Vine Magazine | July 2012

vine

y o u r fav o u r i t e s e v e n o a k s m a g a z i n e w w w . v i n e d i g i ta l . c o . u k

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Why do people play sport? Sevenoaks author and educationalist Christopher Lloyd gives Vine the answers

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VI n e

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• www . v i n ed i g i tal . co . u k

• YO U R

FAVOURITE

SEVENOAKS

M A G A Z IN E

What’s inside?

July 2012

28

Welcome to Vine Welcome to the July edition of Vine! I hope you’re all enjoying this unforgettable year and looking forward to the exciting season of sport in front of us. Naturally, we have devoted this issue of Vine to the forthcoming Olympic Games, with Sevenoaks author and academic Chris Lloyd answering a most intriguing question: Why do we play sport in the first place? We also bring you exclusive interviews with future Olympic hopefuls, including race walker Tom Bosworth and World Junior Skeleton Champion Lizzy Yarnold.

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24 EVERY MONTH 08 Headlines 12 Monthly musts 36 family and kids 56 What’s on?

59 SEVENOAKS SHOWCASE 62 mumblings

VINE DINING 32 food for thought Our resident foodie Benjamin James of the George & Dragon in Chipstead reveals what’s been keeping the pub busy and shares his monthly cocktail recipe 30 PUB OF THE MONTH Vine visits The Woodman in Ide Hill, Sevenoaks to discover good pub grub and great live music

FEATURE

HOME & GARDEN

18 OLYMPICs SPECIAL Christopher Lloyd tells us more about the history of sports and why we play them

31 INTERIOR TRENDS This month, we take a look at the best of British trends as we celebrate this very special sporting year

24 GREAT DAYS OUT Vine gives you a roundup of the best family days out in Kent this summer PLUS Steve Pettitt shares his love for South India 38 INDULGE ME Vine takes a look at some perfect ways to relax and pamper this season with an ultimate guide to spas, salons and treatments Cover shot: Christopher Lloyd ‘The What On Earth Wallbook of Sport’, 2012 © CHRISTOPHER LLOYD

PROFESSIONAL 23 legal matters The team at Warners Solicitors offer regular expert advice on topics relevant to our everyday lives. This month Rebecca Massam gives advice on Common Law Marriage

WELLNESS 40 VINE STYLE Don't forget to check out our new fragrance of the month to smell sensational this summer

Summer is steaming ahead...the weather isn’t as hot though! Despite the gloomy grey skies, Vine brings you the ultimate guide to Great Days Out in the county (page 28), including tips for that perfect country picnic (dry conditions permitting!)

Ladies...we also have the perfect excuse for pampering yourself this month with our “Indulge Me” round-up of the best spas and beauty treatments in town (page 38).

Finally, our Alfresco dining feature takes an all inclusive look at the best places to devour the most sensational menus during these lighter summer evenings. You’ll also find a few surprises too...with a “Retro Sweet” trip down memory lane (page 31) and a stunning tour of South India with Sevenoaks-based traveller Steve Pettitt.

Happy reading!

Emily Louise Overy

Editor emily@vinedigital.co.uk

HEADLINES

Duchess of Cambridge visits Widehorizons

Second Pantiles Vintage Fair to go with a swing On the back of the Pantiles' 40s Festival in June comes the second Pantiles Vintage Fair in association with Spa Valley Railway.

On July 28 and 29 more than 30 stalls will be featuring vintage kitchenware, crockery, books, furniture, luggage and much more.

Entertainment includes music and dance from The Swinging Little Big Band, The Jive Aces (as seen on Britain’s Got Talent), and the Downtown Meltdown DJs playing vintage vinyl. Vintage shopping, fashion and vehicles will also feature.

The Pantiles Vintage Fair is a not-for-profit event and a celebration of classic 20th century design, pre-loved items and revisited retro style.

“Vintage is hugely in vogue,” says Richard Simm, chair of The Association of Pantiles Traders. “A younger generation are discovering and embracing mid-century style, while the older generation are happy to immerse themselves in the nostalgia of the era.”

The Duchess of Cambridge visited Widehorizons Margaret McMillan House in Kent in late June to meet children from ARK’s King Solomon Academy Primary school.

During the engagement, the Duchess toured the centre and met children taking part in an outdoor residential course, joining them in activities such as building a shelter, campfire building and outdoor cooking.

The children also showed the Duchess inside one of the tipis in which they had camped overnight.

Widehorizons Head of Centre Niall Leyden said: “Kate was really fabulous. She walked around and talked to all the children. She was very at home with all the woodland activities; I would have her as an instructor here any time.”

Widehorizons Director of Services, Scott Craddock said: “The Duchess understood the importance of this work with children. The link between success at school and adventure is well known and as a charity we believe these opportunities should be available to every child and young person.”

n Call 08455 205250 or visit www.pantilestraders.co.uk

n For more information visit www.widehorizons.org.uk

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01732 760823 www.vinedigital.co.uk hello@vinedigital.co.uk Vine Publishing Ltd 3A Lakeview Stables, St Clere, Heaverham, Sevenoaks Kent TN15 6NL

EDITOR

Emily Louise Overy emily@vinedigital.co.uk t: 01732 764508 designers

Matt Handley matt@vinedigital.co.uk Yuri Tamburrini yuri@vinedigital.co.uk Malwina Wisniewska malwina@vinedigital.co.uk MARKETING EXECUTIVE

Nic Lapham nic@vinedigital.co.uk Web developer

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Blast from the past: The Pantiles 40's Festival

© Nadia Bettega/ARK

© David Bartholomew

Celine Cozler celine@vinedigital.co.uk Amanda Hayden

VINE PUBLISHING LTD publishing DIRECTOR

All smiles: Kate with the children

Owen Hunnam owen@vinedigital.co.uk t: 01732 764509 CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Charlie de Rusett charlie@vinedigital.co.uk t: 01732 764501

Chilstone to host charity garden party To raise funds for Hospice in the Weald, Chilstone will be hosting a MidSummer Garden Party on Sunday July 8. Visitors can expect live jazz, beautiful show gardens and woodland and lakeside walks, including exhibitions of summer houses and stone work.

Guests will even see how Chilstone creates its famous stone architecture!

Call Hayley Brown on 01892 820502 for tickets

Art Attack host reveals new work

Looking back at Lullingstone The Book of Common Prayer is one of the most influential texts in the English language – banned under the Roman Catholicism of Queen Mary and reintroduced under Queen Elizabeth.

Turn pages of the past on July 14 at St Botolph’s Church, Lullingstone between 11am-5pm in an exclusive Prayer Book exhibition displaying over 70 intriguing books.

Contact Joanna Comer at joannacomer@ btinternet.com

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Visit www. woodsrestaurant.co.uk or www.neilbuchanan.co.uk

In celebration of the Olympics, former Maidstone-based Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan is to exhibit his new limited edition ‘street’ artwork – Back Street Games. Neil will be at Woods Restaurant, Tunbridge Wells on July 18 between 6-8pm to talk to guests about his new work. Guests can enjoy Woods’ canapés and a free glass of wine too!

Find us on Facebook and Twitter

Vine is published monthly in the UK by Vine Publishing Ltd. (Company reg no: 7195338) with a total circulation of 15,000. 8,500 land on the doormats of selected Sevenoaks households. An additional 6,500 are available through our extensive distribution network of over 150 pick-up points across the district. Printed in the UK. Please recycle Vine.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial in Vine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. © 2012. All rights reserved.

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London Road shops host unique park-refund scheme Got any old parking tickets stashed away? Dig them out and hot-foot it to London Road in Sevenoaks to save money on your shopping this summer!

The scheme works as follows: if you have parking tickets of up to £1.20 each from any Sevenoaks-based car park (either current or expired), bring them to one of 13 shops in London Road that are taking part in the scheme and they’ll refund the amount off your shopping.* It really is that simple!

Martin Cozens, owner of Beaux Bagels and one of the pioneers behind the scheme said: “The great thing is that the tickets do not have to be in date. At the moment people are not taking advantage of this great scheme and they really should! We want everyone to know about it and make the most of it!”

Taking a £1.20 ticket to Beaux Bagels for example would mean money-off a delicious salad, coffee or bagel.

Get saving those tickets!

Stag hosts Comedy Club You’ve seen them on Live at the Apollo... now big names like Maff Brown, Terry Alderton and Stephen K Amos are coming closer to home, performing at the Outside the Box Comedy Club at The Stag Theatre on July 5 and 12. n For more information and tickets book online and visit www. outsidetheboxcomedy.co.uk

To celebrate how art can change and influence people’s lives, Knole is featuring a new art exhibition within its Orangery on July 24 to showcase the talents of clients working with mental health charity, Sevenoaks Area Mind. Entitled The Beauty of Imperfection – In Perfection, the exhibition, which runs until August 5, features 20 canvases produced by Altered Art Group members.

n *Minimum spend threshold applies. To find out more call 07931 340259

From Cudham to Kenya A two-and-a-half-hour charity fundraising “Hike for Hope” circular walk from Cudham recreation ground will take place on July 7 to raise money for Candian charity Elimu – an organisation providing education and a healthy environment for children in Kenya who are at serious risk of falling into child prostitution or contracting HIV/Aids.

The leader of Motivational Walks for women, Jane Bennett, said: “This is a chance for everyone to get out and enjoy the beautiful countryside so close to home and at the same time make a real difference to children who don’t have what we consider to be basic rights. I’m thrilled that Nina Chung, the founder of the charity, will be joining us too.”

The Hike For Hope is open to everyone with a £25 contribution for adults and a children’s challenge with prizes for the highest-achieving under-16 fundraiser. n For more information visit www.essential-woman.com/ hike-for-hope or call 07990 560671

The beauty of Bodiam

Fairy Queen furore

Get back to nature on July 21 and 22 at Bodium Castle as the venue hosts its Woodman Weekend between 11am and 4pm each day. Visitors can take a step back in time and explore the castle’s ruins, grounds, battlements and towers.

Demonstrations of various traditional woodcraft activities such as Sussex trugs, bird boxes and wood fruits will also be made. Visit www.nationaltrust. org.uk/bodiamcastle

Jonathan Kent’s awardwinning 2009 production The Fairy Queen is to feature at the Gulbenkian, University of Kent, Canterbury on July 22 at 6pm. Prepare for a magical brew featuring dazzling singing and dancing, flamboyant cross-dressing, a flying horse and a warren full of rampant rabbits! The Daily Telegraph called it “an absolute riot, but executed with taste and style.” Visit www.thegulbenkian. co.uk

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Altered Art exhibits at Knole

n Call 01732 462100 or visit www. sevenoaksareamind.org.uk/2012altered-art-exhibition

Tennis Academy runs Summer Camps If you’re wondering what to do with the kids this July, you’ll be pleased to know that Kent’s leading Tennis Academy will be running summer holiday courses for juniors at the Hollybush Tennis Centre. With a range of lessons for all ages from 3+ and a variety of difficulty levels, there really is something for everyone! n Call 01959 523377 or visit www.tennisacademy.org.uk

‘Shearing Magic’ Garden Party for Correction at The Ship Hope Foundation Notice Theatre In the June edition of Vine Commonwork Farm Amazing pianist Derek Paravicini will be showcasing his talent at this season’s Sevenoaks Summer Festival (June 23 – July 8). Blind from birth and with severe learning difficulties, Paravicini is an exceptionally gifted pianist who will be starring in a jazz concert featuring the music of one of his inspirations - the late Sir George Shearing. Visit www. sevenoaksfestival.org. uk

Manor House (home to the yoga classes of UK fitness teacher Simon Low), is this August hosting a garden party to raise funds and awareness for the HOPE Foundation, providing healthcare and education for street and slum children in Kolkata, India.

A wide range of classes are available to try. The garden party takes place on Saturday August 4, from 12-6pm. Visit www. charityyogaday.org.uk

we incorrectly published a news in brief mention, on regarding the Rehab Hair Salon Charity Fashion Show at St Michael's School, which actually took place in June 2011, not June 2012. We would like to apologise to our readers, the owners of Rehab and the team at St Michael's School for any inconvenience caused by this inaccuracy.

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First, it deep cleanses the pores to help detoxify the skin for a clearer complexion. Intensive rejuvenating serums are applied to help sculpt and lift the muscles, to produce instant and extraordinary anti-ageing results. Fine lines and wrinkles appear smoothed, slack muscles look re-sculpted, skin tissues are oxygenated and the complexion is immediately more luminous.

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July 2012

MONTHLY

MUSTS

A round-up of trends, what’s new and must-have buys from your local area

MUST-LISTEN Following the success of his 2011 album F.A.M.E , Chris Brown is back with Fortune – a pop/R&B combination laced with dub-step, with the ambition to change the face of R&B, returning it to the clubs.

You’ll probably recognise catchy dance numbers “Turn Up The Music” and “Don’t Wake Me Up” from radio airplay. The rest of the album certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Available from July 2. n Call Compact Disc on 01732 740889

MUST-TASTE Foodies must visit Cliftonville Farmers' Market on Sunday July 29. Considered one of the best farmers' markets in Kent by Produced in Kent, the event is organised and funded entirely by volunteers and the Cliftonville Residents Association. Producers will be selling a variety of breads, cheeses, eggs, honey, fruits, vegetables, wild game, fruit juices, fresh meat and much more. After all that eating, you can take a walk along the nearby clifftops or sandy beaches!

Held on the Oval Lawns, Eastern Esplanade, Cliftonville, Margate between 10am and 1pm. n Contact June Chadband on k.chadband@btinternet.com

MUST-SEE The final night of the prestigous Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition (TWIYCA) offers a not-to-be-missed chance to appreciate extremely gifted, young international musicians performing in a bid for the overall winner’s prize. If you enjoy the BBC Young Musician of the Year, you will certainly enjoy this uplifting evening out.

Starts at 6:30pm on Sunday July 15. n Visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

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Lust, murder and betrayal prevail in this gripping summer thriller from James Patterson. Abbie Elliot and her three best friends step off a private helicopter to the most sensually pampering hotel they have ever been to. Their lavish presidential suite overlooks Monte Carlo, and for four days they surrender to the sun, pool, and Bruno Paillard champagne. In the morning’s harsh light, Abbie awakens on a yacht, surrounded by police. Abbie, Winnie, Serena, and Bryah are arrested and accused of the foulest crime imaginable, causing the vacation of a lifetime to become a fight for survival. n Visit www.sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk

MUST-VISIT Between July 13-15 GuilFest is celebrating its 21st Anniversary! GuilFest is an independent music and arts festival held in the beautiful surroundings of Stoke Park, Guildford. Famous for its eclectic line-up, friendly atmosphere and great live musical entertainment crossing all genres – there really is no other festival like it! Comedy, theatre and arts/crafts also feature.

This year acts include Olly Murs, Jools Holland and Tulisa. n Visit www.guilfest.co.uk/2012

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Over 90 business owners came together at the stunning Fosse Bank School, Mountains Country House, Hildenborough on a balmy summer’s evening to mingle, exchange businesses cards, sip fine wines and savour delicious handmade canapés and pastries courtesy of Poivre Noir Catering

This month’s Grapevine will be held at: Darenth Valley Golf Course on Monday July 30 at 6pm.

Visit vinedigital.co.uk/grapevine to register for your free invite

Terrific evening hosted by @VineMagazine huge networking group at Fosse Bank School - great venue!

Gillian Kirk@kirk_gillian

Speaking of Grapevine’s success, Fosse Bank Head Mrs Gillian Lovatt-Young said: “It was a pleasure to host Vine’s major business networking event and to meet many representatives from the local business community. Some of the attendees were new to the Fosse Bank School site and were delighted to discover the tranquil setting in which we provide a first-class preparatory education, especially for those seeking grammar school entrance for Year 7. We are holding an Open Morning on 3rd July at 11.00am and all visitors are welcome to come and meet us!"

Another stunnning venue for last night's #grapevine event by@VineMagazine #foss bank school looked amazing in the sunshine Andrea Starbuck@Ten2TwoKentA

@VineMagazine Excellent Grapevine event tonight many thanks, it all helps to get the #Econokit name out there & we’re getting great results.

@VineMagazine great do at @ FosseBankSchool! Lovely setting & good seeing everyone. Hope year 2 is as successful as year 1!!

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Gabrielle Izen@GabrielleIzen

@vinemagazine happy birthday #grapevine top business networking event in #Sevenoaks Growing Business@Eightoaks To see all the photos from this event visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vinemagazine and for more information on forthcoming Grapevine events, or to watch the video, visit www.vinedigital.co.uk

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vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 15

DID YOU KNOW The page that’s all about you

Top tweets

Catch Vine on Twitter @VineMagazine

No.

Chocolate is the number one foodstuff flavour in the world

Our pick of the best local tweets this month

“Wow - that’s a jump in followers overnight. Or are they all sexbots?

@The Stag

So, they hate left handed people now....what’s with the new milk carton handles that are shaped for right handers??? Boo I say

@Isabel Platt

Just about to give a speech on social media with a local government slant to a room full of experts #thiscouldbeintresting.”

PM Your feet get bigger in the afternoon

Readers’ Pets Pet name: Heston Heath

the MP

Owners: Nicholas and Joy

with Michael Fallon MP

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99% of the world’s animals are smaller than a bee

@Peter Fleming

NEWS from What a fantastic Diamond Jubilee! In my own village, Sundridge, I was proud to plant a copper beech to mark the occasion. In a garden that was originally laid out to honour the Queen’s Coronation, the next generation of village children will sit on a bench that commemorates the Silver Jubilee in 1977 and admire that tree from 2012 onwards.

Why was the Jubilee so successful?

It showed enormous affection and respect both for the monarchy and for the Queen herself. In many other countries a quarter of a million people marching on the Palace would have been bad news; here it was the culmination of the celebrations for the Queen’s extraordinary achievement of 60 years on the throne.

I think there were other reasons.

First, celebration wasn’t compulsory.

Nobody had to do anything. But all

99

%

the local events were home-grown, spontaneous or put together by volunteers. It was our Diamond Jubilee, not the State’s.

Second, if you want a big national event done properly, you get the military to plan properly, rehearse and perform with dignity. Throughout the weekend, from procession to fly-past, it was the services that caught the eye-efficient, immaculate, and well-drilled.

And the politicians kept out of the way. David Cameron read a lesson at St Paul’s...but otherwise the Royals had centre-stage.

I hope that the spirit of the Jubilee will last – that we all get to know our neighbours better and pull together in our streets and villages. n Have a question for the MP? Please send to editor@vinedigital.co.uk

Likes and dislikes: He loves to swim in our pool in Spain.

We haven’t found any dislikes yet!

Favourite Treat: A cold beer on a summer’s day!

A word from the owner: He’s the biggest retriever we’ve ever known! At a year and a half he weighs 40kg! (and is currently dieting...) n If you think you’ve got a print-worthy pet then email us at editor@vinedigital.co.uk and you might see them in Vine

We’d love to know what you thought of this month’s Vine

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Send your 250-word review to: editor@vinedigital.co.uk Visit www.vinedigital.co.uk or follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Why do people play sport? author and educationalist Sevenoaks Christopher Lloyd gives Vine the answers o ly m p i c s

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The average lawn grows at a rate of 3 inches per month

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COMMUNITY STARs Jean Peel of Halstead – the locals have named her a dame!

She worked tirelessly to produce a Jubilee weekend of celebrations, and often does so with such events to bring the communities of Halstead and Badgers Mount together.

The Jubilee Committee, headed by Jean, was formed before Christmas and held regular meetings, with an important focus on getting the views of local residents to hear what they wanted to do over the weekend. Jean, as always, tried to accommodate everyone.

Halstead village thought so much of her that at their Jubilee Fun Day a special presentation was made to her affectionately, declaring her “Dame” Jean Peel.

Jean has always been a beacon of charity giving, and spent many years working for Marie Curie. She was also a primary school teacher throughout her professional career and a helper for Girl Guides. She has done so many things in life and worked with so many different people that writing an account of her life would make for far more interesting read than any celebrity autobiography.

Her achievements include putting together a 1950s party, organising the Tiaras and Tuxedos gala evening, a church service in a marquee, a bring and share lunch (and hog roast), a flotilla screening in the Village Hall, family fun days and official-approved beacon lighting.

Most of us wouldn’t dare take on such challenges… but at no point does Jean fluster or stop working. A heartfelt thank you goes to her from all the residents of Halstead and Badgers Mount for all the hours she puts in to bringing communities together.

How is training going at the Walking Centre at Leeds Metropolitan University?

Things are going really well so far – and I couldn’t be happier with the progress I’m making.

Take us through a typical training session – what sort of things do you work on?

Most of my sessions involve a 10 to 15km walking session at a steady speed. I also have speed sessions five times a week, which involve walking 2km at a very fast pace. In total I walk around 130km a week, but the sessions are very important in order to build and develop my technique.

What are you most looking forward to at the Olympics?

Every month we interview a notable member of your community

Tom Bosworth The Sevenoaks-born race walker talks to Vine about his plans for the Olympic season

Just the novelty of having it in our country! It’s a great advert for UK sport and to get British people interested in lesser-known sports like race walking.

How does it feel to have been selected to carry the Olympic Torch through Potternewton, Leeds?

It’s a great honour and I really wasn’t expecting it at all! I’m so excited and really looking forward to it.

What has been the most memorable race for you so far?

The Commonwealth Games in India in 2010 was my first major championship and definitely the most memorable. It was spectacular and the great numbers of people there ensured there was a fantastic atmosphere. Another most-memorable moment was during my most recent big race at the IAAF Race Walking Grand Prix in La Coruna, Spain. I obtained the fastest time for a British man completing the 20km race for 10 years and was really happy.

Where’s the best place you’ve ever visited?

Canberra and Sydney in Australia. I spent two months there in 2011 and found it a visually stunning place. There was so much to do there too!

How do you keep yourself motivated?

Through hard training you always hope one day that you’ll compete in the Olympics.

Knowing you’re currently on the long list and have a chance of getting onto the short list certainly gets you up in the morning as an athlete!

Where is your favourite place in Kent?

My home village of Kemsing. I try to visit as much as possible to escape and relax. Leeds is very busy and hectic and I love the slower pace back home.

vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 17

FEATURE

Why do people

play sport?

As a boy, Sevenoaks author and educationalist Christopher Lloyd was never interested in sport. But having spent a year working on a new Olympic What on Earth?

Wallbook that charts the story of sport from ancient times to the present day, he now has an inkling as to what the fuss is all about…

M

y father belongs to eight different golf clubs, owns more than 20 pairs of spiked golfing shoes, boasts a wardrobe full of brightly coloured flares and has written a diary of every round of golf he has ever played since the age of 14. At the latest estimate he has walked around the world at least twice – all on the golf course. I think it is safe to say that he is golfing mad.

Over the last year I have become something of a sports guru too after co-writing the new What on Earth?

Wallbook of Sport. Along the way I have compiled the following list of top ten reasons why sport seems to be so inextricably bound up with the history of humanity over the last three million years.

1) Because we walk on two feet: - Australopithecus, the upright ape The most obvious reason why humans play sport is simply this: we walk on two feet. After all, a dog can’t play golf any more than a camel can throw a javelin. Sure, animals can race and perhaps push a ball, but the drawbacks for playing sport when on all fours as opposed to two feet are profound. Exactly why our ancestor Australopithecus swivelled upright some three million years ago is still a hot topic.

2) In our quest for eating meat: Weapon-wielding cavemen: The oldest real sport is hunting. Men have literally millions of years of gene flow emanating from their ancestors whose excellent hunting skills meant they were more likely to have fathered the most children. It is hard to imagine anything more absolutely human than the combination of standing upright, using hands to make tools and hunting in packs. I say human, but actually I mean male. It’s interesting to observe the reality even today that sport – be it amongst players or followers - is still a

mostly masculine pursuit. Millions of years of evolutionary instinct can’t be quickly undone even in an age of equal opportunities.

3) As an aphrodisiac: The struggle for survival in the wake of Toba Research from the human genome project has made the fascinating discovery that about 70,000 years ago, the populations of our human species H. sapiens, declined catastrophically, perhaps to as few as 1,000 breeding pairs. The date coincides with the eruption of devastating supervolcano Mt Toba in Indonesia, which is thought to have thrown the global climate into an apocalyptic fit.

Geoffrey Miller, in his book The Mating Mind, makes the intriguing suggestion that in such a world the best show-offs among the remaining men would be the most likely to father children, since the remaining females would want to be convinced that they had chosen the best mates, securing the best chances of success for their offspring.

Look at sport today and the same aphrodisiac of attraction around men who are good at sport seems to hold true.

4) For physical fitness: Olympic glory in ancient Greece Once people started living in towns and cities (from about 7,000 years ago in some parts of the world), there was a new need to protect personal wealth, animals and property against attack. What better way of identifying the most physically fit men to be soldiers than in a sporting championship?

The Olympic Games, which are thought to have begun in 776 BC, were used by city-states such as Sparta as part of their drive to create a master race of super-fit humans to ensure the survival of their society in a region studded with perilous rivals. Hitler’s admiration of the ancient Spartan practice of weeding out the weaklings from society through infanticide makes a chilling connection between the desire for physical fitness that underpinned the ancient games and the Berlin Olympics of 1936.

5) As a form of popular entertainment: Imperial control in the Roman Empire Shoot forward just a few hundred years and the Roman inheritors of ancient Greek culture successfully tackled one of their biggest political problems through sport. Control of the populace of Rome itself (which had swollen to more than one million individuals by 100 AD), was mastered by a cunning Imperial strategy that involved building sports stadia in every major conurbation. Ancient Rome’s circus maxima, with a capacity to hold 150,000 spectators, makes most modern stadia look modest at best. Chariot races were held on up to 135 days a year, with gruesome gladiator fights taking place just down the road at the Coliseum. As a result, Rome’s most testosterone-rich inhabitants were safely huddled together under the watchful eye of the Imperial guard.

6) For cultural diffusion: Horse breeding and the rise of Islam Trawl through the history syllabus in any British school and you will rarely find much space devoted to the role of Islam in shaping the modern world.

According to the legend of Al Khamsa, Mohammed deprived his horses of water for three days to test their endurance and stamina, before letting them free to run out towards an oasis. Then, as a test of loyalty and good breeding, he sounded his battle horn. Only five of the mares stopped and returned to their master before reaching the water – and it was from these five that the famous Bedouin bloodlines are said to have been bred.

7) As a proxy for war: Aztec sport and human sacrifice The use of sport by rulers – be it for popular control or cultural expansion – came to a gruesome climax in the Aztec culture of Mesoamerica where rubber was first fashioned into bouncy balls. Their ballgames were used as a curious proxy for war. Instead of thousands of people fighting in hand-to-hand combat, control over cities and states was left to the gods to decree after the playing of a ballgame in which the winners took the land and possessions of the losing side, while the losers were sacrificed to the gods.

8) As a sign of social status: Being seen to be one of the English aristocracy No school curriculum is bold enough to leave out Henry VIII, of course. But few acknowledge how big a deal sport was to the Tudor king who reshaped Britain. Using the fabulous riches pillaged from dissolving the monasteries, Henry embarked on a twin strategy for national success.

One was to build a fleet. The other was to make sports a national pastime – eventually to be spread throughout the world thanks to the Royal Navy he founded. Henry was so in love with sport – he is said to have spent as much as a third of his adult life hunting on horseback – that soon every selfrespecting aristocrat began to boast some sporting prowess.

Real tennis (Henry built a court at Hampton Court), horse racing (Henry built a race track at

Cobham, Surrey), dressage, wrestling, fencing, angling and bowls were all championed by the hot-tempered king. Forging a link in the popular mind between being good at sport and being fit to govern is perhaps one of Henry’s biggest legacies, often overlooked, but one that reaches all the way through to the playing fields of Eton and Rugby.

9) For the hope of getting rich: Gambling and the Sporting Life All societies have to have some mechanism for giving poor people the hope of a better life. In the West, it was the prospect of winning a fortune at the races that seemed to offer most hope, but with the potential for much more immediate, tangible returns. The spread of newspapers and the arrival of railways in the Victorian age made visiting sports fixtures and gambling a national obsession among rich and poor - although the consequences were often tragic. After losing his entire fortune on the Derby in 1867, the 26-year old Marquis of Hastings drank himself to death.

10) Because of an innate need to struggle: The modern Olympics “The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

The words of Baron Pierre de Coubertin (credited with the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896), summarises the last and perhaps most powerful motive underlying the entire spectrum of sport from rock climbing to basketball. I think of my father’s obsession with golf. His is a constant struggle…

For people in love with sport, perfection is impossible, victory is sweet and failure is maddening. Thanks to golf, my father’s life bristles with emotion, drama, hope and fantasy - as it no doubt will for all the athletes that assemble this summer in our gleaming new temples of Olympic sport – and for those that watch. They are there because, like all of us, life is best celebrated as a struggle – a contest against nature, the environment or fellow beings. I guess in that sense we are all, at heart, sporting mad, always have been and always will be.

On one side, The What on Earth? Wallbook of Sport tells the story of the modern Olympics from 1896 to the present day in the style of a newspaper. On the other side, it charts the entire history of sport in 1,000 moments on a timeline from ancient Greece to 2012. The What on Earth? Wallbook of Sport is available to Vine Readers at a special discounted price of £10 plus £2.95 P&P (RRP is £17.50). To order your copy call 01443 828811 and quote VINE or go to www. whatonearthbooks.com/vineoffer n Visit www.whatonearthbooks.com

vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 19

E

Vine investigates how Hadlow College’s new south London satellite campus in Shooters Hill will create new opportunities well beyond the Olympic Games

questrianism is set to benefit from a number of projects forming part of, or related to, the Olympic Legacy. One of the most interesting, undoubtedly innovative and enterprising relates to the establishment of an equestrian training centre at Greenwich, in a partnership between Kent-based Hadlow College and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, with additional sponsorship from the British Equestrian Federation and Sport England.

Not surprisingly, Greenwich already attracts large numbers of visitors who enjoy taking in the longest waterfront in London, the newly restored Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory, Old Royal Naval College and acres of beautiful parkland in Greenwich Park (where future Olympic equestrian events will be held).

Despite its ‘Royal’ prefix and trendy ‘village’ area however, Greenwich remains one of the most deprived boroughs in London with an above-average number of adults receiving jobseekers allowance. Significant regeneration projects are therefore underway to create employment and provide new homes. The forthcoming Greenwich Equestrian Centre, the official name of which will be announced at its grand opening following the Olympic Games, is a great example of such plans.

Managed entirely by Hadlow College (considered to have one of the best equine departments in the country), the centre will offer fully accredited British Horse Society and City and Guilds equestrian training programmes to prepare students for a range of jobs within the industry. Working in conjunction with equine vets, physiotherapists and other specialists, the centre will also be providing equine therapy and rehabilitation services to prepare students studying for a Bachelors degree in Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation.

These are particularly exciting innovations for London and Kent – both of which have large numbers of resident horses.

The facilities at the equestrian centre will include stables, lecture rooms, a 60 x 20 metre outdoor arena with an all-weather surface, an equine swimming pool, aqua treadmill, horse-walker and weighbridge among other diagnostic and treatment equipment. Students will also have the opportunity to ride horses stabled at the

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college’s main campus just outside Hadlow village near Tonbridge.

Research indicates a considerable number of residents in the borough cite riding as an important recreational activity. The new centre is therefore a particularly welcome addition. Derek Payne, Faculty Manager of the college’s equine department, and Director of Finance and Resources Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, have expressed their excitement at the prospect of the centre affording new possibilities, encouraging social inclusion and forging valuable links that will result in job opportunities.

Lumsdon-Taylor, who managed the project at Hadlow College, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Greenwich Council in creating something new, different and lasting. The centre will afford fresh opportunities for Greenwich residents while providing a state-of-the-art centre for a very exciting new degree programme and a range of accredited training courses’. n For more information call Pat Crawford on 07771635684, or email pat.crawford@hadlow.ac.uk Visit www.hadlow.ac.uk

The Sevenoaks Skeleton Slider Vine talks to Skeleton World Junior Champion Lizzy Yarnold about her past, present and future in one of the world’s most unique sports What exactly is Skeleton?

People always ask me and I basically say it’s a fast sport on ice where a person rides a small sled down a frozen track lying face down. It’s therefore different to bobsleighing or the luge (in which the person lies on their back).

How did you get into it and at what age did you first try it?

I always did sport when I was younger, having attended St Michael’s Prep in Otford. I then took part in a talent search called “Girls for Gold” with a friend and did very well. Then in early 2009 while at university, I tried skeleton for the first time when I was in Lillehammer in Norway on a trip.

It was really frightening – I rode the sled and just hoped for the best! It was such an adrenalin rush though!

How did your parents react? Were they a tad concerned about the safety aspect of the sport?

They didn’t say anything at all actually! They have always been really supportive and I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.

What’s the greatest speed you’ve hit?

The fastest speed I’ve ever reached was in 2010 on the track in Vancouver – the fastest track in the world. I clocked 140km/hr (around 90mph).

What goes through your mind when travelling at such speeds down a sheet of ice? Don’t you worry about being able to stop?

My teammate does a really funny impression of me to suggest that I’m empty headed and that nothing goes through my mind at all! I guess you can’t think too much – every millimetre counts so you can’t over-think things.

How does it feel to be the Skeleton World Championship Bronze medallist and 2012 World Junior Champion?

It sounds odd, but it feels natural and I’ve always known that I could do it. I’ve worked so hard that I feel I’ve earned reaching this point through hard work. I’ve always

felt like I was born to do this.

What are you most looking forward to about the London 2012 Olympics?

I’m looking forward to seeing younger athletes getting the best times and smashing those records, because somehow people generally seem to have greater expectations of older athletes and sometimes see them as more talented because they are experienced. I’m looking forward to seeing sprint kayaker Jessica Walker.

The Winter Olympics are in Sochi in 2014 – are you making plans or training yet?

To some it seems like it is far away but for me it is really close! I train five days a week and I have a World Cup race in February 2013 and World Championships in Saint Moritz. n Lizzy is currently seeking sponsorship to help her on her way to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Visit www.lizzygbskeleton.com for more information and to make a contribution.

BYGONE DAYS OF THE BACKHAND With Wimbledon in full swing, Vine takes a look at how, when and where the sport of tennis originated

M

edieval tennis originally began in the 12th century in France, with players using only their hands, painfully striking balls with their palms until, in the 16th century, rackets came into use and the name “Tennis” used.

Especially popular in England and France, the game was mainly played indoors where the ball could deflect off walls. This caused problems however and often resulted in players fighting over who had won. A common complaint was that the ball could bounce off of a wall if hit in a certain way, resulting in a direct return to a player which gave them an advantage against their opponent. Unsurprisingly, Henry VIII was a big fan of this version of the game, known as “Real Tennis”.

It is believed that his second wife, Anne Boleyn, was actually watching a game when she was arrested for adultery and treason, and that Henry continued playing Real Tennis throughout her execution.

English lawyer, soldier and writer Major Thomas Henry Gem (also known as Harry Gem), became the earliest

inventor of modern day lawn tennis along with his friend, Spanish merchant Augurio Perera. Among Gem’s sporting interests was the game of rackets (akin to present day squash), which he played in his home town of Birmingham. Frustrated at the complex and expensive facilities required for rackets, the pair developed a simpler game that could be played on Perera’s famous croquet lawn at 8, Ampton Road in Edgbaston. The game involved the incorporation of rackets alongside features of the Spanish game Basque Pelota (played by hitting a ball against a wall using a racket or wooden bat).

In 1872, along with two local doctors, Gem and Perera founded the world’s first tennis club in Leamington Spa.

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Vinead(05-03-12):Layout 1 05/03/2012 11:03 Page 1

LEGAL MATTERS The team at Warners Solicitors offer regular expert advice on topics relevant to our everyday lives. This month, Rebecca Massam gives advice on Misconceptions about Common Law Marriage

100% PASS All 18 pupils at Russell House in Otford who sat the 11-plus exam in September 2011 passed with an average mark of 411, and:

One third of our pupils gained the top score of 420 Three-quarters of pupils gained full marks in the Verbal Reasoning paper One half of our pupils gained full marks in the Non-Verbal Reasoning paper

For Boys an Girls age d d 2 to 11

Misconceptions about Common Law - Spouses When a couple have been living together for a number of years and have children together, there is a common misconception that they acquire the same legal status as a married couple and become “common-law spouses”.

Although this is a term that is frequently used, it has no legal recognition; in short, there is no such thing. Unmarried couples do not need to formally dissolve their relationship like married couples, and this is just the beginning of a number of differences that come up when an unmarried couple decide to separate: Finances

BUSINESS WORKSHOP FOR BUSY BEES A Social Media for Business Workshop for busy people is being held at the Stag Sevenoaks on Tuesday 17 July for just £30 a session.

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he workshop is led by leading social media expert Adam Tinworth, who has helped some of the biggest companies in the country increase their online presence and raise their revenue. Each two-hour workshop is ideal for those who want to get more out of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for the benefit of their business.

The day will look at how to track what is working for your business to allow you to extend and improve your online marketing campaigns.

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Unlike married couples, there is currently no legislation that specifically provides for couples who co-habit and later separate.

This means that while a wife can claim a share of the family home held in the husband’s sole name, an unmarried woman cohabiting with a partner cannot.

Instead, the law of contract applies. Therefore, the way in which unmarried partners legally hold the property and the specific contributions that each has made towards it are important. This turns on evidence of discussions that the parties have had as to their intentions for ownership of that property. Unmarried couples also have no duty to provide for each other financially into the future, unlike married couples who do.

Rebecca Massam TUESDAY 17 JULY 2012, STAG THEATRE, SEVENOAKS TO BOOK VISIT: WWW.PRMEDIA.CO.UK/COURSES OR FROM THE STAG THEATRE BOX OFFICE PremierMedia_Social_Poster.indd 2

18/06/2012 13:24

n Book tickets online by visiting www.prmedia.co.uk/courses or call The Stag Box Office on 01732 450175

Children A married father is automatically assumed to be the child’s father at the time of birth and will automatically have Parental Responsibility (PR) for that child.

A person who holds PR has a say in a number of significant decisions about the child’s upbringing; those without it do not. Unmarried fathers are not automatically assumed to be the child’s father and will not automatically have PR for the child. There are a number of ways however, that PR can be acquired, either with or without the mother’s agreement. All parents whether married or not have a duty to maintain their children financially.

Upon Death Unless an unmarried individual specifically states in a will that they wish to leave (an estate) etc. to their surviving partner, it will not necessarily automatically pass to them. Unmarried couples need to make wills if they wish to ensure that the other receives the benefit of their property.

Furthermore, property that passes from unmarried partner to partner may not be exempt from inheritance tax, as it is in the case of married couples. n For more information about the issues raised in this article please contact a member of the family law team on call 01732 747900 or email family@warners-solicitors.co.uk.

To demonstrate our commitment at Warners to provide clients with access to legal advice and excellent value for money, our family team offer a FREE initial consultation on Family Law.

Solicitor Tel: 01732 747900 Email: r.massam@warners-solicitors.co.uk Areas of Expertise

• Matrimonial/Divorce • Children Act Proceedings (Contact/Residence/ Specific Issue) • Cohabitation Disputes/Cohabitation Contracts • Prenuptial Agreements • Financial & Property Matters on Divorce/Separation Professional Memberships Resolution (formerly SFLA) Young Kent Resolution Committee Likes: Baking, dancing, sunshine and spending time with family and friends Dislikes: Spiders and my alarm clock

FEATURE

in the land of SPICES AND SANDALWOOD Steve Pettitt travels through India’s magical south... a land of extreme contrasts, culture and stunning scenery

I

ndia is a destination that conjures up images of frenetic cities, ancient traditions, stunning historical monuments and vibrant colour that greet the traveller at every turn.

But head to the south of this vast country and you will discover a land of spices and sandalwood, stunning natural beauty, and a more gentle and tranquil pace of life.

Like many travellers, my introduction to India was “the golden triangle” – that stunning area of Rajasthan that takes in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and has at its heart the Taj Mahal – one of those iconic “must see before you die” sites and one that firmly meets and, invariably, exceeds expectations. That was 30 years ago.

“It will assault your senses” is a phrase commonly used to prepare first-time visitors for India. With noisy and bustling towns and cities teeming with people (and the odd buffalo or elephant), tuk-tuks backed up on crowded streets, a pace of life which seems only to exist in fifth gear and, amid the heat, sometimes appalling smells and dust, it’s a country that can both fascinate and shock.

But the great beauty and timeless appeal of India is that she wears many faces. Over the past three decades I have been drawn back time and again, especially to the south of the country. Here lies an exotic land in which life is lived at a less frantic pace, boasting an almost perfect year-round tropical climate in which palmed-fringed beaches, misty

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highlands and lush green tea plantations meet tranquil backwaters and colourful temples.

South India comprises of four states – Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. They represent not just the crossroads at which numerous cultures collide, but individually boast their own distinct, unique and captivating identity.

A wonderful place to start any journey through South India is the delightful palace city of Mysore. Great explored on foot, its centre is bursting with life and the air is permanently peppered with the aroma of roasting coffee and sandalwood.

Make time to explore its many colourful markets. My favourite is Devaraja – one of the best in South India and an exotic location that attracts photographers and foodies alike.

Outside the city, the temple at Somnathpur is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting buildings in India, while Srirangapatnam, a fortified island site in the Kaveri River, was the capital city of Tipu Sultan (‘the Tiger of Mysore’) until his death in 1799.The area is also the setting for the Nagarhole National Park – a treasure trove for the wildlife enthusiast. One of the finest in the region and home to tigers, leopards, elephants, sloth bears, striped hyenas and much more, it is best visited at dawn or dusk. But to really soak up the atmosphere, stay overnight in a luxury safari tent on the banks of the Kabini River.

Nearby you will find Tranquil – a secluded plantation bungalow in the heart of the Waynad coffee, cardamom and vanillagrowing region and a seductive spot in which to escape for a couple of days.

This 70 year-old property consists of two buildings joined by an open veranda and has been beautifully restored and decorated with planter’s furniture. It has over 400 acres of estate to be explored, with seven well-defined paths that cut through the grounds and beautiful scenery.

From here, head to the hill station of Ooty.

The capital of the Nilgiri “Blue mountain” district, it boasts a temperate climate that enticed the colonial British to escape the summer heat of Madras and while away their time with endless socialising, bridge parties and Tiffin, giving it the nickname of “Snooty Ooty”.

A must for the intrepid is a ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Built by the British in 1908, it climbs a ratchet and pinion track and provides a hair-raising journey through wonderful scenery and spectacular curves, tunnels, deep ravines, streams and tea gardens.

The drive down to Kochi (formerly Cochin), is one I never tire of taking. One of India’s most interesting towns, a principal port and the centre of the spice trade on the Malabar Coast, it was founded by Vasco da Gama and is the oldest European settlement in India. A good base for exploring the nearby tropical backwaters. The local streets throb

Bold colours are a key feature of the traditional dress

Serene beauty: the South Indian shoreline

Stay the night in the most luxurious accommodation

with merchants selling everything from rice lakes, coconut-shaded canals and estuaries where tiled and thatched cottages bright with to antiques and everywhere are reminders of the foreign traders who over the years built hibiscus dot the embankments. Many of these churches, forts, palaces and a synagogue. A barges have been converted into houseboats and provide a relaxing way walk along the waterfront will introduce you to the sight to leisurely explore the of Chinese fishing nets in beauty and tranquillity of the action, but my best memory backwaters, meet charming “It will assault your people, see children swimming is of a sunset cruise around playing in the water and the picturesque harbour senses” is a phrase and with the Bolghatty Palace women attending to daily and industrious fishermen commonly used to chores and men fishing from silhouetted as light gave way prepare first-time canoes. to dusk.

Simply furnished and consisting of a thatch-covered For centuries, goods visitors for India. were transported by barge lounge and dining area, one through the backwaters of or two double bedrooms and bathrooms with a toilet, these South India – a network of

houseboats are the perfect way to take in this magical and beautiful part of the world. And, if that wasn’t enough, some of the best South Indian food I’ve ever tasted has been caught and prepared for my lunch or dinner as I have sat back and watched local life unfold before me.

Steve Pettitt is managing director of Tunbridge Wells-based travel specialists Pettitts. Call 01892 515966 or visit www.pettitts.co.uk

vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 25

Win a Family Season Ticket for Penshurst Place & Gardens!

Penshurst Place & Gardens has something to offer all the family with its new Maize Maze opening this summer! Not forgetting a traditional adventure playground, storytelling, craft activities, seasonal garden trails, great off-road cycle route to Tonbridge and over six centuries of history all in one place. It’s a great day out!

You can win the chance to visit for a year by entering this fantastic competition to win a family season ticket!

QUESTION: What is the surname of the owners of Penshurst Place? a) Melbourne

b) Sidney

c) Canberra

Win a Family Ticket for 4 TO DIGGERLAND! Diggerland is the Ultimate Adventure Park experience where children and adults can drive REAL full size construction machinery. It is the perfect place to bring your kids for an action packed day out. With 18 different rides and drives there really is something for everyone! You can win the chance to experience the Ultimate Adventure by entering this competition to win a family ticket!

Diggerland Kent based in Strood is open 10am til 5pm at weekends, and every day during summer from July 7 to September 9 2012. Come and join the Diggerland team at the most fun-packed adventure park in the land! Here’s your chance to win a family ticket for four to Diggerland Kent.

QUESTION:

Terms and conditions apply – available from Penshurst Place

What are the names of the Diggerland Mascots?

One family season ticket (two adults + two children).

a) Digger & Dumper c) Duggy & Dotty

No cash alternative.

b) Bob & Betty Builder

Valid for a year from validation of the ticket at their visitor entrance (must be validated by 31 December 2012).

Send email entries in by July 31 2012 with your name, telephone number and address to marketing@diggerland.com with ‘Vine Competition’ in the subject line. The winner will be picked at random and notified by August 3 2012.

To enter, simply fill in a form at www.penshurstplace.com

Call 08712 277 007 or visit www.diggerland.com

Special Events Summer 2012 Sunday 15 July Japanese Day Wednesday 15 August Open Air Theatre Pride and Prejudice Friday 24 August Open Air Theatre Romeo & Juliet

A great day out for the whole family at Chiddingstone Castle

Sunday 16 September Country Fair Open Sunday to Wednesday

Chiddingstone Castle, Chiddingstone, Kent TN8 7AD

www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk 01892 870347

26 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

Sevenoaks Vine Magazine:Layout 1 15/05/2012 15:49 Page 1 F

R EE Go Travel P ar 12 Tubs Hill Parade ki ng Sevenoaks Kent, TN13 1DH 01732 458121 so@gotravel.uk.com

We aim to achieve competitive prices as well as providing a professional service.

Why not try us for a FREE holiday quotation Hotels

Honeymoon

Worldwide Flights

Skiing

Escorted Tours

Luxury

Thinking of booking that special Holiday?

Receive a bottle of Champagne or Luxury Chocolates per booking Quote: GT4 | Terms & Conditions Apply | Go To gotravel.uk.com/GT4 for full T&C’s

CHISLEHURST | PETTS WOOD | LOCKSBOTTOM | BLACKHEATH | SEVENOAKS

Jousting

& Tudor Falconry A GREAT Day Out The childhood home of Anne Boleyn

Jousting Tournaments 14 - 15; 21 - 22; 27 - 29 Jul 10 - 12; 17 - 19; 24 - 25 August The Knights of Royal England entertain with their spectacular jousts. Which knights will win the tournament - the Blue Order or their arch rivals, the Red Banner?

Tudor Falconry 4 - 5; 26 - 27 August Breathtaking birds of prey flying displays from costumed historic falconers. The stars of the show include hawks, owls and falcons.

A fun packed summer at Hever Castle...

For more information and open times call 01732 865224 Hever, Nr. Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7NG

‘KINGDOMS OF THE SOUTH’ Expert led tour to India with John Keay 15th February 2013 to 3rd March 2013 MYSORE - SRIRANGAPATNAM - NAGARHOLE SRAVANABELAGOLA - BELUR - HALEBID - HAMPI CHITRADURGA - BANGALORE - HYDERABAD Discover some of India’s best kept secrets in the company of one of its outstanding authorities. John Keay has reported on India for the BBC and The Economist, has lectured there for the British Council, and has been a regular visitor since the 1960s. Of his twenty-odd books, half deal with Indian subjects. Among them, ‘Into India’ remained the standard introduction to the country for over thirty years.

Selected by John Keay from his forty years of exploring the subcontinent, this small group tour offers a galaxy of ancient cities, forts, palaces and temples, of magnificent scenery, colossal statuary and off-the-beaten-track opulence.

The cost of this exclusive 17 day tour is from £ 3,975 per person incuding flights with British Airways.

Full details of the tour can be found on our website

www.pettitts.co.uk 01892 515966 vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 27

VINE DINING

Superior Dining in

Southborough Emily Louise Overy steps into the all new Hand and Sceptre Country Pub and Eating House to discover Great British grub with a sophisticated European twist in a stunning setting

A

n oasis of calm on an otherwise busy street, upon entering the newly and stylishly refurbished Hand and Sceptre one instantly feels relaxed and welcome. After I’m warmly greeted by the pub’s passionate new Manager Anderson Ferreira, I gravitate towards the bar area where the friendly staff accommodate my every need.

At the spacious, up-market and modern-looking bar, I feel like I could be drinking in a fancy West End cocktail establishment instead of a classic country pub. The dining area is really something to encounter as well – walls adorned with fresh blues and greens, chic wooden flooring, light airy ceilings and wicker chairs give a light, Mediterranean feel that reflects the ever-evolving Hand and Sceptre menu; an intriguing mix of fabulous pub classics with a distinctive European twist.

I visited the pub on a Friday evening, (otherwise known as their Fish Night), with pan-fried black pearl scallops, grilled sardine fillets with salsa verde and poached skate wing headlining the menu. Despite the fishy temptation, I went with a more meaty option as The Hand and Sceptre is also renowned for the best steak specials in Southborough.

I began with a starter of chorizo and potato hash, served with a soft poached egg and fresh hollandaise. The well-seasoned zing of the Spanish chorizo added an interesting spicy kick to the hash, which was perfectly complemented by the hollandaise that prevented the dish from being at all dry. The eggs were also cooked to perfection.

My main consisted of a hand-cut steak fillet served with seasoned chips, lamb’ s lettuce and grilled tomato alongside one of a selection of sauces...some quintessentially British, others not. The steak was divine: succulent, tender, perfectly cooked and without a trace of fat or gristle. I broke the age-old “red meat = red wine” rule and opted for a rosé. The Hand and Sceptre’s most popular rosé is its Spanish VQ Merlot – a refreshingly ripe, rounded and fruitful palate, finished off with a crisp taste of summer strawberries and raspberries.

Don’t forget A Fixed Price Menu is available Monday to Friday, from noon until 7pm with two courses for £12.95 Our 2 for £10 freshly made pizzas Monday-Friday from 3pm-7pm are a great treat just for you and your friends or just bring the kids!

On “Sparkling Thursdays” they bring you their Proseccos for just £15, House Champagne, Reserve de Sours Rose Sparkling for £20 and Moet for £35 all day The Hand and Sceptre offers 50% off bottles of wine if you book a table between 3-5pm on a Sunday. Enjoy alongside a great British roast with all the trimmings!

Come along to The Hand and Sceptre’s ‘Love your Local Business Breakfast’ on Wednesday July 18 7.45-9.45am.

Enjoy the works from our complimentary buffet-style breakfast as you network and connect with great businesspeople from around the area. To R.S.V.P. please e-mail Annie Hoy with your full details: annie@pubpr.co.uk

The best part was saved until last. Being the chocoholic that I am, it had to be the home-made chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, finished with dark chocolate sauce and garnished with a strawberry. Sweet and gooey with a rich smattering of cocoa, it was the ultimate indulge-me dessert.

■ Call 01892 529292 or visit www.thehandandsceptre.co.uk

Seriously Spanish.

Unarguably Argentinean.

From fabulously fiery steaks, to Flamenco dancing...Vine reveals what’s hot and happening at El Matador – one of Sevenoaks’ most unique and cherished eateries

The History of El Matador

T

he El Matador building (49 London Road) has quite a past. The town of Sevenoaks was not badly affected by the Great Depression of the 1930s-mid 1940s, but quite a few buildings were left unoccupied, number 49 being one of them. The Sevenoaks News, an independent midweek paper, was then launched on May 9, 1935 by the late Donald and Edith Hooper. The pair converted the (formerly) Lime Tree Hotel on London Road into a printing works to produce the paper. In 1940, a high explosive was fired through the roof of the premises. Noone was harmed, but the publishing magnates decided to move offices to the safer number of 49, London Road. The downstairs of the current El Matador building used to house the Sevenoaks News editorial team, while upstairs, estate agents Messrs Corke and Chapman ran their own property business. Since then, the building has seen many owners, and is now home to Spanish-Argentinean sensation El Matador. Despite its modern interior, the listed building’s archaic exterior charm remains the same to the present day.

Community Involvement Charity is a serious business at El Matador. We try to be involved with the Sevenoaks community as much as possible, participating in charity, club and school events and festivals in town. We support Help for Heroes (a charity formed to help those who have been wounded in Britain’s current conflicts), through money-raising raffles and meal badges. We also support Age Concern, setting up days where those supported by the charity have tucked into delicious meals. Working with Sevenoaks

what’s new?

Here’s the latest newsfeed from El Matador...you heard it here first!

• On July 27 we’ll be placed on The Vine in Sevenoaks with our own marquee to celebrate the journey of the Olympic Torch in the area. As usual, plenty of delicious tapas and divine cocktails will be ready to devour and enjoy!

• We took on board how much you all loved our Ibiza party earlier this summer... you’ll be pleased to know that another is on its way! Call us to make an early booking and be sure to scribble it in your diary because we’ll be hosting our Miami Beach party 2012 in late August!

• Our “Matador Nights” on Mondays and Tuesdays with their set menus to give you great value during the beginning of the week with two and three course set menus for just £19.50 and £24.50 respectively.

• Trying hard to cut down, lose weight or just eat more healthily? We are introducing a “Boot Camp” menu for those following a calorie controlled diet – so you can eat out without the guilt or worry for your waistline! Wheat and gluten-free options are also available.

community services to invite underprivileged families for complementary meals has been a focus.

ChYps hospice care for children is also a very important cause to us, and we have worked with pupils and staff at St Michael’s school to raise money for the charity. Our community work isn’t just for charities though...for instance; we like to lend a hand to The Stag Theatre too, providing free food to promote shows and corporate events.

N

WIN AN IPAD WHEN YOU DINE AT EL MATADOR! Earlier this month, Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon proudly presented an iPad to the winner of our prize draw! We’re looking forward to giving another one away! To enter, simply fill in a card when you dine with us, or fill in a form on our website! If we pick out your card out from a draw, you win an iPad! Entries for the next draw will end September 31 2012.

Call 01732 460284 or visit www.elmatador.co

vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 29

VINE DINING

The Woodman Ide Hill

Address: Tel: Opening times: Food: In a sentence: words:

With its traditional low beams, real log fires, lit candles on tables, soft music and old photos, it emits the cosy ambience you want from a village pub.

This is a destination food house with class

Goathurst Common, Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 6BU 01732 750296 12noon – 11pm Up to 40 main courses of creative cooking, allowing skilled chefs to show off their flair in creating their own speciality dishes A real country pub, which doubles up as a menagerie and a venue for great live jazz Emily Louise Overy

T

he Woodman’s original building dates back to the early 19th century, making it one of the oldest ale houses in the area, and is surrounded by other historical houses and beautiful countryside. The pub has been tastefully extended over the years to how it looks today. With its traditional low beams, real log fires, lit candles on tables, soft music and old photos, it emits the cosy ambience you want from a village pub. This is a destination food house with class. The food can be chosen from the traditional main menu, South African menu or range of specials from the chalk boards. Current special dishes include a delicious king prawn and scallop Thai red curry served with lemon and coriander rice, and calves' liver and bacon with a wild mushroom sauce. The trout for the pâté is freshly smoked on the premises. You will be served meals which have been prepared from the freshest of local ingredients and cooked to order. To complement your meal there is an impressive choice of wines or, if you prefer, a selection of traditional hand-pulled and caskconditioned ales and other drinks available at the bar.

The Woodman has a kitchen garden which partsupplies the needs of the kitchen, including vegetables and fruit for dishes. Children will love the purpose-built pen housing chickens, ducks and rabbits...don’t worry they are pets and are definitely not on the menu! A huge aviary has just been completed too, housing colourful budgies, finches and doves.

But that is not all that distinguishes the Woodman.

The spacious car park and upstairs function room (available for free hire) is a huge barn-like space that is perfect for weddings, parties and conferences and has recently hosted an antiques sale which it hopes to repeat. Many clubs meet here including the Rolls Royce Club, Vintage Motorcycle Club and the Austin Sevens Club.

There’s plenty of live music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night too! Expect a strong emphasis on traditional and mainstream jazz. On the fourth Monday of every month there’s an 18-piece swing band and an open mic night once a month allowing everyone to join in and display their talents! A recent addition to the music calendar is a rhythm and blues “Groove Night” once a month.

Many famous names have appeared at the Woodman, including PP Arnold and Derrick Nash from the Jools Holland band. The Woodman is also looking forward to hosting 11 events for the Sevenoaks Summer Festival.

30 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

PUB of

the month

Music Dates for Your Diary ___________________ Saturday 7th July

Paul Malsom’s relaxing evening of acoustic guitar music Wednesday 11th July Don Steele’s Dixieland Jazz Band Friday 13th July Tony Stone sings and plays guitar from the 60s to the 21st century Saturday 14th July Paul Malson Wednesday 18th July The Jazz Club - resident threepiece band with renowned guest artists Thursday 19th July Open Mic Night Friday 20th July Allen Humm Saturday 21st July Paul Malson Monday 23rd July The Ben Beddoes 18-piece Big Swing Band Wednesday 25th July Don Steele Thursday 26th July Rhythm and Blues Groove Night Friday 27th July Tony Stone Saturday 28th July Paul Malson

Retro Candy

Vine takes a sweet trip down memory lane...

50’s If you were a kid in the 50’s you’ll remember how your tongue turned black with the tangy taste of liquorice Blackjacks, or sizzled with the zest of a lemon and orange Sherbet Fountain. You’ll also remember how you nearly broke your teeth trying to tackle a Gobstopper!

70’s

In the 70’s kids had Fizz Wiz Popping Candy in strawberry, cherry, cola and lemonade flavours. Remember how some would dare to mix all three flavours together for an explosion on the tastebuds?!

If like us you were a child of the 90’s, you’ll recall Nerds those small, irregularly-shaped pieces of sugar crystal ranging in flavour from extremely sweet to extremely sour. Fizzy Jerks (also known as Wonka Bottle Caps) were a firm favourite too in grape, cola, orange, root beer, and cherry flavours, all washed down with a bottle of Panda Pop - a fizzy drink packed with artificial colours and E-numbers!

Anglo Bubbly Bubble Gum was also easily available – its large bright pink disks enabled you to blow the biggest of bubbles! Another treat (that at times looked like a worm cast) was Sweet Tobacco. Despite its unpalatable appearance, it was certainly addictive with its delicious strips of coconut dusted lightly in cocoa

powder!

HOT AND HAPPENING Vine ‘s Emily Louise Overy meets the pioneering pair behind Bitspicy.com – the easy way to achieve a delicious restaurant-style curry without overcomplicated recipes!

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to cook a curry. This stablished in 2011, involved my revisiting Bitspicy.com the supermarket for the is the brainchild of beef or fresh coriander married couple Andrew I hadn’t catered for that and Liz Anderson. weekend, followed by a Tired of both the lack day’s cooking, related of interesting Indian kitchen chaos and a and Southeast Asian curry neither of us could restaurants and the face eating. I now cook time-consuming process curries using our blends of cooking the food at and there is no fuss, home, they decided to set cleaning up or effort up their own company involved at all!”, says Liz. selling spices they roast, grind and blend themselves.

Andrew spent 10 years growing up in Singapore, eating local food every day.

Bitspicy is the result of his Receive a free Bitspicy tin search to find with any four barbecue spice the flavours of blends purchased online in his youth.

July and August.

“In the past Andrew would occasionally decide

Reader offer

I now cook curries using our blends and there is no fuss, cleaning up or effort involved at all!

Part of their recipe is their ‘secret sauce’.

This is no secret, but a basic puree of onion, garlic, ginger and water providing the basis for nearly all their curries. To this you simply add the Bitspicy blend and any other ingredients in the recipe. Simmer for a while to create a deliciously unique meal. Before you know it, cooking a curry

for 10 people suddenly takes 30 minutes rather than a whole day!

For the summer, the pair from Bitspicy have produced a special leaflet giving advice on how to use their spices on the barbecue. They even have a Bitspicy burger blend, tikka kebabs, lamb kebabs and minty mini-lamb burgers! n Visit www.bitspicy.com

food for thought VINE DINING

with Benjamin James

Our resident foodie Benjamin James of the George & Dragon in Chipstead reveals what’s been keeping the pub busy this month and shares his favourite recipes

For the latest news, visit our new website at www.georgeanddragonchipstead.com and follow us @GeorgeChipstead on Twitter

Freshly made apple soda bread... wonderful with Winterdale Shaw cheese!

Cocktail of the month: Ginger Pimm's

Soda Bread Recipe

No other drink screams “British summer” than the classic Pimm's. This month at the George & Dragon, Chipstead we have a slight variation on the classic. Made with a little extra gin and ginger ale, it is a grown-up's definitive summer must.

400ml natural yogurt (460g approx)

500g bread flour 1 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 2 apples grated on wide setting (ideally red for a great colour pattern)

25ml Pimm's 12.4ml Gin 125ml ginger ale 1 strawberry A few orange pieces A few mint leaves A few cucumber halves A couple of apple slices Method: Simply stir all the ingredients together over ice and serve.

Method Place all ingredients into a bowl and gently combine together. As soon as it is combined, it is done. Do not overwork the dough – the secret to a good soda bread is a quick and simple mix.

Portion and shape the bread on a flour surface. This recipe will give you six good-sized rolls.

Place on a floured tray in a hot oven (200˚C) for around 25 minutes. Keep checking the bread and when it appears golden-brown on top, turn it over and tap the bottom. It is ready when you get a light hollow sound. Enjoy!

For me, an English summer is certainly one of the greatest wonders in the world. Looking at the Kent countryside, with its sprawling fields and rivers, I’m reminded of a fun childhood spent in the sunshine and the memories never fail to bring me back to earth after a stressful day. Here at the George & Dragon, Chipstead our children’s play area is filled with excited shouts while parents keep a watchful eye and enjoy a relaxing a drink in our alfresco kitchen garden. Children seem to be delighted when a member of the team pick something straight from the vegetable beds and let them eat it.

This month, with the Chipstead village fete and Olympic-related get-togethers filling the calendar, it is a great time to eat outside either in a pub garden like ours at the George & Dragon or a lovely picnic in the countryside.

When friends and family visit us from the north, my wife and I take great pride in making a picnic using only local produce. A cheese from Winterdale Shaw, strawberries from Stonepitts Farm, local wine from Bidenden, salad from Watts Farm and even a nice bottle of beer from Westerham Brewery all have pride of place in the hamper. Along with the fresh yeast-risen bread we make every day, we often have great fun making simple flavoured soda breads to accompany our ploughmans at the George & Dragon.

They also work wonderfully with the cheese in your hamper!

Soda bread is easy and satisfying to make at home. You can go from measuring out the flour, to taking the finished loaf out of the oven in less than 30 minutes. It’s the best bread to try and make at home, take on a picnic or just enjoy daily.

We are firm favourites of local brewers Westerham, so were thrilled to hear they have just launched their first new permanent beer in four years. Proudly named the Spirit of Kent, it has been launched in partnership with the owners of the Kent Spitfire.

The Spirit of Kent XXX pale ale is a deep golden ale with citrus notes and tropical fruit flavours on the palate. Befitting a Mark IX Spitfire, the beer is hopped with nine Kent bred and grown hops.

We are proud to have it on pump at the George and Dragon so pop down and try a pint this month.

It goes down beautifully with our Winterdale Shaw ploughmans and apple soda bread.

n Visit the pub at 39 High Street, Chipstead, TN13 2RW and for more information or to book, call 01732 779019 or visit www.georgeanddragonchipstead.com

Haxted Mill Restaurant FRESH FISH & SEAFOOD

www.haxtedmill.co.uk Tel: 01732 862914

sevenoaks

Celebrate the summer with Quality Cuts of Meat from Our own Venison to Local Sausages, Free Range pork, Chicken, Lamb & Tender cuts of Beef SHOP Open Tues, Wed, Thurs & Fri 9am-4pm Selling Our Own9am-3pm Home-Reared & Saturday

In the heart of Sevenoaks town centre

Venison 5 mins from Sevenoaks town/just off A25 and Other Locally Sourced, Fine Meats Chart Farm Shop

LANE

TS STYANS

BOX

BOTT

PILLAR

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A25

SEVENOAKS

SE CHURCH RD

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BOROUGH GREEN

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Freshly cooked food available lunchtimes and evenings Generous wine list

Free Farmyard Parking Open Tue, Wed & Fri 9am - 4pm Shepherd Neame Ales & Sat 9am 3pm Chart Farm, Seal 5 mins Sevenoaks town/just off A25 Chart,from Sevenoaks, Kent TN15Seal 0ES Chart, Chart Farm, t: 01732 761672 Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES O p en M on d ay – S atur d ay m: 07976 726 469 T: 01732 761672 / 07976 726 469 BANK STREET • SEVENOAKS • TN13 1UW www.chartfarm.com www.chartfarm.com TEL: 01732 452192

vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 33

Vine takes a look at some of the best independent shops on London Road, Sevenoaks that refuse to be downtrodden by large high street chain stores. Don’t forget to take advantage of the new parking scheme too and get money off your shopping!

Sevenoaks Computers Look out for this sign when shopping at any of the listed shops on London Road, Sevenoaks.

Simply bring along either new or used parking tickets to the value of up to £1.20 to get money off any products you buy with the following companies...

F

P

E E R

Sevenoaks Computers is your convenient local source for computer advice, the latest laptop and PC models and great support. Check out their latest offer – a year’s remote support for just £60...so you get free support every time you call, with one annual subscription of £60!! They also provide superfast fibre broadband, with no call-centre hassle and all support is given directly from their Sevenoaks’ base. Paying too much for toner?

Sevenoaks Computers’ contract with Samsung Printers allows you to save up to per-cent on your consumable costs! Always worth talking to – call them now for a Toshiba Satellite C850-10U at £299.99! n 11 London Road 01732 466666 www.sevenoakscomputers.co.uk

Flowers and Sparkle Flowers & Sparkle provides high quality chair covers in Kent and fantastic wedding flowers, giving your venue and special day that glamorous finishing touch. They also provide wedding stationery, wedding decor services and bridal bouquets/buttonholes. There is no better gift than flowers on someone’s birthday...at Flowers & Sparkle in Sevenoaks the extensive range of fresh flowers means you can contact the shop with any order to have a beautiful handmade bouquet made on request and delivered directly to the door of the recipient. n 30 London Road 01732 741927 www.flowersandsparkle.co.uk

Williamsons Butchers The seventh generation Williamson butcher to run this 200-year old establishment is Gary Williamson, who proudly sells a wide selection of meats and cheeses from only the best local sources (try their Duddleswell Organic sheep’s cheese, or their trademark home cooked ham!) Very knowledgeable of the business and with a real passion for cooking, Gary is always happy to give advice and share his tips and recipes with customers.

With summer upon us, make sure you get down to Williamsons for all your barbeque meats! From homemade burgers, to peri peri pork steak, lime and sweet chilli marinade, and minted lamb steak. Great hog roasts are available too! n 20 London Road 01732 453189

Beaux Bagels One of the best value-for-money breakfast, lunch or brunch outlets in Sevenoaks (and, very probably, in Kent), Beaux Bagels owner Martin Cozens serves up 40 ready-to-go genuine Brick Lane bagels using only the best local, fresh produce - all at unbeatable prices. So next time you’re hungry, pop in to Beaux Bagels and choose one of their fresh salads, Paninis, sandwiches or bagels and get stuck in! Beaux Bagels is currently working with the Better Body Shop to promote getting healthy through a range of weight-loss salads from just £3. With over 30 different ingredients and nine varieties to choose from – who said getting healthy had to be boring?! n 24A London Road 07931 340259

JAMIA Formerly known as Sargeant Gifts, Jamia, a quirky little gift shop run by brother and sister partnership Ann and David Sargeant, caters for all your gift-idea needs this summer.

They sell everything: from bags, to hat boxes, purses, stationery, Christening gifts, jewellery, scarves and cushions. With a selection for every occasion, Jamia (named after David’s four year-old son Jamia and two year-old daughter Reader offer Mia) is the perfect place Vine Readers for that perfect present get 10% off any this season. Pop along purchase in store to see their exciting new selection of bags.

The Hardware Centre

Sevenoaks Art Shop

The Hardware Centre is an independent retailer stocking everything you need for homeware, maintenance and DIY. Their kitchenware store stocks top quality brands that price match with larger chain retailers. Head down there today to receive an amazing 20 per cent off the sought-after black Le Creuset cast iron cooking range! Customers can also shop online too with the new launch of the Hardware Centre buy-online website.

Established in 1927, the Sevenoaks Art Shop is a family run business and one of the busiest framers in the south east. All staff have an artistic background and are happy to assist you in any way. They are also members of the Fine Art Trade Guild and are Guild Commended picture framers, having framed (among many other things) the biggest jigsaw in the world, antique swords, original Damien Hirst paintings, England rugby caps, 4th century Roman bangles, ski poles and hard disk drives. They can even repair broken frames, re-glaze pictures and restore oil and watercolour paintings! Don’t forget to check out the fantastic gallery too, with works by Quentin Blake, Graham Clarke and Rob Ryan.

n 43 London Road 01732 450363 www.hardwarecentre.co.uk

The CHOCOLATE SHOP Managed by experienced chocolatiers Tina Fenner and Sarah Salisbury, The Chocolate Shop does anything and everything chocolate-related!

With over 300 different varieties of English and Belgian chocolates, as well as plentiful stocks of vintage old-school sweets, there’s something to suit every sweet tooth and plenty of choice – from salted caramels to the sweetest Turkish delight! They even stock specialist gluten-free, diabetic and dairy-free chocolates so those who follow a special diet don’t have to miss out. All chocolates can be delivered locally through mail order service too! n 59 London Road 01732 742350

SEVENOAKS HABERDASHERY A traditional Haberdashery shop where the “the only thing old fashioned is the service”. You’ll find everything for all your tailoring, sewing, knitting and dressmaking needs. With summer holidays upon us and a new school season to look forward to in early autumn, it’s time to get those school uniforms embroidered and labelled up with their labelling service. With a wide selection of fabrics and experienced couturiers/dressmakers to produce wondrous garments from them, you’ll have everything you need for special occasions too! Newcomers to sewing can also improve their skills with a new season of beginners’ lessons covering repairs, buttons and pockets for £20 per hour. To book a class, email uknit_sales@uknit.co.uk n 5 London Road 01732 459708

n 45 London Road 01732 452551 www.sevenoksartshop.co.uk

The ANCHOR INN Looking for a tipple? The Anchor Inn is your convenient stop for a cheeky half and great pub food, served Monday to Friday lunchtimes with a healthy dose of character. A fine selection of lagers and bitters await you, as well as the best Guinness in town!

There’s always plenty going on at The Anchor Inn...with a Poker night every Monday, and three tables of Texas Hold ‘em (games start at 7:30pm and 9:30pm). For music enthusiasts, there is a live world class blues club held two Wednesdays a month from 9pm, as well as the Open Mike Night on the last Wednesday of every month from 9pm.

Not forgetting the free pool Fridays, men's and ladies’ darts team and quiz nights! n 32 London Road 01732 454898

THE COMPACT DISC Whether your music style is UK top 40 pop, or more eclectic, or even classical, or if you’re looking for a hard-to-find DVD boxset, you won’t go wrong at The Compact Disk. Store managers Martin Salisbury and Phil Drown will help you to find what you are looking for, whether that’s classical music, new releases, comedy, musicals, or hard-to-find rarities. You’ll currently find hundreds of new special offers up for grabs, including the Jacques Tati Collection DVD box set – in stock for just £42! n 57 London Road 01732 740889 www.bluesandjazz.co.uk

Kent College Pembury Headmistress completes 55-mile walk

Funds are still pouring in following Sally -Anne Huang’s successful completion of a sponsored 55-mile walk from Folkestone to Pembury to raise money for the Kent College School in Nepal.

Mrs Huang and Prep Headmistress Ann Lawson (who joined Mrs Huang in the final days) were elated to see the whole school cheer her on as she took the final steps after five long days of walking through Kent.

Star ting at Kent House, Bouverie Road , Folkestone on June 7, Mrs Huang’s route took her through Hythe, Appledore, Rolverton, Benenden, Cranbrook, Goudhur st, Matfi eld and finally Pembury.

Speaking of her challenge, Mrs Hua ng said: “Walking the route between Folkestone and Pembury has been one of the most challenging yet enjoyable experiences of my life. If I ever felt I had bitten off more than I could chew, the support of friends and colleagues kept me going.”

During her walk, Mrs Huang has so far raised £3,000 for the Kent College School in Nepal via the Shiva Charity. n To make a donation, visit www.just giving.com/SA-HuangKCNepal www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk

ILITY TO SWIM DISCOVER YOUR AB IM SCHOOL WITH ANGELA’S SW

Have you got a budding Jamie Oliver or Lorraine Pascal at home? ys are almost here The long summer holida s to children of all sse cla g kin and we offer coo to make some mini ages, whether they wish boosting confidence or pizzas and cup cakes a curry or quick and with learning to make to university. easy meals to take away with Come and have some fun

Emma and Stephanie

9134 01959 532648 • 07863 13m www.emmas-table.co info@emmas-table.com

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and get e starting 23rd July Book a 5-week cours lessons te iva pr d an Small group your first lesson free. nths mo 4 m fro ng rti ies sta for all ages and abilit

– 6th-9th August 4-day crash course r 4-day Take advantage of ou – £25 se ur Streetdance co ucted at a range Our classes are cond . well-equipped pools of modern Private ion : s are Locat School Otford, Combe Bank St Michael’s School am, bh Co e lud inc s on ati Sevenoaks, other loc rd Gravesend and Dartfo

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Kumon’s maths a nd English study programme s are tailored to your child’s ind ividual needs, nurturing their ind ependence and enthusiasm for le arning.

To unlock your ch ild’s potential, co ntact your local Instructor fo r a Free Assessm ent: Sevenoaks Stud y Centre Mandy Yarnold 01 342 851221 kumon.co.uk

Keep it Funky this summer!

It was a very Funky Jubilee... Now have a Funky Summer with The Chicks!!

The Funky Chicks absolutely rocked The Jubilee Celebrations at Dunton Green Recreation Ground on Jubilee Monday, as well as holding their own party in Chislehurst earlier that day!

One of the event organiser s told The Funky Chicks: You girls were Fantastic, the kids loved you and want you back soon. Ever yone joined in with the dance routines and family members of all ages were hula-hooping and had their hair sprayed different colours!

The Funky Chicks have lots of excit ing plans for the summer... including drop-in dance classes and wor kshops at their Funky Chicks Academy at The Lounge, Whitehorse Hill, Chislehurst, and many appearances at School Fairs and Mus ic Festivals. Why not get involved and invite The Chicks along to your spec ial event or birthday party this summer? n Visit www.funky-chicks.co.uk, ema il info@funky-chicks.co.uk or call 0208 3026992 n www.facebook.com/thefunkychicks n www.twitter.com/thefunkychicks

SUMMER Collection

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk 0871 423 5656

Visit our Tunbridge Wells store: 208 Royal Victoria Place, TN1 2SS. Tel: 01892 533 347 Visit our Sevenoaks store: 6 Bligh’s Court, Bligh’s Meadow.

TN13 1DD. Tel: 01732 455360

read our blog for all our news and views

Vine Magazine june.indd 1

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WELLNESS

FREE Cosmetic Surgery information evening with Marc Pacifico – Consultant Plastic Surgeon Thursday 12th July 7pm at Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Join us in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere to find out more about cosmetic surgery, and allow us to help you make the decision that’s right for you. Following the presentation you will have an opportunity to have a 5 minute confidential chat with Mr Pacifico.

Tel: 01892 552932 Email: tun.enq@nuffieldhealth.com Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 4UL nuffieldhealth.com/tunbridgewellshospital

Excellence on your doorstep at Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital We are coming to the end our multi-million pound refurbishment programme, and we are looking forward to welcoming you to our new look private hospital very soon.

• 40 stylish en-suite patient bedrooms.

• Consultants covering most specialties.

• On-site Physiotherapy, Pathology & Radiology.

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Don’t just go private, go personal Whether it’s on an insured or self-pay basis there’s no need to wait. Ask your GP to refer you to the new Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital and be prepared for some first class treatment when you need it most.

Tel: 01892 552 932 Email: tun.enq@nuffieldhealth.com Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4UL nuffieldhealth.com/tunbridgewellshospital

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vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 39

Get that sun-kissed look this season with Vine’s favourite blush regardless of skin type or colour

Create a soft youthful summer look by gently sweeping this Blush Horizon de Chanel for £46 from www.boots.com across your cheeks, its many colours blending together for a healthy touch of pink shade for your cheekbones and temples. Alternatively, create a sun-kissed look with its peachy hues.

Fragrance of the month Londinium by Molton Brown Just in time for the Olympic Games - capture the spirit of London and all its contradictions with this limited edition unisex fragrance by Molton Brown for £75 (50ml). This addictive scent contains an eccentric blend of zested bergamot, crisp berries, myrrh and green oakmoss on a base of incense and aged malt whiskey. www.moltonbrown.co.uk

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CALLING ALL HAYFEVER SUFFERERS According to pollen experts, 2012 will be one of the worst years on record for hayfever.

Vine finds out how you can stop it from ruining your summer...

A

n estimated 15 million people in the UK suffer from hayfever and the number is rising.

According to pollen experts, 2012 will be one of the worst years on record for hayfever.

The season starts with the arrival of warm, dry weather during the spring which continues until the end of summer for some. Wet weather in April helps grass to grow, so with dry weather in May the grass pollen count increases. Ninetyfive per cent of hayfever sufferers are allergic to grass pollen. The pollen season includes three main phases: tree, weed and grass pollen. Tree pollen allergy is the main cause of symptoms for early and mid-spring allergy sufferers, while at

the beginning of autumn weed pollen can be a problem.

At The Salt Caves (first branch opened in 2008), we help both children and adults with various year-round respiratory allergies. Salt therapy is completely natural, without any side effects. We provide one-hour relaxing sessions in a tranquil environment. With the help of a medical device called Breeze Tronic Pro, tiny salt microparticles are circulated in the rooms.

Salt Therapy (Halotherapy) was first documented scientifically in the 1800s by Polish physician Dr Bochkowsky. He reported that salt miners suffered few respiratory diseases and made the link with salt treatment. The treatment has been popular in Central and Eastern Europe ever since.

Despite its name, a Salt Cave is a light, salt-encrustedroom suitable for group therapy. Clients sit on comfortable

40 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

chairs and breathe in fresh, salty air. If you close your eyes you can easily imagine that you are sitting on a beach somewhere.

Salt aerosol is proven to have bactericidal effects, cleansing microbial flora of the respiratory tract and slowing down bacterial growth, increasing resistance to respiratory tract diseases. Salt aerosol is a well known decongestant; it reduces inflammatory widening of the airway passages, restoring the normal transport of mucous secretion and freeing blockages in the bronchi and bronchioles. It also has a hyposensitizing effect in which the body becomes less sensitive to a substance producing an allergic reaction. IgE is the antibody involved in allergic reactions.

Dry sodium chloride aerosol eliminates airborne pollen particles from the airways.

The air composition strengthens immunity and better immunity decreases allergic reaction to pollens and other allergens.

The treatment’s efficacy is estimated at 75 - 98%.

David Roberts, consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust says: “Salty air is anti-inflammatory, it has an osmotic effect that causes the lining of the nose to shrink, thereby opening up some of the narrow passages, allowing the sinuses to drain and ventilate more easily. It also thins out the mucous, allowing the cilia in the nose to move the mucous out more easily, and finally, the salt may dissolve the gel-like coverings that protect bacterial colonies in the nose, thereby killing infection.”

First session is free for every new client! n Call our Tunbridge Wells branch on 01892 800 088 or email tw@saltcave.co.uk Visit www.saltcave.co.uk

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WELLNESS

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The health screening experts

AT SEVENOAKS, HARLEY STREET & ACROSS THE SOUTH EAST

Setting the standard in excellent care Independent home care provider Caremark has recently opened its new Riverhead office near Sevenoaks. Emily Louise Overy speaks to Care Manager Elayne Oxley to learn more of her 25 years’ experience in the social care industry How did you come to work in home care, and what keeps you so interested?

I started working in home care by accident really! I was working as a librarian where many of my customers were older people.

Through talking with them I found many were lonely, and didn’t really know what services were available to them. Even though many were suffering from ill health, they really supported me when my partner was taken hostage in Kuwait. I decided there and then to see if I could get a job helping to improve things for them. That’s when I started in home care. After working with social services and the voluntary sector, I started my own care company which I ran for 12 years. Later, after a spell of working with the NHS, I realised how much I enjoyed domiciliary care and wanted to use my past experience to help build up the Caremark business.

Tell us a bit about a ‘typical’ working day, if there is such a thing!

There really is no such thing as a ‘typical’ working day in home care. That is why most of us do it! You could be training new care and support

42 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

workers one day, the next setting up a care package for someone who is extremely ill, but wishing to stay at home. You can even be asked to give a talk about your work at a WI or YMCA meeting!

Have there been any memorable situations you’ve had to handle?

Yes – here’s one that always springs to mind: I was asked to go with a colleague to find out why an elderly lady (with short-term memory loss and a tendency to wander during the night), had stopped going to the day centre. This was strange as she really loved going and had many friends there. We went to see her and she told us she had been really lonely the last few weeks. When we asked her why she had stopped going to the day centre, she told us she could no longer go, because her door had told her she mustn’t!

We were puzzled and thought she must be more confused than we thought, but tried to reassure her. As we were leaving we spotted that a notice had been put up behind the door asking her not to go out. I had forgotten that I

had suggested the sign to a care worker to try and stop the lady from wandering at night. She had taken the instruction quite literally and thought she couldn’t go out at all!

What’s next for Caremark Sevenoaks?

One of Caremark’s aims is to deliver the highest standards of professional care and support to those in need and who choose to remain living in their own homes. We want to ensure we maintain our high standards of excellence through our rigorous selection and training processes. We continuously assess our care and support workers, providing training to ensure that working practices are kept up to date.

n Call Elayne Oxley or John Perry on 01732 456234. Email sevenoaks@caremark.co.uk, or visit www.caremark.co.uk/sevenoaks

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Dr Richard Warwick, a member of The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors, and his team are based in Sevenoaks and hold regular practices at locations across West Kent and Sussex.

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Q: I’m trying to lose weight but don’t want to give up my evening glass of wine. Does alcohol really stop us losing weight? Jenny, Sevenoaks

Now for the good news: a whole host of studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can lead to a longer, healthier life, protecting against many types of cancers, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, depression and Alzheimer’s disease along with many other health benefits.

The subject of alcohol and fat loss is infinitely more complex than the scope of this article allows. The key term to remember here is moderation. A glass of red with a nice steak once or twice a week is not the same as a whole bottle a night after work. It is important however to remember that everyone differs genetically. Some of your friends may be able to get away with drinking every night and put on very little body fat, while others may balloon after one night on the beers. All things considered, I would suggest avoiding alcohol altogether if you are aiming to achieve a low body fat percentage and to moderate alcohol intake if you are maintaining a longer-term fat-loss plan. Best of luck!

A: When it comes to drinking alcohol it’s not just a case of calories in vs. calories out. Our liver treats alcohol as a toxin and as a result metabolises and eliminates this toxin as a priority.

In other words, when you drink you will slow down or halt your fat burning until all of the alcohol has been converted to energy.

When we put this in perspective, a 60 calorie gin and slimline tonic could stop you burning any fat for up to four hours. As for a whole bottle of wine – it could be more than 48 hours before you are back to your pre-drink fat burning levels.

The bad news continues.

Regular alcohol consumption will raise cortisol levels (breaking down muscle tissue), as well as raising oestrogen levels (promoting fat storage). Not an ideal scenario when you are trying to shed some body fat!

You should also remember that alcohol often clouds your

By Chris Wharton. Director and judgement and lowers inhibitions. senior exercise specialist at the We have all been there, a Better Body Shop. For more few drinks on a night out and information about alcohol and suddenly all diet plans go out of weight loss please send your the window. Before you know it, questions to chris.wharton@ you have consumed a whole day’s betterbodyshop.co.uk worth of calories in a couple of hours! Furthermore, we all know n For a free 30-minute that ‘hangover food’ means the consultation to get you started, diet is also deserted the next day 01732 451979.

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vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 43

WELLNESS

INMAN ALIGNER TREATMENT FOR

straighter teeth

Dental Elegance is a well-reputed practice, leading the way in cutting-edge techniques and dental services. It was the first cosmetic practice in the world to pioneer the Inman Aligner as a tool for cosmetic dentistry and was voted the third top private dentistry in the Elite 20 Awards Here at Dental Elegance you know that you are in good hands when you choose us to carry out your Inman Aligner treatment. As the UK pioneer of the Inman Aligner treatment (yes - it all started at Dental Elegance!), Mr Qureshi and his colleagues have a vast amount of experience in its use. Over the years they have seen and treated a variety of different cases and this is why most people choose us to have their Inman Aligner treatment. The Inman Aligner is a removable brace that is worn for about 18 hours a day. Treatment times can vary but usually it provides results within as little as 12 weeks. No teeth are removed, no drilling is needed and best of all you end up with a great looking smile. Below are just a few cases that were completed recently.

CASE 2 This gentleman was really keen to have his very crowded lower front teeth corrected. As the teeth were so crowded, they were preventing him from adequately cleaning his gums and he was beginning to develop gum problems.

The photos show his teeth before and after treatment.

Before

CASE 1

After

This young lady was due to get married in a few months. She was really unhappy with her protruding front tooth and wanted it fixed before her big day. The pictures show before and after treatment following some whitening.

Total treatment time = 14 weeks

CASE 3

Before

The lady in this case had had braces as a child. Unfortunately, both the upper and lower teeth had started crowding again. Her main concern was the upper-front tooth which had begun to stick out drastically. The photos show her before and after treatment.

Before

After

Total treatment time = 13 weeks

After Total treatment time = 12 weeks

■ For more information, visit www.dentalelegance.co.uk or call 0208 850 8820

44 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

Whether your reasons for a new smile are entirely aesthetic or are clinically required, Dental Elegance ensures its patients receive exactly the results they’re looking for by following only the most ethical treatments and solutions available. But Dental Elegance doesn’t just offer tailor-made cosmetic dentistry services, it is also an established general dentistry practice that can make sure your teeth not only look great, but

are also as healthy as possible. So in addition to the top-of-the-line bridges, you can also have, for example, your root treatments, implants, and cleaning and prevention seen to all under one roof. And with its customer-servicefocused and fully trained team of staff, not to mention results you could have once only dreamed of, Dental Elegance is the all-encompassing dentist practice that you can’t wait to visit again.

CARING FOR

69 London Road Sevenoaks TN13 1AX

OUR COMMUNITY In this column I discuss topical issues around social care. Whether you are wrestling with a family dilemma, looking for support for a loved one, or just interested in the debate, I hope you will find something of interest.

Richard Gould is managing director at TerraBlu Homecare

Q: How do I find good quality care and support for my loved one?

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A: Care is not complicated, whether you are looking for support for someone with learning disabilities or an older relative with dementia. Trust your instincts. You know the person best, you know what they like to do, how they like to be treated and the level of support they need. When you interview care providers, get a feel for the person behind the professional.

Ask around for recommendations. There are many others who have been down this path and you will often get valuable feedback about a service. Word of mouth recommendations help to form a picture of what is available locally. District nurses, GP surgeries, local support groups and neighbours that may have received care can all give valuable advice on where to look.

When you are looking for care support, it’s very much a human service delivered by people. You are paying for people and you get what you pay for. Look for compassion. If you don’t find it in evidence, proceed with care.

Get a feel for reliability. Has the manager got time to answer your questions? Do they seem well organised? All these questions are clues to how they will deliver a service.

Communication is the next thing to evaluate. The needs of your loved one will change over time. If the nature of their

care is deeply personal, you will need to be able to discuss things openly with the care provider.

Look to see that they have the time and patience to listen and the experience to advise on what works best. Whatever the care setting – homecare or residential, the care provider is a support to your family, not a substitute for it. So two-way communication is critical, both in terms of the carers letting you know about issues, and you being able to call on them for additional support should you need it.

Standards and awards won by the care provider are a guide to quality but not a substitute for common sense. Many awards are applied for by a head office team, and may or may not reflect what happens on the ground. The Care Quality Commission does issue a report which you should check, but this is of limited value since they abandoned their quality rating scheme. It is due to be reinstated at some stage, but they have been unable to reach a consensus yet on a replacement.

Check your local authority list of approved providers as a starting point.

n Send me your views, questions or topics for future comment at richard.gould@ terrablu.co.uk www.terrablu.co.uk Managing homecare for you and yours.

vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 45

VINe

For the Perfect Picnic...

Whatever the weather this season, be sure to have the best picnic with Vine’s picnic tips!

Think location PRE-PRESS PROOF DY FOR APPROVAL

When it comes to food...

It’s what makes the Alfresco experience after all! Go beyond the park. Think hilltops for breathtaking romance, under trees in case of rain, or by a pond/water feature for the relaxing sound of water. No trespassing on private land though!

Go for classic fillings like ham and mustard, or chicken in mayonnaise. Avoid foods that can become slimy like lettuce and tomatoes, and try to use finger food like breadsticks, Scotch eggs and sausage rolls for ease of eating!

Comfort

Avoid the clingfilm!

It just makes your sandwiches greasy and sweaty.

e-press Take proofpatterned of your sheets/comfortable insertion into ourblankets to sit on and Instead, opt for greaseproof paper to keep your always remember beanbags to encourage the CHECK K CAREFULLY FORpillows THE and ACCURACY OF SPELLING, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, PLEASE CAREFULLY FOR THE ached. Please approvearound! for press by return. sandwiches fresh and dry. act of lounging EMAIL DETAILS AND ALL OTHER ELEMENTS OF YOUR ADVERTTELEPHONE AS WE ou with amendments ACCURACY OF SPELLING,

Accessorize NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS BEYOND THIS STAGE. NUMBERS, ADDRESSES, EMAIL DETAILS Go for coloured, patterned plastic cutlery and plates/

bowls that are easy5PM to eat with and fun to use. AND Lights are TH JUNE AT ALL OTHER ELEMENTS OF YOUR also a great way to brighten things up in the evenings.

ess withTry thisthese artwork.

Solvinden battery-operated lights from Ikea for ADVERT/EDITORIAL AS WE CANNOT just £4.07 for a 3 pack. ms or technical queries, please contact ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS who will be very happy to help:

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email: chris@onlinevine.co.uk

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48 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

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Your Big Little Garden Vine gives you the ultimate guide to the best plants for small gardens Just because you have a small garden with less space, you shouldn’t feel that you should have fewer plants or less variety in comparison to a large garden. It’s important to avoid growing large plants and shrubs that can grow and expand quickly and eventually exclude light from your garden. Instead, try opting for smaller plants and especially container or potted plants that you can use within a restricted area.

Here are our top-rated plants for small gardens...

Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis For classic elegance, Snowdrops are worth considering as they are the first of the spring bulbs to emerge after winter. They prefer heavy Height and spread 15cmPORTRAIT x 8cm.

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Hellebore –‘Harvington Hybrids’ Hybrid varieties of the Lenten rose, Hellebore Orientalis produce large clusters of saucer-shaped flowers in a variety of colours from mid-winter to mid-spring. They prefer full sun to part shade and grow to a height and spread of 45cm.

Cowslip, Primula veris

Allium sphaerocephalon This round-headed leek plant bears round flower-heads that eventually turn a deep red over time. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and reaches a height and spread of 90 x 8cm.

Sedum spectabile Sedum spectabile has an abundance of flat, tightly-packed heads of candy-pink flowers. It thrives in poor soil and grows to a height and spread of 45cm. Ideal for that splash of colour!

The native cowslip, Primula veris is perfect for transporting you to wildflower meadows.

Its yellow, funnel-shaped flowers contrast with crinkly oval leaves. It grows to a height and spread of 25cm and is perfect for summer..

Common box, Buxus sempervirens Buxus sempervirens can be grown as a tree or shrub (if kept trimmed down). Its density and thickness makes it ideal for clipping as a hedge so you can be creative with shapes. It’s very versatile too and suitable for growing in all small gardens.

vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 49

HOME & GARDEN

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50 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

BRITISHNESS SPECIAL Art and design with a quintessentially British twist has always been in fashion, continuing to grow in popularity within all generations. As the Olympic season is upon us, focus on reds, blues, whites, yellows and greens; arm yourself with patriotic icons such as the red phone box, tube map, black cab and double-decker bus and adorn your cushions with images of your favourite Royals or sporting heroes for a new, nationalistic look!

Make an impression with this London Type Map Canvas

by Ursula Hitz for £90 from Habitat.

Visit www.habitat.co.uk

Celebrate the very British method of boiling eggs with these novelty eggcups. Set of four for £12 from The London 2012 Shop. Visit www.shop. london2012.com

01732 848444 www.potts.ltd.uk

Add a touch of character to your cushions with this quirky London Bus & Pug Cushion for £12 from Shop on Your Doorstep. Visit www. shoponyourdoorstep. com

Lovingly designed and made in England, this unique design fills the tea towel with a London bus stopping off at Chelsea, Sloane Square, Victoria, Westminster, Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s and Bank. £9 from Victoria Eggs. Visit www.victoriaeggs.co.uk

Also from Habitat, this Lizzie Bone China Mug designed by Lizzie Allen for £9 captures the iconic imagery of London in a fun illustrative style. Visit www. habitat.co.uk

Kiln Barn Road, East Malling, Maidstone, Kent, ME19 6BQ Potts are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm (Closed Monday)

Liven up boring bedsheets with a Union Jack bedset for £19.50 from Marks and Spencer. Visit www. marksandspencer.com

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Chilstone is a classic English company founded on traditional ideals of quality and modern standards of customer service.

Chilstone garden ornaments are handmade by craftsmen who have been with them for many years, in fact with over 150 years of combined experience.

The company also makes a vast range of bespoke architectural stoneware such as columns, porches and a whole range of architectural stone detailing. They can make pieces to order or copy damaged antique stoneware. This service is very affordable and is cheaper and faster than hiring a stonemason to carve such a piece.

You can visit their showgardens near Tunbridge Wells.

Entrance is free, there is much to see and ample free parking.

On July 8th, Chilstone is hosting a garden party on behalf of Kent charity Hospice in the Weald, contact Chilstone for more details. n See Vine’s headlines page for more information.

Call 01892 740866 or visit www.chilstone.com

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vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 53

HOME & GARDEN

GREEN-FINGERED Thinking

A

Emily Louise Overy discovers why Coolings Green & Pleasant is the place to be creative this summer

visit to Coolings Green & Pleasant is sure

both your home and garden. Part of the award-winning Coolings Nurseries, the site in Main Road, Knockholt, is a convenient short drive from Sevenoaks’ town centre and offers so much more than other gardening retailers.

Thanks to its unique mix of spacious gift shop, displays of outdoor furniture, BBQs and colourful plant areas there really is something for the whole family. I particularly enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of Blueberry Café, which conveniently serves delicious hot and cold food and drinks.

What sets Green & Pleasant apart is its beautiful six-acre nature trail where visitors can spot wallabies, goats, ducks, geese and chickens during a peaceful wander through the grounds. The wellmaintained pathways are easily accessible for prams and wheelchairs, and even those without can use an all-terrain mobility scooter free of charge. It’s a great opportunity to introduce children to nature with rare breed pigs and sheep to feed. They’ll also love the mechanical diggers and ride-on tractors!

Forget that hectic trip to Bromley or Bluewater too – just pop in to Green & Pleasant with its ample free tempting new ranges and locally sourced produce on its shelves. The Eddingtons display is packed with funky kitchen accessories including coffee stencil tins, onion goggles, Tina Timer, Alexander the Grater and Mick Jugger jugs. Espresso sets, mini casserole dishes, pasta bowls and some very tempting camembert bakers are also available for the home. Those looking for a gift will while an extensive range of greetings cards including Caroline Gardner, Art Angels, Cath Tate and Bird are also available. Inspired by scenes across Kent and the seaside, Emma Ball notelets add to the choice for those looking for stationery.

54 vine June 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

Quirky and colourful: the shop’s interior Given that so many young children visit Green & Pleasant, it’s no surprise to ranging from Jelly Cat soft toys for the youngest visitors, traditional wooden toys that parents will probably recall from their own childhoods and microscopes, binoculars and mini-beast holders that are perfect for using on the nature trail.

Pop in on a rainy day too and there are plenty of wellies, raincoats and umbrellas for the younger members of your group!

a wonderful array of plants in a mixture of colours and styles. From hot reds to soft pastels, to delicate clove-scented Pinks and boldly coloured high-impact bedding plants fresh from the Coolings nursery in Knockholt, you’ll be sure to someone else’s!)

So why not pop over to Coolings Green & Pleasant for some serious

Garden enthusiasts admire the grounds

■ Call 01959 534386 or visit www.coolings.co.uk

2012-DD-A5-Ad-Red-bg-P-OPEN.pdf

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01732-760862 Freephone: 0800 0111 222

Garden Management and Design

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vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 55

WHAT’S ON? THE UNRIVALLED SEVENOAKS LISTINGS GUIDE. ART n 03 Jul. Sevenoaks Visual Arts Forum. 19:00-21:00. Stag Community Arts Centre, London Rd, Sevenoaks. 01732 450175 www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk n 15 Jul. Music in the Great Art Collections of Europe study day.

11:00-15:30. Doors open 10:30.

Great Comp Garden, Comp Lane, St Marys Platt. £20. 01732 453240 www.greatcompmusic.org

ART EXHIBITIONS n 01-21 Jul. Free for All art exhibition. Mon-Sat. Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sevenoaks Library, Buckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks. Free. www.kent.gov. uk/arts n 24-31 Jul. Altered Art exhibition. 10:30-17:00.

Closed Mon. Knole, Sevenoaks.

Free. 01732 462100 www. nationaltrust.org.uk

BLOOD DONATION n 05, 19 Jul. Blood Donation Session. 13:30-16:30, 17:3020:00. Angel Centre, Angel Lane, Tonbridge. 0300 123 2323 www. blood.co.uk n 27 Jul. Blood Donation Session. 13:30-16:00, 17:0019:30. St Marks Church Hall, Church Rd, Biggin Hill. 0300 123 2323 www.blood.co.uk

CAR RALLIES n 15 Jul. Rolls Royce car rally. 12:00-17:00. Lullingstone Castle near Eynsford. www. lullingstonecastle.co.uk n 25 Jul. Best of West Kent veteran car run. Chiddingstone Castle. 01892 870347 www. chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

CARNIVALS, FAIRS, FESTIVALS, FETES, GALAS, SHOWS n 01 Jul. Fashion Festival.

Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells n 01 Jul. Music Festival. Hop Farm Family Park, Beltring near Paddock Wood. Adults £150, children free. 0844 249 1000 www.eventim.co.uk www. hopfarmfestival.com

CHILDREN – COUNTRYSIDE n 21-22 Jul. Plant Hunters’ Weekend. 11:00-17:00.

Lullingstone Castle near Eynsford. www.lullingstonecastle. co.uk n 24, 31 Jul. Family walk.

Meet 14:30 Knole for 1-hour walk. £1. 01732 462100 www. nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

CHILDREN – CRAFT & SCIENCE n 25-29 Jul. Clay Fun for families. 13:00-16:00. Riverhill Himalayan Gardens. 01732 459777 www.riverhillgardens. co.uk n 31 Jul. Crafts in the Garden.

11:00-15:00. Knole, Sevenoaks.

Adults £5, children £2.50. 01732 462100 www.nationaltrust. org.uk

CHILDEN – DRAMA & FILM n 30-31 Jul. Jungle Book workshop for 5-12 year-olds.

10:00-16:00. Stag Community Arts Centre, London Rd, Sevenoaks. 01732 450175 www. stagsevenoaks.co.uk Bullfrog Production 01342 322411 www. bullfrogproductions.co.u

FARMERS’ MARKETS n 05, 12, 19, 26 Jul. Farmers’ Market. 09:00-11:00. St Giles Church, Shipbourne. www. kentfarmersmarkets.org.uk n 08 Jul. Farmers’ Market.

09:30-13:30. Sovereign Way, Tonbridge. 07876 685853 www. tonbridgefarmersmarket.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK n 04 Jul. Cup Cake Decorating Masterclass. 19:00. Bar, Stag Community Arts Centre, London Rd, Sevenoaks. £35. 01732 450175 www. stagsevenoaks.co.uk n 08 Jul. Summer Picnic. 12:00.

Squerryes Lodge, Westerham. In aid of St Marys Heritage Trust

GARDENING

n 01-08 Jul. Summer Festival. Sevenoaks. www. sevenoaksfestival.org.uk

n 14-15 Jul. Ightham Horticultural Society Summer Show. Ightham Mote near Ivy Hatch. 01732 810378 www.nationaltrust.org. ukentadulteducation.co.uk

CHILDREN – ART

GARDENS

n 24 Jul. Klimt art activities for 6-13 year-olds. 09:00-15:00.

Art Studio, Camden Centre, Tunbridge Wells. £30. 07952 876730

n 18 Jul. Open garden. 14:0017:00. Upper Pryors, Butterwell Hill, Cowden. £5 including tea.

Hospice in the Weald 01892 820502 www.hospiceintheweald. org.uk

n 31 Jul. Matisse art activities for 6-13 year-olds. 09:00-15:00.

Art Studio, Camden Centre, Tunbridge Wells. £30. 07952 876730876730

n 22 Jul. Open garden. 11:0017:00. 93 Church Lane, East Peckham. £2.50. Hospice in the Weald 01892 820502 www. hospiceintheweald.org.uk

56 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

LOCAL HISTORY

of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk

n 14 Jul. Guided walk. 14:0015:00. Meet Eden Valley Museum, Church House, 72 High St, Edenbridge. Free. 01732 868102 www.evmt.org.uk

MUSIC – POP, FUNK, ROCK, SOUL & CONTEMPORARY

MUSIC - GENERAL n 20 Jul. Dave Cousins & Ian Cutler gig. St Edith Hall, Kemsing. £11. 01732 440470 www. brandywinemusic.co.uk

MUSIC - BLUES & JAZZ n 05 Jul. John Etheridge guitar concert. 20:00. Pamoja Hall, Space Performing Arts Centre, Sevenoaks School, Tonbridge Rd, Sevenoaks. www.johnetheridge. com Tickets £12 (students £5) from 01732 450175 www. stagsevenoaks.co.uk Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk n 03 Jul. Jazz Projects Big Band jazz workshop. 19:00. Woodman pub, Goathurst Common near Ide Hill. Free. 01732 750296 www.thewoodman-idehill.co.uk www.jazzprojects.co.uk Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk n 04 Jul. Sister Sadie jazz. 20:30.

Woodman pub, Goathurst Common near Ide Hill.

Free. 01732 750296 www. thewoodman-idehill.co.uk Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk n 06 Jul. National Youth Jazz Orchestra & Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra. 19:30. Stag Community Arts Centre, London Rd, Sevenoaks. www. nyjo.org.uk www.kyjo.co.uk Adults £15, OAPs £10, children £5. 01732 450175 www. stagsevenoaks.co.uk Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk

MUSIC – CHORAL n 07 Jul.Verdi’s Requiem. 19:30.

Pamoja Hall, Space Performing Arts Centre, Sevenoaks School, Tonbridge Rd, Sevenoaks. Darent Valley Choir 01959 523279. Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk

n 06 Jul. New to this Solar System concert (The Find, Amy Coulshaw & Sarah Lillie). 19:30.

Pamoja Hall, Space Performing Arts Centre, Sevenoaks School, Tonbridge Rd, Sevenoaks. www. sevenoaksschool.org Tickets £15 (concessions £12) in aid of Breast Cancer Care from 01732 450175 www.stagsevenoaks. co.uk n 06 Jul. Red Sky at Night pop & rock concert. 20:00.

Ship Theatre, Walthamstow Hall School, Hollybush Lane, Sevenoaks. www.redskylive. co.uk Tickets £8 (concessions £6) from 01732 450175 www. stagsevenoaks.co.uk Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk n 27 Jul. Steve Gibbons Band. 20:00. Rock Plaza, Stag Community Arts Centre, London Rd, Sevenoaks. £11. 01732 450175 www. stagsevenoaks.co.uk www. brandywinemusic.co.uk

MUSIC – TRIBUTE BANDS & KARAOKE n 2 Jul. Letz Zep tribute band.

Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. £16. 01732 440470 www. brandywinemusic.co.uk n 13 Jul. Ultimate 80s Night live band & disco. 20:00-00:30.

Alexandra Suite, St Marys Rd, Swanley. £20 including refreshments www.swanley. org.uk

bananaleafcuisine.com n 27 Jul. Karaoke Night.

Olympic Club, Beechenlea Lane, Swanley, Kent. Free. 01322 669201 www.swanley.org.uk

OPERA & OPERETTA n 01 Jul. Teatime Opera Gioconda. 16:00. St Julians Club near Sevenoaks. Adults £6, concessions £4. 01732 458261 www.stjulians.co.uk Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk n 28 Jul. HMS Pinafore operetta

by Gilbert & Sullivan. 19:30.

Ightham Mote near Ivy Hatch. £18. 0844 249 1895 www. nationaltrust.org.uk

SOCIAL EVENTS n 04 Jul. ‘1st Wednesdays’ business networking event.

10:30-12:00. Plaza Suite, Stag Community Arts Centre, London Rd, Sevenoaks. Free.

Chamber of Commerce 01732 455188 n 07 Jul. Summer Ball. Kent College, Pembury. 01892 822006 www.kent-college.co.uk

SPORT n 11 Jul. Evening Sprint Triathlon Series. Hever Castle near Edenbridge. www. castletriathlonseries2012.co.uk n 12 Jul. Talk on the Ancient Greek Olympics. 20:15.

Ship Theatre, Walthamstow

n 20 Jul. Abba tribute night. Banana Leaf Indian restaurant, 47 Bethel Rd, Sevenoaks. 01732 465846 www.

MUSIC – LIGHT n 01 Jul. Stage & Screen Classics. 19:30. Stag Community Arts Centre, London Rd, Sevenoaks. £12.50(concessions £11.50). 01732 450175 www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk Sevenoaks Philharmonic Society www.sevenoaksphilharmonic.org.uk Sevenoaks Symphony Orchestra www. sevenoakssymphonyorchestra. org.uk Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www. sevenoaksfestival.org.uk n 07 Jul. Paul Malsom guitar gig. 19:30. Woodman pub, Goathurst Common near Ide Hill. Free. 01732 750296 www. thewoodman-idehill.co.uk Part

Jazz Projects Big Band Jazz Workshop

JULY EVENTS AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Hall School, Hollybush Lane, Sevenoaks. Sevenoaks Decorative & Fine Arts Society 01883 625877, 01732 463859 www. nadfaskentarea.org.uk n 27-29 Jul. Olympic live screening. Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells

THEATRE - PLAYS n 01, 04-07 Jul. Romeo & Juliet play by Shakespeare. Sun 14:30, Wed-Sat 19:30. St Clere Estate, Heaverham near Kemsing. £18. Sevenoaks Shakespeare Society 01732 450175 www. sevenoaksshakespeare.org.uk www.stclere.com www.raffertys. info www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk Part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival www.sevenoaksfestival. org.uk n 19 Jul. As You Like It play

by Shakespeare. Great Comp Garden, Comp Lane, St Marys Platt n 21-28 Jul. Silhouette play

by Simon Brett. 20:00 (+ Sun matinee 15:00). Oast Theatre, Hildenborough. £10. 01732 363849 www.oasttheatre.com

THEATRE – MUSICALS n 12-14 Jul. Our House musical.

Times vary. Stag Community Arts Centre, London Rd, Sevenoaks. 01732 450175 www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk Sevenoaks Entertainers www. sevenoaksentertainers.co.uk n 29-30 Jul. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown musical. Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. 01892 678678

WALKS n 01-31 Jul. Deer Park walks.

Times vary. Knole, Sevenoaks.

Free. 01732 462100 www. nationaltrust.org.uk/knole n 06, 13 Jul. Welly Fitness Walks.

09:30-10:30, 14:30-15:30. Meet Riverhill Himalayan Gardens car park. Free. 01732 459777 www. riverhillgardens.co.uk

Assembly Hall Theatre • Crescent Road • Tunbridge Wells • Kent TN1 2LU Ticket office: 01892 530613/532072 www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Vine interviews Hazel Ross – one half of the diverse violin duo headlining the first ever proms in Dunorlan Park Tell us more about your background – where did you study music?

I studied at The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and Caroline studied at The Royal Scottish Academy.

How did you meet Caroline?

We met as freelance players in London and after meeting a few times through London Concert Orchestra and other work, we realised we hit it off and shared a vision of setting up something that was different and unique to us.

Do you ever get nervous before performing in some of the biggest, well known orchestras in the world?

I think it is normal and natural to be nervous before any performance, but it is all part of what we do and it is just knowing how to deal with nerves and keep them under control. I am used to that preperformance feeling and would worry if I didn’t feel it I think! It doesn’t matter how big or small the concert or performance is or who it is for - that feeling is always there but soon forgotten once we are on stage.

What is it like to support huge stars like Leona Lewis, Michael Bublé and Shirley Bassey?

Well we have played with them as their backing band NOT as Elektra which is an important difference! We actually met I think playing for the X Factor or similar show. It is great to work with and meet big stars and it is definitely a highlight of our job. Being on TV and seeing the other side is really interesting.

You’re due to perform later in July at the Proms in Dunorlan Park...what are you most looking forward to about the evening?

I am originally from Sevenoaks so it is lovely to be performing locally. Most of our performances are either abroad or private so it is fantastic to actually be playing for people who have heard a lot about what we do but have never seen us live. Music is so important in bringing everyone together and we are very proud to be part of that, especially with local connections!

What genre of music do you most enjoy playing?

Everything! This was a motivation behind Elektra – to bring together all the music we love regardless of genre and presenting it in a way that is accessible and fun.

We are classically trained and the reason we are both freelance is because it allows us to work with so many different musicians in so many different styles and every day is different. Whether it’s Wagner opera, to pop sessions or chamber music recitals – we love it all!

Do you prefer live performances or TV? They are very different scenarios and I enjoy both for different reasons. The buzz of a live audience enjoying themselves is wonderful, but on TV even if you can’t see the audience you are reaching so many more people.

You’re well known for adding that touch of glamour to your performances...what’s your secret?

Really? We just have fun and are ourselves. We love the music we play and working with each other and that freedom of creating something unique – I think we smile lots and love what we are doing!

Your career has taken you around the world – across Europe, Canada, South Africa and Australia – where is the best place you’ve visited so far?

That is really difficult as we have been fortunate to have travelled to and played in so many wonderful places.

On a personal note I would love to go back and spend some proper time in Vietnam as we have been out several times but only briefly. South Africa was of course incredible too!

SEVENOAKS TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Stag Theatre, Plaza Suite Tel: 01732 450305 Email: tic@sevenoakstown.gov.uk

WE SELL: Souvenirs • Books on local history • Stamps and postcards Maps and guidebooks • Theatre Tokens • National Express tickets WE HAVE INFORMATION ON:

What’s on in the area • Walking and cycling in the local countryside Holiday guides for the UK

WE PROVIDE: Photocopy service Accommodation advice and bookings

n The proms will take place in Dunorlan Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells on Saturday July 28. Gates open from 7pm, music from 7.30pm.Tickets can be purchased on the night from the onsite Box Office – only cash will be accepted. For tickets call 01892 530613/532072.Visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

vinedigital.co.uk July 2012 vine 57

A DV E R T I S IN G F E AT U R E

www.sevenoaksentertainers.co.uk

An amateur production by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd

By Tim Firth with Music & Lyrics by Madness

The STAG Theatre Sevenoaks Thursday 12th to

Tickets from 12 Box Office

Saturday 14th July 2012

01732 450175

Performances 7.30pm (Sat Mat. 2.30pm)

www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk

58 vine July 2012 vinedigital.co.uk

Join the House of Fun this Summer n Formed in 1968 as the Sevenoaks Amateur Variety Club by its late Presidents Gordon Swift and former band-leader Tony Andrews, Sevenoaks Entertainers provides light entertainment for the Sevenoaks community at large, especially to those in less fortunate positions.

The organisation has adult, youth and dance sections, with membership open to all aspiring actors, singers and dancers.

Following the success of their cabaret show Aladdin earlier this year to raise money for Hospice in the Weald, the club presents its forthcoming show Our House.

Combining a witty, romantic fairy tale with the energetic songs of Madness, including “Baggy Trousers”, “The Sun and the Rain” and “It Must Be Love”, Our House tells the story of Joe Casey who, on the night of his sixteenth birthday, takes Sarah, the girl of his dreams, out on a first date. In an effort to impress her, he breaks into a building site overlooking his home on Casey Street, which is owned by Mister Pressman, a high-end property developer. The police turn up, at which point Joe’s life splits into two: the Good Joe, who stays to help, and Bad Joe, who flees.

Thursday 12 July – Saturday14 July 2012 Performances:

Stag Theatre, 7.30 pm (Sat Mat. 2.30pm)

Tickets:

From £12

Box Office:

01732 450175 or visit www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk

Visit www.sevenoaksentertainers.co.uk for more information

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Holly Seddon has the last word

YURITAMBURRINI.COM

O

h God. In T-minus You may have thought you’d been 20-odd days (less scared, or in love, before your first child than a month), my comes along. But that was kids’ play. first-born leaves There is no fear like realising that you the comfort of her love something so ferociously that you primary school want to tear the world up for it not with its lunchtime monitors, yearsbeing good enough for her. Acutely long friendships, knee-high socks and aware of all the danger that in your summer dresses. In its place awaits childless days you felt pretty immune secondary school with its knives, guns to, swaggering around in your stupid and teenage pregnancy (in my head). trendy jeans, spending your disposable The saddest truth is that, nervous income and sleeping in until noon. as she is, I think my I spent my pregnancy daughter is coping better She will be sitting. That was pretty than me. much it. I was so terrified barely 11 by of how fragile this little She will be barely 11 by the time she (gulp) of stuff was, that the time she globule gets on a bus by herself, I barely exhaled until travels to our county labour. And it only got (gulp) gets town and joins a throng scarier when she arrived. I on a bus of hundreds of teenage was convinced I was going girls, snaking and texting by herself, to drop her/forget her/ their way into a building overfeed her/underfeed travels to our her/you name it. But 10 times the size of our little village school. But county town she burst through the she’s okay. She is okay. cotton wool and launched and joins That she’s 10 is enough herself on the world with of a slap in the face. a confidence that, frankly, a throng of When did that happen?

I don’t think came from hundreds of either of her parents and In between two little lines popping up on a all her own. Her first teenage girls isword stick on the floor of my wasn’t a word, it work toilet, through first was a phrase: “Hiya, how teeth and wobbly steps, to letting go are you?” and she’d ask it of anyone, of my hand to march into pre-school, anywhere. Fearless. to rinsing the tooth fairy for a small And now that little girl is a big girl, fortune to this. This amazing, superwith a bus pass on its way, and a bright, almost-young-woman, walking smartphone. And a leavers’ assembly out of those school gates and never to get through (and bear in mind that going back.

I cried open and loud tears last year Your first baby is special. The – when none of my children were second, third and eighth are special leaving). If you want me, I’ll be burying too, in other ways, but the first... they my head in the sand, surrounded by soak up your mistakes, grab your hand baby pictures and floating in gin. Good in their tiny squishy palm and drag luck to all the other mums and dads of you through this whole new world, year six kids, I think we’ll need it. demanding more of you than you ever knew you had to give, before they can Catch Holly on twitter @hollyseddon say one word.

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Visit our Maize Maze this Summer

Opens 21st July 2012!

For further details, including admissions prices, visit our website at www.penshurstplace.com/maizemaze Tel: 01892 870307