The Bath Magazine February 2019 by MC Publishing Limited

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ISSUE 197 | FEBRUARY 2019

£3.95 where sold

thebathmag.co.uk

Bath voices: RECYCLE AND PROTECT: VAL HUNT’S ART ANIMALS OPINION: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS EUROPE: WHAT’S THE WAY FORWARD?

PLUS: SHARMANKA – KINETIC SCULPTURES AT VICTORIA ART GALLERY THEATRE – BLACK HISTORY IN A BLUE DOOR THE WEDDING GAME IN 18TH - CENTURY BATH T H E C I T Y ’ S B I G G E S T M O NTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE AND LIVING IN BATH

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Contents February 2019 5 THINGS

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Essential events to look forward to this month

BATH AT WORK

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Neill Menneer’s photographic portrait of actor Adrian Hamilton, who you may recognise from around the Roman Baths

RUN AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 THE FOOD OF LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

The mechanical theatre Sharmanka Travelling Circus arrives at Victoria Art Gallery

WHAT’S ON

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CUPID’S PLAYGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Our guide to the top events happening around the city

BEHIND THE BLUE DOOR

Melissa Blease on adding a natural aphrodisiac to your dinner this Valentine’s Day

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Catherine Pitt on how 18th-century Bath was a hothouse for flirting, gossip and scandal

Emma Clegg talks to actor Ray Fearon about the UK premiere at Ustinov Studio of a play based around the 1995 Million Man March

SEASCAPE ESCAPE

A UNION OF FRIENDS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Emma Clegg embarks on some mother-son bonding at the seaside town of St Ives

Professor Jeremy Clegg gives his perspective on the future of the European project

FEEL-GOOD FEBRUARY

RECLAIM, REUSE, RECYCLE

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Melissa Blease talks to artist Val Hunt, whose exhibition at Victoria Art Gallery profiles sculptures made of recycled items

CITY ART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 The latest art exhibitions from around the city

READING CORNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Books that help us achieve a more environmentally friendly lifestyle ...............................................

Green activist Jay Risbridger on how businesses must reduce their impact on the world around them

Even more great content and updates online: thebathmag.co.uk

CARING COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 A look at the project spearheaded by Dorothy House Hospice Care to create a luxury skin and wellbeing brand with a difference

WALK THE WALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Andrew Swift discovers the less explored areas of Lansdown

HOT PROPERTY

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Crystal Rose on the latest in the fitness, health and beauty sector

COVER FEATURE

A SUSTAINABLE MODEL

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February 2019

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The finest homes to buy or rent

ON THE COVER

Seahorse by artist Val Hunt made from recycled drinks cans. Her exhibition Endangered and Extinct is at Victoria Art Gallery from 23 February – 7 May

Robin Mitchell/Wellcome Imagest/Wiki Commons

T I F TO 1 5 % O F F F U L LY

RPETS* A C D TE

* Receive up to 15% off the price of your carpet when fully installed by our team of trained fitters. Offer ends 9th February 2019. Avonvale FEB FP .indd 1

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THE GLORY OF GALANTHUS

Absorb the earth vibe this issue and read all about snowdrops, or milk flowers, with gardener Jane Moore on page 94

EDITOR’S PICKS A PHENOMENAL RETURN The Gainsborough Bath Spa has a new programme of Phenomenal Women events in 2019, starting with local journalist, author and broadcaster Bel Mooney on 27 February. Each of the talks will be delivered by a high profile businesswoman who has excelled in her field and achieved widespread recognition. 6pm, tickets £15; thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

from the

EDITOR Editor photograph by Matthew Sterling

he seahorse by Val Hunt on our cover is green, in both colour and its ecological tone. We chose it because we’ve embraced both types of green within our pages this issue – even though it’s quite cold, dark and generally ‘un-green’ outside. Environmental activist Jay Risbridger, who has been running a green stationery business in Bath for 30 years, gives us his perspective on how businesses deal with environmental issues from page 48, acknowledging how many of them now understand the importance of working sustainably, but pointing out how commercial activity is still dramatically at odds with the need to achieve true environmental balance in business, and in everything we do. The Extinct and Endangered exhibition at Victoria Art Gallery also has the environment at its heart. Val Hunt’s sculptures are of endangered animals and they’re made from found and recycled objects such as tin cans and bottle tops, discovers Melissa Blease on page 38. The Sharmanka Travelling Circus, also at Victoria Art Gallery, has the same recycled creative ethic, but this time it has its roots in the Russian underground arts scene, and is fully animated with characters, sound, music and lights (see page 20). BRLSI has invited Professor Jeremy Clegg of the University of Leeds to share his thoughts about the future of the European Union on 12 February. It’s a political debate of national and international moment, but the ripples clearly resonate at a local level and the issues affect us all – Jeremy gives us a preview of his lecture on page 36. The production of Blue Door at the Ustinov Studio veers off the wholesome green angle slightly (although green is made with blue). It’s set at the time of the 1995 Million Man March in Washington and explores issues of personal and cultural identity – ex-Corrie star and RSC stalwart Ray Fearon talked to me about his role (see page 32). Valentine’s is upon us (we’ve now got pink as well, herumph). We have some gift ideas on page 18, Melissa Blease has been busy assembling ingredients with aphrodisiac appeal on page 54, and on page 60 Catherine Pitt takes us back to how matches were made in Bath in the 18th century. Sticking with pink to conclude – although while he wouldn’t have been able to spell the word, Winnie the Pooh’s life in the 100-Acre Wood was 100% sustainable – I’ll end with this extract from The House at Pooh Corner: How do you spell ‘love’?” – Piglet “You don’t spell it...you feel it.” – Pooh Emma Clegg Editor

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

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EXPLORER HUB

Calling those aged 13–16! Come and join the Explorer Hub – an outdoor play initiative for young people, run by Swainswick Explorers on the outskirts of Bath. Sessions take place on the first Saturday of each month from 11am to 3pm, run by 18 year-old trained leader, Joe KeppieBray. There will be a main focus to each session, such as building a shelter, developing green woodworking skills, or foraging for ingredients to make a soup. The next session will be on 2 March, 11am to 3pm, from Upper Swainswick House, Tadwick Lane, Bath; swainswickexplorers.co.uk

FEBRUARY HELLEBORES

Hellebores originated in Eastern Europe and Asia and were brought to the UK in the 1960s. A clumpforming perennial, they like dappled shade and grow well in moist, welldrained soil. Longblooming they thrive in February and even in the frost of winter, they revive with the first warming rays of the sun.

ILLUSTRATION BY MAUREEN SEED The Bath Society of Botanical Artists; bsba.co.uk

Earth is a fine place ❝ The and worth fighting for ❞

ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899–1961)

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ZEITGEIST

things to do in

February

Watch

Eternal Triangle Of Love Sharmanka Travelling Circus

Observe There’s something a little bit diﬀerent going down at Victoria Art Gallery this month… Sharmanka, from the Russian word for barrel organ, is a performing mechanical theatre that will delight young and old alike. Sound and movement combine with striking images to make for a humorous and at times slightly macabre experience at the Sharmanka Travelling Circus. Performances take place every hour and last 20 minutes. Open from 23 February – 7 May. £5/free for under 16s and Discovery Card holders. Read more about this from page 20; victoriagal.org.uk

February 2019

Swoon

Listen to the smooth sounds of Miss Rosie

With a sound and style that conjure the golden age of jazz, Miss Rosie and the Moonshyne Runners pay homage to the divas who packed Carnegie Hall, Mister Kelly’s and the Village Gate, celebrating the Great American Songbook immortalised by Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, and Anita O’Day. Now they are heading to Chapel Arts Centre on 23 February, doors open 7.30pm, ready to bring some cool jazz and blues to Bath. The café will be open beforehand, last orders 6.30pm. £14/£16; chapelarts.org

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Cited as ‘the Alan Bennett of pop memoirists’ by Caitlin Moran, acclaimed author and much loved singer-songwriter Tracey Thorn is coming to Christ Church, Julian Road, Bath on 27 February, 7.30pm, to discuss her latest book, Another Planet: A Teenager in Suburbia. Written with her trademark humour and honesty, her new book captures the energy, boredom and despair of being a teenager in the 1970s. Prompted by her original diaries, it charts her return to Brockwell Park and her reflections on her own youth. Tickets from £7; toppingbooks.co.uk n

Tracey Thorn by Edward Bishop

Treat yourself to a lunch to remember at The Bath Priory this month with an exclusive deal just for The Bath Magazine readers. Sit in front of the five star hotel’s elegant fireplace and enjoy a complimentary aperitif before tucking into an exquisite three-course lunch by executive chef Michael Nizzero, all for £35 per person between Mondays and Saturdays, and £39 on Sundays. The deal runs until 30 March. To book, call the hotel on 01225 331922 and quote ‘The Bath Magazine lunch oﬀer’; thebathpriory.co.uk

World-famous author Sir Hugo Latymer is growing old, rude and haughty. In a lakeside hotel, attended to by his long-suffering wife, he awaits the arrival of an old flame, actress Carlotta Gray, with whom he enjoyed a two-year love affair more than 40 years ago. What can she possibly want now, he wonders? Revenge? Money? But it turns out Carlotta is writing her own memoir, and wants something much more significant than cash… Exploring themes of secrets and missed opportunities, acclaimed actors Simon Callow and Jane Asher take to the stage in this production of Noël Coward’s A Song at Twilight, on at Theatre Royal Bath from 13–23 February. Tickets from £23.50; theatreroyal.org.uk

Listen

Dine out

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Simon Callow and Jane Asher in Noël Coward’s A Song at Twilight

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Join us on Tuesday 19th February 2019 Starts at 8pm

Free Traditional Chinese BuďŹ&#x20AC;et Live Chinese Entertainment Lion Dance and Prize Draw

Century Casino Bath

Visit us for three floors of fabulous entertainment Cocktail lounge with terrace overlooking the Theatre Royal. Private room also available Our Beau Nash Suite is available for private parties and functions. For all enquiries please contact: bathevents@cnty.com Saw Close Bath, BA1 1EY 01225 308 990 18+ BeGambleAware.org - DrinkAware.co.uk

Know your limits! For more information go to:

www.cnty.com/bath

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The city

ist

My BATH

THE BUZZ THE BUZZ DOUBLE HERITAGE BID Bath has made a bid for a double-listing as a World Heritage Site, ranking it alongside cities like Barcelona and Bruges. The city is joining 10 other European spa towns – including Spa in Belgium, Vichy in France and Baden Baden in Germany – in seeking UNESCO recognition for their role as leading historic spa towns that changed the culture of Europe. The group, which all developed as open-air resorts, provide beautiful surroundings and a thermal water cure for visitors. If the bid, put forward by the International Great Spas of Europe project, is successful, Bath would be the only double-nominated World Heritage Site in the UK; bathnes.gov.uk

THE DAM WALK A week-long sponsored ‘Palladian way’ walk will be undertaken in March by Prior Park Landscape Garden’s general manager Tom Boden, and head gardener Alice Norland. This hands-on approach by National Trust staff is to help raise the final £100,000 needed to restore the garden’s 18th-century dams. If you would like to sponsor their walk to support the project, donate at justgiving.com/fundraising/prior-parkpalladian-walk

The Great British Bake Off semifinalist Briony May will swap her apron for a running vest as she takes on the Bath Half Marathon. The Bristolian Bake Off star will take on the challenge on 17 March to raise money for Jessie May, whose nurses provide at-home support to families caring for a terminally ill child in Bath and North East Somerset and the surrounding area. Briony hopes to raise £5,000 for the charity; fundraising@jessiemay.org.uk

FeBruary 2019

Simon Lynn is head of animal operations at Bath Cats and Dogs Home. He lives in Freshford and, having lived in London for 20 years, he still appreciates the tranquility

-I’ve recently moved to Freshford, on the outskirts of Bath. It’s a beautiful village and I love my daily walk through the fields to work.

and exercise. It can also cost a great deal of money – animals are often brought to us because their owners cannot afford the bills.

I grew up near Burford in West Oxfordshire. My dad was a zoo keeper at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, so I have fond memories of helping feed the penguins at a young age.

We don’t always know the full story when a neglected animal is brought in to our care, so we try not to jump to conclusions. As well as helping animals, our role is to promote responsible pet ownership, so we’ll often work with owners to help them avoid making similar mistakes in the future.

I’ve been around animals for most of my life and have been lucky enough to work with all sorts, from rhinos and giraffes to cats and dogs. Since moving to Bath, I’ve enjoyed going to games at the Recreation Ground, which has a fantastic atmosphere. Bath City Farm is also a lot of fun and a great way for children (and adults) to learn about animals. I work quite a few weekends, but when I can I love to go to the theatre or watch live music. I’ve also been trying my hand at home brewing, with some very mixed results so far! There are loads of great vegan-friendly cafés and restaurants in Bath – the Green Rocket and Chapel Arts Centre Cafés are two favourites. My local pub, the Freshford Inn, is also really good. My moral in life would be to treat all animals with compassion and kindness, even the scary ones.

MARATHON FOR MAY

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Right: Simon Lynn with Tulip Below: Skye (left) and Lola (right) are both looking for forever homes

Cats and dogs are great company and many people find them much less complicated than humans. Animals generally live in the moment and are enthusiastic about even the simplest of things. A ball or a bowl of food is often all it takes to make them run round the house or purr with joy – we can learn a lot from them! The things we see at the home are difficult at times, but in cases where an animal has been mistreated, it helps to know that by being with us they are going to get the best care possible. We see so many young pure-bred animals abandoned because their owners didn’t take the time to do their research. Owning a pet is a big responsibility, with time needed for training

issue 197

The Bath Cats and Dogs home is busy most of the time, but the summer months are particularly hectic in our catteries, with unwanted litters of kittens arriving. We also see a big rise in stray dogs each autumn. Our team of 35 includes animal carers, our rehoming team, behaviourists and intake coordinators. We also have lots of dedicated volunteers who help us look after the many animals that come through our doors each year. Bath Cats and Dogs Home is funded through charitable donations. Gifts from individuals, businesses and trusts and foundations mean we can continue our vital rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming work, saving more than 1,200 unwanted and often neglected animals each year. We are so grateful that gifts in wills on average cover half our costs each year. We’d like to give huge thanks to everyone that supports us. One of the highlights of my role is seeing a neglected and sometimes terrified animal slowly recover to the point where they are eventually rehomed. Sometimes their owners bring them in to visit us months later and it is fantastic to see them healthy and enjoying life again. In 2018 we demolished our old intake kennels, which were in poor condition. We’re currently building a state-of-the-art kennel block, due for completion in March, which will house stray dogs and puppies on arrival. It will help us significantly improve the level of care we’re able to give the dogs that need it most. Bath Cats and Dogs Home, Claverton Down, Bath; 01225 787354; bcdh.org.uk

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See more online thebathmag.co.uk

Steve Miklos steve@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Editor Tel: Email:

Emma Clegg 01225 424592 emma@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Email:

Jane Miklos jane@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Email:

Jeff Osborne production@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Health & Beauty Editor Email:

Crystal Rose crystal@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor Email:

Jessica Hope jessica@thebathmagazine.co.uk

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

Liz Grey liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales Email:

Jake Horwood jake@thebathmagazine.co.uk

The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd. The Bath Magazine is distributed free every month to more than 20,000 homes and businesses throughout Bath and the surrounding area. We also have special distribution units in the following city centre stores and coffee shops

2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499. Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmag.co.uk ÂŠ MC Publishing Ltd 2019 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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ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING RINGS HANDMADE BESPOKE JEWELLERY REPAIRS AND REMODELLING

9ct White and yellow Gold with coloured Diamond stacking rings, from Â£500

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Let’s have some fun DESIGNER COLLECTIONS HANDMADE BESPOKE JEWELLERY REPAIRS AND REMODELLING

A superb collection of pieces by British designers

9ct yellow Gold cabochon Ruby and Diamond ring £950

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Our roving reporter is keen to up Bath’s feel-good factor

he creative minds at Visit Bath have moved away from the old habit of promoting Bath in February for lovers – perhaps realising that most people have a jaded view of Valentine’s Day – to market the city instead as a feel-good destination, a place you’d come to in order to feel better, just as the Georgians did when they came to take the waters. But, trudging up Broad Street with its distinctive whiff of exhaust fumes, looking up at what Bill Bryson called a typical British sky – “it was like living inside Tupperware” he said of our grey, opaque cloud mass – are we really getting that feel-good vibe? There are things we could do to make the city more of a feel-good environment. Let’s start with the clean air zone. It has sprung from the very real and urgent need to clean up the city’s polluted traffic hotspots. This is a well-intentioned move, but there is a groundswell of public feeling that the streets could be cleaned up using the carrot method instead of the stick, ie not by charging users to enter the city in their high emission vehicles but instead rewarding them when they don’t. The city of Bologna in Italy has made some headway towards tackling its poor air quality by rewarding people to walk, cycle or take public transport instead of jumping in their cars. The Bella Mossa project, which translates as Good Job, allows people to download an app and every time they make a journey by foot, bike or public transport they are rewarded points. The points can then be exchanged for treats donated by more than 100 businesses in the city. It may need some fine tuning, but the reward principle is a good way to go. There has long been talk of re-introducing trams in Bath, which would be a great idea. I rode the streetcars of New Orleans recently, which were being used by locals and tourists. Trams are less polluting than buses, they’re easy to get on and off and they don’t have to sit in traffic as they have their own lane, so car owners would be encouraged to use them to avoid delays. Why not bring in a fleet of water taxis on the Avon, decked in distinctive livery, for users to hail Uber-style via their phones, allowing them to jump on board the nearest boat. We don’t make enough of the river, which could become a speedy highway, particularly if one could board a nippy craft at Batheaston or Newbridge, zoom along the river and be dropped off in the city centre within minutes. There is something about travelling by boat that lifts the spirits, so it would cheer people up, as well as giving them a fresh perspective on the city. Bristol has its harbour ferries, so there is no reason why Bath shouldn’t adopt a similar scheme, adding boarding decks along the riverbank. I guess there might be some Nimby protests, but there’s something delightfully whimsical about the idea of introducing a ski lift to run above the rooftops down from Bear Flat which would allow people to gracefully alight at SouthGate. Do you remember when Bristol had that crazy weekend when they put a waterslide down Park Street? Milsom Street was so great as a traffic and car-free zone during the Christmas Market, wouldn’t it be fun in the summer to install a waterslide? We could set it up during The Bath Festival in May and people could get gloriously soaked as they slid down to land in a giggling heap at the bottom of Milsom Street. I think the slope is up to the task, like any good toboggan slope. Maybe Bath could emulate the Cornish fishing village Polperro. Cars are discouraged in the village as the streets are very narrow. Instead everyone parks in a big car park outside the village and walks in. For those staying in holiday cottages and needing their luggage carried there’s a quad bike taxi service that delivers to your door. If you’re invited to jump in the back of the open trailer and crouch among the suitcases I can thoroughly recommend this as an exhilarating way to arrive, bouncing through the narrow streets, within inches of the cottages on either side, with the wind in your hair. It’s an effective way of keeping tourists’ cars off the streets too. n

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NO W

I G

7 Quiet Street Bath BA1 2JU T: 01225 330563 E: info@dressingroombath.com www.dressingroombath.com

I E

A C

R O O M

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GIFTED | IDEAS

THE TRUE

ROMANTIC GIFT GUIDE LITTLE GIFTS THAT SAY ‘I LOVE YOU’ FLAMING HEARTS Available from Alexandra May, the glamorous Flaming Hearts collection by Simon Harrison Jewellery is as daring as it is captivating. Enamel and crystal brooch, £175; Crystal drop earrings, £125. Alexandra May Jewellery, 23 Brock Street, Bath, BA1 2LW Tel: 01225 465094; alexandramay.com

WHOLE-HEARTED When romance is in the air, so many brilliant gift ideas can be found at jeweller Jody Cory’s two Bath showrooms. These hearts are from Jody Cory’s Whole Hearted collection. The small hearts are £155 and the large hearts are £215. Jody Cory Goldsmiths, 9 Abbey Churchyard, Bath, BA1 1LY Tel: 01225 460072 and 15 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR Tel: 01225 448823; jodycory.co.uk

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER Handmade in Bath, this dazzling diamond solitaire is set in 18ct rose gold. £3,495 The Gold & Platinum Studio, 19 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR Tel: 01225 462300; goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk

SATELLITES OF LOVE Designer jeweller and goldsmith Tina Engell’s super-stylish Sputnik rings are breathtakingly bedazzling. Silver set with Cubic Zirconia, £395. Tina Engell, 29 Belvedere, Bath, BA1 5HR Tel: 01225 443334; tinaengell.com

THE FINEST OF VALENTINE’S This romantic, swirling ruby and diamond dress ring is simply spellbinding. It features a central ruby framed by three complementary diamonds in a 18ct white and yellow gold design by Bath goldsmith Nicholas Wylde. £2,350. Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR. Tel: 01225 462826; nicholaswylde.com

CHOPARD’S HEARTS OF HAPPINESS This beautiful pair of brilliant diamond earrings by Chopard are set in 18ct white gold and are from their iconic Happy Hearts collection, £5,390 EP Mallory & Son Ltd, 1 – 5 Bridge Street, Bath, BA2 4AP. Tel: 01225 788800; mallory-jewellers.com COLOUR AND INTENSITY Find a wonderful range of handmade jewellery and sumptuous colours in Orton Jewellery’s spring collection. Shown here is the kaleidoscopic 18ct yellow gold set with pink, yellow, moss green and burned orange sapphires and white diamonds, £1,450. Orton Jewellery, 6/7 Market Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LH. Tel: 01225 309039; ortonjewellery.co.uk

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ROMANTIC PLEASURES Quadri is a wonderful place to visit for so many thoughtful and loving gift ideas. This charming gold-plated ruby quartz bracelet, £42; with matching stud earrings, £32, is very romantic. Quadri, 16 Milsom Place, Bath, BA1 1BZ. Tel: 01225 329212; quadri.co.uk

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CITY | FOOTBALL

Sharmanka Travelling Circus: a combination of pieces including Mannheimer, The Leg and Push and Pull

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Sharmanka Travelling Circus: Family Album

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THEATRE | ARTS

Let the hurdy gurdy play

The Sharmanka Travelling Circus is a performing mechanical theatre where haunting music and synchronised light combine with striking handmade sculptures. There is a darkness there, but the choreography is mesmerising as it tells its stories of the human spirit. See it for yourself at Victoria Art Gallery from 23 February to 7 May

Photography by Robin Mitchell

collected junk. The Barras Weekend Market in Glasgow’s east end is a great source of material, and mechanical and metal pieces are found through antique fairs and old markets. Sharmanka are so well-known in the region that people bring objects and materials to them, and having developed good local relationships, they are able to source wood from Glasgow’s parks and gardens.

❝

The technology behind Sharmanka is fairly complex – we are essentially running a small-scale theatre

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harmanka Travelling Circus was created in Russia, perfected in Scotland and has developed an enthusiastic audience in China. Despite its international reach, the concept was born from one underground artist’s particular vision. Russian for ‘barrel organ’, Sharmanka creates art forms combining sculpture, movement, light and theatre. So you won’t find static artworks in this exhibition at Victoria Art Gallery – be prepared to be entertained. Eduard Bersudsky, whose vision has driven the company’s work, was an underground artist in the former Soviet Union. Artists wanting to exhibit in Russia at the time had to be part of the official arts union, but the content of their work was heavily controlled. Eduard wasn’t interested in this – he just wanted to make his own work, and so avoided the official arts scene, exhibiting instead in underground exhibitions. Theatre director Tatyana Jakovskaya met Eduard in 1987 just before the Soviet Union collapsed and said to him that his work needed to be seen. Sergey Jakovsky, Tatyana’s son, who has since become a central part of the Sharmanka team, explains that Eduard didn’t believe her at the time. “She persuaded him to show his work to the public and that was the start of the story.” The artist’s vision behind the works is, quite literally, dreamlike. “It’s difficult to pin down Eduard’s inspiration,” says Sergey. “He doesn’t do self-assessment – his inspiration comes from his dreams, his nightmares and much depends on how well he sleeps. There are certain artists that have inspired him, though – the work of Hieronymus Bosch has certainly had a strong influence.” “There is Russian folklore there, too, and we have a collection of early machines, original pieces brought from Russia which are made from wood and include mechanical elements. Originally Eduard’s work embraced darker themes, and a little bit of politics. So when we left Russia and moved to Glasgow in 1993, the work changed, as it has continued to do over the decades. The more he lived in Scotland the kinder he got. Originally he thought he could only make art from dark stuff, but in the last decade or so there are more human figures, and more animals.” The pieces are all made from found and

The idea of adding light, sound and sequencing to Eduard’s artwork was Tatyana’s. “The technology behind Sharmanka is fairly complex – we are essentially running a small-scale theatre,” says Sergey. “In terms of quantity of equipment we have no less than any theatre around us, we are just on a smaller scale. The

complexity of what we do is probably more than that of the average British theatre.” The Victoria Art Gallery show will be hosting nine of Sharmanka’s smaller scale pieces and one larger piece, which will give a 20-minute performance every hour. The pieces will play alternately, so there will be constantly something happening in the gallery. So the audience will get a chance to see each of the machines doing their own thing in sequence, then there will be a finale where they interact with each other. Sergey describes the larger piece: “We were commissioned by an arts centre on the Isle of Stornaway to do a piece called The Loom, which is made from the parts of the old looms that were originally used on the island to make Harris tweed. It’s a beautiful piece of machinery, with cast iron pieces. So we bought one from one of the original weavers on the island, reimagined it, gave it light and sound and Eduard created animals for the inside to give the impression that they were driving the machine.” How does the process of designing the kinetic sculptures work? “Eduard creates the machine first,” says Sergey. “Once he is happy, we get his thoughts about the machine. Then we divide it into different sections so we can see the story rhythmically and then I go away and think about

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Sharmanka Travelling Circus: Eternal Triangle of Love

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The Boat featured in Sharmanka Travelling Circus

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St Petersberg before my mum met Eduard, so that’s where I grew up. This is all I have ever known. As I got older I took on more tasks, starting from floor sweeping right through until I became technical director. And because of Eduard’s physical limits nowadays I have been working more and more closely with him on creating the machines.” So there is no danger of Sharmanka fading away: “I am the future of Sharmanka,” says Sergey. This is a very interesting point in the family’s history. We talk about it openly always.”

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There is no pressure on me to continue, but I’m loving the idea of continuing because I see the effect it has on people

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appropriate music. I come back with a set of buttons linked to different parts of the machine and I show them the sequence that I think works. The music needs to match the machine rhythmically, and it either works or it doesn’t. We’ve done enough now to know when it’s right. The last stage is the visual presentation in the gallery space, adding light, shadows and programming the whole thing to work as the mechanical puppet theatre for which we have become known.” Sergey has developed technology that allows the whole show to happen at the press of a button – the computerised systems create a digital loop that drives music, lights sound and the machines. “Eduard is an artist but he’s not had the mechanical training, so he creates beautiful works but we have to reassemble them and maintain them in a way so they will last. These days they are much more reliable, and the museum will be able to manage them.” Eduard, who has been carving wood and working with his hands since the mid-1970s, celebrates his 80th birthday next year. “He is a very strong person mentally and physically, but he is slowing down,” says Sergey. Fortunately Sergey, who studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in Glasgow in the early noughties, has seen the development of every stage of the business. “I grew up backstage when my mum and my original dad had a small theatre back in

Sharmanka has worked on individual commissions from arts bodies, such as the Millennium Clock Tower in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh; Noah’s Ark in Parque de Las Ciencias, Granada, Spain; and Leonardo-2 at Kopernik in the Science Museum, Warsaw, Poland. Lately they have

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shown work in China: “Our latest experiment of touring and exhibiting extensively in China has been a great success. In all our time in Glasgow, we never had as many visitors as we had in six months in China. Everything is on a different scale there altogether. One of our most popular sculptures has recently been sold to Shanghai.” “It’s very difficult to describe Sharmanka in words,” says Sergey. “I think it has to be seen. The great thing is that in our experience people of different generations and cultures and ages find something that appeals to them. The unique thing about it is that it’s moving art, it’s animated art, it’s three-dimensional, it’s not static.” Looking ahead to the future Sergey says, “After 30 years of being with the Sharmanka family I am still not bored of it. There is no pressure for me to continue, but I’m loving the idea of continuing because I see the effect it has on people. If I’m ever a bit tired, all it takes is to remember the many positive audience comments we get. It appeals to all sorts of people of all ages and it’s such a multi-layered art. It is cross generational, cross cultural, art for all really. n

Sharmanka Travelling Circus is at Victoria Art Gallery, Bath from 23 February to 7 May. For further information about Sharmanka, visit sharmanka.com

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WHAT’S ON in February Jorgie Porter stars in Fame The Musical at Theatre Royal Bath

Ensemble 360 visits Wiltshire Music Centre

Ma Bessie and her Blues Troupe is coming to Chapel Arts Centre

NICK HARPER: 58 FORDWYCH ROAD n 1 February, doors 7.30pm, Widcombe Social Club, Bath Nick Harper is one the UK’s best-kept musical secrets. 58 Fordwych Road is an allnew show that centres around the small flat in Kilburn, London in the mid-1960s – where Nick grew up – and people like Davy Graham, John Renbourn, Paul Simon and Sandy Denny would pop by to jam and try out new tunes. £15; bathcomedy.com FAITH: THE GEORGE MICHAEL LEGACY n 2 February, 7.30pm, Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath A brand-new celebration remembering one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. This energetic, vibrant musical journey brings to life 35 years of hits from George Michael’s glittering career. £25; faithgeorgemichael.com ENSEMBLE 360 n 2 February, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford On Avon Ravishing chamber music by the German Romantic masters performed by British chamber music group Ensemble 360. The programme features Brahms’ contemplative Horn Trio and Mendelssohn’s second Piano Trio. £18, free for under 25s; wiltshiremusic.org.uk WINDSOR: THE GREATEST CASTLE IN THE WORLD n 4 February, 1.30pm, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath Lecturer Jonathan Foyle, the author of the new guidebook to Windsor Castle, discusses how the fortress was built and by whom, guiding us through its history and extraordinary events. £10 on the door; theartssocietybath.com FAME THE MUSICAL n 4–9 February, times vary, Theatre Royal Bath The 30th anniversary tour of Fame The 24 TheBATHMagazine

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Musical features Keith Jack (Any Dream Will Do, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), Mica Paris (Love Me Tender, Chicago, Mama I Want To Sing), and Jorgie Porter (Hollyoaks, Dancing on Ice). Based on the phenomenal 1980 film, Fame The Musical is the international smash hit sensation following the lives of students at New York’s High School for the Performing Arts, as they navigate their way through the highs and lows, the romances and the heartbreaks, and the ultimate love of life. Tickets from £23.50; theatreroyal.org.uk CONFLICT IN THE PACIFIC: THE AFTERMATH n 7 February, 10am–12pm, Bath Pavilion, North Parade, Bath Hosted by U3A in Bath, this talk illustrates the aftermath of the fiercest confict ever fought in the Pacific theatre, between the might of the US military and Japan’s seemingly undefeatable imperial forces. Free for members, £2 donation for nonmembers; u3ainbath.org.uk THE DIGITAL APE n 7 February, 5.15pm, The Arts Lecture Theatre, The Edge, University of Bath A public lecture from Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt. The original ape in us still selects a mate, searches for food, chatters, steals, wages war, and creates great art but now using the products of digital technology. Is the digital ape on the verge of a new Age of Enlightenment? Or will our magical machines evolve so quickly that they outwit us? Free; bath.ac.uk/ipr FEEL-GOOD CABARET n 7 February, doors 7.30pm, Widcombe Social Club, Bath An evening of comedy, music and magic guaranteed to make you feel good in February, starring Dr Phil Hammond (NHS Doctor, BBC broadcaster, Private Eye journalist and whistle-blowing comic) and cardio-vascular compere Dickie Hart. £15/£12; bathcomedy.com

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CULTURAL FILM SCREENINGS n Throughout February, The Little Theatre Cinema, Bath Catch a preview of A Private War and enjoy a satellite Q&A with the cast including Rosamund Pike, Matthew Heineman and Jamie Dornan live from Odeon Leicester Square on 4 February. There’s also screenings of Met Opera’s Carmen, Royal Opera House’s Don Quixote, and fan-favourite showings of Breakfast At Tiffany’s and Dirty Dancing, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. With Oscar season upon us, you can expect plenty of interesting film releases, including Golden Globe-winning Green Book, and Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy and Oscar nominated Richard E. Grant. See the full programme online; picturehouses.com/cinema/The_Little

JOYOUS LANTERNS n 8 February, 6.15pm, The Museum of East Asian Art, Bennett Street, Bath Celebrate the Year of the Pig and the arrival of spring with this colourful lantern origami workshop. Wine and Chinese snacks served. £10/£8; meaa.org.uk MA BESSIE AND HER BLUES TROUPE n 8 February, 8pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath Ma Bessie (Julia Titus) and her Blues Troupe perform to a narrated show about Bessie Smith, showcasing many of her songs, while chronicling her life from a one-room shack in Blue Goose Hollow, to becoming the highestpaid black entertainer of that time. £16/£18; chapelarts.org IN OTHER WORDS n 8–9 February, 7.30pm, The Mission Theatre, Corn Street, Bath Following a sell-out London run, theatre company Off the Middle brings this play to

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Bath as part of its regional tour. Connected by the music of Frank Sinatra, this intimate, humorous and deeply moving love story explores the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and the transformative power of music in our lives. £13.52–£22.15; missiontheatre.co.uk CHINESE INK PAINTING: FUNDRAISING FOR A NEW BEGINNING n 9 February, 10.30am–4pm, The Museum of East Asian Art, Bennett Street, Bath Led by UK-based Chinese artist Su Peng, learn how to paint the most depicted subjects in Chinese painting and take home your own artwork. No previous experience required, all materials included. This will help raise funds to redevelop The Museum of East Asian Art’s first floor galleries following a burglary last year. £40/£35; meaa.org.uk THE BIG-HEARTED VALENTINE’S BALL n 9 February, 6.30pm, Apex City of Bath Hotel, James Street West, Bath A charity black-tie dinner and ball to raise funds for a fibre-optic laryngoscope to be used for treating heart patients at the NHS Bristol Heart Institute. Includes close-up magic from Peter Baffles, live music and the host is comedian Tank Sherman. £75, includes drinks reception and three-course dinner. Main sponsors Bugler Coaches, tel: 01225 44422; bigheartedvalentinesball.co.uk DEREK PARAVICINI QUARTET n 9 February, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon WMC’s new artist in residence lines up with his quartet for a night of sensational jazz. The Derek Paravicini Quartet are musical chameleons who present breath-taking new arrangements of classic songs and jazz standards, with a repertoire from ragtime to Radiohead, Irving Berlin to the Beatles, and Cole Porter to Coldplay. £18/£9; wiltshiremusic.org.uk THE HANDFUL: FAURÉ REQUIEM n 9 February, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Bathwick This is the newly named choir’s second concert with music director Tomos Watkins. It couples the ever-popular Fauré Requiem with Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, featuring acclaimed baritone soloist Robert Rice. Bath Abbey organist emeritus Peter King joins The Handful for the Fauré and for Jonathan Dove’s Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars. £15/£5, tickets from Bath Box Office; bathboxoffice.org.uk BRIAN MAY n 11 February, doors 7.30pm, Christ Church, Julian Road, Bath Brian May returns with the London Stereoscopic Company to present his diverse stereoscopic ventures that focus on the Apollo program, revealing the compelling story about the race to the moon. £70, includes book; toppingbooks.co.uk JOSH EGGLETON X ROOT AT THE HOLBURNE n 14 and 15 February, 7–10pm, The Holburne Museum The Holburne will be hosting top chefs Josh Eggleton from The Pony & Trap and Rob Howell of ROOT, Bristol, for a special fourcourse menu within the beautiful setting of the Garden Café. View the new George Shaw exhibition before sitting down to a delicious dinner. £55, includes four courses, half bottle wine and free entry to the exhibition; holburne.org RICHARD III: RESOLVING A 500-YEAR OLD COLD CASE n 15 February, reception from 5pm, lecture at 6.15pm, BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath Prof Turi King from the University of Leicester talks about the Grey Friars project and the remarkable analysis of the remains of King Richard III. Free, to register email: J.K.Calland@bath.ac.uk CORDELIA WILLIAMS n 15 February, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon Former BBC Young Musician winner and acclaimed international Continued page 26

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pianist Cordelia Williams explores the soundworlds of Eastern Europe with a programme featuring Chopin, Leoš Janáček, Schubert and Arvo Pärt. £18/£9; wiltshiremusic.org.uk

Jamie Smith’s MABON at Wiltshire Music Centre

ROYAL WOMEN: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE EXHIBITION n 21 February, 6.15pm, Fashion Museum Join Fashion Museum curator Elly Summers for an exclusive insight into the exquisite pieces selected for display in the Royal Women exhibition. £10/£8. Tickets from Bath Box Office; bathboxoffice.org.uk AUTOMATION AND THE FUTURE OF WORK n 21 February, 7.30pm, BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath AI and automation practitioner Charles Radclyffe will share the truth about how technology will impact the workplace and wider society. £5/£2; brlsi.org BARBARA DICKSON IN CONCERT n 21 February, 7.30pm, Bath Forum Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice helped propel Barbara Dickson to fame with hits such as I Know Him So Well. She has gone on to gain six platinum, 11 gold and seven silver records, as well as winning two Olivier awards. Barbara will perform a range of material drawing on her folk roots as well as performing globally known hits such as The Caravan Song, plus lots more. £30/£25; bathforum.co.uk BATH OPERA: LA SONNAMBULA (THE SLEEPWALKER) n 21–23 February, 7.30pm, Roper Theatre, Hayesfield School, Bath Vincenzo Bellini’s opera is a feast of beautiful melodies, vocal fireworks and enjoys a hilarious plot. The story revolves around a love triangle in which one of the lovers blots her copybook by being found in the wrong man’s bed. Only when it is discovered that she is a sleepwalker is her innocence eventually proved. £20/£27; bathopera.com ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: HARRIET DAHAN-BOUCHARD n 23 February, 11.30am–4pm, Victoria Art Gallery Meet classically trained portrait artist Harriet Dahan-Bouchard as she draws from a model among the gallery’s beautiful collections. Free, just bring a sketch pad; victoriagal.org.uk JAMIE SMITH’S MABON n 23 February, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon One of the most accomplished and critically acclaimed Celtic roots music bands based in Britain today, Jamie Smith’s MABON presents an irresistible blend of world music and Celtic roots, filled with energy and joy. £16/£8; wiltshiremusic.org.uk

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Peter Knight, legendary violinist and exmember of folk-rock band Steeleye Span has paired up with leading melodeon player and ex-Bellowhead member John Spiers for a special folk performance. £15/£16; chapelarts.org JAZZ IN THE GALLERIES: THE JIM BLOMFIELD TRIO n 28 February, 7pm, The Holburne Museum Join The Jim Blomfield Trio for their debut jazz gig at the Holburne. Like many of the newer generation of jazz players, the trio draw their influences from various genres – the eclectic colours of rock, drum and bass, Latin jazz and classical piano. Expect lyrical and evocative melodies, driving rhythms, rich harmonies, and adventurous solo and group improvisations. £15; holburne.org

ROUGH CROSSING n 25 February – 2 March, times vary, Theatre Royal Bath All aboard for the long-awaited return of Tom Stoppard’s Rough Crossing. Two famous but desperate playwrights are stuck on an ocean liner heading for New York, feverishly trying to rehearse their latest show before reaching land, and the opening night. But they are distracted by their delicate composer’s attempts to end it all, having overheard his lover confess her feelings to the leading man. Starring John Partridge and Olivier Award-nominee Charlie Stemp. Tickets from £20.50; theatreroyal.org.uk TESSA HADLEY n 26 February, doors 7.30pm, Topping & Company Booksellers, The Paragon, Bath Tessa Hadley has long been one of the most respected and celebrated voices in British literary fiction. Late in the Day explores the tangled webs at the centre of our most intimate relationships, exploring how beneath the dependable arrangements we make lie infinite alternate configurations. £16.99 includes book, early bird £7; toppingbooks.co.uk LEON MCCAWLEY AND BATH PHILHARMONIA n 27 February, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon Leon McCawley, one of Britain’s foremost pianists, joins Bath Philharmonia in a performance of Mozart’s fresh and playful Piano Concerto No. 22, perfectly complementing a programme of folk-inspired orchestral music. Janacek’s On an Overgrown Path, a collection of heartfelt miniatures and Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony captures the beauty of Moravia and Bohemia in a journey home from the new world. £28/£10; wiltshiremusic.org.uk PETER KNIGHT AND JOHN SPIERS n 27 February, 8pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath

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BATH’S BEST BAKER: RICHARD BERTINET n 28 February, doors 7.30pm, Topping & Company Booksellers, The Paragon, Bath There is no better man to show the dough who’s boss than chef and baker Richard Bertinet. Crumb: show the dough who’s boss is his inspiring new book with his straightforward approach to making classic bread to sourdough with different flours and ferments. Tickets £25 includes book, £10 early bird; toppingbooks.co.uk PLANNING AHEAD... BEGINNERS’ PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP – GETTING STARTED n 2 March, 9.30am–4.30pm, The Makery, Union Passage, Bath If you’re new to photography or want a bit of a refresher course, this beginners’ photography workshop will help you improve your composition, discover how to perfect your exposures and understand how to use light. There will be a mix of classroom theory sessions and practical shooting on location with tutors Sam Gregory and Benedict Brain. £195. Book a place online; lightandland.co.uk ELVIS VS JERRY LEE LEWIS n 2 March, 8pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath Who was the real king of rock ‘n’ roll? Elvis the Pelvis? Or The Killer – Jerry Lee Lewis? This is your chance to decide as the two come head to head, performing their energetic tunes to an audience who gets to choose the winner. £16/£18; chapelarts.org IN CONVERSATION: GEORGE SHAW AND MARK HALLETT n 7 March, 7pm, The Holburne Museum Join Turner prize nominee, and one of Britain’s leading contemporary artists, listen to George Shaw in conversation with Professor Mark Hallett (director, Paul Mellon Centre, and exhibition curator) as they discuss his latest show at the Holburne. £10, includes access to the exhibition and the Garden Café; holburne.org n

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CINEMA | HIGHLIGHTS

Take two: films

Let’s transport ourselves back to the early 1960s – that’s the only common frame in two films on show at The Little Theatre Cinema in February, veering from iconic Hollywood glamour to racism in the American Deep South, says Melissa Blease

Green Book Set in the American Deep South in the 1960s, Peter (There’s Something About Mary; Dumb and Dumber) Farrelly’s 2018 film Green Book follows African-American classical and jazz pianist Don Shirley and his driver and bodyguard Tony Vallelonga on an eight-week concert tour. The screenplay – written by Farrelly, Brian Currie and Vallelonga’s son Nick – was based on real-life interviews and letters with and from Tony Vallelonga, and the film takes its name from The Negro Motorist Green Book, a mid-20th-century American guidebook for AfricanAmerican travellers in search of motels and restaurants that would accept them. But despite being the recipient of multiple award nominations including Golden Globes and Oscars – and being recognised as one of the top 10 films of 2018 by the American Film Institute – Green Book is probably best known for the controversies that dominated the film’s release and continue to provoke debate. Talking to America media outlet NPR last month, Don Shirley’s niece Carol Shirley Kimble said, “it’s once again a depiction of a white man’s version of a black man’s life,” while both Shirley’s brother Maurice and his nephew Edwin claim that the film manipulated the truth about the friendship between Don and Tony in order to create a sweeter narrative out of a very bitter truth. “You asked what kind of relationship Don had with Tony? He fired Tony!” said Maurice. Guardian film critic Steve Rose sits on the fence in his review:

“Green Book does not sanitise history, but nor does it have much to offer the present. It’s possible to do better.” Benjamin Lee, Rose’s colleague on the same newspaper, takes a different stance again: “Yes, this is entertainment pitched at a wide audience and constructed in the most easily digestible way possible. But it still serves a significant purpose to remind white audiences of the difficulties faced by those of colour.” What do you think? Join the debate.

fail to understand, control or capture her. Nowhere near as annoying as Sally Bowles, far less tragic than either Thelma or Louise, and way more authentically womanlike than Chérie (it’s worth mentioning at this juncture that Marilyn Monroe was both Capote and screenwriter George Alexrod’s first choice for the role of Holly), Ms Golightly is, ultimately, 100% Audrey. Some 57 years on from from the Breakfast at Tiffany’s premiere, she does not tread softly into our consciousness – instead, she kicks girl-power ass. n

Breakfast at Tiffany’s Holly Golightly: she’s the eccentric, witty, super-stylish, super-bright and, erm, fabulously flaky social climber who steals Paul (‘Fred’) Varjak’s heart in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the 1961 American rom-com directed by George Alexrod, loosely based on Truman Capote’s 1958 novella of the same name. But is it really Holly we adore so much – or is it actually Audrey Hepburn, in what’s undoubtedly her most iconic, memorable role? Having won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for her role as Ann in Roman Holiday (1953), Hepburn’s superstar status was already confirmed by the time she ‘became’ Holly – but it was Breakfast at Tiffany’s that rocketed her to the top of the Style Goddess charts: that little black dress, that hair, that sass! Even in these fastmoving, Instagram-led days, Hepburn/Holly proves that style never goes out of fashion. But as effortless as she may have made both her success and her enduringly popular image look, we later discovered that Holly was the role that Hepburn claimed to be the most challenging of her whole career; as she told a New York Times journalist ten years after she made the film, “it may have been 28 TheBATHMagazine

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SHOWING TIMES Green Book from Friday 1 February

the jazziest role of my career, but I’m an introvert. Playing the extroverted girl was the hardest thing I ever did.” The effort paid off, though. Hepburn sparkles, sizzles and ignites on-screen fireworks as she shocks, rocks and generally runs rings around the hearts, minds and worlds of the men who try but ultimately

Breakfast at Tiffany’s Sunday 10 February, 2.45pm Full film time details will be available on the Monday before each film’s release Little Theatre Cinema, St Michael’s Place; picturehouses.com/cinema/The_Little

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PIROUETTING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU Special event cinema distributor CinEvents has teamed up with Northern Ballet to bring children’s ballet productions to the local big screens

orthern Ballet’s Bite Sized Ballets are dancing their way to a cinema near you soon with a season of colourful and engaging productions aimed at pre-school and primary children. See much-loved fairy tales brought to life by Northern Ballet’s amazing dancers who will be gracefully acting out Tortoise and the Hare, Elves and the Shoe Maker and Three Little Pigs to playful music in these highly entertaining productions. BBC presenter Anita Rani will be narrating each of the ballets to introduce the much-loved stories and show your little ones some of the moves with help from the loveable characters to ensure the whole family are dancing in their seats. These children’s ballets have been updated and adapted for cinema following their TV debuts which previously amassed over one million viewers. This first venture into cinema will enable more families than ever before to access Northern Ballet’s productions and provide an engaging introduction to the arts, ballet and cinema. Bite Sized Ballets will be hosted as a season of big screen events starting with Tortoise and the Hare from 26 January 26, Elves and the Shoemaker from 23 February and Three Little Pigs to follow from 23 March. To find out more and to book tickets, visit: bitesizedballets.com. With a limited run, book your tickets now showing at cinemas Vue Longwell Green, Vue Bristol Cribbs, Cineworld Bristol, Curzon Clevedon, Little Theatre Bath, Odeon Bath, Pound Arts Corsham, Wotton Electric Picture House. Northern Ballet began creating short ballets specifically curated for young children in 2013 and has since added to its repertoire which now includes six ballets based on well-known children’s fairy tales. These ballets provide a first experience of live theatre, dance and music for young families and have been seen live by a combined audience of more than 212,000 people. n

Some February talks 5 Feb Why Mind is Not the Brain 6 Feb The Story of Silk

11 Feb The Signiﬁcance of Landscape in the Evolution of the City State of Singapore* 12 Feb The Future of the European Project 19 Feb Corruption: Vigilance and Transparency

A free exhibition celebrating women whose interesting and inspiring lives link to our historic city

27 Feb Richard Williams of Williams Automobiles Ltd

Tickets on door from 7pm

* Tickets for this event only from Bath Box

Oﬃce 01225 463362

For details on further events, exhibitions, membership and more, please visit:

5 January-2 March Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm

www.brlsi.org

BRLSI 16 -18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN 01225 312084 www.brlsi.org reception@brlsi.org

Go online for more details: bitesizedballets.com THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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MAIN IMAGE AND OPPOSITE: Ray Fearon BELOW LEFT: Fehinti Balogun BELOW RIGHT: Fehinti and Ray in rehearsal

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THEATRE | INTERVIEW

Behind the blue door

Blue Door by Tanya Barfield was set at the time of a mass demonstration by African Americans in Washington. The play arrives in Bath in February, the first time it has been performed in the UK. Emma Clegg talks to lead actor Ray Fearon audience,” Rex accuses his brother. “You livin under a white gaze.” “These are the generations of his family that he plays,” explains Ray, “but there are also characters coming off the experiences that they have that he plays as well. I play a couple too, but it’s all within the storytelling. The three characters that Fehinto plays present the other characters as characters within their narrative.” “He does connect with his past at the end,” says Ray, “but at first he wants no connection at all.” Ray’s own heritage has strong links with Lewis’s role, as his own parents were from Jamaica.

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When you talk about race, it can become massive and general. But this play makes it specific to one family

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blue door is believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits in North Africa. A new production at the Ustinov Studio, Blue Door revolves around the metaphor. Having a blue door is how to “Keep the night terrors out. Keep ya soul-family in,” asserts one of the characters. There are just two actors in the play, Ray Fearon and Fehinto Balogun, but they play multiple roles. It’s 1995, the time of the Million Man March, a mass gathering of African-American men on the National Mall in Washington D.C. where protestors united in defiance of the economic and social ills being suffered by the African American community. When Lewis (Ray Fearon), a mathematics professor at a well-regarded university, refuses to embrace his heritage and go on the march, his (white) wife of 25 years decides to leave him. The drama is set. Ray remembers talk of the 1995 march: “It wasn’t directly political. It was more geared towards the male presence in America. They weren’t marching because someone was murdered – it was a powerful statement made by a million black men.” So why did Lewis count himself out? Ray explains that the play explores personal and cultural identity. “It is about somebody not being able to deal with their past, not wanting it to be a part of their life. Lewis sees the past as oppressive and negative. Things have happened that have led him to shut off from part of his past. “When you talk about race, it can become massive and general. But this play makes it specific to one family and you can see exactly why Lewis shut down. So you go from macrocosmic (the African American experience) to microcosmic (the family’s experience) and you see that certain events have had a specific traumatic experience within Lewis’s life.” After his wife leaves, Lewis becomes haunted, wakeful, and hears the voices of his ancestors. “The sense of these characters talking to him comes out of his insomnia – he can’t sleep because his wife has left him. It’s as if he has had a nervous breakdown.” The three generations of Lewis’s male ancestors are Simon, Lewis’s great grandfather who was born a slave; Jesse, Simon’s son who experienced the black south as the country became free; and Rex, Lewis’s brother, a 60s black radical who died of a drug overdose: “You got a buncha white people sittin up in your head being your

“They were part of the Windrush generation. Their ancestors were taken from Ghana to the Caribbean to work as slaves, and so the slave experience is exactly the same, it’s just that it is happening on a different continent. My ancestors would have gone through exactly the same thing as Lewis’s.” This is the first time Blue Door has been performed in the UK, so will it have relevance here? “See an American play and there is a feeling that the characters are far removed from us. But they’re not – it’s a universal story and you see the mirroring of your own life. “My mum was 19 and my father was 25 when they came to London. My dad didn’t go back until he was in his mid-fifties. My mum and dad never saw their parents alive again because they couldn’t afford to go back. What that must have been like... “My parents didn’t give out much information about their backgrounds when I was younger. But as I got older I started to understand where my heritage was. You needed to know politically, anyway, so it was best to find out and know it. When I started to understand what happened to my parents in the Caribbean and what happened to their parents, I was surprised that I didn’t know they had gone through that.

“The play is intense and it’s funny,” says Ray. “But in that small space, even though there is a sense of claustrophobia, it’s still got open elements and there’s lots of active stuff going on. And it is all happening in Lewis’s head. The characters did exist but they have come to him on this particular night. So it’s what he is trying to confront and not confront. It is a very interesting treatment, really, just one character with the other characters inside him.” The staging of Blue Door is sparse, minimal, so the energy comes from the actors. Described as a ‘play with original songs’, the singing is something that Ray won’t struggle with having recently taken the lead role of Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at Manchester’s Royal Exchange, the first-ever production with an all-black cast. “They are all songs that come out of the locations in times of peace. The music also relates to my character, so the music usually disturbs Lewis in some shape or form. And it helps open up his memory as he’s trying to remember things that he has forgotten about or things that he has completely shut away.” Blue Door tells a monumental story through one family, and in stretching across the generations, the universal story has sharp resonance today. n Blue Door, runs from 7 February to 9 March at the Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath; theatreroyal.org.uk

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The Framing Workshop has been trading as an independent family run business on Walcot Street for over 28 years. We treasure you, our client, and spend time helping you to ďŹ nd the best way to display and protect your cherished objects, artworks and memorabilia. Creativity and respect for each artwork are core to what we do. Every picture tells a story. Come and share yours.

80 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 482748 www.theframingworkshop.com framing@theframingworkshop.com

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PERSPECTIVES ON | POLITICS

Ever-closer union, or just good friends?

Ahead of his lecture at BRLSI on the future of the European Union, Professor Jeremy Clegg of the University of Leeds Business School gives his perspective on the future of the European project in the face of political fragmentation

Professor Jeremy Clegg

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from the Preamble to the Treaty of Rome signed on 25 March 1957. The phrase has no legal force, but sets out the vision of the the six founding members: “Determined to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.” In the context of the time, innocuous enough as an aspiration to get the peoples of Europe to feel good about each other, but sufficient of a hostage to fortune in the British psyche that, in his negotiations with the EU prior

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What is European integration? The basic principle is that the progressive integration of economic sectors for economic benefit requires the sacrifice of sovereignty

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hat is the ‘European Project’? If you use the term, you probably are either a fan or an enemy of this wonderful shorthand for greater European unity. For those of us working within European integration studies – and I am one – it is often tied to a belief that further integration is always better. This is less easy to countenance today when, in my view, social and economic inequality within the member states themselves is driving rising nationalist agendas. But what is European integration? The basic principle is that the progressive integration of economic sectors for economic benefit requires the sacrifice of sovereignty. In the beginning, it all seemed so clear; integration meant increasing trade and economic growth. You quite often hear people say, “I was happy when we joined the European Economic Community (EEC), but the European Union is all about making us the same.” What they mean is that, somewhere along the line, the emphasis on economic benefits has been replaced by a social agenda in which people (and governments) feel they are being told what to do by Brussels. This is not a feeling limited to the British. For many Eurosceptics, particularly in the UK, the great threat to national sovereignty is summed up in the phrase Ever Closer Union. It is actually a phrase

to the Brexit vote, David Cameron fixated on dropping this phrase. In the minds of many people, the phrase had come to mean a federalist agenda: a roadmap to a future in which national identity is blurred, and sovereignty – the authority of a state to determine its own future – is eroded across Europe. It is a powerful sentiment, and getting more powerful. So where should the balance lie between economic gain and loss of sovereignty? There are competing visions. Even the hardest of Brexiters have no problem with a free trade agreement as a form of regional economic integration. A free trade agreement is a limited form of integration that provides for unfettered trade between member states, who nevertheless retain control over their trade policy with third countries. It is a commercial arrangement, and no more. The problem is this does not unlock all of the potential benefit of further integration. A customs union is the next step up in the removal of sovereignty, where member states share a common trade

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policy with third countries. This allows the union to exploit its collective bargaining power with the rest of the world – in negotiating World Trade Organisation trade preferences and trade agreements with third countries. For many Brexiters a customs union is already a bridge too far. Tariff revenue is shared, and the money is disbursed through common policies. Yet, even within a customs union, services trade is not as free as it could be. Services are difficult to liberalise because people typically have to move around to deliver them – often through setting up subsidiaries abroad. Then you really need to have freedom of movement, not only of capital but of people, or at least more labour mobility. And here lies the heart of the problem. In order to get further integration benefits, it is necessary to dig deeper into the social agenda. From the outset the EEC was committed to move towards this goal, but it didn’t really register at first with many people. What worries Eurosceptics around the EU is the fear that we are already on the slippery slope to an economic and political union. Inequality heightens this fear, but the EU can do more right now to reduce inequality, for example, by curbing the excesses of multinational corporations, particularly with respect to aggressive tax avoidance, and return economic benefits to the people. By doing this, the EU can win the battle for people’s hearts and minds, and ward off a nationalist backlash. Further benefits are to be had from a shared agenda that enables Europe to respond appropriately to the rising powers of the world – the emerging economies. Only the EU with its large internal market can do this effectively. With or without the UK, I hope the EU member states will work together to reap further social and economic gains that the peoples of Europe will recognise and value. Perhaps this is what is really meant by Ever Closer Union. n Professor Jeremy Clegg’s lecture on The Future of the European Project is at BRLSI, 16–18 Queen Square, Bath, on 12 February, 7.30pm. Visitors £5, members and students £2; brlsi.org

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Map by Europa

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ARTS | INTERVIEW BELOW: South American Sulphurbreasted or Keel-billed Toucans are found in humid, open rainforests and second growth woodland areas. They are threatened by habitat loss and hunting for their meat and feathers

Reclaim, reuse, recycle

Val Hunt’s upcoming exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery profiles her sculptures made from found and recycled objects – bottle tops, tin cans, scrap metal and plastic containers. It’s not just a creative process, because protecting endangered animals is at the heart of her motivation and philosophy, says Melissa Blease

lanet earth is turning into one big rubbish dump. Our oceans are clogged up with an estimated 12.7 million tonnes of plastic, largely bottles, bags, packaging, microfibres and microbeads. In the last year alone, 44,511 tonnes of non-recyclable metals from ‘innocent’ foil and glitter-coated gift wrap to hefty electronic appliances cluttered up UK landfill sites. Some 29% of food packaging is non-recyclable, with orange/yellow nets and black plastic among the worst offenders. Dirty statistics, eh? While environmental responsibility has never been as high on the social agenda as it is right now and the vast majority of us (hopefully) do our very best to reduce our output of trash, human beings are capable of doing very ugly things to the beautiful planet that we call home. Some people, however, are taking a distinctly different approach to raising awareness of an imperative call for change. BELOW: The biggest threat facing the chameleon is habitat degradation, which is largely at the hands of agriculture and the exploitation of biological resources

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Creative recycling artist Val Hunt’s work features in many permanent collections and has toured in exhibitions around the UK, Denmark, Japan, the UAE and the USA. Her latest exhibition Endangered and Extinct opens at the Victoria Art Gallery on 23 February, and brings together a singularly bewitching, creative collection of sculptural pieces both large and small, all of which offer unique appeal... and have been created from materials usually destined for the kerbside recycling collection, the tip or the dump. “Our oceans are slowly turning into a plastic soup, and the effects on ocean life are chilling,” says Val, when asked about the inspiration behind the exotic birds, fish, dinosaurs and species of flora that we can expect to encounter at the exhibition. “Big pieces of plastic are choking and entangling turtles and sea birds; tiny pieces are clogging the stomachs of creatures who mistake it for food, from tiny zooplankton to whales. Plastic is now entering every level of the ocean’s food chain and even ending up in the seafood on our plates. While many people are becoming aware of the devastating effects of the trillion of tons of discarded waste that’s destroying the planet we live on, the oceans are getting clogged up and there has to be a limit to landfill sites. Packaging must be biodegradable, and we all need to rethink how to recycle effectively. I hope my exhibition will encourage more of this way of thinking, as it presents a subtle message about recycling and preservation.” Most of us, however, don’t spot the potential for beauty in such prosaic materials – and few of us can envision the creation of a magnificent creature from a crumpled, discarded beer can. “Ah, but I come from a family of inventors and love the challenge of inventing new ways of constructing pieces and solving the numerous practical problems that always arise when creating something,” says Val. “I’m also a fine artist, so I can paint and draw. Even as a child, I was always very artistic and enjoyed creating something out

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of nothing, and making a worthless object into a precious one. But I don’t look at a can and see, for example, an elephant in it. I look at an elephant first, then experiment with discarded material and find ways of constructing an elephant’s head from it. I had texture and bend, cut and transform the drinks can or other discarded material to change its identity completely. It’s a constant adventure into the unknown; because one is working with an unconventional material in an unconventional way, the end result can be very exciting and rewarding as it is reworked to signal a new meaning.” And Val is no stranger to either new meanings – or new beginnings. After spending two years at art college, Val worked as a primary school teacher before she became a deputy headmistress. After getting married and having three children, she took a part-time (BA) degree in Arts and Craft Studies, specialising in metalwork and jewellery, and, after graduating became a full time maker. Val’s first touring exhibition, Reincarnated Rubbish, was conceived when

Artist Val Hunt

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ARTS | INTERVIEW

she won the Visitor’s Choice prize at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery’s Open exhibition in 2002. “The prize offered me the opportunity to stage a solo exhibition in one of the gallery’s enormous spaces – which I managed to fill!” Val recalls. Reincarnated Rubbish, in its various changing forms, has since been shown in numerous galleries in England and Wales over the years, supporting Val’s aim to encourage everyone to experience the fun of creative recycling. “But despite my use of manufactured materials, most of my inspiration over the years has come from the natural world, which led me to be greatly concerned about – and research – the plight of endangered and extinct species, which is how this new exhibition evolved as time rolled along,” she explains. But in March 2013, fate intervened in the most dramatic way possible when radiotherapy for a brain tumour took away most of her hearing. “I can no longer hear music, listen to the radio or use the telephone. But my hearing loss and the experience that led to the hearing loss taught me to make the most of what time I have left, and use my potential to the full. Today, my mantra is Carpe Diem: seize the day.” Val is urging visitors to her exhibition to seize the day alongside her in order to secure the stability of our planet for many, many more days to come. “Of course, I hope that people enjoy the exhibition on an aesthetic and experiential level,” she says. “But I hope too that they leave with a better understanding of the plight of creatures and plant life on the edge of extinction, or already gone forever, because of the behaviour and habits of humans. I also hope that seeing what can be created out of throwaway material will spur people on to experiment and discover the joy of creative recycling themselves.” Val’s interpretation of 37 species of animals, birds, fish and flora will adorn the gallery walls throughout the duration of the exhibition, including a large weeping plastic Ophthalmosaurus made

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Most of us don’t spot the potential for beauty in such prosaic materials and few of us can envision the creation of a magnificent creature from a crumpled, discarded beer can

Blue and yellow macaws typically live in the forests of South America near rivers. An endangered species, their population decline has been due to habitat destruction, hunting and trapping

from a variety of plastic containers, a tuna fish and flying parrot made from drinks can metal, and a terror bird made from scrap metal and Edinburgh Fringe fliers and posters. Endangered and Extinct, at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, 23 February to 7 May. For further information, visit victoriagal.org.uk. For further information about Val Hunt's work, visit arthunt.co.uk

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Bluefin, the largest tuna, are made for speed. They hunt by sight and have the sharpest vision of any bony fish. They are endangered because of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

INTO THE LIGHT

A major European exhibition, new ceramics, and the last chance to see works by Damien Hirst and Roy Lichtenstein are just some of the highlights from art galleries and museums around Bath this month THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney Street, Bath. Open: Daily, 10am – 5pm (11am Sundays) Tel: 01225 388569, web: holburne.org GEORGE SHAW: A CORNER OF A FOREIGN FIELD 8 February – 6 May George Shaw makes remarkable paintings of Tile Hill, the council estate in Coventry where he grew up in the 70s and 80s, that reveal the latent beauty even in the most mundane subject matter. Shaw’s hyper-realist paintings record the run-down and overlooked aspects of modern life. Where Constable and Turner found majesty in pastoral settings, Shaw does so in abandoned garages, huge England flags in windows and suburban woodland. This is the first major retrospective of Shaw’s work, and the Holburne Museum is the only European venue for this exhibition. WHY MUSEUMS MATTER 7 February – 19 May An exciting installation in the ballroom as a visual response to more than 1,000 ideas and comments by visitors on the subject of ‘Museums matter to me because…’, allowing us to understand what people value about museums in contemporary society. In the Wirth Gallery, there will be a display of the artwork of those who have engaged with individual objects from the Holburne’s collection, examining the connection between museums, creativity, mental health and wellbeing.

Sunrise Over the Carehome by George Shaw, private collection

AXLE ARTS Leighton Road, Weston, Bath Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am–5pm by appointment Tel: 01225 461230, web: axlearts.com KERRY HARDING: NEW WORK 18 February – 10 March, open weekend: 9–10 March Kerry Harding’s soft, surreal environments are inspired by the weathered Cornish landscape surrounding her studio. Process and materials are key elements to her practice. Imitating processes at play within the natural world, Shadow of Starlings II Harding layers her by Kerry Harding material before taking it away and then re-layering it. This constant reworking of her canvases results in a subtle texture, with a sense of history and visual depth.

NICK CUDWORTH GALLERY London Street, top of Walcot Street, closed on Mondays Tel: 01225 445221, web: nickcudworth.com Throughout February Nick Cudworth’s February exhibition features the painting The Paragon Paradox, above, which shows two images of The Paragon, one in winter and one in summer. The paradox is the light source that is coming from the same angle despite the different times of the year. The seasons are depicted by the leaves on the trees in one image and bare branches in the other. Prints are available of this painting.

GRAY M.C.A 5 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath Open: Wednesday – Saturday, 10am–4pm, Monday and Tuesday by appointment Tel: 01225 422117, web: graymca.com THE WINTER SHOW Throughout February Gray M.C.A continues to exhibit a mixed show of 20th-century artists’ textiles from artists as diverse as modern British master William Scott to 1950s textile work from the master Pablo Picasso. A unique piece in the show is a stunning 1970s silk chiffon of Ayres Rock (Uluru), right, which was a design worn by Jackie Kennedy and Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall. The best of original fashion illustration is on view including Gray M.C.A’s latest illustrator Isher Dhiman. 40 TheBATHMagazine

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM OF EAST ASIAN ART Bennett Street, Bath Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am–5pm; Sunday, 12–5pm Web: meaa.org.uk

THE EDGE

Right, Bronze censer with deer and the Three Friends of Winter art motiﬀ, China (1550–1644)

VICTORIA ART GALLERY By Pulteney Bridge Open daily, 10.30am–5pm Tel: 01225 477233, web: victoriagal.org.uk NICK CUDWORTH: BATH NIGHT PAINTINGS 2003–18 Until 17 February A showcase of 20 of Nick Cudworth’s beautiful Bath night paintings. The artist’s brilliant eye for the effect of light on colour ensures visitors will want to explore the city’s beautiful buildings after dark. ON PAPER: FROM THE ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION Until 17 February A fascinating exhibition of items made from paper, used as a material in its own right rather than merely a surface to be painted or drawn upon, featuring work by Damien Hirst, Roy Lichtenstein, Bridget Riley, Gillian Ayres and Eduardo Paolozzi. £4.50/free for Discovery Card holders. SHARMANKA TRAVELLING CIRCUS 23 February – 7 May Sharmanka, from the Russian word for barrel organ, is a performing mechanical theatre that will delight young and old alike.

EMMA HART: BANGER 16 February – 27 April Emma Hart makes art about the routines and spaces of everyday life. Banger is a new body of ceramic works that continues her investigation into relationships and domestic life, in this case the car as the interior space where so many family dynamics are played out. Beyond the windscreen there are urban scenes clamouring with signs and instructions and rural horizons with endless possible routes to navigate. In Banger the relentless velocity of decision making is as inescapable as the changing weather. Free admission.

Sound and movement combine with striking images to make for a humorous and at times slightly macabre experience. The sculptures are the work of artist and inventor Eduard Bersudsky. Collaborating with theatre director Tatyana Jakovskaya and light and sound designer Sergey Jakovsky, Eduard began producing his kinetic sculptures in 1974 as a protest against the prevailing Soviet ideology. The works incorporate pieces of old furniture, metal scrap and grotesque carved figures. Performances take place every hour and last 25 minutes.

Photo by Ruth Clark

THE ART OF CHINA: A BRIEF HISTORY Until 12 May China is a vast country – its modern-day territory is almost as big as Europe, and it has faced waves of invasion, trading wars, and the rise and fall of dynasties over the centuries. To mark the museum’s 25th anniversary, this exhibition celebrates its rich and wide-ranging collection that spans 7,000 years of Chinese history – from the Neolithic to modern times – and highlights extraordinary human inventiveness and creativity.

The Edge, University of Bath, Claverton Down Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm Tel: 01225 386777, web: edgearts.org

species of flora, all threatened or extinct. These have been made from a selection of throwaway material, especially Val’s favourite medium, drinks can metal. This exhibition presents a subtle message about recycling and preservation, raising awareness of why the creatures on show are endangered or extinct. Free entry.

LOUISE BOURGEOIS PRINTS 23 February – 7 May Accompanying Sharmanka is this Hayward Touring print exhibition by one of the most important and influential artists of recent decades, Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010). She is best known for her powerful, emotionally charged sculptures. ENDANGERED AND EXTINCT CREATIVE RECYCLING BY VAL HUNT 23 February – 7 May With inspiration, ingenuity, humour and skill, artist Val Hunt has created a fascinating selection of sculptural pieces of animals, exotic birds, fish, dinosaurs and

Nightlights by Nick Cudworth

ART AT THE HEART OF THE RUH Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park, Bath Open: Monday – Sunday, 8am–8pm. Web: artatruh.org / real-images.com NEW VIEWS ON FAMILIAR PLACES West Gallery (Zone B), until 31 March The harmonious architecture of his home city Bath has inspired many recent paintings in David Ringsell’s latest exhibition, which provides a contemporary take on classic architecture. The works are created in mixed media by combining acrylic paint, pen and pencil. The underlying pencil marks used to draw the composition remain visible in places. Originals and custom prints are available for purchase in a range of sizes. A percentage of each sale will go to the RUH.

Roman Blues by David Ringsell

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nick cudworth gallery

Going Behind The Scenes. Oil on Canvas 36 x 24 inches also prints available

FEBRUARY EXHIBITION 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 February

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

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BATH ART FAIR Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath Web: bathartfair.co.uk

Noble Beauty by Angela Melkis

Friday 1 March, 11am–7pm, and Saturday 2 March 10am–6pm More than 85 professional artists from all over the country (and one from Berlin) will be showing their original art to visitors. This award-winning fair (now in its third year and at a new city centre venue) gives you the chance to chat to the artists and buy original art from handfinished prints, paintings, sculpture to glassware and ceramics in an informal and relaxed setting.

DAVID SIMON CONTEMPORARY

EMMA ROSE Upstairs at 78 Walcot Street, Bath Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am–5pm Tel: 07885 235915 or 01225 424424 Web: emmaroseartworks.com

3 – 4 Bartlett Street, Bath Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm, closed Wednesday and Sunday Tel: 01225 460189 Web: davidsimoncontemporary.com

SNOWFROST Throughout February Celebrating five years in her Walcot Street gallery, Emma welcomes you tino see her paintings, limited edition giclée prints and cards. February’s exhibition is built around the highlight painting Snowfrost, above. A large proportion of her work echoes the land, sea, sky and the elements. Her unique work is a mix of Indian inks and acrylics, often using gold, copper, and silver leaf. She is happy to talk through any commission ideas.

CONTINUUM 7 February – 4 March In an exhibition exclusively focussed on sculpture, four artists have developed a diverse body of work with a common theme of pattern in nature, from biological Helix forms to ideas of balance. This dynamic show incorporates an interplay of geometric abstraction and figuration through a variety of materials including bronze, oak and porcelain.

Left, Helix by Keith Varney

BATH DECORATIVE ANTIQUES FAIR Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath Tel: 01278 784912 Web: bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk

LIZ CARSON The Roper Gallery, Bath Artists’ Studios, The Old Malthouse, Upper Bristol Road, Bath Open: weekdays, 12–5pm, weekends by appointment Tel: 01225 482480, web: lizcarsongallery.co.uk 8 March – 16 April In some collages scraps of newspaper are torn, layered and overpainted, as stories – disturbing, entertaining true or fake – are lost. People have always left their marks on surfaces and the theme of time permeates Carson’s work. What is now becomes the past and something new emerges. 44 TheBATHMagazine

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8 – 10 March Celebrating its 30th birthday, the Bath Decorative Antiques Fair will bring an exciting mix of enticing and quirky decorative, vintage, antique and mid-century furniture and objects for the home and garden, from 18th to 20th century, from the UK and Europe. Expect to see humble early pottery and samplers, a wide variety of garden urns and planters, stylish 20th century Falcon leather chairs, French chateau dressers, Persian carpets and kilims, modern and contemporary art and upholstery. Pricing from £10 to £10,000. Complimentary tickets available via the website. Licenced bistro on site. n

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2018/19 Lecture Series

Monday 4th February 2019 “DATE CORRECTION”

‘Windsor Castle:’ The Greatest Castle in the World Lecturer: Jonathan Foyle

How the Castle was made and by whom - a bewildering array of art to behold

Monday 4th March 2019

‘Botticelli’s Florence’ Lecturer Paula Nuttall

Florence, the City that shaped Botticelli’s Art. Putting his paintings in that historical context

All Lectures at 1.30pm in The Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street Bath Visitors welcome £10 at the door (No Booking required)

www.theartssocietybath.com

Celebrating 50 years of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies

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CITY | READING

Sustainability first

The term ‘single-use’ was named Collins Dictionary’s 2018 word of the year. Not surprising as many of us are becoming more aware of the impact our lives are having on this planet. Here’s a few titles that could help you become more conscious of your actions and understand how to help preserve the environment

Live Green: 52 steps for a more sustainable life

SIMPLE STEPS

MAKE A CHANGE

Lucy Siegle, £8.99, paperback, Orion Publishing Co

Jen Chillingsworth, £8.99, hardback, Quadrille Publishing

More than eight-million tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans each year, with 300 million tonnes of new plastic being produced annually. Plastic will outnumber the fish in our seas by 2050, causing a detrimental impact on the environment. Journalist and eco-lifestyle expert Lucy Siegle provides a clear guide on how to make effective changes in your everyday life to make a positive impact on the environment. If just 12 of us adopted Lucy’s ‘reduce, rethink, refill, refuse’ approach, we could potentially ditch 3K–15K single items of plastic in a year! Now think about how much change we could make if more of us followed her guide...

Live Green is a practical guide of 52 changes – one for each week of the year – you can make to your home and lifestyle to reduce your impact on the environment. Tackling all areas of your life from your cleaning routine, home furnishings, food shopping, fashion choices, natural beauty and Christmas, this book can help you achieve a more sustainable lifestyle throughout the year.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

LEARN

Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future

Yuval Noah Harari, £18.99, hardback, Vintage Publishing

Primate Change: How the world we made is remaking us

ANALYSE

Vybarr Cregan-Reid, £16.99, hardback, Octopus Publishing

This is the road from climate change to primate change. Cregan-Reid looks at how and why the human body has evolved since humankind first stood on two feet, and investigates how modern technology will change us in the future. As the world has undergone significant development in the last two centuries, this book looks how how these environmental changes have had an impact on our bodies and whether this has changed our DNA.

February 2019

BE INSPIRED

Mary Robinson, £16.99, hardback, Bloomsbury Publishing

From the author of the international bestsellers Sapiens and Homo Deus, Harari’s latest book takes readers through the present day’s most urgent issues. How can we protect ourselves from nuclear war, ecological cataclysms and technological disruptions? What can we do about the epidemic of fake news or the threat of terrorism? 21 Lessons for the 21st Century explores how we can maintain and address the challenges the human race faces in a constantly changing world.

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Turning the Tide on Plastic

issue 197

“As an advocate for the hungry and the hunted, the forgotten and the ignored, Mary Robinson has not only shone a light on human suffering, but illuminated a better future for our world,” says former president Barack Obama. Robinson is one of the most important voices in the international fight against climate change, and here she shares the inspiring stories of those working for climate justice at grassroots level. These include those whose campaigns began in an East Biloxi hair salon and culminated in speaking at the United Nations, to farmers who transformed the fortunes of ailing communities in rural Uganda. A powerful and truthful account of the fight against change.

REFLECT

Sustainability: A History

Jeremy L. Caradonna, £14.49, paperback, Oxford University Press We buy ‘sustainable foods’ that were produced from ‘sustainable agriculture’, all as part of our ‘sustainable lifestyles’. The term ‘sustainability’ has come out of nowhere to dominate discussions around how we can preserve the world around us. Caradonna takes a historical perspective on this concept, discovering a movement that began as far back as the 1660s. He takes us from the late 17th century, through the Industrial Revolution, to present-day issues around ecology and conservation. n

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WAITING FOR THE STORM TO BREAK Duncan Campbell HAS BEEN DEALING IN ANTIQUE SILVER SINCE 1986.

How long do you hang on?

n ancient and revered member of the antique silver trade once told to me how he started in the business. As a young teenager, in the depths of the war, he found himself in the Kensal Green branch of Woolworths looking at a display of nutcrackers reduced from 2s 6d each to just 6d, no doubt as a result of the unavailability of nuts during this dark period of history. He spoke to the manager, gathered his pocket money and bought the lot for even less than 6d each, waited until the war was over and cleaned up. Aside from the slightly comic details of the tale, I was, and still am, struck by its enormous optimism. There may be war raging, bombs falling and hardship all around but 6d is still cheap for a nutcracker. Deep in the heart of the antiques dealer, or indeed any trader, is a certainty that the world will always keep turning and that demand will continue. This optimism can of course be rather dangerous as, without some considerable restraint, it can result in an unmanageable stock that will squeeze you out of house and home. Many is the time I have watched a dealer buy a lot at auction based on the logic that “those used to make loads more than that”. It doesn’t really matter too much if the object is pocket-sized but a cheap dining table requires a rather less cheap room to house it. There is a case to be made that antiques fit with the idiom ‘what goes up must come down’, and vice versa, but timing is key and storage is not cheap. I am often asked whether a piece of silver would make a good investment, which is an impossible question to answer. The fact that something was once a lot more valuable is no guarantee of a future price increase. The truth can be hard to unpick because the only person whose valuation means anything is the person buying it. If something is a bit useless and out of fashion, no matter what the price, it is going to sound expensive. If the object concerned can be used and enjoyed and seems ‘worth the money’ I think that is probably the best possble investment criteria. Whichever ‘war’ is holding back prices, take heart, it will end one day. n www.beaunashbath.com, 01225 334234 Cracker Barrel Antiques Warehouse Cracker Barrel Antiques https://goo.gl/images/WhcJ2m

Top: Silver Spoon London 1810 - £30 Bottom: Silver Spoon Grenada 1810 - £1,200

Free Silver Valuations Please call us for an appointment

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CITY | HISTORY

A sustainable model Environmental activist and pioneering green businessman Jay Risbridger set up a green stationery business in Bath 30 years ago when there was little awareness of the need for environmental sustainability in business. He explains that while many corporations and governments have now accepted the need for wide-ranging change, the approach still falls drastically short of the transformation in our thinking that is needed to make the workings of our world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and our lives in it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; holistically sustainable

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has often felt like working with one hand tied behind your back and having a leg in plaster. In almost 30 years I have seen great changes in how businesses deal with environmental issues, with the biggest change being a simple awareness of these environmental impacts. A lot of thanks should go to Sir David Attenborough for that. Most businesses and organisations nowadays understand that they are required to be ‘sustainable’. This is a broad concept that implies that the way business operates now cannot continue into the future; essentially it is a requirement to change. Some of these changes have been relatively easy for

Jay Risbridger

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Our economy does not give value to the environment and most businesses make private profits while generating environmental and social costs

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ike many environmental activists I first became aware of the damage the consumer society was inflicting on our ecosystem at university in the 1970s. I read John Ehrlich’s Population Time Bomb, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring about pesticide damage and The Limits to Growth, ironically funded by the Volkswagen foundation. In the mid-1980s I worked for Europe’s largest recycled paper mills and in 1989 I founded a pioneering green business in Bath, to supply environmental office supplies and recycled paper. From the outset the business aimed to help companies reduce their environmental impact and specifically create a market for recycled products which would close the recycling loop. To close the loop you not only have to collect waste materials, you have to turn those materials into products and then create a market for the recycled products you make, otherwise you will still end up with a waste mountain that has to be disposed of. Not only did the business offer green products, but it also aimed to make all its operations as environmentally benign as possible. Despite great support from committed customers, largely based outside of our city, running a real green business has been very hard and it

commercial enterprises; like the need to lower energy consumption to reduce CO2 emissions. This is, after all, good business management – what business would not want to reduce its energy bills? Other changes have been forced through by legislation, like the banning of CFCs which has now resulted in the partial repair of the ozone holes over the poles. There have also been successes in moving to non-fossil-fuel power generation, the development of less polluting and efficient vehicles and the production of biodegradable, long-life and non-toxic products. If you wanted to use products and services that did not damage the environment 30 years ago, there were very limited options. Today there are thousands of companies making things and providing services that have very low

This diagram illustrates the idea of holistic thinking, showing how all activities have to be sustainable

environmental footprints. There are, however, fundamental problems with the widespread adoption of environmental practices and products. Firstly our economy does not give value to the environment and most businesses make private profits while generating environmental and social costs. Here are two examples to illustrate this problem. We supply text markers from a Swedish manufacturer who makes them using recycled paper barrels, nontoxic ink and a large ink reservoir. The factory has a combined heat and power plant, cleans its water waste and has excellent staff benefits and working conditions; we sell these markers for about one pound each. The standard highlighter manufactured in the Far East is made from plastic, contains Xylene and Toluene and has 50% less ink compared to the Swedish product – this sells for 25p. As no consideration is given to their environmental impact, the unfriendly marker has a huge competitive advantage, while at the same time the cost of disposing of these plastic throwaway markers is borne by the public and the oceans. Another example is the supplier that insists on packing its deliveries in big standard boxes and filling the void space with plastic air-filled pillows. We complain that this is creating a mountain of short-life disposable plastic and that they should use smaller boxes or cut the big ones down to fit. The response is that it takes longer to pack an item this way and that would increase labour costs. The supplier here is making a decision to reduce costs and increase profits by undermining the wider environment. Decisions like this are being made by millions of businesses across the world and this is a driver for the continued degradation of our environment. It is no coincidence that the biggest and most profitable businesses in the world also have the worst environmental records. The sheer growth of commercial activity can also undermine the positive steps towards sustainability. For instance the global servers that power the internet currently use as much energy as the whole of Belgium and are set to account for a quarter of the world’s energy use by 2040. This negates the massive energy savings that have been made by switching lighting to LEDs. Perhaps the biggest brake on achieving sustainability is an inability by businesses and governments alike to recognise that all activity must be sustainable. This is what the green community calls ‘holistic thinking’, taking action on the whole rather than the parts. Until recently sustainability has been seen as an add-on, where organisations highlight the environmental achievement of one part of their activity while the rest of the organisations’ activities damage the environment. From the 1990s onwards businesses and governmental organisations approached sustainability through the creation of a multi-billion dollar industry called corporate social responsibility. Unfortunately these CSR (corporate social responsibility)

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departments had little ability to change the practices of the rest of their organisations, especially if it had an impact on profits. The awarding of CSR accolades to oil and tobacco companies led to these efforts being rightly derided in the most part as green wash. Had the recommendations of the multitude of inter-governmental reports on the environment been acted on in the 1980s and ’90s – instead of rushing headlong down the road of loads of money, unfettered consumerism – we would not find ourselves in such a perilous situation today. The urgency of moving to a totally sustainable economy was highlighted at the 2015 UN climate change conference in Paris. The conference concluded that unless a reduction in global warming gases starts in the next five years, we would be unable to stop a two-degree average temperature rise across the globe. Sadly progress has been slow; the conference only managed to get an agreement on how nations would measure these reductions at the end of last year. This was required before the USA would even consider taking part in the reduction plans agreed at the Paris conference. At the beginning of 2019 a two-degree increase in global temperature is looking more likely than not. This type of increase will make staple food crops much more difficult to grow across most of central Europe, Asia and North America and would likely result in a return to war, famine and pestilence, which has been our lot for most of human history. Anything above a two-degree increase – with many environmentalists predicting a four-degree rise – could see the end of human civilisation. Recently there has been a glimmer of hope with major corporations and governments making announcements that indicate they have accepted the need for much more wideranging change. In December last year the UK environment minister Michael Gove said he wanted the packaging waste tax to rise from 10 per cent of the cost of disposal to a

Rubbish that has been discarded in the ocean becomes trapped on coral reefs around the world, where it will damage delicate marine life

hundred per cent of the cost. At the same time Volkswagen said it wanted every model it makes to be available in an electric version by 2030. This is a step in the right direction, but why is this approach stopping at packaging waste, and what about all the other polluting short-life disposable products? I could fill this magazine with a list of plastic items that are thrown away in huge numbers every day, everything from inter-dental picks to the toys found in kids’ sweets and cereal. One also has to ask why Volkswagen is still going to make polluting vehicles as well as the electric, and where is the commitment to make all its manufacturing processes sustainable? Some less charitable souls might say Volkswagen’s plans are just a response to being caught cheating on the emissions of its diesel cars for decades. Likewise, government action on the environment is half-hearted and often seems to have more to do with political positioning rather than any real understanding of how to manage the change required to tackle environmental issues. How can a clean air

Stacks of plastic bottles ready for recycling

zone allow polluting vehicles to drive through it? The correct term should be a slightly cleaner air zone – but is that good enough? There are solutions; sustainability can be achieved with a wholesale change in the way we manage our economy and adopting the ideas promoted for years by the new or future economy organisations would be a good start. The sort of thing that is proposed is a switch from taxation on employment and profits to taxation on resource consumption, waste and pollution. This must be an idea acceptable to the wider public; it might even help stop the inexorable rise in income inequality. Many individuals are also taking matters into their own hands and opting to become vegetarian. At the last count, 11 percent of the UK population is vegetarian or vegan. Not eating meat has been shown to have the most immediate and far-reaching positive impact on the environmental problems we face. You can have 50 showers for every hamburger you don’t eat and still maintain the same environmental impact on water usage. For individuals the ‘Three R’ rules are still the best way to lower household impact on the environment. The hierarchy is first “Reduce”, meaning using less non-renewable resources. Then “Re-use”, meaning repair, adapt and make things last (keep up the good work salvage hunters!). The final one is “Recycle”, a call to end polluting waste – the concept of throwing away something should cease to exist in a sustainable society. In truth there is no one organisation, business or government that can deal with our environmental pressures. We must have collective action because at the end of the day, it is all of us making small decisions without thinking about their environmental consequences that bought us to this point. So everyone, with no exceptions, has to be involved, get educated, get organised and focus on leaving a better world for future generations. n The Green Stationery Company, 2 Cleveland Terrace, Bath. 01225 480556; greenstat.co.uk

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MASTERPIECE BY A HUMBLE MARINER MAKES £20,000

Commission a portrait in oils Robert Highton 07939 224598; rhighton@mail.com; robhightonart.com

We deliver to over 20,000 addresses every month. But if you live outside our distribution area or would like us to send a copy to friends or family then we are able to offer a mailing service for only £15.00 (6 issues) or £40.00 Euro zone; £30.00 (12 issues) or £70.00 Euro zone World Zone 1 £95.00 World Zone 2 £120.00 To subscribe to receiving the magazine go to our website; www.thebathmag.co.uk and scroll to the bottom of the page where you can click to an instant link Alternatively send a cheque payable to MC Publishing Ltd 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED or Telephone 01225 424 499 for card payment

Subscription FORM Mr/Mrs/Ms ................Forename .............................................. Surname .............................................................................. Address ............................................................................

A remarkable picture by the celebrated Cornish artist Alfred Wallis was offered for sale at Lawrences in Crewkerne on January 18th and made £20,000. Wallis (1855-1942) was a simple seaman, uneducated but devout and hard working, who went to sea at nine and, in his thirties, settled down to life as a Cornish fisherman after two decades in the merchant marine. He spent a while in the rag-and-bone trade but lived quietly in St Ives with his wife. She died in 1922 and Wallis took up painting only then, partly to ease his grief but also hoping to recapture the `glory days` of the Cornish fishing industry. He worked almost entirely from memory. The artists Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood came to St Ives on a day visit in 1928 and their ‘discovery’ of Wallis has been described as a watershed in the history of modern art. They were inspired by Wallis’s unaffected naturalism and his art of simple shapes based upon a gritty, lifelong understanding of decades at sea. Rather like the work of L.S. Lowry, the apparent simplicity of Wallis’s style has produced many forgeries but the two pictures at Lawrences have superb provenance and the imprimatur of Robert Jones, Wallis’s current principal authority and his biographer. “Despite the sorrow that motivated Wallis into art, these pictures show a joy for painting,” says Richard Kay, specialist at Lawrences. “It is impossible to see these little gems without connecting across the decades to Wallis’s life as a humble fisherman. He has captured a world that has long since disappeared, but he has done so with a keen but simple understanding of so much Cornish life.” ‘French Fishing Boat’, an oil on card, 17.5 x 29cm, was sold on January 18th for £20,000 and ‘Fishing Boat Off a Pier’ will be in Lawrences Spring auction on April 12th (estimate £8000-12000). Enquiries to Lawrences (01460 73041, enquiries@lawrences.co.uk) Lawrences hold monthly FREE valuation mornings at the Holburne Museum. Contact andy.sagar@lawrences.co.uk for more details and dates

Lawrences AUCTIONEERS The Linen Yard, South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8AB. T 01460 73041

lawrences.co.uk

..........................................Postcode ............................ Daytime telephone No ..............................................................

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PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic. Visit: capturethespirit.co.uk, tel: 01225 483151

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Bath @ work

Our series of photographic portraits by Neill Menneer shows Bath people at work. View a gallery of Bath@work subjects at: thebathmag.co.uk

Peregrinus

Roman trader

y name is Peregrinus and I am a freeman born in Trier in Germany. My father was a successful trader shipping goods up and down the Moselle and Rhine. He employed around 40 people, although 30 of them being slaves were, fortunately from our point of view, unpaid. He taught me many things but had limited ambitions and was too risk averse whereas I have no such limits to my imagination or self-confidence. He was happy to stick to his known territory around Cologne but I have ventured forth much, much further. My plan from the beginning was to create a round trading system where my boats are never empty of goods to sell. Firstly I ship pottery to Cologne and from these proceeds buy beautiful glassware which I then ship to London and the provinces. On my return trip I buy not just grain but many handmade military goods for the legionaries back in my homeland. On my first trip to Caerleon and Exeter I came via Bath and enjoyed myself immensely. I was weary from dragging my oxen along the Fosse Way from Silchester and so the massages I purchased at The Baths were a great relief. I was even able to employ a scribe and priest to write a ‘defixione’ or curse to whoever stole my lovely cloak in Silchster (may he or she be for ever damned!). I am now ‘played’ convincingly by Adrian Hamilton and so have become almost immortal. I will let him tell his own story although it’s not as exciting as mine!

Adrian Hamilton

Actor

nlike Peregrinus I was born in this country. In Crawley, in fact. I loved acting at school and played the main role in Beauty and The Beast. While studying drama at Bath Spa University I met Fergus Dunlop from The Natural Theatre Group. Soon after, I went with them to China and played a range of their well-known characters like The Pink Suitcase, The Grey People and The Cone Heads. I studied the ‘Art of Being Silly’ under Jacqui Papay. She taught me many of the skills you need to pull off ‘street theatre’ – the importance of making a visual frame around yourself, an understanding that what you don’t say is as important as what you do and how to interact with the audience. This comes in useful as I’ve got involved in Theatre in Education in schools in and around Bath and Shepton Mallet both for The Natural Theatre Company and Hammerpuzzle Theatre Company. So when I play a swashbuckling pirate in a school, I recruit my crew from the class, and equally Henry VIII needs attendants for his ‘privy stool’! Despite my rather dramatic job I live a quiet country life. I live with my wife and our two children in West Buckland and we’re very involved in village life, with fundraising and committees. Not something that would appeal to my alter ego but, however arrogant he might appear, I do enjoy playing Peregrinus at The Roman Baths. And no-one’s stolen my cloak! PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic. Visit: capturethespirit.co.uk, tel: 01225 483151 THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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FOOD | AND | DRINK

Fuel your appetites

If you fancy igniting a fire in the belly of a special someone this Valentine’s Day (and sharing it with them), treat them to a slurp of natural Viagra, says Melissa Blease

laims surrounding the aphrodisiac powers of certain foods have been doing the rounds for centuries – but not all of them are merely myths. Let’s take a trip down Aphrodisiac Alley in search of a Valentine’s Day dinner menu with effects worthy of an adult certificate. AMUSE BOUCHE: CUPID’S SHOOTER Avocado packs a punch of nutrients that are said to be essential to libido – these include

magnesium, vitamin E and potassium. To create a silky, playful, subtly punchy shot of sensuality to set your menu scene, blend one ripe avocado with a handful of seedless grapes, a small wedge of cucumber, a squeeze of lime juice and a smidgen of both fresh garlic and fresh chillies (of which more later) until smooth. Chill for a couple of hours before serving – dotted with a couple of shakes of Tabasco sauce for extra piquancy, if you like – in shot glasses. Down in one! And we’re off...

STARTER: OYSTERS Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love, who also inadvertently gave her name to the very word aphrodisiac) sprang forth from the sea on an oyster shell. Roman emperors relied on them so heavily for, erm, stamina that they paid for them by their weight in gold. And frisky fop Casanova, we are told, used to eat a dozen of them before a ‘session’. But, take note, as there are valid scientific grounds for oysters’ lust-inducing reputation: they’re massively high in zinc, which plays a vital role in the production of the hormone prostaglandin, responsible for regulating the growth and function of the sex organs. They’re also low in fat and laden with natural immune system boosters... if, that is, you can master the art of shucking.

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It’s said that Emperor Caligula ate 50 raw chillies every morning in order to maintain his legendary stamina levels

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Opening an oyster involves a technique that combines a short, thick knife and more than a little skill. But once you’re tooled up, your work is done – and nothing beats the uniquely invigorating, elemental, salty tang of a raw, naked oyster, complemented by the merest squeeze of lemon, a single drop of Tabasco and a glass of good fizz. But be warned: never attempt to eat an oyster that doesn’t clamp up fast when tapped on the shell; this means that it’s dead, and must be given a decent burial immediately. Choose wisely, though, and your love life might be given a very healthy resurrection indeed. MAIN COURSE: PRAWN, PINE NUT AND CHILLI STIR FRY Gingko nuts form a large part of libidinous potions in China, Barbara Cartland used to drink a pine nut smoothie when she wanted to kick-start the bodice ripping imagination, and according to one ancient Arabic lovemanual, all you need to guarantee a night of passion is a glass of thick honey, 20 almonds and 100 pine nuts. Why? It’s our old friend

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zinc again... and nuts (pine nuts in particular) are laden with the stuff. So, adding nuts, chillies and ginger to a prawn stir fry (seafood is also massively high in zinc, while chillies and ginger are laden with natural feel-good endorphins and compounds which are thought to raise testosterone levels and increase sexual desire in men) and serving the whole lot on a pile of slippery suckable-uppable noodles is definitely é before we put our main course down, bear this the way forward. And little nugget in mind too: it’s said that Emperor Caligula ate 50 raw chillies every morning in order to maintain his legendary stamina levels – just sayin’. SIDE DISH: ASPARAGUS There’s something unavoidably salacious about dipping asparagus spears into smooth, glossy, melted butter – especially when we learn that asparagus is rich in folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin E, all of which are said to boost arousal and stimulates sex hormones in both men and women. DESSERT: ANYTHING WITH CHOCOLATE Chocolate has been credited as having mystical aphrodisiac qualities since the days of the Mayan and Aztec cultures. It’s the seductive gift at the start of the affair and the classic, comforting standby that helps mend the ensuing broken heart. Casanova (yup, him again) apparently ate tons of the stuff before frolicking with his conquests... and when we learn what’s in it, it’s easy to understand why: chocolate contains phenylethylamine and serotonin, both of which are chemically moodlifting agents which produce the euphoric effects often associated with being in love. Apparently, women are more susceptible to these effects than men – but at this juncture, I refer you back to Casanova’s prepassion habit. DESSERT SIDE DISH: GET FRUITY Bananas contain the testosterone-triggering enzyme bromelain and are massively high in both vitamin B and potassium, which both give an oomph to energy levels. Figs (so beloved of those naughty frolickers Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) are a potassium powerhouse too, while honey – which you’re going to drizzle over both, aren’t you? – contains boron, helpful in regulating both oestrogen and testosterone levels. Frisky fruit! AND TO DRINK WITH ALL THAT... While alcohol can loosen our inhibitions, too much of a good thing could easily negate the effects of our aphrodisiac-rich seduction menu. Having said that, we all know how a glass (or two) of good fizz puts us in the mood for a luxurious party, while red wine – earthy, musky burgundies and Cab Savs in particular – are rich in heady, masculine aromas as well as antioxidants that are said to have a beneficial effect on vascular health. Embrace the food of love on 14 February. n

Lights, camera – action? If you’re thinking of enforcing a screen break in order to get turned on this Valentine’s Day, think again. Watch these films (or specific scenes from these films) while you’re getting your seduction act together or – better yet – with your partner while you’re tucking into your feast. TOM JONES (1963) Tom (Albert Finney) Jones’ eyes meet with Mrs Waters gaze in the dining room of the Upton Inn... but there’s clearly more than pub grub on the minds of this decadent duo. BABETTE’S FEAST (1987) A beguiling paean to appetite and sensuality. THE LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955) One word: spaghetti. CHOCOLAT (2000) Fluffier than the inside of a Walnut Whip and as inoffensive as a tea-dipped chocolate Hobnob, Chocolat is more Rolo than Richart. But if you’re in the mood for a little bit of clichéd confectionery, it works well. TAMPOPO (1985) Erotic egg-eating and naughty noodling a go-go. LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE (1992) Intense. Passionate. Evocative. Job done. 9½ WEEKS (1986) The original Fifty Shades of Grey, not for the faint-hearted... especially if you’re not a fan of being force fed cough syrup, raw eggs or jalapeños while blindfolded. MARIE ANTOINETTE (2006) Let them eat cake... and petits fours. And fondants. And candy – lots and lots of candy – all washed down with Champagne; you’ll lose your (tasteful) head after watching this. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989) “I’ll have what she’s having”... and Sally got what she wanted. RATATOUILLE (2007) Soft centred, big-hearted foodie fun for the whole family.

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READER OFFER

TRISTAN DARBY Columnist Tristan Darby encourages us to try something a bit different this month

re you looking for ways to help you get through January? An uplifting lunch treat with a friend could be a wonderful way of escaping the gloom and focusing on the good things in life, especially good food. You’ll find such a treat at The Bath Priory, which from 2 January to 30 March is offering a complimentary apéritif when you have a three-course lunch, at a cost of £35 between Monday and Saturday or £39 on Sundays. Readers of The Bath Magazine having lunch at The Bath Priory between these dates can choose a complimentary aperitif from the bar menu: a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne; a cocktail from the house menu; a bottled beer; a glass of sommelier’s choice wine; or a soft drink. The aperitif will be served alongside some delicious canapés in one of the beautiful sitting rooms in front of an open fire. You’ll then move through to the dining room to enjoy a three-course lunch prepared by executive chef, Michael Nizzero and his team. The Bath Priory’s seasonal menu includes dishes such as butternut squash terrine with goat’s curd and hazelnut to start. Mains feature braised pork belly, salt-baked swede and Bath ale sauce; or pan-fried stone bass, Asian shellfish bouillon, cauliflower and pak choi. Desserts include orange soufflé and cardamom ice-cream or a selection of artisan cheeses, chutney and homemade breads. Set within four acres of mature award-winning gardens, The Bath Priory offers the best of both worlds with a country house hotel feel, set just a short stroll across Victoria Park from the centre of Bath. Take time to enjoy the gardens before or after your lunch, or sink into one of the sofas in one of the luxurious public rooms adorned with the private art collection of owners Andrew and Christina Brownsword. Known for its excellent restaurant and extensive wine cellar, this exclusive lunch offer from The Bath Priory is the perfect way to start off 2019 in style. n

tuck on Sauvignon? Playing safe with Pinot? It's all too easy to get stuck in a wine rut with old favourites that are safe bets we return to time after time. But surely part of the joy of wine, and indeed life, is found in trying something new and broadening your horizons? It could even be that ‘new experiences’ were part of your resolutions for 2019. However, as lucky as we are to have such a wide variety of styles and countries represented on our retailer’s shelves in the UK, it’s the diversity of choice and where to start that can so often bewilder and force us back into old habits. My best piece of advice is to buy your wines in a local wine merchant with friendly, knowledgable staff who can get to know you and your tastes, and advise you on the best wines, alternative styles and hidden gems you’d otherwise pass over. Yes, it’s easy and quick to buy wine in the supermarkets, but there’s little-to-no help or advice available and you really are on your own. Some might feel they aren’t knowledgable enough to visit a specialist and fear getting caught out – I even occasionally hear people in shops apologising that they don’t know much about wine. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone in a bookshop excusing their lack of study on Hemingway, Kafka, and Dostoyevsky, and there’s really nothing to fear. It’s the merchant’s job to know about the world of wine, not yours, and passionate staff will be happy to help you find the right bottle. It’s helpful to have an idea of what you’re prepared to pay, and don’t be frightened to say what you do or don’t like – snobbery is a thing of the past and everyone’s taste is different (somewhere like Great Western Wine will even have some bottles open for you to taste). Other smart advice is to learn by experience with a wine course or by going to as many wine-tasting events as possible, where you can sample and learn as you go. To start you off, here are two great alternative bottles from Great Western Wine I’ve chosen to give you a refreshing start to February. Chaffey Bros., Dufte Punkt (£15.95 GWW) from Australia’s Eden Valley is a fabulously fresh aromatic white made with a blend of three Germanic grapes. It is both supremely sippable and intriguingly complex to boot. Riesling brings a mouthwatering lime and floral note, Gewurztraminer imparts musky lychee and pepper notes, and Kerner a little stone fruit richness. Fresh and gentle with a mineral edge to the palate coupled with great persistence of flavour. Splendid on its own or perhaps alongside lighter Thai-spiced chicken or fish dishes. Red drinkers should try Pfaffl’s Zweigelt Vom Hause (£12.95 GWW) for a refreshing Austrian alternative to new-world pinot noir or Italian Barbera. It’s vibrant and fresh but by no means lacking in depth or character, crammed full of dark cherry flavours and a touch of peppery spice. The wine’s low level of tannins, fresh palate and an abundance of juicy ripe fruit make it ideal to serve slightly chilled alongside a plethora of vegetable, chicken, pork, duck dishes, and tomatobased pasta and pizza. n

To book, call The Bath Priory on 01225 331922 and quote ‘The Bath Magazine lunch offer’. The Bath Priory, Weston Road, Bath BA1 2XT; thebathpriory.co.uk

Learn more about the world of wine with Tristan on a course at Great Western Wine. Visit greatwesternwine.co.uk/events

Time for lunch

The first few months of the year can be hard to get through, so how about planning some treats for your diary? Here’s a special offer from The Bath Priory that’s just the ticket

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The wedding of Lady Lucy Rachel Stanhope, who eloped with Thomas Taylor, the family apothecary, in 1796. Lucyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father (Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl Stanhope) refused to reconcile with her following the marriage. Taylor is depicted here by James Gillray as a mortar and pestle, reflecting how some in society mocked the daughter of an earl marrying someone from a lower profession

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CITY | HISTORY

Finding a spa consort

In honour of Valentine’s Day, historian Catherine Pitt takes us back to the 18th century when Bath was Cupid’s playground and a social hothouse of flirting, gossip and scandal

Wellcome Images/National Gallery of Art/Wiki Commons

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here is no place in the world so fit for the necessary and honourable business of making alliances,” said Dr Richard Pococke about Bath in 1750. At the height of its fame in the 18th century, Bath was the place to see and be seen; a hotbed of intrigue, scandal and matchmaking for the middle and upper classes. Unlike London and other cities Bath’s role as a spa resort made socialising between the classes a necessity. Visitors frequented the ballrooms, churches, bookshops, gaming salons, and the baths all together. Being outside the perameters of strict social conventions meant there was a small possibility that the daughter of a tailor could catch the eye, and hand, of a duke. Women in this period, as in previous centuries, were disadvantaged from birth. A female was a commodity – considered her father’s (or guardian’s) property, and then her husband’s. Arranged marriages were common, especially among the upper classes. A marriage was to provide heirs as well as property and money. A woman’s social status and her dowry were therefore important factors in deciding on a marriage match. The middle classes sought a suitable marriage for the same reasons, but also many were keen for their progeny to be upwardly mobile in society and marry a higher rank. For poorer classes it was simply a case of survival. Women were almost entirely dependent on men for their security. Bath’s Poor Laws in the mid-18th century record that two-thirds of people claiming alms were single or abandoned women of the lower classes (and often pregnant). Every year thousands of visitors came to Bath to partake in The Season. As the city’s popularity grew, so did the demand for entertainment. Promenades were created, the Assembly Rooms were built, and pleasure gardens – with their secluded grottos – appeared, and Bath’s small size meant both upper and middle classes were forced to mix together. To oversee all of this was the Master of Ceremonies (MC), a role created by Richard ‘Beau’ Nash. Nash devised a set of rules for

all visitors to follow and subscriptions to pay for the entertainments provided. Women were afforded some freedoms in Bath that they couldn’t enjoy elsewhere – for example, single women and married women travelling solo could be unchaperoned in public places. However, if seen in public with a man not well known to them, then the rumour mill could go into overdrive. This was where the role of the Master of Ceremonies came in. A key skill of a MC in Bath was initiating introductions between men and women, so becoming a matchmaker of sorts. Networking was crucial to the marriage game. Bath enabled these interactions, and became renowned for its ‘marriage market’. In Jane Austen’s novel Northanger Abbey, Austen describes the perils of negotiating the Bath scene through her character, Catherine Moreland: “She longed to dance, but she had not an acquaintance in the room.” The population of Bath lived in a fine city but many had little to do except gossip, gamble and flirt. Courtships took place under these eagle-eyes, and elopements and scandals were devoured by the local press. Though Bath provided the environs for matchmaking it appears from local church records and newspaper marriage columns that the actual weddings took place elsewhere. Although Bath enabled the classes to mix, the manner of courtship didn’t change. It was de rigeur for a suitor to ask a woman’s father for her hand in marriage if an engagement was forthcoming from a dalliance. If a father refused, then for some couples the only option was to elope. The most famous love affair in Bath was that of the 18th-century playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan and local beauty and soprano Elizabeth Linley. The couple eloped from Bath in 1772 and married secretly in France. Though their affair

initially shocked society, the outpouring of successful books and plays written about them did little harm to their reputation. (See Duelling for the Love of Eliza on The Bath Magazine website for more.) Flirtations could be dangerous to women’s reputations and often friendships were misconstrued. Philanthropist Ralph Allen’s niece and heir Gertrude Tucker was the subject of a scandal in which a poem written by Charles Churchill implied that her son was in fact the result of an affair with her friend, the debonair Thomas Potter, Recorder of Bath. Even married women and widows were not immune to scandal. The threat of social ostracisation was a weapon men could use against women. Author Philip Thicknesse was advised by his friend Lord Chief Justice Willes to compromise a rich plantation owner’s widow and force her to become his second wife. The suggestion was to break into her bedroom and appear at her window in a nightcap “when the walks are full of company”. Thankfully this plan never came to fruition. “Man has the advantage of choice, women only the power of refusal” said Henry Tilney in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. The MC’s role at Bath was especially useful to the vulnerable unmarried heiress. All visitors were recorded in subscription books that were publicly displayed in the Pump Room. The MC made it his duty to get to know the ‘set’, and any imposter trying to ensnare an heiress would get short shrift. A woman’s virginity was the only commodity over which she had control. To endanger that was to risk reputation and social standing, as well as any marriage prospects. Some men took advantage of this

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Inset, Elizabeth Linley by Thomas Gainsborough, c1785, who caused a scandal when she eloped with playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan in 1772

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and it was often why engagements were so brief and why some couples had to elope. Before The Marriage Act of 1753, marriages could take place anywhere and without evidence of having taken place. This created situations where men went on to have bigamous alliances, abandoning multiple women who were often left destitute and pregnant. And divorce wasn’t an option. It was incredibly expensive and involved the ignominy of one’s private life being publically discussed in parliament since only they could dissolve a marriage.

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Man has the advantage of choice, women only the power of refusal

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One result of a Bath liaison that highlighted the issues with marriage in the early 18th century was that of the case of Collins versus Mosley. At Easter 1745 a 37-year-old lawyer from London, Arthur Collins, came to Bath and met and fell in love with 36-year-old Elizabeth Mosley, only daughter of Sir Oswald Mosley, second Baronet Rolleston. It was unusual for Elizabeth to be unmarried as the average age for a woman 62 TheBATHMagazine

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to marry in the 18th century was 22 years old. Regardless of this, the two began a very public courtship. They walked in the hills around the city, and took tea together at his lodgings. Surprisingly her parents remained in the dark. Over 18 months the couple continued the affair both by letter and in coinciding visits to Bath. Elizabeth verbally promised Arthur marriage and it appears they went through some form of verbal contract of marriage, but she dissuaded Arthur from contacting her father to formalise the union. Elizabeth was in a quandary. She loved Arthur, but she knew he was an unsuitable suitor because he was of a lower social status than her. With a £5,000 dowry at stake (over £500,000 today), Elizabeth had a lot to lose. Baronet Mosley eventually discovered the affair and Elizabeth was forced to cut off all contact. Snubbed and shamed, Arthur took her to court. Despite initially winning his case the Mosleys appealed and won. Elizabeth’s fate was an arranged marriage that proved childless, ironically ending the direct Mosley line. It was public cases, such as this, of ambiguity and elopements that brought about The Marriage Act of 1753, the first statutory legislation in England and Wales to formalise marriage. You had to be over 21 years of age to marry (if younger, then parental approval had to be sought), and the union had to take place in an Anglican church or chapel

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(with some exceptions for other faiths) by an ordained minister with two witnesses present. A marriage register was signed as proof of the nuptials. This didn’t stop couples eloping. For those who could afford it they could buy special licences, or marry abroad; however others headed north to the Scottish borders to places such as Coldstream Bridge, Paxton Toll and of course Gretna Green. In January 1761 it was reported in the Bath Chronicle that “A young lady of great fortune eloped on Tuesday with her father’s coachman, they are gone, it is supposed, to Scotland, to be married.” By the 1800s many young women desired romantic matches rather than arranged marriages. Though constraints for women continued, attitudes were shifting, as demonstrated by William Hogarth’s series of paintings Marriage a la Mode (1743–5) which details the disaster of arranged marriages, and in works from authors such as Jane Austen, who experienced first-hand the Bath matchmaking scene and wrote of fictional romantic alliances in the city. By the end of the 18th century Bath’s reputation as a fashionable resort was waning, but its key role in opening up the marriage market to both middle and upper classes during this period cannot be denied. “Farewel, Dear Bath, No where is so much scandal, no where is so little sin! (sic)”, wrote Alexander Sutherland in 1763. n

The National Gallery/Wiki Commons

Marriages were often contracted between wealthy and aspiring families, as depicted in William Hogarth’s Marriage A-la-Mode: 1, The Marriage Settlement. Bath was a playground for families to scout out the wealthiest and most advantageous alliances in the 18th century

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the delicious guide the best places in the city to eat, drink and enjoy

the delicious guide to Bath featuring all the fave eateries and foodie treateries is available online at our website www.thebathmag.co.uk

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WINTER | BREAKS

Seascape escape

Emma Clegg takes her son on a winter weekend to the seaside town of St Ives, with its golden beaches, warm winters and a bright light that was once a magnet for the modern art movement

The rooftop at Tate St Ives

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one in our spacious second floor room. The complex at Tregenna Castle is not short of space – 72 acres, in fact, where you’ll find woodland, lawns and a par three 18-hole golf course. There’s a heated outdoor pool open from May to mid-September with views over the bay, and an indoor pool and a jacuzzi (both thoroughly tested by us). There are also tennis courts, badminton and squash courts and a health and beauty treatment centre, Castle Beauty, where we had an aromatic massage and a three algae back ritual (think cleanse, detoxify and smooth). This was a first for Fin whose initial nerves about a hands-on treatment were quickly dissipated.

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I felt I had been flying high, letting myself be swept along by the warm, open skies and the experience of the white galleries

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ake one mum. And a teenage son. Put them on a train and send them to St Ives. Not to meet a man with seven wives – a nostalgic literary reference way above the remit of said teenager – but to escape to a fishing town and coastal landscape on the same south west claw as Land’s End. One that became organically associated with a colony of post-war abstract modernist artists, including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Patrick Heron, drawn here by the extraordinary Mediterranean-style light. The challenge: to keep Fin (15) away from his phone long enough to engage with what St Ives has to offer. Located on the Atlantic coast of north-west Cornwall, we reached St Ives on the train, passing through Exeter St Davids, Plymouth, Saltash, Truro and Redruth until we reached St Erth. We followed a slope downwards to the branch line platform that took us the four miles to St Ives. Here the pace changes and you start to shake off the prickling dust of the city. The 12-minute train journey embraces the coast, providing dreamy views of the glistening Hayle Estuary, the pools and turf of the Lelant Saltings and the white sands of Carbis Bay. We were welcomed with a swelling vision of sea and sky and clustered white houses stretching along the arc of St Ives Bay. We reached Tregenna Castle Resort by a short taxi ride (a hill was involved so a taxi to the castle, and a walk back to St Ives was the norm, we discovered). Once a seaside home, the castle has been welcoming guests for 240 years. The main thrill is in the views from the castle over the bay, and we had an exceptional

That evening we enjoyed a meal in the brasserie at Tregenna, a steak fettuccine with a Cajun sauce and a St Ives burger, a combination of beef and pork, and skinny fries. The brasserie seemed bustling for January, and there is apparently a coterie of visitors who arrive in the winter months to revisit favourite haunts, walk the coast and revel in the wintry coastal landscapes. The next day was a joy. I exaggerate not. Not only did it involve the Tate St Ives (of more anon), but a whole day spent with Fin (who only appears from time to time at home, his head plus headphones half viewed around a door, usually to demand food). Stripped of technology and under an umbrella of expansive, billowing sky, we followed the woodland walk from the castle and headed to St Ives, with ever-changing scapes of the town, the harbour and the sea beyond. The Tate St Ives was designed around a redundant gas works, reflected in its curved front façade and winding step approach. The 10 galleries feature work by iconic 20thcentury artists who lived and worked there – from Henry Moore and Naum Gabo to Peter Lanyon and Marc Rothko – and show the role of St Ives in the story of modern art. The new extension exhibition space is used for

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large-scale seasonal shows. Our task (designed by me to keep us focused) was to choose an artwork in each gallery that we’d like to take home with us. None of our choices correlated – Fin was more Ben Nicholson (A Continuous Line) and Maggi Hambling (Minotaur Surprised When Eating) and I was more Henri Matisse (The Inattentive Reader) and Mark Rothko (Untitled), but each choice required eloquent justification, which was half the fun. The large white open gallery spaces, full of rich modern statements, abstract sculptures and visual conversations, were exhilarating, uplifting. Not everyone will like the work here, perhaps too abstract for some tastes, but we revelled in it. Fin was open and engaged, pleased that it was modern (he disapproves of most pre-20th-century artworks). I felt I had been flying high, letting myself be swept along by the warm, open skies and the experience of the white galleries. Leaving the Tate St Ives somewhat reluctantly (after a ‘ridiculous’ [said Fin] amount of time spent in the gift shop, which was stupendous), we had lunch in the Cornish Deli in Chapel Street. This was a creamy goat’s cheese and balsamic beetroot salad for me and a handmade ham and cheese wholemeal sandwich for Fin. The owner, Mark, was warmly welcoming. There was a painting of the front of the deli on the wall and Fin pointed out that it could be us sitting behind the right-hand window (see far right). Next stop was the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden on Barnoon Hill. This was Dame Barbara’s home and gallery until her death, her workshop outside maintained just as she had kept it. The sculpture garden, punctuated by mammoth statements in metal and stone, was as aweinspiring as a domestic garden could be – Fin lost his ‘whatever’ expression as he took pictures enthusiastically from different angles. The next morning we explored the winding streets with the small galleries and shops, and took the coastal path from St Ives above Carbis Bay, looking down on its rocky inlets and beaches of tide-channelled sand. Returning to Bath on the train, I looked at Fin, reunited with headphones and tech, and hoped that he, as I knew I would, might keep a bright memory of our time in St Ives. n Rooms at Tregenna Castle with sea views and breakfast from £105; treatments at Castle Beauty from £35; tregennacastle.co.uk; stives-cornwall.co.uk

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CITY | HISTORY

CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: St Ives Bay and harbour; Tregenna Castle; The Cornish Deli; a view through one of Barbara Hepworthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pieces in her Sculpture Garden

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BATH | PEOPLE

Five minutes with... Krishnaa Shyam has run her own scarf business since 2014, which she then boosted with a Kickstarter campaign in October 2017. Her designs are heavily influenced by the patterns of traditional Indian textiles and the sights and textures of India, such as mosiac tiles, spice gardens and the native flora

I live in Weston.We decided to move to a quieter part of town after living in the centre. The views are amazing from here and there are some lovely walks hidden away from the city. I began drawing with my grandmother at a very young age. I’ve always been drawn to and influenced by traditional textiles such as the Indian saree. The saree is a single six-metre long piece of cloth, which has patterns woven into it or embroidered on to it. Patterns like this were a big part of my life, from decorating our front porch with traditional drawings to wearing pattered skirts my mum stitched for me at home. All of this left a lasting impression on me. I studied history of art in India and then Illustration at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), then brand development at Bath Spa University. Never textiles. It’s been a personal journey of navigating the world of textiles, and learning from scratch how to print on them. My illustration degree gave me the skill I needed to draw confidently and find my style. History of art gave me my inspiration – patterns steeped in the folk art of India. The urge to create my own patterns, and bring them to life, share them with the world and do it to my exacting standards made me start my own business. I managed a lovely shop in town for a few years: Chandni Chowk. They created hand-block printed designs in Devon and had them made in India. Being surrounded by these prints inspired me to sketch during my free time and I realised I liked creating prints and wanted to learn how to do them with precision. Soon after, I found my calling in surface pattern design. I had researched vendors and printers, had produced various samples with my prints, had begun selling in Indian boutiques and sold in Bath’s local markets. The Kickstarter was an idea that came to me when I realised I wanted to do this on a bigger scale, reach more people and get feedback from my customers. I started eight months before I launched the Kickstarter and began to work on ideas and

started reaching out to craft makers in India. A dear friend helped me take the video and the idea began to take shape. Two months before launch, I began a marketing strategy. Kickstarter allows you only a month to get funded. So it was a stressful month! I took part in the Top Drawer retail and trade show last autumn. There was a lot of interest in my work, including from major retailers, but the downtrend in retail and Brexit has made a lot of people risk averse! On the up side, this resulted in a major epiphany for my business: the idea of affordable luxury. I’m focusing on both trade and retail sales. Trade and retail used to be two completely different beasts, but with the face of retail changing so dramatically, my approach has been two-pronged. My scarves sit well in museums and art galleries and high-end stores. I’m keen to get into retailers and museums local to Bath. I have been approached by some European companies for trade orders as well. I think we have to embrace the online trend and create innovative new models of doing business and creating customer experiences that people care about. The demand for high-quality goods has never been higher – the consumer just does not think the high street is always the best place to shop. Many also care deeply about the journey the product makes, as much as its price. By some measures, the fashion industry is one of the least sustainable industries in the world, and I'd like to be a part of the solution and not the problem. I am, of course, saddened in some ways about the loss of the high street as we knew it but think we are on the cusp of a major revolution of what our streets and shops are for. My favourite independent shops in Bath are Rossiters, Found, Up to 7, Spotty Herberts, Homefront Interiors and Alexandra May Jewellery. Bloomsbury was one of my favourites and I was really sad when it shut down. My fashion and textile gurus are Marimekko, Sanna Annukka, Gudrun Sjõdén, Orla Kiely, fabrics and prints by Liberty London, Heti’s Colours, Vera Neumann, SuTurno, and my all-time inspiration Henri Matisse. I go for bright, vibrant colours that pop. Coming from India I was always surrounded by colours and I’ve never been afraid of them. I like to temper the bright with the quiet to create a balance. My favourite perspective on Bath is the early morning view of the city from my bedroom window up on the hill: the colours, the lights, the skies, the moon and the stars. n From Spring/Summer 2019 Krishnaa Shyam’s scarves can be found at the gift boutique at the Holburne Museum, Bath. For more info visit: krishnaashyam.com

ABOVE: Bourgainvillea Wistful Pink scarf RIGHT: Blooming Blue scarf

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Moving this year?

Buying a property is always exciting – you’ve just fallen in love with a new place and can’t wait to move in. But sometimes buying and selling can be tricky so preparing in advance can help maximise your chances of a smooth and hassle-free sale, and there are several areas to consider. Are you selling a house or a flat? Is your current property freehold or leasehold? If you have a lease (i.e you are selling a flat) check how long the lease has left to run. If it is close to or less than 80 years you should consider extending the lease to maximise the property’s value. Where did I put...? Now is the time to find the information you have stored because ‘it might be useful one day’ and that the buyer might want to see. This includes any records for alterations you have made and warranties e.g. planning permission and Building Regulations certificates for extensions, and warranties for windows and the boiler. If you don’t have these, the quicker you let your solicitors know the better. They can then find a solution so that your buyer does not lose momentum. The right estate agent Choosing the right estate agent can make a real difference so compare carefully before deciding. It’s important to consider: how many similar properties have they sold locally? How will they sell what is special about your property? Are their fees fair and transparent? Do they have a strong online presence? The right solicitor You may expect me to say this, but the right solicitor is vital, and it will be your closest relationship throughout the process, so were they recommended? Does the chemistry feel right, and do they communicate in a way that works for you? There is an advantage if they are local; knowledge of the area will be invaluable and practically it’s also useful as you may need to sign or drop off documents, which is much easier if they are close by! Moving home is an exciting time and there is a lot to think about, but preparation and a good solicitor will guide you through it. www.mogersdrewett.com Alison Treble, Partner – Residential Property, Mogers Drewett

all companies could be as efficient!)” Call Marie Maggs, Mike Wilcox or Hannah Pettifer on 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting

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CITY | NEWS

CITYNEWS BROWNSWORD MATCH FUNDING

BATH BID BLOOMS

Bath Abbey has been presented with £175,000 towards the Footprint project by local philanthropist Andrew Brownsword. The abbey’s Rector, The Reverend Canon Guy Bridgewater, met with Mr and Mrs Brownsword to receive the cheque, which forms part of The Brownsword Charitable Foundation’s pledge of half a million pounds in match funding towards the project. The pledge is triggered every time someone makes a donation. In 2018, the abbey raised around £175,000 from individual donors through a variety of fundraising activities, including abseiling down the Abbey Tower, and this has been match funded by The Brownsword

The Bath BID has been nominated to compete at a national level in the RHS 2019 Britain in Bloom competition. Bath BID competes against Business Improvement Districts from across the country including Kings Lynn, Canary Wharf, Bicester and Dunfermline. Finalists are put forward to the national final based on their progress regionally and will be scored by a team of RHS national judges in the summer. Last year, the Bath BID achieved Gold at the South West in Bloom Awards for the second year in a row and Best in Category in the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual awards. rhs.org.uk/bloomfinalists

Charitable Foundation, bringing the total raised in 2018 to £350,000. Essential works are being carried out inside the abbey’s east end to repair the collapsing floor and to install underfloor eco-heating. Building work is also taking place along the south side of the abbey to create space for new and improved facilities. bathabbey.org/footprint

FEEL-GOOD FEB INVESTMENT FOR SOUTHGATE SouthGate will get a new look this year after a £2.5 million investment by owners British Land and Aviva Investors. Starting in early February, the project will transform the centre’s public spaces and enhance the visitor experience. Plans include the creation of a pocket park on St Lawrence Street including mounded lawns, timber seating and apple trees. SouthGate has also partnered with Bath-based Macgregor Smith Architects and the Holburne Museum to design a new piece of public art in SouthGate Place. The specially

FUN FACT Up to 10,000 people per day arrived by coach to explore Bath and visit the Christmas Market

commissioned shadow lantern has been created following literacy workshops with local school children and will project words associated with Bath’s culture and heritage – from Royal Crescent and Roman Baths to Bath rugby. southgatebath.com

Bath celebrates wellbeing and health across the city with a new ten-day programme of Feel-Good events, offers and activities from 1–10 February. Curated by Visit Bath and embracing different strands of health and wellness – from special spa activities and offers, live sport, mindfulness walks and yoga sessions, to retail therapy and food and drink events – Feel-Good February will also see the BNP Paribas Women’s Tennis Fed Cup headline from 7– 9 February at the University of Bath. Other events and activities include a Power of Sleep talk with Dr Neil Stanley, Aromatherapy Associates Wellness Expert at The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel; a relaxation session and lunch with L’Occitane at The Bath Priory Hotel; an exhibition Why Museums Matter at The Holburne Museum; rooftop Aquasana at Thermae Bath Spa; an evening with spa brand Natura Bissé at No. 15 Great Pulteney; and mindfulness walks at National Trust property Dyrham Park. visitbath.co.uk/feel-good

BATH BUSINESS BAROMETER UPDATE: DECEMBER 2018

provided by

High Street Footfall (Month on month % change)

+18.8%

n Bath footfall was up 18.8% in December on November, significantly higher than the national average of 5.3%. Increases are always expected in December but this is higher than in previous years (e.g. 14.4% in 2017). However, footfall in December 2018 dropped by 8.6% compared to December 2017. n Footfall during the Bath Christmas Market increased by an average of 15% per week, with the final week (3rd–9th December) being the busiest week of 2018. n Encouragingly, average footfall in Bath has been 6% higher in the first three weeks of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.

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+5.3%

+11.4%

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EDUCATION

EDUCATION NEWS PREP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE The junior wing of the Royal High School Bath has launched itself as the Royal High Prep School. The school, which has been nominated twice in a row by the Times Educational Supplement for its outstanding creative curriculum, prepares 3–11 year old girls at Cranwell House in Weston to make their mark in the school and wider communities before moving on to the senior wing in Lansdown. Launch week involved a range of activities and workshops. Nursery and reception prepared to make their mark as first aiders, learning how to call an ambulance, and Year 1 used the theme ‘Sailing the Seas’ to look at the lives of explorers. Year 2 looked at saving lives with the RNLI and Year 3 learned about NASA from Royal High sixth former Bethan Hughes. Year 5 looked into navigating the skies with a visit from an RAF pilot and Red Arrows trainer, and Year 6 prepared to make for a greener planet by learning about what they can do to combat the plastic problem. royalhighbath.gdst.net

A* ENGLISH ACE Millfield deputy head groundsman Colin Ashman who has worked for the school for over 25 years, has achieved an A* in A level English Literature with the help of teachers, learning support staff and pupils. Colin, who prepared for his exams by listening to audiobooks while he mowed the cricket green lawn, achieved near perfect marks in three of the four papers, including a perfect score in the drama exam. Encouraged by Millfield English teachers Caroline Byrne and Lindsay Hale, as well as head of English James Baddock, head of library David Trevis, Diane Tonkins from learning support and his friend Mario, Colin pursued his passion for literature through independent study and feedback from the teachers. People from across the Millfield community helped prepare Colin for his exams, including pupils passing on their old books. millfieldschool.com

FRACTAL VISION A KES team of aspiring engineers, known as Fractal 4x4, has won the South West Regional Final of the Land Rover 4x4 in Schools Technology Challenge, securing themselves a place in the UK National Final in March. The technology challenge is one of the world’s best project-based STEM challenges and culminates in a world final. Students work in small teams to design and build a Land Rover of the future to specifications set by real Jaguar Land Rover engineers. Participating teams build a radio controlled 4x4 vehicle which must successfully navigate and complete obstacles on an off-road test track that is just as demanding as the real thing, emulating the capabilities of a full size 4x4 vehicle. The winning team – Alex Christopherson, Morgan Jones, Xavier Raynes and Finn Williams – won an additional prize for best engineered vehicle, and were joined in the regional final by a second KES team, Modulus, who gained an award for best research and development. 4x4inschools.com; kesbath.com 72 TheBATHMagazine

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HALF TERM ADVENTURES During February half term The Paragon School is running two days of Camp Teepee Day Camp Adventures with activities including fire lighting, raft building, stick carving, shelter building, clay creature crafting and marshmallow toasting. £35 per day, from 21–22 February. paragonschool.co.uk/holiday-club

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HEAD-Y GOODBYE After a decade of service, Prior Park College’s headmaster, James Murphy-O’Connor, will leave the school at the end of this academic year, to take up the post of principal of Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools. During his time at the college, Mr MurphyO’Connor has overseen many exciting developments: the college pupil roll has exceeded 600, the boarding community has grown with nationalities from more than 20 countries, new facilities including the Bury Sports Centre and Creative Faculty have been built and, in September 2016, Prior Park School Gibraltar was opened. Mr Murphy-O’Connor said, “I will leave with a heavy heart as the college means so much to me and my family. It is in a very strong place and I will remain totally focused on our schools until my last day in July.” Prior Park College hope to announce Mr MurphyO’Connor’s replacement before the end of the Lent term. priorparkcollege.com

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lder House ve just rated Ca ha ed fst O S! time in a row. STOP PRES 9) for the third 01 (2 ng di an st as Out

• Co-educational day school for pupils aged 5-13 with

dyslexia and other specific learning/language difficulties.

• Located in Wiltshire between Bath and Chippenham. CReSTeD approved.

• Fully qualified specialist teachers with maximum class size of eight - reducing to one-to-one as required.

Call 01225 743 566 or visit www.CalderHouseSchool.co.uk

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FAMILY | EVENTS

Family diary IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN THIS MONTH ARTY BABIES Every Monday from 4 February – 1 April, 1–2.30pm n The Holburne Museum This group provides a relaxed, creative space for parents to meet others over a cuppa and make something different each week while their babies enjoy sensory play. Suitable for ages up to nine months. £60 for six weeks, block bookings only. You can do a trial session (£10) ahead of booking the rest of a block; holburne.org

Get up close and personal with nature at Tyntesfield this month

JUNIOR ASTRONOMERS’ WORKSHOP Saturday 9 February, 1–4pm n BRLSI Calling all junior astronomers – enjoy a workshop filled with investigations of the history of the universe and discover how humankind uses technology to discover the secret of outer space. Suitable for ages eight–11 years. £10; brlsi.org OVER THE MOON Sunday 10 February, 10am, 12.30pm & 3pm n The egg This first opera for little people weaves together gentle classical music with familiar nursery rhymes and games in an interactive musical adventure for babies. Enjoy musical tickling, stretching, chomping and stamping as you journey through the day waking, eating, playing and sleeping. Suitable for ages up to two. £8; theatreroyal.org.uk SPRINGS TODDLERS Monday 11 February, 10–11.30am n The Forum Play, sing, enjoy storytime and lots of other fun in this morning toddler group. Open to all and run by Bath City Church. Tel: 01225 443 114; bathforum.co.uk SUPERPIRATES Friday 15 February, 10.30am n Komedia Expect crazy games, a huge dance floor, confetti cannons and den building as SuperPirates transform Komedia’s dance floor. Don’t miss the free face painting. No advance tickets available, on the door only. Adults and new-borns go free; £4 for children; komedia.co.uk MEN BEHAVING DADLY Saturday 16 February, 9–10.30am n St Swithin’s Church, The Paragon Head to the crypt, meet other dads and have some quality time with your little one. There’s toys, games, toast for the kids and

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coffee and bacon butties for dads. £3 per dad. Pre-school children only; stswithinswalcot.org.uk BRICKING IT Monday 18 February, 10.30am–12.30pm n The Pound, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire Build a castle, rocket, sheep, giant beanstalk or whatever your heart desires at this Lego workshop. Using the incredible collection available at The Pound, spend your midmorning getting creative. £3; poundarts.org.uk THE LADYBIRD DETECTIVE AGENCY Monday 18 – Wednesday 20 February, 10am & 11.15am n The egg Join The Ladybird Detective Agency as they take part in their most daring detective duty ever, flitting through and lightly treading garden paths and undergrowth as they go. Suitable for ages six months to four years. £4, lap seats available for ages up to six months at £1; theatreroyal.org.uk SWAINSWICK EXPLORERS Monday 18 – Friday 22 March n Upper Swainswick House, BA1 8BU This half term enjoy a mix of exploring wild places and making crafts indoors. Suitable for ages four to 14. £40 for the day, including food. Children over 14 can apply for work experience; swainswickexplorers.co.uk

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STORY READING: LEGEND OF PIGS Tuesday 19 February, 10.30–11.30am & 2–3pm n Museum of East Asian Art Celebrate Lunar New Year and learn more about the Year of the Pig as you explore a series of East Asian folk stories about pigs. Booking required. £2; meaa.org.uk RIBBON ROUND–UP Tuesday 19 February, 10.30am–12.30pm n Fashion Museum Explore how ribbon is used by fashion designers and make a ribbon decoration. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free with normal museum entry; fashionmuseum.co.uk HANSEL & GRETEL Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 February, 11.30am & 3pm n The egg Enjoy this modern retelling of the classic fairytale. Watch as the two heroes tackle situations that would have the bravest of adults shaking in their boots as they find their way home. Expect to groove in your seat in a show that will transport you to a world far from your own. Suitable for over five years. £9, £8 children; theatreroyal.org.uk LUNAR NEW YEAR PLAYTIME Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 February, 2–3.30pm n Museum of East Asian Art

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FAMILY | EVENTS

Become a Swainswick Explorer this half term

Enjoy a modern retelling of this classic fairytale at The egg

Play and get creative in the craft workshop as you learn about the ancient tradition of the Lunar New Year. Booking required. £2; meaa.org.uk CAMP TEEPEE DAY CAMP Thursday 21 – 22 February n The Paragon School Be prepared to get muddy as you go on an outdoor adventure. Expect fire lighting, raft building, stick carving, shelter building, claycreature creating and marshmallow toasting. Open to all ages, £35 per day; paragonschool.co.uk

TYNTETOTS: THUMBELINA Wednesday 27 February, 10–11.45am n Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol Make a fairy potion, be a nature detective, join a frog party and hear the enchanting Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of Thumbelina: a tiny girl and her encounters with moles, toads and other like-minded creatures. Suitable for ages two to five; tiny tots are welcome and free of charge when accompanying an older sibling or companion. Appropriate outdoor clothing is essential. Adults free, children £8; nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield

LOOKING AHEAD... BIG BATH SLEEP-OUT Friday 8 March n Alice Park Ditch the comfort of your bed and sleep out for just one night under the stars. Join Julian House and hundreds of others while raising vital funds to make an incredible difference to those forced to sleep out every night. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Entry forms can be picked up from Julian House charity shops in Walcot Street and Shaftesbury Road, or Alice Park Café; bigbathsleepout.co.uk n

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FITNESS & WELLBEING

FITNESS & WELLBEING NEWS An event that’s part of the city-wide wellness campaign, dynamic personal training for women, a new gym space and achieving your goals, Crystal Rose shares the latest in the sector As part of the city-wide wellness campaign – Feel-Good Bath – spearheaded by Visit Bath, The Ivy Bath Brasserie is collaborating with Sweaty Betty Bath to host its own yoga and breakfast event. Introducing alcohol-free cocktails with the world’s first non-alcoholic spirit Seedlip Garden, all while encouraging locals and visitors to focus on the mind, body and soul, the event will be held on Saturday 2 and 9 February at The Ivy. Enjoy an hour-long yoga class, held upstairs in the brasserie’s beautiful Art Decoinspired private dining room and taught by Jess Till, followed by breakfast downstairs in the main restaurant. Pick up one of the two new bespoke alcohol-free cocktails Hemingway’s Abstinence and Pulteney Punch, available until Sunday 10 February for £5.95. Both yoga sessions are complimentary, with yoga mats provided by Sweaty Betty and breakfast is £20 per person – inclusive of arrival juice or a non-alcoholic Seedlip cocktail, a breakfast dish and water, tea and coffee. Katja Kammerer, The Ivy Bath Brasserie’s general manager, says: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Sweaty Betty Bath to offer a unique wellness experience in the gorgeous setting of our Baldwin private dining room as part of Feel-Good Bath.”

FEELING GOOD

• Yoga & Breakfast at The Ivy Bath Brasserie on Saturday 2 February 9–10am and Saturday 9 February 10–11am is £20 per person. For tickets contact Grayling at TheIvyBath@grayling.com. See more events at: visitbath.co.uk/feel-good

NEW SPACE! Group-training gym F45 has recently opened its doors on Avon Street. With 45minute classes (and a very familiar face James Haskell fronting the gym), F45 offers 27 different workouts to choose from, including high intensity and circuit training. • 7 Avon Street, BA1 1UN; f45training.co.uk/bath

ACHIEVE GOALS With New Year resolutions comes change. And, as Andrea Kelly explains, change can be daunting. You may not know where to start, you may give up at the first hurdle or sign of temptation, stress may play a part of perhaps your motivation is not what it used to be. Being creatures of habit and reverting back to our old patterns of behaviour can make it difficult to make the changes that we want. Thinking differently could be the key to your success. Hypnotherapy helps to change subconscious patterns and gives us the tools for success not failure. The important part of working towards your goals is a strong belief that you will succeed. This is how hypnotherapy can help you and put you in the right frame of mind and motivate you to achieve your goals with confidence. Instead of focussing on what you don’t want, concentrate on what you do. Negative thoughts can sometimes stop us from moving forwards and can cast shade on the future. • Andrea Kelly Hypnotherapy; andreakellyhypnotherapy.co.uk

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WE LIKE TO MOOVIT, MOOVIT Moovit is a women only dynamic personal training and nutritional advice company offering bespoke, tailored personal training packages and small group training, as well as specialist pre and post natal training. Women of all ages can feel totally comfortable and confident to be themselves and become fitter and stronger at their own pace at this private gym. Clients range from ages 18–76. • Contact Amelia and Anna on info@moo-vit.fitness for a free consultation

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EVAMP TIME FOR A R SERVICES * £10 OFF OUR THIS ADVERT H IT W 0 3 £ R E OV

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

HEALTH & BEAUTY NEWS A highly anticipated haircare duo, a calcium influx and baring it all, Crystal Rose discusses the latest in the sector

MILK MAGIC

HOME MAINTENANCE

Milk Makeup has finally landed in the UK. Striving to create innovative, good-for-you products, Milk is about self-expression and experimenting. Being cruelty-free, paraben-free and 100% vegan, Milk is on our list of serious contenders in 2019 beauty. All aspects of the beauty line are developed in-house at Milk Studios located in downtown NYC. With multiuse makeup and skincare staples, Milk fits perfectly with on-the-go modern lifestyles. It’s never been easier to go tool-free. Blend out the solid textures and make handbag spills a thing of the past. We love the instant under-eye de-puffer (pictured right) that’s formulated with natural seawater and infused with caffeine to calm, hydrate and energise skin. Not forgetting the KUSH high-volume mascara that uses hempderived cannabis oil which allows for lash thickness without the fallout.

Having taken the haircare world by storm, Olaplex has released a few new additions to the family. The highly anticipated Bond Maintenance No.4 and No.5 shampoo and conditioner are all about repairing, restoring and hydrating your barnet at home. Made without sulphates, parabens or gluten, this duo is also vegan. Previously only available in salons, Olaplex has brought its power to your own shower. The perfect inbetweenie that seeks out broken bonds in the hair (caused by colouring and heating) and repairs them, restoring hair to its former glory. Ideal for every mane, that needs loving care after colour and heat treatments.

• Cooling Water, KUSH high-volume mascara; milkmakeup.com

TAKE YOUR CHANCE CHANEL has recently unveiled a new interpretation of the Chance au Tendre fragrance. The floral fruity signature Eau de Parfum, has been reinterepretted by perfumer-creator Olivier Polge. With a soft and cloudy heart of jasmine with delicate notes of grapefruit and quince, Chance au Tendre will sport a gold neck with a silvery hue for the die-shaped cap.

• No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo £24 and No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner £24; olaplex.com

• chanel.com

BARING ALL THE RITUAL OF BANYU Inspired by an ancient Balinese ceremony, The Ritual of Banyu is about honouring the powerful healing properties of water to soothe the mind, body and soul. This limited-edition collection helps you wash away the physical and spiritual dust of everyday life as you shower yourself in the goodness of antioxidantrich giant kelp and Bali sea salt. We’re looking forward to the feeling of jumping into the sea with this body cream, ideal for all skin types and rejuvenation. Plus, it’s free from silicones, parabens and mineral oils. Need we say any more? • Body cream, £19.50, Rituals; rituals.com

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Lush has recently opened its first-ever UK Naked store. With the aim of entirely avoiding any plastic packaging, Lush is hoping to inspire consumers to make sustainable choices when it comes to shopping. Bringing your own shopping bags and switching to non-plastic alternatives. Customers will be able to use the Lush Labs app to scan products (through the Lush Lens), take a closer look at the ingredients and access ‘how to use’ demonstations on their phones. This would remove the need for plastic labelling entirely. The, first-of-its-kind, eco-friendly store in Manchester comes from the success of the Naked Milan and Berlin stores. It can only be a matter of time until the Bath Lush store has a plastic-free makeover, right? We can’t wait to see what the future holds...

• 8 Union Street, Bath BA1 1RW; lush.com

The Orangery fp Feb 2019.qxp_Layout 1 25/01/2019 16:00 Page 1

Established for over 25 years we are the experts in skin health, aesthetics and advanced beauty treatments in Bath.

WE SPECIALISE IN THE FOLLOWING AESTHETIC & BEAUTY TREATMENTS The WOW facial

The ultimate WOW factor treatment - 6 stages of the most advanced skincare technology leaving the skin glowing, luminous & regenerated.

Does she? Doesn’t she?

Dermapen

Turn back time with our anti ageing procedures, fillers and muscle relaxing injections.

To refine pores, reduce scarring and collagen induction. It also firms the skin and reduces fine lines.

Cryotherapy

Permanent Hair Reduction Treatment

Flawless skin in a matter of seconds, removes unsightly skin tags, warts and age spots for that perfect finish.

No more waxing or depilatory creams. Safe and effective, even on fragile or delicate areas. Free consultations and patch test. 20% off IPL courses during February 2019

All our consultations are free of charge so please feel free to book an appointment to see which is the right treatment for you.

The Body Clinic...

by Victoria Rawlinson, Heath & Fitness Practioner Bespoke Nutrition & Lifestyle Plans available

Eat to suit your bodies needs. Loose body fat and enjoy abundant energy without feeling hungry all the time. Come and meet Victoria for a friendly relaxed chat. Find out how easy it is to begin the journey to a slimmer more vibrant and energised you.

Cavislim ~ Ultrasonic Liposuction & Radio Frequency This non-invasive treatment helps to reduce body fat and stimulates collagen to tighten & tone your skin.

LPG Endermologie ~ to reduce cellulite, tighten & firm the skin.

Ultratone ~

to reshape & recontour the body.

36 Gay Street, Bath • Tel: 01225 466851 • www.theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

A Jo Malone first, this Valentine’s Day you can receive two or more products in this beautiful heart-shaped box. What’s more, add a token of love with an engraved message, date or initials to the box so you can keep it for years to come. Available from 1–14 February online and at select boutiques. 6-7 Old Bond Street; jomalone.co.uk

Give the gift of a pampering treatment such as a WOW facial from The Orangery this February. Gift vouchers of all pricing options available from The Orangery Laser and Beauty Clinic; theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

We’ve fallen for this limited edition Rifle Paper Co. collaboration with L’Occitane. Oozing romance, the brightly packaged products include illustrations that capture all the beauty of natural patterns and forms. In this range see two shea butter handcreams, shea milk soap and this ultra rich body cream. Ultra Rich Body Cream, 100ml, £22, L’Occitane; loccitane.co.uk

The look of love

Redefining masculinity, Kings is a men’s grooming brand with a mission to inspire and empower men to live healthier and happier lives. Funding men’s mental health projects and committed to raising awareness around the subject, Kings is vegan and cruelty-free and all products contain no parabens or palm oil. Evolution Eau de Toilette 50ml, £39.99, Kings Grooming; kings-grooming.com

Loubivalentine’s Coffret Rouge Louboutin, £103, Christian Louboutin; christianlouboutin.com

february 2019

Ready in a Flash, £32, Clarins; frontlinestyle.co.uk

Pucker up for some pillow talk this month with this iconic creamy, waterproof lip liner from Charlotte Tilbury. Lip Cheat in shade Pillow Talk, £16, Charlotte Tilbury; charlottetilbury.com

Why not treat your special someone to a luxury gift voucher from Enhance Medispa this Valentine’s Day. All pricing options available. Gift vouchers available at Enhance Medispa; enhancemedispa.co.uk

Bask in Louboutin glory with this limited edition coffret. Inside the gold-inscripted box contains a mini nail colour and a Loubilaque lip lacquer both in shade Rouge.

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Cupid’s at his station and we’re on hand to help. Crystal Rose searches for a few indulgent gifts that might just tickle your fancy this Valentine’s Day

Get ready in a flash with this eye and brow palette from Frontlinestyle. With a range of matte and iridescent shades, this lightweight palette is perfect for sculpting and brightening the eyes.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Neither hair nor there

In need of a serious de-fluffing, Crystal Rose heads to CJ Beauty to have some depilatory maintenance

here are many different ways to remove hair efficiently from the body and so it’s hard to know which one is right for you. For me, personally, I find waxing one of the best ways to de-fluff. The regrowth is less dense, prickle-free and the results are far better than other methods I’ve used (a selfconfessed depilation lover, no hair of mine is left unwaxed, shaved or groomed for long). When it comes to waxing, though, there are different types of wax that can be used to remove your unwanted hair. CJ Beauty, on Westgate Street, offers both hot and cool waxing options. Hot wax is typically a thicker consistency which is applied thoroughly, and is great for those stubborn, dense hairs. This is left to cool and then pulled off in one swoop motion. Most often preferred for Hollywoods, Brazilians and lip and chin waxes, the wax therapist and owner Michelle Taylor uses is known to be the least painful on the market: Wax:One. I find hot wax to be a lot less painful and with less reddening afterwards.

The cool method – also referred to as warm or strip wax – includes a thin layer being added to the skin with a spatula. A strip is then applied on top the wax and then removed with a swift pull. As Michelle explains to me, warm wax is most often preferred for leg, brows and underarm treatments. Locally known by her trusted clients to have a knack for painless waxing, Michelle sits me down in her gorgeous treatment room, situated just above North Hairdressing, and tells me that I’ll view cool wax in a whole different light after this. I know I’m in good hands. Your hairs should be nearly 2mm in length to be ready for waxing, although this is different for everyone, Michelle explains. Each individual’s hair growth is entirely different, so knowing when a wax is due is all about the length of the hair itself. Michelle’s experience in waxing is evident as she moves swiftly along my legs and, before I know it, we’re nearly done. Using the cream tea tree wax from Outback Organics, Michelle certainly does have a

CJ Beauty Offering a wide range of treatments massage manicure pedicure waxing tinting facials spray tanning hopi ear candles microdermabrasion

Owner Michelle previously Senior Therapist at Green Street House

15% off for new clients on their first treatment 19a Westgate Street, Bath BA1 1EQ 07840 864829 cjbeauty.uk

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knack for waxing. After a much-needed covering of 100% aloe vera, my legs felt smooth, calm and soothed as I walk out of the salon, head held high and lower leg glamour intact. n Full leg with cool wax is available at CJ Beauty for £25. 19a Westgate Street, Bath BA1 1EQ. Tel: 07840864829; cjbeauty.uk

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HEALTH | AND | BEAUTY

Caring perfumes

Here’s an idea: ethical health and beauty products with all profits used to care for others. A new range of luxury skin and welbeing products – Ubiety – does just that, with quality, efficacy, integrity and giving back at their core come through quite a bit. Most people choose therapy and we can offer each person something that is completely focused on them.” Lisa tells me that her team at Dorothy House is able to develop supportive, nurturing, life-affirming products to suit the needs of specific individuals. This inspiring work and its effectiveness in the hospice led to the idea of the Ubiety brand of giving-back products.

❝

We are embracing what nature already has available to us. And being sensitive to those materials, because they carry the therapeutic value

❝

biety – meaning being grounded in the moment – is the name of a new range of skincare and wellbeing products. It’s a range with a difference, one that aims to make a real difference to those who use it. Each product – a body salve, hand wash, hand lotion, facial mist, lip balm and scented candle – promotes wellbeing and mindfulness through calming and empowering formulations inspired by wild woodlands and their energy. This is real, grounded stuff, in tune with the brand’s name. The range grew from charity Dorothy House Hospice Care’s focus on holistic wellbeing and the work of its complementary therapies team. It has been a collaborative project at every stage. Each of the founders who developed the products gave their time and costs for free. The collaborations are open, giving, recognising the value of the free, palliative and end-of-life care services offered by Dorothy House. It is one of the few product ranges on the market where all proceeds go directly to the cause it supports, end-of-life care. It’s also a fully sustainable product using vegan and environmentally friendly ingredients. Meet Lisa Smith, complementary therapy lead and aromatherapist at Dorothy House. “By the time people use our services they have

These are not just quick cosmetic fixes; they have depth, relevance, and the ability to lift your mood. Enter Ubiety’s frankincense and lavender calming body salve, carefully formulated for use as part of ‘M-technique,’ a relaxing hand massage, which brings relief and

relaxation to anxious and tense patients. Add to this lemongrass and cedarwood soothing hand lotion and clementine and spearmint uplifting hand wash and you have a group of products that are applied by touch – from carer to patient or as an uplifting experience in your daily care regime – providing a precious moment of peace and connection. There’s also a candle scented with cedarwood, sage and ylang yang, developed by Cathy Biggs of Limelight Bath, and a cooling facial mist with birch water and neroli. Lisa and her team worked with Richard Howard of Arcania Apothecary, a cosmetic and perfume manufacturer based in Wells, to develop the Ubiety range and Richard, whose own mother was supported in an end-of-life care hospice, has gifted Arcania’s expertise and resources in its development. Lisa tells me that alongside the Ubiety range, Richard is working closely with the team at Dorothy House to supply them with products that support specific patient needs, such as an oil-free lipbalm for oxygen users and massage oils that can be used by therapists without aromatherapy qualifications. Richard’s business is also grounded in the moment. With over 20 years of experience in cosmetic science and perfume innovation, Arcania Apothecary Ltd produces botanically based face, body and hair products. It

Ubiety products photograph by Michael Holman at Red Forge Studios

BELOW, from left: Lisa Smith, complementary therapy lead at Dorothy House; Richard Howard of Arcania Apothecary and Cathy Biggs of Limelight Bath

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The Ubiety product range manufactures for high-end brands such as Cowshed and has an ethical approach to skincare, working with partners who have a story to tell and who believe in the longevity of their brand, with a passion for their product and respect for their customers. “It’s easy to create a brand that’s authentic when the [Dorothy House] heritage is so authentic,” says Richard. “Pure essential oils work emotionally as well as physically and the reason for being behind this brand is to make life for people at this special time comforting, and explore contentment. We are embracing what nature already has available to us. And being sensitive to those materials, because they carry the therapeutic value.” So how were the Ubiety products developed? “Dorothy House chose a team to sit with me, so there were people from the therapies team, business development and marketing, so we all come together in order to represent the thing that’s already there. Truth and integrity is a big ingredient here, and it always is.” The process starts with the creation of the brand signature, and in the case of Ubiety this was a woody essence, one that evolved through the team’s conversation – frankincense, spikenard and benzoin. “That’s the joy of working with these oils,” says Richard. “We can create different emotions, different feelings, but underneath there is always a common thread.” Everything is done with a meticulously light touch: “We are dealing with water, with naturals that require sensitivity and care. We have to be really careful with our materials for the product to have that end efficacy.” One of the products that has been used is birch water: “Birch water has all the molecules that come together within the sap that protects the tree from fungus, virus and bacterial infection. It’s a product that we can drink, that we can bathe in, and a material that can be collected without damaging the environment, or the tree – it has integrity and it became one of those foundation elements.” The Ubiety development journey has gone full circle, finished with the luxe but grounded packaging designed by Supple Studio. As Richard says, “By bringing this brand to the market place we are doing something good. There is something behind it that’s worthwhile.” n The Ubiety range launches on 7 February; Twitter: @findubiety; info@findubiety.com; findubiety.com

A woodland of silver birch

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PROMOTED CONTENT

Aching joints

Aching joints? Discover how to preserve your hips and knees and get back to the activities you love at Circle Bath Hospital’s events on 12 and 27 March

“

any of us develop aching joints and the prevalence increases with age,” says Mr David Shardlow, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Circle Bath Hospital, who is urging us to get more active to reduce the demand on our hip and knee joints. “The best way to preserve our hips and knees is to keep our weight under control and to take regular exercise. Recreational walking, cycling and swimming, and a gym program can all help with weight control, stave off diabetes and osteoporosis, and keep the joints healthy. Many patients find yoga and/or Pilates very helpful. Keen runners should change their shoes regularly to preserve the cushioning effect of the sole. “For some, aching joints are related to specific activities and may be associated with mild wear-and-tear changes in the joints. If you have pain in multiple joints, especially pain associated with joint swelling, it would be wise to consult your GP to see if you are suffering from systemic arthritis, of which rheumatoid arthritis is one variant,” explains Mr Shardlow. Pain in the knee doesn’t always come from the knee itself, so your surgeon will take a thorough history from you and conduct a physical examination to diagnose other causes of knee pain, such as hip or back problems. It’s not uncommon to find that patients with knee pain actually need a hip replacement. There isn’t a right age to have a hip or knee replacement, but there is a right time. This is a decision that needs to made between each patient and their orthopaedic surgeon. Hip and knee replacements are not unusual for patients of various ages, from those in their thirties to those in their nineties. Before advising patients, surgeons will take into account the patient’s pain and functional restrictions, the balance of risk versus benefit, and the sustainability of arthroplasty (joint replacement) over the patient’s lifetime. With hips, patients often describe feeling hip pain in the groin, buttocks, upper thigh and the outer pelvic bone. Hip replacement surgery is very successful in relieving pain. Patients notice the day after surgery that the pain has gone. Total knee replacement is where the knee

joint is replaced with an implant made of metal and plastic components. It’s a relatively common operation – approximately 100,000 primary total knees are added to the UK National Joint Register each year*. There is around a 4–5% risk of surgical complication, varying with increasing age, co-existing health problems and weight**. In large surveys, 80–85% of knee replacement patients rate their outcome as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’*** and would recommend it to a friend,” says David Shardlow. The choice to have a unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement requires discussion with your knee specialist. Only a proportion of patients are suitable as arthritis needs to be confined to one part of the knee. Patients with a fixed deformity at the knee, most often a bow-legged deformity or inability to fully straighten the knee, would be better served by a complete knee replacement which allows correction of the deformity. Patients where a unicompartmental knee is suitable benefit from a smaller operation (and smaller incision), quicker recovery and better function. This needs to be balanced against a higher revision rate compared to total knee replacement, meaning further surgery where the outcome is not successful. There are many exciting advances in hip and knee surgery, which as professionals we are constantly evaluating so we can offer genuine advantages to our patients. It is possible, for example, for patients at an early stage, to take cartilage cells from the knee, multiply them in a laboratory, and re-implant them to repair isolated cartilage defects. Injured menisci (the knee cartilage structures often injured during sport) can be debrided, repaired and even transplanted. Perhaps most exciting is the use of a surgical robot to assist with the bone resection prior to inserting the knee prostheses, which holds the promise of even greater consistency. Once the hip or knee pain becomes intrusive, perhaps disturbing sleep or impacting on daily activities, it is time to consult a specialist. Circle Bath Hospital benefits from worldclass, state-of-the-art facilities and is a recognised centre of excellence for hip and knee surgery. circlebath.co.uk

Event details: Do you have pain in your hip? Date: Tuesday 12 March Time: 7pm to 8.30pm Venue: Circle Bath Hospital, main atrium with Mr Matthew Burwell, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Senior physiotherapist: Dave Hepburn Do you have pain in your knee? Date: Wednesday 27 March Time: 7pm to 8.30pm Venue: Circle Bath Hospital, main atrium with Mr David Shardlow, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Senior physiotherapist: Jo Gotley Who should attend? Each event is free, and open to the general public, but places are limited, so book ahead. Please come if you are: • suffering with hip or knee pain and wanting to understand underlying causes • have had diagnostic investigations and require further treatment • looking for conservative treatments to reduce hip or knee pain • wanting to know more about the latest advances in hip or knee surgery • considering surgery and would like more information What will the talks cover? Hip and/or knee pain, the causes, diagnosis and treatment, and the future of hip and/or knee surgery. Non-surgical options will also be discussed. Confirm your place at bath.events@ circlehealth.co.uk or call 01761 422288. References: *www.njrreports.org.uk **For complications – SooHoo NF, Lieberman JR, Ko CY, Zingmond DS. Factors predicting complication rates following total knee replacement. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2006; 88(3): 480-5. ***For satisfaction – Kahlenberg CA, Nwachukwu BU, McLawhorn AS, Cross MB, Cornell CN, Padgett DE. Patient Satisfaction After Total Knee Replacement: A Systematic Review. HSS J. 2018;14(2):192-201.

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The Walk - Feb.qxp_Layout 1 22/01/2019 16:00 Page 1

Camden Crescent from Hedgemead Park

Hedgemead Park

View from the path across High Common

The Cotswold Way from Sion Hill

Hidden Lansdown

Andrew Swift stays close to the city this month, following a short walk that discovers some less explored areas in Lansdown, passing through Hedgemead Park, Richmond Lane, St Stephen’s Millennium Green and High Common

his month’s walk, starting in the city centre, explores some lesser-known corners of Lansdown. Given that many footpaths will be mired in mud at this time of year, it sticks to pavements or hard surfaces throughout, although there are a number of steps, along with stiff climbs and equally steep descents with uneven paving. So you will need to watch your step. But the views, and the fun of discovering parts of Bath you may not have come across before, should make it worthwhile. And, while the walk is only three and a half miles long, it is bracing enough to work up a decent appetite – or thirst – so it could be an ideal prelude to a leisurely lunch or a reviving drink when you return to the city centre. Start off by heading up Broad Street and continue on up Lansdown Road. Just past the Julian Road/Guinea Lane crossroads, turn 88 TheBATHMagazine

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right through the gates of Hedgemead Park. This area, originally known as Edgemead, was covered with rows of terraced cottages in the early 19th century. The ground, however, was unstable and, between the 1860s and the early 1880s, a series of landslips led to the abandonment of the entire site, after which the council decided that the only thing to do was to turn it into a park. After passing a playground, take the upper path past a bandstand. Climb a short flight of steps up to a gate, go through another gate and head up to a flight of steps leading onto a lane. Bear left for a few metres, before bearing right along a level road, with Camden Crescent high above you. At the end, carry straight on up Gay’s Hill, passing a sign, dating from around 1819, for an ‘Asylum for the Maintenance and Instruction of Young Females in Household Work’. At the top, cross and carry on up a

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steep lane, which soon dwindles to a footpath. Just before it curves right, turn to take in a view across to Prior Park. At the top turn right along a level path and, after going past a gate at the end, bear left up steps. A gap in the trees partway up gives a good view across to Bathampton and Farleigh Downs, Bathwick, the Avon valley and Combe Down. At the top bear left up a final few steps and turn left up a lane. After 75m, bear left past bollards and follow a path alongside a hedgerow. When you come to a road, carry on downhill in the same direction, and after 130m follow the road as it bears right past Mount Beacon House. Take the first right up Richmond Lane and after 30m turn left to follow a footpath through allotments to St Stephen’s Millennium Green. Turn left down a road at the end, and after 75m bear right along a footpath across an open space. At the end,

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THE | WALK

turn left down Lansdown Road, cross at a traffic island just past St Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church, and after another 60m turn right up a couple of steps to head along a path. Go down steps at the end, turn right along Upper Lansdown Mews and follow it round to emerge on Lansdown Crescent. Turn right downhill past Lansdown Place West and carry on in the same direction, passing Somerset Place on your right. At the crossroads, cross and head straight on up Sion Hill, taking the pavement on the lefthand side. After 200m, turn right through a gateway along Sion Road. At the top, bear left along Sion Hill Place, and follow the road as it curves past one of Bathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s least-known Georgian terraces, designed by John Pinch and built between 1818 and 1820. At the end of the terrace, turn right to head back along Sion Road, and after going through the gateway turn right to continue along Sion Hill. After 60m, turn left by a wall letterbox down Sion Hill. When the road curves right, bear left to follow a Cotswold Way sign down a footpath. After 175m, turn left to follow a path across High Common, with a particularly memorable view of Cavendish and Lansdown Crescents. At the end, instead of heading onto the road, bear right to follow a path back across High Common, with views down to the back

The view across to Prior Park

of Marlborough Buildings. At the road, follow the zebra crossing through a gateway into Royal Victoria Park and take the road leading downhill. After 175m, turn left along a lane, and, when you come to a road, cross and turn uphill for a couple of metres before turning right along a footpath below Royal Crescent. At the end, carry on along the Gravel Walk (where you can visit the Georgian

Garden partway along) and, after going down the steps at the end, turn left to Gay Street and then right down to Queen Square. n

Andrew Swift is the author of On Foot in Bath: Fifteen Walks Around a World Heritage City and co-author, with Kirsten Elliot, of Ghost Signs of Bath

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INTERIORS | AND | STYLE

Living with coral

The Pantone Colour Institute’s 2019 colour of the year is Living Coral. Interior designer Clair Strong offers up some ideas about how to use this bold, resonant hue at home

iving Coral, a vibrant, fresh and fashionable tone, is a bold, welcoming colour that sits neatly between orange and pink, a fun and versatile hue that inspires playful self-expression both in fashion and in the home. It has been chosen in response to the escalation of digital technology and social media in daily life, with the shade’s natural warmth designed to offset this. Pantone believe that the colour “embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and

Annie Sloan chalk paints on panelled wall

Atkin and Thyme Carnaby footstool in coral pink

Blend with other colours Living Coral plays well with other colours and its versatility lends it to many aesthetic styles. It can be sultry and sophisticated, funky and cool, or cute and playful, depending on the accompanying tones. For a fresh spring look mix coral with a lush dark green. This inspiring blend has hints of the tropical and is a pleasing alternative to spring pastels. Such a lively palette is ideal for the kitchen or bathroom and adds interest to a neutral space. If you prefer moody and dramatic, pair coral with rich plum, deep burgundy and luxe gold. This deeply soothing and enticing colour palette is perfect for the bedroom. Paint the walls dark and accessorise with hints of coral and metallic accents to create light and shade.

Go boho Living Coral is a natural match for one of the top trends of 2019: boho interiors. This bright 90 TheBATHMagazine

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buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.” In interior design, it has the potential to create a warm, welcoming space with a sense of joy and sociability. The beauty of home is its ability to make us feel at ease; a place where we are able to rest, relax and entertain. Promoting warm serenity, Living Coral an ideal player in this interior vision. The institute’s choice has been influenced by environmental issues too, society’s impact on the ocean’s coral. Here are a few ways to use this colour in your home.

colour brings out the beauty in natural materials like bamboo and rattan, it perfectly frames green plants, is a close friend of terracotta, and it blends really well with earthy neutrals. A truly excellent match. To bring a touch of coral-infused bohemia to your home, accessorise with patterned cushions or bazaar-inspired rugs with coral hues. Coral goes with pretty much anything, but even when it clashes, it has attitude. For a true boho vibe, embrace the eccentricity and layer mismatching colours and textures.

Upcycle Upcycling is an affordable and creative way to try this colour. Nothing helps you get to know a colour better than working directly with it. Only when you get up close and personal can you understand the intricacies of a hue. So stock up on chalk paint in the tone of your choice and start transforming old and tired furniture. If you’d rather not paint furniture,

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a can of spray paint can help revive accessories such as vases, lamp bases and plant pots.

Be discreet If you don’t want to commit to a whole new interior scheme, make Living Coral an accent rather than a feature. It’s a bright, lively colour and doesn’t work for everyone in large doses. Instead of painting all four walls or purchasing large pieces of furniture in the shade, opt for smaller accessories, textiles or decoration instead. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to decorating your home. Do what feels right for you. n Pantone.com; trhayes.co.uk; anniesloan.com Clair Strong Interior Design is a small, friendly, creative business based in Bath and London, providing services for residential and commercial clients. Visit: clairstrong.co.uk or contact: clair@clairstrong.co.uk

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Harlequin Zapara wallpaper from TR Hayes, 15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;18 London Street, Bath

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GARDENING Snowdrops naturalised at Welford Park

Avalanche Season

Jane Moore is charmed by the swathes of snowdrops popping up in the darkest of winter days

TRIED AND TRUSTED But I’m a bit of an old stick-in-the-mud when it comes to snowdrops. I stick to the same varieties, even though there’s a whole snowdrop movement going on in the horticultural world – a veritable avalanche of interesting species and varieties carefully nurtured by galanthophiles galore. “A wide variety of snowdrops were hugely popular in Victorian times but they faded away after the Second World War until recently,” says Naomi Slade, galanthophile and author of The Plant Lovers Guide to Snowdrops. “I think they’re becoming popular again because you can have quite a collection even in a small garden as they don’t take up much room.” 94 TheBATHMagazine

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My go-to snowdrops are the simple Galanthus nivalis, the common snowdrop of our fields and woods, which flowers so spectacularly this month, and its double cousin which seems to crop up of its own accord. These I love for their very simplicity, their happiness to naturalise and their low cost – important when you want to buy hundreds for drifting under shrubs and trees. “I’m a big fan of creating a snowdrop walk, a double border under planted with snowdrops each side. You can drift different varieties through it and it all looks coherent as they’re all white,” says Naomi. STARTER SNOWDROPS There are hundreds of snowdrop varieties available nowadays, often with subtle variations in the green markings or the petal shapes. It all gets a little academic for me, truth be told, but Naomi is determined to sow the seed of the galanthophile within me. “I love the elegant simplicity of snowdrops and the little variations and quirks of different varieties just adds to their charm,” she says. “One of my favourites is Galanthus ‘Bertram Anderson’ – such a beauty, really juicy and substantial, especially when it bulks up into a group.”

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I’m a huge fan of Galanthus ‘atkinsii’, an incredibly sturdy large snowdrop with blue-green leaves and a great ability to multiply in no time at all. I also love its habit of flowering very early in the year – it often starts blooming at New Year in the sheltered gardens at The Bath Priory. “For an absolute winter planting extravaganza, check out Galanthus plicatus ‘Three Ships’ and G. elwesii ‘Mrs MacNamara’, also known as G. ‘Milkwood’, as early-flowering snowdrops,” advises Naomi. “Judging by your aspect, they’ll arrive well before the G. ‘Atkinsii’ – so it should be quite a show!” WEALTH OF VARIETIES Naomi goes on to extol the virtues of one of her personal favourites – G. ‘Faringdon Double’ – whose pretty double flowers appear well before Christmas. Of course, another early bloomer we can’t neglect to mention is G. reginae-olgae ‘Naomi Slade’, an early achiever regularly flowering in late September. Other favourites include G. ‘Viridipes’, with distinctive green markings on the outer petals, as well as the striking G. nivalis f. pleniflorus ‘Lady Elphinstone’ – another

Images courtesy of N Slade

have yet to meet someone that doesn’t love snowdrops. These charming little flowers are so universally recognisable that even a child knows what they are and so adored that even the most miserable old curmudgeon likes them. And what’s not to like? There they go this month, flowering their snowy little socks off in the very depths of winter, making us feel that even on the darkest and dreariest of days there is the promise of spring to come.

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GARDENING

double with warm apricot colouration. On the whole most of these are quite affordable to collect and should cost less than £10 for a pot. But some delectable varieties are more collectors’ items, costing a pretty penny for a single pretty little bloom. There’s the local lovely G. plicatus ‘Trym’, much admired and desired since it first appeared in a garden at Westbury on Trym. Rare and exceptionally pretty with its heart shaped green marking on the outer petals – it’s a plant that will set you back about £30. But the most expensive snowdrops far, far outstrip this. For example G. woronowii ‘Elizabeth Harrison’ cost a whopping £725 in 2012. Topping that in 2015, G. plicatus ‘Golden Fleece’, a bit like a yellow ‘Trym’, fetched an eye-watering £1,390. It’s reminiscent of the famous tulipmania in Holland, if you ask me. “What sparks these huge prices is the new colour breaks or forms in species that have not done something like produce a yellow before,” says Naomi. “There are new introductions all the time which makes snowdrops really rather exciting.” n

Readers can order The Plant Lover’s Guide to Snowdrops by Naomi Slade for £15.99 (rrp £17.99) including free p&p in the UK mainland. To order, contact EFC, tel: 01972 562327; efcbookshop.com

GARDENS TO VISIT THIS MONTH n Vine House, Bristol 3 February 1½ acres of garden behind a listed Georgian house. Mature trees, shrubs, herbaceous borders, a rock stream and gunnera. The garden was originally planted in the 1940s for year-round interest by the Hewer family, and features many unusual plants and trees. n Elworthy Cottage, Taunton 3, 9 and 15 February A one acre plantsman’s garden in a tranquil setting. Island beds, scented plants, clematis, unusual perennials and ornamental trees and shrubs to provide year-round interest. In spring there are pulmonarias, hellebores and more than 350 varieties of snowdrops. Homemade teas available, with proceeds to Children’s Hospice South West.

Jane Moore is an award-winning gardening columnist and head gardener at The Bath Priory Hotel. Twitter: @janethegardener

n Lacock Abbey Gardens, Chippenham 23 February Woodland garden with carpets of aconites, snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils. Botanic garden with greenhouse, medieval cloisters and magnificent trees.

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PROPERTY | HOMEPAGE

umber 2 Warleigh Drive is a link-detached family home which has been recently extended and modernized. The property is set in an elevated position with far reaching countryside views. Following the recent improvements the house is immaculately presented in a clean, contemporary style. The ground floor accommodation is focused around a beautifully designed L shaped open plan kitchen and dining space. Leading from this are two reception rooms, two bedrooms a family bathroom, a utility room and cloakroom. Upstairs the 15ft master bedroom comes with a luxury en suite bathroom and dressing room. The two additional first floor bedrooms are served by a well appointed shower room. There are extensive gardens to the front, side and rear and a cleverly positioned roof terrace from which to make the most of the glorious views. A double garage and off road parking provide space for several vehicles. This impressive home is bound to appeal to those wanting to move in, unpack the boxes and start living with absolutely no work to do or upgrades required. Contact agents Pritchards for full details and an appointment to view.

2 WARLEIGH DRIVE BATHEASTON, BATH • A very impressive, extended and modernised link-detached 5 bedroom property • Luxurious open-plan living • Double garage and ample off-road parking • Extensive gardens and panoramic views

Guide price: £995,000 Pritchards, 11 Quiet Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 466225

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pritchards-bath.co.uk

Beaufort West

Seymour Road, Camden

A superb late 18th Century Townhouse with elegant and consistently sized accommodation across 3 floors. Rich in period detail with 4 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower-rooms and 3 reception rooms. Delightful and sheltered, enclosed gardens with secure off-road parking to rear. No onward chain. Int area 1866 sq ft/173 sq m.

A beautifully presented 3 bedroom bay fronted Victorian terraced townhouse in a quiet no-through road in the popular area of Camden, with garden to rear and panoramic views just half a mile or so from the City Centre. Excellent connections for prime local schools, City Centre and rail/motorway. Internal area approx 1278 sq ft/119.6 sq m.

Price: £799,950

Guide Price: £549,000

Box, Nr Corsham & Bath

Monkton Combe

A beautifully presented spacious 3 bed family home located in the thriving and popular community of Box with village views in a quiet position. Easy access to the City of Bath, Corsham and Chippenham. Wonderful village views, pretty garden with terracing, garage and parking. Internal area: 1237 sq ft/114.9 sq m.

A 3 bedroom end of terrace property, with countryside views in sought after location. Much scope for improvement (subject to nec consents). No onward chain. Good sized rear garden, south facing terrace to front. Int area 928 sq ft/86.2 sq m.

Price: £485,000

Price: £425,000

11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB

Tel: 01225 466 225

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PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

umber 6 Northampton Street is an elegant Grade II listed, Georgian townhouse, offering immaculately presented and flexible accommodation arranged over five floors. It also boasts a wealth of period detail which combines beautifully with the contemporary and stylish finishes added by the current owners. On the ground floor the attractive hallway leads to both the formal dining room to the front and interlinking study to the rear. On the first floor there is an impressive and light, formal drawing room to the front and a further study to the rear with beautiful wood panelled walls - this could be used as a bedroom if required. The master bedroom suite spans the second floor of the property with a spacious bedroom to the front and large en-suite bath and shower room to the rear. In addition there are two further generous double bedrooms on the top floor, along with a family bathroom. The lower ground floor features a recently-fitted, contemporary kitchen with flag-stone flooring, along with a large utility room. There’s also a spacious vaulted shower room and highly practical storage area. Outside, and accessed from the ground floor hallway there is a pretty, paved ornamental courtyard garden, and a gate to the rear. Full details of this splendid Bath property are availble from selling agents Cobb Farr. Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 333332

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6 NORTHAMPTON STREET, BATH • A fine and elegant Grade II listed Georgian townhouse • Flexible accommodation arranged over 5 floors • 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms • Pretty courtyard garden • 2 on-street parking permits • Close to city centre, Victoria Park and Royal Crescent

Guide price: £1,250,000

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What does 2019 have in store for property in Bath? Wayne Keenan area Manager at andrews

new year: a time for reflection, as well as for planning. Amongst these plans may be a house move, or a first step towards property investment. Yet media headlines might dissuade you from making such plans for fear of not realising a good price for your existing property, or of making a poor investment decision. The fear may not be as bad as you anticipate. Aside from London, where prices fell on average by 1% last year, the rest of the UK performed reasonably well with overall growth of 2%. Here in Bath, that figure was 4.4% so it’s worth remembering that headlines often focus on worse-case scenarios! Likewise, whilst here in Bath during the first three-quarters of last year there were 4.6% fewer sales than in the previous year, this is significantly less drastic than the wider region where sales were down 14.5%.

“Founded in 2011 by Marcus Spanswick, who already had 20 years’ experience in the industry, Mardan Removals and Storage Ltd is a, family run, professional full service removals and storage company based in Bath. Marcus wanted to build a company that he and his team would be proud of. The key to the company’s success is providing a personalised service, treating each customer as an individual to ensure they get an excellent removal service. Mardan have a fleet of vehicles allowing them to offer; commercial moving, local to international moves and storage”.

But what about the year ahead? The big topic is, of course, Brexit. The impact that this will have on the housing market can’t be underestimated, but quite what it will be is still to be seen. Undoubtedly, until the reality of leaving the EU starts to roll out, there will remain a certain level of uncertainty. This will discourage those who don’t need to move to stay put and see if they can achieve a higher price later in the year after Brexit chaos has subsided. A likely occurrence in 2019 will be that interest rates rise, albeit at a modest rate and to a limited extent, although the Bank of England may increase rates to counter inflation in the case of a no-deal exit. That said, 2019 should remain positive for first-time buyers. The incentives that have been introduced to support them in recent years will continue and mortgage rates remain low with many competitive fiveyear products still being offered. For the first-time buyer, now is as good a time as any to make that move. ‘Expert’ views for 2019 are a mixed bag but are weighted mostly in favour of growth – albeit remaining conservatively cautious, with no predictions higher than a 4%. The worst-case scenario is a price drop of 5%. We lean towards cautious growth and believe for Bath this will sit somewhere in the region of 2%.

Here in Bath, period properties remain a firm favourite and there’s always strong demand when these come to market – we don’t anticipate this situation changing in 2019. A great example would be this fabulous two-bedroom maisonette in a converted Regency / early Victorian villa. Priced at £400,000 it is currently being marketed by our Bath Newbridge branch. See Andrewsonline.co.uk

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DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL MOVERS • PACKERS • STORERS • SHIPPERS

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The difference the right estate agent can make Peter Greatorex, managing director of The apartment Company

[SOUTH WESTERN] LIMITED

o two houses are the same; even two properties on the same street have things that distinguish them from one another. On paper they might have exactly the same provision, with identical floor plans, and both well-maintained. Yet one is winning in terms of popularity with potential buyers, whilst the other is struggling to get a viewing.

The right choice The estate agent you choose to market and sell your home is of extreme importance, as it can be the difference between your apartment being sold and watching it linger and stagnate on the market. When you invite an agent into your home for an appraisal it’s your time to interview them for the prestigious role of selling your home, yet many sellers just listen to what the estate agent has to say rather than putting them in the hot seat! At The Apartment Company, we enjoy being interviewed when we undertake an appraisal. This way, we know the seller is serious, and we also want to ensure that they have all the information they need to make an informed decision. You are trusting us with your biggest asset and we welcome the opportunity to prove we’re up to the task.

Don’t be swayed by numbers

Crafting beautiful homes

Bath | Somerset | Wiltshire | Cotswolds | Dorset

01225 791155 ashford-homes.co.uk

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Numbers are very appealing, especially when you are told you can achieve a higher sale price than expected. But be realistic: research the current market to get a feel for how properties are selling – any good agent will have undertaken thorough research also. If your property is priced too high, it may put off buyers wishing to view your property; in the long run, this can hinder the sale of your apartment. The longer your home is on the market, the less attractive it becomes, as people start to wonder what’s the matter with it. Initial marketing may have seen a flurry of people through your door, but if an agent is not proactive in sustaining the interest in your apartment, viewings can dwindle or even cease altogether. If you want to achieve the highest possible price for your property and due to lack of interest your agent has asked you to reduce the price, then reduce some more, this will only attract cheeky rather than competitive offers.

Sustainable marketing Before the ink has dried on your property details we are already marketing your home. We are identifying potential buyers registered with us who we think would be interested to view, we are putting together a marketing strategy that is regularly reviewed and adapted, and we’re listing your property on all the major portals, such as Rightmove and Zoopla. Our marketing strategy is not an initial push and then ‘see how it goes’; we continue to provide a sustainable and proactive approach as long as your apartment is on the market with us. When you instruct The Apartment Company you can be assured of honest and constructive advice, whether that’s on how to present your home for sale, or the guide price we suggest. We don’t want to just get your listing, we want to ensure your apartment is sold quickly for the best possible price without using offers or gimmicks. Experience the difference the right estate agent can make when selling your home. The Apartment Company Pg@theapartmentcompany.co.uk or call 01225 471144.

Inglis Court, Holburne Park A smart and contemporary three bedroom family home forming part of a brand new development on the fringes of Bath city centre. Finished to a high specification throughout, the property benefits from allocated off-street parking, an enclosed rear garden and beautiful views across the city.

Reside Bath | 24 Barton Street Bath BA1 1HG | T 01225 445 777 | E info@residebath.co.uk | W www.residebath.co.uk

*An administration fee of ÂŁ420.00 inc. VAT applies.

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Bear Flat

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Englishcombe Lane, BA2 ÂŁ950,000

Overlooking the World Heritage City of Bath is this three storey family home with driveway parking and a double garage. Five bedrooms, two reception rooms, kitchen, en-suite and bathroom, front and rear gardens. Energy Efficiency Rating: E

01225 805 680 bearflat@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

Central

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Thomas Street, BA1 ÂŁ675,000

01225 809 571

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Thomas Street sits on the gateway into the city of the World Heritage City of Bath. At the bottom of the street is the award winning food hotspot and this charming period townhouse is sure to delight! Open living space on ground floor with sitting room on first floor and three great bedrooms. Energy Efficiency Rating: TBC

central@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

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Camden

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Worcester Buildings, BA1 OIEO ÂŁ450,000

A rare find in the heart of Larkhall village, a detached chalet bungalow on a spacious plot with parking and a garage. An exciting chance to create a lovely home by refurbishing or extending, and with the correct permissions this property lends itself to a number of options or a possible redevelopment opportunity. Energy Efficiency Rating: F

01225 809 868 camden@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

Newbridge Andrewsonline.co.uk

Horstmann Villas ÂŁ400,000

Two bedroom maisonette arranged over three floors located in a Regency/Early Victorian Villa. The flat is filled with light and offers contemporary styling within a period building. Benefitting from a share of the free hold and two parking spaces, this property would make a lovely home. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

01225 809 685 newbridge@andrewsonline.co.uk

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To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

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PROPERTY NEWS HOWDENS GO WEST Carter Jonas, the national property consultancy, has agreed a new 15-year lease on behalf of Ken Biggs Contractors for a 10,000 sq ft purpose-built industrial unit at Westfield Industrial Estate in Bath to accommodate Howdens, the UK’s largest manufacturer of kitchens and joinery. Howdens will occupy a high-specification, self-contained industrial unit at the park which has been built to suit. Howdens will be co-locating with other trade companies including Buildbase and Screwfix. Alison Williams, associate partner, Carter Jonas Bath, said, “Design and build industrial facilities of this kind are increasingly sought-after. Westfield Industrial Estate has proven appeal for occupiers looking to service Bath and the surrounding area.” Westfield Industrial Estate is located approximately 10 miles south of the city of Bath and is a principal employment hub for the area. carterjonas.co.uk

PROPERTY INSIGHT: SOVEREIGN WON THE DAY In 2003, after living and working in the UK for more than 20 years, Michael and Priscilla Lee made the life-changing decision to move to the USA, later retiring to Florida. Keen to keep a bolthole in the UK, specifically in the south west where their children and grandchildren live, they had maintained a two-bedroom apartment in Bristol city centre. Over time they realised that the Bristol apartment wasn’t right for them. Michael says: “Florida became our main home but we were still spending three to four months a year in the UK. We found ourselves hankering after more space. And while our city centre location was very good in terms of connectivity, the area could have been more attractive and so we started our search for a new home.” “Discerning” is how Michael Lee describes his and his wife’s approach to their search for a new apartment. Early on in their search they created a list of ‘must-haves’, so if a property didn’t meet all the criteria listed, it wasn’t for them. “With time on our side, we knew we could afford to be very specific about our requirements,” explains Michael. “The basics were simple – two bedrooms, two bathrooms, parking and no less than 1,000 sq ft. From there we had a list of essential criteria. “Location was top of the list. We travel extensively and so good transport links were imperative. We wanted to be within close walking distance to shops and eateries, too. Plenty of apartments ticked these boxes but we were looking for more

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from our location. From our time in our Bristol apartment, we realised how important a quiet and pleasant location was to day-to-day living – we wanted views to enjoy and pretty and tranquil surroundings to spend time in. Suddenly the search became more challenging. DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL “That wasn’t the extent of our must-have list. We wanted a MOVERS PACKERSinterior • STORERS • SHIPPERS clean and•modern – whether a new build or a conversion – but found the layout of many of the apartments we looked at to be compromised in some way. It was hard to find a building that inspired.” Savills advised the Lees on the market within different areas and provided information on properties they were interested in. Michael says, “We met with Giles Harling at Savills early on in our search and he introduced us to Bath Riverside. We had walked past the development many times as it was being constructed. We were initially put off by its scale and it wasn’t until we visited Royal View when it was nearing completion that we realised it wasn’t anything like we had imagined. “The scheme is thoughtfully considered, making fantastic use of its location. We appreciated the landscaped areas, which lead on to areas of parkland and the water. We could see that when it was completed the development would be of a high quality. The apartments at Royal View had already been sold so when Sovereign Point was launched, Michael and Priscilla were first in the queue to make an off-plan reservation. Michael says, “We had never bought a property off-plan before but having seen Royal View, we were reassured by the high quality of design and finish. We were also able to get a good sense of the expansive views over the Bath skyline. We loved the bold design of Sovereign Point and the layout of the apartment.” Michael and Priscilla reserved their apartment earlier this year and moved in before Christmas. Being abroad for much of the process, they appreciated Giles’ involvement in the purchase. “We were delighted to have the opportunity to host Christmas in our new apartment this year – with our children and their families, there were eight of us around the table. “We had friends from Scotland to stay with us over the New Year, and enjoyed showing them around Bath. There is so much to do and see in in the city over the season – all within walking distance. We feel very lucky to have found our new home at Bath Riverside and will look forward to many happy years here.” savills.co.uk n

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NORTHAMPTON STREET, Bath

Price ÂŁ1,500,000

Stunning six bedroom, four reception room, Georgian townhouse with impressive open plan kitchen/diner ideally located under 0.5 mile from the heart of Georgian Bath. There is a separate apartment with studio and shower room and a pretty courtyard garden. Stunning Georgian townhouse | Six bedrooms | Four reception rooms | Kitchen/dining room | Four bath/shower rooms | Studio annexe | Central Bath location | EPC Rating: Exempt

Portland Place

£1250 pcm

The Viaduct

£1200 pcm

Alfred Street

£1150 pcm

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Newly refurbished · Ground floor · Off-street Parking · Agency fees £420 inc VAT · Available now

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Parking for two cars · Spectacular views · Suit professional couple/professional sharers · Agency fees £420 inc VAT · Available 18th March 2019

Furnished · Large Sitting Room · Central location · No pets · No students · Residence parking permit · Council tax band C · Agency fees £420 including VAT · Available now

Great Pulteney Street

Queens Parade

Gay Street

£1100 pcm

£1000 pcm

Part-furnished · One bedroom · Central sought after location · Resident permit parking · Council tax band C · Agency fees £420 including VAT · Available now

Georgian apartment · Central location · Fabulous views · Furnished · One bedroom · Council tax band C · Agency fees £420 inc vat · Available 15th February 2019

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Wellmanicured communal garden · Abundance of storage · Residents parking permit · Council tax band C · Agency fees £420 inc VAT · Available now

Gibbs House

Park Street

Newbridge Road

£925 pcm

Unfurnished · Two bedrooms · Secure private parking · Well-presented · City Centre location · No pets · Gated secure complex · Council Tax Band: D · Agency fees £420 including VAT · Available now

SALES

01225 471 14 4

LETTINGS

£900 pcm

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Allocated parking · Close to local amenities · Short walk to city centre · No students · Council tax band D · Agency fees £420 including VAT · Available now

01225 303 870

£750 pcm

Part-furnished · One double bedroom · Easy access to Bristol and the city centre · Near to Chelsea Road · First floor apartment · Agency fees £420 inc VAT · Council tax band A · Available now

sales@theapartmentcompany.co.uk

Apsley Road, Bristol

O.I.E.O

£625,000

Newly refurbished · Spacious sitting room · High spec kitchen & bathrooms · Two large double bedrooms · Large sash windows · Garage · Two bathrooms

Queens Parade

O.I.E.O

£375,000

Stoneleigh Court

Alexandra House

O.I.E.O

£285,000

O.I.E.O

£575,000

Bennet Street

O.I.E.O

£335,000

Bladud Buildings

Kensington Chapel

O.I.E.O

£280,000

£435,000

Charlton Buildings

O.I.E.O

£235,000

Two double bedrooms · Second floor · No onward chain · Secure parking · Communal garden · Dine in kitchen · Spacious accommodation · Approx 702 Sq ft

Georgian apartment · Recently refurbished · Ideal location · One bedroom · Top floor apartment · Close to city centre · Holiday lets permitted · Approx. 535 Sq. ft

O.I.E.O

Georgian apartment · Grade II listed · Fully refurbished · Modern design · Private roof terrace · Two double bedrooms · Luxury bathrooms · Private parking · Lift access.

Georgian · Central location · Two bedrooms · Modern bright living space · Far reaching views · 864 Sq ft

Top floor apartment · Three double bedrooms · Balcony · Stunning views · Private garage · Communal grounds · Bright and spacious accommodation · Approx. 970 Sq. ft

Modern apartment · Beautifully decorated · Two double bedrooms · Large veranda · Secure parking · Far reaching riverside views · Close to city centre · Approx 1011 Sq ft

Georgian · Grade II listed · Ground floor · Period features · Luxury kitchen and bathroom · Central location · Approx 658 Sq ft

London Street

O.I.E.O

£185,000

Georgian apartment · Grade II listed · One bedroom · Second floor · Central location · Ideal Investment or first time buy

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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