January - February 2015
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The American ®
Issue 740 January- February 2015 PUBLISHED BY SP MEDIA FOR
Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. Old Byre House, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AW, UK Tel: +44 (0)1747 830520
Departments: News, Article ideas, Press releases: editor@theamerican.co.uk Advertising & Promotions: advertising@theamerican.co.uk Subscriptions: theamerican@blueedge.co.uk The Team: Michael Burland, Content Director + Motors, Music & Sport michael@theamerican.co.uk Sabrina Sully, Content Director & Community Contact sabrina@theamerican.co.uk Daniel Byway, Content Executive dan@theamerican.co.uk Virginia E Schultz, Food & Drink (USA) virginia@theamerican.co.uk Michael M Sandwick, Food & Drink (UK) mms@theamerican.co.uk Mary Bailey, Social mary@theamerican.co.uk Alison Holmes, Politics alison@theamerican.co.uk Jarlath O’Connell, Theater jarlath@theamerican.co.uk
©2015 Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. Printed by Manson Group Ltd., www.mansongroup.co.uk ISSN 2045-5968 Main Cover: Rory McIlroy, photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images, courtesy The PGA European Tour; Circular Inset: Richardson Hotels; Square Inset: Doug Seegers, photo by Gregg Roth
@TheAmericanMag
W
elcome to 2015. Wow, where did 2014 go? I don’t think it’s just me. From octogenarians to fifth graders people have been saying that the year has passed unbelievably quickly. Maybe it was an exciting twelvemonth - I hope it was for you. If you’re an American expat who moved to Britain in the past year, why not write in and tell your compatriots about your experiences - the email’s below! This edition of The American has a riot of features, from useful articles on how healthcare, education and dentistry in the UK differ from what you’re used to in the States to a fascinating look behind the scenes of the US Embassy’s Political Section; from an interview with a homeless musician who’s become a surprise Country music star duetting with Emmylou Harris, to our celebrated American Sports section; and from the Elvis at the O2 exhibition to our favorite expat actor’s latest escapades. Enjoy your magazine,
Michael Burland, Content Director michael@theamerican.co.uk
Among this month’s contributors
Fleur Cowan A ‘Special Relationship baby,’ the Deputy Head of the Political Section at the US Embassy in London writes about her fascinating job.
James Carroll Jordan Jim follows in the footsteps of Agamemnon in his own inimitable way. Just as well wife Jan was there to keep him on the straight and narrow.
Darren Kilfara Our St Andrews-based American golfing guru says 2014 was the worst year for the pro game this century and dreams of a better 2015.
Read The American online at www.theamerican.co.uk The entire contents of The American and www.theamerican.co.uk are protected by copyright and no part of it may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information in The American is accurate, the editor and publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions or any loss arising from reliance on it. The views and comments of contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers.
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in this issue... 11 Americans in Britain: Billy Fiske, air hero 12 Your Embassy: The Political Section 16 New Tools to Combat Back Pain 18 Smile Makeover - Dentistry in the UK 20 South West Stunners - a Special Offer 22
from The Richardson Hotel Group Following Agamemnon - Med cruising
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Transatlantic Philanthropy Education: Admissions and SEN Elvis at The O2 Competition: look good, feel great at Valentino and Locanda Ottoemezzo Doug Seegers: from street to stardom American Sports: Bowl Season, NFL International, Golf & Wrestling
4 News
36 Food & Drink
55 US Social Groups
7 Diary Dates
44 Arts
62 A-List Products & Services
19 Coffee Break
46 Theater
64 Peggy Lee
2 January - February 2015
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The American
NEWS American Museum Appeal
T
he American Museum in Britain has launched its new appeal. Your donations can help Dr Richard Wendorf and his team stage their first contemporary Native American Cultural Season next year, which will feature a photography exhibition and showcase contemporary dance, music, and talks on key issues facing Native Americans today - a rare opportunity. The appeal target is £20,000. If you can help, call them via americanmuseum.org
Eccles Centre Writer in Residency Awards British Forces Fly American
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wo American writers based in the UK, Sarah Churchwell and Benjamin Markovits, have been named as the winners of the 2015 Eccles British Library Writer in Residence award. The award, now in its fourth year, has been developed to further the Eccles Centre’s objective to promote the British Library’s collection of work relating to the USA and Canada. In being named this year’s winners, Churchwell - a Professor of American Literature and Public Understanding of the Humanities at UEA, and Markovits - recently selected by Granta as one of the Best Young British Novelists in 2013, begin a residency at the Eccles Centre in January 2015, utilizing the Library’s collections to research their own upcoming publications.
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ritain’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) has signed a contract to purchase the first four production F-35B Lightning IIs. The Lockheed Martin multi-role stealth combat aircraft will operate from both the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers and RAF land bases. Ten more F-35Bs will be bought by Britain over the next five years. Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology, said, “The investment we are making in the F-35 aircraft will ensure we are securing the skies for decades to come, providing the UK with the latest stealth technology and multi-role aircraft capability. Not only does our investment in these next generation aircraft afford us air superiority, but the UK’s tier one status in the
entire programme provides UK industry with a unique opportunity to produce world-leading products, technologies and manufacturing expertise for coming decades.” F-35Bs are short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) and feature the latest stealth and intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) technology. Sqn Ldr Jim Schofield, the first RAF pilot to complete a vertical landing of an F-35B (above), said it has revolutionized STOVL flying and made it easier and safer: “With legacy types, such as Harrier, the pilot was always working hard to land the aircraft onto a hover pad or ship. Now with F-35B, at the press of a button the aircraft transforms into ‘short take-off or vertical landing’ mode. “
The American
Boris Defies IRS
B
oris Johnson is the curent Mayor of London, a candidate at the next UK general election and, many believe, a would-be leader of the Conservative Party. He an example of the Teflon politician, one to whom nothing sticks. Despite gaffes, such as infidelities and getting stuck on a zipwire, that would have sunk many political careers his unique charm has ensured he remains popular. However he may be running into one obstacle that his personality cannot overcome. As a natural-born American (born in New York City) he is liable to pay US capital gains tax of over $160,000 on a property he reportedly bought and later sold n London. In an NPR interview, when The harbor at Weymouth, Dorset, is just one of the World War II D-Day related sites featured in the amazing interactive images to be found online. Here you can see United States GIs aboard landing craft in preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Swipe the image (on the website!) and you can see the same location today.
WWII Interactive Images
A
n innovative, interactive treatment of a collection of images taken during the Second World War has emerged online which provides a fascinating ‘Then and Now’ comparison of locations in the UK and France. The images, many of which feature US troops and some in color, depict regions significant to D-Day, including Weymouth in Dorset and Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire where troops lived and trained, as well as the Normandy beaches and nearby villages and towns in France
after the invasion. By holding the left mouse button on the image and dragging the mouse gently from left to right, or simply (but less evocatively) clicking on the photos, the images gradually change from the historical photographs to the exact location in a modern picture. The prescient and thought provoking series of images can be experienced by going to http://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/2014/apr/ image-opacity-slider-master/index. html?ww2-dday.
PHOTO © ANDREW WIARD
asked about his dual nationality, he raised the subject of Americans being taxed on their global income, describing is as ‘outrageous’ and stating that he will not pay the tax. Mark Sher, a tax specialist at Maseco, an American wealth management company, said: “He’s a citizen with a US passport, and therefore must pay US taxes. The possibility of him going to jail is minimal, because he’ll probably end up paying the tax. But if he doesn’t, jail becomes a very distinct reality.”
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The American
List your event in The American: email editor@theamerican.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1747 830520
Highlights of The Month Ahead
There’s much more online at www.theamerican.co.uk A Bear Called Paddington Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk to January 4 Ahead of a new film of the cherished bear, the Museum of London looks back at the history of Paddington Bear, from the page to the big screen. Highlights include a signed first edition of his debut story, the original typewriter on which Michael Bond wrote some of the books, props from the upcoming film, and the original Paddington TV puppet.
Elvis at the O2 O2 Arena, London SE10 0DX www.elvisattheo2.com to August 2015 The largest ever exhibition in Europe dedicated to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll is now on show at the O2. The exhibit offers a fascinating, personal insight into Presley’s life; with artefacts on display ranging from his wallet and keys to Graceland, to his famous Eagle jumpsuit.
6 January - February 2015
Twelfth Night Shakespeare’s Globe, Bankside, London www.thelionspart.co.uk January 4 This annual celebration of New Year offers a mix of seasonal customs and modern festivities. Events begin at 2:45pm. Haxey Hood High Street, Haxey, Lincolnshire DN9 2HH www.isleofaxholme.net/haxey-hood November 21 to January 4 A half square mile maze of Christmas Trees with hundreds of trees sparkling with festive lights. Also, ice skating, fair rides and a Christmassy food market. Swan Lake London Coliseum, St. Martin’s Lane, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4ES www.ballet.org.uk January 7 to 18 One of the world’s most well known ballets, Swan Lake , returns to the London Coliseum with a host of stars from the world of dance, including Vitor Luiz, currently a Principal at San Francisco Ballet, who makes his debut with the English National Ballet in this production. Perth Masters Curling Dewars Centre, Perth, Scotland PH2 0TH www.perthmasters.com January 8 to 11 The Curling Champions Tour stops in Perth, with a draw of international curlers including American curler Chris Plys and Canadians Brad Gushue and Mike McEwan.
London International Mime Festival Various, London www.mimelondon.com January 8 to 31 Innovative visual theatre from around the world. Look out for Basil Twist, a San Franciscan third-generation puppeteer now living in New York. He was part of the creative team behind Kate Bush’s Before the Dawn concert series. His latest piece, Dogugaeshi, uses Japanese arts. Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 1QQ www.strawbear.org.uk January 9 to 11 A late C19th custom saw a local man dressed up in a bear costume made of straw. Now revived, Whittlesea has made a festival of the occasion, with music, dancers and a host of activities. London Boat Show Excel Centre, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL www.londonboatshow.com January 9 to 18 Hundreds of boats, plenty of nautical activities and suppliers. NBA Global Games The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX www.theo2.co.uk January 15 NBA returns to London’s O2 arena with a scintilating regular season game between the New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks. The two rivals square off on January 15, with big names including the Knicks’ seven-time NBA All Star Carmelo Anthony and the Bucks’ talisman Brandon Knight.
Houses of Parliament Houses of Parliament
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The American
Darker Hauntings: Imagery of the Southern Gothic British Library Conference Centre, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB www.bl.uk/eccles January 16 Susan Castillo Street, a native of Louisiana, explores the depths of the American gothic imagination with an insight into the Southern Gothic. Taking in Edgar Allen Poe, Washington Cable, Charles Chesnutt, William Faulkner and Truman Capote, she considers how the South’s complex relationships with race and sexuality are manifested through powerful recurring images.
London’s New Year’s Day Parade Starts Green Park Tube Station, ends Parliament Square www.lnydp.com , info@lnydp.com 0203 275 0190 January 1 One of the world’s great street spectaculars with up to 10,000 performers from across continents, including a host of performers from the States, including the Appalachian State University Marching Mountaineers, Cherokee High School Band of Warriors, Greater Atlanta Christian School Marching Band, and Lake Highlands Wildcat Wranglers.
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Butterflies at RHS Wisley Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB www.rhs.org.uk/wisley January 17 to March 8 Hundreds of exotic butterflies from the Blue Morpho and Giant Owl to the red and black Big Billy will be released into the Glasshouse as the garden creates a tropical haven for the cold winter months.
Up Helly Aa Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0HL www.uphellyaa.org January 27 This traditional Viking fire festival features a torch-lit procession and culminates in the burning of a replica galley. Entertainment takes place in locations around the village through the night.
Chinese New Year www.lccauk.com January 22 Chinese New Year is celebrated at the turn of the Chinese Calendar, and remains an important cultural event in London. 2015 is the Year of the Sheep according to the Chinese Zodiac - and Chinatown will be a magical place to visit during the occasion. Chinese New Year falls on January 19th, but London will celebrate over the course of the weekend and particularly on January 22nd.
London A Cappella Festival Various, London www.londonacappellafestival.co.uk January 28 to 31 Groups from around the globe, including Straight No Chaser from the USA. Performing on January 28th at Cadogan Hall, the vocal group have been a Youtube hit, and recently performed collaborations with artists including Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins and Dolly Parton. A unique chance to see their highly acclaimed live performance this side of the pond.
Big Burns Supper Dumfries, Scotland www.bigburnssupper.com January 23 to 31 Burns Night is celebrated with whisky, tartan and poetry by Scots and their friends everywhere, (www.scotland.org/ whats-on/burns-night) but the biggest festivity features 9 days of cultural events inc. usic, theater and comedy in the historic town of Dumfries where Burns spent his final years. Churchill’s Scientists Science Museum, London SW7 2DD www.sciencemuseum.org.uk January 23 to March 1, 2016 The Science Museum marks the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s death by exploring his fascination with science, and how this interest heralded the scientific developments which helped Britain to win the Second World War.
Transatlantic Sessions 2015 Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow G2 3NY www.celticconnections.com January 31 Rodney Crowell makes his first appearance among the US contingent celebrating Celtic music. Darwin Festival 2015 Shrewsbury, Shropshire www.discoverdarwin.co.uk February 8 to 22 Charles Darwin was born and raised in Shrewsbury. Walks, lectures and workshops celebrate the town’s famous son, and aim to inspire people to explore the natural world and understand better the wildlife with which we share this planet. National Winter Ales Festival 2015 The Roundhouse, Derby DE24 8JE www.nwaf.org.uk February 11 to 14 Over 300 British and foreign beers, real ales, ciders and perries available to try.
Shrove Tuesday Various, UK February 12 Popularly known as Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday takes place on the eve of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent - a perfect day for the serving of pancakes! The London Bike Show 2015 Excel Centre, London E16 1XL www.thelondonbikeshow.co.uk February 12 to 15 All the latest clothing, equipment and accessories for cyclists. Valentine’s Day February 14 Valentine’s Day is an important celebration in the UK. A romantic meal in a restaurant is the norm, but cooking a special meal at home for your loved one works too. Showzam 2015 Various, Blackpool www.showzam.co.uk February 14 to 18 The annual festival of circus, magic and new variety performances returns to Blackpool. Scarecrow Festival Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6QN www.tattonpark.org.uk February 14 to 22 Over 30 scarecrows make Tatton Park gardens their home for the Spring Half-Term. Jorvik Viking Festival York, England www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk February 14 to 22 The largest Viking festival, a city-wide celebration of York’s Viking heritage, inspired by Norse mythology including combat performances, crafts, lectures, tours, live music, expert archaeological sessions and the Strongest Viking Contest - with challenges including log running, shield wrestling, and a tug of war!
Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire www.slaithwaitemoonraking.org February 16 to 21 The Moonraking Festival is based on a tale about two C19th smugglers who were collecting barrels of illegal ‘moonshine’ drink hidden in a canal when approached by the police. They told them they were trying to rake the moon’s reflection out of the water. Thinking they were fools, the police let the smugglers go, and the ‘moonraking’ legend (also claimed by Wiltshire!) was born. A highlight of the festival is a long procession of villagers bearing colorful lanterns. Olney Transatlantic Pancake Race Olney, North Buckinghamshire www.olneypancakerace.org February 17 The unique Olney Pancake Race stops traffic as local ladies in traditional housewife attire (including apron and scarf), run through the streets. Pancakes are tossed at the start of the race and the winner is required to toss her pancake again at the finish. Runners and townsfolk then go into the Parish Church for the great Shriving Service. The race has been run since around 1445 and since 1950 the contest has been an international event between Olney and the town of Liberal, Kansas in America. The winner is declared after times are compared through a transatlantic telephone call from Liberal to Olney. www.pancakeday.net is the Liberal site. Craft Beer Rising Old Truman Brewery, London E1 6QL www.craftbeerrising.co.uk February 19 to 22 A weekend of food and entertainment; showcasing some of the finest international brews. London Fashion Week www.londonfashionweek.co.uk February 20 to 24 Trade show, where each season designers
unveil their collections to a professional audience of press and buyers who visit the capital from across the globe.
Rye Bay Scallop Week 2015 Rye, East Sussex www.scallop.org.uk February 21 to March 1 With everything from cookery classes to quiz nights, Rye is the perfect place for seafood lovers this February. Bath Literature Festival Various, Bath February 27 to March 8 In two decades the Festival has grown into a ten day program with over 200 authors including Kazuo Ishiguro. 2015 foucuses on US writers, and ‘The American Dream is Dead’ debate features Justin Webb, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Sarah Churchwell.
London Classic Car Show 2015 Excel Centre, London E16 1XL www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk January 8 to 11 London finally has its own classic car show, and it promises to be spectacular. The Excel Centre will fill with the sounds, smells and sights of motoring heritage as over 40 classic cars - from a 1907 Lagonda Tricar to a 1967 Corvette Stingray - take to The Grand Avenue, alongside a special tribute display to F1 technical guru Adrian Newey, and Top Gear presenter James May’s look at Cars that Changed The World.
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The American
Super Bowl XLIX
www.superbowl.com February 1 Venues across London will be hosting Super Bowl parties. Here are two that want to invite you and your friends for the most American events this side of the Atlantic!
Super Bowl Party at ESC Earlham Street Clubhouse, 35 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LD www.esclubhouse.com, info@esclubhouse. com The Earlham Street Clubhouse is an American bar serving NYC style thin crust sourdough pizzas. After last year’s epic Superbowl party we are back again this year, bigger and better than ever. With various packages available, book your area in front of one of our 11 screens and get waited on by our inhouse cheerleading team, or opt for a more self sufficient option with our infamous petrol pump serving beers direct to your table. The event is free to enter, Beer and pizza packages are available and all drinks half price till the first score - Twitter @esclubhouse
New Years Resolutions: Make Yours Now
A NEW YOU FOR NEW YEAR
Resolution: Make time and space to write Arvon, England’s leading creative writing charity, runs an annual programme of residential courses at three writing houses, in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire. The week-long courses are a powerful mix of workshops, individual tutorials and time and space to write, covering a wide range of genres, from poetry and fiction to screenwriting and comedy. They are tutored by some of the most acclaimed authors writing today, including Mark Haddon, Simon Armitage, Willy Russell, Malorie Blackman and Melvin Burgess. Arvon courses have provided inspiration to thousands of people at all stages of their writing lives. Grants are available to help with course fees. ww.arvon.org 020 7324 2554 10 January - February 2015
NFL Super Bowl Party 2015 Jetlag Sports Bar, 125 Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 6QB www.jetlagbar.com, info@jetlagbar.com The Super Bowl party at the Jetlag Sports Bar is a sell out every year, and this party is going to be the best ever with an all inclusive deal for food and drink all night long. Book a table in the Lotus Lounge and get the best seats in the house for the night, with a menu that includes all your favorite American dishes perfect for watching football’s biggest event; Jerk Wings, BBQ ribs, Jambalaya, Key Lime Pie and Blueberry Pancakes are on offer. Craft beer connoisseurs can enjoy American beers like Fordham Copperhead, Samuel Adams, and Red Pig Ale.
Kelly@w11coaching.com
Resolution: Find the right coach for you
Many people think nothing of hiring a personal trainer to keep focused, motivated and accountable in achieving fitness goals. A personal or professional coach can do the same for your most important life or career development ambitions. Life can get frustrating if the things that matter to us most aren’t getting enough attention because we’re too bogged down in the busyness of everyday life. Coaching is about getting clear on what you want to do, making a plan and doing it. Sound like a good New Year’s resolution? Find a coach and make it happen. US expat Kelly Hearn is a Personal and Professional Coach at W11 Coaching, a private practice in Holland Park. Kelly’s approach to coaching is integrative, combining experience in the business, coaching and psychotherapy worlds. Kelly@w11coaching.com
The American
The American
Americans in Britain:
Billy Fiske
William ‘Billy’ Meade Lindsley Fiske III (1911-40)
A
n American citizen who died that England may live. So reads the inscription on a Memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral to a young American who traveled to another continent and fought for a country that had no right to demand his courage and loyalty. It is a remarkable World War II story. Billy Fiske, one of the first Americans to die during this conflict for the Allied cause, was a man whose moral values, determination and bravery must be recognised, celebrated and recorded. Fiske (below) was the socialite son of an international banker, born in Brooklyn, New York. Educated at private schools in Europe, he went on to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he developed a great affiliation with the British people.
At sixteen he was a Gold medallist in the five-man US bobsleigh team at the St Moritz Winter Olympics, 1928. This was followed by further success as captain and flag-bearer of the 1932 four-man US team at Lake Placid in his home State. Fiske would have, in all probability, achieved a third Gold medal at the Nazi-organised Winter Olympics of 1936, if he had not boycotted the event. On the outbreak of the Second World War, Fiske was determined to fight a Nazi Germany bent on occupying all of Europe. Using forged Canadian papers and contacts he had in 601 Squadron RAF, he became a fighter pilot based in the South of England flying Hawker Hurricanes. His first flight with the squadron took place on July 14th, 1940; over the next month he flew 42 operations during the ‘Battle of Britain’ often flying several sorties each day. His luck ran out on 16th August 1940 when his fuel tank was hit by a bullet; instead of bailing out and losing a valuable aircraft Fiske landed the plane, suffering burns to his hands and legs; he died of shock the following day. Fiske was, according to his commanding officer, Sir Archibald Hope, ‘…the best pilot I’ve ever seen’.
Billy Fiske was buried with full military honors, his coffin draped in the flags of the UK and US, in the churchyard of St Mary and St Blaise in Boxgrove, Sussex, where there is a stained glass window in his memory. On the 4th July 1941 a plaque (together with his RAF wings) was unveiled in the crypt at St Paul’s Cathedral, London to honor Fiske. Prime Minister Winston Churchill sanctioned the memorial to raise the story’s profile as the US had not, at this stage, entered into the conflict. During the ceremony Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary of State for Air, stated that ‘… under no kind of compulsion he came to fight for Britain. He came and he fought and he died’. Gary Powell is a retired London detective; he is the author of Square London, a social history of the London square. His latest book is Death in Disguise (History Press). He also conducts several walks around the darker side of London. garypowellauthor.co.uk
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The American
Politics in Action Fleur Cowan explains what it’s like working in the Political Section of one of the most exciting US embassies in the world
I
’m the Deputy in the Political Section in the United States Embassy in London. Politics covers a huge range of activities, and because our Special Relationship with the Brits is so broad and so deep on almost every issue (President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron called it not only special but essential), we have a sizable embassy with a large political section. We have a dozen American staff plus permanent local staff and a couple of American interns who come from the States through the State Department Student Internship Program or from local universities - it’s a treat to have young people in the office to remind us what they care about. The traditional roles within an embassy political section are the bilateral relations in terms of what’s going on in British internal politics and what it means for America. We followed the Scottish independence referendum with great interest, that was fascinating to watch, an amazing act of democracy. And the next UK general election is going to be a close call: Washington’s very interested so we have a team looking at that. Another team works the political side of our military relationship with Great Britain, which of course is very close. And there are endless treaties and agreements that make everything function that need to be renewed or tweaked or updated or re-ratified.
12 January - February 2015
We look at the European Union. It could be argued that the EU is the most important organization in the world that the US is not a member of. We rely on our allies - on Britain - to help us understand the EU and how it impacts the US. We watch carefully the possibility of the UK leaving the EU after a referendum. The debate’s important but we’re a long way away from that - and we generally don’t make any comment about what the US would like to see happen. It’s not up to us, it’s for the British people and their government to make their own decisions about what’s best for them. Then we have an ‘external team’ looking at the Middle East. That’s very important, from Syria and ISIL to to the Iran nuclear negotiations, from Libya to the Middle East Peace Process. It’s unusual for a bilateral embassy to talk about other countries, but our relationship with Britain is such that we engage on every single one of these, sharing information and exchanging opinions - we also have someone who just does Africa. One of the reasons we cover these other regional issues is that London is such a global hub. US and other world leaders come through London all the time. Our visitor load of American VIPs boggles the mind, and we make sure that they’re meeting the right people and have the support they need.
We support the interests of the American people by advocating and working closely with the Brits on all of these different foreign policy issues. I’m endlessly astonished at the vast range of issues that come across our table every day. Some of them, as you would expect, are the ‘breaking news’ issues, but others are the long-term maintenance of agreements and so on. Outside of the current Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government we talk to almost all the various political parties here. Labour, of course, and UKIP is the latest headline-grabbing party, so we’ve been watching them with great interest. We reach out to the smaller parties too, like the Greens. They’re not always interested in talking to us - which is absolutely fine, but we try to cast a broad net. It’s important to be inclusive and meet as many people as possible and hear their opinions including out in the regions and we meet with local MPs and councillors, visit schools and so on. We write long-term reports for Washington on local trends, and short-term pieces about particular issues. There’s a comprehensive 24-hour news cycle, so our role is to provide analysis on why things matter, and what our decision-makers in Washington need to look out for. It goes in the other direction as well - every week we receive requests
The American
From top: Fleur Cowan greets Secretary of State John Kerry at Heathrow Airport. PHOTO COURTESY US EMBASSY
The US Embassy in London. © RICHARD L GALE
Secretary Kerry and his team negotiate with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and his. COURTESY FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
from Washington to ‘démarche’ the British government on one issue or another - it’s a formal, traditional diplomatic process that’s been going on for hundreds of years in which we get their opinion, tell them what we think or what we’re going to do. It may be more electronic these days but often we go over in person to speak to our opposite number then send a cable to Washington - they’re transmitted by email, but we still call them cables. We don’t have to roll them up and send them by ship these days - although that would give us a little more breathing space! On the foreign policy side, London is a unique location. Secretary Kerry comes here all the time, and our senior leadership is in contact with that of the British government probably every day. The US-UK Special Relationship is different. The French and Germans are great allies of ours as well, we see eye-to-eye on many things and they have supported us in many areas, but there’s something unique about Britain. Maybe it’s the shared language - although as you know it’s not always shared. We have our shared values, our cultural heritage, and our systems of government are not totally dissimilar, being based on the same principles of democracy, freedom and tolerance, even back to the Magna Carta.
January - February 2015 13
The American
“On the foreign policy side, London is such a unique location. Secretary Kerry comes here all the time, and our senior leadership is in contact with that of the British government probably every day” Fleur Cowan
14 January - February 2015
We don’t agree on everything, but there’s an honesty and frankness and history there. It’s like family - even if you disagree on something you find a way of saying, ‘OK, I respect your opinion, we’re going to find a way to come to an accommodation, or agree to disagree, or you take the lead on this and we’ll take the lead on something else. That coordination between the civilian, military and intelligence sides of our governments is unprecedented. I hope my British colleagues at the FCO would say the same! We’re not the same. We have different interests and different strengths and weaknesses but we work really well together. The heads of government may have disagreements, different priorities, or domestic political or resource constraints, and they’re important to understand. That’s the other reason why we’re here: to make sure that Washington really understands what’s going on on Britain, not just in London but all of the UK - what are the trends, what’s possible. When it comes down to it, the people to people connections are so extraordinary: familiar, business and trade, cultural, educational as well as political. Having said that, there are disagreements between our countries from time to time and we have to deal with them professionally and not take things personally. A colleague of mine told me about a meeting she had at the FCO recently about an issue on which we just disagree. There were disagreements about who had said what in the past, and what our agreement actually meant or didn’t mean. Of course the problem was a lack of clarity and misinterpretation. There was some pretty heated discussion,
but after feelings were vented she and her British colleague sat back and said, ‘OK, I think we’ve got that off our chest, now what are we going to do about it. I understand where you’re coming from - I don’t agree, but I understand, Now what’s the solution? It’s totally possible to move past this, and there are probably several ways we can do it, so what’s the next step?’ Having the kind of relationships where you really get to know your opposite number makes it possible. You’re not just the representative of your country, you have a personal bond. On both sides, American and British, it’s our job to promote the interests of our people, but there are lots of ways to do that and maintain the long-term relationship. Building bridges, one individual at a time, that’s how you get it done. Currently the biggest foreign policy issues facing the US are ISIS and Syria, working together with our friends to stop Ebola and help its victims, helping the Ukrainians and stopping further Russian aggression, and working hard with our P5+1 partners to try and come to an agreement with the Iranians to satisfy international concerns about their nuclear program. It’s good to show people the diversity of your country. London isn’t the United Kingdom, as New York and Miami are not the States. Washington can be a bubble too. That’s why the Ambassador has an initiative to get us out of London, to get us more in touch - it’s in the nature of our job to think that foreign policy is what everybody else cares about, and often it’s not at all. We may get incredibly into the weeds on what’s happening in Syria or the Ukraine, but that may not be what the average farmer in
Ambassador Barzun on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, briefed by the Political Section PHOTO COURTESY US EMBASSY
John Kerry and William Hague COURTESY FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
The London embassy: a plum posting PHOTO COURTESY US EMBASSY
Wiltshire is concerned about. In fact I just met a charming farmer two days ago when I finished the Thames Walk, all the way from the Thames Barrier up the Thames to its source in Wiltshire over the weekends across the last year. I took a picture of the Source Stone and he was looking at me skeptically as he fed his cows! I try to get out and see Britain. And the theater is so great here! I went to see a wonderful play in a small theater in Kilburn about quadroons in New Orleans at the time of the Louisiana Purchase - this is an angle of American history that’s hard to find even in the US. It was fascinating to see a British director, cast and crew put on this piece. That’s why there are all these American living in Britain, right? It’s because it’s Great! Sadly, I will eventually leave, but it’s been a treat to be here, and it’s only fair to give the job up to your next colleague who’s probably somewhere more difficult. Personally, I’ve served in Pakistan in Karachi, in Afghanistan in Kabul, and at the Holy See in Rome. Also in Baghdad, Haiti, and Darfur. Being here in London is a real treat from a personal perspective: I was born in Seattle but my family is English, and I went to St Andrews University in Scotland. My parents are from Sussex and Kent, they emigrated to America and have been there ever since. I was nearly a Pan Am baby! My accent changes, especially when my mother calls. So the chance to come back as an American, representing the US, is special. To have family nearby and get to show them this historic embassy, and try to explain to them what I do all day, it’s a lot of fun.
The American
HEALTH
Back Pain –
Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis
Symptoms A Herniated Lumbar Disc IMAGE ©BLAUSEN
M
any people suffer from back pain which impacts upon their daily life and activities. Dr Ralph Rogers of The London Sports Injury Clinic tell us what we should take note of, and a new diagnostic tool. Even though incidents of lumbago and sciatica are recorded as far back as Hippocrates, for the majority of patients the true cause of lower back pain remains a mystery. Such ambiguity is a direct reflection of the complex anatomy of the spine, where there are many painproducing soft tissues, including the articular joints, corresponding nerves, ligaments and muscles.
16 January - February 2015
Depending on the cause and structure involved, there can be many different symptoms for lower back pain: • Pain and stiffness in the back. • Referred pain in the buttocks and the legs. • Pain that worsens when bending, stretching, coughing, or sneezing. • Tingling, weakness or numbness that radiates from the lower back and into the buttocks and legs – especially with activity. • Activities such as walking, twisting and bending may increase the pain. • Other symptoms include a ‘pins and needles’ sensation, or tingling and difficulty moving or controlling the leg. • Typically, symptoms only manifest on one side of the body.
There are many different conditions that can cause back pain, so a thorough medical history needs to be performed as part of the examination. Important questions need to be asked to ascertain the source of the pain, and then a physical examination performed. Additional diagnostic tests for lower back pain include: • X-ray – Provides information on the bones in the spine; used to test for spinal instability, tumors and fractures. • MRI scan – Displays a detailed cross-section of the components of the spine. A new diagnostic tool that has been added at The London Sports Injury Clinic is the Dorsavi ViMove software which, through the use of wireless sensors placed on the back, allows the clinician to see and assess movement in real time. This information is also printed as a report with tailored recommendations for exercises for rehabilitation and to strengthen weakened areas. A video of the ViMove assessment can be seen at www.thelondonsportsinjuryclinic.co.uk/lowerback-pain.php For more information contact Dr Rogers at The London Sports Injury Clinic on 0207 563 1234 or email info@108harleystreet.co.uk www.108harleystreet.co.uk
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The American
HEALTH
Smile Makeover Dr Mark Hughes
IMAGE COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES’ MEDICAL SCHOOL EMBRYOLOGY DEPT., AUSTRALIA
S
o with the New Year upon us, it’s that time of year when most of us think of a list of resolutions and ‘must dos’. Things we have maybe been putting off for longer than we care to admit. Is going to the dentist one of those? Whether it be for our regular examination by the dentist and routine visit to the hygienist or for a “New You” and a complete smile makeover, it’s usually high up on the list come January 1st. Dr Mark Hughes gives us a little help: As Americans living in the UK, you might find calling to make appointments even harder to do than when you lived back at home. Could this be due to uncertainty about the level of care that is available in the UK or because you have been seeing a family dentist for decades each time you visit home, and you just cannot make the break? Maybe it’s because you haven’t been recommended to a great dentist yet?
18 January - February 2015
These are very commonly reported reasons expressed by many US citizens living in the UK, especially if they are raising their families here. Often this can lead to extended periods when their normally impeccable oral care regime is interrupted. With growing evidence showing that periodontal (gum) disease is associated with heart disease, this may be the time to consider getting back on track with your oral health. While a causeand-effect relationship has not yet been proven, research has indicated that periodontal disease increases the risk of heart disease. Moms and Dads often ask the question : “What age should I take my kids to the orthodontist?” Have you noticed more and more young kids with braces on these days? Don’t they still have baby teeth? When should I take my child to see the orthodontist for the first time? According to the American Association of Orthodontists, the
best age for children to be seen by an orthodontist for the first time is 7. Why age 7? What can be done at that age? As you might guess, not every orthodontic problem can be treated at age 7 but it may surprise you however to know that most problems can be identified by that age. So for either your kids’ sake or for yourself and your partner it may be time in 2015 to make that break and find an excellent team of dentists and hygienists here in London. There are some excellent dental practices here and many of them have dentists trained in the US, so you can be confident you’ll get excellent care and advice. Why not make your first New Year’s resolution a healthy one and a great reason to smile? Dr Mark Hughes is Clinical Director at the Harley Street Dental Studio. To contact Dr Hughes, go to www.harleystreetdentalstudio. com or call 020 7636 5981
The American
Coffee Break QUIZ ➊ ➋
In which State was the first Super Bowl held? NASA Astronaut Eugene Cernan is the last man to have done what in space?
8
6
1 2 3 3 2 5 4 6 3 7 1 9 6 5 8 7 7 5 6 8 4 3 3 7 9
➌
What distinguishes Earth’s name from the names of other planets in the Solar System?
➍
Tug of War was an Olympic sport until which Olympics? a) 1912 b) 1920 c) 1928
➎
Which popular car make is named from the abbreviation for a “General Purpose” motor used by the US Army?
➏
Pope John Paul II what was named an honorary ‘what’ in 2000? a) Harlem Globetrotter b) New England Patriot c) Member of the Harley Owners Group
➐
What is the unit of time for 1/100th of a second, especially in computer animation? a) A mo b) A jiffy c) A bit
➓
➑
Three US Presidents have served in one calendar year twice – can you name either year?
⓫
➒
January 13, 1990: Douglas Wilder became the first African American Governor in the US, but for which State?
It happened 25 years ago...
4
It happened 50 years ago...
January 30, 1965: which major British political figure’s State Funeral took place at St Paul’s Cathedral?
It happened 75 years ago...
February 29, 1940: which classic American film won eight Academy Awards?
It happened 100 years ago...
⓬ January 28, 1915: The Life Saving Service and the
Revenue Cutter services were combined by an Act of Congress to create which US Rescue service?
Quiz answers and Sudoku solution on page 63.
January - February 2015 19
The American
PROMOTION
South West Stunners Above: View from The Grand Hotel, Torbay, Devon
I
f a break overlooking the stunning coastline of Devon and Cornwall combined with accommodation steeped in history floats your boat, then look no further than the five Richardson Hotels. All are located on or close to the shoreline, all were built in the Victorian era and provide a rich heritage with fascinating connections to English royalty and the literary world, and some having key roles during both world wars. In Devon, two of the Richardson Hotels are positioned less than ten minutes’ walk from each other. On one side of Torre Abbey sits The Grosvenor Hotel, an ideal destination for those looking to explore the local area and those with young families (look out for the Kids Go Free offer in the holidays). The hotel, which started trading as such around 110 years ago, boasts comfortable and spacious family, double and twin rooms and offers a choice of dining styles through the brasserie, restaurant and a 50’s style retro American diner. On the other side of Torre Abbey with Torquay Railway Station immediately behind, the 132 bedroom Grand Hotel sits majestically over-
20 January - February 2015
looking Torbay with stunning views of the Bay from the terrace, restaurant, Compass Lounge and sea facing bedrooms. With easy access to the Bay, marina, town and local attractions there’s plenty to see and do. Followers of the queen of crime fiction who, incidentally, honeymooned at The Grand Hotel, can enjoy a visit to Agatha Christie’s Torquay home, while history lovers can enjoy numerous wonderful heritage sites. Local gardens and vineyards are always high on any visitors list and there’s plenty to keep the most green fingered and curious busy in this part of Devon. Foodies can delight in the hotel’s AA rosette restaurant or simply indulge in an Afternoon Tea, sparkling or otherwise, or the more traditional Devon cream tea in the spacious and airy Compass Lounge. The elegant Grand Hotel has a fascinating history. During the first half of the 20th century, the hotel was regularly the venue for television and radio programme broadcasts and during World War 2 was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force with many American forces stationed here. In preparation for the D-Day land-
ings, US troops turned huge areas of Devon into camps prior to setting sail for Utah Beach and evidence of their stay can be found all over the area. Meanwhile on the Jurassic coast, Cornwall has one of, if not the, most sensational coastlines in Europe and the opportunity to walk the south west coastal path, any time of the year, is tempting indeed. With the independent pubs and shops, restaurants and galleries and beautiful beaches, there’s every reason to spend a few nights in the south west. Cornwall also has some of the most scenic railway branch lines that make any journey, long or short, well worthwhile and boasts delicious home grown, caught, landed or reared food of anywhere in the UK. Head to The Fowey Hotel on the south coast. Perched on the hillside overlooking the River Fowey and just a stone’s throw from the quaint centre of town, this Victorian boutique hotel offers a warm welcome, wonderfully comfortable bedrooms, some with stunning views across the River, and excellent food and drink. The hotel has a great history and has played host to some prolific writers
The Metropole, Padstow
The Fowey Hotel, Fowey
Above: In the gardens of the two Cornish hotels
over the years, none more so than the author of the children’s classic, Wind in the Willows. There’s even copies of Kenneth Grahame’s letters home to his son and it’s easy to see how his imagination was fired by the area in those letters addressed ‘Dear Mouse’. On the opposite coast sits The Metropole. Overlooking the foodie town and popular harbour of Padstow, this charming Victorian hotel also boasts magnificent views of the Camel Estuary. Warm and comfortable, it offers guests a home from home. Previous visitors who may have attested to this in a different era include The Prince of Wales no less! During World War 2 the hotel was requisitioned by the Admiralty and became an operational base for the WRAS. Current day, the food is excellent, as you’d expect from any hotel restaurant in this part of the county, with the option for fine dining and casual refreshments. Padstow and Rock, opposite, both give way to superb beaches and simply stunning landscapes, ideal for walkers and artists. Bouncing back to the south coast, the 71 bedroom Falmouth Hotel stands proudly on the Bay, with
Pendennis Castle to one side and the whole of the Bay and Castle Beach to the front. Rockpools and beaches offer the ideal antidote to the five acres of landscaped gardens in which the hotel sits. Just a short stroll into the town of Falmouth itself, this hotel offers fine dining in its AA rosette restaurant, casual dining in its lounge bar and the use of spa and leisure facilities such as an indoor pool, hot tub and gymnasium. The Falmouth played its part during the wars, requisitioned by the Admiralty as a hospital during WWI and offices in WW2. Famous visitors in latter years include Dame Anna Neagle, Beatrix Potter and Simon Le Bon. Soak up the history of all of the hotels but always make time to make new memories of your own.
Dinin
g at T he Fo
wey
ole
etrop
he M g at T
Dinin
A Room at Th
e Grand
SPECIAL OFFER (BUT MUST BE BOOKED BY JANUARY 31ST, 2015): The Richardson Hotel Group are offering The American readers the chance to book a minimum of 2 nights dinner, bed, and breakfast and receive 20% OFF best available rate, plus a traditional cream tea to get your holiday underway. TO BOOK CALL 0800 005 2244 or email reservations@richardsonhotels.co.uk quoting Ref US1 Terms and conditions: New bookings only. Subject to availability, based on 2 sharing and a minimum of 2 nights. Valid until 20th December 2015. January - February 2015 21
The American
Following Agamemnon Words and pictures by expat James Carroll Jordan as he entertains his fellow passengers
I
t had been a long cold winter for me. No work and only re-run fees to help me get by, so when August came around and I found that I was free to take another cruise with Jan, I could hardly contain myself. And we were going to Greece and all its beautiful idyllic islands. To add even more pleasure, the cruise began in Naples. Bella Napoli where I spent a good few years of my youth as an Air Force brat. But now I was back and with a day to spare to show my ever-lovin’ wife a bit of my past. Alas fifty years or so changes things quite a bit. But there were enough romantic picturesque places to show Jan anyway. We of course stopped to have an ice cream. And having tried them in Rome, Florence (at eight euros a pop) and Venice, we had to admit that Neapolitan ice cream was the best. That settled, we strolled along the sea front admiring Vesuvius, the happy Italians swimming and lounging and shouting. It was lovely. It was a good decision to forgo Pompeii and just dive into
22 January - February 2015
Naples proper. Although I did desperately wish to go on the Ischia Excursion. You see when I was eleven I was one of the hundreds of swimming boys in the movie Cleopatra who were diving for coins next to the Roman ships. I even spotted Richard Burton. But the excursion fee was too much for me. On board ship by six and embarked at half past. What to do? Let’s see… go up to the Wheeler Bar and have a cocktail? Well, why not! Isn’t it funny how what a drink is at home, a cocktail is aboard ship? Yes… I said to myself. Two whole glorious weeks of this. Living and eating and cruising like a king! Yesssss! We were at sea for twenty four hours, so of course rehearsals filled the afternoon. Fortunately for me I was only in one of the four shows, so had nothing to do but sun myself and sample odd cocktails from the nice friendly Filipino waiters. They were everywhere! Bless… We awakened to find ourselves berthed in a beautiful Bay at Corfu.
Here Jan and I had booked a trip by bus around the island. We couldn’t believe how lush and green it was with riots of flowers everywhere. High cliffs, mountain villages and gorgeous little sea side villages captivated us. Every time we stopped, I kept up a search for local salami. I just love spicy salami and buy it everywhere I travel. It drives Jan nuts. But I don’t care. It was about eleven when our tour bus stopped at a high mountain village. I found to my joy a line of hanging salamis and wine tasting counter. I sidled up. Jan and I loved Corfu, our second stop, and put it right at the top of our list of places we’d like to have a summer home at. It’s really two settings to look for. Down on the coast with lots of tourists, or up in the mountains where it is quiet and breathtakingly beautiful. A lovely island. It has been conquered by so many nations that it has a meltingpot type of architecture with small gold gilded Greek churches next to the ubiquitous mosques. Gold domed and stately. For me, it had
The American Left: Jim at the Library at Ephesus returning a book?
to be the beach. I just need to be by the sea really. I’d like to point out that this cruise was copying faithfully the one sixty years ago by the then fledgling Swan Hellenic. Next was one of the Seven Wonders of the World awaiting us. Delphi! If you’ve never been, go. You berth in Itea, and with a half hour scenic drive through the largest olive groves I have ever seen you reach the legendary Temple of Delphi, where through the ages, people came to ask divine directions and leave offerings. Considering the size of the place, there must have been a lot of worshipers. Maybe three to five thousand at a time. What I figure after listening to the learned historians on board at their lectures and what I saw with my own eyes, and of my rather low mind throwing in its two cents worth, I reckon it was one big party house. Just look at the statues. The women in diaphanous robes and the men stark naked! Well, put two and two together, add a copious amount of Greek wine and you take your guess what went on back in old Delphi’s heydays. Still it is an awesome site to visit. I truly felt the presence of peace and serenity there. Even though the site was crowded with hundreds of Germans, Dutch and we few (345 passengers) from our doughty ship Minerva. Although I don’t like crowds, and the weather was hot, it is a nice time to sight-see. I kept trying to photograph this lovely German lady wearing not much of anything as she stood by a naked statue of a Greek Goddess who was equally underclad. For art, you see… However Jan didn’t see it that way and I was almost frog-marched
off; up the hill of Delphi at a rapid pace. I tried to explain my idea of a perfectly composed photo, but she would have none of it. It was marble half naked women I was allowed to gawp at. Not live ones. I never learn… There is a large artistic side of me just bursting to break out and here I am held in check at every turn. Luckily for me, I had plenty of excursions by myself and of course with the other actors Malcolm, David, his wife Judy and Sara Coward (a radio star from The Archers) and her friend Gillian. We made a merry bunch as we hopped off the boat at every port and strolled around from tavern to tavern all stretched out along the small bays. I took every occasion to change into my swim suit and dive into the warm Aegean waters. We were always back in time for our tea at four. (And yes, I gained five pounds on the cruise.) We would take an hour or two to unwind and then at seven thirty go up to the lounge and have cocktails. Then a sumptuous dinner. Every night!!! Yep, it’s a tough life, but someone’s gotta do it. Of course we had to do four shows and run a couple of quizzes (which were very lively I must add) after dinner throughout the cruise to pay our way. But like I said, I only had one to do. After Delphi we cruised through the Corinth Canal. It was hairy. That’s all I have to say. The canal is not very wide, and it takes a good forty-five minutes to get through it. The sides of the canal were sometimes only a meter or so away from us. But we made it through after many ouzos that the ship handed out gratis. From there we landed at Myce-
Above: Greek Dancers on board
Tea on the deck of the Minerva
Above: Jan visits Delphi Below: The Temple at Knossos
January - February 2015 23
The American
nae, the Island where Agamemnon came from. The citadel was truly marvelous with amazing views of Argos and the straights of Corinth. But boy was it hot. I think it hit forty the day we were there. When I returned to the ship I think I spent at least six hours in the pool. But it gave me a cooling chance to reflect on what I’d seen. I think we sailed in the late afternoon to Nauplia which was at the end of a peninsula. In ancient days it was called Argos. It was yet another place of ruins, history and coffee shops and tourist shops. And boy do I love the tourist shops. I have a weakness for flowing robes from the east. I thought to find a couple to add to my collection, but found the prices startlingly high. Almost London prices really. Sadly I had to pass on some great kaftans and turbans. I love turbans too, but Jan has banished them from our house. We sailed by Stromboli, the active volcano in the middle of nowhere, around five in the morning. I was up and watched it blearily. Then later we arrived at the exquisite Santorini. It’s an island really. Or what is left of one after a huge earthquake. Historians think it may be Atlantis of old. Who knows? In
24 January - February 2015
After Show laughs with Jan and Malcolm
any case it’s stunning. A city painted all in white cresting the top of a huge cliff. You needed a cable car to get up and down unless you are really hardy, then you walk. Not for me. No thank you. Remember it was thirty eight degrees! I managed to coax Jan up the lift and into the town. It was a warren of little paved streets with shops, restaurants galore. I was walking ahead of Jan as the sun was getting to her when I spotted this Grecian vision standing in front of a store aimlessly gazing out to sea. My jaw dropped and I unconsciously sucked in my stomach. Jeez Louise was she pretty. I kind of loitered pretending to photograph things when Jan caught up to me. She knew instantly what I was thinking and just smirked. Then she decided to make me pay for my roving eyes. She went into the store and lo and behold there were four more fantastically beautiful Greek girls all dressed in the see through linen dresses they were selling. I have to admit I spent a long time in there deciding what Jan should buy. I made her go back and try on another at least eight times. I had to take a lie down when we returned to the boat. I have a fragile heart
you see…. From there it was a succession of wonderful stark, arid temple filled Greek Islands after another. Crete; where Knossos was. The ancient capital of the Minoan culture. Home of the Minator and the Bull Jumpers. Then beautiful Patmos, fabulous Rhodes where the Templars made a great stand before losing out to the Turks, and more. We did touch Turkish soil at Kuşadasi and saw the magnificent Ephesus and its library. Boy was it hot at Ephesus. But I did manage to nab a nice purse for my daughter and a neat Arab looking hat with side flaps for myself. Jan was mortified and made me promise not to wear it aboard ship. I also bought a nice Greek shirt for Charlie my boy. I just love haunting Middle Eastern Bazaars. Takes me back to the days of the sixties when I roamed Istanbul, Athens and Marrakesh with my mom. We also enjoyed many warm moon lit nights on board ship as we cruised gently from place to place. But finally it came for me to be part of the last show. We rehearsed and rehearsed and Malcolm wisely cut most of my singing, leaving me with funny sketches and lines to pull off. Which I apparently did as the passengers all seemed to love it. So I had paid my way finally. Sadly our cruise ended two days later in Athens where we boarded a flight home to England. But boy was it fun following Agamemnon and his path around the islands of Greece. I wonder how the passengers of sixty years ago enjoyed themselves. Probably just as much as we did.
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Port Stanley, Falklands
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Passing Cape Horn
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Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe
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Golfo Aranci, Sardinia
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12-15 Dec
Cruising Chilean Fjords
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Xlendi (Victoria), Gozo, Valletta, Malta
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Puerto Chacabuco, Chile
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Castro Island, Chile
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Giardini Naxos (Taormina), Sicily
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The American
Transatlantic Philanthropy– A Shared Tradition S
uzanne Bissell, a Washington DC-based philanthropy consultant specializing in non-profit management, was in London to address donors and beneficiaries of the Anglo-American Charity Limited. She talked about the strong tradition of philanthropy in the US and the UK. Suzanne began by pointing out that philanthropy in the US goes way back to the founding fathers. It was George Washington who in 1796 donated company stocks to the equivalent of $20,000 to fund scholarships at a then small Augusta Academy in Lexington, Virginia, that later became Washington and Lee University. Washington’s gift, estimated to be worth $20 million dollars today, is still helping students. Benjamin Franklin’s statue sits atop City Hall, Philadelphia with good reason. He not only founded the first US public library, the volunteer fire department and started a school called The Pennsylvania Academy, providing secondary level education to men of all denominations, highly unusual at the time. In time he became its principal and we now know it as the University of Pennsylvania Ivy League school. But perhaps the most charitable thing he did was founding a hospital that admitted patients whether they could pay or not. So he had
26 January - February 2015
to raise money, which he did by pioneering the idea of a matching gift. He approached the Legislature and asked for a $2,000 gift with the promise that he would raise the matching $2,000 to open the hospital, which he raised and the hospital duly opened. Suzanne cited a surprising example of 18th century transatlantic giving by James Smithson, (who was not born with that name, actually being the illegitimate son of the Duke of Northumberland and a very wealthy widow). Born in Paris, and Oxford-educated, be became an English scientist and philanthropist who spent much time traveling, but never set foot in the US. Yet he provided a bequest that established the Smithsonian Institution in the US. Today, the Smithsonian continues to have one of the largest impacts on the arts, humanities and sciences in the country. Heroes of philanthropy of more modest means were cited, such as Oseloa McCarty, a woman in Mississippi who took in washing and who donated her life savings to the University of Southern Mississippi for needy students to give them the education she never had. The community was so inspired they tripled her endowment to $450,000. Students still receive tuition-free scholarships every year thanks to her gift.
Suzanne Bissell
Suzanne concluded her talk with a few statistics from a report on Giving in 2012 from the University of Indiana. Highlights include: • In 2012, Americans gave $316 billion to charitable causes • 65% of US households make contributions every year representing an average of $2,000 for every household • 50% of Americans donate their time to charity Listen to Suzanne’s interview in full at www.tanagerwealth.com/blog You can find out more about Suzanne Bissell Philanthropy Services by contacting suzannehbissell@gmail.com The Anglo-American Charity Ltd and its US parent, the Anglo-American Charitable Foundation, were established in 2003 as dual qualified US-UK donor advised funds to facilitate trans-Atlantic gifting. You can find out more about transAtlantic giving and the service of the Anglo-American Charity at www.anglo-americancharity.org
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Getting In: Admissions & Special Needs T
his month Matthew Cook has some great advice about Admissions into the best British schools, and provision for students with Special Educational Needs. As the UK has some of the best schools in the world, it is no surprise that there is a growing demand for places. This article focuses upon entrance to independent schools, but it should be noted that the competition is no less fierce for those seeking a place at the best state maintained schools. One of the key factors affecting those coming from overseas, in obtaining a place at a state maintained (‘public’ in American parlance) school, is that you must live in the catchment (geographical) area covered by the school before you can submit your application. Also note that for the best schools, this alone does not guarantee a place.
28 January - February 2015
Independent and international schools are not governed by catchment areas, they will usually draw pupils from a far wider area. However, in the age of exam league tables, they will usually have selection criteria and many will hold entrance exams and interviews to assess the suitability of the students. Here are some tips and reminders to help you through the process: 1. It is always advisable to register with your preferred school(s) as soon as possible. Many British parents will register with several schools, so that they have options if they are unsuccessful at their first choice school. Take note of any registration/application deadlines that schools may have, as well as the dates for their entrance examinations. 2. Often schools will have waiting lists, especially in the case of
‘in-year’ applications (for those applying during the academic year rather than for the start of the year), please note that any attempts to ‘jump the line’ will be futile and are generally frowned upon. 3. Make sure that you have all the correct and up-to-date paperwork ready to submit on time and that your child’s current school is prepared to complete any documents (reports, transcripts and recommendation forms). Schools will not begin to process an application until they have received all the relevant paperwork and the application fee. 4. Take note of any holiday periods – you don’t want your child’s application to be delayed because their homeroom teacher or Principal is away from school. 5. Be open and honest with schools about your child, especially
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where they have a diagnosed special educational need – see the later section on SEN. 6. Entrance tests will vary for different ages and to an extent from school to school. Schools for younger children may ask them to read several books and these will form part of the interview process. Older children may be given tests in Verbal reasoning, Mathematics and English. Depending upon the type of test your child is taking, it may be worth engaging a tutor to help them prepare, especially as the type of questions, and the exam technique required might be different to what the child has previously experienced. 7. Some schools will insist upon the child attending the set examination days at the school or at the very least sitting the exams at the school. In such cases, plan accordingly and allow the child sufficient time prior to the test to get over any jet lag or tiredness from travel. In an increasing number of cases, schools will allow the child to sit the tests under exam conditions at their current school – again investigate any possibilities to ensure that your child has the best possible chance of performing to their potential. 8. Interviews will also vary depending upon the school and age of the child. Some interview practice will undoubtedly reap rewards, but do note that the interviewer will no doubt be experienced at this task, and will be able to spot a student that has been over ‘coached’. Also remember that the ‘interview’ covers the whole time you and your child are at the school. Just
30 January - February 2015
as you want to ensure that school is a good fit for you, so the school will want to ensure that you are a good fit for them. 9. Accepting a place: once a school makes an offer of a place they will give you a set time limit to accept or decline the offer. If you have applied to, and received offers from, more than one school be careful about accepting a place as once you accept, you will more often than not be legally liable for the first term’s fees, whether your child actually attends the school or not. At the acceptance stage you will normally be asked to pay a deposit. If your company is paying this as part of the relocation package, make sure that the relevant authorization is in place and that the relevant people can action the payment quickly.
Special Educational Needs:
From experience it would seem that whilst understanding and provision for students with special educational needs in the UK is undoubtedly improving, provision is not as consistently spread as one might find in the US. Therefore, it is advisable for parents to begin the search as early as possible and to ensure that they ask lots of questions of the schools that they select. Children with mild special educational needs will usually be catered for quite comfortably through support inside and outside the classroom, and schools are generally quite clear about the support that they can provide and that which they cannot. Those with slightly more severe conditions but for whom a mainstream educational setting is still appropriate may find the search slightly harder
but there are schools that can help. In London, the Centre Academy offers considerable support to children following GCSE and A-level programmes, whilst the International Community School offers the International Baccalaureate programmes but a very high level of integrated support where necessary. Understandably places in such programmes and at such schools are highly sought after. Whilst every case and every child is different, it is always worth considering carefully the ethos of the school, the teaching methodology and the academic programmes that it follows, as well as the specific support available. If you have further questions related to education in the UK or would like advice please feel free to contact Matthew – matthew@ castleeducationconsultancy.co.uk Matthew Cook is the Managing Director of Castle Education Consultancy, an independent education consultancy that works with families on school and university search. Matthew was educated at the University of St. Andrews and Oxford University. He has almost 15 years experience in education, having taught at an independent day-boarding school near Cambridge, and also led the History department and been College Counsellor at the British School of Washington DC. Matthew has worked in the Middle East and at the Times Educational Supplement. His last role was as Director of Marketing and Admissions at a top London international school. Matthew’s ambition is to open a British-International school in the United States.
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The American
Elvis is IN the Building
A
ngie Marchese has a job that must make her the envy of the millions of Elvis obsessives around the world: Director of Archives at Elvis Presley Enterprises. How did she get the gig? What’s it like handling The King’s personal possessions? What are she and over 300 prize objects doing in Britain? Read on for these and more fascinating facts about the greatest rock and roll singer in history. Many of the folks who visit Graceland, Elvis’ mansion in Memphis, assume that Angie Marchese was born in Memphis and that she must have known Elvis personally. She’s actually a Floridian and she’s far too young to have met him. Even so, it would be hard to imagine anyone more enthusiastic about their guardianship of the personal artefacts that make up the collection that visitors can see in Graceland. “I’m so excited to bring a little bit of Elvis to the UK. For people who have been to Graceland it’s a chance to relive their experi-
32 January - February 2015
ence, and for those who haven’t had a chance to get to Memphis, it’s a chance to get the Graceland experience at the O2. And it’s not only for Elvis fans, music historians or anyone interested in music in general will really appreciate it because Elvis was so much a part of American pop culture. So many artists today say that he was one of their main influences and we can show why that is.” Many people debate who really invented rock and roll, but there’s no doubt that Elvis was the biggest star of the genre, the one who really popularized it internationally and at home. “We really can’t say Elvis invented it,” Angie agrees, “There was a groundswell going on in this new kind of music, and so many stars, but Elvis was the guy who really kicked the door down.” A good definition of rock and roll is an interracial mixture of blues, R&B, country and folk, and unlike many of those stars Elvis lived the life from the start: “Elvis was a product of his culture,” says Angie. “Coming from Tupelo, Mis-
sissippi, and going to Memphis, he was exposed to the blues music on Beale Street as well as country music. He absorbed everything going on around him, and it all came out when he went on stage the first time.” How amazing would it have been to have been there to see this new kind of music emerging? “Yes, and can you imagine seeing something that you can’t describe, but you know you love it? The audience was going crazy, and Elvis went backstage and said, ‘What was that?’ His manager said, ‘I don’t know, but go do it again!’ He did it all the way from Memphis to Vegas and back again.” Angie makes a good point: Elvis went to Las Vegas to perform, and Hollywood to make films, but he always came home. “Memphis was always home base. Even when he was in LA making movies he rented houses there and stayed there several months out of the year, but Graceland was home.” She’s not old enough to have met Elvis, so Angie’s first memory of
Left: Elvis’ personal copy of ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ Right: Elvis’ Army shirt Below: The 1956 Lincoln Continental, which he purchased in Miami while on tour, to replace the car he was driving that the fans covered in messages. One of only 3,000 made and at the time it cost $10,000 (more than then a Rolls Royce)
him is in those movies. I grew up in Florida and when I was a young kid Fun in Acapulco always seemed to be on TV. I remember thinking how good looking he was. The movies were kinda corny, but the songs were great and it was so much fun. My mom was a big Elvis fan, so I remember her playing his records too. Who knew that twenty years later I would be working at Graceland? And I haven’t left... I started as a tour guide and I’ve been there 25 years, and every day is a new experience. We get to shape people’s experiences and be part of this amazing legacy. And we introduce his legacy to new audiences 37 years after his passing.” Angie and her team are certainly part of the legacy. They meet and talk with Elvis’ family, friends, associates and employees. “It’s amazing to see them when they’re at Graceland or around the artefacts, and see them interact with the pieces. You can see them go back in time, and they relay stories to you about what it was like with Elvis. At Graceland he would entertain friends, and invite strangers in, and where he raised his family and where he could unwind. Priscilla and Lisa come back to the mansion very often - Lisa still owns Graceland, it’s her family home, and she comes for holidays a lot. It’s where they have their best memories of Elvis and you never know when they might turn up. Earlier this year Priscilla went out front and greeted a group of visitors - they couldn’t believe they’d been welcomed by Priscilla Presley.” What do the personal possessions in the archive - not the
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The American
Elvis at The O2 is open until August 31, 2015. Tickets are available now via www.elvisattheo2.com or by calling 0844 856 0202. Cadillacs and gold jumpsuits but the more private items - tell us about Elvis as an individual? “He could be your best friend, he was very caring and he loved giving things to people and seeing their faces how happy it made them. It was all about sharing. He was a loving father to Lisa, he adored his daughter. In his wallet - which we have at the O2 - the very first thing you see is a picture of Elvis and Lisa. Just an ordinary guy next door who happened to have this amazing charisma and entertainment ability, and whose soul spoke to people. That’s my favorite part - people know the singer, the actor, the Vegas star, but they can learn something about the real man. Being able to bring that here to the O2, we can give an insight into who Elvis was. I wanted this to be a learning experience too.” Does Angie still discover new items in the archive? “The collection is so large that we discover new things every day, even if it’s just a shirt that was in a closet that we
34 January - February 2015
cataloged ten years ago - I might find a photo of him wearing it and all of a sudden that shirt has a whole new meaning and history. When you get into the archives you start understanding, when people tell you stories, whether it’s something Elvis would or wouldn’t have done.” Being in the privileged position of seeing the man behind the public persona, are there any Elvis myths that Angie would like to dispel? “You know, myths are myths, and they’re great stories, and sometimes the facts aren’t as much fun. The pink Cadillac, for example. Everyone thinks it was his mother’s car. Elvis actually bought it and used it for touring. When he was having it repaired because it was wrecked he bought another car and gave the Cadillac to his mom. So it was his mother’s car - even though she never drove it or had a driver’s license. What is true is that Elvis was shopping for Cadillacs one day and there was a lady in the showroom who he started chatting to. She
said she loved the cars but couldn’t afford them - Elvis handed her the key. He did that quite often.” Despite Elvis passing over 35 years ago interest in him is still phenomenal. Graceland has been open to tourists since 1882 and has had 19 million visitors. It still gets more than 600,000 a year. Only about 10 percent are return visitors. Among the 347 artefacts in the exhibition, what was Elvis’ favorite single possession? “That’s tough... Elvis was a car guy, so maybe the Lincoln Continental. He used that for over two years, it wasn’t one he bought and gave away. And the pink Cadillac comes over in the summer.” And what is Angie’s favorite single Elvis item? “His wallet, it’s so personal, it has a movie ticket stub and a newspaper clip about him doing karate, and business cards from people he’d meet.” Finally, what is the best thing about being Angie Marchese? “I get paid to play with Elvis’ stuff!”
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23/05/2014 14:49
Reviewed by Michael M Sandwick
The Red Lemon Y
ou might have read a lot of ‘brew’ ha-ha recently about a change in the English pub laws. Most pubs are tied to a Brewery or a large company. In return for lower rent, they must buy beer and supplies from the owner at a higher rate. This has been going on for 400 years! Last week, pubs were released from this ‘tie’ allowing them freedom to buy beer from whomever they choose. This is cause for celebration. The Red Lemon in Notting Hill is a good place for it. The Red Lemon is independently owned by lovely Alli Kyle so she’s been free to choose her beer all along. As with the art, the cider and the food, she has chosen to go local. That’s what gives her pub its ethos. It is of, and for, the neighborhood. Next to the crowds of Portobello, All Saints Road is like an oasis of art, edge and charm. The pub has a lounge area, a dining room and a private function room. All are warm and welcoming.
36 January - February 2015
Chef David Green has done equally well with the food. His menu is reasonably-priced pub food with a good mix of traditional and gastro. Something for everyone. He sent us an amuse bouche which is most likely on the menu by now. Seared scallops with slow cooked oxtail. It sounds like a strange combination but it was delicious. Rich, savory and succulent oxtail with sweet scallops. Superb! Next, spiced crab on toast with fennel salsa (£7.50) and heritage beetroot, rosary goat cheese and pine nut salad (£7). Both were solid and well presented. The fennel was a fresh twist with nicely seasoned crab. The pork chop (£14) was enormous! Served with a black pudding and apple fritter which was fabulous. I love a good fritter. This had crunch, sweet and savory. The mustard sauce needed a bit more zip though. More reduction or more mustard would have done wonders. Sea Bream with Jerusalem artichokes and trompette mushrooms
Butter lettuce, blue vinney, pear & walnut salad
45 All Saints Road, London W11 1HE www.theredlemon.co.uk
ALL IMAGES ©JULIET LEMON
The Restaurant at The Red Lemon
The American
(£16.50) was excellent all the way around. The marriage of perfectly cooked fish and Jerusalem artichokes is heaven. A side of honey roasted root vegetables (£3.50) was also just right. The wine list is not extensive, but reasonably priced with a fair number of wines offered by the glass, like a decent South African Chenin Blanc (£5.75) and a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (£7.50). A nice variety of cheese (£8) was served with caraway flatbread which I enjoyed and grapes pickled in vinegar and ginger which I didn’t. [Grapes in vinegar - surely that’s just ‘off’ wine? - ed] A beautiful vanilla pannacotta (£5.50) wasn’t enhanced by poached pears. Both are sweet and delicate on their own but together, the pairing is without contrast. Alli and David have done a great job. The Red Lemon is a lovely place for a pint, bangers ‘n mash for a tenner or for a posh celebration. I wish it was in my ‘hood!
The American
Reviewed by Michael M Sandwick
3 Denman Street, London W1D 7 HA www.shoryuramen.com
Shoryu Ganso Tonkotsu
I
SHORYU RAMEN
first discovered ramen (Japanese noodle soup) in the early ‘80s when I was a poor starving artiste in NYC. Nourishing, filling and tasty, it was the best meal for a fiver I could find. Now, over 30 years later, the ramen renaissance has taken London by storm. I feel like I’m having a really good flashback! Back then I was just happy for a decent cheap meal. Now, the typical Londoner expects a good deal more. More taste, a more inventive kitchen and more value for money. Shoryu delivers on all counts. And to boot, Shoryu Soho also has Mimi! Knowledgeable, gracious and bubbly all at once, Mimi Tokumine is not only the perfect hostess, she is one of London’s very few sake sommeliers. The sake menu boasts over 100 bottles ranging from £20 to £142. Normally I like my sake hot, but Mimi recommended the Gekkeikan Horin (£25 for 300 ml) at room temperature in order to appreciate the delicate hints of fruit
and flower. It was indeed a much better experience. With our mains we drank a hot Kasumitsuru Kimoto Dry (£17.90 for 300 ml). Totally different, but equally satisfying. There wasn’t as much nuance, but I still like it hot! We started with pork filled gyoza (£7 for six pieces). The wrappers for these fried dumplings are homemade. Wafer thin and delicate, they are excellent quality. We followed this with some Shoryu buns. Japan’s answer to the burger, hirata buns are very soft and fluffy. Steamed rather than baked, they are similar to the Chinese but not as sweet. At £4.50 a piece or 2 for £7.50 there is a choice of prawn tempura, salmon, chicken, pork belly and grilled halloumi. We chose the prawn and for £8.50, the wagyu beef. The prawn was delicious, the beef exceptional. Beautifully grilled and served with shimeji mushrooms, daikon and shiso, a fragrant herb. I would happily have ordered
3 more. No wonder these are also trending like mad at the mo. Of the 11 variants of ramen on the menu, we chose the piri piri (£11.90) for a bit of spice and the Kotteri Hakata Tonkatsu (£12) which has a richer, meatier broth. I enjoyed the piri piri which had some killer peppers, but it paled in comparison to the Kotteri. This broth was like liquid roast pork. Nutritious, delicious and still great value for money. If I just had that I would go home satisfied. We topped it all off with some yuzu sorbet (£6). Yuzu is a citrus fruit grown throughout the Far East. For some reason, it hasn’t joined ramen and hirata buns on the hottest trends list. I can’t imagine why. It’s gorgeous. The tart flavor is somewhere between lemon and orange and makes a fantastic sorbet. There’s nothing like a nice cuppa hot sake, a bun in the steamer and a chat with Mimi!
January - February 2015 37
The American
Napa Law Center IMAGE ŠMATTHEW KEYS
Cellar Talk Earthquake!
By Virginia E Schultz
H
aving lived in California for several years, I am quite familiar with earthquakes. The several I experienced were under 5.0 magnitude and only once - in the Philippines - did I see the magnitude go over 6.0. It happened in a restaurant and I can recall grabbing the bottle of Rosso di Montepulciano before ducking under the table. As the floor rocked and rolled, my husband and I sipped from the bottle. However, on August 14, 2014, a 6.0 magnitude near the West Napa fault, 4 miles north west of American Canyon and 5 miles south of downtown Napa injured over two hundred people and damaged close to 70 structures, about half residential. It was the strongest earthquake in the Bay Area for a quarter century. Stainless steel storage tanks ruptured at some wineries, leaking thousands of gallons of wine and several collections of bottled wine were destroyed among the damage. Winemakers had to find space for arriving grapes as well as help staff members. A number of historic buildings were also destroyed and restaurants and a wine tasting room in the city had to be closed. The shock waves began at 3.20 am with the epicenter about 5 miles north of the city of Napa. Wineries in nearby growing regions such as Carneros, Oakville,
38 January - February 2015
and Yountville had to be closed because of damage. The impact was not limited to Napa. Serious structural damage appeared to be limited and winemakers being an optimistic group were soon at work cleaning up and trying to salvage the many bottles of wine that managed to survive. The greatest loss was at wineries that lost their old and rare collection of wines. The main concern was that in late August the grapes were ripening on the vine and the year’s harvest was expected to be the same premium as 2013.
WINE OF THE MONTH Feudo Maccari Sicilia Saia Maharis 2012, Sicily/red, $60 had this wine with roast pork, whole baked tomatoes with Iinsisted a touch of brown sugar, and mashed potatoes. My friend I make Chef Marc’s recipe for buttery mashed pota-
toes and as it was his birthday I had no choice except to agree. By the time we got to the chocolate cake with cream cheese icing, also his demand, we must have consumed ten thousand calories. We drank two bottles of this Syrah and would have skipped the Prosecco if we had another bottle of this Sicilian delight. My girlfriend who once had an Italian lover described it as seductive and irresistible. She said it in Italian, which even sounds sexier.
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Win a New You! The Holidays are over, we’re in Win a luxury treat: a day of the depths of winter and feeling pampering for you and a friend blue. So, we’ve persuaded two of our friends to team up and at Valentino offer you the prize of a glamorKensington’s most luxurious ous luxury treat in Kensington! salon. Your experience will Tucked away at 1, Thackeray include a facial or massage, hair Street, just a step from the bustle and make up as well as a of Kensington High Street, you’ll manicure for you both to enjoy. find Valentino, which has been looking after the hair and beauty Once you have been pampered needs of residents of Kensington to perfection, your day will be and its visitors for over thirty years followed by a three course meal and is now considered one of and a bottle of wine at the Kensington’s leading salons. Step stylish and wonderfully www.valentinosalon.co.uk into their luxury salon and get authentic Italian restaurant ready to be pampered. - Locanda Ottoemezzo. At 2 - 4 Thackeray Street you’ll find Locanda Ottoemezzo which Simply answer this question brothers Emidio and Francesco for your chance to win: opened in 2002, borrowing the name from Federico Fellini’s Which ‘Friendly’ celebrity was masterpiece, ‘8½’. The cinematic known for her iconic hairstyle? influence continues inside, with original film posters on the walls, a) Jennifer Aniston books, LPs, musical instruments and album artwork as ornaments. b) Sarah Michelle Gellar This charming and accomplished neighbourhood restaurant is www.locandaottoemezzo.co.uk c) Angelina Jolie vibrant, warm and full of colour. Food, service, quality and style are the focus here and you can always expect a delightful dining experience, with home-made Italian specialities.
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Street Music The American caught up with Doug Seegers to talk about his debut album and a whole lot more
T
raveling the rails, living on the streets, singing for his supper, Doug Seegers’ songs sound like typical, traditional country music fare. But unlike most songwriters he has lived the life as well as written the words. He tells The American about how it all led to the release – at the age of 62 – of his debut album, Going Down To The River. It’s a modern, old-time classic. Doug Seegers was in Stockholm, Sweden, when we spoke to him, for reasons that will become clear. Born in 1952 in Long Island, New York, music was his passion. Singing, playing and writing country music songs took him to Austin, Texas, and marriage and raising two children pulled him to upstate New York, but music kept calling and when his kids were grown he eventually made his way alone to Nashville, which he now calls home: “Nashville is the motherlode.” he says, passionately. “I went to Austin because I connected with a gentleman called Buddy Miller [now famous for his work with Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Linda Ronstadt and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss among countless other luminaries]. He had a band called St Elmo’s Fire back
40 January - February 2015
in the day and I met him at a little club called Chester’s in Long Island. I would go to see him on Friday nights with this girl I was singing with, and eventually he found out we were performers too and got us on stage to sing a song or two. He moved to Austin, Texas, because it was really goin’ on down there in the ‘70s with people like Willy Nelson. He called me after a month and asked me to front the band. He’d gone to Austin first, with this girl I was singing with, and fell in love with her and they got married – I always joke with him about the time he stole my girlfriend! We had a band called the Back Burners... and we did very poorly!” he laughs. “We played all through Texas, up to Arkansas, down to Corpus Christi just before you get to the Mexican border. After maybe a year I got fed up, not with Buddy or the band, but I didn’t like the road life at all. It was hot! I did a very childish thing and just went back home without telling anybody. I’m sure the guys didn’t like that too much. But I’m still friends with Buddy, amazingly so!” Lately Doug has become a surprise internet and documentary film sensation. Arriving in Nashville he found himself homeless. “I was
living under a bridge.” he says in his matter-of-fact way. “About two blocks from the bridge there was a little place in the basement of a church, The Little Pantry That Could. Stacy Downey, the young lady that runs it, bless her heart, helps about a hundred people every Saturday, giving them free food and clothing. One day she asked me if I’d like to meet some people that had called her on the phone. Evidently they were some folks from Sweden making a documentary movie about street musicians in Nashville.” One of the movie makers was Jill Johnson, a huge country music star in her homeland. “I played ‘Down To The River’ for them and when she found out it was an original song of mine she wanted to record it. I said I’d be honored. She paid for the recording [engagingly, Doug omits to mention it was in Johnny Cash’s old studio] and the musicians, and put it on Jills Veranda, her TV show in Sweden – she’s like the Swedish Dolly Parton – and the song went to Number 1 on iTunes. I had no idea how big country music is in Sweden. They loved this hardcore Country stuff.” Despite recent success, Doug still plays on the street in Nash-
©GREGG ROTH
The American
ville. He loves it - “It’s relaxation for me” - and surprisingly he says he never found living on the streets a hardship. “People are always saying how painful and hard it is. But that’s not how I’d describe it. Look back at homelessness in 1940 then talk to me about homelessness today. We have free food on every corner, free clothing in every church. We have Public Assistance that’s way too easy to get. Long story short, people stay homeless because it’s too easy to stay that way.” Like many street people, Doug had drink and drug problems. “Yes I did.” he freely admits. “But I got to a point when I was disgusted with myself and I asked God for his help. I grew up going to church, my mother’s in the choir and all that stuff, and I’ve always been a strong believer in God. But I also am a strong believer in the Devil, and I know the power of the Devil. People fall by the wayside. I think one of the reasons that ‘Down To The River’ has been successful for me is that it makes people feel a little less guilty about all the shit they’ve done in their lives.” Despite the lack of financial success, Doug was never tempted to give up and become a truck driver
or such. “Music’s a genetic thing for me. My mother and father are musicians and singers. My grandmother played piano – she loved The Beatles. If I was going to mention one person who inspired me the most I would take you all the way back to when I was eight years old. ‘This Boy’ would be playing and my grandmother would pull me over to the radio and say ‘Listen to those
harmonies that The Beatles are singing’. She taught me how to listen to music. That’s something I hold dear to my heart.” Doug signed a recording contract with Lionheart Music Group in July 2014 and released his debut album in October, at the venerable age of 62 – is that a record? “Well,” he gives an earthy chortle, “Never give up!”
January - February 2015 41
©GREGG ROTH
The American
Presumably after decades of singing, playing and writing songs there was no shortage of material for which to select the track listing? “I have some real, real old ones as well as some current ones including ‘Angie’s Song.’” The ode to a lost lover was the most emotional song to record. “I broke out crying whilst singing that one, for Pete’s sake. That’s my drug and alcohol days, right there boy.” The album was recorded in a brisk three days, and features Emmylou Harris – they sing Gram Parsons’ song ‘She’ - old friend Buddy Miller and a posse of top session musicians, and it’s produced by Will Kimbrough. Did it seem strange leaping from the street to the studio? “No, I’ve put together and led bands over the years, and I’ve got experience of arranging. When little ol’ homeless me walked into that studio with all those top-shelf cats,
42 January - February 2015
I thought, I’ll be bold and push this as far as I can. I asked if they’d mind if I showed them how I wanted an intro or a solo to sound – when I found out how open they were, I grabbed the bull by the horns and ran with it. It was a beautiful experience. It was three days of heaven.” Doug’s ‘Down To The River,’ with its lyrics “I’m going down to the river, to wash my soul again / I been running with the devil, and I know he is not my friend,” is not to be confused with Neil Young’s ‘Down by the River’ or the traditional song ‘Down To The River To Pray.’ It sounds – like the rest of the album – like a favorite song that we’ve known and loved, just not heard, for years. Not old, nor derivative, but instantly familiar. That’s a classic. And above all it’s honest. There’s a direct line back to Hank. The original Hank. Doug never sounds overawed by the company he’s keeping, or as if he’s
trying too hard. At times he’s impassioned – at others there’s an audible twinkle in his eye. You may not hear anything much on this record that you haven’t heard before. But you won’t have heard it done as well or with such good humor for a very long time. Future plans include live dates opening for Clint Black in giant arenas (“exciting – but so is playing out on the street”), a country music cruise with Lynyrd Skynyrd (Kristen van Zant, daughter of the band’s late singer Ronnie, is producing a video for ‘Angie’s Song’), maybe some more work with Buddy Miller, a record with Jill Johnson (“that’ll be intense,” enthuses Doug) and some gigs in the UK. Finally, what’s the best thing about being Doug Seegers? “The best thing about being Doug Seegers is... hmmm... striving to keep honesty in my life.”
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The American
The Two Roberts: Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh EH4 3DR to May 24
The work of two Scottish artists, aka ‘The Two Roberts‘, is the subject of a major retrospective of their long term contribution to the arts. Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde met at The Glasgow School of Art in the 1930s, and took the London art world by storm in the 1940s, becoming part of the celebrated ‘Soho set’, which included the artists Francis Bacon, Keith Vaughan and John Craxton, and the poets Dylan Thomas and George Barker. Colquhoun specialized in figure painting and MacBryde focused on still-life, the two becoming among the country’s most celebrated artists of the time. By the 1960s their careers had been eclipsed, their post-war style no longer fashionable, and they died in poverty.
John Singer Sargent Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth, 1889 TATE: PRESENTED BY SIR JOSEPH DUVEEN 1906 © TATE, LONDON
Above: John Singer Sargent , Dr Pozzi at Home, 1881
Sargent: Portraits of Artists and Friends
National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE February 12 to May 25 John Singer Sargent is one of the world’s most admired portrait painters. This exhibition, in partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, brings together for the first time a selection of Sargent’s intimate and informal portraits of friends including Robert Louis Stevenson, Claude Monet and Auguste Rodin. It also reveals the depth of Sargent’s appreciation for art and culture through his painting of figures involved in art, literature, music and theater. Among the highlights of the exhibition, three of Sargent’s greatest theatrical portraits will be displayed, depicting Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth, Edwin Booth (the American actor and brother of John Wilkes Booth) and La Carmencita, the wild Spanish dancer. Two sections focus on the portraits and plein-air figure scenes he painted during time spent in the artistic community in the village of Broadway in rural Worcestershire.
© THE ARMAND HAMMER COLLECTION, LOS ANGELES
Old Titles and New Money: American Heiresses and the British Aristocracy
National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE to August 1 In America in the late C19th, many newly minted industry millionaires discovered that their wealth and power didn’t open the door to New York high society matches for their daughters. Ever entrepreneurial, they aimed for Europe, and particularly the UK, hoping to marry their daughters into the nobility. With costly estates to run, the British aristocracy welcomed them. These women from the newly powerful American families became informal diplomats for their country through their marriages into the ruling political classes of Great Britain. This small, free exhibition reveals some of the stories of these ‘Dollar Princesses’, with portraits on display of some of the highestprofile Americans to marry into the British aristocracy, including Jennie Churchill (mother of Winston), Mary Curzon and Consuelo Vanderbilt.
Left: Robert Colquhoun, Seated Woman and Cat, 1946
44 January - February 2015
©ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION
The American
DON’T MISS ... Penelope Umbrico: Sun/Screen
The Photographers’ Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies Street, London W1F 7LW to January 28
Maggi Hambling, Wall of Water, Amy Winehouse, 2011, Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches
© MAGGI HAMBLING / PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUGLAS ATFIELD
Maggi Hambling: Walls of Water
National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN to February 15 Almost 35 years after being the first National Gallery Artist in Residence, Maggi Hambling returns with a new series of paintings. Walls of Water draws on Hambling’s experiences of crashing waves at the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk, the county where she was born. Her oil paintings depict water in a state between animation and disintegration, a state in which there is an echo of a ghostly limbo. The artist herself describes them as making “you feel as if you’re there while it’s being created – as if it’s happening in front of you”. Walls of Water is an ideal addition to another exhibition at the National Gallery, exploring the land- and sea-scapes of 19th-century Norwegian artist, Peter Balke.
Cornelia Parker
The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER from February 14
Penelope Umbrico Still from Sun/Screen, 2014
A major exhibition of a range of pieces made during this contemporary artist’s career headlines the reopening of this 125 year old gallery after major redevelopment. Parkers’ works transform ordinary objects into art. The exhibition includes her signature piece, Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View. For the reopening, scientist Kostya Novoselov took microscopic samples of graphite from drawings in the Whitworth collection by William Blake, Turner, Constable and Picasso, from which he made graphene. Parker is making one of these into a work of art in itself which, activated by the breath of a physicist, will set off a firework display returning iron meteorites into the Manchester sky, to celebrate the reopening.
Award winning New York based artist Penelope Umbrico brings a new work to The Photographers’ Gallery, exploring the production and consumption of photography online, particularly through sunset imagery. Umbrico does this by using an iPhone to rephotograph images of the sun which she has cropped from thousands of sunset images shared on the web. The effect of this technique is to create an image which distances us from the natural sunlight of the source image, and draws attention to the materiality of the screen on which the images have been displayed. Umbrico’s work makes for a fascinating review of the way in which images of the natural world displayed online take viewers further away from the subject itself.
© PENELOPE UMBRICO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
Cornelia Parker, Cold Dark Matter, An Exploded View, 1991 IMAGE COURTESY HUGO GLENDINNING
January - February 2015 45
The American
Henry IV Parts I and II Reviewed by Jarlath O'Connell
PHOTO ©KWAME LESTRADE
S
Sir Antony Sher as Falstaff
The Barbican, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS to January 24, 2015
Far right: Top: part II: Henry IV (Jasper Britton) with Prince Hal (Alex Hassell) Middle: part I: Falstaff (Sir Antony Sher) with Mistress Quickly (Paola Dionisotti) Bottom: part II: Prince Hal (Alex Hassell) PHOTOS © WWW.PHOTOSHELTER.COM
46 January October 2013 - February 2015
ir Antony Sher is fast running out of great Shakespearean roles to play as he has conquered most of them. Here he reaches Falstaff and, suitably padded, gives us a warm, full blooded performance perfectly balancing the roguishness and wisdom of Shakespeare’s most blissfully humane character. Directed by Royal Shakespeare Company supremo, Gregory Doran, this production has everything we expect from the RSC: great ensemble playing, solid direction that serves the text and acute attention to detail, particularly in the supporting parts. Paola Dionisotti as Mistress Quickly, Oliver Ford Davies as Justice Shallow and Jennifer Kirby as Lady Percy are particular standouts. There are also the odd mis-steps however; the fight direction (surely bread and butter for the RSC) is particularly plodding, especially in the robbery scene and the verse speaking often ventures into a clumsy vernacular approach, which chops up the rhymes making them appear shouty rather than modern, which one presumes was the intention. On the plus side, there is Sher’s great star performance, sometimes channelling, at least vocally, Sir Anthony Quayle, who of course was previously a great Falstaff. Stephen Brimson Lewis’s simple but clever designs too are perfectly comple-
PHOTO © TRISTRAM KENTON
parts I and II: Joshua Richards, Sir Antony Sher and Youssef Kerkour
mented by Tim Mitchell’s warm lighting. The Gloucestershire scenes in particular glow with the honeyed hue of a Hovis ad. A programme note points out that Shakespeare, perhaps out of fear of incurring the wrath of Elizabeth I, made sure that Henry IV didn’t emerge from the plays with too much distinction because he was, after all, ‘the Usurper King’. The glory instead goes to Hal and Hotspur whose reputations are carefully burnished. Granting Henry IV his due status though isn’t helped if the lead actor doesn’t draw out the character’s light and shade. Jasper Britton’s nervy one-note performance here doesn’t give Henry the gravitas required to make him more than a supporting player in his own play. Oddly he also brandishes his crown as if it were a paper hat at a Christmas office party. Surely, after all that effort to get it he’d be a bit more respectful of it? At the beginning of the play we witness his troubled conscience about removing Richard II and we see him battle rising opposition from those who earlier had helped him to the throne. To add to his woes his heir, Prince Hal, is living a dissolute life in the taverns of Eastcheap with Falstaff and other totally disreputable characters. When opposition flares into outright rebellion, though, Hal sees
the error of his ways and returns to redeem himself in the Battle of Shrewsbury. By Part II the cad has become the prig and he rejects his old mentor Falstaff with the cruel phrase “I know thee not old man”. It’s a heart-rending portrait of a friendship betrayed. While both plays deftly switch between serious affairs of state and scenes of comic relief in the taverns, Part II is more sedate, the action focusing on the domestic realm in Eastcheap and Falstaff’s trip to Gloucestershire to recruit conscripts. There he encounters the comedy double act of Justices Shallow and Silence, the former played with scene-stealing delight by the great Oliver Ford Davies. Alex Hassell as Hal and Sam Marks as Poins are both perfectly dashing as the swashbuckling heroes although Hassell’s poor vocal technique does worry one at times. Trevor White gives us a bleached haired Geordie Hotspur - think Gazza (former soccer player Paul Gascoigne) crossed with Billy Idol. Again, this is all fire but it shows little of the intelligence that must have lain underneath. His high voltage performance is nothing though compared to Joshua Richards' Glendower, who is Gandalf after having kissed the Blarney Stone, or Antony Byrne’s crazed Pistol, an escapee from ZZ Top on speed.
The American
The American
NFL UK: Now and Next Photos: Gary Baker. Words: Gary Jordan
G
ary Jordan ponders the history and future of the NFL International Series games.
The Past
T
his past year the National Football League played an unprecedented three regular season games away from the United States in its now second home of London. This continuation of the International Series has now successfully completed its eighth year, the NFL having played their first overseas game of meaning in 2007. Once again the games were sold out with over 83,000 in attendance for each, meaning a total of a quarter of a million people walked through the Wembley Stadium turnstiles over a six week period. The first game saw the Miami Dolphins see off Oakland Raiders 38-10, in a game which was unremarkable but made bearable by the
48 January - February 2015
fervent nature of the Raiders fans. There was also a first, with the middle of the three games kicking off at 1.30 pm UK time. This was somewhat a test run to see how the US audience would react to what was for them a breakfast time start – 9.30 am on the East coast. Detroit Lions came back in the second half to win on a last second field goal to beat the Atlanta Falcons 22-21. This test run proved to be a winner on both sides of the Atlantic. The general atmosphere in and around the stadium on that day was more family orientated, and fans across the pond had an all-day breakfast of football with consecutive live games throughout the day. Just before the last game - a 31-17 straightforward win for Dallas over Jacksonville - was played, the NFL announced that this year’s trio of games will be repeated. We will see some new faces in 2015 with
The Cowboys’ RB DeMarco Murray and QB Tony Romo in the last 2014 London game
the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs all making their overseas debuts.
The Present
O
n October 4 AFC East rivals New York Jets and Miami Dolphins will face off in the first ever International Series divisional match, and although nothing has been confirmed, this is being widely favored to be an early kickoff game. Three weeks later, October 25, the Buffalo Bills play the Jacksonville Jaguars. The latter will be playing their third game of the arranged four year stay as a designated home team. Then just a week later the Detroit Lions return after their win this year to face the Kansas City Chiefs on November 1st. With the slate of games set for next year and season tickets sales already underway it seems the British are still proving that this is
Right: The Prize of the Super Bowl, The Lombardi Trophy Below: can Wembley take more NFL games?
far from a passing fad, a craze that will burn out. This is why the flame still burns brightly for the top brass in the NFL to consider a franchise for London in the not too distant future. When the 2015 games were announced there were mixed emotions from fans on social media, ranging from those that were unimpressed by the choice of teams to visit London, to those that were still simply grateful to the NFL for staging games here in the UK. So were the choice of games another test of fan loyalty, as they are not well supported teams here, or was it a case of picking from a bunch of teams willing to give up a home game in search of helping out the NFL’s global reach? I firmly believe it is the latter of those two options as the loyalty of the fan base has been tried and tested over the last eight years.
The Future
W
e know how established the game is here now, so should the NFL be blinkered in their vision of bringing their brand to the masses? There has been talk of a game being played in Germany, but we could look closer to home for alternative venues. With the amount of large, new and upgraded stadia being built around the UK, the League could venture into other
cities. For 2015 the desired amount of games to be played was five or at the very least four, but Wembley is hosting games for the Rugby World Cup and the logistical details proved too much to overcome. Perhaps they could have kept with their full hand of games if they were willing to go outside the capital. There is a large catchment area in Scotland that could be explored, and of course the Scottish Claymores were successful during the World League days, having played their games at Murrayfield, home of Scottish rugby. Having said that it’s clear London is the future for any possible growth in the game. The next step is to see if a team is willing to move permanently to these shores, or will expansion be the road forward, after all Los Angeles are still in large print on the board of possibilities. The International Series is here to stay, whether in its current form of three games of different teams, or a bigger schedule with more teams on a rotational basis. The bigger picture is still unclear but the foundation is now set and if the back of house areas can be sorted through then there is no reason why a franchise in London cannot be a huge success.
The American
THE BEST OF THE BOWLS Boca Raton Bowl, Dec. 23 Marshall v Northern Illinois Marshall were a score away from perfection, and Northern Illinois lost only 2 games. Poinsettia Bowl, Dec. 23 Navy v San Diego State Not essential viewing, but SD State in SD, and Navy near a naval base – should be rocking! AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Dec. 29 Texas A&M v West Virginia Both had their moments; explosive offenses and patchy defenses means plenty of action. Music City Bowl, Dec. 30 Notre Dame v LSU Two disappointing seasons but one last chance to showcase NFL-sized talents. Belk Bowl, Dec. 30 Georgia v Louisville Two very watchable teams. Draft fans will be eyeing Louisville’s WR DeVante Parker. Foster Farms Bowl, Dec. 30 Maryland v Stanford Long road trip for Maryland, but I underestimated the 7-5 Terps all year. Last laugh here? Outback Bowl, Jan. 1 Auburn vs. Wisconsin Melvin Gordon: 2300 yards, 26 TDs, then shut down by Ohio State. Something to prove? Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1 Missouri v Minnesota Missouri were unheralded contenders in the SEC (again); Minnesota surprised in the B1G. Valero Alamo Bowl, Jan. 2 Kansas State v UCLA You wanna catch Brett Hundley or Tyler Lockett one more time before the NFL Draft? TaxSlayer Bowl, Jan. 2 Iowa v Tennessee Iowa lost a LOT of close games. Tennessee’s talented young team is just getting started.
WORST OF THE BOWLS Hawai’i Bowl, Dec. 24 Fresno State v Rice It’s Christmas Eve and you’re watching a 6-7 team? Go to bed already!
50 Januar - February 2015
After years of waiting, football finally has its FBS Playoff. Richard L Gale looks at the Bowl Season matchups
I
n the end, were they just toying with us? The Selection Committee kept sliding Florida State down when they won, ignored the weekly pleas that Baylor logically deserved to be ranked ahead of the TCU team they beat, and hinted (did they? really?) that the loss of Ohio State’s second starting QB might preclude the Buckeyes from the final discussion. Yet, as they used to say of the final computer-addled poll back in those BCS ranking days (oh, so long ago), it’s only the last one that matters. In fact, when the big reveal came, and the dust had settled, the controversy of TCU’s 3-spot plummet only partially hid what would have been obvious three months earlier: in a system that regarded the Group of 5 as a sideshow, and the Power 5 as the only conferences seriously in the mix, the four conferences that actually named a winner supplied those champions as the first four FBS semi-final contenders. Sorry Baylor, sorry TCU, but if your own conference won’t crown one of you, why should the rest of us choose? In the end, the committee didn’t have too challenging a job, beyond ignoring their own interim placements. I suppose we should grudgingly concede that, okay, they did a good job. Of course, it could have been a massive mess. If Ohio State hadn’t made such a statement – destroying Wisconsin 59-0 while giving their preseason
no.3 QB his first start, and turning Heisman-contending RB Melvin Gordon into an irrelevance – they’d have had to leapfrog Baylor over TCU into the top 4. In fact, they still leapfrogged them, but only from 6 to 5, leaving a few Big 12 stalwarts to cry into their Gatorade about how the four-team playoff needs to be a six-team playoff. But hey, let’s not kid ourselves: that pregnant playoff logo will eventually stretch as far as eight teams. Just for now, it’s four, and if there’s controversy about which four, there’ll be no controversy about the eventual champion. The contenders: Alabama barely showed up last bowl season when a National Championship wasn’t on the line, but looked real focused in their 42-13 SEC championship win over Missouri ... Oregon put up pinball numbers in nearly every game of the season (Arizona held them to a mere 24, supplying their only loss) ... Ohio State lost QB Braxton Miller before the season opener and lost to Virginia Tech in Week Two, then rallied around JT Barrett for 10 straight wins, before Barrett too was injured ... while Florida State did nothing but win. The Committee at times seemed unimpressed with the clumsy style of those wins, and TV pundits made weekly predictions of their demise, but by the end of the season, they remained the nation’s only unbeaten team.
The American
THE REST OF THE BOWLS R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 20 Nevada v Louisiana-Lafayette Gildan New Mexico Bowl, Dec. 20 Utah State v UTEP Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 20 Utah v Colorado State Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Dec. 20 Western Michigan v Air Force Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Dec. 20 South Alabama v Bowling Green
The Big Ones
2014 Heisman Trophy winner: Oregon’s Marcus Mariota IMAGE © SCOTT ENYEART
CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL • Dec. 31
CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL • Dec. 31
Ole Miss v TCU
Mississippi State v Georgia Tech
The Oh-So-Nearly Bowl. Both of these teams occupied the no.3 ranking at some point this season, TCU being out-narratived by Ohio State, and Ole Miss falling to LSU on an ill-advised throw by QB Bo Wallace. The Horned Frogs will happily vent their frustrations on the Rebels.
Both teams won 10 games this season, Mississippi State was ranked no.1 at one point. Georgia Tech’s triple-option is a handful, but given plenty of preparation, don’t be surprised if the Bulldogs better the Yellowjackets with a quarter to spare, thanks to their nation-leading red-zone defense.
VIZIO FIESTA BOWL • Dec. 31
GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC • Jan.1
Boise State v Arizona
Michigan State v Baylor
Marshall didn’t go unbeaten, so Boise State becomes the Group of 5 underdog. With 11 wins, this year’s nothing-to-win opponent is Arizona. Broncos RB Jay Ajayi (over 2225 yards from scrimmage, 29 TDs) and Wildcats QB Anu Solomon (3458 yards, 27 TDs) are the players to watch.
Baylor run the score up even when they’re not trying. Left out of the playoff picture despite being kinda Big 12 champions, sorta, and being jumped by the B1G champs, Art Briles’ Bears will be more than happy to have QB Bryce Petty fling it relentlessly against a Big Ten opponent.
PLAYOFF SEMI-FINAL: ROSE BOWL GAME Presented By Northwestern Mutual • Jan. 1
PLAYOFF SEMI-FINAL: ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL • Jan. 1
It seemed like every time you looked, Jameis Winston was throwing picks in 2014. Last year’s Heisman winner meets this year’s winner, Marcus Mariota. FSU stayed unbeaten thanks to a usually tenacious defense, but Oregon’s was more leaky. The Seminoles suffered from slow starts in 2014, and paired with the Ducks’ usual first-half fireworks, this could look like a blowout early. Hang in there, though. Note: FSU, Alabama and Ohio State all boast National Championshipwinning coaches. Oregon’s the odd one out.
Alabama has enough of everything, and have to be heavily favored for a Playoff Final ticket. QB Blake Sims has a tidy 26:7 TD-Int ratio, WR Amari Cooper has 14 TDs and a Heisman invite, and the backfield of Derrick Henry and TJ Yeldon is a thunder-and-lightning combination that could simply wear down an Ohio State defense that simply couldn’t stop Melvin Gor... oh wait. Okay, don’t write this one up just yet. Time to get to know QB Cardale Jones and RB Ezekiel Elliott (1400 yards) if you haven’t been following OSU.
Oregon v Florida State
Alabama v Ohio State
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T • Jan 12
Miami Beach Bowl, Dec. 22 BYU v Memphis Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, Dec. 24 Central Michigan v W. Kentucky Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl Illinois v Louisiana Tech Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26 Rutgers v North Carolina Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl, Dec. 26 NC State v UCF Military Bowl, Dec. 27 Cincinnati v Virginia Tech Hyundai Sun Bowl, Dec. 27 Arizona State v Duke Independence Bowl, Dec. 27 Miami v South Carolina New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 27 Boston College v Penn State National University Holiday Bowl, Dec. 27 Nebraska v USC Russell Athletic Bowl, Dec. 29 Oklahoma v Clemson AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, Dec. 29 Arkansas v Texas Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Jan. 2 Houston v Pittsburgh TicketCity Cactus Bowl, Jan. 2 Washington v Oklahoma State Birmingham Bowl, Jan. 3 East Carolina v Florida GoDaddy Bowl, Jan. 4 Toledo v Arkansas State
January - February 2015 51
IMAGE ©KEITHALLISONPHOTO.COM
The American
Golf’s Annus Horribilis 2
014 was the worst pro year this century! Honestly? The American’s golf guru Darren Kilfara makes a convincing case that we’ve just seen this century’s least inspiring year in professional golf. As I think back on the golfing calendar year that was, I struggle to recall many tournaments I remember fondly, and the one I liked the most - the Accenture Match Play Championship - nearly ceased to exist shortly after Jason Day defeated Victor Dubuisson in their crazy 23-hole final. The event only returns in 2015 after changing title sponsors, venues and dates; I strongly believe the PGA Tour should be looking to increase the amount and visibility of match play golf, but burying this event on the West Coast (at Harding Park in San Francisco) the week before the Players Championship in Florida suggests Tim Finchem disagrees with me.
52 January - February 2015
Meanwhile, three of 2014’s four major championships were blowouts, and the fourth was marred by a rushed, post-sunset finish in which the PGA Championship sacrificed competitive integrity on the altar of televisual convenience. The highest-profile drama of the year was probably Martin Kaymer’s near-choke on Sunday at the Players; when you think about it, professional golfers should never have 28-foot par putts on the 17th green at TPC Sawgrass, but Kaymer made his to spark a weirdly dominant stretch for a golfer who only had four top-10 finishes all year and finished the year ranked just 12th in the world despite dominating most of two of the five biggest events in golf. On the course, the year clearly belonged to Rory McIlroy. He was awarded European Golfer of the Year again, even if he only managed a second place in the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year poll.
With wins at Wentworth, Hoylake, Firestone and Valhalla – plus five runner-up finishes along the way – he ends the year further ahead of second-placed Henrik Stenson in the Official World Golf Rankings than Stenson is ahead of 14th-placed Jordan Spieth. Off the course, though, McIlroy had a high profile breakup with Caroline Wozniacki and is embroiled in an intense legal case which could cost him up to £25 million, not to mention valuable preparation time in the run-up to next year’s Masters. Would you bet on him remaining number one at the end of 2015? I’m not sure I would. Off the course is where Tiger Woods remained most of the year, slipping from first to 24th in the world rankings. In the past few weeks Woods has gained a new swing coach (Chris Como) and a new public enemy number one (legendary columnist Dan Jenkins) as the media’s single-minded quest
Rory McIlroy with his latest trophy after winnng The Race To Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 23, 2014 in Dubai, UAE PHOTO BY ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES
to turn golf from a spectator sport into a tabloid spectacle continues apace. But who else can move the needle like Tiger does? How many people really care that Rickie Fowler finished in the top five at every major this year? Or that Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia are both back into the top five in the world? Or even that Dustin Johnson has been on double-secret probation for nearly six months, allegedly after
testing positive for cocaine? The good news, I guess, is that 2015 doesn’t have to be like 2014: nothing structural in the PGA Tour suggests this year’s lack of drama will repeat itself. But really, when an avowed Tiger-skeptic like me starts kinda missing him, you know things must be dull. What price a Woods-McIlroy-Mickelson shootout at Augusta in April, I wonder? A boy can dream…
Darren Kilfara formerly worked for Golf Digest magazine and is the author of A Golfer’s Education, a memoir of his junior year abroad as a student-golfer at the University of St. Andrews. His latest book, a novel called Do You Want Total War?, is also now available online at Amazon and elsewhere. You can also currently find him working as a playby-play television commentator on the 2014-15 European Champions Hockey League.
Other notable golfers and their Official World Golf Rankings at the start of 2013 (“Was”) and as of 23 November 2014 (“Is”)
On the rise
On the wane
Treading water
Golfer
Was
Is
Golfer
Was
Is
Golfer
Was
Is
Bubba Watson
28th
4th
Steve Stricker
8th
38th
Adam Scott
2nd
3rd
Jim Furyk
19th
6th
Ian Poulter
12th
26th
Henrik Stenson
3rd
2nd
Rickie Fowler
40th
9th
Brandt Snedeker
13th
49th
Justin Rose
4th
7th
Chris Kirk
60th
20th
Jason Dufner
15th
34th
Phil Mickelson
5th
11th
Kevin Na
233rd
27th
Luke Donald
17th
37th
Matt Kuchar
7th
10th
January - February 2015 53
The American
Al Snow Talks
British Bootcamp 2 A
PHOTO COURTESY AL SNOW/TNA
l Snow is one of the best grapplers of his generation to step through the ropes, having a career that has spanned three decades he has competed in ECW, WWE and TNA. The American’s Josh Modaberi caught up with him.
Snow now works more behind the scenes at TNA as a producer where he is involved in the second series of British Bootcamp and along with Samoa Joe and Gail Kim, is one of the judges on the show. However TNA’s British Bootcamp isn’t the first time Snow has been involved in a wrestling reality show as he was involved in WWE’s Tough Enough. “British Bootcamp isn’t my first time at the dance when it comes to working on a wrestling reality show,” Snow told The American. “I was involved in the first three series of WWE’s Tough Enough. “I really enjoyed being a part of Tough Enough and working with the other judges and unearthing new talent was fantastic. There was a lot of great talent on those shows as well, some that come to mind are John Morrison and Kenny King. “I really enjoy working on shows like this that enable me to work with the young and up and coming talent and seeing them progress to hopefully make it to the main event roster.” Rockstar Spud, who won the first series of TNA’s British Bootcamp, has gone on to be one of the most familiar faces on TNA’s flagship show
IMPACT! He’s got to work with the likes of TNA president Dixie Carter, Bully Ray, Jeff Hardy and Olympic Gold medalist Kurt Angle. “I love Rockstar Spud,” The 51-year-old declared. “What he has achieved since winning the first series of British Bootcamp is incredible. “I think he is going to be big star and I really enjoy watching him perform, he is such a great character both inside and outside of the ring. “The second series of British Bootcamp was a fantastic opportunity for a lot of young talent and for us to hopefully find another star like Rockstar Spud.” As part of his role as a producer for TNA, Al Snow has been involved in the tryouts that TNA hold when they come over to the UK every January to try and unearth new talent and he thinks the British grappling scene is thriving at the moment. “The British wrestling scene at the moment is in a very good position and there are a lot of talented guys and girls,” he added. “However if I start to name names, I will miss one out and then they’d be offended, so I don’t want to name names because I don’t want to forget anybody. “It will be interesting to see what they do when they’re given an opportunity like the next British Bootcamp.”
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Navy League of the United States, United Kingdom Council Council President: Steven G. Franck steven.franck@googlemail.com www.navyleague.org
ACS International Schools ACS Cobham International School, Heywood, www.acs-england.co.uk AFJROTC 20021 Principal.AlconburyHS@eu.dodea.edu Alconbury Middle/High School RAF Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE17 1PJ, UK. www.alco-hs.eu.dodea.edu AlconburyHS.Principal@eu.dodea.edu
Society of American Military Engineers (UK) UK address: Box 763, USAFE Construction Directorate: 86 Blenheim Crescent, West Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 7HL London Post. President: W. Allan Clarke. Secretary: Capt. Gary Chesley. Membership Chairman, Mr. Jim Bizier.
British Patton Historical Society Kenn Oultram 01606 891303
US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) UK Chapter President: Allison Bennett, bennett.ac@gmail.com Facebook: Kings Point Alumni - London/United Kingdom
Joint RAF Mildenhall/Lakenheath Retiree Affairs Office Co-Directors Dick Good & Jack Kramer Unit 8965, Box 30, RAF Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, IP28 8NF 01638 542039 rao1@us.af.mil
Reserve Officers Association London Col. B.V. Balch, USAR, 72 Westmoreland Road, Barnes, London SW13 9RY memberservices@roa.org www.roa.org
Bentwaters/Woodbridge Retirees’ Association President: Wylie Moore. 2 Coldfair Close, Knodishall, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1UN. 01728 830281
Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces Europe US Naval Forces Europe-Africa - US Sixth Fleet www.c6f.navy.mil, CNE-C6FPAO@eu.navy.mil
Military Officers’ Association of America www.moaa.org msc@moaa.org
American Overseas Memorial Day Association To remember and honor the memory of those who gave their lives in World War I and II, whose final resting places are in Europe. info@aomda.com, aomda.com
Madingley American Cemetery Cambridge The American Battle Monuments Commission Madingley Road, Coton, Cambridge CB23 7PH 01954-210350 www.madingleyamericancemetery.info damian.lappin@madingleyamericancemetery.info
Joint RAF Alconbury/Molesworth Retiree Affairs Office 423, ABG/RAO, Unit 5623, RAF Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambs., PE28 4DE, rao@alconbury.af.mil 01480 843364 (Tues only 10:30-14:30)
Director: Paul G Gumbert, CMSgt (USAF), Ret 422 ABG/CVR, Unit 5855, PSC 50, Box 3 RAF Croughton, Northants NN13 5XP 01280 708182 422abg.rao@croughton.af.mil
American Institute for Foreign Study 37 Queensgate, London SW7 5HR 020 7581 7300, www.aifs.co.uk info@aifs.co.uk
US Army Reserve 2nd Hospital Center 7 Lynton Close, Ely, Cambs, CB6 1DJ. Tel: 01353 2168 Commander: Major Glenda Day.
American School in London 1 Waverley Place, London NW8 0NP 020 7449 1200, www.asl.org admissions@asl.org
US Air Force Recruiting Office Bldg 239 Room 139, RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 8NF 01638-54-4942/1566 phillip.guffa@mildenhall.af.mil
American School of Aberdeen Craigton Road, Cults, Aberdeen. 01224 861068 / 868927.
Retired Affairs Office, RAF Alconbury Serving Central England POC: Rex Keegan Alt. POC: Mike Depasquale 423 SVS/RAO, Unit 5585, Box 100, RAF Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambs PE28 4DA. 01480 84 3364/3557 Office Hours: Tuesday and Friday, 10:30am–2:30pm RAO@Alconbury.af.mil. Emergency no. 07986 887905
Benjamin Franklin House 36 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NF. Tel 020 7839 2006 info@benjaminfranklinhouse.org
2nd Air Division Memorial Library The Forum, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1AW 01603 774747 www.2ndair.org.uk 2admemorial.lib@norfolk.gov.uk USAF Retiree Activities Office
Boston University – London Graduate Programs Office 43 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JU. 020 7244 6255, www.bu.edu/london British American Educational Foundation Mrs. Carlton Colcord, 1 More’s Garden, 90 Cheyne Walk, London SW3. 020 7352 8288 www.baef.org, anncolcord@compuserve.com
The American
BUNAC Student Exchange Employment Program - Director: Callum Kennedy, 16 Bowling Green Lane, London EC1R 0QH. 020 7251 3472 www.bunac.org enquiries@bunac.org.uk Butler University, Institute for Study Abroad 21 Pembridge Gardens, London W2 4EB 020 7792 8751 www.ifsa-butler.org/england-overview.html Centre Academy London 92 St John’s Hill, Battersea, London SW11 1SH Tel: 02077382344, info@centreacademy.net www.centreacademy.net Centre Academy East Anglia Church Rd, Brettenham, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 7QR Tel: 01449736404 admin@centreacademy.net www.centreacademy.net Central Bureau for Educational Visits Director: Peter Upton, The British Council , 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN, 020 7389 4004. Wales 029 2039 7346. Scotland 0131 447 8024. centralbureau@britishcouncil.org Council on International Educational Exchange Dr. Michael Woolf, 52 Portland Street, London WIV 1JQ Tel 020 7478 2000 www.ciee.org contact@ciee.org Ditchley Foundation Ditchley Park, Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 4ER Tel 01608 677346 www.ditchley.co.uk info@ditchley.co.uk Dwight School London Formerly North London International School 6 Friem Barnet Lane, London N11 3LX 020 8920 0600 vrose@dwightlondon.org www.dwightlondon.org European Council of International Schools Executive Director: Jean K Vahey Fourth Floor, 146 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR 020 7824 7040 www.ecis.org ecis@ecis.org European-Atlantic Group PO Box 37431, London N3 2XP 020 8632 9253 justinglass@btinternet.com www.eag.org.uk Florida State University London Study Centre Administrative Director: Kathleen Paul 99 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LH. 020 7813 3233 intprog1@admin.fsu.edu www.international.fsu.edu/london Fordham University London Centre Academic Coordinator: Sabina Antal 23 Kensington Square, London W8 5HQ 020 7937 5023 londoncentre@fordham.edu www.fordham.edu Fulbright (US-UK Educational) Commission
Dir. of Advisory Service: Lauren Welch Battersea Power Station, 188 Kirtling Street, London SW8 5BN 020 7498 4010 www.fulbright.co.uk
Royal Waterloo House, 51-55 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TX. Tel. 020 7928 1372 www.schillerlondon.ac.uk admissions@schillerlondon.ac.uk
Halcyon London International School Co-educational International Baccalaureate (IB). 33 Seymour Place, London W1H 5AU +44 (0)20 7258 1169 , hello@halcyonschool.com halcyonschool.com
Schiller International, Wickham Court School Layhams Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 9HW. Tel 0208 777 2942, Wickham@schillerintschool.com www.wickhamcourt.org.uk
Harlaxton College UK Campus, University of Evansville, Harlaxton Manor, Grantham, Lincs. NG32 1AG. 01476 403000 harlaxton.ac.uk. Huron University USA in London 46-47 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4JP Tel +44 (0) 20 7636 5667 folu@huron.ac.uk www.huron.ac.uk Institute for the Study of the Americas Director: Professor James Dunkerley. Tel 020 7862 8879 americas@sas.ac.uk www.americas.sas.ac.uk International School of Aberdeen 296 North Deeside Rd, Milltimber, Aberdeen, AB13 0AB 01224 732267 admin@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk International School of London 139 Gunnersbury Avenue, London W3 8LG. 020 8992 5823, mail@ISLschools.org www.islschools.org International School of London in Surrey Old Woking Road, Woking GU22 8HY, 01483 750409, www.islsurrey.com mail@islsurrey.com Ithaca College London Centre 35 Harrington Gardens, London SW7. Tel. 020 7370 1166 www.ithaca.edu/london bsheasgreen@ithacalondon.co.uk Marymount International School, London Headmistress: Ms Sarah Gallagher George Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7PE 020 8949 0571 info@marymountlondon.com www.marymountlondon.com Missouri London Study Abroad Program 32 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JU. 020 7373 7953. web_office@umsl.edu www.umsl.edu/services/cis/ Regent’s University London Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NS. 020 7486 9605. www.regents.ac.uk exrel@regents.ac.uk Richmond, The American International University in London Queen’s Road, Richmond-upon Thames TW10 6JP Tel: +44 20 8332 9000, enroll@richmond.ac.uk www.richmond.ac.uk Schiller International University
Sotheby’s Institute of Art Postgraduate Art studies, plus day /evening courses 30 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EE Tel: 0207 462 3232, info@sothebysinstitute.com www.sothebysinstitute.com Southbank International Schools Kensington and Hampstead for 3-11 year olds; Westminster campuses for 11-18 year olds. 020 7243 3803, admissions@southbank.org www.southbank.org Syracuse University London Program Faraday House, 48-51 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AE, sulondon.syr.edu TASIS England, American School Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Nr. Egham, Surrey TW20 8TE. 01932 565252, england.tasis.com ukadmissions@tasisengland.org UKCISA - Council for International Education 9-17 St. Albans Place, London N1 0NX 020 7354 5210 www.ukcisa.org.uk University of Notre Dame London Program 1 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG 020 7484 7811, london@nd.edu http://international.nd.edu/about/notre-dameglobal-gateways/london-global-gateway Warnborough University International Office, Friars House, London SE1 8HB. Tel 020 7922 1200 www.warnborough.edu admin@warnborough.edu Webster Graduate Studies Center Regent’s College, Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, London NW1 4NS, UK. 020 7487 7505, webster@regents.ac.uk www.webster.ac.uk Wroxton College Study Abroad with Fairleigh Dickinson University, Wroxton, Nr. Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 6PX 01295 730551, www.fdu.edu admin@wroxton-college.ac.uk
ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS Alliant International University (formerly United States International University) England Chapter Alumni Association Chapter President: Eric CK Chan chane@regents.ac.uk c/o Regents College London, Inner Circle, Regents Park, London, UK. www.alliant.edu
January - February 2015 59
The American
Amherst College Bob Reichert, RAreichert26b@aol.com Andover/Abbot Association of London Jeffrey Hedges ‘71, President 07968 513 631, hedgeslon@hotmail.com Association of MBAs Leo Stemp, Events Administrator Tel 020 7837 3375 (ext. 223), l.stemp@mba.org.uk Babson College Frank de Jongh Swemer, 020 7932 7514 babson.alumni@btinternet.com Barnard College Club Hiromi Stone, President. 0207 935 3981, barnardclubgb@yahoo.co.uk Berkeley Club of London Geoff Kertesz berkeleyclublondon@gmail.com http://international.berkeley.edu/LondonClub www.facebook.com groups/223876564344656/ www.linkedin.com/groups/Berkeley-ClubLondon-4186104 Boston College Alumni Club UK Craig Zematis, President +44 7717 878968 BCalumniclub@gmail.com www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/BTN/cpages/ chapters/home.jsp?chapter=41&org=BTN Boston University Alumni Association of the UK Will Straughn, Snr International Development Officer, University Development and Alumni Relations, 43 Harrington Gardens, Kensington, London SW7 4JU 020 7244 2908 020 7373 7411 bstraugh@bu.edu Brandeis Alumni Club of Great Britain Joan Bovarnick, President http://alumni.brandeis.edu office@alumni.brandeis.edu Brown University Club of the United Kingdom President: Tugba Erem. Communication: Patrick Attie Alumni Club & Liaison: Vanessa Van Hoof Brown Club UK, Box 57100, London, EC1P 1RB contact@brownuk.org www.brownuk.org Bryn Mawr Club Lady Quinton, President. Wendy Tiffin, Secretary/Treasurer, 52 Lansdowne Gardens, London SW8 2EF wendytif@ukgateway.net
Columbia University Club of London london@alumniclubs.columbia.edu www.alumniclubs.columbia.edu/london
MIT Club of Great Britain reenan@alum.mit.edu greatbritain.alumclub.mit.edu
Cornell Club of London nmt4@cornell.edu www.alumni.cornell.edu/orgs/int/London
Mount Holyoke Club of Britain mhcbritain@gmail.com sites.alumnae.mtholyoke.edu/wp/ukclub
Dartmouth College Club of London sandra.blacker@outlook.com, alumni.dartmouth.edu www.dartmouth.org
Notre Dame Club of London Hannah Gornik, Secretary: ND_Club_London@yahoo.co.uk
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Diana Bell, dbell_is@yahoo.co.ukwww.dkggb.org.uk
NYU Alumni Club in London Jodi Ekelchik, President alumni.london@nyu.edu alumni.nyu.edu
Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity London Alumni Chapter. Ashok Arora, P O Box 1110, London W3 7ZB 020 8423 8231, bertela@yahoo.com www.dspnet.org
NYU STERN UK Alumni Club www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/alumni sternukalumniclub@hotmail.com fjrodrgo@yahoo.com
Delta Zeta International Sorority Alumna Club Sunny Eades 01543 490 312 SunnyEades@aol.com www.deltazeta.org
Ohio University Alumni UK & Ireland Frank Madden, 01753 855 360 frank@madant.demon.co.uk www.ohioalumni.org
Duke University Club of England rpalany@gmail.com, a.sagar@promemoriauk.com www.dukealumni.com/alumni-communities/ regional-programs/groups/london Emory University Alumni Chapter of the UK Matthew Williams, Chapter Leader 079 8451 4119, matthew.eric.williams@gmail.com www.alumni.emory.edu
Penn State Alumni Association pennstatelondon@gmail.com www.alumni.psu.edu
Georgetown Alumni Club Alexa Fernandez, GeorgetownLondon@Yahoo.com UKHoyas@gmail.com , alumni.georgetown.edu
The London Association of Phi Beta Kappa phibetakappalondon@gmail.com www.pbkldn.org www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=5117368 @phibetakappaldn
Gettysburg College Alumni London Britt-Karin Oliver, brittkarin@aol.com alumni@gettysburg.edu www.gettysburg.edu/alumni2
Princeton Association (UK) membership@princeton.org.uk princeton.org.uk
Harvard Business School Club of London admin@hbsa.org.uk www.hbsa.org.uk
Rice Alumni of London Kathy Wang 07912 560 177 a lumni.rice.edu kathyw@alumni.rice.edu, suzanne.boue@rice.edu
Harvard Club of the United Kingdom president@hcuk.org, membership@hcuk.org www.hcuk.org
Skidmore College Alumni Club, London alumni.affairs@skidmore.edu w ww.skidmore.edu/alumni www.facebook.com/SkidmoreCollegeAlumni
Indiana University Alumni club of England ukhoosiers@gmail.com www.alumni.indiana.edu/clubs/england
Claremont Colleges Alumni in London Hadley Beeman, hadley_beeman@alumni.cmc.edu
KKG London Alumnae Association londonalumni.kkg@gmail.com w ww.kappakappagamma.org
Colgate Club of London Stephen W Solomon ‘76, President 0207 349 0738 swsolomon@hotmail.com
LMU Loyola Marymount Alumni Club London Kent Jancarik, 07795 358 681 kent@jancarik.com, alumni@lmu.edu
Columbia Business School Alumni Club of London 6 Petersham Mews, London SW7 5NR www.cbsclublondon.org londonadmin@gsb.columbia.edu
Marymount University Alumni UK Chapter President: Mrs Suzanne Tapley, 35 Park Mansions, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7QT. 020 7581 3742 www.marymount.edu/alumni
60 January - February 2015
Penn Alumni Club of the UK w ww.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/UPN/cpages/ home.jsp?chapter=4&org=UPN pennalumniuk@gmail.com
Smith College Club of London smithclubgb@gmail.com www.smithclubgb.org Stanford Business School Alumni Assn. UK alumni@gsb.stanford.edu alumni-gsb.stanford.edu/get/page/groups/ overview/?group_id=0038990048
Syracuse University Alumni UK SUalumniUK@syr.edu sulondon.syr.edu/about/sualumniuk.html www.facebook.com/SUajlumniUK
The American
Texas Tech Alumni Association - London Chapter Scott Dewar 077754 35877 sdewar2@gmail.com www.texastechalumni.org/chapters Texas Exes UK (UKTE) England: Carra Kane 0778 660 7534 carrakane@alumni.utexas.net Scotland: Corey Cripe coreycripe@gmail.com www.fornogoodreason.com/UKTEMain.htm Texas A&M Club London london@aggienetwork.com www.aggienetwork.com/club-page/londn The John Adams Society johnadamssociety@gmail.com www.johnadamssociety.co.uk Tufts - London Tufts Alliance tuftsalumni.org Londontuftsalliance@yahoo.com UConn Alumni Association uconnalumni.com UnitedKingdom@UConnAlumni.com UMass Alumni Club UK President, Renu Singh, renu.singh@alumni.lse.ac.uk umassalumni.com University of California 020 7079 0567 london.universityofcalifornia.edu alumni@californiahouse.org.uk University of Chicago Alumni Association rupalyp@gmail.com, w ww.uchicagouk.org University of Chicago Booth Alumni Association President: hbunuan@chicagobooth.edu www.chicagobooth.edu/alumni/clubs/uk University of Colorado Alumni alumni.colorado.edu/cu-in-london allyson.frusciano@colorado.edu University of Georgia Alumni Association 07919 057 538 nealjohnsonuk@yahoo.com www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/index.php/site/ chapters/london_chapter
American Actors UK 07873 371 891 admin@americanactorsuk.com www.americanactorsuk.com
University of Virginia Alumni Club of London uvaclubs.virginia.edu/group/uvaclub-of-london londonuvaclub@yahoo.com 020 7368 8473
Savio(u)r Theatre Company Britain’s American theatre company www.saviourtheatrecompany.com
US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) Alumni UK Chapter www.usmma.edu/alumni bennett.ac@gmail.com Facebook: Kings Point Alumni - London/United Kingdom USNA Alumni Association, UK Chapter President: Tim Fox ‘97 timfox97@hotmail.com Facebook - USNA Alumni Association, UK Chapter Vassar College Club Sara Hebblethwaite, President 020 8788 6910 contact@vassarclubuk.org www.vassarclubuk.org Warnborough Worldwide Alumni Association 01227 762 107 www.wwaa.info/wwaa.htm admissions@warnborough.edu Washington University UK Alumni Club Steven Leof, steven@leof.co.uk alumni.wustl.edu/Community/Pages/London.aspx www.facebook.com/groups/WUSTLLondon Wellesley College Club www.wellesley.edu/alumnae/groups/clubs/intlclubs/ wellesley_uk_club WCLondon@alum.wellesley.edu Wharton Alumni Club of the UK 020-7447-8800 www.whartonclubuk.net Williams Club of Great Britain Ethan Kline: ethankline@gmail.com, alumni. relations@williams.edu, alumni.williams.edu Yale Club of London President, president@yale.org.uk Secretary secretary@yale.org.uk www.yale.org.uk
University of Illinois Alumni Club of the UK Amy Barklam BUS 1994, President, 07796 193 466 amybarklam@msn.com www.uialumninetwork.org
Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae Kristin Morgan 07812 580949 kristinamorgan@gmail.com www.zetataualpha.org
University of North Carolina Alumni Club unclondoncochairs@googlegroups.com alumni.unc.edu
CIVIL WAR SOCIETIES
University of Michigan Alumni Association 0788-784-0941, jesscobb@yahoo.com alumni.umich.edu University of Rochester/Simon School UK Alumni Association Julie Bonne, 0118-956-5052, alumni@rochester.edu julie_bonne@yahoo.com, www.rochester.edu/alumni
ARTS
University of Southern California, USC Alumni Club of London Walter Ladwig, President usclondon@gmail.com www.usclondonalumni.org
American Civil War Round Table (UK) Civil War historical soc., sandra-bishop@hotmail.com www.americancivilwar.org.uk Southern Skirmish Association (SoSkan) The oldest American Civil War Re-enacting Society outside the USA. membership@soskan.co.uk www.soskan.co.uk
SPORTS English Lacrosse Wenlock Way, Manchester M12 5DH 0843 658 5006 info@englishlacrosse.co.uk www.englishlacrosse.co.uk British Baseball Federation / SoftballUK 5th Floor, Ariel House, 74a Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QJ 020 7453 7055 www.britishbaseball.org British Morgan Horse Society 01981 500488 admin@morganhorse.org.uk www.morganhorse.org.uk Ice Hockey UK 02920 263 441 ihukoffice@yahoo.co.uk www.icehockeyuk.co.uk Infinity Elite Cheerleading (founded by CAC) 077 9132 0115 infinityelite@yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/InfinityAllstars Herts Baseball Club Adult & Little League Baseball www.hertsbaseball.com Lakenheath Barracudas Swim Club Open to all military affiliated families. laken.barracudas@yahoo.com www.barracudas.moonfruit.com LondonSports American flag football, baseball, basketball and soccer, boys/girls, 4-15 all nationalities, new or experienced players. www.londonsports.com vll@me.com London Warriors American Football Club info@londonwarriorsafc.co.uk www.londonwarriorsafc.co.uk
Has your group done something you’re proud of? Tell us email sabrina@theamerican.co.uk
We rely on you to keep us informed. Every effort is made to ensure that these listings are correct but if your entry requires amendments please tell us. Send profiles, news or articles about your organization for possible publication in The American. email sabrina@theamerican.co.uk, tel +44(0)1747 830520 Twitter @TheAmericanMag
January - February 2015 61
The American To find out whether you’re eligible to advertise your products and services here, and for rates, call Sabrina Sully on +44 (0)1747 830520. You’ll reach Americans living in and visiting the UK as well as Britons who like American culture and products. Jaff e & Co., incorp. American Tax International
ACCOUNTANCY & TAX BDO LLP
JAFFE & CO LLP AMERICAN TAX INTERNATIONAL US Expatriate Tax Services
The UK member firm of the world’s fifth largest accountancy organisation. 55 Baker Street, London W1U 7EU 020 7486 5888 info@bdo.co.uk www.bdo.uk.com
Comprehensive tax preparation and compliance service for US expatriates inbytheBruce UK and Europe. Established in 1981 and managed L Jaffe, BA JD, we provide a full range of US UK tax services for US America House, 54 and Hendon Lane, London N3expatriates 1TT residing in the UK and have over 55 years of cumulative 020 8346 5237 experience preparing tax returns for US taxpayers. daniel@jaff eandco.com www.jaffeandco.com Please contact us today to see how we can help you.
Koutoulas & Relis 0 2 0LLC 8346
5237 www.jaffeandco.com info@jaffeandco.com 54 Hendon Lane, London N3 1TT
Burton Sweet
Suppliers of quality products and services hand-picked for you ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES Stephen T Taylor Your American stamp dealer in Britain since 1995. 5 Glenbuck Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6BS 020 8390 9357 info@stephentaylor.co.uk www.stephentaylor.co.uk
COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY Anji Holland and Associates
Anji Holland and Associates Tax Return Preparation and compliance service for US Expatriates. Specialist in providing advice on UK/ US Tax interaction. Affordable Fixed Fees. Prospect House, 5 May Lane, Dursley, GL11 4JH 01453 542483 Contact Rachel Finch rachel@burton-sweet.co.uk www.burton-sweet.co.uk Twitter @burtonsweet www.linkedin.com/company/burton-sweet
Greenback Expat Tax Services
Expert preparation of US and UK taxes from our highly experienced CPAs, UK Chartered Accountant and IRS Enrolled Agents US Toll Free: +1 888-362-5032 www.greenbacktaxservices.com info@greenbacktaxservices.com www.facebook.com/greenbacktax www.youtube.com/GreenbackTaxServices
Certified Public Accountants specializing in tax planning and preparation, retirement planning and consulting for American expatriates and foreign nationals. Also offer a program to assist human resource professionals in serving the needs of the their expat employees. 1776 N. Pine Island Road, Suite 316, Plantation, Florida, USA 33322 +1 954-332-1345 sr@krcpas.us www.americantaxhelp.com
NLP Coaching and Training. Unleash your true potential. Understand what make you and others tick. Achieve the goals you have set. Rid yourself of those negative emotions. London - Bath - Online 07944 647 978 anji@anjiholland.com www.anjiholland.com
Montage Services, Inc.
Transitions Therapy
For all your US tax needs in Europe: individual & corporate, international & domestic. Offices in San Francisco, Houston, London, Toronto and Berlin. 020 3004 6353 sam@montage-services.com www.montage-services.com
Psychotherapy & Counselling for Expatriate Individuals, Couples, Families & Adolescents. London, or via Skype. 07557 261432 transitions_therapy@hotmail.com www.transitionstherapy.co.uk
Tax & Accounting Hub
Castle Education Consultancy Ltd
H&R Block Expat Tax Services
One H&R Block Way, Kansas City, MO 64105 USA 1-816-504-1665 expattax@hrblock.com expats.hrblock.com Our secure, remote service has a dedicated team which includes CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys, who focus on expat taxes and can handle all types of U.S. tax returns, including FATCA and FBAR.
62 January - February 2015
EDUCATION
Professional service at affordable prices. Fixed fee U.S. Expatriate tax preparation service in London. Federal/ State, Foreign bank account/IRS audits response 152 Burford Wharf, 3 Cam Road, London, E15 2SS +44 (0)20 3286 6445. M: +44 (0)79 1439 3183 kader@taxandaccountinghub.com www.taxandaccountinghub.com
Independent education consultancy that works with families on school and university search. 50 Scholars Drive, Penylan, Cardiff CF23 9FE 02920 214424 www.castleeducationconsultancy.co.uk Matthew@castleeducationconsultancy.co.uk
The American
FINANCIAL ADVICE
REAL ESTATE Setfords Solicitors
Tanager Wealth Management LLP
Integrated financial and investment advice for US expats living in the UK provided by US expats. Global account consolidation, UK/US savings and retirement planning together with investment advice. Contact us for a no obligation meeting or telephone conversation. 020 7871 8440 www.tanagerwealth.com contact@tanagerwealth.com @tanagerwealth
INTERIOR DESIGN Rolando Luci
Luxury lighting, including American brands, some unique to the UK 01778 218121 www.rolandoluci.co.uk
RE/MAX Property Group
Family lawyers and mediators with particular experience in expatriate cases. 01483 408780 lthomas@setfords.co.uk www.setfords.co.uk
Notting Hill Gate Branch: 49 Cottesmore Court, Stanford Road, London W8 5QW 07511-895090 www.remax.co.uk
MEDICAL
VISAS & IMMIGRATION
108 Medical Chambers 108 Medical Chambers is a leading Consultant led and delivered independent out-patient and diagnostic centre with clinical teams specialising in breast disease, dermatology, groins and hernia surgery, colo-rectal problems, sports injuries and thyroid and ENT problems. 0207 563 1234 info@108harleystreet.co.uk www.108harleystreet.co.uk
NOTARIES
US Visa Solutions - Law Offi ce of Janice A. Flynn
US-licensed immigration lawyers advising on US citizenship, green cards, visa and US entry issues. Honest, straightforward advice and a high level of bespoke service. Third Floor, 6 & 7 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8AD UK +44 (0)20 7092 6830 US +1 (312) 361-0581 Janice@usvisasolutions.co.uk www.usvisasolutions.co.uk Twitter: FlynnUSVisaLaw
Edward Young LLP
LEGAL
WEDDING PLANNING
Penningtons Manches LLP
Extraordinary Days Events
Family, international private wealth, immigration and residential property teams advise international families and expatriates on relocation, wealth management, tax, immigration and all aspects of family law. Abacus House, 33 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 8AR T: +44 (0) 20 7457 3000 F: +44 (0) 20 7457 3240 anna.worwood@manches.com www.penningtons.co.uk @penningtonslaw
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Edward Young LLP (incorporating Kober-Smith & Associates) is a full practice Notary Public in London. We can solve your problems. Full notary service. By appointment only. 9 Carlos Place London W1K 3AT (near US Embassy) 00 44 (0) 20 7499 2605 notary@NotaryPublicInLondon.com www.edwardyoung.co.uk
An American wedding planner in London creating elegant, sophisticated, and unique weddings in England. Bespoke services ranging from full service planning to day-of coordination. 020 7433 0300 info@extraordinarydaysevents.com www.extraordinarydaysevents.com
Coffee Break Answers
1.California, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; 2. Last man to walk on the moon – he was the last to enter the Lunar Module of Apollo 17; 3. It’s the only one not named after a God; 4. b) 1920; 5. Jeep; 6. a) Harlem Globetrotter; 7. A jiffy; 8. 1841 (Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison and John Tyler) and 1881 (James Garfield, Rutherford B Hayes and Chester A Arthur); 9. Virginia; 10. Sir Winston Churchill; 11.Gone with the Wind; 12. The US Coast Guard.
January September - February 2015 2013 63
The American
The American’s expatriate canine UK correspondent gets snug PHOTO © KATRINA LESKANICH
You Do get the Best View of the listed ceiling, if you Lie on the Floor – but that’s No excuse
The Black Lion Guesthouse
274 Kilburn High Road Kilburn London NW6 2BY www.blacklionguesthouse.com 020 7624 1424 O Kilburn tube station Buses: 16, 189, 316, 32, 332, 632
64 January - February 2015
A beautiful Victorian pub, with a separate dining room, real ales, cocktails and occasional live music on Kilburn’s busy high road, which dates back to Roman times. It’s near a bingo hall – the former Gaumont State Cinema – which houses the UK’s largest working Wurlitzer organ. And opposite The Tricycle, one of Britain’s leading political theatres, and by contrast offers a cosy fireplace with elaborate oak panelling and a stunning Grade II listed ceiling. Kilburn is home to London’s largest Irish community making it a great place to get a good pint of Guinness.
Extract from the book Peggy Lee Loves London, available on Amazon. Signed copies from Katrina’s website www.katrinasweb.com www.facebook.com/katrinasweb www.twitter.com/katrinasweb New album ‘Blisland’ out now
Unleash your true potential What would it be like if you could ... Really understand what make you and others tick? Actually achieve the goals you have set? Rid yourself of those negative emotions that hold you back from reaching your dreams?
Did you know? 75% of the Fortune 500 Companies use Neuro Linguistic Programming – NLP.
Silverstrands Jewellery
NLP is probably the most powerful personal and professional development tool in the world. NLP™ is a set of techniques that can help you get more out of life through self-development, for business, or by becoming a coach.
Want to know more?
Why not come on one of our taster days to get a handle on what it’s all about!
Anji Holland and Associates NLP Coaching and Training 07944 647 978 www.anjiholland.com London - Bath - Online
Free to Read in Print or On Screen Every issue of the magazine now available online... IN PRINT: Pick a copy up from (among other places): The US Embassy in London and US Consulates The United/Continental and Virgin clubhouses at Heathrow Hotels around the UK The American Museum in Britain (near Bath) Automat American Brasserie, Dover Street, Mayfair, London Sports Bar & Grill Marylebone and Victoria All the organizations listed in back of the magazine, and USAFE bases see www.theamerican. co.uk for a full list Get a copy delivered to your home or workplace, the only thing we’ll ask you to pay for is the post and packing – call us on +44 (0)1747 830520. ON SCREEN: Read The American on your mobile device or computer at www.theamerican.co.uk – Click on the front cover image for the current issue, or on the MAGAZINE tab where you can read back issues too.
Beautiful and stylish jewellery handmade in Ireland www.silverstrandsjewellery.com
ZipCall Free international calls to the USA, Canada & China
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