Kudos issue 06

06

Your free lifestyle magazine for Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and surrounding areas

What’s Next?

Autumn fashion on the high street

Office boy

Actor Mackenzie Crook on why his face is his fortune

Cook the classics Traditional British dishes you’ll love

Chris Saga

HELLO Welcome to the September/October issue of Kudos, the local magazine for Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and the surrounding areas.

Fashion, fashion, fashion – that’s what this issue is all about (although we’ve got a lot of other good things in it, too!). We’ve teamed up with Next to bring you the best of the new season on the high street – there’s something for everyone, including the kids. We’ve been out and about finding the best dressed in town, whilst Sahara and local companies Kitch and The Clever Dresser get in on the fashion act.

Elsewhere, we meet Mackenzie Crook, our favourite actor from The Office, Pirates of the Caribbean and Game of Thrones, and cook some Great British classics (toad in the hole, anyone?). We consider cosmetic surgery with Dr Sophie Shotter and Dr Marc Pacifico, visit a house that’s been given a new lease of life with an extension, and explore 35 acres of themed gardens.

We prove that the local art scene is alive and kicking with a focus on galleries and exhibitions, take the new Rolls-Royce Ghost for a very careful spin (it does cost £210,825, after all!), and give advice on choosing the best care for loved ones.

As always, we’ve got your naughty pets named and shamed, and tracked down some interesting events. That’s why we love local!

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Hannah Tucek Publishing Director

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Managing Director: Robin Tucek Publishing Director: Hannah Tucek Editorial Director: Ann Wallace Creative Director: Neil Constant Chief Sub-Editor: Verity Willcocks Fashion Editor: Sally-Ann Carroll Photographer: Matt Harquail Beauty Editor: Lucy Hargrave Motoring Editor: Anthony ffrench-Constant Social Media Queen: Lady Katherine Sims

Advertising Sales 01892 300321 Kudos is published bi-monthly by Bad Betty Media, Blackadder House, 1 Andrew Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9DN Printed by Polestar, Colchester, Essex

While every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved.

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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WELCOME TO KUDOS

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CONTENTS

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LOVE FEATURES Upfront 10

Pick of the latest products

Pets corner 18

LOVE FOOD Great British classics 50

What’s new and happening

You name, we shame!

What’s the buzz 76

We look at the local art scene

Make an entrance 82

We put the Rolls-Royce Ghost through its extremely-expensive paces

The sound of music 90

How a tragedy has been turned into something positive for local singers

LOVE CELEBRITY Looking good 20

Actor Mackenzie Crook on why his face is his fortune

LOVE LOOKS Fashionista 17

Style on the streets

The Next step to autumn 28

What the high street has in store for the new season

Feed your face 44

Traditional dishes revisited

Let’s eat 54

A round-up of the latest foodie news

LOVE HOME AND GARDEN Added value 56

What a difference an extension makes

Home, sweet home 60

Ideas to turn your house into a home

In an English country garden 64 How ornaments can transform your garden

Choosing the best care for your loved one

Heads up 72

Education experts answer your questions

LOVE BUSINESS Hooked on rugs 86

How designer Anna Vereker is adding colour to our homes

Ask the doctor 47

Business agenda 88

CONTENTS

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LOVE FAMILY Who cares? 68

DIY beauty from the kitchen

Cosmetic surgery questions answered

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Beauty extra 48

Help and advice for businesses

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COMMON STR ANGERS AVENUE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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UPFRONT

What’s new and happening

WIN! DINNER FOR TWO AT THE ALLNEW ZAGATOS BAR & BRASSERIE

Refurbished and extended this summer, the beautiful Zagatos Bar & Brasserie in The Spa Hotel on Mount Ephraim in Tunbridge Wells, is a far cry from the old Equestrian Bar that once stood in its place.

Designed by Georgie Scragg, who runs The Spa with her brother Ant, the decor has a fun mix ’n’ match feel, combined with relaxing greens and creams.

“I wanted it to feel as though you could sit here at any time of day, and for the decor to be inviting for all ages. That’s the point of the mismatched furniture,” says Georgie. “We want it to feel like a four-star hotel but without that stuffy, pretentious vibe. I call it the home-fromhome, pantry feel!”

The Zagatos Brasserie menu, created by Head Chef Neil Wiggins, offers all the classic favourites, sharing plates and quality steaks straight from the chargrill. The Bar is open daily from 11.00am until late.

To enter our competition for the chance to win a delicious three-course meal for two at Zagatos, simply send your name, telephone number and email address to promotions@spahotel.co.uk by the closing date, October 31st 2014.

Terms & Conditions

The first correct entry drawn at random will win a three-course dinner for two at Zagatos Bar & Brasserie. The prize must be taken before 30th November 2014 and is subject to availability. Prize is as stated. No cash alternative can be offered. The competition is not open to employees (or their immediate families) of the promoters, their agents or anyone professionally connected to the promotion. The winner will be chosen at random from the correct entries and will be notified within 14 days of the competition’s closing date. By entering this competition, you agree to receive occasional details of offers and promotions from The Spa Hotel. All entrants to competitions are deemed to have accepted these rules and agree to be bound by them.

ORGANISE YOUR WEDDING… ...at The Spa Hotel’s Wedding Fayre Sunday 5th October, 11am to 3pm Visit The Spa’s Wedding Fayre on 5th October and enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly before browsing the stalls of local wedding specialists.

You’ll find plenty of ideas for your big day, from invitations to table settings.

The Spa’s Wedding Coordinators will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, and the stunning Bridal Suites will be open for viewing from midday onwards. Whether you are planning an intimate celebration with just your closest friends and family, or a larger, more traditional wedding, The Spa has a range of flexible wedding packages on offer.

…AND THE HEN DO! The Spa Hotel’s Hen Break is ideal for those wanting to combine their hen celebrations with some pre-wedding pampering. This tailormade overnight break includes a selection of sandwiches on arrival, use of the Spa Health leisure facilities, two beauty treatments, a glass of bubbly before a threecourse dinner, overnight accommodation in a twin/double room, plus continental or full English breakfast. It costs just £185 per person, based on two people sharing a standard room. It will be a hen do to remember!

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www.spahotel.co.uk / reservations@spahotel.co.uk / 01892 520331 The Spa Hotel, Mount Ephraim, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8XJ

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UPFRONT

ANIMAL MAGIC

What’s new and happening

Provide your pet with their own holiday, or regular friend that walks or feeds them when you can’t.

Does your pet give you those puppy-dog eyes every morning as you leave them for another day at the office? Does your cat pretend that you don’t exist, and head off to entertain themselves with their feline friends? If so, then why not provide them with a friend who will take your dog for regular walks or feed and play with the cat when you can’t.

Animals at Home offers pet-care services at your home, from a small pet to a smallholding, as well as the largest national animal pet ambulance and pet taxi service in the UK. As well as dog-walking, Animals at Home also provides a real alternative to dog boarding kennels, offering specialist care through pet sitters or host families for when you are on holiday or away on business. All their staff are pet lovers, with full pet-care training, and are fully insured.

And let’s not forget about the moggies! Cats love their daily routine and often a stay at a cattery can be a stressful experience for them.

With Animals at Home, they can stay in their own environment, and whether you’ve got a cool cat or a fusspot, the service is tailored to keep them happy!

Animals at Home will also keep a good eye on your property, ensuring that you can enjoy your holiday in peace.

Email: info@twand7oaks.animalsathome.co.uk www.animalsathome.co.uk

FESTIVE TICKET GIVEAWAYS! Do you like ice skating? How about panto? Well, have we got a treat in store for you! We have one family ticket to give away for The Royal Tunbridge Wells Ice Rink in Calverley Grounds, and one family ticket for this year’s panto at The Assembly Hall.

Open seven days a week, from Friday 21st November to Sunday 4th January, the ice rink returns for another season of festive skating fun.

There are dedicated parent and toddler sessions, and children can use seal skating aids, which are available to hire.

It’s a little winter wonderland in the park, with traditional wooden chalets selling local and seasonal produce, Christmas gifts and much more. With aromatic winter food and drinks on offer, this is the ideal venue for family skating with children, for romantic dates – or just a great fun night out with friends!

When it comes to this year’s panto, Peter Pan, all the stops have been pulled out. Running at The Assembly Hall from 12th December to 4th January, it will feature spectacular flying and computer-generated imagery, plus amazing acrobatics. With an all-star cast dancing and singing, this is a Christmas show with a vast amount of sparkle. Pinch yourself as you watch Peter Pan fly high above the stage, and join Wendy, Michael and John as they take off to Neverland with the boy who never grows up.

Mark Moraghan, who has appeared in Holby City, heads the cast as the evil Captain Hook, with popular CBeebies presenter, Gemma Hunt, as Tinkerbell. The Pirate crew are played by comedy acrobat troupe The Nitwits, whose death-defying antics will have audiences both gasping with amazement and crying with laughter.

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To enter the competitions, simply email editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk and put either “Panto” or “Ice Rink” in the subject box. The first entries picked at random for each competition after the closing date, 24th October 2014, will win the prizes.

Terms and conditions

The ice rink prize is one family ticket for two adults and two children, valid between 21st November and 12th December.

The Peter Pan prize is a family ticket for two adults and two children, valid for the show on Tuesday, 16th December at 7pm.

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JEWEL OF A COURSE

What’s new and happening

Ever fancied making your own jewellery? Well, here’s your chance.

Thurlwell’s Designer Jewellers in Tunbridge Wells can show you how to make beautiful pieces through their jewellery-making courses. They’re a great gift idea, too.

Thurlwell’s specialise in designing and handcrafting beautiful and unique jewellery, so you couldn’t have a better teacher. Running the classes is master craftsman Chris Thurlwell, who founded the company in 1989 after studying at the Central School of Arts and enjoying a long and successful career as a jeweller in London’s West End. Since then he’s developed a reputation for innovative and artistic design, as well as superior-quality craftsmanship – he’s been a diamond mounter for over 40 years.

Thurlwell’s Studio is now in its third year, and the six-week courses give you an opportunity to learn from the best and create your own piece of jewellery in their workshop.

Says Chris, “During the six weeks we aim to impart as much knowledge and skill to ensure you will walk away with your own handcrafted piece.

We want to give you a fantastic experience in an authentic and fun environment, and hope you will get as much satisfaction from learning and manufacturing, as we do teaching our skill.

“At the end of the course, everyone will come away with a ring, a pair of earrings and a pendant. So you can show off your own masterpieces with pride! It’s the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill and add to your jewellery box.”

There are six classes over six weeks. Classes are one evening during the week, from 7pm to 9.30pm. The next course starts on 10th September, but courses are held throughout the year and cost £300.

For more information, contact Thurlwell’s on 01892 533223, email thurlwells@aol.com, or visit www.thurlwells.com

CELEBRATION TIME FOR MAYFIELD GIRLS A-level results buck the trend and reach new heights It was congratulations all round as St Leonards-Mayfield School’s recent A-level results improved for the fourth consecutive year, with almost 60% of its Year 13 students achieving A* to A grades. This is particularly impressive given that the school’s intake is not highly selective. There was a 100% pass rate, with 94% scoring between A* and C grades, and 84% achieving at least one A*/A grade.

Results in Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Biology – subjects traditionally viewed as a male preserve – are particularly impressive. Half of the Year 13 girls taking Mathematics were awarded A*, with 80% also attaining A* in Further Mathematics. A remarkable 75% of Physics grades were A*.

All of the six Mayfield girls offered Oxbridge places have succeeded in meeting or surpassing their target grades and are looking forward to taking up their places.

Sixteen-year-old Moji Agboola attained a remarkable five A* grades and will be reading Engineering at Peterhouse, Cambridge. Clearly she has proved worthy of the two Scholarships the College and the University awarded her!

Julia Laskowska also achieved five A* grades and will be reading Economics at Sidney Sussex College. Ellie Cox, winner of a Nuffield Scholarship and a finalist in the UK Young Scientist of the Year, attained four A* and is taking up her place to read Medicine at Emmanuel College. Jenny Shepherd (four A* grades) from Five Ashes will be reading Engineering at Emmanuel College,

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and Ella Strudley (three A* grades) from Stone Cross, near Crowborough, will read Natural Sciences at Clare College.

Headmistress Antonia Beary said: “I am delighted that yet again Mayfield girls have bucked the trend! This year’s results reflect the continuing improvement in performance, in every subject, which is particularly pleasing in the light of the media’s predictions of a fall in grades nationally. While I know our new Sixth Form Centre has had a positive contribution, these grades are a tribute to the hard work, creativity and commitment of each of our girls, allied to the expertise and dedication of our teaching staff. They confirm our Sixth Form as an outstanding preparation for Higher Education as our girls go on to the best universities.”

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WHAT’S ON

Get out and about with our pick of local events

7 September Country Fair and Kent Italian Car and Bike Day Honnington Farm, Vauxhall Lane, Tunbridge Wells Expect a host of entertainment all day with continuous main arena events, from duck-herding and dog agility to ferrets and falcons, with a second arena exhibiting a working and agricultural display. Have a go at clay-pigeon shooting, archery, air rifle range, zorb balls, quad bikes and more. www.honningtonevents.com 13 September Think Floyd Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells Think Floyd is regarded as the UK’s number one Pink Floyd tribute, renowned for their stunning celebration of one of the world’s greatest musical icons. Complete with an impressive laser light show, this is a must-see for all Pink Floyd fans! www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk 13-14 September Maize Maze Penshurst Place, Penshurst With an exciting new design for 2014, the Maize Maze at Penshurst Place is cut in the form of a First World War bi-plane and features a smaller, poppy-shaped maze suitable for very young visitors. Intrepid explorers can collect a game card and step inside the field of maize to find the secret hidden medals as they weave their way around the challenging design. www.penshurstplace.com 13-14 September Dragon Boat festival Bewl Water, Lamberhurst The Dragon Boat Festival is the largest event of its type in Europe, with 85 teams competing over the weekend in eight dragon boats. Over the years, 10,000 paddlers have taken to the decorative long boats and raised money for charities at the scenic reservoir. Come and be part of this spectacular and colourful event. www.bewlwater.co.uk 14 September Tonbridge Dragon Boat Race Tonbridge The Dragon Boat Race will be taking place by the Big Bridge in the High Street with teams taking part in this fun event, and raising money for The Bridge Trust.

14 September Country Fair Chiddingstone Castle The perfect opportunity to experience the traditions of the countryside in an idyllic rural setting – and join in the Exemption Dog Show too! www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk 20-21 September Pantiles Food and Drink Festival The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells Celebrating a seasonal ‘Harvest Festival’ theme, foodies will be treated to a delicious choice of locally-sourced treats from over 50 stalls positioned throughout the Pantiles. In addition, the popular Chef’s Kitchen will return as the bandstand is transformed into an al-fresco kitchen. www.pantilestraders.co.uk

Painting by Felicity Flutter, Kent Painters Group 26 September Sir Thomas Allen, music recital Frant Church Sir Thomas is the internationally-renowned star of the great opera houses in the world, and he will be singing Schubert’s sublime Winterreise. This year, he celebrates 40 years at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Sir Thomas will be accompanied by pianist Joseph Middleton, considered by The Times to be ‘the cream of the crop of the new generation’. Tickets cost £16 and are available from Frant Stores, or online at www.wegottickets.com, or by telephone from Paul Barber (01892 750665) or David Cragg (01892 750845).

28 September Tonbridge Half Marathon Tonbridge-based charity The Bridge Trust is the main official charity for this year’s Tonbridge Half Marathon. Now in its fourth year, the course follows a scenic and undulating traffic-free route along country lanes around Tonbridge and Leigh. www.tonbridgehalfmarathon.co.uk 25 October-2 November Halloween Half-Term Fun Hever Castle, Near Edenbridge, Kent Treat the children to a spine-tingling programme of entertainment over the half-term break with prizes for the best Halloween costumes, plus creepy craft workshops, awesome activities and a spooky trail to follow in the grounds. Bring a torch and nerves of steel! www.hevercastle.co.uk 31 October-2 November Kent Painters Group The dining hall, Sevenoaks School The 24th annual exhibition is open for the weekend, with an opportunity to meet the artists on 31st October, from 6:30pm to 9pm. During 1st and 2nd November, between 10am and 4pm, you can browse and buy quality works of art from acclaimed artists and sculptors working in a range of media, and all with a Kent connection. Entry is free. KPG is a voluntary organisation and all proceeds from the exhibition go directly to mental health and learning disability charities in Kent. This year they are supporting Fynvola, Rethink, Mencap and Macintyre. www.kentpaintersgroup.co.uk

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FASHIONISTA

Out and about once again in Tunbridge Wells, Team Kudos spent the day eating cake whilst Fashionista star-spotting. We hope you are impressed – we certainly think we picked the best.

ELLI BUFFERY

Blue T-shirt and trousers, White Stuff.

NEW SEASON PURCHASE: Light, kneelength, loose stylish raincoat

JOE LLOYD (PERK & PEARL, T WELLS)

Waistcoat, checked shirt and jeans, Next.

Shoes, Firetrap.

NEW SEASON PURCHASE: Tweed jacket KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

ANIKA KULKARNI

RUTH HELLIWELL

Cream jumper and shoes, Topshop.

Black shorts, Asos.

NEW SEASON PURCHASE: Faux fur coat

Striped T-shirt, Jigsaw. Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger.

NEW SEASON PURCHASE: Black ankle boots

FIONA KNAPP AND JACKSON

DEREK CORDAROY (ONE MODELS, T WELLS)

Blazer, Helmut Lang, Changing Rooms, T Wells. Black Indian Kurta, Jaipur. Black jeans, Reiss. Hat, Asos. Black ankle boots, Martin Margiela.

NEW SEASON PURCHASE: A tailored three-piece suit

White top, vintage boutique. White jeans, Levi’s. Bag, Vivienne Westwood.

NEW SEASON PURCHASE: Men’s leather Ugg boots

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PETS CORNER

We all love our pets, but often they are not the little angels we would like them to be. It’s time to name and shame your pet!

I look grumpy but I’m not really. I like cheese, the ladies and CATS!

Some days I just can’t be bothered to get out of bed!

What makes you think I’ve been eating mud again?

Maverick, a moggy, who lives in Tunbridge Wells

Xander, a Bichon Frisé, who lives in Snodland

Feed me!

I’m having a bad hair day!

I like to catch flies!

Poppy, a tortoiseshell, who lives in Tunbridge Wells

Buddy, a Jack Russell cross, who lives in Kings Hill

Mimmo, a Miniature Schnauzer, who lives in Tunbridge Wells

Joey, a collie/lab cross, who lives in Golden Cross and gets daily walks by Marnie & Me

If you have a pet to name and shame, email a photograph and details to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

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LOOKING GOOD For Mackenzie Crook, his face has been his fortune – even if he isn’t what you’d describe as classically good-looking. It’s taken him from the stand-up circuit to Hollywood, via the BBC sitcom The Office, and now he’s turned his hand to directing. Not bad for a boy from Maidstone

Words: Sarah Swinton Picture: M.Pocwiardowski/LNP/REX

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“Ricky Gervais once described me as looking like one of those little birds who’ve fallen out of their nest that you find lying on the pavement”

Mackenzie Crook is the first to admit his face wouldn’t give Brad Pitt a run for his money. He has made a career out of his “comic” looks, first as Gareth Keenan, the geek with a mean streak in the BBC sitcom The Office, and then as Ragetti, the one-eyed pirate in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

He admitted to the Daily Express that he has been described in some unusual ways over the past few years. “Ricky Gervais once described me as looking like one of those little birds who’ve fallen out of their nest that you find lying on the pavement,” he said.

“I read somewhere else that I looked cadaver-like – that means I look like a corpse, for God’s sake. A seagull with thyroid problems was one criticism, a meerkat gone 10 rounds with John Prescott was another.”

But the 41-year-old, who has appeared in Hollywood hit film series Pirates of the Caribbean and alongside Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice, isn’t complaining.

“I don’t mind being known as that skinny, odd-looking bloke, because I am sure if I put on weight or become a little healthier looking, the roles would soon dry up,” he said.

The roles certainly haven’t dried up. In fact, Crook has branched out. He recently finished filming BBC 4’s new six-part sitcom, Detectorists, which he has also written and directed and will be broadcast at the end of the year.

The story follows the relationship between two friends who share a passion for metal-detecting. When Andy (Crook) and Lance (Toby Jones) are together, they’re like an old married couple. They gripe at each other, but there is a true bond underneath. Each has their own slightly-dysfunctional life, but together they dream of finding a priceless Saxon hoard that will cement their place in detecting history. Helping them along the way is a delightfully-quirky crowd of characters who are drawn to this all-absorbing hobby.

Across the six episodes, greed, betrayal, rejection and, finally,

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redemption are all played out as the boys and their eccentric friends at the Danbury Metal Detecting Club search for that one big find.

Alongside Mackenzie and Toby Jones, who has appeared in the Harry Potter franchise, Finding Neverland and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the stellar cast includes Rachel Stirling (Tipping The Velvet, The Bletchley Circle), Aimee FfionEdwards (Being Human, Luther) and Lucy Benjamin (Eastenders, Casualty).

Mackenzie Crook, himself an occasional detectorist, says: “This is my first time directing but, though it’s sometimes nerve-wracking, I’m confident that I have an incredible team to rely on. I have managed to gather my ideal cast. Toby, Rachel, Aimee-Ffion and Lucy are all actors I’ve worked with before and I know I’m in safe hands. For years, British television has been screaming out for an archaeology-based sitcom... hasn’t it?”

Kristian Smith, Executive Producer for the BBC, says: “Mackenzie’s scripts take us into a charming world that many of us haven’t seen before. They are smart, funny and beautifully observed.”

Mackenzie has also appeared in the cult TV series Game of Thrones, playing the part of Orell. When he got the role, he looked up just who this character was and how he fitted into the story in the third season – only to be bewildered (“I’m playing an eagle?”). Orell, in the A Song of Ice and Fire books, was a “wildling skinchanger” who could share the consciousness and control the actions of an animal – in his case, an eagle. Crook’s version of Orell, however, was something altogether new, and it’s a role he relished, even if it was one of the most physical he’s ever had.

“It was relentless,” he says, “really gruelling work, but brilliant. It was exhilarating, but yes, really tough.”

Playing Orell took Crook to Iceland in the cold of November to film. He had read for a part in Game of Thrones when the first

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“Getting recognised doesn’t sit easily, though.

It troubles me sometimes. I’m more nervous now than I ever used to be. I’m very neurotic”

season was being cast. “I can’t remember exactly what I read for, but it didn’t happen for whatever reason,” he recalls.

“This time round they came back again and asked me again. So I’m glad I got to do it. The storylines are so huge and epic. We were working in these extreme environments – shooting in Iceland was just crazy.

Despite his nerves, he made his film debut in 1996, in The Man Who Fell in Love with a Traffic Cone!. The following year, he was scouted by Bob Mortimer at the Edinburgh Festival and made his TV debut as a stand-up comedian on The 11 O’Clock Show. But it was The Office that shot him to fame, earning him a British Comedy Award nomination.

“It’s great to be able to play a character like Orell because I’m quite often the geeky, goofy character. And it’s so beautifully written that you just read the lines and you know exactly where you’re supposed to be, what you’re doing.

It didn’t take an awful lot of going away and thinking about the character, because it’s all there.”

More film roles followed. He shared the screen with Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice, with Heath Ledger in The Brothers Grimm, and with Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland. He got on so well with Depp during the making of Neverland that Depp recommended him for the part of Ragetti, his best-known role, in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and the third installment Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

It’s all a long way from Maidstone, where he was born Paul Mackenzie Crook. His first love was painting, but he also joined a local youth theatre. At the age of 18, when he failed to get into art college, he turned to writing comedy sketches while working at various jobs including Pizza Hut, a chicken factory and hospitals.

The principal of the youth theatre saw his potential and became his manager, guiding Crook to a career as a stand-up comedian.

“I started comedy as a way of getting into acting, that was my plan, and my comedy was always done in character, in a costume.

I was on the stand-up circuit for ten years so, by the time I broke into acting, it was a relief. Doing stand-up four nights a week is a hard job. The buzz of doing a good gig is amazing, though.”

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In 2004, Crook appeared as Billy Bibbit opposite Christian Slater in the West End stage production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, which initially opened at Gielgud Theatre and was then shown at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival. He then played opposite Kristin Scott Thomas in Chekhov’s The Seagull at the Royal Court in London. His role was Konstantin, the failed writer son of an actress, a man who is hopelessly in love and commits suicide. He got rave reviews and loved being on stage. “I had a profound experience doing that.

I wasn’t convinced I could do it, though. It wasn’t the sort of part that I’d ever been asked to play before. It was very exciting to be offered something with a bit more depth. There was a real danger of me just being the comedy weaselly bloke in every script. I really had the most profound time doing The Seagull. I’ve never been so artistically fulfilled.”

Although he has an aversion to being in the spotlight, because his act was made up of characters rather than straightforward gags, as far as he was concerned, it wasn’t really him up there.

“I learned how to deal with an audience, and some of the roughest audiences you are ever likely to be put in front of,” he says. “It taught me a lot about confidence. I loved the immediacy of it. When you’re doing a gig and you’ve got the whole room laughing, it’s incredible.

He went on to appear in Jerusalem, a paean to England’s rapidly-disappearing green and pleasant land, which arrived in the West End from the Royal Court bristling with awards.

“Getting recognised doesn’t sit easily, though. It troubles me sometimes. I’m more nervous now than I ever used to be.

I’m very neurotic. My mind doesn’t switch off. I wish I could be a little bit more cool, just let things go and not worry so much.

I spend my whole day cringeing.”

Did being on stage not make him feel exposed? “Yes, definitely.

You are on stage for two-and-a-half hours, telling a story from beginning to end. There are no second takes if you get it wrong, and people came to see me who had no idea whether or not I could do serious acting. I didn’t even have any idea. But

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Picture: M.Pocwiardowski/LNP/REX

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Picture: David Fisher/REX

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Picture: Ken McKay/REX

it was a great release to do something of that kind of weight.”

He maintains he’s never seen himself as a comic. “I’ve never actually considered myself a comedian, even though I started off in stand-up and then got the part in The Office, which was obviously a comic role. Doing Chekhov wasn’t a conscious decision to move away from comedy, but just to try different things. If people don’t accept me in those roles, then I’m happy to go back to being the skinny weirdo in each script.”

It’s a role he remembers well enough from school. “I was small when I was a kid, really tiny,” he says. “I had a growth hormone deficiency and had to inject myself with hormones for a year.

I stood out from the rest of the class because I was so small.

I can’t claim to be an environmentalist and then buy a sports car. So I decided to buy the opposite.” The “opposite” was eight acres of protected woodland in the Kent countryside.

He’s always loved the natural world and still has vague dreams of becoming a farmer.

He also bought Peter Sellers’ beautiful old Art Deco house in Muswell Hill, North London, where he lives with his wife Lindsay and children Jude and Scout. But despite fame and fortune, Crook is determined to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

“Now I pace all the time. I can’t sit still and watch a film on TV. I have to do stuff. I’m a big twitcher. Constantly on the move.

I think that’s why I’m so thin.”

“I do find myself doing lots of self-deprecating stuff,” he says.

“Maybe it’s a defence against appearing too full of myself. I’m always aware that the position I’m in is very fortunate. I’m not saying that hard work hasn’t gone into it, but I have had lucky breaks, and sometimes I feel a bit guilty, maybe. I just don’t want to rub it in.

When he first had a bit of Hollywood money to burn, he thought about buying the Ferrari Testarossa he’d dreamed of as a child. But then, “I suddenly realised I can’t justify that.

“I’ve had the time of my life so far – I love it. It’s the best job in the world. But if it all dried up tomorrow it wouldn’t bother me particularly. I’d find something else to do.”

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LOV E CELEBRIT Y

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THE NEXT STEP TO AUTUMN Sally-Ann Carroll and Team Kudos have been out and about in Tunbridge Wells with Next finding musical inspiration for the new season ahead. Just for the record, why don’t you sing along and take note of the latest looks.

Whatever style you choose this Autumn, Next will have it covered‌ Photographer Matt Harquail

CREDITS

Fashion Editor: Sally-Ann Carroll Assisted by Sara Clover (sara.clover@virgin.net) Photographer: Matt Harquail (mattharquail.co.uk) Assisted by Ben Westcombe (ben.westcombe@yahoo.co.uk) Hair and make-up: Lauren Saunders (www.lauren-saunders.com) and Clare Osborne (clare-osborne@hotmail.com) Model: Emma Bishopp (emmabishopp@hotmail.co.uk) All clothes and accessories from selected Next stores and www.next.co.uk Cynthia, the beautiful 1969 Jaguar was also our model for the day and loaned from Classic Jag Wedding Car. She is available to hire for weddings, special days out, corporate occasions, photo shoots (well, she does photograph rather well!), and filming. www.classicjagweddingcar.co.uk Special thanks to The Forum in Tunbridge Wells for allowing us to use their venue as a base and also a setting for some of our pictures. www.twforum.co.uk Emma was our top supermodel for the day. If you are interested in being part of our fabulous fashion, please email a recent picture with relevant details to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

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CODE NAVY

Navy waistcoat, £40. Trousers, £35. Printed shirt, £26. Navy and silver shoes, £36. Hoop earrings, £4. Fedora, £20

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LOV E PROMOTION

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FASHIONISTA

Floral jumpsuit, £42. Plum quilted jacket, £55. Silver shoes, £28. Belt, £10

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PINK POWER

Pink dress, £38. Pink shoes, £28

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LOV E PROMOTION

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LUXE OCCASION

Berry lace dress, £50. Nude shoes, £24. Bracelet, £16

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KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

FABULOUS FLORALS

Top, £24. Pleated skirt, £28. Black ankle boots, £32. Bangles, £10

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LOV E PROMOTION

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MONO MAGIC

Black and white jacket, £50. Trousers, £35. Shirt, £35. Shoes, £32. Earrings, £4. Bag, £28

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AUTUMN PASTELS

Pink coat, £65. Pale blue trousers, £24. Floral top, £24. Brogues, £60. Watch, £24. Bag, £32

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LOV E PROMOTION

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NEO NOMAD

Red embroidered shirt, £35. Poncho, £32. Jeans, £20. Ankle boots, £65. Earrings, £4. Fedora, £20

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MEN ONLY

Want to look like a dapper dude? Next have clothes and accessories to make every man look super-cool

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Tan belted cargo trousers, £35

Khaki double-breasted mac, £85

Grey shirt jacket, £60

Grey covert coat, £99

Sand shawl rib jumper, £26

Navy yoke patterned crew neck sweater, £32

Camel and brown turtleneck sweater, £22

Grey herringbone singlebreasted coat, £89

LOV E FASHION

Burgundy geometric knit, £28

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KIDS’ STUFF

From tiny tots to trendy teens, Next has something for everyone

Stripe cardigan, from £18

Grey trousers, from £10

Fox jumper, from £12

Jeans, from £19

Blue cable cardigan, £14

Teal print jacket, £16, and denim look leggings, £7.50

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Turquoise faux fur gilet, from £17 Teal bunny-print dress, from £9.50

Green padded jacket, from £17

Grey cord trousers, £8.50

Pink fluffy sweater, from £14

Pink jacket, £17

LOV E FASHION

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FIND YOUR AUTUMN STYLE WITH SAHAR A

Above, from left to right: Mohair check cocoon coat, £295, made in England. Stripe jersey swing top, £95, and jersey harem trouser, £129. Floral print jersey box top, £115, made in England

The latest collection from luxury womenswear label Sahara has just landed in store and is certain to help you welcome the new season in style. With a vivid palette of warm autumnal tones, the collection features a series of wardrobe essentials in softlytextured jerseys, luxuriously-warm mohair cocoon coats in a bold checked design, and sumptuous devoré velvets that are sure to be perfect for whatever special occasion the season may bring.

The family-run, British label has been producing ethicallyconscious collections for over thirty years and has developed a dedicated following; fans include Dame Judi Dench, who wore Sahara to attend this year’s Laurence Olivier Awards.

Designed with creative, free-spirited women in mind, those who want to find something a little different from what the high street has to offer, the collection combines artisan fabrics with innovative cuts, contemporary silhouettes and quirky detailing.

Sahara is also a proud supporter of the British garment-making industry and produces almost half of their collections right here in the UK. The label’s Tunbridge Wells store showcases the autumn/winter 2014 collection, alongside a range of carefully-curated accessories and strikingly-individual jewellery sourced from around the world. You can also find new-season arrivals from a selection of renowned labels such as OSKA, YaccoMaricard, Grizas and Barbara Speer; all selected to work alongside Sahara’s own collections. If you are looking for something a little different to set you apart from the crowd this autumn, we suggest taking a trip in store!

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Above, from left to right: Bobble knit jumper, £165, and crepe jersey tube skirt, £99. Cutwork chevron jersey tunic, £135, made in England Available at www.saharalondon.com and in store at Sahara Tunbridge Wells, 75-77 High Street, TN1 1XZ Tel: 01892 536 638

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

FASHION EXTR A

Our hot picks from local fashion stores

THE CLEVER DRESSER BOUTIQUE

Halebob dress in Blue Snake, £219

Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Racoon Zee Jeans in black, £159

DVF jacquard dress, £439

DVF wrap dress, £479

Wildfox, Nobody’s Perfect sweat in black, £99

Rino & Pelle, Melody leather jacket in taupe, £209

DVF cashmere jumper, £259

Muubaa leather jacket, £379

Ingenue, Megan jumpsuit in navy small dot, £109

Finders Keepers, Simple Life T-shirt dress in Hibiscus print, £119

Helmut Lang jersey dress, £249

Ash wedge boot, £199, and Ash jean boot, £169

Tunbridge Wells www.kitchclothing.co.uk KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

Sevenoaks www.thecleverdresser.com LOV E FASHION

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ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS Consultant Gynaecologist, Mr Oliver Chappatte from the Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital offers us an insight into the very common problem of endometriosis.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is one of the commonest causes of pelvic pain in young women. The endometrium is the lining of the womb that is shed during a period. In endometriosis this tissue is found outside the uterus, mainly in the pelvis, where it grows under the influence of the hormone oestrogen. The exact cause for this abnormal deposition of endometrium is not known.

It is now believed that there may be multiple causes rather than a single cause. During the time of a period, these tissues also bleed, leading to inflammatory changes around them. This causes pain and adjacent tissues to stick to each other.

Who gets endometriosis About 1 in 10 women of childbearing age are affected with some degree of endometriosis. Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 20-40, but it can affect women of any age and it is a myth that teenagers do not get endometriosis.

Signs and symptoms • Painful periods • Deep pain on intercourse • Cyclical or perimenstrual symptoms, such as bladder urgency/frequency, with or without bleeding or pain • Chronic pelvic pain • Back passage pain on opening the bowels • Pain passing urine • Ovulation pain • Heavy and prolonged periods • Pre-menstrual spotting • Passing blood on opening the bowels during a period • Blood in the urine

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Diagnosis Endometriosis may be suspected with one or more of the above symptoms but there is a considerable overlap with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and pelvic infection. There is often a delay between symptom onset and diagnosis. The average time lapse between the onset of symptoms and a definitive diagnosis is seven years.

It is generally said that it takes five years for patients to be referred by their GP to a specialist and then another two years for a diagnosis. The disease often commences in the teens, but diagnosis is often delayed due to difficulty in distinguishing endometriosis from common menstrual pain. For a definitive diagnosis, laparoscopy is the gold standard investigation.

What treatments are available?

Since the cause of endometriosis remains unknown, curative treatment has yet to be discovered. The management and treatment of severe/deeply-infiltrating endometriosis is, however, complex, and centres of excellence, where a multidisciplinary approach is offered, are the only way forward. Choosing a treatment comes down to the individual needs depending on symptoms, age and fertility wishes. Treatment may vary from simple pain relief to many hormonal treatments, all of which try to temper the production of oestrogen, suppressing menstruation and inhibiting the growth of endometrial implants. Complimentary therapies and patient support groups have also proven to be useful for patients.

Is there a cure for endometriosis?

No. But it can be treated as many women manage their symptoms through a combination of medical, surgical and alternative treatments.

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Will I be able to have children?

It is estimated that 30-40% of women with endometriosis may have difficulties in becoming pregnant.

Will pregnancy cure endometriosis?

No. However, due to the reduction in the production of oestrogen during pregnancy and lactation, symptoms are reduced or disappear during pregnancy. In most cases, endometriosis will return after delivery and stopping breast-feeding.

When should surgical treatment be considered?

In mild disease, endometriosis can be excised at the time of a laparoscopy. Endometriomas or ovarian cysts do not respond to medical treatment and need surgery to remove them. Other indications for surgical treatment are failed medical treatment for symptom control, infertility and endometriosis causing obstruction (eg bowel or kidney).

Does surgical treatment relieve pain?

Surgical removal of endometriotic lesions, including superficial and severe, deep, infiltrating disease may reduce endometriosis-associated pain. Some women choose, as a last resort, to have a hysterectomy, however, this does not guarantee complete pain relief. If a hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries is performed, there will be improved pain relief. All visible endometriosis should be removed at the same time.

Infertility Whether endometriosis causes infertility or not is one of the most controversial issues in gynaecology. It is the case that mild endometriosis is commonly found in women who have difficulty in conceiving. It is generally accepted that severe disease does cause infertility due to the distortion of pelvic anatomy. If the fallopian tubes are stuck to the ovaries, they cannot pick up the eggs, nor can an egg be released from an ovary containing large, chocolate, cysts.

Do I need a GP referral?

No, not necessarily. A referral is always ideal from your GP. However, if you are self-funding, we are happy to accept without.

When can I be seen?

Clinics are held on Monday afternoons at the Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital. Everyone is welcome whether you are self-funding or have private medical insurance.

For more information please contact the Customer Services team on 01892 741150.

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

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FEED YOUR FACE If you want really natural beauty products, check out your fridge. You’ll be surprised at the beneficial effects that everyday foods can have on your skin.

Getting gorgeous has never been tastier!

Soft Hands Exfoliator

Ingredients: 1 large peach or nectarine, skinned 3 tsp honey 2 tbsp plain yoghurt

Ingredients: 30g ground almonds 1 tsp clear honey 2 tsp sunflower oil 1 tsp lemon juice

Directions: Mash the peach and honey together with the yogurt until you have a workable paste. Pat evenly over your face and neck and around the eyes. Relax for about 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, pat dry, then tone and moisturise as normal. It will keep in the fridge for a few days.

This simple-to-make exfoliant will slough off dead skin cells, then cleanse and and moisturise, leaving hands soft and smooth.

Directions: Mix all ingredients together into a thick paste. Rub a heaped teaspoon over your hands for two to three minutes and rinse off. Use whenever your hands need some extra TLC.

Peach and Honey Mask

This revitalising peach and honey mask will leave your skin feeling soft and supple.

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Apple Toner

Apples have been used in beauty products for centuries.

And thanks to a high concentration of vitamins A and C and potassium, when applied as a facial toner, apple pectin can soothe and refresh all skin types. Please note: if you have especially dry or sensitive skin, reduce the amount of witch hazel in the toner.

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Ingredients: 1 apple, cut up, with peel and seeds removed 120ml water 60ml witch hazel

Directions: Mash the avocado flesh in a bowl and spread it onto clean skin. Relax for 15 minutes before washing off.

Directions: Put the apple pieces in a small saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Allow the mixture to cool completely, then strain out the apple. Stir in the witch hazel and pour into a clean container. To use, apply to skin using a clean cotton wool ball.

Nutmeg can be used in this gorgeous-smelling DIY face mask that will calm stressed-out skin. It acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, reducing any redness whilst exfoliating.

Berry Mask

This fruity face saver has antioxidants from the berries, and vitamin C and natural enzymes in the lemon to brighten skin.

The honey gently exfoliates and seals in moisture.

Ingredients: 2 tbsp plain yoghurt 2 tbsp honey 50g mixed fresh berries – blueberries, blackberries, raspberries etc 1 tbsp lemon juice Directions: In a blender, combine the yoghurt and honey and pulse until fully combined. Add the mixed berries, pureeing until smooth, then add the lemon juice. Apply mixture to a clean, dry face and leave for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse your face thoroughly with warm water and pat dry. It will keep in the fridge for a few days.

Sweet Body Scrub

Use this sugary scrub to exfoliate your body in the shower.

Ingredients: 180g brown sugar 120ml extra virgin olive oil 30ml honey

Spicy Face Mask

Ingredients: 1 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp cinnamon 2 tbsp honey Directions: Mix the ingredients together and apply to your face. Relax for half an hour, then wash off.

Lavender and Chamomile Cleanser This fragrant, gentle cleanser is easy to make, and perfect for skin that needs a lift!

Ingredients: 1 tsp honey 3 tsp plain yoghurt ½ tsp finely-chopped lavender ½ tsp finely-chopped chamomile Directions: Warm the honey until runny, then mix with the yoghurt and herbs. Stir well to combine. Dampen your face and neck with warm water and apply the cleanser, massaging gently. Leave for a few minutes before rinsing off. It will keep in the fridge for a few days.

Oily Skin Mask

The astringent, toning effects of these ingredients are excellent for oily skin.

Directions: In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together to form a paste.

Store the body scrub in a sealed container in your shower and massage into your skin as needed.

Ingredients: 1 ripe banana 1 egg white 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Avocado Face Mask

Directions: Combine the banana, egg white, and vinegar. Blend to form a smooth paste. Apply the mask to your face with a cotton wool ball, avoiding the eye area. Leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Finally, splash your face with cool water. Discard any leftovers.

Avocado is high in vitamins E and C and will leave your skin feeling softer and more nourished.

Ingredients: ½ ripe avocado

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

LOV E BEAUT Y

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ASK THE DOCTOR Specialists in the cosmetic surgery industry answer your questions

SOPHIE SHOTTER, MBCHB BSC (HONS) COSMETIC DOCTOR

MARC PACIFICO, MD FRCS (PLAST) CONSULTANT PLASTIC SURGEON

I’ve seen so many celebrities in magazines who look like they’ve had too much work done and it scares me. Is that how everyone looks after cosmetic surgery?

There are so many public figures who have given non-surgical treatments a bad name. The truth is, wrinkle-relaxing injections and dermal fillers can be used subtly, and that is certainly the look I aim for. It’s all about looking great but natural, rather than looking ‘done’. Big lips or cheeks do suit some people, but each person should be assessed individually before deciding what is right for them.

“I’d never have a facelift as they look terrible…”

I’ve heard some horror stories about people who have had filler treatments. Are fillers safe?

This is such an important question – thanks for asking it! Compared with wrinkle-relaxing injections, dermal fillers are very unregulated.

There are nearly 200 fillers available in the UK, compared with less than 10 in the USA, where regulations are tighter. They aren’t even a prescription drug at the moment, although the Keogh report has prompted a push towards this. For anyone considering having treatment the important thing is to ask the right questions: • Check they are a medical professional and ask them what training they have had in the procedure you are considering • Ask them what product they use – in general, hyaluronic acid fillers are safer as they are broken down naturally by the body • Ask about why they use a specific brand and about the safety of the product • Ask them to explain the risks – nothing is risk-free, but a good practitioner will be able to explain the risks to you, and also what they would do if you developed a complication • Ask them whether their patients are happy with their results Finally – don’t be afraid to speak to a couple of different practitioners. Trust your gut instinct about who has understood what you’re asking for, and who has been able to answer all your questions. www.illuminateskinclinic.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

I hear this when I am out on a regular basis once people find out I’m a plastic surgeon. My reply?

“You’re talking about those that have had a bad facelift – you wouldn’t realise those that have had a good one!”

In fact, on one occasion I was able to list three people known to the person I was talking to who had had facelifts, much to her amazement.

The same can be applied to other areas of the body, and to other procedures. The goal of most cosmetic procedures is to freshen and brighten, or enhance and lift. And in my opinion, the more natural-appearing the result, the better.

Therefore, my advice would be along the following lines: • If you’re having a breast enlargement, don’t go too big • If you’re having a tummy tuck, keep the scar as low as possible so it can be hidden • If you’re having procedures around the eyes, avoid the stareyeyed, surprised look • If you’re having your nose reshaped, ensure it looks natural, suits your face and is not overdone What does this highlight? Whatever area of the body you might consider altering, make sure you see someone reputable, ensure they are properly qualified, and insist on seeing a variety of examples of their work before making a decision. It might be more expensive than going elsewhere – there are cheaper alternatives for everything – but at what cost to your final result? www.marcpacifico.co.uk www.puritybridge.co.uk If you have a question for one of our doctors, email editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

LOV E BEAUT Y

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BEAUTY EXTR A

Here’s our pick of the latest products to leave your skin and hair luscious and fragrant

SIMPLY SKIN

The Hedgerow Beauty skincare gift set from Nutmeg & Sage uses organic ingredients for a range that’s simple, effective and nutritive. Suitable for all skin types, it includes daily cleansing balm, facial toner, facial oil and daily night care. Price £57. www.nutmegandsage.co.uk

HANDY!

Give hands and nails a treat with St Kitts Herbery Hand Care range.

Nail and Cuticle Conditioner contains natural oils to nourish nails and cuticles, £6.45. The Skin Smoother contains pumice to exfoliate the skin, £10.95, and Nail Soak deep-cleans and whitens nails, £6.95. www.stkittsherbery.co.uk

NATURE’S BOUNTY

Green’s Apothecary Total Body Collection from Marks & Spencer contains Lavender & Thyme Foaming Bath Tonic, Oatmeal & Honey Body Butter, Elderflower & Rhubarb Body Wash, Lilac & Sage Hand & Nail Cream, and Wild Berry Lip Balm. Price £25. www.marksandspencer.com

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SOAP STAR

This unscented, handmade, pure soap by Mijubeauty contains olive oil and coconut oil, which gives a good lather and is a softening emollient. Suitable for vegans, it’s especially good if you suffer from sensitive skin or skin conditions. Price £3.90. www.craftymagpie.co.uk

SCENTSUAL

Treat your skin to Crabtree & Evelyn’s delicious Verbena and Lavender de Provence bath and body collection of fragrant shampoo and conditioner, rich and luxurious body cream and a refreshing cologne. Prices from £6 for the soap. www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

SKIN DEEP

Éminence Organic Skincare, which counts fans in Jessica Biel and Madonna, have launched a new Citrus & Kale Potent C+E range, with a Serum (£75) and Masque (£49), designed to minimise fine lines, brighten skin and lighten dark spots. www.theskinsmith.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

GREAT BRITISH CLASSICS A nostalgic look at some of the most popular traditional British dishes

VICTORIA SPONGE

SCONES

This simple sponge, sandwiched with jam and cream, was one of Queen Victoria’s favourites.

Legend says that scones are named after the Stone (scone) of Destiny, a stone upon which Scottish kings once sat when they were crowned.

Ingredients: 200g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 200g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 4 medium eggs 200g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting About 6 tbsp raspberry jam 250ml double cream, whipped Icing sugar, for dusting Method: 1. Heat oven to 190˚C/170˚C fan/gas mark 5. Grease and flour 2 x 20cm sandwich tins.

2. Place the butter, sugar and vanilla extract into a bowl and beat well to a creamy consistency. Slowly beat in the eggs, one by one, then fold in the flour and mix well.

3. Divide the mix between the cake tins, place in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes until risen and golden brown. The cakes should spring back when gently pushed in the middle.

4. When ready, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes in the tin, before turning out onto a wire rack and cooling completely.

5. Spread the jam onto one cake and top with the cream. Sandwich the cakes together and dust with icing sugar.

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Ingredients: 350g self-raising flour, plus more for dusting ¼ tsp salt 1 tsp baking powder 85g butter, cut into cubes 3 tbsp caster sugar 175ml milk 1 tsp vanilla extract Squeeze of lemon juice Beaten egg, to glaze Jam and clotted cream, to serve Method: 1. Heat oven to 220˚C/200˚C fan/gas mark 7. Tip the flour into a large bowl with the salt and baking powder, then mix. Add the butter, then rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the sugar.

2. Put the milk into a jug and heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds until warm, but not hot. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, then set aside for a moment. Put a baking sheet in the oven.

3. Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a knife – it will seem quite wet at first. Scatter some flour onto the work surface and tip the dough out. Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it’s a little smoother. Pat into a round about 4cm deep.

4. Take a 5cm cutter or use a cup and dip it into some flour. Plunge into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. Press what’s left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four. Brush the tops with beaten egg, then place onto the hot baking tray.

5. Bake for 10 minutes until risen and golden on the top.

6. Serve warm with jam and clotted cream.

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

JAM ROLY POLY

SHEPHERD’S PIE

A favourite childhood pudding. It was also known as shirt-sleeve pudding – or dead man’s arm – because it was often steamed and served in an old shirt-sleeve.

This dish is usually called Cottage Pie if it is made with beef and Shepherd’s Pie if it’s made with lamb.

Ingredients: 50g salted butter, cold and cut into chunks, plus extra for greasing 250g self-raising flour, plus extra for rolling 1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped out 50g shredded suet 150ml milk, plus a drop more if needed 100g raspberry or plum jam, or a mixture Custard, to serve Method: 1. Put a deep roasting tin onto the bottom shelf of the oven and fill two-thirds with boiling water from the kettle. Place a second shelf above this one. Heat oven to 180˚C/160˚C fan/gas mark 4.

2. Take a large sheet of foil and greaseproof paper (about 30 x 40cm).

Sit the greaseproof on top of the foil and butter it.

3. Tip the butter, flour and vanilla seeds into a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly until the butter has disappeared. Stir through the suet, pour in the milk, and work together with a knife until you get a sticky dough. Add a drop more milk if necessary.

4. Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and gently pat together to smooth, then roll out to a square roughly 25 x 25cm. Spread the jam all over, leaving a gap along one edge, then roll up from the opposite edge.

5. Pinch the jam-free edge into the dough where it meets, then pinch the ends roughly. Lift onto the greased paper, join-side down, and loosely bring up the paper and foil around it. The roly poly will puff up during cooking so don’t wrap it tightly. Scrunch the foil together along the edges and ends to seal.

6. Place the parcel directly onto the rack above the tin and cook for 1 hour.

7. Let the pudding sit for 5 minutes before unwrapping. Thickly slice and serve with custard.

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Ingredients: 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 large onion, chopped 2-3 medium carrots, chopped 500g lamb mince 2 tbsp tomato purée Large splash of Worcestershire sauce 500ml beef stock 900g potatoes, cut into chunks 85g butter 3 tbsp milk Method: 1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, then soften the onion and carrots for a few minutes. When soft, turn up the heat, crumble in the lamb and brown, tipping off any excess fat.

2. Add the tomato purée and Worcestershire sauce, then fry for a few minutes. Pour over the stock, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 40 minutes, uncovering halfway.

3. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180˚C/160˚C fan/gas mark 4, then make the mash. Boil the potatoes in salted water for 10-15 minutes until tender. Drain, then mash with the butter and milk.

4. Put the mince into an ovenproof dish, top with the mash and ruffle with a fork. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is starting to colour and the mince is bubbling through at the edges.

5. Leave to stand for 5 minutes before serving.

LOV E FOOD

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TOAD IN THE HOLE

FISH AND CHIPS

This dish was probably created in the first half of the 18th century, when batter puddings first became popular. Ours is served with onion gravy.

A national institution.

Ingredients: 100g plain flour ½ tsp English mustard powder Saltw 1 egg 300ml milk 3 thyme sprigs, leaves only 8 pork sausages 2 tbsp sunflower oil 2 onions, peeled and sliced 1 tsp soft brown sugar 500ml beef stock Method: 1. To make the batter: Heat oven to 220˚C/200˚C fan/gas mark 7. Tip the flour into a large mixing bowl and stir in the mustard powder with a good pinch of salt.

2. Make a well in the centre, crack in the egg, then pour in a dribble of milk. Stir with a wooden spoon, gradually incorporating some of the flour, until you have a smooth batter in the well.

3. Add more milk slowly and continue stirring until all the milk and flour has been mixed together. You should now have a smooth, lump-free batter that is the consistency of double cream.

4. Tip it into a jug for easier pouring later, then stir in the thyme.

5. Put the sausages into a 20 x 30cm roasting tin. Add 1 tbsp of the oil, tossing the sausages to thoroughly coat them, then roast in the oven for 15 minutes.

6. Take the tray from the oven and quickly pour in the batter. Put it back into the oven, then bake for 40 minutes until the batter is cooked through, well risen and crisp. Insert the tip of a knife into the centre of the batter: it should be set, not sticky or runny.

7. To make the gravy, soften the onions with the remaining oil in a large non-stick frying pan for about 20 minutes, stirring often, until they are golden brown.

8. Sprinkle in the sugar for the final 5 minutes. Add a spoonful of flour, then cook, constantly stirring for 2 minutes, so it coats the onions and there is no dry flour left.

9. Gradually pour in the stock, stirring well to make a smooth sauce.

Allow to bubble for 4-5 minutes to thicken, then season.

10. Cut the toad in the hole into large wedges and serve with the gravy spooned over.

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Ingredients: For the Fish: 55g plain flour 55g cornflour 1 tsp baking powder Sea salt and pepper 75ml cup dark beer 75ml cup sparkling water 4 x 200g thick white fish fillets (preferably sustainable cod, pollock or haddock) For the Chips: 1kg potatoes, peeled 1 litre vegetable oil or lard to cook Method: 1. In a large bowl mix together all but 2 tbsp of the flour, cornflour and baking powder. Season lightly with a tiny pinch of salt and pepper.

2. Using a fork and whisking continuously, add the beer and the water to the flour mixture and continue mixing until you have a thick, smooth batter.

Place the batter in the fridge to rest for between 30 minutes and an hour.

3. Cut the potatoes into 1cm slices then slice these into 1cm-wide chips.

Place the chips into a colander and rinse under cold running water.

4. Place the washed chips into a pan of cold water, bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Drain carefully through a colander then dry with kitchen paper. Keep in the fridge covered with kitchen paper until needed.

5. Meanwhile, lay the fish fillets on a sheet of kitchen paper and pat dry.

Season very lightly with a little sea salt.

6. Heat the oil to 120˚C in a deep-fat fryer or large, deep saucepan. Blanch the chips a few handfuls at a time in the fat for a couple of minutes without browning them. Once they seem drier and slightly cooked, remove from the fat and drain. Keep to one side.

7. Place the 2 tbsp of flour reserved from the batter mix into a shallow bowl.

Toss each fish fillet in the flour, shake off any excess, dip into the batter then carefully lower each fillet into the hot oil. Fry for approximately 8 minutes or until the batter is crisp and golden, turning the fillets from time to time with a large slotted spoon.

8. Using the same slotted spoon, once cooked remove the fillets from the hot oil, drain on kitchen paper, cover with greaseproof paper and keep hot.

9. Heat the oil to 200˚C, then cook the chips until golden and crisp – about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

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Gabriel Guzi, the Head Chef from The Hare in Langton Green

PAPPARDELLE PASTA WITH SLOW-ROAST HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, GARLIC AND BASIL DRESSING AND PARMESAN CRISPS Ingredients: For the pasta: 130g cooked pappardelle pasta 20g grated Parmesan to add to the dressing Micro basil, 3 red leaves and 3 green leaves For the tomato dressing: 500g cherry tomatoes on the vine (150g per portion) 3 cloves of garlic 250ml olive oil 2 sprigs basil Seasoning For the oven-dried Heirloom tomatoes: 1kg Heirloom tomatoes (100g per portion) 4 cloves of garlic 50ml olive oil Sea salt For the Parmesan crisps: 115g Parmesan To make the dressing: 1. Cut the cherry tomatoes into quarters.

2. Chop the garlic and sprigs of basil.

3. Mix with the remaining ingredients.

4. Place somewhere warm for an hour or so to macerate.

5. Crush the tomatoes into the oil mix and place in fridge until needed.

To make the Heirloom tomatoes: 1. Heat the oven to 80˚C/60˚C fan/lowest gas setting.

2. Cut the tomatoes into chunky pieces, depending on each individual size.

3. Gently toss with the remaining ingredients and slowly dry in the oven.

To make the parmesan crisps: 1. Heat the oven to 160˚C/140˚C fan/gas mark 3.

2. Finely grate the Parmesan and spread a thin layer on a sheet of greaseproof paper, cook in the oven until evenly coloured.

3. Remove and allow to cool.

Method: 1. Place a portion of the dressing in a bowl and warm up (NOT HOT).

2. Cook the pasta and place together with the tomatoes and other ingredients, as well as the grated Parmesan.

3. Gently mix together and place in a small bowl.

4. Build the pasta dish up by placing some of the tomato pieces delicately so they can be seen.

5. Garnish with the micro basil and Parmesan crisps.

LET’S EAT

A round-up of the latest foodie news

PUMPKIN PERFECT

This Halloween, yoghurt company The Collective is launching a devilishly-delicious Spiced Pumpkin Limited Edition. Their award-winning gourmet yoghurt is paired with a sweet pumpkin compote, spiced ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange zest.

Available from major supermarkets from 18th September and throughout October. Price £2.39. www.thecollectivedairy.com

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Laverstoke organic and biodynamic farm is launching a Christmas Pudding Sausage in Ocado. This meaty pork sausage is seasoned with finely-chopped fruits associated with Christmas pudding, such as dates, apricots, currants, prunes, lemon and orange peel, seasoned with mixed spices and a hint of brandy.

Look out for it soon! www.ocado.com

TASTE OF MEXICO

If you like tortilla chips, you’ll love Manomasa’s new Green Lemon & Pink Peppercorn, Manchego & Green Olive and Tomatillo Salsa varieties. As well as a great flavour, they have a distinctive shape, designed for snacking, scooping or dipping, and texture, using super grains such as red and white quinoa for added depth and bite.

Price: £1.99. www.manomasa.co.uk 54

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UTTERLY DIVINE

Divine Chocolate is launching two new flavours specially created for the festive season: Dark Chocolate with Pear & Ginger and Milk Chocolate with Spiced Toffee Apple. The bars come wrapped in jewel colours of dark purple and pink, decorated with gold symbols, making them a very attractive gift for Christmas.

Price: £2:49. www.divinechocolate.com

CHILD’S PLAY

It’s never too soon to teach your children the benefits of home baking and good food. Sweetpea Pantry makes a range of healthy, delicious, all-in-one baking kits that you can cook with your children. They include Playful Pizza Dough with chia and flaxseed; Super Oat Flapjack with quinoa; and Chocolate Giggles with raw cacao and barley. Price: £5.95. www.sweetpeapantry.com

SPREAD SOME SUNSHINE

Spread something a bit different on your toast with Alassala’s Amlou Paste, a healthy, traditional Moroccan food that can be used as a spread or a dip for bread or crackers. Also known as Argan spread or Argan almond butter, it’s made with ground, semi-roasted almonds and organic Argan oil, and is perfect for both sweet and savoury dishes. Price £7.99. www.alassala.co.uk KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

WISH YOU WERE HERE? SO DO WE!

To advertise in Kudos email sales@badbettymedia.co.uk or call 01892 300321 Be a part of the Kudos effect

ADDED VALUE

An extension has opened up Ed Chivers’ kitchen and created a light-filled space that’s perfect for relaxing as well as cooking

Ed Chivers loved his Tunbridge Wells house, but it was an impressive kitchen extension that made it perfect for him and his girlfriend Sophie.

Says Ed: “Tunbridge Wells has always been my town. I grew up around here. I used to live on Queens Road and I went to school in Tonbridge.

“I bought the house about five years ago and one of the reasons I liked it was because it had the potential to extend. That had always been at the back of my mind and I decided to go for it when I had the money.

“It was in a bit of a state when I moved in. I redecorated the whole house and put in a new bathroom and new carpets, but the main change has been the extension.

“The previous owners put in the kitchen which is perfectly nice, but had been badly designed. They say you should have a work triangle of hob, sink and fridge, but in my kitchen they were all over the place. If the kitchen hadn’t been recently put in, I would have replaced it at the same time as doing the extension.

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“I got plans drawn up this time last year, and from seriously starting to think about the extension to finishing it took less than a year. The biggest delay was waiting for planning approval, which took about 12 weeks.”

Ed chose local company Hemsted to do the work after meeting their MD, Vicky Risebrow, at a local breakfast networking event.

“The fact that Hemsted can do everything, from planning to building and beyond – even down to soft furnishings – was one of the reasons I chose them.

“I knew what I wanted, but Vicky made slight tweaks when I talked it through with her. For instance, the original plans had quite wide windows, but Vicky said the extension would pretty much be all windows by the time we’d added frames! So we adjusted that.

“Another thing they suggested, which I hadn’t thought of, was properly plumbing in the understairs loo. It’s always been problematic because it was on a macerator, but Vicky pointed

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The extension has really opened up the kitchen

Traditional radiators line the wall where Ed plans to put a Chesterfield sofa KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

Light floods in through the velux windows LOV E YOUR HOME

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Clockwise from top left: the windows were resized from the original plans; the extension has an unusual zinc roof; the dining room can now be accessed from the kitchen; brick steps lead from the kitchen to the dining room

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KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

Left to right: the building work in progress from start to finish out that because the dining room is raised, there was no reason why it couldn’t be plumbed in properly by running a pipe under the dining room floor. It works perfectly now.”

bricks at the back. You pay a bit more for reclaimed, but I think it’s worth it, particularly when you see the outside. Even the neighbours are impressed.

Ed was also impressed when it came to estimating the job.

“I’ve got proper sash windows, which Vicky sourced, and modern replicas of traditional radiators. I like a modern twist on old things.

“Hemsted came up with things that had never crossed my mind, or the architect’s either. There was a chance there were drainpipes running under the kitchen which could have caused problems with the extension, so there was a provision for that when the quote came through, just in case. In the end, the drain did run where they thought it did, but they charged me half of the provision they had allowed, which I think was very honest of them. I’m sure a lot of builders would have just charged the full amount, even if it didn’t quite come to that. That gave me a lot of confidence in Hemsted. I felt I could leave them in the house and know that they were honest, good builders. If ever there was a slight issue, they would explain exactly what the problem was, or take pictures of it and email me so that I could see it.

“We were purposely quite hands-off, mostly because I was at work, so we used to communicate via written notes. Everyone was really tidy, and at the end of the day everything would be stacked neatly and they would clean up after themselves, which is quite rare for builders.

“We couldn’t fault the quality of work at all. Sophie’s dad is a builder and he was really impressed. I don’t think I could find anything to criticise in terms of quality. I’m very pleased.

“The only thing I dealt with myself was the external bricks. I got them from a reclamation yard, but what was really hard was matching the original bricks down the side of the house to the

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“I decided on a zinc roof for that reason. I was a bit nervous about it but I’m really pleased with the result. It’s not the kind of thing you often see on a residential extension, but Hemsted found a subcontractor, and I just left it to them to handle it.

“We are currently waiting on the delivery of a nice, deep Chesterfield sofa to go under the windows. Along with the rustic-wooden floor, red-brick steps to the dining room, which is off the kitchen, and the traditional radiators, it will look modern yet quite traditional, in keeping with the rest of the house.

“We spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It’s the warmest part of the house, so to have a sofa there will be just right.

“The only thing I would change, and this was my choice, are the velux windows, because you can’t open them unless you get a ladder!

So what does Ed think of the finished result? “It looks so much better than I thought it would. When I first submitted the plans, which Hemsted wasn’t involved in, I thought it was going to look amazing, but when the building work started, I thought, ‘Oh God, it’s tiny, it won’t make much of a difference, it’s just not going to look as good as I thought’. And then it all started to come together and it looks much better than I ever imagined. It feels bigger than I thought and it blends in really well with the rest of the kitchen.”

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HOME, SWEET HOME Ideas to turn your house into a home

HOLE IN ONE

Rustic wooden six-section pigeon-hole wall storage with metal label holders from Live Laugh Love. Easy to hang with two strong fixings on reverse. A really useful piece with lots of vintage charm.

Price: £29.95. www.livelaughlove.co.uk

BASKET CASE

These rescued Belgian potato baskets from Dee Puddy Garden & Interiors are strong, robust and full of character. They have a lovely weathered look that you would expect from a well-used piece. Use them for storage – they also look fabulous lined with fabric. Styles may vary slightly from the picture.

Price: £64. www.deepuddy.co.uk

MIRROR, MIRROR

Gorgeous shabby-chic mirror from Sweetpea & Willow, with two distressed frames connected by beautiful botanical embellishments that come together at the top to form an elegant wreath complete with roses and swallows.

Price: £595. www.sweetpeaandwillow.com 60

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WATCH THE BIRDIE

Sweet pink floral wall clock from Live Laugh Love in the shape of a bird hanging from a white ribbon in a bow. The vintage script and pretty flowers make this an eye-catching piece for your home.

Price: £12. www.livelaughlove.co.uk

AMERICANA

Pretty coloured mason jars with zinc screw-top lids from Dee Puddy Garden & Interiors. Production of mason jars started in America in the late 1800s and ceased in the 1930s. The wording and design on each jar is subtly different depending on the period that it was manufactured. Limited availability.

Price: £18.95. www.deepuddy.co.uk

STORE IT

Classic blue and white enamel-style ceramic canister. It has a vintage-glazed effect to look like antique enamelware, with a nautical sailor anchor detail on one side. Use it for storage in the kitchen or bathroom.

Price: £7.95. www.coastalhome.co.uk KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

HOME EXTR A

Local companies showcase their products for a beautiful home

TRAY CHIC

Superbly-crafted cutlery trays will keep your kitchen utensils neat and tidy – the beauty of a bespoke kitchen.

Rencraft offer a range of practical solutions for your kitchen, from traditional to contemporary. www.rencraft.co.uk

PERIOD PIECE

Silverdale Great Britain’s Empire Collection is inspired by the Empire State Building in New York City and perfectly demonstrates the Art Deco style of the 1920s.

Prices from £380 for the bidet. www.the-bathroomshop.co.uk

TILE STYLE

Boheme is a new range of porcelain floor tiles from Italianstile.

To add that contemporary look to your home, porcelain is the natural choice. Practical and hard-wearing, it is available in five colours from Bellegrove Ceramics. www.italianstile.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

SHOWER POWER

For a beautiful bathroom, head to The Bathroom Shop. The Samuel Heath Antique range includes a concealed dual-control shower in chrome, polished nickel, stainless steel and antique gold. Prices from £1,516. Shower basket from £135. www.the-bathroomshop.co.uk

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

The elegant New Yorker tile has a slightly-textured surface, giving it a hand-made look and creating a beautiful effect that will work perfectly in both traditional and contemporary settings. www.italianstile.co.uk

MAKING A MARK

Silverdale Great Britain’s Mark Anthony collection features a cast-iron bath finished in heavy white enamel, while the exterior surface is supplied unfinished, primed and ready for painting to match your chosen scheme. Price: £2,225. www.the-bathroomshop.co.uk

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IN AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN

What does it take to create 35 acres of themed gardens, and an award-winning garden ornaments business? We find out...

Sixty-one years ago, Michael Dibben was employed making fibreglass moulds for car parts when he had an idea. Why not create moulds for something completely different: garden ornaments.

After extensive research into garden decoration and a material to closely resemble natural antique stone, Chilstone began its long history at Great Linford Manor in Buckinghamshire.

Michael’s idea proved to be a winning one, and the business grew and grew, moving to Sprivers, a beautiful National Trust property in Horsmonden, in 1976. When Michael died in the late 1980s, Gaynor Gilbert took over the running of the business. By this time they were also branching out into architectural stone and in 1996 moved to their current site just outside Langton Green.

“The main selling point of our stone is that over the years it develops and replicates natural stone extremely well,” says Chilstone’s General Manager Steve Clark. “Over time we have replicated many urns, benches and fountains for various customers, so we’ve built up the largest collection of moulds in the UK. “When we moved to Langton Green, it was the first time that the manufacturing and the sales side of the business were brought together. The show gardens were created in the winter of 1996 and opened by Alan Titchmarsh.”

The design of the gardens was down to landscape architect Anthony Du Gard Pasley, and the theme was to showcase the many different ornaments that the company manufactures.

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“We have 16 different working fountains and one of every urn and bench on show, and in recent years we’ve encouraged other companies to showcase their work here, too, including Scotts of Thrapston summerhouses in conjunction with Cat & Mouse Landscapes, and also Jacksons Fencing.

“We have four main sections. There’s a sculpture walk through a small wooded area with examples of our oldest Chilstone ornaments, going back 50 years. We also have various different items of sculpture, which we regularly change – lions, deer, wild boar and abstract pieces. Then we’ve got three separate gardens which all showcase different urns, benches and fountains, and two of them have temples.

If Chilstone inspires you to create your own show garden, where should you start?

“Show gardens start off around a structure – that’s where our stone comes into its own,” says Steve. “If you have a very small garden, a small planter on a pedestal, a sundial or birdbath can be used to create a central theme. In a very large garden, you might have a six-metre temple. Our stone is suitable for a traditional garden, but we are doing more and more contemporary work now. Probably the best example of that is what we did at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year in the Just Retirement Garden.

“The most important thing to decide on is the area you want to put something and where you are going to view the item from.

Is it going to be on the edge of the patio or 80 metres down at the end of the garden? That’s important, because the further

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away it is, the more it shrinks. When you are standing next to something it looks fairly large; however, when you step further away from it, it will get smaller and smaller. So trying to judge the size is quite important.

“We make this easier by producing a very detailed brochure which shows all our ornaments, plus detailed sizing. The show gardens are really useful, because customers can stand at a distance to view an item and get an idea of how it will look in their garden.”

The largest fountain at Chilstone is about 24 foot high and the largest urn is nearly 6 foot, and the smallest around 15 ½ inches.

Says Steve: “We get customers that buy large quantities of our biggest urns because they want to create a wonderful vista. We currently have an order for 40 urns going to a very large garden in France. That came about from our involvement at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. We regularly exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show and the Hampton Court Flower Show, with various different projects.

“The show sponsors at Chelsea asked us to supply three of our octagonal fountains, along with six urns for their corporate dining room. They cater for 7,000 people during the show, which is an amazing number. It shows you the diversity of who we deal with. Every day is like that. It can be visitors coming in for something small, or it can be, as recently, three large temples to one customer for his estate.

“We offer a bespoke service where we sit down with customers, designers or architects and find out what they are trying to achieve. We are very adaptable so we can make any shape,

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

form or mould that they require, and we work with them on the structural and engineering side as well.”

One of Chilstone’s main strengths is the excellent team that works for the company – some have been there for over 15 years. Says Steve, “In our workshop, we have over 150 years of experience. Our staff are highly skilled and, together with our sales and administration staff, always go the extra mile for our customers.”

Everything is made on site, to a recipe that’s been developed over 60 years, although Steve reveals that the main ingredient is crushed sandstone mixed with various other ingredients. All the materials are blended on site and the mixture is taken to the craftsmen in the workshop, who then pack it into various moulds depending on the orders that the company has received.

The mix is layered up and compressed by hand into the mould, with each layer being scratched on the surface before another layer is added. Once completed, it’s given a smooth finish or, if it’s an urn, the inside is scooped out with a router to create the necessary indent inside. The piece stays in the mould for 24 hours, is then removed and saturated with water, put into a misting area and cured for 10 days, after which it’s ready to go.

Says Steve: “Because our stone is quite textured, it looks antiqued and weathers down quite quickly, and that can add value to the items that people buy. It develops and ages in the garden, along with its environment, and creates a legacy that goes on for time immemorial.

“People like our pieces because they have a hand-carved effect; they look like natural stone, and the weathering process happens

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Pulhamite replica urns at Kensington Palace

quite quickly. You can speed it up by applying natural yoghurt!

This is because the yoghurt attracts bacteria, which creates lichen that antiques the stone. Dirty pond water also works!”

Amongst Chilstone’s most popular items are the George IVth urn, the Kew fountain, the Baluster birdbath and the sundials.

“The one thing we make probably the most of are pedestals to put urns and sculptures on. On the architectural side, it’s coping, balustrading, and window sills.”

Chilstone has a close association with Kew Gardens. During the Second World War, all the ornaments were removed from the rooftop of the Temperate House and put in storage. In the early ’70s when the Temperate House was being refurbished, all the ornaments had disappeared. So Chilstone was commissioned to replace them with three different types of urns around the roofline.

“They had a couple of pieces left, so we copied them, and the Queen re-opened the Temperate House in the mid 1980s.

“We were also asked to help with the refurbishment of the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. They already had large planters around the pond but they wanted some smaller ones to balance them out and mirror them. We were sent a drawing, and ended up supplying 22 that can be seen there today.

“The most recent interesting job we did was to refurbish an urn that Florence Nightingale was photographed against in 1856.

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Courtesy of the Florence Nightingale Trust Museum

Her ancestral home is now a private school, and as part of the planning consent, the trustees agreed to replace the 20 original urns that were dotted around the gardens.

“They had one-and-a-half urns in storage but they were in very poor condition, so we brought back the one that was intact and our mouldmaker took it apart and rebuilt it with all the original definition. From that we made the 20 urns, and the customer was also able to sell replicas to the public.

“This demonstrates the diversity of the jobs we do. Members of the public come to us and say I’ve got this bowl, urn or sculpture that I would like to preserve, so I want another made. As long as we’ve got the original, or can carve an original, then we make the mould for them. We could even make a mould of your left foot if you wanted! We can literally cast anything.”

One of the most extraordinary items Chilstone has been asked to make is a black obelisk as a memorial to a well-known tattoo artist. “It had to have a silver top so it represented the tattooist’s needle,” says Steve. “We have never been asked to make anything in black, let alone for a tattoo artist, so that was quite unique.

“We also get asked for pieces for people to inter ashes, as part of a memorial. It’s usually pets, but occasionally a loved one.

They often need a pedestal too, as the base for an urn.” www.chilstone.com

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

WHO CARES? Following so many newspaper stories about badly-run establishments, we give advice for anyone looking for a care home for themselves or a family member

Choosing a care home can be an emotional and stressful experience.

Your choice should be guided by your needs but there are a few vital things to look for in any home.

All care homes offer help with personal care if you need it; nursing homes offer nursing care in addition. Some care homes also provide extra care and support to those with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society can advise people with dementia and their carers and families about suitable care homes and what to look for. Search the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website for care homes that offer specialised support to patients who have been diagnosed with dementia.

Which one you choose will obviously depend on the level of care required. Most homes will work with the person entering care to undertake a full care assessment, often with input from family or friends, social workers, care managers or GPs. Care homes are owned and run by local councils, private companies or voluntary organisations. If you can’t find a care home that provides the sort of care you need, ask your local council to help. It has a responsibility to find a suitable home for anyone it has assessed as needing a care home place. The CQC provides impartial information about local care homes.

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the public and local authorities. You can get copies of inspection reports from the CQC. Find out what homes there are in your area and visit a few to get an idea of what they are like. As a first step, try asking around – perhaps friends or relatives know of a home with a good reputation. But remember, although a personal recommendation is a good starting point, homes can change and what suits one person may not suit another.

Just like family homes, care homes differ considerably in character and atmosphere and it is important to find an environment in which you or your loved one feels comfortable. This is very much about personal choice, and a visit to the home will enable you to get a feel about everything from the care home team and how they approach care to the general buzz and atmosphere of a home.

You can find out about care homes in the area from the local Age UK, Independent Age or the Elderly Accommodation Counsel.

Once you’ve found out about homes in your area, get in touch with a few and ask them to send you a brochure. Then arrange to visit some of the homes that appeal to you. Talking to staff, residents and managers can help you get an idea what living there might be like.

Settling into a care home can take some time. The biggest misconception about care homes is that once you move in, you give up any choice or control over your own life. Not true. You may do as you please, provided KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

you’re safe and you respect others. The quality of your life should improve with regular meals, stimulation, loving care, good equipment and company.

Paying for your care Most people will be expected to pay something towards the costs of their accommodation and personal care from their income and capital.

If the local authority is involved in arranging your placement, the amount you will have to pay will be worked out via a means test, which is based on nationally-set guidelines.

Regardless of whether you move into a care home on a temporary or permanent basis, your local authority will need to carry out a means test. The amount of money you have is irrelevant at this point.

Once the means test has been carried out, and you have been told the level of your needs, your income and assets are taken into account.

Currently, if you have assets of more than £23,250, you will need to pay the full cost of your care. Your income is also taken into account.

Examples of income include interest on your savings, private and/or state pension and some benefits like pension credit, attendance allowance or the care component of disability living allowance.

Your capital might include savings, investments and any property you might own.

Before your financial assessment, make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.

This is important because your contribution to your home fees will be based on all potential income, including benefits.

Whatever you end up paying towards your home fees, you must be left with £23.50 a week for your own spending. Plus, if you get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, you will keep getting it.

You’ll also get up to £5.75 per week of any savings credit if you are older than 65.

Standard rates Your local authority usually has a standard rate, which is the amount it is prepared to pay for a care home. You will be given a list of homes that fall within the rates bracket, although you can also choose your own similarly-priced option.

The funding for your care is provided by the local authority. If you do not meet its criteria, you will have to pay for your care yourself, although ensure you have regular reviews as once a person’s savings drop to below the savings upper limit, the charge should be reduced.

Remember, even if you are paying your own fees to start with but think you might need to ask for help further down the line, it is worth checking out roughly how much the standard rate is, so that you don’t have to move to a less expensive home at a later date.

Address Book Age UK 0800 169 65 65; www.ageuk.org.uk Care Quality Commission (CQC) 03000 616161; www.cqc.org.uk Elderly Accommodation Counsel 0800 377 7070; www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk Independent Age 0845 262 1863w; www.independentage.org

HOLYWELL PARK: NURSING, RESIDENTIAL OR RESPITE – BE PART OF THE FAMILY

Offering nursing, residential and respite care, Holywell Park is a vibrant community in a homely environment Holywell Park has been a family-run home for 25 years, providing 24-hour care in a homely environment, rated ‘Excellent’ by CQC. Residents at Holywell Park can enjoy tastefully-decorated en-suite bedrooms with stunning views of the countryside, as well as four lounges, including a well-stocked library. Bedrooms can be decorated and furnished to your taste if enough notice is given. In addition to this, residents can benefit from daily activities and outings; excellent cuisine; regular entertainment and garden parties; a hairdressing salon; on-site laundry service and beautiful surroundings.

Nursing Care They provide comprehensive, individualised nursing care delivered by an experienced team of fully-trained nurses and care assistants. They cater for those requiring general nursing care and also for those who require some specialist nursing care.

Each resident will receive an assessment prior to admission to ensure that Holywell Park is able to meet their needs. This assessment will be used to form the basis of the resident’s care plan. This will detail every assessed need and contain a plan of action to ensure that the resident receives the highest quality of care.

Residential Care They provide residential care in luxury and homely surroundings, looking KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

after all the personal needs of residents and promoting their social welfare and independence. As with nursing clients, they will also carry out a full assessment prior to admission and create an individualised care plan to ensure that all assessed needs are met, including religious, social and cultural.

Respite Care Holywell Park understands the considerable pressures of looking after a very dependent elderly person and are aware that at times you may appreciate a break. Should you need to arrange care from a short period to as long as you wish, then they can help.

If you have arranged a holiday, then your loved one can also enjoy a holiday at Holywell Park where they will meet new friends and participate in all the daily activities of a vibrant community. www.holywellpark.com

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BURRSWOOD: A HAVEN OF PEACE

Set in acres of beautiful gardens, Burrswood Christian Hospital provides a professional, caring service for mind, body and spirit Nestling in the leafy village of Groombridge is Burrswood Christian Hospital – a unique organisation established over 60 years ago by founder Dorothy Kerin; a young woman who was blessed by God and made a miraculous recovery from terminal illness. Dorothy devoted the rest of her life to help others, establishing a healing ministry with the vision ‘to heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing and give faith to the faithless’, until her death in 1963.

The legacy that Dorothy left has been developed and nurtured into a registered charity, approved by the Care Quality Commission, that today provides excellent Whole Person Care by dedicated and skilled nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and counsellors, combined with spiritual and pastoral care provided by a Chaplaincy team, addressing the mind, body and spirit. Burrswood has become a national charity, offering the highest standards of integrated clinical and compassionate care to people of all faiths and none, from all parts of the UK, as well as some from overseas.

The non-surgical, 40 bed, en-suite hospital is surrounded by over 100 acres of colourful gardens, landscaped grounds and woodlands, with its own beautiful church providing regular daily services for those that wish to attend. Burrswood’s tailored approach ensures that patient’s needs are professionally met with privacy, dignity and comfort.

The in-patient facility is supported by a growing out-patient clinic, ensuring continuity of care after hospital discharge or for those that do not require a hospital admission. Physiotherapy, the recently-refurbished hydrotherapy pool and clinically-approved complementary therapies make patients’ and guests’ stays as comfortable and rehabilitating as

possible. The first-class guest rooms can be booked together with packages of out-patient care covering physiotherapy/hydrotherapy, counselling and Christian Ministry.

Burrswood offers in-patient care for those needing post-operative care, especially after orthopaedic surgery, convalescent care following a critical illness, such as stroke, end of life care, respite care, longer-term rehabilitation and counselling.

Burrswood welcomes enquiries from healthcare professionals, carers, and from patients coping with MS, MND, Parkinson’s and CFS/ME, and works closely with the NHS and other healthcare providers. Water Babies, a specialist provider, offers swimming lessons at weekends.

Visit this amazing place, see the buildings, walk the grounds, enjoy the gift shop and some Tea Room refreshments, or become involved in this wonderful charity that truly puts the needs of others at the centre of its work. www.burrswood.org.uk

HIGH HILDEN: COUNTRY HOUSE LIVING FOR THE ELDERLY

Whether you’re looking for long-term care or a respite stay, residents at High Hilden will find care and respect High Hilden is managed by an experienced Home Manager, with care assistants providing 24-hour support. Management and staff take pride in making life as comfortable as possible for residents. They understand that moving home can be an anxious time for residents and their families, so they aim to provide a warm and homely environment. High Hilden encourages choice and independence, treating residents with compassion, dignity and respect.

The fine Edwardian house is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac on the outskirts of Tonbridge. The home features elegant panelled rooms, including a large entrance hall with a grand staircase, comfortable lounges and an attractive conservatory. A lift gives access to all areas of the home, and bedrooms are tastefully decorated and furnished. All have emergency call and television points, and most have telephone points. High Hilden encourages their residents to personalise their own rooms by bringing in their own belongings, photographs and small items of furniture.

There’s an extensive, well-established garden and the beautiful surroundings are the perfect setting for a gentle stroll. Many of the bedrooms have attractive views over the gardens.

All meals are prepared daily by fully-qualified chefs using fresh ingredients.

Each main meal is served in the pleasant dining room. A varied and nutritious diet is provided, and special dietary needs can be catered for.

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High Hilden aims to make it easy for residents to make new friends, to socialise and chat. They provide a stimulating programme of events, including music, visiting drama groups, trips out, exercises and quizzes.

They have a mobile shop, a fully-equipped and modern hairdressing salon, a library and a visiting chiropodist and manicurist. They also have regular church services High Hilden also offers respite care to those who are looking for a short-term stay. This includes a full care package and activities programme which can be booked in advance. Day care is also available. www.highhilden.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

HEADS UP! School inspection reports are taken as a barometer of a school’s health. A good report sees parents queuing to get their children into a school, while a less than glowing one has the opposite effect.

But just how important are inspection reports, and how much credence do they really have?

Every school in the country, whether they be maintained or independent, primary or secondary, focusing on general, special or vocational education will be regularly inspected either by Ofsted or The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). The subsequent reports are public documents and easily found on the web. This should lead to transparency within our schools and make it easy for any reader to see exactly the strengths and weaknesses of any school together with their statutory compliance record. But is this what happens?

Inspections are thorough. Way before the call informing a school that the inspectors are on their way, documentation will have been extracted from the school’s portal and examined by the Reporting Inspector, so before the team even enter the physical premises of any school, an initial impression will have been gleaned. Over the four days of an inspection, every nuance, nook and cranny is looked at.

Parents and pupils complete confidential questionnaires, paperwork from curriculum, safeguarding and fire procedures is pored over, lessons observed, pupil’s work

scrutinised, and parent, staff, pupil, management and governance interviews undertaken. In truth, no stone is left unturned by highly-trained and monitored professionals. By the end of the week, judgements are made which can only be changed in truly-exceptional circumstances, if at all.

Schools, however, are forever changing and evolving. They do not stand still. A change in Head or Chair of Governors, the economy, or in the number of pupils on roll can have an effect on the day-to-day running and management of the school, either positively or negatively. For many, the judgements will stay true for the six-year cycle (or three for Early Years, boarding or those schools who find themselves non-compliant) but for many, the intervening years will have made a difference.

Of course, read the latest inspection report before you visit a school, but keep your antennae tuned as you walk around and make your own decisions as to whether it is still as accurate as the day the inspectors left!

THE HEAD’S PERSPECTIVE Angela Culley

Headmistress of The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells, a co-ed prep school for children aged 3 to 11 It is human nature to be nervous of any inspection. Knowing there will only be four working day’s notice, your school has to be ready for whenever that call will come. For me, it came just as I was boarding the train to attend a Buckingham Palace Garden Party! As with any exam, for this is what it is, success is all in the planning and preparation, not a last-minute panic, but continuous self-evaluation and development planning year on year. We know there will be no stone left unturned and it is our opportunity to be proud of the education we provide, to be united as a community, and to show and display. The judgements and subsequent report belongs to everyone who works in the school; teachers, office and catering staff as well as the Head and Governors. Being an ISI inspection, we are inspected to our aims and values, making the report very personal to the school. It gives both pupils and parents the opportunity to have a voice, and the pride the whole extended community takes in an excellent report is fantastic. Is it worth the worry, work and effort? Absolutely!

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THE TEACHER’S PERSPECTIVE Stephen Lockyer Deputy Head and Director of Studies

A school report is much like the initial details you are given from an estate agent on a house – they give the bare details, but don’t often reflect the true nature of a property, yet we place a huge value on them. As a teacher, an Inspection report is an official reflection of both how we as a learning community have been performing against our school values, and also how we are able to progress in the future. It is often the first port of call for parents, and rightly so, as we work hard to ensure that our school is achieving in every aspect we are inspected against, as well as a few we aren’t! The luckiest schools are the ones where the Inspectors really do ‘get’ the character of the school. We shouldn’t ever make it our aim to pass an Inspection (but rather, serve our pupils to the best of our ability), but even so, when an Inspector walks through your classroom door, you know the weight of your lesson for the next half an hour counts for an awful lot.

THE PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE

What does an excellent report mean and what real value does it have?

Let’s be honest, value for money is obviously on the list but it’s so much more than that. I LOVE my daughter’s school. The report’s findings are reassuring and, more importantly, reaffirming of the decision we made as parents to send our child or children to that particular school. Being part of an external body, the team of inspectors are critical pairs of eyes, with no personal prejudices or biases.

The label of ‘excellent’ means that the inspectors saw and felt what every child, parent, teacher and other member of staff does every day – the incredible and palpable sense of family and community. They witnessed and agreed with the overwhelming sense of pride and passion from everyone, but especially from the children themselves.

THE PUPILS’ PERSPECTIVE Chloe, Flora and Finn

Most children don’t care about inspector’s reports because they think a school is just a school, but at our school we think having an ‘outstanding’ report is important and we feel very proud to be part of the school. The children at our school don’t feel intimidated about having inspectors nosing around as we feel confident and willing to show and share our views about the school. In fact, we were very proud to tell the inspectors how wonderful our school is!

THE WIDER EDUCATIONAL VIEW Neil Roskilly CEO of the Independent School Association

Parents are more savvy than ever, knowing that a school’s historic reputation isn’t always a good barometer for current provision. That’s where recent inspection reports are an invaluable tool when choosing a school, whether private or state. These reports come in different formats and take some interpretation, though ISI inspection findings tend to be more informative than the versions from other organisations, being more detailed about educational provision. Ofsted reports for the state sector can be a bit misleading, as it is tempting to look at the over-arching headline grade and no further – always a mistake. They are also more driven by data, with inspectors virtually making up their minds before even entering the school. Private school inspection reports are of more use, but still no substitute for visiting a school to see if it is suitable.

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WHAT’S THE BUZZ? Local art is flourishing in galleries and exhibition spaces as artists create a wide variety of works The September Art Exhibition was started by Valerie and Richard Brinton. Valerie was the artist, but it was Richards’s idea to hire the Commemoration Hall in Wadhurst High Street for an exhibition of her work. Valerie realised the hall was too big for a single artist and called on a friend (well-known local artist Bill Talbot) to help rethink the idea.

The first exhibition in 1996 was with 20 artists and was such a success that the hall was booked for the following year.

By year two, an organising committee had been set up, a ‘mandate’ written and a proper catalogue printed.

Since then, they have had over 300 artists exhibit. The September Art Exhibition holds open submissions in April/May every year, and selects approximately 30 from a large pool of entries. Artists are invited to enter for two consecutive years; they must then have a break for a year, before applying again. This way, it keeps the mix fresh and at the same time keeps ‘old favourites’ in the show as much as possible.

Over the years, some artists have launched their professional careers at the show. It’s an excellent jumping-off point for emerging artists, due mainly to the informal, but professional, friendly atmosphere. Exhibiting artists are encouraged to be at the show as much as they are able; it’s always nice for visitors and school trips to find artists on hand. It’s also excellent for the artists themselves. It can be a somewhat isolating profession, and so being able to sit and have a coffee or glass of wine together can be invaluable.

The September Art Exhibition has a select company of established, practising and emerging artists, both well-known and not so well-known, artists and makers, and an equallyeclectic mix of styles and mediums.

Visitors are bound to find something they like and are inspired by.

As a non-profit-making organisation they are 100% centred on the artists and visitors, rather than the bottom line, charging artists a one-off stand fee, which includes being part of the exhibition website for a whole year following the show, with direct links to their individual sites.

One of the unique aspects of the exhibition is the original (Brinton’s) idea of a show that is run for artists by artists – with all members of the committee being professional artists and coming from varied backgrounds, they bring a wealth of experience to the show.

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Three Wisdoms by Dani Humberstone The September Art Exhibition is ‘not a village show, but a show in a village’ – a major annual art event isn’t usually found in a Sussex village. The exhibition is widely respected by artists, visitors, art collectors and galleries alike and sees approximately 2,500 visitors (including school trips) every year.

They now offer three awards (see website for details) and a student bursary, in honour of founder Valerie Brinton when she stepped down from the committee in 2010.

They invite a high-profile guest artist to exhibit every year, which is a win-win situation... so far the guest artists have all enjoyed the experience.

‘Meet the Artists’ is held on the first Sunday of the exhibition.

An extremely-popular event, many of the exhibiting artists will work live on their stand and be available to talk and answer questions about their work.

The Exhibition runs from Friday 5th to Sunday 14th September, with the preview party held on the Thursday evening before opening to the public.

For many years, the exhibition has been associated with the charity Trust For Chernobyl Children (TCC), which was set up by Yvonne Burdge MBE, who is the wife of long-standing committee member, Lionel Burdge.

The exhibition is free to enter and open every day from 10a.m. to 8p.m. (4p.m. on the last Sunday).

There is tea/coffee and homemade cakes (on sale for TCC) and a bar in the evenings. www.septemberart.org Twitter: @SeptemberartS; facebook.com/septemberart

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BLUEMOON GALLERY

New owners invite you to explore two floors of painting and pottery with an increasing range of jewellery and craft Bluemoon Gallery has been a feature of Tunbridge Wells for 12 years and provides one of the few locations in the area where the highest-quality art and craft can be seen and bought – and we are still able to come to your own home with suggestion pieces and advice.

Exquisite, sought-after and sometimes rarely available, the handmade pottery and ceramics in the gallery range from affordably-priced, usable cups and bowls to magnificent feature pieces of museum standard.

Doug Fitch, Hannah McAndrew and Katrina Jenkins are three new artists to the gallery. Doug is famous for his beautiful, rustic and, if you choose, functional, flagons and pots. He says, “I drink ale out of mine!” But you may just want to adore these objects like sculptures since they stand with such stature.

Katrina’s glazes have been developed to conjure up the weathered erosion observed on rocks and features around our coastline, combined with the bright turquoise and greens of sea and sky, particularly noticeable in some of these settings.

If you missed the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition this year, then Bluemoon has two successful artists who are now well known to RA visitors. Jonathan Lloyd has presented the

gallery with one of the panels from his Rout of San Romano series (after Ucello), and Bluemoon has a number of these powerful woodcuts reserved for the gallery. They are also showing well-loved and collected lino cuts from Anita Klein, again at framed or un-framed prices.

There are also many new painters at the gallery. Karen Birchwood’s dreamlike but immediately-recognisable landscapes and still-lives will be familiar to art lovers and collectors from exhibitions and galleries throughout Kent and East Sussex. Jaki Stilman, also well known locally, produces London scenes reminiscent of Lowry’s human activity but with a particular stamp. Says Jaki, “I paint to make the ordinary come alive.” www.bluemoongallery.co.uk

CHAPEL PLACE GALLERY

“My favourite galleries have always been the ones where you don’t know what to expect each time you visit, but you keep coming back because you always like the work they select, you like their eye for things, and you trust them to surprise you.”

You can sense the enthusiasm when Gill Ib speaks about her new gallery. “I want this place to feel special, and I hope that people will be infected by my excitement!” And special it is. It took several months to completely refurbish the building, which had been an antiques shop for decades. The old Victorian shop space has now been reborn as Chapel Place Gallery. The new architect-designed interiors feature brushed concrete surfaces and vintage modernist pendant lights; it’s well-lit and feels spacious.

Gill’s ambition is there in the work on display, as well. Big names such as Bridget Riley and Terry Frost sit alongside the work of mid-career and up-and-coming artists. Abstract paintings and fine art prints (many reflecting her love of the St Ives modernists) sit alongside stunning vintage pieces of Venetian glass, as well as glass by contemporary Venetian and Danish designers. A huge spider-like sculpture by Jonathan Clarke dominates the basement area.

Gill also sells stylish glass “statement” jewellery by Marina and Susanna Sent, which has been drawing customers in since the gallery opened in June. The gallery is the only UK stockist. She

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wears the jewellery herself and describes it as addictive – “People see it on you and fall in love with it.”

As well as their ever-changing selection of paintings, prints, glass and sculptures, the gallery holds regular exhibitions and Gill becomes passionate again when describing the current exhibition of work by Sandra Blow, who died in 2006. “Her style is so bold and distinctive, so many modernist painters cite her as a huge inspiration.”

Gill finishes by pointing out: “We want the gallery to be really friendly and welcoming. Local art collectors are beginning to find us, and the feedback we’re getting from them is fantastic, but the gallery isn’t just for existing collectors, we also want it to be for people who are just starting out. There’s no greater pleasure for me than helping someone buy their first work of art!” www.chapelplacegallery.co.uk

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Dreamtine by Dani Humberstone

PURE AUTUMN ART FAIR

The most difficult thing to do after running a successful, well-attended art fair or festival is... how to do it all again!

This September sees the return of the Pure Autumn Art Fair to Battle on 12th September. Now in its fifth year, Pure Fine Art has built an impressive reputation for putting on dynamic and inspirational art fairs and returns to the PowderMills Hotel, Battle, for its annual Autumn Fair. This now wellestablished art fair reaches far beyond its local roots, continuing to attract highly-respected, nationally-acclaimed artists alongside exciting emerging talent.

Invited artist Sue Jelley PSWA (President Society Woman Artist) and member of the prestigious French Pastel Society was one of the judges given the very difficult but enjoyable task of selecting the work for this year’s show. Alongside her was fellow SWA member Dani Humberstone, Mark Westall of FAD and well-known and respected photographer Martin Everett MA PhD. The show will give visitors the opportunity to view, experience and buy some outstanding pieces of artwork, across the full range of media, from drawings and paintings to sculpture and performance art.

Top-quality shows like the Pure Autumn Art Fair give artists, local and otherwise, the opportunity to show their work in an expertly-curated exhibition space where much thought is given to the whole visitor experience – it’s not just another selling fair.

Exhibitor Focus – Dani Humberstone (Society of Women Artists) Wadhurst-based surrealist artist, Dani Humberstone is thrilled to have very recently been welcomed as a full member of the SWA, only a year after making associate, no mean feat! She is perhaps best known for her exquisite oil

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paintings, often featuring apples and pears with beautifullyintricate miniature scenes inside them.

“I am definitely influenced by the early Dutch still-life artists and enjoy the challenge of creating perfect realism with a surrealist twist. Painting from real objects is key to capturing the minute detail that I strive for in my work. It allows me to translate three dimensions into two and capture the essence or life force of the subject. Individual fruits damage easily; so as they slowly age, I track their gradual decay in the painting as I work.

“To me, the fruit represents or symbolises human form and the scenes depicted within could be defined as ‘compound memory’, layers of thoughts and images that have gone before as well as those yet to exist. I am also fortunate enough to undertake many interesting commissions.

These works I term as ‘aura portraits’ as they capture very personal stories, objects and memories wrapped up within the paintings.

“Recently I have been experimenting with scale and I have painted oversized canvasses of single pieces of fruit such as a huge pomegranate and a giant plum. I find the contrast of size challenging and it gives my work a different perspective.

I paint in oils, predominantly Old Holland Classic Oil colour – using transparent glazes over opaque colour which creates intense levels of luminosity and depth. Strong light and shade, chiaroscuro, give atmosphere and tone.

“The viewer of an artwork is an essential participant in the process of making an artwork, a vital piece of the jigsaw, giving it validity and consequence.”

Pure Autumn Art Fair PowderMills Hotel, Battle TN33 0SP SEPTEMBER 12th – 20TH 2014 purefineart.org.uk | pureartsgroup.co.uk

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

MAKE AN ENTR ANCE The Rolls-Royce Ghost is nothing short of stunning; all leather, walnut and chrome with a V12 engine that positively growls, as Anthony ffrench-Constant discovered...

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Engine noises off are finely judged to offer a nicely-muted growl under stout throttle applications and all but absolute silence in the cruise

Why would you own a Rolls-Royce and not wish to make an entrance? Roll up in the 19ft-long Brinks-Mat-security-vanmasquerading-as-Greek-temple that is the Phantom and you are invariably going to turn a head or two...

Yet there are, it seems, a substantial number of Rolls customers who would like to be able to leave their car on a parking meter without attracting undue attention. Or even, for that matter, fit the thing in a parking bay in the first place. And that’s where the £174,500 Ghost comes in.

Over 17 inches shorter than a Phantom and at least £80,000 less expensive, the Ghost is an altogether different kettle of leather, walnut and chrome. Though still a seriously-imposing encounter, reductions in width and height allied to a smaller front grille and tastefully-demure detailing, make this machine a Scharnhorst to the Phantom’s Bismarck.

Rather than basing itself on the Phantom’s complex aluminium spaceframe chassis, the Ghost favours a steel monocoque body, the benefit being nearly as much interior space as the Phantom on a far smaller footprint. And what an interior...

The specimen I drove is exquisitely finished in cream and navy, with walnut burr timber so dark and lustrous I at first took it to be piano black. The cabin doesn’t boast quite so much of the Art Deco feel as that of the Phantom, and there’s far more switchgear on display, the premise being that you simply sit down and drive off with minimum faff.

With more knobs and knockery on show, the Ghost feels a whisker less living-room-on-wheels than the former, but is still a seriously-sumptuous environment for all that. For starters, not one passenger who climbed aboard during my brief tenure could resist kicking off their shoes and socks to curl their toes into the periscope-depth lambswool floor mats that make up just one of the £36,325-worth of options fitted to this machine.

Clearly designed to last for 100 years, the front seats feel a fraction over-bolstered for my taste. But, accessed by

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relentlessly-appealing, rear-hinged ‘suicide’ doors, the rear seats are a sublime execution of unalloyed opulence and comfort; here presented in the optional form of two poweradjustable chairs separated by a console offering a raft of air-conditioning and multimedia controls. Beneath His ’n’ Her tellies, optional fold-out picnic tables are perfectly finished and offer a champagne flute, all the surface grip of a blob of mercury on a mirror.

And this isn’t just a seriously-lavish lounge; it’s also a seriouslyrapid one. Rolls considers it somewhat vulgar to discuss figures, so suffice it to say that 6.6 litres of V12 in the bows will press you firmly back into your seats as it smears the Ghost to 60mph in just 4.7 seconds, and on at unrelenting pace to a governed 155mph.

Engine noises off are finely judged to offer a nicely-muted growl under stout throttle applications and all but absolute silence in the cruise. You cannot, contrary to popular rumour, hear the

clock ticking, but the cabin is so deliciously well insulated from the outside world that even the volume of the indicator tocking has been dialled right down to avoid unnecessary intrusion into conversation, which can be readily held sotto voce at 100mph.

Via a lovely, thin-rimmed helm, the steering is perfectly weighted for a car this size, and far more communicative than you’d expect. You wouldn’t enjoy throwing the Ghost down a twisting B road, but it is far more than an effortless devourer of continental motorways; ride comfort every inch as cosseting as you’d expect, abetted by excellent body control and a surprising enthusiasm for speed on a sinuous A road.

In all, criticisms are pleasingly hard to come by; mine limited to the slightly-too-overt presence of blatantly-BMW-sourced instrumentation in the driver’s environment. That aside, the Ghost is something of a masterpiece which I urge you to try just once. Even if you do have to put on a tie and lie like fury about the state of your bank balance.

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST Price: £174,500 (£210,825 as tested) Engine: 6529cc 48v twin-turbo V12, 563bhp @ 5250rpm, 575lb ft @ 1500rpm Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

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Performance: 4.7sec 0-60mph, 155mph, 21.0mpg, 317g/km CO2 Weight: 2360kg On sale: Now

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

HOOKED ON RUGS

The art of rugmaking is alive and well in Ticehurst, where designer Anna Vereker creates beautiful pieces for local homes

Beautiful rugs are the domain of Anna V Rugs, a design company based in East Sussex, specialising in hand-tufted and shaggy rugs. Owner Anna Vereker trained in design in Brighton and has used her talents to set up her unusual and successful company. She talked to Kudos about her work.

What was your first design job?

Have you always been interested in art and design?

How did your career progress from there?

Yes, and from a young age I have always been attracted to strong, bright colours, and painting and decorating anything within my reach. My mother is an artist and a huge inspiration to me. My earliest memories are of her painting at our kitchen table and the smell of turps and oil paint.

And did you always want a career in design?

I designed my first rug on a whim, and soon rug sales overtook the clocks, and the business evolved into a rug company. My real pleasure is working directly with a customer and adding the final touch to their room.

What styles of rug do you make?

Yes, but early on I thought I would go into a career in either photography or graphic design. Then I did an Art Foundation course at Brighton and discovered textile design, which ticked all the boxes for me in terms of my love of colour and design.

The majority of the designs are contemporary. We try to set ourselves apart by listening carefully to a client and exploring lots of new ideas at the same time, so they get exactly what they want plus a little extra, in terms of an unusual colourway or a subtle texture running through the design.

Where did you train?

What attracts you to this form of design?

I did a four-year degree in Fashion and Textiles at Brighton, including a placement year in London, France and New York.

I specialised in printed textile design, which was to prove a very versatile choice, as since then I have applied this surface design to clothing, clocks and carpets!

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It was as a freelance swimwear designer in London. I then moved to the West Country and set up a company called Sunshine Designs, painting clocks and mirrors which we sold to small retail outlets and larger stores including John Lewis.

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I love the variety in designing rugs. No bespoke design is the same. I am happiest when designing – what attracts me is the limitless possibilities in terms of scale, texture and colour.

A rug can be a bold statement, a focal point or a hint of colour, or blend effortlessly into its surroundings.

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And you design bespoke rugs for customers?

We do. A bespoke design is most satisfying if a site visit can be arranged as a rug can tie in many areas, not just the room it’s designed for. Photos of the room and adjoining hallway are also useful, as are images of a customer’s furniture and furnishings to get a true idea of what they really like.

We work together with the customer to choose wool colours, and then I work these into a hand-painted design. The design may be spot-on immediately or may have to be re-worked until the client is totally happy. Sometimes we produce small feeler samples before making up a big rug. Colour accuracy is vital and is easier to visualise on a slightly-larger scale before committing to the final piece.

Do you plan to develop the business and, if so, how?

We have recently opened a showroom in Ticehurst, and I hope that we will have more local passing trade.

I have a passion for exploring houses. Not only is it a great insight into people’s personalities, but it’s also very inspiring.

The houses in Sussex are stunning, and even the oldest, most traditional property lends itself to our rugs. We have designed round rugs for oast houses, bold contemporary rugs for large barn conversions and even colourful wall hangings for an old Sussex Hall House.

As well as working directly with clients, I also work closely with a number of interior designers who specify the rugs in domestic and commercial properties all over the UK.

Describe the process of designing a rug from scratch.

The rugs are hand-tufted from 100% wool. Hand-tufting is particularly suitable to contemporary rug design as there are not the conforms of warp and weft, which means designs are not restricted to being made in straight lines.

The first step involves stretching cotton jute over a loom to the size required. Then the design is stencilled onto the jute and yarns are shot through from the back using a hand-held tufting gun. Sometimes this technique is also called ‘gun-tufted’.

Once the design is complete, the rug will have a secondary cotton backing attached by adhesive. The final touches are then applied to the front of the design in terms of carving and textures.

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www.annavrugs.com

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THE UK’S BROADBAND ISN’T UP TO SPEED

While the residential market is seeing the benefits of high-speed broadband, this isn’t the case for a huge number of businesses

With an estimated 45,000 firms still on dial-up, and many more struggling with speeds lower than 2 megabits per second (Mbps), it’s clear that while the residential market may be seeing the benefits of high-speed broadband, this is often not the case for the business community. The UK’s forthcoming digital infrastructure strategy, therefore, needs to recognise this issue and put small businesses at the front and centre of future roll-out plans, so that they can enjoy the benefits, too.

Almost every small company views a reliable internet connection as critical to the success of their business. The current Government targets of 24 Mbps for 95% of the population and 2 Mbps for the remaining 5% will not meet the future demands of UK businesses.

For example, even in areas where households have high-speed broadband, some businesses still struggle to send digital invoices, upload large files or even communicate with clients via the internet.

The current targets will not allow for the UK’s ‘digital by default’ strategy, or policies such as Real Time Information that rely on reliable broadband to be delivered successfully.

The Government, in cooperation with industry, needs to commit to delivering minimum speeds of 10 Mbps for all business premises in the UK by 2018-19, regardless of location. This compares with the current target of delivering 2 Mbps for the hardest-to-reach 5% by 2017. Alongside this, the Government should set a medium to long-term objective of providing minimum speeds of 100 Mbps to all premises by 2030. By way of comparison, Denmark is committed to offering universal access of 100 Mbps to its citizens by 2020, while South Korea has a target of 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) for 90% of its population by 2017.

Business should be at the heart of the roll-out of high-speed broadband, and the types of products and services on offer need to far better reflect business needs. This includes guaranteed minimum

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bandwidth levels, reliable connections and greater parity between upload and download speeds, at affordable prices. Crucially, the UK’s digital infrastructure also needs to be future-proofed to ensure that tomorrow’s business needs are met.

The Government should prioritise the delivery of fibre-optic broadband to business communities such as retail parks and ensure that firms located in enterprise zones, which are designed to spur local growth, are fully connected – many are still not.

Commenting on the state of the business broadband market, John Allan, National Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The fact that we have around 45,000 businesses still on dial-up is unacceptable, and many more throughout the country, even in London, are receiving poor service. Evidence from our members shows this clearly is a problem affecting all corners of the UK, rural areas and cities alike. While progress has been made with the residential market, businesses have not enjoyed the same benefits, which is holding back their growth. We therefore want to see the UK Government show ambition with its broadband targets and put business needs at their centre. Leaving 5% of the population with a 2 Mbps connection in 2017 is not good enough.

“As this report shows, too many of our small firms are held back by the current state of the broadband market in the UK. We want Government to oversee the creation of world-beating digital infrastructure that will enable businesses to grow, innovate and compete in international markets. This means not only raising download speeds but also upload speeds, which are so important and where provision is especially inadequate. Otherwise firms’ growth ambitions will be blunted, while Government efforts to get every firm to go ‘digital by default’ when filing its taxes online will be impossible to achieve.”

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

KING OF THE MAC Jon Traquair answers the most common questions people ask in The Mac Man’s Tunbridge Wells and Brighton shops

Do you have an iPhone? An iMac or MacBook perhaps? How about an iPad? If you do, you might have some questions about how to best use and service your Apple products.

If this is you, we’re here to help!

Why choose Apple?

Simply put, Apple kit just works. I.T. is meant to make your life easier, less stressful and save you time. Apple products do exactly that!

They run smoothly, sync with other Apple devices and save you a lot of time (and stress!) in the process. The fact that they look great is just the tip of the iceberg.

Are they difficult to learn and use?

On the contrary! There’s no denying that Apple Macs are different in terms of use, but once you master these differences you’ll be flying along in no time.

Why are they so expensive?

Over the long-term, they’re not. The initial investment is comparatively expensive when compared to Windows PCs, but they last much longer and, as explained above, they save you time and stress in the process.

Do Apple Macs get viruses?

In all honesty, they can. Anyone that tells you they don’t is talking baloney. The fact is they’re just not targeted and the operating system is harder to infiltrate.

Do I need anti-virus software?

It’s better to be safe than sorry. We would recommend installing Sophos, which is free and works well.

Business partners Matt Edbrooke & Jon Traquair Should I have an iCloud account?

Yes, it’s very handy. You can back-up your iDevice to iCloud automatically and it also allows you to sync contacts, calendars and photos. For example, a photo taken on your phone appears on your iPad and Mac the next time you turn them on. Magic!

Does replacing a damaged iPhone screen void the Apple warranty?

Yes, it does. If the phone is over 12 months old, then get an independent company such as ourselves to replace the screen.

If you’ve damaged your iPhone screen and it’s under 12 months old, we would suggest taking it back to Apple directly.

If you have questions about your Apple products, please send them to info@themac-man.co.uk or via our new Twitter page @themacmantw for our Tunbridge Wells stores. We might just publish it along with an answer in the next issue of Kudos to help share the Apple love!

PICK OF THE BUSINESS APPS SCANNER PRO For high-quality scans of anything, from anywhere, using just your iPhone. After scanning, PDF files can be emailed, printed, shared or uploaded to services such as Dropbox and others. The app has automatic edge detection for high-quality scans every time, and you can also manually crop pages.

INVOICE2GO PLUS An app designed to create invoices, estimates, credit memos and purchase orders straight from your device, as well as keeping track of money owed, taxes and totals. With templates to choose from and the option to include PayPal buttons for convenience, users can track and manage invoices before sending them directly to customers and clients. This is the perfect tool to keep track of money owed, money paid and money received.

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014

iTRANSLATE VOICE With 42 languages available, you can translate the spoken word into written English (or whatever language you desire), allowing you to connect devices and engage in conversation with others. When working globally, language can be a huge problem, and apps like this mean you can communicate much more efficiently.

EVERNOTE Giving users the ability to make notes, take clippings from web pages and create reminders, Evernote ensures you’ll never forget anything again. You can jot down notes to go back to later or create helpful to-do lists, everything is searchable and you can sync notes across devices. It is perfect for taking notes in meetings, sharing drafts between team members and brainstorming new ideas from absolutely anywhere.

LOV E BUSINESS

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THE SOUND OF MUSIC Opera singer Robert Poulton thrilled the world of music with his wonderful voice. Now, after his tragic death, his widow has launched a charity to pass on his love of singing

Robert Poulton was an internationally-acclaimed operatic baritone who had sung in all of the UK’s major opera houses, including Covent Garden, and around the world.

“Rob was an extraordinary, talented and intelligent man,” says his widow Philippa. “Yet at home he was just ‘Pa’ – an extremely-loving and giving husband and father. At work he was well known for his wonderful sense of humour, and also his integrity and kind nature.

He was my best friend, and we spent hours laughing and chatting together.

“He had a beautiful, rich, baritone voice, and was a wonderful actor.

When he died he was just reaching the peak of his performing career, and had never sounded better. He was moving into heavier repertoire, which really suited him. He was already booked up with work for the next three years. This doesn’t happen for many opera singers, especially in the current economic climate.

“We lived a very happy family life in Heathfield. Rob was physically very fit, and he made me walk and cycle a lot more than I wanted to!

My youngest son plays football, and we could be found every Sunday at the touchline laughing and joking outrageously, much to my teenage son’s disgust! Rob was also very well read, and a film buff. He introduced our sons to all of the popular cult films, and when they were young, one of our favourite games was ‘Guess the theme tune’.”

His death in a car accident was a devastating blow, not only for Philippa and her family, but for the opera world. And it was from this grief that Philippa founded The Robert Poulton Foundation.

“In launching Rob’s charity, my aim is to pass on his love of singing, and its ability to change lives for the better. I know that this is both greatly needed and entirely possible, in a world that can often be challenging.

“Initially we’re focussing on two areas: to send a specialised singing tutor into two inner London schools for whole-class sessions involving Key Stage 2 children; and to set up and fund a Community Hospice Choir in East Sussex.

“When Rob died, there was an outpouring of grief from our friends and colleagues in the opera world. As a job, it is a fairly-transient existence, and I was aware that our many talented friends needed

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a positive focus for their grief. One of the aims of his charity is to focus positive energy. Rob was very good at entertaining, and even though he has died, I truly believe that his positive life force is still present.

“I always wanted the charity to be concerned with the therapeutic aspects of singing, and its ability to enrich our lives. Last autumn, I was in LA where my brother lives, visiting a downtown refuge for women and their children, and I suddenly thought how wonderful it would be to sing with these children, who clearly needed comfort and support.

The charity needs to raise at least £30k per year, and Philippa is planning a fundraising launch in London this autumn. She says: “Many of our close friends and colleagues will perform. I am obviously going to harness my friends’ talents as much as I can, in order to help me raise funds. I shall also sing at a few local events myself.

“I chose London to launch our project because I am aware that there is need there, and I wanted the Foundation to have a high profile.

But I also wanted our local area to benefit, and because I have two friends who are currently suffering from the devastation that comes with cancer, I thought that a Community Hospice Choir would be wonderfully supportive. I have a close friend who runs one in London, which is very successful.

“As a result, The Robert Poulton Community Choir, based at St Wilfred’s Hospice in Eastbourne, will open its doors to new members in January.

“I know that I am also going to have to look into grants and private donations. If anyone out there is an expert at fundraising, I would love to hear from them! I have had to learn several new skills, but I know that I can’t do it all by myself, because I am also a single mum.

“Thankfully, I have already had a tremendous amount of practical and emotional support from our wonderful friends and family.”

If you would like to support the Robert Poulton Foundation, visit www.gofundme.com/Robert-Poulton-Foundation You can also donate by sending a cheque to: The Robert Poulton Foundation, 38 Lime Way, Heathfield TN21 8YB

KUDOS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014