Issue 34

Your free lifestyle magazine for Kent, Surrey & Sussex

May/June 2019

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WELCOME TO KUDOS

Hello

Welcome to...

Deanna Lewer, our new Sales Manager

Welcome to the May/June issue of Kudos

Hannah Tucek Publishing Director

Summer officially starts on 21st June and we’ve rounded up family days out, plus clubs and camps for kids to enjoy during the upcoming school holidays.

As part of the Hever Festival Theatre, Britain’s Got Talent winner Lost Voice Guy (Lee Ridley) will be performing at the castle on 24th July. He let his electronic voice do the talking when he explained about how much his life has changed in the past year.

If you think you’ve got treasure in your attic, head to Battle Abbey, also in July, when the Antiques Roadshow come to town. We talk to presenter Fiona Bruce about her most memorable finds on the show.

Summer is the time of year when a lot of us are trying to lose weight. Richard Shaw was a ‘fat, middle-aged man’ with Type 2 diabetes until he lost a huge amount of weight. Since then, he has managed to reverse his diabetes and has written a book about it. He shares some of his recipes with us and proves that healthy doesn’t have to be boring.

Enjoy!

Tel: 07393 677219 sales@badbettymedia.co.uk

Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: kudoskent Web: www.kudoskent.co.uk Managing Director: Robin Tucek Publishing Director: Hannah Tucek Editorial Director: Ann Wallace Creative Director: Neil Constant Sales Manager: Deanna Lewer Fashion Editor: Sally-Ann Carroll Photographer: Matt Harquail

Contents

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10 Kudos loves...

12 News & events 25 Love Father’s Day 26 Love celebrity 34 Love food and drink

Kudos is published bi-monthly by:

42 Love home 52 Love garden 54 Love education 66 Love family

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.

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.

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76 Love business 79 Love charity 82 Love heroes

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Mark Cross

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6:30am

Taken by Matt Harquail

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K U DOS LOV E S

Things we love this issue

For the home...

Bring the seaside to your home with these fun nautical cushions, £98 each www.janconstantine.com

For your little one...

Keep them entertained with these cute comforter and rattles.

From £14.95 www.hurnandhurn.com

For the chocoholic...

These luxury chocolate bars by the Natural History Museum are part of an exclusive collaboration with Prestat, London-based master chocolatiers. Roasted Almond and Sea Salt Milk Chocolate bar, and Raspberry and Dark Chocolate bar – what’s not to love? £3 each www.nhmshop.co.uk 10

For luscious lips...

This luxurious, lightweight lip oil in a flattering shade is perfect on its own or over a favourite lipstick. The formula glides onto lips and leaves them nourished and comforted. It’s rich in Vitamin E, sunflower, olive fruit, safflower seed and jojoba seed oils, yet is remarkably lightweight. £25 www.la-gent.com K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

K U DOS LOV E S

Keeping with the pooch theme...

This beautiful, original hand-illustrated Golden Doodle dog print from Mode Prints’ Watercolour Dogs series was created for dog lovers. You can even add your dog’s name to the portrait. From £7.95 www.modeprints.com

Meet Teal...

Sales Manager Dee’s gorgeous Cocker Spaniel. She recently turned six (Happy birthday, Teal!) and despite being a proper working Cocker (she gets very mucky on her walks!) she is also a completely pampered princess at home and has a bed in every room of the house! Lucky girl...

For the pampered pooch...

Since Teal loves to get wet and mucky on her walks, we thought she would love one of these Drying Coats, made from high-quality, double thickness, cotton towelling. Modelled on the design of a horse blanket, the coats are very simple to put on and take off. Available in Brick Red, Bottle Green, Sandringham Blue and Heather, plus a limited-edition range – Teal could have a different one for each room in the house!

From £39 www.ruffandtumbledogcoats.com K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

For the active pooch...

If your pooch needs extra stimulation, or perhaps they don’t like going out in the rain, or for the odd days when you don’t have time to give them a proper walk, this nifty gadget could be the solution. iFetch launches balls automatically and with three launch distances (10, 20 and 30 feet), it can be used both indoors and outdoors. It’s a great way to keep your pet alert, active and healthy. £151.40 www.amazon.co.uk 11

LOV E N EWS

Upfront What’s new and happening Passing the test World record for Sevenoaks Water Polo pair On 12th March at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, Charlie Exall, 25, and Mark Freed, 59, of Sevenoaks Water Polo Team broke the world record for the most number of consecutive water polo passes by a pair. The previous record was 65 passes, and Charlie and Mark smashed that with a total of 95 passes.

So what motivated the pair to go for the record? Mark Freed explained, “I was making a list of things I wanted to do before turning 60 and breaking a world record was high on my list. Having played water polo for 40 years, the records in water polo seemed the most likely.”

After some research, the record of 65 consecutive passes by a pair sounded achievable. “Surely I can do that,” Mark said.

He originally convinced fellow water polo player Danny Hanlon to train and attempt the record with him. However, Danny was struck down with pneumonia and unable to train, so Mark convinced Charlie to step in and training began in earnest and a date for the attempt was set.

On the day things didn’t go as smoothly as they would have liked. Nerves and pressure got to them and the first attempt ended with Mark dropping the ball after 20 passes. Second attempt and Mark did the same at 61, which was agonisingly close to the record.

On the third and final attempt Mark and Charlie were tired but didn’t give up. They decided to just concentrate on passing, stop counting and left that to the official judges. The result was that new world record.

More than being an outstanding achievement by Mark and Charlie, this record attempt and success highlights that water polo is a sport for all ages.

Mark, Charlie and Sevenoaks Water Polo Club hope that this world-record achievement will increase interest, awareness and, ultimately, participation in water polo. It’s a highly-competitive sport that combines keen ball skills with the endurance and athleticism of swimming. It’s also something you can continue to compete in when your body is no longer able to compete in higher-impact sports.

Find out more about Sevenoaks Water Polo Club and go to one of the training sessions for a free trial. All ages welcome! Email ben.mcdonald@sevenoakssc.org

Kipling celebration Community project celebrates poet and writer with life-size statue A life-size statue of Rudyard Kipling sitting on a bench has been unveiled in the heart of Burwash, East Sussex.

This artistic enterprise has been very much a community initiative. The brain-child of Parish Councillor Steve Moore, sculpted by Burwash artist, Victoria Atkinson and supported by the National Trust at Kipling’s home Bateman’s, this is the start of a collaboration that will see Kipling’s work celebrated throughout the village. Funds for the project were raised within the local community in just three weeks from the first call to action.

The Kipling Society, one of the enduring literary societies that focuses on his place in English literature, has given their seal of approval. “The sculpture is the most accurate representation of the man in sculpted form,” commented John Walker, who was Chairman of the Society at the time, a real testament to the observational skills of Victoria Atkinson. “I was touched and flattered to be asked to sculpt such an icon of our village,” said Victoria. “To capture the man, I had to do a lot of research and enjoyed learning more about Kipling. I feel very connected to this project, having lived in the area all my life and walked the fields around Bateman’s every day for the past 20 years.”

A limited edition of eight portrait heads of Kipling will be forged in bronze, the first of which has already sold. After foundry costs, the profits will be shared between the artist and Burwash Parish Council, helping to fund further community projects. Steve Moore, who is Vice-Chair of Burwash Parish Council, commented, “We live in a picturesque village with a great community but, like many villages, with diminishing businesses. Our aim is to encourage some of the over 120,000 people who visit Bateman’s to come in to the village and support local businesses. Sitting next to Kipling on the bench is a great 12

selfie opportunity. People might then walk on to the war memorial and read the inscription which Kipling composed.”

A Village Tourist Map has recently been completed and will be displayed at Bateman’s and in the High Street. The map will identify key village sites and links to Rudyard Kipling. Paper copies will be on sale locally.

To see the diary of the Kipling sculpture visit www.victoriaatkinson.co.uk/kiplingproject/ K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

LOV E N EWS

Hair today…

Fuller brows and pain-free permanent hair removal are just some of the treatments now available in Oxted Statement eyebrows are a big deal (think Cara Delevingne and the whole Kardashian klan) and you can big-up your brows at local beauty salon Inches of Oxted, as they now offer Microblading. Whether you pencil in your brows daily due to years of over-plucking, suffer from hair loss, or simply have very fair colouring, this could be the ideal treatment for you.

Microblading is a new, semi-permanent make-up technique where fine strokes are applied by hand, inserting pigment into the upper layers of skin to create the illusion of real hairs – hence why this has become the number one choice for those searching for the perfect brow. The results are very natural and lifelike, giving the brows a natural, fuller look. And even though it’s semipermanent, with regular top-ups and great aftercare, it can last a lifetime.

For hair in all those unwanted places, the salon now offers the new Motus AY laser – a pain-free and safe, long-term hair-removal solution. Treatment is suitable for the face and body, is quick and results can be seen after just a few sessions.

So how does it work? Light is selectively absorbed by melanin, the pigment in the hair follicle. The light energy heats the pigment and effectively destroys the hair follicle without damaging the surrounding cells. Treatments can take from as little as 10 minutes up to an hour, depending on the size of the treatment area. Treatment is conducted every 4-8 weeks, depending on the area, and typically six or more treatments are needed for optimum results.

Says Salon Manager Tracey Priestnall, “We are really excited to be offering these two fantastic beauty treatments. Our dedicated team of technicians have undergone extensive training and are now fully qualified. So whether it’s fabulous eyebrows or getting rid of unwanted hair, make sure to get in touch.”

As one of the biggest Clarins distributors in Surrey, Inches of Oxted has a Clarins Gold Salon status – they are one of only 76 recognised salons in the UK for giving an exemplary level of Clarins service. Just one more reason to check them out!

LOV E G OI NG OU T

Out and about with Kudos

Hever in Bloom Turn to page 20 to find out about this floral festival

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FA M I LY DAY S OU T

Fun in the sun From children’s summer camps and clubs to family days out, here’s how to make the most of your summer

Summer fun on the farm

Holiday fun and festival vibes return this summer at Godstone Farm from 27th July-1st September. With an entertainment schedule bursting at the seams, the farm fun is in abundance! Wake up with Bubbles, the farm’s mascot, for morning fitness, but save some energy for junk modelling, crafts, messy play, circus skills, and the mini disco… phew! Still time for more? Then get creative in the build-it zone, wander in the music garden or just relax in the chill-out zone. All this on top of indoor play barns, an outdoor play area and over 500 animals to see.

Godstone Farm celebrates its 40th birthday this year, too, so there’s an excuse for even more celebrations!

They’ve got family time covered this summer holidays, and it gets better with their rainy day guarantee!* * Terms & Conditions apply, see www.godstonefarm.co.uk for details.

Gotta sing, gotta dance, gotta act

Stagecoach Performing Arts inspires every child to unlock their potential and develop their Creative Courage For Life, with classes in singing, dancing and acting that give children the freedom to be creative within a structured and safe environment. Stagecoach has already made a difference to over one million students’ lives.

Students learn more than the performing arts; they learn skills to help them succeed on the stage of life. The performing arts teach children to be brave, to speak up and have the courage to share their opinions. They teach life skills such as resilience and self-esteem and are an outlet for children to be active and expressive within a creative setting.

Principal of Stagecoach Otford, Lauren Casey, has a passion for the arts and a fantastic team of experienced teachers at her school to ensure your child thrives. Children of all abilities are welcome. There’s no experience necessary and the schools are very inclusive to all. “At Stagecoach, we offer many opportunities for the performing arts and we are known for our inclusivity of students. We love to see someone who was shy to realise they have a talent and blossom into a confident person who knows who they want to be.

“We allow the children to express themselves individually and encourage them to work together. Watching the journey of a student and seeing them grow in confidence after only one term is very rewarding. Parents are amazed at the change in their children, both at school and at home. The reason I love being a Principal is when I look into the hall and classrooms and see all the smiles and sounds of laughter, it makes my day.”

“This term is the summer Show Term, and the students will be preparing for our show of 30 Musicals with costumes, lighting and the whole shebang!

Stagecoach runs Early Stages classes for 4-6 year olds on a Saturday morning from 9:15am-10:45am and Main Stages for 6-18 year olds on a Saturday morning from 10-1pm at Kemsing Primary School (TN15 6PU).

Stagecoach Otford is more than just performing arts classes; they are a

community in which they take great pride in watching children grow into wonderful young adults.

Your child can see what it’s all about in a two-week trial during the summer term. To find out more, call Lauren on 01732 430387 or visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/otford They also have a Summer Workshop running from 29th July -1st August for ages 4-18 years. For details, email otford@stagecoach.co.uk

FA M I LY DAY S OU T

All that jazz

Throughout the summer, Rye Jazz Festival has an impressive line-up of concerts.

Over the second May bank holiday, world-class performers will take to the stage in the stunning setting of Hever Castle.

On Saturday, 25th May, Courtney Pine presents Black Notes from The Deep, for which he returns to the tenor saxophone for the first time in a decade and features the vocal talents of UK Soul star Omar and Courtney’s very talented band.

On Sunday, 26th May, Classic BRIT Award-winner Milos Karadaglic’s ‘The Hottest Guitarist in the world’ concert includes a five-piece string ensemble. Milos is firmly positioned as the leading exponent of his instrument and delights audiences worldwide while topping the classical charts. He has become one of the world’s most sought-after soloists and regularly performs at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

On Monday, 27th May, Mica Paris sings Ella Fitzgerald, a unique celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s songbook, including songs such as Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye, and Summer Time. This is not a tribute show but Mica Paris reinterpreting and paying homage to the first lady of song.

For more details, visit www.ryejazz.com

FA M I LY DAY S OU T

Call of the wild!

Connect to nature this summer with Kent Wildlife Trust Nature explorers wanted! Join Kent Wildlife Trust and they will help you to discover the nature around their visitor centres at Tyland Barn in Maidstone and Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. Learn all about owls and their conservation at the outdoor owl display with Kent Owl Academy’s ‘What a Hoot’ on 27th May at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. Watch as the owls swoop around the clearing, and get involved in some arts and crafts beforehand.

At Tyland Barn, come along to the ‘Bee Bonanza’ sessions on 30th May to learn all about bees and their importance for our survival. Go on a bee safari and make bee hotels to give solitary bees a place to live in your garden.

Also, enjoy a little local honey-tasting and make beeswax wraps to help you be more sustainable.

You can get creative with the ‘Musical Nature’ event at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve on 2nd June, where you will be making natural tambourines and chimes. You will also be taught how to make vegetable flutes, and to top the session off there will be a sing-along with your new instruments.

There will also be a range of talks from local experts on a number of interesting nature topics. Look out for the ‘Grebes of Sevenoaks’ talk at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve on 7th June, where you will learn all about the amazing grebe and their displays. A talk to support the June Nature Gallery at Tyland Barn entitled ‘Wind Rippers – Swifts’ on 12th June will teach you all about this majestic bird and its way of life, plus you can enjoy the photographic gallery.

Outdoor theatres are a great way to immerse in nature as well, and the Pantaloons are coming to Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve on the evening of 19th June, performing their fun-filled version of Sense and Sensibility. Not to be missed as this theatre troupe never fail to put on a hilarious and entertaining show.

Really soaper!

Charity soapbox race for Tunbridge Wells One of Kent’s wackiest annual events – the Crazy Jean’s Soapbox Race – is gearing up to return to Tunbridge Wells in June to raise much-needed cash for charity.Thousands of spectators are expected to turn out again to watch over 40 local businesses, organisations and residents go head to head down a hair-raising downhill track through the town’s picturesque Dunorlan Park.

Following last year’s hugely-successful family fun day, TV chef Rosemary Schrager will return to host the zany races alongside star commentator Tom Swift of Wicked Productions. Each team is given a basic soapbox kart by the organisers that have been built by West Kent College, which they can ‘pimp up’ in any way they like for Race Day on Saturday, 8th June.

Childrensalon have taken up the mantle of being this year’s headline sponsor. The multi-award-winning and iconic business has always stood by a ‘people first’ approach to business and this is reflected in their charitable and supportive work in the local community.

The team behind the much-loved community event, local PR company Chatty Hatter, is hoping the event in its second year will raise tens of thousands pounds again for charity, which this year is raising funds for Hospice In The Weald and Taylor Made Dreams.

“The Crazy Jean’s Soapbox Race promises to be even bigger and better than last year,” explains Chatty Hatter MD Nicole Piesse Turner. “We’re building a zanier racetrack and our racers have some out of this world ideas to stand out from their competitors. Tickets are on sale now and we’re hoping the community really gets behind us again to have a really fun day while raising serious cash for two incredible local charities.”

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FA M I LY DAY S OU T

A summer to remember Hever Festival Theatre promises a packed programme for all the family Following Hever Festival Theatre’s hugely successful 2018 season, this year sees its return with a programme of vibrant and varied performances from 4th May to 30th August.

The popular, open-air festival takes place in the spectacular awardwinning gardens of Hever Castle in the fully covered outdoor theatre.

Highlights this year include Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley aka Lost Voice Guy (see our exclusive interview from page 30), broadcaster and national treasure Jeremy Vine, and Lee Mead, who shot to prominence after winning the BBC series Any Dream Will Do. The Brandenburg Sinfonia presents Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and the perennial favourite Last Night of the Proms, Charles Court Opera debut with HMS Pinafore and Ruddigore.

For drama fans, there’s Alan Aykbourn’s Round and Round the Garden and Jeeves & Wooster: Perfect Nonsense, and contemporary films include The Shape of Water, Bohemian Rhapsody and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

For the first time in Hever Festival Theatre’s 36-year history, there will be a series of concerts that form part of the Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival. Icons of jazz Mica Paris, Courtney Pine (with special guest Omar) and world-famous classical guitarist Miloš Karadaglić will be performing over the May Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 25th May – Monday 27th May).

Comedian Zoe Lyons (Mock The Week, Live at the Apollo) brings her trademark high-energy and brilliantly-observed humour, supported by newcomer Lauren Pattison The programme of family shows and events has been extended this year to include productions to appeal to a broader range of ages. Horrible Histories: Brand New Barmy Britain and the Wimpy Kid Show, based on the Jeff Kinney books, will keep the older kids entertained whilst the younger ones will enjoy Elmer the Elephant, presented in association with the Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival, Illyria Theatre’s Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Immersion Theatre’s Alice in Wonderland. For the first time there will be a family music performance; the Adriamus Ensemble join author of the much-loved Willy The Wimp stories, Anthony Browne, for some musical games and storytelling.

As always, there is a plethora of top-quality tribute acts with something to suit all musical tastes, from Streisand: The Music, The Lady, The Legend, to The Simon & Garfunkel Story, which returns to Hever direct from a West End run. Closing the Festival, Lee Memphis King performs One Night of Elvis.

This year for the first time, a discounted theatre and castle gardens joint ticket is available to buy online. Pre-theatre dinner or afternoon tea after a matinee at the Guthrie Pavilion can be booked online when booking tickets for the Festival Theatre.

Box office 01732 866114 www.heverfestival.co.uk K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

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FA M I LY DAY S OU T

Blooming good health Hever in Bloom and a new wellbeing centre for the castle Hever Castle & Gardens is set to launch a new tour at its annual celebration, Hever in Bloom, as well as supporting horticulture charity, Perennial.

Visitors to this year’s Hever in Bloom, from 25th-30th June, will be able to enjoy a new additional area of floral interest within the Castle grounds – Faith’s Garden on Diana’s Walk.

Head Gardener Neil Miller will take visitors on a delightful tour of Faith’s Garden, a beautiful area providing 1,200 square metres of perennials along the outer moat towards the lake.

Faith’s Garden has been lovingly planted over the last two years with thousands of perennial plants, many of which came from Tom Massey’s garden for Perennial at RHS Hampton Court in 2017. Neil Miller will share tips on how to choose and plant the best echinaceas, crocosmias, asters, agapanthus, grasses and many more in a ‘How to… perennials’ tour.

Representatives from Perennial will be in the grounds during the floral festival.

Celebrating its 180th anniversary this year, Perennial helps anyone who creates or maintains gardens, parks, sports facilities and other green spaces when they are facing tough times.

Neil said: “I have been a long-time supporter of Perennial. They provide free and confidential tailored one-to-one advice, support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in, or retired from, horticulture. It’s a real privilege to have them involved in Hever in Bloom this year, especially with the launch of the new garden tour which take in many of the plants that featured in their stunning 2017 RHS Hampton Court garden.”

Chris Crooker, Events Manager at Perennial adds: “We would like to thank Neil and the whole team at Hever for getting behind Perennial and helping us raise awareness.

Our aim during 2019 is simple – to reach more people than ever before with the message that Perennial is here to help everyone who works in horticulture. From gardeners to greenkeepers, foresters to landscape designers, if you work with plants, trees or turf, we’re your lifeline when times get tough. And the more support we receive, the more people we can help.”

During Hever in Bloom, the roses will be at their peak. Visitors can revel in the scents of 4,000 roses in the Rose Garden. The Castle will also be decorated with beautiful perennial displays from Hever Castle’s in-house florist.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in a Flower Crown Workshop with Emma Fuller, florist and former Hever gardener (pre-booking essential).

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From blooms to blooming healthy, golfers and visitors are now able to have a massage or join a pilates class as part of the new Hever Castle Health & Wellbeing Centre, which opened in April at Hever Castle Golf Club. There are five treatment rooms offering osteopathy, physiotherapy and massage, as well as a range of yoga and pilates classes and a healthy menu extended for the clubhouse bar and restaurant.

Osteopathy and massage have been available at the golf club since 2017 but the new centre has seen building works and refurbishment in order to expand the treatments on offer to a wider range of people.

Club General Manager Jon Wittenberg said: “We have built a high-quality, bespoke, five-room treatment centre and studio in which to provide Hever Castle Health & Wellbeing with a smart new home. We aim to deliver inspiring and lifeenriching wellbeing services to our existing members and our local community.”

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FA M I LY DAY S OU T

Could you have a fortune in your attic?

Antiques Roadshow is coming to Battle Abbey Join Fiona Bruce and the Antiques Roadshow team when they film at 1066 Battle of Hastings Abbey and Battlefield on Tuesday, 9 July.

The Roadshow brings together a team of the country’s leading authorities on arts and antiques to offer free valuations for your family heirlooms or car boot bargains.

Each Roadshow event attracts around 4,000 people, who come along to see if they might own a missing masterpiece and find out the priceless history of their items. Whether it’s a £100,000 painting or a £5 cup and saucer, everyone gets an expert opinion on their treasure.

Around 15,000 items are valued at each show by Roadshow experts from which around 60 are filmed for inclusion in the two shows made at each location.

Last year the specialists discovered unseen masterpieces by Mexican artist Diego Rivera worth £100,000, jewels from the Titanic and a unique Brooklyn Dodgers baseball with a value as extraordinary as its story.

Antiques Roadshow is one of the BBC’s most popular factual programmes and around six million people regularly watch on Sunday evenings.

Fiona Bruce has presented the show for the past 12 years: “So much of what you see on the Antiques Roadshow is about the story of an object and its owner as much as about its value. We are never short of people bringing along items that tell a hell of a story, which can be very exciting, poignant or funny, sometimes, all three. Or it can tell us something about ourselves.

“Even after all these years people still have the most amazing things tucked away in their attics and garages and I can’t wait to see what they pull out of their bags and trolleys in 2019.”

Some of the most fascinating finds to come to light over the years include a wristwatch owned by Lawrence of Arabia, which went on to sell for £34,000, a chest which was eventually proven to have belonged to Queen 22

Anne and a leather jacket worn by John F Kennedy and valued at up to £300,000.

Many objects featured on the Roadshow have been found in strange places, such as diamond jewels found sewn into an upholstered chair and two important painting discovered by the new owners of a house in their loft.

On Tuesday, 9th July, Antiques Roadshow will be filming on the site of one of the most famous and significant battlefields in British history – the Battle of Hastings.

The Roadshow has not visited the area since 2003 and Robert Murphy, the series producer of Antiques Roadshow, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing the Roadshow to Battle Abbey and we can’t wait to see what treasures and cherished objects will emerge from the attic!

“It’s a free, entertaining family day out and a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes and be a part of one of the BBC’s most popular programmes. Our team of experts are on hand to help visitors discover the hidden history of their objects – you never know, it might just be your item that turns out to be something very special… and potentially very valuable!”

Entry to the show is free, everyone is welcome, and no tickets or preregistration is required.

Visitors are welcome to just turn up on the day but they can also share their stories about the special items they are bringing along.

Email shareyourstory@bbc.co.uk with your name, address, telephone number, a description of the item, how you come to own it and a photo.

Unfortunately, submissions cannot be considered without this information.

Alternatively, write to Antiques Roadshow, BBC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR. More information, frequently asked questions, and parking information can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow or on the show’s Facebook page.

Turn to page 26 for an interview with Fiona Bruce.

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L OV E FAT H E R’ S DAY

It’s a man’s world Father’s Day is just around the corner on 16th June, so don’t forget to pamper your papa with these cool gift ideas As we dive headfirst into summer, we’ve picked out a selection of sunshine-inspired Father’s Day gifts from County Clothes

From the top…

New Havana Panama Fedora and Trilby hats from Failsworth are handwoven in Equador from the paja toquilla palm and pressed in the UK. Available in striking mustard, orange, lime green and turquoise, as well as classic burgundy and tan for the more reserved gentleman, these quality hats are bound to bring a little sunshine into his life.

Failsworth Havana Panama Fedora and Trilby hats, £75

Here comes the sun…

These short-sleeve shirts are made for summer. You’ll find styles to suit any taste, whether he loves bold colours, something fruity, nautical stripes, or a tropical fiesta.

Team it with a smart jacket for formal summer occasions or mix it up with shorts or jeans for a casual look. Kill two birds with one stone – update dad’s wardrobe with some key pieces and make him feel special, too!

From £65

Something scent-sible?

We all know how dad loves to look and smell great, so why not treat him to a classic fragrance and accessories? Popular Sandalwood is available as an aftershave, shaving soap, shower gel, hair and body wash and deodorant. And for the traditional dad, how about a badger hair shaving brush and razor to complete the set.

Classic Sandalwood shaving accessories are available from £9 Or how about Milano Cento Aftershave for zesty freshness with sparkling notes of lemon, bergamot and green petitgrain, 100ml, £49.50 (also available in a gift set for the same price)

Still stuck for ideas? You can pick up a County Clothes gift card for any value, to be used at any store. Just ask a member of staff for details.

About County Clothes

County Clothes has expanded into East Sussex with the opening of their new store in Bexhill-on-Sea on 30th March.

They aim to offer the gentlemen of East Sussex fine-quality clothing and the personal service that they have always upheld across all of their stores.

Their opening day in Bexhill was a success and a wonderful way to meet the locals and new customers (as well as those they have known for a long time). At County Clothes Bexhill-on-Sea you will find fine-quality menswear, formal shirts and trousers,

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knitwear, casual shirts and polo shirts, punctuated with a great range of footwear from John White and Chatham arriving just in time for the summer.

Their fifth shop is now open on Western Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1DY Call them on: 01424 210 123 Check out their new-look website for more summer goodies. www.countyclothesmenswear.co.uk

LOV E CEL EBR I T Y

A treasure of a show It’s one of BBC’s most popular programmes, and after 40 years, Antiques Roadshow shows no sign of being consigned to the attic.

Presenter Fiona Bruce talks about some of the highlights

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“It’s not often that you get asked to work on a programme you’ve watched for so long”

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For 40 years, millions of fans have been fascinated by the family heirlooms taken to be valued by experts on Antiques Roadshow. Fiona Bruce hosts the show from locations all over Britain – and it all started at Hereford Town Hall where the first episode aired on 18th February, 1979. The show’s first presenter, Bruce Parker, now 77, said: “When we first did it, there were notices pinned on trees saying: ‘Come and have your antiques valued’.”

Fiona joined the Antiques Roadshow as presenter in 2008. She has been a journalist with the BBC since 1990. Starting as a researcher on Panorama, she soon progressed to become a reporter on prime-time current affairs series, including Newsnight and Panorama.

For four years, she presented and reported on her own investigative current affairs series, Real Story, which won five awards from the Royal Television Society. She regularly presents both the BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten, and co-hosted Crimewatch for eight years.

In 2001, Fiona became the first female presenter to be part of the BBC’s general election studio team and she has won three Newscaster of the Year awards from the Television and Radio Industry Club. Fiona has also presented a number of arts documentaries for the BBC, most recently Fake or Fortune? which she co-presents with Philip Mould.

One of her favourite things about working on Antiques Roadshow is that she never knows what’s going to turn up or what she will be filming that day – “it’s all spontaneous and entirely unpredictable”.

A typical Roadshow day for Fiona starts with a brief press call for the local media. She then gets stuck into finding out what’s turned up and talking to visitors about what they’ve brought along. When she’s not filming, she works at the reception desk which is where the Roadshow team gets their first look at what items have been brought in.

Here, Fiona talks about the show that attracts six million viewers.

What has been your personal highlight from working on Antiques Roadshow?

I feel incredibly lucky to have spent the last 12 years working on the show. I love doing it and I’ve had so many highlights over the years. My personal favourite would probably have to be when a man of the cloth turned up with a painting, which he thought might be a Van Dyck. By coincidence, I was making a programme about Van Dyck at the time and I thought his painting had the look of the genuine article. And so we had it examined and my hunch turned out to be right. It is now being exhibited as a Van Dyck. I can’t imagine that will ever happen to me again in my lifetime and it’s definitely a highlight for me.

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Interview by James Rampton

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Why do you think the show continues to be so popular?

I think it’s amazing that the Antiques Roadshow is essentially the same as it has been for 42 years and it’s still hugely popular. What makes it eternally popular is probably what I love about it – that we all hope that we could have something gathering dust on the mantelpiece or in the attic that either turns out to be very valuable, or has an amazing story. It happens week in, week out and you’d think that the well would begin to run dry, but it hasn’t. We still find amazing things every week. You can never predict what will turn up. Once a visitor brought along a vanity set that had been on Donald Trump’s yacht. It was as tasteful and restrained as you might expect – that’s to say it was fabulously bling!

What is your earliest memory of the programme?

I still remember watching Antiques Roadshow as a child with my parents, on a Sunday night, sitting in our 1970’s living room.

I gradually came back to it as an adult and then I was asked to present it, which I had no idea was coming! I was absolutely thrilled. It’s not often that you get asked to work on a programme you’ve watched for so long, and genuinely watch at home.

Has any of the experts’ knowledge rubbed off on you?

I’ve certainly learnt more about antiques and I have my own collections. I have paintings. I collect things called samplers which are Victorian pieces of needlework usually done by children in a workhouse to show that they have a skill, which can be used in service, stitching household linen or that kind of thing. I think they’re very humble and very beautiful. But our experts are like walking Wikipedias! They’re incredible. And they just fish knowledge out of their brains, which is a marvel to behold.

What is the most surprising item someone has brought to a valuation day?

If I had to pick the most unusual thing that’s turned up in the time that I’ve been working on the show – could it be the man who turned up with a case full of loo chains, just a small sample of his collection? Could it be the man that turned up not once, but 28

twice, with a foetal membrane dried onto a piece of A4 paper that had belonged to his great-grandfather. It’s called a caul and was a talisman against drowning, and it used to have some value! Or could it be the lady who brought along a potty that had a picture of Hitler on the bottom and when you did a little ‘tinkle’ into it, it played its own tune. And because it was rare, I think it was worth over £1,000 from memory.

What are your most memorable moments whilst working on the series?

Some of the most moving stories stick in my mind, many I will never forget, such as the man who brought along a set of GI medals from the Second World War. His story began with his finding a cache of love letters written to his mother by an American GI who had had an affair with her while his father was away serving in the Second World War. The letters revealed that his mother had had a baby with this man and it became apparent to him that he was that child. He tracked down the GI’s family in Virginia who welcomed him with open arms and filled in the gaps. They told him that his father had agreed to forgive the infidelity and bring the baby up as his own – and indeed loved him as such all his life – and the American GI decided reluctantly to stay away so as not to make a delicate situation even more difficult. The GI’s descendants knew all about the baby being brought up in Britain and were thrilled to meet him at last. It was a very moving experience for all of them.

The man came to the Roadshow with his American GI father’s war medals, which the family had decided should go to his newlydiscovered son. As the man told me this story he was moved to tears – and who can blame him?

Is there anywhere that you still yearn to take Antiques Roadshow?

New Zealand! I’m sure we would find extraordinary things there, from antiques belonging to British settlers to Maori culture.

What are your hopes for the future of Antiques Roadshow?

That it continues to be as popular as it is now, continues to find extraordinary items and continues to have a place in people’s hearts.

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LOV E CEL EBR I T Y

Speechless!

As he prepares for the Hever Festival Theatre in July, Lee Ridley aka Lost Voice Guy reveals how his disability has never held him back and how he’d like to ‘speak’ with a Geordie accent Cerebral palsy may have robbed Lee Ridley of his voice, but it certainly hasn’t stopped him from living his dream. Thanks to his talent for comedy, and his iPad, he has built a stand-up career that saw him crowned winner of Britain’s Got Talent last year. Busier than ever, he took time out from his schedule to tell Kudos how his life has changed.

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What was childhood like for a little boy with cerebral palsy?

It wasn’t much different to any other kid, really. I developed CP when I was six months old so I’ve always lived with it. I didn’t know any different. It was normal to me from very early on in my life, so I just sort of got on with it.

What was your childhood dream?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, ever since I was at school, so I think my dream was to be a writer of some sort. I was lucky enough to have a great English teacher at school who always pushed me to do my best. I have a lot to thank him for. I ended up working as a journalist, which I loved. But then I discovered that I could make people laugh, as well. I think my background in writing has helped me a lot in my comedy career.

Were you always ambitious, keen to achieve?

I guess I just never saw my disability as something that could hold me back. Don’t get me wrong, I knew that getting a job in journalism and then comedy would be harder because of my disability. I didn’t see that as a reason not to try, though. I guess I just had my heart set on it. I was lucky to have very supportive family and friends, too. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them. They never stopped me from doing what I wanted, and were always the first to help out. Like I said, I never saw my disability as a barrier to doing anything. I was always going to be a journalist, I was always going to go to university, and I was always going to be independent. My disability is a big part of me, but I’ve never let it rule my life.

When did you discover you could make people laugh?

I always seemed to be the funny one at school and I just remember the feeling I got when I made other people laugh. It was such a great feeling, so I did it as much as possible. And I haven’t stopped doing it since. It’s still amazing to think that I now make a living out of doing something that I love!

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What jobs did you do before you decided to become a stand-up comedian?

Before I was a comic, I worked for a journalist for the BBC in London and Newcastle, as well as various local papers in the North East. I was also part of the media team at Sunderland City Council.

Deciding to become a comedian must have been a big decision, given it’s probably one of the most difficult jobs for someone with no voice…

Yes, it definitely was! I’ve always been a big fan of comedy and I love going to watch stand-up comedy myself. I’d always said that if I could talk that would probably be my dream job. I never expected to do it, though. I just didn’t think it was possible. Then, some friends said that it might work, and that I should try it. I thought they were crazy at first but the idea stuck in the back of my mind.

Eventually I decided to give it a try, because I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t. It seems like I was right. Even after agreeing to do it, I was worried that it wouldn’t work. I was scared that people wouldn’t be able to understand me and I’d just be standing there telling jokes to myself.

How long have you used your iPad to be your voice?

I’ve had an iPad for about eight years now but before that I had other communication devices. The iPad is certainly a lot smaller for a start. I think I got my first communication aid when I was about eight. Before that, I used sign language. Obviously, this was a very limited way of communicating, though. I think my first communication aid was called a Touch Talker and it was pretty massive. I also remember being reluctant to use it, although I can’t quite remember why. All I can remember is having to carry it around in this suitcase. I appreciated my speech therapist in the end. I think I only saw the benefits when I finally had a reason to use the Touch Talker, such as in social situations when I couldn’t just rely on sign language. Thankfully technology has moved on since then.

Is there a choice of voices – and if so, why did you choose the one you have?

There’s a limited choice of voices and the one I use is the best out of all of them. I’d love to have a voice that isn’t as posh as this one, although I think it makes it funnier. I’ve thought about having a Geordie accent, but I’m not sure if I would like it or not. I’ve sounded similar to this all my life so it would sound weird, I think.

I’m also not sure if it’s even possible at the moment. I definitely want to use different tones and stuff if I can in the future. I just feel I can’t express myself properly by only using this voice. It’s very hard to sound excited or sarcastic, for example. I guess it all depends on what the technology has in store for us.

How does it work?

It’s quite simple really. I just type in what I want to say and it says it for me.

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And how does it work for your act?

I write the material beforehand and copy and paste it into the iPad. Then I just press the jokes I want it to speak during the gig. Obviously this is pretty limited in terms of audience interaction, but I’d like to try to do more of this in the future. It just depends on how fast I can type! I have got some comebacks stored, just in case I get heckled.

It must be frustrating if you think of something on stage but you can’t quickly add it in, or ad lib…

Yes, that can get very frustrating, not only on stage but in real life as well. There’s been loads of times when I’ve thought of something funny to say during a conversation with my mates but, by the time I’ve typed out what I want to say, the moment has passed.

Do you get nervous on stage?

Not very much, to be honest. I know that I probably should, but I don’t. I guess I’m used to it by now, although at the Royal Variety Performance I was very nervous! I think anyone would be nervous to be performing in front of the Royal family. My main worry was that I’d tap the wrong button and accidentally swear in front of Harry and Meghan. Thankfully that didn’t happen and I really enjoyed myself once I was out on stage. The atmosphere was amazing.

Does writing your material come easily to you?

I would say so, yes. Because I base most of my material on myself, I think I’ve given myself enough to work with. After all, I have 38 years’ worth of material in the bank already and people are always asking me stupid questions about my disability or doing silly things, so most of my material writes itself!

Do you think making fun of yourself in your act makes the audience more receptive to your material?

I think it varies, a bit like it does in real life. Sometimes you can hear the gasp come from the audience when I walk on to the stage.

I think that helps, though, because they don’t know what to expect.

So when I hopefully make them laugh, I think they enjoy it more.

It can’t get any worse than in real life when people think I’m deaf as well and insist on writing everything down or start shouting at me for no reason. By getting up on stage, I’d like to think that I’m educating people that disabled people are just the same as everyone else. I honestly believe that some people think that disabled people aren’t allowed a sense of humour. Obviously, I don’t really care what they think, but if it helps change someone’s view then it must be a good thing.

What made you decide to audition for Britain’s Got Talent? Was it a difficult decision?

The main reason I decided to audition for Britain’s Got talent was obviously to meet Ant and Dec! But I also did it because I thought it would help me develop as a performer. A lot of my comedy idols have stepped out on to that stage at the Hammersmith Apollo so I thought it would be nice to follow in their footsteps. The whole experience was amazing from start to finish. It was so much fun appearing on the show and it was great to perform in front of such a

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lovely audience. I made some really good friends by doing the show and the reaction from the general public was phenomenal. Of course I never expected to win. In fact, I had to cancel my summer holiday because it clashed with the final. It was definitely worth it though. I think the look on my face when I won said it all.

What did winning mean to you?

It was such an amazing feeling to win BGT! I’m a lot richer for a start, but please don’t tell the Department for Work and Pensions!

Seriously though, winning the show has changed my life in so many ways. I’m busier than I ever was before as a comedian. The general public have been so supportive as well. I’m always getting stopped for selfies and having people congratulate me. It has been really nice.

I’m very grateful for all the kind words I have received.

Do you think your win had an effect on the way that disability is viewed by the general public? How has your life changed since that win?

One of the best things to happen since I won is that people are engaging with me a lot more than they would have in the past. For the first time they seem comfortable talking to a disabled person. I’m used to being stared at for negative reasons so it’s nice to be stared at for positive reasons for a change.

Tell us about the BBC Radio 4 sitcom you wrote, Ability. How did that come about?

Ability is a sitcom about a disabled bloke who can’t speak, who sometimes uses his disability to his advantage, and can be a bit of a dick at times. So obviously it’s purely fictional! He shares a flat with his best mate Jess (who he also fancies) and he has a very dodgy carer called Bob. Together they get up to quite a lot of mischief. In the first series, they decided to become drug dealers just to see if they could get away with it and set up a robot sex line to make a bit of money from lonely old men. You can expect more of this sort of thing in the second series, too. I’d had the idea for quite a while in my head but I never got around to doing anything about it. It was only when I won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2014 that the project finally got moving. This was because part of my prize was the chance to write a pilot for Radio 4. Thankfully, the BBC enjoyed the pilot enough to commission it for a series. It’s just grown from there.

What inspired it?

Quite a lot of it is based on my real-life experiences. For example, the character of Bob is based on my own dodgy carer that I once had.

One time he turned up in the morning to help me get dressed but he was clearly still drunk from the night before. He ended up falling asleep on my living room floor!

Any more similar projects planned?

Hopefully everyone will love this series of Ability so much that Radio 4 will commission more. I’d definitely like to write some more!

You’re in the middle of a huge UK tour.

How’s it going?

I think the best thing about being on tour is getting to see some really lovely places that maybe I wouldn’t have ever visited otherwise, and then getting to meet people from all different walks of life. I’ve got a

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lot of fans based all over the place so it’s nice to be able to get to meet them. They’ve supported me a lot so it’s nice to give them something back. One of the worst things is definitely being away from home. I quite like my home comforts such as my bed and being able to sit in my pants and watch television all day. So I miss that when I’m away.

What’s next for you?

My first book is out on 16th May. It’s called I’m Only In It For The Parking. It’s always been a dream of mine to write a book so I’m

delighted to have had the opportunity to do it. It’s basically all about the stupid questions people ask me because I’m disabled. My favourites in the book are ‘Have you ever tried to talk just to see what would happen?’ And ‘Are you as clever as Stephen Hawking?’

Spoiler alert, I’m not!

Lost Voice Guy is appearing at Hever Festival Theatre on 24th July. www.heverfestival.co.uk

LOV E FOOD & DR I N K

An evening to remember TV presenter and winner of Celebrity MasterChef Angellica Bell joins the Tanner brothers for a very special evening at The Kentish Hare

Multi-award-winning gastro pub The Kentish Hare is buzzing.

It’s the night of one of their famous Tasting Evenings, fronted by brothers Chris and James Tanner who run the pub alongside The Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth. As renowned chefs, they alone always attract a good crowd, but tonight is particularly special.

Not only is it the first Tasting Evening with their new Head Chef (well, I say ‘new’ but he’s not technically new to the Tanners as I will explain shortly!) but we are also treated to ex-CBeebies presenter Angellica Bell, who won the 2017 series of Celebrity MasterChef. She is also a former Ready Steady Cook winner, a programme on which James regularly appeared. Oh, and she’s published a book, Fantastic Eats! (& how to cook them) – fabulous recipes for children to make, available on Amazon.

As Angellica has never been to The Kentish Hare before, I am keen to know what she thinks. “This place is insane!” she tells me. “It’s beautiful, I love the décor, the industrial feel and its open design. It’s really welcoming, with that touch of a pub which people still want, but it also has the refinery of having amazing food.”

When I speak to The Kentish Hare’s new Head Chef David Boswell, he explains his history with the Tanner Brothers. “I’ve worked for Chris and James for the last 12 years and most recently, I was their Sous Chef in Plymouth. This is a great opportunity for me as I have never been a Head Chef before. My wife, Eszter, who is managing the bar, and I relocated here about five weeks ago so this 34

is a big change for us, but it’s one we relished. We’ve lived in the same city for the last 12 years so it was time for something new.”

So what’s on the menu tonight? “We start off with Confit Chicken, Smoked Haddock and Black Pudding Terrine with Apple and Watercress, which is a lovely, light dish,” explains David.

“Then West Country Crab Salad with Brown Crab Mayonnaise, Cucumber, Nashi Pear, Coriander and Almonds. We move on to Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib with Potato Terrine, Roasted Onion, Heritage Carrot, Wild Garlic and Sauce Reform. This is followed by a light pre-dessert and then Angellica wanted to do a Black Forest-inspired dessert and so we’ve done our tweak and take on a Black Forest gateaux.”

Angellica loves how food brings people together. “That feeling that you can create something that people really enjoy, it just makes you feel so good,” she explains. Her gran was a great inspiration. “She was always in the kitchen and I always wanted to be with her so I would watch her cook. I remember being about six or seven, watching her cut up fish and chicken, so I had to get over being squeamish early on. So I learnt from her, but she was very much a freestyler. I think in terms of cookbooks and being more disciplined, I really taught myself because I wanted to learn to cook and I love socialising. My house is always a hub, which I love – and if you want people to come round, if you cook good food then they will come!

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“I did Celebrity MasterChef in 2017 and won. As part of the competition, you would literally have a box of ingredients and be told to make something. Suddenly, all the things I learnt from my grandmother would come to me, or recipes in a cookbook or something I had read or watched on TV.” It seems that Angellica and James’ paths crossed a long time ago.

“He’s amazing,” she says. “I did Ready Steady Cook years ago when I was on CBeebies and I remember James from then. In fact, I also won that – I’ve still got the winner’s plate! I love James’ style; he’s very accessible and I think you need to make people feel at home and believe that they can do it but to still be aspirational, and that’s one of James’ skills. So when he asked if I wanted to be a part of this evening, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, to work in your kitchen? I will be there!’”

And James is delighted to have Angellica on board. “We’ve got great company tonight,” he says. “We’re good friends and she’s got a really keen interest in food, and that’s what it’s all about – bringing people together. We’ve got a fantastic line-up of ingredients right from the get-go with the Cured Salmon Canapés, Cheesy Choux Balls and Duck Liver Parfait Swirls with Rhubarb Jelly, just to get your taste buds going. We’ve got a great seasonal terrine, a bit of West Country crab (and who doesn’t like that?), plus a short rib that we’ve cooked low and slow for 12 hours so it’s super-tender. We’ve got a nice citrusy pre-dessert with a slight custard edge on it as you eat down through the layers, and then for the finale, Angellica’s favourite part of the kitchen is the pastry element of the desserts and she’s doing a Black Forest retro twist. We worked on the recipe together and it has these beautiful layers with griottines cherries, sponge, white chocolate and kirsch-set mousse… basically three or four layers. It’s taken ages to make as it’s very intricate.

“We portion it and spray it with an edible chocolate glaze so it looks like a chocolate box, but when you cut into it you break the seal and go down through the layers. And on the side is a sour cherry sorbet to balance out the richness. So you’ve got all of the elements of a Black Forest Gateaux but in a different way, a bit more technical and retro. But then it is a special night.”

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And what about his new Head Chef? “David has been my sous chef for many years at our brasserie site in Plymouth,” says James.

“I remember David walking in off the street, he’d not long finished college. He started as a Commis Chef and flew through the ranks in the kitchen. He’s a very talented cook, but naturally talented. In the trade we say someone’s got a touch and if you stand here tonight and watch him, he’s got a touch on the plate – he’s had it since he was 17. Now he’s in his 30s and we’re 14 years on and I’m feeling old!”

Don’t worry James, when it comes to cooking, you’ve definitely still got the touch!

Keep an eye on the Kentish Hare’s website for news of the next Tasting Evening. www.thekentishhare.com 35

LOV E FOOD & DR I N K

Eat to beat diabetes Find out how a ‘fat middle-aged man’ lost almost five stones and reversed Type 2 Diabetes with delicious recipes for real foodies

In 2017, BFI Marketing and Communications director, Richard Shaw, was ill, overweight, and struggling. His Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis from 2012 saw him suffering from high blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other symptoms. Richard (by then aged 54) had been told that it was likely that he would be on medication for life, living with a progressive permanent illness with no prospect of remission.

He knew he had to do something so, inspired by results of the DiRECT clinical trial at Newcastle University, he decided in early 2017 to attempt to reverse his diabetes by following a carefully-structured, low-carb diet and starting a modest exercise regime.

His new book, Conquer Type 2 Diabetes, describes what he did to lose almost five stones (a quarter of his body weight) over five months. His goal was to get rid of the internal fat compromising his natural insulin function and eradicate all of the signs of Type 2 Diabetes.

In sharing his story, Richard addresses head-on the questions that so many people have asked him in recent months – what did you do to lose weight, how do you decide what to eat to combat the disease and what are the prospects of long-term remission? And, as importantly, what do you have to do to reverse an illness that affects more than 400 million people worldwide, and has for decades been regarded as both incurable and progressive?

His story, indeed science, now tells us that particularly in the first few years of their diagnosis, it is possible for many people to reverse a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis, restore normal blood glucose function and cholesterol scores to normal and come off all medications without any significant side effects – and all while still eating great food.

According to Diabetes UK, almost nine in ten people diagnosed with diabetes have Type 2, and it is estimated that there are nearly one million undiagnosed people currently living with the condition. And unlike Type 1 diabetes, three in five cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by making healthier life-choices, by helping people understand their own risk of developing the condition and by securing an early intervention for people at highest risk.

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Clearly, something needs to change. This new book challenges the way that Type 2 Diabetes is currently managed by the public health system and in many GP practises across the UK and proposes an eating plan and approach to weight loss that, in many cases, really can transform lives.

It includes the author’s meal and exercise plan including sections on carbs, calories and cravings plus, 40 mouth-watering recipes to ensure eating can remain a pleasure while changing the habits of a lifetime.

Conquer Type 2 Diabetes is published by Hammersmith Books priced at £12.99(paperback)/£5.99(ebook) and available online and in all good bookshops. Further details at www.conquertype2diabetes.com K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

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No-bean chilli con carne with jalapeño colesaw This is the recipe that I credit with changing my eating habits. It became a staple of my diet. I would make up a batch on a Sunday, portion it up and freeze it in zip-lock bags, and then devour a portion once or twice a week.

I have a supply in the freezer to this day. This is best cooked for a long time in a slow cooker for maximum flavour. Makes 6 portions (which freeze well). Approximately 520 calories/25g total carbs per serving

Ingredients

For the chilli: • 1 tsp olive oil • 2 large onions, finely chopped • 500g/1lb 2oz minced beef • 2 medium hot red chillies, finely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 tsp chilli powder • 2 tsp chilli flakes • 1 tsp fresh or dried oregano • 1 tsp ground cumin • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 × 400g tin chopped tomatoes • 1 large carrot, finely diced

Method

• 125ml/generous ½ cup red wine • ½ tbsp tomato purée • 500g beef brisket, cut into 2.5cm/1-in cubes • 4 x 1-inch squares good-quality dark chocolate (at least 70 percent cacao) • Juice of 1 lime • 2 tbsp grated cheese, to serve • 1 tbsp guacamole (store-bought or homemade), to serve For the jalapeño coleslaw: • 1 small medium hot, red chilli pepper, very thinly sliced • Juice of 1 lemon

• To make the chilli, warm the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat.

Once hot, add the onions and fry, stirring continuously, until soft and translucent, around 5 minutes.

•R aise the heat to high and then add the minced beef. Cook the beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as you do, until it is no longer pink, and then add the chillies, garlic, chilli powder, chilli flakes, oregano and cumin to the pan. Season with the salt and a generous grind of the black pepper.

• Stir until everything is well combined and then leave to cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, carrot, wine and tomato purée to the pan, stir to combine, and then pour the mixture into the bowl of a slow cooker set to low.

• Place a frying pan over medium-high heat and add the brisket, turning until browned all over. Season with salt and black pepper and then add to the slow cooker and stir well to ensure they are submerged in the sauce.

Place a lid on the slow cooker and leave to cook for 8 hours, until the brisket is meltingly tender. If the mince releases a layer of fat, spoon it off before the end of cooking.

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• 2 tbsp plain yoghurt or crème fraîche • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp finely chopped coriander • 1 tsp ground cumin • Dash Tabasco sauce • ½ very ripe avocado • ½ small head green cabbage, very finely shredded • 1 small carrot, finely grated • 1 red pepper, cut into fine strips • 2 small jalapeño peppers, finely chopped • 4 spring onions, finely chopped • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Two hours before the chilli is done, make the coleslaw. Place the chilli, lemon juice, yoghurt or crème fraîche, olive oil, coriander, cumin and Tabasco in a large bowl and stir to combine. Add the avocado, mashing it well into the mix with the back of a fork. Add the cabbage, carrot, red pepper and jalapeño peppers and toss to ensure that everything is coated in the yoghurt/avocado sauce.

• Sprinkle the spring onions over the top, cover and transfer to the fridge for 1 hour to allow the flavours to develop.

• Once the chilli is cooked, turn off the slow cooker. Place the chocolate on the surface of the chilli, allowing the chilli’s heat to melt the chocolate.

Stir the chocolate into the sauce, add the lime juice and stir again. Using two forks, shred most of the brisket into the sauce, leaving some of the smaller pieces intact to add texture.

• I f eating straightaway, divide the mixture among serving plates and serve with the coleslaw on one side and the cheese and guacamole on top of the chilli. If freezing, allow the chilli to cool, divide among six zip-lock bags and transfer to the freezer until needed. The coleslaw will keep in the fridge for 3 days.

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Prawn curry with lemon cauliflower rice

Sometimes, the urge for a curry is overpowering. This recipe hits the spot. Cauliflower rice is a great substitute for regular rice; it’s not dissimilar to couscous and can be flavoured in the same way using any combination of Indian, Mexican or Moroccan spices. Some supermarkets now even stock bags of pre-prepared cauliflower rice in the chilled section, but it’s easy to make your own.

Serves 2. Approximately 490 calories/25g total carbs per serving

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil • 1 large onion, finely chopped • 1 red chilli, very finely chopped • 1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into matchsticks • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 1 tsp hot curry powder • 1 tsp red chilli flakes • 200g tinned chopped tomatoes • 1 × 160ml can coconut cream • ½ small cauliflower, cut into florets • Zest of ½ lemon • ¼ tsp ground turmeric • ¼ tsp ground cumin • 4 spring onions, finely chopped • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • Small dash dark soy sauce • 1 small knob butter • 2 large ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped • 1 x 250g pack shelled raw king prawns • Juice of 1 lime • 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves • Sour cream or plain yoghurt, to serve

Method

• Warm half the oil in a large, heavy frying pan over a medium heat.

Once hot, add the onion, ½ the chilli, ginger, garlic, curry powder and chilli flakes and cook, stirring continuously, for 2–3 minutes, until fragrant.

• Add the tinned tomatoes and coconut cream to the pan, stir to combine and cook for a few minutes more. Transfer the mixture to a blender, pulse until smooth and set aside.

• Place the cauliflower in a food processor and pulse to the consistency of rice. Warm the remaining oil in a clean frying pan over a medium heat and then add the cauliflower. Cook, stirring continuously, for 5 minutes.

• Add the remaining chilli halfway through and season with the lemon zest, turmeric and cumin, but don’t be tempted to add any additional liquid. At the end of 5 minutes, add the spring onions and season well with the salt, black pepper and dark soy sauce and fluff with a fork. Keep warm until needed.

• Melt the butter in a small pan over a high heat and add the fresh tomatoes. As the tomatoes start to caramelise and char, add the prawns, stir for a few seconds, and then pour in the previously made tomato and coconut sauce and stir to combine.

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• Leave to cook until the prawns are just pink (about 3 to 4 minutes) and remove from the heat, stirring in the lime juice at the last moment.

•T o serve, place a generous mound of the cauliflower rice in the centre of each serving plate and top with the prawn curry. Garnish with a scattering of the coriander and serve with a generous dollop of sour cream or yoghurt on the top.

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LOV E FOOD & DR I N K

Salmon carpaccio with shaved fennel, celery and chilli oil dressing

This recipe was given to me by one of my favourite restaurants in the Canary Islands – although I think it’s originally an Italian recipe. The fennel adds a deliciously refreshing aniseed note. The salmon should be sliced so thinly at the end that it’s translucent, and it should cover the entire serving plate in one wafer-thin layer.

Serves 2. Approximately 300 calories/6g total carbs per serving

Ingredients Method

• Place the salmon fillet, chilli oil, lemon zest and half the dill in a ziplock bag. Seal and gently massage to combine the flavours.

Place the bag in the fridge for up to 8 hours or overnight to allow the flavours to develop.

• W hen you are almost ready to slice the salmon, place the fennel and celery in a bowl with half the lemon juice and a generous grind of the black pepper. Set aside.

• Remove the salmon from the bag and wipe off any dill that is stuck to the surface. Place on a board and, using a very sharp knife, slice the salmon as thinly as possible, creating almost translucent slices. Place the salmon slices on a serving platter in one thin layer and then dress sparingly with the fennel and celery mixture, olive oil, the remaining dill and the capers. Season with salt and black pepper. Dot over some of the salmon caviar, add a final squeeze of the lemon juice and serve immediately.

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• 1 x200g fillet sushi-grade salmon • 2 tbsp chilli oil • Zest and juice of 1 lemon • Small bunch fresh dill, finely chopped • ¼ bulb fennel, finely sliced • 2 sticks celery, finely sliced • 1 tbsp miniature capers • 1 tbsp olive oil • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 2 tbsp salmon caviar, to serve

Cook’s tip: If you are struggling to slice the salmon to the required thinness, try placing the fillet in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up before slicing.

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Tuna, avocado, plum and wasabi stacks

This is a fruitier, spicier version with a fiery hit of wasabi.

It’s got a sweet and spicy heat and works perfectly as a summer starter and a final garnish of guacamole makes them deliciously soft and creamy.

Serves 4. Approximately 200 calories/18g total carbs per serving

Ingredients

• 1 avocado, ripe but still firm • 1 tbsp lemon juice, plus extra, to drizzle over • 150g natural yoghurt • 1 tsp wasabi paste • Freshly ground black pepper • 1 x 200g fillet sushi-grade tuna, finely diced • 2 ripe dark plums, finely diced • Lamb’s lettuce or rocket salad, to serve • Chilli oil, to drizzle over • 2 tsp salmon caviar, to serve • Guacamole, to serve

Method

• Finely chop the flesh of the avocado and drizzle over the 1 tbsp of lemon juice to prevent it turning brown. Set aside.

• Place 2 tsp of the yoghurt, the Wasabi paste and the remaining lemon juice in a small bowl and stir to combine. Season generously with the black pepper and then taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add the diced tuna to the yoghurt and Wasabi mixture and stir to combine. Set aside.

• Place an 8cm food ring in the centre of a serving plate and lay a thin layer of avocado at its base. Cover with 1 tbsp of the tuna mixture, levelling it out into an even layer. Top with a layer of diced plum and then add another layer of tuna. Repeat the layers until you reach the top of the ring, ensuring that the final layer is tuna. Without removing the ring, press down on the stack with a small jar or weight that fits inside the ring to compress the layers.

Repeat this process with the remaining three stacks. Transfer the stacks to the fridge with the rings and jars intact for an hour to firm up.

• To serve, carefully remove the rings from the stacks by holding the jar in place and gently pulling up on the ring. Surround the exposed stacks with the lamb’s lettuce or rocket leaves, lightly dressed with lemon juice and chilli oil.

• Top each stack with ½ tsp of the salmon caviar followed by a small blob of yoghurt or guacamole, a final grind of black pepper and a drizzle of the lemon juice. Serve immediately.

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Cook’s tip: If you dislike raw fish, you can substitute layers of cooked prawns for the tuna (make sure the backs of the prawns are touching the inside edge of the ring for maximum effect when you take the mould off) and, for added bite, you could add layers of finely chopped spring onion (scallion) or very finely sliced celery.

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Ahead of the curve Julia and Nick Keem almost doubled the size of their home, adding a curving extension to their rural period property

Homeowners Julia & Nick Keem Occupation Garden designer and head of distribution for an investment manager Location Frittenden, Kent Type of Build Renovation and extension Style 16th-century farmhouse with later additions and a contemporary extension Words: Emily Brooks Photography: Bruce Hemming

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“We moved here because we wanted to do something interesting.

We just weren’t sure at the time what it was,” says Julia Keem about the Kent home she shares with her husband Nick and two young children. The “something interesting” that they eventually came up with has almost doubled the size of the original property, with a curving contemporary side extension in contrast to the red-brick original house. Their project also involved making sense of what was previously a jarring layout that had been added to piecemeal over several centuries. They have comprehensively upgraded the fabric of the house, revealing and restoring traditional features that are in contrast to the modern new addition.

Julia says that “we swore that we wouldn’t buy a doer-upper” having renovated their previous home near Croydon, but they ended up falling in love with a property that definitely needed some TLC. “It was OK – perfectly liveable, but pretty rundown,” continues Julia. The draw was the site itself, which was on a pretty rural lane and came with its own orchard and field. The house may have been draughty, the cellar was prone to flooding, the boiler broke down a week after they moved in – but they had a long-term plan to make things better.

Making sense of it all

“The whole thing needed cohesion,” says Julia of the house. Originally a farmhouse, the oldest parts of the property dated back at least four centuries, and the front door stepped into a timber-beamed kitchen with a huge inglenook fireplace. There was a Victorian extension to the rear of the house, plus two poorly-constructed Eighties extensions at the front and back. The old and new parts were on different levels, with the Victorian reception rooms sitting a few steps up from the kitchen, which made the layout flow even less well.

It was clear that this was going to be a complex job for any architect.

They would have to rationalise what was already there, be sensitive to the building’s heritage, and answer a brief that called for the various requirements of modern family living: “We definitely wanted a kitchen-diner, and I work from home, so I wanted somewhere to work. I also wanted somewhere for family to stay when they were K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

visiting,” says Julia. She rang round various local architects, and Cranbrook-based Richard Gill was the one who expressed the most interest in the project and seemed to understand where the couple were coming from.

Richard proposed several ideas for the extension, but one grabbed the couple straight away: a curved building that fanned out from the west side of the house. The ground floor would contain a new entrance area leading to a large kitchen-diner plus a utility room and cloakroom; upstairs there would be a spacious master suite and a guest bedroom, bringing the total to five bedrooms. In the original house, the old kitchen would become Julia’s workspace, while the Victorian reception rooms would be merged into one family-friendly living area. A new, top-lit staircase would unite old and new.

Living on a building site

Richard used his knowledge of local planning policy to shape his design. Knowing that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council had a preference for extensions that look definitively new and separate from the dwelling they are attached to, he proposed a larch-clad addition whose materials and curving shape were very different to the red-brick building beside it. The parish council had other ideas, however. “We did get planning permission the first time round, but it was a bit touch and go,” says Julia. “The parish council objected as they felt the extension was too big for the size of the property, and they also didn’t feel it was in-keeping with the current property – which was confusing, since the borough council had specified that it shouldn’t be in keeping. In the end neither of these arguments went against us.”

The Keems used a local main contractor recommended by their architect – “I had a lot of time for the builders, they were great,” says Julia – and work began in summer 2015. It was to be an 18-monthlong slog, throughout which the family remained living in the house – even more remarkable given that, by then, Julia and Nick had a new baby daughter to join their older son, and Julia was still working from home doing her job as a garden designer.

“I don’t know how we did it. It was horrible, dreadful to be honest,” 43

says Julia. “But we were just trying to save money, even though we were told it would extend the length of the build, which it did. I didn’t want to live in a caravan – no way.” Things were relatively manageable while the extension was being built separately, but when it broke through to the original house, there was no keeping out the dust and the noise. “We moved out for ten days while the kitchen was being installed, but that was it,” says Julia.

The old house was stripped of its internal finishes, rewired and replastered, and all the windows replaced with energy-efficient aluminium-framed units. The floor in the old kitchen (now the study) was dug out and screeded since it didn’t have any foundations, and a sump was installed down in the cellar to prevent future flooding.

Large-format Spanish limestone tiles unite the old and new spaces on the ground floor, which has underfloor heating.

Deeper pockets

It wasn’t long before the couple’s carefully-set budget veered off course. They had financed the project through savings and a mortgage but costs rose. Many problems were unforeseen, such as the more expensive foundations needed once it was discovered how heavy their clay soil was. There were also the inevitable issues associated with restoring a period property: damp joists and window sills that crumbled away, all of which needed replacing. Other costs were simply an unwelcome surprise, such as quite how much the glass was going to add up to in the heavily-glazed extension.

Fortunately, as the build progressed, Julia and Nick were able to remortgage based on the value they had added to the property by the work they had already completed on the extension, but they had no sense of certainty about this at the time, and it was highly stressful. Deciding what they might reasonably cut back on wasn’t as straightforward as they thought: “For example, we wondered about not having the balcony in our bedroom,” says Julia, “but we couldn’t get rid of the steels needed to support it as it was an integral part of the structure. So once you’ve found the money for the steels, which are non-negotiable, you might as well go the whole way and have the balcony.”

In the end they have been sensible, spending on the fabric of the building, but slashing the budget on anything they could reasonably do at a later date. The glazing – including that bedroom balcony – has all been installed as per the original design, but their decorating plans were scaled back. Unfortunately for Julia given her vocation, her plans for the garden were also shelved so that all the money could be ploughed into finishing the house.

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A vision fulfilled

Now that the financial uncertainty is over and the dust has settled, Julia and Nick are thrilled with how it’s turned out. “It’s really been life-changing,” says Julia. “It feels contemporary, spacious and light.

I have an amazing space to work in – my own office with 400-year old panelling. I also like that the kids can be playing in the living room but I still feel I can interact with everybody if I’m working.

Plus, my family can come and stay now as there’s lots of space to host them.”

The house may have had its quirks before, but the more unwelcome idiosyncrasies have gone, replaced by a much more streamlined layout.

Original beams have been exposed and restored, including a huge oak beam you have to duck under to reach the two top bedrooms.

The way the house sits so nicely in its wider environment is also a triumph. This is partly to do with Andrew’s clever architecture – for example, the way the windows in the Victorian part of the house have been enlarged and lowered to floor level, so that the minute you come through the front door you can glimpse the old orchard beyond. But it’s also to do with the headway that Julia has made in the garden, softening the boundary between the angular corner of the curved extension with naturalistic planting. The property has gone from a confusing jumble – albeit one with a lot of potential – to a breath of fresh air.

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We learned…

• If you’ve got a clear vision, you just need to go for it. It might be a struggle in the short term, but don’t overlook the longer term and how you’ll feel about your finished home in five to 10 years • Old houses always present problems that you just can’t forecast, so have some flexibility in your budget to deal with these during the renovation • Be aware of the factors that push up costs. Unique design features – from curved steels to bespoke rooflights – cost more • In hindsight, I think that a self-build mortgage, with stage payments, would have worked better for us as a way of financing the project • Speaking as a garden designer – don’t forget to save some money for landscaping

Blast-cleaning beams

The oldest parts of Julia and Nick’s house are more than 400 years old and are full of character. Architect Richard Gill uncovered original oak beams in the old kitchen (now Julia’s studio), which, along with already-exposed beams that had been blackened over time, were professionally blast-cleaned by a heritage specialist.

Julia says that it was incredibly dusty and messy, but that the results have been worth it: now that the outer oxidised layer has been removed, every knot and crack has been revealed, and the lighter colour helps to make the room feel brighter and more spacious. The wall where the heavy, aged beams sit next to the crisp aluminium-framed windows is one of Julia’s favourite parts of the house, summing up the sympathetic distinction between old and new that she always wanted to achieve.

Sensitive landscaping

As a garden designer, Julia knew how important it would be to get the landscaping right. The extension is defiantly contemporary, with its curves and angles, and she has softened this with a bed of naturalistic planting that runs along the curve and around the corner, so the base of the building is concealed.

This is very effective in avoiding that ‘just-landed’ look that so many modern extensions have. The idea for the wider landscape was that it should feel wilder the further it gets from the house, gradually melting into the true countryside: beyond the formal granitepaved terrace is an orchard, and beyond that is a field that was formerly grazed by sheep but is now a meadow, with paths cut through the high grass.

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Home notes

News and style tips on the home front

Outsider Art

Like Scottie Wilson, you can come late to artistic success, as Jane Anderson of Gorringes reveals Are you sitting in your office and idly doodling on your notepad – maybe thinking that a change in career and lifestyle, is the way forward? Consider the example of the artist Scottie Wilson (1888-1972). Originally named Louis Freeman, he was born in Glasgow into a Jewish-Scottish background. At the age of eight he left school to help supplement the family income by, amongst other things, selling newspapers on the street. In 1906, at the age of 18, he enlisted with the Scottish Rifles – serving in India and South Africa – and enlisted again in 1914 to fight on the Western Front.

At the end of the First World War he emigrated to Toronto where he ran a secondhand shop. It was here, at the age of 44, whilst listening to Mendelssohn, he dipped a fountain pen into a bottle of ink and began to draw. Within a couple of days he had covered the card table-top with faces and designs: in his own words: “The pen seemed to make me draw, and the images just flowed out. I couldn’t stop – I’ve never stopped since that day.”

At first, reluctant to sell his drawings, he staged travelling exhibitions and charged a modest entrance fee, gradually gaining critical recognition in Canada. But in 1945 he abruptly left Toronto for London where he was persuaded to exhibit his work, showing concurrently with the likes of Picasso, Miro and Klee. He continued his rejection of commercialism, however, selling his work out on the street for a fraction of the gallery prices. Of his working-class customers he said: “They’re the intellect, you know”.

Today, Scottie Wilson is accepted to be in the forefront of 20th-century ‘outsider art’ (work by self-taught or naïve artists). His joyful, highly-detailed pictures, full of botanical, bird and animal imagery and totemic ‘Greedies’ and ‘Evils’ (malignant personifications), were admired and collected by Dubuffet and Picasso and sell at auction today for hundreds of pounds. www.gorringesauctions.co.uk

Images: ‘Scotties Little Altar of Peace’, 1954, coloured chalk on black paper (sold

for £800); Landscape with birds and tree, coloured chalk and gouache on black paper (sold for £440); Flowers, birds and fish within an ornate border, signed, ink and watercolour on paper (sold for £1,200).

Park life

High-end park homes planned for Sevenoaks site A park home site previously known as Romney Street Caravan Park, a few minutes’ drive from Sevenoaks, is being given a new lease of life after being acquired by Serenity Parks.

The renamed Kings Meadow Residential Park will undergo a complete transformation, bringing almost 40, one-, two- and three-bedroom, single-storey, luxury properties to this ideal location.

“This is an exciting start to the year for us and this acquisition is the first of our developments in the south of England,” said Marie Hanby, Marketing Manager for Serenity Parks. “We are looking forward to bringing quality homes to allow those looking to downsize or release equity from other properties to join an ever-growing number of people who are enjoying the benefits of a park-home lifestyle.”

Work has commenced at the park and homes can be reserved off plan prior to the completion of their on-site construction. Buyers who reserve early in the process will be able to choose their own interiors and furniture, both of which are included in the price.

“Whilst the park is located in rural Kent, nestled down country lanes with lovely views, it is only a few minutes from the local railway station, Otford,” said Marie.

“This means that in less than 25 minutes commuters can be in the centre of London showing that this is not just a residential park for retirees.”

Serenity Parks specialises in providing an ideal lifestyle for residents 45+, offering accessible yet high-end park homes in desirable locations across the UK. Each Serenity Parks site holds a full residential license to allow residents to reside 48

all year round. This has allowed it to create high-end yet affordable living, designed specifically for permanent occupation. www.serenityparks.co.uk/developments/kings-meadow K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

LOV E YOU R HOM E

Back to basics

Rencraft launches The Modular Kitchen Local kitchen designer and manufacturer, Rencraft, has announced the launch of The Modular Kitchen.

Available exclusively from their Sevenoaks showroom, the range takes its inspiration from The Wooden Kitchen, one of the first kitchens Rencraft manufactured over 35 years ago.

John Stephens, Managing Director for Rencraft, explains: “The Modular Kitchen represents a nostalgic return to the clean, classic kitchen designs of our past.

We believe this is the perfect solution for those seeking a well-made, British kitchen with a more competitive price tag than a bespoke offering. The straightforward design makes it a great choice for those wanting to get their project off the ground quickly, without compromising on quality or style.�

As the name suggests, The Modular Kitchen is not available with any bespoke elements. Instead, the client is provided with a selection of cabinets, or modules, carefully designed to fit into most regular shaped rooms or spaces. These are supplied white primed, ready to be painted in any colour the client desires. The end result is a kitchen that is simple, practical and beautiful.

To find out more or request a brochure contact info@rencraft.co.uk or call 01732 762682 www.rencraft.co.uk

LOV E YOU R HOM E

Fill ’em up

Hamptons International joins Refill to help cut down on single-use plastics Leading estate agent Hamptons International has partnered with City to Sea’s awardwinning Refill initiative to prevent plastic pollution at source. Refill aims to make it easier to reuse and refill your water bottle on the go than buy a single-use disposable plastic bottle.

At a time when we should be looking at simple ways to reduce our own plastic consumption, Refill makes it easy with a free app that anyone can download to find Refill stations local to them. Hamptons International is the first national estate agent to join the movement and sits alongside a host of other well-known high-street businesses including John Lewis, Whole Foods and Pret A Manger. To date, Refill has over 800,000 users with 15,000 Refill stations on the app. If all these Refill stations are used just once a day, it would stop around five million plastic bottles at source each year.

Alannah O’Rourke, Partnerships Manager for City to Sea, a non-profit organisation running campaigns to prevent marine plastic pollution at source, said: “We know that one of the biggest barriers to people carrying a reusable bottle is having to ask for a free refill. So we’re delighted that Hamptons International have joined the Refill campaign and will now be offering free refills in all of their branches. They are the first estate agency with a national presence to join Refill, so celebrate with us by looking for their branches on the Refill app and joining in with the Refill Revolution!”

Hamptons International now displays a Refill sticker in each of its 90 branch windows, and the app will share the location of every branch to encourage and invite members of the public to fill their water bottles for free. This partnership is the first of many environmentallyfocused initiatives due to be unveiled in Hamptons International’s 150th year. Such initiatives will all form part of Project Planet which aims to look at ways to make the business environmentally-conscious whilst making a positive change and contribution to the planet.

Lesley Cairns, Managing Director of Hamptons International, says: “Our branches are all in prominent high-street locations, so it makes perfect sense to invite those looking for a water refill into our branches to prevent the purchase of single-use plastic. By downloading the app and using Refill you can help reduce plastic waste and save money along the way. So please remember, if you’re near to a Hamptons International branch, feel free to pop in and someone from our team will be delighted to fill your water bottle up for free.”

To find your local Hamptons International branch and many other distributers of free water refills, download the app today at www.refill.org.uk/get-the-refill-app

Spring clean? Forget it!

Survey shows that house cleaning is becoming a real chore Millions of adults claim they are ‘too busy’ to clean their home, a study has found. The demands of modern life, such as balancing work with looking after children, means a third of adults struggle to find time for the housework.

Only half of the 2,000 adults polled set aside time each week to clean their home, while three in 10 only manage to squeeze in a few chores at the weekends.

It also emerged that the traditional spring clean, once loyally carried out once a year by proud home owners, is dying out according to 38 per cent of adults. And 45 per cent believe previous generations had more time for household chores.

The study found almost half believe the kitchen is the room in the house which takes the longest to get sparkling, followed by the bathroom and living room.

Keval Shah from home appliance brand Beko, which commissioned the research, said: “With such busy modern lives, housework isn’t a priority for many of us any more. And while we might like to be house-proud, it’s difficult to find the time.

“Our research shows that time saving is an important issue, especially with people working longer hours than in the past and enjoying busy social lives. As a result, traditional housework is taking a back seat.

“Thankfully, modern technology is helping us to save time in all aspects of our daily activities, including cleaning. Being able to control devices remotely means families can multitask and hopefully feel less pressure and guilt about getting tasks done and sacrificing important family time.”

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LOV E YOU R HOM E

Real homes, not show homes

Fabric and wallpaper designer Abigail Willis of Willis Bloom says real homes can be beautiful, too Here’s the thing. Homes on Instagram and in magazines look amazing.

They’re perfect, artfully styled, cushions plumped, no washing up, no ironing basket overflowing, and everything’s simply gorgeous. They help us dream. The secret though: it’s not the real story.

This is the real life: Behind closed doors there’s washing up to be done, toys strewn everywhere and parents muttering and tidying… But we don’t want to see that on Instagram so we will continue to love the neat, gorgeous and perfect version.

This got me thinking. We aspire to the show home, but for most of us ‘real homes’ are our reality. So can real homes be beautiful too?

The good news is: yes

A little example from my own life. On my bookshelf I have rows of beautiful books, I styled them to look perfect, and artfully arranged a pewter jug, globe and glass bowl atop. Today, as I look at it, it also displays three huge pine cones from a family bike ride, two first pairs of baby shoes and a glass angel. I look at these and cherish the memories; they’re pieces of me, and my family and I love them being there. Would I have designed a scheme with these things included? No, but they’re staying.

Choose well with your heart, and don’t worry about trends

I feel the same about choosing beautiful things for my home as when I design a new fabric or wallpaper range. I want to love it first and foremost; I don’t really care about trends. I want to create spaces that are timeless, that are for homes that can evolve over time and take every piece of family life in their stride.

I set up Willis Bloom with my husband Chris. We’re interiors fanatics, pattern addicts, parents and champions of real homes for real families. We design glorious fabrics and wallpaper to be loved over the years.

Designed to last

All our fabrics are luxury linens, beautiful velvets and elegant cottons. We can also produce any of our designs onto upholstery weight fabrics, so your furniture doesn’t miss out either.

So, with a little bit of help, your real home can become a gorgeous family home – even if it’s not perfect!

www.willisbloom.com www.facebook.com/willisbloomdesigns www.instagram.com/willis_bloom K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

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Garden notes

All you need for your outside space Is it going to be hot in the garden this summer?

Tim Sykes of Gardenproud gives some tips for gardening this May and June Are you basking in sunshine? Certainly the long-range weather forecast points towards a slightly warmer May. Various pundits also suggest we may enjoy a repeat performance of last summer’s heatwave.

Given the confusion over Brexit, this will be music to the ears of the millions who plan to take a UK holiday this year. But what of us gardeners?

I’m thinking about mulching my beds, as it helps to retain moisture. Plus, planning leaky pipes for thirsty shrubs and specimen trees.

If you have a rainwater system then the addition of a hose pressure submersible pump may be a good idea. Karcher, among many manufacturers, make a good model you can use. Others make more sophisticated pumps that can be linked up directly to a garden tap. These detect any fall in pressure when the tap is turned on and switch themselves on to give you hose pressure water.

Hydroforce make a number of pressure-sensitive pumps.

Some other useful garden tips for May and June: • G arden Inspiration. Idea 1: Visit Corkers Open Day on May 6th. See their superb range of show gardens, plus an opportunity to chat with local landscapers and designers, with mouth-watering snacks provided by an award-winning chef • G arden Inspiration. Idea 2: Put a date in the diary for the Chelsea Flower Show, May 21st-25th • It’s time to mow and edge your lawns weekly • T he herbaceous borders will be in full flight, and so will the weeds, so keep a close watch and control these with regular hoeing • Time to plan and plant out any summer bedding plants

For further advice and information contact Tim Sykes on 07725 173820, or see him at Gardenproud’s website www.reallygardenproud.com

Eat up your greens

Get organised Bring order to your shed and keep tools, rags, string and bits and bobs tidy and to hand in this useful caddy. It features a carrying handle and divided sections to keep items separate. £21.95 www.annabeljames.co.uk 52

This gift-boxed Edible Flower Garden Seed Set has been handpicked by interior designer, cook and author Sophie Conran for Burgon & Ball.

There are four packets of seeds with full growing instructions plus tips and recipe ideas from Sophie. She says, “Create the most gorgeous salads and dishes with these vibrant, tasty, edible flowers – Lavender Munstead, Calendula Officinalis, Viola and Nasturtium Tom Thumb Mix.” £9.95 www.annabeljames.co.uk K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

LOV E E DUC AT ION

Heads up!

Top local head teachers give their views

What strategies do you employ when dealing with challenging behaviour in the classroom?

Craig McCarthy, Headmaster

Russell House School, Sevenoaks Independent co-educational preparatory school for boys and girls aged 2-11 The first strategy is to create a calm, purposeful classroom environment with clear expectations of behaviour that are well understood by all the pupils. That way you minimise the occurrence of challenging behaviour from the outset! Once that is done, you have to accept that, inevitably, children will make less than ideal choices from time to time; to err is human after all.

Here at Russell House, we have a reflective approach to behaviour management which is underpinned by a very clear School Code. This encourages children, under supervision, to reflect upon their choices and, by being required to question themselves as to how to do things better next time, they learn about their individuality and how they impact on each other and the wider school community.

Overarching that, our pastoral system is very strong, with every child in the school being assigned a Form Teacher and each pupil in the Main School allocated to one of four Houses. The pupils collect High Points and avoid Low Points counting towards the hotly-contested House Competition in each half of term. The strong sense of being part of a team generates positive peer pressure and this is often enough to keep the pupils on the right track, or very quickly back on track should it be required!

If these strategies need to be topped up, then involving parents often serves as a good court of final appeal.

Mike Piercy, Headmaster

The New Beacon, Sevenoaks Independent preparatory school for boys aged 4-13 Expect little of children and they will disappoint; expect much and they will surprise.

It’s amazing how accurate this mantra can be, lived out and witnessed in every walk of school life.

All good teachers have high expectations of their pupils, which is one of the keys to classroom discipline. Children want to do well, they want to please, they thrive on praise.

We have to consider, therefore, what might give rise to challenging behaviour.

The first clue is the word itself: is the child not being challenged? Lack of stimulation will lead to inattention and, potentially, poor behaviour. Alternatively, is s/he not accessing the content – is the challenge too great for the individual? Both questions are resolved through differentiation. There will inevitably be a range of ability in any classroom, with good teaching and knowledge of each individual pupil, and tasks planned accordingly to meet the full range of ability.

At The New Beacon we have a weekly pastoral staff meeting when there is only one agenda item: colleagues have the opportunity to comment on any pupil – concern, question or praise. Inevitably, there will be those names which crop up more than others: the lively and bouncy; the spontaneous; the child with a learning difficulty; the ones lacking in confidence. I often find myself asking about the extent to which the child is able to help himself and, therefore, how much additional support may be needed and should be provided.

We must also consider what is meant by challenging behaviour – let’s call it ‘indiscipline’.

I was once being shown round a school and as we passed by a rather noisy classroom the Head seemed embarrassed. He popped his head through the door and told the class to quieten down.

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I wondered if the chatter had, in fact, been productive, positive, engaged learning rather than a lack of discipline.

The teacher in question might have had a controlled learning environment where pupils were freely exchanging thinking and ideas, managed within a clear set of classroom rules. There is a fine balance between control and allowing free thought and the latter is an intrinsic part of education.

A good teacher will achieve that balance and this is where knowledge of the individual comes to the fore.

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Andrew Webster, Headmaster

The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells Co-educational preparatory school for boys and girls aged 3-11 An interesting question! Its phrasing suggests that ‘challenging behaviour’ is an exclusively negative element, to be quickly stamped out of any school environment. Certainly, ‘disruptive behaviour’ is such, but are they one and the same thing? Pedantic? Perhaps on face value.

But dig deeper and the point of difference is fundamental and therefore worth commentary.

Since its Victorian inception to, concerningly, very recently (or more concerningly, to the present day for some establishments), the school classroom was, if managed correctly, stripped of the child’s voice. Unfortunately, within educational circles, I still hear the phrase ‘you can hear a pin drop in their classroom’ spoken with tones of adoration. It’s almost laughable to suggest that learners (children or adults) can learn any skill or content without engaging with it, discussing it, adapting it or practising it, and yet this was the principle upon which education was founded. Sit still, be quiet, copy and repeat.

Our ethos, The Mindset of a Meadite, champions three core attributes for our children, namely, Compassion, Ambition and Curiosity. It is impossible for children to grow these attributes without being both challenged and challenging throughout their time at the school. We invite them to ask questions, to champion one another and through pupil groups such as Eco-Club and School Council, to challenge and improve our daily routines. The best lessons I have observed have been highly challenging. The teacher challenges the children to think for themselves and solve problems and in return, the children challenge the teacher to keep them on task and collaborate in an effective fashion. What’s more, in these highly-challenging lessons, disruptive behaviour is notable by its absence.

To therefore return to the original question, you only need one strategy in the classroom… deliver inspiring and challenging lessons. Do this and you’ll then have them all in the palm of your hand, with a healthy hum of noise and not a pin in sight!

Emma Károlyi, Head of Junior King’s

The King’s School, Canterbury An independent, co-educational, day and boarding school for pupils aged 13-18 I remember my grandmother always used to say ‘praise the good, ignore the bad’, to my mother when my sisters and I were growing up and being challenging. Since getting our new Cocker Spaniel puppy, I have been made to really return to basics with behaviour management. What our little Bertie has taught me is that in the vast majority of cases, ‘challenging’ behaviour from one individual reflects back on the behaviour of those around them. Bertie has reminded me about the importance in education of the very direct connection between positive reward and getting encouraging attention for the right things, and conversely how easy it is to give negative feedback when someone is getting it wrong.

At Junior King’s, we have transformed behaviour management by turning a traditional model on its head over the last couple of years. We replaced a system that allowed warnings to accumulate for minor misdemeanours until a more major sanction was applied many weeks later, when the original offence was long forgotten. We now deal with every incident immediately without drama, fairly, and move on, emphasising how we can learn from our mistakes and do better next time. But if at all possible, it is far better to divert the misplaced energy of potentially-challenging behaviour towards a more fruitful end.

The flip side is that our longer-term reward system celebrates getting things right immediately and reinforces positive behaviour across the term, building self-esteem, and giving children plenty of encouragement for all the good things they do.

Bertie, our puppy, is absolutely transparent in his eagerness to please, as in his delight in chewing or running off with something he should not have in his mouth. What I have noticed is that he does this all the more as soon as he picks up that I would rather he didn’t.

When I give him lots of praise for just coming when I call, he soon forgets the thing he was not meant to do. My Granny was right to focus on the positives, to ‘praise the good and ignore the bad’.

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Maria Maslin, Prep School Headteacher

Battle Abbey School, Bexhill and Battle Independent co-educational day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 months-18 There is no single cause for challenging behaviour, but environment, relationships, discomfort and frustration are all common reasons. When difficult or challenging behaviour is considered, it is too commonly assumed that it is the child’s behaviour that requires change. However, behaviours are triggered by antecedents and are maintained by consequences. Put simply, behaviours are affected or prompted by environmental situations which are reinforced by the reaction of others.

The behaviour of children can sometimes be challenging due to communication difficulties. If a child cannot express themselves effectively, they may resort to behaviours that result in their needs being met. We find the best way to avoid challenging behaviours being used as an inappropriate, yet effective, form of communication is to teach children how to communicate effectively, allow them to recognise any triggers and develop strong social skills.

Disruptive behaviours can also occur when children find tasks too difficult. This is where “shaping” can be effective. Identify the desired positive behaviour and then begin at the point where the child can be immediately successful. This way you will be able to reinforce the desired behaviour. The key to shaping is to increase expectations... gradually.

“Prompting and fading” is also an effective strategy. Prompting is where you assist the child with a task but still reinforce the end product. The goal of any prompting and fading procedure is an independent response by the child. The critical element is fading. Gradually we reduce assistance and increase the amount of reinforcement, with more independent responses then receiving greater amounts of positive praise.

Underpinning an exceptional school are excellent relationships. A strong connection between pupil and teacher is fundamental in producing a positive learning environment. Knowing the child well means the best strategies at the most effective times can be used. At Battle Abbey Prep School (Bexhill) strong relationships are the basis of our teaching. Our children learn in an environment that encourages excellent behaviour and where staff recognise the times when environmental situations place pressures on them. In addition, Milo, our well-being dog, is always on hand to provide unconditional affection and emotional support.

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Volunteers: The unsung heroes and heroines

Angela Culley, Foundation Governor at Rusthall St Paul’s CofE Primary School, sings the praises of their valuable helpers Every working day within our maintained schools you will find a range of people, of all ages, displaying and sharing myriad skills and interests, giving their time, generously and freely, both inside and outside the classroom, to the benefit of the schools, the teachers working in them and, most importantly, to the pupils being educated. This quiet army of unsung and often unknown heroes and heroines enhance the educational provision of our schools in ways we too often take for granted. There is absolutely no doubt, that, should they slip away and disappear, not only would the educational provision diminish but I would dare to suggest that many of our schools would find it exceedingly hard to deliver and run on a daily basis.

At Rusthall St Paul’s Primary School, we are delighted and extremely grateful to report an ever-growing band of helpers. The school, so ably led by the Head, makes every volunteer extremely welcome and ensures all are valued and utilise their personal strengths. Retired headteachers and teachers support those who need help, the more able and even those pupils who benefit from that little extra individual attention. Grandparents come and listen to reading, while others support the Infant department, thereby ensuring all pupils get the best possible start to their educational life. There is even a much-loved ‘Reading Dog’ who comes into school each week; you would be amazed at the secrets children will share with Flash!

Sportsmen and women, both amateur and professional, enhance the sporting provision, enabling a broad range of teams to be fielded, both at home and away, against other schools.

St Paul’s Rusthall is consequently gaining an admirable and enviable reputation for its sporting success and prowess.

Some volunteers offer an hour a week, others a day, but all feel part of the school community, feel needed and are celebrated. The annual volunteers’ tea party, where volunteers are publicly thanked and served a delicious tea by Year 6, is always a terrific event.

To a person, volunteers all say their time in school is exceedingly rewarding. They love getting to know the children, whilst finding a terrific buzz from seeing and being part of their personal progress.

In conclusion, I have a very simple message: should any Kudos reader feel they have a spare hour or two a week and would like to spend it in a school, helping the next generation, please don’t feel shy. Contact your local school and know that your time and skills will be hugely appreciated.

Theodore Roosevelt famously said, ‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.’

These wonderful volunteers are certainly doing exactly that and we thank them all from the bottom of our hearts.

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Viewpoint

Local schools have their say Caroline Chaffé, Head of Pre-Prep at Russell House, explains her passion for early years education and describes how to help children remain curious and think critically

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Like most people working in education, I am passionate about the importance of reading and how we help children to become readers who understand. I am passionate about numbers and the importance of children knowing how they work. I am passionate about children treating each other with respect and consideration. The linking factor between all these aspects, and any area of educating little ones, is the importance of teaching children to think!

We are all born curious. Children use that curiosity to try and make sense of the world. To watch the two year olds in our Russell Robins class is a joy as they rush to investigate every area they can, using all their senses to feed their curiosity. In the right environment, children’s curiosity will take them on journeys they will never forget and, without realising it, they will carry those first experiences with them through their education and into the workplace.

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As a reception teacher and Head of the Pre-Prep at Russell House, I am in the privileged position of working with colleagues who have a shared vision of helping children to think. How many times have you used a sat nav only to find the route is blocked and you have no sense of where you are or how to get where you want to go? We make it our mission to educate our children to free themselves from the ‘sat-nav’ mentality.

For example, when children change for PE it can be easy to pass them their clothes. However, it is far better to let them have a go at organising themselves. They might put on trainers before joggers but then realise it is more efficient to do the reverse, just as they learn it’s almost impossible to do up coat buttons if wearing gloves.

These everyday skills can be carried through to so many different learning situations.

The ability to think through something before acting to solve problems is a skill that can be taught and is known as Critical Thinking. So how can we help children remain curious and think critically? As educators, we take their hand and experience with them, not for them. We ask questions such as, “I wonder how we can build this tower of bricks higher”. We become part of their team. When they ask a question, we may ponder for a moment and then ask what they think. When they come up with ideas, we value their responses. Instead of correcting a child, you will hear us say, “That’s an interesting idea – what made you think that?”

Explaining their thought processes encourages logical thinking and gives us insight.

Logical thought processes inevitably lead to creative thinking.

We have pondered what it would be like to really have eyes in the back of our heads, or what would happen if it did really rain ‘cats and dogs’? By asking ‘I wonder what would happen if…’ questions, we are getting children to not only imagine but to think ahead to consider different paths to take when stuck.

Many a time I have found myself with a problem and will grab a learning opportunity to involve the children in my thinking. Last autumn, we noticed the tree in the school paddock was covered in apples. With no sign of windfalls, we put our thinking caps on to work out how to reach the apples in order to make a crumble. The children came up with lots of alternative ideas and their persistence in working out different solutions ultimately gave them success!

Pride was obvious but most of all their self-esteem grew before my very eyes as they realised their ideas were valid, their ideas were used by a grown-up and their ideas worked!

As technology becomes ever more part of our lives, creativity, initiative and the ability to ask questions and identify new solutions are increasingly important. All these are built on the thinking skills we are developing throughout children’s years at Russell House.

Who wouldn’t be passionate about them? As Einstein famously said “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious”, and I am sure if he was here today, he would have added the importance of helping children avoid the ‘sat-nav’ trap.

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Adrian Brindley, Head of Pre-Prep at Rose Hill, explains why the Creative Curriculum is a vital part of learning for pupils at his school

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A creative curriculum is one that incorporates big ideas, varied and engaging activities, and a sense of continuity as a way to stimulate students, teachers, and even families. An effective creative curriculum enables both teacher and pupils to make powerful links with the world in which they live in a meaningful way. It is important that children can see and then use their learning for a purpose, making education more than just a series of isolated, unitary experiences.

Founded by educationalist Diana Trister Dodge over 30 years ago, the Creative Curriculum has helped teachers and early years educators to plan and put in place content-rich, developmentallyappropriate programmes that support early learning, promoting children’s progress in the process. Further, it helps teachers to understand what they need to put in place to create daily routines and meaningful experiences that respond to a child’s strengths, interests and needs.

The Creative Curriculum is something we are passionate about at Rose Hill School. We are very lucky to enjoy 15 acres of glorious outdoor space, including our own woodland area, and we seize every opportunity to take the learning outdoors. Being flexible in our approach is one of the great joys of the independent sector as we have freedom from the constraints of the National Curriculum, and the opportunities this affords us are immeasurable.

The Creative Curriculum allows us to develop children’s imaginations by providing exciting stimulus and then allowing children to explore themselves. It is so exciting for the adults to share and celebrate the children’s ideas and enthusiasm, and with guidance, children are able to make tremendous progress.

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experience. From a drama workshop helping to understand life in the trenches of the First World War to visiting the school bank and opening their own account to start saving, we are able to provide a growing experience rather than just an observing, nonparticipatory education.

Concentration and determination levels in lessons are high and children can remain on task for extended periods because they can see the worth of an activity. Time flies when you are having fun, and learning becomes embedded and retained because children are more involved in the overall package, from planning ideas to homework completion.

In support of the Creative Curriculum we use our five keys to success: Resilience; Perseverance; Persistence; Confidence; and being able to Get Along. The encompassing atmosphere of Integrity pervades all that we offer and expect from our pupils.

At Rose Hill School we have the flexibility to spend additional time focusing on subjects that stir our pupils’ imagination, the facilities to take learning into new spaces, and the talent to make our curriculum as creative as possible. We have found that children will go wherever their interest takes them, and once we have inspired them there is no stopping them!

There are obviously many moments when the curriculum and the needs of the academic hurdle may take precedent. However, it is the manner and design of the delivery that ensures that children enjoy their learning, as they are contributing to the overall progress of the class and, ultimately, themselves.

To see how the Creative Curriculum benefits our pupils and to meet with our inspiring teachers, please arrange an individual tour of the school and see what Rose Hill School can offer your child.

Contact admissions@rosehillschool.co.uk

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Ingrid Obo, Head of Drama at Junior King’s, on why children need drama

Every child needs drama in their education – for a myriad of reasons (and not necessarily the ones that you would initially think of). Every parent, and drama teacher for that matter, wants to see confident, selfassured children performing in a fabulous school production, but this really is just the tip of the iceberg, a shiny tempting tip that gives way to a cornucopia of essential life skills for young people.

What we all want for children is for them to be creative, receptive, open to challenge, team players, empathetic, and reasonable in order to cope with the shifting demands of 21st-century life. It would be unrealistic of me to imagine that drama could do this on its own, but along with its fellow Arts subjects, it can go an awfully long way to helping children develop these qualities. Ultimately, the inclusion of subjects such as drama in the curriculum (as well as in after-school activities) offers more opportunities for situations to arise in which these skills can be honed and demonstrated.

For example, in a lesson where children might explore the play text of Private Peaceful adapted by Simon Reade, they need to verbally and physically express abstract ideas, reason with others who do not share their viewpoint, analyse complex and multi-layered emotions, interpret ideas of an author and playwright, understand historical context, work creatively and co-operatively with others… and all before they even think about acting out a scene.

Of course, this is the answer you would expect from every Head of Drama – one in which an intellectual approach is used to validate a subject which to many may seem ephemeral. It is a factual answer, but in truth, not my first response to why I love drama in my school. I love the joy. The joy of discovering confidence, experienced by the child who recites a really long poem for the first time and remembers all the words, or who gets their first solo in a school show. The joy of playing in the classroom and being allowed to explore the absurd and fantastical without fear of being wrong. The joy of working with others on a really complex dance routine and everyone getting it right. The joy of being part of something, whether it’s as a scenic painter, a technician, an ensemble member or the lead role – or being in a scene that you made up with your friends that you are really proud of. And, if I’m being totally honest, the laughter. For me the mark of a really great rehearsal journey is that, at least once during rehearsals, you have all laughed until it hurt.

So much of what I’ve described above happens away from an audience, but my dearest hope is that some of the joy manifests in the shopfront of my department. We have a pretty good shop window, 99 per cent merits and distinctions in our speech and drama exams, a cabinet full of trophies from festivals, and boards covered with accolades for scholars and production pictures. I’m proud of this, but not as proud as I am of children leaving the classroom or rehearsals with a light shining in their eyes.

So this is where we are at the moment, and it’s exciting. We’ve just got ArtsMark Gold as a recognition of our developments in the Integrated Arts in the school, and The King’s School is about to open The Malthouse, a fantastic new arts facility with amazing technical and staging possibilities for us all to enjoy, and in preparation for when we start our first qualification in technical theatre in September. And, most excitingly for me, it’s time to write the Year 8 play, my own yearly creative joy in which I take all of our leavers’ wonderful ideas and write a script as unique and original as they are.

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James Dennett of Battle Abbey School on what gets him up in the morning

My kids! I’ve got two under six! Beyond this, five and often six days a week it’s my job at Battle Abbey School as Marketing Manager. Battle Abbey is a small school with just 300 pupils in the senior school, and 100 at our Prep and Nursery School in Bexhill. Some pupils stay with us from three months to 18. As such, the staff know all the pupils and the school has a real family feel. All staff, including support staff like me, pitch in with duties, extra-curricular clubs, and trips and events, which means that all the pupils have multiple points of contact with staff.

The size of the school means that we are not weighed down with the huge hierarchies like some of the bigger schools. We all pitch in which means I have a really diverse role. Although I’m the head of marketing, I’m also heavily involved in sports days (where I co-ordinate the media teams), help deliver the careers schedule, and oversee the extra curricular programme, as well as take part in extra curricular football and photography. I also periodically dress up as a monk and hold historical tours for visiting schools around the School and Abbey site.

Brother Dennett has become a regular fixture at the Abbey over the last five years!

The size of the school means we can move on our feet, quickly expanding a year group intake to accommodate a sudden surge in applicants, or reflowing our subject roster to take advantage of developments in the local market.

The size also means that we can make a real difference. The right appointment in the right role here can make a huge difference to the dayto-day running of the school and, of course, the pupil outcomes, which are the main key driver for all that we do.

I’m proud to work at Battle Abbey School. We punch well above our weight academically and creatively, and under the stewardship of our current Head, David Clark, we have really focused on the concept of parent as customer in recent years.

The market has been very challenging for independent schools of late and a number in the area have gone under due to increasing costs and low pupil numbers. Happily, we occupy a market position where we have not been affected; on the contrary, we have managed to increase the number of pupils considerably during these difficult times. I’d love to be able to say that this is entirely down to our wonderful marketing, but in reality this has been a product of careful market research and strategic planning as much as quality in the classroom and fancy advertising.

With independent education very much under threat at the moment (teacher’s pension scheme, possible VAT implications etc), it’s important to ensure that we see our parents as customers of the school. We have to exceed the state sector in all areas at all times if we are to justify to parents why it is they are forking out the fees. We are, after all, dealing with two of the things they care most about; their children and their money!

It’s finding these families that occupies much of my time and effort, and targeting them with the right kind of marketing and material using the right kind of channels. Our target parents are increasingly marketing immune, tired and distrustful of bold-type marketing promises. What gets me up in the morning (and keeps me awake at night!) is how to target these families in an age of the informed consumer with honest, engaging and attention-grabbing campaigns.

What a fascinating challenge. Who wouldn’t want to be involved in that?!

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School report A round-up of what’s happening in the world of education

Top marks for The New Beacon

Glowing assessment from the Independent Schools Inspectorate In February, The New Beacon was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). The assessment looks at compliance with the Independent School Standards (eg safeguarding, H&S). The various elements of compliance are either ‘met’ or ‘not met’ and at The New Beacon all standards were met.

Alongside this, an Educational Quality Inspection is judged under two headings: the pupils’ academic and other achievements, and their personal development.

The headline judgements are: Excellent, Good, Sound or Unsatisfactory.

Headmaster Mike Piercy said, “I am delighted to report that the achievements of the boys and their personal development were both found to be excellent.

There is much to enjoy in the report but a few lines leap out at me.”

‘The caring nature of the school is promoted consistently throughout all aspects of school life and, in particular, by the excellent role models provided by the staff.’

‘The school is highly accomplished in meeting its aim to ensure that the pupils leave as problem solvers, who can take responsibility for their work, and for their lives.’

‘Pupils throughout the school show excellent confidence and self-awareness.

Boarders are particularly self-disciplined; they exuded maturity and selfunderstanding during discussions.’

‘The pupils’ attitudes to learning are outstanding.’

‘Pupils approach their lessons with great enthusiasm.’

‘Pupils are relaxed, polite and well-mannered, as a result of the strong pastoral care that they receive.’

Said Mike Piercy, “ISI inspections are, quite rightly, rigorous. I am absolutely thrilled therefore that inspectors found and reported on the school I know and of which I am so proud. Absolute credit to the staff and, of course, to the boys!”

It all adds up

Russell House’s five maths medal winners Russell House in Otford is celebrating a record-breaking Maths result after five pupils were awarded medals in the prestigious Primary Maths Challenge 2019.

The Primary Maths Challenge, run by the Mathematical Association, is aimed at children in Years 5 and 6 across the whole country. It is designed to make pupils think outside the box and encourages reasoning skills through solving problems.

This year, around 67,000 children took part in the challenge and, nationwide, two per cent of entrants received a medal. At Russell House, 11 per cent of pupils who entered the first round made it through to the final, and all achieved a medal! Louis, Peter and Sammy received Silver and Sophia and Elliot Bronze medals.

“We’re very proud of our five medal winners, which is a record result for Russell House in the Maths Challenge,” said headmaster Craig McCarthy.

“We have high expectations for our pupils and they continue to demonstrate their capacity to rise to these expectations and achieve remarkable results.”

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Playing to win

Third place for Rose Hill’s hockey team, and top prize for pupil’s Save the Children design Rose Hill School U9A boys’ hockey team were thrilled to come third in a recent district hockey tournament hosted by Ashford Prep School. Twelve schools from the area competed for the title of district champions, and with the likes of Kings Rochester, Junior Kings, Kent College, Saint Ronan’s, Sutton Valance and Dulwich all in attendance, the standard of hockey was very high.

“The team played well from the start, although it was difficult to know if they had got through to the semi-finals with so many games taking place at the same time!” said Graham Russell, Hockey Coach at Rose Hill. “The semi-finals was a tough match against Saint Ronan’s with plenty of action and a last-minute goal which saw Saint Ronan’s win the game 2-1.”

The third and fourth play-off match was a tight affair, with the boys eventually finishing third and receiving a bronze medal.

Emma Neville, Head of Rose Hill, said: “This was an excellent opportunity for the boys to play in a competitive tournament as they all learnt a great deal during the day. They were a credit to the school in terms of both their behaviour and play, and we are all very proud of their achievement.”

Meanwhile, a Year 6 pupil has been selected as a winner in the Save the Children’s ‘Words not Weapons’ competition, for her work ‘Hungry Children’.

The judges chose Izzy’s work as they were so impressed with her use of mixed media, and the juxtaposition of the geographical elements and the emotion in the children’s faces.

Head of Art at Rose Hill School, Uschi Moore, said “Izzy has done incredibly well to be awarded this prize in a competition aimed at secondary school art students. It is a very sophisticated piece of art and she should be very proud of herself.”

The work will now be included in a book alongside Yemeni children’s messages. Young people will present the book to the UK government, asking them to act for the children of Yemen.

Doing the sums

Maths students exceed expectations at Battle Abbey For the second time in as many years, Battle Abbey School’s iGCSE Maths results have exceeded all expectations. Two-thirds of students were awarded the highest grades – sevens, eights and nines – and not a single student of the non-selective school failed to achieve a very respectable grade.

Headmaster David Clark says: “We were quietly confident that the results would be good, but the actual figures were better than expected.

Seeing the students’ faces as they found out their results was an experience.

Battle Abbey has an excellent Mathematics Department, with strengths in all areas, and is securing plaudits from across the region. It is no accident that Battle Abbey tops the list of all schools in East Sussex and Kent for Value Added across all subjects.” (The Value Added measure indicates the improvement students make between key stages in their education.)

Farouk Tumi, Head of Maths, was equally delighted with the results. “I am particularly pleased with the sheer dedication and hard work of our students, especially those who have found that mathematics does not come naturally.

To pass, and pass so well, does them great credit. I couldn't be prouder.”

Battle Abbey has enjoyed many other mathematical successes of late.

Two sixth-form students qualified for the British Olympiads in this year’s competition, the junior Maths team is currently ranked 17th in the whole K U D O S M A Y/ J U N E 2 0 1 9

of the UK, and Year 9 Student David Jempson has also just qualified for the British Olympiads, securing his place while competing against older students in Year 11.

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The sky’s the limit Rose Hill STEM Club flies to glory Three very excited Year 5 pupils recently headed off to Gatwick Aviation Museum to represent Rose Hill School in the Regional Finals of the “Fly to the Line” competition.

Richard Mansfield, Head of Science, said: “The pupils were winners of an in-house glider competition. On the day, they had to apply all they had learnt, building a new glider from scratch in two hours. Each pupil designed and built their own glider which they then had to test and trim so it would fly straight and true.”

In the afternoon, all three gliders needed to pass scrutineering before the competition could begin. Each glider flew three times, each at a different launch angle, and for the last flight the pupil chose their own angle.

After a tough competition, Rose Hill School was victorious placing first, second and third meaning that the team went through to the National Finals at RAF Hendon, which was held as we went to press.

Emma Neville, Rose Hill Head, said: “What a fantastic result for our pupils. The STEM club is one of our most popular and clearly our pupils have been learning a great deal!”

Spotlight on Tia Budding young star in West End National Tour An Ashford Prep School student recently took to the stage at Leas Cliff Hall in the West End National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, which wowed Folkestone crowds for two weeks and was hailed ‘A Technicolour Triumph’ by The Independent.

Tia Nayer, a Year 5 student and lover of all things drama, sang as part of Folkestone Stagecoach, who collaborated with Canterbury Stagecoach to provide the back-up singing for the show. This included backup for solos by the Pharoah, the Narrator and Joseph himself, who was played by Union J’s Jaymi Hensley.

Tia has also recently auditioned for the London Palladium production of Joseph, following which she has been invited to audition for the London Production of Mary Poppins by the same casting director.

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Tia is represented by the London Agency Creative Kidz, and holds a distinction in Musical Theatre Stage 2. She is aiming to complete her Stage 3 later this year. She has featured in multiple professional musical productions at Leas Cliff Hall, including Dick Whittington, Abba Mania and the Big Miller Band.

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LOV E E DUC AT ION

Busy time for Beacon Academy Awards at the UK Rock Challenge and wins at the STEM Drone Challenge Competition

Beacon Dance is celebrating achieving second place and an impressive number of awards at the Southern regional heats of UK Rock Challenge 2019. A team of more than 50 Beacon Academy students took part in the national competition at The Hawth in Crawley, working together as dancers, backstage or production crew, to create, choreograph and perform a powerful piece exploring mental health in young people. The result was a whopping 10 awards for excellence and second place overall for their skilled and creative production, entitled, Let’s Talk About This. Judges on the panel commented that the choreography of the piece was “emotional, incredibly well thought out and put together”. Head of Performing Arts at Beacon Academy, Caroline Thomas, said, “It was a huge achievement to receive such recognition from choreographers in the performing arts industry!”

Following months of hard work and preparation of a different kind, Beacon Academy STEM Club students are also celebrating their success at the Mid Sussex STEM Drone Challenge Competition, which was held at the South of England Showground at Ardingly.

Working as a team, the students took on the challenge of building a business case to bring a drone to market for commercial use within a set budget of £500, demonstrating their project management and presentation skills at a Dragons’ Den-style competition.

During the competition, the students completed four challenging tasks, which included demonstrating the capabilities of their drone in flight. Drone pilot Alfie Buckingham, along with his spotter, Sam Stonestreet, were allocated 15 minutes to navigate an obstacle course, during which they were tasked with finding some car keys that had been placed out of sight.

STEM Club leader and Teacher of Science at Beacon Academy, Dr Leaney, described watching the students navigate the course: “It was truly nail-biting. Drone etiquette as well as safety regulations require that no-one speaks to the pilot except the spotter, so it was eerily quiet, apart from the buzzing of the drone, whilst the boys completed their task. There were audible gasps as Alfie brought the drone in to touchdown. He was congratulated on his flying skills and offered employment as a police drone operator!

“This was a fantastic achievement and was richly deserved by a group of truly wonderful students. They have worked hard, overcome a plethora of problems and stayed focused over the past six months and I am so, so proud of every one of them.”

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Time for a mumshine break?

Survey reveals mums are taking time out from the stresses of family life

Britain’s exhausted mums are taking time out to escape the kids on ‘mumshine breaks’, it has emerged.

A study of 2,000 mums revealed 44 per cent have found the time to get away on a trip with girlfriends to relax and recharge their batteries.

Overall one in four have taken a short break in the last six months.

It also emerged that many mums are booking breaks purely so they can enjoy a lie-in or two, while others use the opportunity to reconnect with their friends.

One fifth said they used the break to do more grown-up activities like visiting museums, while getting to sit down and get stuck into a good book were also considered important.

Oliver Bell from luxury villa holiday company Oliver’s Travels, who commissioned the study, said: “A ‘mumshine break’ can be a perfect opportunity to recharge the batteries and get away from the motherly routine – ideally in the sunshine.”

In a list of ‘mumshine break’ destinations, Scotland came out on top, followed by Cornwall and Wales.

For those who have been able to escape abroad, France, Italy and Mallorca were the most popular destinations.

Of those mums who have taken a ‘mumshine break’, 68 per cent considered the getaway a crucial experience for maintaining their sanity against the pressures of being a modern mum.

Mums begin to feel the first holiday pangs one year after their child is born, and will feel the need for another break every 10 months.

Oliver added: “As someone with two kids of their own, I can talk firsthand about the challenges of parenthood and the need to take a break from it all now and then.

“At Oliver’s Travels we are launching our own collection of ‘mumshine break’ villas in the UK, France, Italy and Spain, to give mothers a chance to get away from it all in comfort and luxury.”

To view Oliver’s Travels ‘Mumshine Break’ villas visit www.oliverstravels.com/mumshine-breaks

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Top 20 mum stresses: 1. Not getting enough sleep 2. Getting the kids ready for school each day 3. Getting the kids to bed on time 4. Making sure the kids eat healthily 5. Buying and budgeting for Christmas/birthday presents 6. G etting the work/home balance – spending time with the kids while earning 7. M aking sure the kids aren’t watching things they shouldn’t online 8. T rying to discipline kids when they’re misbehaving in public 9. Comforting your child about something you can’t fix 10. Laundry – especially when kids get a new favourite thing they want to wear all day everyday

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From middle-age…

Cushions, carpets and holidays are a sign you’ve hit the mid-40s Ditching flat-pack furniture, being happy to spend money on carpets, and booking more holidays are among the signs someone is ‘middle aged’, according to a study.

Those closer to reaching their mid-life will be happier spending time scouring garden and home stores for fun, are likely to care more about matching cushions, and want to invest in quality cutlery and crockery. Others will spend longer planning major renovations than ever before.

The study of 2,000 adults conducted by kitchen, dining and homeware designers Robert Welch found for 52 per cent of those polled, being middleaged simply means someone is more likely to know what they want out of life.

Just over four in 10 adults say they have become more and more concerned about the upkeep of their property and its contents as they have got older.

Knowing the names of different crockery ranges is also a sign that someone is reaching the mid-40 mark.

Researchers also discovered middle age is now 47.

Many of those polled believe reaching middle age means you take a vested interest in looking good – from joining a gym, to spending money on good food.

Knowing a little more about politics, taking a vested interest in plant names and refusing to eat without a matching knife and fork are also key signs of middle age.

Having a fridge packed with healthy vegetables, shopping in the butchers and greengrocers and taking up crossfit or cycling are all commonly associated with someone who is more mature.

Understanding which wines accompany which foods and going back to school to prove you’re never too old to learn also feature on the top 50 list.

A spokesperson for Robert Welch added: “It seems that middle age today is all about investment – investing time in things we really like to do, investing in nice things for the house, and investing in ways to enrich our lives.” www.robertwelch.com

…to retirement

Boredom kicks in after a year for many retirees It takes just over a year for boredom to set in for retirees, a study has found.

Getting used to life with no set routine, a huge amount of spare time and staying at home with their partner every day gets too much for some.

One in 10 even admitted to being bored of retirement and itching for something to do after just five months away from work.

Research of 1,000 retirees aged 45 and over, commissioned by National Citizen Service (NCS), revealed the reality of retirement, with many describing it as ‘boring’, ‘lonely’ and ‘quiet’.

A further 27 per cent said retirement has left them with more spare time than they anticipated.

Due to this, over two thirds believe if they were to work part-time they would have more of a sense of purpose.

However, if they were to go back to the world of work, the majority of Brits would like to do something completely separate to their previous job and one quarter would want to learn a new skill.

A further four in 10 would consider working part-time in order to get out of the house and 30 per cent want to help others.

The main downsides of retiring according to pensioners are not earning money, boredom and lack of interaction, the OnePoll study found.

The majority of retirees’ spare time is spent reading, watching television and being at home with their partner, and almost one quarter said every day feels the same.

NCS lead Chris Tolley, 54, a retired senior detective at Metropolitan Police, said: “Having retired after 30 years in the police, I wanted to put the skills and experience I’d gained throughout my career to good use by using my free time to continue giving back to my community.

“Police officers and other public servants tend to retire earlier than others, and while that sounds appealing, it can be a shock to the system.

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“In the police I frequently saw young people making bad decisions and missing out on opportunities.

“I now lead NCS programmes, working with young adults to help them achieve their full potential and find success.

“It’s important to keep mental stimulation going and putting our skills to use in a different way – and there is nothing more satisfying than feeling you have benefited young adults and encouraged cohesion, mobility and engagement for society as a whole.”

NCS is currently looking for passionate adults to join its workforce and help inspire the next generation Those interested in working on the programme this summer to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience for teens whilst doing something fun and meaningful during retirement can find more information and sign up to NCS via www.ncsyes.co.uk 69

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Yoga for free

Sessions for over-55 Paddock Wood residents Paddock Wood residents are being invited to boost their strength and flexibility at a new, free, yoga class that has been set up for the over 55s in the village.

The Royal Voluntary Service Practice with Care yoga group is being managed and organised by a local volunteer. It’s part of a programme called Bring People Together being run by national volunteering charity Royal Voluntary Service together with Prudential. The programme seeks to encourage more people to volunteer to help run, or start their own activities in communities across Kent.

The group meets fortnightly on Saturday mornings (1st and 3rd Saturday of the month) from 10am-10.45am at the Paddock Wood Day Centre, opposite Dowding House on Commercial Road. It is a gentle style yoga class and no previous experience is needed.

The yoga group is the idea of 42-year-old volunteer Penny Wang, who lives locally but works full-time in London during the week and is generously sharing her spare time to run the class. As well as recruiting new members to join the group, Penny is also hoping to attract more volunteers to help her run the sessions so she can open the class to more people.

Says Penny: “Yoga can be beneficial for most people, but in particular, it is good for older adults who want to improve their balance and co-ordination.

The gentle movements we do are designed to increase strength, flexibility and breathing, with some evidence showing regular yoga practice can also help those with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains, depression and stress. The group is open to anyone over 55 in Paddock Wood. I’d love for more people to join us on a Saturday morning, either as a member of the group or a volunteer, so come along and give it a try.”

Penny is able to offer the sessions on a complimentary basis thanks to support from Paddock Wood Town Council who is gifting the space at the Day Centre.

Meryl Flashman, Chairman of Paddock Wood Town Council, commented: “Evidence shows that yoga is a very beneficial form of gentle exercise for all ages. The Council is delighted to lend its support to this new venture as it extends the opportunities available for senior members of the community in line with the original vision for the Day Centre.”

Karen Hilson, Community Engagement and Development Worker for Kent at Royal Voluntary Service, said: “We would love to expand this club to enable more people to attend, however we do need more volunteers to help support Penny. You don’t need to be a trained yoga teacher but if you have experience and would like to learn, then please get in touch. This yoga class is a fantastic way to meet others in the community and enjoy the benefits that gentle exercise can bring.”

To find out more, email Karen at Karen.hilson@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk or call on 07918367198, or visit royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Safety first

Daisy First Aid trains thousands of parents every year so they know what to do in an emergency Child Safety Awareness Week from 3rd-9th June is run by Child Accident Prevention Trust to raise awareness of the risks of child accidents and how they can be prevented. But accidents will happen – and would you know what to do?

Daisy First Aid was founded in 2014 by former police officer Jenni Dunman, who experienced a vast number of first-aid emergencies during her time in the force.

The idea for Daisy First Aid came when her friend’s daughter began to choke on a cookie. Thankfully, as an advanced first-aider, Jenni knew exactly what to do and she quickly stepped in to successfully remove the blockage, and the little girl recovered with no injuries. It was then that Jenni realised first aid was not something that was typically offered to new parents, and many might not be aware of the basic skills needed to safely save their child’s life.

In just four years Jenni has grown her business into a multi-award-winning company with franchises across the UK, and is a leading paediatric first-aid expert. She dedicates a great deal of time volunteering at national charity events and has a celebrity client portfolio that includes Russell Brand, Christine Lampard and Rochelle and Marvin Humes.

Jenni and Daisy First Aid will be partnering with The Baby Show at Birmingham NEC on the 17th, 18th and 19th May running demonstrations.

Classes with Daisy First Aid are £25 per attendee. Further information can be found at www.daisyfirstaid.com

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Loneliness in later life and how to combat it Being lonely can lead to a number of health issues, but there are ways to help

Loneliness in later life is fast becoming a major scourge of our generation.

Causes can be as simple as a divorce, bereavement, retirement, family moving away or through disability or illness. Whatever the cause, this situation can easily lead to feelings of isolation, depression and a decline in physical health and wellbeing.

Loneliness is associated with depression, sleep problems, impaired cognitive health, heightened vascular resistance, hypertension, psychological stress and mental health problems.

According to Age UK, “More than two million people in England over the age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say they go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member.” That is a sad indictment of our society today and Age UK say that “Loneliness can be as harmful for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes each day” and “People with a high degree of loneliness are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as people with a low degree of loneliness ”.

Unfortunately, particularly in the over 50s, there is a stigma surrounding loneliness and people tend not to ask for help because they have too much pride, compounding the issue. Almost half of all people aged 75 or over live alone.

A study by The Co-op and the British Red Cross reveals over nine million people in the UK across all adult ages – more than the population of London – are either always or often lonely.

Sense has published research that shows that up to 50 per cent of disabled people will be lonely on any given day.

According to the Campaign to end loneliness, “Loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26 per cent” so clearly there is a growing necessity for society as a whole to assist in finding solutions.

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What to look out for in your family and friends

If you’re worried that a friend or relative is at risk of loneliness, consumer group Which says there are some signs you can look out for – and you may recognise some of these situations occurring in your own life. Spotting the signs early will mean you’re able to get help as soon as possible.

• Verbal clues: when you speak to your friend or relative, they may mention that they are feeling lonely. Even if they don’t actually use the word ‘lonely’, try to read between the lines. For example, if they mention that they rarely have anyone to talk to or wish they could see friends more often.

• Changes in behaviour: loneliness may lead them to appear miserable, down or defeated. It may be the case that they become withdrawn or stop engaging with others. On the other hand, they may talk a lot more than usual when they have the opportunity or want extra physical contact, such as longer hugs when they see you. These are all signs of feeling lonely.

• Unexplained health issues: you may find that your loved one complains about imaginary illnesses – whether consciously or subconsciously – as a way of getting extra attention.

• Befriending unlikely people: one of the ways that unscrupulous scammers worm their way into older people’s lives is to make themselves indispensable for such things as DIY jobs around the home or even helping people to remember to take their medication. If a loved one has started to spend time with someone you feel may be untrustworthy, try to speak to them about it. Which can provide a wealth of information about scams and older people, including phone, postal and doorstep scams.

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How can you help yourself?

There are many ways the NHS recommends to help combat loneliness.

• I nvite friends, family and neighbours for tea. It need not cost a fortune to host and everyone loves an invitation.

• Keep in touch by phone. Having a chat with a friend or relative is the next best thing to meeting up.

• I f your family lives at a distance, talk to them about setting up Skype, Facetime or a similar web chat system. It can help to keep in touch.

• Plan ahead activities such as a walk in the park, a coffee shop visit, library, cinema or museum visits. Put it all in your diary.

• Smile, even if it feels hard to, and grab any chance to start a conversation.

If you are not sure what to say, try asking people about themselves.

• Volunteer or join the University of the Third Age (U3A).

Part-time employment

Many lonely people look to find meaningful part-time employment, but this isn’t easy in today’s world of fast food, fast cars, fast computers and lack of compassion in the business world.

Fortunately there are companies around with a more kind-hearted nature that seek and even prefer to employ life-experienced seniors who have a compassionate, caring manner, offering flexible, well-paid employment to suit each individuals’ lifestyle. One example is Seniors Helping Seniors, a company built on compassion, with over 300 family-owned independent businesses across the world all working to a proven formula and system.

The company was founded by Kiran Yocom in the USA in 1998, following 15 years working with Mother Theresa.

Brought to the UK and Kent in 2013 by Christian & Sally Wilse, Seniors Helping Seniors is fast expanding across the South East of England. Locally Barbara & Keith Reddy own and operate the branch covering Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & West Malling and the surrounding area.

Keith believes Seniors Helping Seniors employment policy offers a unique opportunity to help combat loneliness in the over 50s, with able seniors providing companionship and non-medical, non-personal care to other local, less able seniors who struggle to complete the activities of daily living.

Both gain from the time they spend together. As the company strapline says “it’s like getting a little help from your friends”.

Keith says “Our whole business is based upon employing able seniors with a caring, considerate nature to help provide companionship and nonmedical/non-personal services to less able seniors. They choose the hours and days they work. There is no minimum – if you can only work one morning a week, that’s fine.” Many existing SHS carers were lonely too, until they became carers.

If you can relate to this and are compassionate, caring, empathetic and would genuinely like to help others, give Barbara or Keith a call for an informal chat on 01732 495665.

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The care home with the ‘Wow’ factor Birkin Lodge does it from the heart and makes every moment matter At Birkin Lodge Care Home, it isn’t just the team’s responsibility to look after residents, but it’s also vital to take care of fellow team members, too. The way the people who work in the home feel about what they do directly affects residents who live there.

For residents, those who take care of them are like a second family.

Daily contact with skilled teams is the least residents expect, but at brighterkind’s Birkin Lodge near Tunbridge Wells, the team go the extra mile to help residents love every day.

One of the ways the team aim to do this is by actively developing a positive, engaged and happy team culture. With the help of a culture champion training programme that invests in the team and focusses on embedding the five brighterkind values, including: ‘Do it from the heart’ and ‘Make every moment matter’, the team aspire to live and breathe these values in everything they do. Another value is ‘Choose to be happy’ and this really does make a difference to how care is given and received. Seeing a cheery smile and having a warm welcome helps to create those magic moments for the home’s residents.

Team members are taught the importance of keeping spirits up as well as how to create exceptional service for residents by doing the little extra things that make all the difference. The team call these ‘Wow’ Moments. They also focus on how to use positive language to create a better working and living environment for everyone in the home.

Antony Smith, Head of Culture and Training said, “Taking care of residents and looking after our team go hand in hand at brighterkind, and that’s why we know that we provide some of the best care available. Our teams are looking after our residents every single day. If we invest in our team, we know they’ll be even more committed to maintaining the high standards expected for our residents and family members. Happy really does breed happy.”

LOV E CH A R I T Y

Helping hand

A round-up of local charity news

Challenge ellenor Local charity has innovative ways of raising much-needed funds ellenor, the Kent charity that supports families facing terminal illness, is asking people to sign up for their first-ever Virtual Run to raise money for hospice care.

Every penny raised will help ellenor continue to provide free, vital services to patients and their families living with a life-limiting or terminal illness.

Emma Bowles, ellenor Senior Events Fundraiser, says: “We are really excited to launch our first-ever virtual run. We haven’t done anything like this before and already the interest in the event has been staggering. There are many people who would love to participate in physical events but are unable to commit to a set day or time, so the Virtual Run will give them the opportunity to take on a run/walk at a time and place that suits them.”

The ellenor Virtual Run will allow runners to run at their convenience and location of choice. All you need do is register online and then walk or run the race distance in your own time, whether it be on a treadmill in the gym or at home, or the great outdoors! How far you run is entirely up to you. You can take on a set distance of 5K, 10K, half a marathon or a full marathon, or choose your own distance, while your friends and family support your fundraising.

By registering, not only are you being motivated to enjoy the great outdoors and live a healthier lifestyle, you are also raising money for hospice care. Once you have registered you will receive a fundraising pack which includes a chart to keep track of your progress and sponsor forms. Everyone who completes the Virtual Race will receive a certificate; raise over £50 and receive a bespoke medal; raise over £200 of sponsorship and you’ll get an exclusive ellenor water bottle.

The Virtual Run comes hot on the heels of ellenor’s exciting Accumulator Challenge – a competitive fundraiser for organisations – that has raised £26,305, with Broadditch Farm named as the 2018 winner. This figure could pay for over 844 hours of Play Therapy.

Twenty nine teams across Kent took part and each company was given a crisp £50 note, generously donated by Thomson Snell & Passmore, which they then had four months to grow into as much as possible. The challenge 76

offered the opportunity for businesses to be as creative as possible by investing a small amount of money in a variety of fundraising and money-making activities to generate funds for ellenor.

Broadditch Farm Shop really got into the competitive spirit and won the Most Raised Award after a range of fundraising activities at their Halloween and Christmas events raised an incredible £3,037.

The winner of the Most Creative Award was Make a Difference Fitness. Not only did they create and sell a calendar featuring all of their gym instructors posing as models each month, they also organised a fantastic Christmas sponsored run raising an impressive £1,460.

Dartford Science and Technology College was given the Community Engagement Award, which recognised a company which really got behind the challenge and had a high level of engagement with its staff and the local community. They created a cook book which included recipes from across the Dartford community.

“Since its inception in 2016, over 72 companies have taken part and collectively raised more than £52,025,” says Kate Barnes, ellenor Fundraising Manager.

“We are launching our next Accumulator Challenge on 1st September and hoping more companies will join up and raise more this year. It is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to support their local hospice and help us to continue providing vital support to local families facing terminal illness.”

For more on the Accumulator Challenge, email Kate Barnes at kate.barnes@ellenor.org or call 01474 320007.

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Sup’paw’ting Shoreham’s Dogs Introducing your local Dogs Trust Shoreham Supporter Relations Officers Local dog lovers may already be aware of the work of the dedicated team at Dogs Trust Shoreham, but did you know that rehoming a dog isn’t the only way to get involved with the charity in your area?

If you’re interested in hearing more about the services that Dogs Trust offers in Shoreham and the surrounding area, Supporter Relations Officers Pia Offord and Lisa Herbert, who are based at the rehoming centre on Brighton Road, are the first point of contact for all enquiries and questions about Dogs Trust’s additional services – whether you’re looking to drop off a donation or would like to book a VIP tour of the rehoming centre.

The duo does everything from planning the rehoming centre’s annual events such as the fantastic Fun Day (taking place on Sunday, 26th May from 11.30am to 4pm this year) and the festive Christmas Fair amongst others, to offering information about the Canine Care Card scheme, a free service which gives owners peace of mind, knowing that Dogs Trust will care for their dogs should they pass away before their four-legged friends.

Pia and Lisa also hold free presentations to adult community and social groups covering the history of Dogs Trust and how staff at the Shoreham rehoming centre care for up to 400 dogs every year. The duo are often accompanied by one of the centres four-legged residents so people can meet-and-greet a furry friend whilst hearing about national campaigns and initiatives from the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, such as the Home from Home fostering service.

Pia said: “We love spreading the word about what Dogs Trust does and there are so many exciting ways to get to meet local dog-lovers.

One of these is our annual Fun Day which is an amazing event that helps us raise vital funds for the dogs in our care.

Lisa added: “If anyone would like to donate any items – from raffle prizes for our events to toys and blankets for the dogs to enjoy – please pop in to see us at the rehoming centre. We love hearing from supporters, old and new, so if you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to get in touch!”

If you would like to book a talk, donate items or find out more about some of the charity’s events, please call Pia and Lisa at Dogs Trust Shoreham on 0300 303 0292 or visit the centre at Brighton Road, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex BN43 5LT. For further information about the work of Dogs Trust, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk

Raise a glass to Mamma Mia! Sing-a-long and beer tasting raise money for hospice patients in south-east Europe Otford-based charity Hospices of Hope recently held a Mamma Mia sing-a-long evening at the E M Forster Theatre in Tonbridge. The theatre was packed and the event raised £1,600 to support hospice care in south-east Europe.

During the interval the audience enjoyed cakes and ice cream made by the charity’s tea rooms in Otford.

Hospices of Hope’s Fundraising and Resources Director, Anna Perolls (pictured), said, “This was a fantastic evening in a great venue.

Everyone enjoyed themselves and the proceeds will provide medical care for some of the most vulnerable people in Europe.”

The charity also recently teamed up with local Sussex Brewery, Bedlam, for its first beer-tasting event at Crowborough. Bedlam introduced some of its beers and guests had the chance to sample four varieties. Everyone was given a beer to take home and enjoyed a burger provided by the Crowborough Cross.

Fundraiser for the charity, Jay Finch, said, “We had a fantastic evening. The event raised £700 and was so successful that we will definitely be holding similar events in the future. We would really like to thank our sponsor, Peter Oliver Homes, as well as Bedlam Brewery, the Crowborough Cross and Gun Brewery for all their help.”

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Business notes A round-up of local business news

Top awards for Hever Voted Best Castle Wedding Venue and Best Family Day Out Hever Castle & Gardens has been named best Castle Wedding Venue at the British Wedding Awards, and Best Family Day Out at the UK Heritage Awards.

The British Wedding Awards were created to champion excellence in all things bridal, from stationery to shoes, dresses to destinations. Hever Castle House Manager Roland Smith said: “We are thrilled to have been named the best Castle venue in the country by our customers. Our staff work tirelessly to offer an extremely high level of customer service to our bridal parties and their guests so to have this hard work celebrated nationally is fantastic.”

Hever Castle beat off competition from Dunvegan Castle, the Alnwick Garden, Bamburgh Castle and Malvern Hills to be named Best Family Day Out. The five-star Hever Castle bed and breakfast was also shortlisted for Best Stays. The event was a celebration of the country’s heritage industry with a judging panel from across the sector.

As well as a regular programme of events throughout the year including jousting and Halloween half term, young visitors to Hever Castle can explore the Tudor Towers adventure playground with its own moat, drawbridge and three turrets.

Under-7s can enjoy the natural play area, Acorn Dell with its two-metre-high living willow structure, a giant sandpit, a mound with tunnels to clamber in and a climbing frame. Young visitors can follow the Explorer Trail or listen to the children’s multimedia guide to discover more about the Castle. Along with the traditional Yew Maze, unique to Hever Castle is the Water Maze where families try and avoid getting wet while attempting to get to the middle.

Faye Kelly, Head of Visitor Services, said: “We pride ourselves on our fabulous play areas which fuel children’s imaginations as well as the breadth of our events and activities throughout the year, so to have this family focus celebrated nationally by being named Best Family Day Out in the UK is fantastic news.”

Having a laugh Trinity and Knight Frank form new partnership Knight Frank has become Trinity Theatre’s new Comedy Partner, the most recent local business to be welcomed into Trinity’s corporate family. This support allows Trinity to deliver a broad range of programming, as well as community projects, from the Speech Bubbles programme in local schools, developing children’s speech and communication needs, to Trinity Encore, a new choir for people living with dementia, and their friends and family.

“We noticed that Knight Frank employees were enjoying regular visits to Trinity, especially to our comedy events,” said Sara Rice, Trinity’s Corporate Development Officer. “Their support of other smaller, local charities and initiatives resonates strongly with us and Knight Frank becoming one of our ‘Big Six’ is a natural pairing.”

Trinity’s Comedy delivers the best on the comedy circuit, with national acts keen to get on their stage in advance of the Edinburgh Fringe. This year sees the venue welcoming Josh Widdecombe, Jack Dee, Milton Jones and Jess Robinson during the summer, as well as introducing new acts through the ever-popular Comedy Cafés.

Both Trinity and Knight Frank believe in the value of building long-term and meaningful working relationships which put the community first.

“The team at Knight Frank in Tunbridge Wells is thrilled to be working alongside Trinity and thoroughly endorse their work and support not just within the walls of Trinity, but their work in reaching out to people in the local community, too,” said Ross Davies, Partner at Knight Frank, Tunbridge Wells.

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A question of debt

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Be sure you understand how debt works in a marriage split, says Sarah Haywood of ThomasHaywood Solicitors

More and more people enter married life with debt. For some, it is in their sole name from their student days. Or if you are the new Mrs Archer, Natasha, who has rushed to marry Tom in our favourite Radio 4 soap, when justifying her credit card bill said it was important for her to “present a certain image” and that she likes to have “nice things”. Others have joint debt, perhaps expenses relating to their wedding, or the dream honeymoon.

However, if you end up getting divorced, what happens to that debt?

The provenance of the liability and the use to which the funds were put becomes relevant.

A credit card in your sole name, even if your spouse had a second card on your account, remains your liability so far as the credit card company is concerned. The court cannot apportion the debt between you, ie. divide it into each of your names. There is no such thing as a joint credit card.

However, if the debt was built up for joint expenses, such as joint food bills, or holidays, the court will look to use joint assets towards clearing it or to offset assets against it.

If, like Natasha, you brought that credit card debt to the marriage because you “like nice things”, that is your debt and will remain yours.

If during your marriage you enter into a business venture, again like Tom and Natasha, and take a bank loan in your joint names, you are jointly and severally liable. This means that you are both equally responsible for the whole debt, not each responsible for one half, and the same goes for the repayments.

Many think that when they separate, if they pay one half of the loan or mortgage monthly repayment, they have satisfied their share of the debt.

This is not the case. If your partner cannot or will not pay their share, you will be pursued for the whole of the balance.

If, during your marriage, you are carefully saving and you discover your partner has run up huge debts, are they matrimonial debts? It depends on the reason for the debt. If it is a gambling habit, it can be argued that they are not your responsibility, but if they are down to family expenses, even though it was without your knowledge, they are matrimonial.

Any debt to a third party, such as a bank or credit card, is a ‘hard’ debt in that it has to be repaid. A loan from a family member is a ‘soft’ loan and may not be taken into account if there is no evidence it has to be repaid. If it is definitely a loan, ensure you enter into a formal repayment agreement which should be signed and dated and set out the terms of repayment.

The breakdown of a relationship is stressful enough without having to worry about debt. Make sure you agree how your debts will be handled and do not follow the maxim of Natasha that “There’s nothing wrong with living on credit” unless you know you can get yourself out of it.

www.thomashaywoodsolicitors.com

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LOV E LOCA L H EROE S

To Phuket, with love How animal-lover Jessica is helping Thailand’s street dogs Big-hearted Jessica Streets from Wadhurst travelled thousands of miles to help dogs – some with horrific injuries or diseases – that have been rescued from the streets of Thailand, or from the vile Asian dog meat trade.

Instead of just soaking up the sunshine on the fabled beaches of Phuket, Jessica (who walks dogs for a living at home) took time out from her travels to work with the Soi Dog Foundation as a volunteer.

She explains, “Just over a year ago I decided to quit my 9-5 job to go travelling around Southeast Asia, where I became aware of what a major issue they have with street dogs and animal abuse. I knew I needed to be involved in helping with the problem.

“I have always had such a big love for all animals and I am a dog walker back home in Wadhurst. It brings me so much joy to be surrounded by these beautiful, loving creatures all day long, I feel this is what I am meant to do, to bring joy back into these dogs’ lives.

“One day a post from Soi Dog popped up on Instagram, and at that moment I just knew that this was the rescue I needed to help.”

She describes her work at Soi Dog: “It involved walking and socialising the dogs, getting them used to humans again so they can be adoptable. I looked after a run of 16 dogs, all rescued from the illegal dog-meat trade in Thailand and from government pounds.

“It takes a lot of patience, as some of these dogs are traumatised by everything they have been through. It’s so beautiful and heartwarming to see dogs become more themselves around you, seeing them gain back trust and friendship.

“Being smothered with kisses and cuddles amongst a sea of dogs is the best feeling in the world, knowing what they have all been through. Every staff member at Soi Dog gives all the love they have to these dogs, and every day there is complete joy.”

John Dalley, founder of the charity, said, “It’s wonderful having people like Jessica giving up their time to help us.

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“Although we have paid employees such as our veterinarians, we rely very much on volunteers to do much of the essential work.

We are always most grateful for their generosity. We couldn’t do it without them.”

Soi Dog Foundation (“soi” is Thai for “alley” or “street”) was founded 15 years ago on Phuket. It is now the largest charity in South-east Asia working with stray animals, with the most modern and well equipped animal hospital in Asia.

Apart from rescuing sick and injured animals (and finding new homes for them – 600 were rehomed worldwide last year alone), the foundation’s main aim has been to control dog populations by neutering and vaccinating as many as possible, with the animals being returned to where they came from.

Soi Dog currently sterilises and vaccinates around 6,000 animals per month and just under 300,000 have been sterilised since operations began. This includes over 80 per cent of Phuket’s stray dog population, a programme that has resulted in a much reduced stray dog population.

Soi Dog Foundation has now taken on a much bigger project – bringing the street dog population of Bangkok under control.

It was also instrumental in wiping out the organised illegal dogmeat trade that saw thousands of dogs, including people’s pets, stolen from Thailand and trucked in horrific conditions across Laos to Vietnam, where they were brutally slaughtered and their carcases sold to restaurants.

All these achievements come at a price – Soi Dog needs 24 million baht (approximately £576,000) a month to cover running costs. This comes entirely from donations. www.soidog.org

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