West Magazine October 1 2016

01.10.16

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Irresistible foodie finds

WEAR IT NOW:

Velvet luxe

Must-have kitchens by a Somerset design duo

MY BIG BREAK Lewis Peek on the power of Poldark

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To find out more contact us:

01752 875604

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P FRC n o rs

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“Dementia is the most feared illness amongst those aged over 55 years. This research centre will enable everybody to have the chance to do something about it and together we will defeat this devastating illness.

Research is hope for Dementia”.

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plymouth@re-cognitionhealth.com

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27/09/2016 13:39:55 19/09/2016 16:11:48

‘People have wanted to know if I get my top off to go scything like Aidan Turner’ Lewis Peek on starring in Poldark, p16

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COOKING UP STYLE Kitchens to wow your guests

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BOILING OVER Why Jamie’s mad with the PM

[contents[ Inside this week...

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THE WISHLIST Our pick of the best treats this week

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JUST BETWEEN US...

Sh! We have the latest gossip!

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SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL Tiny churches off the beaten track

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28

VELVET VAMP Ideas for autumn glamour

36

MOREISH Cherry and almond slices

MY BIG BREAK Lewis Peek on starring in TV’s Poldark

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CULINARY FLAIR Meet kitchen designers Papilio

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JUST ASK GRACIE Our style guru solves your problems

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TIPPING THE VELVET Why soft glamour is so right

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BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week

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SMALL BITES What’s hot in the South West foodie world

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STRONG STUFF April Marks tries Navy strength gin

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ALL NIGHT LONG. Eden’s sleepover to help the homeless

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FULL OF BOUNCE Phil Goodwin installs a trampoline

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SACRED SPACES The region’s gems revealed

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LETTING OFF STEAM

Fun places to take the kids

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PLAYING A PART

Poldark’s Lewis Peek

[ welcome [ It is time to welcome the cosy season... he nights are drawing in, the garden is flowering its last and there’s a chill in the air. Woolly jumpers and tights are just around the corner. But if all this gives you a bit of a sinking feeling, fret not. Because we are embracing all that is good about the turning of the year in this issue.

And it all comes down to something the Danes call hygge.

As Meik Wiking, author of The Little Book of Hygge, puts it (p32), hygge, which the Danes have embraced as a way of life, is “the internal glow you get when you turn the big light off, light a candle and snuggle up to watch an old movie with a

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Tweet

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[

[

steaming mug of hot chocolate”.

And you can get some inspiration for your very own hygge-fest right here in West. We’ve got the most sumptuous fabric of them all – velvet – as our fashion focus (p28), chandelier-lit cosy kitchens from Somerset designers Papilio (p22), and a recipe for tipsy cherry and almond slices on page 36. Not to mention Cath Kidston slippers on our Wishlist (p6). As for cosy Sunday nights in, we celebrate Poldark being back on our screens with Dawn Ellis’s interview (p16) with Devon actor Lewis Peek, who is currently appearing in the latest series, filmed in Cornwall no less. Happy reading.

[

There’s inspiration for your own hygge fest right here in West

of the week @molevalley

There we are again in our favourite @WMNWest magazine. #westcountrycrush

TO ADVERTISE: Contact Cathy Long: 01752 293017 or 07557 576668, clong@dc-media.co.uk

Becky Sheaves, Editor

EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk Tel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest

COVER IMAGE: Steven Haywood

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Phil Goodwin

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Gillian Molesworth

Cathy Long

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If you do one thing this week...

If you’re planning for your big day, make sure you don’t miss The Wedding Show at Westpoint Arena, Exeter. Taking place on October 8 and 9, the show is bigger than ever this year, with more than 170 of the South West’s finest wedding suppliers under one roof. Get inspiration for your gown and bridesmaids’ dresses, and menswear and guest wear at the spectacular catwalk shows at 11.30am, 1.15pm and 3pm each day. There will also be live music, a vintage area, millinery, stationery, favours, a camper van photobooth, and cakes, gifts and ice cream. With plenty of show deals, competitions and samples too, you’ll find all the inspiration you need..

Offer

The first 100 brides through the doors each day at The Wedding Show at Westpoint will receive a goody bag of samples plus a free copy of South West Bride magazine. 10am-4pm, tickets £5 each or £15 for a group of four in advance from www.theweddingshow. co.uk/westpoint-wedding-show, or £7.50 each on the day.

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Zigzag sequin clutch bag, £39, Debenhams

Portmeirion dandelion tea set,

the

£29.99, Very

wishlist

PLAYFUL

West’s top picks for spending your time and money this week

Pencils embroidered slippers, £32, Cath Kidston

QUIRKY Deer, stag, rabbit and owl pens, £4

Puli cushion, £195, Amara

each, Paperchase 6

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Wishlist

Tokyo side table, £389, A Splash of Colour

Travel gift set, £17.50, Paperchase

COLOUR Metal jug, £4.99, HomeSense

Store we adore...

STORE WE ADORE:

Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe

SPOTTED BY: BETH HALL

This charming, vintage style sweet shop is perfect for those days when you want to get in touch with your inner child and go to town indulging her. With its quaintly old fashioned interior, this shop offers a bit of an escape from the modern day

world outside. It is filled with all sorts of sweet treats from old-timey aniseed balls to more adventurous creations, with all the Rhubarb and Custards that you could dream of. And they even do sugar-free!

Mr Simms, North Street, Exeter

Magnetic hourglass, £18, Oliver Bonas

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talking points Gillian Molesworth

Story of my life...

My kids are connected o, now both of my two kids have a mobile phone. We drove down to St Austell and sorted it out in the store – so much easier than doing it online I think, although they do always try to sell the most recent thing. No one has the recent thing in this family.

When it comes to phones we are solid, middle-market, does what that goes on. He has, however, you want and not much more, downloaded various games on it. kind of people. Much to my chilI do wonder sometimes whether dren’s chagrin.

I have unwittingly provided him Save me from the parapherwith yet another addictive elecnalia. My life is full of chargers, tronic device.

USB cables, boxes, user guides, Among the tweens, though, and cases. Oh yes, part of having phones are a way of life, and I a phone as a pre-teen is having have to say they do so much on the right case. I think the last one them. I’ve seen amazing photo we ordered came from Seattle. collages, clever memes, proThen there’s all the earphones grammes that distort your face and speakers. We and make your need an extenvoice sound funny, sion just for the apps that record storage. multiple sound Among the This is luditracks as if you had crous. Why do we a little music studio tweens phones all need phones? in your bedroom. are a way of It’s true that it The kids find all can be a valuthis stuff online life and I have able communifrom their favourto say they cation tool. We ite vloggers or do so much decided to take whoever, and they the plunge with get passed around on them our eldest after at school. I’m sure a miscommunisome of it is inapcation caused propriate, but lots her to be stranded at the school of it is fun, and creative, and gates a couple of times. And since interesting. then it’s helped provide forgotten I wonder what all this ultraclarinets, top up school dinner connectedness is doing to their money online in time for lunch, developing brains? Will they be and secure permission for a cleverer, sharper, more creative, sleepover so that the girls could or just more neurotic? walk home from school together.

One thing’s for sure: I will be a It’s also, when we’re out riding, a slave to multiple phone contracts potential lifeline should anything until the distant future in which go wrong. they earn enough to pay their We set up our son with an (old) own. And I am going to have to phone and it’s true there’s not find someplace to put all these much actual communication confounded wires.

S

Gillian Molesworth is a journalist and mum-of-two who grew up in the USA and moved to north Cornwall when she met her husband.

IN THE

pink

Mary Berry (who has a weekend home in Salcombe, south Devon) looked pretty in pink when she officially opened a new £1.2m cancer scanner recently at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. She did well, as pink can easily veer into Barbie territory if worn the wrong way. If you’re going for a full-on fuchsia shift or a solid pink coat, make sure it’s fitted and cut to flatter your body. Anything overly voluminous or fluffy may provoke flashbacks to your childhood ballet tutu.

Louche Hallie jacket £25, JOY

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION A Svelte Coral Blazer £28 Bonmarché

OPTION B Smart Blazer £150 Gerry Webber

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01.10.16

CHILDREN ‘LET DOWN’ JAMIE OLIVER has hit out at Prime Minister Theresa May, saying she has “let every child in Britain down” by behaving like a politician instead of a parent over new plans to tackle child obesity.

The TV chef criticised Mrs May, who does not have children, for abandoning plans to crack down on junk food advertising, saying that the new proposals were “a travesty”.

Oliver, a father-of-five, says: “Everything about the childhood obesity strategy that’s just come out is a complete stinking herring. It’s a terrible job Theresa

Just

between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you

May’s done there. Unforgivable.

“She’s completely let every child in Britain down, let parents down, everyone has been let down.”

[[ ‘Don’t blame us older mums!’

‘STOP BLAME GAME’ ALEX JONES has urged people to stop judging women who have children in their late 30s as “selfish” after learning more about fertility for a new documentary.

The TV presenter, 39, who is pregnant with her first child with husband Charlie Thomson has wrapped filming BBC documentary Fertility And Me. Writing in Radio

Times, the One Show presenter said it was “frustrating” that, when difficulties in conceiving arose, that the blame was often aimed at the female partner despite the fact “male fertility falls dramatically after the age of 40”.

“Nobody brings that to the fore,” she says. “It highlights just how much pressure falls on women.”

heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!

!

SHARON OPENS UP SHARON OSBOURNE has revealed that she checked into a treatment facility after suffering from a secret “breakdown” last year.

The X Factor judge, 63, told US TV show The Talk, which she co-hosts, that her family “put me into a facility”.

“It’s very weird when you suffer from a bad depression... I had a complete and utter breakdown,” the star said.

“I woke up in Cedars-Sinai hospital and for probably three days I knew nothing. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t talk. I could do nothing. My brain just shut down on me.

“It’s hard enough surviving in this world anyway... I was doing too much of everything, thinking I’m a superwoman, ‘I’m so strong.

I can handle this, I can handle that’. My brain just totally fused.”

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BOUNTY: Tim Schofield captured this picture of pumpkins growing near Exeter

in pictures PAMPER TIME: The new Gaia Spa opened at Boringdon Hall in Plympton near Plymouth

SMALLS STORM: Charlotte Wilkinson’s knickers caused a national media furore in Stokeinteignhead

TREASURE HUNT: Antiques Roadshow was filmed at Trelissick near Truro 10

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talking points A HISTORY

of the

WEST in

100

objects The best way to:

ENTERTAIN THE KIDS Looking for something to do with the kids (or grandkids) this weekend? Give these South West attractions a go • Adventure time: Woodlands Theme Park near Dartmouth is an all-weather attraction covering 90 acres with various adventure play zones, perfect for entertaining children of all ages. Let off steam in massive Fun Factories, indoor rides, two Master Blaster Arenas and soft play centres. Autumn Advanced tickets can be purchased online from £13.68 per person. Find out more at www.woodlandspark. com.

• A day at the zoo: At Paignton Zoo, Torbay, you can see them all: giraffes, lions, gorillas, cheetahs and thrilling crocodiles, plus cheeky meerkats, colourful snakes and amazing monkeys. Specially designed habitats range from the savannah to wetlands and tropical forest. Run wild in the play areas or hop aboard the unique Jungle Express train to get even closer to the action.

Prices are from £16.95 for adults and £12.75 for children. www. paigntonzoo.org.uk • Water, water everywhere: Oasis Fun Pool, Hendra near Newquay is an indoor water park with a high speed aqua whiz flume, a 265ft super flume, and a more gentle fun slide.

There’s river rapids to take your breath away, not to mention fountains and waterfalls. Adult tickets start from £6.30 and children from £5.15. www.oasis-hendra.co.uk

14:AFRICAN SPIRIT COSTUME Collected by a Devon clergyman’s son, 1880s

Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. He says: On first sight some visitors find this costume unsettling. It’s even scarier once you realise the ndungu has two faces, so the spirit can look into the worlds of the living and the dead to seek out and punish rule breakers. It was donated to RAMM

by Richard Dennett in 1889 – at this time his father was rector of Ashton, near Chudleigh, in Devon.

Dennett had left Britain for the Congo region of central Africa in 1879, employed by Hatton & Cookson. The firm imported African materials into Britain – such as ivory – in exchange for European goods. Everyday contact with the local Kongo people allowed the rector’s son to learn about their culture and religion and he wrote three books and many articles on the subject.

Other aspects of life in the Congo were less palatable to Dennett. He

witnessed first-hand the ‘Scramble for Africa’ among Britain and European powers and could not contain his outrage at the land grab. The ivory trader turned into a campaigner, joining the Congo Reform Association and penning letters to the Manchester Guardian on the inhumane treatment of the Congo’s indigenous people.

A move to Nigeria in 1902 maintained Richard Dennett’s relationship with Africa. It persisted until his retirement in 1918, almost 40 years after he first set foot on the continent.

#14

The African spirit costume has two faces On display in Gallery 12, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, www.rammuseum.org.uk Competition winner: Congratulations to Kay Mason of Appledore who wins a night for two at luxury hotel Alverton in Truro plus dinner for two. With thanks to the Alverton Hotel, www.thealverton.co.uk

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Enjoy WONDERFUL WESTCOUNTRY

Little treasures The travel writer Dixe Wills has just brought out a new book called Tiny Churches. Here, he picks his favourite miniature places of worship, all to be found in the South West

ixe Wills is a travel writer who specialises in uncovering the quirky and lesserknown side of life in Britain today. His books include Tiny Islands, Tiny Campsites and Tiny Stations, and he has just published his latest work, Tiny Churches. Here, he picks his favourites from the book, all to be found in the Westcountry.

D

Our Lady & St Anne’s, Widemouth Bay, north Devon Dixe says: While there are many churches around the country that are considered moving, there are very few that have actually been physically picked up and moved. Yet this is precisely what happened to Our Lady and St Anne’s.

It’s perhaps just as well then that it’s constructed of wood (though, less happily, its other major constituent is asbestos). Standing about 300 yards from the beach, the church has no pretensions to grandeur and could easily be mistaken by the passer-by for a large white shed, an image reinforced by the garden with pleasant lawns in which it is set.

Its only flourish is a tiny cross above a heartbreakingly diminutive bell-cote that harbours a single small bell. For all that, it must be said that the church exudes a ramshackle charm that it could not have attained had it been built of stone.

Our Lady and St Anne’s is less than a hundred years old. It was built in 1929 as a private oratory in Madeira Drive (at the other end of the village), and it may have been created for three brothers called Claude, Frank and Reginald Kingdom who were all priests. Claude (rector of Whitstone), Frank (rector of Bridgerule) and Reginald (vicar of St John’s, Isle of Dogs, London), who all

worked into their ninth decade, had the habit of repairing to the oratory for the month of August each year to prepare all their sermons for the following 11 months. All three could then preach the same sermon on the same day wherever they were, thus forming their own micro broadcasting company. Of course, it also meant that each brother was only obliged to compose a third of his own sermons, which was a crafty move.

The builder of the oratory, a Mr Bight, moved it from Madeira Drive to its present location in 1940 in order that it might serve as a chapel of ease for local people. Widemouth (pronounced ‘Widmuth’) had expanded dramatically as a seaside resort in the 1930s and, before the relocation and conversion of the oratory, the burgeoning population had to struggle to the parish church of St Winwaloe’s at Poundstock.

The impermanent materials with which it is built cry out that this must be a nonconformist place of worship – perhaps an Elim Chapel or some obscure nondenominational outpost – so it’s a surprise to find that the church is not only Anglican but really rather High Anglican. There’s the reference to the mother and grandmother of Jesus Christ in its name, of course, backed up by a statue of Mary holding her baby son.

Back outside, there’s no graveyard, and among the rosemary and lavender stands a flourishing palm, a reminder that we are in the mild climes of Cornwall.

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MAIN PICTURE: ANDREW WHEATLEY

Xxxxxx

St Michael of the Rock, Brentor, Dartmoor Dixe says: The view from beneath the lofty tor on which this little church stands is one that inspires awe and, when the scene is sheathed in fog, perhaps something close to dread too.

This is Dartmoor at its eerie best. The exaggerated squeak of the gate that guards the porch, the clang of the church door as it closes behind you and the feeble guttering light emitted by the gas lamps only add to the drama. The west front is just three feet from the edge of a cliff, its crenellated tower – struck by lightning in 1994 – is 32ft high and lowers over the land below. It is no wonder that this is a church beset by legends in which the Devil plays a central role.

The church, also known as St Michael de Rupe, was built around 1130 by Robert Giffard, Lord of the Manor of Lamerton and Whitchurch. It may well have served initially as a chantry – a place where a member of the clergy would be paid to celebrate masses for the founder’s soul. The building is 1,150ft

above sea level and constructed on the summit of a section of a volcanic cone. The site was an important one long before Giffard’s time though, as the remains of an Iron Age hill-fort surrounding the tor demonstrate. Furthermore, during church restoration in 1889 40 skeletons were discovered beneath the floor.

Interestingly, only one was laid east to west, as one might expect in a Christian burial.

All the others were laid north to south, as is more customary in pagan rites.

There are three separate tales about how the church came to be built on the tor. The one that has the greatest chance of containing some truth was retold by the Rev E A Bray: the church “was erected by a wealthy merchant who vowed, in the midst of a tremendous storm at sea, possibly addressing himself to his patron St Michael, that if he escaped in safety he would build a church on the first land he descried”.

At 37ft by 14ft 6in, the church is one of Brit-

ain’s smallest parish churches. The low walls are 3ft thick and made of the tor’s own volcanic rock. It was given to Tavistock Abbey, whose monks established an annual Michaelmas fair that ran for over 300 years here until around 1550.

Given the highly exposed nature of the summit, it is unsurprising to learn that there are plans afoot to replace the roof, which itself only goes back to Victorian days and is very flat-pitched. When an examination of the roof beams took place, an unexpected discovery was made: graffiti from the times of both world wars. Men had carved their names into the wood prior to going off

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Enjoy St Beuno’s, Culbone, Exmoor Dixe says: There is no road to St Beuno’s.

Visitors must walk a section of the South West Coast Path up to a wooded hollow a quarter of a mile from the sea and 400ft above the waves.

to fight, presumably in a bid to leave something of themselves behind in case they never returned.

Most of the names date from 1916–18 or 1943–55 and some are written in flawless copperplate font.

If you attend the marvellously atmospheric Christmas Day carol service and there’s snow about, do take your sledge. By tradition, after the service, congregants slide back down the tor.

night to keep the church in service.

The age of St Beuno’s (pronounced ‘Bayno’) is unclear, though there are parts that are discernibly pre-Norman, evidence backed up by the church’s appearance in the Domesday Book.

The lovely little two-light window in the north wall of the sanctuary is fashioned from a single block of sandstone and is from at least Norman There was once a small settletimes but could even be Saxon. ment in this remote Exmoor Look at it from the outside dell – a group of cottages and and you’ll notice a face in basThe enormously shacks in which dwelt charrelief. Is it that of a leopard? It coal burners and others who certainly looks like one. thick walls make scratched a living in the woods.

The enormously thick walls the church a sort Now there’s just a single house. make the church a sort of antiof anti-Tardis, The church that bore witTardis, a place even smaller on ness to the life and death of the the inside than it looks on the a place even village is a delight to behold. outside. smaller on the Best viewed when approached Culbone is a corruption of from the west, it looks perfect“Kil Beun”, meaning “Church inside than it ly at home in its sylvan setting. of St Beuno”. The saint was looks outside At only 35ft by 12ft, its dainty born in Wales in the late 6th dimensions somewhat limit the century and became an imporsize of the parish it can serve tant abbot. However, the popu– as the church’s own leaflet lar story that he brought his notes, there is “seating (in some discomfort) niece St Winefride back from the dead after she for 33 people”. But it’s impressive that there had been beheaded is, sadly, a fable. It’s approare enough people around whose faith compels priate then that his church also appears to have them to make the trek into the woods every fortsprung from a fairytale.

[[

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Interview

[

lewis peek

Poldark and me

[

Young Westcountry actor Lewis Peek is thrilled to be in the new series of Poldark, he tells Dawn Ellis ver since the news broke that he had landed a part in the new series of Poldark, people have been asking Lewis Peek if he’ll be going topless like the show’s star, Aidan Turner.

“I’ve had tweets from all over the place, from America to Poland, asking about the series,” says the Plymouth actor, 22.

“Some have wanted to know if I’ll get my top off to go scything like Aidan. I’ve told them I play a miner, not a farmer!” Lewis jokes.

He’s going to have to get used to the attention, though, now that the acclaimed Cornish TV drama is back on our screens for a second series.

It’s all a far cry from his years working as a Costa Coffee barista in his home city of Plymouth as he worked to get his fledgling acting career off the ground.

Lewis first fell in love with drama aged just 11, when he joined Plymouth’s highly-regarded Theatre Royal Young Company and, despite not following the traditional path of going to drama school, he’s gone on to carve out a career as a professional actor.

He was, he says, “chuffed” to land the part of Ted Carkeek in the second series of the big budget BBC period drama, starring alongside Aidan Turner and flame-haired actress Eleanor Tomlinson. It’s a big break for Lewis, who grew up in Plymouth, the son of a bus driver and

E

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photography: Steve Haywood

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Interview

Lewis (centre) and Aidan Turner filming in Cornwall in 2015

a crèche worker. “My parents do worry about me going into such an unstable profession as acting.

But I can’t thank my mum enough, she took me to so many drama groups when I was a child – she made it all possible for me.

“I’m the only one in my family who is in a creative profession. My big brother is a window fitter – so I’m definitely different! But they’re all right behind me.”

Lewis found out that the hit show was auditioning through the actors’ union Equity and tried for the role of tin miner Ted Carkeek. “But then I rang my agent and she said she’d already put me forward for the part!” he tells me.

Within a couple of days, Lewis had been shortlisted and went to the Bottleyard Studios in Bristol for a screen test, which is the place where the interior shots of the show are filmed.

Following the audition, he went on holiday to Sweden but couldn’t fully relax as he hadn’t heard whether he got the job or not. “I was at Bristol coach station before I went and my agent called to say I was on heavy pencil, meaning they were really thinking about casting me,” he says.

“Then I got to Sweden and had a Facebook message from my agent saying ‘Good morning, Ted’ and right away I knew I got the part. I rang my agent who said I had to a read-through in a week, so I had to get a flight home early.”

Lewis admits he hadn’t seen the first series of the wildly-successful Sunday evening show before getting the part in its second series, but he recognised the more stellar members of the cast at that first read-through.

“That was the first time I saw everyone and realised how much of a big deal it was,” he says.

“I was so nervous! Especially as I was in this big room where everyone else already knew knew each other.

“I had read through the script and I was just sitting there waiting to do my first line in front of the producers, writers and all the cast. It was nerve-racking.”

But before long Lewis says he felt “one of the team” and thoroughly enjoyed the four weeks he spent in Cornwall shooting the show.

“Aidan and Eleanor are absolutely lovely, genuinely nice people,” says Lewis. “The whole cast was great, I never felt beneath anyone. It was the

‘Some people have wanted to know if I’ll get my top

off scything like Aidan’

best acting experience I’ve ever had.”

He filmed mainly on locations in the far west of the county, around the mines of Botallack and the cove at Gunwalloe. He says his Plymouth accent just needed “a bit of tweaking” to sound more authentically west Cornwall.

“The script is written phonetically to help the actors get the accent. They were all really worried to make sure it all sounded right but was also clear enough to hear. There were so many problems with a TV adaptation of Jamaica Inn a while back, with viewers saying the characters were mumbling, and no one wanted a repeat of that.

“I got picked up each day, then I’d have breakfast and wait for a make-up call,” he says.

“I was one of the only people not to have a wig as I’ve got good Westcountry thick hair. My look was ‘broken down’, which means I had dirt on my nails and face and a bit of tan.

“Most days were sunny but we were given thermals under our costume for the colder days.

There was one day where it was so windy, the whole set was moving and the tiles were coming off the roofs.”

Lewis – who is currently single and lives at home – stays tight-lipped on the fate of his character and whether he’ll appear in future seasons of Poldark.

“Those who have read the books will know what happens to my character,” he says.

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Interview

But career-wise, Lewis has many other irons in the fire. He appeared in the psychological thriller feature film Dartmoor Killing, which won Best Thriller category at the National Film Awards. The film, directed by Bafta-winner Peter Nicholson, was shot at Sheep’s Tor on Dartmoor and tells the story of two friends whose weekend trip to Dartmoor develops into a “web of mind games, sexual deceit and betrayal”.

“We weren’t expecting to win the award, we thought there were other films that had more support,” says Lewis. “Those awards were voted for by the public – 2.9 million people overall, so it was a big deal. I went to the awards and was in complete shock to find out we’d won. We were all so pleased, there was a big celebration that night.”

Lewis was thrilled to land the role more than a year after sending his CV off to Peter, after seeing the film project on Kickstarter, an online funding website.

“I was in a rehearsal for a play and Peter rang me and asked me to come to London,” he says. “I met Peter at Paddington station and I did a little audition there and then - and on the way back he rung me to say I’d got the part.

“It just shows being persistent and thinking outside the box can work. Who would think to look on Kickstarter for an acting role?”

In the film, Lewis had some difficult scenes to shoot, including a rape scene. “I watched the film with my mum at one point, that was hard to do,”

he says. “But she knew I was just doing my job.”

Lewis says he realised he wanted to be an actor at a young age and has never faltered in that ambition. “It’s the only thing I ever wanted to do, I put everything into being an actor,” he says.

“My first paid job was a student film in 2011, when I was 16. At the time I remember thinking, this is great, I’m getting paid to do what I love.

My first proper professional job was The FishHearted Bride in 2013, filmed at The National Aquarium in Plymouth.

“I played a character who was in love with this girl. She had her heart removed and replaced with a fish heart, so she could then swim under water.

Luckily for her, they had a stunt diver who came in and replaced the actress - the diver jumped in the water and could hold her breath for minutes.”

Despite not going to drama school, Lewis has landed some stand-out roles and, with Poldark in the bag, he’s now back on the audition circuit.

Over the summer, he headed to Los Angeles to meet agents over there and is now busy doing auditions for his next projects. “Often you do them

online, you set up the filming in your own house – it’s bizarre really, acting away in an empty room but it makes it easy to do while living here in Plymouth,” he says. “Having said that, I see myself moving to London before too long. I’d love to be in a play up there.”

“I’d also love to do more TV and film,” he adds.

“However, my dream job would be playing Albert in War Horse. I don’t think they’ve had someone genuinely from Devon with a proper Devon accent to play that role. It’s such an amazing show and you forget the puppeteers are there working the horses within minutes.”

Lewis says he’s not motivated by fame or fortune - he just wants to earn a living doing the job he loves.

“When I’m not working, I try to do things to help get me another job, like learning accents and getting in touch with casting directors,” says Lewis. “You have to be driven and focussed as it’s so competitive.”

But despite his modesty, I suspect that this could be just the beginning of a very bright career. Watch this space!

Poldark is currently airing on BBC One on Sunday evenings, 9pm

‘Aidan and Eleanor are absolutely lovely -

genuinely nice people’

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Serving up style Gracie Stewart meets the Somerset duo from interiors company Papilio who have designs on your kitchen. he kitchen is the heart of every home. It’s where birthday cakes are decorated, Sunday roasts are carved, Christmas lunch is served and all the best family secrets are spilled. But what good is a kitchen if it’s not practical, too? When it comes to renovating a kitchen, many of us worry too much about the aesthetic, and not enough about the functionality, say Matt Prall and Stephen Garland, who run the Somerset-based kitchen design company Papilio.

Matt, 40, and Stephen, 43, set up Papilio (which is Latin for butterfly and means “a beautiful transformation”) in 2014 because, as Matt puts it, “the places that we choose to live, work or relax in shape us as much as we shape them. We believe in transforming environments into inspirational spaces that are both functional and enjoyable.”

T

Stephen, Papilio’s creative director, originally studied sculpture, then went on to be a fine furniture maker. This led onto designing kitchens for top names like Chalon. Matt, Papilio’s managing director, studied business at university but later discovered a passion for designing spaces.

Matt and Stephen first worked together in property development and formed a friendship over their love of design. When they discovered they were both keen amateur chefs, they decided kitchens were for them.

The decision to set up Papilio in Frome, Somerset was a deliberate one. “We set up in Somerset as we both love the countryside. Somerset – and Frome in particular – seems to have a big pull for artisans and creative people, which allows us to tap into these skills and use them in our designs,” says Stephen.

According to Matt, the key to the perfect kitchen is in the planning. “A bespoke kitchen, laid out to suit your requirements with an injection of your personality, has to be the answer,” he says.

So what does the process of designing a new kitchen from start to finish look like? “Every kitchen design we take on starts with a conversation and a free personal consultation. We extract as many ideas as possible from our client and mix them up with some of our own to generate what we call the concept design,” explains Stephen. “From this we agree a layout for the kitchen and then start to look at the options for finishes. Every kitchen is bespoke and made by hand. The process usually takes three months which includes one week for installation.”

With Papilio being based in the Westcountry,

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interior images: Simon plant

Interiors

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Interiors

it’s not uncommon for them to work on houses aperitifs while looking out onto the countrywith beautiful countryside views whose owners side, makes it the perfect entertaining space,” are looking for country kitchens to match. says Matt. “We added colourful cabinetry to An example of this can be seen add a playful element to the in ‘The Chef’s Kitchen’, in a design.”

400-year-old barn.

‘The Scandinavian KitchHere, all fittings are kept at en’, which Papilio designed ‘We added mid-height, to ensure the gorfor a family home in Bristol, geous view from the windows is has mustard yellow walls and colourful the focus of the room. “The easy stainless steel work surfaces, cabinetry to movement from preparation and while ‘The Marble Kitchen’ add a playful cooking in the kitchen, to having features marble surfaces throughout, evoking timeless element to the beauty. “It wasn’t the easiest design’ space but we’ve managed to create something airy, soothing and interesting for the client,” says Matt. “The look is timeless, with the mixture of grey tones and marble, yet the colour from the neon lighting and the green furniture adds a bit of fun and really makes it a family home.

“The marble is a showstopper and the lighting really transforms it from a cooking space into a great all-round entertaining room.”

The designers agree that ‘colour is king’ in kitchen design. “We are currently seeing people being braver with colour, in particular blues and greens,” says Stephen. “Metals are also very popular. It has very much been about copper but brass seems to be taking over now.

Marble worktops are still popular but we love copper worktops. The more stained they become the more natural and beautiful they are.” www.wearepapilio.co.uk

[[

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GET THE

LOOK

Heal’s Bristol pendant light £35 Amara

Pair sleek surfaces with metallics and splashes of colour

Marble trivet stand £38 Oliver Bonas

fave!

Side table £150 Oliver Bonas

Bar stool £199 Houseology

Casper chaise sofa £799 Furniture Village

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Ask Gracie...

Want to look your best this week? Our styling expert Gracie Stewart of Exeter can help you fulfil your fashion potential in every possible way. All you have to do is ask...

Dress like Kate Q

Rosie A-line colourblock dress £99 Phase Eight

I’m a huge fan of Kate Middleton’s style and would love to know how I can recreate her look. HA, Lostwithiel

What makes Kate Middleton’s style so covetable and achievable is that she is classically stylish, which makes it easy for ‘normal’ women to replicate her look. Here are a few quick tips for putting your Duchess of Cambridge style wardrobe together.

Make the knee-length dress your signature item. How does Kate keep her look young and fresh? Dresses. How does she keep her look professional? Dresses that never go more than an inch above her knee.

Keep your colours classic. Copy her look by sticking to nautical colour palettes, earth tones, and jewel tones.

Finally, go for clean and simple jewellery and accessories. You’ll never notice Kate’s accessories before you notice her outfit.

That’s because she wears them without overpowering her already polished look.

When in doubt, stick to the basics – sparkly studs, small dangles, pearls, and simple, pendant necklaces.

Pearl ball jewellery set £10 Wallis Houndstooth dress £38 Next

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Capriccio wedge sandals £255 Furla

Colour class Q

Gracie’s shopping list

How should I style bright footwear? BV, Dartmouth

We’ve been bombarded with colourful footwear over the last few seasons and the trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. Pink, blue, green, yellow, red, purple, orange, turquoise and lime – name the colour and you’ll find the shoe. So how do you mix bright shoes into your wardrobe?

Matching your top with your shoes is not compulsory. That’s right, you don’t necessarily have to go matchy-matchy to pull off a pair of bright shoes. Shades in the same colour family are perfectly acceptable. Steer clear though, of having too many colours in the same outfit.For someone who’s just beginning to appreciate the vibrancy that colour brings to outfits, going fullout rainbow is definitely out of the question.

Begin introducing pops of colour by matching your shoes with bright chunky jewellery, a headband, or even just your sunglasses.Coordinating your shoes with your accessories is always a winner.

Suede courts £35 Very

Pink mules £79 Topshop

Stella McCartney cardigan £695 www.netaporter.com Made from luxuriously soft ribbed wool and finished with fluffy black sleeve panels, this Stella McCartney cardigan is a must-have for autumn.

Balance the oversized silhouette with skinny jeans.

Eyelash perming perming rod or silicone pads.

Eyelash perming usually takes would recommend doing? JO, about an hour and can dramatiPlymouth cally open up your eyes and even give the appearance of you having I am obsessed with curling my longer lashes. If you have fair eyelashes. Even if I don’t put on hair then you may benefit from any make-up, I an added tint have to get my that takes eyelashes curlabout 15 miners out to look utes. and feel awake.

Results last Having curled up to 10 weeks lashes is one and after of the quickest the initial 48 ways to brighthours followen and lift your ing the treatentire face and ment, where an eyelash perm you must saves you from avoid water Benefit Cosmetics roller having to curl and mascara; lash mascara £19.50 them every day. you are free Debenhams Eyelash permto carry on ing has been treating your around for nearly 20 years. lashes as you normally would…

The chemical reaction in the just without the curlers. perming solution breaks the An eyelash perm at Radiance Mebonds of hair which is then curled dispa in Exeter is £35, 01392 277799 into the desired shape using a or info@radiancemedispa.co.uk.

How do eyelash perms work

Q and is it something you

Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curler £17 www.

CultBeauty. co.uk

Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE Clinical lash and brow enhancing serum £90 Boots

Osmond boots in bronze £120 Dune This chic boot features a flared heel and rounded square toe. Team stylishly with a figure- hugging midi jersey dress.

Oribe Bright Blonde radiance and repair treatment £45 www.spacenk.com This contains natural oils and extracts to increase elasticity, soften dryness and seal split ends, while the violet pigments correct brassy, yellow tones.

Got a style or beauty question? Email Gracie Stewart at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk with the subject Ask Gracie

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Mayella dress ÂŁ349 Hobbs

Velvet vamp s the autumn leaves start falling, plump for a fabric that is cossetting yet glamorous at the same time.

Velvet and its stretchy sister velour work particularly well in rich colours as the nights draw in.

This dress from Hobbs will allow you to make a dramatic entrance to any soiree, while staying sublimely cosy even if it’s taking place in a draughty old house.

Or you could vamp it up in this crushed velvet dress from Wallis, in a really striking electric blue. DevorĂŠ velvet, featuring floral motifs etched in the fabric, is the star of the show in this mini dress from Very, which could also be worn as a jacket. And did you know you could even get velvet shoes?

A

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Fashion

Block heel boots £29 New Look

Blazer £99 Elvi

Mini dress £60 Very Mini dress £19.99 New Look

Funnel neck top £98 Jigsaw

Cami £22 Wallis

Platforms £30 Dorothy Perkins

Sandals £46 Topshop

Crushed velvet wrap dress £45 Wallis

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Wellbeing

the boost

Stretch it out

Life just got better. Our wellness guru Charlotte Dear has handpicked the latest health secrets and expert advice to help you be your best self, every day

There is nothing worse than back ache that just won’t shift but help is at hand. Pilates is a specially-designed exercise to increase core strength which can really help with stubborn pain. Leigh and Ramon Vallejo of Pilates Cornwall in Redruth offer remedial pilates for those suffering from back pain, scoliosis, arthritis, cerebral palsy and polio. For more details, visit www.pilatesincornwall.co.uk

Raft race Arm muscles feeling strong? On Sunday, October 9, the River Dart Struggle is a fun raft race. Once you’ve built your raft, head to Dart Bridge in Buckfastleigh, south Devon, where the race will start.

Expect white water, fast-flowing weirs and calmer stretches before you get to the finish in Totnes. Open to crews of two to ten people, there are prizes for fancy dress and it’s all for charity. www. totnesraftrace.co.uk

WATER WORK Offering an all-over body workout, stand-up paddleboarding is relatively easy to learn and well worth a try.

Looking for inspiration? On October 10-11, the British Stand Up Paddle Surfing national championships return to Watergate Bay near Newquay. SUP surfers from all over the country will be competing, judged on their style and skills during a five mile-long distance race. www.bsupa.org.uk 30

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Fruity benefit We all know we should be drinking more water in order to maintain a healthy and hydrated body, but what if we could achieve the same results without knocking back so much H20?

By choosing the right fruits and vegetables, it’s easy (and tasty) to work hydration into your diet. Next time you head to the shops, stock up with super-hydrating cucumber, pineapple, grapefruit, celery, lettuce and tomatoes, each containing a minimum of 85% water.

Mud fantastic Battle the elements this month as you face water, wind and fire in a truly challenging obstacle course event. Taking place from October 7-9 at Trevornick holiday park near Newquay, the Holy Grit challenge combines physical endurance with charity fundraising and a festival. If you think you’ve got what it takes to conquer some hellish obstacles, entries are from £45, visit www.holygrit. co.uk to find out more.

What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates

@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 31

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Wellbeing

Cosy is the word Why we all need some ‘hygge’ It’s all about harnessing that feel-good factor, creating ambience and comfort in our surroundings.As CEO of Copenhagen’s Happiness Research Institute, this is a subject I have Meik Wiking, studied extensively, as well as CEO of Copensomething I practise. hagen’s HappiI’m not surprised hygge’s in ness Research the spotlight now. It’s part of The Danes have Institute, says: a shift away from measuring Hygge – proprofits in terms of GDP to a word for the nounced ‘Hoomeasuring success through internal glow you guh’ – is a Danish word for quality of life, or happiness get when you which the English language and wellbeing. does not have a direct translaIn the four years the United light a candle tion. Chances are, though, Nation’s annual World Hapand snuggle up you’re already well acquaintpiness Reports have been to watch an old ed with the concept – you just running, Denmark has been didn’t know the Danes had a ranked number one three movie name for it. times. It’s easy to dismiss this That internal glow you get as quirky headline fodder, when you turn the big light but it’s far more important off, light a candle and snuggle than that – especially as it’s up to watch an old movie with increasingly acknowledged a steaming mug of hot chocolate? Hygge. And that our happiness, health and productivity are the ultimate hygge? Curling up with a cheese closely linked. Scandinavia can perhaps offer board and your favourite red wine in a cosy, some answers in that area. It’s ingrained in sheepskin-filled cabin, crackling fire, snowing Danish conversation: I will invite you over for outdoors...

Friday evening and then during the week we’ll

Q

I keep coming across this word ‘hygge’ but haven’t a clue what it means, or how to pronounce it! GF, Wadebridge

[[

talk about how ‘hyggelig’ Friday is going to be, and on Friday we’ll be very explicit and verbal about how ‘hyggelig’ this is, and then on Monday we’ll talk about how ‘hyggelig’ Friday was.

You Brits arguably already have a fair few ‘hyggelig’ traditions yourselves. Chatting over a long Sunday roast with loved ones, cosying up in a country pub on a cold day, and everybody appreciates the mood-soothing simplicity of a candlelit dinner.

But the lack of an official word for all this does make a difference. If we have words for something that will also influence the way we behave.

We Danes have a word for this feeling and it’s something we pursue on an everyday basis.

Indeed, Danes don’t just create hygge at home, we seek it out in restaurants and coffee shops, and even the way we design our office spaces.

It’s a legitimate part of everyday life.

There may not be an English word for ‘hygge’ but, in the spirit of cosy togetherness, we Danes are happy to share: You are more than welcome to use ours The Little Book Of Hygge: The Danish Way To Live Well by Meik Wiking, Penguin Life, £9.99

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Enjoy

SMALL BITES

Our pick of what’s on in the Westcountry food world right now Food awards raise a glass The prestigious Taste of the West Awards will be held on October 4 this year, with the very best of the region’s food, drink and hospitality recognised at a glittering feast attended by more than 350 guests and held within Exeter Cathedral. This year is the 25th anniversary of Taste of the West, the marketing and support cooperative with more than 1000 members across the South West.

Last year’s Champion Product (out of more than 1,200 entries) was fresh crab meat from Favis of Salcombe – who will win this year? www.tasteofthewest.co.uk

Mellow fruitfulness Dorchester Arts – the group which brings all sorts of superb performances to Dorset’s county town – is running a fundraising event, called A Wessex Autumn, on Thursday, October 27. It will be a celebration of Dorset’s season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, with plenty of Dorset cider, brandy, apple cake, bread, and cheeses – everything that is good about autumn in this beautiful part of the world. It takes place at Ashton Barn Farm in Martinstown, tickets £18, www.dorchesterarts.co.uk

Feasts on the farm

Street treats to sample The team behind Exeter Street Food will be transforming the city’s Southernhay Gardens for The Great Artisan Feast Festival on Saturday, October 15. The all-day festival features local artisan producers, street food, deli stands, a gin palace, ale bar, guest brewers and more. There will also be cooking demonstrations from Exeter Cookery School and live entertainment. There will be large undercover marquee with a bar and seating from which to enjoy the unique atmosphere right at the heart of Exeter city centre.

Entry is free, visit www.streetfoodexeter.co.uk

Nancarrow, a working organic farm and events venue near Truro, has announced its autumn programme of feasts and other gatherings. Steve Chamberlain, whose family has farmed there for nine generations, says: “Family, friends, and farm workers have always eaten together around the Nancarrow kitchen table.

Our feasts and gatherings are an extension of that hospitality and involve memorable food, to be shared and enjoyed, right in the heart of the farm.” Three autumn feasts will take place on October 5 and 28, and November 26 in the farm’s atmospheric oakframed barn and courtyard. www.nancarrow.co.uk

Got some foodie news? Let us know on westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 33

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PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT AUSTIN

Wellbeing

Naturally Bridie’s

Chia Seed and Cocoa Start Bridie Nicol says: This energetic bowl is simple and quick to make for breakfast. It is a good protein source, high in fibre and has Omega 3. Chia seeds are a good source of magnesium and calcium for strong bones and teeth. The cocoa powder has four times the amount of antioxidant polyphenols as processed milk chocolate and twice as much as dark chocolate.

You will need:

Method:

3 tbsp chia seeds 200ml almond milk 1 vanilla bean 2 tsp raw honey ½ tsp cocoa powder or matcha green tea powder 6-8 pieces pineapple 1 tsp bee pollen 6-8 pecan nuts 1 tsp pomegranate seeds 1 tsp cocoa nibs 1 tsp desiccated coconut Handful edible flowers

1.

Place chai seeds and almond milk into a small bowl.

2.

Cut the vanilla bean in half and scrape out the inside, place in with the chia seeds and almond milk along with the raw honey and cocoa powder. Continually stir until the chia seeds have expanded.

3.

This bit is the really fun bit! Place the rest of the ingredients in a decorative manner over the top and then put your feet up and dig in.

@naturally_bridie

Bridie Nicol runs the nutrition advice business Naturally Bridie in east Devon www.naturallybridie.co.uk 34

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27/09/2016 12:15:02

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27/09/2016 12:38:18

Cook

Almond Moon cherry and almond slices Recipe: This is the Honeybuns take on the familiar British Bakewell tart. Instead of pastry we use a polenta shortbread base, packed with almonds. The drunken cherry filling is strictly for grown-ups and the topping is a simple frangipane with cherries stirred in.

Ingredients

Method:

For the polenta shortbread base: 125g butter, softened and cubed, plus extra, melted, for brushing 140g polenta 125g brown vanilla sugar 100g ground almonds 70g ground hazelnuts 40g almonds, toasted and chopped 1 egg

The polenta shortbread base:

The tart:

1.

1.

For the frangipane: 3 eggs 175g vanilla granulated sugar 140g ground almonds 1½ tsp almond extract 100g ground brown flax seeds (linseed) 140g dried sour cherries 175g butter, melted For the filling: 2 tbsp cherry jam 125g alcohol-soaked cherries, pitted

2.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas 4). Cut a rectangle of baking parchment to line the bottom of a 30 x 23 x 4 cm baking tin. Brush the paper and the tin liberally with melted butter before popping in the parchment.

Put the butter, polenta, sugar, hazelnuts, ground almonds, chopped almonds and egg into a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until the mixture forms a soft but fairly grainy dough.

3.

Press the mixture into the baking tin with your hands and smooth down with the back of a large spoon, making sure it is evenly spread.

4.

Bake for 20 minutes, until golden and quite firm to the touch. Leave in the tin to cool completely.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Prepare and bake the polenta shortbread base.

To make the frangipane, crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, almonds, almond extract, ground flax seeds, sour cherries and melted butter. Beat with an electric mixer, starting at low speed and gradually increasing to high, until fluffy and creamy, but don’t overmix.

Once the shortbread base has cooled, spread the cherry jam evenly over it. Scatter the drunken cherries over the jam.

Spoon the frangipane mixture over the cherries and jam, spreading evenly while being careful not to mix it with the jam and fruit.

Sprinkle the top with the chopped almonds and sour cherries, pushing them in lightly with your hands. Bake for 35 minutes, until deep golden and firm to the touch. Leave in the tin to cool completely, then turn out and cut into pieces.

Topping: 55g almonds, toasted and roughly chopped 70g dried sour cherries Emma Goss-Custard runs Honeybuns in Sherborne, Dorset. Honeybuns Gluten-Free Baking by Emma Goss-Custard is published by Pavilion, £14.99 36

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Drink

Happy h ur with drinks expert April Marks

April says: Navy-strength gin is not for the fainthearted. It is, however, very much for serious gin lovers - so if you have not yet discovered it, then I urge you to give it a try.

Back in the 18th century, gin in the UK was the drink of choice, so much so that that every Royal Navy vessel had a stock of gin on board.

Distillers and wholesalers weren’t to be trusted, so gin was given “the gunpowder test” to ensure it hadn’t been tampered with.

The crew would deliberately spill the gin onto

Wolf Negroni 45ml Wicked Wolf Exmoor gin 25ml Campari 25ml Sweet vermouth Stir all three ingredients with ice into a glass, strain into a cocktail glass over ice then garnish with an orange twist.

gunpowder. If it smouldered or refused to ignite they would know the gin had been diluted – heaven forbid.

If the powder lit, then they knew it was a hearty 57% abv (or more!). This strength of gin become known as Navy Strength, and their gin often had boosted levels of botanicals, too, giving the gin more flavour as well as alcohol.

Many gin distillers are nowadays introducing a Navy Strength to their range. This month sees the limited release of just 350 bottles of Exmoor’s Wicked Wolf Navy Strength gin, in a beautiful presentation box.

Many distillers are

nowadays introducing

a Navy Strength gin

Don’t miss: Festival supping

If you find yourself in Totnes this weekend, The Albert Inn at 32 Bridgetown is a must-visit. They’re holding a Beer and Cider Festival today and tomorrow. Those of you who fancy something a little stronger will love their awesome selection of spirits! www.albertinntotnes.com

Lovers of their standard gin are in for a treat, as this full-flavoured, aromatic gin in the Navy Strength comes with plenty of oomph. The tasting notes promise juniper with a peppery middle and a cardamom and citrus finish. Ahoy there!

April Marks is co-founder of Regency Wines Ltd Exeter @regencywinesuk

WINE OF THE WEEK Monte Schiavo, Coste del Molino, Verdicchio Classico, Italy Stylish, concentrated and fresh with intense aromas of grapefruit and lime. It has a very approachable palate with apple, pear and stone fruit and a touch of minerality adds to the complexity. Available at The First & Last Bistro in Ermington, south Devon.

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26/09/2016 16:17:52

Drink

Beer of the week The first beer to emerge from Ponsanoothbased Treen’s Brewery is a delightful traditional style amber bitter called Cuckoo, I suspect because it was actually brewed on Black Rock’s kit in Falmouth.

Created by former St Austell team brewer Simon Treen, this is an accomplished beer with berry fruit, continental chocolate and honey notes, with hints of nuts and vanilla.

The first batch sold out very quickly!

Darren Norbury

talks beer CRAFTY WETHERSPOON Wetherspoon, originally known for its range of cask beers, is now making a big name for itself with a brilliantly curated range of bottled and canned world beers. It has recently boosted this range with brews from American outfits Sixpoint, Flying Dog and Blue Moon, plus Windsor-based Uprising. Worth checking out.

It’s Fatoberfest!

That’s the title of a special event at the Cottage Inn, Lynton, on October 14, tipping its hat to Munich’s famous Oktoberfest celebration.

There will be steins of German lager, of course, plus Fat Belly beer, as well as Bavarian music and food.

t’s that time of year. A bubble-wrapbrewing year and new breweries. In Cornwall padded package has thumped on alone since the last edition we have welcomed the doormat and this time it isn’t Dynamite Valley in Ponsanooth; Leafy Hollow at one of my teenage son’s latest purWashaway, near Bodmin; Fish Quay in Looe; and chases, made possible by his newlyTremethick, in Grampound, as well as seeing the acquired work ethic. (He’s a kitchen porter and arrival of St Ives Brewery’s own brewhouse (it loving it. Next Gordon Ramsey? Maybe…) No, had previously been brewing on other people’s this is the new, 2017 edition of kit).

CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide.

Even more activity in Devon Hurrah! Trouble is, as soon as with the opening of Checkstone it hits that doormat, it’s out of (Exmouth), Crossed Anchors In a digital date.

(Exmouth), EMAL (Woodbury world, do we Here’s the problem. The seSalterton), Moonchild (Petrocklection process for the book, as stow), Moorstone (Horndon), still need the far as pubs go, starts about now Powderkeg (Woodbury Salterbulky, heavy to for the 2018 edition, with final ton) and Riviera (Stoke Gabricarry around selection taking place in Februel). Somerset has seen brewary. The guide is not published, ing commence at Beat (North Good Beer though, until six months after Curry), Electric Bear (Bath), Guide? that. So there are anomalies RPM (Weston-super-Mare) and like new kid Treen’s Brewery, Tanners (Wiveliscombe), while in Ponsanooth near Falmouth in Dorset it’s hello to Brew (see Beer of the Week) which Shack (Wimborne Minster), doesn’t feature in the book as a Brewhouse and Kitchen (Southnew brewery (although it is on a list of ‘future borne) and Hattie Brown’s (Swanage). breweries’).

It’s not all good news: there is a list of 100 or so Which poses the question: in a digital world, breweries nationally which have closed since the do we still need the bulky, heavy to carry around last guide, and, as big brewers continue to snap Good Beer Guide? That was, after all, its original up small craft outfits, there will be more to come. point, to guide you to pubs with good quality beer Who knows what next year will bring? while you are out and about. Try carrying the guide with you these days and you risk a hernia.

Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk That said, it is an invaluable almanac of the @beertoday

I

[[

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Affordability

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culture vulture Our guide to what’s on in the South West by woman-in-theknow Gracie Stewart

Write stuff Michael Morpurgo, Meg Rosoff and David Almond are among the line-up of top authors taking part in Exeter’s festival of writing for and by young people during October half term. Exetreme Imagination takes place from October 17-29 with a packed programme of author events, creative workshops and performances at venues across the city. Young people and families will be reading, writing and experiencing stories through theatre, dance and British Sign Language. Authors will read their stories, young people will write new ones and families will be encouraged to use their creative skills to express themselves. A particular highlight is master storyteller Michael Morpurgo talking about his work at Exeter Northcott Theatre.

A full festival programme is available at www.exetreme.org

Live displays

Cathedral catwalk Truro’s trendiest week of the year is back. The fashion week is packed full of in-store events, special offers and the return of a super-stylish fashion show at Truro Cathedral – complete with 100ft catwalk. This seven-day event running from October 3 - 9 is organised by Totally Truro BID and highlights the latest fashion must-haves on the highstreet of this great little city.

Tickets are available to purchase now from participating stores in Truro or online at www.enjoytruro.co.uk/trurotrend

Inspired by the castle and its artefacts, A Garden in a Castle is a show with a difference at St Michael’s Mount near Penzance. Organised by the mount’s gardeners, displays take inspiration from the form and colour of its sub-tropical gardens to create a unique journey through the castle.

Look out for a fireplace alight with succulents and flowers and a library alive with literary plant connections.

October 2-14, 10.30am-5pm at St Michael’s Mount, www. stmichael’smount.co.uk

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MURDER MYSTERY

SATURDAY 12TH NOVEM BER AT THE METROPOLE HOTEL

G O UR M E T E V E N I N G S AT U R DA Y 2 2 N D O C T O B E R

Indulge in a truly unforgettable 7 course fine dining experience prepared

by Head Chef Mike Corbin in our elegantly styled AA rosette award winning restaurant. Choose to accompany your meal with individually selected new and old world wines to beautifully accompany each course.

£60 per person or £80 including wine flight.

3 COURSE DINNER & MURDER MYSTERY ONLY £39.95 PER PERSON Put your detective skills to the test and enjoy a 3 course fine dining experience in our AA rosette award winning restaurant, followed by a night of mystery, as you endeavour to solve the ultimate... ‘who done it!’

To book please call 01841 532486

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The Metropole Hotel | Station Road | Padstow | Cornwall | PL28 8DB

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MURDER MYSTERY

SATURDAY 19TH NOVEM BER AT THE FOWEY HOTEL

G O UR M E T E V E NI N G S AT U R DA Y 8 T H O C T O B E R

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£65 per person or £95 including wine flight.

5 COURSE DINNER & MURDER MYSTERY ONLY £45 PER PERSON Put your detective skills to the test and enjoy a 5 course fine dining experience in our 2 AA rosette award winning restaurant, followed by a night of mystery, as you endeavour to solve the ultimate... ‘who done it!’

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27/09/2016 13:34:53

Sleep out Eden's event will raise money for local homelessness charities or the third year in succession, the Eden Project in Cornwall will be hosting a special event to support local homelessness charities. The Sleep Out event will take place at Eden on Thursday, November 10.

The event will see people sleeping outdoors at Eden during a cold autumn night with nothing but a sleeping bag and a cardboard mat. The aim is to raise as much money as possible for two worthy local homelessness charities – St Petroc’s Society and the Amber Foundation. Last year more than 100 people took part in the event at Eden, near St Austell in south east Cornwall.

Sleep Out is a nationwide event organised by the End Youth Homelessness (EYH) campaign, a national partnership of grassroots charities and companies that provides support to homeless young people. The national campaign aims to raise more than £500,000 for homelessness charities.

Registration for the event has now opened and 140 spaces are up for grabs. As there are a limited amount of spaces available a swift sign-up is recommended. Anyone who wants to take part at the Sleep Out at Eden should visit www.edenproject.com/sleepout as soon as possible.

On the night, participants will be joined by the Cornish comedian Kernow King and talented Cornish singer-songwriter Suzie Mac, who will provide the evening’s entertainment. There will also be cookery workshops and campfire tales as well as food, hot drinks and a licensed bar.

Neil Caddy, Pirate FM’s breakfast show host, will be taking part again this year, broadcasting from the event during the evening and hosting the station's Breakfast Show the following

F

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Enjoy

'Tragically, rough sleeping

morning, to highlight the fact that many homeless people sleep rough and still get up and go and do a job the following day.

Jo Gale, who is organising the Sleep Out event at the Eden Project, says: “The Eden Project, St Petroc’s and Amber Foundation are delighted with the growth of this event year on year and are hoping for a record year of fundraising. We are hoping that people who want to get behind this great cause will either sign up to take part themselves, sponsor participants or donate directly to the charities.”

In the past year, rough sleeping has increased in the South West by 41 per cent, above the national average rise of 30 per cent, says Corinne Langford from St Petroc’s. "Quite alarmingly, a large proportion of those rough sleepers are young people," she adds.

"They are all people, all in need of our care and support. Once again, we are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Amber Foundation and the Eden Project to raise awareness and much needed funds. Working together, we can deliver so much more.”

Paul Rosam of the Amber Foundation said the event was very important to support homeless people. “Tragically, rough sleeping is on the increase, especially in the South West, so our services are needed now more than ever –

is on the increase

in the South West' a safe place to stay is just the start of the journey.”

Kernow King is supporting the event, saying: “In this day and age, nobody should be homeless.” Singer Suzie Mac adds: “It could easily be one of us or someone close to us. Life can deal some cruel cards at times. There is a terrible stigma about those who are homeless. They are fellow human beings who need support and someone to hold out their hand to lift them up.

"I spent a few hours on Christmas Day evening last year at St Petroc's in Truro. Everyone was so lovely and I was amazed at how many of the people there had been able to visit friends or family during that day, all thanks to St Petroc's helping to build bridges between them.”

You can support St Petroc’s and the Amber Foundation by donating directly to them via www.stpetrocs.org.uk and www.amberweb.org or texting COLD02 and the amount you would like to donate (for example £5) to 70070.

The lowdown Who is sleeping rough?

Based on Government figures, Cornwall is the fifth highest area in the UK for numbers of rough sleepers. Most are either from Cornwall or have lived and worked in the county for a significant time. Others travel to the county fleeing violence or in search of employment and a fresh start. For some, the county is simply the end of the line on the train. The majority of rough sleepers are young and male, with women accounting for just 20% of the total..

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MAIN PICTURE: DAVID PEAKE

My Secret Westcountry Nick Beaton Nick Beaton, 54, is a managing director of Northcott Beaton insurance agency in Exeter and a director of Exeter Chiefs rugby club.

He lives in Pinhoe, Exeter with his wife Kath with whom he has two children Harri, 20, and Leah, 22.

Exeter Brewery

My favourite:

Budleigh Salterton beach

Cellars at Shaldon down on the River Teign is a family favourite for us. They serve really good posh pub grub.

Walk: My favourite walk would have to be from Ladram to Otterton via Budleigh Salterton. My wife Kath and I do that route quite often and it was a favourite while my colleague Kieron Northcott and I were training for the Exe Valley Endurance race. We trained hard for the 66-mile trek in June, raising ÂŁ3,000 for Exeter Foundation, the Exeter Chiefs charity.

Weekend escape: We own a caravan down at Ladram Bay near Sidmouth which is the perfect weekend escape. On a nice day, it almost feels like you are abroad. There is so much to do down there for the whole family and the coastal views from our caravan are fantastic.

Place to eat: I’m a keen foodie and one of my favourite pastimes is dining out. The Coombe

Festival or event: For me, nothing can beat a sell-out crowd at Sandy Park, home to the Exeter

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People

Ladram Bay caravan park

The crowds at Sandy Park

The Heart of Oak, Pinhoe

Chiefs rugby team. The atmosphere is electric when the Chiefs are playing and it just makes for a great afternoon.

View: Living in Devon, we are so lucky to have so many spectacular views. My absolute favourite would be the view from the top of the cliffs as you look down on Budleigh Salterton. On a sunny day, the view is outstanding and it makes for a really pleasant walk.

Pub: It would have to be my local, the Heart of Oak in Pinhoe. They have live music every week

Coombe Cellars

which I enjoy with a pint and great food. Everything you want from your local!

Food: A bag of

fish and chips on a nice sunny day on the seafront always goes down well, either at Budleigh Salterton or Exmouth. We used to enjoy this every so often when the kids were growing up and it’s still a treat today.

Drink: I do enjoy a good real ale. In Devon, we have so many great local ales to choose from but my favourite has to be is a pint of Ferryman from the Exeter Brewery.

Secret place: I do love to sneak off every once in a while to play 18 holes at Woodbury Park golf course near Exmouth. It is a great course, and spending time there makes a welcome break from my usual routine. I particularly like to relax with a round of golf after a busy week.

Special treat: A pasty and coffee at the Halfway House at Woodbury Park golf course is particularly welcome. It’s the perfect treat on a cold day and warms you up perfectly for the back nine. Golf is more strenuous than many people realise, so you do need to refuel!

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My life

[

man and boy

Plenty of bounce

[

Phil Goodwin, father of James, installs a trampoline oing! Up he goes… then down.

Boing! Up again… then down.

Can you picture the scene? In case you haven’t guessed, we are the proud owners of a trampoline.

It is one of the round types you see for sale everywhere these days, a ladder to get on and netting to keep the little darlings from flying off the sides. Best of all it was free. Hours of fun, I thought. I picked it up from the friend of a friend out in lovely, leafy West Hill near Ottery St Mary. Helpfully, it had been dismantled and lay on the ground: a few poles, rubber sheeting and a bag of springs.

“How big is it?” I asked the guy. “Twelve feet,” he said, adding: “And don’t worry, it all just snaps together like a giant puzzle. You won’t have any problems.”

It all sounded fine, we chucked it in the back of the van and I set off back to Exeter thinking I might get the thing up that very night.

Famous last words, as they say.

The lad was already bouncing as we carried the steel poles inside. As I began to sort out the components, though, I realised I had made a schoolboy error in terms of geometry. The bounce mat is attached by springs to a steel frame, made by slotting together about eight curved scaffold poles. As I connected these, I realised that it was indeed twelve feet – but in diameter not circumference – and took up so much of the area behind our terraced home that you had to squeeze against the bushes just to get past.

Undaunted by the expression on my wife’s face, I cracked on with the construction and soon had the huge circle joined to-

B

gether. Then began the tricky job of stretching the rubber to the frame using around 70 steel springs. It was a lot harder than I thought. You

[

It looked less like a toy and more like a helicopter landing pad

[

expect the odd bump and bruise on any job but this endeavour introduced me to the delights of an entirely new injury.

The objective is to stretch each spring until your eyes are popping to try to hitch it to a corresponding hole. If you make it, happy days.

But, if you fail, it yanks back and pinches the skin of your palms in about ten places, an exquisitely painful experience, especially for someone with “typist’s hands”.

Heroically, with darkness falling, I had managed to get the mat tight as a drum and I lifted the disk up onto its three-foot legs. It took centre stage all right, fitting snugly into the outdoor space.

James was delighted, my dear wife less impressed. I admit the table and brolly had to be pushed into a corner, partly blocking the veranda door, and, yes, the clothes maiden had to be brought in. But the shed door did still open, just about, and you could get even inside, if you bent yourself in a certain way. Proudly the trampoline stood.

From the upstairs window it looked less like a toy and more like a landing pad for a helicopter. The boy was on it like a flash, up and down, up and down, landing on his knees, landing on his bum, then straight back to feet, striking his superhero pose, arm out, fist clenched. My partner inquired quietly, out of earshot, how long it was going to stay. “Don’t worry,” I said. “He will soon get sick of it and we can sell it on eBay.” The novelty has not worn off yet, though. You hear the springs going from inside the house. Squeak… boing…squeak... boing. He really loves it. Well, who needs a garden in England during the winter anyway?

NEXT WEEK: Chris McGuire on starting his new life in the South West 46

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PERFECTING

NATURE M S

MICHAEL SPIERS T R U R O

P L Y M O U T H

E X E T E R

T A U N T O N

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