Absolutely Buckinghamshire December 2023

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Buckinghamshire DECEMBER 2023

SPECIA L Over 20 pages of inspiration and insight

DECEMBER 2023

On the

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ZOE TELFORD ON HER BUSY ACTING ROSTER AND ENJOYING CHRISTMAS AT WADDESDON PLUS

GLAD TIDINGS Buckinghamshire's best spots to get into the festive spirit LIFE IN THE FAST LANE How Silverstone is encouraging tomorrow's motor racing stars TIME ZONE The design story behind the Marloe Watch Company

ST YLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGA NT 17/11/2023 11:13

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents DECEMBER 2023

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86 18

C U LT U R E AGENDA

79 WILLOW ORGANIC The mother and daughter team changing the beauty industry

The best events in December

20 ZOE TELFORD

One of our busiest actresses talks Christmas

A B S O L U T E LY H O M E 86 NIKI SCHÄFER The acclaimed local interior designer takes us through her career

32 AREA FOCUS

The best places to get into the festive spirit

FOOD & DRINK 52 TASTING NOTES The latest festive foodie news

58 THE VINEYARD

Meet the head chef at the Newbury favourite

FA S H I O N & B E AU T Y 62 THE SHOOT

90 DIFFERENT KIND

The business that puts ethics up front and centre

95 5 OF THE BEST...

KNITWEAR

Cool looks to keep warm

A B S O L U T E LY M AG A Z I N E S .C O M

The online guide to inspirational local living

Sofas to sink into

E D U C AT I O N 106 DOWNE HOUSE SCHOOL The Director of Music on the pure joy of the Christmas carol service

Party pieces from Anthropologie

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GODSTOWE SCHOOL

On the right prep for senior education

O N T H E C OV E R Zoe Telford, starring now in Sky's The Lazarus Project

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17/11/2023 18/09/2023 11:16 10:42

5 LETTER Editor’s

Zoe Telford

On starring in Sky's big hit, The Lazarus Project (p20)

ABSOLUTELY’S December issue highlights

1

Different Kind

The ethical business producing feelgood festive gifts (p90)

2

Festive Spots

The best places to get into the Christmas spirit (p37)

I

am a bona fide (or should that be fido?) animal lover. Always have been since growing up in a home with a Boxer dog, four rabbits, a tortoise and even a python called Monty (yes, I know, not very original).

As soon as I could when I got my first place, I adopted indoor cats (as I was in a flat). One marvellously lived to 22 so it's only now – as I have progressed to a house – that I have my own dog.

Dogs, for me, are a true wonder. I have sponsored several guide dogs and I still to this day can't believe what they are trained to do. But it was only recently that I came across Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Their name sums up exactly what their perfect pups are trained up to do, but like all charities they are in constant need of support, and they are on the hunt for volunteers across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Have a read on page 114 about their wonderful work and, as it's Christmas and the perfect time to think of others, maybe you can help change someone else's life. The puppy Aled will undoubtedly put a smile on your face.

As I mentioned the C word, there's plenty elsewhere to get you into the festive spirit. All that's left for me to say is... Merry Christmas!

4 Trend

The best candles to light your home this Christmas (p93)

MARK KEBBLE EDITOR

3

Charity

Why Hearing Dogs for Deaf People need your help (p114)

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

GOLDEN YEARS Fusing unmistakable femininity with a rock n roll aesthetic, Queens of archive produce showstopping statement styles that embrace original prints and unique fabrications, with refined fit at their heart. queensofarchive.com

BLING BLING Everyone loves shiny tree decorations. Our favourites are these monogram air balloons at Anthropologie, £10. anthropologie.com

M E TA L W O R K This sweet shoe comes in the softest silver and bronze craquelure leathers to add a pop of metallic to any outfit. And they're super comfortable too, £149. penelopechilvers.com

BOLD LOOK Smooth, simple and minimalist, this beautifully crafted ring by Georg Jensen was created solely for those ladies who love modern, sumptuous and bold designs, £925. berrysjewellers.co.uk

PENDLE HARTE

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

EDITOR’S PICK

DISCO BISCUIT Lily Charmed’s new Biscuit jewellery collection features Custard Creams, Jammie Dodgers, and Rich Tea styles in recycled Sterling Silver and Gold-plated recycled sterling silver. lilycharmed.com

LIGHT UP GOLD RUSH Buttery gold nappa leather, soft almond toe with a stunning flared heel: this bootie can dress up any outfit in an instance, £299. ceciliaquinn.co.uk

This gorgeous star doubles as a Christmas tree topper and a lighting feature with glittering gold LEDs, £40. rockettstgeorge.com

GOLDEN G LOW

GOING FOR GOLD

Indulge your skin with this soothing bath and shower gel. Its ingredients of cocoa butter and mango are both hydrating and nourishing. ukbathrooms.com

Sparkle this Christmas at Odette with this daring gold lace teddy.

Priced at £150 with bra set to match. odettelingerie.co.uk

IN THE SHADE The Adidas Originals eyewear collection marks an intersection of sport and street style seen through the lens of culture. £129 specsavers.co.uk

MORE THAN GOLD Booja-Booja's vegan Christmas chocolate truffles are simply divine. wholefoodsmarket.co.uk

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C U LT U R E

WINDSOR GREAT PARK ILLUMINATED UNTIL 2 JANUARY

At the time of going to press, this local phenomenon of a show was opening to the public and it's truly a sight to behold. Enjoy a magical evening with family and friends as this very special light trail returns to light up the festive season, more dazzling than ever with a generous sprinkling of new installations and the return of firm favourites. windsorilluminated.com

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The Agenda D EC E M B E R ' S H OT T E ST EV E N TS

FA M I LY

Miki Until 30 December N O R D E N FA R M C E N T R E FOR THE ARTS The Maidenhead venue announces the return of its hit Christmas show Miki.

Miki, Polar Bear and Penguin live in a very far away place. It’s an icy world where nothing ever grows. Miki makes a wish for a tree. It magically appears but is bare and needs some fairy lights and a star. The three friends embark on a magical adventure in search of one. norden.farm

FA M I LY

Christmas Adventures THRO U GHO U T D EC E MB E R , BE A LE WILDLIFE PARK

Prepare to embark on a wild and wonderful Christmas adventure as Beale Wildlife Park gears up for the holiday season. This year’s festival activities promise to be a celebration for families and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Event highlights include Santa’s Grotto, Meet the Reindeers, Winter Trail, Christmas craft workshops and plenty of festive food and drink. bealepark.org.uk

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MUS IC

Dark Side of the Moon 8 December S TA B L E S T H E AT R E , M I LT O N K E Y N E S Celebrating 50 years since the release of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, the Bristol Ensemble performs a speciallycommissioned chamber orchestral arrangement of this iconic album.

Dark Side of the Moon sits as a cultural heavyweight of British music, selling over 45 million copies worldwide and is the 4th best selling album in history. bristolensemble.com

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CULTURE • DIARY

FA M I LY

Wonka Season 2-30 December R OA L D DA H L M U S E U M Celebrate the wondrous winter Wonka season! Head through the chocolate factory gates to enjoy the Museum at Christmas time and celebrate the release of the new Wonka film. Pick up a free Charlie trail, enjoy free storytelling from the book and explore the pop-up chocolate factory. Plus, don’t miss some guided Wonka walks on Friday 29 December. roalddahlmuseum.org

The best pantomimes heading our way this month

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Until 31 December Corn Exchange Newbury Rehearsals for this year’s #NewburyPanto, Beauty and the Beast at the Corn Exchange Newbury, have begun, which means the festive season is almost here. There’ll be magic, mayhem and mischief aplenty in this epic adventure, including roaringly funny jokes, beastly amounts of magic, and a hit list of songs. cornexchangenew.com

F I L M

NAPOLEON Throughout December ODEON MAIDENHEAD Napoleon is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the chequered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix. Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte's relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine. odeon.co.uk

This Month’s Must See

In front O F YO U

CHRISTMAS Art Market 4 D EC E MBER, RISIN G SUN ARTS CEN TRE

T

his wonderful, annual festive art market returns once again to put some sparkle into Christmas.

It’s the perfect opportunity to find that lovely, handmade Christmas present. They have a wide variety of stalls selling crafts, prints, art and more. The event is spread across two floors, with festive activities upstairs and stalls downstairs, plus lots of tasty homemade food.

CINDERELLA 9 December-14 January, MK Theatre Pantomime legend Brian Conley will lead this year’s panto cast in the magical family favourite Cinderella. He has appeared in award-winning West End musicals and television sitcoms, and has starred in over 35 pantomimes. It’s sure to be a panto to remember. atgtickets.com/venues/ milton-keynes-theatre ALADDIN Until 14 January, Theatre Royal Windsor Returning for his 10th Windsor pantomime, everyone’s favourite fox Basil Brush is back alongside Windsor favourites Steven Blakeley, Kevin Cruise and Anita Harris.

Featuring Theatre Royal Windsor’s traditional pantomime comedy capers, dazzling dancers, colourful costumes and a sprinkling of magic, you won’t want to miss this show. theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

risingsunartscentre.org

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CULTURE • INTERVIEW

Screen

TIME Actress Zoe Telford, known for her work in shows including Greyhawk and Litvinenko, on Christmas in Bucks and her new role in Sky’s time-travelling thriller, The Lazarus Project

F

or Zoe Telford, Christmas is a local affair. The actress, who lives in Oxfordshire with her partner, children and dog, is a regular attendee at the festive experience at Waddesdon Manor, located a short distance from Aylesbury. The 19th-century château, built by Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 for entertaining and housing his fine art collection, is celebrated for its Yuletide event, which in 2022 marked its 20th year.

“We take our kids there every Christmas,” she smiles. “There’s a lovely light show and you can get hot chocolates, and there are stalls. It’s a really special treat – I love to do it.”

As for Christmas Day itself, that will be spent at Zoe’s countryside home. “For us,

B y K AT E J O N E S

Christmas is a time for family, so we will be hunkering down,” she notes. “We really love board games and stuff like that.”

It’s a picture that seems a world away from Zoe’s life as an actress, during which she has played roles in TV shows including Sherlock, Teachers, Death in Paradise and the 2013 reboot of Yes, Prime Minister. The familiar face, whose hometown is Norwich, started out as a dancer, attending Italia Conti and leaving during her teenage years. However, it was when she finished at the school that she found herself wanting to make a career in acting instead.

“I see acting as a way of communicating and entertaining, and I think that’s something that’s always been very central to who I am,” she explains. “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have the desire to communicate in that way. Once I left [Italia Conti], I felt like acting was something that I really wanted to pursue rather than dancing.”

Zoe attributes her big break to The Last Train, a post-apocalyptic drama series first aired on the ITV network in 1999.

Aged 25, the actress played Roe Germaine, a young, pregnant woman travelling on a train from London to Sheffield to get an abortion. “[The show] is about a group of people that are on [the] train, including a scientist carrying a vial of a cryogenic solution, and the train crashes and we all get frozen in time and come out into the future,” she says.

When it comes to favourite roles that she’s played, however, Zoe namechecks Absolute Power, which ran for two series on BBC Two from 2003 to 2005.

A comedy with its origins in the BBC Radio programme of the same name, the show follows the goings-on of the fictional PR firm Prentiss McCabe, with the actress starring as Alison Jackman, a young trainee. “It was [done] by John A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Morton, who did Twenty Twelve and Ten Percent and has done quite a lot of that kind of thing,” Zoe notes. “I really like his writing, and Alison was just a really fun character to play.”

Though Zoe has had parts in theatre, it’s clear that the screen is her big passion.

“I really do love working with the camera – I like the intimacy of film and TV,” she says. “I like that you can get up close on a person’s face, and I guess I like the more physical elements of that as well (a lot of acting is physical, and it’s kind of about the things that you’re saying between the lines). For me, there’s an intimacy to the camera, which I love.”

November saw Zoe debut in Sky’s sci-fi thriller The Lazarus Project for its second season, playing the character of Dr Kitty Gray. The show, which returned on the 15th of the month, focuses on George (Paapa Essiedu), who is given an opportunity at a secret group with the planet’s fate in its hands when he keeps reliving the same few weeks again and again. The second series of the programme sees the world lock into an unceasing time loop promising total global extinction, with the Lazarus team racing to find a solution before humanity disappears for good.

“Kitty is an astrophysicist, and we meet her in 2012 when Janet [played by Vinette Robinson] travels back in time,” explains Zoe. “The show is produced

PHOTO: CHRIS LACEY

CULTURE • INTERVIEW

“For me, there's an intimacy to the camera, which I love” CHRISTMAS AT WADDESDON

by Urban Myth Films, which has a terrific writer in Joe Barton. There’s lots to like about his writing, but one of the things that I personally really like is that all the characters are kickass.

“Kitty’s an outlier,” she adds. “I guess you could describe her as one of those people in the 0.001 per cent of the population who are really advanced mathematically and scientifically. She has a kind of unrelenting curiosity that drives her to discover new ways of tackling problems that humankind may encounter.”

As for TV and film projects which have yet to be released, Zoe has recently been working on an independent film, which she notes she is “very much looking forward to”. Another upcoming venture, meanwhile, is a TV project called Red Eye. “That was really good fun and was with another bunch of

22

really great people,” she says. “I’m feeling quite lucky at the moment!”

She might describe herself as lucky, but it’s clear that Zoe’s talent as an actress is what has made her a screen favourite in a career lasting three decades. Whether she’s playing Maggie in the early Noughties comedy drama Teachers, Dr John Watson’s love interest Sarah in the crime smash Sherlock, or Paula in the gritty drama film Greyhawk, the performer has the ability to turn herself to a wide range of parts. And with the actress set to return to the screen in the near future, it will be interesting and exciting to see the roles she ends up taking on as time moves forward.

Series 2 of The Lazarus Project is available on Sky and NOW

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• PARTNERSHIP • XXXXX CULTURE XXXXXXXX

Passing

of TIME The co-founder of Marloe Watch Company, Gordon Fraser, lets Absolutely into their design thinking

G

ordon Fraser cofounded Marloe Watch Company with Oliver Goffe, arriving on the scene in 2016 with its first watch, the Cherwell. The founders had forged a plan to create well-designed, beautifully engineered watches they could sell at sensible prices – and immediately made an impact.

Gordon oversees the aesthetics of the company, and here opens his design notebooks and talks us through just what that job entails.

My background is in product design (not watches) “I found my feet as a model maker for an architectural firm. When Oliver [Goffe] contacted me, I was a CAD technician. I studied Innovative Product Design at the University of Dundee. People on the course did all kinds of stuff. Some went down the aesthetic route and just created beautiful objects. One guy did trampoline socks. My project was a medical dispenser for people with Alzheimer’s – because my grandma had Alzheimer’s and I saw she was struggling with working out how to take her pills.”

SOLENT TIMER BLUE

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CULTURE • PARTNERSHIP

SOLENT TIMER ORANGE

Trust your own values

“At the start we didn’t have a clue what we were doing. We weren’t part of the industry.

We had no idea of what was ‘right’. So we just started off with our own values, and what we liked. We had a load of mood boards flying around the place. A lot of it was heritagebased. Traditional, but in a modern sense. We wanted to be this bridge between mechanical watches – which when we launched were very much the plaything of rich people – and making them affordable and accessible.”

Some watch designs come easier than others

“I keep a bunch of sketchbooks. More to get stuff out of the mind, and down on paper. But my notebooks aren’t where I spend all my time finessing. They don’t look good at all! There’s no structure to them. But they have lots of ideas that I can reference later on. It’s a basis for where I spend most of my time – at the computer. I do most of the writing [for Marloe] as well. It’s a way for me to process life.”

“Our next dive watch is a great example of something that came quickly. ‘That’s what it should look like!’ And it was just a case of getting it out and on the computer.

Other projects, you’re just grafting away and you’re fed up and you’re miserable.

It’s not going where you want it to go.

After the Coniston [the Coniston Automatic Collection, produced in partnership with the Campbell Family Heritage Trust, and named for the Lake District area where Donald Campbell and his father Sir Malcolm Campbell set various water-speed records], we saw that storytelling was really engaging with our audience. So I started trying to design from a point of storytelling. ‘Why are the hands that shape?’ It couldn’t just be ‘because it looks good’. It was misery!

After six months of toiling away we binned it all. Sometimes a watch can just look the way it looks because it looks good.”

GORDON FRASER

Our colours have got bolder

Keep notebooks

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“Our brand just came together. We always had this tagline of ‘Beyond Expectation’. We always wanted to deliver something that people went ‘Wow, I didn’t expect it to be this good’. We were quite conservative with colours at the start. We started off with dressier watches, so blacks and blues and greys. Oliver didn’t really want to do big, bold things, whereas I err on the other side. I love big, bold things!

I would always put in little orange accents.

More recently the Solent project [the Solent Timer Collection, with a dual crown and an exhibition caseback] was all bright yellows and oranges and teals. So we’ve started to stretch out in terms of bold colours.”

A DESIGN IN PROGRESS

Marloe designs ‘forever products’

“That’s what we call them. Because if you look after our watches they will last multiple lifetimes. That’s part of the fact of owning a mechanical watch. If you keep it serviced, it’s great. But we don’t think of our watches as something you ‘look after for the next generation’.

We want to do things that are exciting for people. So we’re an open book in terms of what we do next. We’re not stuck in ‘We must be classic.’”

marloewatchcompany.com

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CULTURE • SOCIALS

ABSOLUTELY

ATTENDS HEADON FOUNDATION CHARITY DINNER

T

housands of pounds have been raised for a groundbreaking charity at a recent rugby dinner, hosted by England legend Steve Thompson MBE, which was staged at The Old Crown Coaching Inn, Faringdon, Oxfordshire.

Guests at the exclusive event, held at the family run historic hotel, enjoyed fine dining and an evening with the sporting star, with money from each ticket sold being donated to the HeadOn Foundation, the charity founded by Steve Thompson.

Almost £4,000 was raised for the charity following the event where awardwinning author and former hooker from England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning team Steve was the guest speaker.

At the charity dinner Steve shared his inspirational story with guests including insights into the journey of becoming a worldclass athlete and his personal challenges, including his fight against early-onset dementia. The sporting legend also talked about his ongoing efforts to help promote safety in the game for future generations.

The hotel’s renowned head chef Samuel Squires, who specialises in fine dining using locally sourced ingredients, created a lavish six course menu including lobster, venison loin, black treacle chicken and delicious desserts for guests attending the intimate event.

Steve Thompson says: “It was an excellent event and I am thrilled that so much money has been raised for the HeadOn Foundation.”

Hotel manager Sebastiaan Evans adds: “It was a privilege for the Old Crown Coaching Inn to be able to host this prestigious dinner and welcome Steve Thompson as our guest of honour. The evening was a fantastic success and we are delighted it has helped to raise so much money for such an important charity.”

headon.org.uk

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Christmas S

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Count DOWN Absolutely presents our special Christmas section, part two. After last month's gift inspiration, we focus a little more on how to make your home feel extra festive, plus the best places to go if venturing out.

In this sect ion F E S T I V E H O T S P O T S 32 C H R I S T M A S H O M E 40 L AT E S T D E C O R AT I O N S 4 3

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Tis the

SEASON There is a veritable feast of Christmas festivities taking place across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire this season, so it’s time to make merry

By R O SA L I N D SAC K

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rom tinsel-strewn family fun to more sophisticated grownup affairs; across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, there are theatres, farms, museums, historic buildings, royal parks and much more with calendars brimming with festive events and attractions throughout December.

FRESH AIR FUN Pull on those woollies and embrace the crisp winter air with an activity that’s bound to get the blood pumping. The region has several outdoor ice rinks for a seasonal skate, including Chiltern View ice rink in Aylesbury (chilternviewicerink.co.uk) and Windsor on Ice at Alexandra Gardens (windsoronice.com). Skating is also on offer at Winter Wonderland at Hills Meadow in Reading alongside all sorts of other festive delights, including an après ski bar, Santa’s grotto, bumper cars and a giant observation wheel (readingwinterwonderland.co.uk).

Odds Farm in Wooburn Common always goes all out at this time of year and their Christmas Spectacular returns with crafts, an elves’ workshop, a sparkling woodland and the opportunity to meet the main man himself, Father Christmas (oddsfarm. co.uk). For more fun on the farm, Santa will also visit Bucklebury Farm near Reading throughout December (buckleburyfarm. co.uk). Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park near

XXXXXXXXX IMAGE XXXXXX IMAGE CAPTION CAPTION XXX WINDSOR ON ICE

BUCKLEBURY FARM

“There are theatres, farms, museums and royal parks all brimming with festive events” Aylesbury is also brimming with cheer with a festive forest trail featuring real reindeer, craft sessions, snow pits and the opportunity to meet Father Christmas aboard his big red tractor (hogshawfarm.co.uk).

For after-dark fun, Windsor Great Park Illuminated at The Savill Garden returns this month with its woodland trail lit with dazzling light installations, featuring mythical creatures, dancing fairies, floodlit fountains and incredible projections (windsorilluminated.com). Wellington Country Park is also hosting a magical immersive illuminated night trail – theatrically named Neverland Illuminova – throughout December (neverlandilluminova.co.uk).

enjoy, with beautiful decorations including a huge Christmas tree in St George’s Hall, which is the backdrop to a number of choir performances throughout December.

Children can also step into the shoes of the Victorians with crafting and dressing up activities throughout the holidays in the Castle Learning Centre (rct.uk/event).

Experience a vintage Christmas 1940s-style at Bletchley Park, the famous home of the World War II codebreakers. Get into the spirit of the wartime ‘make do and mend’ efforts by making your own decorations and gifts, and

HISTORICAL SETTINGS A new light trail also comes to the Aviary gardens at Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury this year as part of their bumper Christmas celebrations (waddesdon.org.uk). The manor’s grandest rooms will be decorated with scenes from classic childhood stories, the incredible Rothschild façade will be lit up with magical animated projections and the ever-popular Christmas Fair and Food Village returns to the grounds.

Monarchs have been spending Christmas at Windsor Castle for centuries and Queen Victoria always celebrated the season with her family within its walls. It continues to be a magical place at Christmas for all to

CHILTERN VIEW ICE RINK

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CHRISTMAS • AREA FEATURE

BRIAN CONLEY STARS IN CINDERELLA

test your brainpower with their puzzle-filled Christmas Challenge (bletchleypark.org.uk).

While Shaw House just outside Newbury has all sorts of festivities planned; from a Gingerbread Trail through the rooms of this Elizabethan mansion, a children’s magic show and a Christmas movie screening, to wreath making workshops and a carol concert (westberkshireheritage.org).

If a sit-down affair is more your style, the 12th century Missenden Abbey is adding a festive twist to the most British of traditions with their Festive Afternoon Teas, which are on offer throughout the month (missendenabbey.co.uk). If you can’t over indulge at Christmas, when can you?

SEASONAL STAGE SHOWS It wouldn’t be Christmas without a sugarfuelled, hilarity-ensuing trip to the theatre and, as ever, all the classic pantomimes are on offer this season. There’s Beauty and the LEGOLAND WINDSOR

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Beast starring Joe McFadden and Suzanne Shaw at Wycombe Swan (wycombeswan.co.uk); Sleeping Beauty starring Mr Tumble himself, Justin Fletcher, at The Hexagon in Reading (whatsonreading.com/hexagon); and Aladdin at the Theatre Royal Windsor, starring Anita Harris and everyone’s favourite mischievous fox, Basil Brush (theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk).

Head to Milton Keynes Theatre for Cinderella, starring Brian Conley (miltonkeynes-theatre. co.uk); and Aylesbury Waterside Theatre for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, where EastEnders actor James Bye will take centre stage (atgtickets.com).

Everyone loves a panto. Oh no they don’t! If it’s not your thing, the Reading Rep Theatre is hosting a stage adaptation of the classic 1946 movie It’s A Wonderful Life (whatsonreading.com/ venues). While the Mill at Sonning is staging the ‘swellegant’ musical High Society throughout the month, with special Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve performances (millatsonning.com).

THE CAST OF SNOW WHITE AT AYLESBURY WATERSIDE THEATRE

FAMILY FESTIVITIES Jolly old St Nick is always a draw and the kids can meet him in his grotto and workshop on the charming Santa Steam Specials at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway, held on selected dates throughout December (chinnorrailway.co.uk). Passengers will be welcomed on board at Princes Risborough by Santa’s elves, before taking a return journey by steam train to the North Pole station to receive a very special gift from the big man himself.

He’s a busy fella at this time of year, but Father Christmas will also be making time to return to the popular family-friendly Howden Christmas Racing Weekend at Ascot Racecourse (ascot.com). With plenty to keep all the family amused, both on and off the track, cheer on the horses and riders from the iconic grandstand, join in the candle-lit carol singing alongside the Ascot Brass Band and indulge in plenty of festive food and drink.

Any Lego fans in the house? Legoland in Windsor will also be entering into the spirit of Christmas with all sorts of festive activities across the park, including a DUPLO puppet pantomime, Santa’s grotto and live entertainment. Of course, at the centre of proceedings is their giant Christmas tree constructed entirely from, you guessed it, millions of Lego bricks (legoland.co.uk).

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17/11/2023 11:37 11:23 21/05/2021

CHRISTMAS • NATIONAL TRUST

N A T I O N A L

Treasures

We are not short on picturesque locations that truly come into their own at Christmas...

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hristmas is coming and, from late November, there’s no better way to get into the festive spirit than meeting up with friends for a visit to your nearest National Trust place. See historic houses twinkling with decorations, huge, fairy-lit Christmas trees, enchanting themed scenes and seasonal treats in the tea rooms.

Here are some of the best places across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and heading into Oxford too.

HUGHENDEN ‘ 1 2 DAY S O F C H R I S T M A S ’

PHOTO: HUGH MOTHERSOLE

Until 1 January Hughenden’s 12 Days of Christmas is back with enchanting scenes from the famous carol brought to life with giant gold rings and swans a-swimming on a sea of baubles.

Musical Saturdays will bring choirs, silver bands and jazz singers to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. There are separate festive creative workshops for adults to create a watercolour Christmas card and for families to make their own Christmas crackers, perfect for a unique touch on the big day.

Children won’t know which way to turn with a festive trail to find the 12 presents of Hughenden in the garden and storytelling in the second-hand bookshop.

Don’t forget to head to the tea room first to grab hot chocolates and shortbread. nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden HUGHENDEN

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PHOTO: JOHN MILLAR

CLIVEDEN

STOWE GARDENS

CLIVEDEN C H R I S T M A S H O U S E PA R T Y

24-27 December Celebrate the festive season in style with Cliveden’s 'Three-Night Christmas House Party' in the grandeur of Cliveden House.

From expertly curated dishes, together with indulgent Laurent-Perrier Champagne, to sleeping in luxurious rooms, this will be a Christmas you’ll always remember.

Arrive on Christmas Eve in style to dazzling lights, elegant decorations and the smell of mulled wine. A traditional afternoon tea in the grandeur of the Cliveden Dining Room awaits you. Sip on mulled wine and delight in the sweet and savoury treats, including mince pies. Later on, you'll enjoy a LaurentPerrier Champagne canapé reception with carol singers and a delicious three-course A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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BASILDON PARK

dinner curated by Executive Head Chef Chris Hannon and his fabulous brigade.

Wake up in luxury on Christmas Day ready to celebrate. Your Christmas Day celebrations start with a bountiful breakfast before you open your presents. Spend the morning exploring the glorious grounds or relax in the tranquillity of the spa.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, retreat to the Great Hall for a Champagne and canapé reception followed by a threecourse Christmas lunch with wine. When the sun starts to set it’s time to put on a comfortable outfit for an elegant buffet dinner.

Enjoy the luxury of a well-deserved lie-in on Boxing Day, no doubt you’ll need it after all the Christmas Day celebrations. Once you’re ready, a delicious brunch buffet will be lovingly prepared by the team for you to feast on. clivedenhouse.co.uk

BASILDON PARK

CHASTLETON

‘ T H E W I N D I N T H E W I L LOW S’

Until 5 January Inspired by the timeless tale of woodland animals messing about on the river, Basildon Park is transformed into a Christmas woodland wonderland. Beautifully decorated trees, garlands and twinkling fairy lights set the scene for the story to unfold. The magical theme extends out into the garden where charming woodland creatures frolic amongst whimsical decorations.

Make a wreath to take home in festive workshops at the beginning of December.

Drinks, snacks and materials provided, but bring your own secateurs. nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park GREYS COURT

PHOTO: PETER GREENWAY

CHRISTMAS • NATIONAL TRUST

CHASTLETON ‘A 1 9 6 0 S C H R I S T M A S ’

29 November–17 December There’s all the nostalgia of a warm, bustling, 60s country Christmas at Chastleton this year. In the inimitable style of the lively last owners of Chastleton, the Clutton-Brocks, there are cocktails on the sideboard, dinner on the table, board games and classic Christmas television. You can even get stuck in with a game of Twister. For younger visitors, there’s a festive activity trail.

For a rare chance to see Chastleton after dark, book an evening Christmas tour with a warming drink and mince pie. nationaltrust.org.uk/Chastleton

GREYS COURT

‘A W I N T E R ’ S TA I L’

‘A C H R I S T M A S M E M O R Y ’

Until 4 January Spot giant willow-woven bird sculptures on the seasonal wildlife trail around Stowe.

Match tails to their owners, find clues, solve puzzles and keep an eye out for the elusive fox tail. Local choirs will perform at weekends beneath the decorated tree in the twinkling lights of the New Inn Courtyard.

Don’t forget to pop into the tap room to see the room set for a cosy Victorian Christmas complete with festive foliage, rich red berries and traditional decorations on the Christmas tree. And join in on the annual Boxing Day pilgrimage to blow away the Christmas cobwebs at Stowe Gardens – dogs are very welcome, too. nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe-gardens

25 November–5 January Greys Court has always been a place of warmth and welcome and this Christmas it is brimming with cherished Christmas memories. The house and estate are adorned with beautifully decorated trees, twinkling fairy lights and the magic of the season.

Embodying the spirit of Christmas past, cosy nostalgia runs through the gift-wrapped presents, traditional toys in the nursery and Lady Brunner’s gingerbread baking and available to taste in the kitchen.

There’s a Christmas trail for children around the garden and candelight tours for grown-ups to explore Greys Court after dark with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. nationaltrust.org.uk/greys-court

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STOWE GARDENS

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CHRISTMAS AT

H O M E

Ideas and inspiration for a festive makeover

By PENDLE HARTE

TA B L E MANNERS HABITAT

The vibe at Habitat this Christmas is refined sophistication, with intricate floral-adorned tableware, plum glassware and speckled ceramics.

With an emphasis on rich jewel tones and brushed brass, the range has been designed to evoke an opulent, cocooning mood, with no tinsel in sight. habitat.co.uk

MAXED OUT LAMP/LDN

For a maximalist approach, hang lots of garlands and scoop armfuls of festive foliage into large vases. Line the mantlepiece with candleholders and choose brightly coloured gift wrap. For inspiration, visit Lamp/Ldn online. lamplondonhome.com

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CHRISTMAS • HOSTING

TA K E F I V E Decorations

THE REAL FLOWER COMPANY Berry wreath, £125 realflowers.co.uk

S I M P LE S T Y LE

ROSIE BIRKETT 'S TURKEY TIPS

FERM LIVING

Ferm Living's muted Christmas decorations include stylish folded paper stars, felt baubles and lots of candles for a sophisticated Scandi yule. fermliving.co.uk

OXFAM Kashmiri black cat decoration, £5.99 oxfam.org.uk

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hristmas hosting can feel really daunting, but it is, at its essence, really about having friends and family around for a delicious roast lunch. You don't want to be stressed and flustered when people turn up, so make sure you plan your menu and make it as easy as you can for yourself. Buy the best quality bird you can afford: I splash out on

JOHN LEWIS Twelve Days of Christmas Crackers, £28 johnlewis.com

ANTHROPOLOGIE Erika Velvet Fringe Christmas Stocking, £46 anthropologie.com

ANNA + NINA

a Copas turkey every year because I know it's high welfare, beautifully reared, easy to cook and has the most incredible flavour. Christmas is a real feast day and I know we will also have some marvellous leftovers, so it's always worth the investment, and it also takes a lot of stress out of the day as you know it's going to deliver delight to your guests. Make sure you work out your timings beforehand and work backwards, make prep lists in terms of priority jobs and make sure you leave enough time to rest your bird for a good while to keep it juicy and tender. Happy feasting! copasturkeys.co.uk

Candy Cane corded garland, £70 anthropologie.com

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CHRISTMAS • DECORATIONS & KLEVERING Cocktail Ornament Set, £13 koibird.com

FIVE AND DIME

CLARIDGE'S

Birk N Sock Bauble, £15 fiveanddime-interiors.com

Zebra Bauble, £45 claridges.co.uk

THE CONSCIOUS CHECHERBOARD Papier Mache Bauble, £12 anthropologie.com

ABODE LIVING Miffy Tulip Dress Bauble, £16.95 abodeliving.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK EDITOR’S PICK

WESTMINSTER ABBEY SHOP Ceramic King Charles III Coronation Bauble, £14.95 shop.westminster-abbey.org

THOMAS GLENN Hello Dali Bauble, £52 koibird.com

ROCKETT ST GEORGE Xmas Baubles, from a selection, £7 rockettstgeorge.co.uk

HUNG UP All the best baubles for the most stylish trees

By P E N D L E H A R T E

HEAVENLY HOMES AND GARDENS Popcorn Machine Bauble, £10 heavenlyhomesandgardens.co.uk

FERM LIVING Marble baubles, set of four, £39 heals.com

SOPHIE ALLPORT Red Glass 4x4 Bauble, £13 sophieallport.com

COX & COX AD&I Juicy Burger Bauble, £9.95 adandishop.co.uk

Beaded Leopard Bauble, £15.50 coxandcox.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS • GIFTS

DISCO DUST Eco body Glitter, from £10 discodustlondon.com

HERD Wool Knitting Kit £95 herdwear.co

EDITOR’S PICK

THE FIND STORE Eco 6 Piece Natural Kitchen Brush Set, £24 thefindstore.co.uk

O PIONEERS Liberty Print Knickers, made from excess fabric, £30 opioneers.co.uk

COUNTRY MOUSE Caramel Eco Lambswool Throw, £79 countrymouse.co.uk

DIRTEA Lion's Mane Mushroom Powder, £39.99 dirteaworld.com

TORI MURPHY X JOY OF PRINT Japanese Eco Furoshiki Gift Wrap, £32 torimurphy.com

SPICER AND WOOD

ECO

Recycled Glass Jug, £42 spicerandwood.co.uk

GOMI Sustainable Speaker in Recycled Plastic, £299 gomi.design

Gifts

Planet-friendly presents

By PENDLE HARTE

PARKER ROX Amethyst Geode on Metal Stand, £150 parkerrox.co.uk

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THE DEN KIT COMPANY

HAY Sip Straight Glass Straws, set of four, £29 reallywellmade.co.uk

The Grow Your Own British Tree Kit, £19.50 thedenkitco.com

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CHRISTMAS • HAMPERS LAITHWAITE'S Kew Series by Laithwaite's Hamper, £200 laithwaites.co.uk

KNOOPS Festive Spice Gift Set, £32 knoops.co.uk

CARLUCCIO'S Taste of Tuscany Hamper, £69.95 carluccios.com

HARVEY NICHOLS Joy to the World Hamper, £550 harveynichols.com

CLARIDGE'S The Burlington Hamper, £995 claridges.co.uk

BARBURY BOX Best of British Charcuterie & Cheese Collection, £47.50 barburyhill.com

RICK STEIN Savoury Christmas Stocking, £44.95 shoprickstein.com

Boxes of

TREATS All the best hampers this Christmas

CARPO Large Handpicked Hampers, from £60 carpoworld.com

By PENDLE HARTE

BAXTERS OF SCOTLAND The Great Glen Hamper, £199 baxtersofscotland.com

OTTOLENGHI Mini Christmas Hamper, £45 ottolenghi.co.uk

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Illustrations by Armadillo Images

written and directed By plested Brown and wilsher produced By corn exchange newBury

Fri 24 Nov – Sun 31 Dec

www.cornexchangenew.com/panto | Box office 01635 522733

BOOK NOW AT READINGREP.COM

POTTED PANTO

BY DANIEL CLARKSON, JEFFERSON TURNER AND RICHARD HURST 27 NOV - 31 DEC 2023

AD - CROWN EXCHANGE - READING REP.indd 48

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

BY MARY ELLIOTT NELSON BASED ON THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CLASSIC FILM

30 NOV - 30 DEC 2023

17/11/2023 11:36

CHRISTMAS • PARTNERSHIP

ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL IN THE SNOW, PHOTO BY STEPHANIE BELTON

Casting a SPELL Enjoy magical St Albans this Christmas

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, PHOTO BY KL PHOTOGRAPHY

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estive decorations illuminate the streets, fantastic food and drink venues offer seasonal favourites, shops burst with gifts and partywear while a top programme of art, culture and Christmas events make St Albans a joyous place to be.

Glorious gifts are guaranteed at Molten Brown and Jo Malone with ranges of perfectly perfumed items and special scents for Christmas, while The Beauty House by Champneys is divine for beauty products or a spa voucher.

For new and vintage jewellery, watches and diamonds Kings Hill Jewellery is the place to go, or try Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery with sparkly ready-to-wear items alongside custom made pieces.

Find a party outfit at Earley’s on George Street with a gorgeous selection of occasion wear, or head to Simply French with star quality garments at affordable prices. Firm favourite Jigsaw boasts classic clothing and stylish accessories, while Copperfield has awesome gift ideas for men. Purchase fabulous interior gifts at independent boutique Cositas, or give the gift of choice with a St Albans Gift Card that can be spent across food, drink and leisure entertainment venues (stalbansgiftcard.co.uk).

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

If it’s time for a break, Knoops’ expertly crafted hot chocolate will provide the perfect pick-me-up, or select a seat at GAIL’s Bakery with their extraordinary hand-baked breads and views of the medieval Clock Tower.

Soak up the festive atmosphere in St Albans Cathedral and enjoy snacks through the day at their cosy Abbott’s Kitchen Cafe.

Celebrate the season with fine dining at Loft St Albans featuring the best British produce, local favourite Lussmanns Sustainable Kitchen offers exquisite dishes and a mouth-watering Christmas menu, while family-run Bellaccino’s Italian Restaurant boasts classic recipes passed down through generations.

Raise a glass and get the party started at 1920s inspired bar, Punchin' Palooka, or drop by The Peahen bursting with character and a top choice for Christmas cocktails and festive menus.

Join OVO for an atmospheric outdoor promenade experience of A Christmas Carol (7–23 December) amongst the ancient ruins of the Roman Theatre of Verulamium (ovo.org.uk), and check out the Advent and Christmas programme at the majestic St Albans Cathedral, including Carols on the Hour (stalbanscathedral.org).

See more at EnjoyStAlbans.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Make A Statement UNLOCK THE MAGIC THIS CHRISTMAS WITH SILENT POOL GIN

silentpooldistillers.com Please enjoy Silent Pool Gin responsibly

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17/11/2023 09/11/2023 11:37 14:11

FOOD & DRINK

RAISE A GLASS PIPER-HEIDSIECK

Celebrate Christmas this year with PiperHeidsieck. With the Champagne House that is family-owned and who are using business as a force for good with their B-Corp Certification, you’ll be in good company. The Piper-Heidsieck Brut NV has wonderful rich flavours of orange blossom and white peach, it makes the perfect festive aperitif. piper-heidsieck.com

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WHAT TO DRINK

TASTING NOTES

GRAPE news

The latest launches and news from across the county

By MARK KEBBLE

Wine recommendations for the month

By THE WINE SOCIETY

Undurraga Cauquenes Estate Maule ViognierRoussanne-Marsanne 2022,  £8.50 Viognier supplies peachy perfume and caressing texture while the roussanne and marsanne provide structure, lift and extra aromatic complexity in this lovely blend. It comes from Undurraga's own vineyards in the Maule region.

Coffele Ca Visco Soave Classico 2022 Organic,  £15.50 A very classy expression of Soave with a rich array of peach and melon aromas that develop in the glass, and full, dry but rounded and mouth filling flavour. Made from the estate's best grapes, 75% garganega and 25% trebbiano di Soave.

The Society's Chinon 2022,  £9.99 A deeply coloured cabernet franc has aromas and flavours of red and black fruits and a clean, juicy finish. The wine captures the fresh style of contemporary cabernet franc, and provides a match when enjoyed with classic bistro-style dishes. Chill slightly to enjoy at its best.

Since it was founded back in 1874, The Wine Society has dared to do business a little differently. Bringing together a community united by a shared love of wine, The Society is a co-operative and owned by its members. This means there is no requirement to pump profit into annual dividends or bonuses for shareholders – all profits go back into the business.

The Wine Society welcomes all wine lovers.

Become a member today and receive £20 off toward your first order. thewinesociety.com

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Box of tricks TOM KERRIDGE

Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge’s luxury Beef Wellington box is back this Christmas, so why not take some of the stress out of the festive period and treat yourself to something special.

The Beef Wellington Box generously serves four and includes a luxury 30-day aged fillet of British Hereford beef from familyowned Stokes Marsh Farm, handmade with a Duxelle and herb crepe, wrapped in an all-butter golden puff pastry. fromtomkerridge.com

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

Special SERVICE

Three to take the stress away on Christmas Day

Plenty to Celebrate CASTLE HOTEL WINDSOR

CLIVEDEN HOUSE

Christmas magic COWORTH PARK

Prepare for a truly memorable and magical escape to Coworth Park, with an English country Christmas and new year celebration like no other. Various festive set menus will be available in The Barn and Woven by Adam Smith and festive afternoon tea in The Drawing Room, available up until 23 December.

The festive season will also see The Barn transformed into a full après-ski experience where guests can enjoy a comforting mulled wine or hot chocolate. dorchestercollection.com

Cliveden House has been host to some of the most iconic parties, so why not create your own moment in its history this Christmas.

Choose from delicious fine dining to staying over in a luxurious suite with their exclusive house parties. clivedenhouse.co.uk

This historic hotel, in the heart of Windsor, has been celebrating Christmas for nearly 500 years. This year they are offering festive lunches - £45 per person from late November and through December; and a festive afternoon tea - £27.50, bottomless festive tea with unlimited Prosecco for one and a half hours at £40 throughout December. castlehotelwindsor.com

THE CRAZY BEAR Leave the stress at home and let this Beaconsfield institution wine and dine you on Christmas Day. They are offering a specially crafted five-course menu, complemented by a flute of fine champagne. crazybeargroup.co.uk

FOR R O YA LT Y DUKESHILL

Winter warmers BURNHAM BEECHES HOTEL

Burnham Beeches Hotel have launched their mouthwatering new Brasserie menu that’s bursting with delicious winter ingredients and seasonal delights. For mains they’ve introduced a beautiful 20 Day Matured Venison Haunch of Surrey Fallow Deer with celeriac, blackberry and purple carrot, or for the veggie lovers there’s the new Porcini & Pecorino Orzo Pasta with mascarpone and pickled Shimeji mushroom. corushotels.com

MILLER & C A R T E R TA P L O W It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Taplow… On the big day you can enjoy Croxton Manor Baked Cheese Soufflé, an all-new succulent Christmas Day steak experience, and an indulgent Croque-En-Bouche Cheesecake. millerandcarter.co.uk

Have yourself a luxurious Christmas this year with the very best in festive food from artisan food producer, fine food supplier and Royal Warrant holder, DukesHill.

With an uncompromising commitment to sourcing and creating the very best British produce, DukesHill’s Christmas collection has a quality that is second to none. dukeshill.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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TA B L E

Manners The secret to the perfect Christmas turkey?

Absolutely heads to Berkshire to find out

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FOOD & DRINK • PROFILE

“The care and attention to the farm and produce has never changed”

TOM COPAS

T

he Copas family began farming land in Berkshire in 1901, but it wasn’t until 1957 that they took a giant leap into turkey rearing – and it all started with a rather pointed gift.

Tom Copas Senior was a teenager in 1957, young, sprightly and far too impatient for school; his father thought it was time for a hobby. The result, a gift of 153 turkeys, blossomed into a small business that in turn became the much respected heritage brand Copas Traditional Turkeys is today.

Now in its 66th year, Copas Traditional Turkeys is truly a family business with Tom Jr taking over the helm from his dad, each led by the same values and artisan methods that Tom Snr embraced when he met his first flock of feathered friends. They believe that the very best turkey will have been given a long life, room to roam across meadows and will have gone through age old production processes, including hand plucking and game hanging, to enhance and preserve the birds flavour, naturally.

Copas Turkeys are loved by some of Britain’s favourite chefs and foodies as well as a loyal following of home delivery and farm gate customers. Christmas is truly a day of celebration, relaxation and gaiety which is why, over the last 60 years, they have dedicated each year to producing the finest award winning turkeys in the land. Absolutely met up with Tom Copas Jr to find out about continuing the family business, preparing for Christmas all year long, and moody alpacas.

and chasing or being chased by cows.

I did get left behind by dad once whilst checking crops and I decided to pick up a few conkers. He noticed I didn’t have much to say about all the pheasants on the road!

Q Were you always going to take over the family business?

A It wasn’t always the plan, although it might have been dad’s. I chose to do product design and engineering at university as I wasn’t sure I would be heading back to the farm. I loved my course, but over the duration I decided I would eventually end up back in the family business.

Q Can you describe the farm’s setting?

A We’re lucky to be located in stunning

Berkshire countryside in the village of Cookham, on the other side of the River Thames from Marlow. The farm is in a valley, with fields and a cherry orchard surrounding our office and buildings,

and Quarry Wood, the setting for Wind In The Willows, just over the road.

Q How would you say things have changed since the early days of the Copas family running the farm?

A We have been farming for over 120 years, so in some ways a fair bit. Some things have never changed, but some have dramatically. The care and attention to the farm and produce has never changed, but we have embraced technology, machinery and modernised where we can. But it’s all still very manual. The opportunities aren’t what they were, but everyone sees that and you have to work harder and harder for your market these days.

Q Today, what challenges do you face?

A Recently there have been a catalogue. Brexit

affecting our seasonal labour, covid affecting seasonal labour even more and changing

Q What are your earliest memories of life on the farm?

A Eating too much fruit in the orchards in the summer, playing in the coldstore around all the turkeys hanging, packing turkeys at Christmas (there is some photo evidence of me loading long legged turkeys as we were allowed to do then in a fetching red tracksuit!)

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FOOD & DRINK • PROFILE

THE GRUMPY ALPACAS

“For many, our Festive Fayre on 23 December is the official start of Christmas” As well as the best tasting turkey that is easy to cook (no need to baste as our mature birds have a fat layer under the skin that melts into the meat), we are also proud of our customer service. For many of our customers, our Festive Fayre at the farm on 23 December is the official start to their Christmas.

THE COPAS FAMILY

buying habits, Ukraine catapulting our feed costs, and the biggest and looming one is bird flu. It could be catastrophic for us so we have done what we can to reduce our risk, improved biosecurity and remaining vigilant.

Q Can you describe a typical day?

A Up early and walk the dogs round the

farm, get baby Thomas up (Thomas Copas 4th), fed and off to forest school, back to the office for most the day unless required for meetings elsewhere, then back home to cook dinner and/or put Thomas to bed.

Pretty office based these days which is a shame, but is where I need to be.

Q When do you start preparing for the Christmas period?

A It’s actually a year-round job. No sooner has Christmas gone, we start preparing for the next one. The farm needs a good clean and we start planning. Unlike commercial turkey producers, we rear our turkeys to full maturity, around 26 weeks, so they arrive at one day old in early June and free range out into the fields in mid-July.

Q Can you explain how you look after your turkeys?

A As mentioned, they arrive when they are just one day old and spend their first few weeks in temperature-controlled barns to

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Q What else do you offer?

A As well as our award-winning turkeys, we

THE FARM

offer Wiltshire ham, smoked Scottish salmon, an array of cheeses, pigs in blankets, jars and pouches of sauces and accompaniments, and even some gifts for the avid cook in your family. Our latest addition is getting rave reviews: Copas Small Batch Rosemary Gin, made with botanicals inspired by the farm and surrounding area. It recently won the Great British Food Best Gin Award.

give them the best start in life. The team do regular checks to be sure the temperature and food levels are correct. After six weeks, when they are big enough to run around, we release them into the fields and cherry orchards. MidOctober, we start firework training by letting off a loud rocket daily to acclimatise the birds ready for Bonfire Night & Diwali. The less stressed we can keep the turkeys, the better.

Q How did you feel about your recent success at the Great Taste Awards?

A We’re always excited to see our results when the Great Taste Awards are announced and it’s an honour when any of our products win. This year our Copas Gin won a Gold Star, as did our chicken cuts.

Q Are the alpacas characters?

A Our alpacas are rehomed males and

Q Do you get time off over Christmas?

A Once the final customer has collected

Q If we were buying a Copas Christmas turkey, what can we expect?

A We love people’s reactions when they taste a Copas turkey for the first time and once they do, they tend to come back every year.

copasturkeys.co.uk

tend to be a bit grumpy, but that suits us to be honest! They’re here to scare away the foxes, which they do very well.

their order on 23 December and we’ve cleared away the Christmas Fayre, the whole team, including me, gathers to raise a glass of bubbles and head off home for the festive season. By then we are all exhausted, very happy and looking forward to a few days away from each other.

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Situated in the heart of Wokingham Just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Town Hall,

Chalk Restaurant is a magical place to celebrate Christmas.

This winter, we invite you to come and experience your local restaurant at its best, with a whole host of special things happening just for you. Join Chalk Restaurant for our 3rd year of Christmas Celebrations with a complimentary chilled glass of Pommery Brut Champagne with every festive menu

from 27th of November until 30th of December.

31st DECEMBER : ‘NO TIME TO DINE’ NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Family Early Seating 5:30pm - Ticket at £49.95 per adult | Face Painting, Magician, Caricaturist, (Kids menu available) Party Late Seating 8:30pm –Ticket at £129.95 per adult | Dinner and Full Entertainment

To book any one of our festive dining experiences or private parties, Call 01189 798 805 or Email enquiries@chalkrestaurants.com Chalk Restaurant, 31 Broad Street, Wokingham, RG40 1AU

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FOOD & DRINK • MEET THE CHEF

TOM SCADE

M E E T

THE

C H E F

TOM SCADE T H E V I N E YA R D

Executive Chef, Tom Scade, joined The Vineyard in Newbury in 2019. Formerly of The Ritz, having trained under John Williams MBE, Tom and his team have elevated the dining experience at The Vineyard to new heights.

Q What dining options are

available at The Vineyard?

A The Vineyard offers two main dining options, a delicious à la carte menu in the main restaurant or an exquisite five course tasting menu in The Tasting Room. There is also an all-day dining menu available along with quintessential British afternoon tea.

Q How different are the menus?

A The menu in the restaurant is true

Vineyard style; elegant, refined and delicious.

The Tasting Room is an elevated sensory experience, designed to take you on a journey from the winery in California to the home of The Vineyard in Berkshire. The all-day dining menu is a more relaxed style of tasty dishes.

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Q How do you take inspiration from The Vineyard’s Californian heritage?

A California is home to The Peter Michael Winery with the vines that produce Les Pavots – the flagship red wine. The Vineyard in Berkshire was created as a celebration of the things Sir Peter Michael holds dearest: music, art, wine, food and great company.

of the earth” was the starting point behind the development of the concept. Our five course tasting room menu offers a sensory journey like no other, designed to take you on a journey from the winery in California to the home of The Vineyard in Berkshire.

Q What will be on offer over Christmas?

A On Christmas Day we will have a five

Q Do you look to use local produce?

A Wherever possible our produce is sourced

course feast and a three course lunch on Boxing Day for those who want to escape and enjoy some great food and wine. We also have our New Year’s Eve Celebration for an evening of exquisite food, paired wines, lots of champagne, dancing and fireworks.

Q Why did you open The Tasting Room and what experience can we expect?

A We wanted to elevate our tasting menu and create a celebration of the passing of each season with all the diverse ingredients that are on offer throughout the year. The quote “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence

Q Will you be offering a festive Afternoon Tea? A Our afternoon tea like our other menus changes throughout the year. We take inspiration from the flavours of the season and everything is exquisitely crafted by Nicolas Bouhelier and his team of pastry chefs.

locally. Naturally some things (such as Porthilly Oysters) come from further afield, but we do as much as possible champion the fantastic produce available on our doorstep.

the-vineyard.co.uk

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THE INFINITE

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rarechampagne_official www.rare-champagne.com Drink responsibly

17/11/2023 11:41

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FA S H I O N

TWIST & SHOUT BERRY’S JEWELLERS

A modern twist on the elegant Art Deco style, the new Nouveau diamond jewellery collection from Berry’s Jewellers is striking and versatile.

Take your look from day to night, from office to out on the town, the Nouveau Collection is perfect for every moment in life.

Discover the collection at your nearest Berry’s showroom or berrysjewellers.co.uk

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TIME to

sparkle Anthropologie always comes up with the goods when it comes to festive fashion ANTHROPOLOGIE .COM

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FASHION • KNITWEAR ASPIGA Red & White Stripe Jumper, £155 aspiga.com

EDITOR’S PICK

OPIONEERS Isla Tank Yellow, £255 opioneers.co.uk

BEE & SONS Bunny Cardigan, £275 beeandsons.com

HERD Fleetwood Cardigan, £495 herdwear.co

KNIT WIT

EMILIA WICKSTEAD Bobbie Jumper, £650 emiliawickstead.com

BRODIE CASHMERE

COS Pure Cashmere Turtleneck, £180 cos.com

Warm and stylish pieces for winter

Fraya Hat, £70 brodiecashmere.com

B y PENDLE HARTE

GANT Stripe Sleeve Crew Neck, £220 gant.co.uk

AMI MADELEINE THOMPSON Fleming Top, £378 madeleine-thompson.com

Cloudy Sweater Ami de Coeur, £465 amiparis.com

SHEEP INC The Checkmate Cardigan, £320 sheepinc.com

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Lingerie

* Swimwear

* Nightwear

New Hours: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm T: 01494 725711 | E: info@odettelingerie.co.uk | www.odettelingerie.co.uk 21 Market Square, Old Amersham HP7 0DG ODETTE_HP_ABS_BB_NOV2023.indd 1

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D E S I G N E R P I E C E S AT G R E AT P R I C E S

We have a wide range of items including... handbags, dresses, coats and shoes from top designers such as Zimmermann, Balmain, Chanel, Roberto Cavalli, Christian Dior, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana.

VA L S E C O L L E C T I O N Spittal street SL7 1DB

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Monday to Saturday : 10am - 5pm Sunday : 11am - 4pm

valsecollection.com 15/06/2023 17:03

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FASHION • PARTNERSHIP

MADE

for LIFE Why clients return to New & Lingwood’s Eton store time and time again

M “MTO pieces are not extravagances, but investments in clothing you can wear again and again”

ade-to-Order (MTO) tailoring is a service New & Lingwood has proudly offered since the founding of their Eton store in 1865. Originally making uniforms for the schoolboys, naturally they expanded their offering to include occasion and formal wear for patrons wanting to attend weddings and other events sporting pieces custom made for them.

Made-to-Order offers you a custom suit, jacket or morning wear, made to your precise specifications, without the daunting fees and longer turnarounds of a bespoke piece.

The process begins with a visit to New & Lingwood’s historic store in Eton. Here you’ll be measured by their in-house MTO specialist who will guide you through the process of selecting fabrics and tailoring the piece to your expressed wishes. This information is then sent to their team of skilled craftspeople who will produce your order within a few weeks and have it returned to their Eton location.

Once your order is ready, you will be invited back to the store for a final fitting to ensure everything fits perfectly.

MTO is popular with their clientele for weddings and graduations, as a way of marking a special occasion with a truly personal outfit. Because the turnaround is faster than a bespoke suit or jacket, you don’t have to order as far in advance while still getting a unique piece crafted specifically for your fit and stylings.

MTO pieces are not extravagances, but investments in clothing you can wear again and again throughout your life.

They are part of a tailoring tradition that moves against the quick disposability of fast fashion, with an understanding that quality and craftsmanship are always worth the extra time and consideration.

Purchasing your MTO occasion wear and

tailoring is an occasion on its own that they want to make as memorable as possible. At New & Lingwood they take immense pride in the role their work plays in their customer’s lives. When they come in for their first school uniform, they often come back for their first suit, then their own morning wear when they get married. And when the time comes, they bring their sons to do the same.

Your MTO clothing is not a quick buy, but the beginning of a journey that you will continue with every wearing. Visit New & Lingwood in Eton and begin your MTO journey with a one-to-one consultation.

N E W & L I N GWO O D 118 High Street, Eton, Windsor, SL4 6AN 01753 866286 newandlingwood.com

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Working together to deliver comprehensive and tailored care

Private GP Service

Private Outpatient Centre

• Rapid access to a GP and on a day that suits you

• Rapid access to highly experienced consultant specialists across a wide range of medical disciplines

• Extended clinic opening hours to fit around your work and lifestyle

To make an appointment or for more information, contact our team today Tel: 01494 410 888 | Email: info@doctornow.org | Website: www.doctornow.org Little Hall Barn, Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire HP9 2JW

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Spice island DOLCE & GABBANA Made in Italy to the rigorous standards of high perfumery, Dolce & Gabbana's Devotion comes from master perfumer Olivier Cresp. Luminous in the top notes and sensual in the base notes, the freshness of orange flowers meets the sweetness of Madagascar vanilla. dolcegabbana.com

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COUTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS YOUR TIMELINE TO THE PARTY SEASON Doctor Nyla is a skin specialist, trusted by TV personalities, well-known celebrity figures and some of Britain’s most familiar faces in the media industry. Founder and Medical Director of Doctor Nyla Medispa is a highly respected and much sought after cosmetic Dermatology GP and is considered one of the top cosmetic doctors in the country. Having practised medicine for over 20 years and having personally delivered over 200,000 treatments with truly exceptional results, she has gained the admiration of the industry.

COUTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS SIX WEEKS TO GO

Reshape redefine and relax into your body nonsurgically with no downtime, just in time for Christmas!

CoolSculpting

Doctor Nyla Medispa have the latest technologies to help contour and transform the body. The CoolSculpting Elite is even more powerful and with larger sized applicators to freeze even more fat - the results are seen even quicker than traditional CoolSculpting.

One of the best things about CoolSculpting Elite is that we can treat two areas at once. You can have both arms treated at the same time, making the treatment much more efficient for busy lifestyles. With the treatment typically taking 35 minutes, and results noticeable within 3 weeks.

Emerald Laser

Emerald laser is an FDA Market-Cleared full body fat loss treatment that allows clients to target areas of stubborn fat. Emerald Laser treats overall body circumference and is the only device FDA cleared to treat those with a BMI of over 30.

Applied externally, the laser targets excess fat by emulsifying fatty tissue through the use of cold laser technology developed by Erchonia. It provides an alternative fat loss treatment without the adverse side effects associated with surgical and other weight loss procedures like liposuction and body wraps.

follow us on @doctornyla | 0162 552 3307 | 0800 009 6661 For treatment or FREE consultation please contact Medispa or visit www.doctornyla.com

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COUTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS SIX WEEKS TO GO

If your after a jawline or brow lift this can take around 30 minutes, with results starting to show at 6 weeks!

Transformation faceliftTM

Most patients only need one treatment for results that can last over a year. However, based on the degree of skin laxity, the biological response to ultrasound and radio frequency technology can vary. For maximum benefit, we suggest you explore our revolutionary transformation facelift, which combines a number of energy based devices to give you a natural yet, highly effective, overall lifting and tightening of the face and neck.

The Transformation Facelift™ is a bespoke treatment from Doctor Nyla, unique to her clinics and combining a variety of incredible anti-ageing treatments to make you look and feel 10 years younger in the space of only six weeks! The next generation, multiplatform transformational facial offered exclusively at Dr Nyla. This treatment offers non-surgical skin tightening and lifting to treat all antiageing concerns – from textured, dull skin, to deep wrinkles and loss of laxity.

COUTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS FOUR WEEKS TO GO Emface Emsculpt

EMFACE is a revolution in facial treatments.

By emitting both synchronized RF and HIFESTM energies, it simultaneously affects the facial skin and muscles. The end result is less wrinkles and more lift naturally without needles. Best of all, EMFACE treats full face in only 20 minutes.

Emsculpt is the only procedure which helps women and men build muscle and burn fat simultaneously. In addition, Emsculpt provides the world’s first non-invasive buttock lift. Emsculpt is based on highintensity focused electromagnetic energy.

COUTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS TWO WEEKS TO GO

So to avoid any embarrassing, bruises or tell-tale sign from your injectables it’s essential that these treatments are done two weeks prior to the all-important Christmas party

Botox

Dermal filler

Botox is an anti-wrinkle treatment that works by blocking impulses to tiny facial muscles, thereby reducing the prominence of expression lines and achieving a more youthful, radiant look. You may lose tone and natural elasticity of the skin as you age, causing wrinkles, fine lines, and folds to appear.

Injectable Hyaluronic acid based dermal fillers can restore, revolumise and rejuvenate these facial lines and augment the appearance of the face – safely and effectively offering a refreshed appearance and look.

Envy facial

The best thing you can do to get your skin ready the week of your party events, we recommend booking yourself in for an Envy facial to give you that glow you are after! Getting a envy facial a few days before your Christmas party is the perfect time to allow your skin time to heal and refresh it’s renewal cycle. Envy Facial is the only face and body skin-resurfacing treatment to gently yet effectively exfoliate damaged skin cells.

Medispa Mayfair 32 Dover Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4NE

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare B y C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

REVIEW

THE LIGHT SALON

PAMPERING PRESENTS

Boost LED Face Mask

L

G R OW N A LC H E M I ST

One of six Christmas gift sets from Grown Alchemist, ‘Giving Me Time’ includes the brand’s Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser, Hydra-Repair Day Cream, Polishing Facial Exfoliant, and Instant Smoothing Serum. A failsafe present for any beauty lover, it’s high up on our wishlists. £166; grownalchemist.com

EDITOR’S PICK

Perfect BALANCE S A M AYA

Ayurvedic skincare is a hot trend at the moment, due to so many of us having overdone it on products with strong ingredients that compromise the skin’s barrier. SAMAYA is an all-natural skincare brand that uses Ayurvedic principles to balance out your particular ‘dosha’, with the aim of achieving overall balance and wellness.

samayaayurveda.com

BE AU T Y H AV E N E A R L O F E A ST

Earl of East has opened its first beautyfocused store. The lifestyle brand’s flawlessly stylish third shop has a brilliant edit of niche and hard-to-find brands (from CRA-YON to Mirror Water, and Wonder Valley), alongside their ownbrand candles, bath, and body products.

ED light-therapy masks are everywhere at the moment.

The A-list are obsessed with them, and if you’ve scrolled through Instagram recently you’ve probably noticed your favourite beauty influencer wearing one of the futuristic (if not slightly alarminglooking) devices. The best ones use red and near infrared LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) to target multiple skin concerns at once – including acne, fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage and pigmentation, and skin conditions such as rosacea.

Being a busy mum, I love any beauty treatment that promises to deliver salonquality results at home. So I was excited to try the Boost LED Face Mask from The Light Salon. It uses a combination of near-infrared light to trigger the cell’s production of collagen and elastin, and red light to plump the complexion.

Post-partum, my skin has been prone to hormonal breakouts and constant broken sleep has given me more lines than a supermarket checkout. LED light-therapy has been clinically proven to reduce fine lines, so I set about a diligent routine of wearing my mask five nights a week.

After preparing my skin with The Light Salon’s Enzymatic Cleanser & Mask, Boost Cleanse & Recovery Spray, and Hydrating Peptide Serum, I’ve really enjoyed just lying there for 10 minutes and not being able to do anything at all.

After two months of wearing the mask, I’m miraculously no longer suffering from as many hormonal breakouts. My complexion appears much more even and although my lines haven’t vanished, they definitely seem a little softer.

THE LIGHT SALON £395

thelight-salon.com

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30-Day iFIT Family Subscription Included*

RW700 Rowing Machine Ergonomic SoftTouch™️ handle Auto-adjusting digital resistance

S700 Elliptical 22 digital resistance levels 31 pre-set workout programmes

Was £1,699 | Now £749

Was £1,299

Now £599 IC1 Group Exercise Bike 18kg aluminium flywheel Friction resistance system

Was £745 | Now £495

Walking Pad Hit your daily step count at home Folds completely in half for handy storage

List Price £699 | Our Price £449

SelectTech 552i Dumbbells (pair) Replace 15 sets of dumbbells with just one pair Adjust your weights between 2-24kg

List Price £599

Our Price £399

Quote ABBERKS1223 for exclusive in-store deals

UNWRAP OUR CHRISTMAS OFFERS Got a fitness lover among your family and friends? Get them something they’ll really love this year from our range of Christmas offers, featuring unbeatable deals on cardio and strength products from the industry’s biggest brands. Don’t forget you can try these products out, and hundreds more too, for yourself at your nearest store!

Try Before You Buy

Expert In-Store Advice

Never Beaten on Price

0% Finance Available †

Prices may vary, see website for current prices. † Subject to age and status. *Paid subscription required after trial. Compatible with NordicTrack machines only.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • FITNESS

FITNESS

TOP

PICKS

NOTES

THREE RUNNING SHOES DESIGNED FOR PERFORMANCE

By CARLY GLENDINNING

BEYOND LIMITS The brand new ‘Cloudflow 4’ from On Running has a spoon-shaped nylon blend Speedboard® that's stiff, strong, and lighter than the brand’s previous models. Put simply, it gives you a powerful forward roll to help you pick up the pace like never before, £150. on-running.com

BUILDING

SPRING FORWARD Designed based on the female foot, the new ‘blissfeel 2’ from Lululemon has a seamless frame that extends through the heel to create a cradled sensation. This ultra-comfortable shoe also has a 3D-moulded midfoot panel, to add stability as you run, £138. lululemon.co.uk

GO THE DISTANCE Designed to complement your natural movement, the ​​TYR RD-1 Runner combines a foam midsole with a durable engineered mesh upper to provide the ultimate in comfort and response. A 10mm heel-to-toe drop helps to accelerate power, £119.99. wit-fitness.com

ST R E N G T H Absolutely tries on-demand Pilates, yoga, wellness, and nutrition platform Live Brave

E

ven though my daughter is now two and a half, I’ll admit that my pelvic floor probably isn’t as strong as it should be post-birth. I know I should be doing more pelvic floor muscle training, but I’ll hold my hands up and admit that I’m not very good at remembering when I’m busy. Helping to improve your breathwork, core strength, and posture, a combination of Pilates and yoga can be just as effective for your pelvic floor. However, getting out to classes regularly is a challenge with a toddler, and I’ll often prioritise going to the gym.

So I was excited to try Live Brave, an on-demand platform

offering day-by-day Pilates and yoga classes alongside wellness and nutrition advice.

Live Brave was founded

by Lou Buttler, a qualified Polestar and Stott Pilates instructor (and wife of England cricketer Jos Buttler). She first discovered Pilates after her mum had chemotherapy and reconstruction surgery and was amazed at the incredible mental and physical benefits it had to offer. Her signature teaching style conditions the body with small movements that build strength and prioritise alignment.

With 700+ sessions, the platform is super easy to use and I love how the classes are day-by-day and tailored to your particular level or stage. There’s

programmes aimed at beginner, intermediate, and advanced, and specialised programmes for everything from menopause to osteoporosis. There’s also a section for pre and post-natal as well as functional yoga. What I have really enjoyed though is the ‘Lifestyle Challenge’, a five-week programme that gives you daily suggestions for fitness sessions, as well as nutritious recipes and mindfulness audios, all put together by Live Brave’s expert team. The best bit?

That I can easily do the fitness sessions in my daughter’s nap time and I don’t even need to leave the house.

From £22 a month for a six month rolling subscription. livebrave.life A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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"Mum has settled in so well because time has been taken to understand her likes and dislikes. She has been nourished both physically and emotionally."

Make our home your home At every one of our homes and services you will find a welcoming environment, companionship and freedom from worry, together with great care and friendly faces everyday

Residential Care Homes ‫ ׀‬Nursing Homes ‫ ׀‬edicated ementia Care Respite Care ‫ ׀‬ervices for Adults iving with earning isa ilities

To discuss your care needs and arrange a visit 0333 005 8735 enquiries@fremantletrust.org www.fremantletrust.org AD - FREMANTLE TRUST.indd 78

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP

SUE AND TAMRYN

T H E

B E A U T Y

WITHIN Tamryn Stowell on the business her mother founded, Willow Organic, and why they strive to be different Q What originally inspired the

launch of Willow Organic?

A Founder – and my mother – Sue Stowell was originally working as a renowned interior designer and received a commission to design the multi-award winning SenSpa. At home she already lived an organic lifestyle and once the spa was finished the spa director asked if she could source any organic beauty products that would fit with the luxury ethos of the brand. My mother struggled to find any truly beautiful, truly effective organic beauty and skincare products – and so Willow was born.

Q How did you want to be different?

A Willow wanted to be different in many

ways. Firstly, to be a truly effective alternative to synthetic products – not just an ethical option, but a viable alternative that achieved the same results. Secondly, to be authentic and that meant being Soil Association certified organic and natural. Thirdly, to be

beautiful and aspirational, my mother as an established designer always valued elegance.

Q Can you explain how your products are made?

A We work very closely with Soil Association certified cosmetic chemists. We draw up a plan of a product we would like to launch, ingredients it should include, and we slowly form samples with the chemists and then test their effectiveness. From conception to sale normally takes around six months due to the certification process and various other procedures. All of our products are required to contain a minimum of 75% organic and natural ingredients.

Q What have been some of your popular products?

A Our overnight creams are definitely the most popular. At night time our bodies go into repair mode and so it is often the most effective time to provide them with an extra boost of hydration and nutrients.

In addition, our BioMarine Serum is wildly popular – it reduces wrinkles and appearances of lines in minutes when used before a moisturiser during the day. It has just won Woman&Home’s Best Serum of 2023 award!

Q How do you see Willow Organic evolving?

A We are doing a soft launch into the US in

the next few months to see how that goes – it’s such an enormous market, and this is just a small test, but if it proves fruitful then we would adapt our business model to make room for a new US presence.

Find out more by visiting willowbeautyproducts.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Medical Skin Clinic in West Berks & Oxfordshire Trained at Kings College London and awarded a post-graduate diploma in clinical dermatology, Dr Louise Reed offers expert dermatological advice and treatments including: • Minor skin surgery service which includes removal of sebaceous cysts, lipomas, benign lumps and earlobe repair.

• All skin conditions • Full body mole and blemish checks • Wart treatment Please visit www.thebraeclinic.co.uk to book online, or email hello@thebraeclinic.co.uk & @thebraeclinic on

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP

XXX IMAGE CAPTION XXX

DR NIK CHOPRA

WHAT IS HEALTH SCREENING?

Above and BEYOND The story behind The Doctor's Lounge and why they offer exemplary care to their patients

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he Doctor’s Lounge was created as a space for those interested in receiving healthcare that is personalised, has continuity and is delivered with an extremely high level of service. Dr Nik Chopra realised the benefits of spending time with his patients and developing that all important relationship between doctor and patient and wanted to bring that back, teaming that with an environment to allow patients to have a comfortable medical journey.

WHAT THEY OFFER They provide two main services – a Private GP and Complete Health Screening to deliver both reactive medicine for when their patients are unwell and to allow them to focus on a proactive healthcare model.

Their GP services are complete from minor

illness to complex medical issues, through to end of life care. Whereas their health screening allows patients to obtain a full assessment of their health, identify areas to either look more closely at with specialist investigations or monitor over time to look for changes and trends to inform better healthcare and lifestyle decisions.

WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT They believe that continuity with your doctor is key to providing the best possible healthcare. A doctor who knows your health, lifestyle and background can help to make the best decisions tailored to an individual. That small piece of information they know about you from a previous encounter can be the difference between the wrong/right diagnosis and can feed into the best possible management plan. They make sure patients are followed up after their consultations to achieve the best outcomes possible.

Health screening medicals occur over 2-3 appointments.

Appointment 1: They obtain a full understanding of a patient’s health risks, symptoms or interests and combine this with a full examination, blood tests and other tests. They understand a patient’s lifestyle in full to determine where there could be issues or areas for improvement.

Appointment 2: They discuss the complete results with patients and create a health plan that may lead to more investigations or in some cases some treatments and lifestyle changes.

Appointment 3: Should the patient be sent for further investigations, i.e. full body MRI scanning, they then follow up with a discussion and further health planning.

They are unique in that the doctor then will follow the patient through the year to help monitor and adapt to achieve the best possible outcomes.

DO THEY PROVIDE ANY SPECIALIST SERVICES? Their doctors have special interests in men’s health, to manage prostate problems and testosterone deficiency, women’s health, often managing the menopause, and children’s health. They provide minor surgery and joint injections as well as in house scanning. They have teamed up with some of the very best specialists to provide further services where needed.

The Doctor’s Lounge offers membership for those wanting to get the best of the continuity as they are allocated a personal doctor. Their patients comment frequently on the welcoming nature of their staff, the level of service they receive and the ability to develop that all important relationship with their doctor.

07359 466732 thedoctorslounge.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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QUESTION OF ETHICS DIFFERENT KIND

Different Kind stock goods that do good, from the very best ethical and socially-minded producers. Different Kind has brilliant products from people with stories the world needs to hear.

Inside this Home special, founder and Oxfordshirebased Liz Warner explains how the company came to be. thedifferentkind.com

inside this section THE INTERVIEW: NIKI SCHÄFER p86 5 O F TH E B E ST: SO FA S p 9 5 TH E P E R F EC T S H OW E R S PAC E p 9 7

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INTERIORS N OT E S Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

INKY SHADE KNOTS RUGS

Knots Rugs has launched a collaboration with Nat Maks, the studio founded by artist Natascha Maksimovic, who works with the ancient Japanese technique of Suminagashi ‘ink floating’ marbling. Eight original artworks in individual colourways have been painstakingly reinterpreted by Knots' artist founder, Bonnie Sutton. knotsrugs.co.uk

S H A DY B U S I N E S S HOUSE OF

House Of have taken the classic uplighter shape and made it cool and contemporary, by printing onto 100% cotton canvas in fresh colours and adding a tonal trim.

The reversible gimble mechanism means you can style it up or down, depending on your preferred stream of light. houseof.com

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H O M E • NOTES

TA K E F I V E

Christmas candles

NEST FRAGRANCES Fall Glass Candle, £45 anthropologie.com

FI N E FA B R I C S

F LO R A A N D FAU N A GRAHAM & BROWN

Graham & Brown's design of the year is New Eden, a lively hand painted design full of flora and fauna, interspersed with exotic bird life and rocky terrain in a mostly green verdant palette. It's available as wallpaper, custom murals, curtains, blinds and cushions. grahambrown.com

LISA CORTI

PLUM & ASHBY Festive Spice & Clementine Candle, £32 anthropologie.com

With reimagined icons and opulent pieces, Lisa Corti's AW23 homeware collection pays homage to the continuous search for wonder in distant places and times, and the constant selection of fine fabrics and artisanal skills. lisacorti.com

D.S. & DURGA Portable Christmas Tree Candle, £61.20 50-ml.co.uk

HALLORM WOODY Blood Orange & Conifer Glass Tree Candle, £62 anthropologie.com

TRUE BLUE SMEG X DOLCE & GABBANA

LORIEST & CO Notes of December Scented Candle, £40 loriest.com

The new Blu Mediterraneo collection transports you straight to the south of Italy with its evocative pattern.

The collection comprises a selection of small and large appliances crafted in celebration of Smeg and Dolce & Gabbana's brands’ rich Italian heritage. shop.smeguk.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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NIKI SCHÄFER

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H I G H The eponymous founder of Niki Schäfer Interior Design writes about a childhood in the RAF, switching from advertising and wellbeing in the home

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s a child I spent considerable time looking at “our next house”, as we moved every 2-3 years. Most of them were red brick RAF boxes, but we were also lucky enough to live in many homes that were out of the ordinary – a train station house in Scotland and a villa-style house in France. My focus at the time was always to figure out how quickly I could make the new space “home”, so it would be fair to say that this thinking has influenced my choice in career.

I was the colourful sheep of the family, as I come from a family of engineers and maths teachers. My mum loved to make clothes, so my love for fabrics comes from helping her choose materials and seeing how they worked together.

I can’t sew though – not well, anyway.

I had no experience in interiors, but had worked in the advertising business, which is remarkably similar in many ways. Both are about having a vision and then creating that vision while protecting it from the influences of budgets, scheduling and rogue creative input!

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Advertising taught me how to be prepared for whatever leftfield idea could be thrown my way.

Having structured documentation might not sound very sexy, but it’s key to ensuring a creative process runs smoothly. I had a dragon of a boss who drummed this “best advice” into me.

I launched my business in 2008 when I was heavily pregnant with my third child. How “right time” could that be? I couldn’t sleep at night and a building project at a local school seemed a reasonable way to spend the hours. It was a charitable project, I did not charge for my time, but I learnt a huge amount in the two years it took to design and build the school. I had a new baby in tow and no-one minded that either. It was definitely the right time. We sourced grants, designed the building’s exterior and interior and project managed the planning (including surveys for the great crested newt) and installation during school holidays. We have never done a job like it since. Our work is now all residential.

I’ve always found the relationship between our environment and our wellbeing fascinating. I wanted to create spaces that would make people feel happy and fulfilled in their family life. I’m still focussed on doing that. It’s obvi-

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Colour and pattern are a key aspect of Niki’s design approach, with wellbeing also a key inspiration

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H O M E | INTERVIEW

ously not a linear effect – a new kitchen doesn’t guarantee happiness – but an efficient space can bring organisation to a home, a stunning wallpaper can bring memories or just sheer joy, an idyllic bath can do wonders for wellbeing.

Evolution is fundamental in any business. We learn from every job, we adapt our paperwork to reflect learnings, we amend our processes to enhance efficiency and we take feedback from clients. We have dabbled with commercial work, but find more joy in talking to clients about the homes they truly love, rather than impartial people discussing a space.

We like to build a close working relationship with our clients. Some are very hands on and others are the opposite. We work with a number of projects at any one time so are generally working in various different styles. But that’s what we like. We enjoy the variety and it’s a

privilege to work on the stunning homes our clients provide for us.

Is there a Niki Schäfer style? It’s hard to say. We certainly like colour and pattern, but we mainly enjoy finding out what makes our clients tick and then enhancing their style to the maximum. We have an international client base and work with many different cultures and tastes. Being able to beautifully adapt these styles into an English home is probably the “NSID style”.

I set up NSID to work around my family life.

Sarah, my colleague, too has a family and it’s important that we are able to juggle all aspects of our lives. We are very fortunate not to have to commute and be able to attend school plays.

On the other hand, work is part of the house and the family has to tolerate boxes of client furniture around or meetings taking place in the home. We all cope though!

We no longer make promises to be finished

by Christmas. Christmas is a very important part of my family calendar and we have a house of 14 people in general. So I certainly make time to enjoy my guests and decorate the house to the maximum.

Looking ahead, as my children are getting older and flying the nest, I will be able to find work further afield. Projects abroad could be on the horizon. I’m also interested in sustainable design and would love to work on a sustainable architectural project abroad. nikischaferinteriordesign.co.uk

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Double VISION Niki Schäfer on a stand out project in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Goff House in Berkshire is a stunning family home. The client moved from London and needed a considerable amount of new furniture and lighting to fill their new country pad.

It was a joy to work on as they had some fabulous antique pieces and the house had character in abundance.

Okyngton in Buckinghamshire was another wonderful family home design. We built a modern kitchen extension and designed and decorated every room in the six bed house. We used bamboo flooring and Critall doors and our influences were a bold mix of Irish and Thai.

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ORIGIN POOLS BUILDING AWARD WINNING POOLS FOR OVER 40 YEARS

WE DO IT ALL FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

AD ORIGIN POOLS.inddDec8923.indd 1 ORIGIN ABSOLUTELY

17/11/2023 07/11/2023 11:48 14:52

LIZ WARNER

M E E T

T H E

MAKER

Liz Warner, CEO & co-founder of Different Kind, on working at Comic Relief and launching a business that gives back Q How did your role at Comic Relief come about?

A It was just a month after I had left Betty, which I had run for nearly 15 years, when I got the call from Comic Relief to apply to be CEO. The chairman was Tim Davie (a Maidenhead man), now Director General of the BBC. Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry were two of the founders. It was an immense privilege to lead the charity and to see so much of the work done by frontline organisations and projects funded by the public donations and partners.

Q Did your time at Comic Relief inspire Different Kind?

A It was Sir Lenny Henry’s 60th birthday, when we went to buy presents for him, and I asked could they come from

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makers with a social ethos that the Idea for Different Kind was born. We found recycled glasses from Ngwenya and a stunning cake from Luminary Bakery – both makers now feature in the Different Kind store.

Q From day one, what was the ethos behind the company?

A We launched exactly two years ago as a one-stop-shop for goods that do good – well-designed, well-made and all by people seeking to change the world with what they do.

It is an exciting model of how business can be a force for good. It is a store of amazing products, and we find new ones every week, so are constantly looking at adding to the collection, all available at thedifferentkind.com.

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H O M E | Q&A

STAND WITH UKRAINE ROLLING PIN

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THERE’S PLENTY ON OFFER THIS CHRISTMAS

Q What kind of products do you offer for the home?

A For homeware we have gorgeous baskets, ceramics, candlesticks and some great classics including glasses, table mats and luxe candles.

Our Blantyre upcycled glass storage jars are very popular.

They are beautiful and will sit happily as display pieces, but also have a useful function. They are made by artisans in Malawi, from empty wine bottles collected from local restaurants. The lids are made from hand-carved mahogany.

The clothes horse drier has been a surprising consistent best seller. Made in York, the woodworkers at Camphill Village Trust specialise in thoughtful simplicity. They are a national charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism. They also support several of their service users “to discover the unique skills and talents everyone has” and then to start creating, making and learning. The items produced are utilitarian, but have that pleasing ‘just right’ look.

We also do gorgeous, foraged beauty, foodie gifts including ethical chocolate and small batch preserves, jams and honey all made in UK.

“It is an exciting model of how business can be a force for good” Q Do you have a favourite couple of home products?

A It is really hard to choose a favourite, even just a few, as I genuinely love them all for various reasons and the stories behind them make them all worthy of favourite status.

For the home, I really love the espresso cups made by the One Armed Potter. They are borage blue and every one is handmade so slightly different – and very kind as One Armed Potter donates to LandWorks, the project that helped him rehabilitate and now he is a full time potter.

Gary Fulton, aka the One Armed Potter, is an example of rehabilitation in action. He began his pottery journey on a course run by the LandWorks project in Dartington, Devon, a work-based training scheme for current and former prisoners.

They are different because each piece is unique and I love the way the bowls, cups and mugs fit into our hands: they’re shaped to be held.

Our beechwood rolling pins from Polish company, PastryMade, make biscuits with sunflowers on. It’s a one-off, limited-edition beautiful gift that supports Ukraine. Every handle is embossed with the words “Stand with Ukraine” to bring that message of hope into your kitchen. For every set sold via Different Kind, £5 will be donated to the charity Cook for Ukraine.

At this time of the year our Nauseni Wool Felt Slippers, from a women’s project in Nepal, are best-sellers. They are like a cool Birkenstock shoe and come in gorgeous colours.

The whole project came about after the women sought a way to make a living after the earthquake. They are warm, have suede non-slip soles and cool to wear – you could go to the shops in Shoreditch in them and totally get away with it!

Q How do you see Different Kind progressing from here?

A We feel as though we are just at the beginning of our journey and can’t wait to see what the future holds, how we can support our producers – and in turn their mission for social change.

For inspiring ideas, thoughtful gifts, and meaningful presents with purpose this Christmas, visit thedifferentkind.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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An extensive palette of pigment rich, premium paint colours.

Made to order in six beautiful, water-based finishes: Pure Matt | Pure Matt Plus | Claypaint | Interior Eggshell | Exterior Eggshell | Ultimate Masonry Fenwick and Tilbrook Ltd, Norfolk, UK T: 01362 684125 www.fenwickandtilbrook.com @fenwickandtilbrook

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H O M E | TREND FERM LIVING Hoy Casted Candle Holder, £75 fermliving.co.uk

DEMI Candlestick Holder, £25 cultfurniture.com

HK LIVING Glass Candle Holder Olive Green, £20 cultfurniture.com

LORDS FRAGRANCE HOUSE Tall Drippy Candle Holder Set, £30 lordsfragrancehouse.com

FABLE AND MIRTH Palm Tree Candle Holder, £23 fableandmirth.com

EDITOR’S PICK

ROSE & GREY

WA X LY R I C A L ROCKETT ST GEORGE Round Gold Leaf Candlestick Holder Wall Sconce, £40 rockettstgeorge.co.uk

Jolly Candle Holder, £34 roseandgrey.co.uk

Candle holders for all occasions

MONO & LENA Oliver Contemporary Candle Holder, £15 monoandlena.co.uk

By P E N D L E H A R T E BOWEN

Dinner Candle Holder Fawn, £10.99 ivylinegb.co.uk

BODE LIVING Churros Candle Holder Light Blue, £40 bode-living.com

THE WISTERIA TREE Boho Red Glass Candle Holder, £14 thewisteriatree.co.uk

TALKING TABLES Orange Glass Candlestick Holder, £14 talkingtables.co.uk

MICUCCI INTERIORS Folkifunki Candle Holder, £360 micucci.co.uk

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H O M E L I V I N G I N S P I R AT I O N Visit our showroom to discuss your next project marlowstoves.co.uk | 01628 290 142 | info@marlowstoves.co.uk |

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H O M E | SOFAS

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L O U N G E L O V E R NEED A NEW SOFA FOR CHRISTMAS? ORDER ONE NOW

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SINK DRAMA L OA F

The brilliantly named Wodge sofa is a supersized cube of softness to sink into for long periods. It's modular, so you can build your own combination – and we love this velvet in Pressed Olives. From £2,295. loaf.com

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S U N DA E G I R L SNUG

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The Cloud Sundae in fuzzy white boucle is designed for ultimate cosiness and even has a clever storage compartments for blankets and other essentials, £2,749. snugsofa.com

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LOW L I F E T R OV E

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The Talitha sofa is inspired Talitha Getty. Low and deep, it's filled with the highest quality feather and down mix, lending itself to be lounged in all day long. It's handmade too, from £8,250. thetrove.co.uk

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SITTING PRETTY H A B I TAT

Armed with city living charm.

Julien's generous dimensions make this one sociable sofa. The foam-filled T-shaped seat cushions and foam back cushions offer the utmost comfort and support, £695. habitat.co.uk

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LUX E L I V I N G J O N AT H A N A D L E R

Jonathan Adler's Beaumont collection's architectural yet airy bases are juxtaposed with silhouettes softened by sculptural flair. Settee, £2,170. jonathanadler.com

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Renowned for our handmade kitchens, but also create stunning bespoke furniture for other rooms in your home

woodwisekitchens.com 01235 555502 info@woodwisekitchens.com

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

G O

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FLOW Top things to consider when designing a shower space

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ant to refresh your shower space, but don’t know where to start? With so many styles and options to choose from, it can be hard to know what will work best in your room.

Here, Leanne Robey, Senior Designer from Ripples Newbury, talks through the top things to consider when designing a shower space.

“Sustainability within bathrooms has never been more important”

GET SAVV Y WITH STORAGE If space is tight within a shower area, concealed fittings are the perfect choice.

By hiding the pipes within the wall cavity, the fittings sit flush to the wall, reducing the possibility of bumping into them when showering and creating a sleek finished look. You can create additional in-shower storage by utilising the void in a stud or false wall to build alcoves for storing shower products, in turn maximising space on the floor. These alcoves can easily become a real design feature, by adding lighting and/or contrasting tiles to inject personality into the space.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT GLASS Shower glass comes in many shapes and sizes, but there’s always an option to suit your space. Firstly, think about whether you want a shower enclosure or a more open space with a shower screen. If you’re opting for an enclosure, consider which shape will work best, such as pentagonal to utilise the corner of a room or three-sided if you have a bit more space available. If you go for shower glass, think about which style you like, whether that be Crittallstyle, fluted or the emerging trend, etched.

GO ECO Sustainability within bathrooms has never been more important than it is right now and with the cost of living also rising exponentially, it’s important to consider the ways in which you can minimise excess

energy and water consumption within the bathroom. One way to reduce water usage is to choose a shower head fitted with a flow restrictor. Luckily, this option doesn’t mean you end up with a sub-standard shower as each flow restrictor shower has been carefully designed to reduce water consumption, but still offer a pleasurable showering experience. Alternatively, you can opt for a technology-led shower which enriches shower water with air droplets, making for an invigorating shower experience.

Visit Ripples Newbury at 51a London Road, Newbury, RG14 1JN, call 01635 569 900, or visit ripplesbathrooms.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

Just

PERFECT The many reasons why shutters are a great investment for the home

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mile and Penny van Heerden are designers and owners of Just Shutters. They specialise in plantation shutters, hence the name ‘Just Shutters’. Over the past few years, with Covid , manufacture and shipping delays and the economic crises things have been a little rocky, but through it all the value plantation shutters add to a customer’s home has kept the team motivated.

Every shutter is made-to-measure, designed to enhance the customers’ home and expertly fitted. First off, time is taken to understand exactly what individual customers want to achieve. Just Shutters offer a carefully curated range of styles, profiles, colours and mechanisms and they, as designers, will use their experience to guide individuals through which combination will work best in each case. During the first design appointment full measurements are taken to ensure a perfect fit and usually no further appointments are needed before the order is placed.

Shutters offer many advantages including exceptional light control. By angling the louvres correctly you can bring beautiful, ambient light into your home to stunning effect. They can also reduce noise significantly by adding an extra layer between the interior and the outside world.

Shutters add value to a property; unlike curtains and blinds, shutters are a fixture that will stay with your home. They offer a real selling point when you are moving on.

Another big selling point is energy efficiency.

Even the most modern double-glazed windows and doors are the most significant cause of heat loss in your home. Interior shutters can improve the energy efficiency of your windows and doors, reducing fuel bills in winter by up to 60% and helping to keep your rooms cooler in summer.

So much for the physical benefits – plantation shutters also endow your home with a sleek and harmonious look that immediately sets it apart. Through their handsome lines and subtle colours, they can fundamentally lift the appearance of everything from a modern flat to a period mansion. Shutters can be installed in most windows including bay windows, arches, triangles and even irregular shapes.

Best of all, shutters are so easy to keep clean. No need to launder or dry clean like with curtains or blinds. They won’t warp, fade or get mildew. All you will need to do is dust your beautiful shutters occasionally.

Call 0118 9070 102 for more information or visit justshutters.co.uk/thames-valleyplantation-shutters

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We offer a complete and comprehensive range of construction services.

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

SERENE progress Poggenpohl explain the planning that went into creating this beautiful, warm kitchen

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his kitchen design effortlessly marries simplicity, elegance and functionality, using a combination of ‘Natural Nut Tree’ and ‘Blossom White’ doors alongside the exquisite Neolith ‘Hima laya n Cr ysta l’ worktops. With a soft and elegant palette, this kitchen embodies a sense of tranquility and warmth, perfectly reflecting the client’s desire for a clean and inviting space.

The customer wanted a natural and organic feel to the kitchen. The warm tones and distinctive grain patterns of the ‘Nut Tree’ doors lends a touch of rustic charm, whilst the matt lacquered ‘Blossom White’ provides a clean and modern backdrop. The porcelain worktops in Neolith’s Himalayan Crystal finish add a luxurious touch, which is enhanced by its satin finish.

Ensuring a modern finish, the LED lighting is adjustable and integrated into the kitchen, allowing the client to easily control the mood and atmosphere of the space. The play of light and shadow further accentuates the textures and tones of the materials.

The client’s request for a muted colour palette that still exudes warmth is achieved with this

design. The soft and elegant tones create a serene ambience, fostering a sense of tranquility and comfort in the kitchen. The clean lines and uncluttered layout further allow for easy navigation and smooth workflow. This kitchen goes above and beyond meeting the client’s expectations as it harmoniously blends aesthetics, functionality and the desired ambiance. The use of the warm finishes and modern Siemens appliances achieves a balance between visual appeal, practicality and the desired serene and inviting atmosphere.

This kitchen design captures the essence of simplicity, elegance and efficiency. The choice of materials, colour palette, lighting and appliances all contribute to a space that is both visually stunning and highly functional. Whether the client is cooking, entertaining or simply enjoying a quiet moment, this kitchen offers a quiet and inviting environment for the client and their loved ones to gather and create lasting memories, all while ensuring an ergonomic design that will stand the test of time.

To find your nearest Poggenpohl dealer, phone 01727 738 100 or visit poggenpohl.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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SBI Ltd has been providing all of your shelter and shading requirements, since 1998

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

E L E V AT E YOUR LIFE

Health is a state of body, wellness is a state of mind

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rigin believes swimming transcends a mere physical exercise; it embodies a comprehensive approach to wellness, nurturing not only the body but also the mind. It’s about fostering healthy habits that promote both mental and physical health, transforming mere survival into thriving in all facets of life. However, wellness is not just limited to adults. Swimming can also be a life-enhancing experience for children as it’s ideal for both physical and cognitive development.

It challenges children to coordinate their movements and maintain proper technique, stimulating cognitive functions such as problem-solving and muscle memory.

At Origin, owning a pool is more than having a space for recreation; it’s about crafting an oasis for wellness and self-care, personalised to meet individual needs. Picture a pool house equipped with a spa, sauna, or yoga room, an environment designed for pure relaxation. If strengthening family bonds is a priority, envision your pool house evolving into a vibrant social hub, featuring a gym, lounge area, or even a bar. An indoor swimming pool from Origin can enhance your family life.

The benefits of swimming on your physical health are well documented, however, the wellness benefits for your mental health are also substantial. These benefits include better sleep, reduced

“Swimming is a universal activity that enriches lives, from childhood to the golden years” stress and anxiety, as well as relief from depression symptoms. The gentle embrace of water imparts a soothing, massage-like sensation that induces profound relaxation.

Immersed in water, blood flow to the brain surges, elevating one's mood and releasing vital endorphins. A Swim England study even reveals that regular swimmers feel, on average, 12 years younger than their nonswimming counterparts.

Why opt for Origin on your pool journey?

Origin streamlines the process by managing every aspect of pool construction, sparing clients the complexity of dealing with multiple contractors. With over 40 years of experience and numerous award-winning projects, Origin's expertise shines above the rest.

Swimming is a universal activity that enriches lives, from childhood to the golden years. The joy of swimming and its profound wellness advantages create a path to happier and healthier living for all.

So, whether you're young or young at heart, dive in and let the water carry you on your journey to well-being and family fun.

originpools.co.uk info@originpools.co.uk 01895 453996 Or scan the QR Code for more information A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Enjoy the journey Based in the heart of Windsor, Upton House is a thriving Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School for boys and girls aged 2-11 years NACE & IAPS Accredited School

With high academic standards, high calibre staff and excellent pastoral care, Upton House children blossom and have a zest for life, continually learning and developing their abilities, interests and talents within a caring and supportive environment. Our children thrive in the modern world and we invite them to think outside the box.

Our enhanced curriculum is rich with cross-curricular digital innovations and our pioneering live-streamed events run by our Broadcasting Club share our activities with our global family online. A proven track record with outstanding scholarship success each year.

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|

registrar@uptonhouse.org.uk |

@UptonHouseSch

17/11/2023 12:01

E D U C AT I O N

WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY ST GEORGE'S SCHOOL WINDSOR CASTLE

St George’s School takes pride in being a happy and caring community in which the welfare of each child comes first – and that includes offering unique opportunities. Recently, ten Year 8 students had the adventure of their lives this term when they travelled to Kenya for the school’s inaugural exchange with Pembroke House School in Gilgil.

Read more about it on page 113.

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T Unwrapping the Magic The Director of Music at Downe House School waxes lyrical about choral creativity at Christmas B y D R C H A R LOT T E E XO N

he church clock chimes on the hour. A moment of sacred hush. Four notes are heard faintly on the organ. A sense of awe and wonder connects musicians, congregation and clergy as the Christmas journey is about to begin.

The opening verse of Once in Royal is sung by the Head of Choir, which echoes around the church, creating an atmosphere of stillness yet anticipation for the creativity that is about to unfold. An experience that will last a lifetime for the choristers is about to begin, and an experience that will not be forgotten by all at the carol service. This is what choral creativity looks like at Christmas – awe, wonder and transforming lives through music.

The carol services at Downe House are extraordinary, joyous, special and moving.

People often ask me what is the secret to your carol services? My answer is simple.

Connection and faith. The students and the school lie at the heart of the service, which is tailored each year to embrace the talents of our community, revisiting the Christmas afresh so that it continues to be relevant and accessible. I have designed over 30 school carol services, and I can honestly say that no service is ever the same. Each year involves different people, bringing different talents and experiences – and there lies, for me, the exciting creative challenge.

Our carol service follows the traditional service of ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’. The origins of the service date back to 1880 by E. W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, who adapted an order for its use in a wooden shed, which served as his cathedral in Truro,

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

DR CHARLOTTE EXON

at 10pm on Christmas Eve. However, it is probably more well-known as the Christmas Eve service at King’s College Chapel, which was first held in 1918. The intention was to bring a more creative and imaginative approach to worship for the Christmas Eve service at Kings. A combination of traditional carols and choral pieces are interspersed between nine readings from the bible following the Christmas story.

Selecting a wide range of music for the choirs is key to a full creative experience. This can be anything from classical pieces, new commissions written specially for our choir, through to pop. The creative space is often enhanced by involving instrumentalists. For the last couple of years, our instrumentalists have performed music composed by staff in the department to accompany the Christmas prayers read by pupils. This was a truly creative and spiritual experience where the power of music was palpable.

“As the final refrain of the carol approaches, the tears fall from our Upper Sixth” All of our five choirs are involved in the carol service and come together to sing as one choir at points during the service. Last year, after the final reading of The Incarnation, all of the choirs performed From A Distance specially arranged for the choirs at Downe House. At the glorious apex of the piece where all five choirs join together with brass quintet, chamber orchestra and full organ, so too was the church transformed from darkness to light to reflect Christ as the ‘Light of the World’. The congregation was surrounded by a full glow of light and warmth of powerful music that moved all who were there, and in the words of a parent “we saw a glimpse of heaven”.

I always say Christmas is not Christmas without our resident composer Bob Chilcott.

He writes brilliantly for choirs and has a true gift of writing for younger choirs in a way that connects with everyone, both performer and listener, in a relevant and accessible way. I am so lucky to work closely with Bob, who has become a Musician in Residence at Downe House. Last year we performed his On Christmas Night based on a sequence of eight original carols drawing upon several familiar carol melodies within his own settings. What a choral celebration of the Christmas Story! Our Chilcott Choral

scholar sang the soprano solo, and all our choirs were involved in telling the choral story. A full choral creative collaboration.

Our carol services conclude by singing a blessing before the Chaplain’s Final Blessing.

This is then followed by a final fanfare into Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with our Brass Quintet, Organ and the choirs and congregation singing their hearts out. One thing the choirs love is the final verse descant.

The only challenge left for our choristers is not to shed a tear. As the final refrain of the carol approaches, the tears fall from our Upper Sixth as they realise that this is the last time they will be involved in such a creative moment. These tears are special ones though. They are tears of joy and thanks for the choral creative adventure and the way that music has transformed their lives.

The experience of the Christmas carol service is a special one for our choirs, in particular, but it is all the more special because it is a shared experience with the whole community. The connecting power of music is extraordinary. The creative experience of being involved in music is transformational and unforgettable. It’s just a shame the magic of Christmas only comes once a year… downehouse.net A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

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undreds of girls have been inspired to become the stars of tomorrow and explore working in the motorsport industry thanks to a successful initiative by Silverstone Museum.

More than 1,400 girls and young women enjoyed free entry to the award-winning museum, located trackside at the iconic Silverstone Circuit, as part of a widereaching campaign to create greater diversity in motorsport. The initiative, which initially ran in October, was extended into November due to popular demand.

The museum’s mission was unanimously backed by an array of sporting stars including Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Numerous famous faces from the world of sport, showbiz and F1, pledged their support for the #GirlsWill campaign, which offered free entry to the museum to all girls

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Silverstone Museum celebrates the success of its initiative to encourage girls to consider careers in motorsport aged 18 and under, including David Coulthard, founder of More than Equal, Claire Williams, racing driver Jessica Hawkins, F1 presenter Lee McKenzie and F1 Academy drivers who welcomed the initiative aimed at accelerating aspiring talent to take on roles within Formula One and the motorsport sector.

The successful campaign complemented the numerous education workshops the museum runs throughout the year, which are attended by pupils and students of all ages from primary school to university undergraduates.

The diverse, engaging educational museum workshops encourage participating pupils to learn more about getting a job in motorsport and the educational pathways to succeed within the sporting sector.

F1 Academy drivers Abbi Pulling, Chloe Grant and Chloe Chong were joined by fellow successful women working in motorsport who pledged their support to the recent initiative, which also saw racing driver Abbi make a star appearance at the museum alongside a panel

of pioneering women working in motorsport organised in collaboration with Rodin Carlin.

The drive to encourage more females to consider careers in motorsport is essential as a recent report by More than Equal highlighted how no woman has raced in F1 since the 1970s and female participation represents only 10% across all levels of competitive motorsport.

Additional well-known stars who helped raise awareness about Girls Go Free included tennis coach Judy Murray, queen of the jungle and former England footballer Jill Scott, and England Lionesses player and captain of Manchester United women’s team Katie Zelem.

Visitors to the museum can enjoy numerous exhibits and experiences including Pit Stop challenges, race the iconic Silverstone circuit on the museum’s Scalextric track and climb into a replica Grand Prix car.

For more information on educational workshops, visit silverstonemuseum.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s 109

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Independent Prep School Boys • Aged 3-13

PRIVATE TOURS AVAILABLE ‘EXCELLENT’ IN ALL AREAS ISI INSPECTION REPORT 2022

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EDUCATION • PARTNERSHIP

CONFIDENCE BUILDING

P E R F E C T

Preparation Godstowe on why Years 7 and 8 are best spent at a Prep School

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odstowe Prep School in High Wycombe is an independent day school with boarding for girls aged 3-13.

Their dedicated programme in Years 7 and 8 allow girls to mature, gain confidence and flourish in a secure, intimate and nurturing environment.

With the common entrance exams landscape changing, we spoke with Godstowe Prep School as to why Years 7 and 8 are best spent at a Prep School rather than a Senior School.

teaching at a smaller class size compared to those offered at Senior School. This allows their girls to access individual and tailored learning opportunities in a smaller environment, maturing in an intimate and nurturing setting. This ensures the very best years of learning, accessing the very best of teaching, offering an enriched education of academics and personal social emotional development. Often in Senior Schools, this teaching is reserved for exam classes, GCSE and A-level, so there is less focus and attention to these two years.

THE DOVE DIPLOMA

They offer over 90 different lunchtime and after-school clubs for their girls, with some only available in Upper School. A busy and varied extra-curricular life not only helps to build confidence, but also gets girls used to a busy, independent schedule that is often expected at Senior School, and also recognises potential and passion. Activities such as the Godstowe Lacrosse Tour are exclusive for Years 7 and 8, and they can enjoy leading parts in drama productions and orchestras, as well as activities, trips and workshops.

Over the past four years, Godstowe have piloted their character-building programme which enhances their curriculum offering in Years 7 and 8. They’ve created the Dove Diploma, which provides their girls with the opportunity to learn and develop skills that will serve them well at 13+ entrance to Senior Schools and beyond.

BESPOKE EDUCATION As well as developing a bespoke curriculum for Years 7 and 8, they offer specialist

Senior Schools can be full of challenges and some girls are not ready for entry at Year 7. By staying at a Prep School instead, they can build confidence and character in a secure environment before the full impact of adolescence hits when joining Senior School at 13+. Godstowe’s supportive, pastoral setting allows girls in Years 7 and 8 to flourish, develop confidence and undertake leadership roles in the school, becoming mentors to younger girls in Prep and PrePrep. These positions of responsibilities aren’t often available in Senior Schools until 16+. The variety of leadership roles offered at Godstowe include Wellbeing and Charity Monitors, Head Girl and Sports Captains, such as Lacrosse, Netball and Swimming.

LEAVERS' PROGRAMME Celebrating the Year 8s is marked with an extensive leavers' programme, offering a strong foundation for Senior School life.

If a child has a good prep education by the age of 13, then they will have the confidence, habits and requisite skills to thrive wherever they go. godstowe.org

THE EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND CLUBS

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ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL WINDSOR CASTLE

Join us for an Open Morning To see upcoming dates and book your place, visit stgwindsor.org A place where children ‘may find their happy ever after’

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‘Excellent’ in all areas ISI Inspection, Nov 2022

15/07/2022 13:57 17/11/2023 12:03

EDUCATION • NEWS

EDU CATION NEWS The latest from schools across the county and beyond

Forging partnerships

Riding high

Local independent boarding school for girls, Downe House, has announced it has joined The International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS), a leading global trust that champions excellence in girls’ education. Becoming a member of the Trust forms part of the school’s strategy to forge stronger global connections and to widen international education opportunities for its pupils.

Headmistress at Downe House School, Emma McKendrick, says: “It is a wonderful opportunity for us to share ideas with teachers who are equally committed to providing the highest quality education for girls and young women across the world.

Ensuring our girls are well equipped to take their place in the world as global citizens and are committed to making a positive difference, has never been more important.” downehouse.net

Milton Keynes based charity Ride High launched their Hobby the Horse educational programme in local schools earlier this year. Working with 14 schools in Milton Keynes, this fun and educational programme is matched to the Key Stage 1 Curriculum and has been enabling delivery within various lessons to support key areas of children’s learning and development.

Participating schools receive a selection of resources, and the children were tasked with collecting products that could be used and recycled to create their Hobby the Horse design. The main objective of the programme is to teach children in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas the importance of recycling, how they can implement it into their everyday lives and the importance of giving back.

Ride High deliver programmes that support young people who are going through difficult times by providing a unique learning environment. All their members are referred to them from schools, social workers and other services. ridehigh.org

Unforgettable journey Ten Year 8 students from St George’s School Windsor Castle had the adventure of their lives this term when they travelled to Kenya for the school’s inaugural exchange with Pembroke House School in Gilgil, two and a half hours north of Nairobi.

From camel safaris to climbing the extinct volcano, Mount Longonot, those who made the journey created memories for a lifetime in addition to strengthening their independence, collaboration and communication skills.

In parallel, St George’s hosted 12 students from Pembroke House who enjoyed trips to the Tower of London, a

Harlequins rugby match and The Globe Theatre, as well as benefitting from the school’s close ties with Windsor Castle with a trip to the Royal Mews. stgwindsor.org

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LAST WORD • CHARITY

why everyone is talking about…

Hearing Dogs for

Deaf People The charity is seeking volunteer puppy trainers across the county to help train life-changing dogs

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hristmas should be about charity as much as anything else, and here’s one organisation Absolutely is keen to throw its support behind. An increase in the demand for its services has led national charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to put out an urgent appeal for volunteer puppy trainers.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains clever dogs to alert deaf people to important and life-saving sounds, including smoke alarms, intruder alarms, oven timers, alarm clocks and even baby monitors.

Its dogs also provide constant emotional support and companionship – helping deaf people to leave loneliness behind.

Deafness is on the rise in the UK; by 2035, it is estimated that one in five British people (over 15 million) will experience hearing loss, and the increase the charity is seeing in the number of people coming to it for help, reflects this.

The charity receives no government funding, but is very fortunate to have the support of a network of committed volunteers. There are two types of volunteer roles the charity urgently needs to fill: permanent puppy trainers, who will look after a puppy for the duration of its training (usually between 18 months and two years), and short-term trainers to cover times when other trainers are on holiday.

Nicola Pullen became a volunteer in 2019 and her first hearing dog puppy, Jemma, an eight-week-old Golden Labrador, arrived in June. Nicola says: “We’ve now looked after four puppies, and are currently training Albert, a black Labrador. Becoming volunteer puppy trainers was the best decision we ever made. It’s so lovely to be a part of the dogs’ journey and to know you’re helping them go on to change

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NICOLA AND DOLLY

someone’s life. I’ve made lots of friends and learned so much. We haven’t looked back and we recommend it to all our friends.”

Nicola Wimble, from Emmer Green, near Reading, was partnered with her hearing dog Dolly in 2020. She says: “Before getting Dolly, I lived in a world of silence where I never relaxed. Even at home, I was constantly listening out for the doorbell or the telephone. I rarely listened to music or had the TV on because it would block out the sounds I needed to hear, and when I put something in the oven, I would stay in the kitchen in case I missed the timer.

“The difference she’s made to my life is incredible,” Nicola smiles. “I’m so much more relaxed now – the TV can be on, I play music and go in the garden, and I don’t have to be concerned that I won’t hear things anymore.”

Victoria Leedham, Head of Volunteering at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, adds: “Anyone who volunteers for us can expect to feel like part of our family. No previous

NIKKI, ROB AND HARLEY

experience is necessary, and volunteers will receive lots of support and training to ensure they feel fully equipped to care for one of our dogs. The charity will also cover all costs involved, from the moment the volunteer takes the puppy home, to when it is handed over to one of our deaf partners after its training is complete.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People can visit hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteer.

The volunteering team can also be reached directly at volunteer@hearingdogs.org.uk or on 01844 348129

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QUALITY KITCHENS AT A PRICE YOU’LL LOVE AT THE HEART OF THE CHILTERNS

We offer a complete project-managed installation service— or supply only.

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