An insight into The Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School with Richard Bertinet and chef Sat Bains
Emma Clegg samples Manja Manja’s ‘playfully Italian’ plates 60
Joe Short captures Bijan with a crowd of cardboard tubes
Author and teacher Catherine Bruton talks to Emma Clegg ahead of her masterclass at The Bath Children’s Lit Fest
68
Writer,
Chris Stephens, director of
Intimate
Research the offerings of schools and colleges in our region
From lipstick to perfume, discover the very latest products
90
Andrew Swift takes a walk in Wells, England’s smallest city 94
Daniel McCabe profiles his recommended interiors magazines
100 GARDENS
Jessica Stokes revels in this month’s cutting garden
F R O M T H E E D I T O R
We have some outstanding images for you Take the one on the cover, a piece called Pride by artist Paula Rego from her series The Seven Deadly Sins. Part of the Uncanny Visions exhibition at the Holburne, it has been aptly described as “ a cross between Miss Haversham and Marie Antoinette” See page 44 There are also some amazing photographic images showing animal behaviour in the wild, all on display in Unforgettable Behaviour, the forthcoming exhibition at The American Museum & Gardens (see page 48, and one of our favourites below!) We were delighted to chat to Richard Bertinet and discover more about the range of courses available at The Bertinet Kitchen Cooker y School, offered by himself and by visiting chefs W hat ’ s more, he introduced us to Sat Bains, a Nottingham-based chef specialising in heart-heathly food who is visiting this month for a Lunch and Learn workshop at the cooker y school See page 52
The Bath Children’s Literature Festival (27 September – 6 October) has an array of authors, illustrators, stor ytellers and poets visiting Bath, and one of them, local teacher and writer Catherine Bruton, told me about her book Bird Boy This tells the stor y of a boy who rescues and cares for an osprey with a broken wing, which allows his own wounds to heal. Catherine is running a creative writing masterclass workshop on 5 October focusing on stories about animals (see page 64). Another sharing her stor y is writer and director Emma Howlett. Emma grew up in Bath and is bringing the production of her own play, Her Green Hell – a sur vival stor y set in the Peruvian Rainforest – to the Ustinov September also brings talk of schools and we have delivered thoroughly, with an extensive director y of schools and colleges to guide you through the options in our region See page 68
Here’s to some unforgettable experiences this month
The Bath Magazine 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED; 01225 424499 www thebathmag co uk
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Emma Clegg, Editor
A Miracle of Monarchs by Axel Gomille, Germany, 2010, showing monarch butter flies migrating south through Nor th America, from the Unforgettable Behaviour exhibition at the American Museum & Gardens
Wool is…
• Naturally insulating
• Hard-wearing
• Easy to care for
• Sustainable
• Hypoallergenic
• Available in a wide variety of colours and patterns
City updates
ASTRONAUT TALK
British astronaut Tim Peake is starting a new tour Astronauts: The Quest To Explore Space, coming to Bath on 6 September, which will bring the awe and wonder of space travel past, present and future to venues this autumn, celebrating the incredible achievements and historic human endeavour of space exploration.
Tim made history in 2015 when he became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), where he spent six months living and working in space. And now he’s looking forward to a potential return to space, as part of a commercially sponsored, UK mission which could see him travel back to the ISS.
“The prospect of an all-UK mission is a hugely exciting opportunity for science and technology companies, and for education and outreach,” Tim says. “The impact of my ESA mission in 2015 was reaching and engaging with 2 million school children, and with potentially four Brits going to the ISS together we can do even more.
“This would showcase some of the cutting-edge science that the UK is involved in, in areas such as AI, quantum technology, biological engineering, advanced manufacturing and more. But more importantly, it’s a new realm of collaboration and cooperation with our international partners in a post-Brexit environment.”
These are momentous times for the space industry. While a moonwalk is on the cards for the Artemis 3 crew in 2026, and work is ongoing towards a crewed mission to Mars, some of the most exciting work will have impacts much closer to home in the coming years.
“We have occupied the ISS for over 20 years now – and it is essentially a giant science lab”, Tim explains. “But we’re getting more specialist in the science taking place there. There is more targeted pharmaceutical research as companies realise the potential. For example, growing protein crystals in space for motor neurone and Parkinson’s diseases could lead to much better treatments.
“There are attempts to grow human tissue and organs such as a heart on Earth, using
BATH WELCOMES ARLO & JACOB
Makers of handcrafted British furniture, Arlo & Jacob are opening a showroom in Bath at number 3 Broad Street. The small modern family business has its roots in the East Midlands, where they make their range of stylish sofas, chairs, footstools, and tables. They already have nine showrooms in the UK, including in London and Bristol. Here shoppers encounter furniture to suit every style, made for modern living and built to endure. Styles range from more traditional to thoroughly contemporary, and each piece can be tailored to taste, with modular designs available for an adaptable offering. Customers are free to browse endless fabrics, from house staples to designer options at price points to suit every budget. They’re also encouraged to explore design details like hand-turned hardwood legs made by a talented Derbyshire craftsman. Through creating inspiring spaces with a team of design experts on-hand Arlo & Jacob are able to offer the best possible service and style guidance. arloandjacob.com
bio ink and 3D printers. The problem is that small structures collapse due to gravity and need some sort of scaffolding. But in space, you can 3D print human organs more easily, because there is no gravity causing them to collapse in on themselves.
“It sounds like the wildest science fiction, but it really is science fact and it’s where we are at right now. And that’s when space research starts to mean something very real for people on Earth.
The event in Bath at The Forum is fully booked (fane.co.uk/tim-peake), but you can see a full version of Tim Peake’s perspective on the importance of space research at thebathmagazine.co.uk/timpeake-why-space-matters.
MINDFUL RUNNING
The Mindful Running Project, based in Bath, believes that running (and walking) is about more than just physical health. Its goal is to help people experience the psychological benefits of being physically active.
Health professionals often rightly suggest exercise as a means to help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, if you are struggling, it can be a big ask to find the self-motivation to exercise.
This is where the Mindful Running Project can help. While running is the primary approach, three other evidence-based methods are incorporated to help generate positive wellbeing; nature, community and mental resilience building.
A number of weekly group running sessions are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, along with 1-to-1 sessions and mental resilience building resources. All sessions are conducted outside and are followed by a chance to talk with other members over a coffee.
See mindfulrunningproject.co.uk to find out more and book your free taster session.
AVICII AUCTION TO BENEFIT GOOD CAUSES
Tim ‘Avicii’ Bergling was one of our time’s most celebrated and beloved musical visionaries, and his legacy is ever evolving. Stockholm’s Auktionsverk is presenting The Avicii Collection – a charity auction. On 1 October at 2pm UK time 267 lots of Tim Bergling’s personal items will go under the hammer in Stockholm (and online). No reserve, no commission.
All proceeds from the charity auction will benefit the Tim Bergling Foundation in its work for the mental health and wellbeing of young people. “It is with great pride and humility that we take on this unique and special charity auction. We are honoured to support such an impactful cause. We have 350 years of experience passing on the artefacts of some of history’s most prominent cultural figures and consider it a privilege,” says Cecilia Gave, CEO of Stockholms Auktionsverk.
The auction will be published in full on 6 September at auctionet.com; auktionsverket.com
SEIZE THE PLEASURE AT THE JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL
The Jane Austen Festival in Bath, from 13–22 September, is the largest and longest running Jane Austen festival – and the 10-day programme of events attracts over 3500 people.
The Grand Regency Costumed Promenade on 14 September will fill the streets of the city with over 500 people in Regency dress. A Whole Campful of Soldiers on 15 September brings His Majesty’s 33rd Regiment of Foot with authentic drill displays, music and talks presenting life at war. Tuesday 17 September offers a Turban-Making Workshop, or maybe you fancy a game of croquet at The Rec?
All this and more, including an 18th-century public breakfast, dance and singing workshops, guided walks, costumed balls, theatrical performances, ghost walks, stargazing events, murder mysteries and literary talks. janeausten.co.uk/pages/festival-home-page
THE MAN BEHIND THE TUBE MAP
The Natural Theatre Company are staging a new play in London based on the man behind the iconic Tube map.
For many of us, the London Underground is purely functional. But to Harry Beck, this web of geography became an obsession – a fascination with the creation of the perfect Tube map. How did Beck create the iconic diagram of today, and at what cost? To understand you need to meet Harry, and his wife Nora.
The production of The Truth About Harry Beck takes a glimpse inside a journey of passion, a wife’s dedication and the living breathing network of the tunnels and train tracks in our capital. Embrace your inner transport enthusiast through a mash up of real-life accounts, uncovered anecdotes and seemingly unconnected facts (…with a peppering of fictitious characters).
Join The Natural Theatre Company as they take you on a whimsical whirlwind of fact through the worlds of design, transport, modern history…and an addiction to getting it right. This brand-new production is in London Transport Museum’s on-site Cubic Theatre on 17–18 September and 20 September –10 November. ltmuseum.co.uk/theatre; naturaltheatre.co.uk
RODD & GUNN IN NEW BOND STREET
Rodd & Gunn New Zealand has opened its first Bath menswear store at 25 New Bond Street.
Immersing customers into relaxed refinement with styles that are odes to nature, Rodd & Gunn continue to bring New Zealand to the world. The opening of the Bath location marks a prestigious milestone during a year of substantial global growth, having just opened flagship stores in Manhattan, US, Toronto, Canada and in Edinburgh.
Rodd & Gunn opens its Bath store with the launch of their Autumn/Winter 24/25 collection, Beyond the Horizon. The collection showcases chunky woollen NZ ZQRX merino knits, signature outerwear, Italian fabric blazers, pure Italian cotton Oxford shirts, and clean-cut chinos. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted in classic blues, cappuccino camel browns, earthy moss greens, and accented with pastel yellows and cream tones, embodying the rugged elegance of their heritage landscape. roddandgunn.com/uk
5 things to do
Revel in books
Some of the biggest and best-loved names in the world of children’s books will be heading to Bath this autumn for the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. There is a programme of more than 80 events with visitors including Michael Rosen, Cressida Cowell, Rob Biddulph, Harry Hill, Andy Day, Jacqueline Wilson, Ben Miller, Robin Stevens and Liz Pichon.
The Festival will run from Friday 27 September to Sunday 6 October. thebathfestival.org.uk
Be uplifted
Feed your soul and experience the stunning works of Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light in concert from this exceptional group of musicians. Performed by members of The Fulltone Orchestra and Cantiamo Choir, with soloists Amelia Jones (Soprano) and Chris Why (Tenor). 28 September, 7.30pm, Bath Abbey. Tickets: from £16.50. bathboxoffice.org.uk
Watch a zany musical comedy
Diva Opera, Monkton Combe School, and The MASIC Foundation present Rossini’s The Barber of Seville in the Chapel at Monkton Combe School, near Bath, on Saturday 28 September. MASIC is a charity that supports women across the UK who have suffered lifechanging birth injuries. All of Diva Opera’s works are presented in spectacular period costume and sung in their original language. Tickets: adults £90 and under 18s £30. masic.org.uk
To book contact Mike Keighley, or his PA Suzanne (Mike is an old Monktonian, past Governor and President of MASIC). Tel: 01564 741865; keighleycolo@btinternet.com
If you are setting out on your wedding planning journey, a wedding showcase event is the best place to start. Take a tour of the ceremony rooms within the iconic Guildhall building in Bath and meet with local suppliers including florists, photographers and local venues licensed for ceremonies. The event is also a perfect opportunity for those with a ceremony booked already to see the space, visualise your day and meet your
Cruise for a cruise
Join Miles Morgan Travel in Bath on 12 September at 2.30pm, when David Chidley will be hosting an afternoon event showcasing all that Hurtigruten has to offer. Their unique product offers Norwegian Coastal Voyages and Expedition Cruises, The original Norwegian cruise company also offers a Northern Lights promise. Availability is limited so reserve your space by emailing bath@milesmorgantravel.co.uk or call 01225 486 800.
Miles Morgan Travel, 8-9 New Bond Street Place, Bath
Dave Mason was a T V journalist and presenter, working for HT V, ITN, GMT V, and was the voice that launched Somerset’s first commercial radio station in 1989. He owns a media training business and presents a slot on Radio Bath
How long have you lived in Bath? Almost 20 years We live in Odd Down, which is ideal for getting to the countr yside quickly, has great schools nearby and a lovely community
W here are you from originally and when did you first move here? I’m from Somerton, Somerset I used to visit Bath in my early twenties to watch bands play in Moles Club, during my first radio presenting job at Orchard FM. I suspect during a late night trip to the kebab house, aged 22, I thought; “One day, somehow, I am going to settle here, have a family ” Eventually, via Wales, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool and 10 years in L ondon, we did I bought a flat here in 2005 to escape L ondon, when I was doing shift work at GMTV I had a craz y, hardcore producing job and needed a haven to unwind
You have worked in broadcasting in radio and TV for more than 30 years. W hy was this the right career for you? I talked too much in class, so presenting seemed a good alternative when my lack of maths and physics prowess closed the door on becoming a cameraman. As a kid I was obsessed by the idea of getting into local radio or TV, and maybe having a shot at the big time on Radio 1 I always went to the Radio 1 Roadshows in Devon and used to rock up at the Royal Bath and West Show to see the HTV West stand In 1999, through sheer persistence, I became a presenter at HTV alongside some of the faces I’d grown up with A year later I got a job at BBC Radio 1! Nowadays, I commit half a day (2–5pm) on Friday to presenting on community station Radio Bath.
More recently you have specialised in media training with your business Mentor Media Training. W hy did you decide to move in this direction? L eaving ITV breakfast to go freelance forced me to consider more of a portfolio career I continued with reporter/producer shif ts with ITV News, Bristol and ITN in L ondon, but also began doing militar y and NATO media training around the world Following a spell with several
corporate media coaching firms, I settled on Mentor, a well-established family business in Bristol, being appointed Head of Training in 2014 In 2019, I bought the business just before the pandemic! We’re celebrating our 25th anniversar y this year.
You wrote the book, Handling the Media in Good T imes & Bad. Techniques for this must have changed significantl y in the time you have been in the industr y. Interestingly, some methods have developed for us over the last ten years with much of the wider media landscape centred around social, so we ’ ve adapted to that with an additional business Mostly, techniques around authenticity and having something interesting to say haven’t changed at all W hen someone on one of our courses combines several of our techniques, it ’ s a potent mix and ver y rewarding to see them perform confidently.
Tell us about the new platform Splutter that you have introduced. We have two businesses: one which trains people and provides communication consultanc y for reputation and crisis, and a training platform which simulates any kind of social media S plutter can run crisis or messaging workshops for clients who need to coach teams in hand ling complaints, and exercises for social media crises or tone of voice. It ’ s a revolutionar y tool.
W hat do you like to do at the weekends? My wife and daughter share my passion for music and food and Bath seems to have a different festival each week, so we love indulging that A perfect day or evening would be a gig, dinner at one of Bath’s superb restaurants and a pint after wards in The Raven
W hat gets you up in the morning? I’m pretty terrible first thing, but I always look for ward to meeting a room full of interesting people that I can support with growing more confident in public speaking situations.
Tell us about your love of music. I play a lot of new stuff as well as my classic ‘ live’ sessions on Radio Bath I’ve loved Shed Seven and Kasabian’s new work because they have unashamedly embraced pop/rock; former Stranglers singer Paul Roberts’ album for its light and shade (where Bowie meets Billy Idol); and Shaznay Lewis from All Saints has dropped a cracking album mentormediatraining co uk; splutter training
Naturals b l o g . . . by Cabin Crew
Our latest personal blog from the Natural Theatre Company is from Cabin Crew The tone is bright, cheerful and crowd-pleasing, and the underlying conviction is that every setback is surmountable.
How are you today? Welcome to Natural Air ways, the best way to get around the world
We are now opening for boarding at Gate 7 Can ever yone who has paid way-over-the-odds for early boarding please stand to the left of the normal people? Please make sure you look really smug and don’t catch the eye of anyone who has to wait a little longer… that will be a bit embarrassing for all of us.
Can I just check that your cabin bag weighs slightly less than a feather and is the size of a Sylvanian Families’ suitcase? Your bag looks a little big, but I can take your duty-free shopping out of the bag and we can keep it up front with Candice By the end of the flight, Candice might be a little drunk and smelling of the lovely Chanel you have bought but it will save you £149 50 in excess baggage
Now please do walk down along the ramp to the funny sticky-outy corridor thing that wobbles dangerously as you enter the cabin. W hen you get on the plane I will also be there to welcome you aboard. Or maybe it is someone different? I mean, you wouldn’t know because we all look the same
I have been working as a flight attendant for nearly 23 years I do miss the times in the past when we tried to give the ver y best ser vice to ever yone These days its more about tr ying to shoe-horn tall people into seats that are designed for five year olds All adults now have to have their knees under their chests, and that is before they have adopted the brace position.
I like to uphold all of the great values of ser vice that I learned when I was training. My favourite way to make someone feel a bit special is to bump them up to Business Class Not that there is any business class on most of our flights anymore So instead, I move my favourite passengers away from the couple that haven’t used deodorant for six months, or away from the single flier who won’t stop talking
“Can I just check that your cabin bag weighs slightly less than a feather? and is the size of a Sylvanian Families’ suitcase?”
I have had some training in massage and essential oils, which is ver y useful to relax the passengers. For instance, customers can feel a bit tense when security humiliates them because their contact lens fluid is a suspected terror threat Or they might be ver y stressed by the price of a ham and cheese panini in the café That ’ s when a little amateur shiatsu can come in useful They say I have healing hands
I am an expert at the safety routine As I do each move, I imagine I am a dancer on Taylor Swift ’ s Eras tour But I do take it ver y seriously The safety announcements, not Taylor Swift
Once we are in the air and ever yone ’ s ears have popped, I hand out the earphones that only intermittently work in the left ear. I also distribute the special neck pillows that will deflate somewhere over the English Channel
I used to love giving out the meals for free Ever yone would get a tiny knife and fork, a nuclear-hot foil wrapped ‘roast ’ (steamed) dinner, a tiny glass of water, a blueberr y cheesecake, a chocolate biscuit, a bread roll with runny butter and one other unidentifiable item of food We always made sure there was enough food that it would temporarily fit on the distribution tray, but as you started to eat it there was no way it could fit on the little table. The seats were also scientifically designed so that you would jab your neighbour in the ribs while eating your mashed potato, even if you were holding all your limbs as close as possible to your body, making it impossible to get anything in your mouth
Oh those were the days of good ser vice
Well if you see me around, have a chat and I will see if I can get you extra legroom and some back copies of the in-flight magazine Happy holidays! n
naturaltheatre.co.uk
The new women’s collection from Jigsaw provides modern classics and timeless shapes to bring stylish, bold comfort to your wardrobe. Here, we asked Natasha Musson, known as the Secret Stylist, to choose her favourite pieces. Natasha will be running a style event at Jigsaw on 14 September (11am–4pm), offering professional style tips. Jigsaw, 4 Old Bond Street, Bath
Crossbody Bag. £175s
Molten Loop Leather Necklace. £95,
Striped. Textured, T-shirt, £750
Keshi Pearl. Drop Earring, £55.,
Linnie Flat Pointed0 Ballerina Shoes, £110,
Oakley Heeled. Mule, £150
Tyne Wide Leg, Cropped Jean, £950
Wool Maxi City Coat, in chocolate,. £3850,
Soft Gauzy Knit. Poncho Jumper 0 £120.
Soft Gauzy Knit, Scarf, £80,
Leather Pleat. Midi Skirt. £350.
What’s on
MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE
n Green Park Brasserie, Green Park Road
Enjoy live jazz/funk/soul/swing at Green Park Brasserie on Weds and Thurs from 6 30–8 45pm and Fri and Sat from 6.30–9.45pm. Music includes dynamic duos, modern trios and a Hot Club style quintet. You can also watch the world go by with 2 for £15 cocktails 7 days a week on the 2 terraces located at the old railway station greenparkbrasserie.com
PANE E VINO SUPPER CLUBS
n Pane e V ino, 5/6 St James Street, Bath
Pane e V ino is open ever y Saturday evening for intimate and delicious cand lelit dinners. Chef Darix prepares three-course set menus priced according on what's on offer –inc luding coffee and limoncello, prices can range between £34–£45 per person Book by calling 01225 698063 as the dining room only seats 22 people For more information and menus follow Instagram @panevinobath, or pop in for a chat.
LI S T EN I N G I N O N H I T LER’S
P LA N S
5 S eptember, 10.30am–11.30am
n T he Pavilion, Nor th Parade Road
L ecture by Dr Helen Fr y, the foremost authorit y on the ‘secret listener ’ who worked at special eavesdropping sites operated by British Intelligence during WWII Her groundbreaking research has shed light on one of the greatest intelligence deceptions of the war : the bugging of Hitler ’ s generals at Trent Park in North L ondon. Doors open at 9.45am for coffee. Free for members, and a donation of £2 for non-members u3ainbath.uk
J O LOV ES P O M ELO - T H EM ED
A F T ERN O O N T E A A N D TA PA S
S C EN T EX P ERI EN C E
5 S eptember 1pm–4pm n T he Royal Crescent Hotel & S pa, 16 Royal Crescent, Bath
To celebrate the launch of a ne w range of in-room products and par tnership with Jo L oves, The Royal Crescent Hotel & S pa is hosting a Pomelo-themed af ternoon tea and tapas scent exper ience Hosted by a Jo L oves per fume exper t, and inc luding af ternoon tea and a Pomelo-themed coc ktail T ic kets £95 per person royalcrescent co uk
I F O RD S U P P ER C LU B: S I X - CO U RS E TA S T I N G M EN U
6 S eptember and 20 S eptember,
6 45pm–10pm
n Iford Manor, Iford, Bradford-on-Avon Book a table for a fantastic foodie exper ience, with exper tl y craf ted food and dr ink largel y sourced and made on the Iford Manor Estate and live accompaniment from a jazz pianist. Optional paired wine flight available £65pp (tasting menu, welcome dr ink, tea and coffee and live music) ifordmanor.dig itic kets.co.uk
B AT H S CA P E WA LKI N G F ES T I VA L
6–22 S eptember
n Various locations
From a Box Her itage Trail and Nordic Walking to an Ur ban Tree Walk and explor ing S ensor y S mallcombe, there ’ s no excuse not to take on some loc al walks this month bathsc ape.co.uk/walking-festival
N O.1 C RE ATO RS C LU B: C RE AT I V E CO LLAG E
7 S eptember, 10am–12pm
n No.1 Royal Crescent, 1 Royal Crescent Get inspired by the beautiful buildings of Bath, and create a layered paint and collage ar twork explor ing the geometr y and forms of Bath architecture L ed by ar tist Tar y n Thomas, the session will explore the histor y behind the cit y ’ s design and introduce collage, painting and obser vational skills in a relaxed and creative environment S uitable for ages 8-14 £10 per child/£9 concession. no1royalcrescent.org.uk
M ED I EVA L FA LCO N RY DAY
7 S eptember, 9 30am-5 30pm
n T he Bishop’s Palace, Wel ls
Held on the south lawn against the stunning backdrop of the medieval Great Hall, specialist falconr y firm Raptorcare will be entertaining crowds with a day of fantastic flying displays and beautiful birds
Displays at 12pm and 3pm Event inc luded with standard admission The Bishop’s Palace & Gardens is open daily bishopspalace org uk
ALDRI D GE’S OF BAT H AUCT ION
10 September, 10am (viewing Sat 7 Sept)
n Online
Fine art and antiques sale, including silver, jeweller y, ceramics and glass, oil paintings, watercolours and prints, European and Asian works-of-art, clocks, rugs, antique and later furniture and furnishings. aldridgesofbath.com
THE GRIEF OPERA: LOVE GOES ON 10 S eptember, 7 15pm
n Burdall’s Yard, Anglo Terrace, Bath
The most emotional show you will see this year premiers in Bath on S uicide
Pre vention Day Follows the death of Nigel Linacre ’ s son George by suicide and a journey to the deepest love, where jazz helps hand le the toughest moments. W ith international opera star Neil L atchman and roc k star Ker i Far ish Band leader : Vladimir Miller S tr ings lead: S ara S tagg e ventbr ite.co.uk; theg r iefopera.org
Medieval Falconr y Day at The Bishop’s Palace
EL M I S T I CO AT KO M ED I A
17 S eptember, 7.30pm n Komedia, 22–23 Westgate Street, Bath
The Poldark S how presents the mesmer ising and spellbinding El Mistico, featur ing Poldark and Angus Basker ville, br inging magic, mind reading and comedy hy pnosis to Bath, as par t of the UK tour Magician and mind reader Angus Basker ville opens the show with his sleight of hand tr ic ker y and impossible predictions Cabaret and master stage hy pnotist, Poldark will then offer immersive exper iences, demonstrations of hy pnotic phenomena and fun comedy Ages 14+ T ic kets from £18 90 komediabath co uk
S T I TC H I N G4A LL S H OW 19–21 S eptember, 10am–5pm n Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6NS
As well as top fabr ic and haberdasher y supplies and craf t traders, the show is br imming with over 100 se wing workshops inc luding embroider y, dress-making,
B AT H & CO U N T Y C LU B
EV EN T S I N S EP T EM B ER
S U N DAY CA RV ERY
8 S eptember, 12 30pm for 1pm £25
TA LK & 2- CO U RS E S U P P ER
10 S eptember, 6pm for 6.30pm Talk: Bath & the Br itish Empire Exhibition at Wembley 1924–2024. £25.
F I L M EV EN I N G & I N T ERVA L
S U P P ER
13 S eptember, 5 30pm for 6pm F ilm: The W izard of Oz £18
B AT T LE O F B RI TA I N D I N N ER
20 S eptember, 6.30pm for 7pm Three courses plus port. Black T ie. £42.
TA LK, CO F F EE & PA S T RI ES
27 S eptember, 11am Lif e as an Expat: a w orld of opportunity by K ate S eeley £15
S U N DAY CA RV ERY
27 S eptember, 12.30pm for 1pm £25.
Event venue: Q ueens Parade,Bath BA1 2NJ. To book, email secretar y@bathandcountyc lub.com or telephone 01225 423732.
crochet, knitting and felting There is also a textile and quilt exhibition with display s quilting groups P lus a mini c atwalk c alled ‘S tr utt Your S tuff ’ where makers and visitors wear and show their own dress-making and fashion creations. Asmaa, the current winner of BBC ’ s G reat Br itish Se wing Bee, will be dropping into the workshops and chatting with visitors T ic kets £11/£10/concessions free (book in advance to receive £2 off pr ice) craf t4craf ters co uk
T H E G LEN N M I LLER O RC H ES T RA
21 S eptember, 7 30pm
n W iltshire Music Centre, Ashle y Road, Bradford-on-Avon
S wing bac k to the 1940s with a showstopping music al celebration of big band leader, Glenn Miller This ver y special S eason L aunch concer t features the same line-up de vised by Glenn, alongside jazz band, The Uptown Hall Gang and voc alists the Moonlight S erenaders. Per forming c lassic arrangements of Glenn’s war time hits, like In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade and Tuxedo Junction T ic kets £28/£15 wiltshiremusic.org.uk
B A KA B E YO N D
21 S eptember, 8pm-10 30pm
n Chapel Arts, St James’s Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, Bath
For over 30 years, Baka Beyond has blended Afr ic an and Celtic music into an electr ify ing mix that br idges cultures and spreads joy Moved by the spir it of the Baka P ygmies of Cameroon dur ing a visit to the rainforest, Mar tin Cradic k and S u Har t wanted to share it with the wor ld T ic kets £15/£17 50 chapelarts.org
I
23 S eptember, 7pm n Bath Abbey
A per formance that tells the tr ue stor y of Petr Jasek, a Cz ech national and Chr istian
bath film socie t y progr amme
On 13 September Bath Film Society is showing 1976 (Chile, 2022), an engrossing suspense drama-thriller about an elegant and prosperous woman being drawn into Chile’s anti-Pinochet resistance in 1976. Manuela Martelli’s unnerving debut feature presents a blistering portrait of the ways in which the regime realised its culture of intimidation and fear Also showing on 27 September is Manon des Sources (France), directed by Claude Berri
bath film societ y screenings are held at bath royal literar y and scientific institution, 16–18 Queen square at 7.30pm on ever y second friday. members can enjoy a drink from 7pm before the film. Visit the bath film societ y website, or email for more information: bathfilmsociet y.org.uk; membership secretar y : mail@bathfilmsociet y.org.uk
aid worker who, in 2015, was impr isoned in S udan for his work aiding and assisting the persecuted church The play tours in par tnership with Release International and tells Petr ’ s stor y through innovative holographic live cinema. Each audience member will be provided with wireless headphones that take the immersive sound design to the next le vel Wr itten and per formed by Ar tless Theatre Company bathboxoffice.org.uk
E A RLY Y E A RS F U N: CO LO U RF U L F LAG S
23 S eptember, 9.30am/11am n Bath Abbey
Exper ienced facilitator Holl y Dabbs leads this interactive sessions explor ing the Abbey D rama, singing, craf ting and stor y time activities are inc luded Children aged 2-4 years and their c arer : 9 30am–10 30am and their c arer Maximum number : 10
Children aged 0-2 years and their c arer : 11am–12pm. Maximum number : 10. e ventbr ite.co.uk
Stitching4All Show
1976 with Aline Küppenheim as Carmen
Aq uA s A nA i n t h e Ro o f to p p o o l
25 S eptember, 8am
n Thermae Bath Spa, Hot Bath Street, Bath
Explore mind, body and soul with teacher Bex Br idg ford for a morning of Aquasana in the Roof top Pool followed by a Thermae Welcome two-hour spa session. Aquasana inc ludes c lassic yoga postures combined with gentle tai chi and invigorating karate moves in the spa ’ s mineral-enr iched waters
LOOKING AHEAD
d es i g n f o R li v i n g
2–5 October, 7.30pm
T he Rondo T heatre, Bath, BA1 6RT
n In Noel Coward ’ s 1932 comedy Design f or Living, directed by Gill Morrell for Bath D rama, Gilda, L eo and O tto grapple with their complic ated three-way relationship. From ‘ love among the ar tists’ on the lef t bank in Par is, via the challenges of ar tistic and social success in L ondon, to the glamour of a penthouse in Ne w York, the three main characters r icochet off the people around them as they tr y to find some kind of liveable equilibr ium T ic kets
£14/£12 tic ketsource co uk; rondotheatre co uk
t h e i M p o RtA n C e o f t h e g u t
3 October, 10 30am–11 30am
n T he Pavilion, Nor th Parade Road
L ecture by Dr Graham Cope, a medical scientist who specialises in healthcare issues such as antibiotic resistance, ‘guts’ and inflammation Doors open at 9 45am for coffee Free for members, and a donation of £2 for non-members u3ainbath uk
s h i n e o n
4–26 October, Monday to Saturday, 6.30pm n Bath Abbey
A spectacular S on-et-L umiere exper ience transforming the internal space of Bath Abbey This ne w immersive light show has been created by award winning ar tistic collaboration ‘ L uxmuralis’, Peter Walker (sculptor) and David Har per (composer) This show inc ludes loud sounds, music and moving and flashing images throughout the exper ience, as well as br ight lights and areas of darkness within the Abbey S uitable for all ages T ic kets £10/£5/under 5s free of charge bathboxoffice.org.uk
This c lass harnesses the healing proper ties of the waters, leaving you feeling c leansed, rejuvenated and grounded £50 eventbr ite co uk
w ellb ei n g p o p - u p At s t u d i o 22 27–29 S eptember
n Studio 22, New Bond Street, Bath
Do you know someone who needs a wellbeing boost? V isit S tudio 22 and explore small gif ts that will make a big difference
t u Rn eR v eRs u s Co n s tA b le: t h e g Re At b Ri t i s h pA i n t
7 October, 11.30am–12.30pm n Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, Bath (in person or online)
This is the stor y of the epic r ivalr y between the two giants of Br itish ar t, J M W Turner and John Constable As unlike in bac kground and temperament as their paintings were in st y le, these two creative geniuses transformed the ar t of landsc ape. The subject also provides an over vie w of the Br itish ar t wor ld dur ing the 19th centur y L ecturer Nicola Moor by T ic kets £10/£7 Email bath@thear tssociet y org to book thear tssociet y bath com
b At h Yo u n g M u s i C i A n o f t h e
Y e A R 2024
8 October, 7 30pm
n T he P ump Room, Bath
Bath Young Musician of the Year returns with a group of highly talented young local musicians promising an evening of outstanding performances The MidS omerset Festival takes pride in knowing that many competitors over the years have gone on to enjoy successful musical careers The five young performers taking part are: Edward Blackwall: flute; Indira Pandit: cello; Katie S hepperdson: soprano;
Hosted by youth char ities Mentor ing P lus and Off The Record, this weekend pop-up shop will be selling The Bath 5k Map encouraging wellbeing walks in nature, plus wellbeing gif ts Ever y purchase will help both char ities suppor t young people in B&NES. mentor ing plus.net
J ster W iltshire: violin midsomersetfestival.org
A A Ro n A Z u n dA A Ku g b o &
b At h p h i lh A R M o n i A
9 October, 7.30pm
n T he For um, Bath
Join Bath P hilharmonia to celebrate the opening of their 25th season in a big and brassy concert featuring the brilliant and ultra-cool trumpeter Aaron Azunda Akgubo performing Joseph Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto Bath P hilharmonia performs Jean S ibelius’ fif th symphony ; a towering orchestral work inc luding an over whelming finale inspired by a flock of swans in full flight bathboxoffice.org.uk
d i C K A n d A n g el
19 October, 7 30pm n Bath For um
S pend an entertaining evening with the stars of Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau, Dick and Angel S trawbridge. Millions of viewers been enthralled by the adventures of retired Lieutenant Colonel, engineer and chef, Dick, and his entrepreneur and designer wife, Angel The pair are heading back out on the road, sharing more of the adventures, challenges and successes of building and living their Chateau dream. This interactive show will also shine the spotlight on the audience. fane.co.uk n
Aaron Azunda Akugbo
Shine On at Bath Abbey
Page turners
Here are a selection of books recently published, or about to be, with themes ranging from a feminist memoir to a dystopian novel – including one that prof iles the big characters of Bath from King Edgar to Jeremy Fry.
Rescued legends
Author, artist and art historian, renaissance woman and Somerset local Amy Jeffs believes legends of Saints should get the same attention we devote to mytholog y. Her book Saints: A new legendar y of heroes, humans and magic (published on 12 September) offers a rich, strange web of lost stories that tell us much about our past From resurrected geese, eels biting attacker ’ s genitals, a leaf that turns into a boat and dragons to dog-headed men, griffin eggs, battles with V ikings and talking disembodied heads, our ancestors knew these unruly stories. Amy examines the legends and the window they offer us into politics, economics, society and the medieval mind. Q uercus, £30.
Amy will be talking about her new book at Bath Elim C hurch with Mr B’s Empor ium on 17 September at 7pm T ickets from mrbsempor ium com
Dystopian climate change novel
Even as the wor ld ends, a family can still tear itself apart Alice Fox is only six when her parents uproot her and their family to escape Britain’s disintegrating cities. However, the seeds of their destruction have already been sown and travel north with them
In the Scottish Highlands, Alice will learn the skills she needs to sur vive this dangerous new wor ld But no matter w hard they tr y to escape it, e wor ld outside draws its oose ever tighter around them.
Celebrating Bath’s past and present
Following on from the Histor y Makers of Bath Exhibition held alongside Bath Abbey in 2014, an illustrated book of the same name is being published on 24 September to pay tribute o Bath’s unsung heroes
Bath-based author Neil J ook understood ear ly that riting was the only way to xplore other wor lds, remake istor y or peer into the future. He studied literature at niversity and worked for many ears in advertising It was tarting a family that gave him he motivation to write omething of greater onsequence. Nuncle is his first novel. The Book Guild Publishing, £8.99
The Histor y Makers of Bath outdoor exhibition was a major innovative xhibition celebrating he great men and women of the city A number of large isplay panels profiled a series of creative and inspiring mages, together with information relating to famous or nfamous characters of Bath
Each histor y maker has made a lasting impression on Bath and its surroundings The book, written by Angela Calvert-Jones – which will feature figures inc luding King Edgar, Admiral Arthur Phillip RN, Richard Sheridan, W illiam Harbutt, Arnold Rid ley, Jeremy Fr y and W illiam Friese-Greene – is an important celebration of Bath’s past, resent and its aspirations for the future
Sales of the book will support Focus Counselling focusbath com) Histor y Makers of Bath, £14 99, from Harr y ’ s Bookshop in Moor land Road, The Silver Shop in Union Passage and Bath Abbey bookshop.
A moving feminist memoir
And Still We March by local author Marisa Bate is an intimate family memoir and perceptive dissection of the last fifty years of feminist struggle
Marisa’s urgent work retraces the footsteps of her mother in the 1970s – as she travelled on a Greyhound bus from New York City across the Midwest – in an attempt to discover how the fight for women's rights got derailed.
At the hear t of the book is the stor y of Marisa’s journey to discover more about her mother, the hurdles she faced and her staggering resilience
Marisa has built a respected and trusted name as a feminist journalist and is the author of The Periodic Table of Feminism (Ebur y, 2018).
Published by HQ, £10.99
Staging a vision
A new production at the Ustinov tells the real-life story of a teenager who was the only survivor of an air crash in the Peruvian Rainforest in the 1970s Emma Clegg talks to writer and director Emma Howlett, who cut her theatrical teeth in Bath at the Egg’s youth theatre.
To be a stor yteller you first need a stor y to tell For theatre playwright and director Emma Howlett the concept for her company ' s first professional production came to her while listening to a podcast. S he heard the stor y of 17-year old German-Peruvian Juliane Koepcke who was flying over the Peruvian rainforest in 1971 with her mother when her plane was hit by lightning Incredibl y she sur vived a t wo-mile fal l and f ound herself alone in the jungle S he kept herself going for 11 days, until she was rescued, eating sweets from the w rec kage and using sur vival skil ls learned from her z oologist parents “I felt it was an incredible stor y that would reall y work as a piece of theatre, bec ause there is such a c lear str ucture to it, and it ’ s suc h a distinct, self-contained episode ” , say s Emma.
Emma set up her company TheatreGoose while stil l a student at O xford Universit y and w rote Her G reen Hell, her professional debut show, just two years af ter graduating The production opened starring S ophie Kean – who she had worked with at Cambridge when studying for her MPhil – at VAULT Festival (located in the tunnels underneath Water loo Br idge) in 2023 It then transferred to S ummerhall at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it was longlisted for the BBC Popcorn New Writing Award and attracted the attention of the artistic team of the Theatre Royal P lymouth. Now the production is coming to the Ustinov in Bath from 24-28 S eptember.
“I've rewritten it, we ’ ve upgraded the set, and it has grown up into a piece that will par ticular l y suit the space of the Ustinov The set has always had the same sensor y qualit y, and the DNA of the show hasn’t changed The production centres on a row of aeroplane seats (found on eBay!) from the year the crash happened, evoking the ’70s with their retro blue fabric, and ashtrays still intact
“ We wanted the seats to spin because the reason that Juliane initially sur vives is because she’s on the window seat of her row of seats The two other passengers, one of whom is her mother, disappear when she ’ s falling. And the way that she falls – in Juliane’s words, ‘the plane seat spun like the seed of a maple leaf, which twir ls like a tiny helicopter through the air ’ – is also essential to the stor y, so the updr af t of the storm slows her down and then she is caught by the vines of the forest S o the science of spinning is the reason she sur vives – and I wanted that to be a central, physical part of the show ”
Once the seats have settled they transform into an imagined rainforest Juliane had a wound on her arm that was infested with maggots and she resourcefully added gasoline to the wound to disinfect it Her Green Hell portrays the maggots growing out of her arm using shredded paper. “ We really employ the audience's imagination, as Juliane paints a really epic picture of her journey through the rainforest within a tight circular footpr int, a blac k void she is trapped within, surrounded by mossy mounds So it ’ s that dissonance between the artificial, manmade plane that ’ s crashed into this wor ld of nature The show addresses her sur vival stor y, in the context of the environment ’ s, in the man versus nature struggle, and considers what that relationship is ”
Emma, who is from Bath, always loved to perform, taking ballet and dance c lasses, and she also spent five years with The Egg, in what was then called the Young People’s Theatre ( YP T ). There she encountered directors such as Amy L each (now Deput y Artistic Director at L eeds P layhouse) using a phy sic al ensemble st y le, one that continues to dr amatic al l y inf or m her work “ I work quite similar l y to the way a choreographer does, as opposed to some stage directors That ’ s because I like to work in my own head imagining per formers in a space It ’ s about staging, creating shapes on stage and defining a narrative by the
Sophie Kean in Her Green Hell
movement of bodies. I use the same technique for a c lassic S hakespeare play or with an intense physical piece that I’ve written. I heavily rely on my instinct for movement on stage, which is totally rooted in my work as a dancer ”
Emma’s approach also involves close collaboration with both the actors and with her creative team Her latest production is an exper imental departure from Anton Chekhov ’ s Three Sisters, called Sisters Three It was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, also features actor Sophie Keen, as well as her standard creative team, set designer Ellie W intour, lighting designer Ed Saunders and composer and sound designer Sarah Spencer. Emma describes this as ‘ a creative collective’.
This production extracts the three sisters from Chekhov ’ s play and throws them into the lives of other sister tr ios through time and literature, to explore the trope they occupy “ The idea is what, beneath the surface of the Chekhov, are those three women really looking for, and what does it mean to discover different versions of their own lives? Also how sisterhood maybe hampers agenc y, or is a consolation for not getting what you want I only wrote this version in June, so it will change a great deal when we transfer it to L ondon next year. ”
Emma explains that her method of staging through mo vement is especially useful in a one-person show, of which she has directed two in the last year – Her G reen Hell and a production of George Brant ’ s G rounded at The Bridge Theatre, Brussels “A one-person show is quite a different landscape to plot than even a two-person show, because when you add just one more performer on stage you are halving the number of lines an actor has And you are giving them someone to feed off and support them all the way through S o in a solo piece, the relationship bet ween me and the actor is muc h c loser and slightl y more codependent. That ’ s where the mo vement real l y helps bec ause it gives them something to hold on to in the piece
“ The performer needs to build a ‘ breaking fourth wall’ connection to an audience ver y early on They need to find that connection ver y quickly and maintain it, but they must fulfil what the piece needs of them – it ’ s a really difficult thing to do ”
Having Her G reen Hell playing in her home cit y of Bath is emotional
for Emma: “It ’ s such a lovely homecoming having my work in the cit y, because it ’ s where my directorial inspiration began and where my career had its first seeds planted ”
And what are Emma’s thoughts on her creative destination? “ W hen I went to universit y I thought I wanted to be an actor, or something ver y worthy like a human rights barrister, but when I started directing I knew I had found what I was best at I’d love to think that I'm still managing to ser ve humanit y with my work, making ar t that al lows people to think about their lives in a new way, or that provides some escape ”
Her Green Hell, 24–28 September, Ustinov Studio, 7 30pm Tickets £20/£16; theatreroyal.org.uk.
Grounded, Bridge Theatre, Brussels
Sisters Three, per formed at the Edinburgh Fringe
Emma Howlett
Playing a blinder
Britain’s oldest dance company Rambert presents Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, written for the stage by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight. The show, which comes to Bristol Hippodrome 24-28 September, has been choreographed and directed by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer Steven Knight tells us about this reimagining of the story
Opening in the trenches of F landers, a personal stor y unfolds in post-war industrial Birmingham as the Shelby family navigate the decisions that determine their fate and Tommy is intoxicated by mysterious newcomer, Grace. W hile Tommy is building his empire, Grace is operating as an undercover agent for Special Branch on a mission to get close to the heart of Tommy ’ s gang.
As the stor y unfolds, hearts are broken, and revenge is sought This spectacular dramatisation and breathtaking dance is heightened by a live on-stage band performing specially commissioned music by Roman GianArthur and iconic Peaky tracks from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Radiohead, Anna Calvi, The Last Shadow Puppets, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
How did you become connected with Rambert?
It was a gradual process because someone at the BBC suggested that we meet when we talked about doing a 12-minute dance piece as part of a Peaky Blinders festival Rambert were brought on, and it was brilliant I was writing series five of Peaky Blinders at the time and so I wrote a scene where Tommy Shelby invites Rambert to his house, because in the 1930s Rambert used to tour the countr y and do shows to bring dance to the people In Peaky Blinders, the music, the way people move and the way they dress is really important so it really lends itself to dance. Rambert ’ s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer and I noted that we
could create a full show together I was shocked when the company asked me to write it, but I imagined the set and the stage and wrote what I thought would be good for that
Benoit and I started working together and it began to snowball We brought in some great collaborators and got really good music for it. I saw the show in rehearsals and couldn’t believe how great it was. I first saw it performed to an audience in Birmingham and it raised the roof with standing ovations, and now it ’ s going all over the place
How does the work of Rambert make you feel?
I didn’t realise how direct the relationship between dance and the audience is I work with dialogue and plot within scenes where people act the roles, whereas in dance it feels more subtle in the execution but more direct in the effect. An interaction between two people can be ver y stylised but you get to see that ver y quickly, and the music continues to amplify that.
How did you meet both inspirations and visions during the collaboration process of making the work?
I wrote the script as though it was a long script without dialogue, with slight inclusion of narration I started off with WWI and soldiers coming out of a tunnel, and imagined how they would look and move, while thinking about how that would make them feel too. The way I tend to write is quite instinctive so I just wrote it imagining it through dance
and music. I wrote it almost like a dream rather than a script. It felt dreamlike, not forcing the imagination, but writing what comes to you.
How did it feel trusting another creative with the keys to Peaky Blinders?
W hen there’s somebody as good as Benoit, it ’ s a relief It ’ s like giving the script to a good director as you know they are going to take what you ’ ve done and enhance it I’m a firm believer in doing things that you haven’t done before other wise it ’ s boring, so the idea of telling people that Peaky Blinders will be presented through dance is great.
Do you think you learnt anything from Benoit or Rambert, and the art of storytelling?
Yes I think it teaches you that sometimes words cause a jam Instead you can present something quite quickly in dance, and it teaches you the power of a look The thing about dance is that all of us are experts in it because we all live our lives in a dance For example, if someone walks into a room - you can tell if they are in a good or bad mood because of their body language. Dance takes that and puts it to music.
How did you come to decide that there would be a live band on stage?
The music is central to the TV series and music is the stepping stone between the TV series and the dance piece too Roman GianArthur, who did the score, absolutely got what Peaky Blinders was about It isn’t exactly a particular style of music as it can be folk or heavy metal, but it does need to have a certain swagger or a certain attitude to it. In terms of the style of music, and in the words of Cillian Murphy : “ There is music that is Peaky, and there is music that isn’t Peaky. You can’t always define it but you can tell when you hear it ”
Is it exciting to be bringing in a new audience?
It really is, and it is one of the reasons why we decided to do it I’m proud that Peaky Blinders isn’t high brow or of a particular class - it ’ s a cross section of people from different backgrounds, so it appeals to different people too People may not always walk through a door marked ‘dance’ but they may walk through a door marked ‘Peaky Blinders’ , so you can connect with new audiences by welcoming them through that setting.
Saying that, the BBC’s most popular TV show across all demographics is Strictly Come Dancing, so audiences love watching people dance. It isn’t like it ’ s restricted to certain people of a level of education or income, as people have been dancing for 10,000+ years
Isn’t it great that something like this can work, and it challenges the idea that there are these rigid barriers between class and entertainment?
Do you think Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is an accessible show?
Absolutely. It ’ s ver y accessible. The stor y is clear and we aren’t planning on baffling people. We are being as clear as we can about what ’ s going on and that, in itself, is quite mysterious
It ties into what Rambert ’ s original remit was in the ’20 sand ’30s of taking dance to working class people who love dance That doesn’t come with a clause of being patronising but I think this show does that in the true spirit of Rambert For me, you ’ re getting to see what human beings can do; the way the dancers move and the way they interact, as they throw themselves into it. It ’ s incredible that you can see human bodies pushing themselves to the limit to tell a stor y – it ’ s brilliant.
What do you want audiences to feel when they engage with the dance theatre show?
It ’ s a live experience and that ’ s one of the things that I really like about it as, in comparison, television isn’t a communal experience W hat tends to happen is that people watch Peaky Blinders, and then they get on social media so the communal experience happens on screens
If you get people in a room together, all in the same space listening and watching to the same things, it ’ s just totally different. For me, it ’ s more satisfying because audiences get their reactions out of their system.
If you go into a room and watch the work, and you hear the music, and you are part of a standing ovation, you have a beginning, middle and end to that experience You can then take it out into the cold and talk about that together n
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is at Br istol Hippodrome from 24-28 S eptember ; tic kets available from atgtic kets.com/br istol
t dance
Ramber
company per forming Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby
Photographs by Johan Persson
Arts & exhibitions
The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath
Uncanny Visions: Paula Rego and Francisco de Goya, 7 September –5 January 2025
The Holburne presents a major exhibition exploring the notion of the uncanny in the work of Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746–1828) and Paula Rego (1935–2022)
Henry Moore in Miniature, Until 8 Sept
Inc ludes over 60 of Henr y Moore’s works that can fit in the hand, with works from the 1920s to the 1980s
1989 Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 8 September 10am–5pm Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath
The award-winning monthly Bath Contemporar y Artists’ Fair (BCAF) is committed to bringing the best of contemporar y art to the heart of Bath It has created a regular space where artists can network, share ideas, connect with the public, and where the public can connect with art V isitors can see the works of local artists and admire fine art, photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and much more, all under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website: bcaf co uk
Melanie Goemans, Jaejun Lee, Christopher Marvell and Kate Sherman, 7 September - 5 October, Beaux Arts, 12-13 York Street, Bath
With Rugby starting up again at the Rec, September sees Beaux Arts kick off the season showcasing four talented artists, including rising star ceramicist Jaejun Lee
The walls of the gallery will be adorned by two arboreally-orientated painters, Cambridgeshirebased Melanie Goemans and Sussex artist Kate Sherman Both sets of work reflect a strong affinity with local woodlands and landscape Bronze sculptures are by the redoubtable Christopher Marvell Open Monday to Saturday 10am–5pm, and by appointment beauxartsbath co uk
The Ethical Entomologist by artist Caroline Rudge, 6–21 September, Willow and Gallery @ No 56, High Street, Corsham SN13 0HR
This month Caroline Rudge is filling the window of W illow and Galler y @ No 56 with her Lepidoptera prints Caroline has been working on a printmaking project to document 100 species of butterflies and moths She uses discarded tetrapak cartons, drawing into them using a dr ypoint technique. Also on display are Caroline’s ‘Ethical Entomolog y ’ pieces, made up of reproduction prints on paper of her Lepidoptera paintings, which are cut out, folded and pinned to mimic genuine entomolog y specimens Open Weds to Sat 10am–5pm (or by appointment) willowuk com
Somerset Art Weeks, 21 September –6 October, various locations
V isit the annual Somerset Art Weeks event, where artists across the county exhibit their work in a series of free exhibitions This year ’ s theme is Landscape: F lux and F low Artists of ever y medium, from painting to performance, will be joining the festival to form part of this celebration of Somerset ’ s exciting creative voices in over 100 group exhibitions and events F ind out more by going to the SAW website at somersetartworks.org.uk
Little Miss Muffet, etching and aquatint, Paula Rego,
Painting by Ema Kidson
Flared Vessel, medium, porcelain, Jajeun Lee
States of Being: an exhibition by Sara King, 10-15 September, 44AD Gallery, Abbey Street, Bath
Sara King is a figurative artist who has always been fascinated by human form, and works as a sculptor and painter
This exhibition explores the idea of identity, change, growth and how we become the complex individuals that we all are Each piece is connected but stands alone Sara creates work as a sculptor in a variety of media including bronze, clay, cement fondue and metals, while in two dimensions she uses paint, ink, bleach and charcoal Open from 12pm-6pm. sara-king co uk
New Works by Karen Keogh, Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret's Buildings, Bath
Batheaston Art Trail 28–29 September
The Batheaston Art Trail has become a regular event in the west countr y arts calendar, offering art and craft lovers great days out in an English valley community
You’ ll find painters, ceramicists, illustrators, graphic designers, textile artists, sculptors, jewellers and printers, displaying work in their studios as well as in shared venues including the Batheaston New V illage Hall and St John the Baptist Church The art trail also celebrates Batheaston’s connection with the suffragette movement, with signature bunting and a display of suffragette memorabilia in St John the Baptist Church
The event is supported by the community group Grow Batheaston, and details of the trail as well as all the artists involved, along with a downloadable map, can be found at growbatheaston co uk
Gallery Nine is this month showcasing new works by Karen Keogh The artist ’ s three-plate colour etchings are primarily concerned with exploring a landscape or cityscape Karen makes visual sense of a scene by finding natural patterns, and using a combination of warm and cool colours she creates visual depth, with intense colour helping to represent mood, light and space Karen regularly shows at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and her work is held in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford; The University of Aberystwyth print collection; the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; and the Parliamentary Art Collection gallerynine.co.uk
Benedict Brain at sandrahiggins.art
Benedict Brain is a Bath-based photographer and an award-winning journalist and author. “I use photography to uncover the hidden beauty of the banal and liminal places that of ten go unnoticed ”
Benedict will be giving a talk, The Art of Seeing, at BRLSI on Wednesday 11 September, from 7 30pm–9pm V isit br lsi/whatson/the-art-of-seeing/ for tickets. To view Benedict ’ s photography, visit the online galler y or contact Sandra to arrange a private view
sandrahiggins.art; sandra@sandrahiggins.com
4EU
Bringing together over 70 of the most innovative and exciting professional independent artists from all over the countr y from Scotland to Cornwall (with many from the south west), the Bath Art Fair is the perfect setting for customers to discover new original art All artists are happy to explain their inspirations and processes and discuss commissions – visitors enjoy meeting the artists and find an emotional connection with their work T ickets £6 online, £7 on the door. bathartfair.co.uk
Bath Art Fair, 14 & 15 September, Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath, BA2
Essence by S arah King
Wadi Rum, Jordan, 2023
Ar twork by Jocelyn Horsfall
Combe Down Art Trail, Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 September Combe Down, Bath
Combe Down Art Trail this year is a bumper year with 44 artists taking part, inc luding many new to the trail As well as paintings, prints, photography and ceramics there are sculptures, wire and wooden animals, potter y, jeweller y, box art and textiles. This year visitors can have a portrait photo taken, watch demos of stone car ving, 'gravity painted' watercolour and collage and enjoy refreshments inc luding lunch at the Pegg y Dodd Centre
There are venues throughout the village, with artists at the Community Centre, Museum of Bath Stone and Pegg y Dodd Centre, as well as in their own studios and homes in the village. The street galler y on railings and in windows shows off artwork created by Combe Down schoolchildren and todd lers
Combe Down Art Trail aims to encourage art across the community and to do as much as possible to protect the environment by reusing and recyc ling the red and green lanterns, venue numbers and arrows along the route cdartt rail com
A Quiet Corner by Shay Parsons
Rooted in the Landscape: Paintings from Catherine Beale’s new book 'Capturing Light’, 3–5 October, Packhorse Bath, Old School Hill, South Stoke, Bath BA2 7DJ
Catherine Beale’s new collection of luminous paintings are truly rooted in the landscape. Depicting windswept groves, to ancient individual trees that mark the passage of time, her works are also preoccupied with dramatic optical light effects Water glitters and sunbeams filter through mists, all captured in her unique ‘gravity painted’ swirling watercolours
Catherine’s watercolours are ‘gravity-painted’ on artboard and wooden panels “creating visible collisions and surprising tributaries across their surface.” These rigid surfaces faithfully record the semiabstract marks of paint puddles, drips, back runs and watermarks, revealing the naturally beautiful passage of water through paint. Catherine combines this with punches of colour straight from the tube, a legacy of her years as an oil painter catherinebeale.com
WMirrors are Artwork
CYNTHIA WIHARDJA Beau Nash Antiques, Bath
hen faced with the choice of decorating a wall with a mirror or artwork, it’s important to recognize that a mirror can be a form of art in itself. This perspective can help resolve the dilemma by appreciating the artistic and historical value that mirrors bring to a space
Craftsmanship and Frame Design: Mirrors are not just functional objects; they are often crafted with a high degree of artistry. The frame of a mirror can be a work of art, showcasing intricate designs, carvings, and materials Antique mirrors, in particular, are prized for their handcrafted frames, which may feature detailed woodwork, gilding, or other decorative elements that reflect the era in which they were made. Such frames can add a touch of elegance and history to any room, making the mirror a focal point of the decor
Historical Significance: Many mirrors have a rich history, which can add depth and character to your home. For instance, a vintage or antique mirror may have been part of a grand estate or a historic home, carrying with it stories from the past The craftsmanship of older mirrors often reflects the artistic trends and materials of their time, offering a glimpse into history. Owning such a piece allows you to bring a part of that history into your living space, creating a unique and storied atmosphere
Foxed Glass and Patina: The glass itself can also tell a story. Over time, old mirrors often develop a characteristic known as “foxing,” where the glass shows signs of aging, such as spots or a slightly tarnished appearance This patina can enhance the mirror’s charm and authenticity, providing a sense of antiquity and depth that new mirrors lack. Foxed glass can evoke a nostalgic feeling, making the mirror not just a decorative piece, but a conversation starter
Mirrors as Artistic Elements: Just like artwork, mirrors can be chosen to complement your home’s style and your personal taste. A mirror with a baroque frame can add drama and opulence, while a minimalist, frameless mirror can enhance a modern aesthetic. Mirrors can also be strategically placed to reflect and amplify other elements of your decor, such as artwork, creating a cohesive and dynamic visual experience
So when deciding between a mirror and artwork, consider the artistic merit of the mirror itself. Its craftsmanship, historical significance, and unique characteristics can make it a valuable and meaningful addition to your home decor A well-chosen mirror can be just as expressive and enriching as any piece of artwork, adding both beauty and history to your space. n
The work of artists Paula Rego and Francisco de Goya both focus on the wonderful, bizarre, and frightening aspects of human experience They lived in different eras, but their inspirations were in tune, as a new exhibition at the Holburne illustrates.
Imagine having a creative connection with someone who lived two centuries before you That ’ s what happened with artists Paula Rego (1935-2022) and Francisco de Goya (1746-1828). This association is being recognised in a new exhibition at the Holburne, opening at the end of this month, Uncanny V isions: Paula Rego and Francisco de Goya, exploring the distinctive threads of the dark and unsettling in both artists’ work
The uncanny is presented by both in their themes and imager y, each of them rooted in popular and folklor ic elements Director of the Holburne, Chris Stephens, explains, “In the case of Goya this direction was shown through the absurdity of social rules and for Rego it was in the ruthlessness of childhood verses. ”
The exhibition was conceived by former Holburne curator Monse Pis Marcos, motivated by the museum ’ s determination to bring Rego’s work to Bath, as one of the great British artists of the last generation Chris
says, “ We were conscious that part of Rego’s brilliance is this amazing combination of the assumed innocence of childhood and the darker human drive that you get in fair y tales and nurser y rhymes. And there was also the recognition that this was something she shared with Goya, who was one of her great heroes Goya, in particular, embodies so many of those shared interests in the way he dwells on the darker sides of human behaviour ”
The core part of the exhibition displays Goya’s suite of Los Disparates (The Follies) (1815-1823), which were printed posthumously, and Rego’s suite of Nurser y Rhymes (1989) “Both sets of etchings share these similar macabre and uncanny images”, says Chris “ They also have in common the fact that they are satirising human behaviour rather than taking a bilateral or partisan satire of one political position or one nation. It ’ s more universal than that, recognising that cruelty and absurdity is inherent in all humans and their behaviour This is what great literature, nurser y rhymes and fair y tales tap into
“Alongside these are unique works on paper by Rego, watercolours and drawings, which explore similar themes like the cruelt y of childhood, and then the three-dimensional figures that she often used as models for her pictures, which she increasingl y saw as sculptural works in themselves.
“Paula saw the propensity for children to be cruel and sadistic in her nurser y rhyme prints. She also used this later when she came back to painting af ter her husband died, when she portrayed animals as proxies for human behaviour That again is an element that you can find in a nurser y rhy me, where you have these malign spiders bother ing Miss Muffet on her tuffet ”
Rather than being a two-ar tist show, the exhibition gets its energ y from Rego’s narratives and their links to Goya “ The exhibition started off treating the two artists equally, but eventually it became more about Rego and what she took from Goya. It ’ s about consciousness in appropriation – some of her compositions you can see are directl y in
Goya’s work. It ’ s not just a common interest or tone – she ’ s actuall y looking at his work ”
W ith Rego originating from Portugal and Goya from Spain, they have an I berian background in common, and also some dark aspects to their lives that would have influenced their artwork “Rego had problems with mental health and battled with depression throughout her life and I suspect that this background encouraged the opening up of a different perspective for both of them.”
Chris continues, “A lot of Rego’s work is also about being a woman in a patriarchal societ y – she grew up in Portugal under a fascist regime where politics in general and gender politics were ver y backward and repressive by contemporar y standards Her work, though, was more abstract than specifically political ”
Goya became deaf in his late twenties, and he was affected deeply by the wars and revolutions in his lifetime and was tormented by a dread of old age and fear of madness “Goya became quite surreal in some of his imager y, c lear ly coming from a genuinely dark place inside, and it ’ s the same with Paula. And the unc anny in their work r ides through the surrealist idea of using the unconscious in unexpected juxtapositions.”
The exhibition also profiles two of the Seven Dead ly Sins created by Rego in three-dimensional form “ We have these two wonderful largerthan-life siz e pieces focusing on gluttony and pr ide P ride is a rather wonderful kind of 18th-centur y, Goya-esque scene, a silver gray, figure just like Q ueen Char lotte in Bridgerton, and she will be sitting in our picture galler y The other is Gluttony, showing a big-bodied woman apparently devouring her children, which is a direct Goya reference to his painting Satan Devouring his Son. And you can recognise a malicious kind of joy in portraying these awful human qualities.”
These two artists lived two centuries apart and yet were c losely allied in their visions Adding an extra interconnected strand to the exhibition is a group of Goya etchings, from different portfolios, that Rego owned herself, some of which were in her bedroom when she died Perhaps this is the most moving acknowledgement of Goya’s influence on Rego and of the intensity of their shared artistic vocabular y
Uncanny Visions: Paula Rego and Francisco de Goya, Holburne Museum, 27 September – 5 Januar y 2025; holbur ne.org
Auctionet is a treasure trove for those looking to add unique and original pieces to their home decor. With a vast selection of mid-century and antique items sourced from the UK, Scandinavian and European auction houses, it offers something for every taste Whether you ’ re in search of iconic designer furniture, like chairs, tables, and lighting fixtures, or looking for a distinctive antique cabinet to be a conversation piece, Auctionet provides access to an array of high-quality, curated items that aren ’ t always easy to find in mainstream UK markets.
What makes Auctionet particularly appealing is its community-driven nature, connecting buyers directly with auction houses and dealers across the continent. This not only ensures the authenticity and quality of the items but also opens up the possibility of discovering rare, one-of-a-kind pieces that can truly elevate any interior. For fans of period pieces and unique home decor, browsing Auctionet can easily become an enjoyable and fruitful pastime, possibly leading to a new passion for collecting and decorating with vintage and antique items.
Whether you ’ re searching for something specific or simply exploring out of curiosity, Auctionet is a fantastic resource for finding that perfect piece to enhance your home.
auctionet.com
Animal magic
Coming to The American Museum & Gardens are 39 striking photographs with a wildlife theme. Here are intimate portraits of moments in time in the lives of creatures from mountain gorillas to deep-sea majid spider crabs.
The American Museum & Gardens is the first museum in the UK to host Unforgettable Behaviour, a specially curated exhibition celebrating exciting animal behaviour photography from the Natural Histor y Museum’s popular and world-renowned W ildlife Photographer of the Year competition This global show was previously hosted by The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural Histor y in Washington, USA, and opens in Bath on 28 September.
The exhibition showcases 39 powerful photographs from previous W ildlife Photographer of the Year collections, displaying some of the most incredible animal behaviour moments ever captured on camera The photos show an extraordinar y range of surprising, and often deeply moving, acts by animals They have been chosen to allow visitors to connect with animals they might never other wise see, and to inspire ever yone to care about the world around us
The collection includes the works of several American photographers, with a total of 17 countries represented, and 35 award-
winning photographers US photographer, Karine Aigner’s winning photograph for W ildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 – the remarkable shot of a buzzing ball of cactus bees spinning over the hot sand in Texas – will be on display
At the American Museum & Gardens, the Unforgettable Behaviour exhibition will feature a range of creative family activities and invitations to play, as well as a Young Person’s W ildlife Photography competition open to all. Finalists will be put on display in the exhibition galler y for the public to vote for the winner
In partnership with Bath Natural Histor y Society, the American Museum & Gardens will be inviting families to a special Day of Nature on 22 September, one week before the exhibition opens, with activities all about the wildlife on the estate
Unforgettable Behaviour, American Museum & Gardens, 28 September – 31 December; americanmuseum.org
The Dance Stand, Todd Gustafson, USA, 2006
With around four million lesser flamingos to choose from, Todd’s problem was ‘where to stop and how to compose a picture that wasn’t just a mass of pink.’ Arriving at Lake Nakuru, Kenya, just before dawn, he chose a spot where the rising sun would hit the lake’s edge The collective noun for flamingos is a stand, and this is the stand that caught Todd’s eye Males group together, arching their necks and ruffling feathers to impress a female Others may join the dance, and the circling and swirling stand can swell to the hundreds. As the sun rose, this group huddled in anticipation, illuminated by a beautiful soft light, their cur ved bills poised.
Respect, Igor Shpilenok, Russia, 2009
In the winter of 2007–2008, Igor spent five months as a ranger in the Kronotsky Nature Reser ve in the Russian Far East, tak ing his cat, Rysk a, with him for company. She immediately staked out her territor y and set to work showing the local foxes who was boss Each day, the foxes came look ing for food, even peering through the window of Igor ’s cabin Rysk a was having none of it With her impressive weaponr y of sharp claws and teeth, ‘she soon earned respect from them – and from me,’ says Igor, ‘living up to her name, which means little lynx in Russian.’
Sizing Up
Klaus Tamm, Germany 2012
A scattering of gecko droppings on the sunny veranda of Klaus’s vacation apar tment near Etang Salé -les-Hauts on the island of Réunion had attracted some unusual-look ing insects They were neriid long-legged flies Klaus settled down with his camera to watch as they interacted. ‘Ever y so often, a couple of males would engage in a k ind of combat dance that involved spinning around each other,’ he says. ‘ They would finish by stretching up to their full length of half an inch (one and a half centimeters), then pushing with their mouthpar ts, shoulders and forelegs until one gained height, before flying away or mating with nearby females I was so impressed by the harmony in the dance that I ended up photographing them for several hours.’
Twin Hope, Diana Rebman, USA, 2013
The hike to the mountain gorillas was par ticularly arduous ‘ What made all the physical effor t wor th it was to see the mother with her t wo babies,’ says Diana. The mother was a natural with her six-month- old infants, nursing them while feeding herself. When the silverback leader of the group chased her from a nettle patch, she moved on ‘I n this pic ture, she is still tense from the encounter,’ recalls Diana, ‘and continues to glance across at him Her t wins, in the comfor t of their mother ’s strong arms, appear blissfully ignorant ’ Their future remains uncer tain M ountain gorillas are endangered, threatened by habitat loss, poaching, disease and warring rebel fac tions ac tive in their range.
The Paper Clip Suitor, Tim Laman, USA, 2011
Male great bowerbirds are famous for collecting random items to tempt a prospective mate Living in northern Australia, they accumulate materials as diverse as pebbles, snail shells, vertebrae, rifle shells, CDs and, in this instance, a pink paper clip The males will also boost their haul by stealing from each other After enticing a female to enter his bower – a bivouac of twigs – a male will choose one of his prized decorations and strut back and forth in front of the entrance, showing off to her. ‘ This,’ Tim says, ‘is the female’s view from inside the bower, with the eager male, midstrut, peering back at her ’
Mother ’s Little Headful, Udayan Rao Pawar, India, 2013
One night, Udayan camped near a nesting colony of gharials on the banks of the Chambal River There were two groups, each with more than 100 hatchlings Before daybreak, he hid behind rocks beside the babies ‘I could hear little grunting sounds,’ says Udayan. ‘A large female sur faced near the shore, check ing on her charges. Some of the hatchlings swam to her and climbed onto her head ’ Gharials were once found in rivers all over the Indian subcontinent Today, ‘the Chambal River is the gharial’s last stronghold,’ says Udayan, ‘but is threatened by illegal sand-mining and fishing’.
Beached bears, Howie Garber, USA, 2003
Polar bears are usually solitar y, but this gray whale corpse on the coast of the Chukchi Sea, nor thern Alask a, hosted an unusual aggregation – adult males, at least one female, subadults, yearlings and cubs. Another 30 or so bears waited their turn. These and many other bears were stranded far from the ice and their main prey of seals, as the sea ice had retreated a record distance from the coast This scene shows the negative impact of global warming Although carrion can prevent star vation in times of no ice, these huge bears still need their specialized diet of fat-rich seals for at least half the year.
The Woodland Walk at the American Museum & Gardens
The Unf orgettable Behaviour exhibition is opening in the same year as a ne w wood land walk, celebrating nature, which opened in Jul y.
W hen Amer ic an Museum founders, Dallas Pratt and John Judky n, bought the Claver ton estate, they also bought wood land adjoining the proper t y They wanted to protect this impor tant wild life habitat and preser ve a greenbelt on the edge of Bath The ne w Wood land Walk takes you along an 820m path into wood land filled with nature and loved by bats, birds, deer and more It takes about 30 minutes to walk – longer if you take time to rest and reflect – with sloped and flat areas over the natural terrain along the peaceful valley On the path, you will find panels highlighting different things to see in the wood land, compar isons with Amer ic an forests, as well as quotes from Amer ic an nature poetr y.
The ne w path has been finished with wood chippings and log seats created from the museum ’ s Wood land Management P lan work, a key par t of its environmental sustainabilit y initiatives Many spaces have been c ar peted with a wildflower seed mix One of the stars of the ne w Wood land Walk is an ancient oak tree that ’ s over 600 years old
Heartfelt food
One is a baker and cookery school owner, one a chef restaurateur, but they both stand for the same thing in their approach to food – fresh, natural and unprocessed. We chat to Richard Bertinet and Sat Bains.
Richard Bertinet came to this country in 1988. He knew there was a strong tradition of home baking in the UK, but when he arrived he was surprised to find that very few people were baking bread – it was not part of people’s baking habits.
Thirty years later, things have changed dramatically, with artisan bakeries commonplace, offering freshly baked bread ranging from white bloomer and multigrain to ciabatta and sourdough. Now it is very cool to bake from every age.
Richard has undoubtedly played a part in this bread revolution. Having worked in bakeries since he was 14 in his native Brittany, after moving to the UK in the late 1980s he worked as a pastry chef and head chef and then as operations director with the Novelli Group of restaurants in London. He set up his consultancy business the Dough Co in 2000, in 2004 he moved to Bath and the following year opened The Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School in St Andrew’s Terrace, at the same time as publishing his first hugely successful book Dough. He later set up The Bertinet Bakery as part of his mission to produce artisan bread for as wide an audience as possible. “My dream when I came to England was to relaunch sliced bread in this country – because sliced bread in the UK was not what I was used to in France”, says Richard.
The Bertinet brand of sliced sourdough was made with just three ingredients – flour, sea salt and water – and his bread achieved nationwide listings with both Waitrose and Pret à Manger before
Richard sold the bakery to The Bread Factory in 2019.
In the years since, he has been writing books, appearing on TV and developing The Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School. “The cookery school is what I love: I love teaching, I love the variety of people coming in, I love passing on knowledge” he says.
Bread-making and pastry are some of the many staple courses offered, encompassing single day to five day courses, as well as individual days on themes such as patisserie, pies, croissant, viennoiserie and many more.
“The cookery school is what I love: I love teaching, I love the variety of people coming in, I love passing on knowledge”
A high percentage of the bookings at the cookery school are from international visitors. Richard explains, “On every class we run, we have a great variety of people. Wonderful different cultures, different languages, different nationalities. I love it when we first meet in a group and ask about each other’s lives. Wherever in the world our visitors are from, our guests takeaway new found skills and new friends too.”
As well as many masterclasses with Richard, The Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School welcomes many guest chefs from Italian classes taught by Valentina Harris, Indian feasting with Amandip Uppal and Japanese Cooking with Tim Anderson. They also run classes with chefs who own restaurants, so you can come and cook with Nathan Outlaw, Angela Hartnett, Clare Smyth, Jose Pizzaro and Mark Hix, although you have to be quick off the mark to book a place on one of these masterclasses.
A recent addition to The Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School roster of classes is the Lunch and Learn series that chef Sat Bains is coming to Bath for in September. He will be demonstrating a recipe, answering questions before everyone shares lunch.
“We love running classes with someone who is really passionate about their subject where they prepare a dish and talk about their life. A fabulous experience”, says Richard.
Right: Dough (2005/£18.99) and Pastry (2014/£30) are just two of Richard’s best-selling books
Sat Bains, who is coming to The Bertinet Kitchen Cooker y School this month, is a double Michelin star, Nottingham-based chef Raised in Derby, Sat ’ s food stor y has seen him work in Raymond Blanc’s Le Petit Blanc in O xford as well as in London’s L’Escargot before returning to the Midlands to work in Nottingham, winning the prestigious Roux Scholarship in 1999 His Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms, located in an industrial estate just outside Nottingham, won a Michelin star in 2003, and a second in 2011.
“It’s so convenient to buy ready meals, and the only way to compete is by cleverly cooking your own food to make it delicious”
Sat ’ s book Eat to Your Heart ’ s Content, published earlier this year, was written after he suffered a sudden heart attack in 2020, in his early fifties Sat sur vived what was described as a “widow-maker heart attack”, one of the deadliest where the heart becomes completely blocked After an emergency operation and 10 days in hospital, Sat was discharged, weighing 17kg lighter than when he arrived, knowing that he needed to overhaul his diet and lifestyle.
“I have a degenerative heart condition – and there is not much I can do about it apart from look after myself ” , says Sat “I’m just happy and lucky to be here, but there are things I’ve got to do to stay here ”
D uring recover y, Sat worked with his friend and nutritionist Dr Neil W illiams, who helped him formulate a revised diet to help maintain his heart health Having always prided himself on the flavour of his food, Sat was not willing to sacrifice this on account of his new hearthealthy diet The recipes in the book are made up of those he devised,
focusing on lean protein, a mix of legumes, good fats such as avocado, nuts and olive oil, and vegetables and fruits “ Think about the epidemic of obesity we are dealing with and the resulting medical issues – it ’ s all coming from fast food and processed foods It ’ s so convenient to go and buy ready meals, and the only way to compete is by cleverly cooking your own food to make sure it ’ s delicious The flavours achieved in the recipes in the book are about using high-quality, fresh ingredients and combining this with the use of g p , y dding a tiny splash of soy or seaweed or dashi, which reduce salt and fat and still give a massive burst of flavour”, says Sat.
The philosophy in the chef ’ s own diet and in his book is to ‘eat the rainbow ’ . “ The idea is to get as much colour, texture and flavour in your diet as possible because it ’ s good for your gut biome It creates an ecosystem, just like a rainforest or a coral reef, full of diverse things, and that is what our gut needs – so you get your nutrient-dense alliums, your sulphurous vegetables, your beautiful proteins and your olive oil and nuts and berries, all natural ingredients
“ W hat we ’ re tr ying to do is make people realise that when they cook good simple, natural recipes, the flavour is so much better than what they can buy from the shop. Cooking in this way is almost like falling back in love with cooking again.”
Richard and Sat met on James Martin’s Saturday Morning ITV show at the end of 2023 They made an immediate alliance and Richard asked the Nottingham chef to come and demonstrate his heart-healthy food in Bath There was no hesitation from Sat: “I love sharing knowledge, preparing dishes and talking about food It ’ s one of those obsessions in life for both of us and we ’ re ver y lucky in our field, both Richard and I, because we spend ever y day doing something we love.” Sat Bains Restaurant and Rooms: restaurantsatbains.com
Lunch and Lear n with Sat Bains, at The Ber tinet Kitchen Cooker y School is on 20 September. You can also sig n up to the cooker y school newsletter to find out about and book future courses. theber tinetkitchen.com
Right: Dishes at S at Bains’ Lunch and Learn workshop will include S at-Shuka baked eggs with stewed leeks and chilli, one of S at ’s favourite salads of triple-layered tomato, onion, fennel and basil, S at ’s fishc akes filled with natural smoked cod and a chicken meatballs dish with butter beans and lemon (see right).
Right: S at Bains’ book Eat to Your Hear t ’s Content, £26, Kyle Books (oc topusbooks.co.uk)
Photography by Jodi Hinds
Photography by Jodi Hinds
Recipe by Sat Bains
‘Sat-Shuka’ baked eggs with stewed leeks and chilli
2
I have this a couple of times a month as a brunch, and I find that the more you make it, the more confident you become, then you can start experimenting with switching in different vegetables and spices. My wife Amanda’s favourite vegetable is leek and her best ever dish is a French classic called
Ingredients
• 50ml (2fl oz) extra virgin olive oil
• 50g (2oz) butter
• 200g (7oz) leeks, finely sliced, washed and drained
• 1 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds
• 100g (31 2 oz) baby spinach
• 4 large organic eggs, cracked individually into small bowls or cups
• 1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon chilli flakes
• Flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Equipment
18cm x 8cm (7in x 3in) casserole pot
étuvée of leeks, which is basically braised leeks that are sliced very thinly and cooked with a splash of water and a knob of butter in a pan with a lid on, so this dish was inspired by that. You can add kale, pak choi or any other greens you like to replace the spinach.
Method
1 Pour the olive oil and butter into the casserole pot and place on a medium heat. Add the leeks and the cumin seeds and season with salt and pepper, then cover with the lid and cook until the leeks are soft.
2 Remove the lid and add the spinach, then stir over the heat untl wilted. Make a well in the mix and gently drop in the eggs one by one. Replace the lid and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the eggs are gently cooked - you want to make sure these are soft-poached.
3 Remove the lid and season the eggs with salt and pepper and sprinkle over the chilli flakes.
Nutrition notes
Like other members of the onion family, leeks are packed with nutrients and contain high amounts of flavonoid antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. They are a particularly good source of kaempferol, a polyphenol antioxidant that, in some laboratory studies, has been shown to support our cardiovascular system by protecting the lining of our blood vessels. The elongated stem of the leek is also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fibre, making this vegetable a great choice to improve gut health and support the community of good bugs in our guts.
This recipe is extracted from Eat to Your Heart’s Content by Sat Bains (Kyle Books, £26). Octopusbooks.co.uk
Sat Bains Restaurant and Rooms: restaurantsatbains.com
Photography by Jodi Hinds
Summer sippin’ spritz
Recommendations by
Tom Bleathman
from the Great Wine Company
As summer draws to a close, there’s no better way to savour the season ’ s final moments than with a glass of wine The Great W ine Company has you covered, with a fantastic selection of summer y wines to help enjoy the last of the lighter evenings. Here are my three standout options Discover more at greatwine.co.uk
Known as ‘ The King Of Chenin’ in South Africa, Ken Forrester ’ s reputation for the grape variety is wor ldrenowned His o ld V ine c henin reser ve 23 is bursting with dried apricot and neapple, hints of vanilla and some typical henin honey notes with a long-lasting nish This wine is currently part of the outh African promotion at GWC which uns throughout September.
£18.85–£16.60
Saint-Roch are a fif thgeneration family estat based in the heart of th Roussillon Brand new to GWC, the winer y offers a fantastic range of wines which are excellent value for money. The Saintroch corbarol rosé 2023 is no exception, it is onderfully light with orgeous notes of pear ce and raspberries This esh style is perfect as an peritif or a great accompaniment for light salad dishes. £13.30
One of the icon wineries of Sicily, P laneta produce exceptional, organic wines using a range of native varieties and the p laneta frappato V ittor ia 2023 highlights their brilliance. A beautiful light ruby red colour in the glass, it ’ s packed full of cranberries, strawberries and raspberries, finishing on a slightly smoky note Great summer sipping £19.95
Calling all Regency-era obsessives, fans of Jane Austen, Bridgerton devotees and all those curious to learn more about local histor y The Gainsborough Bath Spa has launched an afternoon tea that celebrates the south west city ’ s heritage in a way like no other.
W ith so many afternoon tea offerings around, it can be tricky to find a completely new experience that doesn’t feel gimmicky and retains a refined approach, but The Gainsborough Brasserie strikes gold with its Histor y & Heritage Afternoon Tea – ser ved daily from 3pm until 5pm (an ideal way to round off an indulgent day spent relaxing at its Spa V illage, perhaps )
This unique experience lets you sample delicious treats while enjoying captivating stories that offer a fascinating glimpse into Bath's past. Expect fresh finger sandwiches, home-baked scones with Devonshire clotted cream and homemade preser ves, a selection of delicate pastries and cakes and nine carefully sourced global teas to choose from (we picked the special Gainsborough Bath Spa Blend of Assam and Darjeeling from India) As well as all the quintessential elements of a British afternoon tea, the chefs also prepare warm savour y snacks inspired by tea-growing countries and paying homage to the owning brand Y TL Hotels’ Asian roots: a bamboo steamer basket conceals treats like crispy Malay curr y puffs, spiced barbecue chicken pies and prawn sesame toast
W hile you ’ re tucking into your delectable nibbles, the immersive experience gets under way, with characters dressed in their finer y paying tables a visit to share their knowledge on all kinds of historical topics. Let ’ s not give too much away, so you can find out for yourselves, but as a teaser we learnt about the 10,000-year-old minerals that supercharge Bath’s thermal waters, the complex but fascinating fan language used by debutantes during their season in the city, and how afternoon tea as we know it came to be
The Histor y & Heritage Afternoon Tea is priced at £40 per person/£75 for two, but Champagne upgrades are also available (from £59) if you ’ re looking to add a little sparkle to your experience, including one specially selected by the hotel’s sommelier.
thegainsboroughbathspa co uk
Manja Manja
There’s a new ‘playfully’ Italian eating experience in George Street and it brings a vibrant menu of small plates developed with the help of authentic Italian family recipes. Emma Clegg pays a visit and discovers a liking for pizzetta.
When you have fond memories of being served up steaming bowls of pasta by your Italian grandmother as children, and you have some of those warming and delicious family recipes in your possession, you have a ready-made home culinary repertoire to impress your visitors. Take this a stage further, as brothers Mike and Matthew Lisanti have done, and you can create a restaurant to showcase those coveted Italian family dishes and share them with others. Manja Manja is the result. (Although the brothers do say that their Italian aunts were reluctant to relinquish the recipes, and had to be persuaded by being plied with glasses of wine!).
This family business offers a menu that it describes as ‘playfully Italian’, drawing from the classic roots of the country’s cuisine and layering it with modern interpretations. The restaurant clearly takes pride in the process of cooking fresh, high-quality food, with every ingredient, apart from the charcuterie, made on site, including the pasta.
After entering the expansive interior you first encounter the wine bar, incorporating the location’s original elaborate mahogany bank counter, which then opens out into a series of separate dining areas (offering around 85 covers), decorated in multiple warming shades of orange, apricot, peach and pale sunshine.
The wine offering is significant and impressive. The main wine list, developed by general manager Jessie Warlow and Kate Selley of wine wholesaler and importer Enotria and Co, consists mainly of classic Italian and French wines (we sampled the 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Organic, Planeta, Italy). The guest wine list on the board behind the bar specialises in the wines of independent companies, featuring bottles of wine with characterful, distinctive palates from small vineries in countries including Georgia, Spain, France, Portugal, Sicily and South Africa. The Ori Marani Rosé from Georgia, for example, including the flavours of hibiscus and rhubarb, only ever produced 800 bottles.
“The dishes are designed around plates for sharing, with groupings for cicchetti, pizzetta, sharing boards and bowls and sides”
Of the owner/director brothers, Matthew is the food expert, and was for five years head chef of their other, much-loved, food destination, Circus Restaurant in Brock Street. Matthew and head chef Fraser Scott have developed the Manja Manja menu together. The dishes are designed around plates for sharing, with groupings for cicchetti (small plates), pizzetta (small pizza), sharing boards, sharing bowls and sides, with plates not necessarily all arriving at the same time.
We were advised to select between two and three dishes per person, depending on how hungry we were. Our multi-sharing selection consisted of Glazed Lamb Sausage, Camellia Bean and Pomegranate (£12); Flat Iron Steak, Umami Fava Bean Glaze, Cabbage Crudo (£12); Salt Cod Croquettes, Roasted Garlic and Red Pepper Jam (£10); Burrata, Fermented Carrot, Honey and Pistachio (£8); Beetroot, Radicchio, Walnuts and Blood Orange (£7); and Goat’s Cheese, Roasted Grape Walnut Dressing Pizzetta (£9).
Any recipe with four sets of double letters is bound to be impressive and the Beetroot, Radicchio, Walnuts and Blood Orange Salad
certainly was, with its colourful and refreshing combination of golden and red beetroots, juicy blood orange segments, green radicchio and walnuts. I’d not encountered pizzetta before, but I’m now a dedicated fan – at least of Manja Manja’s – with the sourdough base providing a light, crusty foundation for its tasty bed of goat’s cheese and green grape. The Salt Cod Croquettes topped with glistening baked tomatoes, the tender and delicious mini slices of flat iron steak, the creamy burrata with carrot, and the Glazed Lamb Sausage were all superb as part of our communal melange. Other menu choices included sharing charcuterie meat or cheese boards served with a selection of pickles, chutneys and bread and sharing bowls with pasta options featuring risotto, casarecce and lasagne.
We finished with more Italian character (and an unwillingness to share) with the Affogato with Madagascan Vanilla and Espresso and Tiramisu, Coffee Caramel and Chocolate Salami (the latter made with chocolate truffle with nuts).
The menu is deliberately simple, and caters for vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten free. The service was attentive, friendly and efficient and the atmosphere was warm and wholesome with an upmarket casual vibe. There is a high chance of us returning to experiment further with the Italian small plates experience…
Open Monday – Sunday 12pm–3pm and 5pm–11pm. Manja Manja, 8–9 George Street, Bath BA1 2EH; manjamanja.co.uk
Portrait of Bath
Bijan, part of Slowly Downward’s team who produce artwork as screen prints
Bijan is one of a small team based in Bath producing prints for the British artist and writer Stanley Donwood. Stanley has won two Grammy ’ s for his artwork for Radiohead He also has created the album artwork for Atoms For Peace and The Smile For the last twenty years he has created the artwork for Glastonbur y Festival He has also published books of short stories and memoirs
The Bell in Bath was where Bijan and Stanley met over 25 years ago when Stanley was sharing an office with one of Bijan’s friends when he was working on Radiohead ’ s ear ly material.
The limited-edition screen prints are hand-printed in their studio in Bath and then carefully packaged and dispatched to c lients all over the wor ld
Main photog raph by Joe Shor t, an award-winning photog rapher based in Bath. Assisted by Bar ney Thomas. joeshor t.com
Stanley Donwood’s charity work Reflec ted Light, 2024
Bath business
LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATION UPDATES
RUHX, OFFICIAL CHARITY OF THE RUH BATH, TURNS 25
RUHX, the official NHS charity of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, is celebrating a quarter of a century.
Thanks to the generous support of fundraisers and donors, the RUHX has made countless improvements to the RUH Bath in that time, resulting in better facilities for patients and their loved ones, more green spaces, and ultimately, more lives saved.
Liz is a Specialty Doctor in Stroke and Medicine and she started at the RUH in September 1999, the same month RUHX was born. Liz originally came from Australia for a
Bath Rugby is not just about the matches –there are special hospitality packages too. These are about forging relationships, getting closer to the players, making memories, excitement and laughter.
This season, in association with The 10s, Bath Rugby has completely rebranded The 10s Suite (formerly known as The 1st Office Suite) to bring a fresh look, feel and vibe to the room. Based on the club’s illustrious history of outstanding fly-halves, the suite will pay homage to the likes of Stuart Barnes, Mike Catt, Butch James, Olly Barkley and current fly-half, Finn Russell.
In the suite, which accommodates up to 10 guests, you will be treated to player visits plus a special appearance from Johann van Graan’s Player of the Match. You’ll also get all the intel ahead of the game with insights into pre-match training, thoughts on the opposition and score predictions. Plus an exceptional three-course meal and complimentary drinks. To book email: hospitality@bathrugby.com. bathrugby.com/the-10s-suite
six-month term in the Emergency Department. She found the department so wonderful and the people so lovely that she decided to stay, and has witnessed the many changes. Liz remembers 2002 as the beginning of the new A&E building refurbishment. She recalls, “The new space was so much bigger than before, going from a twobedded high care area to six high care beds and four resuscitation beds.” By improving Liz’s work area, her job was made easier and patient turnaround improved. In 2007, RUHX completed the fundraiser for the second CT scanner. Liz says, “This made a huge difference in our ability to quickly diagnose and treat
trauma and stroke patients.”
From the completion of the Dyson Cancer Centre this year to the planting of bulbs in the well-being garden, each impact makes a difference. A donation to RUHX charity not only helps staff with their day-to-day operations but also supports the overall wellbeing and effectiveness of the hospital.
Visit ruhx.org.uk
LIBRARY OFFERS POP-UP ENERGY ADVICE
Residents wanting to reduce their bills or insulate their homes will be able to get guidance from trained energy experts at a monthly pop-up event in Bath.
Starting from 5 September, staff from the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) will be manning a stall outside Bath Central Library on the first Thursday of every month. The Centre for Sustainable Energy, based in Bristol, is a national charity supporting people and organisations across the UK to tackle the climate emergency and end the suffering caused by cold homes. Its Home Energy Team provides residents in B&NES with free, local and impartial energy advice. Residents can also get help managing their gas and electricity bills and find out about any financial assistance available. Residents on low incomes can find out if they are eligible for energy related home improvement grant schemes. cse.org.uk
A new menu has landed as the Bath Pizza Co and Green Park Brasserie menus join together. The options include classics from burgers, steaks, pastas, salads and small and big plates, perfect for sharing or grazing year round, alongside the offerings from the Bath Pizzas Co kitchen and their world-class pizza. Favourites on the new menu include Grilled Chicken Skewers with masala spice, mint yogurt, mixed pepper salad, mango chutney, and Mac & Four Cheese with truffle mushrooms, Somerset Cheddar, Stilton, mozzarella and parmesan, and Hot Honey Buffalo Wings with blue cheese sauce.
In other news, the new secret bar and kitchen from Bath Pizza Co opens on 13 September. Hidden in the old loft space of the historic Green Park Station, you’ll find
this funky new bar tucked behind the red curtain, available for exclusive use for groups of 50–90, seven days a week. Now taking bookings for Christmas groups.
See bathpizzaco.com/upstairs greenparkbrasserie.com
NEW MENU AND A SECRET BAR
BATH RUGBY’S 10S’ SUITE
141 Englishcombe Lane, Bath BA2 2EL
Tel: 01225 445507
Families being hit with shock IHT bills double
A freedom of infor mation (FOI) request to HMRC reveals the number of people paying inheritance tax (IHT) on gifts made before death is rising sharply Gifts of any amount can be gifted at any time, but if the giftee passes away within seven years of the person receiving it the gift becomes taxable, and it could be added to the value of the estate for IHT
In 2011/12 the total amount of estates ending up having to pay IHT for this reason was 590, r ising steadily until 2020/21 when there were 1300 estates affected Not only this but the amount of IHT collected has more than doubled in this time, from £101m to £256m
The average each estate paid in 2020/21 is £25,000 more than ten years prior, paying £196,923 each
This data suggests that some significant shock tax bills are being delivered to people Those who receive generous gifts from older relatives need to be aware that they could be liable for a big tax charge if that relative dies within seven years of making the gift
It is also possible that the number of families and the volume of IHT bills could mean more families are making lifetime gifts ‘in an effor t to reduce the size of their estate as IHT becomes more of a burden’
The nil rate is cur rently £325,000 and has been since 2009, while the residential NRB is £175,000, which has been frozen since 2020, with these freezes in place more families are realising the value of their estates is surpassing these figures, leading them to reduce the size of their estates
It is predicted that more than 7% of all estates will be dragged into paying IHT by 2032/33, while the most recent figure shows just 4 4% were impacted by the tax in 2021/22
However, data HMRC supplied through an FOI stated that 45% of people who had made large gifts were aware of the tax rules when gifting large amounts of money while alive Additionally, just one quar ter stated that they had a good awareness on the subject of IHT
A significant point to take away from this for those planning the transfer of their assets to the next generation is that it can be quite tricky to make lifetime gifts that are 100% safe from IHT and it’s often wor thwhile seeking exper t advice
Anyone receiving a big gift from an elderly relative might want to assess the tax situation before they either spend it all or invest it into something illiquid (i e not quickly conver ted to cash) like a proper ty
“
Writing stories: are you a plotter or a panther?
We all remember that motivating teacher at school who made the classroom experience fun Emma Clegg talks to one of these, teacher and writer Catherine Bruton, who is a master of capturing young hearts with stories.
My first ever teaching job was in Otjikondo Primar y S chool in the r ural nor th of Namibia, south west Africa That ’ s where I became a writer, and it ’ s where I became a teacher – I became both at the same time, because the two are interconnected.”
The school that gave Catherine Bruton her first teaching role was set up for refugees and asy lum seekers af ter the Namibian War of Independence: “My eyes were opened to a whole different wor ld, and some of the themes I discovered there do run through my work I think that experience is pretty central to who I am Africa was stunning and terrifying in equal measure The culture, the children, the wild life, the landscape, the loneliness, the isolation – they were oppressive and yet inspiring, they stunned me, forcing me to question almost ever y single thing about myself and the wor ld. I remember reading my students Roald Dahl stories, and that was opening up their own wor ld as well My desire now, I suppose, is to make sure that books c an be this window onto the wor ld for young people ”
VISITING SCHOOLS
Catherine Bruton loves to meet readers through author visits to schools, book groups or libraries and is happy to be contacted by schools if they would like her to do a workshop, which she offers at no charge to local schools because she’s so passionate about promoting reading and writing among children Contact Catherine through her website: catherinebruton.com
Catherine has worked as a senior school English teacher and writer ever since, and the interdependence between the two is evident: “I’m constantly inspired by my students and it ’ s just an absolute privilege to be the person who introduces young people to the stories that open their eyes, make them ask questions about the wor ld, make them confront difficult topics, and make them think about themselves The books that you encounter when you ’ re at that key age actually really shape who you are But also, I think the sort of things they ’ re interested in of ten really inform what I write about ” Catherine has written a dizz ying number of books for children, and the themes all address difficult issues We Can Be Heroes (2011, nominated for the Carnegie Medal) is about a character whose father was killed in the 9/11 attacks in New York; I P redict a Riot (2014) was inspired by the L ondon riots; No Ballet Shoes in Syria (2019) tells the stor y of a girl seeking asylum with her family Another Twist in the Tail (2020) and Following Frankenstein (2021), both V ictorian adventures, deal with life experiences and ideas that matter to children
“Bird Boy is a book about healing through nature, and about coming back from some difficult places”
In the case of Following Frankenstein, “It was inspired by lots of texts that I love teaching, but also it ’ s a book about embracing diversity and the need for kids to respond urgently to Black Lives Matter and Me Too and how they champion alternative gender identities Young people can really push us as adults, I think, to make us think about the world in different ways. They do that to me all time.”
Her latest book, Bird Boy, published earlier this year, tells the stor y of W ill who is sent to stay with his uncle in the Lake District after the death of his mother There he discovers an osprey ’ s nest and when one of the chicks is knocked out of the nest, W ill is determined to save her “Bird Boy is ver y much about is my response to the spike in mental health issues that we ’ re seeing amongst young people, and their openness to talk about that, as well as the need, perhaps, to give them a vocabular y to be able to articulate complex emotions that they ’ re going through. It ’ s a book about healing through nature, and about coming back from some difficult places. It ’ s the relationship between W ill and W hitetip the osprey and it is in helping W hitetip to heal that W ill is able to heal too ”
Her latest book was conceived around the experience of a friend of Catherine’s who works for W iltshire W ildlife Trust She was responsible for this incredible project, using nature therapy with traumatised children and unaccompanied minors, and she put me on the track of exploring how beneficial nature can be for children struggling with mental health conditions.”
The book No Ballet Shoes in Syria is described by Catherine as being written as part of the immigration ‘crisis’, but then she corrects herself immediately : “Even that term presents immigration as a problem, and I wanted to get them to look beyond those labels of refugee and asylum seeker – and that ’ s what I know that texts can do I hope my books don’t tell children what to think, but make them stop and think ” Catherine taught my son English for GCSE, so I can attest that she is a dynamic, resourceful and endlessly inspirational teacher He was carried along by her energ y, her ideas, her enabling positivity, and her absolute conviction in his ability, and under her tutelage he even ended up falling a little in love with poetr y So when she takes her Masterclass workshop at the Children’s Literature Festival on 5 October at The Forum, expect (whatever your age) to be enraptured by a whirligig of energ y and enthusiasm
The theme of the workshop, based around Bird Boy, is the telling of animal stories “Some of the greatest books that we all love from childhood and from adult life are about relationships with animals, from Kes to Watership Down and Warhorse, and I think that relationship between animals and humans, and particularly children, is really important. And giving children an opportunity to be able to tell their own stories is part of getting to know who you are and working
through complex things I’m really passionate about helping young people to find their own voices And I think education sometimes can be so focused on grades, and for SATs requirements such as fronted adverbials and subjunctives, that it just seems to be the death of creativity ”
Creativity will be at large in the workshop on 5 October “ This workshop always brings fantastic results” , says Catherine. So they will be writing from the perspective of an animal, but it will be an encounter between an animal and a human, and exploring that unique relationship It is going to be structured around seven stages of telling a stor y, and they ’ ll write each stage in a little burst I like getting those at my workshops to write in really small bursts, without crossing out, without looking back, just letting the pen move across the page It ’ s good to get rid of the internal editor in your head that can be so critical and destructive and just see what comes out Because that will often free them from the anxiety that kids can sometimes experience around writing.”
In terms of her own writing style Catherine admits that she works best when she has a tight plan, but that ’ s not a fail-safe approach “I’m quite disciplined in the way that I write But sometimes you write something and then you have to rip it all up and start replotting Ever y writer is different, but I think some people are plotters and some are panthers – I definitely write better when I plot, but sometimes it just doesn’t work like that I think possibly the books that I’ve written that are dealing with bigger topics have meant that I haven’t always been able to fix the plan. The crucial thing is that while I might confront my readers with some really big, complex realities, the key thing is that I want to offer hope at the end of my books ”
Creative Wr iting Masterc lass with Cather ine Br uton, Saturday 5 October, 3.30pm-5pm, Bath For um
Bath Children’s Literature Festival, 27 September – 6 October
Both weekends of the festival will be filled with interactive events with the chance to hear your favourite authors and illustrators talk ing about the stories you love The Schools Programme during the week will also be hosting some top names, with children from 44 schools in B&NES, Bristol, Somerset and Wiltshire tak ing par t More than 1,000 free tickets have been given to children in state schools and ever y single child who attends the Schools Programme with a free ticket will be given a free book.
O ther masterclasses at the festival include Jasminder Bilan on 29 September, Liz Flanagan on 29 September, Emma Carroll on 5 October and illustrator Chris Mould on 6 October. bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature
BRLSI Academy of Imagination
Find out about BRLSI’s new youth education programme, which is offering an outreach programme for schools, community events and school holiday activities.
Acultural hub and educational charity based in the centre of Bath, BRLSI is known for its programme of public lectures and its historic and scientific collections of treasures. Now celebrating its 200th year, BRLSI has announced the launch of the Academy of Imagination which is designed to appeal to the younger generation.
Founded and generously funded by honorary member and former fashion designer Cindy Beadman, with additional support from the National Lottery Players, the Academy of Imagination will engage children and families in BRLSI’s collections and participate in new activities designed to provoke curiosity, encourage participation, and engage the imagination of younger generations.
The new Academy of Imagination youth education programme has three main offerings:
v A school’s outreach programme, initially focused on underserved areas in Bath and North East Somerset (BANES).
v Community events such as ‘BRLSI’s Brilliant Discovery Weekend’, where nearly 6000 people came together in the sunshine to enjoy a wealth of free family fun.
v School holiday activities focused on using the extensive BRLSI collections to inform and educate children through play.
BRLSI is a place where sciences and the arts combine in a fun and engaging way and it houses amazing treasures from around the world. If you have dropped in over the holidays, you’ll have seen how well the collections, which include fossils and dinosaur bones, lend themselves to family activities. This summer children got to name a Jurassic crocodile, curate their own mini-museum and create and take home a 200-year-old optical illusion, the Thaumatrope.
BRLSI has been busy putting together a range of science and crafting activities for children based around its exhibition The World Revealed, finishing on 12 October, and on the way is the relaunched Bath Taps into Science, a packed weekend on 18–19 October of fun experiments for all young scientists. Next spring also brings Brilliantly Engineered, when the best of the south west’s engineering talent will deliver a range of workshops in conjunction with the James Dyson Foundation.
BRLSI’s new learning and engagement officer, Becky Thoburn, is working with local schools to implement fun-focused educational programmes based on palaeontology and the natural sciences. Pilot studies are in development in conjunction with headteachers from local schools, whilst local KS2 children will get to co-curate Discovery Loan Boxes for schools in BANES to borrow in 2025.
Find out more at brlsi.org/about-us/families/
Bath Academy
Bath Academy is a small, friendly independent Sixth Form college that offers personalised tuition in small classes. The college environment is diverse, inclusive, and nonselective with a focused aim - to give personal attention to individual students This is central and foremost to our academic vision We believe that tak ing the time to get to k now students and adapting to their individual learning styles leads to effective teaching, better learning, and a positive day-to- day community experience. This makes Bath Academy educationally distinctive and appeals to students of all levels of ability. The college offers a wide range of academic subjects for A-Level, Resit courses, GCSE, and Revision courses. Bath Academy is committed to helping each and ever y one of its students reach their full potential and incorporates a tailored enrichment and student development programme in order to achieve this w w w. bathacademy.co.uk
Mr Tim D Markall, Headteacher of Beechen Cliff School
Beechen Cliff is a high achieving state day and boarding school for boys in Years 7-11 with a large, vibrant, academic mixed Sixth Form.
Our vision is to enable our pupils and students to achieve their aspirations and become wellrounded, confident and compassionate individuals who go on to live fulfilled lives and make a positive contribution to society.
We are committed to providing an exceptional, all-round education both in terms of high academic standards and an incredible range of extra-curricular opportunities
We have high expectations of our pupils in terms of their learning, conduct and appearance and encourage all to take advantage of the opportunities available to them at school
Our pupils benefit from high quality teaching and pastoral care through working with a committed, experienced and caring team of staff, which leads to examination results above the national average and successful progression to the next stage of education
We also aim to develop character and an understanding of values with much of our work based around our Core Values of aspiration, compassion, independence and respect. www.beechencliff.org.uk
Mr Philip White, Headteacher of Hayesfield School:
Choosing the right school for your daughter is a big decision. You want your daughter to be taught in a nurturing environment where she feels both valued and challenged. A school where excellence is encouraged and she is supported to reach her full potential. That school is Hayesfield Girls’ School. Hayesfield provides an inspirational environment where girls achieve the highest academic standards and develop their own sense of identity and enjoy freedom from stereotyping Our vision is to develop the ‘whole student’ Academic success is only achieved when our students feel nurtured, encouraged and self-confident We encourage all our students to take on leadership roles and participate in a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities. At Hayesfield our focus is on providing the best resources, support and guidance to help every young woman who joins us to grow and achieve beyond her expectations We look forward to welcoming you to our school. www.hayesfield.com
King Edward’s School
Through an outstanding all-round education, KES pupils acquire the tools and the confidence to flourish and be happy today and to be ready for whatever the future may hold
We explore with our pupils, helping them to find their voice, fostering a sense of adventure, curiosity, resilience and ambition, encouraging them to do their best in all things and nur turing k indness, compassion and a sense of responsibility for others and for the world around them.
w w w.kesbath.com
Principal of the Kingswood Foundation, Mr Andrew Gordon-Brown:
What I believe sets Kingswood apart and makes us a distinctive school, is the quality of our pastoral care. The central value at our school is love, and this is the reason why caring for each individual is our number one priority. There is a hardwired and longstanding commitment from our incredible team of teaching and support staff to ensure that each pupil feels loved and valued and cared for This forms the basis of each young person’s sense of self-worth and selfconfidence and the foundation that allows them to learn, to build friendships and to find and develop their talents.
Our vision is to offer a holistic, well-rounded and modern education that transforms lives; for young people to leave us with great exam results, but just as importantly with the personal qualities, the character, the life philosophy to go on and lead meaningful lives in the service of others.
www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Monkton Combe School
What is different about Monkton? Aside from the stunning views, outstanding academic exam results and passionate teachers which many schools boast, Monkton focuses on the journey of each individual in a way that is tangibly different As pioneers in pastoral track ing, Monkton holds true to the belief that self- discover y is the key to success; not only do happy children learn but they also explore their strengths and weak nesses, develop resilience and face challenges with greater strength The school believes in the power of failure of tak ing on challenges, accepting this will mean you get some things wrong and become better people because of that No writing, no book let, no website will ever capture something so hard to describe; you have to come and meet them yourselves
w w w.monktoncombeschool.com
Millfield Prep School
Millfield Prep School was recently named the Best Spor ts School in the countr y for the 10th time in 11 years by School Spor t Magazine and last year received a double excellent inspection rating, the highest possible The co- educational day and boarding school for ages 2-13 is set in 200 acres of Somerset countr yside, suppor ted by state - of-the -ar t facilities including an equestrian centre, 25 metre swimming pool, golf courses, science centre, music halls and numerous spor ts pitches The school offers access to unrivalled oppor tunities and aims to ensure that ever y child can discover their brilliance across all aspects of school life
Open Days on Saturday 5 October 2024 and 1 March 2025. Book online at millfieldschool.com/admissions/open-days
Oldfield School
Oldfield School is a successful, high attaining 11-18 mixed comprehensive with 1250 students which provides an exceptional education in an environment that challenges all students and fosters ambition Students have respect for themselves, each other and their school and are well-prepared to face the world as compassionate, confident and resilient young people. The school’s mission is to inspire, to learn and to succeed Oldfield has a reputation locally and in the wider community for academic excellence and the quality of pastoral care and support The school has a comprehensive intake which reflects the diversity of the local community The most recent Ofsted inspection was in January 2020, when the school was judged to be good in all areas A feature of the inspection report was the inclusive nature of the school and the sense of community felt by staff and students. The school has a successful and popular Sixth Form of 190 students and offers a wide range of A Level courses and opportunities for sixth form students and all faculties offer A Level courses
www.oldfieldschool.com
Paragon School
The Bath based Paragon School offers outstanding independent education for boys and girls aged 3-11 years Situated in 8 acres of woodland, lawns and playgrounds in a beautiful Georgian countr y house and conver ted stables, the school offers a wonder ful environment for learning and adventure both inside and out of the classroom
Rosie Allen, Head of school since 2020 says: " The Paragon journey is one of limitless discover y Each child enjoys a fully immersive educational experience, rooted in our school values of Kindness, Compassion, Honesty, Self-Belief and Aspiration, whilst exploring and developing their attributes as learners Adventures are wide and varied, centering on the beauty and joy of childhood alongside preparation for the world beyond. Pupils blossom and grow as individuals who feel they have something to offer wherever they may be Our approach goes well beyond simply seek ing academic success. Instead, this comes as a biproduct of each child focusing on their own growth "
Onward journeys are to Prior Park College and other independent and state schools, with a high number of scholarships and awards offered to Year 6 pupils each year
Visit w w w.paragonschool.co.uk or call: 01225 310 837 (term time only). Next Open Morning is Friday 22nd September
Prior Park College
Great schools, like Prior Park, help students to explore who they are and find the adult they wish to be Prior Park provides an outstanding, rounded education for each of its 600 students and encourages them to embrace all the oppor tunities on offer in an environment where they are k nown, valued and cared for. Students emerge from Prior Park with a character that is well-rounded, and an academic profile that allows them to take the next step in life with confidence – whatever that step might be. Visit priorparkcollege.com or call 01225 835353 for fur ther details or to arrange a visit Main Open Morning: 4 October 2024
w w w.priorparkcollege.com
Open Evening 26th September 6pm - 8 30pm
Open Morning 1st October 6pm - 8 30pm
Sixth Form Open Evening 6th November 5 30pm - 8pm
Royal High School
Unique within the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST ) family of schools, Royal High School Bath is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3-18 with all the power of a GDST education
GDST schools are pioneers in, and shapers of the future of girls’ education.
Our teachers inspire each girl, with a strong focus on developing the sk ills, k nowledge and character your child needs for the future Royal High School Bath students benefit from all that GDST offers combined with an approach where ever y child is k nown and can flourish Ever y voice is heard and ever y opinion matters
We have a strong histor y of specialising in girls' only education; our pastoral care is exceptional and all our lessons and extra- curricular programmes have been tailored to the way that girls learn and develop.
The balance of a nur turing but challenging environment is the key to our students testing themselves and growing in confidence. We help girls be the best that they can be, and provide the springboard they need to develop a fearlessness for life – our students leave ready for the world’s challenges and equipped with sk ills for their future – set to make their mark on the world
w w w.royalhighbath.gdst.net
St Gregor y ’s Catholic College
“After a year as Headteacher at St Gregor y's Catholic College, I can confidently say this is an exceptional community,” reflects Melissa George.
“Our school truly embodies the concept of ‘family ’ – it ’s a lived reality I have the privilege to nur ture ever y day At St Gregor y's Catholic College we are dedicated to educating the whole person – academically, personally, and spiritually This holistic approach shapes our students into well-rounded, reflective individuals ready to make their mark on society
The atmosphere here is a unique blend of calm focus and vibrant creativity, providing an ideal environment for both students and staff to thrive As we look to the future, I’m excited to build upon our strong foundation of success. We’re not just maintaining excellence; we’re constantly seek ing ways to enhance the educational experience for ever y member of our school family, especially with our unwavering focus on developing a whole school approach to literac y and orac y and mental health and wellbeing
This past year has reinforced my belief in our community ’s extraordinar y potential and I’m more committed than ever to leading St Gregor y's Catholic College towards even greater achievements.”
w w w.st-gregor ys.org.uk
Mrs Clare England, Headteacher of St Mark’s School
Stonar School
I am delighted to have been appointed as Headteacher at this key stage in the significant journey of improvement that St Mark’s and the MSNP (Midsomer Norton Schools’ Partnership) trust have undertaken. I plan to build on this solid foundation as our school continues on its improvement journey The curriculum at St Mark’s is designed to fulfil the school’s vision to inspire students to achieve their goals and be a force for good both in school and the world beyond Academic and vocational qualifications are the cornerstone of educational success at St Mark’s and we have a curriculum offer that enables learners at all levels to achieve their personal best We create young adults ready for the world of work, possessing the skills and personal qualities to become healthy, resilient individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society. St Mark’s has an outstanding reputation for supporting students through their educational journey and providing them with the encouragement and support that they need to excel. www.st-marks.org.uk
Stonar is a co-educational, day and boarding school (ages 2-18), delivering an excellent, nurturing education that yields fantastic results Set in 80 acres of rural grounds, with 460 pupils, Stonar is an environment where our happy pupils succeed. We believe that joy is the catalyst for extraordinary achievement This approach to education ensures that Stonar pupils not only excel academically but also develop into well-rounded, confident individuals, who are prepared to make a positive impact on and shape the world. You don't have to be a rider to come to Stonar but the school is renowned for its Equestrian Centre. With stabling for over 70 horses and ponies we offer an unequalled equestrian curriculum to suit complete beginners, through to experienced competitive riders w w w.stonarschool.com
Successful, well-established year-round language school in the centre of Bath requires HOMESTAY HOSTS IN BATH
to host both short-term and long-term students
We teach adults and teenagers, and need both single and twin-room accommodation.
For further details, including rates of payment, please contact our Student Services Manager:
Wringer
International Languages Bath, 5 Trim Street, Bath, BA1 1HB Direct Line (01225) 448840 Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com
Alastair Tighe, Head Master, Wells Cathedral School:
“ Wells is a familyorientated coeducational boarding and day school for 2-18 year olds, which provides an allround education alongside worldclass Specialist Music and Chorister training Their vision is to inspire ever y individual pupil to nur ture their talents in a vibrant, creative, spiritual and stimulating environment to become a responsible global citizen
The school provides an encouraging and ambitious education for ever y child based on their underlying values of Creativity, Aspiration, Responsibility and Endeavour (CARE).
Their strategic vision is driven by the school motto: ‘Esto Quod Es’. This has been the motto since at least the 19th centur y when the school was re -founded The adopted translation ‘Be what you are’ succinctly and power fully represents the school’s belief in the individuality of each pupil The school is ver y conscious that pupils discover who they are and equip all of them with the ability to enjoy a lifetime of discover y The journey begins here at Wells” w w w.wells.cathedral.school
Our schools in Bath are better together
At this time of year many parents are looking to find the right secondary school for their child. In Bath, you have many choices of schools ‐ both state and private. There is also a family of secondary schools in Bath that work together so that every young person can experience an excellent education.
Beechen Cliff School, Hayesfield Girls’ School and St Mark’s School are all proud to be part of the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership (MNSP), a multi‐academy trust of over 30 schools with around 15,000 pupils on roll. The Trust’s strength is how it celebrates each school’s individual character, while offering support and challenge.
The Bath Hub enables the three schools to work closely together and share a common goal ‐ to ensure that every child in the city has access to an excellent secondary education. The schools are now entering their fourth year of collaboration, with students from all three schools enjoying opportunities to work and enjoy extra‐curricular activities together.
Behind the scenes, leaders at the schools work together to ensure all learners look forward to coming to school and achieve highly. Teachers across the three schools share high quality teaching strategies that meet the needs of all learners in all schools. This collegiate support has ensured all three school’s most recent Ofsted inspections were graded a secure ‘Good’. Parents are advised to read the Ofsted Reports to find out more about what makes each school unique.
Last summer, students in all schools sat GCSE and A Level examinations. Combined results for students across the three schools
was signi similar set of outstanding outcomes this summer.
We are pleased to welcome Clare England, who has been appointed the new Headteacher of St Mark’s School in Larkhall. You can meet Mrs England at the St Mark’s Open Evening in September, where she will be pleased to also show you around the school site and share with you her vision for the future of her school. Mr Tim Markall, Headteacher at Beechen Cliff and Mr Philip White, Headteacher at Hayesfield also warmly welcome prospective parents to their Open Events.
To find out more about our schools and how we work together, please come to the Open Events, as detailed in each school’s website. We look forward to meeting you there.
From left to right: Philip White, Headteacher Hayesfield, Clare England, Headteacher St Mark’s and Tim Markall, Headteacher Beechen Cliff
A School to Thrive in
We would like to welcome you to St Mark’s School Set in picturesque grounds on the outskirts of Bath, St Mark’s is a smaller than average sized mixed secondary school but our smaller size doesn’t limit what we can offer I am delighted to have been appointed as Headteacher of St Mark’s as it continues on a very exciting school improvement journey. We are an OFSTED “Good” provider and I plan to build on this solid foundation
The culture and ethos of St Mark’s is driven by the values of Resilience, Aspiration and Community A focus on these values, through a broad and balanced curriculum, allows our young people to quickly establish themselves and develop their true identities in a setting where the staff know every child and value their contributions in the school and wider community At the end of their time at St Mark’s, our students are well equipped to go out into the ever changing world and to be citizens of which St Mark’s, and you, can be proud
St Mark’s School is a member of the Midsomer Norton Schools’ Partnership (MNSP). We continue to build on our successes and progress
as a member of the partnership and benefit from the sharing of expertise and resources from within the partnership schools St Mark’s School works most closely with Hayesfield Girls’ School and Beechen Cliff, as part of the Bath Hub All three schools share good practice so that students achieve their aspirations and personal growth and have an excellent experience of secondary school
St Mark’s is a caring school that welcomes newcomers to our community. I know that the staff and students of St Mark’s share my pride in the school and I am sure that, when you visit us, you will understand why
Open Evening
17th September 2024, 6:30 – 8:30pm Presentation at 6:15pm Doors open from 6:00pm Tours from 6:45-8:30pm
Open Mornings
27th September 2024, 9:00-11:00 am Welcome at 9:00am
St Mark’s School, Bay Tree Road, Bath, BA1 6ND 01225 312661
Info@st-marks org uk
TLooking back on education
Education, education, education is the endless refrain of all governments nowadays, because we all understand that investing in the teaching and training of the younger generation gives enormous ballast to our effectiveness as a nation This was not always the overriding perspective Emma Clegg takes a look back at the origin of schooling and considers how so many children in history had no formal education at all.
he word ‘education’ from the Latin verb ‘educatio’ means ‘to draw out ’ , ‘to externalise’ and ‘to guide’ It expresses the action of enabling intellectual and cultural development and encouraging the learning of new ideas and skills It is the challenging art of schools and teachers (working within the education system in place) to ensure that this process works well.
Naturally how the education system has been run – and most significantly who has been educated and who has not – has changed from era to era The ver y earliest known format of school was developed in Eg ypt ’ s Middle Kingdom where selected individuals were taught how to read and write so they could become scribes Similarly in ancient Israel the Torah included commands to read, learn, teach and write the Torah, requiring literacy and study
Unsurprisingly religion was often the driver for education in all parts of the world. The first cathedral school in England was set up in Saxon times when St Augustine established a church in Canterbur y in 598. Prior to this children would have learnt from their families and communities using oral traditions Further schools introduced later in the seventh and eighth centuries tended to follow one of two forms: grammar schools to teach Latin or song schools to train singers for cathedral choirs
In the Middle Ages, there were town, church, and monaster y schools for boys between the ages of seven and fourteen with instruction
including basic literacy (alphabet, syllables, simple prayers and proverbs) and the teaching of Latin In the High Middle Ages in the 11th centur y literacy became available to a wider range of people This period saw universities developing from monastic systems in cities at a time when there were also major advances in art, sculpture, music and architecture.
The Protestant Reformation from 1517 drove the printing of the Bible in English, making engagement with the texts (and the reading of them) much more accessible In Tudor England under Edward VI a national system of free grammar schools was introduced, with schools offering free tuition to those who could not afford fees However in practice poor children did not attend because their families relied economically on their manual labour Private philanthropy was a major source of education funding in England by the 1640s and this support came from gentr y as well as prospering merchants and clerg y.
The 18th and 19th centuries saw big changes in formal education systems. In the 18th centur y those at school would attend either a charity school, a Sunday School or a Dame School (run by a woman in her home, who would teach basic reading and writing) However schooling for the poor was not considered as a high priority for many, so even if they were able to enrol in an educational establishment, attendance was often irregular For children from wealthier families, school education was standard, although boys would still be educated ‘appropriately ’ for their class with an emphasis on reading, writing, mathematics, Greek and Latin.
A good child and a bad child (wearing dunce cap with ass’s ears) in a schoolroom, 1828
The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) changed the learning landscape dramatically because there was now a driving need to produce capable workers for factories and manufacturing plants. This saw education becoming more inclusive, along with an emphasis on training new teachers to create more literate citizens and the establishment of training schools
Female education at this time leant towards practical training for a woman ’ s future domestic role, taking cooker y or piano c lasses and need lework Mar y Wollstonecraf t, herself educated in a poor school, published the book A V indication of the Rights of Woman in 1792, asserting that both men and women had inalienable rights to life, liberty, work, education, and happiness. This established the roots of equal rights and opened up the idea of equality in many women ’ s minds It wasn’t until 1975 that the Sex Discrimination Act came into force, banning discrimination on the basis of sex or marital status in employment, education and training
“It’s sobering to realise that education was not compulsory within statefunded schools until the 1880s”
In 1870, the government took responsibility for schooling in Britain and in 1880 the Education Act made school attendance compulsor y for all children aged five to ten. However, as school wasn’t free for all, many parents continued to send their children to work In 1891 school fees were abolished and in 1899 the age at which children could leave school was raised to 12 – this would rise again to 14 in 1918, 15 in 1947, 16 in 1973 and 18 in 2015
It ’ s sobering to realise that education was not compulsor y within statefunded schools for all children in the UK until the 1880s So a great many young people before then did not have access to schooling. For those able to attend school, the regime was strict and the school day long, and teaching was monotonous with children sitting in rows in silence, copying down scripts from the blackboard Punishments inc luded the cane, beating with a leather strap, the dunce’s hat and writing ‘ lines’
The early 20th centur y saw the development of mass education in Britain State primar y schools and local secondar y schools were brought under the control of local councils in 1902, and in 1906 the new Liberal government, wanting to show that they were the party of working people, introduced school dinners and medical checks for pupils.
The Education Act in 1944 made secondar y education free and compulsor y up to the age of 15 (later raised to 16). This included the Tripartite System adopted in 1947, consisting of grammar schools, secondar y modern schools and secondar y technical schools The controversy over this system and the comprehensive school proposals favoured by some in the Labour Party as more egalitarian continued for decades In 1988 the Education Reform Act brought changes aimed at creating a ‘market ’ in education with schools competing with each other for pupils. This was when the National Curriculum was introduced, making it compulsor y for schools to teach certain subjects and syllabuses.
All these changes to the provision of education have meant that children’s experience of learning in the UK has varied dramatically according to their social class, their sex and the era they lived in The modern learning landscape sees state and private schools using an educational system that is open and responsive to the rights and needs
of individual pupils – inc luding support for students with special educational needs and disabilities – and the use of mainstream teaching methods informed by up-to-date educational psycholog y
The digital revolution, starting in the late 20th centur y, saw personal computers, the internet and digital technologies transforming classrooms The rise of educational technolog y (EdTech) saw the provision of access to an extensive array of educational resources, of ten available free of charge, and self-directed, flexible learning opportunities – and these are constantly developing. Digital tools and multimedia resources – from whiteboards to educational apps and VR simulations – have also made learning experiences more interactive and captivating. Such tools also cater for diverse learning styles, enabling greater engagement and effective learning among students
Schools also have a growing emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education to prepare students for a technology-driven world STEAM (including the Arts) education is also recognising the importance of creativity and innovation
So the digital revolution over the last half centur y has had a definitive impact on education in the same way as the introduction of the printing press in the 1470s and changes driven by the Industrial Revolution from 1760 to 1840 The rise and the endlessly shape-shifting advancement of digital know-how, inc luding the educational possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI), gives educators and learners more access to effective and engaging education resources This has provided an extra dynamic to the need and the responsibility to provide our young people with the skills they need for the future n
Combe DownSchool,circa 1900
Engraving showing girls during their cooker y lessons, from Catherine Buckton's Food and Home Cooker y (1890)
Image below and opposite top from the Akeman Press Archive
SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS WITH MENTORING PLUS
Every week, volunteers from Bath & North East Somerset are changing young people’s lives through Mentoring Plus’s awardwinning Volunteer Mentoring programme With over 200 young people supported every year, we explore how the simple act of giving just 2 hours a week can make a world of difference to both mentees and their mentors
Now in its 26th year, the key to Mentoring Plus’s Volunteer Mentoring Programme's success is its positive, playful, and child-led approach Young people aged 7-25 are matched with a trained volunteer mentor for up to 12 months With constant support from a skilled practitioner and a weekly allowance, mentoring pairs explore the local community, engaging in fun activities.
Although every mentee faces challenges at school, at home, or with their well-being, mentors are not counsellors or problemsolvers They are positive role models who provide undivided attention and encouragement, helping mentees explore their interests, whether that’s sport, cooking, or board games For a young person, having a mentor who chooses to be there and support them makes all the difference
Volunteer mentors make an incredible impact in just 1-2 hours a week A recent report revealed that after mentoring, 90% of mentees improved communication, 86% increased their confidence and self-esteem, and 81% felt safer However, demand for the programme is at an all-time high Now, more than ever, Mentoring Plus needs kind-hearted adults seeking a fulfilling and flexible volunteer role to join them
Offering inspiration to potential volunteers, are mentee Daniella* and volunteer mentor Richard*, who have shared their story of mentoring
Daniella’s Story (Mentee)
When I was 14 years old, life was difficult I was low and spent most of my time alone My school noticed I was struggling and referred me to the Volunteer Mentoring Programme
After my practitioner got to know me, I started meeting my mentor. Because I was into reading, we would read a book together in our sessions. We also did other things like cooking, going to the cinema, and learning crafts
Before mentoring, I couldn’t see the skills that I had, but now I do I know how to make things happen for myself and how to talk about my feelings Life doesn’t feel rubbish anymore I feel more confident and happier
I’m now part of the Mentoring Plus Youth Reps Group, organising activities that help other young people. I would really like to become a mentor or even one day take over my practitioner ’s job!
Richard’s Story (Mentor)
I’ve been a volunteer mentor on and off for eight years I’ve learnt that mentoring isn’t about fixing a young person, but being someone who can be young at heart, show genuine interest, and be trusted It’s about showing a young person how their future could be different
It can take a few sessions to establish a connection, but you know you’re making a difference when your mentee finally asks about you or greets you with a big smile These small changes may not seem like much, but for kids struggling with poor mental health or difficulties at home, they mean a lot
It’s a privilege to be there for a young person at a difficult time in their life and be someone they can trust when perhaps they don’t have anyone else.
*Not their real names
JUST 2 HOURS A WEEK OF YOUR TIME COULD CHANGE A YOUNG LIFE
Find out more / apply to become a volunteer mentor
• bit ly/VolunteerMentoringPlus
• volunteering@mentoringplus net
• 01225 429 694
• www mentoringplus net
Mentoring Plus provides
• Full training - next round Sat 5 & Sat 12 October 10am-4pm
• Activities budget & mileage expenses
• Connected volunteer community
• Flexibility - choose the best day / time / location to volunteer
Introducing The Time Hero: Your Personal Concierge in Bath
Our
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Jaime Brain & Kevin Milne Denture exper ts
Beauty notebook
New releases and treats with that luxurious, feel-good factor
CHANEL
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Inspired by the mirrored staircase at Rue Cambon, the refillable case is made entirely made from glass and metal - a treasured object and keepsake - you simply buy another refill Now the 12 shades are available in matte lipsticks as well as the original satin £140 chanel.com
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Wells: a place apart
On the far side of the Mendips, a 20-mile drive or a leisurely bus journey from Bath, lies Wells, England’s smallest city Andrew Swift makes it the subject of his September walk, encountering everything from swans to an arboretum.
Wells has been immortalised twice, by Elizabeth Goudge in her classic 1935 novel, City of Bells, and in the 2007 film Hot Fuzz It is a telling juxtaposition for a place which, while the rest of the world has moved resolutely on, has ploughed a somewhat different furrow
Medieval Wells was the largest town in Somerset. In the 17th centur y it had more accommodation for travellers than Bath, and it remained a major coaching centre until the early 19th centur y But the railway age passed Wells by – save for a single-track line that came late and closed early – and Wells settled down to life in the quiet lane
The jewel in Wells’ crown is the cathedral, which Simon Jenkins hailed as the finest in England. Its west front holds a great collection
of medieval sculpture, telling the stor y of the universe from the Creation to the Second Coming. Inside, the columns are topped by less elevated subjects, such as a man with toothache or the cautionar y tale of the fate of two grape stealers Most striking is the serene beauty of the cathedral’s uncluttered interior, enhanced by the scissor arches which c lose the view down the nave It is a place to take in slowly –exploring the cloisters, climbing worn steps to the chapter house, and mar velling at the medieval stained glass.
Other cathedrals may be more imposing, but only at Wells has the medieval precinct sur vived largely intact, enclosed within a wall which shuts out the noisy town On the north side a narrow archway leads into V icars’ Close, the best preser ved medieval street in England, dating from the ear ly 14th centur y. Further
along, in the medieval Chancellor ’ s House, is Wells Museum, showcasing the ec lectic collection of its founder, the caving pioneer Herbert Balch South of the cathedral lies the Bishop’s Palace, home to the Bishop of Bath & Wells and surrounded by a moat on which swans serenely glide
There are also hidden treasures in the town beyond, where water flows in rills along the streets and millstreams run beneath the pavements along which this month’s walk leads. Starting outside the west front of the cathedral, head south through Penniless Porch archway known into the Market Place Head towards the far end and continue along the High Street past City News, supplier of Cornettos to the constabular y in Hot Fuzz Opposite the King ’ s Head turn lef t along Guard House Lane. The Guard House on the
The Combe
The moat surrounding the Bishop’s Palace
Wells Cathedral, the west front
right is said to have housed French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars. On the left at the end is one of Wells’ quirkiest buildings –Somerset Cottages – built by a local craftsman called W illiam Halliday in 1888
Turn right and after 100m turn right along Mill Street The millstream, a little way along on the right, fed the corn mill opposite Turn left at the end and follow the pavement as it cur ves left along Broad Street. At the end, look across to the estate agent ’ s on the corner where a ghost sign for a post office sur vives above the door Facing it is a redbrick Georgian terrace, where the end building had to be triangular to accommodate the older building next to it
Cross and head north along Q ueen Street, at the end of which is the City Arms, a 16thcentur y building which housed the city gaol until 1800. Turn left, cross into St Cuthbert ’ s churchyard (venue for the Hot Fuzz fete), and, after passing the church, follow the path as it heads diagonally to a gate on the far side
Turn right along Chamberlain Street to retrace Sergeant Angel’s ride on horseback, fully armed, to exact vengeance At the end, follow the road as it cur ves lef t along New Street, and at the mini-roundabout bear lef t again. At the main road, cross the pedestrian lights ahead and bear right to follow the main
road as it cur ves north.
Af ter crossing the end of the Old Bristol Road, turn lef t through a gate a few metres further on, with a sign ‘Private Garden No Entry after Dark’ This is the Combe, an eightacre arboretum laid out in the 18th centur y, providing an oasis of peace on the city ’ s edge Af ter leaving through the same gate, cross the main road and head along College Road. Af ter 250m, when the road forks, c arr y straight on. Af ter another 125m, turn r ight along The Liber t y W hen you come to pedestr ian lights, cross to go through an archway and down steps to emerge in V icars’ Close Go through an archway at the far end and turn lef t The Rib, on your right, dating from the 14th centur y, was the childhood home of Elizabeth Goudge.
Cross at the pedestrian lights, carr y on and turn right along Tor Street. Af ter 200m, (just before the end of the 30mph zone) turn right past a gate and continue alongside a wall, which soon ends to re veal the moat of the Bishop’s Palace Carr y on by the moat, but, when it cur ves r ight, c arr y straight on for another 125m, passing the 15th-centur y Bishop’s Barn before turning right through a gate leading into the park featured in the Hot Fuzz swan chase. Af ter passing the bowling
c lub turn right past a row of L ondon P lanes. Turn lef t at the end and follow the moat round to the drawbridge of the Bishop’s Palace where hangs a bell rung by the swans at feeding time Head out through the Bishop’s Eye Gatehouse into the Market P lace At the far end of the Market P lace turn right along Sadler Street past the Swan Inn, and turn right again through Brown’s Gate to return to the starting point. n
Andrew Swift has written books such as On Foot in Bath: Fifteen Walks around a World Heritage City (akemanpress.com).
Length of walk: 3 miles; one busy road crossing
Facilities: You’ll be spoilt for choice with tea shops, pubs, cafés, and independent shops
Places to visit:
• Wells Museum is open Tues–Sat 10am–4pm; wellsmuseum.org.uk
• Bishop’s Palace; bishopspalace.org.uk
• Wells Cathedral; wellscathedral.org.uk
• The Combe, which is open daily until the end of October
Interiors wishlist
New season inspo to get you in the mood for mists and mellow fruitfulness
Back to the grind SMEG Coffee Machine with Grinder
Prepare authentic espresso, cappuccino and lattes from the comfor t of your own home with the SMEG EGF03 espresso machine Using freshly ground coffee to bring out your inner barista, you can prepare coffee at the correct temperature and pressure for brewing the per fect cup of Joe For SMEG coffee machines and many more top quality kitchen must haves, visit: Coopers Home Appliances, 13/15 Walcot Street, Bath. coopershomeappliances.com
Shop the unusual Sky Candle Stick Holder by Tillius
Fresh and elegant, the sky candle stick holder from Tillius pairs beautifully with other glass candle sticks Play around by having different shades of glass and heights of candle stick to add a real show stopping centre piece in your home. 11cms high, £6 99 Find them at Tillius, 4-5 Pulteney Bridge, Bath tillius co uk
Sink into something more comfortable – Arlo & Jacob
This month we welcome luxur y furniture store Arlo & Jacob to Bath as they open their Broad Street showroom
There’s a fantastic selec tion of styles and fabrics to choose from so you’re sure to find the per fec t combination to suit your style and space Shown here: Agatha large sofa in Lupine Apricot natural/sustainable linen fabric arloandjacob com
Gypsophila Wallpaper - Paprika & Gold by
Clarrisa Hulse
ypsophila Wallpaper features sprays of elegant seedheads screen printed in etallic onto mica fibrous paper. The result is a beautiful botanical wallpaper lovely tactile texture Clarissa spotted the bouquet that inspired this design ackshed flower farm in Dorset, and it still hangs from her studio ceiling in London today clarissahulse com
Anthropologie Parker Monogram Mug
The Parker Monogram Mug merges personal style with ever yday usability, offering a personalised touch to your coffee or tea time with its modern geometric print £12 Visit the Anthropologie store in Bath at 1-4 New Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BE anthropologie UK
R W KNIGH T & SON
Celebrating 50 years
R W Knight & Son is celebrating its 50th year anniversary in business this year
Established in 1974, the family run company has sold over 42,000 stoves and fires from the same family farm at Marshfield, near Bath, some of which buildings date back to the 16th century
Richard (Dick) Knight was the founder of the business which all started when he purchased a Jøtul stove in 1974 having seen the stove in a leaflet written in Nor wegian! The stove came at the perfect timing, D utch Elm Disease was reaching new heights, as was the oil crisis and campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (split wood not atoms). The new stove completely changed draughty Castle Farm and completely cured the constant smoke-filled room which resulted from previous heating solution an open fire
Reporters from a farming magazine also experienced the new wood stove, having thawed out in front of the log burner one winters day, and were so impressed that they published an article and photo of Richard’ s wife Mar y in front of the woodburning stove The article prompted some 40 letters a day from people interested in the stove
Some 50 years later the business Richard established expanded and grown Not only do they continue to sell Jøtul stoves (founded in 1853) but also includes other leading manufacturers Charnwood stoves, who also celebrated their 50th anniversary recently and manufacture on the Isle of Wight, and Stovax Gazco based at Exeter (founded 1981) who produce the country ’ s largest range of gas, electric and woodburning stoves and fires are amongst the brands on display.
government legislation for air cleanliness, which is why they sell Jøtul, Charnwood and Stovax products
Today the showroom displays over 100 woodburning, gas and electric appliances from key leading manufacturers, complemented by an extensive collection of fireside accessories covering everything you could need for your stove or fireplace and a selection of outdoor heating and cooking products
Unfortunately, Richard passed away earlier this year, but he checked on the business daily up to a week before his death
As part of the businesses 50th anniversary celebrations the Knight family held open days for the public and introduced into the showroom newly launched intelligent wood burners. The Scan 67, a brand owned by Jøtul was one new addition The wood stove showcases ground-breaking technology Zensoric, a new air control innovation which ensures the stove burns optimally at all times and even tells you when to reload wood, helping you save on running costs R W Knight & Son also introduced the Charnwood Skye E700 which has a useful app and microprocessor built into the stove, the business is one of the first retailers to showcase this new stove These newly launched intelligent stoves ensure you get the cleanest, highest efficiency burn
As well as introducing customers to new technology and developments the team held a wonderful evening party where they paid homage to the first Jotul stove bought by its founder with a stunning cake in the shape of the original F100 Jøtul wood stove Local singer and fire performers Labyrinth Circus provided the entertaining and some 300 people attended the celebrations.
Richard’s son Henry now runs Knight ’ s stoves along with the third generation of the family, Miriam. They have full confidence in the products sold and know they will benefit customers and give many years of reliable ser vice Woodburning is a carbon neutral, renewable source of heating The business is keen to promote the advancements in the woodburning industry with appliances that go beyond
Here’s to another 50 years!
If you would like to visit Knight Stoves, they can be found in the original location, Castle Farm located just outside the village of Marshfield, which is just off Bath junction 18 of the M4
Page-turning interiors
With the number of independent, insightful and highly creative magazines increasing, there are now a dizzying selection on the shelves of Magalleria Daniel McCabe describes the best of the shop’s interiors publications
New things are happening in interior design publishing, or so it seems to us. We’ve encountered many more amateur and professional designers post-pandemic and their requirements are much more varied than in the past Fortunately new magazines are being assembled all the time and at Magalleria we ’ ve found it difficult to turn away ever y new release and almost without noticing we ’ ve acquired well over 70 different titles At the same time publishers recognise that this type of magazine is a resource buyers now keep rather than ditch after reading Accordingly they publish less often – usually quarterly or biannually – while pushing the production quality to new heights. So here’s a quick rundown of titles we rate highly.
Among the more traditional titles we would have to inc lude 91 Magazine, a typical but fresh ‘get the look’ biannual popular with people keen to create bright, air y, uncluttered but not unrealistically minimal homes Ever ything you see is achievable with a a modest budget, a spark of imagination and a ser viceable skillset Milk Decoration is a French quarter ly that offers a step up with more professional content based around a roster of unfamiliar but impressive European designers and creatives working in smaller settings. In the same categor y and also from France but wholly original in its way is Sloft, a compact magazine focused on compact spaces – not tiny houses or caravans, please note, but urban flats and apartments where imaginative space reconfigurations and architectural tweaks have usefully maximised the area available. Each showcased propert y is helpfully accompanied by a floor plan and while it ’ s devised for those of us living and dealing with the issues of more bijou dwellings, this little biannual is understandably popular with builders and architects
It can be difficult to find that spark of design inspiration in the daily familiar and many people are looking for something more exotic. Attitude is an undeser vedly obscure Portuguese quarterly that searches out high-end homes that look genuinely lived-in, spaces that feel strongly personalised by their owners The magazine itself might not be as sleek or polished as the others mentioned here, but it speaks directly to those looking to make brave decorative choices Manera celebrates professional interior design in Spain and Latin America Stylistically it veers all over the place, jamming in ever ything from the absurdly kitsch to the brutally minimal, but almost ever y page of this quarterly sur vey sings with true flair and individuality. Last mention in this categor y goes to Cabana, a now-monumental tome from Italy packed with the most glorious and uplifting examples of period interior design, leaning heavily on the 18th centur y W hile truly transporting, Cabana can be mined almost endlessly for the details we rarely see in much modern-day repro – not only bricks, tiles, wallpaper and textiles but notes and flourishes from forgotten colours, glazes and eye-popping surface patterns
Sometimes we have a real curiosity about how other people actually live, rather than accepting staged scenarios of perfect, having-it-all lifestyles. Apartamento is a Spanish magazine that inter views interesting achievers from outside the mainstream who open their frequently untidy and eccentrically furnished homes for us Hello! magazine it is not, but ever ything all makes perfect sense when toured with the owners
O bviously not ever yone owns their own home or has a landlord who will let them take a property apart, and many of us might want to rage against conformit y around aspiration, lifest yle and design matters
Concerns around disenfranchisement and limits to self-expression are addressed by a new British biannual called Ton. It ’ s ver y glossy, but any suggestion of affluence ends there. All content is generated by creatively inclined, self-sufficient occupants who are more likely to make the things that furnish their homes than to buy them – things that say ‘this is me ’ rather than ‘this is mine’ This links to Scener y, arguably the most talkedabout interiors magazine of the moment Unlike Ton, this is a biannual less concerned with outlier creatives and more interested in moving away from musings on standard living room/bedroom/kitchen/ bathroom
design considerations and towards a concept of home as a sphere containing more undefinable, atmospheric and vibe-driven zones where meaningful or cherished objects rule attention. They argue that the magazine is about 'the details of the spaces that colour our lives, and the curiosities that we collect along the way The places we choose to spend our time, and why we choose to spend our time in them ’
We’ ll close with a clutch of titles that operate at the most ambitious end of the spectrum Openhouse is the most popular of these, a Spanish biannual that treats art, design, architecture and culture as a whole, showcased with highly individual contemporar y homes charmingly described by owners who reflect on values such as tradition, nature and identity. We love the elegant Ark Journal, a biannual from Denmark that similarly views art, architecture and design as in interplay rather than
existing in silos Ark is steeped in Scandinavian aesthetics but keen on its ongoing development, with a lot of discussion around innovative materials, manufacturing ethics and the like. O ur truly heavyweight title – weighing in at well over 3 kilos – is The Local P roject, an Australian architecture and interior design triannual showcasing the vitality of the domestic industr y in Australia, New Zealand and, lately, North America Featuring so much spectacular architectural and building derring-do, one might think TLP is of greatest interest to professionals, but these volumes are so superbly shot and presented that it seems ever yone wants to have them on their shelves W hich I imagine, after 15 releases, are now groaning. n
We specialise in design, manufacture and installation of bespoke kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, home studies and media cabinetry.
Kai Kristiansen - HJN Mobler 1970
First-class cabins
Thinking about creating additional space in your garden? Here are two examples of garden structures provided by local specialists Garden Affairs – a mini garden off ice and a self-contained living space for generating extra income.
Mini-garden office
This commission for a mini-office came from Karen, a garden designer with a passion for plants and organic and sustainable gardening Having previously worked from her living room, the new wooden garden room gives her a dedicated work place within her small city garden.
The c lient, who chose Garden Affairs’ Mini Garden Office (1.8m x 2 4m) liked the contemporar y style of long windows and double glazing, allowing plenty of light, the fact that it is insulated for all-year-round use, and has secure locks The small size was important because Karen’s garden is only 4 5m x 13m and already had a shed and wood store The height of the office also had to fit within planning restrictions as it was to be placed c lose to the boundar y
Karen’s garden design expertise meant that she was able to redesign the rest of the garden around the new office, creating a rill, new shaped borders and a patio to maximise the space She loves the fact that the office is surrounded by plants and especially likes working there in the summer with the door open. As an organic garden designer and environmentalist, Karen was delighted to see that within a year solitar y bees were using the gaps between the wood horizontals as their home
The office space houses Karen’s drawing board and computer so that she has ever ything organised and to hand The further benefit is that the house is not c luttered with work and being based in the separate office allows her to be more focused and not distracted by household chores
Karen says, "W hat I love most about my garden office is that its my
space – and the dog ’ s of course as she loves to join me in the office! I call it my ‘Cube’ and being a plants person I had to plant up on the roof as well It is also a space where c lients can see where I work and create their gardens In my office I feel connected with the environment and when the door is open I am only a few feet away from visiting birds!”
Garden annexe
In search of an additional source of income, Sue reached out to Garden Affairs with the intention of setting up a log cabin mobile home as an Airbnb at her home in Frome She wanted to create a warm and cosy cabin-style building with amenities for overnight stays and an outdoor seating area to allow her to rent the space out
The result was the multi-room L og Cabin (7m x 3 5m), to which Sue requested the addition of a two-metre canopy to give protection from the elements She decided to leave the building untreated and stain it herself, and asked for the windows and doors to be painted a dusty grey at the factor y. The unit was delivered and installed in just over a week.
The family made use of the annexe even before listing the property on Airbnb because during a house renovation, Sue’s four teens stayed in the cabin to avoid the disturbance of the construction Sue then turned her attention to furnishing the annexe She wanted to ensure that her guests would have all the comforts they needed during their stay and the centrepiece was a large, luxurious bed with high-quality linens and pillows Sue painted the interior walls in a light colour to fill the space
Above: The mini office means that ever ything related to the business is to hand
Left: K aren loves being surrounded by greener y when working in her garden office
with reflective light and the ceilings were lef t unpainted to emphasise the rustic log cabin aesthetic
The bathroom has a Velux skylight in the roof, strategically placed to allow natural light to enter, creating a bright and air y atmosphere This is particular ly beneficial in a bathroom, as it helps to prevent the build up of moisture and odours. The skylight also eliminates the need for additional windows or fixtures.
The compact footprint of sleeping area, kitchenette, bathroom and garden allows a selfcontained space with its own entrance and outdoor area From offering temporar y lodging for family to generating income, this offers flexibility beyond a fixed extension
Garden Affairs have distributed and installed garden buildings across the UK for over 20 years, and offer a quality product and an efficient, stress-free process from start to finish
The company gives c lients the freedom to be as involved as they want (or not!) in the process, from order to installation, and are always there to give advice during the build
V isit the Garden Affairs showroom at Trowbr idge Garden Centre, 288 Frome Road, Trowbr idge BA14 0DT; gardenaffairs.co.uk
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This page, from left: the log c abin with its two -metre c anopy; the living and kitchen area; and the bedroom
The cutting garden
September is a time of harvest, with apples, plums and berries ripening ready for collection. The colours in the flower garden are still vibrant, but it’s also time to start planning your growth action for next spring, says Jessica Stokes
September in the cutting garden takes a ne w pace, and although it begins to slow, it is anything but dull Dahlias in jewel tones sit happily beside grasses which are having their moment You find some dahlias in dinner plate styles, others in cactus varieties, or the lily flowering kind which invite bees into their centres. V ivid greens have faded to golds, rusts and honeyed tones. Fruits are ripening on trees, apples and even damsons are ready to har vest. Asters are autumn’s daisies, and heleniums (sneez e weed) appear in caramels and ruby-reds, filling the borders Lunaria (honesty) seed heads are dr ying on the plants and have lustrous, shimmering-likethe-moon seed pods There are still jobs in the cutting garden to be done in September, and there are flowers yet to appear
Chr ysanthemums are my choice flower for this time of year They will ‘out-flower ’ the dahlias and give you colour r ight into the depths of autumn, even into ear ly winter Most chr ysanthemums are perennial, but the florist cultivars are tender and need to be protected from the frost, either by transplanting them back inside when the temperature drops or by growing them under cover in a greenhouse or polytunnel in order to sur vive. They have made a resurgence in recent years, perhaps because they are available in a broader spectrum of colours. Rather than the garish lime greens or neon shades, which you might associate with chr ysanthemums, they are now available in the most appealing velvety tones, which make them look almost like sea corals, not flowers at all They come in single and double flowers, but my favourite are the spider varieties which have petals that look like unfurling fireworks against the bleak autumn skies I particular ly like Chr ysanthemum ‘ Tula purple’, C ‘Avignon pink’, C. ‘Pip salmon’, C. ‘ Tula improved ’ , C. ‘Smokey purple’ and C. ‘ Tula carmella’. All of these work beautifully as cut flowers. They are also easy to propagate by taking cuttings from plants.
In order to start growing your own chr ysanthemums, I recommend that you buy them as rooted cuttings in the spring, and then pot them up You must keep them in a cold frame or under cover until the risk of frost has passed They can then be planted out into your garden The plants will need to be fed and watered on a regular basis using a tomato or seaweed feed, in order to have those incredible flowers come autumn It is also worth noting that plants will need staking, with a simple cane and tied in with string as they grow.
Preparing for next year
S eptember is a good time to sow hardy annual seed – this will ensure that you have ear l y flowers, six weeks ahead of those that are sown in spr ing. You c an now directl y sow sc abious, Calendula (pot mar igold), C e n t a u re a ( c o r n f l owe r ) , Am
var ious poppies
Now is also a good time to star t organising and e ven planting your spr ing bulbs, suc h as daff odils, Musc
Helenium Lunaria (honesty)
Chr ysanthemums
S c i l l a ( b l u e b e l l s ) , c ro c u s , a n e m on e a n d C h i on o d ox a ( g l o r y o f t h e snow). P lant the builbs either directl y, straight into the ground, or use
t h e ‘ b u l b l a s a g n e ’ m e t h o d , o f l aye r i n g b u l b s a n d c o r m s i n t o pots/containers This will give plants plent y of time to put on good g row t h a n d f l owe r p rom p t l y, c om e s p r i n g H o l d o f f p l a n t i n g t u l i p bulbs until November because of the risk of fungal disease such as tulip fire (Bot r ytis tulipae), which c an occur if planted into warmer soil and will result in damaging your tulips and creating a ‘ blighted ’ appearance on the flowers and leaves
As you are deadheading perennials and annuals, consider collecting them in order to gather their seed for propagation. P lants such as scabious, cosmos and marigold, which will begin to die off, are easy to gather seed from Keep them in a cool and dr y place until it is time to sow them I let them dr y on the plant, remove their seed heads, shake them out and allow them to dr y further, then place them in tiny labelled envelopes or tracing paper packages until their time comes This will save you money and allow you to increase your plant stocks
It ’ s also time to prune any c limbing or rambling roses in your garden, which will or should now have finished flowering. Tie in any new shoots for formative roses, and cut back to the base any old, diseased or woody grow th. Ensure your roses have enough space and light to grow and flourish disease free Clear any leaves from the base of the plants to avoid the spread of disease
By continuously deadheading plants such as dahlias, geranium, cosmos etc, you are spurring the plant back into action, and encouraging the continual production of flowers W hen plants are allowed to go to seed,
they are completing their flower ’ s lifecyc le. By regular deadheading and spur pr uning, weeding around your plants, followed by a seaweed or tomato feed, you are enabling flowers to keep producing and growing, giving your garden and your flower vases colour, well into autumn n
Jessic a S tokes, g ardener and sustainable floral desig ns. Instag ram: # flowerand land; flowerand land.com
F
lower and Land
Thoughtful, curated and seasonal wedding flowers
Jess Stokes: floral desig ner and garden wr iter www.flowerand land.com flowerand land@g mail.com 07850 518858
West Woodlands is a delightful hamlet situated on the outskirts of Frome and close to Longleat and Stourhead Estates Lavender
Stable is one of three properties within this farm development and it is a converted barn with an extension having 3 bedrooms, the master having an ensuite shower room a further bathroom, separate laundry area and an open plan living/kitchen/dining area. The property has the benefit of a good size level garden to the rear and is accessed via fully glazed bifold doors creating a beautiful inside out living The property has underfloor heating throughout To the front of the property there is ample parking with areas for further planting
Externally, the property is accessed by a five bar gate with ample parking to the front with planted borders To the rear there is a good sized level garden and patio area together with a further area which lends itself to a home/office purpose built structure or a garden shed for storage together with a plant room
37 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; Tel: 01225 866111
West Woodlands, Frome, Somerset
• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Open plan living/dining/kitchen space
• Peaceful location, large garden
• Ample parking
• Potential to purchase additional land
Price: £550,000
Woolley Green, Bradford on Avon
£1,595,000
A stunning and exceptionally unique property set in walled gardens with gated driveway, parking, opportunity to have generous annex/work space – all finished to an exacting standard with high quality materials
• 4313 sq ft total accommodation
• 3 bedroom detached property with ancillary byre accommodation
• Situated on the outskirts of the town
• Private level gardens and gated driveway
Circus Mews, Bath
£975,000
An attractive and generously proportioned 2 bedroom reversed living mews house, tucked away quietly in a private gated courtyard and positioned in a fine residential location behind The Kings Circus, with a single garage and small private courtyard
• 2 generous bedrooms with 2x ensuites
• Open plan kitchen/dining room
• Large drawing room
• Single garage, small private courtyard
• Communal cobbled gated courtyard
01225 333332 | 01225 866111
Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire
Leigh Road, Bradford on Avon
Hassle -free later -living in the hear t of Bath
Whether downsizing, moving closer to family and friends, or simply seeking something new, at Pegasus Homes we believe retirement signifies a new beginning.
However, we understand that the process of moving home at any age can be a big undertaking, with many of our customers moving on from the large, family homes that they have lived in for many years
We want to make that transition a little easier, which is why our age - exclusive communities provide a breadth of choice and flexibility that helps make your next chapter as easy as possible
Set on the banks of the River Avon, Pegasus Bath Leat is a stylish collection of one and two-bedroom apartments available for private purchase Designed by Claude Hooper, one of the UK’s leading interior design firms, the space takes inspiration from the community’s riverside location, with tones of navy and eau de nil to make the communal areas calm and welcoming
Re -writing perceptionscomments:
We want to turn perceptions of retirement on their head, and with fresh and contemporary interiors, Bath Leat embodies the aspirations of those who wish to enjoy an active and independent later-life The homes offer both comfort and luxury, with high-quality features seamlessly set into modern kitchens and bathrooms; and balconies and terraces available on selected homes.
Like all Pegasus Homes' communities, Bath Leat is designed with wellbeing and social connection in mind, and the community offers the perfect balance of relaxing and active spaces, with a hobby room, stretch studio, sauna, foot spa,
treatment room and two communal lounges. A snug provides the perfect spot to unwind and catch up with new neighbours, while the guest suites provide a welcoming place for friends and family to stay Between the buildings, a series of beautiful, landscaped gardens bring people together to enjoy wildlife, open space and greenery
Not just a place to live, but a lifestyle
Home is more than just bricks and mortar, and it is the personal touch paired with discretion that sets our communities apart Bath Leat has a dedicated on-site team charged with making life a little easier, bringing residents together for social events and acting as a first port of call for queries and local knowledge.
Location is everything, and like each of our communities, Bath Leat allows residents to enjoy rich amenities and excellent transport links, pairing the peacefulness of a riverside community with all the perks of the spa town’s unique heritage and thriving cultural scene on their doorstep
Book your visit today
With more than 50% of homes already sold or reserved, now is the perfect opportunity to see what Bath Leat has to offer. Homes at Bath Leat start from £400,000
Call 01255 600 461 or email bathleat@pegasushomes co uk
