The Bath Magazine January 2022

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ISSUE 227 | JANUARY 2022 | thebathmag.co.uk | £3.95 where sold

MICK PETER

Flat-pack sculpture pops up at the Holburne

PLUS...

S O M U C H M O R E I N T H E C I T Y ’ S B I G G E S T G U I D E T O L I V I N G I N B AT H

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68

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Contents 5 THINGS

January 2022

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THE CITYIST

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We chat to Tim Beale about photography, city heritage and life in Bath

NOTES ON A SMALL CITY

PATHWAYS TO WELLBEING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Museums have a part to play in mental health, says Louise Campion

Great things to look forward to this month

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HELP WITH VEGANUARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Try out two recipes from Philip Pearce’s Green Rocket Cookbook

FITNESS FIRST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Sam Holmes has some practical tips about becoming a better, fitter you

Richard Wyatt looks back to 1972, totally the natural thing to do 50 years later

INTRODUCING

A ZOOM THROUGH 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

...two new faces at BRLSI who share with us their favourite pieces from the institution’s museum, library, and archive collection

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Emma Clegg discovers some exciting highlights for the year ahead

FROM PARADISE TO PILGRIMS WHAT’S ON

50

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It’s time to turn over a new leaf, says Saskia Hayward... she means books!

30

Stephen W Tayler tells Emma Clegg why not to ‘leave it to the mix’

32

Andrew Swift explores a little-known corner of Gloucestershire

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Our monthly guide to what’s happening in and around the city

MAGIC MIXES CRACKING THE CODE

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Luke Sheppard tells Melissa Blease about staging The Da Vinci Code

FOLLOWING A ROMAN ROAD A TOUR IN TIME

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Daisy Game encounters a rebellious baker and thousands of toothbrushes, and reports back on the Abbey’s newly introduced tours

KEEPING OFF TREND

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Do we have to follow interior fashions slavishly? Let’s ask the experts

A NATURALS THING

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There’s characters a-plenty at the Natural Theatre Company. Which ones might we encounter this year, and could you be one of them?

ARTS AND EXHIBITIONS

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A sculpture is always a sculpture if you can walk round it, concludes Emma Clegg after talking to Mick Peter about his sculptural tableaux soon to arrive at the Holburne

Follow us on Twitter @thebathmagazine

More content and updates discover: thebathmag.co.uk

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To admire, inspire and delight – here’s our monthly round-up

FLATPACK SCULPTURE

GREENING UP

Get the mail order catalogues out, says gardener Elly West

ON THE COVER

To Me, To You, by Mick Peter, exhibition at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, 2019. See page 38 for our interview with Mick, whose work arrives at the Holburne this month

Follow us on Instagram @thebathmagazine

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Editors Letter Jan.qxp_Layout 1 22/12/2021 16:47 Page 1

Photograph by Finley Highton

FROM THE EDITOR

Editor photograph by TBM

A

spirations for this year? Making the most of 12 months of a number with three twos is top of my list. That leaves plenty of room for manoeuvre.

And room to fly high metaphorically, if not physically.

If you fancy making any more defined aspirations, turn to page 20 where we have highlights of the year that’s promised in Bath. From choral thrills and theatre dramas to competitive sports and celebrating our city’s heritage, 2022 already has on offer a host of things to look forward to and experiences to be treasured. Naturally we’ll continue to report on these…

One of the 2022 highlights is the opening of the Abbey’s Discovery Centre in the autumn, the final stage of its Footprint project. Another recent development has been the opening of the Learning Centre, which is now offering regular Abbey Tours for visitors. Daisy Game went to learn about the Abbey’s wide-ranging history – see her report on page 32.

Another religious mystery is uncovered when The Da Vinci Code – the epic stage thriller adapted from Dan Brown’s blockbuster novel – comes to Theatre Royal Bath this month. Melissa Blease chats to director Luke Sheppard on page 30, who asserts that “Big and bold, visual and theatrically challenging, our production continues to make the case for theatre as an art form.”

Challenge also came into play as we researched our piece on Pantone’s 2022 colour choice Very Peri (see page 66). It’s a powerful shade best encapsulated by the periwinkle flower, we concluded, but in our investigations we found some startling colours and products in close proximity. Our Bucking the Trends feature on page 68 endorses this find-your-own-way message, with a self-affirming commentary on how to make your own interiors mark – the idea is that anything goes if it resonates with you.

This month sees the opening of a novel exhibition at the Holburne called Mick Peter: Old Ghosts. It’s a show featuring three groups of ‘illustrative sculptures’ with strong local connections, which have been specially commissioned from artist Mick Peter – one of which will be suspended high on the front façade of the museum. See my interview with Mick on page 38.

I also spent time this month with sound designer and audio engineer Stephen Tayler who is based at Real World Studios in Box and has worked with artists from Kate Bush to Peter Gabriel. He gave me a fascinating potted history of multi-track recording and played me his recently published CD/DVD Da Capo in his atmospheric sound studio – a powerful multi-sensory experience (see page 52).

The year seems to be shaping up nicely. The numerology meaning of 2022 is that ‘hope is ahead’. Bring it on.

Emma Clegg Editor

NATURAL RESOLUTIONS

Resolutions to take up Tai Chi, lose weight, join a bookclub and become vegan(ish) are lost on so many of us once the shine of the endeavour has worn off. So why not think bigger and take part in the Festival of Nature, the UK’s largest free celebration of the natural world? It comes to the west of England from June 10–18, organised by the partners of The Natural History Consortium.

The festival is pulling together a full programme of collaborative in-person, digital and hybrid events across the region. All activity will be focused on one goal; to enable people to take action for nature. The consortium is opening up its programmes to organisations and groups across the region in its first-ever open call: • Venues, environmental groups and activity providers, do you have a project or programme ready to go as part of the week? Is there an off-the wall idea you’ve always wanted to try, a great venue that could host a special event, or do you have some skills or time to offer?

• Content creators, podcasts, and digital artists, why not link up with the activities happening during the festival week?

If you have an idea, want to put in an expression or simply want to find out more, email festival@bnhc.org.uk before 31 January. bnhc.org.uk/festival-of-nature

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

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• SPEN

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ENJ OYI N

2022

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5

ZEITGEIST

things to do this

January

Get in the groove ...with Zeeteah Massiah at the Chapel Arts Centre. Zeeteah has a unique reggae sound – fierce and soulful, with a wicked beat. She transforms jazz standards, pop hits and soul classics into reggae anthems and she writes and performs her own material. Born in the Caribbean and raised in London, Zeeteah is known for her work in house music (including a No. 1 US dance hit), rock, soul and jazz, and for her incredible live performances. Zeetah brings all these diverse musical influences together and layers them over irresistible reggae grooves, with extra ska and dancehall spice mixed in. It’s music to stir your heart. Chapel Arts Centre, 22 January, 8pm. chapelarts.org

Follow the trail Visit the Myths & Monsters exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery, and you might find more than you are expecting. Visitors can search for monsters who have escaped into the city as part of the museum’s free immersive trail around Bath.

You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for monsters, scan them on your phone, watch them come to life and then head to the gallery to see if there are any other monsters or mythological beasts lurking outside. The Myths & Monsters immersive trail has been developed by Immersive Promotion Design in collaboration with Bath Spa University. victoriagal.org.uk/events/myths-and-monsters

Explore the history Follow the Bathscape Walk to explore the layers of history on Bath’s southern skyline. Traces remain here of almost every century of English history from the Iron Age to the 18th century and there is animal and plant life, natural landscape and stunning views. This linear walk starts with the upper and more level sections of National Trust’s official Skyline Walk and finishes at Prior Park Landscape Garden where you can hear about the history of the garden. 16 January, 10am–1pm, starting at The Edge, University of Bath. Booking essential. eventbrite.co.uk

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Sing Rossini If you’d like to warm up a winter’s day learning to sing Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle alongside the Bath Bach Choir, sign up for the annual January workshop directed by Nigel Perrin on Saturday 29 January at St Mary’s Church, Bathwick. This much-loved, spacious church is about a 15minute walk from the centre of Bath and from most car parks (no parking on site).

9.30–5pm, tickets £27. bathbachchoir.org.uk Bath Bach Choir in lockdown rehearsals

Plan to book for free Benefit from an unprecedented opportunity over the next six months as residents of Bath and North East Somerset are being invited to enjoy thrilling live performances from the region’s leading professional orchestra for free. Featuring the best of British-based classical soloists, including violinsts Hyeyoon Park and Chloe Hanslip and pianists Lara Melda and Alexandra Dariescu, Bath Phil’s concerts in 2022 will feature a tasting menu of musical delights designed to make the concerts more welcoming, friendly, poignant and exciting. Full details on the concerts and this special offer can be found at bathphil.co.uk/bathphilforfree

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The city

ist

THE BUZZ

THE BUZZ

FESTIVAL DATES

Tim Beale is a photographer with extensive experience in the heritage sector, including most recently at the Museum of Bath Architecture. He has just published a book, The Right to This City, documenting his photographic research into housing inequality in Bath

Bath Festivals has now confirmed the dates for its festivals next year. The Bath Festival, celebrating music and books in a beautiful city, will take place from Friday 13 May to Saturday 21 May 2022. The festival will open with the traditional Party in the City on Friday 13 May, offering dozens of free live music events in city venues.

Bath Children’s Literature Festival, Europe’s largest stand-alone book festival for children and young people, will run from Friday 23 September to Sunday 2 October. The image above shows a young audience member at Bath Children’s Literature Festival attending an event with illustrator Steven Lenton. bathfestivals.org.uk

Figures show that Bath’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is continuing to improve air quality in the city and that the number of chargeable vehicles is decreasing. The data shows an average 14% decrease in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels within the CAZ in the last quarter compared with the same period in 2019. Air quality has also improved at key locations including Gay Street and Upper Bristol Road.

Levels of NO2 at Wells Road, Victoria Buildings, Broad Street, and Chapel Row have increased but this is expected to stabilise once temporary works impacting traffic have been completed, including the Cleveland Bridge renovation project. The data also indicates that the CAZ is improving fleet compliance and changing behaviours.

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Where do you live?

I live just south of Oldfield Park. I love the fact that I can walk and within minutes either be surrounded by countryside or really interesting architecture. This part of Bath is very different to what visitors expect and features heavily in my photography.

What do you like about Bath?

Having worked in the Heritage Sector for around 14 years, the city’s rich architecture, history and culture drew me here.

What memories do you have in the city?

I visited the Circus on one of the first dates with my wife Emma. I recall her delightedly walking to the centre and clapping to illustrate the echo.

Where are you from originally?

I am from the Midlands and still have family in Derby and Birmingham, but lived and worked in London before heading to the south west. I moved here in 2017 just before being offered a role with Bath Preservation Trust managing the Museum of Bath Architecture.

CLEAN AIR UPDATE

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What is your background?

I studied ceramics and photography at A Level before moving to London to study for a combined arts foundation. My first proper job was in a lab and I did a science degree with them. Prior to starting the MA I completed the Licentiate Distinction with the Royal Photographic Society.

Do you feel we celebrate our city’s heritage with sensitively and imagination?

We are steeped in heritage and we celebrate the Grand Georgian aspects of the city, and there are no shortages of museums. The Museum of Bath at Work do a cracking job of covering the heritage of those who have serviced the city for hundreds of years, but more could be done, such as a walking exhibition that explored the roles of the city and its people.

When did you take up photography?

I first became semi-serious about photography when I was about 17, picking up my first ‘real’ camera, a Russian Zenit SLR. That saw me through my A Level and on a few travels.

There was then a period when I could not access a darkroom, and it was not until later when a friend in Frome introduced me to the Canon DSLR (digital SLR). Since then, I am never out without a camera.

How would you describe your photographs?

I’m fascinated by how we interact with the environment and how the environment influences how we grow and develop. My photographs reflect this. My time in the heritage sector has left me with a passion for research and I find myself researching topics while creating images. These topics could be called quiet protest pieces, highlighting, as they do, the overlooked issues around us.

What landscapes do you most like to explore?

I thoroughly enjoy walking across the city and find that the built landscape rivals the natural landscape around Bath. I am drawn towards interesting features and less-explored places such as Twerton, Weston and Bear Flat. The architecture of social housing in these areas is as interesting as the Royal Crescent.

How would you describe your career?

Working for English Heritage really focused my career aspirations. Throughout my career I have always been creative, often in my own time, such as teaching ceramics evening classes, painting or photography.

Tell us about your Photography Masters at Falmouth University I wanted a way of challenging myself and to impress my dad, who sadly passed away last year. One of the key things I learned was focus (pardon the pun), looking at what I’m doing, why I’m doing it and who am I doing it for.

What are your priorities in life?

I am building my practice and working on personal projects and commissions. I’m also launching my self-published book The Right to This City. I’d also love to work with likeminded artists to build on Bath’s art scene and make it flourish and grow into something worthy of Bath’s fame. ■ Read more about Tim’s book The Right to This City on his website: tim-beale-foto.square.site

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CITY | NOTEBOOK

Richard Wyatt: Notes on a small city Columnist Richard Wyatt embraces the new year by going back 50 years to 1972 when the first hand-held calculator went on sale. Things have changed a bit since then, he muses...

I

❝

There was the little blue soft-topped Suzuki jeep we took to Ireland ... and criss-crossed the Emerald Isle one gorgeous week in spring

❝

am guessing that by now all the Christmas-gifted smart phones, video games and virtual assistant devices have been well and truly run-in? The use of the phrasal verb ‘run-in’ dates me of course, for those who have no idea what I am talking about.

To run something in is to use something new in such a way as not to make maximum demands on it. In the good old days the engine of a new car had to be run in gently for the first one thousand miles.

Such care I believe is no longer necessary. Straight off the production line this four-wheeled, engineering and electronic marvel is fit to go.

Though, it has to be said, the days of putting your foot down on the open road are way behind us.

Of course none of the above mentioned devices need gentle handling. Each will instantly connect you with the world – real or imagined – at the press of a key or the sound of your voice. How soon does the sense of the new and wonderful mellow into the sense of the ordinary and everyday.

During an idle moment recently I looked back 50 years to 1972 – not a good year in terms of the tragic loss of human life, including the deaths of civil rights marchers in Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland and the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics.

And overshadowing all of this was the Vietnam War. However, I was revisiting the year to search for technology and the first stirrings of our modern world of instant communication. In January of that year the first hand-held calculator went on sale. It was a case of hello HP 35 and goodbye slide rule. A year earlier an American called John Blankenbaker invented the world’s first commercially available personal computer in his Californian garage. It came to the market five years before Apple 1 but, sadly, who remembers the Kenbak 1?

Another interesting fact from that year is that it was with the 1972 model that the VW Beetle overtook Ford’s famous Model T as the world’s all-time, most-produced automobile. The Beetle was unlike any other vehicle for much of its 65 years. No car, aside from the Model T, was more instantly recognisable.

I never owned one. My first car was a Ford Anglia, quickly followed by a two-tone cactus green Triumph Herald which I almost overturned whilst skidding on an ice patch. I slid down a grassy slope

and remember local Weston Mercury photographer Ted Amesbury being on hand to help me out. My pride was more dented than the car, as it happened, and I did find a cherished pen I thought I had lost. It popped out of whatever metal crevice it had fallen into when the car came to rest.

Hand on heart, was I ever really into cars? My grandmother provided the cash for an Austin Healey Sprite, complete with wire wheels, that I proudly drove up and down to Brighton where I was working in BBC local radio. She made me pay every penny back too, and I was grateful she showed me the value of money. Bless her – she didn’t charge me interest.

The car I was most proud of at the time was a red Ford Escort XR3 which was parked proudly outside my Clifton flat in Bristol.

I still remember the shock I experienced the morning I opened the front door to find the car without its wheels and balanced on bricks!

Did I ever have a real affection for a car? There was the little blue soft-topped Suzuki jeep we took to Ireland on the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry and criss-crossed the Emerald Isle one gorgeous week in spring. On impulse I later traded it in for a Land Rover Discovery so I could sit above the surrounding low-slung traffic. I am still being reprimanded for my lapse of judgement by my husband. Our current little motor won’t get us any faster around Bath’s traffic-clogged roads, but it’s a gem when it comes to parking.

We’re lucky to live close enough to town to walk or cycle for a lot of the time though and at my age my bike is electric. As the next car will be when we trade this one in.

Here is a picture of me seated on the sort of horse power of which my gymkhana-mad grandfather would have approved.

Giddy up – here comes 2022. Happy New Year! n Richard Wyatt runs the Bath Newseum: bathnewseum.com

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2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499. Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmag.co.uk © MC Publishing Ltd 2022 Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bath Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

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WHAT’S ON | THIS YEAR

Zoom into

2022

When we say ‘zoom’, we’re not talking the cloud-based communications app, but the real, physical zoom word.

What follows are actual things that are happening this year in our city. After some consideration of predicted consumer trends, Emma Clegg rounds up the things to look out for, ranging from the Winter Olympics to the Tudors, and choral performances to the reopening of our much-loved lido

T

he pandemic has changed our approach to life. It has changed when we work, where we work and how we work. But reports predicting consumer attitudes for next year indicate that it has also changed why we work, and what we choose to do when we’re not working. It seems that we are less driven by the conviction that we have to keep ourselves firmly on the career ladder, following an upwards curve in order to achieve in life, and that perhaps doing so is ultimately limiting the parameters of our life experience. Having lost so many days in the last 18 months or so, the idea that we’ve got just 16,790 days from becoming an adult to reaching retirement (as estimated by GWI’s consumer report for 2022) is meaningful and we are realising that our time is super precious and we need to take advantage of it.

Forecasters are predicting that post-pandemic there will be a record number of employees leaving their jobs, wanting to embrace adventure, try new things and be less conservative and cautious. Already trends are indicating that treating ourselves and

indulging in new experiences has become a priority, just behind saving money and spending time with loved ones. So after so long staying put in an enforced bubble, people want to break out and be wholesomely engaged in every moment on this earth.

There’s also a continuing dominant trend to look after ourselves with the increasing urge to keep active, eat more healthily and take part in activities that we enjoy to improve our mental wellbeing.

“Taking ‘me’ time isn’t selfish,” says the GWI Zeitgeist for 2022, “because just a moderate amount of free time is linked to being happier and less stressed”. Self-care also means recognising the things we don’t want to do, and we’re learning how to recognise stress prompts and act to remove them or reduce their impact.

Charged with this information about consumer trends, here are some top-notch what’s on picks in the Bath calendar in 2022.

Whether it’s artistic discoveries, theatrical experiences or sporting achievements, these will help you to make the most of your time, embrace new experiences, and look after your mental wellbeing.

Life is for the taking.

CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE

make Bath a World Heritage Site: its Roman remains, hot springs, 18th-century architecture, 18th-century town planning, the landscape setting of the city, and the way in which Bath’s Georgian architecture reflects 18th-century social ambitions.

Free to enter, there is no need to book tickets or timeslots to visit; the centre will be open Monday to Sunday, 9.30am to 5pm. Visitor numbers will be restricted in the centre to allow for social distancing, so at busier times some visitors may need to wait to enter the building.

The second phase of public realm improvements in York Street is due to begin in the new year. The works were initially scheduled to take place alongside works in Swallow Street during the summer of 2021.

• bathworldheritage.org.uk/worldheritagecentre

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Patti Smith: Steven Sebring

The new World Heritage Centre in York Street opens in the spring (after being trialled last month), with the exact launch date to be announced. The centre will include interactive exhibits and displays and visitors will be able to download an exciting new app, which they can use to go out and explore the city. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the World Heritage Centre will give visitors a chance to find out what makes Bath so special. It is designed to inspire them to go out and explore the buildings, landscapes and history that

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WHAT’S ON THIS YEAR

Team Bath Netball Fast Five champions

FOLLOW THE GAMES It was a golden 2021 for Bath-based sportspeople, and this year promises to be another memorable one with both the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games taking place.

Athletes training at the University of Bath with the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association will be looking to continue an incredible run of success, which has seen them win medals at every Winter Olympics since 2002, when China hosts this year’s Games from 4–20 February. They have already slid to six medals on the international circuit this season, two of which came at October’s Olympic Test Event on the Beijing competition track.

Athletes across a host of sports will have the privilege of being roared on by a home crowd when the Commonwealth Games come to Birmingham from 28 July – 8 August. Set to be among those competing are swimmers from the British Swimming National Centre Bath squad that won seven gold medals at Tokyo 2020 and stars of Team Bath Netball.

Four-man Bobsleigh in Winterberg

Before the Games, the netballers will be targeting the Vitality Superleague title with home matches returning to the Team Bath Arena for the first time since March.

• teambath.com; thebbsa.co.uk; britishswimming.org; olympics.com/en/beijing-2022

GET IN THE SWIM OF THINGS The Cleveland Pools restoration is well underway, with high hopes of opening in late summer 2022 for the first swims in almost 40 years.

The newly restored Pools will be a community facility – open, accessible and affordable for all. There will also be a small terrace, a food/drink kiosk, space to lounge on the grassy banks, and educational information about the site’s fascinating history.

However, to complete the project the Trust needs to raise a further £400,000, so look out for a crowdfunding campaign being launched in February for a chance to be part of history... and maybe even be one of the first in the pool!

Built in 1815, the Grade II listed Cleveland Pools is the UK’s oldest surviving public outdoor swimming pool. The Pools were last used in the mid-1980s, so many local residents have fond memories of swimming here. The site is a hidden gem – accessed via a quiet cul de sac and narrow path, tucked magically alongside the river Avon.

In 2003 local people set up a Trust to save the Pools, after they were listed for sale by the Council. Plans to restore the Pools gained support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as the main funder of the restoration project, as well as B&NES Council, Historic

England and the Department of Culture Media and Sport.

The project is volunteer led, with well over 100 active volunteers working to bring the Pools back to life.

• clevelandpools.org.uk THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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CITY | HAPPENINGS

FACE THE TUDORS The Holburne Museum will present a major new exhibition featuring 25 famous Tudor portraits from 28 January – 8 May. Created in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, The Tudors: Passion, Power and Politics visitors will come face-to-face with the five Tudor monarchs – Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. The exhibition includes some of the most famous images of British painting, including the ‘Darnley’ and ‘Armada’ portraits of Elizabeth I. The portraits explore this dynasty’s reign over 16th-century England, from 1485 to 1603, a period marked by religious conflict and political intrigue, and will include vivid portraits of many significant figures, including Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Cranmer, Thomas More, William Cecil and Thomas Cromwell. • holburne.org

CHEER ON COLOUR

Painting of Henry VIII by unknown Tudor artist

Vichy Water and ‘Howards End’, Carennac, 1970, Ink on paper 14 x 17" © David Hockney

LOVE HOCKNEY David Hockney’s delight in the world demonstrated in the drawings he made in the late 1960s and ’70s is the subject of the exhibition Love Life: David Hockney’s Drawings at the Holburne – in which we see his extraordinary power of observation and skill in using tiny details to help capture a situation, a sitter or a place.

The exhibiton, running from 27 May – 18 September, showcases Hockney’s drawings of this time as some of the greatest bodies of draftsmanship in the canon of western art. A few lines can perfectly describe the fall of someone’s clothing, the impression of a head on a pillow, or the character of a room or situation. The exhibition reveals his delight in the world around him and the way he sees deeply and then condenses a given scene in the most concise way, like visual poetry.

The dazzling colours of Mary Fedden’s artworks will illuminate the walls of the Victoria Art Gallery from 9 July –16 October. The exhibition Mary Fedden: Simple Pleasures explores her life and work, from her childhood and young adulthood in Bristol, to her marriage with artist Julian Trevelyan.

Fedden (1915–2012) is well known as a colourist who celebrated her favourite places, things and people in joyous compositions that delight the eye as much as the mind.

Over 70 paintings and works on paper are featured, covering all periods of Fedden’s career, drawn from both private and public collections across the UK. The exhibition will shed new light on the artist’s working practices and explore the development of her sensibility for bright colours.

• holburne.org

• victoriagal.org.uk

GATHER AT THE BATH FESTIVAL The Bath Festival runs from 13–21 May, with the free Party in the City on Friday 13th in dozens of venues in the city centre.

This is always a great night out for fans of music of all genres and attracts crowds of around 20,000 into the city centre.

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and perhaps unexpected venues. The 2022 festival aims to be more diverse and engage a wider number of people than ever before, with many stories from outsiders who made good. There will also be a strong element representing Bath, including new festival walks with Bath themes.

People can sign up for information about this year’s festival on the website and for £25 can become members and get first dibs on tickets. • bathfestivals.org.uk

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WHAT’S ON | THIS YEAR

DISCOVER AT THE ABBEY What will you discover in the vaults of Bath Abbey next year? Well, a warm welcome awaits in Bath Abbey’s new Discovery Centre located in the new underground spaces created by the Footprint Project, the £19.3 million programme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Opening in autumn/winter 2022, the centre will enable visitors of all ages to enjoy exploring the Abbey’s rich 1,300 year history, and will bring Bath’s often-forgotten medieval past to life.

A stunning collection of objects will be on display, including stone carvings, 17th-century silverware, a restored 18th-century font, and 19th-century plastercasts of figures from the West Front. Visitors will be able to learn more about them and what they tell us about earlier churches where the Abbey now stands.

But that’s not all. Fun and games are also in store from costumes and dressing-up to puzzles and challenges. Ever wondered what it was like to write like one of the abbey’s monks or how the abbey was rebuilt after Henry VIII almost demolished it? Then you’re in for a treat! One interactive game will even let you fly across the Abbey’s famous West Front as if you’re one of its angels. This and many other experiences will help you see the Abbey as never before.

• bathabbey.org

EXPERIENCE AN ANIMAL DRAMA

ESCAPE INTO THE WOODS The Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods is brought to life in a new production at Theatre Royal Bath from 19 August – 10 September. Weaving together many of the Grimm Brothers’ much-loved tales, the story follows a baker and his wife who yearn to have a child, but have been cursed.

To lift the curse they must find four obscure items in three nights, so the couple head into the woods only to discover more about themselves than they might ever have expected…

Presented by Scenario Two and Theatre Royal Bath Productions, the world-class, multi award-winning creative team include stage and film director Terry Gilliam, codirector and choreographer Leah Hausman, designer Jon Bausor, costume designer Antony McDonald, video designer Will Duke, sound designer Paul Groothuis, and casting director David Grindrod. A captivating, witty and entertaining musical adventure for all ages. Tickets from £26.75.

Theatre Royal Bath is welcoming a brand new production of Animal Farm from 1–5 March, directed

by Robert Icke, whose version of 1984 (co-adapted and directed with Duncan Macmillan) was a smashhit in the West End and on Broadway. The production features puppetry by Toby Olié (whose credits include War Horse) and is designed by four-time Olivier Award-winner Bunny Christie.

George Orwell’s world-famous fable tells the story of a revolution and its aftermath. Re-imagined by an award-winning creative team, The Children’s Theatre Partnership, Animal Farm is a dynamic, daring and contemporary take on a timeless story. Tickets from £17.50/£25.

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• theatreroyal.org.uk

• theatreroyal.org.uk

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WHAT’S ON | THIS YEAR

TUNE INTO THE NOTES BATH BACH CHOIR For its 75th anniversary in 2022, Bath Bach Choir is bringing to life some of the greatest works of the choral repertoire. The first on 26 March is Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle at the Italianate Church of St Mary & St Nicholas in Wilton, outside Salisbury. This mass – neither little nor solemn – provides 90 minutes of flamboyant joy in Rossini’s most operatic style. Tickets available through the church.

For the perfect midsummer’s outing, the choir will perform Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 at Bath Abbey on 2 July. Monteverdi was a genius at creating scintillating choral colour accompanied by strings, sackbuts and cornetts. With florid solos, duets and trios, the Vespers are a festival of colour and rhythm. Bath Abbey, 2 July; book through Bath Box Office.

Bath Bach Choir was founded in 1947 to perform Bach’s Mass in B minor, and the choir has regularly revisited this iconic legacy of Bach’s genius. The performance in Bath Abbey on 5 November is a fitting climax to the 75th anniversary year; book through Bath Box Office; bathboxoffice.org.uk; visit bathbachchoir.org.uk for details of all events.

ACT WITH THE NATURALS The Natural Theatre unveils an exciting participation programme in January, offering a fantastic opportunity to find your unleashed creative abilities.

This month sees the launch of the company’s Theatre School with sessions for adults and for young people under 18.

Participants are taught basic skills, have a lot of fun and are able to build their confidence and have unique ideas. These weekly gettogethers are also an opportunity to get involved with other projects.

One project from The Natural Theatre Company is a community project called Hidden Heroes, aiming to find stories of influential people who made real change in Bath, but who aren’t well-known. Another is to create a short performance about some of the characters who came to live in Bath from other areas.

The Natural Theatre Company believe in performing WITH people, not AT them – so please get involved!

The Natural Adult Theatre School runs from 24 January; the Natural 11–18 Theatre School runs from 26 January; the Hidden Heroes participation project and the Unheard Voices participation project start in January.

• naturaltheatre.co.uk

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The Fulltone Orchestra

THE FULLTONE ORCHESTRA Karl Jenkins took the music for an advert created for Delta Airlines and it grew into Symphonic Adiemus. This work took the world by storm with its variety and the composer’s own devised language. The title is very close to the Latin adeamus, which means ‘let us approach’ or ‘to come together’ – something the world needs, never so much as now.

The thrilling Symphonic Adiemus – one of the most spine-tingling, uplifting, extraordinary pieces of musical work you will ever experience, a mix of Celtic, African and Western themes – will be heard from the Fulltone Orchestra with 100 singers in Bath Abbey on 12 March.

An hour long, the Symphonic Adiemus is not enough to fill a whole concert, so the second half of the evening includes massive film scores with the choir including Star Wars (Duel of the Fates), Saving Private Ryan, Titanic, The Da Vinci Code and O Fortuna from the Old Spice advert – huge pieces of music that will enthral.

Head to Bath Abbey as winter ends and spring is about to begin to hear a spectacular night of music from the Fulltone Orchestra and a massed choir of choirs and singers. Jenkins always manages to move audiences’ hearts.

This concert will help you understand why.

Tickets from £15.

• bathabbey.org; fto.org.uk

If Opera

IF OPERA If Opera is pleased to announce its inaugural season following its transition from Iford Arts. An ensemble of dazzling artists, If Opera creates music theatre that – whether novice or aficionado – immerses you in the wonder and thrill of this most visceral art form. This year sees If Opera return to Belcombe Court with both heartbreak and humour in the form of Puccini’s exquisite La Rondine alongside a comedy double bill charting the travails of marriage; Donizetti’s Rita, and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s Il Segreto di Susanna (Susanna’s secret). The company also welcomes the return of the popular Picnic Prom. The Belcombe season runs from 19 August – 3 September. Member tickets are on sale in January with general release in February.

• ifopera.com

BATH OPERA

The Naturals on the streets of Bath

Bath Opera’s Eugene Onegin from 24–26 February is a fully staged period production with up to 70 professional orchestral players, singers and dancers on stage. The everpopular Waltz and Polonaise music will be brought to life as interludes in the unfolding story of youthful passions blighted by jealousy, the whole enriched by the thrilling sound of a large chorus. The venue is the impressive, airy Roper Theatre on the Hayesfield School Campus in Bath which offers plenty of on-street parking. Enjoy this live opera from Bath’s resident opera company.

• bathopera.com

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LOCAL | EVENTS

What’s on in January Epiphany and New Year Concert at Bath Abbey

ARTISTS’ SHOWCASE Throughout January n Out of the Blue Gallery A beautiful gallery right in the heart of Bath is showcasing some of the best British artists and ceramicists. Set across two floors, the gallery is packed with great pieces. outofthebluegallery.com CINDERELLA Until 9 January n Theatre Royal Bath The best-loved pantomime of them all is back in Bath! With a brand new joke-filled script by Bath’s own award-winning writer and all-round pantomime legend Jon Monie, Cinderella offers the best family fun and festive frivolity. With Dani Harmer as the Fairy Godmother and Jon Monie as Buttons, and Elly Jay, Josh Rose, Nic Gibney and Duncan Burt. Daily at 2pm and 7pm or 1pm and 5pm. £9–£38.50. theatreroyal.org.uk JAZ DELOREAN SOLO 6 January, 8–10.30pm n Chapel Arts Centre, St James Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, Bath Jaz Delorean is a London-based singer, with the band Tankus the Henge as well as on his own. His songs are tender observations of our fragile existence, taking inspiration from Old West bar-room piano players, the melodies of his Cypriot ancestry and stories from growing up around a travelling funfair. £15; chapelarts.org EPIPHANY AND NEW YEAR CONCERT 8 January, 6.30–7.30pm n Bath Abbey

Join the Abbey Girls Choir as they sing their annual performance of A Ceremony of Carols with the beautiful and evocative harp accompaniment. They are joined by Eluned Pierce and there will be several solos amongst the girls as they usher in the New Year and celebrate Epiphany. Many countries open presents at the Epiphany instead of on Christmas Day – so book your tickets and enjoy this magical experience. Please read the Abbey’s Covidguidance before attending. Tickets £10, under 1s £5. bathabbey.org; book through eventbrite.co.uk CAN MARKETING HELP TO TACKLE THE OBESITY CRISIS? 11 January, 7.30pm n BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath, or online Over half of the UK population is considered overweight and this has been linked to a number of serious health problems. The negative consequences are well understood, but the rate of obesity seems to be increasing. This talk by Dr Lina Ikonen examines the benefits and limitations of using the tools of marketing to promote healthier food choices and battle the obesity pandemic. £2–£5; brlsi.org TAI CHI AT THE ROMAN BATHS 11 January – 15 March, Tuesdays 8–8.30am n Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard Get your day off to a great start with morning T’ai Chi sessions on the terrace at The Roman Baths with private instructor Paddy Nisbett. £4 a session. romanbaths.co.uk

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood at The Rondo

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD 12–16 January, 7.30pm, Wednesday to Saturday, 2pm Saturday and Sunday n The Rondo Theatre, St Saviours Road, Larkhall The evil Sheriff of Nottingham is imposing endless lockdowns on his downtrodden townspeople, and he’s cheating Maid Marian and the orphaned Babes of their money and freedom. Can Robin Hood and his Merry Men and Women rescue them?

With jokes, songs, romance, fights and comedy, this is a pantomime for our time by Bath Drama, for everyone to enjoy. £8–£12. rondotheatre.co.uk SNOW MOUSE 12 January – 6 February n The Egg Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath Winter has arrived and the woods are covered in white. Children playing outside find a sleeping mouse buried under the soft white flakes. They explore the winter wonderland and keep each other safe and warm from the winter freeze. The perfect first theatre experience. Daily (except Mondays) 9.30am, 11.30am and 1.30pm.

45 minutes long. Tickets £10. theatreroyal.org.uk FREEDOM: THE IMPOSSIBLE REALITY 14 January, 7.30pm n BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath, or online The question of free will has preoccupied philosophers for millennia. In recent years the findings of neuroscience has for many laid to rest the idea that we have free will.

Not so, says Raymond Tallis, who advances Continued page 28

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Experience ‘Bath Phil for free’

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esidents of Bath and North East Somerset are set to benefit from an unprecedented opportunity over the next six months – by being invited to enjoy thrilling live performances from the region’s leading professional orchestra for free!

Bath Philharmonia is gifting local people one thousand tickets for each of its own concerts at The Bath Forum for the duration of its 2021/22 season. It’s opening-up the concert hall to those who may have never heard the magic of a live orchestra before or want to try something new. The gift of a free ticket is offered as a much-needed tonic to over 18 months of restrictions and difficulties and Bath Philharmonia will be extending this invitation to every household in Bath and the surrounding area.

Featuring the best of British-based classical soloists, including violinsts Hyeyoon Park and Chloe Hanslip and pianists Lara Melda and Alexandra Dariescu, Bath Phil’s concerts throughout 2021/22 will feature a specially-curated tasting menu of musical delights designed to make the concerts more welcoming and friendly and both poignant and exciting. Full details on the concerts and this special offer can be found at www.bathphil.co.uk/bathphilforfree Working closely with long-standing partners The Bath Forum, many protocols are already in place to ensure Covid-secure concerts can be enjoyed by all, and government guidance will be followed to keep audiences and performers safe. The Bath Forum is Bath’s largest venue and the third largest seated auditorium in the South West. With an excellent acoustic and recently fitted UVC light air filtration system, clean air is pumped around this concert hall.

Bath Philharmonia has been bringing people together since 2000 and this year is no exception. The orchestra support young musicians across Bath and the South West and has recently developed a suite of learning resources for secondary schools across the country.

Furthermore, it continues to transform the lives of hundreds of young people through its nationally-recognised creative learning programme whilst helping thousands of concertgoers each year discover their own love of live orchestral music.

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LOCAL | EVENTS

Hyeyoon Park & Bath Philharmonia at the Forum

The Da Vinci Code at Theatre Royal Bath

powerful arguments for the reality of freedom. £4–£7; brlsi.org

FILM SCREENINGS n Throughout January, The Little Theatre Cinema, Bath

BATHSCAPE GUIDED WALK 16 January, 10am–1pm n The Edge, University of Bath (meeting point) A guided walk exploring the layers of history to be found on Bath’s southern skyline. Traces remain of almost every century of English history from the time of the Iron Age and the Roman and Norman occupations to the 18th century and beyond, along with a variety of animal and plant life, natural landscape and stunning views. The linear walk starts with the upper sections of National Trust’s official Skyline Walk and finishes at Prior Park Landscape Garden. This is a linear walk starting at The Edge, University. bathscape.co.uk PHIL PEARCE FOR THE GREEN ROCKET COOKBOOK 20 January, 7.30pm n Topping & Co. Bookshop, York Street Philip Pearce is the chef and owner of the Green Rocket, an award-winning café and restaurant in Bath specialising in vegan food.

Phil demonstrates some of his best recipes and discusses food, flavour, and life in Bath.

Tickets £20, including book. toppingbooks.co.uk THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES 25–29 January, 7.30pm and matinees Thursday and Sunday at 2.30pm n Theatre Royal Bath Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated adventure gets a farcical overhaul in Lotte Wakeman’s production. With rumours of a cursed giant hound loose on the moors, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson must act fast to save the Baskerville family’s remaining heir. Tickets from £26. theatreroyal.org.uk

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From 1–6 January you can see Licorice Pizza, set in California’s San Fernando Valley, 1973, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) is a precocious high schooler who meets Alana (Alana Haim), a photographer’s assistant trying to find herself. The two of them form an unlikely bond, and soon begin running around the Valley together taking part in Gary’s many haphazard schemes.

January also sees a selection of Live

A whirlwind journey across a magical orchestral landscape strewn with memorable melodies, passionate harmonies and phantasmagorical textures. The performance features internationally acclaimed virtuoso violinist Hyeyoon Park playing Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto, a love story in sound and one of the most popular and beautiful violin concertos ever written. Bath Philharmonia performs an array of hypnotic tunes and textures, sometimes sensual and sometimes spine-tingling, including Saint–Saëns’ Dance Macabre and excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen Suites. £25–£35. bathphilco.uk; bathboxoffice.org.uk DAISY CHAPMAN QUARTET 27 January, 8–10pm n Chapel Arts Centre, St James Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, Bath ‘Sinner’ songwriter and BBC Music Introducing favorite Daisy Chapman is a pianist and vocalist who draws influences from the anti-folk world. Every song tells a dark story of love, lust and loss told through her exquisite voice with Sue Lord on violin. £14; chapelarts.org COLLEGE OF NATURAPATHIC MEDICINE OPEN DAY 29 January, 10am – 4pm

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performances, including Met Opera Encore: Cinderella (2022) staged by Laurent Pelly; Met Opera Live: Rigoletto (2022) with Tony Award– winning director Bartlett Sher; NT Live: Leopoldstadt (Tom Stoppard’s Olivier Award-winning new play) and Bolshoi Ballet Live: Jewels (2022) choreographed by George Balanchine. picturehouses.com/cinema/little-theatrecinema

CNM is the UK & Ireland’s no.1 training provider in natural therapies, so if you’re passionate about health and wellness and want to turn your passion into a career, register for CNM’s January online open day.

You’ll discover inspiring tips on how to nurture yourself in natural, sustainable ways, and how you can sign up to study at CNM. Take part to learn more about how you can turn your dreams into reality. Book through naturopathy-uk.com/bbmod THE DA VINCI CODE 31 January – 5 February n Theatre Royal Bath The blockbuster story that captivated the world is now an epic stage thriller. The curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered, and there are a series of baffling codes and riddles leading to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and beyond, deep into the vault of history. Tickets from £28. theatreroyal.org.uk n

Please confirm with organisers that events are running. See our website for updates and new events added throughout the month: thebathmagazine.co.uk

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CITY | THEATRE

Cracking the code

Coming up with a winning theatrical formula is especially challenging when its development is interrupted by a national lockdown – director Luke Sheppard tells Melissa Blease the story of bringing The Da Vinci Code to the stage.

Luke Sheppard

Jules as Professor Leigh Teabing. We all kept connected and created as much as we could given the circumstances we were working in during development, and adapted along the way by doing what we've always done, as best as we possibly could.”

The production has taken a while to get to the stage, but this means there has been plenty of thinking time, says Luke, who was then in the middle of rehearsals: “It’s great to be in a rehearsal room with all these ideas that we’ve been thinking about both before and over the pandemic – being able to see them in real life is really amazing.

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Big and bold, visual and theatrically challenging, our production continues to make the case for theatre as an art form

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merican author Dan Brown’s 170,000-word 2003 novel saw a Harvard professor of symbology and a police cryptographer trying to solve a murder in the Louvre. They eventually become involved in a battle between a French secret society and the Catholic church over whether or not Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene, and the story gripped the collective public consciousness. Three years later, the film adaptation of Brown’s multimillion selling book – directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Ian McKellen – becomes the second highest-grossing film of 2006, only a couple of million dollars behind the arguably much more accessible Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. In 2021, it was announced that the world premiere stage adaptation of The Da Vinci Code was poised to visit the Theatre Royal Bath in May... but not even Dan Brown could have come up with the storyline for the huge, reallife drama that had changed the world then.

“Despite developing The Da Vinci Code for the stage throughout the lockdowns, I always tried to think of the production in 3D,” says director Luke Sheppard, who describes his vision as being “packed with little glimmers of theatrical surprises along the way.” Using these ‘glimmers’ he aims to draw on all the elements that make live theatre so unique to create a sensory experience. “Placing it live in an auditorium with the whole experience around us and the audience in the heart of the action is what I’m most excited about,” he says. “Despite the lockdowns, we managed to bring actors that I really love and admire together, including Nigel Harman as Professor Robert Langdon, Hannah Rose Caton as fellow cryptologist Sophie Neveu and Danny John-

“The pandemic has made everyone really passionate coming back, celebrating the fact that we’re in a live theatrical space and that we can do wondrous things in theatre that we can’t do on screen. It’s wonderful to see actors get inspired by that in the room. And talking to real people in a real room rather than just over a screen.”

After so long under wraps, the theatre industry has needed to refresh its creative contacts, because specialist freelancers were forced to retrain or target the film and TV industry for work during the pandemic.

“For such a technical show, it’s been a real challenge finding people with the right technical skills – sourcing the right amazing costume makers and set builders and video team and writing technicians,” admits Luke.

“But it’s a really exciting piece and there are lots of opportunities for people to create their craft, so when we’ve got the right people they have been positive about joining us because it’s their passion. The show is so full and visual and there is so much for them to get their teeth into.”

Surely developing such a multi-faceted, multi-location, high-octane tale for the stage presented multiple challenges at base level?

“We fundamentally approached the story as a brilliant thriller that takes us on an incredible journey,” says Luke, regarding the onerous task of bringing the complex and – in some quarters – controversial cultural phenomenon to the stage. “I saw the film a couple of years ago and I think it’s great in

its own right, but I totally adored the book; it ruined a holiday in Greece for me, because I was so absorbed in reading it that I barely left my hotel room! But as brilliant as the story is as a novel, we believe that there’s something about bringing it into a theatre environment that gives it added relevance and its own sense of unique experience that isn’t just an extension of the book or the film, but a creation that stands on its own feet in a very specific way – and that’s the essence of theatre, in its ideal form. And we don’t feel as though we’re in the shadow of the film in any way; we’ve made our own decisions about what to leave in, what we’ve chosen to focus on, and the form in which we choose to tell the story.”

How much influence has Brown himself had on the retelling? “We wanted to make sure that all the people who would be involved with the project were doing it in the right way, so we put all our ideas about how we would take it forward together before we even approached Dan,” says Luke. “Our producer Simon Friend has been really brilliant in developing a trust between us, because of course the story will be told in a very different way on stage; it has to be, for so many reasons. So we wanted to make sure that we’re taking Dan on the journey with us, confident that we’re doing it for the right reasons. We presented him with a document that mapped out our synopsis and all the elements that we’re focusing on and he was really excited by it; he gave us full permission to go full steam ahead, which is really, really exciting.”

Exciting indeed. And when Luke brings the production to Bath, he’ll be revisiting a snapshot of life on another level, too. “I went to university in Bristol, but I absolutely loved Bath,” he says. “I used to get on the train specifically to go to the Theatre Royal which was renowned for its programming, and its reputation for attracting legendary, leading lights of British theatre. I’m really excited about being there with my own show – I have a feeling it’ll be quite an emotional experience for me, on many levels.”

Emotional for the audience too. In Luke’s words, “Theatre is an incredible space to make and celebrate your craft – there is nothing like live theatre, and coming out of the pandemic The Da Vinci Code is big and bold and visual and theatrically challenging and our production continues to make the case for theatre as an art form.”

The Da Vinci Code: Luke’s cracked it. n The Da Vinci Code, 31 January – 5 February, Theatre Royal Bath; theatreroyal.org.uk

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Danny John Jules as Professor Leigh Teabing

Hannah Rose Caton as Sophie Neveu

Nigel Harman as Professor Robert Langdon

Photography by Oliver Rosser

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CITY | GUIDE

Light in the darkness

A rebellious baker, 7,000 toothbrushes, and a giant inflatable moon: Daisy Game takes a guided tour of Bath Abbey, and finds out how these three unlikely subjects are connected by one of Bath’s oldest attractions

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t’s a mild December afternoon, and Bath Abbey hums with the chatter of an inquisitive Christmas crowd. Religious spaces of the Abbey’s scale and age can sometimes feel a little cavernous: voices are lowered and footsteps softened as visitors explore with a hushed reverence. But Bath Abbey is bright, warm, and alive: among the map-clutching travellers and Christmasshopping-laden locals, I take a moment to spot the person I am here to meet.

When I do identify my guide – Sarah-Jane – she begins by asking how much I already know about the building’s history, keen to ensure that my tour fits to size. Fortunately, I’m a complete novice, leaving her free to wax lyrical.

“This isn’t really on the tour”, my guide pauses at one point to tell me, before gesturing toward a small chantry chapel of which she is particularly fond. Tracing her fingers over the stone entrance, Sarah-Jane tells me that she likes to draw attention to the chapel for no other reason than because she finds its intricate carvings “rather lovely”.

Aside from this impromptu break, the tour is organised and logical: we move clockwise around the Abbey, and chronologically through history. I’m told that the 500 year old building in which we stand is a Tudor build, but that before the Abbey a Norman Cathedral stood in its place and prior to that, a Saxon church. The Abbey has displayed a flexible, can-do attitude through the years, with many demands – religious and otherwise – made of it. During the English Civil War, the building acted as a hospital for both Royalist and Parliamentary soldiers; cut forward a few hundred years to Georgian

Bath Abbey’s fan vaulted ceiling

England, and the Abbey’s northern flank became a busy, shop lined thoroughfare via which locals could travel quickly from one side of Bath to the other. For a short while, the Abbey was even used as a make-shift garage: sheltering Bath’s fire-engine beneath its fan vaulted ceiling. The building, SarahJane muses, has always been “part of the fabric of Bath”. There is certainly a patchwork quality to the Abbey’s history: a sense that the seams of its various identities have been tucked and stitched together so as to create one large, multi-textured throw.

To this day, the Abbey plays an active role within the Bath community – in both a religious and a secular sense. Hanging from the ceiling on the day I visit is Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon installation, which transforms the Abbey into a lunar museum of sorts. I’m also told that, as the parish church for the centre of Bath, 1,000 religious services take place here each year. “Sometimes people forget – they think it’s a historic site – that it’s a fully operating church”, Sarah-Jane observes.

Recently, an effort been made to ensure that the way in which the Abbey is maintained moves with the times too. The Footprint Project of 2018 saw the installation of an environmentally friendly underfloor heating system which, using heat energy from the Roman Baths and the hot springs which supply them, has succesfully reduced the Abbey’s carbon footprint by 50%.

As well as enabling the Abbey to make steps towards a more eco-conscious future, The Footprint Project uncovered (quite literally) some rather gruesome history: beneath the building’s stone floor lie no fewer

The Abbey’s impressive exterior

than 7,000 bodies, the burials of which began in the 1750s. My squirming response to this stat – eyes wide, hand to mouth – encourages my guide to up the ante; she tells me that in one Tripadvisor-style guide to Bath from the Georgian period, the reader is warned that upon entering the Abbey, they would be met with “a stench scarce to be imagined”.

The tour is filled with lively stories like this: I’m told about Richard Druce, the rebellious baker with Parliamentary sympathies who refused to fire up the ovens when the Royalist troops used the Abbey as a base, and about the 7,000 toothbrushes and several years in the late 1990s it took to brush the building’s interior clean of its candle and gas-lighting applied grime. So while the tour is peppered with a generous helping of dates and names for anyone interested in such detail, history is also made tangible and vivid.

Sarah-Jane is equally keen to discuss the darker stories with which the Abbey is associated. We spend some time looking at the memorial of William Baker: a man whose stone plaque celebrates him as one who “helped to make the country great” – but which neglects to mention that Baker’s wealth can be traced directly back to the plantations of Barbados and the Carolinas. Bath Abbey, I’m reassured to hear, is making a conscious effort to acknowledge and actively educate visitors about its chequered history.

As we come to the end of our gallivant through history (and a gallivant it is – we rock past the Norman period and into the Tudor, just about glance in on Henry VIII, skip through the Blitz years and screech into the 21st century) what strikes me most of all

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is the sense of hope and determination that seems to rest at the core of the Abbey’s identity.

The fact that the Abbey exists at all is a testament to human passion. Following Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Abbey fell into a state of disrepair: the roof removed for its valuable lead, and windows pilfered for their glass. Animals even moved in to graze on the grass-choked floor of the derelict building. It was only thanks to the contributions of James Montague, Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1608, that the building survived at all. Seeking shelter from a stormy downpour, Montague was disappointed to find himself just as sodden when stood inside the Abbey as he had been outside: the roof (or lack thereof) offering minimal shelter. “If we can’t save the congregation from the waters above”, the Bishop exclaimed, “how are we going to save them from the hellfires below?”; and so it was that the Abbey’s roof found a wealthy benefactor to give it some much-needed TLC. But perhaps a more striking example of the Abbey’s survivalist instinct lies towards the east of the building, and takes the form of a huge stained glass window stretching from floor to ceiling. Made up of 56 panels, the rather spectacular glasswork depicts several key scenes from the life of Jesus. And yet despite immaculate appearances, all is not as it seems: in 1942, the window was blown clean out of its frame during a Blitz raid. Following the explosion, members of the congregation gathered together all of the glass shards that could be found and bagged them up in the hopes that one day – when the world was quiet – something may be done.

And, astonishingly, something was done. Michael Farrar Bell, grandson to the Bell of Clayton and Bell glassmakers (the company behind the original window) decided to open up the bags of glass, and get started on the jigsaw puzzle to end all jigsaw puzzles. By 1955, the job was complete, and the window reinstalled. The vivid glasswork we see today is 60% Victorian glass, and 40% replacement. I think that there is something rather nice about that: it seems to perfectly encapsulate the Abbey’s cross-historical identity. A little of this period, and a little of that: all stitched together by a dash of determination.

As I stand and look up at the window, I’m reminded of how far a little hope can take you: from a scene of darkness, into one of bright, colourful light. A good lesson in today’s more turbulent times, perhaps. n Tickets for The Best of Bath Abbey Tours are £8 for an adult, £4 for a child (aged 5–15). Two for one with BANES Discovery Card; bathabbey.org

Discard the Wrapping Paper DUNCAN CAMPBELL Antique silver specialist

T

here was once an ancient antiques dealer on Portobello Road who specialised in old childrens’ toys.

Though they were always fascinating to look at, his colourful stand filled me with a strong feeling of sadness. The ‘big ticket’ toys so desirable to collectors, all had their original boxes and looked as if they had never been played with. A toy that has never brought a smile to a child’s face seems a rather sterile thing.

Surely part of the attraction of any antique is to imagine who may have used it in the past.

“If only it could talk, what a story it might tell!”

I feel just the same way about boxed toys as I do about the fitted cases that contain silverware. I can well remember spending far too much time as a child removing and then replacing spoons and forks into an awkwardly tight fitting cutlery case. The performance involved with using silver, or anything else for that matter, that has been carefully put away for “special occasions”, is a massive discouragement to using it at all.

Antiques that have been kept in their original cases, boxes or wrappings may stay in good condition, but if they never get used, what’s the point of that?

I realise that there are antiques, old glass for example, too rare and fragile to even consider using, but the overwhelming majority of our antique heritage was made for use and is still more than robust enough to go on being used for many decades to come.

I would encourage anyone inclined to keep things in their beautifully velvet lined, fitted cases to take a more ‘Carpe Diem’ attitude, throw away the boxes and make every single day a special occasion.

Every Christmas I still think of the old toy dealer and of the frustrated children unable to even play with their new toys for fear of reducing their future investment potential. n

One of the elaborate Victorian light fixtures hanging from the Abbey’s ceiling. Photograph by Shona Cutt

beaunashbath.com; 01225 334234

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CITY | ARTS

A roll-call of characters

The Natural Theatre Company are teeming with characters – some of them went into hibernation for a while, but they are now coming back to life, reinventing themselves and some new quirky performers are also being introduced to the fold. Which ones might you see around Bath this year...? Director Andy Burden takes stock...

L

ast year was a fascinating one for The Naturals. Post lockdown, we decided to ‘bounce back’ with as many projects as we could – including Dirty Bath at The Rondo, new walkabout theatre for Bedlam Fair, Shakespeare Undone and Austen Undone to Bath and Bristol, Roman characters at the Roman Baths, a community project with Bath Fringe, a series of films for DHI, A Decent Proposal at the Mission Theatre, The Truth About Harry Beck at the Ustinov and we also restarted our Youth and Adult Theatre Schools.

That has been a lot to fulfil after the performing arts industry

pressed ‘pause’. However, our whole team jumped at the challenge with aplomb. It has been fabulous to get our actors back into the studio, to hear them discussing new characters and to watch them pulling together new costumes in the wardrobe. We have reworked some old favourites and start from scratch with new ideas. We collaborated with new partners and reached new audiences.

That’s a lot of work, a lot of creativity… and a lot of characters.

Look out for more of them this year and if you have a thespian leaning yourself, come and try out one of our theatre schools! naturaltheatre.co.uk

PIGEON POO PEOPLE These unfortunate souls seem to attract unwanted attention from our feathered friends. Always on the lookout and eager to protect the rest of us from the same fate, these characters scurry past silently, hoping not to get any messier. First performance: 2007

PEREGENUS AND RUSONIA

These two characters worked at and visited the Roman Baths when they were first built. They have many tales of life in Roman times and happily chat to visitors from their future. First performance: 2020

NORA BECK

What would you do if your husband spent all his spare time amending the Tube map? Nora would help out, come up with great ideas… and then tell us all the secrets in The Truth About Harry Beck.

First performance: 2021

FLOWERPOTS These lovely people just happen to have a flowerpot for a head.

So they don’t say much. They just look beautiful. Really beautiful. A Natural Theatre Classic.

First performance: 1984

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CITY | ARTS

BENNETT BENNETT THE PRINCESS AND HER PRINCE Follow the fortunes of a princess who is after a good night’s kip – and who is this she has met?

It’s just one of the many great influences on her life of woe, and fear of small green vegetables.

First performance: The Panto & the Pea, 2021

Bennett Bennett (so good they named him twice) is the only eligible bachelor left in Bath. The debonair and slightly dim-witted young man probably appeared in Jane Austen’s long-lost first novel – but in all certainty appears in the Naturals’ Austen Undone.

First performance: 2016

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS Mixed Winter Exhibition David Simon Contemporary 37 High Street, Castle Cary BA7 7AW until 29 January

The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath Rossetti’s Portraits, until 9 January A show of some of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s most iconic portrait artworks.

The popular Mixed Winter Exhibition includes paintings, ceramics and bronze sculpture by Daisy Cook, Julia Cooper, Isabel Coulton, Parastoo Ganjei, Andrew Lansley, Peter Lloyd-Jones, Mungo Powney, Yuta Segawa, David Ralph Simpson, Mike Service and Frances Watts. An eclectic feast of new work by gallery artists plus new invited artists.

Sunil Gupta: The New Pre-Raphaelites, until 19 January Photographs by Sunil Gupta exploring the legacy of the Pre-Raphaelites.

Mick Peter: Old Ghosts, 14 January – 15 May Old Ghosts takes a wry and affectionate look at the idea of history as an industry.

In several surprising interventions, inside and outside the Holburne Museum, visitors will encounter amusing tableaux which appear to be cartoons that have come to life.

davidsimoncontemporary.com Image: Something About Nineveh by Mungo Powney

People Make Museums, 27 January – 2 May A celebration of the importance of people in museums, who charge them with stories, memories, lived experience and ways of seeing.

holburne.org

Winter Exhibition, Woolverton Gallery, Bath BA2 7RH, 2 January – 30 March The Woolverton Gallery is looking forward to welcoming art lovers to its Winter Exhibition featuring the work of the gallery’s six resident artists. You’ll find many wonderful new creations from Ray Jones, Lynn Baxter, Brian Baxter, Amanda Bee, Alex Howell and David Wilkey.

Image by Ray Jones

bathartsales.com

Bath Art Sales has also announced the opening of its second gallery, The Frome Gallery at 22 Christchurch Street, West Frome BA11 1EE. The new gallery will feature additional works from the six artists above, in a beautiful contemporary environment.

Myths and Monsters Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Until 27 February 2022

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Follow the paw prints to discover a vision of Narnia. A wondrous diorama created by Planet Gold Decor for Milsom Place will transport viewers into a magical world with a life-size lion and his faithful animal companions. Illuminated to bring the scene to life and spread some festive cheer, this other-worldly scene has to be seen to be believed. Open from 10am–5pm Monday to Saturday and 11–4pm Sunday. milsomplace.co.uk

This colourful celebration of children’s book illustration is a follow-up to 2017’s blockbuster Here Be Dragons exhibition. Myths and Monsters will once again link the worlds of literature, art and myth with some of the very best (and worst) you could expect to meet. Visitors will encounter characters from the Gruffalo to the Iron Man and fearsome dragons to the Little Ogre. Alongside the exhibition, there will be a chance for young visitors to get involved by making their own ‘monster in a jar’, which will be displayed as part of the show. victoriagal.org.uk

Vision of Narnia, Pop Up Exhibition at Milsom Place, Bath, until 30 January

Image: Midas by Victoria Topping

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THE FROME GALLERY OPENS ON SATURDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2022 Christchurch Street West, BA11 1EE

FROME BY NIGHTBY RAY JONES

STALL STREET RENDEZVOUS BY DAVID WILKEY

5 A DAY PAST BEST BY SABINE ABRAHAM

DANCING LIGHTS BY ALEX HOWELL

BATH ART SALES ORIGINAL VENUE, THE WOOLVERTON GALLERY PRESENTLY SHOWING ITS WINTER EXHIBITION. The Woolverton Gallery, Bath, BA2 7RH 01373 463098

The Frome Gallery, Frome, BA11 1EE

info@bathartsales.com

www.bathartsales.com

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

Sculptural reset

A sculpture is always a sculpture if you can walk round it, Emma Clegg decides, after talking to Mick Peter whose exhibition of illustrative sculptures with a strong Bath connection is arriving at the Holburne Museum this month.

Not perhaps not what you’d expect at the Holburne – but it’s time to reset your expectations...

D

oes sculpture speak to you? Are Michelangelo’s David, Rodin’s The Thinker Giacometti’s, Walking Man or Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel part of your cultural reference? Even if they are, galleries and museums do not always have such familiar iconic works, and therefore an abstract sculptural form in the foyer or grounds of a grand building does not always provide an easy engagement for visitors.

“There can be a threshold problem of going into galleries, which is perhaps the offputting thing – it can be rather austere, rather silent,” says Glasgow artist Mick Peter. “People have a certain set way of interacting with artwork in a gallery. With paintings you troop round the room clockwise and spend your allocated 30 seconds in front of each image. With a sculpture, you circle them, read the description, check round the back to see if you’ve missed anything. It’s very reverent and slightly comical.”

Peter’s work takes satirical aim at these preconceived notions, and from 14 January he is bringing his work to the Holburne Museum in an exhibition like no other seen there before. It is the first special commission of artwork at the Holburne, and part of their long-term commitment to contemporary art. Called Old Ghosts, the exhibition creates a narrative trail through the museum and its garden, while humorously critiquing the conventions of heritage sites. And what better place to do this than in Bath? Expect amusing references to our city’s glorious Roman and Georgian history.

Peter’s sculptural work largely consists of scaled-up drawings and environments which create the sense of walking into a model. In an installation earlier this year in Hospitalfield, the 19th-century Arts and Crafts house near Arbroath, Peter created three life-size scenes as part of an exhibition called Gerroff! (or User Feedback). One of these in the gardens shows two tall and one short totem-like sculptures, an absent-minded dog walker looking perplexed as he reflects on one of these, his dog (behind him) in the throes of going to the toilet adjacent to the second totem, and to complete the scene there is a woman with a Neighbourhood Watch tote bag using her phone to report the man for not picking up after his dog. It is a lighthearted, comical interconnected scene, and yet there is real resonance there. This is because we recognise the character types – the man trying to understand the abstract artwork and not necessarily succeeding, the woman intent on community action but oblivious to the sculpture, and the dog for whom the totem is simply a convenient lavatory.

To Me, To You, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, 2019

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Mick Peter facing up to one of the figures installed at Hospitalfield, near Arbroath

What these pieces do so effectively is shatter the cultural superiority of the ‘artwork’ in the scene while at the same time having a real affection for the art historical styles they mimic. The illustrative look of the sculptures (challenging the accepted idea of sculpture because of their flatness) and the ever-present humour and social commentary invites visitors to stand amongst them, deconsecrating our ideas about what art should be and allowing us to engage with the pieces in a new way. The artist wants to reset the accepted framework of appreciating art history, enjoying its rich stories but not having to feel that it’s somehow exclusive.

Peter explains his approach: “I make playful installations that incorporate imagery influenced by illustration and commercial art.

My sculptures are often enlarged drawings, used to animate the narrative of my exhibitions, which satirise the symbols of power and authority as well as art making itself.

“I love to imagine that people are going to have private moments with these objects. The sculptures are about people and ‘types’ as much as they are a gag about how public art is viewed.”

Like the Hospitalfield project, there are three elements to the forthcoming exhibition in Bath. On the Holburne’s famous façade facing Great Pulteney Street, a hapless signwriter has failed to notice a mistake as he desperately tries to complete his task of refreshing the museum’s signage. Outside the gallery, there will be what appears to be an archaeological dig complete with a half-buried ‘Roman’ road. And inside there will be a set for a paint advert in period costume in what was once the ballroom, with the backdrop a drawn version of a Georgian room but with camera operators, runners, take-away coffees, and the other paraphernalia of a shoot.

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

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I love to imagine that people are going to have private moments with these objects.

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“I’ve always been fascinated by the different commercial enterprises that happen in museums and galleries and other institutions to help support running the building and I like to draw attention to these in my work. In the case of the Holburne, the building is often used as a film set, most recently for Netflix drama Bridgerton, and for weddings and receptions and I wanted to capture some of that complexity in the work.”

Peter studied at the Ruskin School of Fine Art in Oxford, where traditional figure drawing skills were encouraged, and later at the Glasgow School of Art, and his figure sculptures are fed heavily by his sketchbooks. These are bursting with drawings of figures and studies of people – taken from life, and also from sources such as emergency service fly-on-the-wall programmes and from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and its constantly reinvented visual library of eccentric characters.

“My characters come from observing and drawing and filling sketchbooks. They are often hybrids of different drawings – a head from here, some legs from there. I scale all the figures I produce up by ten, so the lines preserve the wonkiness of the original mark. It means you readily recognise it as a drawing even when it’s the same size as you. The economy of line is important because there are limits to the detail you can capture in a small sketchbook size drawing.”

Peter’s sculptures that are used in the interior are created with printed paper and board, while the material used for the sculptures outside is an acrylic composite and was recently developed for his commission at Hospitalfield. Peter explains, “The line work has been engraved into it and inlaid with black; it means the drawing is embedded in the surface a bit like the writing in a stick of rock.”

The signwriting figure on the Holburne’s upper façade will be visible from beyond the gallery grounds, no doubt drawing in intrigued passers-by who might not have planned a visit to the hallowed grounds of the gallery. “I think people are pretty capable when it comes to looking at artwork, maybe it’s just the means of looking at it is the thing that’s less inclusive,” comments Peter, who clearly

A tempting glimpse of one of the elements to be included in Mick Peter’s exhibition at the Holburne

specialises in finding ways of changing these means. Go and immerse yourself in his characterful sculptural tableaux in our heritage city when Old Ghosts opens at the Holburne on 14 January. n Mick Peter: Old Ghosts, Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath; 14 January – 15 May 2022; holburne.org Mick Peter installation at Hospitalfield, near Arbroath in 2021

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ARTS | MUSEUMS

Museums on prescription

Louise Campion, Learning and Engagement Lead at the Holburne, reflects on how museums have a part to play in the promotion and management of health and mental wellbeing, and introduces the ideas behind a new show, called People Make Museums, that opens there in January

W

hat are museums for? Places to while away a few hours on a rainy day, calm ‘go-slow’ spaces, somewhere to learn about history or meet a friend. Or maybe you think museums aren’t for you? However, have you ever considered that visiting a museum or joining a museum-based group might actually be good for your health?

The Holburne Museum has long been committed to building on the powerful relationship between art, creativity and wellbeing reflected in its mission of ‘Changing Lives Through Art’. Over the last six years its creative Pathways to Wellbeing programme has been supporting people living with mental health challenges and social isolation by bringing museums, art galleries, mental health and support organisations together to work in partnership across the Bath area. Along with our museum partners the Bath Preservation Trust, the American Museum & Gardens and the community-based organisation Creativity Works, the museum has engaged with over 750 young people and adults over the last three years.

A creative session for Pathways to Wellbeing

Onward by Mary Caron Courtney

A Piece for All Ages,

by Janette Massey

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So how does it work?

These groups are open to anyone struggling with a mental health issue such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and issues relating to social isolation including social anxiety. People can be signposted to the programme or referred by health and support organisations such as Bath MIND, B&NES Talking Therapies, GPs or through selfreferral. Each creative project is co-produced with group members and inspiring lead artists – from sculpture to printing, people are encouraged to try art for the first time, learn new skills and explore their creativity in supported, safe and inspiring spaces. Pathways to Wellbeing offers long-term support and engagement opportunities and recognises that life-transforming change happens over time as trust and confidence build.

Whether working with people living with dementia and their carers, or young people struggling with anxiety and depression, we regularly witness the therapeutic effects of nurturing curiosity, creativity and connection in our museum-based groups. I’m a passionate advocate for museums as spaces of care, creativity and wellbeing because I’ve seen how people slowly relax, build their confidence and express themselves whilst meeting in a non-clinical environment without judgement or stigma.

Here’s one participant’s take: “The museum is my safe space. It has opened up my eyes to things I’ve never done before and given me a voice to express myself.”

This is important because it is estimated that one in five patients visiting their GP do so for problems that require a social solution rather than prescribed medication. You might have heard of the new ‘Social Prescribing’ link workers in GP surgeries. Their role is to support people to explore community-based activities including those in galleries, museums and libraries as a way of managing both psychological and physical conditions.

The Holburne and partner museums are not alone in this work.

In 2017 a survey showed that over 600 museums and art galleries in the UK were running programmes specifically aimed at health and wellbeing. There is a growing awareness that ‘the arts’ have a significant part to play in the promotion and management of health.

This is backed up by comprehensive and compelling reports from the World Health Organisation and a UK Parliamentary report Creative Health. This concluded that arts-based approaches to health can help to alleviate the pressure faced by primary and social care systems,

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ARTS | MUSEUMS helping people to stay well, recover faster, manage long-term conditions and experience a better quality of life.

With the lockdown closure of museums in 2020 and 2021, we were forced to pause our face-to-face group meetings. During this time we worked with a small advisory team of young people, designing and packing 500 Create@Home art boxes, full of museuminspired creative activities and high-quality art materials. These were distributed to those young people most affected by covid and the effects of self-isolation and restrictions, working with Ralph Allen and St Mark’s secondary schools in Bath, and Mentoring Plus and the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service hubs in Keynsham and Melksham.

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These works seek to capture the fleeting conversations, sudden revelations, unspoken thoughts, sensations and feelings evoked by museums and objects

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Weekly Creativity 4 Wellbeing activities were also developed, which were posted on the website every Wednesday morning. We asked people to share images of what they’d made by 4pm the same day and were astounded when emails started to arrive showing the wonderful responses that had been made at home. To see some of this lockdown creativity visit the @changing_lives_through_art Instagram.

One person completed all 25 of the activities and has turned her spare room into a lockdown gallery!

Working virtually, and sharing our exhibitions and collection objects via Zoom, it was hugely rewarding to discover that people were still eager to connect with museums. They asked questions about how historical objects were made and used – from Japanese netsuke to Georgian ‘patches’ (beauty spots) and how they were attached to the face. When walking around the empty museum – closed to the public and cared for by a skeleton staff – we noticed that while being safe, the objects were somehow silent. It was at this point that our exhibition People Make Museums was conceived as a celebration of the creative and imaginative interactions which bring museums to life.

BELOW: Pathways to Wellbeing group, an object handling session

ABOVE: Moving On Together, by Phil Deeks

People Make Museums showcases work made by those who have participated in the Pathways to Wellbeing programme over the last six years, alongside practising artists and museum staff and volunteers. Each sculpture is a unique response to the experience of visiting, volunteering, working in and attending creative groups in museums. Exploring personal moments of connection, these works seek to capture the fleeting conversations, sudden revelations, unspoken thoughts, sensations and feelings evoked by museum spaces and objects. Here we find stories, memories and ways of seeing that celebrate, challenge and reinvigorate museums and their collections.

The exhibition is intended to highlight the importance that creativity and cultural connection can play in many peoples lives.

From the success of Grayson Perry’s Art Club to the social media phenomenon of ordinary people recreating famous artworks with home-made props – there is clearly an appetite.

For the Holburne our ongoing commitment to creativity, health and wellbeing seems more important than ever. We continue to care for our collection but we also care about people – for it is people’s ideas, creativity and continued desire to engage that are at the heart of the museum. n Louise Campion is Learning and Engagement Lead at the Holburne Museum and manages the Pathways to Wellbeing Programme which is generously funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and St John’s Foundation, Bath.

People Make Museums is at the Holburne Museum from 27 January to 8 May 2022. There is also a People Make Museums Symposium on 29 April 2022; holburne.org

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FOOD | AND | DRINK

Green Rocket recipes

Looking for a clean and fresh start to 2022? The Bath Magazine delves into the pages of The Green Rocket Cookbook

by Philip Pearce, chef owner of the Green Rocket café and restaurant in Bath, for inspirational and great tasting vegetarian and vegan dishes. Here’s a starter and a main...

Asparagus and Green Pea Farinata Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Serves 2 125g chickpea flour 200ml water 50ml olive oil 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt A few sprigs of rosemary, finely chopped 1 bunch of asparagus, finely sliced Handful of frozen peas Cherry tomatoes (optional) Olives (optional)

Method • Whisk the chickpea flour, water, olive oil and salt together until there are no lumps, then stir in the rosemary. This is your batter.

• Heat a non-stick frying with a small amount of olive oil in it.

Fry the sliced asparagus and peas for a couple of minutes before pouring in the batter. Fry until sealed and then flip over and cook on the other side for a minute.

• You could serve the farinata with some gently pan-fried cherry tomatoes and olives.

Korma

thick paste. Add the rest of the masala gravy and the coconut milk, then let the sauce simmer gently for 30 minutes. If you would the korma to be less coconutty, leave out some of the coconut milk and add the same amount of plant-based cream once the sauce has simmered.

• Meanwhile, boil any vegetables you are using in a pan of salted water with half a teaspoon of turmeric. Drain them in a colander when they are tender.

• Just before the sauce has finished simmering, stir in the coconut flour, salt, garam masala and rosewater if using. If you are using plant-based cream, swirl it through the sauce now.

Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus 30 minutes soaking Cooking time: 40 minutes; serves 4-6 50g cashews 25g oil 4 cardamom pods 1 cinnamon stick 8 curry leaves 100g garlic and ginger paste 3 tablespoons white sugar 50g ground almonds 800ml masala gravy 300ml coconut milk 20g coconut flour 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon garam masala 1 teaspoon rosewater (optional)

To serve: Fry the cooked vegetables or pulses (such as chickpeas) of your choice (cauliflower and potatoes are a good start with korma) in a little oil for a couple of minutes, then pour the desired amount of sauce into the pan with them. Simmer for a couple of minutes before serving your korma with rice, poppadoms and chutney. n

To serve: Cooked vegetables or pulses of your choice, steamed basmati rice, poppadoms and chutney

Method • Soak the cashews in a bowl of water for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse, then blend in a food processor with a little fresh water to make a cashew paste. Set aside.

• Heat the oil over a medium-high heat.

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and then add the curry leaves. Stir in the garlic and ginger paste and then the sugar, ground almonds and raw cashew paste.

• The pan will be quite hot at this point, so add roughly half of your masala gravy to cool it down and cook until it forms a

The Green Rocket Cookbook by Philip Pearce, published by Meze Publishing, is priced at £20. Philip is appearing at Topping & Co. Bookshop in York Street on 20 January at 7.30pm to discuss food and demonstrate some of his best recipes. toppingbooks.co.uk

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HEALTH | AND | FITNESS

Better shape up

January inevitably means facing reality after the holiday indulgence. If improving your general fitness and losing weight are on your agenda, Sam Holmes, health and fitness manager at Team Bath, has some practical tips to help keep you on track in your fitness journey

Sustain your new habit and blend your fitness approach All the behavioural psychologists say that it takes 18 days to anchor change in your daily routines – whether that’s giving up something or starting something new – and longer than that to embed them fully and make a change sustainable.

Sam Holmes, health and fitness manager at Team Bath where more than 4,000 Bathonians regularly enjoy their sport and fitness each month in the spacious gym, studios and sports facilities, says that sustaining an exercise regime means that you need to pick a type of training that is workable for you so that you don’t get bored, including elements that you can potentially mix and match each week.

“The best way to achieve your goals is to go for the blended approach,” says Sam. “More and more of our successful fitness customers tend to mix and match their gym sessions with a fitness class, a personal training session, an online class, or an outdoor activity like a good walk.”

If Covid accelerated online options at work, like Zoom or Team meetings, it also

offered a whole new world of opportunity for trainers, fitness class instructors and their customers. It’s easy now to work out with a personal trainer or class instructor online. This is something that Team Bath has seen grow hugely over the past 15 months, although there is still a strong market (despite Omicron) to work out with a trainer in person to get that motivation close up.

“We’ve found that customers love working out online in our regular virtual exercise classes – we have now added yoga classes which have also proved popular.

This means that people get the same energy from working out in a group, but can more easily fit it around their busy lives and schedules at home and at work,” explains Sam.

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It’s far better to say you want to lose six pounds in six weeks because that’s an attainable goal and it will keep you motivated

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f you’ve indulged over Christmas but are raring to shed the pounds and shape up in January, then do beware because most gyms and fitness centres see an attendance drop of around 60–80% by mid-February.

Many people set out with good intentions but the novelty soon wears off and it can be hard to maintain momentum.

Buddy up Research also shows that you are three times more likely to sustain your newfound sport or fitness habit if you buddy up with like-minded people. This means that exercise classes – like the 60 or so classes that take place each week led by Sam’s team at the Sports Training Village – could be a good answer for a lot of people.

“We know that people have been reluctant to enter crowded spaces to work out but we’re lucky at Team Bath as we’ve got big studios and can space people out effectively”, said Sam whose comments reflect the concerns of those who might be double- or even triple-jabbed but still worry about Covid.

The same applies in sport and fitness, it would seem, as for line-dancing or board game nights – if you have others who encourage you to take part, you’re more likely to pack your kit and join in when the time comes each week.

Short and long-term goals Adopting goals can feel a bit hackneyed for both newbie and returning fitness wannabees. Yet the next tip is about

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making the difference between short and long-term goals. And these need to be realistic. So many people set out saying they want to lose an unimaginable amount of weight, often two stones or more, but, Sam advises, you need to break that goal down. It’s far better to say you want to lose six pounds in six weeks because that’s only a pound a week. It’s an attainable goal and will keep you motivated even if you know that there is a bigger end-game out there.

Make it measurable What’s more, says Sam, make sure you can measure your goals. It doesn’t have to be all about weight loss, it might be about shaping up so that you feel better in something you really want to wear or it might be that you want to be able to run 5k to take part in a charity challenge.

Whatever your goal, make sure you can measure your progress towards it. These days there are multiple fitness and tracking apps to help you but you can always revert to a good old pen and notepad.

Beware the gurus If you google ‘fitness programmes’ or ‘fitness techniques’, you will get thousands of responses. Sam and his team are proud of their hard-won fitness instructing qualifications so he advises that you should beware of what you read online. “It’s important that you look at the source of the advice your search engine has served up. Does the person giving the advice have the right background to be giving you that advice? What are their qualifications? If you verify the source you could prevent negative outcomes,” says Sam. Mix home and away You might expect someone who runs a gym to suggest that you always work out amongst the treadmills and the free and machine weights which are the DNA of all gyms. “Not so,” says Sam. “It’s good to sustain and refresh your workouts at home or in your garden or in the great outdoors, and of course you can exercise socially too.

Variety will help your motivation. So many people now work in one location but live somewhere separate, particularly those who commute to work, so it may make sense to use the gym in the week and work out at home at the weekends or vice-versa. n Team Bath, Sports Training Village, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY; 01225 386339; teambath.com

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CITY | NEWS

CITYNEWS NEW CHAIR FOR BATH RUGBY Bath Rugby has welcomed Edward Griffiths as its new Chairman. The club’s owner Bruce Craig, who has stepped aside says, “I will continue to support the club emotionally and financially and do whatever I can for the club to be successful. Ed has played a leadership role with Rugby World Cup and Premiership winning teams and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.”

The Court of Appeal has now ruled that the 1922 Covenants, thought by some to be a barrier to redeveloping at the Rec, are not enforceable. This is a significant step forward for the club, and its landlord, Bath Recreation Limited. The ruling provides the certainty needed to bring forward comprehensive plans for a new stadium at the Rec and work on design proposals will re-commence in the New Year. bathrugby.com

MD FOR RICHARDSON SWIFT Bath-based accountancy firm Richardson Swift has announced the appointment of its first managing director, Debbie Boulton, who has been a director of the firm for seven years. The firm’s co-founder and her fellow director Derek Swift said the decision to appoint Debbie had been unanimous among board members.

“When I first founded the business with Mike Richardson there were only six employees, but it has expanded rapidly over the years and the time has come to have someone in charge who can build on its success and guide it in a more strategic direction.”

The company in Laura Place was founded in 2009. It now employs a staff of around 40 and last year acquired Chartered Tax Adviser status in addition to being Chartered Accountants. richardsonswift.co.uk

NEW FACES AT STONE KING

Rebecca Eels at Stone King specialises in complex financial matters on In its latest recruitment drive, national law divorce including children issues

TRUESPEED CEO Bath-based Truespeed has announced the appointment of James Lowther as CEO. James, who succeeds Evan Wienburg, has a telecoms industry pedigree and experience in helping to build high-growth businesses, making him the ideal candidate to lead the next phase of growth. James brings over 16 years experience in the telecoms sector, most recently as Group Chief Commercial Officer at mobile company Lebara. Clarke Osborne, Truespeed Chairman, said: “James is taking over the CEO reins at a pivotal time and his dynamism, leadership track record and breadth of experience will be invaluable.”

Truespeed delivers 10 gigabit-capable full fibre broadband directly into premises, providing a high-performance, highly reliable connection, and future-proofed connectivity. truespeed.com

CLEVELAND BRIDGE DECISION At the recent Cleveland Bridge Review, Bath & North East Somerset Council have made a decision not to proceed with the Traffic Regulation Option (TRO). This proposal was being considered to restrict the movement of HGVs over the bridge. The review has also resolved to “consider strengthening the Council’s transport policies to protect the amenity of the Bath World Heritage Site setting, continue to improve air-quality standards, reduce vehicular demand on road space, and respond to the climate and ecological emergencies already declared by the Council.” You can read the Cleveland Bridge Review decision by searching ‘Cleveland Bridge’ on democracy.bathnes.gov.uk This decision has caused concern and frustration among those campaigning for the temporary 18-tonne weight limit on Cleveland

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firm Stone King has welcomed new legal experts to teams across its Bath, London and Leeds offices. In Bath, the firm has welcomed Kate Tomlinson as an Associate Solicitor in its Information Law team, along with two new recruits to its Trusts and Estates team, Emily Moberly from Wards Solicitors and Stephen Horton as an Associate Chartered Tax Adviser, previously at Thrings.

Stone King is currently highlighting how mediation can help families cope with divorce and separation ahead of a Family Mediation Week, which takes place from 17–22 January. This aims to raise awareness of the benefits of mediation which can work so well for separating couples. Stone King’s Family & Mediation Team, based at Upper Borough Court in the city centre, has been recommending and facilitating mediation to its clients for many years. It is offering free half-hour information slots as part of the awareness week so anyone interested can find out more. To book a free mediation information slot at Stone King, contact Sam Pinker at SamPinker@stoneking.co.uk. stoneking.co.uk

Bridge to be made permanent. Campaigners maintain that this is the only measure that will significantly reduce pollution and congestion for Bath’s residents. The removal of the Primary Route designation from the A36 and hence the bridge is seen by many as the most constructive option – however this requires B&NES to collaborate with Wiltshire County Council.

There is a Change.org petition (see chng.it/wD7kn8nq), currently close to achieving 2,500 signatures, which makes a case for retaining the 18-tonne weight limit on Cleveland Bridge and thereby improving the air pollution, which has already seen improvements during the temporary 18-tonne weight limit leading up to the bridge renovation works, which are still continuing. Temporary supports were installed on the bridge at the end of October 2021 and crucial sections of the bridge trusses have been repaired, however repairs on a fourth truss are more extensive and work on the bridge is ongoing.

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There has never been a better time to get your affairs in order

Making a Will is not high on our list of priorities, after all none of us want to dwell on what would happen if we weren’t around – but if the last two years have shown us anything life can certainly be unpredictable. So, it’s never too soon to think about putting safeguards in place to protect your loved ones.

Making a Will is easier than you think Depending on your circumstances, starting to make your Will could simply be a matter of listing what you own along with instructions as to which of your loved ones you would like to receive them.

We’ll happily have an informal, no obligation chat with you to address any concerns you may have to get you started and we can provide all the information you need to make informed choices and decisions.

Make sure you choose who looks after your affairs when you can’t.

A Power of Attorney is a legal document which enables you to appoint someone to manage and make decisions about your affairs in the event that you are unable to do so.

There are different types of power of attorney for different purposes but most well-known are Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA). There are two types of LPAs: One for property and finance and one for health and care.

We would be happy to discuss the various options with you to ensure you put in place the right one for you.

One of the benefits of having an LPA in place is the reassurance of knowing that in the future, if you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself, you have appointed someone you know and trust to make those decisions for you, giving you and your loved ones peace of mind.

So if you want start 2022 by taking control of your affairs and make a difficult time a little easier for those you love call our Private Client team today on 01225 750 000 and let’s get things sorted.

ocl A C C O U N TA N C Y

141 Englishcombe Lane, Bath BA2 2EL Tel: 01225 445507

www.oclaccountancy.com

How to reduce your IHT with a simple trust To reduce or avoid inheritance tax (IHT) directly or indirectly involves giving away your assets & you’ll often hear that you should give away as much as you can as soon as you can, because until seven years have elapsed from making the gift, it will remain part of your estate for IHT purposes. If you gift money or another asset it is gone for good, meaning you won’t have access to the capital later – and if you retain any rights over the gift, HMRC’s anti-avoidance rules mean that it remains part of your estate for IHT purposes and so defeats the object.

One IHT planning opportunity is to make your gifts into a trust, with those you want to receive the money / assets as the beneficiaries. Where you use a “loan trust” you can keep access to the capital while giving away the income in an IHT-efficient way, with the good news that you don’t need to pay high legal fees to set up this type of trust.

Typically, a loan trust involves an investment bond and a reversionary clause in the trust. The bond can be one you already own which you transfer to a trust, or you can make a cash gift to the trust which then purchases a bond, with the admin handled by the insurance company. For the trust to be effective for IHT saving you must tie your money into it for at least seven years, preferably more.

Gifts to a reversionary loan trust are most tax efficient if they don’t exceed the IHT nil rate band (NRB), currently £325,000.

Above this, IHT is payable at 20% on the excess. However, depending on whether you have made other IHT chargeable gifts, you can create further reversionary trusts every seven years. This means that you can make more IHT-efficient gifts up to the value of the NRB each time.

For tax saving tips contact us – call Marie Sheldrake, Tom Hulett or Samantha Taylor on 01225 445507

Call Marie Sheldrake, Tom Hulett or Samantha Taylor on 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting

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CITY | NEWS

Welcoming new faces

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution recently welcomed a new Chair of Management and a new Chair of Directors. Both have been working with the institution over the last couple of years and understand both the challenges the institution faces as well as its manifold strengths. We welcome them warmly to the BRLSI fold and find out a bit more about them, including what their favourite pieces from the collection are...

Ian Gadd is Professor of English Literature at Bath Spa University, where he has worked since 2002. In the last few years, he has been seconded to oversee many of the University's international collaborations and projects, including the Global Academy of Liberal Arts (GALA), an international network of universities and colleges with an interest in the liberal arts. He has research interests in the history of printing, publishing, and reading with a particular focus on the London and Oxford book trades in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries; he is also a General Editor of the Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jonathan Swift.

Julie Cole has been working in the museum and heritage sector since 2005 and runs her own consultancy business specialising in charity governance. She has also worked with a range of museums supporting their grant applications and is a National Lottery Heritage Fund mentor. Julie has been a trustee with East Grinstead Museum as well as charities supporting people with long term mental health issues, and supporting 18–25 year olds with learning disabilities and autism to take on meaningful work. Julie trained as a garden designer and for relaxation she enjoys designing and planting gardens for friends and family.

IAN’S NEW ROLE “I am one of the Board’s appointed rather than elected Directors, nominated by Bath Spa University in 2019. It’s an honour to have succeeded Betty Suchar, a veteran stalwart of the institution, as the Chair of the Board of Directors, and I’m very excited to be in this role as the institution emerges from a very challenging 20 or so months and looks forward to its 2024 bicentenary and beyond.

Our collections, exhibitions, public talks and events, and other activities – all of which rely on the hard work of our staff and a legion of volunteers – mean that the institution occupies a unique place in Bath’s cultural landscape as an organisation dedicated to the public promotion and advancement of science, literature, and the arts. My goal as Chair is to help the Board provide the strategic support needed to ensure that the institution becomes more visible, engaged, and sustainable over the coming years.”

JULIE’S NEW ROLE “As the newly appointed Chair of Management I am excited to be working alongside BRLSI’s dedicated staff and volunteers and to be able to support them as they develop and deliver more exhibitions and stimulating talks programme, amongst other initiatives. I am particularly delighted to be part of the team developing activities and events to commemorate BRLSI’s bicentennial celebrations in 2024 and look forward to meeting The Bath Magazine’s readers and hearing their feedback.”

FAVOURITE COLLECTION ITEM “As someone interested in the history of books and their readers, inevitably my choice is a book – in this case Reverend Leonard Jenyns’ personal copy of Darwin's On the Origin of Species, with a letter from Darwin pasted into the front. Jenyns met Darwin in Cambridge when the latter was an undergraduate, and was key in recommending Darwin for the expedition of the HMS Beagle. Jenyns retired to Bath, and donated books, papers, and specimens to the Institution. You can learn more about Jenyns’ relationship with Darwin through the Bath Heritage Trails smartphone app (see brlsi.org/app) which the Institution launched last summer and the copy, with Darwin's letter, is on display in the foyer of BRLSI.”

FAVOURITE COLLECTION ITEM “This stunningly beautiful brooch was discovered during the 1905 excavation at Lansdown and the copper-alloy wheel would originally have been bold and bright. The delicate, tiny millefiori patterns would have been created by a specialist in glassmaking and enamelling, and the superb craftsmanship suggests it was a very expensive piece of jewellery. This item is a melding of Celtic symbolism and Roman dress code and is thought to have been created during the 1st century AD. The design could also lend itself to a Celtic knot-garden with a stunning display of red, white and blue flowers. Any takers?”

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16–18 Queen Square, Bath; brlsi.org 48 TheBATHMagazine

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TEST YOURSELF

Quizmaster

The Ministry of Quizzes by David Gentle features an irresistible mixture of over 200 quizzes and puzzles to play solo or with family and friends. Here is a taster!

Here are 15 general knowledge questions, with a twist. All the answers are connected by a common theme to do with Bath.

Answer the questions and try to work out the connecting theme!

1.

Which American guitarist, singer and songwriter was a co-founder of Chic and has produced albums for David Bowie, Duran Duran, Lady Gaga and Daft Punk?

2.

Which common tree of the genus Quercus appears in the names of three London Underground stations?

3.

Who signs their name with the word ‘Ebor’?

4.

The SI unit of inductance, defined as the amount of inductance that causes a voltage of one volt when the current is changing at a rate of one ampere per second, is given by what name?

5.

Who does Hugh Grant play in Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason?

6.

What is defined on Wikipedia as an ‘emulsion or colloid of butterfat globules within a water-based fluid that contains dissolved carbohydrates and protein aggregates with minerals’?

7.

Which iconic war film, from a book of the same name, won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director in 1930?

8.

What word goes with ‘dog’, ‘dolly’ and ‘sweet’?

9.

Which football team are nicknamed ‘The Pilgrims’?

10. What colour is ‘chartreuse’?

11. Colonel Paul Tibbets piloted a notorious WW2 bombing

mission in an aircraft he named after his mother. What was the aircraft called?

12. ‘Can we talk’ was the catch phrase of which comedienne?

13. What is the most populous city in North Carolina and home of

the Carolina Panthers?

14. ‘Hatty’ is a diminutive form of a

name that is in turn a shortened form of which girl’s name?

15. In 1964 the General Post Office

introduced a communications device called the Tone Ring Illuminator Model. How was it more commonly known?

What is the link?

For the answers, search ‘Quizmaster’ on thebathmagazine.co.uk The Ministry of Quizzes, Pan Macmillan, £12.99, is available from Mr B’s and Topping & Co.

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BOOKS

New year, new reads

It’s time to turn over a new leaf, but there’s no exercise involved. Saskia Hayward at Topping & Co. selects six books that are pertinent to both human and personal priorities, resolutions, looking to the future and acceptance.

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara Hanya Yanagihara caused a sensation in 2015 with Booker-shortlisted A Little Life, which remains a bestseller in the bookshop to this day. To Paradise is her much awaited new novel, and is set to be equally seismic. A huge, 700-page book, it spans three centuries and reveals a triptych of interwoven stories, all set against the backdrop of New York City. Opening in an alternate version of 1893, New York is part of the Free States, a separate nation to the rest of America in which gay marriage is legal. The next section takes place in 1993 Manhattan, devastated by the AIDs epidemic; followed by New York in 2093, a city under the thumb of an authoritarian regime. It’s an expansive work, grounded through its focus on the detail and profound humanity of its characters. Picador, £20, publishes 11 January

Pilgrim Bell by Kaveh Akbar “They say it’s not faith if you can hold it in your hands, but I suspect the opposite may be true, that real faith passes first through the body like an arrow.” Pilgrim Bell is the second collection of poetry from IranianAmerican poet Kaveh Akbar. His first book of poetry, Calling A Wolf A Wolf, charted his transition from alcohol addiction to sobriety, and the isolation, pain and detachment caused by his need to escape the world. Pilgrim Bell grapples with questions of self and divinity throughout, and about how you emerge from shedding a self-identity that has fused with addiction and destruction. It’s a profoundly spiritual and introspective work – embedded firmly within the context of life as a Muslim in 21st-century America – that finds the sacred in the everyday.

Chatto & Windus, £12.99, publishes 27 January

Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: How the Natural World is Adapting to Climate Change by Thor Hanson From the author of the much-loved Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees comes a fascinating look at the transformations that are already underway all around the world: from the Caribbean, to the deep sea, to our own gardens. Hanson combines an in-depth understanding of climate change biology with lyrical writing and philosophical insight. In doing so, he moves the focus in the climate change discussions from humans in the ‘nearby future’ to the world around us now. We learn of Caribbean lizards whose toe pads have grown larger to grip trees more tightly during hurricanes, and how the ‘plasticity’ of squids has allowed them to transform their size and breeding habits with changing sea temperatures – and how we can learn to adapt with a changing world. Icon Books, £20, publishes 3 February

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott Just out in paperback, this is the beautiful children’s picture book from Canadian poet Jordan Scott that won him an abundance of awards upon publication last year. The story is based on his own experience of being a child with a speech impediment, facing bullying because of his inability to talk fluently. Following a day where he had particular difficulty with his speech, he and his father took a walk to a nearby river. His father pointed at the water – flowing, contorting, and swirling – and said to him: “see how that water moves? That’s how you speak.” Each page is awash with gorgeous watercolour illustrations by Greenaway Medalist Sydney Smith that carry that story along. It’s a gentle and moving tale that encourages self-acceptance and understanding over attempting to fix. Walker Books, £7.99

Abolition. Feminism. Now by Angela Y. Davis, Gina Dent, Erica Meiners and Beth Richie A manifesto for the present: Abolition. Feminism. Now. is an urgent call for change from four renowned activists and writers of our age. Emerging from political discussions that have formed following the Black Lives Matter movement, the murder of Sarah Everard, and the subsequent police brutality towards women at her vigil, it’s a devastating polemic against the carceral state in both the US and the UK that demonstrates how intertwined feminism and abolitionism have, and always will, be. This rousing, informed read is ideal for those who are keen to better understand intersectional feminism and the arguments for transforming the structures that exist around us.

Hamish Hamilton, £14.99, publishes 13 January 50 TheBATHMagazine

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Mabu Mabu: An Australian Kitchen Cookbook by Nornie Bero Nornie Bero is the irresistibly charismatic First Nations chef who has made waves on the Australian food scene with her Melbourne restaurant Mabu Mabu. Its name comes from a saying from the Torres Strait – between Australia and Papua New Guinea – that means ‘help yourself.’ Nornie’s restaurant was born of a desire to celebrate the diversity, colour and flavour of Australian Indigenous food, almost completely overlooked on the international culinary scene until now. Her recipes are simple, bold, and vibrant, all championing Australian herbs, spices, and flavours, and interspersed with stories of learning to forage and fish with her father on the island of Mer. Example dishes include Desert Lime Syrup, Tamarind Pipis, Quandong Relish and Pulled Wild Boar – plus an abundance of substitutions if your local butcher fails to stock crocodile for your Saltbush Pepperberry Crocodile.

Hardie Grant, £22, publishes 22 February n toppingbooks.co.uk

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MUSIC | INTERVIEW CITY | INTERIORS

Working in the box

Producer and sound engineer Stephen W Tayler has worked with artists from Kate Bush to Peter Gabriel and his career has spanned technological innovations from early multi-track recording to the creation of audio visual experiences. Emma Clegg goes to Real World Studios in Box to find the man behind the music

Stephen with an image from Da Capo, projected on him

Photograph by Sadia Sadia

which still used tape, but now it was the means of capturing the sound. Then there were 48-track machines that recorded on a oneinch tape digitally, and then you had the switch to recording through a digital recording workstation computer (rather than using tape), so recording on to the hard drive. Nowadays the number of inputs and outputs to your system is really as many or as few as you want. I run with eight in and eight out systems. But these days there is no upper limit as to how many tracks you can use. This is why the process of being a remix engineer does require a certain expertise.”

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You might think you want to make that note more perfectly in tune, but the fact that it’s bending in and out of tune is creating emotion

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have been learning about multi-track recording from an expert. Multi-track is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources. First developed in the mid-1950s, each ‘track’ was recorded to its own area on the tape whereby the sequence of recorded events would be preserved, and playback is synchronised.

“A lot of The Beatles’ work was done on four-track, meaning that they could record the band playing on tracks one and two. Then they could add the vocals on track three and maybe some orchestral elements on track four. It was innovative during the 1950s. This was where the art of mixing came into play, because once you’ve added those parts then you have to balance the levels.”

Mixer, producer, composer, sound designer and audio engineer Stephen W Tayler – who works from his studio within Real World Studios, Box (the studio converted and set up by Peter Gabriel in 1988) – was explaining to me how in his career he has seen multitrack recording and other technical innovations completely revolutionise the industry. “When I started in 1974 the industry had just started to use 16-track and it was just about to become 24-track.

And the tape was getting wider – originally tape was ¼ inch, then they did eight tracks on one-inch tape and then 16 tracks on two-inch tape and then 24 tracks on two-inch tape.”

As the technology grew, Stephen explains, so did the complexity of the recording. So rather than do all the rehearsal and preparation ahead of time before recording – what used to happen – musicians would go into the studio and experiment and write the music while they were in the studio and recording, with the creative ability to add more and more parts.

“In 1978 they started to synchronise two 24-track machines and then a few years after that digital recording technology came in

Training and apprenticeship After studying clarinet and organ at the Royal College of Music Stephen found (fortuitously, by popping in and making an enquiry) a job as a tea boy at Trident Studios in 1974. “The whole industry has changed so much since then,” says Stephen. “When I started and for several years after, you had to use professional studio recording facilities. There wasn’t affordable equipment that people could use in their homes. What’s happened since is that the technology has become available for just about every kind of musician.”

In the era when Stephen was working at Trident, many studios aimed to create their own recognisable sounds. “Traditional studios like DECCA, EMI and Abbey Road used to really try and perfect doing things with a standard method, to make things that sounded smooth and warm and clean. Studios like Trident, however, were all about trying to develop their own identity. By breaking the rules and not conforming to the proper ways of doing things they’d come up with a tougher, more aggressive sound. It was a time where you’d often listen to a record and be able to identify the studio it came from, because of the clarity or the warmth or sometimes the mushy, not very clear sound. Trident would use techniques like putting microphones a lot closer to the instruments so that element was more dominant.”

In the late 1980s and 90s studios started to be competitive in having the same equipment, and as the technology developed, ‘total recall’ was built into mixing consoles, meaning that the settings could be stored and recalled. “That enabled different ways of working where if a record company were not satisfied with something they could say ‘go back and improve that aspect of it’. This was when the sound became more generic. Then later, sounds became more attached to the producer or production team rather than the studio, and people started becoming independent and freelance. That’s why over the years I moved away from being part of a particular company. So now the facilities are important but the focus is on the style of the production team. And that’s what you are trying to do when you’re an independent freelancer like myself.”

Professional collaboration Stephen has worked with artists such as Kate Bush, Howard Jones, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel and Suzanne Vega, as well as with more eclectic bands and musicians. One of these

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The large screen with a digital console that mimics the physical console that a sound engineer uses for mixing – the industry refers to mixing sound recordings using Pro Tools software as ‘Working in the Box’

Photograph by Stephen W Tayler

Stephen preparing for his live show of Da Capo in the Big Room at Real World Studios

is progressive rock band Van Der Graaf Generator, formed in the 1960s. While never achieving sustained success, they were groundbreaking and iconic, known for their dark musical atmosphere and still retain a huge following today. Stephen, who describes their music as “experimental, interesting and brave”, is currently working on a set of theirs for Universal Music with 20 discs – four of them are studio albums where he has created a new mix in stereo and surround sound.

“Historically I’ve often worked with quite eclectic artists” says Stephen. “Working with Kate Bush has been a really important thing for me because she has so much integrity as an artist and never bows to any pressure to conform. It’s just fascinating being able to work with interesting artists, rather than trying to fit the bill of the Top 10. My career has been an engrossing journey even though it’s been through peaks and troughs, because I’ve always worked with really interesting people on interesting projects. And I’ve never got stuck in one genre.”

Alongside major labels, Stephen also works with independent

Photograph by Kola Forrester

musicians, such as singer songwriter Howard Jones. “When I first worked with Howard he had been signed by major label Warner Music who used a commercial recording studio and I was part of the early production team. Later Howard built his own recording studio and set up his own label. I have probably mixed more work with him over the years since he became independent! So much work is done in a workspace with people who you work with solidly for a period of time, and you get to know them really well and develop these wonderful relationships.”

Stephen’s long experience in the industry has given him the ability to be committed about what is recorded, and he works very decisively in his creative process. “I like to be committed during the process, but I often work with people who like to delay decisions and use a phrase called ‘leave it to the mix’. This is a terrible idea! When we recorded to tape, there was no ‘undo’ button. If you recorded something, that was it – you could record over it but then you couldn’t go back to what was on the tape before it. So I’m glad I came up through that decisive period.

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MUSIC | INTERVIEW “A singer now might come in and do 20 takes of a song and not decide which one they want to use, so somebody has to then later on come up with a copy of the lyrics and a different take on each fader and decide which word or which line from each one they want to compile.”

This makes you realise how complex the role of the mix engineer is.

“Mixing is like creating a picture,” explains Stephen. “Some people like to give you a technical instruction when mixing; others are more abstract asking for ‘warmer’, ‘harder’, ‘softer’, ‘more dynamic’ or ‘more intimate’ sounds. Often people just trust me and leave me alone to just get on with it!

“Of the musicians I’ve worked with some are highly trained and knowledgeable and some are just instinctive. Not every musician has to be totally schooled and accurate all the time. Sometimes it’s the imperfections in what they do that make them unique.

“Frequently I encourage artists to trust other people who know when they are at their best. Because you might think you want to make that note more perfectly in tune, but the fact that it’s bending in and out of tune is creating emotion and if you smooth it out to be ‘perfect’ you kill the emotion.”

The technology has also brought massive benefits, not least the ability to improve a recording in post-production: “I have worked with a lot of live recordings to mix and quite often you have things that need fixing because there may have been a technical problem or a noise in the crowd and these days you have the technology to enable you to sort it out.”

There’s also the ability to send and receive massive files. In the 1990s Stephen and his partner Sadia, the producer and installation artist, were based in London working on a production for an Australian label.

“During the week we’d make an updated mix of what we were doing and then send it on FedEx which would take four to five days to get to Sydney to get the reaction. Now you can send a file instantly for reference. They can also send you all the component parts, video and multi-channel audio, so now I am sent massive quantities of data that used to be delivered on big solid tapes.”

Photograph by Anil Prasad

DA CAPO: A personal album A more personal musical expression came into play last September when Stephen released his own personal album Da Capo, an ambitious instrumental suite intended to take the listener on a journey through time, conceived as an audio visual experience and including a CD of stereo mixes as well as a DVD of film poems.

“I’ve spent the bulk of my career as a recording and mixing engineer, with occasional co-production roles and it’s only been over the last 20 years that I’ve done productions of my own.

“I’ve also become more interested in audio visual experiences over the years,” Stephen says. “When I first created Da Capo it was as a surround sound and a visual experience. I was preparing to do a live show and to create an album. So it was all created at the same time to be this experience of the sound field, and the visuals were more like an atmospheric light show than a film or a video. I wanted to create the live experience of being in the room with the sound and vision which were conceived simultaneously.”

One of the tracks called Four Ways to Fiveways was inspired by a car journey one sunny September morning as Stephen was travelling down the main Box Hill road through a tunnel of trees with the light flickering through them. “I already had a bit of a tune running in my head, so I wanted to capture that. So I strapped a camera onto the bonnet of my car and I drove from here up to Fiveways and back and then I used this mirror technique which is actually four aspects of the same image, mirrored. So Four Ways to Fiveways became the track.

Why not experience the journey yourself with a copy of Stephen’s CD/DVD Da Capo? n Da Capo, £12.99; burningshed.com/stephen-w-tayler; digital download; bit.ly/CherryRedLinks

Stephen in the Big Room recording studio at Real World Studios

The album cover design for Da Capo

A still from one of the videos used in Da Capo showing the gates of Real World Studios

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This still and the album cover above were created and designed by Stephen W Tayler

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16 Pierrepont St, Bath BA1 1LA | Tel: 01225 464433 www.kathrynanthony.co.uk

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EDUCATION

EDUCATION NEWS GOLD AND SILVER Bath College are celebrating after two of their student stonemasons won Gold and Silver at SkillBuild, a competition delivered by CITB, which is the largest multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices. Gold was won by Lewis Evans and Silver by Kane Frith, both Level 3 Stonemasonry apprentices who have been with Bath College for two and a half years. Lewis’ apprenticeship is with Wolff Stone Ltd in Doulting near Shepton Mallet and Kane’s is with Rowland Stone in Bristol.

Both Bath College Stonemasonry competitors were surprised and delighted with their achievements. Gold winner Lewis said: “It was a tough 18-hour competition shaping some hard Portland stone which created a few blisters, but we’re very happy to come in first and second place.”

Bath College is just one of two colleges in the UK who offer Stonemasonry qualifications. Students and apprentices train in the purpose-built masonry workshop at the Somer Valley Campus in Radstock. bathcollege.ac.uk

JOYFUL EXULTATION FOR CHORISTER One of Bath Abbey’s choristers, Gavin Phelps, aged 12, has been announced as the runner-up in a competition to celebrate the return of York Minster’s Grand Organ, following a £2m refurbishment of the majestic instrument earlier this year.

Samuel Kemp, from Bushey in Hertfordshire, took first place in the 18 and under category of the Grand Organ Composers’ Competition while Gavin’s piece, Joyful Exultation, impressed judges to claim the runner-up prize.

The competition was run in partnership with the Cathedral Music Trust and Banks Music Publications. Gavin’s composition was premiered at Bath Abbey Choir’s A Baroque Christmas concert last month.

Both Samuel and Gavin will receive financial prizes and a masterclass on organ composition with Philip Moore, composer and former York Minster Organist and Master of Music, and Ben Morris, Assistant Director of Music at York Minster.

The competition was judged by a panel of industry experts including New York-based composer Nico Muhly, composer and former York Minster Organist and Master of Music Philip Moore, British composer Roxanna Panufnik, Canadian-born organist, conductor and composer Sarah MacDonald and York Minster’s Assistant Director of Music Ben Morris.

Huw Williams, Director of Music at Bath Abbey where Gavin has been a member of the Abbey Boys’ Choir and the Melody Makers for six years, said: “We are so proud of Gavin’s achievement and send him our heartiest congratulations. The audience were very enthusiastic about his Joyful Exultation piece and he received a well-deserved standing ovation.” bathabbey.org 56 TheBATHMagazine

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TEAM BATH ARE ON A ROLL! Team Bath at the University of Bath have recently reported on a range of significant sporting achievements: JUDO: Four Team Bath judoka were crowned as British Champions with six medals in total during a weekend of Senior and U21 competition at the EIS Sheffield. There was more success at the National Cyprus Judo Championships in Nicosia as Sport and Exercise Science student George Kroussaniotakis won gold in the -100kg competition. Gregg Varey, captain of the Team Bath High Performance Judo Squad, continued his record of winning a medal at every British Championship he has contested since the age of 11 as he secured the senior -66kg title. Celebrating her first senior British title is University of Bath Sports Performance graduate Chloe Robyns-Landricombe, who overcame fellow Team Bath judoka Sidney Tancock on her way to the -52kg final where she clinched the gold medal.

The national championship results cap an excellent year for Team Bath Judo, which included three judoka – Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz, Ben Fletcher and Megan Fletcher – competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

SWIMMING: University of Bath swimmer Ben Proud won 50m freestyle gold at the FINA World Short-Course Championships in Abu Dhabi. The in-form sprinter, coached by Mark Skimming at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, was fastest out of the blocks in the final and level with Ryan Held at the 25m turn before powering past his American rival on the final lap to touch first in 20.45 seconds.

That was just 500ths of a second off the British record Proud set in December while helping Energy Standard win the International Swimming League title and saw him add world short-course gold to the world butterfly and European freestyle titles he had previously won in a long-course pool. This was also the ideal way to end a year that saw him claim 50m freestyle silver at the European Championships but narrowly miss out on the Olympic podium in Tokyo.

PARA-BADMINTON: After a year in which he made ParalympicsGB history, Tokyo 2020 para-badminton medallist Dan Bethell has enjoyed more success after returning for a training spell at the place where his para-badminton journey began, at the University of Bath.

Bethell, who won SL3 men’s singles silver when the sport made its Paralympics debut at this summer’s rescheduled Games, took three titles in the UK Para-Badminton Championships in Sheffield after training with the University’s student squad led by Peter Bush.

He first trained at the Team Bath Sports Training Village aged 10 as a tennis player.

After watching the Beijing 2008 Games he was inspired to get into Paralympic sport and joined the Team Bath Futures talent development programme in 2012 and trained through to 2017, when he moved up to Sheffield to train full-time with the national Para Badminton Squad. teambath.com

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2022: a year for self-care ‘Self-care’ has become somewhat of a buzzword but there is a much richer meaning to it.

The quote from the champion of peace Mahatma Gandhi, ‘“All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change…the source of our happiness.”

Working toward’s being the best possible you is a generous act, to yourself and the people around you. Finding inner balance creates balance in your environment. The goal is not to be ‘perfect’ but to be more present, confident, and self-aware. This journey is sometimes tricky, but the path of happiness is deeply fulfilling.

Self-care is more than bubble baths and facials and each person has their own needs and ways of meeting these needs.

Gratitude is a good starting point, as is self-reflection and helping others. Self-care is giving yourself permission to be looked after, it unlocks the way for your own inner peace, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Finding moments of happiness and challenging your own negative thoughts can help reduce your stress levels. Reflecting on your inner-self and finding kindness towards your body and mind enables your higher-self to feel fulfilled and cared for.

Your self-care may involve a walk, creating art, cooking, reading, spending time with friends and family. Having a lovely aromatic scent in your home, such as citrus oils, can be very uplifting.

Learning to live in the moment, letting go of the past and recognising the amazing gifts you bring to yourself and the world around you are important elements of self-care.

Holistic treatments can also help care for your inner being. On February 1st there will be a celebration at The Soul Spa in Bath.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year and the first day of Spring, several therapists will be offering various treatments for your self-care. What a wonderful way to start 2022!

For information on the event email heidi@heidireiki.com

Heidi Lerner Rearden 07776 255875 www.heidireiki.com heidi@heidireiki.com

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Situated within The Chocolate Quarter, St Monica Trust’s award-winning retirement village, Charterhouse care home is now providing specialist residential care for older people living in Bristol and Bath. Sarah Kritikos, Care Home Admissions Manager discusses what residential care is and what living in your ‘home from home’ is like.

What is residential care?

Residential care at Charterhouse is for older people who need help with daily living tasks, but don’t need specialist nursing or dementia care. This can include personal care, dressing, eating and also providing physical therapy. Residential care is the perfect way to stay independent whilst having the peace of mind that 24 hour support from a dedicated team of care professionals gives.

What is the difference between residential care and nursing care?

Imagine residential care as being more like living in your own home where our care and

support staff are there to assist you as you go about your day.

As the name suggests, nursing care is for older people who require nurses to administer medication and treatments for more complex conditions in addition to being assisted with everyday tasks.

What happens if someone develops nursing needs while receiving residential care?

In addition to offering residential care, Charterhouse also offers nursing care and nursing dementia care, so there is the opportunity to move within the wider care home should your health circumstances change.

What is included with residential care?

Residential care at Charterhouse includes support from our trained care workers, all activities in our homes, pastoral care service, physiotherapy, all food and drink, laundry, heating, lighting and phone line rental.

What is a typical day like in a residential care home?

We always make point of saying that there’s no such things as a typical day in a residential care.

Providing the right care for yourself or a loved-one starts before admission. The secret is getting to know the resident and their family as well as we do our own and everything we learn about you goes into your care plan.

Our care is person-centred around how each individual resident wants to spend their day. Some of us like a lie-in, while others like to be up to watch the sunrise. Some of us may enjoy eating with friends or you might prefer to eat your meals in the comfort of your own room.

However you wish to spend your day is entirely up to you.

When should someone move into a residential care home?

There’s no right or wrong answer to this question, as everyone’s circumstances are different. It could be that you reach a point where you are finding it increasingly difficult to live at home, even with support from professional carers, family and friends. Equally, you could be the daughter, son, friend or partner of an older person and you’re realising that you are no longer able to provide the level of support they need or you are concerned about their well-being. Sometimes it could be the result of an unexpected crisis. We also have residents who planned years in advance for when they would like to move into a residential care home and have chosen where they would like to go in advance.

Whatever your circumstances, our friendly and experienced admissions team will answer all your questions to make sure you or your loved one gets the right care.

We are here to make your journey as stress free and easy as possible - helping you every step of the way from your first call to your first night in a St Monica Trust care home.

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

What is a Naturopathic Diet?

Editorial contribution by the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM)

naturopathic diet is a highly nourishing diet that supplies the body with all the nutrients needed for health, growth and longevity. It’s free from harmful substances and focuses on optimising the digestion of food, absorption of nutrients and supporting detoxification processes.

A

• Healthy fats are essential, especially omega3 fatty acids from wild-caught oily fish, flaxseeds and chia seeds. Omega-3 fats form a vital part of cell membranes, and also support brain function and mood, improve heart health and decrease inflammation.

The principles of a naturopathic diet

• Ensure you drink sufficient filtered or spring water as water is needed to regulate body temperature, transport nutrients, remove wastes, nourish joints and cartilage and provide fluid for the production of bile to support digestion.

• Eat fresh, organic wholefoods that are in season and sourced locally.

• Consume a wide range of plant-based foods including vegetables, fruit, culinary herbs and spices, whole grains, seeds (sprouts), nuts and legumes.

• Only eat organic, grass-fed meat, poultry or game. Meat is highly acidic so limit your intake to once or twice per week. Fish is fine to eat but ensure it’s wild caught and not farmed.

• Fast regularly to allow the digestive tract to rest and replenish, and direct energy to other parts of the body to heal and repair.

Fasting also promotes healthy weight management and prevents overeating.

Foods and beverages to avoid • Junk foods are highly-processed foods that are devoid of nutrients and often contain genetically-modified ingredients, artificial colourings, sweeteners, pesticides and chemical additives.

• Damaged oils and fats including margarine, fried fast food, commercial baked goods and refined or overheated oils. The oils promote inflammation and an increased risk of heart disease, cancer and other chronic health issues.

• Table salt is highly refined and contains traces of toxic compounds. Opt for rock salt, sea salt or Himalayan salt in small amounts.

• Processed cows’ dairy is difficult for many people to digest and it contains high amounts of a chemical called insulin-like

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growth factor. Nut milks, oat milk and coconut milk are better options.

• Soya (unless organic) is often genetically modified and it contains certain compounds that make it difficult to digest. Only eat fermented soy products such as tempeh.

• Coffee (including decaffeinated) as the roasting of the beans and the decaffeinating process produces toxic compounds which are harmful to the body.

CNM teaches the importance of a naturopathic diet that encourages the use of whole, organic and seasonal plant-based foods prepared and eaten in a way to ensure maximum nutrient absorption and optimal health.

Download the full Naturopathic Diet Scan the QR code No 1 training provider for Natural Therapies

Visit www.cnmcourses.com or call 01342 777 747

Geoff Don

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New Clinic for Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine What an exciting start to the New Year for staff and patients of Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM) which is opening a new state-of-the-art fertility and IVF clinic at Aztec West.

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he move takes them from Southmead Hospital, where the clinic has been based since 2007, to larger premises with completely upgraded facilities where they will be in operation from January.

Patients will benefit from availability of the latest technology, laboratories, equipment and treatment rooms for their IVF and other fertility treatments, with more energy-efficient features and ultramodern theatres to provide best-in-class care.

BCRM new clinic interior

The 60+ staff team, which includes world-leading fertility experts and consultants, will remain the same with some new additions.

Medical director, Amanda Jefferys, explains the rationale for the move: “BCRM is one of the longest-established fertility clinics in the South West, formed when specialist units from the University of Bristol and Southmead Hospital came together over a decade ago.

“Over the past couple of years it became increasingly clear that we were outgrowing the space at Southmead, so the planning for our new clinic has focused on allowing us to enhance the patient experience, treat a greater number of patients and continue developing and growing as a centre of excellence.”

“When we found the building at Aztec West we knew it would be perfect for us. It has now been completely refurbished to the highest standards to enable us to meet the increased demand for our services and we are absolutely thrilled with it.”

“We have so much more space, with a very large consulting suite for patient appointments, and a larger waiting area which will afford high levels of privacy and comfort for people coming through.”

“The fantastic purpose-built theatre suite also has greater capacity, so we’ll be able to undertake more cycles of treatment.”

“On top of that, we now also have a lovely new suite of conference facilities which will enable us to undertake training sessions for regional health care professionals and our own doctors, nurses and embryologists. Continuing training and development is absolutely fundamental to our success, and we invest a lot of time and money in it.”

“We’re making plans for a new range of services too, such as

treatment for broader male and female reproductive health issues, not just fertility issues.”

The new facility has been inspected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the fertility regulator, and will be treating both existing and new patients from January.

Both NHS and private patients will continue to be seen, and patients eligible for fertility treatment on the NHS may choose to have IVF treatment with BCRM where currently there is no waiting list.

Amanda Jefferys said: “You can choose to come to BCRM as an NHS patient for assisted conception treatment wherever you live in England.”

“For those with fertility issues there is often an imperative to avoid a long wait for investigation and treatment, especially as we emerge from Covid which has put such tremendous pressure on all health services, so our increased capacity is really good news for this group, whether they’re needing IVF or ICSI treatment, IUI treatment, use of donor sperm, egg donation, frozen embryo transfer or complex treatments including fertility surgery.”

“We treat heterosexual couples, same sex couples and single women, and can help with male as well as female fertility issues. Many people choose us because we have some of the highest success rates in the country, as well as for the dedicated care and support we provide to our patients throughout their whole journey and treatment.”

The location of the clinic at Aztec West, close to the intersection of the M4 and M5 motorways, make it easily accessible and there’s also ample free parking.

Further details are available by emailing Quality@BCRM.clinic, or call 0117 259 1159 or see www.fertilitybristol.com New clinic exterior

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Clouds over the Severn

The Roman Road to nowhere

This month Andrew Swift explores a little-known corner of Gloucestershire about an hour’s drive northwest of Bath and experiences some astounding view of the silvery Severn

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he villages on the eastern shore of the Severn estuary have a character all their own, with ancient churches, manor farms, half-timbered cottages and resolutely traditional hostelries. Long, level lanes wind between moss-grown orchards, the skies are vast, the light everchanging, and the swift, treacherous waters of the silvery Severn flow silently seawards.

All these villages have the feeling of remoteness, of lying close to where the land ends, but in none of them is that feeling more potent than in Arlingham, which sits in the arm of a broad meander, with the river on three sides, and only one road in or out.

Arlingham wasn’t always a dead end, though. For centuries, the river could be forded to Newnham on the western shore. So important was the crossing that the Romans built a road to it from the Fosse Way. It seems always to have been a risky business, though.

In 1779, when Samuel Rudder wrote his New History of Gloucestershire, he described it as a “ford over which, at low water, wagons and people on horseback, of more resolution than prudence, sometimes pass. Many have lost their lives in the attempt.”

When a sandbank was swept away in 1802, however, making the crossing even more treacherous, a ferry was introduced and performed a useful service for almost 150 years. Unfortunately, it stopped running when the last ferryman died in 1948. Although there have been plans to revive it or even to build a bridge, for the moment at least this is one part of Gloucestershire you won’t pass through on the way to somewhere else. You have to make a special effort to get here, but Arlingham’s unique character makes the trip well worthwhile.

To get to Arlingham, you have to turn off the A38 at Fromebridge, not far from Junction 13 of the M5. After driving straight on through Frampton and Fretherne for nearly five miles you come to the Red 64 THeBATHMagazine

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Lion at the heart of Arlingham.

Carry on for another 100m, before pulling into a car park on the right (SO707110; GL2 7JN). Ahead, the road leads on towards the old river crossing, its wide verges indicating that for centuries it was a drove road, along which Welsh cattle were driven to market in London.

Instead of carrying on along the road, however, the walk starts by turning off it just beyond the car park to follow a restricted byway on the right. This is shown on old maps as Netting Lane, and, although it starts off reasonably enough, after passing through two gates it soon turns muddy. Carry straight on, with a drainage ditch – known locally as a rhyne – on your left, and after 750m, when you come to a T junction, turn left to follow another restricted byway sign (SO712115).

This is Warth Lane – ‘warth’ being a local word for a flat meadow by the river. Follow the lane as it swings left and then right past an old orchard, its trees hung with mistletoe. Arlingham was long famous for its cider, with two apple varieties – Arlingham Schoolboys and Arlingham Churchyards – being named after the village.

After bearing left and then right once more, the lane ends at a group of barns, where the going may turn mucky (SO710122). Once through the gateway, turn right and then left when you come to the end of the barns, before bearing right through a gate with a footpath waymark. Carry straight on for 125m and, after going through another gate, climb onto a levee for your first view of the Severn.

Ahead is the spire of Westbury on Severn church, with Garden Cliff, famous for fossils and spectacularly stratified, to the right of it.

Turn left to follow the path along the levee. Although initially leading north-west, it soon follows the river to curve south-west.

After rounding the bend, look out for two reed-choked ponds, created when soil was extracted to shore up the sea wall in 1984,

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and now a refuge for birds. The trains on the far shore are on the scenic line between Newport and Gloucester. The village they pass through without stopping is Newnham on Severn.

After a mile and a half you come to the Old Passage Inn, once the embarkation point for the ferry. To the right of its main entrance is a tall milestone, with no surviving inscription, thought to date from the 18th century and one of several which stood alongside the road to the ferry.

As you carry on along the sea wall, look across to see a small boatyard and harbour south of Newnham. This is Collow Pill, where there was once a large tannery and timber yard. Further along is the much larger Bullo Pill, originally the site of a shipyard, but from the early 19th century, when it was linked by tramway to mines and quarries in the Forest of Dean, a busy port shipping out up to 1,000 tons of coal and stone a day. Trade declined rapidly in the early 20th century, and in 1926 the dock was downgraded to a tidal basin.

Carry on as the river curves south-east, and, just before you reach the pylons, turn left through a kissing gate (SO705099) to follow a path alongside a rhyne. The path soon turns into a track and then into a lane. After it curves right and then left, you pass Westend Farm, with some well-preserved outbuildings. A little further along on the left, set well back from the lane, is Rectory Farm, dating from the 17th century. St Mary’s church beyond it is largely 14th-century and has some original stained glass, while the churchyard has a fine collection of ornate memorials.

Soon you reach the crossroads at the heart of the village, with the 17th-century Red Lion, now a community-owned pub, on the right, and the road back to the car park on the left. n

More on the details of this and many more walks can be found in Andrew Swift’s Country Walks from Bath, published by Akeman Press; akemanpress.com.

Collow Pill

Fact file

n Starting point: Car park in Arlingham village (SO707110; GL2 7JN) n Distance: 4½ miles

n Terrain On level footpaths or lanes throughout. No stiles but some muddy stretches – good walking boots essential. n Pubs and other facilities: Red Lion, Arlingham GL2 7JN; 01452 740700; redlionarlingham.co.uk n Map: OS Explorer OL14

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Not Very Peri

designersguild.com; mandarinstone.com; timorousbeasties.com; emmaroseartworks.com; trhayes.co.uk; grahambrown.com; kingandmcgaw.com; themonkeypuzzletree.com

Very Peri is Pantone’s colour choice for 2022. We searched high and low and found some lovely products to enhance the interior that were kind of close – but the best shade of Very Peri, we conclude, is the periwinkle flower!

TOP ROW, from left: Iggy Blue Gloss Porcelain Mosaic from Mandarin Stone; All Tomorrow’s Future Linen Blend Fabric by The Monkey Puzzle Tree; Purple Fresco Wallpaper by Timorous Beasties MIDDLE ROW, from left: Fama Lenny Recliner and Stool frorm TR Hayes; Arabesque Cobalt fabric by Designers Guild; Tarbana Midnight Cotton Cushion by Designers Guild BOTTOM ROW, from left: Monet’s Garden by Emma Rose, available as a cushion and a giclée print; Ultra Paint by Graham and Brown; Flowers, framed art print by Andy Warhol, by King and McGraw 66 TheBATHMagazine

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THE

KI TC HEN PAR TNER S DESIGN STUDIO

www.thekitchenpartners.co.uk 102 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2QY 01179 466433

Founders and Lead Designers - Fiona & Clinton

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Design by Woodhouse & Law

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Bucking the trends

Design by Jackie Hoyte for Decorbuddi

We like to keep up with the interior trends and to reflect those in our pages, but who of us actually follow the fashions slavishly? Emma Clegg asks some local experts what they think about the idea of being a free interior spirit John Law, Woodhouse & Law

Catriona Archer, Catriona Archer Interiors

We are forever being told by those around us how we should live our lives. Eat your greens, don’t put non-sticks in the dishwasher, always go for a firm handshake. Some rules are necessary and never more so than at present, for our own safety. With such a prevalence of impositions, perhaps we have the perfect excuse to not feel quite so beholden to those thrown at us from an ever-growing wealth of sources. Rules for example on what can and can’t be done in the home, helpfully offered by family, friends and our social media of choice. Some rules are made to be broken.

Perhaps we should be more forgiving to ourselves and start our own design rebellions from home; imagine the world of inspiration that might fall before us?

The rebellion has definitely started. We have recently seen a real enthusiasm from clients to be bolder and more open to schemes that reflect their own personality, rather than the latest design must-dos. We all seem to be worrying less about secondguessing what the next buyer might want from our homes, and instead thinking more about the here-and-now; what appeals to us personally, what best reflects our own character and style.

That’s not to say that clients aren’t looking to the future. We are finding, however, that people are turning their backs on throw-away culture, keen to create an aesthetic that is more timeless and lived-in. Antiques and midcentury pieces therefore are falling back in favour; not only will they stand the test of time, but they effortlessly hold their own within any design scheme.

Recent lockdowns seem to have reinforced this further; if we are spending more time at home, we should be embracing and enjoying every part of it. It’s our home, after all; if we want to make an old family armchair the centrepiece of a space, then who is to stop us?

At Woodhouse and Law we are enjoying the move away from a more pared-down, simple look to that of strong combinations of pattern, colour and texture. It makes our job even more exciting as we have so many newfound opportunities to use individual trims or unusual finishes in our projects. With such a glamorous vibe on the interiors scene of late, it’s nice to see accessories coming through that are more artisanal in style too. These pieces can add real depth and personality to interior schemes, not to mention an interesting talking point! woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

Our home tells a story. A story of who we are, what we enjoy and how we want to live. It is often an eclectic mix of finds that celebrate our past experiences and treasured memories… Something old, something new, something stowed and something ‘you’, one could say.

If you invest in items that spark real joy, it will stand the test of time and be the glue that makes up your own, unique, personal style.

Purchases are often influenced by current trends and new ideas, but if we stay true to this ethos at the heart of it all (and at the heart of our home) it will prove to be the steady, underlying style: personal and unique to us.

It is only natural that, every now and again, we look to reassess our interiors to better reflect our ever-evolving lifestyle needs and the world around us. All too often we get so used to our possessions being in a certain place that we end up not noticing or valuing them as much. Updating and refreshing a space by reimagining and reinvigorating our existing furniture and accessories is a wonderfully quick and inexpensive way to strengthen the home’s overall style and functionality. It is a core element of my design service as it also clearly pinpoints if/where further investment should be focused, thereby minimising unnecessary future purchases.

As a rule of thumb, we create a strong, harmonious style by referencing certain elements throughout the home; be this through a certain colour, material or style reference. This then gives a backdrop for individual pockets of interest and moods to be created. What areas in the space are most important? Where in the room do you wish the eye to focus? What objects would you like to accentuate? The colours and the level of contrast we feel comfortable with is based on our own individual personality and should therefore be used to set the tone of the space.

Mismatching objects creates a more playful, informal feel and brings an element of surprise to a space. Alternatively, grouping objects as a unified collection will generally feel calmer – be this through an underlying theme of colour, shape, texture, mood, style or function. What stands out and appears brighter and bolder is directly related to the tones and shapes that surround it. catrionaarcher.com

Louisa Morgan, Mandarin Stone

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While we love being inspired by the latest interior design trends, our tile collection

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Casablanca Mono Decor Porcelain tiles by Mandarin Stone

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CITY | INTERIORS

offers such a wide array of designs, that they can be used to create the perfect backdrop to your own unique style. We are strong believers that interiors should be spaces you feel most at ease in and a true reflection of your own unique style and personality. Mix old with new and bold with subtle, paint the wall that colour you love and hang the painting that makes you smile. Bring the outdoors in, with plenty of indoor greenery and see the dog sleeping in front of the fire. These are the things we feel make interiors a unique place to you. mandarinstone.com

Jackie Hoyte, interior designer with Decorbuddi We all follow trends, whether we’re aware of it or not. It’s not always a case of seeing rattan everywhere or embroidered shells appearing on every cushion in the shops, but more about changes in lifestyle that we make; and that can be defined as a trend because lots of us will embrace it. These can filter into our interior choices, such as biophilia, but they often start out on a larger scale.

When working with clients on a scheme, as well as discussing trends and styles they like, I always ask them about their wardrobe and what they wear. You can find a rainbow of colours, textures, even sequins in their clothing choices but often these haven’t filtered into their homes. It just takes that spark of inspiration for some people. It’s not all about trends, or a designer pushing their own style, but working closely to help people discover what makes their house feel fabulous for them.

Often people come to me because their interiors are underwhelming. It’s exciting to help get people inspired and to move their home on from white walls and grey sofas; to help them unleash their own sense of style.

This of course can include trends past and present that they love but, remember, trends are optional. I often quote the words of the design legend Billy Baldwin to clients who need to feel a little more confident in their own style: “Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style.” decorbuddi.com 70 TheBATHMagazine

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If there is one thing the last year of numerous lockdowns has made many of us see is that our homes are our sanctuaries – the space where we feel calm and happy.

Having a perfectly coordinated home that follows every design rule and is bang on trend might be the Instagram dream but most of us have homes full of furniture and finds we have picked up over the years. I always tell my clients not to worry about design trends and that more than anything their home should be a reflection of their personality and a place to display favourite objects collected over a lifetime.

A home full of the things you love will always bring joy! Our homes should encompass things that create happy memories and spark interesting conversations. Shelves full of your favourite books, family photographs, a bargain table bought on eBay, something in your favourite colour even if it is ‘unfashionable’, an antique chest passed down through the family, a moth-eaten throw that was a birthday present from a special friend – these are the things that will make you feel happy.

A home that is a carbon-copy of everyone else’s will never do that.

Having a home full of maximalist character doesn’t have to be chaotic. Keep the bones of your house clean and simple. Beautifully painted walls, clean woodwork, pristine flooring and sympathetically renovated period features will help anchor an eclectic mix of much-loved possessions and ensure they look considered rather than scruffy.

Use colour confidentially. A room full of colourful finds can look wonderfully bohemian but it can be migraine-inducingly busy. Choose one or two key colours to tie your scheme together. It helps to choose an overall colour theme that runs through your home; it will create a harmonious effect which pulls your collections together.

A house full of old furniture and family heirloom pieces can look like the back room of an antiques shop if you are not careful.

Mix contemporary pieces with your treasures to pull the look together and keep it looking up to date.

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“If you invest in items that spark real joy this will be the glue that makes up your unique, personal style”

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Clair Strong, Clair Strong Interior Design

A collection of treasures can look artfully curated or just plain messy. Think carefully about how you display your pieces, so it looks considered. Give each piece a bit of breathing space around it so it can be properly enjoyed. If your pieces are colourful, make the backdrop neutral. I like to create witty little tableaux or to group similar items together to tell a story.

Keep things tidy to impose order on your scheme – arrange your books neatly on bookshelves, your pictures on a gallery wall and edit your collections of treasures – not everything has to be on display.

I am firm believer in freeing yourself from design rules. I always suggest to my clients that they create a mood board of things they love before they start any interior design project. I ask if they have a certain shade or colour that sparks joy. A country they love to visit. A favourite film or painting. Those are the things should be the inspiration for your home, not what’s in the latest homes magazine or a trending hashtag on Instagram. Once you have a sense of what you love, you can design a home that reflects your personality and that makes you feel comfortable. clairstrong.co.uk n

Design by Catriona Archer

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Image shows Ulster Carpets Watercolours

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The gold-medal winning Yeo Valley Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in autumn 2021 proves organic principles don't have to come at the expense of style and design

Green up your garden

In this period of garden dormancy, it’s time to hunker down with the mail-order bulb catalogues and plan for a colourful and exuberant 2022, says Elly West, as she recommends some of her favourites.

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British gardens cover an area bigger than all the country’s nature reserves combined, and they provide vital wildlife corridors

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here is something about the start of another new year that gets us thinking about what we can do better and the goals we may want to achieve. Looking outside at our gardens, we may have plans to make some changes, whether it’s a border that isn’t quite working, empty containers that need planting up, or a whole redesign – complete with a garden office.

Our gardens are our sanctuaries, a break from the modern world where we can switch off and feel at one with nature. An early foraging bumblebee, a robin hopping about in freshly dug soil – these are the joyful moments to be found in the garden right now, all the more precious for their scarcity.

Gardening is inherently considered a ‘green’ activity but with the reality of climate change hitting home, we need to consider making changes in all areas of our lives, and the outdoor space that we take for granted is a great place to start. British gardens cover an area bigger than all the country’s nature reserves combined, an estimated 10-million acres plus, and they provide vital wildlife corridors. Our trees and greenery help combat air pollution, and soft landscaping (lawns and borders) help to manage water runoff, reducing pressure on urban drainage systems.

Small changes really can make a big difference. So, at the risk of sounding ‘worthy’, if you are considering making new year resolutions that involve improving your garden, keep the environment in mind and everyone can potentially benefit. Having said that, it’s worth remembering that primarily we want our gardens to suit us and our lifestyle, and to look nice. A ‘green’ garden doesn’t have to be overflowing with nettles, brambles and log piles. Gardens can be neat and tidy, formal or informal, and still be doing their bit. Insects, birds and small mammals don’t care if

your edges are tidy, or what shape the lawn is.

If your new prize rose has blackspot and greenfly, it’s not a failure to reach for a spray. Or to scatter slug pellets if your hostas are nibbled to lace handkerchiefs by slugs. Let’s not be militant about it, unless you want to be. But going forwards, in order to avoid chemicals where you can, just think of good practice in terms of nurturing healthier plants that will be less susceptible to pests and diseases. Think ‘right plant, right place’, and choose ones that can cope with drought, shade, sun or whatever the conditions might be.

Hostas are notoriously delicious to slugs and snails, so don’t grow them in a damp border near a lawn as the problem isn’t going to go away (however many sacks of slug pellets you put down). Instead, put them in pots on the patio or grow them in a gravel garden where they’re easier to protect and harder for critters to get at.

Think biodiversity in your planting as well, and try to choose a mix of plants that will flower in all the different seasons to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. I love including areas of meadow in the gardens I design. It doesn’t have to be a huge space, and can work well in both urban contemporary and more traditional

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GARDENING countryside schemes. Meadow turf is one of my favourite products as it rolls out like normal grass turf, containing juvenile perennial plants that will pop up in spring, do their thing in summer, then all that’s needed is an annual cut at the end of the season ready for the following year.

Make your own compost or leaf mould to enrich the soil, as that’s where the foundations of a truly healthy garden are found.

A few old compost bags stuffed with autumn leaves and tucked out of sight behind a shed or bush for a couple of years will turn into a beautiful rich, crumbly mixture that’s great for improving your soil structure and feeding your plants.

The green bins were barely collected in my neighbourhood in 2021, what with driver shortages and so on, plus the local council introduced a charge for green waste collection, which is another good reason to compost where you can. In terms of bought compost, peat will soon be banned, and peat-free is much better for the environment. However, it’s worth doing your research as peatfree composts are variable in terms of quality. Check the packaging and see if it’s suitable for sowing and/or containers, depending what you want to use it for, as some are just sold as soil improvers.

If you can find reviews online then check these too.

Recycling is another area where gardeners can do their bit. Wash up old plastic pots and use them again for sowing seeds and potting in. If you are buying pots, look for those made from recycled materials, or the beigey-brown plastic ones that can be recycled, rather than the ones made from black plastic. With a few DIY skills and a bit of imagination, upcycled materials can make quirky garden features. Copper piping, pieces of driftwood, an old tin bath or piece of furniture could be your next project that gives your garden that individual touch. Upcycling is a great way to get children involved as well. n

Task of the month: build a bug hotel A bug hotel will encourage beneficial pollinators and pesteating beetles into the garden to create that all-important, balanced mini-ecosystem. It's a fun project for children and can also make an attractive feature in itself, providing food and shelter for tiny creatures. There are more than 2,000 different insect species in the average garden. Very few of them cause damage to our plants, and most of them help to control the ones that do. Now is a good time to get outside and have a go at building them a safe habitat, as there is plenty of dead plant material around.

Start with some bricks or wooden boxes, pieces of wood, or terracotta plant pots on their sides, and stack them up to create a structure of shelves and layers. Then look for any natural materials you can find to stuff in the nooks and crannies, such as dry leaves, sticks, hollow bamboo stems, pine cones, bits of bark and straw. Cut the end from a plastic bottle and roll up corrugated cardboard inside to provide a dry nesting place.

These will all help to create warm, dry spaces for creatures such as solitary bees, lacewings, ladybirds, woodlice and spiders to hide. A roof tile or two on top will keep out the rain and help it to last longer.

• ellyswellies.co.uk

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Sleek sheds

The garden shed was once used for storing flower pots, unwanted furniture and old vinyl. Under the direction of Garden Affairs, however, it’s all about clean lines, practicality and convenience, as their new product launch demonstrates...

T

he Modern Garden Shed, recently launched by garden buildings business, Garden Affairs, is a secure outdoor storage solution that makes no compromise on looks. Its sleek, contemporary design fits perfectly into any outside space, and it’s an ideal fit for a city garden setting.

“Our Modern Garden Shed is a stylish alternative to the garden shed of old,” says Garden Affairs CEO Richard Squire. “It’s ideal for anyone looking for a secure storage space with the aesthetic of a modern garden building.”

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It’s a beautifully designed building with external wood cladding, a flat roof and a clean, minimalist design

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The latest addition to the company’s range of quality garden buildings, the shed is the perfect solution if you’re looking for a designer building with plenty of secure, watertight storage for bikes, garden tools and equipment.

“We’re really excited to announce the launch,” says Squire. “It’s a beautifully designed building, which looks stunning, with external wood cladding, a flat roof and a clean minimalist design. It’s tailormade for the garden of today.”

All Modern Garden Sheds come in a choice of ribbed or plain wood cladding, with an EPDM rubber roof membrane and downpipe, blended door or frosted glass sliding door, and tongue-and-groove floor. The result is a watertight, simple, flexible space. n

MODERN GARDEN SHED: KEY FEATURES • EPDM rubber roof. The synthetic rubber membrane has a life expectancy of over 50 years.

• A range of sizes to suit storage needs and individual garden aesthetic. From 3m x 2m.

• Choice of spruce or red western cedar wood, natural or factory-painted.

• Blended single/double door available, as alternative to sliding door.

• Total height under 2.5m. Compliant with planning regulations in most situations.

Prices range from £4,564 for a 3 x 2m shed to £6,483 for the 4 x 3m model. Other sizes are available on request, as well as prices for assembly and delivery. An additional bottom-hinged window can be added at £198 (unpainted) or £298 (painted).

Garden Affairs is a family-run business, operating since 2001. It uses painstaking research and planning, premium suppliers, and the best, sustainably sourced timber to produce garden buildings of the highest quality. Garden Affairs, 288 Frome Road, Trowbridge BA14 0DT; gardenaffairs.co.uk 74 TheBATHMagazine

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THE BATH DIRECTORY - JANUARY 2022.qxp_Layout 31 21/12/2021 09:51 Page 1

the directory

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

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MARDAN, BATH’S BESPOKE REMOVALS AND STORAGE COMPANY, DEVELOPS NEW TALENT

Mardan have a wealth of experience within the removals and storage industry, spanning over 30 years, ensuring customers have a stress-free and seamless move. Mardan are family run and bespoke with the experience, knowledge, skills, equipment and capacity to complete removals of any size; locally, nationally for domestic or commercial customers.

Marcus, Mardan’s founder, has always held fast, with confidence, to his belief that he can deliver a high standard of removals, exceeding that of his competitors. Marcus knows to do this he must have trust and confidence in the skills of his staff, which he does. So when a new office position was required within Mardan instead of recruiting externally Marcus looked to develop a team member which he already had extreme confidence in and who he knew would develop into the role seamlessly, Nik. The role would include; liaising with customers, completing quotes, emailing quotes, planning the removals diary, logistics and managing the storage yard. Nik, had worked with Marcus within removals for over 10 years having a strong knowledge of all aspects of removals and with the skills necessary to lead a team from Mardan on removals.

Nik has risen to the challenge and is thriving. Marcus and Nik work extremely well as a team thus ensuring all customers have a personalised service and a positive move experience.

Both Marcus and Nik enjoy completing the physical removal and Marcus truly believes that to do the ‘office’ role well it’s important to continue to complete removals, thus maintaining

the in depth knowledge developed throughout their earlier careers. Marcus and Nik are able to be flexible with their roles and keep their ‘hand in’ the hard physical work of removals.

Mardan continue to grow their self-storage facility, offering safe, secure and reasonable storage to upward of 100 domestic and commercial customers.

“We used Mardan following a recommendation from a friend.

They moved us in and out of storage and then into our renovated house. I would highly recommend them. The service was super efficient and the guys were quick, polite and courteous. Nothing was too much trouble and all of our possessions arrived safe and sound” Emma Webster, Moon Client

Mob: 07899 847857 Tel: 01225 317645 www.mardanremovals.co.uk

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL MOVERS • packers • STORERS • SHIPPERS

Bailbrook Lane, Bath A stunning development of two individual, contemporary, luxury homes in a secluded setting with magnificent views.

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PROPERTY | HOMEPAGE

A stunning 3 bedroom, single storey property refurbished to an extremely high standard and boasting a superb extension and paddock.

Little Orchard is approached via a shingle driveway leading to the ample parking area in front of the double garage. A low retaining wall with arched arbour access the path through the private front garden to the main door and entrance terrace.

Once inside the open plan kitchen and dining room take centre stage with a stunning Harvey Jones fitted kitchen boasting central island, Bentazzoni range and Quooker tap.

The sitting room is semi-open to the dining space but retains a snug feel with an open fired and sliding doors to the front terrace. A conservatory overlooks the rear/side garden with the greenhouse and raised vegetable beds plus the paddock.

The bedrooms accommodation is arranged throughout the original dwelling and the new extension, with 3 well proportioned, light bedrooms, en suite facilities and a family bathroom with freestanding bath.

Externally the gardens encompass the house, whilst the paddock is easily accessible either from the driveway or the B3108.

The village of Winsley is a most sought after location, lying just half a mile from the outskirts of Bradford on Avon. The village boasts many amenities including convenience store and Post Office, The Seven Stars Public House, Hartley Farm shop and café and Winsley Health Centre. There is also an Ofsted rated “Outstanding” primary school and a pre-school.

Little Orchard, Winsley • Detached property • 3 bedrooms • En suite facilities • Open plan living • Generous driveway, double garage and workshop • Private garden and paddock of approximately 0.42 acres

£895,000

Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath. Tel: 01225 333332

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Cobb Farr January.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 15:50 Page 1

Lavender Cottage, Bradford on Avon £325,000

An attractive 1 bedroom Grade II listed cottage, situated in a quiet location in the heart of the town. The property offers accommodation arranged over two levels plus a mezzanine gallery and a delightful well stocked garden with summerhouse.

•

1 bedroom Grade II listed period cottage in a quiet location

•

Delightful well stocked, sunny garden

• • • •

Galleried area

Wealth of period features Summerhouse

Studio with woodburner

01225 333332 | 01225 866111

Cobb Farr January.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 15:50 Page 2

Coneyhurst, Winsley Hill Guide price £895,000

A substantial 5 bedroom detached family home, positioned beautifully in a large 1/3rd acre plot with stunning views over the Limpley Stoke Valley and a fine south westerly aspect, located in a popular residential area on Bath’s sought after southern fringes.

• 5 bedrooms

• Office / Snug

• Open plan kitchen / dining room

• Sitting room / conservatory / garden room • Large 1/3rd acre plot

01225 333332 | 01225 866111

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Why buyers are choosing their heart over budget Peter Greatorex, managing director of The apartment Company

W

hen it comes to keeping within a strict budget and ‘thinking with your head’, it seems that we often throw the rulebook out the window when looking to buy a property. In the current property market, buyers are thinking with their hearts over their heads and are willing to pay over and above the asking price to secure the property of their dreams.

One of the many factors fuelling this trend is the lack of properties on the market and the abundance of buyers. Buying a property is a significant financial commitment, probably your biggest, so it’s no wonder that buyers want to find a home that they love and this is understandably a process often fraught with emotion.

We would never encourage any buyer to spend over their budget.

A home is a financial commitment and you need to look at the long-term pressure of paying your mortgage. It is essential that you seek advice from a mortgage provider before you commit to purchasing a property so that you know your figures and maximum budget.

So why are buyers wishing to spend more at the moment? The most common reason is that they simply fell in love with a property.

We are certainly seeing that buyers in Bath are looking at buying a property for the long-term future, whereas in the past they may have been thinking of just the next step on the ladder. This focus on the longer term means that buyers are seeking an apartment that will provide them with what they need for many years to come, for example, the space they’ll need when they start a family. It’s therefore essential that your apartment appeals to buyers’ hearts and is beautifully presented.

We are lucky that our properties in Bath are full of period features, with spacious rooms and attractive locations. The key features that buyers are seeking are fireplaces, a space to work, nice neighbours, beautiful décor and original features. Buyers don’t just want to know about your property but also about your neighbours and what is happening in your local community.

We operate differently when it comes to valuing a property for sale. An asking price is not an exact figure, which is why we offer our vendors a price range strategy. This strategy alone is not effective without the work of our experienced negotiators, so it’s important that we build a relationship with each vendor to understand their situation and needs moving forward. With this knowledge, we are able to negotiate the best possible price for them and their property.

If you are looking to achieve the best possible purchase price for your apartment, it’s essential that you present every area of your home beautifully, not forgetting your outside or communal spaces.

For advice and guidance on selling your home, we’re always here to help.

The Apartment Company 01225 471144 | www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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winkworth.co.uk/bath for every step...

SALES LD

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For Sales or Letting Properties contact us on 01225 829000 bath@winkworth.co.uk WINKWORTH BATH bath@winkworth.co.uk 13 Argyle Street, Bath, Somerset BA2 4BQ Follow us on

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LD

£355,000 Green Park

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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