of gallery-quality art using your little one’s creations. They will take your children’s art efforts and make them into beautiful, big contemporary prints to display in your home. Every creation is unique and each little piece of children’s art is carefully edited to bring out the colours and detail in their work, whilst still keeping it as untouched as possible. The end result is a bespoke work of art which will last a lifetime and can be passed on to your children when they’re grown-ups, too. www.barneyandwilf.com
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E FAMILY
87
We will remember them... As we mark Remembrance Day on 13th November, Alexis Casdagli shares the story of her father’s experiences during the Second World War, and a very special portrait
M
My father, who died in 1996, never talked about the war, so I knew nothing of what he’d been through until I read his astonishing secret war diary, now published as Prouder Than Ever. Then I started to find out more. Major A T Casdagli (RAOC), was captured in Crete 75 years ago, one of more than 6000 Allied Troops ordered to surrender to the Germans when the Battle of Crete was lost. There followed for him four years of imprisonment in Germany in four different prisoner of war camps. Oflag XII-B, which was a school before the war, was the last and quite the worse. It was a death camp for disabled, elderly and mentally ill people deemed ‘unworthy of life’. Over 10,000 men, women and children were gassed and their bodies burnt in the Hadamar Euthanasia Centre. Four thousand more people were killed there by lethal injection and neglect. It was there that my father met Dawyck, the Second Earl Haig. Dawyck writes in his book, My Father’s Son, that once a month a ‘special’ train came into Oflag XII-B, packed with old and disabled people who were led up the hill to the Centre but that no train ever left with departing patients. He also says that prisoners saw coffins being taken every day to the graves behind the trees and buried in unmarked rows. It was impossible not to know what was going on there. My father and Dawyck became friends during their imprisonment and Dawyck painted a portrait of my father and gave it to him, before being taken off to Colditz. On 21st March 1945, when my father was liberated from Oflag X-II-B along with other prisoners by the Americans, they were all told to bring nothing more than the clothes they stood up in and what personal possessions they could carry. My father managed to hastily scrawl his name on the back of his portrait with the address of the family business in Manchester before leaving and never expected to see it again. In December 1958, 14 years later, my father, now living in Tring, in Hertfordshire, received a parcel at his office. It was addressed to the family business in Manchester, but the business had long been closed! It then emerged that the Post Office in Manchester had traced the firm of accountants, Neild, Son and Lees, who
88
LOV E FAMILY
Major A T Casdagli
A. T. Casdagli. The Second Earl Haig. Oil on board
used to act for the family business and given the parcel to them. They then made their own enquiries and eventually found a Mr Potts, a clerk who knew the work address of my father down south, and so it had been sent on. A real pass the parcel! I remember that night Dad showing us the parcel when he got home and telling us how he’d undone the wrappings and then just stared in astonishment as there in his hands once again was his long lost portrait! He was so delighted and kept saying ‘Stone the crows!’ and holding the painting up in the air as if he really couldn’t believe it was real. In the parcel was a letter dated 3rd August 1958, four months earlier, from a fishmonger in Frankfurt, 50 miles from Hadamar, called Carl Gessen. Mr Gessen writes that the day before, he and his family had found, between other books and journals, the enclosed portrait and so were sending it to the address on the back, hoping it arrived ‘whole’! My father wrote to thank the Gessen family and also to Dawyck to let him know it had arrived. Dawyck, too, was similarly delighted and surprised. My father then sent him the portrait to do what had not been done then in Oflag XII-B – to have it signed by the artist. Prouder Than Ever is published by www.cylixpress.co.uk price £19.99 plus P&P. 20% of the sale price of each book goes to the British Red Cross.
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Escape to freedom
Publishing Director Hannah Tucek talks about her grandfather’s war experience I never met my grandfather on my dad’s side. Sadly he died before I was born. After years of being in pain and immobile from back problems, surgery finally took place and he was given a new lease of life, only to die from a heart attack soon after. My grandfather, Jakub, was born in what was then Czechoslovakia. He grew up in Breclav and by the time the Germans invaded, he was working at the local railway. He and his colleagues refused to work for the Germans and so they were all put into a concentration camp in Poland. I’m not sure how long he was there, but at some point, he managed to escape, and made his way to Leon in France where he joined the French Foreign Legion. When Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, he was allowed to join a Czech army unit in France. He marched across the country before taking a troop ship to Liverpool and was then stationed in Seaton, Devon. He met my grandmother on the beach one summer afternoon, and the rest is history, as they say. My father says that my grandfather never spoke about the war, we only know about this part of his life from my grandmother, from the small amount that he opened up to her about. I’ll never be able to thank my grandfather for what he did, and I am sad that I never got to meet him. But I will always be proud of his courage, strength and, most importantly, determination to survive, which led him to England, and is the reason why I am here today.
Do you have a war story to share with us? We’d love to hear from you as we would like to share some more stories again next year. Email: editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E FAMILY
89
Business notes A round-up of local business news
The Gallery is salon of the year Local salon gets the triple and wins top award for third year running The Gallery in Southborough has once again proved that they are the best of the best by winning the coveted title of Salon of the
Year at the British Hairdressing Business Awards 2016 for an unprecedented third year in a row, beating very stiff nationwide competition. There were screams of delight as their name was read out and the whole team descended on the stage to collect their award from host, TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, and Hairdresser’s Journal Editor-in-Chief, Jayne Lewis-Orr. Salon director Lorenzo Colangelo said, “We are overwhelmed! I wanted to try for the hat-trick but really didn’t think we would do it. What pleases me most is that it shows that we are doing something right and it is a testament to my wonderful team and their performance over the last year.” The local salon is well known for all the activities that it gets their clients involved in. They include their annual charity golf day, which this year brought together 100 clients, staff and associates; the Southborough Cricket Club Sponsors Match, where the Gallery put in a team of staff and clients to raise money for the club; their newly-formed Gallery Old Boys five-a-side football team; and a host of charity fundraising events for local causes like Bertie’s Battle, the Hospice in the Weald, and industry charity The Hairdressers’ Charity, raising over £9,000 in total this year. www.thegalleryhairandbeauty.co.uk
Recognition for carers Dame Esther Rantzen presents Consultus awards Some of Consultus’s carers and nurses were recently recognised when Dame Esther Rantzen presented them with awards at a lunch held by Consultus, one of the UK’s most respected care and nursing companies. The awards represented a thank you to the carers and nurses who have either achieved 100 bookings with the agency or gone the extra mile in, what is at times, an extremely challenging role. The awards also coincided with the official opening of a second Consultus carer house in Tonbridge, which will provide extra accommodation for the growing community of carers and nurses whilst they are inbetween assignments or on training. Dame Esther Rantzen said: “I am so impressed with the carers who have received these awards and love hearing their stories. I know from my own family how crucial it is that the care is loving and compassionate, and provides security and companionship. I would be thrilled if any family member of mine had the kind of consistent, dedicated and skilled care that these award winners provide.” Consultus CEO, Peter Seldon, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Dame Esther for taking the time from her very busy schedule to support us and our carers and nurses. She really understands the importance of high-quality care and the real difference that our carers and nurses make.” www.consultuscare.com
90
LOV E BUSINESS
Kitchen company in top three Rencraft is a finalist in top awards Rencraft is thrilled that one of their hand-painted kitchen projects has been selected as one of three finalists in the British Design & Manufacturing category of the Designer Kitchen & Bathroom Awards 2016. Jonathan Reynolds of Rencraft, who designed the shortlisted kitchen, said, “We are absolutely delighted! We’ve been handmaking kitchens and furniture in our Sevenoaks workshop for over 35 years now, so to be recognised in this particular category is especially meaningful to us.” www.rencraft.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Ten of the best
ifour celebrates 10 years of creativity Tunbridge Wells creative agency ifour celebrated 10 years of design and digital creativity when it threw open its new office doors, before holding a celebration nearby. The 15-strong award-winning team, led by creative director and founder Graeme Hall, was joined by longstanding clients, suppliers and friends from the local community at the party at Woods on the Pantiles. The agency, which was started with just two people and a shared desk in Tunbridge Wells, has since outgrown two other premises and gone on to win national, regional and local awards for its
92
branding, print and website design, as well as its approach to creativity and innovation. Graeme Hall said: “Ten years in business is a major milestone and we wanted to celebrate it with many of the people who’ve joined us on the journey. It’s not been without its trials and tribulations, but today we’ve built a fantastic team that can compete with much bigger agencies in London and further afield. “In the last 10 years, the marketing world has been transformed. To be successful you now need to provide intelligent design that can inspire a positive reaction and build a brand, but also the digital knowledge to make it happen quickly and effectively. “Tunbridge Wells has a strong and vibrant creative community and it is great to be a part of it. We’re now looking forward to ifour’s second decade.” ifour’s success has seen the team recently return from Canada after securing a major brand strategy, positioning and website development project to add to its portfolio of work that includes Microsoft, NHS, BP, Chapel Down and Richard Branson’s Pitch to Rich competition winners, fourex. Former BBC's The Apprentice contestant Vincent Disneur, from Union Street Technologies, also joined the party, following a longstanding client relationship for a multitude of creative and digital projects. ifour was also the most decorated agency at the Kent Digital Awards, with a total of five gold awards, a silver and a bronze for client work and internal agency work. www.ifour.co.uk
Behind closed doors Domestic abuse takes many forms, says Sarah Haywood, head of the family team at ThomasHaywood Solicitors, and victims often stay silent The long-running BBC radio soap opera, The Archers, has recently demonstrated that domestic abuse cuts across all levels of society, irrespective of income or education. The type of domestic abuse which Helen Titchener (née Archer) suffered at the hands of her husband, Rob, was that of controlling or coercive behaviour. This crime is the emotional manipulation and abuse of a partner and it became a criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in jail, at the end of 2015. This kind of abuse remains largely misunderstood. It is, after all, very different to what many people think of when they hear the term “domestic violence”. Often the bruises and broken bones which typify the traditional signs of domestic violence are conspicuously absent. An abuser who controls by coercion is usually, to all outward appearances, a charming and successful person. Helen, the victim in The Archers, perhaps summed it up very well when giving evidence when she said “Rob told me what I could eat, what I could wear, even where I would have my baby”. Many victims believe that even if they told someone what was happening, they would not be believed as their partners are often popular, outgoing stalwarts of society and, indeed, that was true in The Archers, with many people refusing to believe ill of Rob until all the evidence started to come out in the trial of Helen for attempted murder. Rob was a local hero, having recently rescued villagers in a flood, and was an apparently popular member of the local cricket team. The definition of coercive control is ongoing psychological behaviour rather than isolated or unconnected incidents, with the purpose of removing a victim’s freedom. It can take many forms but the most common are:1. D egradation – malicious name calling or bullying behaviour, such as buying clothes that are too small for you to diet into or constant belittling behaviour in front of friends or family. 2. Restricting daily activities, including meeting with friends and family. 3. Financial control, such as constant monitoring of your spending or giving you an allowance to live off.
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
4. Monitoring of time, stalking of movements, putting tracking devices in your car or phone, spying on you online or “stalking” you via social media. 5. Removal of your phone or changing passwords to iPad or laptop so you can’t use them. 6. Unreasonable demands often followed by threats, pressure or physical restraint if you don’t agree to them. 7. Destruction of your possessions. You may not see all of these signs if someone you know is a victim. One of the effects of coercive control is to destroy a person’s self-confidence, and often victims feel that they are responsible for their situation. Another effect is to isolate the victim, so you may find your friend or family member slowly withdraws from you. You may need to ask many times before they will acknowledge a need for help. Domestic Abuse affects both men and women. The Domestic Abuse Helpline can be contacted via www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk or ringing 0808 2000 247. For men, contact www.mensadviceline.org.uk or ring 0808 801 0327. Once a victim feels ready to take legal advice, there are several ways a family lawyer can help. These include obtaining a non-molestation order, an occupation order (to remove the abuser from the family home), issuing divorce proceedings and negotiating the financial consequences of the relationship breakdown, and dealing with children issues. At ThomasHaywood Solicitors, our family team are experienced in identifying and assisting with this type of case. You can contact the head of the family team, Sarah Haywood, on 01892 765013 or sarah@thomashaywoodsolicitors.com. We have offices in Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone or can meet you at other locations to suit you, including London as we understand the need for discretion where there is domestic abuse. www.thomashaywoodsolicitors.com
LOV E BUSINESS
93
Looking to the future Dream salon celebrates five successful years Five years ago, Krissy Scotton founded Revive Hairdressing on St John’s Road in Tunbridge Wells, realising a dream that she’d had since the age of 13. Throwing herself at every hairdressing opportunity and training experience possible, Krissy knew she wanted to establish a salon known not just for its haircuts, but also for the whole experience.
94
LOV E BUSINESS
Since opening its doors in 2011, Revive has gone from strength to strength, with demand now meaning the salon is open six days a week, and has seven staff members. With high client-satisfaction ratings, this independent has accumulated a vast number of loyal clientele and successfully established itself as one of the most popular salons in town. The team’s 40-year collective experience and passion to deliver the best for clients in the salon, and at home, has meant that they work alongside credited brands such as Davines haircare products, Beauty Works luxury extensions, Invissibobble hair ties and Cloud Nine straighteners. Not only do they produce creative cuts and colours, Revive also offers clients the chance to extend their pamper sessions with OPI manicures, XEN-Tans and Mii makeovers. Said Krissy: “We wanted to take this chance to say a big thank you to our wonderful clients and supporters who we have met over the years. We have so many brilliant memories with you all and had countless laughs over the years. Our clients are the reason we do this and we really have some amazing ones! I am so proud of my little salon and I have a great team of staff. Here’s to the next five years!” www.revivehairdressing.co.uk
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
To be the best New event designed to empower all women A full day of inspiration for women from all over Kent will be taking place in March at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, who are supporting the event by donating the use of the main theatre. With at least 1,000 expected to attend the workshops and evening gala show, it’s an event not to be missed. Tickets are just £5 per person with all proceeds donated to the Pickering Cancer Drop In Centre. The event will empower all women, and the men who support them, to believe that they can make a positive impact in their family’s lives and be powerful educators to their children. The event is an opportunity to build positive relationships, be happy with who you are, and raise awareness of mental health issues amongst women and young people as the next generation of entrepreneurs, leaders and mentors. Most importantly, to believe that, at any age, with courage and the right support and network, you can challenge yourself to write a new story and a better future for yourself and your family. The event is the vision of Ania Jeffries, a local mother of three and business entrepreneur, who is passionate about inspiring and boosting the confidence of women. Her enthusiasm for the event has enabled her to pull together a large pool of talented people from across Kent to help motivate and boost confidence in others. She said “I have been blown away by the generosity of the local community and would like to thank all of those that have had a hand in helping to pull this event together. I always thought that our role as a parent was to inspire our children, but over the last few years, during a period of great transition, I realised that, in fact, our children can provide us with a fountain of inspiration to push us to follow our own dreams. When setting up my Life and Career Coaching business, I was motivated by my family to work as a mentor in a school. I realised that, as a parent, you can make a huge difference in your child’s world. You can encourage them, as well as their friends, to find passion in all that they do and this starts with loving yourself, in building your own self-belief and confidence.” The event is aimed at all women, from school leavers who are stepping onto the career ladder for the first time and women who are looking to return to work after a career break, to those who have never worked. The event will bring together communities who might not normally engage, raise awareness of local services, employment and training opportunities in the area, and offer the opportunity to start powerful, new conversations with family and friends. To reserve your place, email: womenworkevents@gmail.com
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E BUSINESS
95
Helping hand A round-up of local charity news
Sponsored walk helps charities Fundraising challenge for Kent College
The biggest fundraising event in Kent College Pembury’s calendar took place recently when they held their annual Sponsored Walk. The 12-mile fundraising challenge aims to raise money for charities elected by students, as well as continually supporting their sister school, Kent College Nepal. This year, both CLIC Sargent and Loving Humanity were chosen by the Senior School, whilst Hospice in the Weald was chosen by the Prep School.
A thousand participants, some as young as four from the Prep School, completed the walk, as did Kent College’s mums and dads. Both Headmistress, Julie Lodrick, and new Head of the Preparatory School, Nik Pears, participated in what was their first sponsored walk. Ms Lodrick, who completed her third marathon in October and participated in the February Tunbridge Wells half marathon, said, “I really enjoyed being a part of the 49th sponsored walk. We invite parents to walk with their daughters and it is a wonderful community event. As well as being an enjoyable day, the girls worked really hard before the event to collect sponsorship in support of our school charities. Every year, we raise between £8,000 and £10,000.” This year’s walk also marked a special occasion as Carol Davidson, Head of Pastoral and Outdoor Education, celebrated planning the charitable event for the past 10 years. Says Carol, “It’s always a lot of fun. The girls get to see the beautiful countryside and it’s a great event for the whole school community. And over the last few years, we have raised tens of thousands of pounds for various charities, which is very important to us.”
Stuart Kirk Photography
Sing up
Royal venue
Historic Rochester Cathedral can have rarely, if ever, witnessed the spectacle of 600 people on their feet, singing, clapping and stamping their feet. But that’s what happened at the stirring climax to a sellout concert given by Tenterden singing group The Ruby Tuesdays. The performance choir sang a concert featuring the songs of Adele in aid of child bereavement charity Abigail’s Footsteps. Sales of tickets, CDs, programmes and raffle tickets raised some £8,000. The concert, which also featured BBC TV's The Voice finalist Jamie Johnson, was The Rubies greatest success to date, attracting more than double the attendance at last year’s Rochester Cathedral performance. Says Musical Director Max Wilson, “It was an utterly fantastic night, and we were quite overwhelmed by the audience reaction. All our concerts are aimed at fundraising for good causes, and the money we raised at Rochester Cathedral is our biggest success to date.”
A charity ball held in the magnificent surroundings of Kensington Palace raised £50,000 for Demelza Hospice Care for Children. More than 200 guests enjoyed a Champagne reception on the terrace of The Orangery at the Palace, home to many past and present members of the British Royal Family, where they were able to admire the spectacular palace gardens before dining on a sumptuous three-course meal. Demelza’s Chairman, Sarah Phillips, welcomed guests to the flower-laden Orangery and gave an update on the work of the hospice, which cares for some 500 children and their families in South East London, East Sussex and Kent. Sarah Kemsley, Demelza’s Major Donor Manager, said: “Our guests really appreciated the surroundings for this year’s ball. For many, it was the first time they had been to Kensington Palace.” Among the auction prizes was a stunning Stevenson Brothers’ rocking horse signed by Joanna Lumley, along with mementoes from her recent Ab Fab film.
Tenterden’s Ruby Tuesdays thrill 600 at sell-out Rochester Cathedral Concert
96
LOV E CH ARIT Y
Flagship ball at Palace raises £50k for charity
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Support for parents Charity offers help with teens President Clinton famously said “I can deal with Bosnia, I can deal with Saddam Hussein, but I’m not sure if I am ready to deal with a teenager”. Many parents of teenagers attempt to merely survive; the strops and the silences, the hormones and the anger. It really does seem to be true that the bigger the child, the bigger the worry. Having worked with children and families for over 145 years, Fegans certainly understands the pressures of parenthood and childhood and the conflict that this can bring. The local Christian charity currently provides qualified counselling to children alongside professional support to parents. Many parents are struggling to understand their teenagers’ behaviour, and the current generation are facing increasing pressures, heightened by the digital world in which we live. Parents often want to help and support their teens through this challenging time, but are not always sure of the best way forward. This is why Fegans is offering a free talk, encouraging both parents and teens not just to survive, but to thrive during this precious time of development. Fegans’ counsellors spend many hours with struggling teens dealing with common issues of bullying and family breakdown which can result in aggressive behaviour, withdrawal or self-harm. Equally, Fegans’ parent support workers help many parents rebuild broken family relationships. From 7.30-9pm on Friday, 18th November at St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks, a Fegans’ counsellor and a Fegans’ parent worker will join forces to deliver an honest, informative insight into teenagers and their development, offering practical advice for developing and maintaining positive healthy relationships with teens. The event is free of charge but spaces are limited. To register a place or find out more, you can email Jo Wild at: joanne.wild@fegans.org.uk www.fegans.org.uk
The car's the star Mini owners celebrate 30th birthday with charity run This year, the Southern Mini Owners Club (SMOC) celebrated their 30th birthday by giving gifts instead of receiving them. Club members chose charities that were close to their hearts and they, along with the club, have made several large donations to local and national charities. Members Paul and Jo Gallagher nominated Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, which received a donation of £2,120 to contribute to rehoming 8,000 dogs and cats a year, whilst members Ann and Jim Black nominated Macmillan. Along with Mini Cooper Tonbridge, the Southern Mini Owners went on a Mini Macmillan Run to raise funds for Macmillan in the Kent area. The club’s donation of £2,000 will be matched by Utility Warehouse making a contribution of £4,000 to Macmillan.
Pop-up shop funds medical detection dogs Medical detection dog helps open Maidstone charity Christmas card shop Pal, one of only two medical detection dogs in Kent, was the guest of honour at the opening of the Cards for Good Causes shop in Tunbridge Wells on 28th October. This amazing dog can tell when his owner Claire Pearson, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, is on the brink of a life-threatening situation. The Medical Detection Dogs charity is one of the charities that the pop-up Christmas card shop in United Reform Church in Grosvenor Road will be raising funds for. Pal, a black Labrador who was a finalist at Crufts last year, was given to Claire four years ago by the charity Medical Detection Dogs. This highly-trained canine detects small changes in Claire’s scent that indicate when her blood sugar levels are rising or falling, both of which can rapidly lead to her falling into a coma or even dying. He prompts her to check her blood, can fetch her glucose medication, alert friends or neighbours if needs be and even fetch the phone. With Pal by her side 24 hours a day, Claire has regained her independence and can live a normal life without her family worrying about leaving her alone. Karen Bryant, Shop Manager for Cards for Good Causes says: “Buying charity Christmas cards is one of the simplest ways to support good causes this festive season. Seeing Claire and Pal is a strong reminder of some of the amazing work these charities do and the ways in which they change people’s lives for the better.” KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016
LOV E CHARIT Y
97
Driving force Once, carriage driving was the only means of transport. Today, it’s a fast-moving and exciting sport that’s gaining in popularity, as British National Champion Anna Grayston reveals
W
What exactly is carriage driving? What are the basic principles?
Competition carriage driving is the driven equivalent of ridden three-day eventing. Competition on day one is a driven dressage test. There are classes for single, pairs (that’s me!), tandems and teams of either horses or ponies. Day two is the cross-country marathon testing the fitness, agility and training of the turnout. The third day is a timed course of 20 sets of cones with balls on top, which are set 20cm over the track width of the carriage. So, it’s a test of accuracy and speed after the rigours of the cross country.
When did you first become interested in it?
Aged 13, I had three hip operations and needed to find something to do with my pony as I couldn’t ride her for a year and wasn’t going to let my mum sell her!
What was it about carriage driving that excited you?
To start with it was a poor substitute for riding, but it very soon became my passion. It was the skill involved in training the ponies to do the different elements of the competition that I really enjoyed. Each element also offers something different; precision, skill, adrenaline, speed, team work – there’s something in it for everyone!
What qualities do you need to be good at carriage driving?
Carriage driving is genuinely accessible to everyone, from aged 8 to 80. People compete or just drive for fun. To be good competitively, you have to love training your horse or pony, have an attention to detail for all three elements of the competition and have a great support network. Unlike riding, you can’t drive on your own. You need a groom who is an integral and very important part of the turnout, so they need to be skilled in their own right for the turnout to succeed.
What major competitions have you won?
There are quite a few! I’m the reigning 2015 World Champion Pony Pair Driver. I was the first British driver to ever win the world
98
LOV E LOC AL HEROES
championships with a multiple turnout. I was a World Team Bronze medalist with the British team and I’m the current British national champion. In total, I’ve been British National Champion in every pony class, single, pair, tandem and team, eight times.
How much of your time does it take up?
A lot! I train as often as is possible with a four year old, husband and home to look after. I also have to fit in my clients who I coach – I’m a UKCC Level 3 coach, and a trainer and selector for the British Young Driver squad.
Where do you work and is it a sport that attracts a high level of interest from young riders?
I work from home, near Tunbridge Wells, as well as visiting clients and running clinics around the country. I did my first masterclass this year which was a bit daunting but great fun to do, showing people what is possible with their animals. We have a super group of young drivers who also ride but have caught the competitive driving bug. It is a real family sport, with mums and dads getting involved with grooming, carriage maintenance and stewarding.
What do your family think of your achievements? They are very proud and understand how much goes into being successful. Everyone helps and I couldn’t do it without them.
Has your son shown an interest in following in your footsteps?
At four, he’s more interested in tractors and digging up my arena! But who knows...
How much further do you hope to progress? What is there still to achieve?
Even being world champion, there’s lots I could do better! I have a new pony who I’m quite excited about so I’m really interested to see how he progresses. Plus, I would love to coach more and help people achieve their goals and enjoy their driving to the max!
What’s the best route for anyone interested in learning carriage driving?
Find a local registered and insured instructor who can show you how to drive, have fun and be safe. www.annagraystoncarriagedriver.co.uk annagraystoncarriagedriver annagraystoncd
KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2016