Edge Magazine August 2014 Edition (Volume 24) by MLP Publishing Ltd

EdgeMagazine August 2014 FREE EDITION

Your essential guide to Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands

This is the place

A city by the river

Meet the maker

Stylish wedding venues

The ancient city of Worcester

The independent retailers dedicated to making your wedding day special

Food & Drink • Culture • Business • Fashion • Lifestyle

EdgeMagazine

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EDITOR’S BIT T

he wedding season is truly upon us and perhaps you know a couple about to tie the knot or making plans to do so. We’ve been amazed by the talented artists and makers in our area who provide bespoke wedding services, understanding the art of floristry, designing stationery and beautiful jewellery. In our meet the maker feature, we introduce you to these creatives and show you what they can do. We’ve also been scouring the countryside for wedding venues that will make you sigh and say ‘this is the place’. From castles and hotels to museums and country clubs, everyone will find their dream destination. Summer explores all the things we enjoy like music and food and the culture that comes with it. Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s new summer exhibition A Viking’s Guide to Deadly Dragons is based on Cressida Cowell’s popular How to train your dragon books and brings history and fantasy together in this summer spectacular.

Michael Abu-Zalaf Editor-in-Chief

The three counties are buzzing with summer activities for the kids at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, Avoncroft Museum and Compton Verney. Of course, family fun is all that is had at the summer festivals and we have a guide to all the season’s events; from folk music and foodie celebrations to cider madness and the real ale revival. Make sure you keep up-to-date with all the latest local stories, features and exciting events on our website. On behalf of the team at Edge, have a great August and we hope to see you all again in September. If you would like what you see in Edge Magazine, please show your support by liking our Facebook page and following us on Twitter, as well as checking out our website at: www.edgemagazine.org

FEATURES This is the place..............................................11 A city by the river............................................40 Stylish Wedding Venues

The ancient city of Worcester

Meet the maker...............................................17 Festival fever..................................................64 The independent retailers dedicated to making your wedding Our guide to this summer’s best festivals day special

The Lamborghini Huracàn ..............................22 Defines a new chapter in performance-focussed luxury

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CONTENTS Salon of the year

This is the place

A cool combination

Meet the maker

Alistair Cowin

The New Lamborghini Huracàn LP 610-4

The power of primers

A sparkling symphony

Decorate with colour

Flower power

The local Kitchen

Marco’s New York Italian

Destination to dine

The real China

City by the river

A letter about HS2

On your marks…get set…go!

IT Crowd

Budget

The Kindness of Strangers

Summer reads

Top brass

The sculpture trail

Set sail for adventure

School’s out for summer

Festival fever

Pop of culture

What’s on

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Also: Kickers, Pod, Crocs & Skechers.

Humphries Shoes was founded in Redditch in 1862 and is still run by the Humphries family who live in the area. Our Redditch store is renowned for its childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department which offers an unbeatable range of styles from all the leading brands and where we provide a level of service only found at a family run independent store.

Clarks

Kickers

Skechers

Clarks

StartRite

Rhino by StartRite

Angry Angels

Clarks

Lelli Kelly

Bootleg

Skechers

We are the Clarks and StartRite Main Stockists for the Area and, with half sizes and up to 5 width fittings, we can fit even the trickiest of feet. We always aim to make Back to School shoe shopping as easy as possible.

Kingfisher Centre, Redditch

Tel: 01527 62416

We also have our smaller store at 23 High Street, Alcester (Clarks Kids Only)

...great food in the great outdoors... a mouth-watering combination! The chefs at our 3 pubs are passionate about using seasonal ingredients, handpicked at market, to create inspiring dishes. All enriched by this time of year too where we can fling the doors open and invite our customers to eat outside if they wish in our lovely pub gardens or on the waterside. Freshly prepared food and alfresco dining! Is there anything more mouth-watering? Inside or out, our pubs are dedicated to giving our customers a great experience in every way â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the drink, the food, the service, the ambienceâ&#x20AC;Ś.simply pay us a visit some sunny day to discover more.. Discover our three pubs, each devoted to delicious food and drink in characterful surroundings. Welsh Road, Offchurch, Leamington Spa, Warks; CV33 9AQ. Tel: 01926 425801 www.thestagatoffchurch.com

Myton Road, Leamington Spa, Warks; CV31 3NY. Tel: 01926 425043 www.themoorings.co.uk

Best Food Pub of the Year Finalist 2014

Eagle Star Awards

Great British Pub Awards 2014 - Morning Advertiser

Food Pub Of The Year 2012 Les Routiers Finalist 2012

1 Droitwich Road, Feckenham, Redditch, Worcs; B96 6JE. Tel: 01527 894422 www.theforestatfeckenham.com

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EDITORIAL Michael Abu-Zalaf - Editor in Chief @ZalafAbu -

michael@edgemagazine.org

Tel:07809 702 992 Lucinda Bunn - Deputy Editor @lucindabunn -

lucinda@edgemagazine.org

Hannah Griffiths - Editorial Assistant @EdgeMag_Hannah-

hannah@edgemagazine.org

Alexander Edwards

Nicholas Butler

Laura Clay

Mike Stafford

Rebecca Burden

Tom Ware

David Hatton

Brett Laniosh

Mel Taffs

SALES Alice Perrey - Warwickshire Sales @alice_perrey -

CONTRIBUTORS

alice@edgemagazine.org

Tel:07714 490 943 Steve Picker - Worcestershire Sales @EdgeMag_Steve -

steve@edgemagazine.org

Tel:07515 493 703 Julie Vasey - West Midlands Sales @edgemag_julie -

julie@edgemagazine.org

INFO@EDGEMAGAZINE.ORG Write to us at: MLP Publishing Ltd 20 Droitwich Road Feckenham Worcestershire B96 6HX

Tel:07834 538 284

SALON OF THE YEAR Aesthetics achieves standout nominations Lucinda Bunn

he finalists for HJ’s 2014 British Hairdressing Business Awards have been announced and Aesthetics has been shortlisted for not one, but two awards; Salon of the Year and Best Customer Care! The nationwide accolade searches far and wide for salons and creative teams with vision, who are bringing the industry forward and inspiring their peers. After an intense judging process by category sponsors, key business associates and industry names, Aesthetics reached finalist status. The winners will be announced at the black tie ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel next month. The British Hairdressing Business Awards recognise individuals and salons that excel in the business of professional hairdressing. Fighting off competition from London’s most prestigious salons and the country’s most celebrated brands, the salon of the year nomination is particularly meaningful to Aesthetics. The recognition demonstrates their expertise and quality across the board, not only in creating beautiful hair, precision cuts and innovative colouring, but also their commitment to customer service, staff training and all-round excellence. Aesthetics is renowned for exceptional customer care. A personalised concierge approach is tailor-made for each client, everything, from the range of colours to mix to create a totally bespoke result to how you take your cappuccino is taken care of. Clients’ preferences are noted and reviewed at each appointment and no request is too much trouble. Fourteen years after opening their doors, Aesthetics continues to have a dedicated team of talented stylists, a loyal clientele and yet more fantastic nominations.

347 Warwick Road Solihull West Midlands B91 1BQ 0121 707 8866 www.aesthetics-solihull.com

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EdgeMagazine

Hillscourt is set in the beautiful Lickey Hills, just on the outskirts of Birmingham, offering a unique wedding/function venue.

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Hillscourt has become an increasingly popular wedding venue in recent years and offers a warm and friendly environment. We pride ourselves on quality service at affordable prices. The centre has been refurbished to a high standard over recent years.

Excellent

catering licensed bar Complimentary bridal suite 55 en-suite bedrooms Attractive grounds and gardens Secure car parking Friendly and helpful staff Good value for money Fully

ALSO LICENSED FOR CIVIL CEREMONIES Hillscourt, Rednal, Birmingham B45 8RS. Tel: 0121 457 6100 Fax: 0121 457 6111 Website: www.hillscourt.co.uk

RELAX | ENJOY | CELEBRATE

YOUR PERFECT DAY A unique vision of a classic hotel with 17th Century roots, ideally located between Worcester and Great Malvern. Set in rural countryside with views across to Malvern Hills. Your wedding at the Bank House will of course be unique, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll meet your every requirement and pay attention to every detail.

Relax, have fun and enjoy your perfect day.

â&#x20AC;˘ Bespoke Wedding Packages â&#x20AC;˘ Grand Penthouse Bridal Apartment â&#x20AC;˘ 66 Luxury Bedrooms & Suites â&#x20AC;˘ Fine Dining Restaurant & Bar â&#x20AC;˘ Wedding Planning Services

Bank House Hotel, Spa & Golf Club, Bransford, Near Worcester, WR6 5JD Tel: 01886 833 551

bankhouseworcester.co.uk

www.edgemagazine.org

THIS IS THE PLACE Hannah Griffiths

Every couple wants to find the perfect venue. Whether you’re having an extravagant affair, a small intimate do or anything in between, this month we’re bringing you a selection of some of our favourite wedding venues. and the impressive grand room accommodating for up to 500 guests, the Bank House is the perfect setting garden for every type of wedding. The back drop of the Malvern Hills sets the scene for your special day and the Bank House lawns offer picturesque photographic opportunities with the cider stone press, rose pagoda and sunken beech garden. However you imagined your wedding the Bank House is waiting to make your dreams a reality. Bransford Rd, Worcester WR6 5JD 01886 833551 www.bankhouseworcester.co.uk

The Berkeley Set in the heart of the beautiful Worcestershire countryside, the Berkeley makes for a stunning setting for your big day. The Berkeley’s Spetchley Suite can accommodate a maximum of 150 guests for a wedding breakfast and up to 200 guests for an evening reception. Offering a number of beautiful features including doors opening onto the gardens, a private bar and an adaptable large room to suit your requirements as well as an exceptional reputation for food, fine wine and friendly service the Berkeley is a glorious setting that will provide wonderful memories of your big special day. Evesham Road, Spetchley, Worcester WR7 4QL 01905 345 269 www.theberkeleyworcester.co.uk

Chateau Impney

The Bank House Located in the rural village of Bransford, just three miles from Worcester and Malvern, the Bank House offers everything you need to make your wedding the day of your dreams. From small suites for intimate weddings to fabulous functions rooms holding up to 180 guests

The fairytale setting of Chateau Impney Hotel provides a romantic country house backdrop to the most important day of your life. With a history steeped in romance, grand French architecture and picturesque grounds, the Chateau is a truly luxurious wedding venue. Ideally located in Worcestershire, Chateau Impney Hotel is able to host any size or style of wedding, from the most intimate celebration up to as many as 850 guests. The Chateau is also available for exclusive use weddings, allowing you to enjoy the magnificent building and enchanting gardens in their entirety. Chateau Impney Hotel, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire WR9 0BN 01905 774411 www.chateau-impney.com

EdgeMagazine

Wharton Park Golf and Country Club

Eastnor Castle Eastnor Castle is the perfect fairy-tale castle for the most memorable day of your life. You will find tranquillity, splendour and complete exclusivity with 12 beautiful bedrooms hosting a limited number of very special weddings each year. Every wedding that takes place at Eastnor is treated with utmost discretion and personal attention to detail ensuring that the bride and groom feel comfortable and relaxed in this truly exceptional family home.

Set in an area steeped in natural beauty, Wharton Park is an ideal venue to host your special day. With stunning view this picturesque location provides the perfect backdrop for your wedding album. Whether you are choosing the complete wedding package or you’re simple having the reception at Wharton Park you will find beautifully appointed banqueting suites with plenty of natural daylight and a private terrace area enabling everyone to experience breath-taking surroundings. Call now to speak to one of the highly experienced wedding co-ordinators who will arrange and advise on all aspects to ensure your wedding will be one of the most memorable days of your life. Wharton Park Golf & Country Club, Longbank, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2QW 01299 405 222 www.whartonpark.co.uk

Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1RL 01531 633160 www.eastnorcastle.com

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings

Hillscourt Just outside of Birmingham you’ll find Hillscourt, a great wedding venue with stylish function rooms, luxurious bedrooms and beautiful surroundings. The Victorian style manor house has many original features as well as modern touches to make your day run smoothly. At Hillscourt you can enjoy a wedding breakfast for up to 85 people and an evening reception or up to 200. Summer weddings can make the most of the outdoor space with drinks and canapés on the grounds; perfect for photos and al fresco celebrations. Rose Hill Rednal Birmingham B45 8RS 0121 457 6100 www.hillscourt.co.uk

Weddings, partnerships and receptions can all be held at Avoncroft Museum. The charming New Guesten Hall has a magnificent 14th century, Grade II listed roof which only adds to the historic surroundings. Blessings can be performed in Bringsty Mission Church, a Victorian ‘tin’ chapel in the Museum grounds. After your ceremony your guests can enjoy the museum’s extensive grounds and gardens, spread over 19 acres of English countryside, while the many historic buildings provide interesting and unusual settings for your wedding photographs. The Vintage Wedding package includes a high tea served in antique china and vintage table settings. For more information, head to the Avoncroft Museum website. Stoke Heath Bromsgrove Worcestershire B60 4JR 01527 831363/831886 www.avoncroft.org.uk

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Floral Designer Inspired by Nature Creating Unique Designs for your Events CORPORATE EVENTS PARTIES WEDDINGS FUNERALS

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info@amandaluther.co.uk 07967 896 206 www.amandaluther.co.uk

Sunday 5TH /CTOBER s NOON UNTIL PM Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury, is proudly opening its doors for a Wedding Showcase for prospective brides and grooms. Come along and meet our dedicated wedding team to discuss your plans, and tour the spectacular state rooms and bedrooms. Please visit www.eastnorcastle.com and register your attendance. %ASTNOR #ASTLE %ASTNOR .R ,EDBURY (EREFORDSHIRE (2 2, s T 01531 633160

EdgeMagazine

A COOL COMBINATION Traditional tweed and contemporary cuts at the Cotswold Tailor Alexander Edwards

here’s no better time to showcase your style than on your wedding day. It’s your chance to celebrate your eccentricities, take centre stage and wear the suit you’ve always wanted to. Here is your essential guide to choosing something classic and contemporary; a cool combination. Country weddings are as popular as ever. It’s heritage meets haute couture. To achieve this look, you’ll need one key piece: a tweed waistcoat. At the Cotswold Tailor, our country wedding range gives you the choice of ten fabrics to complement your style and colour scheme. As this trend has taken off, pastel colours have taken over. Mint and sage green say spring and summer but whatever colour ways you go for, we offer a bespoke matching service for our clients; so ties to bridesmaids’ dresses, flowers to invitations, we can make everything just so. Another top tip for choosing the perfect suit is to consider something that will stand the test of time. At the Cotswold Tailor, not only do our suits reflect the highest quality in fabric and craftsmanship but the style of suits we offer can also be worn after your wedding day. Choosing something in a classic style means you’ll want to wear it time and time again. It’s all about being suit savvy.

Where we’ve seen the morning suit fall out of favour, the tailored fit 3 piece suits have become a firm favourite with grooms, as they can transform into business suits after the big ‘I dos’. Our tailored fit, charcoal and navy tailored fit suits offer the contemporary sharp look that is gracing the catwalks this season. Pleats and turn-ups are out and flat fronts and straight legs are in. The important thing to remember is that we all come in different shapes and sizes, and what suits some men might not necessarily work for others. To avoid any fashion faux pas come to the experts to get sound advice to guide you in your choice. At the Cotswold Tailor, we offer both a luxury tailoring wedding service and a formal hire service from both shops in Woodstock and Shipston-on-Stour. Our friendly, experienced team offers expert advice on cuts, colour and fit. At the Cotswold Tailor, you’re in the safest possible hands. 21B Oxford Street Woodstock OX20 1TH

24 Church Street Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4AP

01993 358284

01608 238008 www.suitstailored.com

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EdgeMagazine Worcester's Premier Wedding Florist

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Chocolate Deli Luxury Handmade Chocolates

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Wedding Favours Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Hanbury Road, 53 New Street, Worcester, WR1 2DL Bromsgrove, B60 4BU 01905 611324 www.chocolatedeli.uk.com 01527 821693 info@chocolatedeli.biz

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MEET THE MAKER The independent retailers dedicated to making your wedding special

The stationery studio

The hat haven

Melanie’s Studio Design prides itself on producing beautiful stationery design, illustration and event styling; translating couples’ visions into reality by creating special and meaningful wedding stationery and styling solutions. New for 2014 Melanie has designed a delightful collection of wedding stationery designs, now available to order from her website. For couples searching for something truly unique Melanie’s Studio Designs goes above and beyond to offer a bespoke service for the bride and groom which not only represents their characters but also acts as a treasured long lasting memory.

Whether it’s a wide-brimmed hat for the mother of the bride, or a fascinator for a friends’ wedding, the Hattery has it all. Conveniently located at the Jinney Ring Craft Centre, the Hattery is run by an independent group of milliners who hold weekly meetings with clients to discuss new hats, design specific pieces to suit individuals as well sell a number of pre-made hats on sale for a multitude of occasions.

1 Top Street, Charlton, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3LE 07949 523005 www.melanies.org.uk

Jewels by design As well as the ready to wear collections on display at Jill Wheelock-Lines Pearls and Fine Jewellery, you can also make use of the bespoke jewellery design service. Much of what you see in the shop is designed by Jill and made by talented jewellers in London and Manchester, so there are plenty of examples of designs to guide you in your choices. Redesign your grandmother’s ring, remodel your dated pearls or create the perfect piece around the diamond you love; you’ll be amazed at the possibilities at Jill Wheelock-Lines. 8 Friar Street Worcester WR1 2LZ

Jinney Ring Craft Centre Limited, Hanbury Road, Hanbury, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4BU 01527 821272 www.jinneyring.co.uk

Country creativity For Amanda Luther, floristry started with a love of gardening; it seemed a natural progression, qualifying in 2002. Amanda has a real affinity with the countryside and it’s definitely where she gets her inspiration. Amanda’s approach to wedding flowers is very collaborative and in this way she creates designs that are unique and tailor made for your big day. Amanda’s experience, creativity, support and commitment make her the perfect florist for your big day. Halford Near Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV36 5DJ 07967 896 206 www.amandaluther.co.uk

01905 613799 www.jillwheelock-lines.co.uk

EdgeMagazine The Sweet As cake creators A wedding cake has to be right, and your wedding day needs a creation that will taste as magnificent as it looks. Sweet As Wedding Cakes are crafted to perfection. Whether you want smooth white chocolate with luscious berries or three tiers with fresh red roses and dark chocolate shards; whatever your heart desires, Sweet As will make yours a cake (and a day) to really remember. Contact Sweet As to arrange your free Wedding Cake Consultation now. 7 Warwick Place, Leamington Spa, CV32 5BH 01926 330073 www.sweet-as.co.uk 3 Smalley Place, Kenilworth, CV8 1QG 01926 863335 www.sweet-as.co.uk

The music makers Red Rooster Discos are an exclusive, bespoke brand of mobile disco like no other. Providing personalised entertainment for weddings, parties and special events Red Rooster Discos play all genres and decades of music. If you’re a 70’s disco diva or an 80’s raving maven, you’ll love the opportunity to pick out all the music and the theme of your event. For Red Rooster Discos it’s all about creating the mood that you want. That goes to the music, the lighting, and getting your guests involved in the action. For a free consultation, call the team. 2 Lletty’r Gild Pentre Llanrhaeadr Nr Denbigh LL16 4NR 01745 890367 www.redroosterdiscos.co.uk

The floral fantasies Floral Roundabout offers a bespoke personal service for your wedding flowers. Our superb contemporary and classical designs will enhance your special day. We have a sensational range of wedding flowers for all budgets. Choose from our range of bridal bouquets, corsages, buttonholes and accessories. Every bride is special to Floral Roundabout. 59 Sidbury, Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 24613 www.floralroundabout.co.uk

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ALISTAIR COWIN Living life through a lens

listair Cowin has been a professional photographer for more than 30 years and during that time he has worked all over the world - out of a studios in Knightsbridge London, Malibu California, Miami Beach Florida, Cannes France and latterly out of a gorgeous ‘garden’ studio in Worcester. In that time Alistair has taken photographs for literally hundreds of well known corporate clients from Harrods to Marks & Spencer, from Bloomingdales to Strawbridge & Clothier. The list of ‘stars’ he has photographed reads like a who’s who and includes Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron amongst hundreds of others. His photographic skills have been honed by the incredible variety of work that he has been commissioned to shoot over the years and includes fashion and beauty (his favourites!), corporate personalities, company brochures, architecture, sports events, social occasions, society weddings and even family portraits. There is very little that Alistair hasn’t photographed and he brings an enormous wealth of experience to everything he undertakes. And he does it all with an innate sense of fun, enjoyment and creativity. Some say his clients would hire him ‘just for the laughs’ but at the end of the day the product is always taken seriously and clearly Alistair enjoys what he does. Advertising: Clients have included Worcester Warriors, Chris Green Media, Design Religion, Bulthaup Kitchens, Riverside Shepherds Huts, Welland House, Urban Voice, Bindles, New College, Smile Dental Care Clinic. Fashion and Beauty: Clients include Judy Bentinck Millinery, Perfections, Anja Potze Jewellery, Daks, Speedo, La Redoute, Grattan, J Crew, Revlon, Clairol, Shiseido. Weddings: In the past 6 years Alistair has photographed over a hundred weddings including ceremonies in St Pauls Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral, Blenheim Palace, Cliveden, Celtic Manor and Chatsworth House. More locally he has photographed in Sudeley Castle, Birtsmorton Court, Hanbury Hall, Redhouse Barns, Evesham Abbey, Dumbleton Hall. Portraits: have included Jeremy Guscott, Ben Cohen, David Hemmings, Antonio Carluccio, George C Scott, Don Henley, Hermann Zimmerman, Greg Russell, Sally Gunnel, Bill Beaumont, Ali McCoist, Fiona Fullerton, Ulrika Johnson, Annette Benning and Tess Daly amongst many others. Alistair’s mantra is “if it moves I’ll shoot it” and it’s surely this attitude that has kept him so busy over all these years. As he says these days “and long may it continue”. Welland House Studio 43 Bromyard Road Worcester WR2 5BZ 01905 421924 www.alistaircowin.com

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All photographs courtesy of Alistair Cowin www.alistaircowin.com

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THE NEW LAMBORGHINI HURACÀN LP 610-4 A new dimension luxury super sports cars

•Innovative technology and absolute performance redefine the super sports car experience •Pure and powerfully dynamic design language •New V10 with 610 hp, acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, top speed of over 325 km/h

new era is beginning for Automobili Lamborghini and the luxury super sports car segment: the brand new Huracán Lamborghini is not only the successor to the iconic Gallardo, but is also redefining the benchmark for luxury super sports cars in this segment. With its pure and unique design, an innovative technology package, outstanding dynamics and excellent quality, the Huracán offers a super sports car experience on a whole new level. The Huracán combines absolute performance with easy-to-drive road behaviour and both luxurious and sport-oriented finish. With the Huracán, Lamborghini is taking a big step into the future, and enhancing the brand’s illustrious history with the next automotive legend. With a total volume of 14,022 cars produced, the Lamborghini Gallardo has been the most successful Lamborghini ever and, in its ten-year lifecycle, lifted the Lamborghini marque to a whole new level. Its successor, the new Huracán, has been developed from scratch down to the very last detail and, like the Gallardo and most other Lamborghini models, derives its name from the world of bullfighting. The fighting bull Huracán of the Spanish Conte de la Patilla breed was known for his outstanding courage and strong sense of attack. He fought in Alicante in August 1879, showing his

unrelenting character and remaining defiant and invincible, thus entering into the legend of fighting bulls’ history. The new Huracán revolutionizes the design language of the Gallardo and is pure in its lines: precise technology and top level craftsmanship meet an audacious design with sharp edges, monolithic and sculptured volumes and precise surfaces. The starting point is the silhouette of the Huracán, born out of the desire of creating an automobile, whose profile is defined by only one line that merges the front with the cockpit and the rear of the car. Also by night is the Huracán unmistakably a Lamborghini. Not only are the main headlamps equipped with full LED illumination, but all other light functions also feature state-of-the-art LED technology as a standard feature for the first time in the segment. The interior is dominated by an innovative cockpit. A 12.3 inch full-color TFT instrument panel delivers all car information to the driver, from rev counter to navigation maps and infotainment functions, and can be configured by the driver in different setups. Fine Nappa leather and Alcantara distinguish the interior, with several color combinations offered to ensure broad individualization options. The design of dashboard and central tunnel underline a new lightness in the interior. Superb craftsmanship guarantees the highest quality and sense of luxury throughout. The Huracán is produced at the Automobili Lamborghini headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese on an entirely newly-equipped production line. Delivery to the first customers is planned for spring 2014.

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THE POWER OF PRIMERS So your skin stays flawless Rebecca Burden

solid primer can make or break your make up look. No matter how much work or time you put into it you may find that it all disappears a couple of hours later leaving you wondering where it all went wrong. The answer is simple, you need a strong base or primer. Building on this primed and ready base means you can create strong make up looks that are immovable throughout the day or night. Here are some of the best available on the market right now: Benefit - The Porefessional (22ml £24.50) This high street option may seem small but it’s definitely mighty. By combining an oil-free formula with pore refining technology this primer has become a firm favourite with makeup artists and the public alike. It’s great for all skin types and brilliant for your travelling makeup bag. Mac Prep + Prime (30ml £20.50) This dark lovely is a true beauty classic. It has an ‘ultra fluid’ formula that calms and soothes the skin and evens out any redness creating a flawless base for any foundation. The major plus is that it really reduces any excess oiliness on the skin so that means less time on touch-ups! Indeed Labs - Nanoblur (30ml £19.99) This is not actually a primer but more like a skin saviour that can be used as a primer. It smoothes out visible imperfections with its advanced optical prism technology and diffuses the light when it hits your skin creating an almost air brushed effect. Say goodbye to any visible signs of ageing across your body as this can be used on your hands, neck or décolletage to great effect also.

Clinique - Superprimer Colour Corrects range (30ml £20) This range of CC primers is one of the most individually tailored around at the moment. Dullness, redness, sallowness and discolouration can all be specifically targeted at the priming stage which allows you to be able to lay a base of flawless foundation and get on with your day with no worries. If you have a really persistent skin issue head over to your local Clinique counter where they can help you pick the right one for your skin type. Alternatively if you find that it’s just your eyeshadow travels throughout the day or your liner prints a specific eye primer can be the perfect solution. Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion (£8) or Nars Smudge-proof Eyeshadow Base (£16) are two of the best examples in the beauty market to date and will keep those eyes looking bright all day. www.bbyb.co.uk belovedburden@gmail.com

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A SPARKLING SYMPHONY The sound of your senses Laura Clay

If you don’t like the wine change the music. Music doesn’t just induce the tingle factor, evoke memories, reduce us to tears and raise our spirits it also affects how we perceive what we taste. According to Professor Barry Smith of University of London, tasting generally and wine tasting in particular is not a unified experience. We look, smell and taste a wine independently but actually all those senses, and many others besides, work together in our experience of how we assess the wine, including the sense of hearing. We’d like to think we are not influenced by outside factors, that we really can make an independent and intelligent assessment of what we taste but who hasn’t had that great wine on holiday/rubbish at home moment? Our interpretation and appreciation of that wine was influenced by our mood, the sunshine, the lapping of the waves in the distance, all factors conspiring to make that wine taste like manna from heaven. Under grey skies, on a damp and miserable Saturday evening with U2 playing in the background, the wine is not so appealing. It doesn’t mean that the wine wasn’t good when you first drank it but that our senses, and Professor Smith suggests we have between 20 and 33 and not 5 as Aristotle would have it, conspired to make it ultradelicious. We can’t control that. Our brain has already made an assumption of what to expect when it has seen, smelt and even heard something which then lands on its taste buds. The experiment tested 12 wine professionals on how sound, and in this case music, affects how we taste a wine, in this case champagne. We had already correctly identified the music which he has had specially composed to represent sweet, sour, bitter and salty tastes proving that we have a cerebral conception of what each might sound like. We tasted five very different champagnes each time first in silence and then with two diverse pieces of music and there seemed to be little subjectivity about what the differences were – we were agreed that the wines tasted differently and also in what ways they had changed. One piece of music always made the wine taste better than the other and we were agreed as to which it was. It mattered not that some of us might have been music nerds, others tone deaf – our findings were the same. The music was matching to the acidity with high notes; low notes emphasised bitterness and the speed of the wine across the palate worked with the tempo of the music. It gives a whole new dimension to the word syncopation. And possibly the most mystical finding was how the texture of the champagnes changed depending on the sounds we were listening to.

If you don’t believe that our brains can’t help being influenced by what we hear, these are the results of the Pringle Tests: tasters considered 2 day old Pringles to be stale but those same Pringles mashed into a ball and tasted with the sound of crunching noises in the background were thought to be delicious. And if you’re still not convinced, well, you’ll just have to try it for yourself. But do the champagne and music rather than the Pringle test – much more fun. One lucky winner can try the experiment for free with a bottle of Pol Roger Réserve Brut by entering the competition below. For more wine advice and events go to www.bywine.co.uk

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DECORATE WITH COLOUR Inspiration for Hatton and Harding David Hatton

e’re not best known for our use of colour, however occasionally we do make an exception to our neutral rule. Our signature styling is based on a calming, neutral colour palette, so when we’re asked to include plenty of colour for clients it can be the ultimate challenge. We’ll begin by integrating splashes of hues into a style that remains true to ourselves, creating the blush on the cheeks of a pale complexion. Most of us are unaware but designers use colour to affect our feelings, moods and even stimulate our appetite. Think of how many brightly decorated restaurants you have eaten in. It’s a general rule of art and interiors that bright colours appear more vivid when surrounded by neutral colours. Greys and beiges are the perfect backdrop for the colours that you do want to highlight. People generally find this more soothing than rooms where colours with equal intensity compete for attention. At various points around the house you can introduce colour in both vivid and subtle shades that enliven the interior and actually set off the neutral tones. It might be just the ticking on a scatter cushion or tinted glassware alternatively one bold and beautiful statement piece, almost shocking in its vibrancy can defiantly take centre stage. We love using companies like GP&J Baker, Kravet and Porta Romana to inject that harmonious zing.

Colours that energise reds, oranges and vivid yellows stimulate and are ideal for rooms centred around the planning and enjoyment of food; kitchens and dining rooms especially but think of their more muted relations, coral and peach which make lovely additions to serene spaces to rest. Shades of blue are soothing and can calm and relax, perfect for a drawing room but the blue-meets-green territory, like teal, can be rich and extravagant. Greens have their obvious connection to nature and so are generally perfect for creating peace and harmony. Some designers or stylists will show you colour wheels to tempt and tease with what shades complement or clash, we rather prefer to collate a scheme that you are in love with, where it complies to the rules or not. It’s your home after all. So try introducing a splash of colour to your neutral home. You can generate visual complexity and your home will become a function of art - inspiring and invigorating. Hatton & Harding 13a Old Square Warwick CV34 4RV 01926 408892 www.hattonandharding.co.uk Follow us on Twitter@HattonHarding5 and Facebook Hatton & Harding

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FLOWER POWER Eating flora Mel Taffs

hen most people think of flowers, eating them isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. However many of these beautiful plants can be eaten and can also add colour and texture to a raw salad or a cooked meal. Always wash the flowers thoroughly before consuming and remove stems as these are often not as tasty as the petal section. Below are just some of flowers that I have eaten and recommend you to try... Violets: The flowers along with the heart-shaped leaves are edible. Both can be eaten and added to salads. The flower is often used to make tea and used as a decorative garnish. Rosemary: It is very popular for cooking with, not only due to its taste but its preserving qualities. It can be used as a rub for athletes to help prevent muscle strain and is an important ingredient in eau de cologne. It also has antibacterial, antioxidant and analgesic qualities. Rosemary is regularly used to treat headaches, neuralgia, sciatica, arthritis, catarrh, digestive problems, depression and dandruff. Rosemary should be avoided during pregnancy. Lavender: This was introduced to England by the Romans and again is very common. It is a safe and very versatile flower and can help with skin complaints such as burns, eczema, dermatitis and acne. Lavender is also a good antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, relieves coughs, colds, and sinusitis and can be dried and used in cooking. Chamomile: Commonly known for its use in tea. The flowers are a lovely yellow colour and oil is distilled from the plant and used as an antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, inhalant for chest infections and can be taken after using antibiotics to restore the balance to the intestine. Lemongrass: This beautiful flower derives from Brazil, Sri Lanka and parts of South America and was traditionally used in Indian medicine for hundreds of years. It has an extremely strong odour and is used to [protect animals from ticks and fleas. It sedates the nervous system and is used in stress related conditions such as colitis. It is also good with muscular aches and pains, infections and as a general tonic. Ylang ylang: Beautiful yellow and mauve and pink flowers. Ylang Ylang was very popular in Victorian times. This is commonly used for scalp problems, blood pressure, palpitations, rapid breathing and as an anti-depressant. Cedar wood: With its bright purple leaves it was used by the Egyptians in their mummification process. It’s a great insect repellent and great at treating urinary infections, chest complaints, arthritis, rheumatism and dandruff. Orange blossom: It’s a very popular scent and comes from the flower of the Bitter Orange Tree. Most commonly found in bridal bouquets due to its hypnotic effect. It’s also one of the strongest stress-relieving oils and often used in complaints such as colitis, palpitations, diarrhoea. Rose geranium: A beautiful shade of pink the rose geranium is most commonly used in window boxes as it acts as an insect repellent. This flower also helps with hormonal imbalances, ulcers, skin conditions, burns, shingles, and ringworm and has anti-fungal properties. Caraway: Caraway is very common. The oil is distilled from the flower seeds and is a popular herb used in rye bread, cheeses, liquor and various cakes. It helps with indigestion, gastric ulcers and reflux. Want to change your bad eating habits for life? Lose weight and feel great? Feel good about yourself again? Call Absolutely Flab U Less on 07792421080. Alternatively, email: melanietaffs7@gmail.com

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THE LOCAL KITCHEN Everything that's cooking in the three counties Sourdough September is next month Sourdough September sees a surge in baking glorious artisan with

wild yeasts, but sourdough isn’t just about baking bread. Using a sourdough starter in your everyday baking gives cakes, scones, pancakes, pastries and muffins the most wonderful flavour.

Warwick beekeeper wins inaugural Warwick Bake Off Earlier this year Warwick bakery Bread & Co, Warwick’s Mayor MoiraAnn Grainger, Love Warwick and artisans.at, hatched a plan to get Warwickshire’s home bakers involved in baking a celebration cake to commemorate Warwick’s 1100th birthday. Both adults and children alike got their baking caps on to adapt a traditional 1700s pound cake recipe into something mouthwateringly memorable, and on 12th July it was Tanya Weaver who was crowned as the Warwick Bake Off champion with her ‘Orange and honey pound cake’. As part of her prize, Tanya will spend a day at Bread & Co perfecting her recipe so that it can go on sale to the public as ‘Warwick’s 1100 Cake’. The recipe can be found on Tanya’s beekeeping blog: www.girlmeetsbee.blogspot.co.uk

After the bacteria and the yeast have had some time to ferment an un-refreshed starter has so much flavour, that it is almost criminal to throw it away, says Vanessa Kimbell. Vanessa Kimbell is the lead judge of the sourdough category of Tiptree

Culinary expertise at Cookmate Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore especially with the help of Cookmate. Located on Broad Street, Worcester, the Cookmate team are using their skills, knowledge and expertise to help you become a whiz in the kitchen. Whilst her shop is full of kitchen gadgets and equipment Caroline and her team don’t believe in selling you something you’ll never use instead she prefers to personally engage with each customer to see how and what they cook before

World Bread Awards, and teaches people to bake with sourdough from her kitchen in Northamptonshire; she is also the resident baking expert for the leading supplier of artisan baking equipment in the UK, Bakery Bits. www.bakerybits.co.uk.

suggesting a suitable addition for their kitchen; providing you with functional equipment that will enhance your everyday life. You can also attend one of Cookmate’s monthly food demonstrations and themed evenings to discover new dishes, brush up on those new found culinary skills and learn how to get the best from your kitchen. 62 Broad St Worcester WR1 3LY 01905 27251

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Loaf Cookery School Loaf Cookery School is the West Midlands’ most innovative cookery school, a place where you can learn forgotten food skills in the heart of the second city. The Loaf team believes everyone has the right to be able to find, cook, and eat real food every day, so they’ve developed a roster of courses that enable you to do just that. Whether it be learning how to make artisan sourdough bread, how to butcher your own meat, or how to find safe wild food for free, Loaf’s in-house staff and expert external tutors will guide you through every step of the process, so that you can

start reproducing the magic at home in your own kitchen. Loaf Cookery School also runs seafood courses, and a series of Kitchen Essentials workshops (knife skills, stocks and sauces etc.) as well as seasonal favourites, Forage and Cook, Earth Oven Building and Preserving courses. Loaf HQ 1421 Pershore Road Stirchley Birmingham B30 2JL 0121 458 7682 www.loafonline.co.uk

Brewing up a storm It will be cakes and ale all round this August as Bird’s Brewery in Old Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove celebrates its 5th Birthday! Director Steve Hammond said ‘It seems like only yesterday that our first brew Ashborough Pale first saw the light of day! Now we have seven regular beers and a number of seasonal or one off brews’ Bird’s offer a varied range of styles and strengths, from traditional Mild Ale and Stout, through Pale Ales and Blonde Beers to Deep Copper Strong Bitters.

Birmingham Independent Food Fair 2014 The region has woken up to Birmingham’s rich independent food scene. Following last year’s successful pilot event, #FutureFoodies, Dine Birmingham is hosting a fully-fledged food fair at Millennium Point on September 13th.

Steve added ‘We started out with the intention of brewing traditional cask ales for supply to local pubs and clubs etc, but three years ago decided to branch out into bottled beers, at which time we opened the Brewery Shop at our premises in Old Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove’. Bird’s are particularly proud that there bottled beers ‘Amnesia’ and ‘Serendipity’ have been featured in Sainsbury’s Great British Beer Hunt.

Spreading across indoor and outdoor space, the fair will feature locallydistilled gin from Langley’s, sizzling paella from Authentic Tapas Group, and live demonstrations from local chefs and cookery students.

Ladybird Barn, Old Burcot Ln, Burcot, Bromsgrove B60 1PH

Over 40 stalls will serve up treats from Polish street food, to Thai curries, from Greek deli food to handmade chocolates and gluten-free confectionery.

www.birdsbrewery.co.uk

01527 889870

Tickets are now available at www.bhamindfoodfair.co.uk

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MARCO’S NEW YORK ITALIAN The new Marco Pierre White restaurant to open in Stratford-upon-Avon

new Marco Pierre White restaurant is opening this month in Stratford-uponAvon, bringing 30 new jobs to the area. Located on Chapel Street, the new restaurant will be a Marco’s New York Italian and the latest to open under the name of the prestigious celebrity chef. The Italian-American cuisine offering is inspired by one of America’s most vibrant dining scenes. Diners will be able to choose from a varied menu that includes traditional Italian pasta and pizza dishes, alongside a range of American style hotdogs, burgers, ribs and steaks. Other dishes available include a small variety of fish and chicken, finishing with a mouth-watering dessert menu. The restaurant is creating 30 new positions with experienced local restaurateur James Curran being announced as the restaurant’s manager last month. James’ role at Marco’s New York Italian is to act as the driving force in ensuring the restaurant becomes embedded in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon’s vibrant dining and cultural scene, delivering high quality food and service on which the Marco Pierre White brand prides itself. Originally from Sunderland, James moved to Warwickshire three years ago and has since seen through the successful launches of four artisan catering outlets at Shakespeare’s Birthplace: Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Mary Arden’s Farm and Halls Croft.

Commenting on his vision for the new restaurant, James said, “I see Marco’s as the place to go in Stratford, catering for a wide demographic including families, tourists, couples and theatre goers alike. We intend to woo our guests with great food in fantastic surroundings and seamless, friendly informal service. Not forgetting the bar in its own right with its great selection of beers, spirits and Italian wines alongside an opulent cocktail menu, fantastic for an after work nibble and drink on our sun terrace”. The restaurant has set a date of Thursday August 14th for its opening, with an official launch party to be announced shortly after. Bookings are now being taken for the restaurant – to make a booking or for further information call 01789 293949 or visit the website: www.marcosstratford.co.uk. For daily updates follow the restaurant on Twitter: @ marcosstratford or Facebook: Marco’s New York Italian, Stratford-upon-Avon. 17-19 Chapel Street Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6ER

ӷ'ULQNLQJ ‫׬‬QH ZLQH ZLWK GHOLFLRXV IRRG LQ JRRG FRPSDQ\ DQG EHDXWLIXO VXUURXQGLQJV LV RQH RI OLIHӵV JUHDWHVW SOHDVXUHV Ӹ We are delighted to announce Tom Court is now part of the Stirrups team. Tom certainly shares our passion for producing delicious food, using fresh, local & seasonal ingredients. He has created new dishes to compliment existing favourites with fresh fish gracing our specials board. Stirrups is the perfect place to book for lunch, whether business or pleasure, or for an evening of quality food and wine in a luxurious and vibrant atmosphere. Corporate & private dining events also catered for in our elegant function room.

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 01299 851600 or book online: www.stirrupsrestaurant.co.uk kidderminster road, cutnall green, droitwich spa, worcestershire WR9 0PW e: eat@stirrupsrestaurant.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

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DESTINATION TO DINE At Arishana, Worcester

rom the moment you step into Arishana, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re welcomed with a smile and attentive service. The contemporary Indian dining destination has a stylish restaurant where you can enjoy traditional Indian cuisine with modern takes on classics. Of course, the takeaway service is available too so you can take your delicious curries home to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Now fully licensed, Arishana is the perfect venue for family get togethers and private parties. The team at Arishana bring together their expertise in Indian cuisine and their flair for flavour and spice to recommend different dishes. Head chef Mai has travelled extensively in Asia and that shines through in the menu and the execution of dishes at Arishana. From tandoori delights and seafood specials to biryani curries and traditional favourites, if you love Indian food, Arishana is the place to go.

rishana Authentic fusion of Indian and Thai Cuisine

To make things even easier, Arishana has an order online option so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even need to pick up the phone. Your curries and chapattis will be delivered to your door. 51 Canada Way Worcester WR2 4XA 01905 339338

51 Canada Way Worcester WR2 4XA

01905 339338

www.arishana.co.uk 37

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THE REAL CHINA

At the Hub, Kingfisher Shopping Centre

he latest addition to Kingfisher Shopping Centre’s Hub is the Real China – the ultimate oriental eating experience. Savour fresh, exquisite and delicious Chinese food in the stylish, enchanting and sumptuous new restaurant. Starters from satay chicken skewers and sesame prawn toast to dumplings and crispy aromatic duck and mains from shredded beef and chop suey to king prawn with ginger and spring onion and kung pao chicken; the Real China brings the best ingredients and traditional Chinese cooking techniques together. Starters, sushi Bar, grill, main courses and desserts are all included in one fixed price so you can enjoy as many dishes as you like and as often as you like. The Hub at Kingfisher Shopping Centre is Redditch’s new leisure destination. With some of the UK’s favourite eateries and the best high street retailers, the Kingfisher has something to entertain the whole family. The Hub is the name for the redevelopment of the food and entertainment section of the Kingfisher Centre. Nando’s has officially opened already - the home of legendary Portuguese flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken. The all-new Pure Gym is also in action, providing visitors and members a full programme of fitness classes, as

well as the use of over 220 pieces of brand new kit and equipment. The Real China restaurant opened at the end of last month, serving recipes which are selected to give a full Chinese experience, introducing seasonal ingredients and innovative flavours. The real beauty of each Real China dish is the bringing together of colour, aroma and taste – the holy trinity of Chinese cuisine. At the Real China, the Hub, the new team is dedicated to offering customers a memorable experience with friendly and efficient service. Make it a day of shopping with a light, healthy Asian lunch or if you’re heading to Vue cinema at the Hub in the evening, enjoy dinner first. With so much choice, there really is something for everyone. Kingfisher Shopping Centre Redditch Worcester B97 4HJ www.kingfishershoppingcentre.co.uk

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CITY BY THE RIVER

Photograph courtesy of Alistair Cowin

The ancient city of Worcester Hannah Griffiths

Like fine whiskey they say things get better with age and when it comes to the great city of Worcester that’s definitely the case. This ancient city, with a modern outlook, has an array of fantastic things to offer all types of visitor. From the over enthusiastic shopper to the sports fan, the culture vulture to the history buff, there’s something to suit everyone. The Anchor Inn Set in the heart of the Diglis Marina, just a short walk from the city centre, you’ll find the Anchor Inn. Nic Walsh Gibbons, former head chef of Browns, has spent £100,000 on a top quality refurbishment to ensure that the Anchor Inn is everything a ‘proper’ pub should be. His wife, Kathryn Walsh Gibbons, with a background in design, took care of the interior design and branding. Creating a happy balance between a pub and restaurant, the Anchor offers a wide range of real ales, interesting wines and premium lager alongside mouthwatering dishes including excellent breakfasts, stone baked pizzas, and exciting takes on modern English classic, plus much more. There’s also the skittle alley that’s available to hire for birthdays and other private events. You can book now for Christmas and New Year too. 54 Diglis Road, Worcester WR5 3BW 01905 351094 www.theanchorworcester.co.uk

Rock Follies Vintage This is a little vintage shop full of authentic and original clothing, with a nostalgic atmosphere. The team has kitted out people for many vintage events including Severn Valley 1940’s days, Goodwood Revival, vintage weddings, proms, parties and lifestyle. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, offering styling advice. Expect to find accessories, hats, jewellery, luggage, home ware and more. Always worth a mooch. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5.30pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm. Reindeer Court Mealcheapen Street Worcester WR1 2DS 01905 20085 www.rockfolliesvintage.co.uk

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Jill Wheelock-Lines In Worcester’s Friar Street you’ll find Jill WheelockLines Pearls and Fine Jewellery. A stunningly simple family run business that sees Jill use her years of experience to design and curate modern and bespoke pieces. Jill and her husband Derek pride themselves on offering you a complete personal service guiding you from concept to design, choosing diamonds and pearls as you go. Whether you’re looking for earrings, rings or pendants Jill will use her skills, knowledge and keen eye to produce the finest the pieces you won’t find anywhere else. 8 Friar Street, Worcester WR1 2LZ 01905 613799 www.jillwheelock-lines.co.uk

Blow Your Top Worcester’s premier men’s hair stylists, Blow Your Top, is renowned for creating stylish, modern, up-todate and on trend styles as well as your classic cuts. With 34 years experience, the team delivers a first class service in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. There, you’ll find accomplished stylists with a dedication to the customer experience. So if it’s a straight forward cut and finish, short back and sides, or something more creative, head to Blow Your Top. Blow Your Top 24 Friar Street Worcester WR1 2LZ 07794086403 www.blowyourtop-worcester.co.uk

Ostler’s Restaurant Ostler’s at Number One is under New Management. Benjamin Nelsey has re opened Ostler’s at Number One. A new team, menu and a refurbishment, there already seems to be a cool vibe about this place. Specialising in Tapas and Steaks with Fish and Vegetarian dishes on the Specials’ Board changing weekly, this family-owned restaurant certainly has a unique charm to it. 1 Severn Terrace Worcester WR1 3EH 01905 21302 www.ostersatnumber1.co.uk

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The King’s Head Bar and Grill, Sidbury Offering the finest in modern British cuisine with Mediterranean influences, the King’s Head in Sidbury accompanies good food with real ale and fine wine. In Worcester, just a stone’s throw away from the busy city centre, it’s the ideal venue for business or pleasure, for dining or enjoying drinks with friends. With the additional feature of al fresco dining in the garden, the King’s Head is an eatery to check out this summer. 67Sidbury Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 726025 www.kingsheadsidbury.co.uk

Pears Home Improvements

Photograph courtesy of Alistair Cowin

The Pears showroom is located in Worcester City Centre, with free parking and easy access. With over 55 years of experience in windows, door and conservatory solutions, the Pears team will help you make the right choice. Pears Home Improvements is a leading home improvements company operating throughout Worcestershire and the surrounding area. Also offering a complete repair and maintenance service to existing windows, Pears Home Improvements is committed to bringing customers the best products and service. Unit 19 Worcester Trade Park Sherriff Street Worcester WR4 9AB 01905 724085 www.pearshomeimprovements.co.uk

Chocolate Deli As well as housing an array of interesting and independent shops, New Street is one of Worcester’s most historic streets and is home to Chocolate Deli Coffee and Patisserie. This independent retailer produces hand-made chocolates on-site using the finest quality ingredients in their original recipes. Inside the shop you’ll also find a relaxing, cosy coffee lounge serving hot chocolate topped with cream and a variety of freshly baked cakes. Each beverage served is also accompanied by a free taster bar. 53 New St, Worcester WR1 2DL 01905 611324 www.chocolatedeli.biz

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The Bedroom Centre The Bedroom Centre is one of Worcester’s premier bed retailers; offering an extensive range of top quality divan beds, bed frames, ottomans and adjustable beds along with a multitude of mattresses from pocket spring to memory foam, latex to Orthopaedic. The Bedroom Centre also stocks a selective range of bedroom furniture and headboards and can deliver most beds within 7 days. For information call in today and speak to one of the friendly and experienced members of staff. City Walls Rd, St. Martin’s Gate, Worcester WR1 2JA 01905 729077 www.the-bedroom-centre.co.uk

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House of Dogs New Street, Worcester, is home to the House of Dogs grooming boutique. You’ll love the set-up, with a front of house dedicated to beautiful handpicked accessories and clothing, with the grooming room in the back. House of Dogs understands how to keep of your dog’s coat, skin and hygiene in check. With Worcester’s only pro-hydro-bath, the House of Dogs team are able to penetrate the skin and massage muscle tissue, whilst giving your dog a deep clean. They’ll leave feeling relaxed and refreshed and you’ll be amazed at the difference in their coat and paws. House of Dogs 30 New Street Worcester WR1 2DP 01905 731645 www.houseofdogs.org.uk

Floral Roundabout Worcester’s award winning florist, Floral Roundabout, has been selling inspirational floral gifts, exquisite bridal designs, emotive sympathy tributes, and creative corporate displays for over forty years. Beautifully handcrafting a wide variety of floral displays, the team at Floral Roundabout are keen to show their professional craftsmanship and the beauty of their fabulous flowers to customers. For every special moment there is a hand crafted floral design, made with care by the expert florists; call in today to see how the Floral Roundabout team can help you. 59 Sidbury, Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 24613 www.floralroundabout.co.uk

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A LETTER ABOUT HS2 The campaign to protect rural England Nicholas Butler

ake a map of Warwickshire and divide the county into two, almost equal halves, by ruling a line on it, from Fenny Compton in the south east to Middleton in the north west. That line passes through some of the loveliest countryside we have. The ten square miles of land around Wormleighton, a beautiful confection of Cotswold stone, is roadless and very, very tranquil. Moving north, the line crosses the Oxford Canal, Ufton Wood and the wide valley that contains the Grand Union Canal and the Fosse Way. Then on into the Green Belt, which stops Birmingham and Coventry from running into each other, through Cubbington Wood, the tiny hamlet of Stareton, Stoneleigh Park, over the Avon, through Burton Green and onto the Meriden Gap. Lovely countryside, valuable countryside and countryside that is likely to be irretrievably wrecked, for this is the path of HS2. “Nature abhors a straight line,” wrote the eighteenth century landscape gardener, William Kent, but the laws of engineering dictate that if a train is to travel at 250 miles an hour then straight that line must be. Why must HS2 happen? The money, and far less of it, would be far better spent in updating our existing railway system.

There is no need to travel at such a speed in a small country like England and the expense of achieving it is considerable. The answer is simple – prestige. Other countries have high speed trains so we must have one too, whether we need one or not. Moreover, after years of planning, and pushing the unwelcome realities of the physical and monetary cost firmly into the background, the government cannot now back down without loss of face. Can anything be done? Yes. The train will, in fact, travel at less than 200 miles an hour and at that speed a straight line is not necessary. If the line were built to follow the M1 from London and the M6 through Warwickshire, not only would our irreplaceable landscape be generally unscathed, but building it would be much, much cheaper. The lorries bringing the materials to the sites would use the M roads and the saving in time and work would be enormous. CPRE Warwickshire accepts, reluctantly, the unwelcome fact of HS2, but if with the Joneses up we must keep, let us have a route that will save our county from destruction. Do you agree? Find out more and have your say. ww.hs2.org.uk www.stophs2.org

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ON YOUR MARKS... GET SET...GO!

Put your best foot forward for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Hannah Griffiths

ver the last 150 years, Birmingham Children’s Hospital has touched and transformed the lives of millions of children and their families, which is reflected in their outstanding reputation both locally and nationally. The hospital provides the widest range of children’s health services for young patients from Birmingham, the West Midlands and other parts of the UK with over 257,000 patient visits every year and one in five children in Birmingham being treated at the hospital.

a super team for this year’s Bupa Great Birmingham Run. And you can join them. Last year 1,200 athletes laced up their running shoes and pounded 13.1 miles across Birmingham city centre, to help support the and to make a real difference to the lives of some of the sickest children across the Midlands, raising £245,000 but this year the charity along with Free Radio are going one step further and are hoping to enlist thousands of runners to join them on their fundraising mission to raise over £350,000.

As a registered charity, it uses donations to fund important equipment, pioneering research and all the extras that ensures that a patient’s experience is as comfortable as possible. Whether it’s £5 to fund some crayons and colouring books to pass the time whilst waiting for test results or £42,000 for a lifesaving machine that operates as a mechanical heart, every penny that is donated to the hospital is used in a productive and life changing way.

Many of the runners already signed up for the Bupa Great Birmingham Run have first-hand experience of the outstanding work carried out by the hospital. Jackie Rutter will be donning her running shoes and a Batman costume as she runs for her son Joseph who at just six weeks old became very ill and was admitted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Surgical Ward.

This year Birmingham Children’s Hospital is asking you to help with their most ambitious annual fundraising event. Teaming up with Free Radio, the hospital hopes to create

Speaking about her experience with the hospital Jackie says, ‘Without the outstanding support of Birmingham Children’s Hospital, my son wouldn’t have survived.

www.edgemagazine.org I am running to raise money for the ward that Joseph was admitted to, as some of the equipment used to save Joseph was donated by kind-hearted members of the public and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital that the ward continues to receive as much money as possible to continue so that they can continue to purchase life-saving equipment for poorly babies like my son.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Bupa Great Birmingham Run is a fantastic day out for all the family with two special events taking place for younger participants. The 1.5K mini run is open to 3 to 8 year olds and the 2.5K junior run is open to 9-16 year olds. This year will see one of Birmingham Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youngest participants step up to the start line. Toby Swindale was born 16 weeks prematurely and weighed only 1lb 3oz in 2011. He was transferred from Birmingham Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neonatal unit to Birmingham Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital where he underwent emergency bowel surgery when he was one week old. After returning to the hospital for numerous operations to improve his health Toby is now a healthy 2 year old who has his eyes on the finish line as he participates in the 1.5K mini run a month after his 3rd birthday. Speaking about the care Toby received his dad Matthew added, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We have experienced such amazing care from the team at Birmingham Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital from the surgeon to the staff on PICU, the neonatal surgical ward, one of

the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wards and also the surgical nurse who visited Birmingham Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neonatal ward itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been overwhelming and we are extremely grateful. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It is down to expert care he received, that Toby is able to enter this race and to help raise money for the hospital.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to find out more about the work Birmingham Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital does or to find out how you can help please visit the website www.bch.org.uk

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IT CROWD

The value of technical support Brett Laniosh

any primary schools look after their own IT infrastructure. This includes purchasing and maintaining hardware and making sure that the software runs smoothly, is kept up to date and is secure. Schools suffer higher rates of attrition in terms of their hardware than many businesses. It’s not because children or staff misuse computers, but is because they are in use for so much of the working day and are being used by so many different people. For a school it is vital that users are able to log into the network, that software works and that broken computers, printers and the like are fixed in a timely manner. Sometimes things can go awry and this can be extremely frustrating for everyone. The person at the receiving end of this angst is probably the IT technician. Technical staff are often put in an impossible position. They are asked to fix things there and then and that is not realistic. Lack of detail in when calls are raised is a common problem. “It’s not working” or “It’s broken” is not terribly helpful for a technician trying to resolve a problem while a teacher dismisses a class. Technical staff can lead an isolated existence with little support or training and this can be very frustrating and lead to problems in the long term. What must never happen is for technical support to become dictators, living in ivory towers. It can happen though and not just in schools. The reasons why leaders become enamoured and in awe of their technical staff are numerous, but usually include the fear of losing someone who can fix things that are unfathomable to a mere mortal. “If our technician leaves, our whole IT infrastructure is going to go down.” Occasionally managers may be afraid to address issues and confront individuals. In these situations the tail is wagging the dog and that is not a good place to be for a school or a business.

So what makes for great technical support? First and foremost is an understanding of the needs of the end user. This is all about a two way conversation between technical support and the teacher and also the pupils. It’s not going to happen if a technician is locked away in a room writing code or wielding a screwdriver. Time must be spent in the working environment. For school technicians, this means in the classroom supporting the teacher and seeing what they do by watching and ideally participating in lessons. One of the most enlightened schools I work in has a technician who attends my courses with his head of ICT and he also delivers training on the use of technology to teachers. He has even started to run after school coding courses for children. It has been a pleasure to see this young person grow in status and he is loved by everyone in the school. Not because he can fix the broken printer, but because he totally gets what teachers are doing and need to do. That has happened because of great leadership from the head teacher who has invested in support for all his staff. It means that learning is led by curriculum needs rather than technical ones. I’ve had and continue to have the pleasure of working with technical support staff who ‘get it’ and work in harmony with the people who are using the technology that they maintain. In an age when computer programming is back in the curriculum, now is the ideal time to embrace technical staff and get them in the classroom. Brett Laniosh works in schools where he promotes cloud technology and online safety. Follow him on Twitter @brettlaniosh, on LinkedIn or drop him an email edge@catshill.com

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….using seasonal local produce helps us create dishes with real personality… Tom Robinson - Head Chef at The Forest

At The Forest we’re passionate about using seasonal ingredients, handpicked at market, to create inspiring dishes. All enriched by this time of year too where we can fling the doors open and invite our customers to eat outside if they wish in our lovely pub garden. Freshly prepared food and alfresco dining! Is there anything more mouth-watering? Inside or out, you’ll find we’re dedicated to giving our customers a great experience in every way – the drink, the food, the service, the ambience….simply pay us a visit some sunny day to discover more..

Discover delicious food and drink in characterful surroundings.

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BUDGET Pensions in depth Tom Ware

he changes to the annuity rules proposed in the budget would represent a significant shake-up of the UK pension rules. Up to this point, investors have been forced to buy an annuity by 75 at the latest, but the rules have become increasingly controversial as annuity rates have weakened and the income offered has moved lower. The new rules would see retirees free to spend or invest their pension pot as they chose. However, there are a few caveats - the new rules only apply to defined contribution schemes. Defined benefit schemes – where retirees receive a proportion of their final salary as a pension - are not affected. Also, for the time being they are only proposals, but the Government is consulting with interested parties with a view to introducing the legislation as soon as 2015. If the changes go ahead, all retirees would be able to draw as much or as little as they need from their pension pot at any time. The first 25% withdrawn would be tax free; the remainder would be taxed as income in the year that it’s taken. This would allow investors considerable flexibility. They could, for example, leave more money in equities for longer, to help guard against inflation. They could choose to pay off debt, allocate money to their children, or spend it on the retirement holiday of their dreams.

The Government also announced some measures that would take immediate effect: There was an extension to the maximum yearly income allowed under the income drawdown rules. Retirees will now be able to take 150%, rather than 120% of the GAD basis amount. The Government also lowered the minimum annual secured income required to access a flexible drawdown arrangement. Retirees previously had to demonstrate that they had a secured income of at least £20,000 before applying for a flexible drawdown arrangement. This has now dropped to £12,000. Again, this allows retirees far greater flexibility in the way they manage their pension arrangements. The Chancellor also adjusted the so-called ‘triviality’ rules. These apply to pension pots deemed too small for normal pension rules to apply. These pots can be taken as a lump sum by people over 60. The previous limit was £18,000, but this rose to £30,000 in the current budget. In practice, this now incorporates many personal pension pots and is useful for those retirees who would otherwise have been forced to use a relatively small pension pot to secure a small annuity payment. The Chancellor’s final salvo was to cut the 55% charge on drawdown lump sum death benefits. There are now plans to cut the rate of tax payable on drawdown death benefits from April 2015 to align it more closely with income tax charges on drawdown. This is a recognition by the Government that pension savers should not be penalised for only taking what they need from their pension fund. This also enables retirees to pass on pension death benefits to loved ones. The Chancellor also announced plans to allow people aged 75 and over to continue to claim tax relief on pension contributions. This is an acknowledgement that working lives are longer and retirees are increasingly staggering their retirement. The new rules will make arrangements more complex in the short term, particularly for those considering retirement in the interim period. However, in the longterm they should improve the pension options for most people, giving more choice and flexibility. IMPORTANT NOTICE The descriptions of products and services in this newsletter are not recommendations, which we will only make to individuals based on their personal circumstances and needs. Investment plans and funds may involve risks to both capital and income. Past performance is not a guide to the future and the value of investment can fall as well as rise. You might not get back the full amount invested particularly if an encashment is made in the early years. The descriptions of tax rules are based on Churchill Investments’ understanding of law and HMR&C practice. Tax rules are subject to change. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Churchill Investments plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS: A REVIEW An autobiography by Kate Adie Mike Stafford

n my house as a young lad, the seriousness of international conflicts could be gauged very quickly. When news reports came in from trouble spots around the globe, we knew events weren’t that serious until Kate Adie arrived. Radiating calm under fire, for years Adie was the face of war reporting. In her autobiography, The Kindness of Strangers, the veteran journalist and all-round heroine tells not just her own story, but that of her employer, her profession, and even her country. Make no mistake, this is very much a life and times autobiography. We get a view into Adie’s childhood, but mainly within cultural context. She was born into a north-eastern post-war community where the scars of WWII were still evident - including shrapnel embedded in the kitchen countertop. Sunderland folk worked hard, kept their heads down, had little understanding of - or interest in - the world outside. Hardly ideal surroundings for a journalist to grow up in. Indeed, Adie seems to have had very little understanding of what she wanted to do with her life at the time. This was an era where the career path of a journalist was anything but established. Local BBC radio was established as Adie’s career was just beginning, and Adie and co, flying by the seat of their pants at all times, set out to invigorate, entertain, educate and reach out to people. Fuelled by alcohol and outlandishness, the Beeb of the time was a bold and batty broadcaster, sure in its remit not just to sate audience’s base demands but to elevate their thinking. Patronising? Perhaps. Noble in intention? Definitely. The chapters on her early years are riotously funny. Adie’s deadpan style as each comically bizarre event occurs provides several laughs per page. Self-effacing and with an eye for comic detail, Adie has a sharp wit that may come as a surprise to readers more used to seeing her reporting from among mortar and Kalashnikov fire. Brilliantly funny as the early chapters are, The Kindness of Strangers really comes into its own in the later stages. Adie visits Northern Ireland, where her faith in humanity is tested by the cruel, coarsened, everyday brutality of the province. She sees triangular-shaped rioters (misshapen by poverty until only their shoulders have any breadth to them) hurling bleach at soldiers, and sees those same soldiers sweeping ornaments off shelves as they ransack houses. She also sees her profession criticised; journalists are vultures who stir up trouble to get a story, according to their detractors. Adie robustly defends her profession - nay, her vocation. Undertaken

by honest, well-intentioned professionals, journalism involves difficult decisions under high pressure. It may not be perfect, but its intentions are noble. From there, Adie goes to the Libya of the Gaddafi era, a highly paranoid state governed solely according to the whims of a lunatic. The Tiannenmen Square passage is particularly powerful, with Adie fleeing the Chinese Army street by street as they gun down peaceful protestors. It would take a heart of stone not to feel gratitude at this point, given what was involved in smuggling news stories out in the pre-internet era. Journalists get a raw deal in the modern era - this book is a reminder that the best of their number risk death just to further our understanding of the world. Such is the message of The Kindness of Strangers. This is a trenchant study of the past, present and future of journalism; a social history of England in the second part of the twentieth century, and behind-the-scenes look at the BBC. It’s also a portrait of a truly remarkable woman. With each page that passes, one can only wonder at the lack of a damehood. If you’ve an interest in journalism, global events, British history, or of course Kate Adie herself - buy this book. www.nudgemenow.com/contributor/mike-stafford

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EdgeMagazine

SUMMER READS Adventures at home Lucinda Bunn

he best things about summer; the weather, the food, and the fact that afternoons at the beach and quiet days at home in the garden provide perfect opportunities to dive into the books you’ve been waiting to read all year. If, however, you don’t have a ‘to-be-read’ pile mimicking the Leaning Tower of Pisa, here are some suggestions.

The Descendants, by Kaui Hart Hemmings A descendant of one of Hawaii’s largest landowners, Matt King finds his luck changed when his funloving, flighty wife Joanie falls into a coma, victim of a boating accident. Matt is left in sole charge of his two daughters. Painful revelations and unexpected humour, if you enjoyed the film, you’ll absolutely love this book.

When will there be good news?, by Kate Atkinson In rural Devon, six-year-old Joanna Mason witnesses an appalling crime. Thirty years later the man convicted of the crime is released from prison. Across town, Detective Chief Inspector Louise Monroe is also looking for a missing person, unaware that hurtling towards her is an old friend - Jackson Brodie - himself on a journey that becomes fatally interrupted. Fierce, funny and affecting; the perfect crime thriller for your suitcase.

Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town, by Mary Beard If you want to know what really happened in the last days of the petrified city, Beard’s meticulous reconstruction will fill you in, scraping away many of your preconceptions as it goes, while her evocative writing will transport you back to a city. These are just a few of the strands that make-up an extraordinary and involving portrait of an ancient town, its life and its continuing re-discovery, by Britain’s leading classicist.

And the mountains echoed, by Khaled Hosseini In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honour, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most.

Sarah’s Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard, thinking that she will be back within a few hours. Paris, May 2002: Journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black time in France’s past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl’s ordeal.

Brooklyn, by Colm Tóibín Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn is a devastating story of love, loss and one woman’s terrible choice between duty and personal freedom. Eilis Lacey leaves the dead end of small-town Ireland in the 50s for brighter prospects in America. When tragedy calls her home, she’s torn between two lives, two possible futures. Tóibín’s tender portrait of one woman’s experience of emigration has an understated power.

+IZQVO NWZ W]Z 8ZQ^I\M +TQMV\[ With more than 100 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience, at Thomas Horton LLP Solicitors we are accustomed to providing a bespoke service to our valued Private Clients across Worcestershire and beyond. We are privileged to act for a large number of high net worth clients, helping them with both their personal and business affairs, often across several generations. Our Private Client services include: s 7ILLS TRUSTS AND PROBATE s 7EALTH MANAGEMENT ESTATE PLANNING AND TAX ADVICE s #ONTENTIOUS PROBATE s ,ASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND DEPUTYSHIP ORDERS s 0RIVATE PROPERTY SALES AND PURCHASES s $IVORCE AND CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS s #HILDCARE PROCEEDINGS s 0RE AND POST NUPTIAL AGREEMENTS s ,ITIGATION AND EMPLOYMENT LAW s -OTORING AND OTHER CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS We will provide a direct dial service to your own named legal advisor, who will care for you throughout.

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TOP BRASS

We meet trumpeter Alison Balsom ahead of her UK tour Lucinda Bunn

ward-winning classical trumpeter Alison Balsom is at the top of her game. Her sound is sublime and her technique flawless. After rave reviews in her Globe production of Gabriel last year and a growing following of younger listeners, Alison is bringing classical music back into the popular circuit. We caught up with her to get the low-down on her new album and her upcoming tour. When did you begin to play the trumpet and what made you pick that up instead of anything else? I was 7 when I first picked up a trumpet. I loved the look of it and the sound. It was quite popular at the time because there were quite a few kids in my class who wanted to play it. At that age, there were no gender stereotypes attached to instruments. Perhaps that comes later. Then I heard a recording of Dizzy Gillespie and that’s when I realised what a trumpet could do. Are you from a musical background? Not at all. But my parents have always been supportive of my music. I just always loved doing it, being in a band when I was younger and playing with friends. I didn’t love practising all that much though. Do you still get nervous before performing? Oh definitely. But I think that’s a good thing. It’s more about harnessing the nerves and putting them into the performance. I run masterclasses for young trumpeters too and the girls particularly are quite nervous about playing but that’s because they’re thinking about all the ways the performance could go wrong. I try to teach them to let go. That’s when you really get the best from your instrument.

Last year you performed at Latitude Festival and at the Globe in the production, Gabriel. How would you describe those two experiences? Well they were both very different in lots of ways. I had been working with the team for Gabriel for about a year and a half before we went on stage. I was involved in putting the music together and bringing the production to life which was really fun and the audience loved it. Latitude Festival was a last minute thing. The whole group went along, we partied and camped and then played in the morning. This was a popular music festival and I think the core, classical pieces and baroque we played was as appreciated there as it was at the Globe. It just goes to show the true essence of good music. What about your signature style. Is it something you have consciously developed or something that has evolved naturally? I don’t think it was conscious, no. There aren’t many trumpet soloists in the world, as it can be a physically demanding instrument to play. But the handful of soloists there are play so differently that I think it shows how signature style is natural. The trumpet is such a sassy and cool instrument but it can really sing, it’s like a voice and when I play, it’s an extension of who I am. That’s why I perform best when I’m playing a piece I really love.

Tell us about the new album. My new album will be out in September. It’s called Paris. When I was putting together the music, Paris just kept cropping up, and of course, I studied at the Conservatoire de Paris. It’s a whole world in a city and the album is very eclectic and so is the show. What can we expect from the tour? I left it so late to decide on the programme because there was so much to choose from. They’ll be a lot from the album and its jazz influences but I’ll also be playing the Baroque style from the Globe production last year, as well as the Bach piccolo trumpet which I’m known for. I really hope to see some younger audience members. I think younger music lovers will really enjoy it. What else have you got coming up this year? Well, the biggest things will obviously be the album coming out and the UK tour which kicks off at the end of September. I’ll be finishing the summer in the states, at the Hollywood Bowl and then after the UK tour ends, I’ll be taking it to Germany at the end of the year. For more information on the tour and to book tickets, please go to: www.eventim.co.uk www.alisonbalsom.com

EdgeMagazine

THE SCULPTURE TRAIL

Angelic – Ed Elliott’s charred wood sculpture will be one of the stand-out pieces on display at the Jinney Ring.

Paul and Steph Simmons’ willow sphere.

Jinney Ring exhibition prepares for launch

orcestershire’s Jinney Ring is preparing to turn itself into a huge free exhibition of around 100 works by sculptors from across the UK.

Running from August 22nd to September 30th, the ninth annual sculpture trail at the Hanbury craft centre is set to be its most impressive yet. Not only will the artworks take over the grounds, but for the first time they will continue inside with smaller pieces displayed in the Jinney Ring’s gallery.

The wide-ranging pieces submitted by around 25 sculptors will include animals, birds, human and mythical figures as well as abstract art. Trail organiser Carolyn Baldwin said: “Over the years our sculpture trails have attracted people from miles around and this year’s certainly won’t disappoint our visitors who can expect a fascinating exhibition by some highlytalented UK sculptors.” Works by Manchester-based copper specialist John Parker will be heading from the Jinney Ring to the Tate gallery, while West Midlands artists who will be exhibiting include Malvern’s Victoria Harrison who specialises in mosaics, willow sculptors Paul and Steph Simmons from Pershore and metal artist James Barrett from Feckenham, near Redditch. A large head study carved from a diseased Horse Chestnut tree by Ledbury sculptor Ed Elliott will form the trail’s signature piece while the up-and-coming Herefordshire artist will also exhibit an angel made from charred wood. Several sculptors will be dropping in to the Jinney Ring over the month-long exhibition to meet visitors and talk about their work. The trail will be open from 11am to 4.30pm. All sculptures featured are for sale, but must remain in place for the duration of the exhibition. For more information on the sculpture trail, please call 01527 821272 or visit the www.jinneyring.co.uk.

Getting in shape - the trail will feature mosaic works by Victoria Harrison.

Hanbury Road Hanbury Bromsgrove Worcestershire B60 4BU

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Illustration © Cressida Cowell.

SET SAIL FOR ADVENTURE At Wolverhampton Art Gallery

ressida Cowell’s popular ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ books are the inspiration for Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s summer exhibition. The exhibition runs throughout the summer holidays until 30 August, and gives fans of the series the chance to step into the exciting and imaginative world created on the pages of Cressida Cowell’s books.

or electricity. In the stone house built by her father, Cressida spent a lot of time drawing and writing stories by candle-light. In the evening, her father told tales of the Vikings who invaded the islands twelve hundred years before, of the quarrelsome Tribes who fought and tricked each other, and of the legends of dragons who were supposed to live in the caves in the cliffs.

A Viking’s Guide to Deadly Dragons transports you back in time to the Dark Ages, a world where Vikings ruled and dragons roamed. With Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third as your unlikely hero, discover the tribe of Hairy Hooligans, his island home of Berk, his hunting dragon Toothless and his quest to become a hero the hard way. Dare to explore the wild dragon cliffs, sail on a Viking longship, share epic yarns in the Great Hall and learn to speak Dragonese.

In 2002, remembering the stories she had written on the island as a child, Cressida turned these ideas into the book for older children; How to Train Your Dragon. Cressida has written and illustrated ten books in the popular How to Train Your Dragon series which is now published in over 30 languages.

The exhibition has been developed by Seven Stories, National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle upon Tyne, and Cressida Cowell, and includes Cressida’s original drawings, manuscripts and working processes from her hugely popular How to Train Your Dragon book series, which have also been made into a popular film by DreamWorks animation, with a sequel which was released on the 4th July. Cressida Cowell grew up in London and every year the family spent holidays on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland which had no roads, houses

A Viking’s Guide to Deadly Dragons was originally shown at and curated by Seven Stories, National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle upon Tyne, between October 2012 and October 2013. See www.sevenstories. org.uk for more information. Seven Stories is supported by Arts Council England and Newcastle City Council, and the exhibition is supported by Hodder Children’s Books. Lichfield St Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1DU 01902 552055 www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk

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SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER Our top picks for family days out Birmingham Botanical Gardens Birmingham Botanical Garden is the perfect location for a day out this summer. Offering something for everyone the fifteen acres of flourishing gardens and foliage are home to a lively birdhouse, wildlife trails and a seasonal butterfly house whilst the four spectacular glasshouses span from tropical rainforest to arid desert climates. This August the Botanical Gardens have a jam packed schedule of events including performances of Treasure Island and Hamlet, a Queen Tribute Band and a Teddy Bear’s Picnic plus much more. www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk Avoncroft Museum Visit Avoncroft Museum this summer and unearth history’s greatest heroes and villains. Each week visitors will have the opportunity to discover a different hero or villain, listen to stories and join in with themed activities. Alongside costumed characters in Avoncroft’s historic buildings, visitors can try their hand at heritage building skills alongside a programme of other great events. For more information please visit the website. www.avoncroft.org.uk Herbert Art Gallery

Compton Verney If you’re looking for a fun and enjoyable family day out then Compton Verney, Warwickshire’s award winning art gallery, is just the place. Families can explore art and enjoy creative drop-in family art and craft during the school holidays. We are surrounded by 120 acres of parkland where you can enjoy a picnic, visit our adventure playground and have fun with free family activity backpacks and trails. www.comptonverney.org.uk Cadbury World

Put your best foot forward and march your way to the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum and Lunt Roman Fort for an action packed summer of everything Roman. There are four fun-filled weeks of family activities for you to enjoy, from making Roman armour to storytelling, mosaics, crowns and puppets. Budding archaeologists can even find out more about the Romans by excavating their poo!

Uncover a world of chocolate delights with a fascinating, fun-filled day out at Cadbury World this summer. Join Freddo and host of other Cadbury characters in the brand new 4D chocolate experience. Dive into a bowl of liquid Cadbury Dairy Milk, ride the Crunchie rollercoaster and take to the skies in a Cadbury Crème Egg airship piloted by the Caramel bunny.

www.theherbert.org

www.cadburyworld.co.uk

Birmingham Museums Birmingham Museums has a fun-packed summer programme! At Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, entry is FREE with FREE family activities. At Thinktank, explore hands-on exhibits, a Science Garden and a Planetarium. There’s Circus Academy at Aston Hall (13 Aug), Soho House (21 Aug), Blakesley Hall (28 Aug) and the Museum Collections Centre (14 Sept). Other activities include Knight School at Blakesley Hall (Sat 6 Sept). For more information, visit birminghammuseums.org.uk

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FESTIVAL FEVER

Our guide to this summer’s best festivals Hannah Griffiths

Looking to fill those long summer days and warm summer nights? Well you’re in luck as this month we’re giving you our guide to this summer’s best festivals with something for all the family.

Great British Food Festival

Worcester Beer, Cider and Perry Festival

Ragley will be full of food lovers, chefs and artisan cooks for the first ever Great British Food Festival in Warwickshire this September. Taking place from the 13-14th September the line-up includes over 80 top local producers, celebrity and local chef demos, talks, kids and adult cookery lessons, great live music, a ‘Cake Off’ competition and ‘Men v Food’ challenges. For those who fancy a more relaxing day out, just sit back and enjoy the great live music with a tasty meal, in the beautiful surroundings of Ragley. A lot of the event is under cover so come rain or shine visitors will have a good time! The Festival is the perfect recipe for a fun, foodie day out for the whole family.

Organised by the Worcester Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) this year’s 15th Worcester Beer, Cider and Perry festival is set to be bigger and better than ever. Taking place at the Pitchcroft Racecourse in Worcester from the 7th to 9th August 2014 festival visitors will be able to sample over 170 real ales, over 100 real draught ciders and perry’s, as well as fruit and grape wines and a wide selection of food whilst enjoying the festivals entertainment. Entry price to the event includes a souvenir glass and programme and applies to all visitors except children. For more information and to buy your ticket now please visit the website.

www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com

www.worcesterbeerfest.org.uk

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Bewdley Festival The 27th year of this successful regional event brings its traditional mix of local talent and international stars of stage, screen and concert halls all packed into an eventful ten days in October. The eclectic mix offers Midge Ure, Courtney Pine, Joan Bakewell, Hal Cruttenden, Ian McMillan with Luke Carver Goss, Kiki Dee, Judy Cornwell, Jo Enright, Chris Mullin and much, much more. A special feature this year is “Classical Sunday” with an afternoon piano recital from Russian maestro Andrei Gavrilov plus an evening with The Chamber Ensemble of The King’s Consort with soprano Lorna Anderson. Tickets on sale from August 2nd. Full details available at www.bewdleyfestival.org.uk Don’t forget Bewdley Book Week, September 8th-14th www.bewdleybookweek.org.uk

Sunshine Festival Formerly known as Upton Music Festival, Sunshine Festival is set to once again fill the Worcestershire air with a host of entertaining acts. Now in its fifth year and set in the idyllic riverside setting of Upton upon Severn, Sunshine Festival hosts internationally renowned stars

and great local talent. With an extensive main area full of activities including: archery, zorbing, workshops, fireworks and much more, Sunshine Festival is the place for all to enjoy themselves. With the line-up already including Boney M, Showaddywaddy, The Blow Monkeys, Slack Alice, Keith Chegwi, The Farm, Bars and Melody and Kenny Thomas, plus many more, the Sunshine Festival is shaping up to be a festival that’s not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now. www.uptonfestival.co.uk

Moseley Folk Festival Showcasing unsigned acts right next to well-established international artists makes for an exciting bill at this year’s Moseley Folk Festival. Now in its 6th year Moseley Folk Festival will take over Moseley Park, Birmingham for a weekend full of fantastic live music. Acts performing at the three day event are set to include: The Waterboys, Lisa Knap, Johnny Marr, Richard Thompson, Lau, Tom Hickox, Deborah Rose, Grey Wolf, Samantha Crain, Zervas and Pepper and many more. The family filled event, with activities for all ages, will once again be branching out beyond the tree lined boundaries of the park into a selection of Moseley village’s finest pubs where you’ll find sessions, dancing and an array of talented musicians. www.moseleyfolk.co.uk

EdgeMagazine

Worcester Festival Taking place over 17 days this August, the Worcester Festival is the city’s biggest event of the summer. Organised and operated by Worcester Live, the festival is an opportunity for the people of Worcester and its surrounds to come together and enjoy a huge range of activities. Events this year are set to include: Percy the festival peacock photo competition, Funky Faces face painting, table top sales, dress the dragon, summer fiction fun, St Richard’s Hospice duck race and much, much more. The festival comes to close on the August bank holiday Monday with a fantastic fireworks display that you won’t want to miss. For more information please visit the website. www.worcesterfestival.co.uk

Leamington Food and Drink Festival The search to find the UK’s home grown culinary superstar is a new highlight of this year’s Royal Leamington Spa Food and Drink Festival, regarded as one of the most exciting autumn food festivals in the country. Award-winning butchers Aubrey Allen, based in Leamington Spa, has launched the ‘Home Cook of the Year’ competition which is being held in conjunction with the Leamington Food and Drink Festival on Saturday, September 6th and Sunday, September 7th. The contest will be a main attraction of the actionpacked festival which is now in its seventh successive year and the biggest event in the Warwickshire town’s calendar. Over 150 exhibitors will be showcasing the best in local and regional food and drink during the weekend event which is free to attend in the beautiful Royal Pump Room Gardens, Leamington. Entry forms are available to download from www.aubreyallenleamington.co.uk or www. leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk. Entries close on 15th August 2014. For details about Leamington Food and Drink Festival, visit www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk

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Terms & conditions: Free entry valid with one full paying adult or concession per voucher. Bring this advert to redeem offer. Present this ad at Ticket Desk when purchasing admission. Valid on admission only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or membership. No photocopies. Valid until 7 September 2014.

Compton Verney Warwickshire CV35 9HZ T. 01926 645 500 www.comptonverney.org.uk Registered charity no. 1032478

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POP OF CULTURE Lucinda Bunn

Not I/Footfalls/Rockaby At the Birmingham Repertory Theatre 16th to 20th September A rare opportunity to experience this trilogy of Samuel Beckett’s groundbreaking plays following a sell-out run at the Royal Court Theatre. Internationally renowned director, Walter Asmus was a long-time friend and collaborator of Beckett himself, and will be directing the celebrated Lisa Dwan in this fast-paced and deeply moving production. The Independent called it “extraordinary… totally gripping… unforgettable”. This is the perfect introduction for those new to Beckett, and also a unique opportunity for those with a more developed appreciation of his work to encounter it at its best. For more information and to book, visit www. birmingham-rep.co.uk Broad Street Birmingham West Midlands B1 2EP 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

An evening with Gordon Giltrap At Artifex Friday 5th September Artifex is hosting its first musical event with a real coup in the form of legendary musician Gordon Giltrap. Over the past forty years, Gordon has graced the music business with an unrelenting dedication to his craft and an affection for his audience. As one of the UK’s most respected guitarists, he has consistently proved the adage that respect cannot be bought...it must be earned. With 25 original studio albums and numerous live albums, Gordon’s music continues to evade categorisation. One thing is certain though, the evening promises music fans a real treat. Doors will open at 7pm for an 8 o’clock start, allowing people the chance to browse through the gallery and enjoy a drink from the bar. Tickets are £12. To buy tickets either book by phone or pop into Artifex. For further details contact the gallery on 0121 323 3776 or email: sales@artifex.co.uk The Mitchell Centre Weeford Road Sutton Coldfield B75 6NA www.artifex.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON What: Lakefest Where: Croft Farm Waterpark When: 7 -11 August 2014 th

Lakefest is a family friendly festival with a variety of headliner acts performing throughout the weekend and over 30 activities for the children to enjoy. While for the parents Lakefest has the famous Cotswold beer and cider! Lakefest offers a fantastic three day break with your family and friends.

inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The four young lovers from A Midsummer Night’s Dream find themselves shipwrecked on Prospero’s island from The Tempest, leading to a tortuous web of comic and dramatic romantic entanglements. www.warwickartscentre. co.uk

What: The Gruffalo Where: Town Hall Birmingham When: 12 -24 August 2014 th

www.lakefest.co.uk

What: Met Opera Live: The Enchanted Island Summer Encore Where: Warwick Arts Centre When: 24 August 2014 th

A contemporary take on the 18th-century genre of the pastiche, this delightful Baroque fantasy brings together more than 30 of the greatest arias and ensembles by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, Purcell, and other composers, with a new English libretto by Jeremy Sams,

Don’t miss Tall Stories’ hit musical stage adaptation of the award winning picture book, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Meet a wheeler-dealer Fox, an eccentric old Owl and a maraca-shaking, party mad Snake! Mouse can scare these hungry animals away with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo, but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined…? www.thsh.co.uk

What: Footloose Where: New Alexandra Theatre When: 20th-23rd August 2014 When rebellious city-boy Ren arrives in small-town Bomont the quiet lives of its residents are changed forever. Frustrated by the council’s repressive rules, Ren incites a teen revolution to bring dance, music and joy back to a community overshadowed by tragedy. Featuring classic 80s anthems including Holding Out For A Hero, I’m Free and Let’s Hear It For The Boy, Footloose is an electrifying and heartfelt tale of love, loss and the irrepressible spirit of youth. www.atgtickets.com/ birmingham

What: Wooden Horse Where: Huntingdon Hall When: 15th August 2014 Wooden Horse play country blues and rattling slide based Americana. Originally founded 3 years ago by Jamie Knight (lead vocals, guitar, stomp) and Ben Church (slide guitar, harmonica, vocals), they

honed their sound into a tight and exuberant blues. Now Stuart McIlroy has signed up on piano duties. He has supported and played with the likes of Carl Perkins and Bill Lee Riley and adds a boogie style to the band that is guaranteed to get you up and moving. www.worcesterlive.co.uk

What: Classic van and pickup show Where: Heritage Motor Centre When: 10th August 2014 Heritage Motor Centre presents a brand new show purely for light commercial vehicles including vans, pickups and campers. The Classic Hearse Register will be holding their National Rally in Gaydon and are expecting to have in excess of 20 vehicles’ including Limousines at the Rally. This show is open to any form of Light Working Commercial vehicle including Taxi’s, Police, Fire and Ambulance vehicles and any other LCV that you think is eligible. www.heritage-motorcentre.co.uk

www.edgemagazine.org

What's on at the Heart of England Galleries The Barber Institute of Fine Arts – A River Runs Through It until 26th October 2014 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery- Marvellous Machines: The Wonderful World of Rowland Emett until 21st September 2014 Compton Verney- You – The 12th Plinth until 31st August 2014 Herbert Art Gallery- The Great War: Coventry’s Story until 1st February 2015 Ikon Gallery- Ikon Icons: Cornelia Parker until 31st August 2014 mac- Robert Therrien 21st June - 7th September 2014 RBSA- Print Biennial exhibition until 23rd August 2014 Wolverhampton Art Gallery- Sharif Waked Chic Point: Fashion for Israeli Checkpoints until 20th September 2014 The New Art GalleryGillian Wearing: We Are Here until 12th October 2014

www.heartofenglandgalleries.org.uk

EdgeMagazine A British Museum Tour

16 May – 31 August 2014 www.theherbert.org

6 June – 28 September 2014

T GET SE ACTION N A R FO ER OF D SUMM E K C A P FUN FAMILY ROMAN T ART R E B R E H AT THE EUM Y & MUS GALLER NT AND LU FORT! ROMAN

FREE ADMISSION

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0121 414 7333 www.barber.org.uk Visit by train: University station

The exhibition has been developed in partnership between Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives and the British Museum.

Supported through the generosity of the Dorset Foundation

SIT BACK, RELAX, & ENJOY A BOTTLE OF BIRD’S!

3 for £5

all Bird’s bottles with this ad until 31st August 2014 • • • • •

Bottled beers 5 litre minikegs 35 pint Bag-in-box* 72 pint firkins* Plus.. locally produced food and drink

* To order. Subject to availability, a deposit may be required on firkins.

OPEN 9-5 MON-FRI 10-4 SAT

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01527 889870 www.birdsbrewery.co.u

What: Hits of the Khans Where: Belgrade Theatre When: 29th August 2014 Aamir Khan, ShahRukh Khan and Salman Khan are Bollywood’s most successful actors who have been given us non-stop hit songs from the day they all entered the industry. For one night only, Bollywood Pandits are back and will be bringing some of the Khans Hits – Tere Mast Do Nain, Chaiyya Chaiyya, Malang, Didi Tera Deewana, Chand Sifarish, Tadap Tadap and many many more. www.belgrade.co.uk

What: Children’s Craft Activity Days Where: Evesham Country Park When: 1st-29th August 2014 Keep the children entertained this summer with Evesham Country Park’s craft activity days taking place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until 29th August. Activities run from 11am - 4pm and are £3.50 per child. Booking not necessary. All events will be located in the white craft marquee in the main courtyard. www.eveshamcountrypark.co.uk

What: A Night of Dirty Dancing

What: Battle Proms Picnic Concert

Where: Malvern Theatre

Where: Ragley Hall

When: 29th August 2014

When: 16th August 2014

Featuring all the hits from everyone’s favourite dance movie Dirty Dancing, an all-new, spectacular stage show featuring all the hits from the film is coming to town. Billed as “the sexiest song and dance sensation of 2014”, music and dance fans have the chance to experience the all-new box office hit A Night of Dirty Dancing, the ultimate tribute show, as it embarks on a brandnew nationwide tour.

Ragley is to host its fourth spectacular Battle Proms open air concert on Saturday 16 August. Guests can enjoy an unrivalled blend of musical talent, expert displays, spectacular pyrotechnics and a celebratory atmosphere which makes this event a truly memorable occasion. The event starts from 4.30pm when guests can wander around the traditional fairground stalls and visit the re-enactors at their encampment.

www.easytheatres.com

www.ragley.co.uk

/CTXGNNQWU By Rowland Emett

Image: ‘Featherstone Kite’ Openwork Basketweave Gentleman’s MK11 Flying Machine by Rowland Emett © the artist’s estate / Town Centre Securities / Birmingham Museums Trust

/CEJKPGU

Enjoy theatre & music throughout the summer Early bird discounts available

Visit our website for more information

birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk /whatson

(#06#56+%#. /'%*#0+%#. %1064#26+105 Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery 10 May - 21 Sept 2014

Find us on: Your support keeps the Gardens growing

Chamberlain Square, B3 3DH Admission charges apply AN EDUCATIONAL CHARITY

Funded by

bmag.org.uk

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