Your Wadhurst - May 2016 by Treacle Marketing

May 2016

WADHURST Dancing for

joy in Uganda

Blooming marvellous summer flowers

An evening at ENJOY A RURAL RAMBLE

in Wadhurst

'The Best Beech'

The best kitchen gadgets in town

Great British Bake Off Johnny Shepherd serves up puddings J Wadhurst Country Fair J Wadhurst History Society J Wadhurst Firefighter J

XBEIVSTU Country Fair Saturday 25th June 2016 12 noon to 5pm

The sixth Wad hurst Warriors Country Fair is on with Uplan being put ds Community College, whic provides the v h once again enue for this fu n e v ent. It offers a day out for ev superb eryone, with lo cal charities a nd clubs playing a big part througho ut.

Entrance is free, but donations are always welcome to cover costs of running the fair and to support next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event. Profits are ploughed back into other community events and local good causes. 2 MAY 2016

New attractions for 2016 are set to include a massive climbing tower, a magician and a dazzling birds of prey display. These join the usual stalwarts including: ●The popular assault course ●The Great Wadhurst Bake Off ●Wadhurst’s answer to Crufts ●Tea and cake tent to keep you refreshed throughout the day ●An Uplands Community College drama production ●Archery with the bar ●Sheep shearing ●Farm animals ●Trade stalls ●BBQ

The organisers look forward to seeing you there. If you want to help out or take a stall, get in touch with Charles Fuggle on: cfuggle123@btinternet.com. MAY 2016 3

WE ALSO PRODUCE THIS E!! MAGAZIN

marketing We understand that talking about your printing needs, like stationery, brochures etc, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the most interesting of subjects! So above is a gorgeous tropical beach that you can look at when we chat about your printing. Call us to either discuss print or to order a Pina Colada! Your local one stop travel agent, design and print company

Tel | 01892 78 33 89 Email | info@treaclemarketing.com

Contents 50

30 Your Wadhurst

Entertainment

10 The Village People

26 Latest Reviews

With retained firefighter Darren kemp

Food & Drink 14 Puddings Recipes from Johnny Shepherd

22 Restaurant Review Your Wadhurst visits The Best Beech

24 Food News

14 6 MAY 2016

Books, DVDs, Cinema, TV

Travel 30 Africa Take a trip on the wild side!

Health & wellbeing 34 How To Create A Strong Family Ania Jeffries gives advice

36 What Does It Mean To Be An

Top gadgets and seasonal

Entrepreneur?

fruit and veg

Ania Jeffries gives advice

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38 How Do We Inspire Our Children? Tips to help from Ania Jeffries

Gardening 50 Bloomin Marvellous 6 of the best summer flowers

History 42 Wadhurst History Society A peek into the past

Adventures 46 Dancing With Joy Jane Larcombe's trip to Uganda

Education 45 Kent College Laying the foundations in nursery

49 Vinehall Put down the tablets and get outside this summer

52 Garden Store A selection of the latest gardening tools to make it a bit easier

54 Toolkit

What every gardener needs

57 Gardening and Alzeimers Gardening could cut the risk of the disease by upto 50%

59 Rural Ramblings by local author Helen Stockton

38 7 MAY 2016

pxx Bloomin Marvellous 6 of the best summer flowers

Welcome all! I

t’s hard to believe that it’s almost two months since we last welcomed you to the latest issue of YOUR WADHURST magazine. We were then looking forward to spring and the many joys that it brings, and now it’s here. The daffodils have come early but have done their best to hang around for as long as possible. Making an appearance at time of going to print are stunning displays of tulips and primroses, and very soon we will be marvelling at the blankets of bluebells carpeting the woods. Well, that’s enough of where we are at the moment. It’s time to look forward to early summer, and many of the features in this bumper issue are centred round this lovely time of year. We have the excellent Johnny Shepherd, a past contestant on The Greatest British Bake Off, showcasing some of his gorgeous, mouth-watering puddings such as lemon tarts and Queen of Puddings (page….). Another new local regular feature making an entrance is Wadhurst Rural Ramblings (page…), which offers some lovely walks in and around Wadhurst to counteract the pudding calories! In collaboration with some helpful people at the Wadhurst History Society, we are also featuring an article on Wadhurst over the last 100 years (page …..). There are all the usual features on new gadgets, gardening and book reviews, plus our Village Person this time is Darren Kemp, Station Master (check title is correct) at Wadhurst Fire Station. Enjoy the late spring/early summer days until we meet again with our July issue of ‘YOUR WADHURST’.

See you soon The YWM Team ● Don’t forget to send your Village People nominations to info@treaclemarketing.com

If you have a story or wish to nominate somebody to be part of ‘The Village People’ or would like to advertise within the magazine please contact us:

info@treaclemarketing.com or 01892 78 33 89

Tree Tops | Wadhurst | Lower Church Street Wadhurst | East Sussex | TN5 6AS

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data and prices in this publication is accurate at the time of going to press, neither Treacle Marketing not its editorial contributors can accept liability to any party loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. We are unable to check claims made by advertisers are legal and truthful and that all products and services are safe. Treacle Marketing does not accept any liability in relation to advertisements placed.

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MAY 2016 9

The

Village People

with Darren Kemp

t 47, Wadhurst born and bred Darren Kemp has been married to wife Sharon for a quarter of a century and is Dad to sons Lewis, 22, and Elliot, 19. Next year, he marks 20 years in the fire service, which he first joined in Tunbridge Wells as a retained on-call firefighter. During a seven-year stint with Kent Fire Service, he also served in Sevenoaks.

Retained Firefighter Darren Kemp

You have one wish. What would it be? To travel into space and walk on the surface of the moon.

10 MAY 2016

Now living in Sparrows Green, Darren only moved out of the area in 1991 to buy his first home in Tunbridge Wells. The move to East Sussex Fire Service came in 2004, when he moved back to Wadhurst – retained firefighters have to be able to respond to the fire station where they work within five minutes. It’s a career that’s seen a steady progression from firefighter to Leading Firefighter, in 2000, before he became Watch Manager in 2013.

And, as you’d expect, he’s seen a hugely varied range of incidents during the best part of two decades’ service, from chimney blazes and road accidents to forest and large property fires and animal rescues. He explains that by far the worst incident he has attended was the Shoreham Air Crash last August, in which 11 people lost their lives, adding: “I was on duty that day at Hove Fire Station and among the first crew to arrive at the scene.” Thankfully, most of us won’t be involved in air crashes. But we could all probably do more to be aware of the dangers that can lead to fires. Darren adds: “The most common things we tend to see are falling asleep when smoking, overloaded sockets, faulty electrical equipment, not removing fluff from the tumble dryer and not having a working smoke detector.

Village People “The best thing about my job is helping people, making homes safer by giving advice on fire-related matters and installing free smoke alarms to those who are entitled to them.” The worst? Like many of us, Darren isn’t too keen on admin and paperwork.

Q Line of Duty, Happy Valley or The Night Manager? Never heard of any of them – are they TV programmes?

When he’s not tackling blazes, Darren likes nothing more than spending time with his family.

Q Four people you’d ask to your dream dinner party? (Can be alive or dead) Davina McCall, Muhammad Ali, Ayrton Senna and my Mum

As he says: “This jobs makes you realise how time with your friends and family can be so precious.” Elliot left Uplands Schools last year and is now a computer science student in Norwich. Both he and his brother Lewis play in Wadhurst Brass Band while Lewis also takes part in and organises jam nights locally. When not relaxing with his family, Darren can often be found keeping fit by running around the village.

Q Corrie or EastEnders? Neither, turn the channel over when they come on!

Q How many attempts did you have at your driving test before passing? Passed first time (after just six lessons) – always been very proud of that! Q Last CD or download bought? Manic Street Preachers Q All-time favourite holiday destination? New York

● Interested in working locally as a firefighter? Wadhurst Fire Station is currently recruiting. Firefighters at Wadhurst work to the Retained Duty System (RDS), meaning their primary employment is elsewhere, and they respond in an emergency from either their place of work or from home. Retained duty firefighters serve their community in a flexible, rewarding way, and protect the public while earning an extra income. To find out more go to http:// www.esfrs.org/about-us/ careers/ and look at Retained Firefighters. Or Email Darren on: wadhurstrtw@esfrs.org

But what about when he completely switches off ? We asked a few fun questions … Q Rugby World Cup or Euro 2016? Or neither? Euro 2016

All-time hero

Muhammad Ali

MAY 2016 11

Recipes

Puddings

Johnny Shepherd is the artisan pudding master of The Pudding Stop and The Pudmobile in St Albans. He creates baking favourites using only the best local, seasonal and organic ingredients he can find. Photography by Andrew Burton

ohnny Shepherd is the artisan pudding master of The Pudding Stop and The Pudmobile in St Albans. He creates baking favourites using only the best local, seasonal and organic ingredients he can find. After competing on THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF, Johnny decided to pursue his passion and talent for baking by bringing his grandfather's old business back to life. Johnny now does a thriving trade and was shortlisted for the BBC's Food and Farming Awards in 2012. Food critic Charles Campion said that 'the pudmobile is a shrine to pudding' and chef Valentine Warner declared Johnny's custard tart was the best he'd ever eaten. This new cookbook is full of family favourites; delicious puddings to bring back fond memories and guarantee that someone will lick the baking bowl clean. Indulge yourself with Proper Custard and Sticky Toffee Pudding, delight in a Lemon and Polenta Cake and evoke the warm comforts of childhood with a homely Bread and Butter pudding. Inspired by generations of British family baking, this is the perfect book for all of those who crave the tradition and nostalgia of classic puddings.

Johnny Shepherd's Puddings: Over 100 Classic Puddings from Cakes, Tarts, Crumbles and Pies to all Things Chocolatey Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in hardback at ÂŁ20, eBook: ÂŁ10.99

MAY 2016 13

Recipes

Queen of Puddings A pudding worthy of its name but one almost lost from modern life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; perhaps due to its unsuitability for mass production or because the two main ingredients, custard and meringue, must be made fresh. Custard and meringue have both been victims of commercialisation and are more often bought ready-made for convenience. Either way, this pudding deserves to be reinstated on the throne â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the layers of bread-enriched custard and rhubarb all crowned with meringue are a perfect flavour and texture combination.

14 MAY 2016

Recipes

Queen of Puddings Serves 10 300g raspberry jam, warmed For the custard 600ml double cream 4 large egg yolks 50g caster sugar 150g chunky breadcrumbs For the meringue 4 large egg whites 275g caster sugar Preheat the oven to 160°C/320°F/Gas mark 3. First, make the custard. Add the cream to a heavy-based saucepan and heat gently over a low heat until almost boiled. Remove from the heat. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar in a bowl and pour over the warm cream mixture, whisking continuously, until just mixed. Add the breadcrumbs to the base of a buttered 28cm x 5cm round ceramic pie dish and pour the custard over the top. Leave to rest for 15 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to soak up the liquid. Place the dish inside a deep baking tray and pour boiling water into the tray, until it is halfway up the dish. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the custard has completely set. Remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly. Meanwhile, make the meringue. Whisk the egg whites in a stand mixer on full speed until stiff peaks form. Add the caster sugar and 100ml of water to a saucepan and bring it to 120°C, testing the temperature with a sugar thermometer. Slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the egg whites and continue to mix on maximum speed until stiff and shiny. Spread the warmed jam over the cooled, set custard and pipe the meringue on top in lots of small individual peaks to form crowns (or simply spoon on top if preferred). Increase the oven temperature to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4 and return the dish to the oven for about 25–30 minutes, until the meringue is golden and crisp. Serve hot with cream.

MAY 2016 15

Recipes

Custard Tart Serves 10 350g Sweet Pastry Flour, for dusting 7 large egg yolks 625g double cream 8 Earl Grey tea bags or 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped out(optional) 75g caster sugar 1 whole nutmeg Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface to about 3mm thick. Use it to line a greased 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin, prick all over witha fork and chill for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gasmark 4. Line the pastry shell with foil and fill with baking beans. Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden brown around the edges. Remove the foil and baking beans and return the pastry case to the oven for 1–2 minutes, until it is a good golden brown colour all over. Lightly beat one of the egg yolks, remove the pastry case from the oven and brush egg all over the inside of the pastry case to seal. Return it to the oven for 1 more minute, then remove and leave to cool. Lower the oven temperature to 120°C/250°F/Gas mark 1/2 ½. For the custard, put the cream and the Earl Grey tea bags or vanilla, if using, in a heavy-based saucepan with half of the sugar. Bring to the boil over a medium-high heat. If using the tea bags, strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, squeezing the tea bags gently in the sieve. Whisk the remaining egg yolks with the remaining sugar in another bowl, then slowly pour over the warm double cream and whisk together. Pass the mixture through a fine sieve into a jug. Place the pastry case in the oven, leaving enough space above to pour from the jug. Pour the custard into the pastry case and grate nutmeg liberally all over. Bake for 50–55 minutes, until there is a gentle wobble in the centre of the tart. Remove from the oven and place the tin on a rack to cool. Leave to cool completely, then serve with a cup of Chinese tea.

16 MAY 2016

Recipes

Custard Tart Custard tart is a classic English dessert dating back to medieval times â&#x20AC;&#x201C;featuring at the coronation of King Henry IV in 1399. Often, the cream was substituted for almond milk during Lent by the wealthy. I suggest adding a twist to the tart by flavouring the custard with bergamot, the flavour of Earl Grey tea. Earl Grey was established by a jealous English tea merchant imitating more expensive Chinese teas in the nineteenth century. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help thinking that the Chinese may now be jealous of this custard tart. MAY 2016 17

Recipes

Figgy Frangipane

18 MAY 2016

Recipes

Figgy Frangipane Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer We won’t go until we get some; We won’t go until we get some; We won’t go until we get some, so bring some out here Make sure you find really nice ripe and soft figs. The figs will caramelise in the oven with the honey and almonds, sinking into the duvet of almond frangipane while the pastry puffs up like a springy mattress. You may need a lie down afterwards. Serves 8 25g unsalted butter 75g caster sugar A pinch of sea salt 125g ground almonds 1 teaspoon almond extract 2 large eggs, beaten, plus 1 egg yolk 250g Quick Puff Pastry (see page 23) Flour, for dusting 6-8 ripe figs, cut into halves A drizzle of runny honey 2 tablespoons flaked Almonds Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Cream the butter and sugar in a stand mixer until pale and fluffy. In another bowl, add the salt to the almonds and toss in a handful into the mixer. Mix the almond extract into the beaten eggs. With the mixer running slowly, add the eggs, a little at a time, alternating with further handfuls of almonds. Continue to mix until all is incorporated and you have a thick and glossy frangipane. If it looks too wet, add a little more ground almond. Roll out the pastry on a floured work surface to 5mm thick, rolling it to fit snugly within a 23cm baking tray. Carefully transfer the rolledout pastry onto a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Spread the frangipane over the surface of the pastry, leaving a small perimeter around the edge. Brush the perimeter with the egg yolk. Lay the fig halves on top in any pattern you wish and cover with a drizzle of honey and the flaked almonds. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the figs are soft and the pastry is golden brown. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream.

MAY 2016 19

Recipes

Little Chocolate Pots Makes 8 little pots, or 4 big ones! 360ml full-fat milk 420g of the best dark chocolate you can afford (minimum 70% cocoa solids) 360g condensed milk 60g unsalted butter A pinch of sea salt A bar of milk or dark chocolate Optional extras Fresh rosemary sprig Star anise Vanilla pod Grated orange zest If you would like to add a certain flavour to the chocolate pot, place your optional extra with the milk in a saucepan over a moderate heat and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for a few hours. Remember to remove your chosen extra ingredient before you start making the little chocolate pots, by straining the milk. Warm the milk (infused or plain), chocolate, condensed milk, butter and a pinch of salt together in a large saucepan over a medium to low heat, stirring occasionally, to encourage the melting process. When the chocolate and butter have fully melted, increase the heat and whisk the mixture until it is glossy and smooth. Divide the mixture between ramekins or glasses, and place in the fridge for several hours or overnight to cool. When ready to serve, take the bar of chocolate and use a sharp kitchen knife to scrape shards of chocolate from the bar (or you could use a grater). Scatter liberally over each decadent little chocolate pot. Serve with Chocolate Madeleines hot from the oven.

20 MAY 2016

Recipes

Little Chocolate Pots These little chocolate pots are absolutely delicious – they’re ridiculously easy to make and create an amazing silky smooth texture that falls somewhere in between a mousse and a ganache. You can keep them plain or experiment by infusing the milk with a sprig of rosemary, star anise, a vanilla pod or orange zest. There’s no egg in these pots, so they’re good to keep for a few days and are ideal for those who can’t eat egg.

MAY 2016 21

Eating Out

RESTAURANT REVIEW

h c e e B t The Bes ER

T STAR

zine dine out a g a M t s r u h d Your Wa , Wadhurst h c e e B t s e B e h at T

t YOUR WADHURST magazine, we have decided to visit a local pub or restaurant each issue and report back to you with our findings, whatever those may be!

SIDE O RDER

DESSERT

MAINCO U

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This issue, we are being waited on at the very welcoming Best Beech, on Wadhurst’s Mayfield Lane.

22 MAY 2016

The first test for us, which we consider to be essential, is a warm greeting with a friendly smile, which the Best Beech delivered, getting our visit off to a flying start.That sort of service set the tone for the whole evening, and checking was regular without being overly intrusive. The Best Beech is a lovely old pub, with a good quaffing area for the ‘drinkers’, a restaurant for the ‘foodies’ and also a cosy ‘snug’ area with armchairs and sofas for both. We selected the latter. We were presented with a comprehensive menu catering to all tastes, and decided to share some balsamic vinegar and olive oil with breads to whet our appetites, while choosing the rest of our meals at our leisure.

I settled on a main course that’s a favourite, although one I don’t indulge in very often; hand-carved ham, egg and chips and peas. It didn’t disappoint. My partner chose The Best Beech Burger served in a brioche bun with red onion marmalade. Clearly homemade and with quality meat, it was a very tasty treat. Being lightweights (or maybe because the previous courses had been very generous in size), we decided to share a Homemade Gooey Chocolate Brownie dessert …always a winner. This one just melted in the mouth and was worth all those calories, although we made sure we had a healthy walk home to try and work some of them off! The wet stuff - I chose a glass of merlot from the very comprehensive wine list but my partner, being teetotal, went for lime and soda. As we were leaving the pub, which by then was filling up, we had a very hospitable send-off.. All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience which we wouldn’t hesitate to repeat for a Sunday roast one weekend soon.

Thanks The Best Beech! My starter was a prawn and chorizo gambas. Its hot spicy taste gave a lovely start to the meal.

The Best Beech Inn 01892 457550 info@best-beech.co.uk www.best-beech.co.uk

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Friday Gang

Kids Pizza & Fruit Juice 4pm to 7 pm Â£5

The Drive Time Offer -

Large Pizza a pint & 5pm to 9 pm Â£10

*selected

beer only.

COME AND SAY HI

Pizza in Our Hut at The Cherry Tree Dale Hill, Ticehurst TN5 7DG 01580 201229 info@thecherrytree.net www.thecherrytree.net

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Food Drink

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NEWS

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in season this month? Here are some thoughts on enjoying whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in season in May â&#x20AC;&#x201C; weather permitting, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a particularly good month, offering stacks of sumptuous seasonal produce! ASPARAGUS

NEW POTATOES

Make the most of this mouth-watering vegetable during its short window of seasonal opportunity. You could use a vegetable peeler and shave off ribbons of just-blanched stalks to combine with salty prosciutto ham or creamy mozzarella in a salad, or make a creamy pasta sauce. Alternatively, fry up some asparagus and courgette fritters with fresh tomato and ginger chutney.

Small, tender and flavoursome, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to love about new potatoes, especially the most popular and best-known variety, the Jersey Royal? Use your imagination with these little beauties and serve roasted with crushed salt and vinegar alongside pork chops or lamb (this is also a good time of year for the latter.) Or bake in browned lemon butter, braise them or make a hash with chorizo, and serve with poached eggs and salsa verde. However, as true foodies know, these will also sing when just boiled and dished up with herbs and butter.

WATERCRESS This is the versatile salad leaf that just keeps on giving! Not only is it packed with minerals and vitamins, but this peppery ingredient is also a natural superfood. So donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t waste watercress as a mere garnish. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also ideal in soups and sauces or, less obviously, as part of pastas and stir fries. Not to mention salads and sandwiches for summery picnics. (Other goodies that are currently in season for salads, by the way, include rocket lettuce, spring onions and radishes.)

24 MAY 2016

SARDINES Best eaten near where they are caught, sardines donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always travel brilliantly. Buy fresh and whole and grill or barbecue. Enjoy this fish hot or cold, either with an intense tomato sauce â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to counteract the oiliness of the sardines â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or dressed with lemon, butter and fresh herbs, and served with some of the delicious new potatoes mentioned above.

Food and Drink News

New in the kitchen

best gadgets We’re here to inject some inspiration into your cooking!

Vegetable Spiralizer, £29.99, Lakeland Looking for a more interesting way of upping your veggie intake and getting your five a day? This spiralizer from Lakeland fashions pasta alternatives from vegetables such as courgettes, carrots and aubergines, which can be cooked quickly and easily. This gadget’s also great for throwing together salads and coleslaws. Convert your family’s most committed vegetable dodger! Fast Slow Pro Pressure Cooker, Sage, £199.95 Given the price, this one’s a bit of an investment piece. Essentially, what you get is a pressurised, airtight pot which uses the way trapped steam raises water’s boiling point to speed up cooking, save energy and enhance flavour. Throw in the ingredients and let the machine do the work on one-pot wonder dishes. Really, this is zero pressure cooking… Candy Craft Chocolate Pen, Argos, £19.99 This is for your rather less healthy kitchen exploits – an oversized pen that looks like a child’s novelty gift but is really a kitchen accessory doubling as a toy. Just pop some chocolate in one of the bags, preferably as buttons, chunks or chips, and dip into hot water to melt. Then put the bag into the pen, and you’re good to go. Comes with three mould trays to create goodies with different designs from animals to rainbows. Alternatively, create your own! Takes two AA batteries. ElectrIQ Frozen Fruit Dessert Maker, Appliances Direct, £16.98 Freeze fruit or buy it ready-frozen, and then, after allowing it to soften slightly, use this machine to create a frozen fruit dessert that’s similar to ice cream or sorbet. Bananas are a great option if you fancy a creamy pudding, or, for added indulgence, bung in some actual cream, or yoghurt. This is a great answer to any family members who insist fruit isn’t a ‘real’ pudding! Smarter Coffee Machine + 3 Changeable Coloured Front Fascias, Smarter £179.99 Wake up and smell the coffee (literally) with this snazzy machine. Brew your coffee remotely from anywhere in the house using Smarter’s mobile phone app. You can alter your coffee’s strength and choose the number of cups you want to brew. Have your coffee on demand whenever it suits you by setting the machine to ‘wake up’ and ‘welcome home’ modes. Masterpan, Lakeland, £59.99 The Internet went into a bit of a meltdown when Tom Daley showcased his Masterpan on Instagram. This is the divided frying pan allowing you to heat several food items together to produce a full meal, such as a cooked breakfast, at once. Non-stick and dishwasher safe, it means you won’t have to deal with washing up multiple pans – and ensures everything gets evenly fried at the same time.

MAY 2016 25

Entertainment

Reviews Going out? Or fancy staying in with a good book or a DVD? Juliet England rounds up what’s new this month. Staying in DVDs The Hateful Eight (DVD & Blu Ray) (May 9)

Quentin Tarantino’s vast and epic western, whose action takes place mainly inside a shed, is clever, distinctive and stylish. Set just after the Civil War, it’s a tale of bounty hunters, wintry blizzards and southern generals that’s blackly comic in places, and has all the hallmarks of Tarantino’s genius. The Danish Girl (DVD & Blu Ray) (May 16)

Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander star in this moving and beautifully shot biopic about Lili Elbe, one of the first people ever to go through gender reassignment surgery. The stars play husband and wife Einar and Gerda Wegener – Lili is Einar’s female alter ego, based on portraits of a sultry femme fatale painted by his wife. From The King’s Speech director Tom Hopper, this movie earned a clutch of Academy Award nominations and won Vikander a Supporting Actress Oscar.

The Last Rolo By Helen Stockton

The Last Rolo is a book written from the view of a delinquent and aging Border Terrier with an opinion on everything and a mission to bark back at the world. It is a humorous account of a year in his life, aimed at adults and older children, in the form of blog or diary entries, conveying his views on his family, other dogs, life and the world in general, from his own, distinctive perspective, beautifully illustrated by local artist Sally C Greenfield. ● On sale from 6th March 2016 and will be available from local shops including Barnett’s of Wadhurst and Amazon.

Albums Detour by Cyndi Lauper (Sire)

After all these years, this girl still just wants to have fun. Her newest album is out on May 6 as the Time after Time and True Colours singer comes to the UK in June to tour (with The Detour tour!). This eleventh studio Cyndi Lauper album covers country classics from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, including the likes of Funnel of Love and Heartache by Numbers.

The Heart Speaks in Whispers by Corinne Bailey Rae (Virgin)

Books Non-Fiction The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murder By Kate Summerscale (Bloomsbury)

If you loved The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, you’ll love this – another Victorian murder case from popular author Summerscale. The new tale focuses on a criminal trial from around 1895 which gripped the nation, and centres on a 13-year-old boy and whether or not he was the villain of the piece. The Gustav Sonata By Rose Tremain (Chatto & Windus)

This novel charts the lives of two boys, from the 1930s to the 1960s, and highlights the power of their friendship in a world which can be pretty dangerous. If you’re a fan of this author, best known as a historical novelist, you have a treat in store this summer. 26 MAY 2016

The latest album from the Leeds-born singer-songwriter and guitarist is Bailey Rae’s third, and includes the acoustic lament Stop Where You Are. It has a theme of optimism running through it, and is described by its creator as “mystical, elemental and concerned with transformation”. Expect an end result that’s extremely easy on the ear.

Shows The Caretaker, by Harold Pinter, Old Vic, London, ends May 14

Timothy Spall and Daniel Line of Duty Mays star as Davies and Aston respectively in this Pinter classic, with George MacKay as Mick. Expect a bleakly comic if slightly strange tale of a power struggle between three men, which ensues when a disturbed handyman invites a tramp to stay with him at his brother’s dishevelled London flat. Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra 19 May, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, 7.30pm

The popular entertainer is in Tunbridge Wells for a musical evening this month. The show features Gilsom Lavis with special guest Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson from The Selecter, along with guest vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Beth Rowley – and support act Christopher Holland, Jools’s younger brother.

Entertainment

TV Top Gear, BBC 2

Every petrolhead’s favourite show is set to return to the BBC in May, with the first series to feature the new line-up of lead presenter Chris Evans, former Friends star Matt Le Blanc and a string of co-hosts. Expect a rebooted programme that promises to be as daft and as entertaining as ever. No Offence, Channel 4

Enjoy the first series of this blackly comic drama from Shameless creator Paul Abbott the first time around? It’s back with eight fresh episodes – returning to follow the exploits of staff at a police station in one of Manchester’s rougher neighbourhoods. Starring Joanna Scanlan, Will Mellor, Elaine Cassidy and Alexandra Roach, it is described by Abbott himself as “The Bill, tilted.”

Games Dead Island: Definitive Collection (X Box)

Featuring remastered and greatly enhanced editions of the series’ earlier two instalments, Dead Island and Dead Island Riptide, this offers the ultimate Dead Island experience as Deep Silver revisits the terror of the original zombie-killing smash hit game. Out on 31 May. Book of Unwritten Tales 2 (Wii)

The adventure saga rumbles on in this sequel to the acclaimed fantasy spoof adventure game. Help the heroes as they struggle against a fresh threat to the world of Aventasia. Out on 10 May.

Going Out CINEMA RELEASES Alice Through the Looking Glass (May 27) Based on the Lewis Carroll novel and a sequel to 2010’s Alice in Wonderland, this Tim Burtonproduced movie is a fantasy adventure starring Mia Wasikowska as Alice, Johnny Depp as the Hatter, and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, alongside Rhys Ifans and Anne Hathaway. The equally starry voice cast includes Timothy Spall, Barbara Windsor and the late Alan Rickman. X-Men: Apocalypse (May 19)

The American superhero franchise based on the Marvel Comics characters is back for a ninth instalment, directed by Bryan Singer and starring James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender, among others. The story is taken up as Apocalypse, an ancient mutant, awakens and makes plans to take over the world.

MAY 2016 27

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he unmistakable sound of a pod of hippos serenading you as you drift off to sleep in the middle of the African bush reminds you that you’re not at home anymore. Each of your senses becomes enhanced in Africa – eyes, ears and nose become overloaded with the sights, sounds and yes, smells that must have seemed so alien to Europeans just a hundred or so years ago. A wildlife safari provides the essence of this unique continent, but it is far from being the only attraction as there is much

30 MAY 2015

more to enjoy and combine with a safari experience. Cape Town, for many, is their first introduction to sub-Saharan Africa. Regularly voted one of the most beautiful cities in the world (with Sydney, Vancouver and San Francisco), Cape Town’s highlights include the iconic Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch National Gardens, the penguins at Boulders Beach, stunning coastal scenery and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. An hour’s drive from the city lies a triangle of towns (Franschhoek, Stellenbosch & Paarl) which form the heart of the Cape Winelands. It is here where stunning scenery meets fine dining and fine wines, where you will find a real taste of Africa. Add whale watching (between August and November) in Hermanus, the southern spring flowers of the Western Cape and the beaches dotted along the coast, all within a couple of hours drive of Cape Town, and you have a perfect fly-drive itinerary and a holiday to remember.

South Africa But South Africa has even more to offer from historical Zulu Battlefield tours, luxury train journeys and golf courses to township tours, scenery and, of course, some of the best game viewing in Africa. The most famous game viewing area in South Africa is the Kruger National Park in the north east of the country, and home to the Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo) together with a plethora of other animal and bird species. Worth visiting any time of year, but best in the cooler and drier season from April to November. There are also excellent safari alternatives in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Madikwe.

Unique & alternative Beyond South Africa there is an abundance of alternative and unique destinations to explore, each with their own unique reasons for visiting. Namibia is a country of vast landscapes and huge skies, giant sand dunes and deep canyons. A

Travel

Ĺ&#x153;Ç V JKO URGCM YJQ JĆ´ UĆĄP YĆ&#x201C;J JKU G[GUĹ? ĆľTKECP 2TQXGTD country which almost requires a new vocabulary to describe it fully. Its most famous attraction must be the ancient sand dunes of Sossusvlei, reaching heights over 1,000 feet, making them some of the biggest in the world. Fish River Canyon, in the far south of Namibia, is the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in America, and is well worth a visit. Game viewing is concentrated to the north in the Etosha National Park, a massive expanse of salt pan and semi-arid desert. To really do Namibia justice you should consider a two or three week holiday at least, given the distances youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be covering, or you could choose a flying safari, taking a light aircraft between destinations. Experiencing the sand dunes, Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park from the air is a truly breathtaking experience. Botswana is one of the last untouched areas of Africa, boasting some of the finest game viewing anywhere in the world. The

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The choice of game viewing areas in both countries is also excellent. Zimbabweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous Hwange National Park is just a few hours from the Falls, whilst Zambia has the South Luangwa National Park. It is here where walking safaris were pioneered and it is still hailed by aficionados as the best on-foot wildlife experience in Africaâ&#x20AC;?

undoubted jewel in its crown is the seasonally flooded Okavango Delta, a wetland within a desert, where game may be viewed from a makoro, a traditional dugout canoe, propelled through the shallow water rather like a punt. Zimbabwe and Zambia are often spoken of in the same breath, perhaps because they both begin with the letter â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Zâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but more likely because they share Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only Natural Wonder of the World at their border, the majestic Victoria Falls. A curtain of water, 1 mile wide, plunging 300 feet into the gorge below is a genuinely unforgettable sight. One of the joys of the Falls is that the area has been left relatively untouched and you can wander on pathways through the rainforest to the edge of the great chasm for spectacular views. The choice of game viewing areas in both countries is also excellent. Zimbabweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous Hwange National Park is just a few hours from the Falls, whilst Zambia has the South Luangwa National Park. It is here where walking MAY 2015 31

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safaris were pioneered and it is still hailed by aficionados as the best onfoot wildlife experience in Africa. Combining any of the above areas with a beach destination such as Mauritius or the Seychelles provides a perfect holiday experience. Moving 3,500 miles further north to East Africa you get an entirely different aspect and feel to the southern part of the continent. Here you will find world renowned safari areas such as the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya made famous by hundreds of wildlife documentaries shot there over the years. The region is also the place to go encounter gorillas and chimpanzees, with Rwanda

and Uganda being home to these fascinating relatives of ours.

Safari to beach Another benefit of a holiday in East Africa is that you can easily add a beach stay after your safari. The beautiful Kenyan coast and Tanzania’s very own exotic spice island, Zanzibar, are both within easy flying distance of the main game areas. Add to the above the history, culture and scenery of Ethiopia, the beaches and beauty of Mozambique, the ancient lake and ‘warm heart’ of Malawi and the ancient forests and lemurs of Madagascar, and you have everything a traveller could wish for. Somewhere to travel to again

and again and each time experience something entirely new. Africa captures the heart like no other continent. There is a tangible sense of being somewhere special, an almost primal feel that stirs something within the soul. From Ethiopia to Cape Town, via the Masai Mara, Zanzibar, Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta and every wonderful thing in between. Travelling to Africa is like coming home.

Health and Wellbeing

How to create a strong family Written by Ania Jeffries

e are all part of a family, whether family means the people we live with, are born to or the people we choose to make our own. No definition for a strong family exists. The key is to find a strategy that works for you all. For me, a definition of a strong family is about being a unit, being together through thick and thin, the good, the bad and ugly, and at the end of the day, being in a place where you still love each other and grow together. A strong family means I have a place where I belong.

So how do you create that unit?

1. Spend time with your family. Happy families have fun together, eat together, spend time together. Sit down as a family and discuss plans. Create a family bucket list/a vision board. 2. Set designated times with your family, even if it’s just once a month. Make it fun. Let the family know this time is special. It’s for catching up on family news. Put the date in the diary and don’t cancel. The more you cancel, the more your children will feel they can’t share the important stuff with you. Turn all phones off and if they don’t want to be with you, let them invite a friend.

3. Focus not just on one individual in the family but on the family as a whole, so that everyone feels included. Teach the family to work and communicate together. If there’s an issue with one family member, sit down and work out a plan to support that individual. 34 MAY 2016

Focus not just on one individual in the family but on the family as a whole, so that everyone feels included. Teach the family to work and communicate together. If there’s an issue with one family member, sit down and work out a plan to support that individual. 4. Eat around a table as a family at least once a week and listen to what your children and your partner are sharing with you.

5. Create a group family chat on WhatsApp. A quick text or a funny photo will let them know that you are thinking of them and that they are important to you, even when you are too busy to meet up.

6. Leave surprise cards and gifts for family members around the house/ car/office. If you can’t spend time with

them, show them you love them in other ways.

7. Reward successes in the family. Celebrate together and turn these occasions into treasured memories. Lastly, take a few minutes to reflect on what you could do now to strengthen your relationships with your family. One simple step could change all your lives for the better. Ania Jeffries www.nextstepmentor.com

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Health and Wellbeing

What does it mean to be an entrepreneur today? Written by Ania Jeffries

or an entrepreneur, it’s not about who you are, where you have come from, what you have, who you know. It’s about identifying an opportunity that others have not recognised and turning it into a successful business. Most entrepreneurs do not get lucky. They just have the insatiable self-belief that their success can become reality through hard work and commitment. What people do not talk about, however, are the challenges that entrepreneurs face on a daily basis: the daily rejections, depression, stress, loneliness, anxiety, burnout, the long unpaid hours, the sleepless nights, the empty bank account, the loneliness of dealing with big decisions on their own, the risk-taking, lack of security, the roller coaster ride of dealing with the highs and the lows… Entrepreneurs work hard every day and continue to give their all, even when at times they feel like quitting. They just keep going because for many failure in business also means personal failure. They refuse to accept defeat and try harder than many of us could possibly ever imagine, to turn their dream into reality.

36 MAY 2016

They are driven, ambitious, creative individuals who develop products and services we love and need. They transform our lives and stand up for what they believe in. The least we can do is encourage and support them in every way possible.

So how can we do this?

1. Help them not to feel alone, to open up and be honest with you. 2. Either become a mentor to someone you know or offer your services to an organisation such as the Prince’s Trust or Virgin StartUp. I myself am a Progression Mentor with the Prince’s Trust.

3. Help with their Business Plan/

7. Suggest books, videos, motivational speakers, etc. – anything which will inspire and keep them motivated. And, importantly, ask them how they feel. Don’t take a grimacing ‘OK’ for an answer. And don’t criticise. Keep it constructive. You might not agree with what they are trying to achieve, but remember it’s their dream. *A must-read for every entrepreneur: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill The Entrepreneurial Revolution by Daniel Priestley Emyth Revisited by Michael Gerber

Strategy.

Life is what you make of it by Peter Buffett

4. Discuss Venture Capitalist/

Tap Dancing to Work by Warren Buffett

Angel Investor/ Accelerator funding opportunities.

The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss

5. Provide network contacts and political/cultural know-how.

6. Provide them with a wider perspective. Help them discuss concerns/consider other opportunities.

Ania Jeffries www.nextstepmentor.com

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*Benenden members, once they have a GP referral will need to contact Benenden member services on 0800 414 8100 and follow the ethos of Benenden which asks them to explore the care available through the NHS ﬁrst. ^Benenden members can only access this service if there is a medical requirement, it is not covered if the condition is purely cosmetic. The Benenden Hospital Trust is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, number 3454120. Registered charity number 1065995. Registered ofﬁce, The Benenden Hospital Trust, Goddard’s Green Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AX

We’re specialists in varicose vein removal Why Benenden Hospital? We are the UK’s largest single site provider of EVLT treatment with our consultants performing over 9,000 successful varicose vein procedures. Our safety record is second to none and our patient satisfaction is over 99%. Our facilities are modern and comfortable. Our staff friendly and welcoming. And, however you choose to travel, we’re easy to ﬁnd. As we’re not-for-proﬁt, we can offer highly competitive private rates. Treatment including consultation starts at just £2,450 per leg. This service is also available on medical grounds to Benenden members as part of their membership, for which they will need a referral from their GP*.

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Health and Wellbeing

How ow do we inspire our

Written by Ania Jeffries

new things. Encourage mistakes and failures. Share your own experiences.

y teacher used to say “Live by choice, not by chance. Make changes, not excuses. Be motivated, not manipulated. Work to excel, not to compete. Listen to your own inner voice, not the views of someone else.” These words have always inspired me to try and be the best I can and, in turn, I hope my husband and I inspire our children to try and be the best version of themselves.

The question is, though, how do you inspire your children to create a positive life or overcome a struggle? Earn trust. If someone you love tells you a secret, do not share it with others. Keep your promises. If you agree to do something, even when a better offer presents itself, keep your word. Explore ideas and challenge beliefs as a family. If ever your children ask for help, allow them the space to figure out the answer so that they 38 MAY 2016

Find the silver lining in the way you think with your kids. Don’t criticise. No one likes to be criticised – so if what you want to say is not positive, simply don’t say it.

feel empowered with a sense of accomplishment.

Stand your ground – do not lose your temper. Show them that a better result can be achieved by staying calm.

Be true to yourself, even when times are tough. Show passion and enthusiasm in all that you do and let your children see how important it is always to be themselves in all situations.

Share your influences – let others know what has helped you overcome difficulties and made you the person you are today. Share books, knowledge, upbeat music, quotes. Anything that might help them.

Engage in a pursuit in which you strongly believe, whether it’s a hobby or a worthy cause. Show your kids that you are passionate about something. Let them understand what it means to stand up for what you believe in.

Acknowledge other people’s work – if someone helps you, let others know. Don’t take credit for their efforts.

Show your kids that you are prepared to accept new challenges, that it’s OK to be afraid and try

Be kind. Be caring. Show gratitude. The more you share with the world, the better your life and others’ lives will be. Ania Jeffries www.nextstepmentor.com

MAY 2016

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MAY 2016

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History

1955/56 1965

Slices

of local history

adhurst History Society began its own history back in October 2003 as the town celebrated 750 years since Henry III granted Archbishop Boniface a charter for “a market at Wadhurst on the Saturday of each week ….and a Fair every year to last three days”. The launch was inspired by both the group’s energetic first chair, Dr Michael Harte, and a hugely enthusiastic local response. More than a dozen years on, the Society’s packed and varied programme comprises 10 monthly talks a year in the town’s Commemoration Hall, various outings (most recently to Hampton Court in mid-April), along with social gatherings and fundraising events. Then there are the nine books which have been published, focusing on Wadhurst from Victorian times to 1946, not to mention the calendars and Christmas cards with archive photographs, and the ambitious three-day exhibition held in August 2015 about the two World Wars. The event had a special focus on the Battle of Aubers Ridge (of 9th May 1915), and included many photographs from Aubers.

42 MAY 2016

1904 The Clock House looking down the High Street The superb Clock House, with its square stilts over the pavement, dates from at least the seventeenth century. Its name comes from the time between the 1880s and the 1960s when Horace Newington, a firm of watch and clockmakers, occupied the house. Horace’s father had been in the same line of business, trading from the White House in Middle Row; his son Harry took over when his father died. The clock has only recently been removed from the façade. From the early 1900s, until after World War II, Harry would cycle every week to grander local houses to wind the clocks. At Mr Wilkin’s house in Lower Cousley Wood alone, that meant winding around 50 clocks!

History

1963 St James’ Square with trees in front of the Greyhound The sixteenth-century Greyhound Inn (hidden by trees) is still a busy hostelry. However, most of the other buildings round the square have changed; Nat West Bank not only changed its name three times but was previously the grocer’s, draper’s and furnishing warehouse of OT Corke. Until the late 1800s, the Wadhurst lock-up (a cell or room where miscreants could be held for a short time) was behind the site of the bank and is now called Pilbeam Cottage. What is now the Wine Shop and Hospice became Gardner’s in 1922, modestly calling itself “the leading family grocer in Wadhurst district”. It also sold general drapery and millinery, gents’ outfitting, boots and shoes, ironmongery, hardware, china and glass. Forge Cottage on the other side of Blacksmith’s Lane retains, between the house and the Methodist Church, the original forge, which was worked by the Pilbeam family.

“The High Street follows the line of an ancient track linking prehistoric and Roman ironwork sites and communities”

Queen’s Head Stables The Elizabethan Queen’s Head Hotel was completely destroyed in the 1956 meteor crash and the stables now form part of Jempson’s Store. The old hotel was once Wadhurst’s social hub, holding countless dances and parties. The picture looks up towards the Walk created in the 1820s by Thomas Wace, who once owned Hill House.

The Society also looks after four collections of documents and artefacts, kept in Wadhurst History Centre by the Commemoration Hall for the benefit of the community and future generations. Everything of local, national or international interest is painstakingly archived and cross-referenced. Heather Woodward, chairman of the Society, says: “When we were researching our publication Wadhurst Back in Time, we were particularly interested in local shops and how they’ve changed over the years. The High Street follows the line of an ancient track linking pre-historic and Roman ironwork sites and communities. This became the old drovers’ road and, in 1767, the turnpike around which the village grew. Wadhurst centre still has more than 25 buildings dating from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.”

(Information and photographs from the Bocking Collection and Town of the High Weald by Alan Savidge and Oliver Mason, second edition published by Wadhurst History Society. (To learn more about Wadhurst History Society, contact 01892 783212.Or go to www.wadhursthistorysociety.org

1912/13 MAY 2016 43

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Education

Kent College Nursery: Laying the foundations for a happy and successful transition to school and learning A WARM WELCOME Prior to joining, Kent College’s comprehensive induction programme ensures that both the girls and their parents have a smooth transition from home to school. These include multiple opportunities to meet at Open Mornings as well as specific taster sessions for all girls. Parents are invited in to the classroom as much as they feel is needed during the transition period and we now offer ‘stay and play’ and ‘Watch’ weekly sessions which encourages parental engagement. It’s a great way for mums and dads to see how their child is learning and developing in class. After the initial introduction period, teaching staff and our in-house Play Therapist continue to offer support through every developmental stage of a child’s growth and this is always communicated to parents either on a way to one basis or in the more formal setting of parent consultations. Our high staff to pupil ratio ensures that each girl has plenty of individual attention and support.

A HAPPY, CARING ENVIRONMENT “The staff are very caring, there are cuddles galore and plenty of laughter, it is almost a home from home which is perfect for 3-5 year olds.” Current parent. Happiness is a fundamental factor in a child’s education and at Kent College we place great emphasis on ensuring that girls thrive in a happy learning environment where they feel safe, secure and able to be themselves. We are very proud of our exceptional teacher and pupil relationships. A Kent College teacher prides themselves on understanding the individual needs of every child in their care and it is this knowledge that enables the school to provide an outstanding education which sees every pupil exceed their potential. “The mutual respect promoted by teachers and shown by pupils in

appreciating and encouraging the contributions of all members of the class is a notable characteristic of the school.” (ISI Report 2016) In providing girls with the best pastoral care, we encourage them to try things without the fear of failure, to take advantage of new activities and new opportunities, to play imaginatively and to share their efforts in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Kent College is set in a beautiful location with woodland and open fields adjacent to the school site and the school encourages girls to spend as much time outside as possible, so that their aesthetic awareness of the natural beauty around them is developed. Strawberry picking at the local farm, growing vegetables in the schools’ veggie patch, Forest School days and letting off steam on the outdoor activity ‘trim trail’ enriches girls both in and out of the classroom.

Having the ability to offer supportive wraparound care throughout the school, allows busy families flexibility when juggling work and home lives. At Kent College, this is available from 7.30am until 8.30pm and there is no charge until after 5.30pm. In addition, holiday care is also offered during certain weeks in the holidays.

PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT STEP “High standards of courtesy and values are consistently and effectively promoted.” ISI Report 2016 Our aim is that our Nursery girls move on to their next step in education as confident, caring and communicative young girls; and by equipping them intellectually, emotionally and socially our aim is that they can confidently deal with the challenges they will face in their future lives. Above all at Kent College, we want the girls, and their families, to look back and reflect upon their time spent here with us with many fond and happy memories.

SUPPORT FOR BUSY FAMILIES “Warm and friendly relations are reflected in the extremely harmonious and constructive atmosphere in the afterschool care provision.” ISI Report 2016

Kent College Pembury, an independent Pre-Prep and Preparatory School for girls aged 3+ MAY 2016 45

Feature

Dancing for Joy! by Jane Larcombe, Chairman Wadhurst U3A

he one-eyed elderly lady before me broke into a huge crinkly smile as she was introduced by an interpreter. We were standing outside her windowless, grass-roofed hut in a remote Ugandan village, surrounded by curious children, stared at by solemn-faced adults who had all come to meet us. I had travelled to Uganda as part of my role as Trustee of the international water aid charity Just a Drop which I helped to start with friend and colleague Fiona Jeffery in 1998. But as I retired and moved on to a new era of life, I had also developed an interest in the concerns and views of those of us in the third and fourth age which led me to Chair Wadhurst U3A’s Committee since its inauguration in 2013. (These days, Wadhurst U3A, is helping to add a little more enjoyment, stimulation and fun into the rural lives of nearly 200 members living in scattered East Sussex villages,

46 MAY 2016

with more than 20 interest and activity groups - everything from science and technology, history, art appreciation to fitness, walking and ballroom dancing). Inevitably, I compared the lives of Wadhurst U3A members and the lot of 70-year-old Nama Iwa Specioza who, despite a so bone-crushingly tragic existence that it’s hard even to contemplate, exuded a remarkable zest for life. As the first recipient of a new type of larger, more modern water harvester tank and two latrines, situated conveniently by her home, I was accompanying Just a Drop’s Senior Project Officer, Col. Mike Reynolds to check they were working efficiently.

Proper Luxury “This is proper luxury!” she declared as she proudly showed us around her spotlessly clean facilities. Then her exhilaration spilled over into sheer, unadulterated delight. Discovering that we were of a similar age, she clasped my hands and declared: “We’re so lucky ...let’s dance!” And there, in the rain and mud of one of Uganda’s three wet seasons, we began to dance for joy!

Feature suffering the effects of polluted water; We jigged, skipped, hopped, swayed mothers raped as they made their and laughed for a good couple of daily water trek; youngsters eaten by minutes before finally collapsing crocodiles as they squatted to fill their into each others’ arms, hugging and jars and bottles at the river edge. breathless. Nama had been the mother of ten children but eight had died of Aids. Our Workave Don Have And if that’s not bad enough, she also Over the past 18 years, thanks to an lost an eye following an infection. army of volunteers and a miniscule However, she refuses to give in to the staff, Just a Drop has completed 170 kind of desolation and hopelessness sustainable projects in 31 countries, that most people in the same helping 1.5 million children and their situation would surely feel. families living in the poorest and, in Quite simply, her amazing, live-insome cases, the most remote parts of the-moment attitude to life put me to the world. shame. At that time, Just a Drop founder “I’m so grateful for what has been Fiona Jeffery and I were working in done for me,” she said, vigorously international travel and realised shaking hands with we had an us all. opportunity to Nama - and “I’m so grateful for engage the industry others like her the value of what has been done in statuesque young responsible tourism, mothers, laughing encouraging tour for me,” she said, children and operators, tourist vigorously shaking boards and agents adorable giggling babies that I was hands with us all.” to give back to the fortunate enough world. Fiona was to meet during pregnant so we an unforgettable week at the end of decided to create a charity which last year, made me realise more than would specifically help children ever before, how happiness comes and their families. Shockingly, we from within, not from money or learned that 1.4million children - or possessions. 4,000 children a day - die every year Before Just a Drop transformed from water-borne diseases such as their lives, women and children alike diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery trekked an average of six kilometres because of drinking unsafe water. twice daily, carrying 20-gallon In between trying to make a living, containers (I should know, I tried we worked nights, lunchtimes, to pick one up!) to collect from the weekends, any spare moment to get nearest muddy watering hole or river, Just a Drop off the ground. It was often shared with livestock. tough going, particularly as neither of The installation outside Nama’s us had any experience of the charity home is part of a project by Just a sector. Drop and partners Kituntu Women’s Our message was - and still is Association in the village of Kayabwe, - simple . One that literally could an hour’s drive from Kampala, Uganda. mean life or death for tiny tots whose The aim is to provide clean water immune systems are just not mature and sanitation close to the homes enough to cope with dirty water. As of the elderly who cannot trek half a we grew, we also began to help the kilometre to a protected water source. elderly as well as families. Over those seven days of my visit, Yet despite the relatively modest I witnessed many heartbreaking amounts of money needed to provide stories of what happened before Just clean water and sanitation across the a Drop came into their lives. Bonnie, world, much work is still desperately the quietly spoken nurse, who used needed. to run like crazy to collect water some distance away from her little A Light Bulb Moment mountainside clinic, before sprinting Back in the beginning, what, we back, hoping that a mother in labour pondered, should be the name of our had not given birth while she was fledgling charity ? away; the orphanage that nursed an Something different; something average of 40 sick children a week unusual to catch the eye; to spark the

Above: Jane with the villagers and children

imagination. Trundling down the escalator at Waterloo Station on the way to work from Wadhurst one dreary London morning, I came up with the name we ‘ve used ever since: Just a Drop! Five children under the age of five have died from water-borne diseases during the time you have taken to read this article. Moved by the work of Just a Drop and the desperate plight of so many, Samantha Cameron held a reception for major donors and influencers at Number Ten Downing Street in February. ● If you would like to learn more about the work of Just a Drop or how to donate, log on to www.justadrop.org MAY 2016 47

NURSERY, KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-PREP FROM 2 YEARS OLD

Teaching at Vinehall is founded on adventurous learning and stimulating themes For more information please contact Karen Cooper on 01580 880413 or at admissions@vinehallschool.com

www.vinehallschool.com

Education

Turn off the tablets and get outside! By Richard Follett

ith the arrival of summer looming encouragingly on the horizon, most parents will be looking forward to a time when their children can get outdoors and enjoy the benefits of sunshine and fresh air. wFollowing a winter when we seem to have been beset by relentless strong winds and rain, one would imagine there is a desperation among children to break free from the confines of the home and get outside. Traditionally, the family television would have come to the aid of parents and children in the dark days of winter as a welcome source of distraction. Yet today’s children are not the same as in years gone by, and there is a real concern that whilst the seasons may change, the habits and interests of young people are becoming increasingly repetitive. Even the television holds less of an appeal, with research showing technology other than ‘the box’ becoming consistently popular. A 2016 study by Childwise found that for the first time, the amount of time spent each day by 7-16 year olds using mobile technology such as phones, tablets and laptops has overtaken the time spent watching television. The average was just over two hours of television per day, but three hours spent online across the age groups, increasing to nearly five hours for 15-16 year olds. There are of course numerous benefits to technology and children definitely should gain experience in using a variety of devices for different purposes. Gone are the days at school when children were simply taught how to produce a word document on a given topic. Just recently for example,

the BBC launched a ‘Micro Bit’ initiative to encourage 11 and 12 year olds to become more familiar with the benefits of coding. I very much hope this is a success, as it is certainly a step towards the future. But it is so important that time outside engaging in healthy fresh air pursuits is not sacrificed in the process. There is also a growing awareness of children’s mental health issues which should not be overlooked, particularly when one considers the links between this and social media dependence. Public Health England has found that three in ten teenagers ‘feel low, sad or down’ at least once each week, with loneliness, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and heightened aggression some of the possible issues faced by children who may overuse the internet.

There is compelling evidence of the benefits gained from prising your child away from television and mobile technology and sending them to play in the outdoors. Researchers have found that children who spent from five to 10 hours a week outdoors have a stronger sense of self-fulfilment and purpose than those who don’t. In a study by Michigan State University, children who regularly played outside had a deeper appreciation for beauty, were more creative and had more active imaginations. They also expressed a sense of belonging in the world and an acute need to protect the earth. If that isn’t a good enough reason to turn of the technology, put the tablets and mobiles down and get outside, I am not sure what is. ●Richard Follett is Headmaster of Vinehall Preparatory School near Robertsbridge, East Sussex.

Public Health England (PHE) says there is an association between the amount of time spent on social media sites and “lower levels of well-being”. The link exists even at very low levels of use, but becomes even more significant when children spend more than four hours a day in front of a screen. Public Health England stated recently “Children who spend more time on computers, watching TV and playing video games tend to experience higher levels of emotional distress, anxiety and depression, particularly among those who engage in high levels of screen use - more than four hours a day.”

MAY 2016 49

Gardening

Blooming marvellous: six of the best summer flowers

ummer’s the time of year when your whole garden can be ablaze with colour as annuals and perennials electrify the entire area. Some flowers are easier to grow than others, but, with a bit of effort, a riot of bold hues can be yours with minimal hassle.

Here are a few of our easy-to-grow favourites to get you started:

, ERS to grow – in fact W O L F SUN re very simple r children to

u These a introduce yo o it. ld em to d olian u h t o c g in t t you ng e o g ing by s the M t. garden ieties, such a h ig e ar 14ft in h Some v e up to ow the seeds b n a c , o is s Giant place ed to d e n nd in a u u o o r g elter, All y e to th ll as sh rts in e t w h s ig a a str sun ppo there is w. Provide su oms. where o r g b llest lo them and let ems of your ta st for the

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50 MAY 2016

Gardening

FUCHS I

ed PEAS rom se SWEETre easy to grow f ritain’s most

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These p AS a to grow tio plants are , again, and ad ea d colour to cont fantastic blas sy ainers t s of basket and s. The fl owers c hanging shapes ome in an all profess d colours as well. Fo ional lo r a truly ok, pin stem’s ch awa tip whil y each e the p quite y lant ou plentif ng so that you s are still ul, hea lthy gro encourage wth.

PANSIE

Irresist S ibly che er from se ed or p y, pansies can ansy plu be grow deadhe gp ad n encour ing the faded lants. Keep age mo b lo oms so re flow You can that yo ers s u weeks tart growing in to come thro u before g d h o . o r s up you You cou ld even plan to trans to eight plant t plant in winter hem. flowerin t g. Spac he summer fo plants e these betwee r n seven b and go and 12 edding for mo inc ist, soil for the bes well-drained hes apart , humu t result s-rich s.

NASTU

These c RTIUMS an not to b grow in part ial shad loom a s e prefer poorer well. Actually , but tend quality , these soil hap flow soil p won’t n ens to be part and, unless y ers our icularly eed to ad p these g row qu d fertiliser. Yo oor, you ickly, a u’ll find in bord nd t er the larg s or spilling o hey can be so ut wn e as the la seeds directly of containers . Sow into th st frost e soil a s have year sh s so go ou varietie ld be fine. Th ne, so this tim on ere are e of s which ev enjoye can go d as an in a sala en edible unusua lly attr d or be active g arnish! MAY 2016 51

Garden Store

CUB CADET MOWER

Cubcadet.co.uk

This mower changes its speed with your walking pace, slowing down or speeding up as necessary. It also offers the choice of side discharge mulching or clippings collection. The four-wheel rotary operation means you can’t get stripes, but on the plus side it’s extremely easy to manoeuvre, with a 46cm cutting width.

JUST UNDER

£450

PLANTSNAPP This clever little app serves as a link between green-fingered pros and enthusiastic novices or old hands needing specific advice – at the click of a button. Problem plant? Upload a photo of it and submit a question. Usually within hours, you will receive advice on the best way of caring for the plant and solving the issue. www.gardencompass.com/

GARDEN STORE Especially for gardeners... Whatever the size of your patch and however experienced you are at gardening, there’s always something that can make working in the garden even more enjoyable.

PERSONALISED TROWEL AND FORK These garden tools are not only made from great quality carbon steel and ash timber but they can also be made truly yours (or your recipient’s) with an engraved personalisation on each handle. What’s more, they come with a lifetime warranty.

bigdug.co.uk

£12

woodandmeadow.com

£49 notonthehighstreet.com

£29.95

PLASTIC GARDEN TOOL TIDY The compact, slim design of this great value tool rack makes it ideal if space is at a premium. Keep all your spades, forks, rakes and the like together and tidy in the garage or shed. With a solid plastic base shelf and moulded upper tool holder, this easy-to-assemble product comes with wall brackets and is quickly wiped clean. 52 MAY 2016

Garden Store thepresentfinder.co.uk

£14.99

worm.co.uk AROUND

£25 ALLOTMENT TOOL & TUCK BOX This one’s ideal if you do your gardening on an allotment, or know someone who does. It’s a sturdy tin with plenty of room inside to keep all your most important tools and, crucially, refreshments for while you’re out!

BEEFAYRE HAND CREAM For the gardener who’s happy to get their hands dirty – but also likes to have them nice and soft afterwards! With this gorgeous hand cream, you can nail the ideal gardening-themed gift. Take your pick from rosemary and neroli or lavender and geranium fragrances in 100ml tubes, beautifully gift packaged.

COPPER WATERING CAN Stylish and functional, this Haws copper watering can from woodandmeadow.com is userfriendly, thoughtfully designed and well-balanced. It comes with a removable brass rose for a fine spray and can be gift boxed.

worm.co.uk

£22.95

FISKARS XACT DIGGING SPADE Remarkably well-balanced, durable and tough, this is the Rolls Royce of garden spades. It comes with a pointed, strengthened steel head that’s sharp enough to cut through the hardest ground. Every gardener needs a spade, so you may as well invest in a good one. my-tool-shed.co.uk

£24.45 MINI BYPASS LOPPER Perfect when you need to lop at close range, this compact piece of kit, weighing just a kilogram, cuts through thicker stems with more ease than a standard set of secateurs. Save time, ease the strain on your wrists and get a clean, healthy cut with the bypass cutting action.

MAY 2016 53

Gardening

Your gardening toolkit: what every gardener needs

specially if you are new to gardening, you’ll need the right tools for the task at hand, to make jobs quicker and easier. You’ll also get a better quality finish to your work. But, equally, it makes sense to stick to buying only those tools you definitely need and will actually use. For example, if you don’t have any high trees in your garden, a pair of long-handled loppers is simply not a necessary or worthwhile investment. Choose your tools carefully, and go for products that are long-lasting, user-friendly and functional. Once you have them, of course, you will need to look after them so they stay up to the job by being clean, sharp and in a good condition generally. Cleaning with a wire brush keeps rust at bay, as does wiping metal parts with an oily rag before putting the tools away. Before buying, check tools for the length of their handle, and their weight, to be sure they are right for your build.

What you need Spades and forks www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/sovereign-carbonsteel-digging-spade-325675 You’ll need one of each in your ‘toolkit’. The right spade makes digging a bed much easier. Choose the right length for both these tools to reduce the risk of back strain. If you are especially tall, choose a long-handled version, but for most gardeners a 72cm handle will be fine. Stainless steel is probably the best material for blades. A D-handled spade or fork can become uncomfortable with prolonged use, and you may want to use a T-handle if you have quite big hands. Secateurs www.amazon.co.uk Felco FEL2 Model 2 Original These are ideal for cutting and pruning wood up to 1cm in thickness. You can also use them to take cuttings more comfortably than with a regular knife. And, as with most things, you get what you pay for! Bypass secateurs are a great choice – these are hardwearing and have two blades passing each other to make a smooth cut. It’s often possible to replace parts on secateurs as these wear out. Shears www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2884004.htm Go for high-quality, lightweight models if you have plenty of hedges to keep in shape. Once again, look for comfortable handles and stainless steel blades.

54 4 MAY AY 20 2016

Gardening knife www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/marshalls-garden-knife-pid6481. html This can be a handy implement for cutting string, opening bags of compost, and taking cuttings. More specialised models are available, but choose a straight-bladed one for general tasks.

Gardening

Rake www.tesco.com/direct/bulldog-premier-wizard-rake Go for a steel head with a metal or wooden handle. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need a rake for preparing seed beds, clearing debris and evening out soil. A lawn rake with flexible teeth is ideal for removing leaves, grass clippings or moss. The more teeth your rake has, the more quickly youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to cover an area. Hoe www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Dutch-Hoe-1405mm-CarbonSteel/p/500101 A hoe is what you need for keeping on top of weeds. Once again, look for a stainless steel head. A draw hoe drags weeds from the soil; a Dutch one will slice right through the top of them. Use the corner of this tool to drag to create shallow trenches to sow veggie seeds. Try and go for a forged model, and one with a stainless steel head.

What else? Other items that would be handy for your toolkit, depending on budget, include a wheelbarrow, a strong garden broom, watering can and some lawn-related tools including edge and half-moon trimmers. To maintain beds, you may like a hand trowel and fork, while a dibber is perfect when it comes to moving seedlings or planting seeds.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got designs on your garden #% % # # ' & ! # % % & ! *((+ & )(( "& If you are planning a new garden for 2016 then contact Tim Sykes on 07725 173820, or just Google Gardenproud

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Gardening

Why gardening could reduce

Alzheimer’s risk Gardening, along with pursuits such as dancing, is among the physical activities which could cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 50%, claims fresh research. Written by Ania Jeffries

indings from the new study were published this spring in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, and the research was conducted by Pittsburgh University’s UCLA Medical Centre. Scientists working on the study looked at nearly 900 patients with an average age of 78, at four different research sites in the United States. Those who took part in the research were asked about their habits regarding physical exercise, while MRI brain scans measured the volumes of brain structures including those parts of the brain connected with both Alzheimer’s disease and memory. Relationships between activities were compared to the volume of the brain, and results indicated that older people who were physically active had more grey matter in key areas of the brain connected with cognition and memory. Equally, those with Alzheimer’s or a mild cognitive impairment tended to lose less brain power over time when they burnt off calories in high numbers through exercise. Dr George Perry, editor of the journal, explained that lifestyle choices such as exercise were highly promising as a way of dealing with and preventing Alzheimer’s disease. And he described the research as a ‘landmark study linking exercise to an increase in grey matter that opens up the whole field of lifestyle intervention to objective biological measurement’. It has also been welcomed by the Alzheimer’s Society. The charity’s director of research and development, Dr Doug Brown, said: “In previous

research, we have seen that exercise, as well as boosting overall health, can help to improve some of Alzheimer’s disease’s underlying causes. “The body of research is now added to by this paper, which suggests that different kinds of exercise can positively affect the brain. However, we still need to delve deeper to understand how this impact on the brain has an influence on the risk of dementia.” Dr Brown added that the news that physical activity can reduce the risks of dementia should be welcomed, in particular by those who found the idea of cycling or running long distances too daunting. Gardening, in contrast, is of course a lot gentler. The study noted that doctors may soon decide to prescribe lifestyle changes, including taking up activities such as gardening, to those who have Alzheimer’s. At the same

time, technological advancements may mean doctors will be able to carry out baseline neuroimaging of those who already have mild cognitive impairment or are at risk of Alzheimer’s. These are another group who may benefit from changes in lifestyle. So it seems gardening is a lot more than a simple hobby – it could help ward off the scourge of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s Disease International reckons there were nearly 47 million people living with Alzheimer’s across the world in 2015, a figure that is set to double every couple of decades. ●In the UK some 850,000 people have dementia, according to The Alzheimer’s Society. (www.alzheimers.org.uk/) Ania Jeffries www.nextstepmentor.com MAY 2016 57

WADHURST

Open Gardens

Raising funds for the work of Carillion Cottage

Sunday 5th June 2.00pm to 6.00pm N A variety of delightful larger gardens in the surrounding area of Wadhurst village. Including a garden featured on ‘Location, Location, Location’ with “ fantastic views” N Refreshments, cream teas, available at Wadhurst Parish church N For those without cars, a car shuttle service available

“I can step out my back door and the world is predominately green”

N Plant sale (Rapkyns Nursery) and craft stalls

Tickets/guide £5.00 donations appreciated for car shuttle service Available at Carillon Cottage High St, Wadhurst (next to post office) tel: 01892 785658

Email: info@carillon-cottage.org.uk from Tuesday 3rd May or purchase on the day from 1.30pm

RICHARDS FENCING www.richards-fencing.co.uk

Fencing, Gates, Hedge planting and general Estate maintenance. www.richards-fencing.co.uk ian@richards-fencing.co.uk

07811 956 744 01892 770 186 58 MAY 2016

s my local rural ramblings are due to feature regularly in Your Wadhurst Magazine, I think I better declare my hand: I like rural life. On a recent trip back from London to Wadhurst Station, as the conurbations melted into a greener environment where the imprint of people is less overwhelming, there was an unconscious relaxation. True, the charm of rural stations is somewhat reduced by the uncertainties of station improvements and bus replacement services, but there is still the simple pleasure of Sussex country station buildings and the rhythm of the names: Frant, Wadhurst, Stonegate, Etchingham, Robertsbridge, Battle, Crowhurst... I also like rural High Streets. At a time when larger towns and cities risk boring uniformity, the rural High Street is often the last bastion for independent bookshops, specialist shops, boutiques and cafes with mismatched china, serving cake that tastes like it was made by a person, rather than a machine. True, rural High Streets suffer from the modern

Rural ramblings

9CFJWTǕ Rural Ramblings

scourges of too much traffic and too little parking, but they are still good places for a browse. Rural Pubs are a generally accepted pleasure. Whilst their big town and city counterparts fake it, the country pub offers the real deal. The beams are genuine, the fires usually fuelled by wood rather than gas, and the beer, draught, cool and locally brewed. Country Pub gardens, particularly as we finally stagger into Spring, are great for enjoying the sun actually shining. At this time of year, they are free from the perils of wasps, whose persistence would well suit them for the insect equivalent of a career in sales, and you can enjoy your lunch without the futile flapping of hands accompanying late summer snacks.

Then there are the local flower shows and fetes. I’m not sure if other countries offer prizes for the longest runner bean or the biggest pumpkin, the spongiest sponge or the fruitiest chutney. And what about the coconut shy? A lot of effort goes into winning one, but does anyone ever do anything with them? Still, if you haven’t been to your local show recently, then you really ought to; you’ve missed out.

By Helen Stockton I’m not suggesting that rural living is a continuous picnic, although if you want one of those you’ll be spoilt for a choice of location, and I’m not blind to the disadvantages: isolation, poor transport, shrinking local services and getting stuck behind tractors, but for me, it’s worth it. I can step out of my back door and the world is predominantly green, ideal for rural ramblings and I hope you’ll join me for some more, every month.

There also seems to be an increase in fun dog shows, with classes for the dog that looks most like it’s owner, (or is that the owner who looks most like its dog?), the dog with the waggiest tail or the pooch with the most appealing eyes. They actually engender the spirit of fun that surely dog shows should be all about. MAY 2016 59

Wayside Cottage A cosy holiday cottage, perfectly located in Wadhurst village. Available for weekend getaways and relaxing short breaks Tel: 01892 785483 Email: enquiries@wayside-cottage.holiday www.wayside-cottage.holiday

MAY 2016

Ben Greig Motors AUTHORISED VAUXHALL REPAIRER • AllMakes Makes Serviced $ All Serviced • FreeLocal Local Collection & Delivery $ Free Collection & Delivery • CourtesyCars Cars Available $ Courtesy Available • MOTTesting Testing $ MOT OnOn Site Site • Tyres,Exhausts, Exhausts, Batteries & Brakes $ Tyres, Batteries & Brakes • AirConditioning Conditioning Serviced & Repaired $ Air Serviced & Repaired Sparrows Green, Wadhurst • 01892 783157 • www.bengreig.co.uk

Faircrouch Garage Your local and friendly car garage

T: 01892 783824

CAR REPAIRS MOT & SERVICING BODYWORK EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS FAIRLY PRICED

E: faircrouch@aol.com www.faircrouchgarage-wadhurst.co.uk

Wadhurst Business Park, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6PT

MAY 2016

Carpets with character by Brook House Carpets

Brook House Carpets Established over 30 years

01892 655275 www.brookcarpets.co.uk jdsayer@tiscali.co.uk 1 Lexden Lodge, Crowborough Hill, Crowborough

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Generating Interest Limited, The Clock House, High Street, Wadhurst TN5 6AA Tel: 07540 756710 or 01892 599696, info@generatinginterest.co.uk, www.generatinginterest.co.uk 62

MAY 2016

Thinking of Selling or Letting this Spring? Speak to your Local Independent Estate Agent for some straight forward, knowledgeable, professional and honest advice. For a complete, personal service, tailored to suit your needs, why not call Burnett’s for a free, no obligation and up-to-date valuation of your property? Whatever your property requirements, we’re here to help.

Specialists in the Sale and Letting of Rural and Village property

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Wadhurst Ofﬁce

3 Church View House High Street, Mayﬁeld East Sussex, TN20 6AB mayﬁeld@burnetts-ea.com 01435 874450

The Clock House High Street, Wadhurst East Sussex, TN5 6AA wadhurst@burnetts-ea.com 01892 782287

Lettings Department lettings@burnetts-ea.com 0845 8737493 Associated London Ofﬁce Park Lane, London W1K 7AG 020 7409 8371

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