The Bath Magazine Feb 2011

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ISSUE 101 • £3.00 where sold

THEBATHMAGAZINE THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CITY OF BATH www.thebathmagazine.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2011 NOW AVAILABLE ON iPAD

FEBRUARY AND FABULOUS BATH

literature

A preview of the book festival

INTERIOR

designs

A look inside Beckington Mill

SIGNS

of the TIMES

Is Bath becoming too cluttered?

FACE

the MUSIC

Rachel Demuth picks her pops

LOVE’S

letters LOST

The decline of old fashioned romance?

WALKING

with ROMANS

The Old Bath Road to Wansdyke

SAUCY

old QUIN

18th century debauchery at it’s best

and

&

TOWN COUNTRY PROPERTY

BATH ARTS & EXH IBITI

SPECIALON See Insid e

The most desirable homes in and around Bath The very best of local writing, what’s on, arts, lifestyle, property and so much more in your guide to life and living in Bath

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Exclusive Lingerie Boutique 13 Milsom Place, Bath Our brands include:

Hannah Dulcie Lingerie • Stella McCartney Lingerie • Myla Studio La Perla • Bordelle • Lascivious • Mimi Holliday Damaris • Fleur of England • Nichole de Carle Join us over Valentine's weekend for Champagne and chocolates all day in the boutique, and see our live mannequins modelling the Spring Summer 11 collections! 15% off Hannah Dulcie Lingerie

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contents

FeBRUaRY 2011 28 8

TALK OF THE TOWN News and views from the city

11 BIGWIG

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44

52

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38 FOOD AND DRINK Gourmet – and cheesy – suggestions for winning their hearts this Valentine’s Day

Public transports of delight

12 STREET FURNITURE Tackling the issue of Bath’s signs

16 FACE THE MUSIC Rachel Demuth, founder of Bath’s award-winning vegetarian restaurant, shares her favourite sounds

18 A LOVABLE ROGUE The story of 18th century actor James Quin who brought his larger than life appetites to Bath

20 SEALED WITH A KISS Can a text say ‘I love you’ as tenderly as an old-fashioned love letter?

24 WHAT’S ON Don’t miss out on February’s entertainment in Bath

31 ART & EXHIBITIONS All the news this spring from the city’s many art galleries

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42 NEW YORK STYLE We sample the menu – and the cake – at The Loft, Bath’s newest place to eat and be seen

44 OUT AND ABOUT Andrew Swift suggests a walk on the ancient earthworks of the Wansdyke

46 BATH BUSINESS Awards, rewards and community engagement from the city’s business

52 FAMILY FUN A parents’ handy guide on what to do and where to go with the children at half-term

58 FIT AND FABULOUS Survive February with beautiful treats and different ways to keep active

66 INTERIORS

70 CITY GARDENING Award-winning garden writer Jane Moore has sound advice on what to prune and when in the garden

74 THE DIRECTORY Your guide to trades and services in and around Bath

77 PROPERTY The finest homes in Bath and beyond

THEBATHMAGAZINE Need to refer to something you have read previously?Archive copies of TBM can be viewed with the online edition on our website: www.thebathmagazine.co.uk

ON THE COVER Sculpture by Craig Martin, from Black Swan Arts, Frome

A peek inside a Somerset mill with almost a thousand years of history

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EDITOR’Sletter

S

ome people are still muttering about winter not releasing us from its icy grip yet, but with the snowdrops out I remain optimistic that spring is on its way.

We’ve got lots to look forward to, which is why we’ve decided that this month is the February feelgood issue.

I’ve enjoyed poring through the Bath Literature Festival programme and choosing which events I’d most like to attend. The festival has expanded to become the UK’s third largest literature festival, behind Hay and Cheltenham, and it now appeals to a much wider audience than it used to a few years ago. This year there are talks about as varied and thought-provoking subjects as euthanasia, canal boats, maps, religion and politics and, a pastime near to my heart, wild swimming. We’ve got an interview with Wild Swim author Kate Rew and a round-up of some of the entertaining, enlightening and exhilarating LitFest highlights on pages 28 & 29.

Bath has always had a busy art scene and an active artists’ community, so it’s a pleasure to celebrate its diverse talents in our fairly comprehensive guide to who’s exhibiting where this spring. There is an eclectic mix of work on show, with something for every taste.

We hope parents are looking forward to this month’s half-term holiday as much as the children are, and if they’re seeking inspiration for things to do and places to go, they need look no further than our Family Fun guide (page 52).

So, if the postman fails to deliver the sackful of Valentine’s cards that you were expecting, cheer yourself up with a good read instead. Lindsey Harrad talks to writer Salley Vickers about the decline of the traditional love letter, Barbara White tells the tale of James Quin, the quarrelsome, extrovert actor who retired to Bath and spent his last days living it up, while Mick Ringham interviews one of Bath’s top cooks, Rachel Demuth about her love of good food and great music.

The Bath Magazine has, as the late songwriter Ian Dury would say, plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

Georgette McCready Editor All paper used to make this magazine is taken from good sustainable sources and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help to reduce waste and contribute to the six million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Please recycle this magazine, but if you are not able to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine on to a friend or colleague.

THEBATHMAGAZINE Editor Email: Tel:

Georgette McCready georgette@thebathmagazine.co.uk 01225 424499

Deputy Editor Email:

Samantha Ewart sam@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Contributors

Jane Moore, Lindsey Harrad, Peter Harvey, Mick Ringham, Barbara White, Andrew Swift

Production Manager Jeff Osborne Email: production@thebathmagazine.co.uk Publisher Email:

Steve Miklos stevem@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Contact the Advertising Sales team on tel: 01225 424499 Advertising Sales Email:

Liz Grey liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales Email:

Kathy Williams kathy@thebathmagazine.co.uk

The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd and are completely independent of all other local publications.

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TALKofthe TOWN

My Cultural Life

BOOK OF THE MONTH Review by Kate Double of Mr B’s bookshop

Caroline: A Mystery

by Cornelius Medvei

Caroline is the totally bonkers but brilliant story of a middle-aged man who falls for the doe-eyed charms of a donkey, walks her many miles back to his inner city home and installs her in his garden.

As the neighbours tire of Caroline the donkey’s disgruntled eeyorring, Mr Shaw looks into a number of hobbies to keep her busy, including taking her to his office and teaching her to play chess.

The story is studded throughout with photographs, character reports and articles from Mr Shaw’s collection, which chart his research and growing obsession with donkeys, lending further authority to this surreal and yet surprisingly conceivable story.

Cornelius Medvei’s portrayal of Caroline as a graceful, intelligent and enigmatic character is pure genius and this crazy little novel really made me laugh.

This month we ask Arran Hodgson, Director of Bath’s Fringe Visual Arts Festival . . .

What’s on your MP3 player?

Snowdrops herald the arrival of spring

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carpet of snowdrops is a wonderfully uplifting sight and one which makes the heart glad that spring is finally on the way.

Great Chalfield Manor near Holt is throwing open its gardens for its annual Snowdrop Day on Sunday 13 February for visitors to the National Trust property to enjoy the spectacle. The grounds of the Jacobean manor house will be open from 2–4pm, with tea and home-made cakes on sale in the barn.

Admission is £3.50 and all proceeds will go to Dorothy House Hospice Care.

Dorothy House is currently recruiting gardeners who would like to open their gardens to visitors on a one-off basis to raise funds for the hospice. If you would like to open your garden this year for a good cause contact the fundraising team tel: 01225 721480.

THEBATHMAGAZINE 2 Princes Buildings George Street Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499 Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmagazine.co.uk © MC Publishing Ltd 2011 Every month The Bath Magazine is circulated free to over 20,000 selected homes and businesses in Bath and the surrounding areas.

A certificate of print and publisher’s statement are available on request.

Published by MC Publishing Limited Printed by PCP Limited Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bath Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

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NEWS IN BRIEF Marathon Bible reading There are plans to read the Bible aloud from cover to cover as part of the Bath Literature Festival to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

Starting on Tuesday 1 March, a stream of readers at St Michael’s Without Church, Broad Street, will continue round the clock until Saturday 5 March. Volunteers who would like to join high profile readers, celebrities and authors in this commemoration of arguably the most influential piece of literature in the English language should send their name, email address and available dates to: kingjamesbible@bathfestivals.org.uk.

Rally round for the Rondo

I have the wonderful yet strange Lemonade by Coco Rosie playing.

Another recent discovery would be Mountain Man – check out the track Animal Tracks, along with anything

by Phosphorescent.

Which local restaurant/café will you be visiting?

Demuths restaurant for some great veggie dining. You can’t beat it.

Which museum or gallery will you be visiting?

Just been to see Shadow Catchers at the V&A, a fantastic show all about camera-less photography and of course I cannot wait for the Holburne to re-open in May with a cracking Peter Blake show, a must see.

The Rondo Theatre in Larkhall is one of Bath’s best little treasures and worth preserving. But the theatre gets no funding from the Arts Council and is a registered charity, so is keeping a sensibly wary eye on its wallet. Help by donating or bidding at the Rondo auction on Friday 11 February at 7.30pm, which will raise funds to enable its outreach work to continue.

Film or play? What will you be going to see this month?

Band’s gig in a bookshop

The arts are my passion and getting people to see it and interact with it.

We have a committee of dedicated volunteers and without them the festival would never happen. My other passion is collecting, part of my practice as an artist involves me collecting domestic photography to use in my photo works.

Mr B’s independent bookshop has released an album of original music by its house band The Bookshop Band, who will performing in the John Street shop on Wednesday 9 February. Tickets are £6, tel: 01225 331155, or email: books@mrbsemporium.com.

Comic Relief outside Baths The Roman Baths are helping to celebrate the Year of the Museum on Thursday 24 February with late night opening. The evening will begin outside the Stall Street entrance with a mystery entertainment organised by the council and Bath Spa University in aid of Comic Relief from 6pm – 8pm. Inside, see the new displays, meet costumed characters and sample Roman food.

I have been told that Mark Romanek’s new film Never Let Me Go is pretty good and I see it is on at the Little Theatre so may pop along, if not, Science of Sleep on DVD.

Your passions? What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing?

Fringe Arts Bath last year supported nearly 60 artists over 15 events and exhibitions. This year (27 May to 12 June) is going to be bigger and better.

The Bath Arts prize is open to anyone, even if you’re not an artist. If you like photography join in our photomarathon, now in its fourth year. The open call out is live now.

Visit: www.fringeartsbath.co.uk

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THEBATHMAGAZINE THEBESTOFBATH PERFECTLYCOVERED BATHSBIGGESTMAGAZINE PERFECTLYDELIVERED TOADVERTISETEL: 01225 424499

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NOTES ON A SMALL CITY

By Bigwig

Sharing transports of delight

I

think I am becoming one of those grumpy old men as seen on telly.

The programme itself used to annoy me no end, but now I seem to be increasingly in agreement with the participants. I’m not sure when the transition took place but I get cross about all sorts of things these days.

For example, how is it that when I want to get into a store with both hands full of shopping bags nobody holds the door open for me, but when I hold the door open for a dear old lady, the whole world decides to join her in flooding into the shop? Since when did I become the doorman for Marks & Spencer? And if I finally decide enough is enough and take my turn, I get glared at as if to say how dare you barge in.

And don’t get me on shopping trolleys and the control thereof. Park right in front of the spice racks why don’t you?

Surely you knew that’s where I was heading? And don’t look so affronted if I nudge your trolley out of my way when you are pondering the cheese and blocking the whole aisle. On the other hand, don’t you dare nudge my trolley while I’m lost in reverie in the ready-meal section. Grrr!

Second only to trolley etiquette in my book of moans is bus etiquette.

Put your blooming wheelie suitcase on the rack provided, don’t take up a whole seat with it.

Some of us have bad knees and need to sit.

And at least make some pretence of shoving up a bit when I sit down next to you, don’t just stonily stare ahead.

The other day a woman’s coat tails were trespassing on my side of the seat. When I sat down, it kind of pulled her into a bent-towards-me position, if you get my drift. She tutted so much, I decided to ignore her and she had to nestle against my shoulder all the way to the bus station.

People who don’t have their bus fare ready are also a source of great annoyance. You are at a bus stop. A bus will arrive. The driver will ask you for money. Please have your purse to hand. We who are already ensconced want to get to work on time. Why, the other day a lady with a certain touch of the Sloane Ranger got on and tried to pay her bus fare with a cheque. She seemed affronted when the driver refused and regarded him with a look that said ‘didn’t you know that we who are a 130th in line for the throne never carry money?’ She was made to get off and was left on the kerb, presumably having to hail the next 4x4 that passed by.

Mind you, I recently became one of those annoying people myself when I dropped a considerable amount of change when getting on the bus. Most of it rolled under the vehicle so I got down on my hands and (bad) knees to retrieve it.

I had a sudden moment of panic when it occurred to me that, as he was dealing with quite a queue, the driver might not have noticed I was scrabbling about under his front bumper.

Just imagine the conversation that would have followed. ‘How did the injury occur sir?’ ‘Well, I was crawling in front of the bus and it drew away.’ The coat tails woman would have joined in with ‘I’m not surprised. He sat on me the other day. Shouldn’t be allowed out on his own!’ ■

a woman’s coat tails ❝ were trespassing on my side of the seat. When I sat down it kind of pulled her into a bent-towards-me position . . . she had to nestle against my shoulder all the way to the bus station

❞

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THE UNNECESSARY

Signs of the Times Is Bath a city under threat of signmageddon? Needless road signs and street clutter distracts and impedes our every move. We counted 208 A-boards, 18 standard bearers and 22 ‘chuggers’ within the area of the old city walls, all vying for our visual attention, and all adding to the chaos of a modern city. TBM’s Dara Foley investigates

P

edestrians wending their way down the main shopping spine of Bath – from the top of Milsom Street down to SouthGate – need to have developed the skills of slalom skier as they negotiate round A-boards, street stalls, art displays and bollards. Keeping their eyes peeled for potential hazards, from the human signs directing passers-by to sandwich bars, to the ‘chuggers’ who seek charity donations, they will also be assailed at eye level by directions to numerous other diversions both cultural and commercial.

It is famously said of the Circus that ‘you can’t see the Wood for the trees’ and that accusation could be laid at all of those who impede our visual clarity in this most beautiful of cities.

While visitors and locals need to have some sense of direction and information, such as where traffic might unexpectedly emerge, there is a danger that all the street furniture makes the place as cluttered as a Victorian parlour.

Eric Pickles, Government Communities Secretary, recently spoke of the unthinking uglification of many British cities. His comment: “Our streets are losing their English character. We are being worn down by scruffy signs, bossy bollards, patchwork paving and railed-off roads – wasting taxpayers’ money that could be better spent on fixing potholes or keeping council tax down. We need to cut the clutter.”

It makes you look around your own home city with a keener eye for the offenders. Is Bath in danger of looking like Any Town, with its homogenous high street names adorning every shop front? When the only time one can reassure oneself with a sense of place is to look up to the first floor level, where the original is unsullied by the plastic, the neon or the ubiquitous logo?

Our streets are losing their ❝ English character. We are being worn down by scruffy signs, bossy bollards, patchwork paving and railed-off roads

Illustration By Simon Spilsbury www.spilsbury.co.uk

❞

Mankind has long been advertising its presence with artwork, decoration and exhortation.

From the earliest cave paintings and the commercial wall painting in Pompeii to the Victorian street sellers touting their wares, we have found a way to advertise.

In the days before literacy, the creaking inn sign with the painted Red Lion or Queen’s Head, would let everyone know that here one could find a warm welcome and good ale.

Even in some of our lifespans the traders’ signs such as the

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cobbler’s last, the barber’s stripy pole and the brass balls of the pawn shop were a distinctive sight on our high streets. Bath’s 19th and early 20th century advertising hoardings are still to be found, hand-painted on to buildings, carved into stone or etched on brass windowsills. Will future social historians be marvelling in the same way over the discovery of a pair of golden yellow arches when the Big Mac has sizzled off into posterity?

Bath City Centre Manager Andrew Cooper says: “Getting the balance between too much signage, clutter and effectively getting pedestrians around the city is tricky. Some would argue that less signage is better; visitors require more direction and assistance while traders want to drive footfall to their shops though street signage and A-boards.

“In a World Heritage City, sensitive signage is required alongside the new technologies that are now available in pushing information to handheld devices.”

The downside of issuing visitors with a handheld guide is that they are so busy looking at or listening to it that they won’t be easily distracted off their task by the goods in our shops, or by the obstacles that lie like hurdles for the unwary.

For anyone who has enjoyed a day in one of the world’s most romantic cities – Rome, Paris, Venice, Barcelona – one of the greatest pleasures is finding the city for yourself, or taking a side street to wander off the beaten track and feel you have discovered the ‘real’ city.

In getting lost the visitor can find pleasure in the unexpected.

The little tavern where the locals eat, the quiet courtyard with a tree offering shade, or the opening up of a fresh vista on the city.

These are the memories we take home, just as much as the big set pieces we expected to see.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is nobly currently engaged in putting together some form of signage policy. No easy task and one which some, judging by past experience of the council’s efforts to do the right thing, will later be described by some as using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Only a few years ago it succumbed to the weight of public opinion and decided enough was enough when it came to the number of yellow AA signs directing motorists to events, new housing developments and sales happening in Bath.

This policy looks like now biting the very people who value Bath’s aesthetic and ancient beauty. Those purveyors of old and beautiful things, the annual Bath Decorative Antiques Fair, are currently miffed that they are unable to flag up their four-day sale in March at the Pavilion because of the council ban on AA signs. A council spokesman pointed out that if it let the antiques dealers break the ban it would have to allow everyone to advertise their events on the once-despised yellow signs.

One thing’s for sure in any city. When you need to go, it’s always a challenge to find out where you need to go.

Whatever the language, we’ll always need a sign guiding us quickly to the nearest public conveniences. ■ FEBRUARY 2011

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we love milsom place With two Royal weddings in the offing 2011 is the year for romance. Milsom Place has found a place in the heart of Bath with its distinctive independents and strong high street names as well as some of the city’s most popular restaurants.

Necklace by Hobbs

Falling in love with Alessi’s superb •design is not hard and this year Quadri,

•

If you want to say it with flowers visit Anemone on Milsom Street for heady scented spring freesias, white or traditional red roses or something exotic like strelitzia, calla lilies or kangaroo paw.

Alessi Valentini from Quadri

is nothing quite as personal as a •giftThere of lingerie and Hannah Dulcie has a very special collection. As well as gift wrapping she specialises in hand holding so be bold and make the girl in your life go gooey when she unwraps her designer undies. Temptation in the form of champagne and chocolate and a ten per cent discount Georgeous makes Hannah Lingerie by cie Dulcie irresistible Hannah Dul this Valentines.

Rose Vanity Case by Cath Kidston

are in bloom around the door of •yourRoses getaway cottage. Pack a floral vanity case from Cath Kidston where you’ll find all that you need for your romantic break. A weekend holdall, heart shaped soap and even flower photo frame. Gifts at Lilly Pola include their exquisite pure cotton Rose Soap by white nighties and a Cath Kidston cut glass perfume bottle that will add sparkle to any dressing table.

Put a spring in her step with some •delightful designer gear. British Designers@Fashion Capital sell distinctive designer pieces like this pink and brocade corset by Emma Houghton or a Swarovski bracelet by Jolita.

It’s champagne and chocolate all the way at Phase Eight during the week before Valentines. Splash out £200 on your beloved to get a free gift with purchase.

Nut Splitter from Quadri

Kate Dress from Phase 8

•

A special night out deserves a new dress so seek out Hobbs’ glamorous collection and complete the look with a fucshia clutch or a heart necklace.

Corset @ Fashion Capital

Bath’s very own Alessi Gallery, has some gorgeous gifts like a heart shaped nut splitter or adorable couples Buonanno or Valentini.

Quadri has delightful gifts for men like silver acme cufflinks after Frank Lloyd Wright or name a star for an ever lasting momento.

Clutch from Hobbs

“Love Life, Love Luma” means that if you spend £20 in this fabulous lifestyle store during Valentine’s week, they will give you a carved wooden heart. Look out for heart shaped massage stones, vintage lavender soaps and heart shaped natural soaps.

• If you’re staying in Bath for Valentine’s weekend so be sure to plan ahead for your romantic supper a deux in the city’s favourite eaterie, the Moon and Sixpence. For Italian buzz look no further than Jamie’s Italian or savour a pizza at Solo Pizza with a complimentary glass of prosecco to toast the moment.

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Love hearts from Luma

Milsom Place, Bath www.milsomplace.co.uk Tel: 01225 789040

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FACEtheMUSIC

THE FOOD LOVE Mick Ringham talks to Rachel Demuth, the doyenne of delicious meat-free cuisine, about her passion for good food and good music

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FACEtheMUSIC Main photo: Left to right, Annie Lennox, Why, Leonard Cohen, Dance Me To The Edge of Love, and Van Morrison, Madame George

D

emuth’s in Bath is firmly established as one of the country’s best vegetarian restaurants, but it started from humble beginnings in a small, well used kitchen of a Victorian terraced house as a cookery class for people who wanted to widen their meat-free repertoire of dishes.

Rachel Demuth is currently celebrating the tenth anniversary of her successful vegetarian cookery school, in recently converted and professionally equipped premises in the centre of the city and the continuing success of the restaurant.

Rachel has been a professional vegetarian chef since the early 1980s and was a founder member of the Neal’s Yard Bakery in London’s Covent Garden.

She says: “I started working at Neal’s Yard Bakery after university and it wasn’t too long before the job I was doing became more a way of life. I loved the people, comaraderie and the ethos of what was happening during that time.”

After moving to the west country she opened The Board Street Bakery, pioneering organic vegetarian and vegan cooking and later Demuth’s restaurant which specialises in unpretentious creative and healthy food. Rachel has written three cookery books and has travelled extensively, teaching, sharing ideas and gathering recipes from all over the world.

Asked if she still encountered a negative perception towards vegetarians, she laughs: “I honestly feel that’s not relevant these days, after all the vast majority of restaurants throughout the world now offer vegetarian options.”

Rachel is passionate about the seasonal use of organic vegetables in creating inexpensive dishes and sharing ideas. She cites Yotam Ottolenghi as one of her favourite chefs and is an admirer of Nigel Slater.

One of the main influences on Rachel’s culinary career was her mother’s established vegetable garden, back home in Gloucestershire. While her mother gardened her father played piano for pleasure, so it comes as no surprise that putting these two influences together have benefited not only her cookery skills but also her musical appreciation.

Rachel stresses that the most important element in successful cooking is to put as much love and care into its preparation as possible. “I believe that food made with love always tastes far better and is more satisfying and nourishing and, remember, cooking should be fun.”

Rachel’s top ten: ● Jimmy Cliff You Can Get It If You Really Want My first job after leaving university and the beginning of my baking career was at Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden.The morning shift started at 6am and we would all get going by playing Jimmy Cliff at full volume. I also spent many late nights dancing to the music of Bob Marley. ● The Grateful Dead Friend of the Devil This is sung by Jerry Garcia and is synonymous with early 1970s west coast America. On my gap year, I stayed in San Francisco with Hal Wagenet, who was the guitarist with the band It’s a Beautiful Day. They were friends with Garcia so it was somewhat inevitable that a legendary Grateful Dead house party was the norm.

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● Jeff Buckley Hallelujah This is truly a magical version of Cohen’s classic song. Buckley had such a beautiful voice and a wasted talent. He died so young in 1997 aged 31. He drowned in Wolf River, allegedly walking into the water playing his guitar. ● Vladimir Ashkenazy Chopin’s Nocturnes After all the pots and pans have been put away from both the restaurant and the cookery school, it’s good to unwind in the late evenings. I’ve recently discovered listening to piano music is one of the most relaxing and calming ways to unwind after a busy day. ● Brian Eno An Ending (Ascent) Apollo is my favourite and most approachable album with Daniel Lanois. It’s ethereal chill out music. Brian Eno has been playing his sonic palette for over 30 years and is continually innovating. I saw him at Bath Abbey some years ago and he never fails to impress. His new album is challenging but that is what Eno is all about.

Food made with love always ❝ tastes far better and is more satisfying and nourishing ❞

● Van Morrison Madame George This is from one of his classic and most moving albums Astral Weeks. Van used to come into the restaurant many years ago and always sat in the alcove, fondly known as lovers’ corner, Table No 4.

● Keith Jarrett My Song Just because it’s hauntingly beautiful. Jan Garbarek is on tenor and soprano and Jarrett is such an inspirational pianist. ● Leonard Cohen Dance Me To the End of Love I spent three days camping at Big Chill in 2008 for the almost sole purpose of standing at the feet of the great man himself.

My friend Sara bagged a space right up front and sat there until he came on stage. Jostled and swooning simultaneously, we felt he was singing just for us – he really was amazing. ● Annie Lennox Why She was interviewed recently and came across as such a warm and thoughtful person, talking about her work and her children.

I admire her for her tenacity with her work in Gaza and charity work for HIV charities in Africa – I also love her haircut. ● Peter Gabriel The Book of Love This is from his album Scratch My Back, which was released last year. I have been a fan since the Genesis days and saw them at the Reading Festival in the mid-1970s and I look forward to Womad every year and all that he has done to bring world music to centre stage for us to enjoy. ■ Demuths Restaurant, 2 North Parade Passage, Bath BA1 1NX. Tel: 01225 446059 FEBRUARY 2011

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Feasting, fighting & FALSTAFF James Quin was an 18th century actor with a barbed tongue and a huge appetite, as Barbara White discovered when she looked at his life and exploits in Bath

A

rather fine marble monument in Bath Abbey shows a bewigged figure of a substantial looking fellow, with an epitaph beneath written by the greatest of 18th century actors, David Garrick.

James Quin, who was born in 1693 was buried in the Abbey in 1766, his 73 years having been lived to the full – not least as one of his generation’s most successful actors.

His monument, by the architect and sculptor James Paine, and carved in Siena marble, is situated at the far end of the North aisle in St Alphege Chapel. A medallion portrait of Quin in an intricately carved wig rests on a sarcophagus with an epitaph inscribed upon it written by his friend and rival David Garrick.

Centred beneath the epitaph are the mask of Thalia and the dagger of Melpomene, representing the muses of comedy and tragedy. In 1780 when Fanny Burney was whiling away a few hours in the Abbey reading epitaphs, she is said to have commented: ‘Garrick’s on Quin was much the best’.

‘That tongue which set the table on a roar, And charm’d the public ear is heard no more: Clos’d are those eyes, the harbingers of wit, Which spake before the tongue, what SHAKESPEAR writ: Cold is that hand, which living was stretch’d forth, At friendship’s call, to succour modest worth: Here lies JAMES QUIN: deign, reader, to be taught, Whate’er thy strength of body, force of thought, In nature’s happiest mould however cast, To this complexion thou must come at last.’

It is perhaps the measure of the man that in death, as in life, he commanded such loyalty from his friends and respect as an actor.

It was not always so and his early life had its fair share of scandal – indeed his very birth was allegedly as a result of a bigamous marriage between his unwitting father and a Mrs Elizabeth Grindzell who still had a husband living.

In July 1718 the 25-year-old Quin was convicted of manslaughter for killing William Bowen, a fellow actor, in a duel following a vicious quarrel. Although capable of great loyalty and lifelong friendship, Quin’s vexatious temper embroiled him in numerous quarrels often with the 18th century’s most illustrious theatrical stars including Charles Macklin, Theophilus Cibber and Peg Woffington, and earned him his reputation as the master of the cutting, witty riposte.

On asking Peg Woffington, for instance, why she had gone to Bath, the actress replied coquettishly that it had been mere wantonness. ‘And have you been cured of it?’ retorted Quin.

Quin had been attracted to the stage from an early age, playing with the Drury Lane Company between 1715 and 1717 and then again from 1734 to 1741. In the intervening years, he was a member of John Rich’s Company at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, from 1717 to 1734 and from 1742 until his formal retirement from the stage in 1751.

Not surprisingly, he also fell out with his manager John Rich and following one spat in November 1747 took himself off to Bath in high dudgeon. Quin then wrote to Rich perhaps looking 18 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Madam I never make ❝ love – I always buy it ready made ❞ to be recalled to the company and a famously terse epistolary exchange ensued. ‘I am at Bath – Quin’, to which the reply came, ‘Stay there and be damned – Rich’.

Quin did not cut a dashing figure and as his weight increased steadily with age, he was never destined to play romantic leads.

However, he became a great comic and tragic actor playing all the great roles from Macbeth, King Lear and Othello to a singing MacHeath in John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera and a philandering and drunken Sir John Brute in John Vanburgh’s The Provok’d Wife. He was acclaimed as the greatest of all the Falstaffs from Shakespeare’s Henry IV and enjoyed the 18th century equivalent of celebrity brand merchandising by being immortalized in mass-produced china ornaments of himself in ‘fat-witted’ character.

By the 1740s, Quin’s star was eclipsing as his measured cadences, heavy pauses and staged delivery looked decidedly old-fashioned when compared with the styles of Macklin and especially Garrick, who brought a refreshingly new lightness of touch and naturalness to their performances. Recognising that his crown had now passed to the gifted Garrick, Quin performed less frequently on the London stage during the 1740s

Main picture: Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait of James Quin. Inset, the porcelain figure of Quin as Falstaff which can be seen at the Holburne Museum

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CITYarchive and spent more time in semi-retirement in Bath believing he ‘did not know of a better place than Bath for an old cock to roost in’. His very last appearance upon the stage was in Bath in 1753 in a benefit performance of Hamlet for his friend Lacy Ryan.

Quin loved Bath describing it as ‘a cradle of age and a fine slope to the grave’, confirming Boswell’s

He did not know of a ❝ better place than Bath for an old cock to roost in

❞

Quin’s monument in Bath Abbey can be found at the far end of the North aisle in St Alphege Chapel

sense of Bath after his first visit in May 1776 as ‘the perfect place where one may retire and be calm, placid and cheerful’.

During his 16 year retirement in Bath, Quin was anything but calm or placid. A bon viveur, he lived in relative affluence at 3 Pierrepont Street with Mrs Simpson (or Sampson) as his landlady, enjoying all the diversions the city had to offer.

There were even rumours that he wished to supplant Beau Nash as Master of Ceremonies, but if this were so, it came to nothing. The company of visiting aristocracy or fellow thespians down from London, as well as his many friends, including Ralph Allen, Oliver Goldsmith and Thomas Gainsborough (who painted him in Bath about 1760), enabled him to indulge his gargantuan appetite for epicurean feasting.

He invented an exotic Siamese soup and such were the priorities in Bath, that the ‘peculiarity of the flavours’ was the topic of the day. His excessive gourmandising left him weighing nearly 20 stone and he was so corpulent that when Lord Chesterfield saw him being helped into a sedan chair after dining at his favourite Bath wateringhole The Three Tuns, he remarked that it looked as if Quin were taking one of the tuns home with him under his waistcoat.

There are so many bon-mots and after-dinner stories attributed to this gregarious man, but this is a favourite. When a Bath milliner from whom Quin was buying gloves expressed ‘her ardent desire to see him make love’, Quin replied, ‘Madam, I never make love; I always buy it ready made’.

Quin died following complications from an infected hand. In true Quin style, the day before his death he drank a bottle of claret and wished that the last tragic scene were over and that he should play it with becoming dignity. In similar terms, a tablet on the floor of the centre aisle in Bath Abbey, reads: Here Lies the Body of Mr James Quin The Scene is chang’d I am no more Deaths the last Act Now all is o’er The Holburne Museum of Art has a beautifully gilded porcelain example dating from about 1830 in its collection.

Generous to the last, he remembered his friends in his will, including Gainsborough, his Bath surgeon and his landlady at Centre House, Mrs Mary Sampson. ■

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MODERNromance

HOW DO I luv

thee?

Can a text, an email or a tweet be a romantic way to declare love? Lindsey Harrad discusses the decline of the old-fashioned love letter with author Salley Vickers

M

ary Wordsworth beautifully described a love letter from her husband William as ‘the breathing of thy inmost heart upon paper…’. Baring your soul takes courage so it’s no surprise that the love letters and poems of historic figures have become some of our most fascinating and enduring works of literature. No matter how flawed the original recipient may have been, or how long dead, the power of the writer’s words and emotions resonates through the ages.

But a recent survey by the National Trust reveals this kind of traditional romanticism is falling by the wayside, as heartfelt love letters are increasingly being replaced by a brief text message.

No longer are we asking, ‘How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…’ (Elizabeth Barrett Browning), but instead: ‘I luv u, fancy a drink l8er xx?’ The survey revealed that 62 per cent of those asked had never sent a letter to their loved one, while 69 per cent said they preferred to send a text or email with an affectionate message. As the guardian of many notable love letters in its collections, the National Trust unsurprisingly laments the decline of romanticism and suggests the rise of technology is stifling our creativity.

I recently spent a nostalgic hour rifling through my memory box. Some of my old love letters date back almost 20 years, but re-reading them, the words still had the power to stir longforgotten emotions. SWALK (sealed with a loving kiss) my sweet school boyfriend had written in his best neat handwriting on the back of each envelope. In another series of letters, my university boyfriend had painstakingly recorded every detail of his new life in France in his weekly missive. The parting had caused us great pain, and his letters were still very moving, even now.

But when I thought back, I could not remember either lover being as eloquent or romantic in real life, and there seemed to be a significant gap between the easy expression of their letters, and

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the frustrations of communication in person. So why is it that we can confess our feelings more clearly on paper, or indeed on an email, than we can in real life?

Author of the acclaimed novel, Miss Garnet’s Angel, Salley Vickers writes about many forms of love in her works, and says that people in all types of relationship fail to communicate their feelings adequately.

Intimacy grown out of online ❝communication is often a breeder of projection, fantasy and ultimately disappointment

❞

“Writers often say things in their novels that they can’t say in real life,” she admits. “Many of us are fearful of expressing ourselves. It’s partly because children are conditioned from a very early age not to say what they feel, often for very good social reasons, but it does inhibit our natural expression and hampers our relationships later in life.”

While it may be sad to see the love letter go the way of the quill pen and typewriter, perhaps our expectations of love affairs, and our lovers, are simply too much? Salley admits she often comes back to the theme of disappointment in love, partly inspired by her background as a psychoanalyst.

“When we fall in love we project onto the other person our unfulfilled wishes and desires, which are often formed early in childhood,” she explains. “This projection can cloud the actuality of the other person, but as the relationship progresses, this projection is gradually repudiated. If the love survives, it may not be as exciting, but it will be more real.”

Main picture: traditional Valentine cards from the Bath in Time collection at Bath Central Library.

Visit www.bathintime. co.uk

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MODERNromance

Salley Vickers, author of Miss Garnet’s Angel and a new collection of stories

“We are always striving for perfection, but we must accept imperfection in our loved ones and be more forgiving of their faults, as we should forgive our own. Love for ideals, like art, can be idealistic, but love for another person has to be realistic.”

Fuelled by the incredibly idealistic love depicted in Hollywood movies, many of us feel enormous pressure to have the ‘perfect’ relationship, while also juggling demanding careers, children and a variety of social and financial responsibilities. But while we strive to find the happy ever after of fairytales, Salley believes we are almost certainly expecting our significant others to live up to an unattainable ideal.

“Nature has very wisely endowed us with sexual passion, which often makes us blind to another’s faults in the early stages of a new relationship. It’s no coincidence that Eros or Cupid is often depicted as being blind,” she says. “But Nature only cares about procreation, and in real life, friendship is often more important. The most successful couples seem to be those who evolve a deep friendship based on shared values, and mutual respect and admiration.”

Technology has added a new dimension to modern relationships – online dating being one example – and certainly many couples do find lasting happiness after meeting through the internet. But the online world can foster a dangerous, illusory world of intimacy with a perfect stranger. Passionate and highly personal emails are exchanged in a flurry of initial

excitement, but the illusion may be shattered on the first real life meeting.

“Intimacy grown out of online communication is often a breeder of projection, of fantasy and ultimately disappointment,” agrees Salley. “You can’t beat the sheer, genuine intimacy of physical presence. But letters, or emails, are then a wonderful way to build on that relationship.”

We may lament the loss of the traditional handwritten love letter to email, texting, Facebooking and tweeting, but if technology opens new channels of communication between the sexes, however brief and to-the-point, it’s still a positive way to sustain love and friendship, even if it lacks the creativity of a sonnet. If you’re longing for a sign that the object of your desire is thinking of you, a quick poke on Facebook is better than nothing. So, execrable spelling aside, maybe a simple ‘I luv u’ is all we need to get us through. ■

Salley Vickers will be appearing at Bath LitFest on Sunday 27 February to talk about her new collection of short stories, Aphrodite’s Hat, which deals with the psychological aspects of love. Visit www.bathlitfest.org.uk

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shoppingCITY

ROMANTIC CITY With Valentine’s Day very much in mind, the perfect gift for a loved one is a tricky ask, Mimi McKenzie takes a peek around some of our finest emporia and discovers the most thoughtful and loving gift ideas.

What better way to express your love than with a traditionally printed Valentine’s card or love letter. For someone extra special, perhaps order a set of beautiful bespoke letterpress stationery. Individual cards from £3.50, handcrafted paper flowers £3.95, bespoke stationery prices quoted in store.

Available at Meticulous Ink, 33 Walcot street, Bath.

This stylish and desirable Silver Heart bracelet consists of over 200 silver rings on a fully soldered silver chain with the all important heart as its centre.

Available at £59.95 to buy in the shop, or online at www.thesilvershop.eu.com The Silver Shop of Bath, 25 Union Passage, Bath.

Tel: 01225 464781

Discover the latest collection of unique jewellery, charms, watches and handbags from the Danish jewellers; Pilgrim. This lovely ladies watch is priced at just £69.99

Pilgrim. 144 The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. www.pilgrim.dk

To own a Mulberry bag has to be every girl’s dream and the Mulberry factory shop is a brilliant place to pick up a Valentine’s bargain. This is the Mitzy, and at just £385, instead of £550 originally, it will answer your sweetheart’s prayers.

Hannah Dulcie, 13 Milsom Place, Bath. www.hannahdulcie.co.uk

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16 SouthGate Place, SouthGate, Bath.

Tel: 01225 330333. www. fabulouscollections.co.uk

Mulberry Factory Shop. The Old School House Shepton Mallet, Kilver Street, Somerset.

Tel: 01749 340 583

Exquisite lingerie by designers such as Stella McCartney, La Perla, Mimi Holliday and Damaris at Hannah Dulcie in Milsom Place is what Valentine’s Day is all about.

Shown here is a Tease lace balcony, thong and suspender belt set.

Fabulous has a full range of thoughtful and romantic gifts. Pandora bracelets make perfect Valentine’s gifts. Visit their showroom in SouthGate to see the new Valentine collection. With charms from £30 you can make additional love gifts anytime.

The most wonderful Valentine’s present... a beautiful Vintage Plisse bra (£220) and string (£110) by La Perla.

This very sparkly Anna Diamond ring in Platinum featuring a 0.80ct centre diamond with set diamond shoulders will say it all. £2950.00

Christopher Milton Stevens www.cmsjewellers.com Tel: 01225 840976

Available from The Dressing Room 7 Quiet Street, Bath Tel: 01225 330563

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WHAT’Son

T he a tr e , o p e r a an d d an c e

VINTAGE Masterpieces

BRISTOL HIPPODROME St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol. Book tickets on tel: 0844 847 2325 or visit: www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk

Chess, Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 March, 7.30pm; matinees: Wednesday and Saturday, 2.30pm

Harold Pinter’s Landscape and Monologue at the Ustinov

THEATRE ROYAL

Life of Riley, Monday 14 – Saturday 19 February, Monday – Wednesday, 7.30pm; Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; matinees: Wednesday and Saturday, 2.30pm

Sawclose, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844. www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Avenue Q, Wednesday 2 – Saturday 12 February, Monday – Thursday, 8pm; Fridays, 5.30pm & 8.30pm; Saturdays, 4pm & 8pm

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Yes, Prime Minister, Monday 28 February – Saturday 5 March, Monday – Wednesday, 7.30pm; Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; matinees: Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 2.30pm

© Tristram Kenton

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Chess at the Bristol Hippodrome

The Theatre Royal welcomes back the highlyacclaimed Stephen Joseph Theatre from Scarborough to showcase the latest in a succession of new plays from Alan Ayckbourn.

With a few months of his life remaining, George Riley’s closest friends remember with love, nostalgia or occasional bursts of downright fury, how deeply he has affected their lives in the past. George though, is plotting one last final farewell which threatens to upset all their lives in the future.

After nearly five years of mischief, bad behaviour and political incorrectness, London’s funniest show is hitting the road.

The Tony Award-winning Avenue Q is the irresistibly charming musical about the lovably hopeless characters on a downtown New York street trying to make sense of life’s burning issues: love, work, relationships and, above all, just how are you supposed to pay the bills with a BA in English? Hilarious and entertaining, with a terrific batch of songs performed by a cast of hugely talented performers and puppets, Avenue Q is a musical like no other.

Avenue Q

Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood directs an amazing company of actors and musicians in an extraordinary new staging of the classic musical Chess. Written by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, Chess has one of the greatest musical theatre scores of all time including One Night In Bangkok, Pity The Child, Anthem, You And I and I Know Him So Well.

Two of the world’s greatest chess masters battle it out at the world chess championships but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Amidst political intrigue and international conspiracies, the American and the Russian fight to win the heart of Florence Vassy in a romantic triangle that mirrors the heightened passions of the Cold War all set to an explosive score by the composers of Mamma Mia and the lyricist of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

This much-acclaimed new stage adaptation of the hugely popular sitcom, Yes, Prime Minister, comes to Bath, following a successful West End run. The original writers of the classic BBC television series, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn have reunited for this anniversary production and the Prime Minister Jim Hacker, his Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby and his Private Secretary Bernard Woolley are back in this hilarious new play. The country is on the brink of financial meltdown and the Government’s only apparent salvation comes from a morally dubious deal with the Foreign Minister of Kumranistan. Will Jim Hacker and his team of advisors be able to rescue the country from the edge?

THE USTINOV THEATRE Monmouth Street, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844. www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Landscape & Monologue, Wednesday 2 – Saturday 19 February, Monday – Saturday, 8pm; matinees: Thursday & Saturday, 2pm Harold Pinter explores his lifelong fascination with the theme of memory in two vintage masterpieces. This is an exceptional opportunity to enjoy these exquisite one-act plays in a haunting and poetic double-bill. In Landscape, Beth remembers an idyllic day on the beach with a former lover, arranging flowers and walking into the water. Duff recalls his life as a cellarman, drinking stories, the day he told his wife he’d been unfaithful.

In Pinter’s elegantly wrought and dramatically powerful Monologue, a solitary man addresses an absent friend in an empty chair, dwelling on memories of old times when the two may have shared a lover. This is a rare chance to see Chris Goode direct another playwright’s work.

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WHAT’Son Muscle, Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 March, 8pm Steve’s worried. He’s put on a few pounds and thinks he’s looking ‘wobbly’. So he’s at the gym with his mate Terry but he’s wrestling with a much weightier issue than pumping iron. But Terry’s spotted Dan, a huge powerhouse of a man who loves nothing more than liquid protein, getting more buff, and using it to pull girls. Three men, one chubby, one lean, and one that could walk through a wall, collide in a comedy of sweat, tears and testosterone-fuelled humour. Hull Truck presents this fast-paced comedy by Tom Wainwright, an actor, writer and theatremaker responsible for Bristol Old Vic hits Pedestrian and Jesus Christ It’s Christmas.

Muscle is directed by Lee Lyford (His Dark Materials and Ben Hur).

RONDO THEATRE St Saviours Road, Larkhall, Bath.

Box office tel: 01225 463362. www.rondotheatre.co.uk She Opened the Door

MISSION THEATRE

ICIA ARTS THEATRE

32 Corn Street, Bath. For all ticket information contact the theatre on tel: 01225 428600 or visit: www.missiontheatre.co.uk

University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath.

Box office tel: 01225 386777. www.bath.ac.uk/icia

Happy Jack, Thursday 17 – Saturday 19 February, 7.30pm (theatre supper)

Luca Silvestrini’s Protein, Saturday 12 February, 7.30pm

Following last February’s sell-out supper theatre of September in the Rain by John Godber, the company returns by popular demand with the play’s companion piece: Happy Jack. Continuing the story of Yorkshire miner Jack, his wife Liz and their family life together over 40 years, this funny, sad, pitchperfect take on working class life and the universality of love and loss will appeal to all.

Don’t miss this witty and entertaining play accompanied by a delicious dinner.

Luca Silvestrini’s award-winning Protein return with a timely new dance piece where love, wanting and connectedness take centre stage.

Luca Silvestrini’s Protein

Pygmalion, Thursday 24 – Saturday 26 February, 7.30pm This Shaw classic witnesses Professor Henry Higgins’ attempt to create an ideal woman out of the cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle. The play delves into the very fundamentals of idealistic concepts: will elocution lessons and beautiful dresses be sufficient to induce such a transformation? Is the notion of an “ideal woman” even possible? Presented by BUST, a student theatre society run by and for the students of the University of Bath. This production sees their fifth return to The Mission Theatre following their production of Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None last year.

Practice, Saturday 26 February, 7.30pm A unique opportunity to see new professional theatre, live art and dance, then help shape ideas by having a dialogue with the artists and performers.

UNIVERSITY THEATRE Bath Spa University, Bath. Tickets from Bath Festivals Box Office on tel: 01225 463362 or visit: www.universitytheatre.org

Masquerade, Tuesday 8 March, 7.30pm She Opened the Door, Thursday 17 February, 8pm Award-winning AsOne Theatre’s gripping new play written and directed by Peter J Cooper takes a fresh look at the women surrounding Thomas Hardy at the height of his celebrity in 1895 with the author’s first wife Emma at its heart. Early autumn in the Hardy’s Max Gate garden, Dorchester; Hardy’s possessive mother comes to visit for the first time; The Other Woman arrives on the new fangled bicycle; add a feisty maid, some skeletons and ghosts to Emma’s already tangled nerves and you have a powder keg ready to blow! With music by renowned composer Roderick Skeaping, AsOne promises a clever combination of exciting performance, beautiful costume and stunning projected-imagery.

Two, Wednesday 23 – Saturday 26 February, 8pm A sharp and touching slice of English life set in a pub owned by a savagely bickering husband and wife, Two is a play that skilfully combines pathos and humour. This wonderfully observed character study of a traditional pub, its eccentric customers and its warring landlord and wife won the Manchester Evening News Best New Play award in 1989.

With only two actors playing all 14 roles, Playing Up’s production won rave reviews when it was first performed in 2007.

WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Pygmalion

WROUGHTON THEATRE King Edward’s School, Bath. Tickets form Bath Festivals Box Office on tel: 01225 463362.

Internationally acclaimed choreographer, Maresa von Stockertlatest’s latest production Masquerade is inspired by Freud’s interpretation of dreams and the Surrealist movement of the mid-20th century. Feasting the eyes and provoking the mind, six outstanding dancers aged between 25 and 60 will turn bone structures liquid and reconstruct bodies and their secrets. Evoking vivid imagery from the beautifully macabre to the violently sensual, Masquerade invites you to leave the rules of reason behind and dive into a dreamlike world that gives free rein to the choreographer’s imagination.

MERLIN THEATRE

Verdi’s Luisa Miller, Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February, 7.30pm

Bath Road, Frome. Box office tel: 01373 465949.

In Verdi’s rarely performed Luisa Miller, he explores the competing demands of honour and power in a feudal Alpine village. The story plots the tale of a village girl whose happiness at being in love with a mysterious stranger descends to tragedy at the hands of his father a wicked manipulating Count. The title role is sung by Hannah Lockwood and the cast includes Rupert Drury and Niall Hoskin. Bath Opera’s large and acclaimed chorus make a big vocal and visual impact on stage which combined with the orchestra under the baton of Peter Blackwood will ensure that the theatre is filled with sound.

Bonnie and Clyde, Saturday 12 February, 7.45pm Following last year’s popular and critical success Out of Touch, Fairground returns with Bonnie and Clyde, a story about two twentysomethings who’ll stop at nothing to realise their American dreams in the era of the Great Depression. Crossing the state border in a stolen Ford V-8, with a trunk full of sawn-off shotguns and bootleg whiskey, Bonnie and Clyde have found one last place to hide. Time is ticking… they’re on the run from the law and from reality, but which one will catch them first?

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WHAT’Son

M us i c

O th e r e ve nt s AUTHOR TALK

THEATRE WORKSHOP

Bristol Grammar School, University Road, Bristol. Tickets £8/£6 from: www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk/Events.aspx

ICIA Arts Theatre, University of Bath. Tickets £20/£16 from the box office on tel: 01225 386777.

An Evening With Rob Young, Wednesday 16 February, 7pm for 7.30pm

Introduction to Writing for Performance, Sunday 27 February, 10.30am – 4.30pm

Bristol Grammar School and Faber in association with The Bristol Festival of Ideas invite you to an evening with Rob Young talking about his book Electric Eden in conversation with folk music aficionado Chris Hamlett.

Suitable for aspiring playwrights, this one-day workshop will provide you with an introduction to the fundamentals of creating stories for the theatre and performance.

ANTIQUES AND FINE ART FAIR Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel, WottonUnder-Edge, Gloucestershire. Tickets: £5. www.tortworthcourtfair.com

The Hillman Quartet

THE POUND Pound Pill, Corsham.

Box office tel: 01249 701628.

The Hillman Quartet, Saturday 12 February, 7.30pm The exuberant Hillman Quartet returns as part of its three year residency with The Pound Arts Trust with a delightful and melodic programme featuring Mozart’s Hoffmeister Quartet, Borodin’s String Quartet No.2 and a world premiere of violist Bernard Kane’s Sargasso.

UNIVERSITY HALL MUSIC ROOM University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath.

Tickets £9/£7 from the box office on tel: 01225 386777.

Cheng Yu, Thursday 17 February, 8pm Cheng Yu is an award-winning soloist with the China Central Orchestra of Chinese Music.

Now based in the UK, Yu is the founder of The Chinese Music Ensemble. She performs works for pipa and guqin, ranging from the 15th to the 21st century.

BATH ABBEY Abbey Church Yard, Bath. Tickets £10-£30 from Bath Festivals Box Office on tel: 01225 463362.

Help for Heroes Charity Concert, Saturday 12 March, doors open 6.30pm, performance at 7.30pm A Help for Heroes charity concert featuring the world famous Central Band of the Royal Air Force led by their Director of Music, Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs. Bristol-based soloist soprano Charlotte Newstead will be joining the band, as will Bath’s famous Male Choir and mixed Bath Chorus Choir, both directed by Grenville Jones.

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The Tortworth Court Antiques and Fine Art Fair, Friday 25 – Sunday 27 February, Friday, 11am – 6pm; Saturday, 10.30am – 6pm; Sunday, 10.30am – 5pm This boutique-style fair brings together 25 dealers from around the country, all predominantly members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association and LAPADA The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers, selling furniture, paintings, sculpture, jewellery and lots more.

CABARET NIGHT Komedia, 22-23 Westgate Street, Bath. Box office tel: 0845 293 8480. www.komedia.co.uk

Ministry of Burlesque’s High Tease, Friday 25 February, doors 6pm, show at 8pm Ministry of Burlesque return with their provocative blend of sophisticated variety, historical chic and contemporary cabaret, all delivered with 21st century sass. Expect frisky burlesque, sultry sirens and comic-cabaret masters. Dig out your frock and finery and get ready for high camp comedy, risqué songs and Victorian villainy.

MUSIC WORKSHOP University Hall Music Room, University of Bath. Tickets £9/£7 from the box office on tel: 01225 386777.

Conducting Workshop with Richard Gonski, Monday 28 February, 6pm – 9pm This is a chance for aspiring conductors to learn the craft, and for those with experience to hone their technique.

FASHION MUSEUM EVENTS Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath. www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

Behind the Scenes, continuing throughout 2011 The Fashion Museum has opened its stores of historic fashion for all visitors to see. The new display includes fashions for men and women from the late 1700s to the early 1900s.

The Enduring Romance of the Wedding Dress, Monday 14 February continuing throughout the year This special display to celebrate the Royal Wedding showcases some of the finest wedding dresses from the Fashion Museum collection. The display will also include a previously unseen archive of photographs of couture wedding dresses from the 1930s.

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire. Cost: £105. Booking is essential on tel: 01285 653069.

Advanced Digital Workshop, Friday 18 February, 10.30am – 3.30pm A workshop for photographers wishing to gain a better understanding of the various options available to them. Get to grips with shooting modes, image composition, using the light, depth of field, image management and manipulation and general ways in which to improve images.

COMEDY NIGHT Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome. Tickets £15 from the box office on tel: 01373 465949.

Mark Thomas: Extreme Rambling (Walking the Wall), Friday 4 March, 7.45pm Comedian, presenter, political activist and reporter Mark Thomas returns with a brand new show about his walk of the entire length of the Israeli Separation Barrier. Be prepared for a funny, sometimes shocking evening.

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BATHliteratureFESTIVAL

TAKING the

plunge

Georgette McCready meets writer Kate Rew to talk about wild swimming ahead of her appearance at the Bath Literature Festival

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societies are sprouting up all over the country and Kate hopes that after her talk at the Bath LitFest, a local Somerset group will be set up by fellow-minded enthusiasts.

Kate has been a wild swimmer since her childhood on a farm in Devon, where she and her brother would swim in the river Culm. She describes the experience in Wild Swim: ‘A sprint down a narrow straight, knees banging against stones and minnows in clear view, joint terror around ‘eel corner’ and then a long stretch past willows before dodging cowpats and thistles barefoot on the way home.’

Inevitably, when talking about swimming outside in Britain, the little matter of the cold raises its ugly head. Kate, for all her bravado and passion for plunging into Cumbrian tarns, Hebridean tidal pools or Cornish lidos when the wind is whipping the water into waves, admits that she gets cold very easily. Which perhaps explains why there is a glossary of terms in the book devoted to different types and extremes of cold. I make a mental note of ‘ice cream head’ – meaning a gripping instantaneous headache caused by putting your head into cold water – for the next time I take to the seas off Pembrokeshire in May. Kate assures me that the best way to acclimatise to cold water is to simply practice immersing yourself in it, and to make sure you warm your body with layers of clothes, hats and gloves, as soon as you get out and dried off.

For those of us who were followers of the late, great Roger Deakin, author of Waterlog, Kate Rew has picked up the baton for wild swimmers and is gathering a new tide of enthusiasts.

She says: “I think that wild swimming has become like surfing, body boarding or climbing. It’s just something people do and enjoy.” ■ PICTURE: Emma Critchley

O

ne of the great things about the Bath Literature Festival is that, ironically, it’s not just all about books. Under the leadership of director James Runcie the festival has widened to include people’s passions and indeed lifestyle choices in the programme.

Which is why this year, along with the usual impressive lineup of great authors, there are writers who have brought their enthusiasm and expert knowledge to us for a wide variety of subjects, including map making, canal boating, folk music and the cosmos.

Writer Kate Rew is among this illustrious and inspirational band of writers. The author of Wild Swim, a beautifully illustrated guide to wild swimming in Britain’s lakes, rivers, lidos and the sea, has become an evangelist for the outdoor swimming movement in this country after setting up The Outdoor Swimming Society.

Wild Swim has had a powerful effect on its readers. At one book signing a man hurdled a table laden with books to seize a startled Kate in an embrace, declaring: “You changed my life!”

Another told her proudly: “I used to be just this odd bloke at work who used to enjoy swimming, and now I am known as the wild swimmer!”

When I meet Kate she is wearing her blue Outdoor Swimming Society hoodie. During the course of our conversation we talk about the best places to swim out of doors in Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire. As Kate is househunting in the area one of her aims is to navigate the River Avon looking for suitable places to swim.

“I love the Thames,” she says, “There are some really beautiful, peaceful stretches with lovely clear water. I am hoping, having swum at Farleigh and Claverton, to explore this area further and find some swims in the Avon for people to enjoy.”

One of the aims of wild swimming is to navigate new routes and to share them with others. While some wild swimmers prefer a solitary dip, others make new friends as they share the experience of a plunge into waters new. Outdoor swimming

Kate Rew, left, founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society and author of Wild Swim

Wild Swim by Kate Rew is published by Guardian Books, price £12.99. Kate will be at the Bath LitFest on Sunday 27 February at 1pm at the Guildhall. Tickets are £7 from the box office, tel: 01225 463362, or visit: wwwbathlitfest.org.

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BATHliteratureFESTIVAL

B a th Li te r at ur e Fe s ti v a l 2 0 1 1 recent bestseller, Rachel Hewitt, offers a fascinating exploration into the develoment of our nationwide web of maps

Electric Eden Saturday 26 February, 8pm – 10pm Masonic Hall. Tickets £12 Have you ever wondered why so many other cultures enjoy a communal sing-song, but the English are reduced to singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot if challenged to raise their voices? Rob Young’s study of British folk music explores the movement that has seen contrast between urban and rural life, progress and nostalgia, radicalism and conservatism.

His talk will be followed by a performance by Emily Portman.

The Way of the Panda Friday 4 March, 6.15pm – 7.15pm, Guildhall. Tickets £7.

Who doesn’t love a panda? Threatened with extinction and mysterious in their habits – Henry Nicholls speaks about all things panda.

FESTIVAL highlights

The perennially popular gardening writer Anna Pavord takes cuttings from The Curious Gardener to guide us through the plant lover’s year.

Mariella Frostrup will be presenting her SkyArts programme The Book Show from Bath’s Guildhall

Just My Type: Simon Garfield Thursday 3 March, 1 – 2pm. Guildhall.

Tickets £7.

ENTERTAINING Bath Box Office tel: 01225 463362 www.bathlitfest.org.uk

The Tell-Tale Heart Monday 28 February, 6.30 – 7.15pm and from 9.30pm, Masonic Hall.

Tickets £9.

The master of spine-tingling scary stories, Edgar Allen Poe is celebrated as actor Pip Torrens reads The Tell-Tale Heart. Sit back and enjoy the timeless pleasure of having someone read you a story.

Walk: The Bath Stage Tuesday 1 March, 10am (meeting point on the ticket) Tickets £7.50.

Join local historians Andrew Swift and Kirsten Elliott on a theatrical stroll around the city and hear stories from both sides of the curtain in Georgian theatrical Bath. One of a series of themed walks devised by the pair for the festival.

Tom Rolt – Narrow Boat Man With actor Timothy West Saturday 5 March, 6.15pm – 7.15pm, Mission Theatre. Tickets £9.

Canal boat owner and enthusiast actor Timothy West joins waterways expert Tim Coghlan to celebrate the achievements of engineer Tom Rolt, whose book Narrow Boat sparked the campaign to save the country’s canals from neglect and transforming them into the network that is so popular with boaters, walkers and cyclists.

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Anna Pavord Tuesday 1 March, 8pm – 9pm. Guildhall.

Tickets £8.

Rumpole of the Bailey by John Mortimer with Timothy West Sunday 6 March, 2.30pm – 4pm, Guildhall (and at 8pm).

Tickets £15.

We are surrounded daily by print, from books and magazines to cereal packets and road signs. Simon Garfield’s fascinating guide to fonts was a Christmas bestseller.

Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson: at the festival on 27 February

The late actor Leo McKern, who used to live in Bath, brought the irascible barrister to life on TV, while Timothy West took up the wig for Radio 4. He will invite the LitFest audience to be the jury as he reads from John Mortimer’s delightful stories. Students from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School will play out the court cases, playing criminals, barristers and judges.

ENLIGHTENING Bath Box Office tel: 01225 463362 www.bathlitfest.org.uk

Colin Thubron Sunday 27 February, 4.30pm – 5.30pm, Guildhall. Tickets £8 The master travel writer will transport his audience to Kailas in Tibet, the most sacred of the world’s mountains.

Map of a Nation Tuesday 1 March, 6.15pm – 7.15pm, Guildhall. Tickets £7 Where would we be with Ordnance Survey maps? Lost, that’s for sure. Author of the

EXHILARATING Bath Box Office tel: 01225 463362 www.bathlitfest.org.uk

The Prospect Debate: Should Britain legalise assisted suicide?

Monday 28 February, 1 – 2pm, Guildhall. Tickets £7 Festival director James Runcie is challenging audiences to consider the big issues of our lifetime – immigration, feminism, how young people are treated. Each of the lunchtime debates will be followed by the chance for the audience to ask questions. If the debate gets too heated it can be calmed down over coffee and cake in the LitFest café downstairs.

Voices in the City Friday 25 February. Various venues. Free To mark the start of the literature festival, there is a day-long programme of events.

Voices in the City includes poetry all day at Bath Central Library, storytelling and music at St James’s Wine Vaults, poets in residence at the Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute and a poetry pub crawl, which may leave some participants the verse for wear.

BBC Radio 4 will also be airing a series of stories. ■

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nick cudworth gallery nick cudworth gallery

THE POUND CORSHAM

Seen in Bath Exhibition of paintings and prints Throughout February

All year round programme of exhibitions

Rooftops and Spires Oil on canvas 48 x 30 inches The Pound, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 9HX

5 London Street (top end of Walcot Street), Bath BA1 5BU tel 01225 445221 / 07968 047639 gallery@nickcudworth.com www.nickcudworth.com

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Open Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 9.30pm, Saturdays 9am - 5pm

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS

ARTISTS, GALLERIES AND EXHIBITIONS IN Bath and beyond FESTIVAL OF LIGHT Gallery LeFort Fine Art 1 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath. www.gallerylefortfineart.com

From 5 February

Claire Curneen, Pieta

MIXED SHOW Beaux Arts 12 – 13 York Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 464850 www.beauxartsbath.co.uk

Offering a programme of up to 11 exhibitions per year Gallery Lefort Fine Art covers a broad spectrum of contemporary fine art and bronze limited edition sculptures by some of the UK’s leading painters and sculptors working in the very top of their Moira Huntly, Porth Penrhyn field from some of the UK’s most prestigious academies and societies. During 2011 these will include artists and sculptors from the Royal West of England Academy; artists from the Pastel Society of Great Britain, the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour and the Royal Institute of Painters in Oils amongst others. During February the gallery will be showcasing some of its most popular artists in the exhibition, Festival of Light, which celebrates the study of light in art.

Until 26 February An exhibition showcasing new porcelain ceramics by Chris Keenan, porcelain sculpture by Claire Curneen, new works on paper from Matthew Draper featuring the Edinburgh skyline and Scottish landscapes, and work from modern British artists Bellany, Feiler, Fedden, Frost, Hartley, Hermann, Hilton, Hoyland, Piper and Pearce.

ART CENTRE: THE POUND

F

ollowing its reopening in 2007 after a £1.2 million refurbishment, The Pound has developed into a thriving arts hub for Corsham, north Wiltshire and beyond.

Based in a beautiful Victorian building, The Pound offers a 104seat auditorium, studio performance space, rehearsal and workshop spaces and a fully licensed café bar.

The year round programme features over 50 professional music, theatre, dance and family performances as well as over 60 film screenings, up to 10 exhibitions and a varied programme of workshops for young people.

The Pound Arts Trust also runs Rural Arts Wiltshire and Rural Arts South Gloucestershire, taking professional live performances to village communities across the two areas.

The Pound is home to Corsham Festival, one of the leading small festivals in the south west, as well as the Global Village Film Festival.

“PICTURE AND FRAME DO NOT COME TOGETHER BY CHANCE THE ONE NEEDS THE OTHER” FORMING THE PERFECT RELATIONSHIP

The Podium Northgate Street Bath BA1 5AL 01225 443446 atriumgallery.com

80 Walcot Street Bath BA1 5BD 01225 482748 theframingworkshop.com

The Pound, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire. Tel: 01249 701628 www.poundarts.org.uk

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS ARTIST PROFILE: NICK CUDWORTH

THE PARIS SUITE Larkhall Fine Art 10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath. Tel: 01225 444480 www.larkhall.com

From 5 March The gallery will be exhibiting the latest graphic works by Sir Peter Blake.

The Paris Suite, following on from the successful Venice Suite of 2009 contains 20 silkscreens printed in colours in an edition of 100. All prints can be seen on the gallery website and should be reserved early.

SMILE Black Swan Arts 2 Bridge Street, Frome, Somerset. Tel: 01373 473980 www.blackswan.org.uk

5 February – 20 March

Is Bath important as a source of material for your work?

When I opened my gallery in Bath just over 12 years ago I was determined that it would not just show landscapes of Bath but would cover the diversity of my pastel and oil paintings. However, living George Street at Dawn every day within this wonderful Georgian city has had a marked effect on my work and now I have developed my own way of producing an ongoing series of works of the many aspects of Bath and its surrounding landscapes. I particularly enjoy capturing the effect of light on Bath’s architecture at dawn and dusk.

On a scale of 1-10 where do you put the importance of colour?

The foundation of my paintings are done in monochrome. I apply colour to this monochrome under-painting in the form of layers of transparent glaze, slowly building up the richness of colour required.

Content, form and colour are equally important and all need to be 10 out of 10 before I can stand back and smile.

Are studies or drawings for a painting a prerequisite for larger work?

All my life as an artist I have kept notes and sketches of ideas that come to mind. I have been known to get up in the night to get them down on paper. The ideas range from my interest in music, still life, portrait and, of course, landscapes. If I decide to proceed with an idea I know that my technique, whether in pastel or oil paint, requires precision. Therefore, the preparation of a master line drawing where all the formal properties are resolved is absolutely critical before beginning a finished work.

Thirty years ago Bath had only four or five galleries. There are now so many more. Do you think it’s a healthy position or a dumbing down of the art world?

Bath now has more galleries than Bristol and Brighton put together. A fact that has given birth to the Bath Galleries Group which launched last November with the Bath Art Affair to great success. I don’t think this is surprising when you consider that Bath is the English Venice although all these galleries range immensely in what and who they show. I take an active part in this group as there is a great spirit of camaraderie within it. I cannot imagine galleries in London pulling together in this way.

Throughout February Nick Cudworth will be exhibiting recent paintings of aspects of Bath architecture that inspired him, in particular at dawn and dusk. See Nick at work in his gallery at 5 London Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 445221 or visit: www.nickcudworth.com

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Smile comprises Freddie Robins works by 13 leading contemporary applied artists linked by the theme of one of the simplest but most emotive words in our language – ‘smile’. The works displayed are in a wide variety of genres and materials. Curated by Mary La TrobeBateman, Smile looks at how craft makers have explored the quintessentially British love of everyday humour. Many of the works suggest memories of childhood and long-ago holidays or handle the comedy in ordinary life and aim to make you smile and feel brighter.

BLACK SWAN ARTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY APPEAL

T

he public sector spending cuts threaten the continued existence of many organisations across the country. In the past, Black Swan Arts in Frome has received £18,000 a year from Somerset County Council and Mendip District Council and in April it will lose all of this support – about 20-25 per cent of its budget.

Chair of Trustees, Luke Wilde, says “We were already running close to empty before this news so it means we cannot continue ‘business as usual’. However, we are seeing this as an opportunity to re-think and accelerate our re-development of Black Swan Arts.”

Frustratingly, this news comes at the end of a year when new trustees and staff have worked hard to breathe new life into Black Swan Arts, with some significant success. Highlights of 2010 included the Open Arts Competition, which attracted over 500 entries of a very high standard, and the Whoops a Daisy collaboration between Ralph Steadman and Keith Newstead, which received over 6,000 visitors. More recently, the fundraising Masked Ball was described by more than one masked reveller as ‘their best night in Frome… ever’.

Black Swan Arts has no intention of closing, but it does now need to fundraise like never before. With 2011 its 25th anniversary, it is launching an appeal to raise £25,000 from local sources over the next 12 months. This money will enable it to maintain the engaging programme of exhibitions, workshops and events that the new team have put in place. The demonstration of local support, from both individuals and businesses, will be critical to its success in getting funds from further afield, such as private foundations and the Arts Council. Says Mr. Wilde, “overall we would like to raise £25,000 from all sources during the 25th anniversary. This will help us secure Black Swan Arts’ long term future for the people of Frome”.

If you feel able to donate to Black Swan Arts’ appeal, please go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charities/blackswan

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS ARTIST PROFILE: CATHERINE BEALE

P

ortrait painter Catherine works from her cottage studio near Bath. Her watercolours and oils of people, animals, homes and landscapes are suffused with colour and light.

Catherine lived for 11 years in tropical South East Asia. There her painting developed in strong tropical light. The eclectic mix of Chinese, Tamil and Malay cultures finds colour in food, clothing and architecture. Since her return to Britain in 2006, Catherine continues to be drawn to saturated colours and dynamic, directional light.

Catherine’s subjects often hold a direct gaze to connect with the viewer. This is true in her oil portrait The Butterfly House which was selected for the Holburne Portrait Prize last October. The painting speaks of the common conflict between painting and family life.

Catherine’s modern influences include the big, bold portraits by Brendan Kelly; fluid, quick watercolour portraits of Sunday Times artist Michael Frith and local hero Peter Blake’s earlier watercolours – he painted from Catherine’s village of Wellow in the 1960s. Modern manipulation of sponged-scraped-washed watercolour in Michael Morgan’s landscapes also inspire her.

Catherine is currently working on a series of commissions and towards a two-woman exhibition at Walcot Street Chapel in Bath in May. Her website shows 15 years of portraits alongside prints of heritage architecture which are stocked by Atrium Gallery, Bath and Singapore and Kuala Lumpur outlets.

For further information visit: www.catherinebeale.com Tel: 07891 409490 / 01225 832156 Viewing by appointment.

PAINTINGS, SCULPTURE AND CERAMICS Bath Fine Art 35 Gay Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 461230 www.bathfineart.com

Throughout February This beautiful and diverse exhibition of contemporary paintings, sculpture and ceramics introduces ceramicist Anna Warchus, whose 3D sculptures reflect on the humour and contradictions of life.

Her work is complimented by paintings from established artists and rising stars – eminently collectable and affordable.

Anna Warchus, Down Under

CLASS WARGAMES PRESENT: GUY DUBORD’S THE GAME OF WAR ICIA Art Space 2 University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath. Tel: 01225 386777

Until 26 February Class Wargames is a collective of artists, academics and activists. Their multimedia exhibition is inspired by The Game of War, the life’s work of French anti-capitalist intellectual, Guy Dubord, begun after the riots of May 1968.

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS MOVING TOGETHER Bath Artists’ Studios The Old Malthouse, Comfortable Place, Upper Bristol Road, Bath. www.bathartistsstudios.co.uk

25 – 26 February A collection of life-size images based on the moving figure. This exhibition will form a continuing collaboration between artists from BAS and Bath Artist Printmakers.

LANDSCAPES Quest Gallery 3 St James Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 444142

22 February – 2 April Paintings from Wendy Dison and Fiona Mcintyre alongside fine silver, ceramics, glass and sculpture from around the world.

CURATOR PROFILE: DAVID SIMON

A

fter a number of years immersed in the London art scene, David Simon has returned to the south west to bring his wealth of expertise to Bath Fine Art.

GALLERY PROFILE: ATRIUM

How did your love of art develop?

Growing up I was surrounded by art and I studied fine art at university.

What aspect of gallery life do you enjoy the most?

When I introduce someone to a work of art that immediately speaks to them.

What have been the highlights of your career so far?

Supporting charitable exhibitions. I am proud to have had my own gallery and to have promoted eminent artists from overseas.

Having experience of the art scene in both London and the south west, what do you see as the main differences?

London is more accepting of the avant-garde. The south west can be surprising for its diversity of art, Bath offers an abundant variety of painters and sculptors.

Which artists do you personally respect and admire?

Caravaggio and Max Ernst. I also admire Endre Roder’s figures and the textural seascapes of Neil Pinkett, whose work can be seen at Bath Fine Art. What advice would you give anyone looking to start collecting art?

Take time to discover what you truly appreciate. Have fun exploring galleries. Look for quality and consistency.

Does Bath have potential to become a player on the global art scene?

Bath’s contemporary art scene has been growing steadily in an exciting way. I believe Bath is a major competitor to the London art scene with the potential to become one of the world centres for art and I have great expectations for its future.

BathFineArt contemporary paintings, sculpture and ceramics 35 Gay Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 461 230 www.bathfineart.com

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L

ocated in the centre of Bath for over 12 years the Atrium Gallery offers a wide selection of affordable originals, sculpture, and open and limited edition prints on paper and canvas, all by some of the UK’s leading contemporary artists. The gallery also houses the Art of Bath collection, Bath’s largest and most comprehensive range of images of the city. With a personal service that can only come from a family-run business, the Atrium Gallery has turned creating an art collection into an enjoyable experience.

What many people do not realise is that the Lady Margaret gallery’s partnership business is the multi-award winning Framing Workshop in Walcot Street which employs four Fine Art Trade Guild Commended Framers. The workshop offers a full bespoke framing service, including water and oil gilding, staining and liming and paint finishes. They have the skills and creativity to frame pretty much anything.

Atrium gallery, The podium, Bath. Tel: 01225 443446 www.atriumgallery.com The Framing Workshop, 80 Walcot Street, Bath. Tel: 01224 482748 www.theframingworkshop.com

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS LESS THAN A YEAR FOR BATH ARTISTS’ STUDIOS

B

ath Artists’ Studios (BAS) have occupied their current premises at The Old Malthouse for the past seven years, but their lease expires in December 2011, leaving their future in jeopardy.

BAS is looking to raise over £1million, to purchase the site from the current owner. No mean feat in the current economic climate.

A thriving creative hub, BAS is home to 50 artists and hosts a full schedule of art classes and a year-round programme of events and exhibitions in its large gallery space. It also holds monthly talks on a wide range of artistic and cultural topics.

David Cobley, the Studios’ founder said: “We are very happy here and would love to be able to stay. We have plans to expand our classes and gallery programme and would like to develop the premises, possibly adding new workspaces and a thriving café.”

BAS is in the process of putting plans together and organising fundraising events and exhibitions throughout the year, and is appealing to Bathonians for their support and involvement in creating a thriving art centre for the city. For further information contact Bath Artists’ Studios, The Old Malthouse, Comfortable Place, Upper Bristol Road, Bath. Tel: 01225 482 480 or visit: www.bathartistsstudios.co.uk

LINES OF ENQUIRY 7 ICIA Art Space 1 University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath. Tel: 01225 386777

16 February – 16 March The seventh in a series showing work by graduates of the BA Fine Art Drawing School at Swindon College’s School of Art and Design.

TIME AND SPACE GALLERY

Time and Space Gallery The Avenue, Combe Down, Bath. Tel: 01225 830301

Open daily This small friendly gallery on the edge of Bath specialises in new affordable art from emerging talents in the area. Currently on show are paintings, fine crafted silver jewellery and imaginative recycled work.

Jackie Wright, Lotus Flower

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS EXHIBITION PREVIEW: 50/50 – WORKING IN PARALLEL

T

extile artist Matthew Harris and mosaic artist Cleo Mussi, who are based in Stroud, have lived and worked side by side in various studios since 1987. Both graduated from the Textile Department of Goldsmiths College in London 24 years ago. This joint show at Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery celebrates the way in which their working practices have developed and matured, with an obsessive emphasis on ‘making and materials’.

50/50 is their first joint exhibition, which takes as its theme a recent journey they took with their daughters to Japan. It explores ideas and imagery gleaned from two weeks spent in the temples and gardens of Kyoto, the art galleries and architecture of Tokyo, and further afield, the Naoshima Inland Sea. As a result of delays caused by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, their trip was extended by two weeks. This enabled them to experience daily life in a small town on Kyushu where they explored the city of Nagasaki and the Hamada ceramic district, where the influential British ceramicist Bernard Leach studied.

50/50 aims to show the work of two individuals working in parallel, yet independently, on a theme. The work on initial viewing may appear to have little in common. However their work shares a language that involves the repetitive construction of complex images from pieces of cloth, paper and reclaimed ceramic.

The process of fragmenting materials, reconstruction and echoed imagery is their common ground.

Harris and Mussi’s 50/50: Working in Parallel exhibition runs from the 12 February – 3 April at the Victoria Art Gallery, Pulteney Bridge, Bath. For further information tel: 01225 477233.

THEBATHMAGAZINE We deliver to over 20,000 addresses every month. But if you live outside our distribution area or would like us to send a copy to friends or family then we are able to offer a mailing service for only £15.00 (6 issues) or £25.00 Euro zone; £30.00 (12 issues) or £50.00 Euro zone World Zone 1 £95.00 World Zone 2 £120.00 To subscribe just send a cheque payable to MC Publishing Ltd 2 Princes Buildings, Bath BA1 2ED or Telephone 01225 424 499 for card payment

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GASTROguide

Love is in the air

LEARN TO

use your loaf

◆ The thing about Valentine’s Day is, you’re damned if you do (‘that soppy old nonsense’) and you’re damned if you don’t (‘what, not even a card or flowers?’).

If you are minded to treat your loved one, we’ve got a couple of suggestions.

The Bath Priory, a firm favourite with local couples who like to enjoy dinner followed by a night at the hotel, has a series of romantically themed events in February. On Thursday 10 February Justin Llewellyn of the Taittinger Champagne house is hosting an evening which begins, fittingly, with champagne and canapés, followed by a six course menu all with matched Champagnes.

This luxurious evening is £150 per person.

Champagne tasting at the Priory

Novice baker Peter Harvey joined a one-day bread making class at Bertinet’s Cookery School in Bath, with successful results

❝

M

y wife gave me a wonderful present – a one-day class in bread making at the Bertinet Kitchen’s Cookery School here in the centre of Bath. And it was brilliant. OK, my spouse’s generous gift might have had something to do with my recent tentative efforts a couple of weeks earlier to move from shop-bought cotton wool to homely wholemeal. The result had been construction-standard loaves.

Monsieur Bertinet is the epitomy of Gallic culinary good sense and his class distilled traditional French baking techniques and wisdom that we seem to have lost along the way. A tall, friendly and (fortunately for me) patient Breton, Richard Bertinet is also author of key baking tomes, Dough and Crust, as well as a respected allround chef.

In my ignorance, I had not realised we had such a star in our midst in Bath. That was confirmed by the distance many of the students had trekked to make it to the course. They came from as far afield as St Albans, London and Frankfurt. Some were already experienced, some were beginners, like me.

We tackled focaccia, white loaves, fougasse and bread sticks. Relatively safe training ground for the novice bread maker, but the key learning was all in seeing and practicing the techniques first hand.

After a “how to” masterclass by Monsieur B for each recipe, we divided up into pairs to work the dough and prepare for baking. It helped to have someone to talk it through when it wasn’t going quite as slickly as the demonstration, and we had plenty of clear guidance from M.B and his assistants.

What was particularly noticeable to me as a novice was the: ● Precision in using ingredients: he weighs, rather than measures, the water and is very careful to use a minimum of flour to dust surfaces before, and during, the working of the dough. On reflection, in my pre-course attempts I must have added a lot

38 THEBATHMAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2011

more flour to my mix in this way. ● Emphasis on mastering the dough, understanding it has a top to it and a deft slam dunk (“lift, slap and fold”) trick for working the dough to lighten it (contrasting with other experts’ suggestions of pummelling and stretching it away from you) and less emphasis on knocking it back. ● Use of a small plastic scraper, a bit larger than a credit card, which made moving and handling the dough so much easier. Less of a sticky fight to escape the dough ball.

The day ran from 10am and by 3pm we had the various creations in the ovens. Our labours over, tables were brought out to share a late lunch of homemade rillettes, tapenade, salads, meat and cheese – and, the piece de resistance, our baking efforts. Naturally, they tasted exceptional.

I came away inspired and laden with produce.

My family willingly devoured it with cries of “When are you going to bake some more focaccia, Dad?” (a marked contrast to the response to my previous efforts!). And I’m pleased to say that bitten by the baking bug, I have baked more focaccia (amongst other breads). The essence of this course seems to be to reconnect us with baking wisdom and long-used techniques that we seem to have lost in the frenzy of modern living. So my recommendation is, use your loaf and take a course with M Bertinet – it’s a Bath must-do. ■ For more information on Bertinet’s bread making classes and bakery shop, visit: http://www.thebertinetkitchen.com/ Bertinet

There is more Champagne tasting on Saturday 12 February from 5pm with head sommelier Victor Amaro.

The Priory’s head chef Sam Moody has created an eight-course Tasting Menu for Valentine’s, available on Saturday 12 February through to lunch on Monday 14 February. This will be £150 a head, or £90 without wine.

For overnight guests, The Bath Priory offers a Romance Package which includes rose petals and candles in the room, two half bottles of Champagne, flowers and chocolates, for £120.

❞

Tel: 01225 331922 or email: mail@thebathpriory.co.uk

◆ For lovers who want something with a soft centre but who might turn their noses up at chocolate, a gift box containing artisan cheeses from www.pongcheese.co.uk might be just the way to win their heart.

The Heart Shaped Gift Box selection of Neufchatel, Godminster Vintage and a white heart goats cheese with a jar of Godminster beetroot and apple chutney, is delivered to the door for £25.95.

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Reservations: 01249 713399 Guyers House Hotel & Restaurant, Pickwick, Corsham Wiltshire SN13 0PS E: enquiries@guyershouse.com

W: www.guyershouse.com (Guyers House, at Corsham, is between Bath and Chippenham and is signed directly off the A4 opposite the B3109 Bradford on Avon turning)

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Guyers House Hotel & Restaurant is near Lacock and Biddestone and a lovely venue for weddings, parties or celebrations.

37 pretty ensuite bedrooms.

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CITYappetite

Café Lucca The Loft, Bartlett Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 335380

The stylish interior of Café Lucca at The Loft

T

he team at The Bath Magazine Towers have been fans of The Loft since its opening a few months ago, and have made a habit of meeting friends for coffee and slices of delicious homemade cake at the slightest excuse.

For those who haven’t discovered the delights of The Loft, you’ve got a treat in store. Three very stylish businesses have teamed up to take over the entire ground floor on the corner of Bartlett Street, which according to one’s age, was once the House of Bath, the antiques centre or Evans & Owen department store.

Walking into The Loft these days is like stepping into an understated lifestyle boutique in New York. Obi and Moo has the front of the store, selling luxurious furniture and home accessories. Be tempted by the scented candles, etched wine glasses and the vases as you walk through to the open plan café area.

On the way it’s worth a detour to have a riffle through the rails of Blue, the women’s wear shop that has moved up from Milsom Street.

But our destination is generally Café Lucca, the latest outpost of the Richard Fenton empire, which includes the Firehouse Rotisserie and Hudsons. The neat black-clad staff work efficiently behind a wide counter which is laid out with sumptuous and adventurous looking salads, plump cakes under glass and a still life arrangement of a vase of fresh tulips and a bowl of fresh figs, red onions and tomatoes.

A little word of warning. Make a little effort in the dress department before you venture forth, as The Loft clientele are generally well turned out favouring good quality knitwear, linen, chunky designer jewellery and neat haircuts. You wouldn’t want to be sitting here on a bad hair day or feeling too shabby.

There is enough room between the tables at Café Lucca to be able to share the details of your divorce settlement without everyone else hearing.

For a bargain lunch we recommend the organic soup of the day (£4.50) which comes with warm focaccio and is perfect for a pick-me-up on a chilly day.

The rest of the savoury menu consists of salads, bruschetta(£6.95) and panini (£6.95). We’ve tried the bruschetta, which are as artfully arranged on the plates as the displays in The Loft shop windows. There is a warm goats’ cheese platter accompanied by perfectly pink, ripe figs, or a roast beef version with creamy horseradish and salad. A mixed salad platter (also £6.95) comprises a selection from the large, inviting bowls on the counter. We liked the look of one we saw recently consisting of butternut squash, walnut and blue cheese.

Every time we have visited the service has been efficient and friendly and the food always looks as if it’s just been made for guests who are about to arrive. The coffee’s excellent and wine by the glass (£3.25) goes down well.

Whatever you do, don’t hold back on trying the cakes. They really are as good as they look and at £2.50 a slice they’re an entirely justifiable treat. ■ GMc 42 THEBATHMAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2011

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OUTandABOUT

In the shadows of

Andrew Swift follows three ancient tracks as he heads for the hills beyond Calne

T

his month’s walk heads for the high hills. Smallgrain Picnic Area lies three miles south-west of Calne (SU019671) and is the ideal starting point for a brisk winter walk along one of the most spectacular stretches of the Marlborough Downs. Not only are the views – on a clear day – superb; the walk follows three historic tracks – the Wansdyke, the Old Bath Road and the Roman road from Londinium to Aquae Sulis.

Having parked the car at Smallgrain, walk up a short flight of steps to the picnic area. Follow the path up to another flight of steps leading to a sunken track and turn right. This is the Roman Road, which, after the Romans left, was used to form part of the Wansdyke.

As you climb, views open up to the north, with the slopes below scooped out into a natural amphitheatre.

After 400 metres, at the entrance to Morgan’s Hill Nature Reserve, the Roman Road and the Wansdyke part company (SU022672). The Roman Road swings left to avoid the hill; we, however, will continue along the Wansdyke, which continues straight on uphill through a gate.

The climb, over uneven ground, is steep and somewhat muddy, but, as the ground starts to level out, the scale of the Wansdyke becomes apparent. The origins of this defensive earthwork are unclear, but it is thought to have been built in the 5th or 6th centuries to mark a territorial boundary.

Although it runs from the south of Bristol to Savernake Forest in Wiltshire, skirting the southern edge of Bath, much of it has disappeared. The few remnants of it around Bath give no hint that earthworks as mighty as these lie elsewhere along its course.

Had more of it survived, it would probably be as celebrated as Hadrian’s Wall; we can only be grateful that enough of it is left to give an idea what a colossal civil engineering project it must have been.

Although you have the option of walking in the ditch or on the ramparts, you will need to drop down into the ditch to go through the first of several gates. A little further on, a track

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crosses the ditch on an embankment (SU032669), but we carry straight on as the Wansdyke starts to run downhill.

After going through another gate, the Wansdyke curves right and left along the contours, creating a superbly impressive vista that seems to have been designed to prompt comparison with Hadrian’s Wall.

it was in remote spots such as ❝ this that highwaymen lay in wait

,

hiding behind convenient clumps of trees to emerge, pistols at the ready, as a coach drew near

❞

After you pass through yet another gate, the Wansdyke swings sharply right and starts to climb again, before dropping down to another gate. A few metres further on, a lane, bordered by trees, crosses the Wansdyke (SU040666). This is the Old Bath Road, which slowly fell into disuse after 1745 when a new road through Calne was opened. A few years later, another road to Bath was opened through Devizes. This is the road you can see to the south.

Leaving the Wansdyke to pursue its course south-easterly across the downs, turn left along the Old Bath Road. After rounding a bend, the trees end and the road stretches straight before you, running gently downhill. The state of the road today is similar to what it would have been when Beau Nash and the rich visitors he attracted to Bath came this way three centuries ago. It was in remote spots such as this that highwaymen lay in wait, hiding behind convenient clumps of trees to emerge, pistols at the ready, as a coach drew near.

After 1250 metres, we leave the Old Bath Road, turning left

Above: the winter sunshine and deep shade accentuate the ridges, curves and ditches created by engineers and workmen on the Wansdyke centuries ago

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OUTandABOUT

Above, left to right: the rough track that was once the main Bath road, along the Wansdyke trail, and the view looking northwards

through a gap beside a pair of five-bar metal gates (SU051671).

Head towards a distant stand of beech trees, keeping the fence on your left. The monument ahead was commissioned by Lord Lansdowne in 1845 to commemorate his ancestor, Sir William Petty.

After passing the trees, a waymarked byway crosses the path (SU048680). This is the Roman Road, along which you turn left to head back to the starting point.

As you walk along, look back at the slopes below the monument, scooped out in ridges, and spectacular when the low winter sun catches them at the right angle. Look out also for tumuli in the field on the left, marking the graves of those who lived here long before the Romans.

As you pass another stand of trees on the left, the Roman road slowly climbs before dropping away to curve round the slopes of

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Morgan’s Hill and rejoin the Wansdyke, down which you head to get back to the starting point.

Level of challenge: Easy, although muddy in parts with some uneven ground. No stiles. ■

FURTHER INFORMATION ■

Length of walk: 5 miles

■

Approximate time: 2 - 2½ hours

■

Map: OS Explorer 157

■

From Bath, head east along the A4 to Calne. Continue for 1½ miles. Take a right turn, signposted Bishop’s Cannings.

The picnic area is 1½ miles along on the left

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CITYbusiness

Unique venues woo conference market

T

ourism is vital to Bath, bringing millions to the local economy and supporting in excess of 8,000 jobs.

A new venture is taking the city’s historic buildings and unusual venues out to a new audience, as they bid to win a share of the lucrative conference and trade market.

Unique Venues of Bath, which includes the Theatre Royal, Bath Rugby and the Roman Baths, are exhibiting together at the GWE Business West Swindon Business Show at STEAM, on Thursday 10 February.

Katie Sandercock from Thermae Bath Spa, one of the members of the new partnership, said: “Already we are working with many businesses in Swindon, Wiltshire and the M4 corridor and we look forward to strengthening these partnerships.”

Unique Venues has also set up a website to publicise the city’s hospitality, visit: Members of Unique Venues of Bath prepare to take the city’s www.uniquevenuesofbath.co.uk hospitality out to a new, wider audience

Bath Olivers aim to become new currency

Awards recognise role of business in the community

Bath is to follow in the footsteps of the towns of Totnes in Devon and Lewes in Sussex as pioneers of a local alternative currency.

The Bath Oliver, whose design is underway, will be based around Bath LETS which has been in operation for over 20 years. LETS provides a system of exchanging goods and services within the local area with credits and debits being made by an Olivers cheque though a central account. The idea of an alternative payment scheme is to support local people.

The launch of the paper currency means that businesses and individuals will be able to pay for goods and services without becoming LETS members.

Bath Olivers are to be launched into the local economy on 21 March by organisers Bath LETS and Bath Transition, who are cooking up plans for a launch party with a difference.

For anyone wondering what a Bath Oliver is worth, the current exchange rate puts its value at around 50p against the traditional £1.

If you feel your business is a winner, now is the time to enter the Bath & North East Somerset Council Chairman’s Business Awards.

The annual awards recognise businesses which have made a contribution to the local community. The Chairman, Councillor Sarah Beavan, will make two awards this year, one to a non-profit making organisation, and the other to a profit-making business.

Nominations can be found on the Bath & North East Somerset Council website: www.bathnes.gov.uk and the deadline for nominations is Friday 18 February.

Sarah Bevan said: “Businesses that not only thrive themselves, but engage with the local community are very precious to Bath &North East Somerset Council. I am proud to acknowledge both this and continuing excellence through these awards.”

Every business nominated for an award will be presented with a certificate in recognition of their contribution to community life.

The winners will be given £250 each towards a charity of their choice presented by the Chairman at the Awards Ceremony on the 22 March.

Businesses invited to stump up to sponsor cricket club

After more than 150 years of refusing sponsorship for players to carry advertising on their shirts, the committee at Bath Cricket Club has bowed to pressure to allow the seven teams to be commercially branded.

Rather than simply accept an offer for a single sponsor, the club is inviting businesses to put up £150 and enter the prize draw to win the right to see their name on the cricket teams’ kit. The idea behind it is to allow small businesses to compete equally against larger organisations.

The campaign is being led by ex-Somerset batsman Robin Lett who welcomes enquiries from businesses by email: robin.lett@bathcricket.com. The deadline is 21 March and the draw is on 1 April.

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News in brief

■ Congratulations to Holly Glover who has

been promoted to become general manager at Bath Racecourse. She replaces Jo Miller who has been made group commercial manager.

Holly, 27, joined Northern Racing in 2005 as commercial manager at Hereford Racecourse.

She said: “With 2011 being Bath’s bicentenary, it’s also a really exciting year to be part of. I’m looking forward to an exciting racing season as well as continuing to grow our non-raceday business.”

■ Holly has been joined by 20-year-old April

Kendall, who has been appointed event sales executive at Bath Racecourse. April completed her A-levels at Norton Hill School and since then has worked in retail.

After receiving the all-clear for cancer in 2009 she now dedicates a large amount of time fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust and has recently been a runner up in The Bath Chronicle Young Person of the Year for running 2010’s Bath Half Marathon. April said “My first project is the annual February Wedding Fayre which I am really looking forward to.”

■ Gemma Walters, director of Gemma Walters

Wealth Management Ltd and member of the St. James’s Place Partnership, has now moved to new premises in Gay Street. Gemma’s clients benefit from a wide range of wealth management solutions, ranging from pension and inheritance tax planning to investment management from many of the top fund management teams. Contact: 01225 480426 or email: gemma.walters@sjpp.co.uk.

■ Alan Seward Financial Services, of Queen

Square, Bath, has been nominated Best Small Adviser at the Professional Advisor Awards, which recognise standards and service in the Independent Financial Advice industry. Alan and his team are down to the last eight and will discover their fate at an awards ceremony at the Hyde Park Hilton this month.

■ Staff at BMI Bath Clinic have been raising

funds and generating awareness for the Beating Bowel Cancer’s Be Loud Be Clear campaign. Activities included wearing shorts with prosthetic bottoms to help raise awareness and a cake sale.

■ Smart Training and Recruitment in Midford

Road is hosting a 24-hour Wii marathon to raise funds for Julian House, which helps the homeless, and for Action for Children which works with vulnerable youngsters. Smart’s clients, apprentices and supporters are being invited to book in for a stint on the Wii, starting on Thursday 10 February, by emailing lucy.hedges@smarttar.co.uk PICTURE: Andrew Linnett

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LEGALmatters

A DVERTOR IA L FEATURE

You can’t take it with you...

The BBC are currently broadcasting a television series about Wills, highlighting the problems that can arise when someone dies without leaving a Will or prepares a Will without taking proper legal advice.

T

his programme raises some very pertinent issues. In our changing society, where people no longer always stay married to the same person all their lives, and family trees become ever more complex; the statutory rules governing the distribution of estates where there is no Will can be woefully inadequate.

The programme draws on a number of not uncommon family set-ups including; an unmarried couple who have been together many years, a woman in her second marriage who has children from her previous relationship and a family with five daughters who are considering an unequal distribution of their assets between their children.

By bringing the families together to discuss their Wills, the programme demonstrates the potential for serious family friction if these issues are not properly addressed.

The Unmarried Couple If someone dies without leaving a Will, their assets will be divided in accordance with statutory guidelines, known as the ‘intestacy rules’. These rules determine who should inherit the deceased’s assets, and in what shares.

These rules, in spite of being updated recently, remain old-fashioned and do not make any provision at all for unmarried couples. People may be surprised to learn that if they die without leaving a Will, their partner will not inherit any of their assets at all.

This could potentially mean that the children of the person who has died inherit nothing at all from their parent’s estate; and instead all the assets pass to the spouse, and then on to his/her family.

Again, this is often not what people want, especially where they have remarried later in life. This can also cause a great deal of division between the surviving spouse and the step-children at what is already a very difficult time.

By preparing a professionally drafted Will it is possible for someone to take care of both a surviving spouse, and their children. For example, a spouse can be given the right to live in the family home for as long as they need to, whilst making sure that the value of the home ultimately passes to the children.

Appointing Trustees Where a beneficiary is under 18 they cannot hold any assets in their own name, they are instead looked after by two legal representatives known as ‘trustees’. It is up to the trustees to decide how the funds should be invested, and how they should be spent on behalf of the children.

Every parent would want the opportunity to decide who these people should be, and a Will is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Inheritance Tax Although there is no time to consider tax planning in detail here, it is worth noting that a Will may also be used to take account of the current Inheritance Tax rules and mitigate the ultimate tax liability.

The Unequal Division Between Children In most cases, parents want to divide their assets equally between their children.

However, this may not always be appropriate.

As before, the intestacy rules provide no flexibility in relation to the distribution of assets.

Where no spouse has survived, and the children are therefore inheriting the estate, the assets are divided equally between all of them.

It may be however that one of the children has received lots of financial support during their parents’ lifetime, and this needs to be rebalanced on their death.

Instead the assets will be divided equally between the children of the person who has died. If they do not have any children, their assets will pass to their other relatives in a strict statutory order.

A Will can be used to ensure that any lifetime loans or gifts made to children are reflected in the ultimate distribution of the estate. As was shown in the BBC programme, if everyone understands the rationale behind this decision, an unequal distribution need not cause any family tension.

This is not the outcome that most people would want; and they would instead want to ensure that their long-term partner is properly provided for after their death. The only way to make sure that this happens is to prepare a properly drafted Will.

In addition to these specific circumstances, there are a number of issues that would be relevant to any family with children who are under 18 years old. For example:-

As can be seen from the brief examples given in this article, there are many reasons to prepare a Will, and ensure your family are taken care of.

If you are affected by these or similar issues and you would like to discuss a matter in more detail, please contact one of our experts by telephone on 01225 485700 or via email at wills@mowbraywoodwards.co.uk.

Appointing Legal Guardians The Second Marriage The intestacy rules similarly may not provide the best outcome for a married couple who have children from a previous relationship.

Where someone is survived by their spouse, and they do not leave a Will, at least the first £250,000 of their estate is passed to their spouse. For many people this will constitute most, if not all, of their assets.

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A Will can be used to confirm who should look after children if both parents die before they reach 18. This is a hugely significant decision, and one that no parent would want to leave to chance.

If no wishes for the children are stated, they may end up living with a relative that the parents would not have chosen, and who may not share their values and hopes for the children’s upbringing.

Sarah Naismith, Solicitor

3 Queen Square Bath, BA1 2HG www.mowbraywoodwards.co.uk FEBRUARY 2011

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BUSINESSmatters

ADV ERT OR I AL F EATURE

UK GAAP to IFRS - The San Andreas Fault of Financial Reporting?

The residents of California know there is a big earthquake coming; they do after all live along the San Andreas fault. They know it will cause widespread chaos and confusion and potentially change the landscape for years to come. What they don’t know is when it is going to strike.

I

n the long mooted change from UK GAAP (‘Generally Accepted Accounting Practice’) to IFRS (‘International Financial Reporting Standards’), accountants have been living with their own version of the San Andreas for a number of years - only since November, we now know when the earthquake will strike – 1 July 2013.

Re as o ns f o r th e ch a ng e In our modern, cross border world, it is clearly desirable that the accounts of similar companies in different countries be prepared on as consistent a basis as possible. Investment decisions should after all be made on the basis of reliable, consistent and comparable information rather than differences in the financial reporting requirements of different countries.

For that reason, UK companies will from 1 July 2013 be required to prepare their annual accounts not under its own accounting requirements and Financial Reporting Standards, but under the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards.

As well as changing the financial reporting landscape for years to come, it is likely there will also be a great deal of chaos and confusion for the unprepared.

Ti m eta b l e The ASB (‘Accounting Standards Board’ – the body in charge of overseeing financial reporting in the UK) has been pursuing an agenda of closer convergence between UK GAAP and IFRS for a number of years, and has been doing so in a piecemeal, standard by standard basis. They have finally bitten the bullet, and decreed that all UK accounts must be prepared in accordance with IFRS for accounting periods starting on or after 1 July 2013 (in practice, most years ending 30 June 2014 onwards). The final standards are scheduled to be published in the summer of 2011 giving most companies approximately an 18 month implementation period.

T hr e e t i e r r e p or t i n g s t r uc t u r e Under UK GAAP, there is effectively a twotier reporting structure. Larger companies report under full UK GAAP, whereas smaller entities can opt to report under the FRSSE (‘Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities’). This gives small companies the option to opt out of preparing ‘full disclosure’ accounts and can significantly reduce their financial reporting requirements.

The change to IFRS accounting will introduce a three-tier reporting structure, which can be summarised as follows:

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Ti er

S i z e a nd N a t u r e o f C o m p a ny

R e po r t i ng S t r u c t u r e

1

Large companies with public accountability

Full IFRS

2

Companies without public accountability & Small, publically accountable entities

IFRS for SMEs (‘International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Mid-sized Entities)

3

Small companies with no public accountability

FRSSE

Companies with public accountability will usually be listed companies. Tier 1 and 2 subsidiary companies with no public accountability will also be able to take advantage of reduced disclosures It is anticipated therefore that small, unlisted companies will be able to continue preparing their accounts under the FRSSE as before. For larger organisations, the upheaval in their financial reporting structures must not be underestimated, and the planning in conjunction with their accountants, auditors and bankers needs to start now.

UK GAAP a nd I FRS di ff er ences There are a number of potentially key differences between accounts prepared under UK GAAP and IFRS, many of which are beyond the scope of this article. A number of the more significant changes can however be highlighted.

• Revaluation of Fixed Assets: Under FRS 15, UK companies have previously had the option to revalue tangible fixed assets, such as property or plant and equipment. This will not be permitted under IFRS for SMEs. • Revaluation of Investment Properties: Investment properties revaluations will be shown in the P&L of the reporting company, rather than going straight to reserves.

• Capitalisation of Development Costs: SSAP 13 previously allowed the capitalisation of development costs under certain circumstances. Once again, this will not be permitted under the IFRS for SMEs. • Capitalisation of Finance and Borrowing Costs: UK companies have had up to now the option to capitalise finance costs for assets in the course of construction. This option is not afforded to companies applying IFRS for SMEs. • Prior Year Restatements: currently, companies are required to restate prior year figures if there has been a ‘fundamental error’ in the preparation of those accounts. IFRS for SMEs requires restatement in the event of a ‘material’ error, a much lower threshold

which it is anticipated will lead to many more restatements.

Other areas where there are likely to be significant changes in a company’s accounts are in the calculation of deferred tax, as well as in the required layout for financial statement presentation.

Richardson Swift can help you prepare your company for the change to IFRS by working with you to discuss your business, your requirements and your accounts. The change from UK GAAP to IFRS is big, but with timely planning and preparation can be easily managed.

After all, the residents of California know that despite living on the site of a potentially huge earthquake, their buildings and their infrastructure have been designed in such a way as to withstand its worst effects. They have invested in the preparation, and are ready for the earthquake. You can be too.

Jim Campbell ACA

www.richardsonswift.co.uk 11 Laura Place, Bath BA2 4BL 01225 325 580

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Bybrook House

Avon Care Homes Ltd

Middle Hill, Box Near Bath, Wiltshire

Residential, Nursing & Respite

Care is offered in this elegant country house with 7 acres of gardens, in the beautiful Bybrook Valley.

Tel: 01225 743672 www.bybrookhouse.co.uk

Avon Care Homes Ltd

Residential, Nursing & Respite Catering for older people seeking residential nursing care in their retirement in a relaxed, friendly and warm environment.

Sutton Veny House Sutton Veny Warminster,Wiltshire

Sutton Veny House is set in a wonderfully rural location, with outstanding beauty and breathtaking surroundings.

For more information please contact the matron Tricia Gronow

Tel: 01985 840224 www.suttonveny.co.uk

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FAMILYfun FAMILY THEATRE he Theatre Royal Bath hosts its second Family Theatre Festival from Saturday 19 February – Sunday 6 March and once again it will show a thrilling range of productions for family audiences. Highlights include:

T

The Big Day In, Sunday 20 February, 11am – 4.30pm A day of free events including tours of the auditoria led by The Natural Theatre’s theatrical knight, Sir Nempnett Thrubwell; a Strictly-inspired day of dance; a market specialising in services and products for children; and The Pink Bus will be parked up in the Sawclose Car Park offering all sorts of surprises.

Plastic Fantastic, Tuesday 22 – Wednesday 23 February, Tuesday, 3pm; Wednesday, 11.30am & 3pm Mimirichi, who played the egg in 2008, return with a completely new show transforming a pile of everyday waste into magical objects before your very eyes.

Fast-paced physical comedy, hilarious slapstick and buckets of mayhem, nothing compares to the pure joy that is Mimirichi.

The Nutcracker, Tuesday 22 – Sunday 27 February, Tuesday – Saturday, 7.30pm; matinees: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 2.30pm and Sunday, 2pm The undoubted highlight of this year’s Family Theatre Festival will be this glorious revival of the Theatre Royal’s hugely acclaimed production of The Nutcracker over half-term week. A sell-out success in 2008, this visual extravaganza is inspired by Hoffmann’s surreal fantasy. Magical, musical and hilarious.

Animal Alphaboat, Thursday 24 – Friday 25 February, Thursday, 11.30am & 3pm; Friday, 3pm

Mimirichi present Plastic Fantastic as part of the Theatre Royal Bath’s Family Theatre Festival

Events and Activities MAPPING MAD The Building of Bath Collection, The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, Paragon, Bath.

Tel: 01225 333895

Treasure Map Trail, Saturday 19 – Sunday 27 February, 10.30am – 5pm Follow the clues on a map of the museum to find the hidden treasure.

The Structure Challenge, Wednesday 23 February, 2pm – 4pm Your materials are newspaper, Sellotape, nuts and bolts. Your challenge is to build a structure that reaches the gallery of the museum or even the ceiling.

DISCOVER WILDLIFE Prior Park Landscape Gardens, Bath. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Get Outdoors and Discover, Saturday 19 – Sunday 27 February, 11am – 4pm A fun half term trail discovering parts of the garden from a very unusual angle. £1 per trail.

John Hegley is one the nation’s best-loved poets who enchants both children and adults with his poetic genius and silliness.

This new interactive children’s show includes clapping games, songs, animal poems and games with words.

Bird Box Crafting with the RSPB, Wednesday 23 February, 11.30am – 2.30pm

Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath.

Box office tel: 01225 448844/823409 www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Make your own bird box and don’t forget to bring your binoculars to spot the birdlife in Prior Park.

Cost: £10.

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EAST ASIAN ACTIVITIES Museum of East Asian Art, 12 Bennett Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 464 640 www.meaa.org.uk

Lunar New Year Extravaganza, Sunday 6 February, 11.30am – 4pm The MEAA celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with entertainment at the museum and the Assembly Rooms including dance and opera performances, martial arts demonstrations, arts and crafts, tea tasting, face painting, a fancy dress competition, Lion Dance and much more.

Pottery Workshop, Wednesday 23 February, 2pm – 4pm Be inspired by the museum’s collection, from tea bowls to imperial dishes, and make your own pot to take home. Cost: £5, please book in advance.

Lantern Making Workshop, Thursday 24 February, 2pm – 4pm Celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival by making your own elaborate Chinese-style lanterns to take home. Free with admission, please book in advance.

Zodiac Origami Workshop, Friday 25 February, 2pm – 4pm Drop in and take part in an origami workshop to make your own zodiac animals.

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FAMILYfun DANCE AND MUSIC

FLORAL FUN

Sessions held in Bathford Parish Hall, Bathford. For further information or to book a place, contact Amy on tel: 01225 852889 or email: amy@toddlerworkshop.co.uk

No.1 Royal Crescent, Bath.

Tel: 01225 428126

Toddler Workshop, Tuesdays, 9.30am – 10.30am or 10.45am – 11.45am; Thursdays, 9.30am – 10.30am A lively medley of dance, drama, music and movement for toddlers and pre-school children aged 18 months+. Imaginative sessions designed to encourage and develop children’s creativity, language and expression. Unusual themes, interesting props, fun songs and music bring stories to life.

YOUNG @ ART CUB Victoria Art Gallery, Bath. Cost: £3.75 per child. Book on tel: 01225 477244.

Bits and Pieces, Thursday 23 February, 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm

HALF-TERM ideas

Fabulous Flowers Trail, Saturday 19 – Sunday 27 February, 10.30am – 5pm Follow a trail around the house to find out what flowers meant to the Georgians.

Cut Flowers, Friday 25 February, 11am – 1pm Create flower portraits by using paper cuttings.

TRAILS AND CRAFTS Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

Wildlife of the Forest, Tuesday 22 – Thursday 24 February Discover native woodland wildlife on a family activity trail, make a feeder and take part in wildlife crafts.

Explore the special exhibition and create a collage using a variety of materials. For three to seven year-olds.

DROP IN ACTIVITIES

Mosaic Madness, Friday 24 February, 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm

Mathematical Romans, Monday 21 – Friday 25 February, 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm

Explore the mosaic exhibition and go mosaic crazy. For six to 11 year-olds.

Investigate Roman measurements and make a Roman ruler.

Roman Baths, Bath. www.romanbaths.co.uk

Escape the rain and have heaps of explosive and intergalactic fun in halfterm at Explore At-Bristol.

Bang and Boom Show Bangs, blasts, flames and fizzes.

Feel the Force Explore forces and friction.

Planetarium shows: Winter Night Sky Discover dusty planets, super stars and amazing constellations.

Little Stars, weekends, 2pm Get star struck with At-Bristol’s specially designed under 5’s Planetarium.

Explore At-Bristol, Harbourside, Bristol.

Tel: 0845 345 1235 www.at-bristol.org.uk

5 Day Half Term Workshop

Saturday 19th March

21st - 25th February

Skin care, Nail care, Make-up

Bailbrook House Hotel

Poise, posture

One Day Workshop

Walking the runway Skin care, Nail care, Hair care

Social and dining skills 14 - 18 years

Make-up Poise, posture

Half Day Workshop

Walking the runway

Saturday 9th April

Social dance Voice coaching Flower arranging Social and dining skills 14-18 years

Poise, posture Walking the runway Social and dining skills 11-13 years 14-18 years

For more information and to reserve a place visit

For more information and to reserve a place visit

www.GlamSchool.com

www.GlamSchool.com

Tel 01747 855882

Tel 01747 855882

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Curtain Up Theatre School presents

Guys & Dolls Junior A part of

THE BROADWAY JUNIOR COLLECTION TM Based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows

7th – 9th April 2011

The Wroughton Theatre, King Edward’s School Bath Tickets available from Bath Box Office 01225 463362

01761 239185 • www.curtainup.biz

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CITYeducation

An inspector called Congratulations to staff and pupils at Monkton Senior School who have recently achieved glowing reports from Oftsed and the ISI. Particular praise was given for the care of boarders, the participation and achievement of all pupils in extra-curricular activities, and pupils’ personal development and behaviour. Inspectors also found governance, leadership and management, relationships with parents and all areas of safeguarding to be excellent. The Ofsted report commented: “Throughout the inspection the boarders’ behaviour was exceptional.”

Richard Backhouse, Principal, pictured at one of his regular meetings with pupils, said: “It is a real tribute to so many people that we have received such good inspection reports. I am thrilled that the inspectors were able to see that changes that have been implemented in the last few years to help pupils to learn independently, and to love learning, as well as recognising what an outstandingly happy community this is.”

Author Thomas Docherty entertains during a visit to King Edward’s Junior School

School invests for future

K

ing Edward’s School is undergoing a programme of new and improved facilities at all levels of the school. Children at the PrePrep and Nursery are enjoying using the new garden level classrooms, which provide a spacious open-plan learning environment for the Reception children, with access to the outside play area.

In addition there are now specialist rooms for the library, art, design and technology (DT), music and information and communications technology (ICT).

At the Junior School work is starting this spring on an extension which will provide space for new DT and ICT rooms, two new classrooms, and a fully refurbished art room. One of the new classrooms will be designed as a drama and philosophy space for use by the Junior School.

DT is already a favourite subject and having a purpose built DT room is eagerly awaited by everyone. The DT room will be equipped with ovens so that the Junior School will also be able to run cookery activities.

A state-of-the-art ICT room equipped with the latest hardware will take computer-based learning to the next level across the curriculum. ■

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FIT&FABULOUS NEWS in BRIEF ■ Now is the perfect time to start looking forward to a new summer pastime. Croquet will keep you fit and active whilst also allowing you to spend plenty of time outdoors.

Bath Croquet Club are a friendly community based sports club on Bath Recreation Ground. The club’s Introduction to Croquet course will start on Saturday mornings from 14 May and run for five consecutive weeks. The game is suitable for men and women of all ages and all equipment is provided by the club. Croquet is an exciting and very accessible sport which gives players the opportunity to develop their skills over a number of years. A handicap system enables new and experienced players to play together in this sport of tactics and ball skills.

Beginners who wish to join the club after their initial lessons will get the £30 course fee deducted from their first annual subscription.

Places are limited. Email: croquetdan@hotmail.com or visit the club’s website http://beehive.thisisbath.com/croquet Alternatively tel: 01225 837615.

■ Dorothy House, the hospice whose work so many of us know if we have had friends or relatives who have been looked after by them, has launched its annual appeal for support for the Midnight Walk. The 10k women only walk takes place this year on 10 September. It is the hospice’s biggest fundraiser, and as director of nursing Alison Stevens told us, Dorothy House gets only 25 per cent of its funding from the NHS and none from national charities such as Macmillan – which means it needs £7,000 a day to keep up its much-needed work. To sign up for the walk through Bath visit: www.bathmidnightwalk.co.uk.

■ Join in the fight against breast cancer by taking part in the Spring Crocus charity walk round the gardens of Westonbirt Arboretum on Sunday 6 March at 11am. Participants are encouraged to wear pink. The cost of the walk is £5. For further information contact tel: 07952 698389.

■ Macmillan Cancer Support is looking for women to take part in The Bath Night Walk on Saturday 11 June to mark the charity’s 100th birthday. Organising the walk is Bath based pharmaceutical company ASU. To enter tel: 01225 811131 or visit: www.bathnightwalk.org.

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LOVE-LY treats look and feel great this spring with these extra-special beauty products

Guerlain has created a new scent, Idylle, which is a romantic blend of rose and geranium, and would make a perfect Valentine’s Day present. It’s light enough to be worn by younger women, yet its woody notes are also suitable for the more mature. Available now, from £43 for the 35ml eau de parfum, Idylle is set to become a new classic. Available in House of Fraser and John Lewis.

Capture Hollywood glamour for truly kissable lips this month with Jemma Kidd Make Up School’s Lip Line Duo in red (£14) and Ultimate Lipstick Duo in scarlett (£13). The soft pencil creates an ultra longlasting base and the moisturising lipstick adds extra fullness and a hint of gloss. Team the irresistible scarlet red lip with a winged eye for a sophisticated look that has been showcased by some of the world’s most beautiful women throughout the decades. Jemma Kidd Make Up School products are available from SpaceNK stores and online at: www.spacenk.co.uk

Liz Earle’s Superskin Concentrate (£18, 10ml, available in John Lewis) is a product that will amaze you with it’s fantastic results. This intense aromatic blend of pure plant oils is a rich, restoring treat for all skin types. It’s not harsh on the skin because it contains softening and soothing oils as well as a natural conditioning source of vitamin E. Massage into the skin at night and let the concentrate work its magic. You’ll see instant results in the morning when you wake up to glowing ‘superskin’.

The aromatherapy Yankee Candle Fresh Cut Roses candle (£17.99, large jar) gives out an intoxicating scent of roses to create a relaxing, calming ambience. Available from House of Fraser and home stores nationwide.

This season, Dior pays a shining tribute to classic grey and 30 Avenue Montaigne, Paris with the perfect accessory to the latest Lady Dior, the Lady Grey. The Dior Vernis in Gris Montaigne (£17.50) is a matte nail enamel. Available in House of Fraser and John Lewis.

Tender loving care for winter-worn complexions comes in the shape of Bobbi Brown’s Extra Repair Serum which stealthily does its work while you’re asleep, moisturising the skin and helping to beat the signs of ageing. The serum contains wheat, bran and olive extract along with other natural ingredients, including clary sage extract and Vitamin C. Bobbi Brown’s Extra Repair Serum is £60, from Bobbi Brown counters in House of Fraser.

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A DVERTOR IA L FEAT U R E

Care on Demand: The Full Circle Have you ever been faced with the need to decide whether to move a relative out of their own home and admit them to hospital? We find out more about CircleBath Hospital’s service which offers short-term access to professional care and medical expertise.

E

fficient and welcoming are two words that immediately come to mind when meeting Shelagh Meldrum, Chief Nurse and General Manager of CircleBath, to find out more about the hospital’s health support for adult patients.

The service, she explains, is designed to offer professional, round-the-clock care and medical expertise to individuals requiring it, either an inpatient on a short term basis for a period of between one to five nights or as an outpatient.

“Typically an individual benefiting from this service, commonly referred to as General Medicine, would be someone living at home or in residential care who may have fallen ill or had a deterioration in a chronic illness. Alternatively it might be someone who requires a medication review or help maintaining a complex medication regime,” Shelagh says.

“At the hospital each patient will be cared for by our rehabilitation nursing team as well as their own specific consultant who can draw upon the expertise of colleagues. Our consultants cover a wide range of disciplines including cardiology, respiratory, rheumatology, neurology, gastroenterology and others. Should diagnostic tests or physiotherapy treatment be needed our in-house teams are there on site to support.”

Peace of mind and quality of care are the main reasons why people choose to use this service the nurse explains: “When there is a noticeable change in a person’s sense of wellbeing it can be worrying for WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

the individual and those around them. Professional care, monitoring and assessment help to ensure the correct diagnosis and treatment programme, enabling patients to resume a sense of normality as soon as possible.”

Demand for this type of service is surprisingly high, however, Shelagh believes “many people don’t actually realise that it is an option for patients with private medical insurance or those wishing to cover their own costs until someone, often their GP, recommends it to them.”

She adds, “Any patient staying with us for a medical reason – whether it’s for surgery or simply for a period of extended care – will have their own private bedroom with an en-suite shower room. Meals are freshly prepared using locally produced and mainly organic ingredients.

It’s even possible for a guest to stay overnight in the same room or to share a meal. We believe all of these elements will have a positive impact on a person’s recovery.”

CircleBath has open visiting hours and free parking so friends and relatives can visit at times convenient to them.

The hospital’s modern hotel-like feel – centred around a big open atrium, complete with a piano and café and friendly welcome upon arrival - and picturesque location overlooking the Shoscombe Valley, has not failed to make an impression on visitors. In its most recent patient feedback survey 99% of patients said that they would happily recommend the hospital to family and friends.

Short Term M e dic al Support a t C i r cl e Ba t h Who is it for?

Any adult patient requiring round-the-clock care and access to a wide range of medical professionals who will monitor his or her health and wellbeing.

What does the service include?

This depends on the individual but will normally include assessments by relevant specialists (such as respiratory, cardiology, neurology and movement experts) as well as the highest level of clinical care by the nursing staff. Overnight accommodation will be in a private room with en-suite.

CircleBath has medical staff on duty 24 hours a day and has a zero-incident track record on MRSA and C.difficile.

What is the duration of the stay?

It may be as short as a single night but could extend up to five nights. A private ambulance can be arranged for collection.

How can I book?

Please contact your GP and ask for a referral to CircleBath For advice on whether this service may be appropriate for your situation please call Simon Pejcic on 01761 442202.

To receive more information on the hospital call 01761 422222, email enquiries@circlebath.co.uk or visit www.circlebath.com

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HEALTH&BEAUTY

THERMAE harmony

Samantha Ewart experiences a day of relaxation with one of the Thermae’s new spa packages

M

any Bathonians are already familiar with the city’s awardwinning Thermae Spa, having enjoyed a relaxing bathe in the thermal waters of the Minerva Bath and open-air rooftop pool and refreshed the senses in the aroma steam rooms. However, if you still haven’t tried one of the many treatments on offer, now is the time; as the spa has introduced four brand new treatments and three spa packages for 2011.

With a case of the January blues, I booked myself in for the new Thermae Harmony package (£80) as a special pampering treat to rejuvenate and lift my spirits. The package includes a four-hour spa session, complimentary use of towel, robe and slippers, a two-course meal in the restaurant, and one treatment from the choice of Watsu, Hot Stones Vichy or Balinese Floatation and Foot Massage.

Feeling comfortable and cosy in my slippers and robe, I headed towards the historic Hot Bath for my Watsu treatment, which takes full advantage of the natural thermal waters and their associated benefits. As the therapist led me into the small, glass-roofed pool, which is specially reserved for treatments, I immediately felt the comforting feeling of the warm water.

Watsu is an incredibly soothing treatment. The therapist gently cradled me in her arms as she swished me around the mineral-rich water applying gentle stretches and guiding me through a series of flowing movements, combining elements of massage and acupressure.

To get the very best experience, I advise you to completely let go and allow your body to move freely – you’ll be surprised how quickly you are lulled into a deep sense of relaxation. It takes a bit of getting used to at first, but as you close your eyes and listen to the serene underwater sound, you will enjoy a very sensory experience. Watsu is a very personal experience depending on how relaxed you are. For me, it was soothing and nurturing, and I felt like I was drifting away with no cares in the world. Absolute bliss.

I emerged from the pool in a dozy dream-like state and was led to the relaxation area where I curled up on a lounger with a cosy blanket, a cup of green tea and a magazine. I could’ve stayed there all day was it not for the rumbling of my stomach, so I took myself up to the restaurant and enjoyed a delicious light lunch from the brand new menu, and then continued to while away the day in the steam rooms and pools.

I finished the day, very naughtily, with one last little treat from the new Thermae Spa shop just around the corner where you can choose from a gorgeous range of spa, health and beauty products, including the spa’s own brand of shampoo, shower gel and body lotion, all of which contain Bath’s natural spring water.

A harmonious experience it certainly was. ■

For further information about the new treatments and spa packages that are on offer or booking information, visit: www.thermaebathspa.com or tel: 0844 888 0844 60 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Lose Weight Effectively With Hypnotherapy

‘Being guided to think about things in a new, different way was unexpected but delightful... thank you for all your wonderful help.’

- Weight Control Client, Weston Bath

For your free consultation call

01225 484938 Phil Mattingly LHA E.Hyp Registered Hypnotherapist www.philmattingly.com

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A DVERTOR IA L FEAT U R E

Discreet & Uplifting: The Full Circle An estimated 150,000 people every year in the UK choose to have Cosmetic Surgery. The results can be life changing for an individual, however, many people have concerns about having surgery in the first place. We speak to CircleBath hospital to understand the process better.

“I

feel self-conscious” is the most common thing Michele Phillips and Gillian Jones hear in their roles as Cosmetic Surgery Nurses at CircleBath.

“Cosmetic Surgery is not something that is done on a whim; an individual will generally spend a significant amount of time considering and researching a procedure before they decide to go ahead with it. Usually it is because there is something about their appearance that they are unhappy about, and this can, over time, have a significant impact on their lives," Michele explains.

The four Cosmetic Surgeons and one specialist Breast Surgeon who work at the hospital agree, the Nurse says, that in their experience, the majority of people having a surgical procedure do it so they can feel normal about their appearance.

CircleBath’s approach to Cosmetic Surgery is relatively unique as the Cosmetic Nurse that Patients will have already met and spoken with on numerous occasions is also part of the surgical team in the operating theatre.

“People underestimate how reassuring a friendly face can be as you go in to have surgery of any type, especially an elective procedure like a breast augmentation or reduction, a tummy tuck or facial surgery such as Rhinoplasty,” Gillian explains.

She also points out that their role is not to provide recommendations but it is a noobligation way for people who may be

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CircleBath’s Cosmetic Surgery Nurses Michele Phillips and Gillian Jones.

considering surgery to find out more before they book an appointment with one of the hospital’s specialists. “Providing confidence and making Patients feel less vulnerable when they have the full story is a big part of our role,” she adds.

A lot of people – both men and women worry about what other people will think of them if they hear they are having a cosmetic procedure done but discretion is something that the hospital prides itself upon, according to the nurse. When visiting Consultants or arriving for surgery, Patients are escorted to and from appointments so there is no calling out of names in a large waiting area, and Patient bedrooms are all located on the top floor of the hospital, away from general visitors, with fantastic views over the countryside and locally sourced, mostly organic food served in their room.

Michele adds: “The best part of my job is seeing how positive Patients – the same ones who professed to feeling a bit guilty or embarrassed about having the procedure in the first place - are when they leave the hospital.

Most of them walk out the door confidently, feeling better about themselves than they have in a long time.”

C o sm e t i c S u r g e ry Five of the most common procedures Breast Enlargement Many people may consider breast surgery when they are dissatisfied with the shape, size and appearance of their breasts. This popular procedure permanently increases the size and enhances the shape with the insertion of implants.

Breast Reduction (female)/ Gynaecomastia (male) Removal of excess tissue and skin to reduce and reshape the size of the breast area is also growing in demand.

Other common procedures include breast uplift (Mastopexy) which corrects position of the breast and breast reconstruction, a surgical process to replace breast tissue removed due to tumours or other reasons.

Tummy Tuck This is a surgical procedure which removes excess fat and skin from the abdominal area.

It is commonly used to reshape the body after significant weight loss or childbirth.

Facial Surgery This includes a range of procedures that can address the signs of ageing as well as alter the appearance of facial features and includes procedures such as eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty - where excess skin is removed to correct drooping or bags), ear and nose reshaping (Rhinoplasty) as well as face, brow and neck lifts.

Weight Loss Surgery CircleBath also offers the full range of open and laparoscopic weight loss surgery.

To find out more contact Michele Phillips or Gillian Jones, CircleBath’s Cosmetic Surgery Specialist Nurses on 07514 286578 or email: michele.phillips@circlebath.co.uk. For more information on the range of services or to find out more about the surgeons working at CircleBath visit www.circlebath.com.

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Doctor-Led Cosmetic Medicine Clinic Treatments Including: Acne treatments Permanent hair reduction Thread veins

Facial redness & rosacea

Skin rejuvenation

Peels and microdermabrasions Anti-wrinkle injections

Restylane fillers

Stretch mark and scar reduction

The Halo Clinic at Hathaway Medical Centre, Middlefield Road, Chippenham SN14 6GT

Telephone: 01249 454545 www.thehaloclinic.co.uk

Dr Ellen Goedbloed & Dr Tony Wright

February Frenzy Laser Lift The Anti-Ageing Face Lift Discover the scientific Non Surgical solution to unattractive facial lines and wrinkles giving YOU a Natural Face Lift that visibly works!

Purchase a £100 gift voucher for your valentine and you pay only £50!

This offer is only available until the 14th February 2011

£170 off a course until end of February 2011 Painless No Needles Zero Side Effects No Recovery Period Quick Results Affordable

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• • • • • •

the orangery l a s e r

&

b e a u t y

c l i n i c

No.2 Kingsmead St. Bath.

Tel: 01225 466851 www.theorangerylaserclinicbath.co.uk

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£20 off

with this ad for bookings up to end of Feb

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The Virtual Gastric Band is in your area!

Hypno-Band

Weight Loss System Licensed Hypno-Band Practitioner

What if you could have all the benefits of a Surgical Gastric Band, without the surgery and cost? Well now you can! www.hypnoband.com Like any medical or therapy procedure there can be no definite guarantees.

Even a surgeon cannot guarantee that an actual gastric band will work.

However, the virtual gastric band has been proven to be effective in aiding significant weight loss. It should be noted that it is YOU that holds the key to losing weight.

By using the Hypno-Band hypnotherapy system, we create a state of mind where you will believe you actually have a Gastric Band fitted! You will eat smaller portions and feel full. The Hypno-Band system is a long term solution to your weight problems.

Contact us today for full details.

Contact: Danny Nuttall D.Hyp.(Adv) MIAPH(Acc)

01225 580557

www.bathhypnotherapist.co.uk

Look the best you can with the help of

Lifestyle medical beauty clinic I know it’s cold and wet at the moment, but Spring really is just around the corner and there is no better time to think about making ourselves look and feel great than now. Do you have a few facial thread veins on the cheek and around the nose that you see every time you apply your make up? How about spider veins on the legs that you worry about showing in the spring and summer? Well now is the time to clear them away. Lifestyle Medical Beauty Clinic, now in its 5th year in Bath, can sort out facial and leg veins easily, quickly, comfortably and at very little cost. In fact, whatever you need whether it is removal of lines and wrinkles, fat reduction or laser hair removal, Lifestyle will use the very latest technology to make you look and feel great. The staff at the clinic are very efficient and friendly and have many years’ of experience using treatments such as Restylane and Botox to knock years off your appearance.

With prices that are keener than ever, ring the clinic today and find out how we can help you achieve the look you want without surgery. For a friendly, no obligation and free consultation, call the clinic on 01225 464005 today.

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fers ary Of

ff 25% ooremove

Febru

ne t Restyla kles d wrin lines an low as s from a £131

FEBRUARY 2011

Before

Our clinic is staffed by medical practitioners experienced in aesthetic treatments such as those seen on Channel 4’s Ten Years Younger Laser for Hair Removal Laser for removal of facial thread veins, red spots, rosacea, age spots Restylane for removal of lines and wrinkles Accent RF and Endermologie for skin tightening and cellulite reduction Medical Microdermabrasion for facial rejuvenation Sclerotherapy for leg veins Lip Augmentation

• • • • • • •

Lifestyle Medical Beauty Clinic, 10, Chapel Row, Bath.

BA1 1HN 01225 464005 www.thelifestyleclinic.co.uk

After

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Look good and feel great this New Year!

health kick bath

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A truly unique 4 week package that combines a food allergy test, deficiency test, bespoke nutrition planning, and 8 personal training sessions to leave you feeling healthy, fit, energetic and lean. You will find out exactly what foods are responsible for leaving you tired, lethargic and overweight and will find out what you should personally eat to feel great and transform your body.

We also include a weekly progress check to ensure you stay on track and give you the support to reach your goals and achieve something special.

The personal training sessions that you will perform each week, tailormade for your health and fitness, will dramatically improve the

way your body looks, performs and feels. It is based on a method Bath personal trainer Leighton Roach has found to be the most effective at reducing body fat and producing a lean, toned physique as quickly as possible. Imagine how you would feel if you could take your health and fitness to a whole new level in 2011? We can help you achieve health and vitality irrespective of your current fitness levels – all you need is a desire to change.

Price Donna Brown and Leighton Roach have teamed up to offer this package at a hugely competitive £249 per person. If you’re ready to take advantage of this fantastic offer, to quit making excuses and take control of your health and fitness then don’t hesitate to contact us using the details below.

There are limited spaces so you have to act fast! This price is also backed up by a 100% money back guarantee. If you follow your plan to the letter and fail to see the results you’re hoping for in your time with us then we will refund your money back – no questions asked!

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www.healthkickbath.co.uk WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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INTERIORstyle

A THOUSAND years

pass by

Beckington Mill in Somerset has all the comforts of a contemporary home but the original stone building has links that go all the way back to the Domesday Book, a millennium ago

S

ome people go househunting with their heads, others use their hearts to find their perfect home. And some houses, as is the case with Beckington Mill, simply require that the right match comes through the door and falls head over heels with the romance of the place.

That’s what the existing owners did, bringing their young family and their contemporary furniture to this corner of Somerset from the bustle of London. And what a contrast from life in the city Beckington Mill is, with its mellow stone walls, the millstream in the gardens running into the River Frome and the house itself full of delightful and fascinating quirks and corners.

There is a fairytale element to the house. As you approach, taking in the wooden bridge across the millstream, your eye is drawn to an oriel bay window from which a princess may let down her golden hair for a suitor below.

Inside, the main reception room is baronial in size, with its high old stone walls, beams and a minstrel’s gallery on two sides.

This is a room for entertaining in. In winter there is the woodburning stove to create a warm glow, while there would be no worries about choosing a tall Christmas tree. In summer guests can step out through the french doors on to the terrace and sip drinks to the soothing sound of the water running below, as it has done for centuries.

The Domesday Book of 1086 records a mill on this spot and there is a great sense of history in the building. Successive inhabitants have been sensitive to this too, ensuring the fabric of

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the place has been looked after while installing modern home comforts like underfloor heating and two bathrooms.

The large family-friendly kitchen is light and airy and there’s a handy utility room next door, while an additional store room allows wellies and all the other clutter of rural life to be tidied away. The master bedroom and second bedroom share the bathroom on the first floor, while the further three bedrooms on the second floor share the second bathroom.

Everywhere you look there are fresh details to explore, from the stone spiral staircase and the stone mullioned windows to sturdy ancient beams and old fireplaces.

The gardens are a good size, with a well maintained lawn sweeping down to trees at the far end. There are also a couple of outbuildings which could be used for a number of purposes, making this an ideal spot for those wishing to work from home.

Beckington Mill also has potential to be a star in the making as it has been featured in magazines and on television, so could be hired out as a film location.

There is another potential money-spinner beneath the new owner’s feet. Two local hydro-electric companies have shown an interest in installing generating turbines under the mill to produce electricity to supply this property and enough power to sell on to other users too.■ Beckington Mill is being marketed by Winkworth estate agents of Bath for offers in the region of £895,000. Tel: 01225 829000 to view.

Main picture: the magnificent drawing room at Beckington Mill has a minstrel’s gallery making this an ideal space for parties

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INTERIORstyle Clockwise: the stone oriel window gives the exterior a fairytale element. The stone mullioned windows and old fireplaces live comfortably alongside 21st century furniture and pieces of art

In summer guests can step out ❝ through the french doors on to the terrace and sip drinks to the soothing sound of the water running below, as it has done for centuries

❞

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LIGHTING

SPE

L CIA

IST

8 BATH STREET, FROME. TEL: 01 373473555 WWW.FIATLUX.CO.UK

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CITYgardens

When CUTBACKS pay off Jane Moore picks up her secateurs to tackle pruning jobs which will ensure clematis, wisteria, fruit trees and bushes will look their best this summer

F

ebruary is not my favourite month although it does have three things going for it: one, it’s short; two, the days are drawing out, and three, it’s not January and therefore is one step closer to spring.

For me, February is the month to get well and truly stuck into the garden. It’s time to get on with clearing out old shrubs and herbaceous and getting the ground prepared for new planting. It’s time for the fun stuff, like getting the sowing started in the greenhouse and potting up dahlias. It’s also high time to get lots of pruning out of the way: fruit trees and bushes, wisteria, clematis and even the roses. You may say that technically it’s too early for pruning roses but by the time I get the rest of my February jobs done it is actually March and the perfect time to prune your roses.

The sheer variety of jobs that need doing this month is an absolute godsend as there’s always something to suit your mood or the prevailing weather conditions or both as they often seem to go hand in hand, at least as far as my temperament is concerned. Dismal days are perfect for greenhouse jobs with a spot of Radio Four (me) or Six Music (Anna) for company. Chilly days are right for dispatching sad old plants to the abyss of the compost heap with all the cold bloodedness of a politician. And those lovely days that seem to hold the promise of the spring that’s soon to follow are great for a spot of assertive pruning, a sort of spring clean of spriggy growth to tidy things up.

A little bit of sowing really gets you in the mood for the season. Sowing those sweet peas and tomatoes guarantees you visions of summer scents and splendour that will keep you cheerful for a week or two. You can get all those bedding favourites, particularly the slow coaches such as snapdragons, begonia, gazania, lobelia and pelargonium underway. I also tend to get all the slow to germinate veggies on the go including chillies, sweet peppers and leeks. We’re lucky as we have a big 70 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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heated propagator which we pop all the seed trays into but even so it ends up chock-a-block with a waiting list of seeds still to be sown.

Even if you have a small garden it’s well worth investing in a small heated propagator if you like growing stuff from seed.

We have a substantial collection of dahlias which give us a

❝

my golden rule of thumb is that spring flowering clematis only need tidying up, if they’ve outgrown their allotted space, while early and late summer flowerers need a hard prune to keep them in order

❞

good reliable show from high summer until the frosts of autumn and these will be potted up and started into growth this month. After checking them over for any signs of rot or mould we pot them on into individual pots of compost and grow them on in the warmer end of the greenhouse.

On those odd beautiful promising days of February it’s great to get outside and do the equivalent of a de-clutter in the beds and borders. I’m unashamedly ruthless and will hoick out anything that’s past its best whether it’s a shrub or a perennial, confident that I will think of something to plant there before the spring gets going. Even if I don’t get inspired by a permanent planting scheme, I can fill in any gaps with some of my freshly sown annuals a bit later on. I would rather have a quick fix of a few cosmos than look at the same tired old plant struggling on pathetically for another year.

It’s time to sharpen up those secateurs and get busy pruning pretty much everything. Start with wisteria as it’s

Main picture: the magnificent wisteria at The Bath Priory, which needs stern handling with the secateurs in February

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CITYgardens

Right: the vegetable garden lies dormant but it’s not too early to start sowing and germinating tomatoes, chillies, leeks and sweet pepper in the warmth of a propagator

straightforward and very satisfying to prune. It seems to get so dishevelled looking through the summer months and you feel like you’re getting the whole garden into some sort of order as you exert domination over your wisteria. Cut back the new growths to two or three buds which both tidies it up before the growing season starts and makes sure the flowers won’t be obscured by leaves.

Fruit bushes and trees are best tackled now too, before the leaves shoot and muddy the waters so to speak. It’s so much easier to see the shape and form of the plant when it’s bare, although you can’t prune plums, apricots and cherries now as they’re horribly prone to silver leaf disease which is a killer.

Tackle these in summer when there are fewer fungus spores about and the pruning cuts will heal more speedily. Apples, pears and fruit bushes such as red currants, blackcurrants and gooseberries are all safe to prune. As a general rule, start by cutting out any stems affected by the three D’s: dead, diseased and damaged. Once you’ve done that focus on removing crossing, rubbing and weak growth. Finish off by making sure the centre of the tree or bush is nice and open so the summer sun can get in to ripen the fruit.

Finally, I’ve noticed that people tend to get a bit bogged down with how to prune their clematis. Clematis fall into three distinct pruning groups and I have known someone who simply grew only one pruning group of clematis in their garden so they could just have one method of pruning them all. It does keep things nice and straightforward but it is perhaps a little restricting. If you’re instantly overcome with fatigue at the thought of getting to grips with three lots of pruning, plus the horror of identifying which group your clematis belongs to as the label is long since lost/ faded/ buried in the back of a drawer somewhere, then fear not. My golden rule of thumb is that spring flowering clematis only need tidying up if they’ve outgrown their allotted space, while early and late summer flowerers need a hard prune to keep them in order. Of course

WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

there are exceptions to this rule but you won’t go horribly wrong if you keep it simple. You may lose a few flowers early in the season but clematis often like being treated meanly and will make up for it later. ■ Jane Moore is the award-winning head gardener at the Bath Priory

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February is the Month of Valentines Jenny Keen, Senior Vet, Station Road Veterinary Surgery, Bath Veterinary Group

A

s a vet the first thing that comes to mind is not cards and flowers but hearts! Not the chocolate variety but the muscular organs that keep us alive. Heart problems are amazingly common amongst our pets but thanks to current knowledge and advances in technology, vets can now diagnose and treat even the more obscure and complicated heart diseases.

Heart problems can start at any age. Congenital problems, those problems present at birth, are usually diagnosed in young puppies and kittens. They are detected by auscultation of the chest using a stethoscope. Initially, congenital problems may have no outward signs of illness associated with them, but a heart murmur will most likely be present. Murmurs are abnormal sounds made as the heart beats. The severity of a problem is not necessarily directly associated with the loudness of the murmur. If your pet has a heart murmur, your vet may just want to monitor the condition or they may advise an ultrasound examination to look for structural abnormalities in the heart.

Heart disease can also be associated with specific breeds. For example, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a predisposition to developing heart problems early in life and Great Danes and Boxers are more likely to develop heart problems than many other types of dog. In cats, the oriental breeds such as the Burmese, also tend to have more congenital defects. By recognising that heart disease can be associated with particular breeds and genetically linked, we are more likely to diagnose a problem early allowing us to monitor and treat more effectively.

Early signs of heart problems can be difficult to detect but initially you should note any coughing especially in dogs when waking after a long rest, sometimes the cough can sound ‘wet’. Coughing occurs when there is a build up of fluid or congestion in the lungs due to the heart’s inability to pump blood effectively when lying down. Heart problems can be more difficult to detect in cats. Cats can suddenly develop breathing difficulties including increased respiratory rate and effort, open mouth breathing, and panting while at rest.

Once diagnosed with heart disease pets can be treated with medications similar to those used for humans. Treatment can reduce the severity of clinical signs making your pet feel better and, if started early, treatment should also increase their lifespan.

As February is the month of Valentines, give pause and think about our beloved pets. Their hearts are as important as ours. With a little help we can keep them living longer and enjoy the benefits of their unconditional love, which after all is the basis of a true Valentine!

All Bath Vet Group surgery contact details and further information are available at www.bathvetgroup.co.uk. If you have any questions, local vet Jenny Keen will be pleased to help and can be contacted on 01225 428921.

Alternatively contact Rosemary Lodge Hospital on 01225 832521.

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Top Cat Country House Hotel Real Care for the Cat you Love by the owner Diana Dickson Featured on National TV & Radio Bristol

We are a small luxury cattery for those who prefer their cats to have extra special attention Diana sometimes breeds Burmese & Burmilla’s Opening Hours 9am to 1pm Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays The Old School House Kelston, Bath

Tel: 01225 313099 www.topcathotel.co.uk

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Creative

in glass

MALISHEV WI L S ON ENGINEERS

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07930137813 info@malishevwilson.com

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to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499

Astrology

Catering

For Sale

Live, psychic readings with Mary English

Nibbled Catering

EXCLUSIVE TABLE FOR SALE

90 minute readings include; Palm Prints: Fate, Career, Children, Marriage/Love-life, Travel Astrology Chart: Money, Home-life, Creativity, Romance, Work, Health 4 Card Spreads : Practical World, Emotional, Higher and Spiritual Self

For Private & Corporate Events

YOU WILL RECEIVE A HARD-COPY OF YOUR HAND PRINTS, YOUR BIRTH CHART AND A CD RECORDING OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, CONFIDENTIALITY ASSURED, ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

Delicious Homemade Food

Weddings • Christenings Birthday Celebrations • Funerals Buffets • High Teas • Dinner Parties Hog Roasts • BBQs • Buffets

A round natural slate stone table.

1.30 metre diameter by 4cm slab with space for up to 8 people sitting. It is carbon/black and made from one piece. The base for the table is metal.

01225 851072 www.nibbledcatering.com

01225 766889 • 07738404206

is now available for free at the

Please give us a call for the price on

to advertise in the directory call Kathy on 01225 424 499

Tel 01225-315718 e: mary@maryenglish.co.uk www.maryenglish.co.uk

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Gardening

Business to Business Bath’s Leading Stationer with all your office needs, all under one roof

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one covers Bath better... THEBATHMAGAZINE

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing

Computer Services

Electricians

POOR POSTURE? BACK PAIN? Strengthen, lengthen & lighten your load with

ALEXANDER LESSONS Hellie Mulvaney MSTAT Oldfield Park & Fairfield Park Health Centre

01225 353397

helliemulvaney@blueyonder.co.uk www.helliemulvaney.co.uk

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Acupuncture for Fertility, support alongside IVF, Pregnancy and Womens Health.

Holly Woodward (MBAcC, Reg Nurse) is an experienced fertility acupuncturist, having worked for leading fertility expert Zita West.

Call Holly on 07759 684552 Address: Centre for Integrated Therapies, Kingston House, 6 Pierrepont St, Bath, BA1 1LA. E: holly.woodward@yahoo.co.uk W: www.hollywoodward.co.uk

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to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499 House & Home

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing Advertise your Business in this space for as little as £40 per month.

TEL: 01225 424499

Advertising that keeps working

Home Security

The

Woman’s Touch Painting and Decorating and So Much More

House & Home

Our Project Management Service Covers Everything From Advice on Colours, Supply of Curtains and Carpets, Managing your Project, e.g. Kitchen & Bathroom Refurbishment to Styling Your Home Ready For Sale

01225 704858 www.thewomanstouch-decorators.com

David Parmitter

Interior Therapy The Furniture Care People.

Furniture, door, wood and metal stripping.

Restoration techniques, unique non-toxic, non caustic System 2000. Suitable for both hard and soft wood. Non harmful.

Recommended for Grade I Listed buildings

Our customers range from Home Owners to the V&A Museum

Franchise of the year award

Call Maria on 01225 315541 • www.kwikstrip.biz WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Practical and stylish interior design

Please contact Karen on 07702875662 www.interior therapy.com

FEBRUARY 2011

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to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499

House & Home

House & Home

Plumbing

Chris Sweeney PLUMBING AND HEATING

Boiler Replacements • Complete Bathrooms • Central Heating Systems Over 20 years experience

All aspects of Plumbing work undertaken

202002

T: 01225 443530 • M: 07900-215848 Signage

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Husband & wife business offering:

HOME IMPROVEMENTS MAINTAINANCE WORK All the trades Excellent customer service No VAT on labour andybenwell@gmail.com

HANDMADE CURTAINS BLINDS & CUSHIONS Design Service Poles & Tracks Full fitting service

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Call Sandy Hewit now on 01225 420977

to advertise in the directory call Kathy on 01225 424 499 76 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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PROPERTYin FOCUS

ROWAS LODGE, CONKWELL LIMPLEY STOKE Nr. BATH

Price: £2.75 million

R

owas Lodge is an outstanding country house on the outskirts of Limpley Stoke, commanding spectacular views across the Limpley Stoke valley. Built in the classical Queen Anne style, the house is approached by a long private driveway and enjoys a peaceful setting in beautifully landscaped gardens of approximately three acres. The property has a fascinating history having been built circa 1838 by a successful entrepreneur who used the surrounding estate as an experimental farm. An extensive restoration in 1972 was the first major commission for William Bertram, the now celebrated architect to The Duchy of Cornwall. There is current planning consent to construct a wing on the east side of the property as a mirror image of the west wing. Despite its age and history, the house lends itself to comfortable, modern living, with excellent accommodation spread over three floors. There are five good reception rooms, six bedrooms, four bathrooms and an office/studio with a self contained entrance. The house has been meticulously maintained over the past twenty five years and recent improvements to the ground floor have included the installation of a sauna/steam rooms and outside hot tub and plunge pool.

There is just as much to explore externally. The property is approached by a sweeping drive with carport parking for four cars and a workshop connected to a garage. The ground include a herb garden, wine cavern, heated swimming pool, summer house floodlit tennis court, small paddock and a ‘hidden’ wooded area providing a well equipped children’s play area. The delightful property offers a superb combination of stylish country house atmosphere with comfortable, modern, family living and is highly recommended.

Pritchards, 11 Quiet Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 466225

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PROPERTYin FOCUS

SLADEBROOK ROAD BATH

Price: ÂŁ525,000

B

elieved to date back to around 1898, this is an imposing double fronted house with much character and charm. Situated on the south side of the city, the property offers extremely spacious accommodation and is set in its own level grounds. All of the principal rooms have a dual aspect and there is a good deal of period detail including panelled doors, tall corniced ceilings and picture and dado rails.

To the front on the ground floor is the sitting room which has a bay window and side door leading to the garden and a traditional fireplace. Adjacent is the breakfast room which has an arch leading through to warm family kitchen at the rear of the house. There is also a good sized dining/family room and a downstairs cloakroom. Both the kitchen and family room have access to the conservatory and through to the rear garden. Upstairs, the mast bedroom has a dual aspect with city views to the front. There are a further three bedrooms and a family bathroom. Outside the enclosed, level garden is ideal for families, being mainly lawned and having apple trees, a vegetable patch and natural pond. The house is set well back from the road and has a single garage and driveway parking. This super family home is being offered for sale by Fidelis Properties.

Fidelis Properties, 134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath. Tel: (01225) 421000

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pritchard-partners.co.uk

Camden Terrace

Combe Down

An elegant and beautifully presented Georgian Townhouse located on the northern slopes of Bath with amazing views.

A fine detached modern house with a delightful south facing garden in a quiet ‘no through’ road close to village shops and amenities.

4 bedrooms - one with en suite bathroom, kitchen/breakfast room with glass doors into walled courtyard. Drawing room, dining room, family bathroom, cloakroom. Delightful south facing garden and additional courtyard. Total approx floor area: 1961 sq ft/181 sq m.

Residents’ parking permit available.

4 bedrooms, bathroom and en suite shower room, hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, fabulous Amdega conservatory, utility room and cloakroom.

Integral garage and driveway parking.Total approx floor area: 1446 sq ft/134.4 sq m.

Price: £735,000

Price: £499,500

Hinton Charterhouse – Bath 5 miles

Farmborough – Bath 8 miles

An attractive Grade II Listed terraced property with fine period features in this most desireable village with good local amenities.

An attached cottage with beautifully maintained gardens with open country views. Interiors in need of updating.

Sitting room, dining room, conservatory, cloakroom, kitchen and garden/breakfast room.

Cellar, three double bedrooms, bathroom and shower room. Well stocked walled gardens.

Off road parking/garaging. Total approx floor area 1995 sq ft/186 sq m.

2 receptions, kitchen/breakfast room, garden room, 3 bedrooms and bathroom.Workshop.

Garage. Int. area approx: 1840 sq ft/170.9 sq m

Price: £450,000

Price: £350,000 11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB

Tel: 01225 466 225

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Jeremy Jenkins FP February this one:Layout 4

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01225 866747

“Woodcote”, Bradford-on-Avon. £695,000 Situated at the end of a private drive “Woodcote” is on the very outskirts of Bradford-on-Avon without being too far from the bustling town centre with its enviable amenities and train station. The position offers a good degree of privacy and some peace from the busy world outside.

Essentially this is a very good family home. There is room for everyone both inside and out. One is impressed with the house upon arrival and more so with the broad, welcoming, entrance hall. This sets the scene nicely as “Woodcote” is well proportioned throughout and makes the most of natural light and the outlook over the garden to the rear and farmland beyond the lawn and drive to the front.

Externally are good gardens with plenty to occupy the keen gardener and energetic footballing children equally. Such homes are rare commodities, rarer still in Bradford-on-Avon.

A small company proudly supporting a big cause throughout 2011 27 Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1LL email: info@jeremyjenkins.co.uk • website: www.jeremyjenkins.co.uk

introductory fee 1% + VAT

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BEAUTIFUL TOWNHOUSE IN POLLENSA MALLORCA

RESTORED, DOUBLE FRONTED HOUSE, WITH SEVEN EN-SUITE BEDS, WALLED GARDEN, POOL, ROOF TERRACE, GARAGE, AIR CON, HEATING, TV AND WIFI, FIVE KM FROM THE BEACH AND TWO MINUTES FROM THE MAIN SQUARES AND CAFES. 45 MINUTES FROM PALMA - OPEN ALL YEAR 07803 895858 FOR RESERVATION ENQUIRIES

www.pollensahouse.com

Residential Lettings

Property Management www.homeletsofbath.co.uk

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MORE PROPERTIES REQUIRED - CONTACT HOMELETS NOW 01225 484811 • info@homeletsofbath.co.uk • 1 Edgar Buildings. George Street. Bath. BA1 2EE Working with you since 1992 82 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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L E T T I N G S & M A N AG E M E N T

In the first of a series of interviews, Glenn Perry, Director of Zest Lettings & Management, talks about business, success and life in Bath.

Its 2 years since Zest was launched. Why do you think it’s had such a rapid impact?

That’s simple. Two things... our brand and our people. Firstly with our people, we’ve assembled a great team and our staff are quite exceptional. You know it doesn’t matter how good a brand or proposition you have for the market place, but if you don’t have enthusiastic and passionate people it falls flat.

I understand that you are recruiting at the moment?

That’s right our team is expanding and we also have a much sort after opening for a branch manager role now that Holly Cook is moving on. I must say that Holly has done a fantastic job with Zest and I’d personally like to thank her for all her hard work, we wish her all the very best for the future and she will always be our good friend.

So how do you find the right people?

Well this is where employers get it wrong a lot of the time – they’re looking at qualifications and experience, and yes those things interest me and they are important, however they’re not nearly as important to me as finding that Zest type of person.

And what do you mean by a Zest type?

Typically what I’m talking about is finding people who have character and adaptability. Also, by their nature and outlook on life, they enjoy working with people – they’re friendly, have some ‘get up and go’ and are fun to be around. If you get the right person with the right qualities, then even when things go a little wrong, and let’s face it in this business occasionally it happens; a friendly and proactive team can quickly turn it around, avert a potential disaster and even nurture and deepen relationships.

In next month’s interview Glenn talks about the development of the Zest brand. If you feel that you would like to explore the possibilities of working with Zest you can visit their website www.zestlettings.com for more details.

Why More Landlords are choosing Zest?

Advertise on over 250 leading websites - Specialist marketing means we let your property fast.

More Money in your Pocket - Guaranteed 100% honest fees with no hidden extras. Do not be deceived by unethical agencies.

Peace Of Mind - Both you and your tenant can relax while we take care of your property 24/7, 365 days a year.

Energetic, Honest & Professional Service - Our dedicated, proactive and friendly service gets results for you. * Be quick. Offer only valid for the first 50 New landlords that come to us during Dec 2010. Ts&Cs apply.

CALL NOW 01225 481010 www.zestlettings.com

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Your property is a bit special... so is our letting service CONTACT US TODAY TO DISCUSS WHAT MAKES RESIDE DIFFERENT

www.residebath.co.uk

01225 445 777

OUR PROPERTIES OF THE MONTH

Devonshire Buildings

The Bothy, Whitley

RReside are delighted to present the most elegant 5 bedroom Georgian Townhouse, arranged over three floors and finished to a beautifully high standard throughout, carefully combining modern comforts with lots of period features and charm. Approached through a private enclosed front garden, the imposing house makes and instant impression. The ground floor is generously divided into a large dining room, a lounge area / library with an exquisite stone floor, a contemporary and tasteful fully fitted kitchen with granite work surfaces and a large range oven and a separate utility room. The first floor has a stunning drawing room with oak floors, a fire place and an immaculate cornice matching a central rose crown on the ceiling. Two good sized double bedrooms make up the remainder of the first floor with a modern and luxurious en-suite shower room. On the third floor is a spacious master bedroom with fitted wardrobes and a feature fire place, two further good sized bedrooms and a beautiful, spacious family bathroom. An allocated off street parking space and a single garage..

Unfurnished. Available Early March 2011. ÂŁ3200 pcm

A beautiful and contemporary two bedroom detached barn conversion finished to a high standard throughout, carefully combining period features and charm with modern comforts. Located in the idyllic village of Whitley, approximately 10 miles East of Bath, the property is very secluded and is surrounded by picture perfect countryside. Having a large living room / dining room with an oak floor, exposed original beams in the ceiling and patio doors, a light and spacious modern fully fitted kitchen, two good sized double bedrooms both overlooking a beautiful courtyard, a modern bathroom plus plenty of storage, off street parking for one car, double glazing throughout and an attractive south facing private rear garden.

Tastefully furnished throughout. Available Now. ÂŁ1200 pcm

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A HOUSE in the TOWN A round-up of romantic homes in the city Walcot Parade, Bath The houses in the 18th century terrace have a lofty view over the city from their upper windows and the raised traffic-free pavement and proximity to Hedgemead Park gives this little corner of central Bath a special cachet. Number 4 is an entire Georgian house which has been painstakingly restored and has its own townhouse garden at the back in which to enjoy a green space after a long day. It also has two private parking spaces at the back.

The rooms are spread across five floors and includes a one bedroom apartment downstairs.

The main house has four/five bedrooms, bathroom and shower rooms, two reception rooms and a newly fitted kitchen/breakfast room.

Price: £795,000.

Contact Pritchards: 01225 466225

Miles’s Buildings, Bath Charlotte Street, Bath The Victorian Old Rectory has been tastefully modernised to provide a comfortable city centre home, complete with private courtyard garden for al fresco dining. There are four bedrooms, a bathroom and shower room, sitting room with a bay window, separate dining room and a garden room which opens out through french windows into the outside dining room. Price: £499,500.

Whiteley Helyar: 01225 447544

Winifred’s Dale, Bath

Upper Church Street, Bath

It’s rare to find a Georgian apartment with a secluded garden, but this two bedroom home has the added benefit of being next to Royal Victoria Park. The apartment has two bedrooms, a sitting room with bay window, kitchen, bathroom and two vaults. Price: c£400,000.

This contemporary looking apartment is in a Georgian townhouse round the corner from the Royal Crescent. The second floor home has been stylishly decorated and gives its occupants the choice of being a generous one bedroom apartment with separate dining room, or a two bedroom home. It has a particularly fine master bedroom suite Price: £540,000.

The Apartment Company: 01225 471144

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It’s been more than a decade since a whole house came on the market in Miles’s Buildings and this one is a special hideaway. The walled garden is a romantic retreat in the heart of the city, shaded from the summer sun by a fig tree but with a sunny terrace with space for table and chairs. The Grade II Listed Georgian townhouse retains its wooden shutters, original dresser in the kitchen and fireplace in the drawing room. There are six bedrooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, two bathrooms and a shower room. Price: £850,000.

Wildoak Residential Tel: 01225 442020

Winkworth: 01225 829000

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A HOUSE in the COUNTRY A look at lovenests in the country Netherby Cottage, Box In the oldest part of Box village at the foot of Hazelbury Hill, Netherby was once two homes which have been joined into one, but still retains two staircases and two bathrooms. The cottage has stone floors, beams, old stone fireplaces, window seats that tempt you to curl up with a good novel, and a range in the kitchen to warm the cockles of your heart and your toes.

Outside, the cottage gardens are terraced and offer a secluded spot to grow flowers for the house or to dine alfresco. Price: £595,950.

Contact Hunter French: 01225 444454

Uplands, near Keynsham If you’re looking for a country house to raise a brood of beautiful barefoot children who will be raised on home grown fruit and veg and making dens and treehouses, then Uplands may be the ideal home for you. It’s got loads of space – seven bedrooms, with four of them having en suite bathrooms – and is in the countryside just a mile and a half outside Keynsham. Not only is the house handsome, with its Virginia creeper and many windows, its gardens are also a pleasure ground, with lawns, shaded areas under the trees, a private orchard and a well kept vegetable garden. Price: £1.1m.

Wildoak Residential Tel: 01225 442020

Mellowstones, Freshford Imagine sitting on the south facing terrace under the vine at Mellowstones, with the Iford Valley laid out at your feet – there can be fewer romantic views outside Tuscany.

Mellowstones is an 18th home, created from three original cottages. It has four bedrooms and three reception rooms and features include fireplaces and leaded light windows. The house is set in an enviable position among woodland and has well stocked gardens. Price: £975,000.

Contact Prichards: 01225 466225

Shadyside, Marshfield Marshfield High Street has many handsome buildings and the pleasing symmetry of the facade of Shadyside adds to the charm of this village on the edge of the Cotswolds.

The house dates back to the 17th century and is Grade II listed, but has been painstakingly renovated to provide old-fashioned romance along with modern comforts. The two main reception rooms have oak floors and working fireplaces and the modern fitted kitchen looks out over the gardens, which run to two thirds of an acre and include an orchard which is at its prettiest when the blossom is out in spring. There is also a paddock. The house has six bedrooms and three bathrooms, giving everyone breathing space. Fling open the doors and enjoy breakfast on the terrace before setting out on a country walk through the hills and valleys on your doorstep. Price: £1.3m.

Contact Knight Frank: 01225 315999

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R e s i d e n t i a l

Silver Street, Kilmersdon

£595,000

A Delightful 4/5 Bedroom Village Home including a 1 Bedroom Annexe Standing in Secluded Grounds of approximately 0.65 of an acre 4/5 Double Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | Open Plan Sitting Room | Kitchen/Dining Room | Office | Reception 2 | Double Garage | Workshop | Aga | Oak Flooring | Parking for several cars Offered for Sale with No Onward Chain.

Vernon Terrace

£249,950

S a l e s

Pool Barton, Keynsham

£194,950

A choice of two highly individual 2 Bedroom contemporary apartments both with private outdoor space and private parking, situated in an exclusive gated development consisting of only 11 apartments with views across open countryside.

Brand New Apartments | High Specification | Living/Dining Room | Kitchen with Integrated Appliances | 2 Double Bedrooms | En-suite Shower Room | Bathroom | Covered Terrace and covered parking to Ground Floor | Balcony and allocated parking to First Floor | Excellent transport links to both Bristol and Bath | Within walking distance of Keynsham Station

Cleveland Place, East

£145,000

Substantial Period Property within Walking Distance of the City Centre Currently configured as a 5 Bedroom Student Let

A Chic and Particularly Charming First Floor Apartment Retaining Many Period Features

Large Communal Room | Kitchen | Utility/Breakfast Room | 5 Letting Rooms | Bathroom | Separate Cloakroom | Garden | Single Garage | Currently Let until June 2011 | Actively Marketed at £1450 PCM for 2011/2012 Academic Year | Potential for Small Development Plot subject to usual Planning Consents

Kitchen/Dining/Living Room | Double Bedroom | Bathroom | Large Sash Windows | Beautifully Presented Throughout | Corniced Ceilings | Ceiling Roses | Period Style Fireplace | Stylish Bathroom with Claw Foot Bath | Offered for Sale with No Onward Chain

134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH

www.fidelisproperties.co.uk

01225 421000

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Residential Lettings

Ringswell Gardens

£1050 PCM

Fantastic 3 double bedroom modern home within walking distance of the city centre and within easy vehicular distance of the University of Bath Three Double Bedrooms | Open plan living / dining room with plenty of natural light | Decked balcony off living room | Modern kitchen with integrated appliances | Main Bathroom | Separate Shower Room | Undercover parking for 2 cars-3 cars | Outside terrace | Fully furnished

Quarrymans Court

£825 PCM

Family home set in a quiet backwater in Combe Down 2 Bedrooms | Short walk to Local Shops | Double Master Bedroom with en-suite | Easily maintained secluded garden | 2 Parking Spaces

T E L

Innox Grove

£850 PCM

Delightful family home in Englishcombe village 3 bedrooms | Rural location yet a few minutes drive from Bath | Neutral decor | Rear Garden backing onto open fields | Views from Main Bedroom | Utility Room

Twinhoe

Stunning and particularly spacious cottage boasting stunning views over Midford Valley Idylic Hamlet of Twinhoe within a short drive of Bath | 3 Double Bedrooms | Period Features | Garden | Views from all rooms | Large Utility | Bathroom | Shower Room | Rural Location

134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH

www.fidelisproperties.co.uk

£1500 PCM

01225 421000

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A delightful three bedroom first floor apartment situated on Bath's desirable northern slopes benefitting from parking, communal gardens and no onward chain. Lansdown Road, Bath 3 bedrooms, sitting room, modern kitchen, pretty communal gardens, en-block garage, no onward chain, approximately 750 sq ft. Guide Price ÂŁ240,000 Bath Office

Sales. 01225 312244 bath@hamptons-int.com

Estate Agent of the Year.

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Hamptons International has taken home the Best for Innovation award at the 2010 Estate Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising the importance of the Hamptons International app for iPhone and iPad. Call us to find out how our innovative marketing can help you.

A smart and spacious one bedroom apartment located on the ground floor of this most sought after purpose built residence with gardens, parking plus private balcony and garage. Sydney Road, Bath 1 bedroom, open plan living, well presented, smart location, garage, communal garden, approximately 760 sq ft. Guide Price ÂŁ295,000

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A delightful four bedroom period home, with a wealth of period features arranged over four floors with a courtyard garden. Charlotte Street, Bath 4 bedrooms, 2 receptions, grade II listed, wealth of features, bespoke kitchen, central Bath, approximately 2760 sq ft. Guide Price ÂŁ665,000 Bath Office

Sales. 01225 312244 bath@hamptons-int.com

Estate Agent of the Year.

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Hamptons International has taken home the Best for Innovation award at the 2010 Estate Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising the importance of the Hamptons International app for iPhone and iPad. Call us to find out how our innovative marketing can help you.

A handsome Grade II Listed five bedroom Georgian townhouse with flexible and well presented accommodation, a pretty garden and just a short level walk into the city centre. Bathwick Street, Bath 5 bedrooms, 3 receptions, grade II listed, Georgian features, flexible accommodation, walking distance to city, approximately 2540 sq ft. Guide Price ÂŁ650,000

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The Estate Agents People Recommend For Bath & Surrounding Villages

St.James’ Park, Bath

Offers In Excess Of £379,950

The Normans, Bathford

Guide Price £425,000

A simply stunning example of a 1930's semi detached family home set in a quiet location, just a short walk from St. James' square and the city centre.

A fine example of a three bedroom semi detached cottage having been subject to a complete refurbishment by the current owner making this property a real find.

Gloucester Road, Bath

Eveleigh Avenue, Bailbrook

Three bedrooms • Two reception rooms • Down stairs WC • Large bathroom • Pretty front and rear gardens • Stunning elevated views • Close to city centre

Guide Price £350,000

A handsome Victorian bay fronted three bedroom end of terrace property.

Period features • Modern kitchen/breakfast • Large lounge/diner • Summer house in garden Stunning elevated views • Gardens to front and rear • Easy access to M4 and city centre

Two stunning reception rooms • Fully fitted Kitchen • Down stairs WC • Designer bathroom • Large gardens • Parking for two cars • Quiet location

Guide Price £545,000

A most delightful double fronted, classically designed house, in ashlar stone.

Four Bedrooms • En-suite to master • Open plan living area with oak board flooring • Study/bedroom five • Large kitchen/breakfast room with marble worktop • Good sized landscaped and fully walled garden • Allocated parking

Bath Office 01225 904 904 www.wentworthestateagents.com • 1 Harrington Place, Bath BA1 1HF rightmove .co.uk 01225 904• 904 • www.wentworthestateagents.com

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residential sales

East Lea Road £335,000

The Academy £275,000

A well balanced 3 Bedroom 1930’s semi-detached property in need of some updating and located in the popular Weston area of Bath. The house has good access to local schools and shopping amenities in Chelsea Road and in Weston Village.

Features include; Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Rear Lobby, Cloakroom and Family Bathroom. Outside there is well proportioned garden to the rear and also a garage with further off street parking. Early viewing advised.

A luxurious and stylish, 2 bedroom duplex apartment, located immediately off the City centre. Benefits from quick access to the Bath Spa Railway Station and the new Southgate Development.

Offering modern light and airy living accommodation, the property nestles within communal landscaped gardens and benefits from its own off street parking bay.

Early viewing advised.

Kensington Gardens £315,000

Highbury Place £440,000

A charming 2/3 bedroom Victorian bay fronted end of terrace property located within half a mile of the City centre and approximately one mile away from Bath Spa Railway Station.

Benefiting from an abundance of period charm, this well presented home includes the following accommodation; two double bedrooms, study/nursery, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, bathroom and rear garden. Viewing highly recommended.

An attractive 4/5 bedroom Georgian town house located in the Camden area of Bath with far reaching views to the front and good access to the city centre.

This spacious family home is in need of renovation and has accommodation spread over three floors comprising of the following; drawing room (currently bedroom 1), living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom parking for two cars and large garden across the road to the front.

2 Princes Buildings George Street Bath BA1 2ED

T 01225 480444 F 01225 483198 E enquiries @whitfieldna sh.co.uk W www.whitfieldnash.co.uk

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Brunswick Street, Bath

Guide Price ÂŁ575,000

An elegant Grade II listed townhouse.

2/3 reception rooms, large kitchen/breakfast room, utility room. 4/5 bedrooms, shower room, family bathroom. Cellars. Approximately 2,100 sq ft.

West facing garden, on street parking.

KnightFrank.co.uk Bath 01225 325 999 bath@knightfrank.com

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Upper Castle Combe, Wiltshire A charming period cottage on the edge of a beautiful village.

One reception room, kitchen/breakfast room. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 shower room), snug/attic room. Approximately 885 sq ft.

Separate oďŹƒce, enclosed south facing garden.

KnightFrank.co.uk Bath 01225 325 999 bath@knightfrank.com

Guide Price ÂŁ465,000

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Nettleton, Wiltshire

Guide Price ÂŁ850,000

An attractive former school set in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside.

Entrance porch, 2 reception rooms, large kitchen, study/bedroom 5, boot room. Master bedroom suite, 3 further bedrooms, 2 further bathrooms (1 en suite) Approximately 2,619 sq ft. Double garage, parking. Stabling with hay store. Garden and paddocks of approximately 3.5 acres.

KnightFrank.co.uk Bath 01225 325 999 bath@knightfrank.com

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Marlborough Buildings, Bath A charming and well presented garden apartment in a prime location.

Entrance hall, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite). Approximately 1,156 sq ft.

Private garden and residents' parking.

KnightFrank.co.uk Bath 01225 325 999 bath@knightfrank.com

Guide Price ÂŁ475,000

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New Showroom - Now Open Chelsea House London Road Bath BA1 6DB Tel 01225 447971