LIFE IN PLYMOUTH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS
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TRUE TASTE OF SUMMER RECIPES TO GET YOU FIRED UP FOR BARBECUE SEASON
ALEXANDRA BURKE BACK IN PLYMOUTH OF THE BEST EVENTS THIS MONTH
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SUMMER JEWELLERY • EXCLUSIVE HOMES • MTV CRASHES • BEACHWEAR 25/06/2015 12:13:05
CONTENTS
22
JULY 2015
Features
8 - ALEXANDRA BURKE
40
FIR S T T H E AT R E R O L E FO R SIN G I N G S E N SAT I O N
10 - £1M HOME A S U R P R I S E B E H I N D E V E RY D O O R OF S T U N N I N G P R O P E RT Y
14 - HOE ARTISTS ME E T T H E A RT I S T I C TA L E N T BE H I N D N E W S U N DAY S H OWC A S E
Regulars Events & People 6 6J UTLYH IHNAGPSPTOE NDI NOG S NG 18 SMTUESVIEC AS TL RO AMBITIONS 20 TACE RHEI ES AV IDNRGI SACDORLELA M Homes & Gardens RS 22 NC RATA IFVTEI NMGABKEEAU TY 24 BT IUPISL DF OYOR SUERL OF -WB UNI LHDOEMRES 26 NPAI CS TEEALSI NI CSEP I R AT I O N S 28 SHEI SCTOR ERIT GC AGREDME N T H E M A N C AV E 30 TO P O S D R E S S YO U R S H E D
Food & Drink 33 POSITANO ITALIAN INSPIRATION GIN 36 PLYMOUTH TRY SOME COCKTAILS PINKS 38 PRETTY WINES FOR SUMMER FRESCO 40 AL PERFECT PICNICS Health & Beauty SALADS 42 SUPER PACK A HEALTHY PUNCH D 44 VITAMIN SOAK UP SOME SUN IT 46 FAKE GUIDE TO SELF-TAN PROTECTION 48 SUN THE BEST PRODUCTS Fashion & Shopping JEWELLERY 50 SUMMER SPARKLE WITH DRAKES
LOOKS, COOL DAYS 54 HOT BEACH WEAR PACKED 58 PICNIC GET THE LOOK Family & Travel YOUR PAST 61 TRACE FIND YOUR FAMILY LAW 63 FAMILY HOW TO COPE THE RIGHT SCHOOL 64 FIND HOW TO CHOOSE CAMPING... 66 GO ...IT’S GOOD FOR YOU Out & About VIEW 71 PERFECT THE BEST PICNIC SPOTS CRASHES 74 MTV IT’S BACK ON THE HOE HARMAN 76 NIGEL WHY HE LOVES SHREK! DIARY 78 SOCIAL OUT IN THE CITY
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WELCOME Loving our look
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elcome to our new-look PL Magazine! We’ve made a few changes which we hope you will love as much as we do. But don’t worry, we’ve packed in as many of your favourite features as ever and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed as you turn the following pages. We start with an interview and pictures of our cover star, Alexandra Burke, who is appearing in her first theatre role in The Bodyguard. I can’t wait to see Alex take on the diva role made so famous by Whitney Houston and hear her belt out the tunes which made the original film such a success. The focus this month, however, is very much on the outdoors. From what to wear on the beach to the massive MTV concert on the Hoe we hope to help you make the most of the summer. We’ve got a total guide to picnics, from where to go to what to pack and we explore why a family camping holiday is good for your kids. We’ve explored the health benefits of a little safe time in the sun while also reviewing the best sun creams and self-tan products. One of my personal favourite features this month is Andy Pyle’s tour of Mount Stone House, a delightful period property currently on the market at a little over £1m. It’s great to have pictures of the house and garden which many readers will have passed on their way to the Royal William Yard and wondered what it looks like inside. Finally we have four packed pages of social diary pictures. We’d like to carry even more of these in the coming months so if you are attending a summer ball or special event, why not send me some pictures? If you are off on holiday this month, I hope you take a copy of PL to enjoy in the sun. Happy reading! EDITOR - PL MAGAZINE
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ON THE COVER
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This month we feature singing sensation Alexandra Burke who stars in The Bodyguard LIFE IN PLYMOUTH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS
July 2015
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SUMMER JEWELLERY • EXCLUSIVE HOMES • MTV CRASHES • BEACHWEAR 25/06/2015 12:13:05
Copyright © 2015. The Herald Views expressed by writers herein do not necessarily represent those of PL Magazine or The Herald. Availability and price of items have been checked at time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for any rejected items or unfulfilled orders. Printed by Precision Colour Printing Ltd. PL Magazine is part of The Herald, Studio 5-11, Millbay Road, Plymouth PL1 3LF
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PUBLISHER Paul Burton 01752 293045 pburton@plymouthherald.co.uk EDITOR Clare Jardine 01752 293138 cjardine@plymouthherald.co.uk ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Fiona Stoddart SALES TEAM Jane Resoli 07793 165669 jresoli@dc-media.co.uk Victoria Stopporton 01752 293080 victoria.stopporton@dc-media.co.uk Jenny Short 07711537464 jshort@swmg.co.uk Jane Resoli (eating out, Out & about) 01752 293070 jresoli@swmg.co.uk PROPERTY Mike Wainwright 07879 604387 mike.wainwright@swmg.co.uk DESIGN Rob Coumbe
26/06/2015 12:53:02
Events THE BODYGUARD
PLYMOUTH BEER FESTIVAL
July 7-18
July 10-11
U.DANCE 2015 July 23- 25
Grab a taste of summer at the two-day Plymouth Beer Festival returning to Plymouth Pavilions. In association with CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale), this is the place to be for all real ale and cider lovers with more than 100 real ales on offer and the largest selection of cider and perry in the South West. Music will be provided across the weekend by Plymouth-based act The Stand Bys in addition to The Non Stop Sixties Show, who will be showcasing the hits from this swinging decade.
Taking place in the South West for the very first time, Youth Dance England in partnership with Plymouth Dance present U.Dance 2015, the national festival that celebrates and showcases the very best youth dance work from Plymouth and beyond.
TOP
After reading the PL interview with the lovely Alexandra Burke starring as Rachel Marron, it would be foolish to miss this award-winning musical based on the blockbuster film. Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Both Rachel and Frank battle to be in charge and what they don’t expect is to fall in love. Direct from its smash-hit West End run, the show is coming to the Theatre Royal Plymouth for just two weeks.
Things to do in July MTV CRASHES PLYMOUTH
MYSTERY, MAGIC AND MIDNIGHT FEASTS: THE MANY ADVENTURES OF ENID BLYTON
July onwards
Immerse yourself in the world of Enid Blyton – one of the best-selling writers for children of all time. Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery is showcasing a unique collection of Blyton’s original manuscripts and illustrations as well as her personal diaries and typewriter. Explore the Malory Towers Common Room, adventure with The Famous Five, discover Toyland with Noddy and escape to The Magic Faraway Tree with Silky and Moonface in addition to a number of fun, family-friendly activities for Blyton fans of all ages!
July 22- 24
SALTRAM SUMMER GARDEN PARTY CRAFT & FOOD FAIR
July 25-26
Saltram’s summer garden is coming into blossom, and what better way to celebrate than with a party! Local craft and food stalls will pitch up for the weekend and there will also be demonstrations, talks, garden games amongst the idyllic backdrop on Saltram. The historic house also invites you to explore dressing up in the house, games in the garden and discovery trails.
The hottest event on the city’s calendar, MTV Crashes returns to the idyllic and iconic Plymouth Hoe this month and is even bigger and better than 2014. Following its phenomenal success last year, the live music event has been stretched out across three days; the first will feature major contemporary acts on the UK music scene including Tinie Tempah and a host of others yet to be announced. The second day of MTV Crashes will be just as impressive with an accolade of the DJs – reflecting the positive feedback Example’s outstanding performance created last year. The third will celebrate the best acts from here in Plymouth.
6 | PL MAGAZINE
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Feature
Alexandra
shines
Pop sensation Alexandra Burke spoke to PL about her acting debut in The Bodyguard musical and what it’s like to play a role made famous by her idol, Whitney Houston
I
n 1992, The Bodyguard cemented Whitney Houston’s place as a true music sensation. The film’s karaoke favourite I Will Always Love You has been belted into hairbrushes by the best of us ever since. Whitney’s role as spoiled diva Rachel Marron was her first. Kevin Costner also starred as grumpy Frank Farmer - the bodyguard hired to protect her from a sinister stalker. Twenty years later the film was transformed into a smash-hit musical which is now in the midst of its first UK tour. Alexandra had the daunting task of stepping into Whitney’s shoes, playing Rachel in the West End production of the musical and again on the UK national tour. Third time’s a charm for the pop star who finally took the role after being offered the part twice before. “I said ‘no’ both times,” said Alexandra. “I was offered the part when the show first opened in the West End and then I was asked to do the last three months there but I thought it was way too scary.” Alexandra moved to New York for a year and set about increasing her confidence with a life coach. When the opportunity came up for a third time she grabbed it with both hands. Alexandra needn’t have worried - she’s been receiving rave reviews for her interpretation. “My favourite Whitney song to sing is I Have Nothing. The lady who wrote it, Linda Thompson, came to see the show last year and I didn’t know she was there until she came to see me.
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Out & About
“It was really weird seeing how they had taken the movie and turned it into a stage show “She told me she was blown away by my interpretation, which was so humbling. It’s such a massive song and it’s a privilege to sing it.” The singer, who made her name as winner of the X Factor’s fifth series, says she doesn’t regret waiting. “Do I now wish I’d taken up the offer first time? No. Everything happens for a reason. “If I’d done it before then I wouldn’t be on tour now. The show’s grown since the start and the songs have changed. “It was really weird seeing how they had taken the movie and turned it into a stage show. It’s so smoothly done but they’ve only taken some of the songs from the movie soundtrack and there are so many more of Whitney’s own songs in the stage show. “It’s a better show to be on the road with and I’m grateful that I’m doing it.” Since her X Factor win in 2008 Alexandra has produced two chart-topping albums and in January 2015 she released a new EP which
was recorded in-between her Bodyguard performances. Alexandra inherited her singing talents from her mum, Melissa Bell, former lead singer of Soul II Soul who shared a stage with Whitney. “My mum introduced me to Whitney’s music. She did backing vocals for her when she was on Top Of The Pops,” Alexandra smiles. “To be able to walk onto the stage every night and sing Whitney Houston songs is such a big thrill.” The role isn’t something Alexandra takes lightly. “It’s a huge deal for me but it’s a lot of fun and I’m enjoying it.
“I’m not going to say it’s easy because it’s definitely really hard to do. “It’s such a privilege and an honour to take on this iconic role as Rachel. The Hallelujah singer is keen to emphasise that she isn’t trying to replace Whitney. “It’s difficult when someone so famous and legendary made the role. “I’m not trying to be Whitney Houston. This is my interpretation of who I think Rachel is.”
The Bodyguard plays from July 7 to 18 at Theatre Royal Plymouth
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Feature
A surprise behind
Mount Stone House, a period home set in secluded private gardens, sits right next door to Plymouthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Royal William Yard. Andrew Pyle took a tour of the stunning property
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hen Andrew and Joanna Jeffrey and their three children moved to Plymouth from Kent 16 years ago and bought a stunning period property they took on an ambitious project to restore the house to its former glory.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE MAGNIFICENT STAIRCASE; THE DINING ROOM; THE ENTRANCE HALL
25/06/2015 15:20:18
{ Feature {
But then being ambitious seems to come naturally for Andrew, a retired bank manager, and Joanna, who not only has an MBE for Services to the Community in the South West, but also runs her own company called TRUGs (Teach Reading Using Games) which produces and distributes card games designed to help parents and carers to teach children to read. Joanna says: “When we first came, we needed to do an enormous amount of work to the house and the garden. The house itself looked splendid, with artwork and antiques aplenty, but when it was empty we realised how many things were not right. “It needed completely re-wiring, the chimneys were replaced at a cost of £5,000 each, and there was also rot and wood beetles. We had a whole year of wheelbarrows and hard hats, and 19 workmen on site, which was incredibly difficult for us as a family. “Our attitude is you go in, you know what you want to do and you do it, and then you live in it. Don’t do it in small stages because the following year it’s always more expensive and you never get to the stage when you then live the life of the house.” Mount Stone House has four reception rooms, ample kitchen and utility areas, eight bedrooms, four bath or shower rooms and a detached games room/ studio. The property is approached by a private drive at the end of Durnford Street, just outside the Royal William Yard, and lies within a conservation area. Now Grade II Listed, it was built in the mid to late 18th century. The south wing was rebuilt in 1780 following a fire, and the property was extended and altered in 1833 by John Foulston, a famous architect
responsible for many of Plymouth’s most iconic buildings. The house overlooks the nearby waters of Stonehouse Pool, the Mayflower Marina, the Royal William Yard and the River Tamar, and shares with the secluded gardens lovely views across miles of water. Restoring the property has been a real labour of love for Andrew and Joanna. Coming from Kent, though, how did the couple find out about the house? Joanna reveals: “The property wasn’t actually for sale at the time, and one of the agents we were in contact with came to us and said, ‘There might be a house coming on the market which I think might suit you’. “We had looked at 33 properties in the area and we didn’t actually gel with any of them. Then we saw this one and as soon as I walked through the front door I thought, ‘I’m not going to live in a house like this… this is nuts!’ “And then when we actually went round the house we were just astonished. How often are you going to have the privilege to live in a house like this? But here we are and we’re living here! “There was something behind every door, whether it was a cellar or secret entrance. It is an extraordinary house.” Indeed, the interior is teeming with history – something Joanna knows plenty about. She explains: “The house was reputedly used by Queen Adelaide when she officially opened the Royal William Yard. However, her dress was so big that they had to destroy the front door and created this entrance hall so she could come through.
PL MAGAZINE | 11
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ONE OF THE BEDROOMS BELOW: THE STUNNING EXTERIOR OF MOUNT STONE HOUSE
“The house has been in the Mount Edgcumbe estate since it was started in the 1500s, with the wall at the back of entrance hall is part of the original farmhouse. It was then sold in 1926, and we are only the sixth owners. “The owner before the previous owners was an artist called Paul Gell. We have a copy of his book which shows images depicting paintings of flowers from the seven different gardens of Mount Stone House – and we were thrilled when we found some of his work in an auction. These paintings are now on the walls of the entrance hall.” Without doubt, among the most spectacular features of the property is its stunning location and beautiful gardens, of which there are seven. Joanna admits: “It’s very unusual to have such a large garden, nearly an acre, in the city centre. And it really is a climate of its own because it’s built in rock. “When we first came here 16 years ago, there were no flowers and it was overgrown. It was still beautiful and had charm, but it’s taken us many years to get it to how it looks today. “The garden even features a vaulted room of water, an unused water storage system for the house, underneath the patio.” As for the exterior, Joanna reveals: “All the slate was sourced from Delabole in Cornwall, with each tile costing £3.80 each. The builders who installed them say they will last for 150 years. “We also did quite a lot internally. The kitchen was originally at the end of the house, and we decided to relocate it to the middle. Where it is now was originally three smaller rooms, so we had to put up an RSJ and then took away the interior walls to create a larger space. “We also created a bathroom and a downstairs toilet. What we really wanted to do was renovate, restore and make it look as it should do so that the house feels comfortable in itself.”
It’s very unusual to have such a large garden, nearly an acre, in the city centre. And it really is a climate of its own because it’s built in rock So, what’s next for the ambitious couple? “We’re actually going to build a four-bedroom house within the grounds,” says Joanna, with a smile. “We’ve got the plans all written up and got the planning permission. As you approach the house, there’s a wood on the right-hand side which we also own, so we’re going to build a driveway through that, with a house at the end. “This is an area that we love and we really don’t want to leave. Mount Stone House is a big home and it should have a family roaring around the place having parties. “We’ve done that and our children have
moved on, so it’s time for someone else to enjoy it. It’s taken me five years to come to terms with thinking about selling but it feels right now, especially staying in an area that we absolutely adore. “I know we’re going to find it very difficult to leave, but you do have to move on in life. “We’ve had a lot of laughs, a lot of worries at the start, but it’s all been worth it in the end.”
Mount Stone House is available through Stags (01752 223933) and Lang & Co (01752 256000) for £1.35 million.
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Feature
Local artists have pooled their creative talents to produce a new weekly art fair at Tinside Colonnade, Rachael Dodd reports
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lymouth Hoe Art Fair has only been running for two months but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already a waiting list of artists eager to take part in the event. Run without a profit, with no commission fees or set up charges, the fair offers a unique platform for Plymouth artists to get their work seen and sold.
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Feature
LEFT: PAUL KEMP SHOWCASES HIS WORK
Organiser and local artist Dave Crocker explains how it works: “There are very pure principles involved. We’ll never turn anyone away and no one’s making any profit from this – I’ll never charge a penny for artists to exhibit.” The event receives funding from the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership to purchase the materials needed to make 70 display frameworks – two for each of the Colonnade’s bays. Dave, who lives in Plymstock, says “We continue to work closely with Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and are very grateful for the faith they showed in funding the display frames without which we could not have started our art fair.” Dave isn’t alone in running the art show. The artists involved, including all of those who exhibit at the nearby Gallery On The Hoe, organise the event as a united group. “We work as a collective and everyone helps each other,” Dave says. “Every week one person takes on the role of co-ordinator and on a Thursday or Friday the artists have their bays drawn by lot system so the distribution is unbiased.” Thirty of the artists signed up with the fair also exhibit their works 10 yards from the West entrance to the Colonnade in the Gallery On The Hoe. The collective rent the space from the owner
HoeArtists_Jul15.indd 3
of El Cafe which is located on top of the gallery. The rent each artist pays is worked out by their wall space. The time and cost is shared equally among the artists after which all sale profits go to the selling artist. It is a prerequisite that any artist in the gallery takes part in the Plymouth Hoe Art Fair and the space is now so full that Dave and his team are looking for a second property. “Our fairs and the gallery enable any local artist, whatever their experience, to have free access to exhibit and sell their work direct to the public,” Dave says. This system of equality and community has drawn artists from across the city and people of every experience level stand side-by-side. Dave says: “Someone who’s only just started can be stood next to someone who’s been painting for 30 years.” Set amongst the unique architecture of Tinside Lido with the waves crashing below, Dave says the picturesque location is the perfect place to show local artwork. “We’re in such a great location in the Colonnade. Walking around this space really slows people down rather than racing around it at 100 miles an hour. “Because we’re off the main streets we’re not changing the landscape either. The fair doesn’t affect the beauty of the location at all.” The beauty of the location has attracted
26/06/2015 10:11:56
Feature potential art show organisers in the past. Andy Downey, previous owner of the former Trerise Gallery (now Gallery On The Hoe) attempted to run a fair in 2013. Plymouth Waterfront Partnership also attempted a similar event but neither was a success. “The idea had been around for a few years,” Dave says. “I was shown the space at the Colonnade by Andy Downey and I saw the huge potential. It was his dream to turn the area into a fair but sadly it didn’t work out. “I didn’t want to start something up until I knew I could fill it. I called all the individual artists and persuaded them to get involved. Once they came and saw the opportunity they were very keen.” The event’s popularity is growing all the time with over 70 artists now on the roster. To
give everyone an equal chance the line-up is changed every week meaning no two are ever the same. It’s Dave’s hope that the art fair will help spread the word about Plymouth’s art scene and get people talking positively about it. “As a city, once we become confident enough to be proud about the art scene and our artists we can say to our friends: ‘look, this is what we have,’” Dave says. “We’re nearly there now I think. When we reach that point we can say something’s happening here.” The fair runs every Sunday, subject to weather conditions. Any local artists who would like to exhibit at the event should contact Dave Crocker at davecrocker@hotmail.co.uk or via the web site www.plymouthhoeartfair.com
Niki Hill
Niki is one of the only artists taking part in the fair who specialises in paper cutting.
Glyn White
Glyn grew up in Hertfordshire, but fell in love with the South West at a young age, moving to Devon in his early twenties. After more than a decade teaching art, Glyn felt it was time to start practising what he preached and returned to his first love – painting. “I taught art for about 13 years with disabled people and in adult learning,” Glyn says. “I was often working with Broadreach, Ocean Quay and the Budshead Trust.” Glyn was also finding success as a painter. In 2012 the opportunity arose for him to design one of the record sleeves for Ben Howard’s Black Flies EP - a limited edition 7” vinyl released in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. He
decided to go full time as an artist in 2014. Glyn and his dog Deacon have been involved with the Plymouth Hoe Art Fair from the start and Glyn also exhibits his work at the Gallery On The Hoe. The art collective’s community spirit really shone when Glyn had an accident before the first fair: “Right before the fair started I broke my leg,” Glyn grimaces. “What it did demonstrate was the collective’s supportive ethos. I can’t drive or get around at the moment and everyone’s been very helpful. “What’s so interesting about this group is that generally any form of creativity tends to be associated with isolation and people asking ‘Why am bothering?” but here everyone’s going through the same thing and we can tell each other it’s ok. It’s a really exciting time.”
The mum-of-three took up the craft eight years ago and has been creating her abstract works ever since under the name Blue Shed Art. Niki was originally a ceramic artist but when the art form wasn’t working for her she changed tack. “Pottery was my first love really but to be honest I just wasn’t quite good enough to really make something of it. “When I retired I was working at the National Marine Aquarium as part of the art and science team which was so much fun. “I went to a book making class back when handmade notebooks and things like that were really fashionable,” Niki says, “but it wasn’t my style. “So I tried paper cutting instead. I prefer abstract shapes and I don’t use stencils – everything is cut by hand. “I can’t tell you how much money I spend on paper but I make my own too,” Niki laughs. Each piece can take Niki three weeks to complete – the pieces of paper are painstakingly butted against each other to create a full picture. Niki saw the art fair advertised on Facebook and now displays her work there regularly. “I’m honoured to be a part of this,” she says. “There’s so many lovely people there - if anyone’s ever in trouble someone will be there to help. “What we really need is a champion to help launch the fair into the public eye.”
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Feature
Lynsey Johnstone
After a lifelong love for painting, Scottish-born Lynsey finally took up her brushes in earnest last January. “I’ve always loved art,” she says, “but I never really had the time. “It was my move to Devon a few years back that gave me the opportunity to progress and really helped me define myself as an artist. “Devon often mirrors images of my early memories of Scotland, with the coastal areas and extended moorland it offered a greater depth of natural inspiration, more than I had experienced before.” Lynsey, who works as a nurse, now receives an average of three commissions a month. The positive comments she has received have really buoyed her confidence. “It’s very encouraging because it shows I’m going in the right direction – I have to pinch myself when I think that I’m actually painting now. “I’ve always dreamed of being a painter since I was a young girl and now I’m doing it.” Lynsey says the artists of the fair form a great community. “It’s a really positive environment and we all help each other. “When visitors come to the fair they can feel the positivity and everyone’s very jolly and happy. She says she owes all her recent success to the fair’s organiser Dave Crocker. “If it wasn’t for Dave I wouldn’t be where I am now. “It’s actually been quite effortless for me. I get emails from people interested in my work and it’s really all thanks to Dave.”
Sue Wills
Sue and husband Shaun established the Barbican’s Only Originals gallery together and have now been selling Sue’s original artwork there for 32 years. Sue’s diverse work includes pastel pet portraits, oils on canvas, modern abstracts, flowers, moonlights and mirrors. She also creates pen and ink illustrations of houses and businesses, pub signs, menus, Christmas cards, painted glass and murals. Sue says: “I became involved with The Plymouth Hoe Arts Fair through a kind invitation from Dave Crocker. “He asked me to join the group and become an exhibitor at Tinside Colonnade.” Sue attends the fairs with her equally artistic daughter Christie and says the fair has a real community spirit. “It’s great to be part of such an enthusiastic and welcoming group,” she says. “On a fine Sunday when the arts fair is on it’s a real pleasure to be sketching the amazing and refreshing view, whilst meeting lots of people. “There is plenty of inspiring, affordable art in our group and it’s definitely well worth a visit. I’ve never known so many artists!”
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People
INTRODUCING
steve strong
Loops pedals, drum kits, guitars, wires and machines - welcome to the world of musical maestro Steve Strong. The 30-year-old has quit his job and is ready for what the next year brings, he tells Emily Smith
S
urrounded by a drum kit, metres of cable, amps, loop pedals and a guitar is Steve Strong, the 30-year-old, who is excited for the year ahead after quitting his job as a carer to become a full-time musician. Steve is no stranger to the Plymouth music scene after starting a band when he was just 14 years old with fellow pupils at Stoke Damerel Community College. “We were called Fraternity - people were impressed by how much we did at our age. “I was heavily influenced by the likes of Manic Street Preachers, Oasis and all those brit pop bands. Everyone in my school had the same mop style haircut,” he laughs. Steve is covered in tattoos, he performs on stage full of energy and passion - but underneath his music and his looks he’s a quiet guy just wanting to make some money from what he loves doing. “Making money from music is the ultimate goal. I don’t think that’s selling out but I would never change what I was doing to please someone else. “I would never compromise what I do,” he says. As most wannabe musicians do - Steve moved
SteveStrong_Jul15.indd 2
to Bristol when he left school to try and make it as band. But after a few years of playing the game his dad had a series motorbike accident and he decided to come home. “We were all 21 at the time and made the decision that we would move to Bristol as a band, these guys were all my best friends and amazing musicians. We merged different styles and cultures in our music and the band really influenced me in how I write my music. “In 2009 my dad had a bike accident and I also lost another member of my family. This made me re-evaluate my current situation and I decided to move back to Plymouth. I started working at the White Rabbit and all those guys helped me so much in the foundations of performing solo.” And here he has stayed. For the past six years Steve has been working as carer but just a few weeks ago he decided he needed a change of scenery - he needed to pursue his dream of living off his music. “Going full-time was a hard thing to do. It’s so easy to stay in your comfort zone. I just felt I was wasting my talent,” he says. Steve does something quite different - standing out among the one man bands and acoustic singers in the city. The music - a
series of instruments and loops all beautifully crafted by the 30-year-old. This is no easy task and it’s not until you watch one of his YouTube videos with thousands of hits that you realise how much concentration it takes. He explains: “If you loop something and you get that wrong then you need to carry on playing, delete it and make another loop - it can be pretty hard. Theory wise - I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve got to the point where I can do it without thinking about it now.” It seems Steve’s is doing the right thing but he admits he’s never going to be one of those crowd pleasers who scream and shout at the audience. “I don’t like talking to people or entertaining them when I’m playing. I’m not very good at interacting with a big crowd,” he says. Steve very rarely sings on his tracks although the odd song with his vocals is really quite exceptional. He says: “When I play I do feel vulnerable - I think it’s the same with most musicians though. “What I write is an extension of my personality. I don’t think music needs lyrics to speak to someone. If there are no words then I don’t think that matters. “I don’t really feel comfortable singing although there are a couple of tracks on my album where I do it. I do it because it feels like I should be doing it but I don’t like doing it.” Steve’s craft is a costly job - his equipment costs in the region of £5,000 and taking it all on tour is no easy task. Supported by dBs Music - Steve was able to record and produce his debut album, Three Hands Tall, it was a project that took time but it’s something really quite special. Steve is taking every opportunity he can get this year and although he’s busy doing his own stuff, he also still performs in Remnants and with hip hop artist J Man.
26/06/2015 10:25:06
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People
A DREAM COMES
true for Teresa Martin Freeman speaks to former BBC Spotlight presenter Teresa Driscoll about her debut novel
H
ere is today’s news from Teresa Driscoll... the former BBC Spotlight presenter is now making headlines in six countries as an author. Her first novel, Recipes for Melissa, is on sale on three continents. Teresa fantasised about being an author when she was at school. That dream had to be stored while she made a living as a newspaper reporter and later a broadcaster. She quit BBC South West a decade ago to become a full-time author and had a series of “rave rejections” for a succession of completed novels until inspiration for Recipes for Melissa came in a dream, and publishers lapped up the results. And now, with the book out in the UK, she admits she has to check that she isn’t dreaming. “I get moments when I have to pinch myself,” she says. “It’s surreal.” The book is about a journal written secretly by a mother as a farewell to her daughter. The story unfolds across two timelines – the mother writing the diary, and the effect on the daughter reading her words, 17 years later. Teresa’s dedication says, “For my mother...” When she was a teenager she, too, lost her mum, to cancer. “I had a dream about my mother,” she says, going back to the inspiration for her book. “I was at the swimming pool watching my son having a lesson and she came over. We talked as if we had seen each other that morning. When I woke up I realised why I had created that dream. I had missed never knowing her as a woman. It was very moving for me.” That set her thinking about a story of a woman who never knew her child as a grown-up. The cooking theme came in because Teresa loved cooking with her own children. Those two themes and the family favourite recipes aside, the story is fiction and was as gripping to write as it is to read. Instead of her usual practice of writing one day and reworking that output the next, “I wrote in forward gear every day. I found it invigorating.” Four months later the book was finished. Teresa went in search of a new agent, sending out the first three chapters for each to see. She chose one with an international
reputation, Madeleine Milburn, who came to Devon on the train the next day and took Recipes for Melissa to Frankfurt Book Fair, where seven German publishers competed at auction for the rights. Germany, Israel, Czech Republic, Brazil and Korea will follow the UK publication. That is far removed from Teresa’s first attempts as a writer – she was always starting epic novels in her exercise books at school in Kent. “I wanted to be a professional writer,” says Teresa. “The careers adviser said that I needed a bit more life experience first and said I should think about journalism. “I was going to go to university in York to study English but when my mother died I decided I was not ready to move away from home. It was a very traumatic time. I wanted to stay in a place that was more secure.” Teresa started as a reporter in Kent and was eager to move on to national newspapers. But there were few permanent jobs going so she tried broadcasting, joining Thames Television News in 1985 as a researcher, rising to reporter and presenter. She covered some of the biggest stories of the day, including the King’s Cross tube station fire of 1987 and the Marchioness river boat collision on the Thames in 1989. She joined BBC Spotlight in Plymouth as a presenter in 1990, which brought her back to her roots: Margaret, her mother, was born in Holsworthy and her father, Jim, a Parachute Regiment warrant officer, lived in Bideford. Fortunately, largescale tragedy is rare in the South West but Teresa was broadcasting live for the Lyme Bay kayaking accident of 1993, in which four Plymouth teenagers died.
“That still haunts me,” she says. “There was a feeling of great responsibility and of getting the tone right. We knew there would be people watching who were just getting the news, people who had family involved.” Teresa, married to journalist Pete Hale, left the BBC in 2005 to commit full-time to writing and spend more time with her then young children; Edward, who is now completing his GCSEs, and James, who has finished his second year of an English literature degree. So is having an international seller making her rich? “Not yet,” she laughs. “But I got a fair advance.” She won’t talk about the next book she is writing. “I have learned not to discuss it too early. “You mention a bit about it to somebody and they raise their eyebrows. That can throw you out.” And the last thing she wants is to be pitched from her living dream. Recipes for Melissa is published by Bookouture and is available on Amazon
20 | PL MAGAZINE
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26/06/2015 10:26:23
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Homes & Gardens
The creative SOULS WHO MAKE THINGS Plymouth has not always been a city regarded as a buzzing centre of creativity. But as we prepare for the Mayflower 2020 celebrations galleries, independent cafes and studios continue to pop up around us, Emily Smith reports
I
t’s all too obvious that there are plenty of people working hard to change perceptions of Plymouth. Busily creating away in makeshift studios and spare spaces are those known simply as Plymouth’s ‘makers’. And the group trying to bring these creative souls to the attention of the masses are the Native Makers. Native Makers was launched last year and already Emily Dymond, 25, and Rosie DrakeKnight, 24, have held two hugely popular events. Rosie has always ‘made’ and since graduating with a degree in textiles from Falmouth University she has been keen to pursue her career. But she didn’t instantly fall in love with Plymouth. “When I first came to Plymouth I didn’t like it very much - I felt a bit lost. I met Emily through Dom Moore, a photographer based at Effervescent the new creative hub in the city centre,” she says. “I knew there were all these creative people here but no-one else knew about them. There wasn’t a place for us all to be together and share ideas like I did at university. Emily had been looking for the same thing and said we should make it.” Creative Makers was born - a hub for creative people based in the South West. The rules - you need to be aged under 35 and be
passionate about what it is you make - whether that’s with your brain or your hands. Rosie explains: “At the last event we had someone who makes skateboards and someone who makes films, plus everything in-between. “We make sure we do it for as little money as possible and the makers only need to pay £25 for a stall. It’s not a craft fair - it’s an exhibition of local people’s work. We encourage people to be creative with their stall set up and don’t provide tables. It’s more like an installation than a fair.” It was a previous bad experience with craft fairs
that made Rosie decide she wanted to come to Plymouth and do something different. “They weren’t the places that I wanted my products to be featured,” she says. “It was really disheartening - I didn’t get any feedback about what I was doing. That’s something you miss when you finish a creative degree, just having someone sat next to you to help you and offer comments. “Sometimes you need the confidence of someone saying ‘that’s really good’ - who isn’t your tutor or your friend.”
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Homes & Gardens
“I knew there were all these creative people here but no-one else knew about them. There wasn’t a place for us all to be together and share ideas like I did at university’ - ROSIE DRAKE-KNIGHT LEFT: ROSIE DRAKE-KNIGHT AND EMILY DYMOND- COFOUNDERS OF NATIVE MAKERS. THANKS TO STEVE HOLMES FOR THE PICTURES. BELOW FAR LEFT: ANNAH LEGG SHOWS ALISON BLACK HER MAP PRINTED CUSHIONS AND ACCESSORIES BELOW: AMY ISLES FREEMAN OF WAYFARING MAKERS.
Emily and Rosie are also both artisan makers in their own right. Rosie is busy making beautiful leather purses and handbags, whereas Emily is an illustrator as well as assistant producer for Radiant. Rosie owes a lot of her love for crafts from her mum who she lost last September after being told she had cancer just six weeks before. “My mum was a very creative person. Going to university taught me the design and my mum taught me all the techniques. She was always weaving baskets and she made a canvas tent for someone. My dad isn’t creative at all - he’s a
business consultant. He’s just in awe of all of us,” she says. Rosie has three older brothers, two of them own and run ethical clothing business, Rapanui Clothing. “When I lost my mum I went through a patch where I didn’t make anything. At Christmas I thought it was such a waste and I knew how to do all these things. “Then I started making again and every day I was doing something that my mum had taught me. “I own the last thing she made which was a
crochet blanket - as soon as she made that I knew I wanted it. I make things because of my mum.” The 24-year-old makes her own leather creations under her own name, Rosie DrakeKnight, and her dedication to her brand and sourcing British leather have made her stand out. In fact she was being noticed as soon as she left Falmouth University. Rosie was one of three students to be awarded a grant by the university. Rosie is the first textiles student to receive the award. She explains: “Falmouth award the grant to keep students learning on their own. They give it to people who they think may start something new. I had this money but I didn’t know what to do with it. “I didn’t expect to get it - normally they just give it to performance students. “I knew I wanted to work by myself - I just needed to find that make to sell idea.” Rosie’s beautiful creations take in the countryside and the world around her with the pastel colours and rugged nature of the leather. She admits her inspiration can come from anywhere. “I like things to be natural and organic. I will get inspired by things like cobbles, bricks, the rain, seat covers in places. “I have a box at home of colours and when I see a colour that I like, whether that’s on a menu, or something I see when I’m out and about I cut it out and pop it in there. Whenever I come to do a new collection I take everything out and start from there.” Both Rosie and Emily are hoping Native Makers grows and although they want to keep it to two events a year, the plan is for pop-up shops and more community engagement. The dream: “Ideally we would love to create our own creative hub for people to come along so we can all work under one roof. We want to give people the opportunity to do it on their own.”
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Homes & Gardens
SO YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR
OWN HOME? If you dream of building your own home, you first need to find a plot of land to build it on and then an architect to design it. Here’s PL’s five top tips for self-builders
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Homes & Gardens
1
Finding a plot of land with detailed planning permission for a house is a safe bet, but, of course, it may not be the house you want to build. Unless the plans can be changed, you may prefer to take a risk on a plot without planning permission, or with outline planning permission. The latter grants permission on the principle that the land can be developed, while detailed planning specifies the design of the building.
2
You can search for land on property websites like www.zoopla.co.uk and www.rightmove.co.uk, where it’s for sale through estate agents. Land agents, who specialise in selling land, and auction houses are often a better bet, as are specialist plot websites, such as PlotSearch at www.buildstore.co.uk. Local newspapers and property magazines may contain ads for land for sale, or you could place a ‘land wanted’ ad. You could even drive around your search area, looking for land that’s for sale or may be suitable as a building plot.
3
One of the great things about selfbuilding is that it’s easy to make your home environmentally friendly because you’re starting from scratch.
Don’t discount existing buildings knocking something down and starting again can be a good way to get a great plot. As well as the location and chances of obtaining planning permission, consider the value of the land (or rather its value to you) and how you can get services and vehicles to it. Poor access will make the project harder and more expensive, and could even stop it getting off the ground.
4
As well as a plot, a good architect is essential. Not only will they translate your vision into reality, they can also enhance it with ideas of their own, coming up with things you hadn’t thought of and solving problems. A good architect will also help you obtain planning permission, can manage the build and the pre-build process, and can source and manage the various professionals and contractors needed.
5
One of the great things about selfbuilding is that it’s easy to make your home environmentally friendly because you’re starting from scratch. As well as obvious things, like insulating as much as possible and choosing energy-efficient windows, self-builders can incorporate big eco home improvements, such as solar panels, heat pumps and grey-water recycling systems in a more cost-effective way than homeowners who have to retrofit them. Combine measures like these with environmentally-friendly building materials and you can create an extremely green self-build. Ask your architect about this at an early stage so it can be incorporated into the design.
PL MAGAZINE | 25
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Homes & Gardens
Get style
LICKED Treat rooms to some ice cream inspired updates. PL scoops up the sweetest summer buys
SET OF THREE RETRO STORAGE SUITCASES, IN PINK, DUCK EGG BLUE AND MINT, £17.95, TITTLEMOUSE
ICE CREAM GLASSES, AVAILABLE IN LEMON OR TURQUOISE, £14 EACH FROM THE ROYAL ACADEMY SHOP
HARROGATE CHAIR, AVAILABLE IN PEPPERCORN PINK, £270, NEPTUNE 26 | PL MAGAZINE
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25/06/2015 15:17:19
Homes & Gardens GINGER RAY PASTEL PINK CIRCLE FAN PINWHEEL DECORATION, £6.99
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RETRO TREATS LARGE LUXURY HANDLED TRAY, ENGLISHTABLE. COM, £11
ICTURE P S URIt’s hard to resist dipping into paints with good-enough-toeat names like Vanilla Scoop, Pistachio Whip, and Boutique Cream. They’re in the Dulux MixLab range, and a matt emulsion is £24.29 for 2.5L
JADE VINTAGE LINEN, FOR THE FELLA SOFA, FROM £1,095, LOAF. TEAM IT WITH ITS SUPER PASTEL STRIPED TUPPENCE HERRINGBONE RUG, FROM £165
MINT SHUTTERS, AVAILABLE FROM SHUTTERLY FABULOUS FROM £290 A SQUARE METRE
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26/06/2015 10:36:01
Homes & Gardens
This is how Mary’s
GARDEN GROWS
Tucked away in the back lanes of Saltash is the home of Mary Newman, first wife of Sir Francis Drake, and her exquisite garden. Nicola Tapp took a step back in time
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: MARY NEWMAN’S COTTAGE; SANDRA PITKEATHLY WORKING IN THE GARDEN; BRIGHT FLOWERS NESTLE ALONGSIDE VEGETABLES AND HERBS IN THE BEDS
A
grade-II listed cottage dating back to 1480, Mary Newman’s Cottage is the oldest building in Saltash and features a garden laid out in authentic Elizabethan style showcasing plants and herbs vital to a household of the period. The cottage, said to be the first home of the first wife of Sir Francis Drake, and its garden have magnificent views across the River Tamar. Visitors step back in time when they walk through the front door of the historic cottage, complete with wooden beams and slate-tiled flooring. The plot has been maintained by head gardener Sandra Pitkeathly for the past 17 years, ably assisted by a handful of volunteers. Small white flowers which bloom in early summer can be found in the form of Sweet Woodruff, a versatile herb with an odour (due to a crystalline chemical principle called Coumarin) used in perfumery, as a medicine in the Middle Ages, and even used for stuffing beds. Curled Tansy (Tanacetum Vulgare Crispum), a good fly repellent apparently, can also be found in the plot. Chives, the smallest and most delicate member of the onion family with pretty pink blooms, bunches of which were hung in the home to drive away diseases and evil, the leaves and edible flowers of which can be used for garnishing potato salad, soups and other savoury
dishes, is also an excellent companion plant, deterring pests such as carrot root fly. It has taken Sandra and her team eight years to transform the garden to the glory of bygone days where everything in the garden served a purpose. A small space is being used to grow vegetables and volunteers make their own compost and leaf mould, says Sandra. She added: “The four beds in the centre of the garden are my favourite as from now until July they will look fantastic. In the autumn when the house is closed, there is still lots to be done such as cleaning tools and pruning plants.” Managed by the Tamar Protection Society, who also maintain Elliott’s Store in Lower Fore Street, the cottage and garden, is run entirely by volunteers – more are urgently needed – and various fundraising events are organised to help with costs. People can also visit the museum where the furniture and utensils give the interior a truly atmospheric feel, and visitors can wear period clothing and play Elizabethan games. The cottage and garden found in Culver Road is open from April to September on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm. If you would like to volunteer contact Brigette Dixon on 01579 384381 or visit www.tamarprotectionsociety.org.uk
28 | PL MAGAZINE
GardensMary_Jul15.indd 2
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Homes & Gardens CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CRANE ROUND PAVILION SUMMERHOUSE, £7,395, JOHN LEWIS; AN INTERIOR FEATURED IN SHED DECOR; SHED DECOR: HOW TO DECORATE AND FURNISH YOUR FAVOURITE GARDEN ROOM; CLIFFHANGER SHED, CROMER, NORFOLK; APEX SHIPLAP WOODEN SHED, £680, B&Q
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NOW THAT’S SOME
THE GREEN MAN, IN SHED OF THE YEAR BEDFORD, A FINALIST
Turn that garden shack into a ‘des res’ and enjoy a year-round retreat. PL scopes out the Shed Of The Year finalists and reveals how anyone can create a backyard sanctuary
T
ake your dreams off hold if you’re yearning for a quiet retreat or private space to enjoy that all too elusive ‘me time‘, because it’s probably already there – at the end of your garden. Turning your attention to the modest shed – surely wasted on spiders, a lawnmower and a clutter of discarded possessions – could pay dividends, providing that longed-for sanctuary for relaxing or hobbies. If you’re still unconvinced of that shabbyshack’s potential, there’s plenty to inspire in the finalists in the annual Cuprinol Shed Of The Year competition. Entries range from the quirky to the captivating, and include a beach hut built from debris washed up in a tidal surge, a cabin on wheels, an Art Deco-style retro diner and a Hobbit-style garden house, half-buried underground. “Since launching the competition nine years ago, I’ve certainly seen a trend towards people viewing their shed as an extension of their home,” says Andrew Wilcox, founder
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Homes & Gardens
THIS MONTH’S
gardening tips Advice for your garden
1. Prune Wisteria 2. Don’t delay summer pruning restricted fruits 3. Deadhead flowering plants regularly 4. Watering! - particularly containers, and new plants, preferably with grey recycled water or stored rainwater 5. Collect seed from your favourite
of the contest – which will also feature in Channel Four’s Amazing Spaces series later this summer. “Our brilliant winners in the past have included a Roman Temple shed, a pirate shed and sheds with a pub or music theme. There’s literally no limit to what people can create, and it’s great to see the Great British shed getting the recognition it deserves.” Another source of inspiration is a must-have guide for aspiring sheddies, Shed Decor: How To Decorate And Furnish Your Favourite Garden Room. The book’s author, Sally Coulthard, confirms the growing trend to recognise the value of sheds, or their more expensive alternatives – summer houses, garden rooms and home offices. “In the last few years, sheds have gone from being a niche interest dominated by enthusiasts to structures which are now viewed as a real asset to a property. The trend reflects the fact we’re more likely to stay and improve our homes, rather than move, and we’re looking to make the best use of every inch of space,” she says.
“After all, where else can you carve out a space that’s completely and utterly your own, decorate it as you please and lock yourself away for hours relaxing or enjoying a hobby?“ Those already wooed by sheds – 21 million of us own them – will spend up to a year of their lives in them, according to a survey by Cuprinol, and splash out hundreds of pounds doing them up. Whatever your budget, Coulthard says a shed’s importance can’t be over-emphasised. “There’s something really important about creating a space in your life where you can be yourself. So many of our waking hours are spent doing things for other people – working, commuting and domestic chores. “That’s not to say we don’t enjoy the comforting, familiar chaos and routine of daily life, but it’s also crucial to save something for ourselves. Sheds give us the freedom and permission to do something that’s life-affirming, creative or just really good fun.” So shake up the shed and enjoy a space to work, rest or play...
plants 6. Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready 7. Continue cutting out old fruited canes on raspberries 8. Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners 9. Keep ponds and water features topped up 10. Feed the soil with green manures
Plant of the month Hibiscus
When the sun comes out and the mercury rises, hibiscus, our hot plant for July, reveals that it has a multiple identities that include naughty and nice and hospitable! The plant is distinguished by its impressive exotic flowers and blooms profusely from July without you having to do very much. Hibiscus is also hardy so perfect for English gardens.
PL MAGAZINE | 31
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Food & Drink
simply simpatico
Food writer Louise Daniel meets the Italian family who have wooed Plymouth with their traditional cooking and friendly service for more than two decades MAIN PHOTO: POSITANO ON THE AMALFI COAST IN ITALY
PL MAGAZINE | 33
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{Food & Drink{
S
impatico. It’s an Italian word meaning of like mind or temperament and having pleasing or attractive qualities. It describes Positano restaurant, the two men who have made it their home for the last 23 years, their relationship with Plymouth and the loyal customers who continue to revisit the Mayflower restaurant perfectly. Sabato Cinque and Luciano Constantine are familiar faces in the city and their respected Italian eatery holds many fond memories for families across Plymouth who enjoy home-cooked Italian food and relaxed family dining. The men are as close as brothers and grew up with congenial, family dining and authentic Italian recipes which they’ve recreated really well. The family friendly ethos, welcoming hospitality and delicious Italian food fare is what’s carried them through the trials of two recessions, the challenge of chains and the inevitable growth of city centre dining to become one of the bestloved and most well-known city restaurants. Luciano works front of house and makes me a fabulous espresso while explaining the pleasure of serving generations of Plymouth families. “We have lots of people who really appreciate and enjoy what we do.
“People have been coming here through the years – when they were courting, when they got married, when they got kids and now they come back by themselves. “I think it is nice to see that return for what you do. Our customers are like friends.” The UK still has to catch up with the rest of Europe when it comes to family dining experiences. Restaurants which wholeheartedly welcome little-ones are something the continent does very well, and Positano’s Italian heritage means they embrace the whole family for this sociable style of eating. Eating is a social affair after all and why should kids miss out? This attitude to family dining speaks very loudly of Luciano and Sabato’s dedication to their customers. Making sure diners have a relaxed and comfortable time is it at the heart of everything the duo do, and it’s partly why people keep coming back. “It’s the relationship you have with the customer – you talk about everything. “I think it is nice. It is the most important thing. It is part of us and how we have been brought up. “You have to have that something inside where you enjoy what you do,” says Luciano. “It’s not just about putting a plate in front of customers and that is that. There is a lot goes on
‘The relationship you have with the customer is the most important thing. It is part of us and how we have been brought up’ - Luciano Constantine behind (the scenes) to make sure the customer feel comfortable.” Criticisms about the decor being a throwback to 1970s trattorias may be valid, but personally, I find it part of the relaxing charm of Positano – it’s not pretentious in any way and you can relax, kick-back and enjoy the hearty food and not feel buttoned up or on edge. But it’s the simple and freshly cooked food
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Food & Drink which is the real key to Positano’s success. This is no frills food and it’s a very good thing indeed. There is excellent choice and everything barring lasagne (which tastes better the next day, as every home cook knows) is made to order, which is how it should be. On the menu today are clams, scallops, Dover sole, lemon sole, sea bass, sea bream and monkfish. Sabato runs the kitchen and loves the rich sea bounty available on our doorstep – to eat and cook. “I love the fish. Fish and veal are a speciality here and of course, we do a lot of pasta dishes. We do our own pizza – everything we do ourselves from the base up. We do everything here even our own bread and cakes.” He is clearly proud everything is made a new every day and it’s no secret why the food tastes so good. “We keep it simple. Fresh food cooked to order and simply done,” he says. The duo came from different Italian villages but met fortuitously in Germany in the early 1970s bonding quickly and mutually deciding to find their fortune in the burgeoning British restaurant scene. After a stint in Bradford and St Ives working for hotels, they made the move to Plymouth, gaining experience and valuable knowledge
along the way. “We met in Germany when we were young,” says Sabato, “I studied languages in Italy we went to Germany and wanted to come to England then to France and return to Italy. “When we got here they wanted to recall us to Italy to do National Service but we didn’t want to do it so we were stuck here, then got married and stayed.” “We started in the old Bella Napoli which used to be on Southside Street which was one of the only Italian restaurants in Plymouth, then moved to another business which was in the Wetherspoon’s building (on Southside Street) before buying this business.” In 1992, in the middle of economic uncertainty they opened Positano and named the restaurant after Sabato’s home town. As we discuss his origins, Sabato points to a large photograph of the sun drenched, colourful terraced houses leading down to the sea in Positano and claims the small figure of a boy running up from the beach is him. “I’ve told that story so many times, I’m beginning to believe in it,” he laughs. It’s easy to see why people enjoy the company of Luciano and Sabato; they have charm, warmth and a little mischief about them.
But Sabato speaks with genuine delight about his childhood home which looks and sounds beautiful. “Sorento is behind the mountain, there is the island of Capri. The coastline is about 60km long but it is all twists and bends and every one is a different view. It’s really pretty.” Luciano and Sabato made their home in Plymouth before chain restaurants arrived in the city, before ubiquitous cookery programmes and celebrity chefs dominated the airwaves and before the city opened up culturally. “We opened in the middle of a recession in 1992, people thought we were crazy. But we’re still here so we must be doing something right.” I ask about their ties to Plymouth and what keeps them motivated to keep doing what they do so well. It’s clear they love their adopted home – they’ve married, raised children and made many, many friends in the city. “I like Plymouth. It’s nice and quiet, I like the life, and it’s peaceful and quiet.” “We are pretty lucky – most of our customers are local people and support us all year round.” “Plymouth has been good to us and Plymouth people are good people. We are still Italians but we really feel part of the local community.”
LEFT: THE EXTERIOR OF POSITANO IN MAYFLOWER STREET. BELOW: PARTNERS LUCIANO COSTANTIN AND SABATO. BELOW LEFT: ANTI PASTI
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Food & Drink
FROM BIRTH TO A
LEGEND
T
Plymouth Gin is celebrating its illustrious heritage with a new exhibition. Clare Jardine discovers more about the city’s importance in the creation of one of our nation’s favourite drinks
he birth of the world’s first dry gin is recalled in a new exhibition ‘From Plymouth to the World’ which has just opened at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery. Created in partnership with Plymouth City Council, the exhibition showcases the brand’s 200-year history, offering visitors a special insight into the world of gin. The exhibition tells the story of the birth of the world’s first promoted ‘dry gin’ and encourages visitors to discover why Plymouth Gin continues to be revered by gin enthusiasts and the bartending community worldwide. Visitors will discover how the City of Plymouth played an important role in the history of gin. As one of the main British trading ports, Plymouth served as the access point for imported essential botanicals for gin production, including the integral gin botanical – juniper berries. As new exotic spices, fruits and teas made their way into Britain, a Plymothian named Thomas Coates took inspiration from the four corners of the world to create Plymouth Gin in 1793. Plymouth Gin continues to be made according to the original artisanal method and recipe, which features seven distinctive botanicals – all showcased as part of a multisensory display at the exhibition. To this day, Plymouth Gin is produced at Black
Friars Distillery in the Barbican, the historic site where the Pilgrim Fathers stayed the night before they set sail for the new world on the Mayflower in 1620. The gin is batch-made using a single copper pot-still originally installed in the distillery during the Victorian era. Also on display is a collection of historic objects from the Plymouth Gin archive, as well as the original lease for the distillery from 1697. Unveiling the exhibition, Laurent Lacassagne, chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, who now own Plymouth Gin, said: “This exhibition showcases our 200-year strong shared history with the City of Plymouth – one that we will continue to treasure and build on in the years to come. “We’re confident that our insightful exhibition will provide a fantastic day out for gin enthusiasts over the coming months.”
‘From Plymouth to the World – The Voyage of Plymouth Gin from Birth to Legend’ is free to visit and runs until October 31, before it tours around the world. Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AJ) is open Tuesday to Saturday. Complete the Plymouth Gin experience by visiting The Black Friar’s Distillery (Black Friars Distillery, 60 Southside Street, The Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2LQ) open seven days a week. 36 | PL MAGAZINE
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Food & Drink
Plymouth Gin
COCKTAIL RECIPES
Celebrate Plymouth Gin by mixing up one of these cocktails
Little Pink Flower INGREDIENTS 25ml Plymouth Gin Original 10ml Plymouth Sloe Gin 15ml Elderflower liqueur 25 Freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice Perrier Jouet Champagne
METHOD Add first four ingredients to a shaker, fill with ice and shake for 10 seconds. Fine strain into a chilled flute, top with the Champagne and garnish with a discarded grapefruit zest. Serve with a smile
NOTES The floral notes of Plymouth Gin are accentuated by the elderflower, while the sweetness of the sloe gin is balanced by the bitter edge of the pink grapefruit. It’s made fizzy with some quality Champagne.
METHOD Shake the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup with crushed ice. Strain into a Champagne flute, top up with Champagne and garnish with a twist of lemon.
NOTES Named after the French “Canon de 75 modèle 1897”, a ruthless WW1 weapon, this aperitif was created by Harry MacElhone at Harry’s American Bar, Paris, in 1925.
METHOD Fill mixing glasses with ice Add both ingredients Stir until chilled Strain into Martini glasses
NOTES Pink Gin was made fashionable in England in the mid-19th Century. The recipe specifically calls for Plymouth Gin with a dash of ‘pink’ Angostura bitters, a dark red extract of gentian and spices.
French 75 INGREDIENTS 45ml Plymouth Gin 10ml freshly squeezed lemon juice 5ml sugar syrup (or a small teaspoon of superfine sugar) Champagne to top up
Pink gin
INGREDIENTS 75ml Plymouth Gin 2 dashes Angostura bitters Lemon peel to garnish
Negroni INGREDIENTS 30ml Plymouth Gin 30ml sweet vermouth 30ml Campari METHOD Mix the spirits over ice in a rocks glass and stir. Garnish with an orange slice or peel. DESCRIPTION Currently the favoured tipple of East End hipsters, the Negroni is thought to have been invented in Florence in 1919, when Count Camillo Negroni asked a bartender to boost the strength of his Americano by replacing the soda with gin. It’s an excellent apéritif – though Orson Welles’s declaration that “The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other” is probably wishful thinking.
Gimlet 75ml Plymouth Gin 25ml lime cordial Fresh lime to garnish METHOD Fill mixing glasses with ice Pour in both ingredients Add water if required Pour into Martini glasses and garnish with curls of lime DESCRIPTION A 1928 description of the drink was: “gin, a spot of lime, and soda.” The description in the 1953 Raymond Chandler novel The Long Goodbye stated that “a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose’s lime juice and nothing else”.
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Food & Drink
Pretty pinks
FROM PROVENCE For a refreshing summer wine, you can’t go wrong with a delicate rose. PL relaxes Riviera-style with some rosé wines from Provence
F
amous for its blue skies, olives groves and lavender fields, Provence has influenced many an artist’s palette - so why not let it influence your palate, too? The Cotes de Provence appellation in the South of France is the heart of rosé production, where vineyards are dotted across the picturesque landscape and winemakers understand how our perception of flavour can be influenced by the colour of the wine. These classic dry roses offer
Chateau Miravel
Rosé, Provence £19.50, bbr.com
A collaboration between Brad and Angelina and the Perrin family of winemakers, this rose is the closest thing to a fine wine. Beyond the ballet slipper pink hue, this is a complex and refreshing rosé.
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Domaine de Paris Rosé 2014, Cotes de Provence £10.49, laithwaites.co.uk
Dressed in a corsetshaped bottle typical to the wines of Provence, this fruit forward salmon pink has wild strawberry aromas with vibrant summer berries, a creamy note and long, lively acidity.
freshness and good acidity and can vary from ice pink to pale, baby pink to petal, blush to peach - and although perceived as fun and frivolous, a delicate looking pink can be deceptively complex. Designed to drink young, the latest vintages have just been released and in fashionable circles, the consensus is: the paler the pink, the better the wine. Still, it takes a talented winemaker to balance the colour with the concentration of fruit and fresh acidity in the style for which these seductive wines are famed...
Chateau Pigoudet Chateau La Tour La Chapelle Rosé de L’Eveque 2014, 2014 Coteaux d’Aix- Cotes De Provence £10.95, en-Provence
Famille Abeille Rosé 2014, Cotes de Provence currently £9.99 from
£8.99, majestic.co.uk
corneyandbarrow.com
Domaine de Rimauresq Provence Rosé 2014,
£10.99, majestic.co.uk
£14.99, virginwines.co.uk
A succulent pale peach, this is a feminine rosé and the bouquet of red berry fruits leads to delicate cherry that dances across the palate.
This deep salmon pink is a heavier style of rosé and the beguiling nose of peach and nectarines is complemented by baskets of strawberry and raspberry fruits.
For admirers of a powder pink rosé that has presence, there’s a plushness to the soft summer fruits with crisp acidity and a raspberry note lingering on the finish.
Coral pinks can be just as alluring as the more translucent shades and there’s structure to the juicy summer berry fruit with a note of nectarine with subtle strawberry scents.
26/06/2015 11:00:43
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{Food & Drink{
The true taste of
SUMMER Summer means eating al fresco. Nothing beats flame-grilled, marinated meats, fresh zingy salads and crisp chilled wine in the evening summer sun. Here are some simple recipes to get you fired up for barbecue season
Potato salad SERVES: 6
900g halved new potatoes 3 tsp olive oil Lemon juice 6-8 tbsps mayonnaise 4 sliced spring onions METHOD Boil the new potatoes for 15 mins until just slightly overcooked but still holding their shape. While still warm, toss with all the other ingredients. For an extra burst of flavour frazzle 4 rashers of smoky bacon in a dry frying pan, snip into pieces and mix in with the potatoes when cool.
Alfresco_Recipes_Jul15.indd 2
Classic coleslaw SERVES: 6 1 small drumhead cabbage, finely sliced or if you want a more colourful version, use red cabbage instead) 3 small carrots, grated 1 small onion, halved and finely sliced
6 tbsp mayonnaise Salt and pepper to taste Good squeeze of lemon juice METHOD Mix all the ingredient together in a large bowl just before serving so the coleslaw remains crisp.
25/06/2015 14:25:00
Food & Drink Spatchcock spicy chicken SERVES: 4 1 4lb chicken 4 red chillies, chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tsp sweet paprika 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 2 tbsp olive oil lemon wedges and extra chilli (optional), to serve METHOD 1. To spatchcock the chicken, flip it over so the backbone is facing you. Using a sturdy pair of kitchen scissors or poultry scissors, cut down either side of the backbone, then discard. Turn the chicken over and push down firmly on the breastbone to flatten out the bird. Make a few slashes in each leg joint. Or
Greek lamb with tzatziki SERVES: 6
4 garlic cloves 4 tbsp olive oil juice 1 lemon 1 tbsp dried oregano 1 tbsp thyme leaf 1 leg of lamb, butterflied (ask your butcher to do this)
FOR THE TZATZIKI ½ cucumber, halved and deseeded and chopped into small cubes 170g pot Greek yogurt 1 small garlic clove, crushed handful mint leaves, chopped or tspn mint sauce
METHOD 1. Mash the garlic to a paste and mix with the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano and thyme leaves, and season with a little salt and plenty of pepper. 2. Pour the marinade over the lamb and massage into the meat. Leave the lamb for at least 1 hr at room temperature
you can ask your butcher to do it for you. 2. Blend the chillies and garlic to a paste, add the paprika, vinegar and olive oil. Mix well and smear over the chicken. Leave to marinate for at least 1 hr. 3. Place the chicken on the centre of the barbecue, skin-side down, and cook for 15-20 mins until charred. Flip the chicken over and continue cooking for another 5-15 mins until cooked through. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rainy cook in the oven, (200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 35-40 mins). Grill for a further 5-10 mins for the char. Serve with lemon wedges, and extra chilli if you like it hot
3. You can cook in the oven 220C gas mark 7 for 30-40 mins. To cook on the barbecue, wait for the coals to turn grey then cook for 15 mins on each side for meat that is pink, or 20 mins on each side for well done. Leave the meat to rest for 10 mins before carving. 4. For the tzatziki, tip ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Homemade burgers SERVES: 4 500g pack lean minced beef, 1 tsp mild chilli powder Salt and pepper Mixed herbs (dried works best) METHOD 1. Put the meat in a mixing bowl, then sprinkle over the chilli powder, mixed herbs and a little salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands or use a fork. 2. Divide the mixture into 4 equal pieces, shape into round burgers about 2cm thick 3. Barbecue for 5 mins on each side
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Health & Beauty
Salads SUPER
They’re a summer stalwart, and giving those fresh greens an extra dose of goodness is easier than you think
T
hey’re speedy, easy and the flavour-combo possibilities are endless. Salads are an easy way to pack more nutrients into your diet, too. Liven up those leaves with a few simple twists and
Linseed Adding any nuts or seeds will ramp your salad up the nutrition scale. “I love golden linseed,” says Sioned Quirke. “But remember, a handful is plenty!” As well as being another good source of omega-3, linseed - also known as flaxseed - is high in calcium, to support teeth and bones, and an additional source of iron, which is vital for supporting healthy blood function and keeping energy levels up - and lots of UK women are lacking in iron.
suddenly you’ve got a far tastier, colourful and more filling - not to mention vitamin-loaded - meal on your plate. Here are six of our favourite super salad additions to get you going...
Samphire Once the reserve of fancy restaurant garnishes, samphire, which grows abundantly around UK shorelines, can now be foraged quite easily from a number of supermarkets. It’s supersalty, so watch how you use it and never add additional salt when cooking. It goes really well in salads, especially when partnered with the sweetness of garden peas or served as an accompaniment to fish.
Sugar snap peas While not the most nutrient-packed pea variety, sugar snap peas boast high amounts of immune-supporting vitamin C and are an additional source of fibre too, to help keep those guts in good nick. Best of all though is their crisp, natural sweetness and oh-so satisfying crunch, making a handful of raw pods a welcome addition to any salad.
Oily fish Avocado Although technically belonging to the fruit family - and boasting suitably high vitamin contents to prove it, particularly vitamin E, which is great for supporting healthy hair and skin, and vitamin K - avocado’s richness in ‘good fats’ sets it apart. Don’t ever let somebody scare you off eating avocados because they’re calorific (one whole mediumsized avocado contains around 230kcals) - they’re filling, super healthy and delicious.
“A great addition to a salad is oily fish - a great opportunity to get some omega-3 fatty acids, and fish is high in protein,” says NHS dietitian Sioned Quirke (www. quirkynutrition.co.uk). Guidelines advise we consume at least two portions of fish a week, including one oily type (maximum four portions a week, or two for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to fall pregnant soon), but many fall short, missing out on a host of research-backed health benefits, like preventing heart disease and maintaining a healthy weight. Tinned sardines, mackerel and pilchards can be a very affordable way of packing healthy protein into your diet (though tinned tuna doesn’t count as oily fish), and don’t require cooking.
Pomegranate seeds Sprinkling these juicy gems over salads will not only make your meal delightfully more colourful and flavoursome, you’ll gain a sweet, juicy tick against that all important five-a-day goal too. Being rich in polyphenols helped the pomegranate earn its ‘superfood’ tag, and as well as antibacterial and immune-supporting antioxidant properties, early studies have suggested they could offer protection against cancer - and slow down the growth of cancer cells - too.
42 | PL MAGAZINE
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Health & Beauty
SUNSHINE isn’t all bad
I
t has become an accepted part of the healthcare creed in the last two decades - sunshine is bad for you. We’re told sunscreen should be worn at all times and we should stay in the shade when the sun is at its strongest – from 11am to 3pm. Too much exposure to sunshine causes wrinkles and, potentially, skin cancer, rates of which continue to grow at an alarming rate in the UK. But medical opinion seems to be wavering. A lack of sunshine also seems to be a contributing factor in a number of illnesses, from multiple sclerosis and obesity to depression and osteoporosis. And we’re told that not only do we need sunlight to stay healthy, but it has to be direct, strong sunlight that has not had the UVB rays filtered out by suncream. Our bodies have evolved to be able to cope with reasonable amounts of exposure to sunshine, but, say experts, we have lost sight of that thanks to the anti-sun paranoia. So have we got it wrong about sunshine? Should we be revelling in it, giving in to our natural inclination to bask in its rays whenever possible? Healthcare messages are confusing in the extreme. One thing is clear: too little sun exposure can lead to a lack of vitamin D, which is known as the sunshine vitamin because up to 90 per cent of what we need comes from being exposed to sunlight. In the South West, the sunlight is only strong enough to do this between March and September. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin stored in the body, but by the end of the winter, research suggests many adults don’t have enough. According to research in the British Medical Journal, more than half of British adults do not have sufficient levels of vitamin D and 16 per cent suffer a severe deficiency during winter. Lack of vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children. Rickets is one of those diseases we tend to think is in the past but it is actually on the increase. It’s also been suggested that being deficient in vitamin D can lead to an increased risk of prostate cancer, while other researchers have
Covering up in the sun has been accepted as the only way to protect our skin from cancer. But we also need the Vitamin D it provides to ward off other diseases. PL asks if it’s possible to strike a healthy balance
demonstrated the link between vitamin D deficiency and a higher risk of coronary artery disease. You might think that the simple answer is to take a vitamin D supplement - and they can certainly help. There is no recommended daily intake of vitamin D. A decent diet should provide all a child or adult needs, since it is found in milk, eggs, oily fish and some fortified cereals, but the sunshine factor makes this an inexact science. A study by scientists at the University of Aberdeen found clinically obese women have 10 per cent less vitamin D than slimmer ones. ‘The link is significant,’ says Dr Helen Macdonald. “Obese people are not getting enough sunshine.” There is also research suggesting that decent doses of sunshine will keep our bodies healthy in all sorts of ways, while popping pills will not. Vitamin D deficiency had been blamed for the rise in multiple sclerosis in northern latitudes, but a recent study has shown that sunlight specifically ultra-violet rays -is more important than levels of vitamin D in reducing the symptoms of the disease. Our brains don’t do well without regular exposure to sunlight, as sufferers of Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD) will know. Full-strength daylight regulates the production of serotonin -the feelgood hormone - and melatonin, a hormone that controls our body clock. Less sun means less serotonin, the creeping onset of gloom and despondency, and a desire to spend days huddled beneath a duvet. Among teenagers, the effects on the brain and body clock can be even more pronounced. Given all that research, it’s enough to make you want to grab a blanket and head to the beach. But for how long should you sunbathe? It depends on who you ask. And how do you know if you are short of vitamin D in the first place? It’s hard to tell, since most people have no symptoms, or only ambiguous ones such as fatigue or muscle weakness. The quickest way to identify if your levels are low is to ask your GP for a blood test. Should you decide you do need a bit of sun, the advice is definitely not to throw caution to the wind. The effects of sunshine on the body are so pronounced that you don’t need much to get a daily dose of vitamin D. For a light-skinned person, 30 minutes of full-body exposure to summer sun at noon triggers the release of 20,000 IU of vitamin D into the circulation. That’s the equivalent of 500
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‘Perhaps the answer is to protect your face, while letting a small amount of sun get to your arms and legs’
ABOVE: SUN CREAM WILL
PREVENT YOUR BODY FROM ABSORBING VITAMIN D
micrograms of vitamin D, considerably more than the 25 micrograms in high-dose supplements. The rule of thumb among some doctors seems to be that you should expose a fifth of your body to the sun for 20 minutes, three or four times a week, without suncream. The National Osteoporosis Society, which has studied the relationship between sunshine, bone density and vitamin D, has issued advice, in conjunction with the British Association of Dermatologists, that we should get 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure a day without suncream.
Unfortunately, it is the burning UVB rays in sunlight that create the vitamin D in your skin. As soon as you use sunscreen, you block the skin’s ability to create vitamin D because the SPF that prevents burning gets in the way. So you need to be careful and keep an eye on details, such as the UV figures, which the Met Office give on its website as a number from 1 to 11. When UV levels are low - 1 and 2 - you don’t need to worry too much about sun protection. The higher it gets, the more precautions you should take, although a reading higher than eight
is unlikely in the UK. The easiest parts of the body to expose to the sun are the face, neck and hands, though those are also the areas that show the signs of ageing that strong sunlight accelerates. Perhaps the answer is to protect your face, while letting a small amount of sun get to your arms and legs. And perhaps take a Vitamin D supplement, just for good measure. Staying in the sun long enough to burn is definitely a bad idea! See page 48 for the latest products to protect your skin
PL MAGAZINE | 45
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{ Health & Beauty {
SELF TAN Whether you’ve got minutes to spare or weeks to prepare, fake tans have never been better. PL’s got the glow-how
L
et’s face it, sunbathing in the UK is generally only possible on about 1.5 days of the year - so if you want to get golden, you’re going to have to enlist some help. But you won’t have to go far. This season, there’s a whole host of new bronzing and sunless tanning solutions that will have you glowing in no time. From one-minute wonders to week-long prepping products, here’s our tan-tilising guide to faking it...
IF YOU’VE GOT... ONE MINUTE
For a super-speedy tan boost, bronzer is your best friend. Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact, £30 www.debenhams.com, is a super-sized powder palette composed of three complementary earthy hues plus a shimmery golden highlighter, so you can add definition with the browns, or sweep a big kabuki brush over all four.
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{ Health & Beauty { IF YOU’VE GOT... 10 MINUTES
An all-over spray tan is best left to the professionals, but the latest at-home innovations are easy-peasy to use. Givenchy Croisiere Brume Bonne Mine Powder Spray, £33 Escentual.com, dries to a silky matte finish, the density of colour can be controlled depending on how far away you hold the nozzle. Use it as a base by blending in with a foundation brush, or add a light spritz over your face and decollete if wearing a shoulder-baring top.
IF YOU’VE GOT... ONE HOUR
Given 60 minutes to play with, you’ve got time to go for an all-over application - but need a product that gets to work quickly. Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Instant Tan Mousse, £7.99 www.superdrug.com develops in one hour (but you can leave it for up to four) then washes off, and has a lovely Tahitian Gardenia scent - plus, it recently got the Instagram seal of approval from bronzed model Kylie Jenner, causing a Stateside sell-out.
IF YOU’VE GOT... EIGHT HOURS
Tanning before a big party or wedding? You’ll need to do some skin prep, starting with a nonoil exfoliating scrub. “Next, ensure your hands, feet, elbows and knees are moisturised, as self-tan will cling to dry areas, whether it’s wash off or not,” says self-tanning expert James Read. “Make sure you’ve removed all body lotions, make-up and deodorant immediately prior to applying your tan, as this can affect the end result.” James Read Bronzing Mousse, £25 www. jamesreadtan.com dries quickly, develops over three to five hours and doesn’t need to be washed off.
IF YOU’VE GOT... 24 HOURS
Applying self-tan the night before an event gives you one less thing to worry about on the day. But how to ensure even application? “Always use an applicator mitt. This ensures an even, streak-free finish, without leaving the palms of your hands deeply golden,” says St Tropez’s tanning expert Jules Heptonstall. For an overnight sensation, try XenTan Dark Lotion Weekly Self-Tan, £28.99 (FeelUnique.com).
IF YOU’VE GOT... THREE DAYS IF YOU’VE GOT... A WEEK OR MORE
The latest innovation from tanning supremos St Tropez is the Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion, £14.50 www.boots.com, a creamy gel that helps you reach your optimum golden glow after three daily doses. After exfoliating, turn the shower off and apply the lotion as you would your usual shower gel, wait three minutes then rinse. The subtle colour develops throughout the day.
Seven days away from your summer hols? Swap your daily body lotion for a cream with gradual tanning properties. Melvita Prosun Self-Tanning Gel-Cream, £22 www.melvita.com, uses natural ingredients so you don’t get that typical fake tan smell, while ESPA Naturally Gradual Tan, £34 (www.espaskincare.com), contains shea butter, coconut and sweet almond oils.
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{ Health & Beauty {
SUNCREAM The most important item in your skincare regime this summer? A suitable SPF. PL has all your suncare needs covered
What spf should you use on holiday? “As a general rule, I recommend an added protection of at least 30+ SPF,” says dermatologist Dr Howard Murad, founder of Murad skincare. “However, SPF 15 gives you a 93% protection from the sun - there is no such thing as 100% - so for most people, this is adequate for everyday use, as long as you’re not spending the whole day out in thesun.” How can you tell if a sun cream has adequate uva protection? “UVA is shown by either a star rating or simply a UVA inside a circle on the bottle. I would always recommend at least 3-star UVA protection,” says Dr Fassihi. When and how often should you apply sun cream? “Always apply sun protection to cool, clean,
How much should you use? “Apply liberally to all exposed, or potentially exposed, parts of the body,” says Cleeve. “As a rule of thumb, use a teaspoon of sunscreen for each arm, leg, front, back and face, including neck and ears.” Are ‘once-a-day’ creams really effective? Yes, because they have better photostability, meaning that once absorbed, the protection isn’t depleted by the sun, nor can it be rubbed off or dissolved by water. “Ultrasun uses patented liposome technology, which provides a capsule for the UV filters to reach the deeper layers of the skin’s surface,” Cleeve explains. Does sun cream have a use-by date? Yes, it’s important to remember that the power of sunscreen decreases over time, so look for the little opened pot symbol on the bottle. Most indicate a nine or 12-month expiry date, so never use the same sun cream two summers in a row.
Moisturising oils LANCASTER SUN BEAUTY DRY OIL FAST TAN OPTIMIZER SPF 50, £19 STRAWBERRYNET.COM
What’s the difference between UVA and UVB rays? “Ultraviolet radiation is divided into UVA and UVB,” explains dermatologist Dr Hiva Fassihi. “UVB causes sunburn and eventually skin cancers. UVA can penetrate deeper, and therefore mostly causes skin ageing, but has also been shown to increase the risk of skin cancer in the long-term.”
dry skin in the shade, ideally indoors, 15-30 minutes before you go into the sun,” says Abi Cleeve, managing director of Ultrasun UK. “Any application in direct sunlight increases evaporation before it has had a chance to bond with the skin, reducing its power to protect.”
INSTITUT ESTHEDERM SUN OIL 3-STAR, £42.50 WWW.SPACENK.COM
W
hichever cosmetics you’re taking away with you on holiday, make sure you save space for sunscreen. Not only is decent sun protection a crucial part of any beauty regime - to keep premature ageing at bay - it’s vital for your health. Yet, in a recent survey by the British Association of Dermatologists, a worrying 72% of people admitted they’ve been sunburnt in the last year, increasing their risk of skin cancer. With such a vast array of sunscreens available, just trying to choose a sunblock is enough to give you a headache, then there’s the task of applying it adequately when you’re about to hit the beach. So with holiday season fast approaching, we’re going back to basics, and looking ahead to the the latest innovations in suncare. Get ready to slap it on with our foolproof SPF guide:
The suncare selection
TOP BUY
Shopping for sunscreen poses a bit of a conundrum: the best brands can be really expensive, while cheap stuff can leave you sticky and streaked with white. Three cheers then for Morrisons M Sun Care Protect & Nourish Sun Spray SPF30, which has been awarded a ‘best buy’ by Which? Magazine but will only set you back £3.50 MORRISONS.COM
Once-a-day wonders
ULTRASUN FAMILY ULTRA SENSITIVE SUN CREAM SPF 30, £19, WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM
REIMANN P20 ONCE A DAY SUN PROTECTION SPF 50+, £17.90 LOOKFANTASTIC.COM
Easy-peasy sprays
HAWAIIAN TROPIC PROTECTIVE DRY OIL CONTINUOUS SPRAY SPF 30, CURRENTLY REDUCED FROM £10 TO £7 WWW.ASDA.COM
PIZ BUIN INSTANT GLOW SKIN ILLUMINATING SUN SPRAY SPF 30, CURRENTLY REDUCED TO £8.50 FROM £17 WWW.BOOTS.COM
48 | PL MAGAZINE
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Fashion 1
Sparkle Summer kicks into high gear in July, so PL got together with well-loved local jewellery experts Drakes to give readers a glimpse of their glamorous new summer range
U
nique designs, striking timepieces and stunning statement jewellery should be an essential part of every wardrobe and Drakes have the lot. Colourful, classic and contemporary watches, rings, bracelets and necklaces bring summer fashions to life meaning looking chic couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easier.
MODELS: TOMMY TUCKER, MILLY ATKINSON PHOTOGRAPHER: JOHN ALLEN LOCATION: STRATHMORE HOUSE APARTMENTS, ELIOT STREET MAKE-UP AND HAIR: MARTYNE JOHNSON AND TEAM AT THE STRAND, SOUTHWAY SHOOT STYLIST: LOUISE DANIEL JEWELLERS: DRAKES
4 74 | PL MAGAZINE
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Fashion 2
3 1. TOMMY WEARS: Daniel Wellington Classic Glasgow Silver Watch, £129 2. MILLY WEARS: M&S Autograph dress, £49.50. TOMMY WEARS: Autograph polo, £29.50; M&S Collection shorts, £25. JEWELLERY: Citizen L Sunrise Watch, £599; Chimento Bamboo Over Yellow Gold Ring with Diamonds, £1,180; Chimento Bamboo Over Yellow Gold Bracelet with Diamonds, £2,820; Emporio Armani Retro Watch, £249; Drakes 9ct White Gold Plain Wedding Ring, £398; Nomination Bracelet Rebel Collection, £85 3. TOMMY WEARS: M&S North Coast shirt, £29.50; M&S North Coast shorts, £22.50. MILLY WEARS: M&S Limited Edition suede dress, £49.50. JEWELLERY: Spectrum18ct White Gold Morganite and Diamond Ring, £2,895; Spectrum 9ct Rose Gold Rose Quartz Pendant (Chain sold separately), £299; Links of London Sweetie XS Turquoise Bracelet, £140; Thomas Sabo Karma Beads Bracelet (bracelets start from £21.95, charms start from: £21.95); Nomination Composable Link Starter Bracelet £29, (charms start from £18); Swarovski Slake Pink Deluxe Bracelet, £59; Radley Floral Dial Leather Strap Watch, £99.95; Elliot Brown Canford Watch, £375; Drakes 9ct White Gold Black and White Diamond Ring, £575 4. TOMMY WEARS: M&S Autograph blazer, £129; M&S Autograph shirt, £35; M&S Collection shorts, £25 MILLY WEARS: M&S Collection blazer, £35; M&S Collection vest, £15; Limited edition culottes, £32.50 JEWELLERY: Bulova Diamond Gallery Watch, £269; Links of London Aurora Cluster Pendant 45cm, £75; Diamonds with a Difference Platinum and 9ct Rose Gold Pink and White Diamond Eternity Ring, £4,995; Diamonds with a Difference Platinum and 9ct Rose Gold Pink and White Diamond Ring, £6,850; Seiko Astron Watch, £2,200; Drakes Zirconium Patterned Wedding Ring, £204
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Fashion 5
9 6
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Fashion
7 5. MILLY WEARS: M&S Collection shirt, £28; M&S Collection bikini top, £19.50; M&S Limited Edition cropped jeans, £32.50; M&S North Coast hat, £19.50 JEWELLERY: Michael Kors Runway Watch, £229; Swarovski Cardinal Necklace, £159; Swarovski Cardinal Ring, £119; Swarovski Stardust Fuchsia Double Bracelet, £69; Swarovski Stardust Blue Double Bracelet, £69 6. MILLY WEARS: M&S Collection bikini top, £19.50; M&S Limited Edition cropped jeans, £32.50; M&S Collection blazer, £35 JEWELLERY: Bulova Diamond Gallery Watch, £269; Links of London Aurora Cluster Pendant 45cm, £75; Clogau Awelon Bracelet, £189; Diamonds with a Difference Platinum and 9ct Rose Gold Pink and White Diamond Eternity Ring, £4,995; Diamonds with a Difference Platinum and 9ct Rose Gold Pink and White Diamond Ring, £6,850 7. MILLY WEARS: M&S Collection shirt, £28; M&S Collection bikini top, £19.50; £19.50 Limited Edition cropped jeans, £32.50. JEWELLERY: Karen Millen Quartz Watch with Mother of Pearl Dial, £225; Jersey Pearl Long Emma-Kate Pearl Necklace, £200; Fei Liu Cascade Bangle in Rhodium Vermeil, £450; Sif Jakobs Ring Dolo with White Zirconia, £219 8. MILLY WEARS: M&S Collection bikini top, £19.50; M&S North Coast hat, £19.50. JEWELLERY: Bulova Diamond Gallery Watch, £269; Links of London Aurora Cluster Pendant 45cm, £75; Diamonds with a Difference Platinum and 9ct Rose Gold Pink and White Diamond Eternity Ring, £4,995; Diamonds with a Difference Platinum and 9ct Rose Gold Pink and White Diamond Ring, £6,850 9. MILLY WEARS: M&S Collection shirt, £28; M&S Collection bikini top, £19.50; M&S Limited Edition cropped jeans, £32.50. JEWELLERY: Karen Millen, Quartz Watch with Mother of Pearl Dial, £225; Jersey Pearl Long Emma-Kate Pearl Necklace, £200; Fei Liu Cascade Bangle in Rhodium Vermeil, £450; Sif Jakobs Ring Dolo with White Zirconia, £219.
8 PL MAGAZINE | 75
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Fashion
Cool, classic looks for hot
SUMMER It’s time to hit the beach – and do it in style. Here’s PL’s pick if the sizzling styles you’ll love this summer
FRINGE BEADED SANDALS, £15, NEXT
ELEPHANT PRINT SARONG, £19, ACCESSORIZE
FLOOZIE BY FROSTFRENCH BIKINI, £46.50, DEBENHAMS
LAND’S END
Beachware_Jul15.indd 2
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Fashion
DAYS
TANKINI, £22, BHS
BLACK BIKINI RACERBACK TOP, £19, AND BRIEFS, £14, ACCESSORIZE
KAYLEIGH CORSAGE TRILBY HAT, £22, ACCESSORIZE FRINGED TASSEL NECKLACE, £14, NEXT
RAYBAN SUNGLASSES, £218, SUNGLASSESSHOP.CO.UK
PER UNA BEACH BAG, £25, MARKS & SPENCER
COLOURED CHEVRON BIKINI TOP, £15, AND BRIEFS, £14, ACCESSORIZE
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Fashion IPANEMA WOMENS BEACH FLIP FLOPS, £12.99, GET THE LABEL COLOURBLOCK STRIPE FLOPPY HAT, £22, ACCESSORIZE
MIRRORED FLORAL PRINT BEACH PLAYSUIT, £7, PRIMARK UK
RED HERRING BIKINI, £32, DEBENHAMS
REGER BY JANET REGER SWIMSUIT, £48, DEBENHAMS
Beachware_Jul15.indd 4
POMEGRANATE BEACH BAG, £20, PAPERCHASE
25/06/2015 14:29:59
BRIGIDFOLEY
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Brocante of Devon stocks unusual, good quality gifts and greetings cards for all occasions, tastes and budgets. We are a familyrun gift shop offering superb customer service. Rely on us for your inspiration and delight.
Brocante of Devon - The Gift Experts View our Virtual Tour at https://goo.gl/maps/7MTyO
www.boringdonpark.com info@boringdonpark.com 01752 339113
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PICNIC BASKET, £15, TIGER
Whether it’s the beach, the riverside or the moors, a picnic is the perfect summer pastime. Here’s PL’s pick of essentials for a great day out
ACCESSORIES FROM GEORGE AT ASDA
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Shopping SET OF 4 DRINKING JARS WITH CARRIER, £14.95, DOTCOMGIFTSHOP
WICKER PICNIC HAMPER, £55, MARKS & SPENCER
PERIODIC TABLE DESIGN FLASK AND CUP, £12.95, DOTCOMGIFTSHOP
PARADISE FIELDS MELAMINE PLATE LARGE, £6, CATH KIDSTON
PINK FOLDING PICNIC CHAIR, £8, TESCO
BLANKET, £7, TIGER STORES
Shopping_Picnics_Jul15.indd 3
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Classic Car Show & Country Fayre
Sunday 2nd August 11am - 5pm Military vehicles, Classic and American cars and kit cars on display PLUS Gift and Craft Stalls, Refreshments and lots of entertainment A fun day out for all the family
Check www.mountedgcumbe.gov.uk for more events Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park Tel: 01752 822236 www.facebook.com/mtedgcumbe
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WHO DO YOU
THINK YOU ARE? Have you been inspired to trace your ancestors? Carly Squires met Maureen Selley, from the Devon History Group to find out how to make the first steps
T
he Devon Mot her Family History Society was set up in 1976 by a group of four enthusiasts. It now has more than 4,000 members worldwide and is Dau one of the largest groups of its kind ght er in the UK. With the success of TV shows such as Who Do You Think You Are? and the ever-expanding range of accessible information on the web, people are becoming increasingly interested in their family history. Eager to connect contemporary Devon with its past, the history society offers regular help desks, meetings, a monthly magazine and child-friendly events for potential local historians. Maureen Selley, 73, was not only made an honorary life member in 2013 but has also been awarded the 2014 Society of Genealogists’ Certificate of Recognition “for ongoing dedication in ensuring that family history maintains a high profile within the County of Devon”. “You do get a real buzz and excitement from conducting family history research. You get hooked!” Maureen explained. “I began my own family history research and joined the society in 1988. I had a fantastic teacher at Plymouth High who made history interesting and when my husband Brian died young, I wanted to find out if that was anything to do with his family background. “Being part of the society has taken me to many places across the United Kingdom, America and Australia. Recently I’ve been able to use my son’s DNA to discover if we have family in the States. It’s all about the connections.” Maureen spent 27 years in Plymouth as a
Grandfather
Gran
dmot
Father
her
Son
People do want the black sheep! It is great when you find a scandal. People are more often than not disappointed if you can’t find one – MAUREEN SELLEY
primary school teacher and believes that learning about family history is integral to learning about yourself. “You’re the way you are now because of the way they were back then. To be interested it has to be something that you can relate to - that’s the way to do history.” “People go searching for family history for medical reasons, for example to find out if people have breast cancer in the family. People who are adopted can trace their birth parents, although it is a can of worms and you have to be careful. “People do want the black sheep! It is great when you find a scandal. People are more often than not disappointed if you can’t find one.” Although it is undeniable that emerging technology has made it easier than ever before to find information, tracing your family history might not be as easy as it seems, which is why the Devon Family History Society is available to help. “Back when I started in 1988 I had to order films and go through reels and reels - now you pop a name into the computer and you can find so much. “It’s very easy to get started now but you can’t rely on seeing your surname in a document from 1600 – you need to start where you are now and work back. “The earliest I’ve got back to is the early 1600s on one line. Between 1640 and 1660 – if you know your history you’ll know that’s during the Civil War – that’s when Cromwell stopped the use of parish registers.
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Family
Maureen Selley’s
Top 5 Tips for Family History Hunting
“This means that you can’t prove that somebody is connected between that period of time. I don’t have a paper trail available to prove it because the paper never existed.”
Surnames can also be tricky “We’re so special now about how our surnames are spelt, but only a couple of generations ago they would happily spell their name in different ways.” Due to challenges such as these, it’s important to be patient and determined, advises Maureen. You also need a methodical and open
mind and you must ensure that you don’t take everything at face value. Devon is fortunate to have three record offices in Plymouth, Exeter and Barnstaple. Maureen said: “They are all brilliant. They work with us and we work with them. We’re so fortunate; other counties aren’t as cooperative as Devon. “This is what is so good – basically there’s been the support in Plymouth for local history.” For more information about Devon History Group visit www.devonfhs.org.uk
Carly traces her family Start with yourself and talk to your family, especially older members. Cousins might have information or photos that your close family have forgotten.
Contact your local Family History Society, where volunteers are happy to help and give advice. www.devonfhs.org.uk
The Internet is very useful for censuses and life events, but don’t copy other people’s trees. Make contact and ask for their sources.
Don’t rely on transcriptions, try to see original documents and record where and what you have found.
Enjoy the search, especially the black sheep and the skeletons in your family!
No criminals, no bigamists and certainly no corrupt politicians - it was hardly a surprise to find out that my family is fairly boring (or normal, I suppose!). However, following my family back in time did provoke a debate and brought those family members in the present closer together. I met historian Sara McMahon at a Local Family History Help Desk event at Plympton Library. She has run her own business, The Family History Company, for nine years in order to help others trace their past. “When I would have days off school with my gran we always did family history and created a family tree on a roll of wallpaper. My mum was a historian anyway and so I would go to the registration office with her to help. I’ve done it ever since,” said Sara. Sara was able to trace my family to my exotic-sounding Cornish ancester Loveday Langston Rush in 1827 with only my father’s name and was also able to reveal that my great-great-great grandmother, Emma Ley,
had eight children under the name of Rowe in Cornwall, two of whom were twins. However, this wasn’t all as easy for Sara as it seems. “When I was told that your surname is Squires I thought ‘noooo!’ That surname is so popular, due to the fact that you can find a Squires in every town due to its origins. “Your mother’s maiden name Dowdle on the other hand, is fantastic. It is more common in Devon and Cornwall than anywhere else in the United Kingdom.” Sara was unable to find a birth registration for my granddad, Roy Francis Squires. Sadly, he passed away in 1994 and bizarrely neither my father, grandmother or aunt have any information about his background. “It’s common to lose birth certificates from that time because of World War One.” Sara explained, “However it certainly does raise a lot of questions! There is always something juicy in everyone’s past and I think it’s Roy Francis in your tree!” On my mother’s side I discovered that my family dates back to Thomas Howard Dowdle in 1875. He worked as an iron moulder and fitter in Wiltshire. My granddad was the only Dowdle to move to Plymouth. Discovering my family history with Sara has motivated me to talk and discuss these findings more with my immediate family and it’s been a fantastic experience for all of us. I now know why local history can be so addictive as you meet both victories and challenges. My grandmother, who was married to Roy, has been pulling out old suitcases of photographs, letters and certificates and it’s been fascinating to unearth how much society has changed and how my family tree might have influenced the person that I am today. The search is on for the skeleton in my dear granddad’s closet!
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Advertising feature
A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
TO FAMILY LAW
F
amily law is a particularly emotive and sensitive area of the law and, at times, family lawyers can be subjected to unfair negative publicity. You may well have heard comments along the lines of: “I cannot afford to instruct my solicitor to deal with my divorce” or “my wife’s solicitor is just making things worse to make more money out of the case”. It could be partly due to this perception, as well as a need to offer all kinds of support, that the judiciary and family lawyers have made a move to promote and encourage non-court based dispute resolution methods to assist in resolving issues arising from a relationship breakdown. This move has resulted in what is known as ‘collaborative family law’. The collaborative law process offers a noncourt focused method of resolving issues arising from a relationship breakdown including divorce, disputes regarding arrangements for children, financial issues and civil partnership dissolution. The process is based around a series of meetings at which the collaborative lawyers and the couple discuss and resolve their issues, with the lawyers assisting and advising the couple together. Each person has their own lawyer, but
the lawyers work together to encourage honest communication between the couple at meetings. The couple and the lawyers will sign a Participation Agreement at the beginning of the process which promises that they will not use or threaten court proceedings. The focus is therefore to resolve the issues without lengthy and costly court proceedings. Couples remain in control of the process which promotes transparency, with meetings being conducted in a respectful atmosphere. Clients
also benefit from certainty with regards to cost at a time when finances will undoubtedly be stretched. The most positive outcome is that the collaborative law process enables couples who are parents to resolve issues in a way that allows them to continue to work together and communicate in the future for the benefit of the children. The lawyers are working together rather than embarking on what some might describe as ‘divorce warfare’. By continuing to assist couples in this way family lawyers can strive to change public perception and illustrate that they are here to help at what will be for most clients a very challenging and difficult time in their lives. GA’s family team is able to provide mediation and team members Julia Robson and Ian Downing are accredited Collaborative lawyers, trained by specialist family lawyers association, Resolution. The team are stout believers in the collaborative law process as they have seen the positive outcomes achieved. To find out more, please contact Julia on 01752 513571 or email julia.robson@GAsolicitors. com. Find out more about GA Solicitors via www. GAsolicitors.com.
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{ Family {
HOW DO WE CHOOSE THE RIGHT
SCHOOL?
Picking schools is one of the most difficult decisions families have to make. Chiara Giordano spoke to some teachers, who are also parents, to get their advice
W
hen making the important decision of where your child will spend the next few years of their education, it isn’t enough to simply look at glossy prospectuses, league tables and Ofsted reports. Many parents and headteachers will agree that the best way for a parent to get a feel for a school is to take their child along and have a good look at the facilities. Visiting a school for an open day gives you the chance to speak to teachers and students and ask as many questions as you wish. You can expect to hear talks from the headteacher or principal, visit classrooms and maybe even see demonstrations of lessons. It is also a chance to see how your child reacts to the environment and whether the school would be a good fit for their individual needs. Nick Ward, headteacher at Marine Academy Plymouth, has just been through the process of choosing a secondary school for his own children. The headteacher, who has children in Years 7, 6 and 4, said one of the most important things for him as a parent was to see how his child reacted to the teachers at an open day. He said: “What was really nice was the teachers gave a lot of their time to the pupils. “They actually spent more time speaking with them before speaking to the parents.” As well as watching how the teachers interacted with the children, Mr Ward said he would also look at Ofsted reports and league tables, and ask them about the facilities, extracurricular activities and lessons on offer. “I think it’s vitally important that you visit the
ABOVE: STEVE BAKER CHATS TO STUDENTS AT LIPSON CO-OPERATIVE ACADEMY
It’s vitally important that you visit the school because you pick up a feel for the place, just by experiencing the buildings and the people - NICK WARD
school because you pick up a feel for the place just by experiencing the buildings and the people in the buildings,” he said. “You get an opportunity to meet teachers and some of the pupils so you get a much better sense of how the school operates and whether you would be comfortable there or not.” Mary Cox, principal at UTC Plymouth, believes it is important to go to different open days because not every type of environment will suit every child. “All my children are very different from each other and the general sixth form route didn’t suit any of them so we spent a lot of time looking at all of the choices locally,” said the mother-ofthree. “Prospectuses only give so much so it’s best to meet the staff and the students who are already there.
“They will tell it as it is at the school and that’s as honest as it can be and you are getting a full picture. “Young people are very influenced by what their parents say, particularly at this age, but if you can look somebody in the eye and ask them the questions you really want to ask you will come away much better informed.” With so many different types of schools on offer these days, it is important now more than ever to choose the right one for your child. Steve Baker, headteacher at Lipson Co-operative Academy, encourages parents to visit schools during a normal school day, not just at an open evening. “Of course you will have heard rumours, spoken to friends and family and looked at Ofsted reports and league tables, but nothing beats going around the school speaking to teachers and students and getting a real feel for what the school is like,” said the father-of-one. “At Lipson we always encourage parents to come into the school during a normal day as well so we aren’t putting on a special kind of show and they will just see the school as it is.” Mr Baker said that at the open days parents ask all sorts of questions and that one aspect of education may be more important to one parent than another depending on the individual needs of their child. He said: “Some parents want to know how well looked after their child is going to be in the pastoral sense, some will want to know about Oxbridge entries, and some will want to know about special educational needs and everything that makes a school what it is.”
64 | PL MAGAZINE
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Family
Get your kids
CAMPING
As well as being fun, camping has other huge benefits for children, says the Camping and Caravanning Club, which talks to Lisa Salmon about its new Get Kids Camping campaign
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Family LEFT: GET YOUR KIDS OUT IN THE OPEN ON A CAMPING HOLIDAY. INSET: JULIA BRADBURY, PRESIDENT OF THE CAMPING AND CARAVANNING CLUB, WHO’VE JUST LAUNCHED THEIR NEW GET KIDS CAMPING CAMPAIGN.
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e’ve all heard of ‘happy campers’, but it seems families who enjoy camping could be more accurately described as ‘happy, educated campers’. New research shows children who camp in the great outdoors at least once a year tend to do better at school, and are healthier and happier. The study by Plymouth University and the Camping and Caravanning Club found more than four out of five parents thought camping had a positive effect on their children’s school education. Plus, 98% felt it made their kids appreciate and connect with nature; 95% thought children were happier as a result, and 93% believed it provides useful skills for later life. TV presenter Julia Bradbury, president of the Camping and Caravanning Club, who’ve just launched their new Get Kids Camping campaign, says: “Taking the kids camping is such a great experience for the whole family. “We have masses of beautiful scenery on our doorstep in the UK, and camping doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s a brilliant way of getting kids out in the fresh air, away from the TV and computers - developing their brains and teaching them to interact with each other and the countryside in different ways. “If you haven’t taken your family camping, give it a go - it’s an adventure that won’t disappoint you.” Sue Waite, the associate professor at Plymouth Institute of Education who led the study, says; “Interestingly, the parents surveyed believed camping supported the key curriculum subjects of geography, history and science and actually, that
stacks up, because the most common camping activities were natural, like rock pooling and nature walks, where children are getting to understand ecosystems and identify lifeforms, respecting nature and the environment.” Children who took part in the research were asked what they loved about camping - making and meeting new friends, having fun, playing outside and learning various camping skills were all popular answers. Children also recognised camping’s value for problem-solving and working together, and for helping improve their understanding of subjects like geography, science, history, English and maths. Rob Ganley, spokesman for the Camping and Caravanning Club, points out that as well as campers making plenty of trips to the seaside, historical sites and going on nature walks, campsites are safe places for children to play freely. “Camping will prise kids away from smartphones and tablets and get them exploring the outdoors. There’s no better place for climbing a tree or making a den than a campsite, and the great thing is that they’re safe environments. “They can leave the tent, run around the site and make friends with kids from other families staying there. It harks back to the days of a safer world, in some ways. It’s a really safe and healthy environment for kids to make friends and develop new skills.” And for parents worried about any potential discomfort while camping, Ganley reassures: “Modern camping equipment is streets ahead of what it used to be - you can even get inflatable
‘Interestingly, the parents surveyed believed camping supported the key curriculum subjects of geography, history and science and actually, that stacks up’ - SUE WAITE tents that are up within a minute, and there’s always glamping!” The Camping and Caravanning Club even offers Ready Camp safari-style pre-erected tents on 17 club sites around the UK, featuring real beds, a kitchen and a sofa in a spacious living area. Ganley adds: “Families just turn up with their bedding, with no worries about pitching a tent. Glamping is definitely a popular option.” For more information visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
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Travel
SAILING BEYOND
New Zeland’s middle earth
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Tempted by some of the most unspoilt environments on Earth, Sarah Marshall sails south on an adventurous cruise through New Zealand’s Subantarctic islands
as mask clasped to my face, I stumble through a thick cloud of sulphurous fumes as helicopters circle overhead. It’s a snapshot pertaining to the Apocalypse and not, as is in fact the case, a bunch of tourists on a cruise holiday. But a visit to White Island, a 200,000-year-old live marine volcano in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, is my introduction to the wild, largely uninhabited and relatively unknown outlying islands that hang from the country like a precious necklace in the South Pacific Ocean. Thanks to the absence of any endemic land predators, several ecologists have described New Zealand as being the best example of how life might
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function on another planet, and in particular, the Subantarctic islands promise to be like nowhere else on Earth. Far further south than White Island, the five UNESCO World Heritage Subantarctic clusters - Antipodes, Auckland, Bounty, Campbell and The Snares - serve as some of the world’s most important wildlife sanctuaries. Yet of the 1,200 visitor permits available each year, that quota is rarely filled, an indication of just how tricky it is to get here in the first place. Silversea is one of the cruise lines offering the itinerary on their vessel Silver Discoverer and I’ve joined them for the inaugural voyage. Beginning in Auckland on North Island, we travel south, stopping at places where birds rapidly begin to outnumber people. Eradicating invasive species - and that appears to include Homo sapiens - is key to restoring these one-
As wind batters the granite outcrops, birds hang in the ledges, literally clinging to the precipice of existence time Gardens of Eden, overrun by rats, sheep and combine harvesters. It’s true that Pitt Island - part of the Chatham archipelago - looks, somewhat disappointingly, a bit too much like home; rolling hills and grazing livestock were a European introduction. Ten people on the island (a third of the population) are direct descendants of 19th
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Travel century settler Frederick Hunt from Lincolnshire, and I’m amazed they’ve maintained the strength of will (not to mention the gene pool) to live in such a remote place for so long. A sense of isolation becomes more acute during our long stretches at sea. While crossing the Chatham Rise, we see sperm whales spouting 5m diagonal blows, fluking and leaving a trail of smooth ‘footprints’ in the water. Pelagic birds - ranging from graceful, balletic albatrosses, to Wedgewood blue fairy prions and gnarly-beaked northern giant petrels hang in our slipstream, then disappear into the horizon where grey sea and sky become one. Rough seas pummel us with 6m waves, and as the bow rears upwards and crashes back down, rainbows form in an explosion of spray. A 15-minute trip through the Bounty Islands, a rare breeding ground for colonies of Salvin’s albatrosses and erect-crested penguins, proves to be the highlight of my voyage. As wind batters the granite outcrops, birds hang in the ledges, literally clinging to the precipice of existence. Our next stop is the Antipodes Islands. Here, waterfalls cascade down columnar rocks, formed like the pipes on a church organ, and trickle over a stratified ‘mille-feuille’ of volcanic ash. Parakeets hide in the grassy tussocks, and rockhopper penguins weave past slithery tendrils of sea kelp snaking in the water. On land, moulting elephant seals are easily mistaken for enormous boulders, and irritable New Zealand sea lions watch us suspiciously. After so many days at sea, we finally set foot on land at Campbell Island, although we can’t just merrily skip ashore. In 2003, the most southerly of New Zealand’s Subantarctic islands was declared rat free and officials are determined to keep unwanted visitors (including animals, insects and seeds) at bay. Our boots are scraped and dipped in disinfectant, and clothing intimately probed with a vacuum cleaner. Only then are we allowed on shore, where purpose-built boardwalks run through the grassy nesting grounds of 99 per cent of the world’s southern royal albatross population. The vast ocean void offers little sense of scale, but up close it’s possible to appreciate the sheer size of these mighty mariners who spend most of their lives at sea, only touching land every two years to breed. Yet now, on terra firma, they appear so vulnerable. They’re not alone. On my way back to the beach, I’m ambushed by some fiercely territorial sea lions, and a plastic camera tripod suddenly feels like lame protection. My second disconcerting pinniped encounter takes place on Enderby Island, part of the Aucklands. We visit a castaway store used for emergency supplies by 19th century sailors, where only a jar of salt now remains. Sea lions seem to lurk behind every wiry
mound of tussock grass and, once disturbed, they give chase with alarming speed, fins rotating like the blades on a propeller. “Stand your ground,” shouts our expedition guide Keith Springer. But with 400kg of spluttering, barking blubber on my tail, I’m sent scuttling down the hill in the direction of the castaway store, weighing up how long I could survive on salt. More symphonies from some of nature’s greatest composers are performed on Ulva Island, much closer to the mainland. Although not part of the Subantarctics, it’s still swathed in primeval forest and, in the absence of predators, is an ornithological paradise. Once home to neighbouring Stewart Island’s first post office, people would sail here to collect or send mail and spend the day enjoying nature. Volunteer guide Kari Beaven shows us the tough leaves of muttonbird scrub, used as “the first postcards” and legally franked until 1970. Thousands of miles from home, I wonder how many months it would have taken to send a letter - or even leaf - across the globe. Even today, New Zealand’s Subantarctic environments are so far from our own reality. True, you have to travel far, but fortunately not to another planet.
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Sarah Marshall was a guest of Silversea www.silversea.com Air New Zealand www. airnewzealand. co.uk)offers daily flights to Auckland from £1,070 economy return. For more information about the destination, visit www.newzealand. com/uk
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Out & About
Shrek ME AND
Nigel Harman has gone from East End to West End as he takes to the director’s chair for Shrek the Musical. He spoke to Rachael Dodd about his new role
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hrek the Musical literally brought Nigel Harman to his knees when he played the pint-sized villain Lord Farquaad on the production’s original London run. Now he’s turned director for the first time as the musical makes its national tour. “Because I love Shrek it’s become easier to direct,” Nigel says. “There’s something very natural about Shrek even though it stars three singing pigs, a cross dressing wolf and a gingerbread man,” he laughs. “Some days directing feels very natural and other days I don’t know what people are talking about so I have to ask questions and figure out the parlance and the phrases.” Nigel says he’s not one to do things by halves and choosing Shrek as his directorial debut was just the challenge he needed. “I’ve always been one to jump in. This isn’t a little play above a pub, this is a challenge. “It’s when people tell me that something can’t be done that I begin to get interested,” Nigel smiles. But the weight of responsibility does occasionally weigh on the ex-EastEnders star’s shoulders. “I did have a few moments where I was watching a technical run-through and suddenly realised a £3 million set was in my hands - you do have a moment of just going “Arrggh!” - it is quite scary.”
It’s a far cry from Nigel’s most famous on-screen role as badboy heartthrob Dennis Rickman in EastEnders. “People think I wasn’t born before EastEnders started and I retired after I left,” Nigel says. “People ask me what I’m doing now and I tell them I’m working at a garden centre or something because that’s what they want to hear.” Nigel left the soap in 2005 and returned to the stage where he had begun as a fledgling actor. “One of the first jobs I ever did was at the Theatre Royal Plymouth when I was about 19,” Nigel recalls. “I was in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. We lived in Stonehouse for about two or three months and I loved it there. “We used come home from the show and give cups of tea to the “ladies on the corner”.” Nigel has now been starring in major theatre productions for a decade and directing seemed the next logical step for the actor. Since the Shrek tour began Nigel has been able to loosen the directorial reins a little but he still checks in on a daily basis. “I’ve handed it all over but I’m monitoring it day to day. The pressure has somewhat abated since opening – the show’s been really well received and the audience seem to be loving it.” In fact, Shrek has been praised by critics and
ABOVE: SHREK DIRECTOR NIGEL HARMAN BELOW: A SCENE FROM SHREK THE MUSICAL
audiences alike. Nigel says watching the crowd reaction is one of the best parts of the show. “People turn up and go mad,” Nigel laughs, “you see dad’s who’ve been dragged along by their kids who get more into it than anyone. “I’ve been able to watch it over and over again and although sometimes I kind of say ‘Oh no I have to watch it again’ the minute it starts I’m pulled right back in. “I love the theatre – the liveliness of the audience, the power of being in a room and having everyone hanging on your words – it’s very special. “The show feeds your imagination - people are drawn in by the magic of fairy tales and the show is quite anarchic. At its heart it’s about embracing who you are. “In a world of Instagram and Facebook it’s more important than ever to be reminded of who you are as a person.” Shrek the Musical runs at Theatre Royal Plymouth from July 28 to August 16.
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Out & About
Perfect place
FOR A PICNIC Fancy eating al fresco but not sure where to go? Here’s PL’s pick of picnic paradise in the Plymouth area Words by Clare Jardine
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Saltram This is one of Plymouth’s most popular spots but the grounds are so vast you can still lose yourself for a tranquil picnic. There’s a tea room and cafe where you can eat outside if you don’t have your own food.
Lydford Gorge (Near Tavistock)
Lydford Gorge is one of the most quixotic places to visit on Dartmoor. Nestled in the north-western reaches of the moor, and owned by the National Trust, the oak tree lined gorge is the deepest in the South West, stretching 1.5 miles from Lydford Village. It’s a mysterious and beautiful place. There are two tea rooms which also do takeaway food to supplement your picnic.
Mount Edgcumbe Take the Cremyll ferry for the ultimate Mount Edgcumbe experience. A day isn’t enough to enjoy all the delights of the magnificent estate. The hardest thing will be picking your picnic spot from the wealth of lovely locations. There’s two cafes if you don’t have your own food.
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Devonport Park One of Plymouth’s many gems but this park has everything. Recently restored to its Victorian elegance it also has new play areas for children and plenty of room for picnics. The Pavillion cafe serves meals, drinks and snacks.
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Burrator Reservoir (near Yelverton)
Surrounded by mixed woodland, undisturbed Burrator Reservoir sharply contrasts with the open moorland. Plenty of options for walks and cycling. No cafe but there is usually an ice-cream van.
Plymbridge Woods This wooded valley has everything; long trails, water, a meadow and endless woods to explore. There’s no cafe here but Andy’s Devon Coffee Company van is well worth visiting for one of the best takeaway coffees in town - not to mention the chocolate milkshake.
Jennycliff, Plymstock A perfect picnic spot overlooking the Sound and there’s a popular cafe where you can eat in or outside.
Plymouth Hoe The ultimate picnic location in the whole of the Westcountry. OK, so we are a bit biased but you can never get tired of the Hoe. There’s a wealth of cafes, takeaways and ice cream vans if you can’t be bothered to make your picnic or buy from M&S. Please don’t ruin the Hoe by using disposable barbecues on the grass.
Lopwell Dam Tucked away by the River Tavy but only three miles from Plymouth, Lopwell Dam is another breathtaking beauty spot. it’s a bird watchers paradise so take your binoculars in your basket. The Pumphouse Cafe provides meals and snacks if you don’t want to pack a picnic.
Cotehele As if the endless grounds, gardens, walks, waterfront, tea room and ice-cream takeaway aren’t enough, Cotehele spoils visitors with numerous picnic tables provided liberally around the grounds. You can enjoy the wider Cotehele estate and quayside without paying to see the house and gardens. All they ask is that you take your rubbish home. PL MAGAZINE | 73
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MTV CRASHES
Plymouth came alive last July when huge acts such as Example, The 1975 and the Kaiser Chiefs performed on the Hoe for MTV Crashes - and in just a few weeks it’s going to happen again
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the
L didn’t think last year’s line-up could be beaten but it seems we were wrong. MTV Crashes will take to the Hoe over three days this year, including a night of huge names, the best DJs and five local bands. On Wednesday July 22, one of the biggest girl bands of the moment, Little Mix, will take to the stage and have fans screaming in their thousands. Little Mix rose to fame in 2011 when they were crowned winners of The X Factor and since then girls, Perrie, Jesy, Jade and Leigh-Anne, haven’t stopped. Just one year after winning the talent show, Little Mix scored their second number one with Wings. And in 2013 the band’s debut
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Out & About album, DNA, became the highest debut ever for a British female group’s first album. In just a few weeks the almighty girl band will perform in Plymouth alongside huge star Tinie Tempah. BRIT, MOBO and Ivor Novello award winner Tinie Tempah, who had a number one with his debut album Disc-Overy, will be headlining the show on Wednesday, July 22. Tinie said: “MTV Crashes Plymouth is going to be awesome. It’s so beautiful down there. I can’t wait to get out there and perform by the sea this summertime. It’s going to be a wicked show.” But MTV Crashes doesn’t end there - on Thursday, July 23 some of the world’s hottest DJs will take to the stage and start a huge party on the Hoe. Grammy-nominated electronic dance maestro Steve Aoki will jet over to the Hoe to amp guests up for day two of the festivities. The crowd-surfing, cake-throwing king of the electronic dance world is one of the most recognisable names in music and his shows are
famed for being a spectacle like no other. Kerry Taylor, senior vice president of youth and music at MTV, said of Aoki: “His recent tour included 21 back-to-back sell-out shows at major venues across the US. He is a winner of the ‘Best Set in Ibiza’ award and he’s one of the superstars who’ve taken the idea of crowd interaction to an entirely new level. Plymouth residents will now be in a unique position to witness one of the must-see live shows and performers of the modern generation.” 2014 proved to be the busiest touring year ever for Aoki, becoming the highest grossing dance artist in North America. The year culminated in him receiving one of his three Guinness World Records – for being the most travelled musician in the world. He released part one of his second studio album ‘Neon Future’ in the same year, followed by part two last month, to much acclaim. Aoki has famously collaborated with Will I Am, Afrojack, LMFAO, Iggy Azalea, Lil Jon and even sci-fi director JJ Abrams.
The Dutch wonder kid Oliver Heldens will headline day two of MTV Crashes Plymouth with Club MTV. The musician was only 17 when the biggest record label in the dance industry, Spinnin’ Records, signed him and he is now one of the most in-demand DJs in the world. Also taking to the stage will be two-time UK number one chart-topper DJ Fresh, whose massive hits include Louder, Gold Dust, Hot Right Now and the recent Gravity, featuring Ella Eyre. MTV will then welcome artists Route 94 and David Zowie. Day three of this huge music festival makes room for five of Plymouth’s most popular local acts. Tickets for day one were snapped up in minutes but tickets for day two - at the time of writing - are still available at seetickets.com priced £10. The event will be broadcast on MTV’s flagship UK music TV channels, showcasing Britain’s Ocean City in over 35 countries.
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Social Diary
Win A Dream Wedding
Beautiful sunshine greeted the finalists of The Herald’s Win A Dream Wedding competition held at the stunning Buckland Tout-Saints Hotel. The winners, chosen after long deliberation and a series of games and interview, were Dawne Penney and Marc Jones – main image.
Away With Wine launch
Guests gathered at Le Vignbole in the Royal William Yard for the launch of Away With Wine – a new company offering bespoke trips for wine lovers. Sorcha Holloway and her husband, Tim, will run tours to Italy, France and English wine regions. 78 | PL MAGAZINE
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Social Diary
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Social Diary
250 years of the Royal Naval Hospital
Veterans turned out in their original uniforms to mark the 250th anniversary of the opening of a military hospital. More than 170 former veterans of Royal Naval Hospital Stonehouse revisited the site at The Millfields to mark 250 years since the hospital opened – and 20 years since it closed. The historic occasion was marked with a garden party complete with music performed by a Royal Naval band and a dog show by Gables Farm Dogs’ and Cats’ Home
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Social Diary
Saltash.net May Ball
Students arrived in style for the saltash. net Community School May Ball. For head of sixth form and deputy headteacher Nick Scantlebury, the annual Year 13 May Ball was set to be particularly memorable. Having announced his retirement earlier this year, Mr Scantlebury has been making the most of his remaining time at the school. This included enjoying a very special evening at The Duke of Cornwall Hotel designed to mark the end of the sixth formersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time at their school.
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Next month
Next Month People
BACK HOME
Divers Sarah Barrow and Tonia Couch relax after a busy year
WARRIOR WIVES
Elizabeth Eager’s new book on life as a military wife
Wellbeing
SPINNING AROUND
Tone up with an aerial yoga class
Homes
MAKING WAVES
Bring seaside style into your home
Food and drink
SPARKLE IN THE SUNSHINE Our pick of summer bubbles
FLAVOUR FEST
Plymouth’s biggest food event
Fashion PACK IT IN
The perfect holiday wardrobe
Beauty
BEACH FIXES
The top-to-toe guide to holiday preparation
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26/06/2015 08:58:59