MMM Kent lifestyle magazine June issue 2014 by Rasa Dregva

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June 2014

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Catwalk: Tommy Hilfiger

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014

Catwalk: Desigual Catwalk: Rebecca Minkoff

Catwalk: Tommy Hilfiger

Catwalk: Tory Burch

Catwalk: Desigual Catwalk: DKNY

Catwalk: Tory Burch

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Welcome

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Every time I drive past Leeds Castle I am always taken by just how beautiful it is and how fortunate we are to have such a magnificent tourist attraction. So can you imagine just how remarkable it would have been to be able to call the castle, the moat, and the grounds, your home? For Anthony Russell, he could do just that. His grandmother was Lady Baillie – the last private owner of the castle and so each summer he would stay with her and have the castle as his very own playground. I was lucky enough to catch up with Anthony, at the castle, recently to talk about his life there and reflect on a new book he has just published talking about his time there. You can read all about it inside this issue, but the book really is worth a read. Prince Harry is one of the new generation of Royals who is capturing the public's imagination – and what's more he's coming to Kent this summer. Before that, though, we take a look at his remarkable life and how he had to respond to the loss of his mother at such a young age. He has certainly been on an incredible journey and matured into a man we can all be very proud of. Also inside we've got a special look at Bernie Ecclestone – the billionaire who is no stranger to castles and vast wealth. He's facing a court case which is the just the latest chapter in his incredible life. In our report we look at how he built up his reputation – and his private life. There's plenty of other things for you to enjoy inside too – so don't hesitate to let us know what you think. And now you can like us on Facebook too. Find us at: www.facebook.com/mmm.magazine.kent. Visit today and you can enter a special competition to win a Decleor beauty treatment at the House of Fraser, for further details see page 33.

See you next month! Rasa

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mmm MMM Media Ltd GHL House 1st Floor 12-14 Albion Place Maidstone Kent ME14 5DZ Tel: 01622 299035 sales@mmm-media.com www.mmm-media.com Publisher Rasa Dregva Editor Tom White Travel Editor Tricia Lester Design Matthew Jones Karen Oliver Sales Dawn Long Accounts Kerry Head Further contribution Christine Furlonger Robin Brooks

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. ÂŠ MMM Media Ltd 2014

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garden Top garden trends for summer 2014

SOPHie eLLiS-BeXTOr Singer, model, dancer and family star ahead of festival slot

Bernie eccLeSTOne How the formula One supremo became a billionaire

Seven-a-day Superfruits and their benefits

wimBLedOn Strawberries, cream and andy murray

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wHiSTaBLe OySTer feSTivaL a pearl in the shell

caPeL-Le-ferne The national memorial to the few

TraveL istanbul and cappadocia

BuSineSS find out all the latest business news in the Kent area

KeLLy HOPPen Luxury and stylish homewear

anTHOny ruSSeLL childhood amid the towers

BarBecue Take your party to the garden, make the most this summer

evenTS whats on in and around Kent this month

11 Prince Harry

The rise of the royal we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resist

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WIN!

DeclĂŠor Beauty Treatment with House of Fraser and mmm

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Portrait of the Royal we can’t Resist From tragedy to triumph: The rise of Prince Harry here are some moments in history which pull at the strings of even the hardest of hearts. On September 6th, 1997, hundreds of thousands of people flooded onto the streets of London to bid an emotional farewell to a remarkable woman. The death of Princess Diana a week before – killed as she was driven at speed through the streets of Paris pursued by paparazzi – had sent the nation, if not the world, into shock. But it was the sight of her two young sons following her coffin as is was slowly carried through the streets of London on a gun carriage, which brought home to the millions watching of the very real, very personal tragedy that her death represented. Here were two young children left without a mother, ripped from them in the most horrific of manners, and left to cope with their loss in an environment where the whole world was watching. Prince Harry was just 12 years old when he joined brother William, his father Prince Charles, grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh and uncle Charles Spencer, to accompany his mother on her final journey. Millions watched on as he walked, head bowed, face full of emotion, the words were on

everyone’s lips – ‘just what sort of person will he grow to become without his mother?’. Yet for all those fears and initial misgivings, Prince Harry has grown into the sort of man that his mother would most definitely have been supremely proud of. Perhaps unlike his brother, for whom being second in line to the throne has clearly weighed heavily on his shoulders, Harry has been able to mature without such a level of expectation. He has travelled the world, meeting and working with youngsters, trained as an Army officer, served tour of duties in some of the most dangerous war zones and represented the nation around the globe. And although it has not been without incident – he has made headlines for all the wrong reasons on occasion – he has retained a bond with the British public which manages to penetrate those for whom the Royal Family is a somewhat outdated concept. In short, Harry is a refreshing change to the stuffy approach the House of Windsor has become synonymous with. He may have experienced a level of privilege and opportunity afforded to few others, but the sight of that forlorn little boy following his mother’s coffin will remain etched in the minds of a generation. a

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addition to introducing them to many of the charities she Harry was born at 4.20pm on September 15th, 1984, at would work tirelessly for, she also took them to the likes St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, central London. of Florida’s Disney World, where His first outing into the public they would be spotted riding roller was, as he would come to expect, coasters and acting like the vast be accompanied by the sound of In April 2006, Prince Harry majority of families. Like the vast frantic camera lenses firing off majority of families the couple shots as he was carried in the left the Royal Military which embodied the excess and arms of Princess Diana, Academy. He then joined The hope of the early 1980’s would resplendent in a long red dress, implode as the decade very much of the era. Blues and Royals as a Second transformed into the nineties In the December of that year, he Lieutenant. He was promoted would be christened in Windsor by Charles and Diana drifted apart Robert Runcie – then the and then pulled strongly in to Lieutenant in 2008 Archbishop of Canterbury. opposite directions as their Determined both her sons should separation and ultimately not be brought up along tight divorce was played out on the traditional lines, Diana ensured both Harry and William most public of stages. experienced a host of what life had to offer. So in The tabloids detailed every nuance of the breakdown of

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the most famous marriage of modern times, and as both parties briefed the media and pointed the guilty finger, the children found themselves caught in the middle – torn between parents who both adored them. Harry however, was perhaps too young to fully appreciate the wreckage of the relationship collapse. It was during the summer holiday of 1997 – a year before he started at Eton College - as he stayed with his father and many other members of the Windsors – among them the Queen - at Balmoral that he, along with his brother, would be woken in the night by his father, with news of the tragedy that had befallen their mother. As he adjusted to his new reality and an apparent agreement with the press to allow both William and Harry to finish their education away from the ever-present fear of the long lens in the light of the circumstances surrounding Diana’s death in Paris, he focused on his schooling. He would leave Eton with two A-levels – art and geography, having ditched art history after AS-level. But sport was his passion – in particular rugby union and polo. After leaving school and with his A-levels secured, he took a gap year during which he visited Australia, Argentina and Africa – during which he made a documentary about the plight of orphans in Lesotho.a

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When he returned, he entered the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in May 2005. He successfully completed a 44-week training course as an Officer Cadet, before being commissioned in April 2006 as a Second Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals). During this period, Prince Harry co-founded the charity Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in memory of their mothers (Sentebale means ‘Forget me not’) to support orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho. In February 2008, Prince Harry completed more than two months service with the British Army in Helmand province,

Afghanistan, as a ‘Forward Air Controller’ for NATO forces. In January 2009, he began a two-and-a-half year training course to become a fully operational, full-time Army Air Corps helicopter pilot. Today, he embraces a role as patron to a host of other charities which he visits from his homes at Clarence House in London and Highgrove in Gloucestershire. Controversy and headlines continue to track him, however. After a flurry of rumours that an engagement was imminent, his two-year relationship with Cressida Bonas was suddenly announced over, with official confirmation it had ended ‘amicably’. a

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It made Harry – who had previously had a high profile relationship with Chelsy Davy – perhaps the most eligible bachelor in the world. All of which is good news for the women of Kent who may hold a soft spot in their heart for the handsome Prince. In August he will visit the county to unveil a memorial

arch in Folkestone – to mark those men and women who marched through the town en-route to the Western Front during World War One. The one thing you can guarantee will be big crowds and no little enthusiasm. Prince Harry, it seems, has secured a special place in our hearts. mmm

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a day in the Sun Summer is back and in normal fashion we keep you up to date with our sizzling choices

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1 - Yellow Sorbet Party Dress, £160, Veramont. 2 - Harris Tweed Bag, £70, Edinburgh Woolen Mill. 3 - Navy Blue Chino Shorts, Ted Baker. 4 - Chambray Jacket £48, Sweater £22, Shorts £16, Espadrilles £26, Next. 5 - Batello Boat Shoe, £94, Office. 6 - Geri Sunglasses, £30, Dune. 7 - Gina, £75, Bertie. 8 - Daisy Floral Jacquard Skirt, £99, Jaeger. 9 - Pique Polo, Superdry. 10 - Autograph Summer Hat, £19, M&S.

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Sophie Ellis-Bextor SingEr, modEl, dancEr and family Star

hen Sophie Ellis-Bextor takes to the stage at the new-look Hop Farm Music Festival next month, it will be just the latest achievement for a woman who has enjoyed a remarkable career. For more than ten years she has dined at popular music’s top table – enjoying number one singles and albums. She’s appeared in films and TV shows and been the

public front of a high profile campaign for the beauty brand Rimmel. She’s set more hearts a flutter than the average pop star. If that wasn’t all, she’s even made the final of BBC favourite Strictly Come Dancing. To underline her superwoman status further, she’s married to Richard Jones, the bassist of big-selling band The Feeling – who will also appear at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood – and the couple have three children. a

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“it was really special, i knew when i went into it that i already liked dancing and i liked music, but i sort of fell in love with it on a new level really”

“Of course I know how lucky I am,” she says. “But I’m not a believer in fate, I try not to predict what’s going to happen in my life. “I’ve been a mum now for nearly a decade, so I’m more used to being a mother who works than I was before I had kids.“It’s all we know really, I think the kids are pretty used to it. They come to see me on tour, they come to festivals. They’re used to the fact my weeks are always a different shape, so sometimes I can pick them up from school and take them to school and other times I might be away for a couple of days. We just make the most of the family time whenever we have it.” But then Sophie Ellis-Bextor was always destined to be a star. Her mother is Janet Ellis – presenter of BBC TV show Blue Peter. She was born in Chatham and attended school in Sevenoaks before finding fame and fortune fronting the popular children’s TV show. After marrying TV director Robin Bextor at the age of 21, the couple had their first child – daughter Sophie – two years later in 1979. It would coincide with her mother’s most high profile part of her career – fronting Blue Peter. But their marriage disintegrated during her time on the children’s TV favourite. Her departure from the show two years later is widely believed to have been as a consequence of having another child while unmarried. Regardless of the truth, the Ellis family was already high profile and under the media spotlight when Sophie was young. “While my parents’ marriage wasn’t a success,” she said, “their second marriages have both been very successful. When my mum met my stepdad, she knew he was the one because she felt he was a little bit of a better person than her. When I started going out with Richard I felt the same about him.” Her first taste of fame outside of her mother’s shadow – outside of some appearances as a child on both Blue Peter and That’s Life - was as singer of indie rock band Theaudience when she was just 18. They enjoyed modest success, scoring a handful of hit singles, but never breaking into the top 20. Major success was, however, just around the corner. In 2000, just a year after the band split, she worked with DJ Spiller on the song Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love).

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It took the dance floor by storm and was a huge hit in the clubs. As a consequence, it flew straight into the charts at number one. It made headlines too for being the song which prevented Spice Girl Victoria ‘Posh’ Beckham from reaching the top of the charts with her debut release – much to the delight of the tabloids who revelled in Posh’s failure and delighted in welcoming Sophie, with her chiselled jaw bones and model looks.

Name: Sophie michelle Ellis-Bextor Age: 35 (april 10, 1979) Born: Hounslow, England Occupation: Singer/model Studio Albums: read my lips (2001) Shoot from the Hip (2003) trip the light fantastic (2007) make a Scene (2011) Wanderlust (2014)

Latest Singles: revolution (2012) young Blood (2013) runaway daydreamer (2014)

She was always aware, however, perhaps because of her mother’s fame, of how to handle the public’s desire for information. “When I started out,” she reflects, “I probably seemed quite snooty, but that was a calculated move. I thought I should hold something back so that in ten years, if I remained successful, people would still be finding out about me.” After Groovejet’s success, her path to solo glory rolled out before her. a

FAct FiLe

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A year later her debut album, Read My Lips, proved a huge success, spawning a host of hit singles, among them Murder on the Dancefloor and Take Me Home. A succession of albums followed before a long wait for fans to this year’s Wanderlust album – spearheaded by the beautiful lead single, Young Blood which flew up to number three. And then, of course, last year was her starring role in Strictly Come Dancing. “It was really special,” she says, “I knew when I went into it that I already liked dancing and I liked music, but I sort of fell in love with it on a new level really when I was doing Strictly, because you get to indulge those passions every day, and it was such a nice group of people, and so exhilarating. “Nerve-wracking, but also fun - I haven’t really learnt new skills since I left school so, it was quite incredible really. ”She came fourth and in doing so earned herself a whole host of new fans. Now she has a busy summer ahead, with a host of festival appearances including that performance at Paddock Wood’s Hop Farm Festival in July. The world, it seems, remains Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s oyster. mmm

Sophie’s latest album ‘Wanderlust’ sold over 10,000 copies in it’s first week in January 2014, becoming her best selling album since ‘read my lips’ in 2001

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Have you had your seven-a-day? We have been told for years now that we should all eat our ‘five-a-day’, but a recent study published by a London University, now states that we should be eating ‘seven-a-day’. mmm investigates the phenomenon that is superfoods and the benefits they offer to your health Blackberries: Superfruits because of their antioxidant power, blackberries also contain high levels of phenolic acids, which help kill viruses and fight infection. They’re rich in folate and fibre. Avocados: Avocados are an excellent source of vitamin E, which helps keep the heart healthy by preventing the oxidation of LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol. They also contain alphacarotene, which helps reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, and they’re rich in antiageing vitamin E.

blackbe around rries provide one daily vit third of your amin C needs and ha lf your vitamin E

Blackcurrants: Blackcurrants contain three times as much vitamin C as oranges. They’re also rich in antioxidants known as bioflavonoids, which could help to boost your immune system. Vitamin C also plays a part in preventing back problems.

1vocado

small a half the s over provide vitamin E RDA of

Blueberries: Blueberries are ranked number one on the list of Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). This scale was devised by US experts at the Human Nutrition Research Centre on ageing in Boston, to measure the ability of fruit and vegetables to neutralise free radicals and protect the body from premature ageing, heart disease, cancer and degenerative diseases. Blueberries have also been found to contain a chemical that may actually be as good at lowering cholesterol as prescription drugs.

Apples: An easy and cheap snack to have on the run. The special fibre, pectin, protects the body against pollution and relieves indigestion, gout, rheumatism, arthritis and hangovers. Two apples a day can lower cholesterol by 10%.

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Su Fa nd the ay r’s 15 D th ay Ju ne

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Broccoli: ‘Broccoli is a nutrition-packed vegetable containing vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fibre, calcium and antioxidants that all play an important role in keeping the body healthy,’ says dietician Simone Abbott. It’s a powerful anti-carcinogen, since it stimulates the body to produce its own cancer-fighting substances. But broccoli doesn’t stop there; it can also help prevent cataracts, heart disease, arthritis, ulcers and viruses. Kiwi fruit: This hairy little fruit has twice the vitamin C of an orange and as much potassium as a banana, but it’s the lutein level that sets it apart. Lutein is an antioxidant that appears to protect against macular degeneration, the leading cause of impaired vision in the over-50s f in the UK. ortion o (3oz) p es 50% of provid spinach y vitamin C, & Spinach: Spinach contains lutein, a phytochemical that helps protect il your da 0% of your against age-related deterioration of vision. 9 s o alm t A vitamin Sweet potatoes: Just one sweet potato provides over 100% of the recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamin E – that’s 50 times more than white potatoes. They also provide excellent amounts of betacarotene (which the body converts to vitamin A) and vitamin C, as well as copper, iron, potassium and vitamin B6. Sweet potatoes contain twice as much vitamin C and fibre as ordinary potatoes, with high levels of beta-carotene to help ward off certain cancers and heart disease.

90g

Tomatoes: The richest source of the super-nutrient lycopene, which is known to protect against breast and prostate cancers and is essential for avoiding vision loss in old age. Tomatoes contain other protective phytochemicals and scientists think it’s the combination of these that provides the best protection for general health. Just one tomato provides more than 25% of your daily requirement of vitamin C.

80g

Watercress: Widely regarded as one of the oldest superfoods, watercress is highly nutritious. Watercress is rich in folate, iron, calcium, vitamins A, C on of z) porti o 3 ( es 42% and E, lutein and quercetin. es (or s provid in A to s a e r m c r to te t Gram for gram, watercress contains 12 times more vitamin C than wa ily vitam who ea ts) at least 10 your da & 100% f uc o d lettuce and more iron than ir o r e p th ment tomato educe require r daily spinach. It’s also rich in week r r a e c s n e a m c ti of you prostate several of the B vitamins, C risk of vitamin by 35% betacarotene, magnesium and potassium. Watercress contains a host of phytochemcials, many of which have been shown to have powerful anti-cancer properties. Because it’s rich in iodine, which is needed for making thyroid hormones, watercress contributes to keeping your energy levels steady.

MEN

Garlic: The king of the healing plants, garlic has proved itself to have antiviral, antifungal and antibiotic properties in numerous studies. Research suggests it may help lower blood pressure. Garlic is known to help prevent blood clots, too, and there’s mounting evidence that it’s a potent anticancer agent - findings from China show that eating a lot of garlic lowers the risk of stomach cancer. Allicin, one of the key substances in garlic, is an antioxidant that helps boost Source: www.allaboutyou.com

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Active Children ARE HAPPY CHILDREN... Children need to be active every day to promote their healthy growth and development. Those who establish healthy lifestyle patterns at a young age will carry them forward for the rest of their lives ombined with a healthy diet, Maidstone, which provides dance, drama and singing classes for children and young adults physical activity is paramount from the age of 2-18, believes that the most to help with a healthy important thing is to create a passion lifestyle. Not only does for performing arts, for all children, exercise promote whatever their ability. “At Razzamataz general health and well being, it can we believe it’s not about being the also help children cope with stress best, it’s about having the best time as well as promoting better self and creating a positive environment esteem, stronger bones, muscles for children to express themselves and joints, better posture and through performing arts. By giving the balance, a strong heart, a healthier children the chance to experience the weight range, better social interaction joy of performance and getting involved with friends and better focus with the types of music and dance they during school. love, we believe we are helping them to Parents can provide support and guidance build strong foundations to live a 2 011/1 about how to start and how much activity a child 2 9 healthy future.” .5% ch needs each day. Keeping an activity log can help them i l d “These workshops r en in Recept chart their progress, while praise and rewards for each i o n definitely give our (aged were o small step achieved can help to keep them motivated. 4 b students the chance 5 e ) se, 13 Dancing is a great way for people of all ages to stay . 1 % were to learn from the very overwe fit. Besides being really enjoyable, dancing has a number best in the industry i ght The N ational of health and self-esteem benefits too. From developing Child M and provides very e Progra mme (N asurement muscle flexibility, strength and endurance, to being a fun CMP) positive role models to activity during which children socialise with each other and keep motivating our students,” develop a positive outlook. says Hayley. “We believe that positive encouragement is Let’s Move! executive director and White House very important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits, and if assistant chief Sam Kass says the White House is fully children learn how to make good decisions from a young behind the initiative to use hip-hop – and other genres age, it will stay with them for life.” of music – as a tool to get kids to live healthier lives. Razzamataz classes consist of three hours of dance, “Cultural leaders and visionaries in our country can give drama and singing and the curriculum covers the whole these messages to kids in a way that’s not preachy. Kids of the performing arts, from classic West End musical are going to be dancing and listening to the music,” he theatre, to street dance and pop says. “I think hip-hop in particular – so many kids love singing. There are different hip-hop. It’s such a core part of our culture ...and levels of classes designed particularly in the African-American community and the for tots aged just two Latino community which is being disproportionately through to young affected by those health issues.” adults aged 18. In the UK, home-grown schools 2 1 / There is currently 1 have also recognised the 201 hildren some availability f c 1) importance of tapping o 1 % for places in both 0 into popular culture 19.2 ed 1 were g a ( schools held 6 to inspire children Year e, 14.7% on a Tuesday n i to make healthier s e b t evening or Saturday o h decisions. Hayley were overweigeasurement afternoon. dM Limpkin, principal of P) l Chil tiona (NCM he Na ogramme T Razzamataz Theatre Pr Schools in Medway and

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Why festival is a pearl iN the shell Whitstable’s popularity to peak at summer event ot so long ago, Whitstable was just one of a number of sleepy seaside towns which lined the county’s coastline. Living in the shadow of those which boasted the flashing colourful lights of amusement arcades and easily accessible beach, it was, in short, pretty unremarkable. It’s working harbour saw boats come and go, fisherman taking their nets into the waters of the estuary. It’s compact town centre, functional rather than spectacular. Yet perhaps the secret of its enduring success lay in the waters which lap its shoreline. Just off the coast are the famous oyster beds which root the town so much in a heritage linked to the fruits of the sea.

At the little harbour, large container ships dock alongside the aggregate company which provided vital ingredients for the building industry as ships dredged the materials required. In fact, it was around the importation of commodities such as coal, grain and timber, the harbour grew and prospered, starting in the 1930’s. Today, the Brett asphalt plant still dominates the harbour, but Whitstable has changed beyond recognition. No longer is its high street awash with second hand outlets or chain stores. No longer is it only visited by the environs of Canterbury wishing for a bracing stroll by the sea with fish and chips for lunch. Where once students, who couldn’t afford the cathedral city, shared houses there, today those same homes have

Pearson’s Arms by Richard Phillips, where distinctive character, real ales, fine wines and good wholesome food combine to create the ideal pub environment for thirsty passers-by to avid foodies alike.

Facing the beach in the heart of Whitstable, with sea and sunset views, and roaring open fires Tel. 01227 773133 Web. www.pearsonsarmsbyrichardphillips.co.uk Twitter. @pearsonsarms Open. Monday-Sunday 12pm-12am

Kent Dining Pub of the Year

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been sold on for figures which dwarf even Canterbury. Because today, Whitstable is perhaps the most desirable town in the county. And it certainly doesn’t lack visitors who swarm into the town throughout the summer months. It’s high street is now full of thriving independent traders, pretty restaurants and boutique fashion outlets. The beach huts which line the coastline and are so distinctive, sell for £23,000 a go and you’ll be lucky to get a modest three-bedroom house with much change from a quarter of a million pounds. It has been dubbed Islington-on-Sea and it’s not hard to see why, given the number of what the locals dub the DFLs (Down from Londoners) who head into the town. And there is no bigger draw each year than the Whitstable Oyster Festival – an annual knees-up, which attracts visitors like bees to a particularly rich and thick honey. As the name suggests, it takes its inspiration from the shellfish which are farmed in the waters off it’s coastline and it is now one of the biggest events in the county calendar. Such is its appeal, even Prince Charles made a special request to visit the town, with thousands taking to the streets to see the royal visitor, along with his wife Camilla, meet the public and workers at the harbour. The 2014 event shows every sign of being the biggest yet. With a fresh new logo and look, it now serves the tourist as much as it does the local resident, while a

In the heart of the food and drink quarter of Whitstable,

you will find The Prince Albert pub We are passionate about serving our customers with a unique food experience that is tasty and fun... • A unique British “ tapas” menu that uses only quality local produce from the land and sea • Friday & Saturday feature local DJ’s • British pub classics • Great selection of beers and wines

• Relaxed atmosphere • Music and cocktails by candlelight • Traditional Sunday roast served all day • Families are welcome • Children’s menu available

Sea Street, Whitstable, CT5 1AN. T: 01227 277936

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insisting it is an event â&#x20AC;&#x153;for the people, by the peopleâ&#x20AC;?, with its organisation still very much managed by those who live and work in the town. It has some key major events. Each festival begins with the traditional landing and blessing of the oysters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as fisherman in traditional garb bring in a sack of the oysters from the sea in the presence of a local priest. After a brief service on the beach the oysters are loaded onto the back of a waiting horse-drawn carriage and then transported through the town. En-route, boxes of the a

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shellfish will be dropped off, as tradition dictates, at inns and restaurants. Today, the procession is joined by a major parade through the town centre too, which invariably pulls in huge crowds. With this year’s festival running from July 26th to August 1st, perhaps the real magic is away from the big weekend, headlinegrabbing, events. Instead it is the dozens of smaller events which take place across the town and for all ages. There are talks, walks, music and arts and crafts. But then there are some extra special events – like crabbing, where with a line and a little bait, you can easily catch a haul of crabs by sitting on a jetty which becomes thronged with adults and children. Then there’s the building of the grotters – little shell constructions in which candles are placed to create a beautiful glowing beacon. It is one of the more popular attractions and has its roots in a common practice when the festival first started. Norman Goodman was one of the founders of the event back in 1985. He explained: “The festival started in 1793 when the King granted the right for the Free Fishers of Whitstable to run the oyster fishery. “This was a co-operative, looking after it’s old, sick and infirm. “The oyster season finished in April, and the accounts were presented to the free fishers on July 25th - St James’ Day. “At the end of the meeting profits were shared out and as Charles Dickens states, the joyous sound coming from the taverns was not made by people unhappy with their pay. “The oyster apprentices would pick the fairest girl in town and parade her on an oyster barrow, the children would build the grotters, in order to try and get a bit of money from the merry oystermen. “In most London streets oyster barrows sold them to the poor, ‘indeed the poorer the people the more oyster barrows’ stated Dickens.” The oyster industry continues to have a profound inﬂuence on the town. From the numerous restaurants specialising in local caught seafood to the piles of oyster shells on the beach or stores and streets, which are inspired by the shellfish, Whitstable is now synonymous with them. Little wonder then, that the marriage of oysters and a celebration of Whitstable’s remarkable appeal makes the Whitstable Oyster Festival such an enormous event. If you’ve never experienced yet, perhaps this year is the perfect time to find out just what all the fuss is about. mmm

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Whistable Oyster Festival 2014

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The Whitstable Oyster Festival 2014, supported by Canterbury City Council and the WOFA, will run from Saturday 26th July - Friday 1st August 2014. This year’s festival will pack in over 80 events and attractions until the closing firework display on Friday 1st August. New events for 2014 include, The Festival Feast (six nights of seafood and sea shanties. A fantastic combination of great food, cocktails and live music), a sports day for all the family and a Masquerade Ball to see out the week in style, most events are free, although some of the events have a small charge to cover expenses. 2014 will see an increase in Park & Ride Schemes, working towards a more ﬂuid version of previous events while retaining the festival’s unique atmosphere. Tony Lyons was born in Kent and after a number of years living in London, he moved to Whitstable with his family in 2001. His daughter recently commented that it was one of the best things to have happened in her life and Tony most definitely agrees! Having given up commuting to London in 2005, Tony left M2, the company he set up in London to start up on his own. He now works from his Whitstable base under the company name Estuary English. Tony has worked with a variety of clients over the years, including: Faber & Faber, Canongate books, Penguin, Universal Music, Sony Music, Sanctuary Music, Union Square Music, Paul Smith, The V+A and The Greenwich + Docklands International Festival. Clients a little close to home have included The Horsebridge and Whitstable’s Farmer’s Market. The WOFA, Whitstable Oyster Festival Association, is made up of local volunteers who work hard all year to help make the festival great. The festival would not be possible without their hard work and dedication. WOFA is a great example of dedicated people working together in the interest of the greater community.

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ISTANBUL AND CAPPADOCIA From a melting pot of cultures to the land of the beautiful horses

Caroline Poyton Baldwins Travel A two-centre break to Istanbul and Cappadocia is one of stunning contrasts – from the melting pot of cultures that is Istanbul to the tranquillity and other-worldliness of Cappadocia, I can highly recommend it. Ideally I would suggest a minimum of three nights in each destination to get the most benefit from your visit. There are daily flights to Istanbul from Gatwick and Heathrow with Turkish Airlines, plus British Airways fly daily from Heathrow. In addition the low-cost carrier, Pegasus offer a daily service from Stansted. Add to this the fact that the flight time is just 3½ hours and you can understand how easily accessible this destination is, making it even more attractive to your customers. There are no direct flights to Cappadocia; from Istanbul you fly a further 1½ hours, if possible I would try to do this as the second centre as it’s good for relaxation after the hustle and bustle of Istanbul. ISTANBUL This surprising and delightful city assaults your senses – from the riot of brightly-coloured flowers skilfully planted seemingly everywhere, to the mouth-watering smells of food wafting from the myriad of restaurants, cafés and street stalls. Istanbul itself is a place of many contrasts, sitting astride Europe and Asia it is well known as the city where East meets West; but clichés aside, walking around this city it is evident that here is a vibrant modern city with cutting-edge

technology, high-end fashion and well-educated young people. And yet one also has a strong sense of history and ancient tradition handed down from generation to generation. The Turkish people are justly proud of their rich and colourful history which is both charming and seductive to visitors. Such a vibrant and eclectic place cannot fail to capture the imagination and indeed it has been an inspiration to many writers over the years, such as the French novelist Pierre Loti and most famously our own Agatha Christie, who always stayed at the Pera Palace Hotel when she visited Istanbul. Here she wrote ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and it is still possible to stay in that very room today. The Pera Palace Hotel is a genteel reminder of times gone by; proud of the hotel’s past they have a suite of rooms which are now a museum celebrating the life of Mustafa Kemel Atatϋrk, the ﬁrst President of Turkey, who also always stayed at the Pera Palace. The Pera Palace still uphold the very British tradition of serving afternoon tea between 3pm & 6pm. History enthusiasts will love this gem of a hotel elegantly situated in the area known as ‘Little Europe’. If you are short of time or prefer to stay nearer to the major places of interest, I would recommend staying in a hotel in the Old City. Here you can be just steps away from the most famous sights of Istanbul, the Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), Topkapi Palace & Hagia Sophia,

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not to mention the Grand Bazaar with its 4000 shops. This area was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. There is an excellent choice of hotels to suit every budget. A very popular choice is the superb Sultanhan Hotel; this 4-star hotel is a great base for a holiday in Istanbul. The decor is traditional and food of very high quality. The hotel has a delightful top-floor restaurant affording stunning views over the city. If you can stretch your budget a little further then the 5-star Four Seasons Sultanahmet is one of the best-placed hotels, literally around the corner from the Blue Mosque. Formerly the prison this gem of a hotel is an oasis of calm in the midst of Istanbul’s Old City. Either of these hotels is perfectly placed for exploring.

The Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) originated in 1616 and is named after Sultan Ahmed 1st. It boasts six minarets, the maximum number on a mosque. The best time to visit is early in the morning to avoid the crowds, remember to dress conservatively, ladies should take a scarf to cover their heads although you can borrow one from the mosque. You will also be asked to remove your shoes before entering the mosque – plastic bags are provided for you to carry your shoes in. The Topkapi Palace was the residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire for around 400 years. It’s free to walk in the grounds, which have a sense of peace despite the ubiquitous crowds. Here the weary traveller cannot fail to be revived by the tranquil, scented gardens. To do the Topkapi Palace justice you would really need to spend a whole day there; you need to purchase tickets to visit the key areas, the Harem Palace & the Sultans’ inner sanctum which includes the Audience Chamber where the Sultan held court. Also in this third court is a collection of garments worn by the Sultans and their families; stunningly preserved costumes in a myriad of colours – but what we found really surprising was the size of them, they were huge! The Sultans must have been statuesque, and broad as well as tall, truly incredible! Probably the most popular rooms to visit are the rooms that house the Treasury; a mind-boggling collection of gold and precious gems and pearls, jewel-encrusted daggers, swords, thrones and carafes. Many of the items on display were gifts from visiting dignitaries from around the world.

26th April 2015 By Air

£849

Danube Discovery, Vienna & Budapest Cruise & Stay

26th July 2015 By Rail

£979

From the water to the river bank, see some of the greatest sights cradled by the Blue Danube as we cruise from Germany to Hungary and step ashore for a three night stay in the heart of Budapest. Enjoy Austrian and Slovakian treasures in between, where you can wander the cobbled streets of Melk, gaze at the flawless beauty of the Wachau Valley, lose yourself in the waltzes and whirls of Vienna and discover the baroque wonderland of Bratislava. On arrival in Budapest – the pearl of the Danube – we stay for three nights in a riverside hotel, giving you the freedom to come and go as you please and really experience the delights of this architectural paradise.

• Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras • Travel by Air Between London Gatwick and Salzburg or Munich • Make your own Travel Arrangements and join the tour at the ship; £100 reduction – please call for details.

TO BOOK PLEASE CALL

Tunbridge Wells - 01892 511999 Uckfield - 01825 760488 Tonbridge - 01732 351223 Maidstone - 01622 762141 Travelux of Tenterden - 01580 764344 Sevenoaks Travel - 01732 458255

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Here you can see the famous Topkapi Dagger and the mysterious Spoonmakers Diamond, the fifth largest diamond in the world, reportedly found in a rubbish dump and purchased by a pedlar for three spoons. If you have time for a longer visit to Istanbul, you may prefer to stay further away from the frenetic activity of the Old City. There are many charming hotels to choose from, such as the Four Seasons Bosphorous; this large 5-star hotel has an impressive array of facilities as you would expect from a large Four Seasons property and is in an ideal position for exploring Istanbul old and new. However, my particular favourite for a stay away from the busier part of Istanbul is the Grand Tarabya. This is an elegant and modern hotel adjacent to a marina in a highly desirable area of Istanbul. The majority of the rooms have fantastic views of the Bosphorous. Sunrise over the Bosphorous is a captivating and romantic sight to wake up to, believe me. I would recommend this hotel to people intending to spend more time over their explorations in Istanbul and who would welcome some time away from the busy areas and perhaps enjoy a spa treatment or two. From here one can dip in and out of the touristy parts thus making for a more relaxed, less intense experience. CAPPADOCIA A short 90 minute flight from Istanbul takes you to Kayseri, and from there it’s another 90 minutes by road to Cappadocia. The name Cappadocia translates as ‘The Land of Beautiful Horses’, and indeed there were statues and models of horses all over our hotel and they certainly were very beautiful. We stayed at the unique Cappadocia Cave Resort (a Small Luxury Hotel) which boasts 104 luxurious and individual rooms & suites, all of which are forward-facing to benefit from the stunning views across the valley. Perched on the hilltop this hotel is in an enviable position and the views across the strange rock formations of Cappadocia seem to constantly change as the light alters throughout the day and evening. There is a wonderfully welcoming swimming pool with ample comfy sunbeds where you can soak up the sun and drink in this amazing vista. This is a great place to spend a few days relaxing, especially as it has the world’s first cave spa offering a full range of treatments. The spa was awarded ‘Best Spa in Turkey’ in 2013. Cappadocia is a strangely beautiful area which I found oddly alluring and peaceful – the perfect contrast to Istanbul, making it ideal for a few days relaxation after the frenetic activity of Istanbul. Over the centuries ancient valleys and lava flows have been carved and shaped by the wind and ice to form strange and captivating shapes. Known as the ‘Fairy Chimneys’ these incredible rock formations are a delight – there is nowhere else on Earth quite like Cappadocia! There are many and varied ways to explore the area; if you don’t mind getting up early in the morning, one of the most popular ways to see Cappadocia is to take a trip in a hot air balloon – a spectacle in itself as some 80 hot air balloons take to the skies at dawn on a daily basis. Other ways to explore are on horseback or on quad bikes and guided tours are available.

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Until recent years many residents of Cappadocia lived in caves hewn from the strange rocks, there are fascinating underground cities dating from 2000 BC which are well worth a visit during your stay. The cuisine is simple and delicious, much of the produce is grown locally and there is even a very pleasant local wine; there are some very charming little rustic restaurants which are a delight. In summary, I found Cappadocia enchanting, relaxing and very welcoming. Because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fairly far removed from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;civilisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; you seem to get away from the hurly-burly of everyday life, thus making a short break to Cappadocia an excellent way to re-charge your batteries whilst soaking up a little sun and culture at the same time.

Departure Dates 8th & 22nd September 2014

Marrakech Express

Discover a world of magic carpets, snake charmers and Sahara sunsets on this Moroccan adventure! Exotic finesse on the Marrakech Express beckons as we embark on a magnificent journey through Spain and into North Africa, to a world of magic carpets, snake charmers and Sahara sunsets. This ten day holiday takes in four of Morocco’s most exciting cities, where you can explore bustling souks, grand mosques and dip into the lifestyle of Bedouins and Sheikhs. We also stay in Spain’s top two cities, Barcelona and Madrid, where our guided tours show you the best this country has to offer – an excellent start before our Moroccan adventure.

Included in the price: • • • • • • • • • •

Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Paris High speed trains to Barcelona and Madrid Return flight from Marrakech to London Gatwick Nine nights’ half board accommodation Guided tour of Barcelona Guided coach tour of Madrid Guided tour of Rabat Full day excursion to Casablanca Guided walking tour of Marrakech Services of a Tour Manager

£1,199 per person

TO BOOK PLEASE CALL US

Tunbridge Wells - 01892 511999 Uckfield - 01825 760488 Tonbridge - 01732 351223 Maidstone - 01622 762141 Travelux of Tenterden - 01580 764344 Sevenoaks Travel - 01732 458255

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Furnishings kelly hoppen The latest interior collection from the much loved designer Kelly Hoppen available from kellyhoppen.com

Kelly Hoppen Home Collection

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Medway Blinds & Curtains

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• Curtains, Blinds, Shutters & Awnings • Domestic & Commercial • Free Quotes Quality Never Compromised Price Never Beaten Unit 1 Enterprise Centre, Revenge Road,

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01622 688519 Maidstone

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the rustic company

FURNITURE BENCHES ACCESSORIES SIGNS ALL SOLID OAK

www.therusticcompany.com

01622 756822 07946 135441

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Fluid Velvet Throw, £165

Scent One Dark Taupe Candle, £28

Pinched Vase, £120

Chepstow Velvet Cushion, £80

Medium Glass Globe Truffle Top Band, £69 Signature Verticle Small Rectangle Cushion, £45

Small Cube Grey, £265

Drawer Cube Taupe, £550

Kelly Hoppen Home Collection

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Oil Drum Charcoal Barbecue, Available at Argos

Ready, Steady, Sizzle There is no better way to enjoy a British summer than dusting off your barbecue to start grilling in the glorious sunshine, making your summer lunch even tastier than usual.

Forno, Natural Fires 01622 676127 www.naturalfires.net

Weber Smokey Joe Premium Barbecue £64, Notcutts

Waitrose has launched a new range of South American inspired barbecue meat range, letting you go football fever crazy! Subtly Smokey Dogs (6s) - £4 Pork and Chorizo Burgers (4s) - £4 Lamb Burgers with Apricots and Moroccan Spices (4s) - £4 Orange and Chilli Chicken Breast (2s) - £4 Chimichurri Spatchcock Chicken (1175g) – £8 Pulled Pork Barbecue Burgers (4s) - £4 Hereford Peppered Grill Steaks (4s) - £4

Big Green Egg Large Ceramic Barbecue with Mahogany Table, £1,599, John Lewis

Cadac Stratos 2-Burner Gas Barbecue, £275, John Lewis

Barbecue Delight The summer season is approaching at a scorching speed, and nothing says summer more than heading into the garden or to the beach or park and starting up the barbecue. The good news is that whatever your budget, there’s the perfect barbecue for you, with a staggering range now available. From disposables costing just a few pounds, to giant gas-powered machines with all the trimmings, there really is a barbecue out there just for you.

City Gas Grill Barbecue, £149, Notcutts

Deluxe Trolley Kettle Barbecue, £129, John Lewis

Madison Square Barbecue, Available at Homebase

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THE FIREPLACE A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS

* Wood & Multi Fuel Stoves * Fireplaces & Surrounds * Gas & Electric Fires * Chimney Lining * Full Installation Service * Marble, Wood & Stone Fire Surrounds * Gas Fire & Boiler Servicing

Visit Our Showroom 2 Castle Court, Castle Road, Eurolink Industrial Estate Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3TD Tel/Fax: 01795 599234 - www.the-fireplace.net Opening Times: Monday - Friday 9.30 - 4, Saturday 10 - 4

Top Garden Trends FOR SUMMER 2014 Capturing your idea of a perfect garden is a tall order for many, now into summer and with the Chelsea Flower Show been and gone, now is the perfect season to show off your garden it’s not easy to find a trend for you. Now mmm looks at the top garden trends that can be applied to your own garden

Super Foods of the Garden Growing your own fruit and vegetables so you can save on buying from farms and supermarkets has risen in the last few years. It’s super healthy of course requiring constant care of watering and checks several times a day.

The average person in the UK spends at least £20,000 on their garden and products

Ranunculus Outdoor Pot Plant, £10, John Lewis Dress Up Your Yard Now that the economy is getting better, people are sprucing up their gardens. Planning out how to present your garden is a big project. Using greenery is part of home décor trends, thats why plant pots inside and outside are perfect in any home.

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Did you know that the best time to water plants is during mornings?

IDEAS FOR YOUR GARDEN Oak Bench, £350, from The Rustic Company

Get Wild in Design Who says you have to stick to being neat, go wild with your design that allows you to express yourself in your own way! Available from The Unique Seat Company

Wave Tower Outdoor Water Feature, £63, B&Q Simple Elegance Using a single color brings a unity to planting. For example white adds a bright, light influence that would pop up everywhere, a focus on one variety will make a significant impact. Sticking to a theme might be what you are looking for so give it a go!

Drink your yard You can gather raw homegrown garden fruit, leafy greens, and strawberries. And make smoothie’s Or even brew your own wine with grapes the possibilities are endless. Circular Garden bench with tree, £2430, Moore Designs

In the UK one in six adults have started growing their own food in their Garden since May 2012

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Open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm

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Bernie Ecclestone on thE EdgE Racing, wives, money and THAT court case

or a man so small – he stands at a mere 5ft 2in - Bernie Ecclestone makes sure he makes up for what he lacks in height, by towering above many in terms of influence and power. He is the man whose ownership and guidance of Formula One racing, saw it established firmly as one of world sports most lucrative and glamorous occasions. He amassed a vast personal fortune and created millionaires of others. He is courted by politicians and those who seek just a slither of the power he wields. Regardless of your thoughts of Ecclestone the man, the success of Ecclestone the businessman has long since been established. His ability to identify the enormous value of the sponsorship, hospitality and TV rights of the Formula 1 circus, enabled him to transform a sport into one which can print its own money. Yet for all his clout and personal wealth – at the start of the year it was estimated he was worth a cool £1.9 billion – his future remains clouded in doubt and uncertainty. Because he is currently embroiled in a long-running court case in Germany, which threatens not only to strip him of his role as kingmaker in the sport he has nurtured and exploited, but also the most precious gift of all – his freedom. Lose the case he is currently battling in a Munich courtroom and he could be swapping the champagne and caviar of the playboy lifestyle he has enjoyed, for a ten-year spell behind bars. For Mr Ecclestone currently 83, that could mean he sees out his twilight years from the cold and unforgiving environment of a prison cell. He is charged with bribing German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to the tune of some £26 million to ensure that, in 2006, the Formula 1 business was sold to Ecclestone’s preferred bidder – CVC Partners. Ecclestone denies any wrong-doing and claims, instead,

the money was paid to Gribkowsky after the banker threatened to make false accusations about the motor racing boss’ tax affairs to the UK authorities. It is a complex and complicated case which started in April.The billionaire businessman has had some tough scraps in the past, but this could be his sternest test yet. Not only does he face jail, but a guilty verdict will also see him booted off the board of the company that controls Formula 1, thus effectively removing Ecclestone from the forefront of a sport he has been involved in since the late 1950’s. Yet despite his business acumen, Ecclestone’s private life has been just as capable of creating headlines as his money-making ability. And there was perhaps no-one the tabloids liked more than Slavica Malic. He met her in 1982 when she was working for fashion brand Fila at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. He was 51 at the time. Ecclestone was impressed with her no-nonsense attitude and asked her out to dinner – undeterred by the fact he was in a 17-year-old relationship with Tuana Tan, or that Slavica, a Croation model, towered above him at 6ft tall and, for that matter, was 28 years his junior. It was only when Slavica became pregnant with their daughter Tamara, that Bernie revealed the truth to Tuana and the pair separated.

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For 25 years they would And in 1996 he organised have a sometimes stormy his business agreements to relationship where, unlike ensure in the event of his every other part of his life, death, his wife and daughters Bernie was very much would share his fortune. at the mercy of Slavica. There were even claims a Observers suggest that was black eye he sported came part of her appeal. “She after a jealous row with his calls the shots,” he once fiesty wife. But the claims of admitted. unhappiness would continue In July 1985 they wed to dog the couple and when – in an underwhelming they spilled into public, it ceremony at a registry quickly became apparent office. On their way home that their time together would the newly weds attempted be limited.She moved out to book into a restaurant of their London home and for a celebratory meal. With by 2009 the couple had no tables available, Bernie, divorced. Quite how much instead, opted simply to go the settlement was remains to the office and get on with confidential. It is unlikely she some work. will ever be poor again. He Three years later they would find happiness again welcomed their second with Fabiana Flosi – with the Tamara Ecclestone, daughter – Petra. couple marrying in August Bernie Ecclestone’s eldest daughter But the relationship was 2012. far from straightforward and While Bernie awaits his fate, there were plenty of tales to keep the tabloids on their his oldest daughter Tamara has certainly been living the toes. One of the more remarkable was a claim Slavica extravagant lifestyle, being the daughter of a billionaire had banned Bernie from attending the funeral service of has it’s advantages and she’s certainly not afraid to splash his own father in order to avoid him having contact with her fathers cash. his daughter from his first marriage. He was forced to Tamara blasted media comments that critisise her the same in 1995 when his mother passed away. Instead lifestyle to use Bernie’s fortune, her own wedding in June he was left to simply pace around the last year cost an astounding £7 million church where the services alone. Tamara and her took place. husband Jay, a a

Petra Ecclestone’s luxury home and car, daughter of Bernie Ecclestone

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former stockbroker, had their first child together, she posted a baby shower gift on twitter of a gold rattle in a pink box. Also living the extravagent life is younger sister Petra. Like her older sister she isn’t afraid to spend her fathers billions. She bought at the time, the most expensive home ‘the manor’ for $150 million in 2011, not to mention the vast amount of cars she owns, even a pink Rolls Royce. Her own wedding cost over £20 million for the whole event, even inviting the Black Eyed Peas and David Guetta to perform live. Both Tamara and Petra have even managed to spend £3.5 billion in just nine years, that was deposited into a trust fund by their dad. For their father it certainly has been a remarkable journey who went to school in Kent and cut his teeth in the motorsport industry as a racer - primarily pounding the track of West Kingsdown’s Brands Hatch circuit. Ecclestone is certainly no stranger to creating the headlines over the years. Everything from his penchant for women decades his junior – and normally considerably taller too – to some misguided comments which saw him accused of being both anti-semitic and sparking one of the major political controversies of the Tony Blair Government, after it emerged he made a major seven figure donation to the Labour Party just ahead of the Government’s bid to secure an exclusion for Formula 1 when it came to tobacco advertising. What’s more, he is certainly no stranger to the inside of a courtroom. Just earlier this year he emerged triumphant from a multi-million pound court case with German media company Constantin Medien. It claimed Ecclestone and others had undervalued Formula One when it was sold off to private equity company CVC Partners in 2005. However, it was a victory which came at a cost. It was during that case the judge ruled Ecclestone had paid money to the banker Gribkowsky as part of a “corrupt agreement”, thus sparking the case which the billionaire now finds himself embroiled in. A quiet life, however, was never going to be on Ecclestone’s agenda. Born in 1930 in a quiet village near Bungay in Suffolk, his father was a fisherman. In 1938, on the eve of the Second World War, he and his family moved to Kent – his family settling in Dartford. a (Above) Tamara Ecclestone, Bernie’s Ecclestone’s eldest daughter

Bernie Ecclestone went to school in Kent and cut his teeth in the motorsport industry as a racer

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The young Ecclestone attended the West Central Secondary School in the town. During his opening statements to the German court he told of how he only narrowly survived a German bombing raid on Dartford. He also revealed how his first job was as a paperboy, aged 11, where he used his earnings to buy biscuits and bread rolls to sell, at a profit, to his classmates. At the age of 16 he left to work as an assistant in a chemical laboratory at the local gas works, testing gas purity, and would study chemistry at Woolwich Polytechnic.It was during these formative years he discovered a love affair for motorsport and, in particular, the motorbike. Following the outbreak of peace after the Second World War, Ecclestone created a motorcycle dealership and by the end of the decade he had started racing in the Formula 3 series – primarily at Brands Hatch. But after a few crashes he opted instead to concentrate on the business side of the sport. It was during the 1950’s he started to dabble in F1 for the first time – managing race drivers and then entering cars into a number of high profile grand prix. By the dawn of the 1970s he owned his first Formula One team and set his sights characteristically high. Yet his talent was in keeping plenty of fingers in plenty of pies – forming the Formula One Constructors Association in 1974 and became increasingly involved in key commercial deals such as those for the sport’s TV rights. He oversaw a transformation of the sport into a slick marketing machine. And by 1997 he secured the famous

Concorde Agreement – the details of which were always kept a closely guarded secret – which saw him strike a deal with the teams which ensured he continued to control the TV rights. He has kept his personal life as under wraps as his profile will allow him; once agreeing to assist a writer with a biography on his life under the strict understanding his family were not mentioned...they were and author and subject fell out. But when so central to a sport which exudes glamour and excess, he is as fair game to the tabloids and TV crews as the younger stars who drive the cars. He has been married three times – to Ivy in the 1950’s and then, perhaps most famously, to Slavica in 1985; a model some 28 years his junior. In 2009, however, the pair divorced – four years later and he wed Fabiana Flosi. She is a mere 37. He has three children – Deborah from his marriage to Ivy, and Tamara and Petra from Slavica. What’s more, he is now a great-grandfather. His wives’ tendency to tower above him makes for easy photographs in the tabloids, which his wealth remains remarkable. In 2004 he sold a home he owned in Kensington Palace Gardens for £57.1million...despite never having lived there. At the time it was the most expensive house ever owned. The question now, though, is whether all that money, all that influence, all that good life, will be something he can continue to enjoy. The German court case may just yet prove to be the most remarkable chapter in a quite remarkable life.

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England’s WORLD CUP SONGS here are some things you can be sure of every time a FIFA World Cup kicks off. It’s not that England always lose on penalties, or that when faced with any third rate team, we’ll either lose or scrape a lucky draw, but that in the weeks leading up to the team jetting off, you’ll be hard pushed to avoid hearing the official song celebrating England’s participation in the world’s most celebrated football tournament. All of which means you can brace yourself for an assault of the charts in the coming weeks ahead of the kick off of Brazil 2014. This year’s official offering is a star-studded version of Take That’s hit Greatest Day, featuring the likes of former England goalscorer, turned TV presenter, Gary Lineker, Pixie Lott, Katie B and Spice Girl Emma Bunton. Oh, and Gary Barlow. It marks a return to the starting line-up of the official song which in 2010 was rested. Just as well, too, as England’s performance was poor to put it mildly, concluding with a thrashing at the hands of our old foe Germany. In fact, it can be said that the quality of the song often dictates the success – or otherwise – of the team on the pitch. Take perhaps the most famous of England songs – Football’s Coming Home. It may not have been written with a World Cup in mind – it was designed for Euro 96, the year England hosted the tournament – but it captured the mood of the nation perfectly and, perhaps most remarkable of all, was actually sung on the terraces – the ultimate honour. It also helped propel England to the semi-finals and deliver one of their most memorable ever tournaments. Granted, they were beaten by Germany – on penalties, it goes without saying – but at least we all had something to sing along to. Then, of course, there was 1990’s effort by New Order. Italia 90 was something of a watershed moment for football in this country. It heralded the end of a sport dominated by hooliganism and under funding, still wearing the scars of tragedies such as Hillsborough and the Bradford fire. The 1990 campaign can take much of the credit. Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne became a household name while New

Order’s World in Motion went all the way to the top of the charts. Not that the ‘good song equals successful tournament’ equation holds a great deal of water. In 1966, when England lifted the trophy for the first time in its history, the official song was World Cup Willie by skiffle king Lonnie Donegan. There’s no accounting for taste. Four years later, in 1970, the England team defending the trophy the last time the tournament was held in Brazil, came out with the classic Back Home. Knowing those back in Blighty were cheering them on didn’t help though. They were then knocked out in the semi-final stage. The 1982 campaign in Spain was met with an entire album full of World Cup songs and a host of songs featuring the vocal ‘talents’ of the squad. But then it was the first time the team had qualified for the finals in 12 years. Mexico in 1986, the official song was The Whole World at Our Feet. England were knocked out in the quarter finals. After 1990’s redemption, 1994 saw England fail to even reach the finals in America, thus meaning it was not until 1998 when the World Cup song could be brushed off again. (How Does It Feel To Be) On Top of the World by England United combined the talents of the unlikely blend of Echo and the Bunnymen and the Spice Girls. England weren’t ever to know. A quarter-final exit brought an end to the adventure over the channel in France. By 2002 and a trip to the Far East for a tournament hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan, the talents of Ant and Dec jointly hosted the official song. We’re On The Ball is about as good as Let’s Get Ready to Rumble. England barely bothered the scorers, losing in the quarter-finals. The less said about 2006 perhaps the better. Knocked out again in the quarter-finals (on penalties), England had Embrace penning the official song World At Your Feet. All of which brings us to 2014 and Brazil in June. Can England perform well? Can the ‘Greatest Day’ convince the public football songs are indeed worth buying? Don’t expect it to go to extra-time. mmm

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WONDERFUL WIMBLEDON It’s that time again of strawberries and cream - not forgetting the Pimm’s

f you didn’t get a ticket to see the Wimbledon championships via the ballot system, it’s still possible to be very British and queue for tickets. Queuing for tickets officially starts at 8am on Sunday 22nd June. Excitement will no doubt be in the air at that stage, with the championships kicking off on Monday 23rd June and concluding on Sunday 6th July. If you think queuing sounds dull, think again – there’s a great atmosphere all around Wimbledon during the championships, with plenty of people watching opportunities (lots of fans wear fancy dress) and strawberries and cream and Pimms to be enjoyed in the local pubs. You can also watch the tennis action and feel a part of the event on ‘Murray Mount’, the name given to the Aorangi Picnic Terrace, a vast green

Andy Murray, winner of Wimbledon 2013

space with huge screens showing the tennis; purchase a Grounds Admission ticket in order to access the park and don’t forget your picnic rug! Wimbledon village – eat, drink, spot some players. There’s a festive atmosphere throughout the Wimbledon area, with the two main stations for spectators – Wimbledon and Southfields – housing new ‘arrival hubs’ so that visitors can find out everything they need to about enjoying the championships. If you’re in town before and after the Championships and head up to Wimbledon Village, chances are you may spot a tennis star dining at one of the area’s restaurants. There are a number of chic eateries and

bars, from Italian fare at Carluccio’s and the renowned San Lorenzo’s, popular with the tennis crowd - a short walk down the hill towards Wimbledon town centre - to traditional British fare at the Dog and Fox and the Fire Stables.

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Or stroll across Wimbledon Common to take afternoon tea at the elegant Cannizaro Hotel, with gorgeous views across an expansive park, or enjoy a roast dinner at one of the lively pubs on the fringe of the Common, the Crooked Billet or the Hand in Hand. Andy Murray, last year’s Wimbledon Champion, bought the hotel Cromlix House in Perthshire, Scotland, close to his home town of Dunblane. It’s already won the title of Scottish Hotel of the Year since opening on 1st April, and has had good reviews from those who’ve laid their head on the pillows already – and tested their serve on the green and purple (Wimbledon colours) tennis court. In addition to luxurious, traditional Scottish rooms with a modern twist, there’s a restaurant run by chef Albert Roux of Le Gavroche in London (the first UK restaurant to win three Michelin stars). Despite the chef’s star credentials, you can get a three course dinner for less than £30, which Murray’s family were insistent on when making plans for the hotel, in order to keep it affordable for locals to the area. Wander the grounds to the private loch and borrow a fishing rod to try catching brown trout, or else borrow a racquet and test your serve on the court. mmm

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Capel-le-Ferne THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO THE FEW

Credit to: Malcolm Triggs, Andy Simpson and Edward McManus for photographs

Running parallel with the main Folkestone/Dover A20 road is the little village of Capel-le-Ferne. Since 1993 it has witnessed an influx of visitors coming to see the site of the National Memorial to the Few. Robin J Brooks reflects on just what the memorial means to the country rom July 1st to October 30th, 1940, the most crucial battle of the 20th century was fought in the skies above Kent and Sussex. The young men of Fighter Command were pitted against a numerically superior German Air Force known as the Luftwaffe. Mainly aged between 19 and 22 (there were a few as young as 18), after a brief period of training they climbed into the cockpits of either Hurricanes, Spitfires or Defiants to do battle. Many did not survive and those that did still suffer from the pain and memories of conflict. It was however the quality of pilots, ground-crews and machines that won through. The pilots became known as ‘The Few’ corresponding with Winston Churchill’s speech of August 18th, 1940 in the House of Commons when he stated ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few’. The Commander-in-Chief of

RAF Fighter Command at the time, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, called them ‘his chicks’ and it was a combination of his strategy together with the other commanders of the time that the RAF won the Battle of Britain. This did not come however without a great loss. Over 600 pilots were killed during the four months the battle raged. On the ground at the airfields many ground crews, civilian workers and defence personnel lost their lives yet it was a battle that had to be won in order to protect the world from German domination. Not to be confused with the Battle of Britain Monument alongside the River Thames at Westminster in London, the National Memorial to the Few at Capel-le-Ferne was initiated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and is the only memorial devoted to Churchill’s Few. The idea came from Wing Commander Geoffrey Page DSO DFC himself a

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a veteran of the battle. After a construction period of six months it was opened by the late Queen Elisabeth, the Queen Mother, on July 9th, 1993. Attended by service personnel, the banners of the Royal British Legion and RAF Associations and the veterans themselves, the parade was conducted and led by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and the Queen’s Colour Squadron. Since that time the site has become a place for quiet reflection on the bravery and dedication of those airmen who sacrificed their lives to enable the rest of us to live in a free world. The memorial is in the form of a three bladed propeller at the centre of which sits a lone pilot looking out from the cliff edge towards France. At the base are the squadron crests of those squadrons who flew during the battle and a flagpole carrying the RAF flag that once flew at RAF Biggin Hill, a key station of Fighter Command. The Christopher Foxley-Norris Wall, which was donated by the Beaverbrook Foundation and constructed by Maidstone stonemason Gordon Newton, lists the names of all those who flew, fought and died during the battle. It numbers fewer than 3,000 names. Plans have recently been approved to add a new visitor centre known as ‘The Wing’ which is to be constructed in the shape of a Spitfire wing. This will be an important step to keeping the memory of the veterans and that period of history for many years to come. It will also be used for the education of school children now that the Battle of Britain is included in the school curriculum. Work is about to commence with the intention that it is ready for the 75th anniversary of the battle in 2015, a day which will see the number of

veterans far fewer than present as time invariably take its toll. The building of the wing will not hinder anyone wishing to visit the memorial this year. Currently the site can be accessed on foot every day with the current visitor centre opening hours being 10am to 5pm daily March through to October and at weekends and Wednesdays throughout the year from 10am to 4pm. In October 2010 the Duchess of Cornwall unveiled a bust of another strategist of Fighter Command, Air Chief-Marshal Sir Keith Park, the Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group which bore the brunt of the German onslaught. Together with Hugh Dowding he drew up a battle plan that gave the RAF success in the air from July to November, 1940. A recent addition has been replica models of the Hurricane and Spitfire, the main two aircraft of the period. This year the commemoration at Capel-le-Ferne takes place on Sunday July 6 when it is hoped to have a flypast by a Hurricane and Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Approaching the site from the sea the aircraft come in at low level dipping their wings in an aerial tribute. And although the memorial commemorates the past, the addition of the wing will certainly see it looking to the future. By ROBIN J BROOKS

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Business LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS LeedS caStLe chief executive Set to Stand doWn

Chief Executive of Leeds Castle, Victoria Wallace, has confirmed she is to stand down in October. Mrs Wallace has held the position for the last ten years. But she has revealed she will now be moving to a new position. Mrs

Wallace said: “It has been the most wonderful experience at Leeds Castle and I am so grateful to the charity’s trustees for putting their faith in me. They’ve given me and the team the opportunity to make this fantastic place more accessible to visitors, closer to the community, more vibrant and proud of both its glorious past and its exciting and inspiring future. I will miss the castle and its amazing staff enormously.” Over the past ten years, the castle’s visitor numbers have grown with new initiatives

Whitehead Monckton gain further LaW Society accreditation Whitehead Monckton is delighted to have achieved accreditation under the Law Society’s Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS). This accreditation confirms they follow best practice procedures to meet the highest standards of technical expertise in providing tailored wills and probate advice to clients. Only a small number of law firms in Kent have gained this accreditation. Kerin Speedie who heads the Whitehead Monckton tax and estates team commented. “We’re really pleased with this accreditation – everyone in the team pride themselves on the quality of service they provide to clients, and it’s great to see that recognised through this scheme. It also gives that extra reassurance to clients when they deal with very personal arrangements for their wills and succession planning.” Kerin has also been shortlisted for the Kent Law Society Outstanding Achievement Award, not just for her leadership of the tax and estate team but also for her work with charities and the firms CSR commitment. Whitehead Monckton already has accreditation under the Law Society schemes for family, conveyancing and personal injury work as well as Lexcel which is the Law Society’s benchmark for excellence in practice management.

including the award-winning medieval glampsite Knight’s Glamping, a healthy bed and breakfast business as well as Go Ape! and Segway concessions. The chairman of the Leeds Castle Foundation, Niall Dickson, added: “Victoria has done a first class job for Leeds Castle during her ten years at the helm – she has been a great ambassador and an inspiring leader. “Thanks to her vision, we have an exciting programme to build on her legacy, which will make the most of this very special place. We will begin the process of recruiting her successor in the near future. “

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LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

five year Wait for oPening of ParaMount theMe Park The £2 billion Paramount theme park should be open for business in just five years time after securing a key planning boost. The park will be built on disused land in Swanscombe, creating 27,000 jobs and a tourist attraction which is set to become a major draw for visitors from across Europe. London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), which is spearheading the proposals, has already struck a deal with Hollywood studio Paramount which allows it to use films from its stables to brand rides and attractions. Now the Government has confirmed it will be the first project of its kind to be considered under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) planning regime. The qualifying schemes were only expanded earlier this year. It means planning consent will be given by the secretary of state rather than having to leap over the various hurdles at a more local level. The move has been welcomed by Kent County Council, Dartford Borough Council and Gravesham Borough Council.

Importantly, it means work can push ahead swiftly, ensuring the opening date of 2019. It also means a major public consultation exercise can get under way later this year. Fenlon Dunphy, on behalf of LRCH, said: “This decision reflects the unique economic and regenerative opportunity provided by this multi-billion pound project, which will employ thousands of people and be a huge additional offering to the UK’s entertainment and tourism industries. “It also allows us to deal concurrently with all the planning and regulatory requirements, therefore providing greater certainty over the planning and regulatory timeline for the project, which will help us to meet our objective of opening the resort in the first half of 2019.” John Burden, leader of Gravesham council, said: “This latest announcement is great news for the north Kent community. It moves us one step closer towards delivering the significant economic and employment benefits associated with this potentially iconic entertainment destination.”

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LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

douBLe aWard for the BaLdWinS traveL grouP The Baldwins Travel Group is in celebratory mood after being voted ’National Travel Agent of the Year 2014’. The Baldwins Travel Group - which has stores in Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Uckfield, Sevenoaks Travel and Travelux of Tenterden, also walked away with the ‘Travel Agent of the Year London and the South East’ prize at the recent Agent Achievement Awards. The prestigious Agent Achievement Awards are seen as the travel industry’s top accolade, recognising excellence and achievement in the UK’s travel agency

community. Handed out annually, they are based on nomination and votes from key players in the UK’s holiday business. Baldwins Travel business development director Nick Marks, said the agency’s

success at this year’s awards could be put down to the hard work of its experienced and knowledgeable staff. “You could say we’re on top of the world - in more ways than one! Winning these awards is a spectacular achievement and being recognised by our peers in the travel industry is a real honour,” he said. Baldwins Travel is no stranger to awards success, having won the national award in 2010 and 2012, and London and South East prize nine times before (in 1997, 2004 and 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).

National award – Left to Right, Lucy Huxley (Travel Weekly), Julie Brooker (Trafalgar Tours), Ron Marks (Baldwins Travel), Nick Marks (Baldwins Travel), Paul Melinis (Trafalgar Tours)

juLy re-oPening Set for hythe iMPeriaL hoteL in kent One of the county’s best known hotels re-opens in July after under going a major restoration and refurbishment programme to inject the glamour back into the building. The Mercure Imperial Hythe Hotel & Spa, was designed and built in 1880, but has seen some £500,000 ploughed into it to ensure it remains fighting fit in the 21st century. It announced its return by hosting a spring wedding fayre which allowed visitors a glimpse of its elegant revamped ballroom. The hotel front is receiving a facelift too in addition to the major investment in interior design. Emma Betteridge, marketing manager of the hotel, said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed with the positive feedback describing our hotel on Facebook as having ‘stunning refurbishments, excellent service throughout and a beautiful hotel in a beautiful location’. We couldn’t ask for more.”

‘great Big coMMunity cuPPa’ iS a great Big SucceSS at BirchWood Park goLf centre Birchwood Park Golf Centre has welcomed guests from across the region – including the newly appointed Mayor of Dartford, Cllr Avtar Sandhu MBE – and raised £578 through a cake sale and raffle, for the local Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. The charity provides free, specialist

care and support to local terminally ill people and their families. Visitors to Birchwood Park – part of BGL Golf, the UK’s leading golf course owner and operator – also took part in a raffle, where 35 prizes were up for grabs. Melanie Drake, Birchwood Park Golf Centre General Manager, said: “Thank

you to all of our generous members and visitors – including Cllr Avtar Sandhu MBE – for supporting us on the day and helping to raise this large amount of money for a great cause, that is local to us.“ For further details visit www.birchwoodparkgc.co.uk

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“Leeds Castle was my private playground” THE MAN WHO GREW UP AT KENT’S TOURIST ATTRACTION

nthony Russell had a childhood quite unlike any other. For during the summer months he would find himself having Leeds Castle as his private playground. In the days before it became a tourist attraction, it was owned by Lady Baillie, a Anglo-American heiress who had the castle as her home – opening it up for star-studded parties and providing the most glorious place for a child to enjoy. Recounting those days of his youth, Anthony Russell has penned his memoir – Outrageous Fortune: Growing Up At Leeds. It has already generated interest around the world, and mmm was fortunate enough to catch up with him when publisher, Rasa Dregva, met him on a visit back to his former home. He explained: “Growing up with Leeds Castle as my second home, the other being my parents well-staffed five-story house on Egerton Terrace, in Knightsbridge, London, had the less than desirable effect of effortlessly rendering me more spoiled than a Buckingham Palace corgi before I understood the meaning of the word.” His grandmother had purchased Leeds Castle in 1926. The castle was her lifelong love, and, with great vision and considerable generosity she ensured that after her death the castle, managed by the Leeds Castle Foundation, would be enjoyed by visitors from all over the world.

To Anthony, his grandmother was simply known as Granny B. His earliest memories of her were recalled with a smile - he was in a pram outside Harrods in London with her. mmm: What are your earliest memories of the castle as a child? AR: I remember going for walks in the grounds of the castle. I remember looking up at it and thinking, this is awesome, although I would never of said that actual word out loud! mmm: Where were you educated and how do you feel castle life influenced you during those years? AR: Up until the age of five, I spent half of my life at Leeds Castle and the rest in London, where I was to attend school. It was not long after starting school, that I realised that not everyone actually lived in a castle.

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However, as a child growing up, I felt no need to shout about it. In fact, I learnt early on that there was a delicate balance to maintain between school friends and my home life. It would take quite a while for me to introduce friends to the castle. mmm: What influence did your grandmother have on you growing up? AR: I had a very formal upbringing. As children we had to be ‘invited’ down to do things and visit certain parts of the castle, for example the drawing room, by the ‘grown-ups’. In the grounds, we were free to play and explore, but inside the castle we had to conform to the ‘castle way’. I am extremely proud of Granny B, she was firm, but kind and fair – in some ways, I like to think that I am like her now. mmm: What inspired you to write your book and how long did it take? AR: Stories of castle life regularly ‘popped’ into my head and so I started jotting them down. The book came about by accident. The stories I had noted, fell into the right hands and were encouraged by publishers and so the journey to writing a full-blown book started. The ideas stage took a few months. I had never written a book before, but I had great publishers to guide me along. In total, the book took three to four years to write. mmm: And the outcome? AR: I have had some fantastic reviews and feedback including reviews in the New York Times and comments from Sir Cliff Richard. I am thrilled with the outcome. The book is available to purchase from Rasa Dregva, Leeds Castle or from mmm Magazine Publisher meets Anthony Russell www.anthony-russell.com

FACT FILE

Famous Relatives Anthony Russell, Grandson of Lady Baillie. Nephew of Sir Gawaine Baillie. Motor racing driver, engineer, industrialist, stamp collector. Music Career Musician who plays guitar and sings. Gigged in the 1970’s in London. Signed to Atlantic Records for a short period. Released music CD in 2003 in memory of his mother.

Anthony Russell with his wife Catherine

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Family guide to whats on & when Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, Maidstone, 28 - 29 June hildren’s favourite Fireman Sam makes a welcome return to Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, near Maidstone, on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June. Such is the enduring popularity of Fireman Sam that Kent Life has invited him back after the children enjoyed meeting him at the award-winning attraction last year. He will be appearing at intervals throughout each day meeting his young fans. Kent Life expects lots of interest in the visit, so booking your Kent Life tickets online in advance is recommended to make sure you don’t miss out. You can even see a vintage 1800’s Merryweather fire engine, one of 20,000 artefacts held in Kent Life’s historic collection. The fire engine came originally from Cobham Hall where it was privately owned and operated on the estate as there was no public fire brigade at the time. It was pulled by horses and teams of men

V Festival, Essex and Staffordshire, 16 – 17 August ne of the year’s most popular events and always attracting big commercial names to two different sites over one weekend, Hylands

operated the pump by hand. Kent Life is a wonderful treat for children, whatever the weather. They can go wild in the outdoor adventure play area or soft indoor play barn, as well as enjoy donkey and tractor rides, water zorbing, face painting, dressing up, painting a pot and much more. Kent Life is also a real working farm, so there are plenty of animals to see including pigs, sheep, ducks, goats, ponies and alpacas. Young visitors can even snuggle up to the smaller farmyard friends in Cuddle Corner. Admission to Kent Life is £9.25 adults, £8.25 concessions and £7.25 for children (three-15 years). Under-threes and Kent Life members go free. Kent Life is open daily from 10am to 5pm (last admission 4pm). For more details and to book visit www.kentlife.org.uk or call 01622 763936.

Hazlitt Arts Centre, Maidstone une sees an array of different shows at the Hazlitt, Earl Street, Maidstone. 6 June - Up Pompeii - A hilarious romp through ancient Pompeii. It brings back all the television favourites in this full-length play based on the original characters devised by Talbot Rothwell and Sid Colin for the Frankie Howerd BBC comedy. 7 June - The Floyd Effect – eight top quality musicians and singers, who faithfully recreate the music and emotions of a Pink Floyd concert without reliance on backing tapes, racks of computers, or other technological wizardry. 8 June - Rock ‘n’ Roll Paradise - You’ll be blown away by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, the Big Bopper and Eddie Cochran with over 40 songs packed into this roof raising critically acclaimed show. 18-21 June - All Shook Up - Get ready for a hip-swivelling, lip-curling musical inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley. For more information on any of the shows detailed below, please contact the venue direct on 01622 758611 (Mon-Sat 10am- 5.30pm) or email hazlitt.boxoffice@parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

Park in Chelmsford, Essex, southeast England and Weston Park in south Staffordshire, in England’s Midlands region. This year’s line-up attracts the big names as it always does. Book tickets to see Justin Timberlake, The Killers, Example and Rudimental. www.vfestival.com

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The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Folkestone and Dover, 6th July he Battle of Britain Memorial Trust organises a number of events throughout the year, with the undoubted highlight being Memorial Day, the annual commemoration of the anniversary of the start of the battle. Memorial Day is held on one of the two Sundays closest to the first day of the Battle, which began on 10 July, 1940. The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, In 2014 it will take place on 6th July 16 - 28 June and will mark the 21st anniversary of ats, Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s the unveiling of the Memorial. extraordinary recordbreaking, The 2014 tours have now been fixed smash-hit musical returns for 10 May and 6 September, and with to Canterbury for two interest already keen. weeks only! Adapted from TS Eliot’s Old Possum’s Bearsted & Thurnham Carnival Book Of Practical Cats, this wonderful and Fayre, Bearsted Green, blend of fantasy, drama and romance Saturday 28th June is set on the night that the Jellicle Cats e are delighted meet for the Jellicle Ball in a sparkling to announce fusion of music, dance and verse. that the 2014 With an amazing musical score Bearsted & that includes the timeless Memory, Thurnham spectacular set designs, stunning Carnival and Fayre will take place costumes and breathtaking on Saturday 28th June, from 1pm on choreography, Cats is a magical musical Bearsted Green. Come along to this like no other. fantastic free event, which promises One of the longest-running shows in fun for all the family - featuring stalls, West End and Broadway history, Cats prizes, arena events, a float has enchanted audiences in more than procession, grand prize draw 300 cities around the world – now you and more! too have the chance to experience this legendary musical phenomenon.

Early booking is recommended.

Biddenden Vineyards, Biddenden Saturday 8th June chance to meet, taste and buy from local producers of preserves, beers, pies and many more. Our Vineyard shop will be open as usual for free tastings of our award winning sparkling and still wines, ciders and juices. The event will be in aid of Kent Air Ambulance Trust. Ploughman’s lunches, teas and coffees will be available. For further details call 01580 291726 or visit www.biddendenvineyards.com

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Punting at Leeds Castle, Daily isitors to Leeds Castle can now enjoy a leisurely punt on the moat in the shadow of the 900 year old castle. Sit back, relax and float gently through the ancient arches in an elegant wooden punt. Visitors will be able to see the castle from an inspiring new perspective for the first time in its history. Suitable for all ages and open daily in all weathers, punting at Leeds Castle is excellent value for money. Adult tickets cost just £5 and child tickets £3. A discounted family ticket is also available. Tours will last approximately 20 minutes and there is no need to pre-book until you get here.

Key to the Castle tickets are required for punting. Annual tickets cost £24 for adults; £21 for seniors and visitors with disabilities (carer goes free); £16 for children (under 4’s free). Annual tickets are valid for 12 months so you can pay once and visit all year round. Day tickets are also available to purchase on the day of your visit or in advance online. Adults cost £19, concessions £16 and children £11. Leeds Castle is located near Maidstone in Kent just off Junction 8 of the M20 and only one hour’s drive from London. Grounds open at 10am daily and the castle is open from 10.30am. Last admission is 4.30pm and gates close at 6pm (April to September).

Family guide to whats on & when

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Francis Iles Galleries, 20-22 June heir fine art galleries sell contemporary paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass and jewellery, with over 100 artists showing their work. They offer a full range of framing and restoration services. Come and visit the largest private art gallery south of London in the historic town of Rochester, with it’s maritime history, Norman Castle,

Cathedral and association with Dickens. The gallery is open Mon-Sat 9.30am - 5.30pm Summer Exhibition: Jewels of the Baltic featuring the Russian Artists, Free entry. For full details call 01634 843081 or visit www.francis-iles.com 103 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX.

The Swan Theatre, Faversham aversham is currently playing centre stage in Stratford upon Avon with the production by the Royal Shakespeare Company of ‘Arden of Faversham’. The play based on the true story of the murder of Thomas Arden, the former town mayor of Faversham by his wife in 1551, is an unusually early example of a British domestic tragedy. Alice plots with Mosby, her lover and brother of her maid, the murder of Arden, a ruthless business man. The plotting pair eventually succeed following a number of bungled attempts and the involvement of various accomplice assassins. The production which opened on 30th April will run until 2nd October in The Swan Theatre. Attending the press event on 6th May, the current Mayor of Faversham Councillor David Simmons commented ‘It is a superb and inspired interpretation of this somewhat gruesome tale, a contemporary production, but true to the original script - yet another fascinating event from Faversham’s

F Chevening Open Garden, Sevenoaks, Sunday 22nd June hevening Open Garden event for National Garden Scheme. 27 acres with lawns, woodland, lake, maze and parterre. Admission fees: Adult £5, Children £2. Opening times are 2 - 5. The event is open for charity. For full details visit www.cheveninghouse.com

Sittingbourne Steam Railway, 5 - 6 July he very popular Steam & Beer event will be held on 5 & 6th July, trains will run to a special timetable that will be available for download from the Railway’s website nearer the time. This is your only opportunity to travel on the Railway late into the night (Saturday only).

There will be a large selection of real ales and ciders (while stocks last!) and your first pint is included in the fare. There will be live music on the Saturday whilst Sunday is family day and Captain Jack Sparrow, the famous movie pirate, will be returning to Kemsley Down - come dressed as a pirate to join Jack’s scurvy crew and you may win a prize!

Family guide to whats on & when

illustrious past’ The production, based on a true story, is notable as perhaps the earliest surviving example of domestic tragedy, where local crimes were published in Holinshed’s ‘Chronicles’. Whilst the author is unknown, some sources attribute it both solely and collectively to Christopher Marlowe and to ~Shakespeare. Shakespeare was known to have used Holinshed as a source for his English history dramas as well as being a visitor to Faversham. Guided walking tours of Faversham take place every Saturday at 10.30am April to October starting from the Visitor Information Centre on Preston Street and incorporate Arden’s House on the 90 minute tour.

Royal Ascot, 17 - 21 June oyal Ascot 2014 is now on sale. You can enjoy the centrepiece of the British racing and social calendar. Book today tickets £17 - £75pp. Group discounts apply. There are three ticket types available for Royal Ascot racedays. The opening day gets off to an impressive start with no less than three Group 1 races – the most prestigious races in the world.

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Catwalk: Tommy Hilfiger

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014

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mmm Magazine 29

June 2014