Absolutely Sussex September 2022 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

Sussex SEPTEMBER 2022 / £3.95 PLUS ANNOUSHKADUCAS From Links of London to the South Downs • THREE COURSES Dining at Farmer, Butcher, Chef at Goodwood • POP ART Be dazzled by Brighton artist David Ratcli e AUTUMNAL FASHION WITH JANE ATELIER IN PETWORTH RED In the STYLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT News and views from all the best local schools SPECIAL

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98 SEPTEMBER 2022 CULTURE 16 AGENDA Rounding up the best events in Sussex 20 ANNOUSHKA DUCAS Meeting the gem of the South Downs 30 RYE Why it is the perfect place for a festival FOOD & DRINK 40 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Foodie news from around the county 42 GOODWOOD Visiting Farmer, Butcher, Chef 46 RECIPES A little Sri Lankan inspiration FASHION & BEAUTY 54 PAULA KIRKWOOD The Brighton designer on her leather creations 60 THE SHOOT Jane Atelier's AW22 stunners 68 SOUTH LODGE Relaxing at their impressive spa HOMES & INTERIORS 80 INTERIORS NEWS The latest from around the industry 82 EMMA VANS AGNEW Exploring the history of F&P Interiors and their love of fabrics 89 GARDENS Enjoying some of Sussex's ﬁnest EDUCATION SPECIAL 98 BACK TO SCHOOL Why there is nothing to worry about 101 TALKING HEAD We visit Windlesham House School ABSOLUTELYSUSSEX.CO.UK The online guide to inspirational living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes. ABSOLUTELY Contents ON THE COVER Jane Atelier AW22, found at Twenty in Petworth twentypetworth.com 46 20 7ABSOLUTELY magazines

EDITOR MARK KEBBLE ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA SENIOR DESIGNERS MIKE SUZETTEROBERTSSCOBLE MIDWEIGHT DESIGNER CARMEN GRAHAM JUNIOR DESIGNER KAI NICHOLLS MAGAZINE MANAGER KATIE WOOD FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTORS CRAIG DAVIES, LEAH DAY, JAMES FUSCHILLO NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT Follow Us On Facebook @ABSOLUTELYSUSSEX Twitter @ABSOSUSSEX Instagram @ABSOLUTELYSUSSEX Website absolutelysussex.co.uk For editorial enquiries please email: mark@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 07862 000 612 or email: katie@zest-media.com 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, London N1 7EU; 020 7704 0588 Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

ThibautofcourtesyPicture F&P Interiors – Inspiring Your Design –High quality fabrics, wallpapers, lighting and furniture from all the leading design houses, as well as made to measure curtains, blinds and soft furnishings. Stockists of Andrew Martin, Christopher Farr, Cole & Son, Designers Guild, GP & J Baker, Jean Munro, Lewis & Wood, Morris & Co, Nina Campbell, Osborne & Little, Sanderson, Zoffany and many other luxury brands. F&P Interiors Showroom, Catsland Farm, Henﬁeld, West Sussex, BN5 9TG 01273 495500 • www.fabricsandpapers.com

TICKETS ON SALE - BRITISHCHAMPIONSDAY.COM QIPCO British Champions Day is the Ultimate Raceday and the ﬁnale of the British Flat racing season. Whether you’re a racing guru or you are just after the ultimate day out with friends and family, Champions Day has something for everyone. Worldclass racing, the fanzone, music after racing – don’t miss racing’s biggest celebration. THE ASCOTSATURDAYRACEDAYULTIMATE15OCTOBERRACECOURSE

Agenda The best events in Sussex this month (p16) 1 Open Gardens Enjoy the finest that Sussex has to offer (p89)2 4Rather conversely, I have an inadequate teacher to thank for me writing this welcome letter. You see, at school I loved history and heading into my A-levels, the plan was to study just that at Bristol University. However, my A-level course was nothing like the global history and world war focuses of my GCSE that saw me come away with an A grade. It was based on economic and social history, which was fine, but was delivered in such a dry way that I found myself bored rigid in pretty much every lesson. Unsurprisingly I flunked my A-level exam and my plan to become the next Dan Snow was put on hold. It was then that I recalled my English teacher from Years 9-11, who was frankly a bit strange, but a mighty fine orator. He always said I'd make a good writer, but I shrugged it off – then in my 'clearing' desperation I decided that I'd give it a go and enrol in a journalism course. The rest is, indeed, history. This means the education special we have created for this issue is important to me, and I am sure to many others, featuring the best Sussex has to offer. Happy teaching. LETTER Editor’s THE EDITOR’S Septemberhighlightsissue MARK KEBBLE EDITOR in the home (p95)3 ABSOLUTELY magazines 11

Wish LIST COMPILED BY PENDLE HARTE 10 things Absolutelywelove RAINBOWMAGIC Iris means rainbow in Latin, and this necklace has a rainbow of precious stones featuring Aventurine, Blue Jade, Green Jade, Rose Quartz, Amazonite, Iolite, Carnelian, Dyed Ruby and Peach Moonstone, all strung on a recycled sterling silver necklace. £100 nuehoops.com FRESH STRIPE Desmond & Dempsey's Medina striped pyjama set in bright shades of coral, blue and red is a joy to wear. £120 selfridges.com NEW WEAVE For a twist on the classic French market shopper we love this Cella bag with neon orange trim by Kuwaiti designer Folklore. £457.39 folklorethelabel.com ORANGE CRUSH Nail Kind is a new Danish nail polish brand that's not only vegan and cruelty-free – but it's also long-lasting and easy to apply. nailkind.com EDITOR’SPICK 12 ABSOLUTELY magazines

ABSOLUTELY • LOVES POWERFLOWER For fl oral arrangements that exceed expectations, we love Blooming Haus's visionary approach and instincitve fl air. bloominghaus.com UNDER COVER Designed by women for women, Nudea's lingerie is comfortable, stylish and practical. CHINA BRIGHT Coralina is a beautiful tableware collection based on the genius of one of the most highly reputed designers of haute couture in the entire world, Oscar de la Renta. vistaalegre.com RING MY BELL This Eivissa Orange Enamel ring in gold vermeil adds a stylish band of colour and looks great stacked with other colours too. £60 carrieelizabeth.co.uk BLOSSOMORANGE Diptyque's Eau de Sens is the ultimate orange blossom fragrance – fresh, fl oral and captivating all day and in all seasons. £107 diptyqueparis.com ABSOLUTELY magazines 13 nudea.com ENGLISH ROSE Exton Park's English sparkling Rosé is delicate and dry, with notes of white peach and a captivating English rose colour. £39 extonparkvineyard.com

Agenda 16 • Annoushka Ducas 20 • Dorothy Koomson 24 CULTURE 16-18REVIVALGOODWOODSEPTEMBER This September, Goodwood Revival will mark 75 years since Enzo Ferrari founded his eponymous company in March 1947. At the other end of the motoring spectrum, the Revival will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the humble Austin 7, and 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of motoring racing icon Graham Hill’s first F1 World Championship. goodwood.com 15ABSOLUTELY magazines

6-18 September GREEN AND STONE, LONDON In association with Green & Stone, Chichester’s Candida Stevens Gallery is proud to present Behind the Curve, a solo show of works encapsulating the last four years of Olivia Stanton’s practice. There is an uplifting conﬁdence in this body of work. A diverse colour palette, strong geometric shapes, sharp outlines and bold anchors of black come together in a series of works that feel both harmonious and empowered.candidastevens.com3September

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THE BEST EVENTS IN SUSSEX

EVENT 16-18 SEPTEMBER PRESTON PARK, BRIGHTON Pub in the Park, the UK's favourite boutique food and music festival, is making its Brighton debut in Preston Park this month. Join hosts Tom Kerridge and Simon Rimmer for a weekend-long culinary and musical feast. Catch performances from The Human League, Melanie C, Basement Jaxx (DJ set), Gabrielle and many more, whilst tucking into dishes from The Hand & Flowers, Atul Kochhar Restaurants, Cue Point, Ox Block by Kenny Tutt, Jodie Kidd’s The Half Moon Inn, and The Kentish Hare. Pub in the Park pubintheparkuk.com/brighton

Olivia Stanton

The Agenda SeptemberSounds

THE HAWTHCRAWLEYAMPHITHEATRE, Head to the woodland Amphitheatre for an afternoon of great live music with folk, rock, pop and Americana all on o er. There will be music from Redbook, The Perfect Strangers, Touchstone, Anna Howie and Ags Connolly, for a day that will cover all manner of global sounds and catchy tunes. parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

MUSICART

ANNA HOWIE

MUSIC The Sussex Contemporary’s Joanna Myles whets the appetite ahead of the opening of their event

EVENT 17 CULTURE • DIARY ABSOLUTELY magazines 8 September CAPITOL THEATRE, HORSHAM Imagine you are about to die. You have one meal left. What are you going to have? It’s the question award-winning restaurant critic, MasterChef judge and writer Jay Rayner has been asked most often by audiences across the UK. It happened so often that he decided the time had come to investigate the concept of the last supper and why it intrigues us so. My Last Supper with Jay Rayner: it’s a show to die for. thecapitolhorsham.com 13 SEPTEMBER CONGRESS THEATRE, EASTBOURNEMonth’sThis SeeMust Comic Jon Richardson heads to ThethisCongressEastbourne'sTheatrewithbrand-newshow,Knitwit.Willthe recycling be put out on the right day? Who is going to smooth over the top of the margarine? How many lights are on upstairs when everybody is downstairs? Watch Jon pretend that these aren't his foremost concerns as he leaves home on his ﬁrst tour since the last one. eastbournetheatres.co.uk My Last Supper with Jay Rayner

We have had theinalreadyartphenomenalsomeexhibitionsthisyearSussex,butonethatIam most excited about opens its doors to the public from 8–22 October at the iconic i360 on Brighton seafront. The Sussex Contemporary 2022 is the new kid on the art exhibition block and will be the largest celebration of contemporary Sussex art and artists that I think has ever been staged. With around 200 artworks on show, this exhibition is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors over two weeks. The exhibition will take over most of the beach level venue space at the i360, and entry will be free to visitors. All the artworks will be for sale, so I recommend getting there early. A percentage of the proceeds from all the art sold is going to local charity, Table Talk Foundation, which delivers food education to Sussex schools to tackle childhood obesity. The Sussex Contemporary judges will be awarding prizes to the artists worth over £2,000, but visitors will get the chance to choose who gets the People’s Choice Prize too. If outdoor sculptures are your thing, then visit The Sussex Prairie Gardens near Henﬁeld. They are hosting an arts exhibition entitled Rooted, which is running until 16 October and features work by a number of Sussex artists including Sarah Cli , Šárka Darton, Ruth Heaton, Lester Korzilius, Jill Laudet, Chérie Lubbock, and the lovely Katharine Rabson Stark (I have one of her pieces at home). thesussexcontemporary.co.uk

MADE

county’sThe FINEST

JON RICHARDSON

4 September THE HAWTH, CRAWLEY Country fans are given a taste of Nashville with a brand new show Made in Tennessee - the soundtrack of American Country. With a band made up of some of the UK’s ﬁnest country musicians, Made in Tennessee takes you through the decades of the nation’s fastest growing music genre, from its origins in the Southern States of America to the modern day incarnation heard around the world. parkwoodtheatres.co.uk TENNESSEEIN

Jenna Russell will lead the cast of Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman In Mind, which Anna Mackmin directs. A knock on the head from a garden rake splits Susan’s world in two. Is she living happily with her devoted husband, charming brother and talented daughter, revelling in her rose-ﬁlled garden with its swimming pool and tennis court, and combining her blissful family life with a successful career? Or is Susan trapped in a suburban existence with her pedantic husband, resentful sister-in-law and estranged son, wrestling with desperate frustration at her aimless life of routine domesticity?

THEATRE 23 SEPTEMBER-15 OCTOBER CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE

18 ABSOLUTELY magazines 17-18 September WEALD & DOWNLAND LIVING MUSEUM How someone wears their hair is part of their self-expression, and at di erent times in the past various conventions led to speciﬁc styles and head coverings. The Weald & Downland Living Museum in Chichester will explore what this meant for people living in the Saxon, Tudor, Stuart and Victorian times, looking at fashion, religious requirements, how frequently hair was washed, and ideals of beauty at the time. wealddown.co.uk FAMILY HistoricWeekendLife 22-25 September BOGNOR REGIS This festival will feature an array of great music, dance and workshops from many di erent folk and roots genres. The headline shows featuring Lindisfarne, Spiers & Boden, The Leylines and The Men They Couldn’t Hang, plus excellent support acts, will take place at The Alexandra Theatre in the town centre. A myriad of other venues across the town will enjoy live music, a real ale festival, shanty singing sessions and much more. southdownsfolkfest.co.uk MusicSouthdownsFestival EVENT

Woman in Mind cft.org.uk

MUSIC Swiftogeddon

19 CULTURE • DIARY 16-18 September GOODWOOD This September, Goodwood Revival will host a trio of honorary celebrations as they welcome timeless classics from Ferrari and Austin, alongside celebrating motor racing icon Graham Hill. The former stands out as it is 75 years since Enzo Ferrari founded his eponymous company. Arguably the most evocative name in motoring and motorsport history, the event will welcome approximately 75 Revival-era racing Ferraris to the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit, for a truly once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. goodwood.com EVENT Goodwood Revival CRUISING THE COLLECTION

Petworth House and Park National Trust, Petworth House, Church Street, GU28 0AE Petworth is an extraordinary and surprising place to visit with over 900 years of history, the ﬁnest art collection in the care of the National Trust and 700-acre deer park landscaped by Capability Brown. The Petworth Heritage weekend explores the extraordinary art collection in the striking state rooms of the Baroque inspired house. Over the weekend the Ice House will be open, one of the biggest still to exist in England.

Cruising the Collection has emerged from Towner’s collaboration with the LGBTQIA+ participants who came together to voice the 2021 podcast series Collectively. Some of the group, together with artist and podcast producer Renee Vaughan Sutherland, have expanded their engagement with the Collection to curate this exhibition. Taking over the gallery, they have selected works that personally resonate with them and their shared experiences. townereastbourne.org.uk

Days returns this month: here are three not to miss Past LIVES ABSOLUTELY magazines LACEYCHRISPHOTO: 1968 LOTUS 49 DRIVEN BY DAMON HILL AT THE FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2021 PHOTO BY DOMINIC JAMES BODIAM CASTLE WAS INVOLVED LAST YEAR

ART Until 4 December 2022 TOWNER, EASTBOURNE

Brighton Dome Heritage Open Day Church Street, BN1 1EE This event at Brighton Dome will explore how innovation and technological advances have transformed venues since 1803. Find out how local inventor Magnus Volk brought electricity to the Royal Pavilion Estate, and uncover behind the scenes secrets with backstage tours, One-Minute App trail and personal stories from our ‘I Was There’ Oral History Project. heritageopendays.org.uk Our Church of St. Andrew and St. Cuthman Vicarage Lane, Steyning, BN44 3RS Go and explore this splendid Norman Church, learn about its history, and see its magniﬁcent nave and Romanesque sculpture. New lighting shows the spectacular 12th century craftsmanship of the decorated nave and arches, and the Tudor carved wood screen, made to celebrate the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

16 September KOMEDIA, BRIGHTON A night dedicated to worshipping at the altar of Taylor Swift. Expect non-stop Swift all night: deep cuts, extended mixes, fan favourites and all the hits. Do you have a Blank Space in your diary? Then this night is Taylor-made for you. Join fellow fans in a celebration of the genius of the Swift – because she’ll never go out of Style. komedia.co.uk Heritage Open

20 ABSOLUTELY magazines “My wasn'twasanything.mealwaysmothertoldIcouldbeNoawordthatallowed” HOLDENJIMPHOTO:

By MARK KEBBLE OF

Launched in 1990, Links of London very quickly caught the imagination of jewellery lovers all across the globe. “Links found a unique place in the market between family-run jewellers and the big Bond Street brands – it was fun and quintessentially British, but it also made luxury accessible and not scary. It grew into 50 stores worldwide and we were honoured by HRH The Queen with MBEs. By 2006, though, we both felt it was time to sell – it had become too big for me and I wanted that hands-on feeling I had in the early years again.”

FLIGHT

“To cut a very long story short, it was better to make 120 instead of the 60 she needed. So, once I got back to London, I took the remaining stock to Harvey Nichols and tried to sell them to the buyer, who told me she couldn’t take one random design, but that if I was serious, I should come back with some di erent designs. I don’t think she ever thought she’d see me again! But a few weeks later, I went back with a handful of new designs and to her word she bought them all – and that was the start of Links of London.”

ABSOLUTELY magazines 21 CULTURE • INTERVIEW

“My mother always told me I could do anything,” Annoushka continues. “She insisted that I tried everything at least once. ‘No’ was a word that wasn’t really allowed. Sadly, she died when I was only 23, but her entrepreneurial spirit has been with me for my whole life.” She also played a key role in shaping her daughter’s career path. “Not long after I’d been in Hong Kong, my mother, who was running a ﬁsh business supplying to London’s top restaurants, asked me to come up with an idea for gifts for her chef clients. I suggested we make silver cu inks in the shape of di erent ﬁsh.

At this point, her mother once again proved to be an inspiration. “A few years

FANCY

Jewellery designer extraordinaire Annoushka Ducas on why she initially had no interest in the industry, West Sussex inspiration and new launches born out of lockdown

For someone who is so indelibly linked to jewellery, it’s rather surprising to learn when chatting to Annoushka Ducas that originally it wasn’t even a career consideration. “I never intended to be a jewellery designer,” she says. “By my early 20s I had run a sandwich truck in Australia, before moving to Hong Kong where I got a job in property – I had a skill with people and for selling things.” Today, Annoushka runs her own eponymous jewellery business, which is globally renowned, and was also the brains behind Links of London, alongside her husband John. The entrepreneurial spirit, almost unsurprisingly when you hear Annoushka talking about her, was down to her mother. “In the school holidays, I would travel with my mother, who imported horses from Russia to the UK, or we’d stay with friends of hers in Italy – they were always fascinating people, artists and sculptors. That deﬁnitely inspired my creativity and love of nature and colour.

Thirteen years later and Annoushka, the brand, is ﬂying – rather apt considering the latest launch. “Flight is my newest collection,” Annoushka says, “and was inspired by the spirit of change we have all felt following Covid. Somehow, these di cult times have given people permission to change direction and ﬁnally follow their dreams, and this has brought with it a certain feeling of optimism and self-empowerment.

GOODWOOD REVIVAL

Flight explores this attitude and a period of design that, for me, perfectly encapsulates this sense of possibility.”

Jewels of Sussex Annoushka Ducas’s picks of the county The Horse & Groom In East Ashling – this is our local pub and B&B. It just so happens to be a pub my husband John bought just before the pandemic! It’s been a delight to breathe new life into it.

ISONCHRISTOPHERPHOTO:

Pallant House Gallery For the best collection of contemporary art outside of London. Dave’s Ice Cream Van Low tide at Bosham Quay. If you know, you know!

Something else that was born out of lockdown was Annoushka’s initiative, The Brilliant Breakfast. “It is an annual grassroots fundraiser that I set up with The Prince’s Trust in 2020,” she explains. “It speciﬁcally raises money for young women at The Prince’s Trust – helping them back into education, work or training. The concept is like the Macmillan co ee morning – anyone can get involved, anywhere across the UK, and a breakfast can literally be a slice of toast and co ee with your friends. Simply put, the more breakfasts that are hosted, the more money that is raised – no donation is too small.”

PALLANT HOUSE GALLERY SOUTH DOWNS

CULTURE • INTERVIEW 22 ABSOLUTELY magazines before we launched Annoushka [in 2009]

FROM THE NEW FLIGHT COLLECTION

Goodwood Revival This is in September and is always a fantastic day out. annoushka.comthebrilliantbreakfast.co.uk

I was fortunate enough to have been given my mother’s jewellery box,” she reveals. “It was crammed full of a wonderful array of jewellery that she had accumulated during her life. From this collection you could tell so much about her past and her travels. It was from this jewellery box that my idea of a modern parure evolved and the basis for a brand in my own name. With Annoushka, the ambition has always been to break the conventions of ﬁne jewellery – to encourage women to have fun with their jewellery, to wear it every day, to layer it as you would clothes – to create a personal jewellery wardrobe.”

THE HORSE & GROOM

The next Brilliant Breakfast will be held between 10-16 October, and Annoushka will most likely be found hosting one near her home in West Sussex. “We are a mile from the sea and at the foot of the South Downs, so we are very lucky to be surrounded by the great British countryside,” she smiles. “It’s a big inspiration for me professionally, but also a big part of our daily lives. We both ride and have two French bulldogs, and I am also a keen gardener – I always said if I hadn’t been a jewellery designer, I would have loved to have been a ﬂorist!” For lovers of jewellery, that was one career direction we are delighted Annoushka didn’t go down.

THE

Q This year you were a judge for the prestigious Women’s Prize for Fiction. How was that as an experience?

A The podcast was something I started because I wanted to give writers who were just starting out or trying to get published an insight into what goes on behind closed doors. It can be very frustrating trying to ﬁnd information on how things work if you’re on the outside of the book industry, so I tried to demystify that for people. I’ve had an extended break from the podcast, but I am planning to bring it back.

Honestly, I love reading and the Women’s Prize gave me the excuse to read 24/7. I mean,Interview by DENISE TYLER

24 ABSOLUTELY magazines Get to know… DOROTHY KOOMSON BRIGHTON AUTHOR

Q You have a successful podcast, The Happy Author, where you talk about all things writing and publishing. What inspired that?

Q You’re known as ‘Queen of the Big Reveal’ and My Other Husband certainly delivers on that front. Does it add an extra layer of pressure when you know how high people’s expectations are?

A It was like a dream come true for me!

MCDIARMIDNIALLPHOTO:

A I try very hard not to think about other people’s expectations while I’m writing a book. I tell the story to the best of my ability at that time, I take the characters (and thereby the reader) on a journey and the ending should always be satisfying, even if it’s not the ending people want. And, to be honest, no-one can have higher expectations of me than me, so if I don’t believe in the twist, I know no-one else will.

Q Children’s literacy is something you are passionate about. Tell us about your involvement in children’s charity Little Green Pig…

it was di cult having to narrow down all those wonderful books to a longlist, shortlist and then winner, but I loved every minute.

CULTURE • PROFILE

A The ﬁrst time I remember coming to Brighton was on a protest march against student loans when I was in sixth form. I had the best time and couldn’t believe the sea was right there by a city, but I didn’t dream of living here until I came back from two years living in Australia. I was looking around for somewhere to live instead of London and thought of one of my friends who lived in Brighton, who had a nice place. I thought I’d look and see if I could ﬁnd somewhere that nice to live down here. I eventually found a place to rent right on the seafront and knew I’d found my next home city. (My friend eventually became my husband, but that’s a story for another time.)

Q What was it that brought you to Brighton and Hove?

A Little Green Pig are a wonderful organisation that help bring literacy, writing and other creative activities to disadvantaged children in Sussex. I think the most important thing they do is to show children from all sorts of backgrounds that the creative arts are for them, too, and that they can become authors, journalists and performance artists. Little Green Pig through their workshops and outreach programs help make that a reality. As a child I loved reading. My mum taught me to read and write from an early age, and my older brother used to read to my sister and me. I used to go to the library after school almost every day to read. When I ﬁrst decided to write a book, I would write a chapter every night and pass it round my school friends in the morning. No-one apart from my school friends knew what I was up to!

Q Where are your favourite places to go in Sussex? A I’m generally a city person because that’s where my events and life tend to be. But I’ve been to various places around Sussex including Alfriston and Rye and ABSOLUTELY magazines 25 this idea for a book, and to write it, I need to do research and the research has shown this book will have to include x’. For example, ‘I want to write about two women who were both accused of the same crime when they were teens and then were reunited as adults after one went to prison. Now the one who went to prison is trying to clear her name and the other is trying to pretend none of it happened. As a result of my research I’ve found that most women are sentenced to long jail terms for killing an abusive partner. OK, now I need to research abusive relationships.’ At the end of that process, I came up with The Ice Cream Girls.

Q You’re not afraid to tackle big subjects in your books – inﬁdelity, surrogacy, adoption to name a few. What’s next?

THE LANES IN BRIGHTON BRIGHTON CAPTIVATED HER DOROTHY ENJOYS SEEING THE MEERKATS AT DRUSILLA'S ALFRISTON IS A FAVOURITE

My Other Husband by Dorothy Koomson (Headline Review, £16.99) is on sale August 2022; dorothykoomson.co.uk have enjoyed my time there. I especially like Drusilla’s, the animal park.

A I don’t tend to think of writing books in terms of subjects – none of the books that I’ve written started out as ‘I think I’ll write about x’, it’s pretty much always, ‘Oh, I have

26 ABSOLUTELY magazines TOWN By REBECCA PITCAIRN Former chocolatier to the stars, Dave Pop! on downsizing his LGBTQ+‘cheers’artworklarger-than-lifeandsayingtoSussex’scommunity PAINT THE

“When I ﬁrst came to Brighton I was in my early 20s and was really living the dream enjoying the nightlife the city is renowned for,” he says. “A friend of a friend wrote music and I managed to get a small recording contract. It was before The X Factor so things were quite di erent back then, but I do remember going and buying my single on CD in HMV. That shows how long ago it was!”

From creating costumes for drag queens to making chocolate cakes for celebrities and even releasing his own pop single, it seems there aren’t many things Brighton artist David Ratcli e cannot turn his hand to.

The television show ran for five years from 2011 to 2016 and gave Dave a taste of on-screen stardom, but it wasn’t his first foray into the world of entertainment. When he first moved to Brighton from Swansea in the early 90s, the lure of the city’s exotic nightlife saw Dave become a club kid, wearing outrageous outfits, and making them for local drag queens, before becoming a wannabe pop star.

CULTURE • ARTS

Sadly, the single, Am I in love, or am I insane, failed to set the charts aﬂame, but you can still ﬁnd the video on YouTube. Despite its popularity, Choccywoccydoodah, which also had a shop in London, went into administration in 2019, at which time Dave took the opportunity to launch himself as a full-time artist. “Choccywoccydoodah was such a

“When I ﬁrst came to Brighton I was in my early 20s and was really living the dream”

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The Kemptown resident, known a ectionately as Dave Pop! thanks to his trademark bold artwork inspired by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Je Koons, has exhibited his bright and colourful creations at Theatre Royal, Bush Gallery and Fishing Quarter Gallery in recent years. And, anyone who has arrived in Brighton by train and taken the underpass towards The Lanes, will have found it hard to miss the mural he painted this year as part of a colourful wayfaring art trail for English Tourism Week. However, if like me you’re a fan of behind the scenes documentaries, you may ﬁnd his face familiar from the ﬂy-onthe-wall TV series, Choccywoccydoodah, which followed Dave and the team at a famous Brighton chocolate shop as they went about creating outrageous sweet sculptures for celebrities including Kylie Minogue, Derren Brown and Boy George. “It was an incredible time, I got to travel the world. They took me to LA and New York and I met Whoopi Goldberg and Jackie Collins, who is my absolute favourite author,” grins Dave, who started working at The Lanes-based chocolate store by chance in 2000 and was responsible for creating the shop’s colourful signs and wall murals, as well its edible constructions. “I didn’t have any experience as a chocolatier or in baking, but I took along my art portfolio to the interview and they seemed to like my work so I got the job,” the 53-year-old admits. “I used to sketch the cake designs and shop signage and after I’d been there a couple of months, they trained me in how to use chocolate. It’s not dissimilar to using clay, which I worked with at school and in my art training, it’s just with chocolate you are always working with temperature and with clay it’s all to do with moisture.”

Dave decided to go back to his artistic roots and, despite a tough start, soon found his niche. “Living by the pier, I’d always liked fairground art and then, during lockdown, I did an online course in it and that really helped to elevate my work,” he explains.

• We walk our two miniature schnauzers in Queens Park, which is just down the road from us. It’s a lovely big space for them to run around in and there is plenty of shade in the summer.

• I love the Fallen Angel pub in Kemptown, we’ve been going there a couple of years and it has a great cosy, local pub vibe.

• You can easily spend a morning, afternoon or even a whole day snooping around Kemptown ﬂea market. We found our ﬁreplace there and bought a chaise lounge from there too.

The bottles are being released in batches of 500 with a proportion of proﬁts being donated to the Rainbow Fund, which supports grassroots LGBTQ+ organisations in Brighton and Hove. Each bottle has been signed and numbered by Dave. “What’s lovely about it is that as well as supporting the LGBTQ+ community, the bottles are like a piece of Brighton you can take away with you – a miniature piece of my artwork you can pop on the shelf at home.” davepopart.com

Dave’s ﬁrst solo show, Wonderful Darling, took place at the Brush Gallery, Brighton that same year and he has since been commissioned to create art for a variety of Brighton businesses and organisations. His larger-than-life street murals feature vintage fairground style art and carousel horses inspired by Brighton’s seafront, as well as classical nudes in a pop art style. His saucy seaside-inspired work recently caught the eye of Kathy Caton, founder of Brighton Gin, who commissioned two limited edition bottle labels to coincide with Brighton Pride last month. The distinct bottles celebrate the diversity and beauty of the city’s LGBTQ+ community and feature Dave’s trademark pop art, which for this project had a ‘March of the Mermaids’ theme. “I wanted to do something that was a bit cheeky and I chose ‘merpeople’ because they are perfect for my saucy seaside style of art, and also there are tattoo parlours on every corner in Brighton,” Dave explains. The bottle’s ‘Cheers Queers’ tagline might not sit well with some but, Dave says, its meaning has shifted to a term that is now all-encompassing for the LGBTQ+ community. “Some people don’t like the term queer, my husband still isn’t completely comfortable with the word because of the way it was used negatively in the past, but in more modern times it’s become a word that is inclusive of everyone, whoever you are, and I like that,” he says.

brightestBrighton’s Three of the best according to Dave Pop!

CULTURE • XXXXXXXX

“Merpeople are perfect for my saucy seaside style of art”

famous brand I think we all thought some big company would swoop in and buy it, but that wasn’t to be the case,” he says. “It was tough to know what to do next – it was such a specialist job so there weren’t really any similar jobs out there that I could apply for.”

28 ABSOLUTELY magazines ARTS

. the little art gallery .... A Coastal Contemporary Gallery West Wittering West Sussex, PO20 8LT 01243 512218 | www.thelittlegallery.online Please note the gallery will be closed Monday 12th September and re-open Thursday 22nd September. Check website for details LITTLEARTGALLERY_HP_ABS_SUSSEX_SEPT22.indd 1 15/08/2022 09:42 Luxury Holiday Rentals at Glenmor Find out more: GLENEAGLES.COM/GLENMOR+44(0)1764694321OWN@GLENEAGLES.COM Make yourselves at home in the heart of Gleneagles The Gleneagles experience is one of a kind – you can now enjoy it from the comfort of a Glenmor luxury holiday home, located in the heart of Gleneagles. On your stay you can enjoy complimentary golf for one person, plus access to all of the leisure, dining and pursuits of the 5 star estate. We have 2, 3 and 4 bedroom properties available, perfect for all the family. With prices starting from £3,500 for a 2 bed, £4,410 for a 3 bed and £4,840 for a 4 bed for 7 nights. The Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulation 2010 requires Gleneaglesto provide you with certain key information in relation to the proposed seasonal ownership contract. A standard information form which contains this key information in relation to that contract may beobtained by contacted us via the above methods.

30 ABSOLUTELY magazines

The “Rock of Rye”, as it was known in medieval times, is literally built on a stony outcrop. Once surrounded by sea, this fortified hilltop town played an important role in the defence of the south coast of England. These days, the river no longer harbours warships and is home to the local fishing fleet. From spats with the French, marauders and smugglers, this ancient town is steeped in history. After a three-day stay in 1573, Queen Elizabeth I gave Rye the title “Rye Royale”. A climb up the tower of St Mary’s Church o ers wonderful views of the surrounding area: Winchelsea perched on another hill to the west, the meeting of the Rivers Rother and Tillingham, the terracotta roofs of the many timbered houses, cobbled streets and secret passages, once the haunt of smugglers and highwaymen, all regularly attract film crews in search of historic settings for period productions. The wonderful light and its microclimate have made Rye a haven for artists and writers. Henry James lived in Lamb House, where he wrote several books, and E. F. Benson immortalised Rye in his ‘Mapp and Lucia’ books. Rumer Godden, E Nesbitt and John Fletcher are amongst the many celebrities to have lived in or near Rye. The artist Van Dyck was a frequent visitor as he crossed the channel from his native Flanders, which is why he painted so many pictures of ships tied up on The Strand.

Why we

RYE The acclaimed Rye Arts Festival returns this month, a worthy celebration for this wonderful town full of relics, chocolate and heritage

The surrounding area provides many opportunities for di erent tastes. Sissinghurst and Great Dixter are there love…

As part of their policy to support local educational activities and encourage involvement in the festival by younger generations, they provide specialist workshops, drama and literary events for school-age children and free tickets to local students. In the past they have also o ered the chance to attend Committee Meetings and discover how their charity operates. for garden enthusiasts. Derek Jarman’s eclectic garden at Dungeness is not far away. The Romney Marsh Churches, Battle Abbey, Bodiam Castle, Bateman’s, Rudyard Kipling’s house in Burwash and Scotney Castle are amongst the many places to visit. Rye is the perfect backdrop for a cultural celebration. The Rye Arts Festival was started in 1971 and is one of the top ten small festivals in Britain, providing a diverse mixture of musical, literary and theatrical events with an emphasis on quality, intellectual weight, style and fun. The visual arts are equally well provided for with local galleries running shows especially for the festival. Venues include St Mary’s Church, the delightful churches in the neighbouring villages of Iden, Playden and Winchelsea, and The Barn Theatre at Smallhythe Place.

ABSOLUTELY magazines 31 “Rye Arts Festival is one of the top ten smallinfestivalsBritain” CULTURE • AREA FOCUS

EALOVEGABENPHOTO:

REV RICHARD COLES MacArthur, Sandy Gall, Peter Snow, Sir Max Hastings, Henry Blofeld, Tasmin Little, Benjamin Grosvenor, Jane Gardham, Philip Venning, Voces8, Nikolai Demidenko, The Zemlinsky Quartet, The Sitkovetsky Piano Trio, The English Concert, Lord David Owen, Vicky Pryce, Sarah Raven, Adam Nicolson, Frances Spalding, John Julius Norwich, A.N. Wilson, Richard Lester, Professor Robert Winston, Professor David King, Flossie Malavialle, Dervish, “West” Weston, Courtney Pine, The Big Chris Barber Band and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. The festival’s main audiences are from Rye and the surrounding area, although it now attracts increasing numbers from further aﬁeld. The team behind the festival always seeks to widen access to its programmes while continuing to deliver excellent events and performances. Many thousands of tickets are sold to those attending approximately 60 events during each festival and many others enjoy events to which there is free access, including all the special exhibitions in and around Rye that are on o er at the time.

FIVE DECADES OF FUN

The Arts Festival is Rye’s principal annual arts event, taking place in September. It has developed over the past 51 years into one of the most successful and respected small festivals of its kind, dedicated to high quality performances in music, literature, theatre and other art forms coupled with a range of activities in heritage and the environment. In recent years, Rye Arts Festival has featured, among others: Dame Ellen THE BIGGEST AND BEST EVER

ROZANNA MADYLUS RYE

The 51st annual Rye Arts Festival, which runs from 9-25 September, promises to take things up a notch: over 70 ticketed events will ﬁll a packed fortnight with high quality performances. The organisers have sought to o er something for everyone with a diverse selection of events including world famous speakers, world class artists, and performers from around the world. The festival is delighted to welcome best-selling writer Robert Harris to Rye to talk about his thrilling new novel Act of Oblivion, which is literally hot o the press, being published in September. Lord David Owen will talk about his book, HAS PLENTY OF HISTORY TO ENJOY

32 ABSOLUTELY magazines

CULTURE • AREA FOCUS

FAYE HIELD Winchelsea where they will sing religious songs from the Spanish Court at St Thomas’ Church. The singers and audience will then walk to Rye, via Camber Castle, for the second half of the concert at St Mary’s Church. As well as classical music there will also be traditional and contemporary music gigs – check out The Mountain Firework Company for an amalgam of blues, rock and country. The Fay Hield Trio will play top quality English folk, while Kate Garner and her band will serve up music from the 1920s – get ready to Charleston your night away (with help from professional dancers, of course). And Kadialy Kouyate will o er some of the very best African music you will hear. Drama will keep you entertained and classic movies, including the original Cabaret starring Liza Minnelli, are on the card. And not forgetting the area itself: there will be historic walks held throughout Rye, completing what will be an event to remember for a town like no other. For more information on the 2022 Rye Arts Festival, go to ryeartsfestival.org.uk Riddle, Mystery and Enigma, exploring the history of the political relationship between Russia and England over the last 200 years, which was published before the invasion of Ukraine. This event provides a chance to hear the former Foreign Secretary’s views on the Russian aggression. And the Reverend Richard Coles has turned to crime. But don’t worry, having made his mark in music and then in the church, his debut crime novel Murder Before Evensong is already a best seller, and tickets for his talk will ﬂy out of the door. For the classical music programme, the festival has the exciting prospect of hearing young talented musicians from City Music Foundation as they begin to climb the ladder of success. The Foundation’s mission is to turn exceptional musical talent into professional success by equipping outstanding musicians with tools, skills, experience and networks to help them make a living from making music. There will be evening and lunchtime concerts in the atmospheric St Mary’s Church and the programme is varied. The ﬁrst concert is performed by percussionist James Larter, who will be presenting an eclectic array of music for marimba, percussion and electronics. There will be a wonderful opera evening, Seasons of Love, packed full of delicious, spine-tingling arias. The festival will end with the Musical Pilgrimage by Victoria Consort. The singers will start the pilgrimage at

JAMES LARTER

THE MOUNTAIN FIREWORK COMPANY

Fitzherbert Road, Farlington, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 1RU Telephone: 0800 975 11 www.conquest-uk.com99Made Britainin

DARCY - AWARD WINNING BRITISH FORMALWEARSHOP ONLINE AT WWW.MARCDARCY.CO.UK SALES@MARCDARCY.CO.UK | 0161 710 0000 | 271-291 BURY NEW RD, MANCHESTER, M7 2YN

Over at Preston Park, the two-day community fundraising event We Are Fabuloso supported by Yahoo! saw over 50,000 people attend on Saturday to see global superstar Christina Aguilera take to the main stage for a show stopping performance..

fter two years not being able to celebrate, Brighton & Hove Pride made a triumphant return for its 30th anniversary with the theme of LOVE, PROTEST & UNITY and a weekend packed full of campaigning, protest and celebration.

On Sunday, the Fabuloso ﬁesta at the park continued with one-to-watch Lyra opening the main stage before fan favourites Björn Again gave an almighty ABBA singalong.

Under glorious blue skies and sunshine, the much loved and highly anticipated Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade opened the weekend in spectacular colour and style. From Hove Lawns, the parade wound through the city streets delighting the participants and thousands of people who took to the streets to watch the event. A poignant highlight this year was the participation of Ukraine Pride with 50 people who joined to march in black at the front of the parade alongside human rights activists before delivering a moving speech on stage at the park later in the day.

With the atmosphere at an all-time high, Cat Burns, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Jake Shears continued to wow the crowd with sets full of hits, before headliner Paloma Faith made a dazzling entrance in head-to-toe red latex and treated the crowds to a stunning set. Brighton & Hove Pride’s sole ethos is to promote diversity, inclusion and education within our communities whilst raising much needed funds for local LGBTQ+ charity and community groups and projects.

(PhotosBrighton-Pride.orgbyChrisJepson) BRIGHTON & HOVE PRIDE ABSOLUTELY magazines 35

CULTURE • SOCIALS ABSOLUTELY ATTENDS A

www.castrads.com02033977295 Call now to bring personality to your home heating. Castrads’ bespoke radiators are efficient, beautiful and unique to your home.

Over the weekend of 30–31 July, more than 50 renowned artisans and expert makers from The Sussex Guild returned to Michelham Priory House & Gardens in East Sussex to show o their wares and give masterclasses at the annual Contemporary Craft Fair.The grounds at the heritage site were transformed as makers ﬁlled the lawns with stalls and demonstrated their skills in crafts such as woodturning, embroidery, quilting, pottery and jewellery making. Cared for by The Sussex Archaeological Society, Michelham Priory dates to 1229 and was originally home to Augustine canons, one of the religious orders of the Medieval church. The heritage site and its stunning gardens are surrounded by the largest medieval moat in the country. The Sussex Archaeological Society has a busy calendar of events over the school holidays and is o ering great value for family days out. Families can take part in drop-in activities on a di erent theme every Wednesday at Michelham Priory, from wildlife fun to archaeology. Sessions are included in the cost of admission, which starts at £11 for an adult and £5.50 for a child. Medieval Monday sessions are running every week at Lewes Castle & Museum, where children can dress up in the armour, battle dragons and take part in games and crafts from 11am-1pm, with archaeology-themed activities every Thursday. Down the hill at Anne of Cleves House, activities on Tudor Tuesdays include spinning, sewing, crafts and games in the property’s Tudor Garden between 1pm-4pm. All activities are included in the cost of admission, which starts at 8 for an adult and £4 for a child at Lewes Castle, and £6 for an adult and £3.50 for a child at Anne of Cleves House. sussexpast.co.uk

CULTURE • SOCIALS ABSOLUTELY ATTENDS

THE SUSSEX GUILD CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FAIR ABSOLUTELY magazines 37

STATEMENT TILES FOR OUTDOOR LIVING e Old Firestation, 67 High Street, Ascot SL5 7HP | 01344 620211 www.hyperiontiles.co.uk Bring your garden to life with our ultra-modern, Grespania Ceramica designer porcelain tiles inspired by slate Visit our boutique showroom for expert advice & technical know-how on tiles inside & out or simply buy online

GIGGLING SQUID There’s still time to enjoy the limited-edition Summer Specials Menu at the Giggling Squid Chichester and Hove restaurants. Taking full advantage of Thailand’s abundance of fresh, flavourful ingredients, you can choose from two light, summery starters including the Summer Salad with Starfruit and Prawns and two moreish mains featuring a delicious Sea Bass Skillet and their unique Kho Soi Noodle Bowl, the ultimate Thai comfort food with fine sliced chicken, charcoal noodles and Morning Glory greens in red curry broth. gigglingsquid.com HAVE A LAUGH Food News 40 • Farmer, Butcher, Chef 42 • Recipes 46 DRINK&FOOD 39ABSOLUTELY magazines

Della Vite is launching its first vintage Prosecco Rosé. This wine has an aromatic nose of crushed wild berries and rhubarb, that gives way to a bright, fresh palate of delicate fruit flavours and a long-lasting finish. dellavite.com Della Vite Rosé Prosecco, North-Eastern Italy  £24.95

40 ABSOLUTELY magazines By MARK KEBBLE The latest food news and most exciting openings in Sussex NOTES TASTING Plant the seed OOWEE

North-EasternProsecco,Italy 

Popular vegan fast-food restaurant Oowee is launching a flagship restaurant in Brighton. Enjoy juicy plant-based beef burgers grilled to perfection and their famous fried chick’n, known for the unique crunchy, flavour packed coating, used in their fried chick’n burgers such as the spicy Flamin’ Hot Clucker filled with cheese, fried jalapeños and their house-made hot mayo sauce, delicious dirty fries and a range of sides and shakes. ooweevegan.com



This month we're popping open Prosecco TOWHATDRINK GRAPE news

This delightful sparkler is the perfect summer treat. It is made from an exclusive selection of Glera grapes, is ﬂoral on the nose and delicately fruity on the palate. This is a well-structured, slightly sweet treat that Prosecco lovers will adore. coop.co.uk Corte Molino £7.50

This stylish Prosecco is perfect for any occasion. As distinctive as it is delicious, it has the lively e ervescence of ripe lemon, with hints of green apple and grapefruit. With a light and fresh ﬁnish, this wine would pair perfectly with shellﬁsh, light meats or desserts. waitrose.com Freixenet North-EasternProsecco,Italy £10

THE SUSSEX PEASANT

SOUTH DOWNS WATER

THE IVY IN THE LANES

PARK HOUSE HOTEL Park House Hotel in West Sussex is encouraging guests to turn a few hours on their head by savouring the minutes rather than counting them down. The hotel is inviting local friends to ditch the digital and re-connect in person by kicking back and embracing the Slow Movement with its new small plate menu. Switch o your phone and switch up your real time conversation as you share a selection of small plates with friends or family. parkhousehotel.com

ABSOLUTELY magazines

WAYSIDE ORGANICS

At its heart The Sussex Peasant wants to change lifestyles and create a food and drink concept with longevity. They is a community of enterprising Sussex farmers that supports the mobile farm shop and restaurant they have created, selling the ﬁnest local produce. thesussexpeasant.co.uk

The Ivy in The Lanes honoured the 30th anniversary of Brighton Pride by adding a number of limitededition cocktails to its already extensive menu. Special concoctions included Sweet Pride, a mouth-watering blend of Wyborowa vodka, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, lemon juice and elderﬂower and garnished with a banana leaf. theivybrighton.com

The South Downs Water artesian spring is located 420ft below ground at the foot of the South Downs National Park and holds the prestigious ‘Natural Mineral Water Status’. This means the water comes from a single protected source, is ﬁltered by nature and remains untouched. southdownswater.co.uk

41 FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

FIRST PAST THE POST GOODWOOD The Goodwood Estate in West Sussex is world-renowned for its thrilling motorsport events, spectacular horse racing and flamboyant vintage festivals - and now the estate launches its first ever gin. Levin Down Goodwood Gin is a small batch London Dry style, and its creation reflects the agricultural heritage of the 11,000-acre estate. goodwood.com

Wayside Organics is an organic smallholding set in the village of Oving. They specialise in salad crops, top fruit and a wide range of vegetables all grown to the standards set down by the Soil Association. They supply to all aspects of the fresh produce market, from wholesale to farm shops and retail, including their own box scheme. waysideorganics.co.uk SUSSEX EGGSPRESS Enjoy large organic, free-range, farm-fresh eggs, from an RSPCAapproved, higher-welfare farm, award-winning organic Sussex cheeses, South Downs honey and butter and seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as luxury Sussex gi collections. sussexeggspress.co.uk Go

STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE

WithslowPride

TOFARMFORK Three to mark Organic September

42 ABSOLUTELY magazines A CUT ABOVE By MARK KEBBLE Goodwood’s restaurant Farmer, Butcher, Chef o ers something unique in Sussex. We speak to the Executive Chef, Alan White, about the concept EXECUTIVE CHEF ALAN WHITE SHORT RIB

43 XXXXXXXX • XXXXX ABSOLUTELY magazines

Q What does this approach enable you to produce?

Q Goodwood is well-known for your events, but do you think many people know about the self-sustaining organic farm?

Q What was the initial idea behind Farmer, Butcher, Chef?

cookingasdescribednostalgicbroughtbacktolife”

A The best way of describing Farmer, Butcher, Chef’s cooking style is ‘nostalgic cooking brought back to life’. Today’s society has become used to having any ingredient, from any country, at any time, but before this was possible, people would have to create recipes from what was available at the local butchers and greengrocer. An example was when my grandmother went to the local butcher’s shop, she would be advised by the butcher what cuts she should try and what to do with them.

armer, Butcher, Chef is Goodwood’s exciting, flagship restaurant located just yards from Home Farm. It is the final stage in a unique process dedicated not only to showcasing meat in terms of flavour, quality and provenance, but also to achieving the very best yield from their livestock. Goodwood has been farmed by the family for over 300 years and is one of the only self-sustaining organic farms in Europe. These organic principles

produce; the restaurant is involved in every aspect of production from ﬁeld to fork, ensuring that nothing is wasted. It was one of the ﬁrst restaurants to receive the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Sustainable Food Philosophy Seal. We have also achieved zero food waste by converting carefully managed waste into renewable energy.

INSIDE FARMER, BUTCHER, CHEF enable their farmer, Paul Dovey, to produce the best-tasting beef, pork and lamb, all of which are reared right here. Working alongside Paul is John Hearn, the Master Butcher, who was drafted in three years ago to start the in-house butchery at Goodwood Home Farm, and Alan White, the restaurant’s Executive Chef. We speak to the latter to ﬁnd out more about Farmer, Butcher, Chef.

“Our style is best

Because of this interaction and advice, customers would sample much more than just the prime cuts. These are the principles behind our cooking, but enhanced by using more up to date culinary techniques. We can generate some great stories around forgotten or under-used recipes and how our chefs have given them a new lease of life.

A We hope that our future food strategy will create a more inclusive culture, with our produce at the forefront of what we do across the estate. I am working closely with hospitality students at Chichester College to provide mentoring and on-site work experience. Under the Goodwood Education Trust, we host thousands of students every year from across the South East to experience farm tours and see the food journey ﬁrst-hand.

A We are able to use all parts of the animal. Di erent restaurants on the estate use the di erent cuts of meat, enabling the chefs to be creative, develop di erent cooking techniques; for example, cooking some of our meats on a low temperature for 72 hours, allowing the collagens to break down, and produce an increased taste, texture and ﬂavour… This allows us to be di erent, unique, and special, a chef’s dream.

Q What do you think makes you stand out as a restaurant?

FOOD & DRINK • INTERVIEW

A Farmer, Butcher, Chefis the showcase for Goodwood’s exceptional

FARMER PAUL EXPECT A COSY SETTING BAKED ALASKA dish, which showcases all our di erent meats, including Gloucester Old Spot pork, Southdown’s lamb and Shorthorn Sussex beef, and the various cuts such as the beef biceps, pigs’ cheeks, trotter and slow cooked lamb breast, which are great for sharing.

A The Butcher’s Board is the go-to

“Our wish is for our guests to experience their meal in a truly sustainable,environment”relaxed

A Our current menu is summery, light, and showcases our home farm produce, which changes according to the season. This ﬂexibility along with the seasonal changes allows the chefs to deliver a variety of exciting dishes.

Q What’s coming up as we head into autumn?

Q How would you sum up the menu?

44 ABSOLUTELY magazines belly, boneless chicken wing, chicken skin, bacon and caraway cabbage are proving to be the customers’ favourites. For pudding the peach melba sou e, with raspberry sauce, candied almond, mascarpone ice cream and roasted peaches is a winner.

Q How does the Butcher’s Board work?

Q What kind of experience are you looking to o er at the restaurant?

DOVEY

Q Who are the people behind Farmer, Butcher, Chef?

A The name of the restaurant really describes the journey our produce takes from our farm to your fork. However, the people involved in delivering an exceptional plate of food to the table is made up of a team of very experienced and passionate people; from the farm workers caring for the animals, to the front of house team taking your order. That combined with hours of careful development and prep by our chefs in between makes for an extraordinary team e ort.

Q It’s ever-changing, but what are the popular dishes right now?

A The beef tartare with egg puree, smoked hay oil, anchovies, nasturtium with beef dripping ﬂat bread, the conﬁt of halibut with courgette, sa ron potato puree, fennel and brown crab oil, along with the pork

A Our wish is for our guests to experience their meal in a truly sustainable, relaxed environment, knowing that all our products are either from the estate or from a 10mile radius, which helps support the local community, and where service is delivered by knowledgeable, passionate waiting sta .

A Autumn is traditionally game season and we will be o ering meats such as venison, partridge, and pheasant, along with autumn apples and hazelnuts. New for September, we are expecting our ﬁrst batch of honey from 50,000 bees we re-homed on the estate along with a new cheese and Goodwood gelato. goodwood.com

Spice GIRL Recipes and stories celebrating authentic Sri Lankan cooking Words CYNTHIA SHANMUGALINGAM 46 ABSOLUTELY magazines

•

3 Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan around 20–25cm wide over a medium heat. Add the onion (or spring onions), green chillies, garlic and curry leaves. Allow to cook, stirring occasionally, for 4–5 minutes, so that the onion softens; don’t allow it to crisp, and don’t cook past the point that the chillies and curry leaves are still bright green.

into a

•

• 1–2 green chillies, sliced • 1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced • 7 or 8 fresh curry leaves METHOD

•

INGREDIENTS For the dal 300g red split lentils or toor lentils 3 garlic cloves, peeled and halved lengthways 1 lemongrass stalk, bruised • 1½ tsp salt, or to taste ½ tsp SL curry powder Optional: 4cm piece of pandan leaf 1 tsp ground turmeric 100ml coconut milk 3–4 small handfuls of kale (approx. 200g) ½ lime Optional: 1 tsp chilli ﬂakes For the temper 1 tbsp coconut or vegetable small red onion, peeled and ﬁnely sliced 10 fresh curry leaves tsp mustard tsp cumin the lentils saucepan tap drain Cover the lentils with water until they’re submerged by about 5cm. Add the garlic, lemongrass, salt, SL curry powder and pandan leaf, if using. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. Skim o any scum and turn the heat down, so the lentils are simmering. Add the turmeric and simmer for 12–15 minutes until the SriturmericLankanomelette Serves 1-2 lentils are tender. There’s no need to stir here, you can basically forget about them except to check they’re not bubbling too vigorously.

•

4 Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan, wait 30 seconds for the oil to get hot, and then pour in the eggs. Keep cooking over a medium heat and use a spatula to pull the edges in as they set, tilting the pan to spread the uncooked egg around. Continue this motion of pulling the edges in and tilting all around the pan, until the omelette is almost set, which will take around 2–3 minutes.

and rinse loosely under the

4 Stir in coconut milk and kale and allow to simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until the kale is bright green. Take out a little kale to try; it shouldn’t taste raw, but should be soft with a ﬁrm bite. Remove from the heat and transfer to your serving bowl.

6 Pour the whole temper, oil included, onto the cooked dal. Squeeze lime over it and sprinkle over the chilli ﬂakes, if using, just before serving, and black pepper. This is a favourite breakfast dish; one my mum cooks when she’s taking orders for breakfast at the weekends from her grandson, Thierry, who may be only six but knows what’s up. You can have it on its own with something fresh like a little dill, lime and watercress salad, perhaps with some so white bread, too. It’s very easy and quick: just so ened onions, a little garlic, curry leaves, turmeric and green chillies. Don’t skimp on seasoning, with plenty of salt, black pepper and cumin – an amazing mix called milagai seeraham in Tamil.

•

well.

INGREDIENTS

• A pinch of cumin seeds • A pinch of black peppercorns • 3 large organic or free-range eggs • 1 tsp salt, or to taste, plus more to serve • ¾ tsp ground turmeric • 2 tbsp coconut or vegetable oil • ½ red onion, peeled and finely sliced (or a nice alternative is 2–3 spring onions, chopped into 2cm pieces)

2 In a bowl, whisk the eggs together with the salt and turmeric until frothy. Set aside.

5 Fold in half and serve, dusting generously with peppercumin and a little extra salt.

• ½

seeds METHOD 1 Pour

1 For the pepper-cumin salt, toast the cumin seeds and peppercorns in a small dry frying pan over a medium heat for 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Transfer to a bowl to cool, then blitz in a spice grinder or mini food processor until ﬁne, and keep aside for later.

3 Drain o about 80 per cent of the liquid. You don’t want it to be too wet and soupy because you’re adding coconut milk.

•

oil • 1

Coconut dal with kale Serves 4 In war or other times of national crisis, dal is rationed out by the Sri Lankan government as one of life’s essentials. Cooked with lemongrass and, if you can get it, pandan leaf (which adds a warm, vanilla ﬂavour) as well as coconut milk, turmeric, curry leaves, garlic and lime, this dal is distinctively light and restorative, and is worlds away from its Indian counterparts like black dal makhani made with cream, or tarka dal made with butter. There is no other dal quite like it, and I encourage you to try adding roasted squash or pumpkin or roasted sweet potato. This one is one of the ways my mum would cook it when she was too short on time to make a separate kale curry. She’d simply stir the leaves in very close to the end of cooking so they retained their bright green ﬂavour and nutrients.

5 In a small frying pan, make the temper. Heat the oil over a mediumhigh heat (careful, it will splutter a little). When hot, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally for 3–5 minutes until it starts to turn golden brown. Add the curry leaves, mustard seeds and cumin seeds and cook for a couple of minutes until the curry leaves are bright green. Be careful not to burn the spices!

47 FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES ABSOLUTELY magazines

seeds • ½

then

2 Put the ﬂour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and bicarbonate into a large bowl and whisk to combine and add air to the dry ingredients. Make a well in the middle.

8 When the cakes have cooled completely, carefully turn them out of their tins and peel o the paper.

• 125g

3 Brew the co ee and pour it into a large jug. Allow to cool for a minute or two, then stir in the 125g coconut oil and let it melt. Then mix in the kithul jaggery syrup. Slowly pour the coconut co ee into the well you made in the ﬂour mixture and whisk together until everything is combined.

• 2 large organic or free-range eggs, lightly beaten For the icing and filling • 250g coconut butter or coconut ‘bliss’

METHOD

Extract taken from Rambutan by Cynthia Shanmugalingam, £26, Bloomsbury

5 Divide the batter between the two cake tins. Although this feels weird, drop the tin a couple of times onto your kitchen counter from a height of about 30cm. It forces the air in the mixture to come to the surface.

I love chocolate devil’s food cake and for a Sri Lankan chocolate cake, I didn’t just want a devil like any other. I wanted the King. Ruler of Ancient Lanka, the demon-king Ravana wasn’t just a garden variety devil with a red trident and fire, hopping from foot to foot like he needed the toilet. Ravana was the kind of hot demon your husband is stressing out about you meeting for lunch. He did have ten heads which is a little freaky I’ll concede – but he was also a magnificent musician, a warrior, a scholar and, by the rhapsodical account of ancient Tamil poet Kamban, a very good-looking guy with a lot of cool statement jewellery. Ravana wrote: Eating beef causes to infect ninety-eight new diseases to human beings’ and if this bit of 2000 BC veganism wasn’t ahead of its time, I don’t know what was. King Ravana was a lover and a fighter, most famous for kidnapping the beautiful married Princess Sita (under the pretext of asking her for lunch) and keeping her in Sri Lanka trying to persuade her to cheat on her husband. And

FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Ravana cake Serves 10-12 48 ABSOLUTELY magazines

INGREDIENTS For

1 Preheat your oven to 180C/ fan 160C/Gas mark 4. Grease two 20cm sandwich tins with coconut oil and line the bottoms with greaseproof paper.

4 Add the lightly beaten eggs a little at a time, whisking until it’s all used up and you have a thin batter.

6 Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack still in their tins.

7 While the cakes are cooking, make the icing. Beat the coconut butter until softened and then whisk in half the icing sugar. When smooth, add the rest of the icing sugar and whisk again, until all the sugar is combined and it’s nice and thick and smooth. Add a little more icing sugar if it’s too loose or a little more coconut butter if it’s too thick for your liking.

9 To assemble, spread just less than a quarter of the coconut icing on top of one of the cakes. Cover in fresh strawberry halves. Place the other cake on top and spread with a layer of icing then cover the sides as well. Coat with coconut flakes. so this recipe is an imagining of a devil’s food cake with Ravana’s kind of irresistible sexiness, the kind designed to tempt the most loyal of wives. Strawberries for passion, chocolate for hotness, coffee for the late night musician and coconut for an island boy environmentalist with a love of plants. the cakes coconut oil, plus extra for greasing • 250g plain flour • 225g caster sugar • 50g cocoa powder • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 350ml freshly brewed strong co ee • 2 tsp kithul jaggery syrup (or maple syrup if you can’t find it)

• 500g icing sugar • 250g fresh strawberries, green tops removed, halved • 150g coconut ﬂakes

Interior Design ♦ Refurbishments ♦ Kitchens ♦ Bedrooms ♦ Sofas 6,000 sq ft showroom | Viewing by appointment only The Complete Design Lab Marthas Barn, Wheatshead Road, Henﬁeld, BN5 9AX Tel: 01273 492988 | E: elyse@thedesignlab.uk | thecompletedesignlab.co.uk THE DESIGN LAB

Discover a world of English Sparkling Wine with our daily tour and tastings, escape to West Sussex and stay in a luxury lodge overlooking the vines info@tinwoodestate.com 01243 www.tinwoodestate.com537372 A Vineyard in the heart of Chichester, West Sussex /tinwoodestatevineyard/tinwoodestate WINE TASTINGS | ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE | LUXURY LODGES

51ABSOLUTELY magazines

TASTY TONIC TARQUIN GIN One of Britain's favourite summertime sips has become all the more portable. These new cans of G&T by Tarquins combine a light fragrant tonic with the brand’s award-winning Cornish Dry Gin. tarquinsgin.com SHAKE & GO LIBERATION COCKTAILS You’ll be able to make mixologistgrade versions of all your favourites from the comfort of your home. Simply chill, then shake vigorously and pour for the perfect cocktail anytime, any place. liberationcocktails.com HEALTHY HEDON BODEGA BAY A combination of three simple ingredients creates this refreshingly light, alcoholic sparkling water. With only 96 calories per serving, it is perfect for those wanting to indulge, but not over-indulge. drinkbodegabay.com APERITIVO HOUR THESE DAYS This aperitivo brand is on a mission to spritz up your life. Made from a mixture of organic white wine, natural fruit ﬂavours and soda water, these spritzes are the perfect day-drinking companion. thesedaysdrinks.com POCKET-SIZED KOCKTAIL The award-winning cocktail brand is making its ﬁrst foray into ready-to-drink cocktails. Two of Kocktail's most popular drinks have made their way into cans, and just in time for the late summer. kocktail.co.uk

1 3 4 5 1 2 3 2 4 5 FOOD & DRINK • DRINKS CANSCOOL PUT SPRITZ IN YOUR STEP WITH THESE PRE-MIXES

Paula Kirkwood 54 • Jewellery 57 • The Shoot 60 FASHION ROSE TINT STELLA MCCARTNEY These Cut-Eye sunglasses in shiny milky pink with solid light rose lenses are made of sustainable bio-acetate with stylish gold rivet details. £260 stellamccartney.com ABSOLUTELY magazines 53

Q How would you sum up what Paula Kirkwood o ers?

A My style I would say is functional with a minimalist aesthetic. The idea is to have a piece of leatherwork that works for you By MARK KEBBLE We chat to Brighton-based Paula Kirkwood about her luxurious leather creations

A I was made redundant from Traid shortly after having my daughter and needed to be able to work from home whilst she was so young. After working in clothing production I decided to change direction and concentrate on accessories instead, namely leather goods in particular.

54 ABSOLUTELY magazines

“My style is functional with a minimalistaesthetic”

Q How long have you worked in the fashion industry for now?

BAG In the Q & A

A I studied fashion and textiles at Brighton University and from there worked in various parts of the fashion retail and design world – so 22 years from uni.

Q How do you look back on your time working with Traid? A I loved working at Traid, from sourcing stock for the shop to creating collection pieces for the in-house studio. I learnt a lot about the textile industry and about people’s understanding of the fashion industry.

Q What eventually inspired you to launch your own business?

A Yes, you have access to the high street brands, but more importantly you have so many independent boutiques and vintage clothing stores and pop ups. Not to mention all the makers’ fairs and markets that go on throughout the year. You’ll always ﬁnd new brands and labels that you won’t ﬁnd anywhere else.

Q Can you explain how a piece is created?

Q We are approaching the AW22 season –what can we expect from you? A This winter I’ll be focusing on four new bag styles and a couple of other colour ways. Also I will be bringing in some smaller leather goods, such as card cases, wallets, airpod cases and some tech sleeves for iPads and laptops. Some great Christmas gifts ideas!

55ABSOLUTELY magazines whilst being able to appreciate every part of the beautiful leather that is being used.

Q What do you feel makes you di erent? A Within my work I aim to be really aware of where my materials come from, from my leather to my packaging. I try to be as frugal and conscious of every scrap, so as not to leave such a big footprint on the world with my work.

I moved to Worthing for college, then to Brighton for uni. I fell in love with the laidback, bonkers, creative vibe by the sea and didn’t want to leave. Just like many others!

Q What inspires new designs? A Inspiration for me can come in many forms, like textures, architecture, art… I tend to ﬁll sketch books with shapes, textures, lines, and di erent leathers.

Q How long have you been based in Brighton and what do you love about it?

A I’ve lived in Brighton for 30 years now. I am originally from the Isle Of Wight, then

Q Is it a great place to be for any lover of fashion?

Q What’s next for you?

A Apart from the new collection coming soon, I’ll be stocking some new and exciting stockists in the next couple of months, so keep your eyes peeled.

A I start by going through my sketchbook of ideas, then apply the functionality, what and who is this design for? I want to create PAULA KIRKWOOD would love to offer all Absolutely Sussex readers 20% off their first purchase by simply adding the code Sussex20 at the checkout. Find out more at pkirkwood.com something that is useful and beautiful and more importantly that my customer would like. Then I create a paper pattern followed by a sample (first prototype). Wear it, see how it functions, see if anything needs to be altered, before creating the final design.

FASHION • Q&A

2-3 East Street, Chichester PO19 1HE | Tel. 01243.782135 www.austenjewellers.co.uk

THE ALKEMISTRY Pearl & Bead Anklet, £395 thealkemistry.com

Pretty Pearls

BIKO Elle Pearl Collar in Gold, £386 wolfandbadger.com

MARIA BLACK Baroque Twirl Single Earring, £44 maria-black.com

MISSOMA Baroque Pearl Beaded T-Bar Necklace, £325 uk.missoma.com

By RACHEL HOGG OLIVIA & PEARL Large Hoop and Baroque Pearl Charm Earrings, £270 oliviaandpearl.com

Jewellery from the depths of the ocean

IRENA CHMURA Mermaid Pearl Choker, £385 wolfandbadger.com

Double Gold Pearl Small Baroque Earrings, £1,000 jessiethomasjewellery.com

LILY & ROO Gold Baroque Pearl Shard Hoop Earrings, £89 lilyandroo.com

JESSIE THOMAS

MONICA VINADER Keshi Pearl Bracelet, £170 monicavinader.com

FASHION • JEWELLERY ABSOLUTELY magazines 57

58 ABSOLUTELY magazines Historic Chichester jewellers RL Austen has partnered with bridal jewellery brand Brown & Newirth to o er their British handcrafted jewellery exclusively in the city Marriage made in HEAVEN

PLATINUM FULL ETERNITY RING

As part of creating this wonderful working partnership with Brown & Newirth, in store RL Austen have dedicated an exclusive area for couples to choose their perfect rings. Upon arrival you will be greeted by a member of the team and can join them for a glass of ﬁzz, beer, tea or whatever your tipple whilst you peruse the collection. They know that planning for a wedding can be a daunting prospect, so let them help make things a little easier and join them to select the rings to represent your perfect day and your lifetime together.

RL AUSTEN 2-3 East Street, Chichester PO19 1HE 01243 782135 austenjewellers.co.uk

representspiecebespokethatlifelongcommitment”

This year, RL Austen have cemented their place as the go to destination for bridal jewellery in Chichester by creating an exclusive partnership with award-winning bridal jewellery brand and manufacturer Brown & Newirth. Since 1967, Brown & Newirth have been handcrafting jewellery that represents those special moments which last a lifetime. To this day, their team of artisans still use those same traditional jewellery making techniques whilst adopting modern processes to create the very finest bridal jewellery available today. Handcrafted using the finest platinum and 18ct carat golds along with hand selected conflict free diamonds, each beautifully crafted piece is made to order RING CLASSIC COURT BAND IN PLATINUM

SOLITAIRE DIAMOND

t RL Austen they believe that shopping for wedding rings for the biggest day of your life should be an experience in itself. They have been blessed to play a part in couple’s special days for more than two centuries, so they know a thing or two about planning for the big day… The friendly team of experts are in store to guide you step by step through the process. From choosing from the hundreds of styles available, to picking the perfect precious metal and selecting the correct size, they have you covered. The collection of stunning wedding rings has been hand selected to o er you the very best in terms of choice and variety. From classic plain court bands to modern matt ﬁnishes, from intricate patterns to the most exquisite diamond set designs, there is something for everyone. What’s more if you can’t ﬁnd exactly what you want in store, the team will work with you to create a totally bespoke piece that represents the ultimate symbol of your lifelong commitment to one another. and can be made even more unique with their complimentary engraving service, part of Brown & Newirth’s unique Tender Loving Care jewellery service package.

As part of this service, Brown & Newirth want your jewellery to last a lifetime, so to help keep your jewellery looking its very best, they also provide free resizing and refinishing. Such care also encourages your healthy jewellery habits along the way so that through regular cleaning and checking, your jewellery can last the lifetime it was intended for. Additionally, Brown & Newirth are so confident in the quality and finish of their jewellery that every piece is backed by their lifetime guarantee.

“The team will create a

ABSOLUTELY magazines 59 FASHION • JEWELLERY

TWENTYPETWORTH.COMJANEATELIER.COM Jane Atelier, stocked at Twenty Petworth, is a brand specialising in luxury pieces made from the ﬁnest cashmere, silk and wool – as seen in the AW22 collection GIR L Material

Visit fitness-superstore.co.uk or call 01604 673000 Code expires 9th October 2022. Prices may vary, see website for current price. † Subject to age and status. *Subscription required. LIST PRICE £1,599 OUR PRICE£799 800IC INDOORCYCLE ABSOSUS0922 Try Before You Buy Expert In-Store Advice Never Beaten on Price 0% Finance Available †

The Spa At South Lodge 68 • Beauty Notes 71 • Products 73 HEALTH & BEAUTY SLEEPBEAUTY SLIP X ALICE + OLIVIA You’ll have the most luxurious sleep of your life thanks to this whimsical collaboration between Slip Silk and Alice + Olivia. Some of the beauty brand’s multi-award-winning products, including the eye mask, a hair wrap, scrunchies, and a pillowcase, have been decked out in the designer's Spring Paisley print, from £39. slipsilkpillowcase.co.uk 67ABSOLUTELY magazines

ABSOLUTELY magazines Size of the MATTER Due to the pandemic, mental and physical wellbeing has been thrust into the spotlight. It’s why a trip to the South Downs and a 44,000 sq ft spa was in order… THE MAGNIFICENT SPA AT SOUTH LODGE 68 By MARK KEBBLE

The ‘taste’ aspect is a key element that highlights The Spa’s USP. “The holistic and wellness ethos runs true in all our outlets,” Ian says, “none more so than in Botanica. Our Head Chef Jonathan Spiers uses the South Downs as his larder. Botanica is a non-dairy restaurant, leaning towards having more plant-based dishes – whilst not being a fully vegetarian/vegan restaurant, it takes into account allergies and dietary preferences wherever possible.”

The environment, too, is factored into the operation. “Sustainability is a key pillar of our business,” Ian states. “We are always challenging ourselves on the way we work and how we can make a positive contribution to the planet. We are extremely proud of our eco credentials, having Biomass boilers, a grass and sedum roof of The Spa that blends into the local woodland, a 20m long natural outdoor swimming pond, and sustainable materials used in the building all work seamlessly together.”

HEALTH & BEAUTY • PROFILE THE NATURAL OUTDOOR POOL THE GROUNDS ARE BEAUTIFUL A HOST OF TREATMENTS ARE ON OFFER 69 MURRELLAMYPHOTO:

ABSOLUTELY

Ian ﬁnishes by saying they want to be “the best wellness destination in the country”. Lofty ambitions, but a visit here will certainly leave you feeling sky high. exclusive.co.uk/the-spa-at-south-lodge

magazines moment you step foot inside you sense this something a little out of the ordinary.

If that doesn’t get you reaching for your swimming costume, Ian delves a little deeper into what else makes The Spa unique. “It really is a lifestyle change for the better,” he says about our renewed interest in looking after ourselves. “We o er a wellness experience that is designed to stimulate all of the ﬁve senses. Sound: listen to the sound of silence in our award-winning gardens. Taste: enjoy culinary delights in our Mediterranean-inspired Botanica restaurant. Sight: The Spa is nestled within an array of shades of green. Touch: the softness of the therapeutic touch to the invigorating wild pool. Smell: the beautiful bouquets from the herbs to the delightful aromatherapy oils.”

Ian Mackie, the Spa Operations Manager here, is a man who knows his stu and is only too happy to share it. “It’s an engaging lifestyle experience,” he says on what The Spa o ers. Take the dressing rooms, for example. “They feature marble and etched glass showers and relaxing social spaces with comfy sofas, tiled ‘rugs’ and bookcases, all bespoke, designed to create a club-like feel,” Ian explains. Stepping into The Spa, the softly lit relaxation zone that is the Thermal Suite certainly catches the eye – and is home to a whole host of experiences. “There is a panoramic juniper-infused sauna with organic profiled timber fins inspired by the rolling hills of the Downs, with full height glazing overlooking the garden,” Ian says. “There is also a marble-lined steam room, aromatic herbal bath infused with camomile and hot experiential shower and cold drench. The jewel in the crown on this level is the forest green, marble-lined candlelit pool hall. It’s an indoor infinity edge ozone treated pool surrounded by relaxation beds with panoramic views onto the spa gardens and external pools including a 20m reed-lined ‘natural pool’.”

“The holistic and ourtrueethoswellnessrunsinalloutlets”

Although at times it feels like there’s BC (before-Covid) and AC (yes, you guessed it, after-Covid) periods in time, one element that has come out of the latter is the fact that physical and mental wellbeing is now a hot topic. This was an issue before a pandemic brought us all to a standstill and made us contemplate life a little more deeply, but it seems as if the past two years has taught many that it’s time to look after ourselves. It’s why spas all over the county are in demand, and why they are coming up with new ways to enable us all to let go of our stresses and strains. A case in point is The Spa at South Lodge, in the South Downs, which is one of the biggest going – all 44,000 sq ft of it. A standalone building from the Exclusive Hotel, right from the

Go Island Hopping, Go Olympic call 020 8492 6840 visit olympicholidays.com/island-hopping One island is never enough Tailor-made island hopping with Olympic Holidays. Use code ISLAND200 to save £200pp* This is our specialiststhebestexperiencehome;theofGreecewithislandhopping Every Greek Island has its own unique personality, so sometimes one just isn’t enough. And because no one knows the islands quite like we do, you can expect a little more from an Olympic Holiday. Tailor-made island hopping  Family-owned, arranging holidays to Greece and the Greek islands for more than half-century  Flights from 26 UK airports  Choice of accommodation,islands,length of stay and more  Low cost to luxury, simple to special occasion  British Travel Awards winner for nineconsecutive years,with votes submitted by the public Terms & Conditions: ISLAND200. Save an extra £200 per person on all new Island-Hopping holidays for two people or more with no minimum spend. Can only be booked through the call centre and cannot be used in conjunction code must be added at time of booking and cannot be added post transaction.

CHANEL Chanel’s newest nail collection includes six exclusive shades of polish, in a range of vibrant pastel shades. They are being launched alongside two new additions to Chanel’s nail-care product range, designed to nourish and fortify your nails, so you can make the most of these summer colours, from £25. chanel.com NARS

Perfect Pairing With the rate that taketoolshigh-qualitychanges,technologybuyinghaircanreallyitstollon your wallet and on the environment. Sometimes a product may only be state-of-the-art for a matter of months before something newer and more exciting comes on the market. So for those wanting to keep up with the latest in styling, but also wanting to keep their budget and environmental impact in mind, Cloud 9’s recently launched subscription service may be the perfect solution. For as little as £4.99 a month, you will have access to the brand’s award-winning styling tools, all you need to do is select the device that works best for you and pay a single annual fee. You can choose from Cloud 9’s core collection, which includes favourites such as the Touch Iron, Original Iron, Wide Iron, Airshot and Curling Wand. The device is shipped straight to your door and should a newer version ever catch your eye, you will be given the option to switch or upgrade after two years. You won’t need to feel guilty about wastage, either, because Cloud 9 will either recycle or refurbish the products that are returned at the end of their life. FACE HALO Leave face wipes ﬁrmly in your past, there’s a whole new to cleanse. The new ‘Face Glow Skin Set’ by Face Halo will rejuvenate your skin in a few simple steps. It includes three tools: a makeup remover, a deep cleanser and an exfoliator, which work together to thoroughly cleanse and exfoliate your skin, £20. facehalo.com CLOUD 9 Subscription fees start at £59.99 per year cloudninehair.com Conservation is at the core of Cloud 9’s new subscription service

way

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

Two of the brand’s most iconic shades, Orgasm and Laguna, have met in a moment of pure passion. This limited edition palette of the much-loved blush and bronzer duo has been launched just in time for summer, but with its irresistibly so and blendable application, you’ll still be glowing well a er the season ends, £37. narscosmetics.co.uk

BEAUTY NOTES

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By RACHEL HOGG

SERVICE

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The latest in luxury makeup and skincare

Loveday Abbey Road is one of the most innovative care homes in the UK. From sleep and medicine to care planning and pain management, every aspect of care has been analysed and evaluated. Loveday invests in cutting-edge research and the best technology has been discreetly implemented. Electronic planning records enable sta to devote more time to care, while a Paincheck App uses facial analysis and AI to assess pain levels. Medicine management software enables medication to be taken when needed, and the latest PCR machines provide rapid test results. Circadian lighting systems automatically adjust to mimic the natural environment, and motion sensors trigger soft lighting to guide members at night.

One of Loveday Abbey Road’s most special features is its world-class sensory garden. Carefully researched and designed, the garden contains plants selected not only for their aesthetic appeal but for scent, touch, taste and even sound, helping those with dementia to connect with the outside space.

HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP Words CASPAR DAVID

Loveday Abbey Road, 41 Abbey Road, NW8 0AA lovedayandco.com property and its beautiful locale. Awardwinning chefs serve delicious, nutritious meals in the spacious restaurant and private dining room, using fresh, seasonal produce. There is a screening and library room, a luxurious spa and beauty salon, and a dedicated studio and activities room as well as bespoke concierge services and an innovative activities curriculum, from trips to the opera and galleries to musical performances, art workshops and ﬁtness classes.

LUXURY LIVING Loveday Abbey Road is superbly positioned in the heart of St John’s Wood. The brandnew, contemporary 26-suite home has a sense of modern elegance, replete with the ultimate in safety features and care technology, all the while staying true to the history and cosy appeal of this elegant INNOVATIVE

BESPOKE CARE Loveday o ers tailored, compassionate care and world-class hospitality for those with a wide range of needs, from dementia and Parkinson’s to more complex nursing needs or respite care. Sta provide holistic, discrete care, and are passionately devoted to enhancing the lives of members and their families.

FLEXIBLE RANGE OF HEALTH & LIFESTYLE SERVICES For those not quite ready to make the move into a care home, there is The Loveday Day Club, Loveday at Home and Recover at Loveday - all thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of those living with dementia, their families and carers.

There are further Loveday properties in Kensington and Chelsea and Loveday Notting Hill is scheduled to open later this year.

LOVEDAY & CO

To book a tour or to secure one of the suites at Loveday Abbey Road call 020 3993 3764 or info@lovedayandco.com

SENSORYWORLD-CLASSGARDEN

ADVANCEDTECHNOLOGICALLY

Loveday & Co, London’s only private member’s club for seniors, is opening its latest home in Abbey Road, and it’s the most luxurious yet

CARE

BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS

72 ABSOLUTELY magazines

ABSOLUTELY magazines 73 HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND These products will have your skin looking summerholiday ready in no time BRONZEBOTTLE CHANEL Les Beiges Illuminating Oil, £70 chanel.com EDITOR’SPICK JAMES READ Click & Glow Gradual Tan Drops, £25 jamesreadtan.com BY TERRY Tea to Tan Face and Body Bronzer, £59 byterry.com OSKIA Adaptive Tan Mist, £57 oskiaskincare.com FENTY BEAUTY Body Lava Body Luminizer in Who Needs Clothes?!, £46 fentybeauty.com JAMES READ jamesreadtan.com NARS Laguna Bronzing Creme in Laguna 2, £32.50 narscosmetics.co.uk SKINNY TAN Wonder Serum Gradual Tanner, £24.99 skinnytan.co.uk DR. HAUSCHKA BronzingTranslucentTint, £20 drhauschka.co.uk

Let us be your expert designer to help make YOUR GYM look and feel so good that you WANT to go back to all the time! Create Your PerfectHome Gym Gym Design & Supply offers 20 years’ of experience with an exclusive personal service and a wide range of options helping you create your dream gym space. • Private Homes • Property Developments • Hotels • Schools, Colleges and Universities. 01483 904073 | @GymDesignSupply | #GymDesignSupply hello@gymdesignsupply.com | www.gymdesignsupply.com We will come and meet you to discuss your options as well as measure up the space you have to make sure it all ﬁts all the equipment you need and looks great! • Health and ﬁtness goals discussed • Best equipment chosen for your needs and budget • Gym tailored to the look and feel you want • Installed over 100 gyms and spas including: Gym Design & Supply gives you 20 years’ of experience with an exclusive personal service, offering a wide range of options as well as an online price match guarantee Let us be your expert designer to help make YOUR and feel so good that you WANT to go back to 07976 hello@gymdesignsupply.com@GymDesignSupply237907#GymDesignSupply www.gymdesignsupply.comContactusnowforaFREECONSULTATIONifyouquote“SurreyHomes”inyourenquiry! GymDesignSupplyWT241.indd 1

Gym Design & Supply o ers 20 years of experience with an exclusive personal service and a wide range of options helping you create your dream gym space.

A combination of cardio and functional equipment such as a treadmill or spin bike along with core bags, kettlebells, medicine balls and dumbbells is one good solution.

HOME WORK

Ioften hear clients talking about getting fit,” says Mick Rolton, “but as a sports science graduate and former personal trainer, I try to get a deeper understanding. By focusing on what you’d like to achieve, whether toning up, building muscle or strength, improving cardio fitness, or enjoying the benefits of all-round health and fitness later in life, I can design a gym that’s going to meet your needs. I often see home gyms full of equipment that isn’t being used because this discussion about fitness goals hasn’t taken place.” Here are some things to consider. To improve your running time/technique, an indoor treadmill is a great option, allowing you to create and track structured programs that will accelerate your progress – and you can run whatever the weather. Supplementing this with some lower body strengthening work with free weights will help you take the impact o the joints as well as give a spring to your stride. Mick Rolton of Gym Design&Supply shares advice on what to consider if you’re thinking of investing in a gym at home

01483#GymDesignSupply@GymDesignSupply904073 gymdesignsupply.com

Finally, make sure your gym is an inviting space. Although it initially costs more than a gym membership, you gain back time and it allows you to exercise more regularly than going to a standard gym.

ABSOLUTELY magazines 75 HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP

To tone up, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a great all-rounder, ﬁrming up muscles while burning body fat. However, be careful with jumping exercises as although they burn calories and fat they can also wreck your joints, especially as you get older. Supplementing with resistance exercise o ers continual muscle tension to help turn your muscles into e ective shock absorbers.

To build strength/muscle, allowing space for an Olympic barbell and plates and a rack to use them with gives you a lot of muscle-building and strength options. Free weights, medicine balls and kettlebells are a good start, but cable machines o er a greater range of power, as the resistance tends to be similar through the entire range of movement. A quality dual adjustable cable machine can make a big di erence to your sporting performance, as well as minimising injuries.

It’s very important that you understand how much room you need to exercise, and to factor in space for activities such as yoga, Pilates and stretching. Most home gyms do not have the space for every single piece of equipment available, so look for machines that provide versatility. Barbells, dumbbells and cable machines are a good start. Peloton is a great brand, but if you buy a Peloton machine, you are limited to the Peloton app. Is the whole family happy with this? Consider cardio machines that are compatible with not just the Peloton app, but also other third-party apps including but not limited to Zwift, iFit, Les Mills and Su erfest.

Storrs Hall, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3LG Tel. 015394 47111 | Email. reception@storrshall.com | www.storrshall.com AA 2 Rosette Culinary Excellence | AA 4 Star Hotel ESCAPE TO LARGESTENGLAND'SLAKE. Relax… unwind. Indulge in simply great food. Explore one of the most beautiful places in the world. Follow us on storrshall storrs_hall PhotographyAerialSkylarkCopyright©

Skiathos boasts more than 50 sun-kissed sandy beaches which are among the best in Greece. The charming capital of Skiathos Town has chic nightlife, a lovely old town with charming shops in a maze of alleyways and a beautiful waterfront o ering an array of bars, boutiques, and restaurants.

HALKI HARBOUR

There are so many island combinations to choose from and Olympic Holidays can help create that perfect contrast; tailor-made to suit your needs.

Skopelos, known for its starring role in the ﬁlm Mamma Mia and its breath-taking scenery, is adored by artists, walkers and hikers. With a more laid-back atmosphere and beautiful architecture, Skopelos has over 100 tiny chapels that are dotted around Skopelos Town. Combine Skiathos and Skopelos for a holiday that reﬂects the contrasting characteristics of Greece. These pairings of island hops are just a taster of what is on o er when booking an island-hopping holiday.

THEDOUBLEFUN

RHODES & HALKI A 7-night Island Hop package starts from £639pp* including return ﬂights with baggage, accommodation, all ferries and private car transfers between the ferry ports

TRAVEL • PARTNERSHIP

• SKIATHOS & SKOPELOS A 7-night Island Hop package starts from £755pp* including return ﬂights with baggage, accommodation, all ferries and private car transfers between the ferry ports

*Terms and conditions apply

Exploring Olympic Holidays islandhopping trips, from Rhodes to Halki, and Skiathos to Skopelos

ABSOLUTELY magazines 77

SKOPELOS ISLAND

THE ACROPOLIS OF RHODES Get Going Olympic Holidays have an awardwinning, dedicated island-hopping team to plan your trip

• olympicholidays.com

hen it comes to Greece and its islands, it can sometimes be di cult to decide where to spend well-deservedthat break. Although some islands might be similar in many aspects, there are also those that di er signiﬁcantly in terms of size, atmosphere, popularity, and scenery. Maybe it’s an action-packed itinerary with the wild nightlife you are after, or perhaps a quest for authenticity, hidden gems, and deserted beaches for a more relaxing retreat. Olympic Holidays can provide fantastic bespoke island-hopping itineraries that showcase the contrasting characteristics of the Greek islands. Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands. A luxurious, cosmopolitan feel engulfs the island while it still stays true to its fascinating history with a multitude of cultural attractions and a mesmerising UNESCO-protected Old Town. As one of the most popular Greek islands, there are plenty of great restaurants selling the freshest local and international cuisine and resorts with a buzzing nightlife. Halki promises a little more peace and relaxation and is where time really has stood still, a place to discover “authentic Greece” and where friendly locals welcome visitors like long-lost friends. With a few beaches and minimal transport, Halki is perfect for those looking for an insight into the Greek way of life. Rhodes and Halki make for the perfect pair on an islandhopping holiday, ideal for those wanting to experience two di erent sides of Greece.

Bespoke I Creative I Kitchens ashleyjaykitchens.co.uk I 01903 874198

INTERIORS Interior News 80 • F&P Interiors 82 • Trend 87 OFF WALLTHE CURIOUSA & CURIOUSA Curiousa & Curiousa have added new designs to their Siren wall light range, layering colourful hand-blown glass with luxury UK vintage chinaware. Based on a selection of vintage pieces that work beautifully with their hand-blown glass, each combination is truly unique. curiousa.co.uk 79ABSOLUTELY magazines

This stylish Trestle Table (£599) has a central, pedestal base made with spindle rods, giving the table a tactile edge and adding a sense of light. The Motion dining chairs are sleek, with a streamlined metal frame and a curved back rest that's shapely and supportive; the back rest and seat are upholstered in corduroy velvet for a tactile ﬁnish. Set of 2, £199. johnlewis.com

80 ABSOLUTELY magazines NOTES INTERIORS Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

JOHN LEWIS HOME

UDALL Rebecca Udall has collaborated with textile designer and illustrator Isla Simpson to create a limited-edition collection of bed linen. Italian woven cotton sheets feature ruﬄe borders and ribbon-tie closures to add a touch of the whimsical. rebeccaudall.com

SHEET TABLEMUSIC TALK

81ABSOLUTELY magazines MINI MODERNS Mini Moderns have created their fi rst ever range of towels, each design created with a strong narrative based on personal memories, their passion for mid-century design, and popular culture. minimoderns.com STORY TIME Carafes TAKEFIVE MIMMO STUDIOS Recycled Glass Carafe, £22 mimmostudios.com DIPTYQUE Designed to cleanse, degrease and descale, this versatile solution delivers a thorough clean while enveloping your space with the French Maison’s delicate perfume. Combining effectiveness with a respect for nature, it’s housed in a refillable glass bottle. £32 libertylondon.com CURIOUSA Curiousa & Curiousa have added new designs to their Siren wall light range, layering colourful hand-blown glass with luxury UK vintage chinaware. Each combination is truly unique. curiousa.co.uk FANCYFRESH SEE THE SIREN TRUFFLE TABLESCAPES Emerald Dappled Carafe, £90 truffl etablescapes.co.uk INTERIORS • NOTES ROSE & GREY TortoiseshellCarafe,Glass£32 roseandgrey.co.uk SOFT STORE CO Green Tortoise Jug, £32.99 so store.co JOHN LEWIS ANYDAY Colour Pop Glass Carafe, £12 johnlewis.com

82 ABSOLUTELY magazines FABRIC The founder of F&P Interiors on working at Althorp House, ﬁnding a gap in the market and the joy of driving into work in Sussex By EMMA VANS AGNEW PART OF THE

Working at Colefax you were very much at the luxury end of the market. Our clients wanted the ‘Colefax’ look and were prepared to pay. The biggest change since I started my career is the sheer number of design companies o ering a portfolio of fabrics and wallpapers. Digital printing has reduced the barriers to entry for emerging design houses and hence the number of start-ups. The other big change is the growth of ecommerce retailers such as ourselves, which make it so much easier for customers to view and purchase a huge range of interiors products without having to leave their homes.

From the outset we o ered designer wallpaper, curtain and upholstery fabrics, although our choice of products was quite limited in those early years – we now o er thousands of di erent wallpaper and fabric styles from over 120 di erent designers. It was quite a jump for many of our suppliers to embrace the internet, but thankfully now we receive their wholehearted support. By 2016 the business had grown signiﬁcantly and we needed to register a “We wanted to become one of the

83ABSOLUTELY magazines INTERIORS • FEATURE

companiesecommerceﬁrsttoselldesignerfabrics”

I worked on Wiltons Restaurant in St James’s, we had to recreate the whole restaurant in a new location on Jermyn Street, making sure all the pictures within each seating area remained the same –they had clients who had been dining with them for years and always had the same seats, so it was important that they thought nothing had changed. Althorp House was very much in the press as Prince Charles had just announced his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer. We were working with The Countess Spencer on updating a number of rooms in the house, and eventually even the nursery. Although I am not sure baby William ever slept there!

We founded fabricsandpapers.com in 2000 in a converted stable at home when the vast majority of internet retailers were o ering only books, music and holidays. We wanted to fill a gap in the market by becoming one of the first ecommerce companies to sell designer fabrics, wallpaper and lighting to consumers. We wanted to make it easier for customers to find beautiful designs as the existing distribution of these products was extremely patchy.

Ibegan my career at Colefax & Fowler in London, an international designerand distributor of luxury furnishing fabrics and wallpapers, working on some of the most prestigious houses in England and mainland Europe. It was a great place to train as the partners were some of the most celebrated interior designers in the business. I worked on such a variety of projects from London apartments, hotels, restaurants and stately homes. My ﬁrst ever site visit was to a stunning apartment in Cadogan Square. I assumed I was just being shown the project, but I was given a vacuum cleaner and told to get hoovering!

EMMA VANS AGNEW

84 ABSOLUTELY magazines business name which reﬂected both our retail website and our bespoke interior design service – so we rebranded as F&P Interiors. We continue to o er designer wallpaper, curtain and upholstery fabrics, but have added lighting, rugs, paint, furniture (both bespoke and our own collection) and a bespoke curtain making service. We also provide an upholstery service for customers’ own furniture that is in need of an overhaul, together with an interior design service. Our interior design service is proving very popular and we have a range of small and large projects on the go at the moment. As we head into autumn, I think we will continue to see an extension of the trend to bring the outdoors inside with warm earthy colours and hues such as mustard yellow and deep greens. Deep textures will be popular for this time of year such as velvet, tweeds and tartans and thick linens. My family and I live in an 18th century “Every morning when I arrive at work, I have a wonderful view of countrysideunbrokentotheSouthDowns”

Sussex farmhouse and when we moved in over 25 years ago, I was keen to use many beautiful traditional designs as part of the redecoration process. But now there are lots of beautiful traditional designs with a contemporary twist, and so in recent years I have been exploring some of these options to add a contemporary vibrancy. We now have our own large showroom in a converted barn in a rural location near Woodmancote, so we have a great space to show customers our range of furniture as well as our wallpaper, fabrics, furniture and soft furnishings. Our sta live in a 20-mile radius from Lewes to Lancing and Woodmancote is an ideal place to be based. Every morning when I arrive at work, I have a wonderful view of unbroken countryside to the South Downs. Whatever your mood, it is totally uplifting and inspiring for the day ahead. fabricsandpapers.com

INTERIORS • FEATURE

NEW KOLLEKTION WITH OUR FREE INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE DANISH DESIGN FURNITURE BY DISCOVER THE

87ABSOLUTELY magazines By PENDLE HARTE INREDTHE Homewares in crimson, scarlet and cherry INTERIORS • TREND MINDTHEGAP Woodstock Anatolia Red Wool Kilim, £1,870 mindtheg.com THE WISTERIA TREE Glass Candle Holder, £14 thewisteriatree.co.uk EDITOR’SPICK CUCKOOLAND New York Metal Kids Bed, £245 cuckooland.com MINDTHEGAP Tribal Ikat Wallpaper, £135 mindtheg.com BEAUMONDE Recycled Cotton Throw, £26.99 beaumonde.co.uk NATALIA WILLMOTT Zulu Bowl, £20 nataliawillmott.co.uk NEDGIS Terracotta Ball Light, £78 nedgis.com FY Rialto Tumblers, £70 iamfy.co POOKY Dangly Wall Fitting with Red Silk Shade, £96 pooky.com FY Woven Round Placemats, £57 iamfy.co

ABSOLUTELY magazines 89 INTERIORS • GARDENS

“Bignor Park was the former home of romantic poet Charlotte Smith”

Findon Place 8 September, 4pm–8pm Findon, Worthing, BN14 0RF Stunning grounds of 52 acres, set around a Grade II listed Georgian country house (not open). Most of the garden sits on a gentle eastward facing slope, with level paths being manageable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The garden has a tapestry of interest showcasing perennial borders within high Sussex ﬂint walls. An archway leads to a fully productive large walled garden with romantic rose arches and arbours, and a small cutting garden. The vegetable beds are used to grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables for the house. Just to the side of the walled garden is a smaller walled area featuring cloud pruned trees and espaliered fruit trees together with roses and shrub borders.

Bignor Park 13 September, 2pm-5pm Pulborough, RH20 1HG Bignor Park was the former home of romantic poet Charlotte Smith, whose sonnets were inspired by the house and gardens. You can explore 11 acres of peaceful garden with magnificent views of the South Downs. Interesting trees include spectacular Cedars of Lebanon and rare Lucombe Oak. Features include the walled flower garden, which has been replanted with herbaceous borders, wildflower areas, a temple, a Greek loggia, a Zen-pond and unusual sculptures.

Knightsbridge House 7 and 10 September, 2pm–5pm Grove Hill, Hellingly, Hailsham, BN27 4HH Knightsbridge House has a mature landscaped garden set in ﬁve acres of tranquil countryside surrounding a Georgian house (not open). There are several garden rooms and spectacular herbaceous borders planted in contemporary style in a traditional setting. The garden opens in July and September, so visitors can enjoy two very di erent experiences. In September there is lots of late season colour with grasses and some magniﬁcent specimen trees. Make the most of the last of summer and explore the Sussex gardens open for the National Garden Scheme

KNIGHTSBRIDGE HOUSE BIGNOR PARK FINDON PLACE STATE SUNSHINE CLAPPLEIGHPHOTO:

• If you’re passionate about your garden and your friends and family tell you how lovely it is, why not open it to visitors with the National Garden Scheme. By opening your garden with the NGS, you’ll join a community of like-minded garden owners and volunteers all passionate about gardens. You will share a memorable day with your visitors and help raise money for vital nursing and health charities. You decide when and how often you want to open and you will be ably supported by the NGS team prior to your opening. Find out more at open-your-garden/ngs.org.uk/get-involved/

The garden at Hamsey House is nestled within the South Downs National Park, just a few miles from Lewes. The country garden incorporates an orchard with a wildﬂower patch, a vegetable and cut ﬂower garden, large herbaceous borders, a parterre and many established trees and shrubs. Recently, willow beds have been planted in the orchard to grow willow for garden structures. The garden is host to the Hamsey Gardening Club with regular gardening courses. There will be home-made teas in aid of Family Support Work.

HAMSEY HOUSE CLAPPLEIGHPHOTO: ABSOLUTELY magazines90

“Holford Manor is a real plantsman's garden”

HOLFORD MANOR Holford Manor 9, 16-17 September, 11am–4pm Holford Manor Lane, North Chailey, Lewes, BN8 4DU Situated on the edge of Chailey Common, Holford Manor gives visitors a peaceful garden with an intimate feel. The garden, designed and laid out by the present owners, is a real plantsman's garden with beds and borders for all seasons. Wildlife shares the grounds with peacocks and guinea fowl. Rare-breed sheep, geese, and chickens can be seen in the paddocks. Stop by the aviary to listen to the canaries and doves, as you wander around formal rose gardens, herbaceous and tropical beds. Take a walk through the kitchen garden, greenhouse, fruit cage, and cutting garden or stroll across the ﬁeld to the two-acre lake and swamp garden. In September, the garden will be still full of colour. Stop, sit and relax at one of the many seats around the garden and watch the bees at work in the meadow full of wildﬂowers, or watch the carp in the pond amongst the water lilies.

INTERIORS • GARDENS

Hamsey House 18 September, Hamsey, Lewes, BN81pm–5pm5TD

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METAL WORK SCP From Maarten Baas' Aligned collection, these dining armchairs put a childlike twist on the conventional metal frame with slats design by mimicking roughly drawn lines. scp.co.uk LAID OUT JOHN LEWIS Create a beautiful summery tablescape with John Lewis's outdoor dining collection in colourful melamine. johnlewis.com SIMPLE STYLE CARL HANSEN Børge Mogensen conceived the Deck Chair Series of functional outdoor furniture in the late 1960s. Simple, slatted lines and solid teak construction provide durable functionality. carlhansen.com COOK OUT GARDENCHESSINGTONCENTRE The innovative, unique barbecue and smoker range at Chessington Garden Centre oﬀers solutions for outdoor dining, whether you prefer cooking on gas or something more traditional. chessingtongardencentre.co.uk HOUSE PROUD HARTLEY BOTANIC A Hartley Glasshouse allows gardeners to spend time savouring their plants. But in its role as a garden room, gardeners can curate the space – to indulge in a hobby, enjoy al fresco dining, practice yoga, or simply relax. hartley-botanic.co.uk 1 3 4 5 1 2 3 2 4 5 INT E RIORS • GARDENS ABSOLUTELY magazines 93 PREPARE YOUR GARDEN FOR AN INDIAN SUMMER OUTDOORLIVING

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QUINCE COOK Gingham Mug, £13 quinceandcook.co.uk 95ABSOLUTELY magazines By PENDLE HARTE CHECKCROSS Gingham, tartan and other squares INTERIORS • TREND WEAVER GREEN Madras Check Pink Throw, £55 weavergreen.com GABRIELLA JAMES Ella Chair upholstered in Chubby Check by Kit Kemp, £845 gabriellajames.co.uk DIBOR Gingham Table Cloth, £42 dibor.co.uk TRUFFLE TABLESCAPES Gingham Ruﬄ e Placemat, £20 truﬄ etablescapes.co.uk ERCOL Marino Armchair in Forest Green Check, £1,650 ercol.com TORI MURPHY Woodhouse Check Frilly Cushion, £75 torimurphy.com TARTAN BLANKET CO Lambswool Blanket in Seagrass Cottage Check, £135 tartanblanketco.com EDITOR’SPICK TORI MURPHY Woodhouse Check Bow, £48 torimurphy.com SECRET LINEN STORE Magnus 100 Linen, from £22 secretlinenstore.com

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September comes around fast, but most parents will have been thinking about the first day back to school for some time. Whether it's the first steps on the journey at nursery, or your child taking the large leap to big school, or even your little grown up heading off to university, it's understandable to be anxious. Over the page, one expert suggests it will all be OK on the day... FEELING FINE SPECIAL In this section BACK TO SCHOOL p98 WINDLESHAM HOUSE SCHOOL p101 SPORT IN SCHOOLS p104 ART AT FARLINGTON p108 POST-EXAMS p111 SPEECH & LANGUAGE p112 MAYFIELD SCHOOL p116 TUTORING p120 ABSOLUTELY magazines 97

The ﬁrst day of a new academic year means di erent things to parents all across the county – but you are not alone

SUE LAIDLAW 98 ABSOLUTELY magazines

MEMORY TEST

Sue Laidlaw is founder of Laidlaw Education LLP, and her team o er educational advice, lessons and courses for children of all ages through their centres, including Laidlaw Hall supporting children with special needs, and the Laidlaw Virtual Academy. Book courses and ﬁnd out more by calling 020 8487 9517 or visit laidlaweducation.co.uk “However di cult things may seem, they really do work out”

September is here again! A new academic year, and new changes of class, of school and even of family routine. There is excitement, apprehension and that feeling of another new start. New academic years have been like punctuation marks throughout my life – school days, university days, teaching days, days on the school run and teaching days again – and so it all keeps turning. Throughout the past decades, I have written countless articles about the return to school in September. There have been articles about new starts, settling your children into their new routine, embracing new opportunities, letting them go and so much more – but this year is di erent. For this new academic year, it’s time to write as a parent who has probably felt every emotion that every parent reading this will have felt or will feel in the future. This time, it’s time to share my reﬂections.

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

My youngest daughter finally graduated this week (it was delayed one year due to the pandemic), but this graduation proved to be a significant milestone. Our little girl properly launched into the real adult world. Reflecting on this moment, I realised, with a degree of surprise that, as parents, we have had a full stretch of over 80 terms of school years non-stop. As young parents, people always said to us, and no doubt have said to you too, “enjoy the moment – it will go in a flash”. We accepted the comment, but perhaps didn’t really believe as we carried on wrangling our tired and squabbling children or wiping yet another runny nose. Realistically it is obviously di cult to enjoy every single moment. The moments when you say to each other that one day we will look back and laugh at this, but actually this really has proved to be true. I ran the film of the last 26 years through my mind as each graduate walked across the impressive stage. I saw our first daughter standing at the front door, school bag in hand, ready to go to big school; I saw again the moments when our children constantly surprised us – the solo singing that we didn’t know about until the Carol Service; the day that one of them mentioned that she had told the Ofsted lady what she thought of her school (I hope it was complimentary); the little 10-year-old who was always running around like a headless chicken and then we saw her standing on the start line at the borough sports day in the middle of the pitch in Twickenham Stadium. It’s not just about successes, there are plenty of big learning curves, nights pondering and worrying that starred in my memory film too! But now, with the wisdom of hindsight, I feel able to reassure the many parents that we speak to each week at Laidlaw Education. However di cult, joyful, successful, stressful things may seem at the time, they really do work out. Loving parents find a way. It is rather like looking out of an aeroplane window over the patchwork of fields that we see coming into Gatwick. Everything meshes together and, oh what a ride it is! Reflecting this week, I have felt a little melancholy –how lovely it would be to do it all again.

So, at the start of another academic year, I, too, will whisper in your ear, whatever stage of education your child might have reached – starting Nursery, o to Senior School, Sixth Form or stepping in to University life – fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride. Even the bits that are di cult, worrying or where you simply don’t know what to do for the best, when you look back, you will see a bigger picture – and you probably wouldn’t want to change too much, after all. Have a wonderful new term, combine the work and the play – and enjoy all the small and precious moments that you will share with your children.

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EDUCATION • TALKING HEAD

of ICT at Windlesham House School on nurturing responsible digital citizens 101ABSOLUTELY magazines WORLD WIDE WEB

The

SELF-REGULATIONDEVELOPING Encouraging positive behaviours around the use of technology has perhaps never been more important for schools. Increased screen time has certainly had an impact on many aspects of our pupil’s lives, leading in some cases to implications on their mental health and wellbeing. Research has shown how increased screen time is associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and optimism, and higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. As well as putting systems in place to develop pupil understanding and selfregulation of their use of technology, schools need to recognise that to do this holistically they need support from parents too. Since pupils are exposed to technology and the online world at school and at home, we must work more closely to bridge that gap. In order to create a truly embedded programme, schools need to work with parents to help educate them about the potential mental health impacts of excessive technology use and o er guidance around the use of such technologies. Parents and educators can then work together to o er joined up support and advice to children and adolescents from an informed perspective. Through a series of online and face to face meetings or workshops, schools can cover topics to help families develop healthy behaviours to support children while helping young people to navigate the many challenges they face in the expanding digital world.

By CHRISTOPHER ROCHE

Learning experiences are designed to support and encourage independence, inspire critical thinking and support collaboration, and it is important that schools use technology with this in mind. As digital educators, our vision should aim to provide pupils with the necessary aptitude to develop into skilful users of technology, with the ability to make safe, informed choices online, as part of daily life. As such, a focus should be placed on developing digital literacy and information technology through a robust computing curriculum that uses technological integration to allow pupils to collaborate in the learning process, use multiple tools and approaches, provide authentic experiences and enhance and transform what already occurs in the classroom. Director

HEALTHY DECISIONS

Windlesham recently became an 535AppleDistinguishedSchoolsThereAppleDistinguishedSchool.arecurrentlyonly in 32 countries. They are described as centres of leadership and educational excellence that demonstrate a vision of exemplary learning usingAppletechnology. Educators in recognisedschools cultivate environments that useAppleproducts to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration, and make learning personal. Schools have a responsibility to prepare pupils for a future dominated by technology. It is our responsibility to provide those in our care with a lifelong love for learning and an innovators mindset. The future will be one where creativity, digital literacy and a varied range of thinking skills will become the norm. Schools must embrace these attributes if they are to allow children to become future leaders who are able to contribute positively and responsibly to the global society windlesham.com

102 ABSOLUTELY magazines WINDLESHAM HOUSE SCHOOL

EDUCATION • TALKING HEAD

ENHANCING TEACHING WITH DIGITAL VISION It is important that all sta fully embrace the school’s vision for technology and enhance their teaching with digital tools. Through a commitment to professional development, our teachers have been able to learn how di erent applications are used in educational contexts and apply this knowledge in innovative and e ective ways in the classroom. Sta see this development as continuous and regularly share internally and externally how they are using tools in their lessons.

As a key part of promoting more healthy technology use, schools can develop a ‘Digital Wellbeing Guide’to support families at home and help students become responsible digital citizens who are able to progress in their educational careers and make more healthy decisions when it comes to how they use technology. Educators value the impact that learning technologies can have on educational outcomes especially when integrated e ectively into lessons. When using a device in class, it is seen as a learning tool and thus will only be used in a lesson if it adds value to learning. Use of technology in the classroom also ensures that screen time is active and that students are creating rather than consuming technology. For many schools, there are strict guidelines around when and where devices are used, and this is often after students complete their school day. Having restrictions on device use helps to educate the children about maintaining a good balance in their lives and provides opportunities to enjoy being outside or developing skills in other areas without being tied to a screen. Like many other schools, our daily routines are very clear for pupils, and we aim to help to develop positive habits with the use of technology. Our Technology Rules of the Road are set out to develop a positive use of digital tools. We also ﬁnd that providing regular sessions on Digital Citizenship via in-house sessions or through visiting speakers is really useful. Schools like ours also appoint Digital Leaders – pupils who are responsible for developing a code of conduct which focuses on positive behaviours. Allowing children to take control of what constitutes positive behaviour can be empowering too.

Independent schools go way beyond the classic team sports, to bring on the champions, and also help every pupil ﬁnd their sporting spirit Fantastic GAMES By LIBBY NORMAN 104 ABSOLUTELY magazines BRIGHTON COLLEGE STUDENTS PLAY BEACH VOLLEYBALL ON SUSSEX'S MOST FAMOUS SEAFRONT

ABSOLUTELY magazines 105 EDUCATION • FEATURE

n the foreword to the 2014 Ofsted report ‘Going the extra mile: Excellence in competitive school sport’, the then Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw namechecked Alan Wilkinson, PE teacher to a keen would-be footballer called Mo Farah. Wilshaw noted that it was Wilkinson who steered the Olympic legend away from the beautiful game based on a hunch that the lad would go much further on the running track. No-one can have any doubt of the positive inﬂuence that a steer in the right direction has on potential elite sportsmen and sportswomen, but the Ofsted report was highlighting the broad opportunities independent schools o er, how this impacts whole-school culture as well as sporting success – and also considering how all schools might improve sporting achievement.

Dulwich College may not be on the waterfront, but its students also love water polo. Boys are introduced to it as a lunchtime club in Years 5 and 6 – provided they can swim well in deep water – and it’s become a really popular sport, with six friendlies against local opponents each year. When they get to senior school, there’s the opportunity to compete in all age groups within the

The tendency still when we talk about school sport is to think of the classic team games – rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, and so on. While these remain core, the menu of sports opportunities in independent schools is far richer and broader, and ultimately feeds into success at national and international events. Sports directors recognise that not everyone is a natural for mainstream team games, and it could be the individual tests and endurance challenges – or the less usual team sports – that ignite a student's enthusiasm. A drive for excellence is really important here, but so too the fun factor. For instance, Brighton College makes full use of its beach access by hosting the annual Independent School Beach Volleyball Competition. O season, the school hones team skills in its double-height sports hall, but once the summer comes, students head down to Sussex’s most famous seafront for proper play. Brighton is deadly serious in its endeavours – the school is current Independent School champion. The College also has highly active sports clubs in fencing (one female pupil was recently selected for the U17 GB squad in Cade Sabre) and in water polo, where it regularly competes in tournaments.

“O season, Brighton College hones team skills in its double-height sports hall, but once the sun comes out, students head down to Sussex’s most famous seafront”

MERCHISTON OFFERS A RICH CHOICE OF SPORTS, INCLUDING SHOOTING Schools League and the English Schools Swimming Association national event. Teams are coached by former international competitors and have been on overseas tours. As it happens, Team GB remains one of the most successful competitors in Olympic Water Polo historically, but the last time we carried home gold was 1920, so there’s plenty for young people to play for. Like Brighton College, Dulwich also has form in fencing. Recently, it celebrated

Sports sta at Merchiston and every school work hard to bring on the most able and rightly celebrate each win by a student or former student, but it’s a lesser, albeit vital, part of their remit.

All research points to the same thing – if students leave school with an enjoyment of physical activity, they are more likely to stay active into middle and later life. Medals apart, this is why the rich diet of sports and the quest for excellence in many competitive arenas is a positive thing. After all, most young people hang up their rugby boots and hockey stick when they leave school. But a spot of sailing or beach volleyball on holiday or a round of golf or clay pigeon shooting at the weekend is there to be enjoyed for many years to come.

Morrison’s Academy in Crie ) brought home gold. These were the only two medals for the nation from Beijing, and so all the more likely to generate interest and enthusiasm for the sport of curling among young people over the next few years.

FENCING AT BRIGHTON COLLEGE

106 ABSOLUTELY magazines EDUCATION • FEATURE

Merchiston has a great tradition in another Scottish sporting invention, with a highly regarded Golf Academy that enables talented players to pursue their sport without compromising on their education. The school approach is broad – it has a winning reputation in many individual and team sports – and with a clear focus on bringing on all the talents. It is fortunate in its facilities and location, so sailing (at a club on the Firth of Forth) and shooting on its own range and within the grounds are both popular. These are two sports in which Team GB has an excellent track record at international events.

WATER POLO IS A DULWICH COLLEGE STRENGTH

the achievements of Old Alleynian Oliver Lam-Watson, who was part of the silver and bronze-medal winning GB wheelchair fencing teams at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh honoured a win in the Olympic arena even more recently. Merchistonians Hammy McMillan and Grant Hardie won silver for curling at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Notably, the women’s curling team led by Eve Muirhead (alumna of the independent

108 ABSOLUTELY magazines ISA ART YEARGOLUBTSOVAALEXANDRASECOND2022PLACE12 ISA ART 2022, FIRST PLACE SAM HARTWELL, YEAR 8 Absolutely Sussex takes a look at the continued success for ﬁne art students at Farlington School DRAWTOP

the region,

was awarded to four Farlington students in Years 8 to 13, all of whom will now go forward to the ISA National Art Competition later this year. Three Farlington students, in EDUCATION • FOCUS ISA ART 2022, HIGHLY COMMENDED, BETHAN HOLMES, YEAR 9 ISA ART 2022, SECOND PLACE HANNAH GREIG, YEAR 11 ISA ART 2022, SECOND PLACE ESME ALLFORD, YEAR 11 ISA ART 2022, FIRST PLACE AMY CROUCH, YEAR 11 ABSOLUTELY magazines 109

artwork produced by their students, and

member

month’s ISA

Years 11 and 12, were also awarded second place in their categories, and a further three students, in Years 9 and 11, were highly commended for their artwork. “It is just wonderful to see the talent and dedication of these students being recognised,” says Rosalyn Sprey, Head of Fine Art at Farlington, a warm and welcoming co-educational independent school for ages four to 18. “It is fantastic to see our pupils’ exceptional artwork displayed outside of school, too.”

top prizes

the competition,

heat

ﬁrst

Also in June this year, two former Farlington sixth form students, and one current sixth former, all in Year 13 at the time of creating their artwork, were selected by The Arts Society West Sussex as semi-finalists in the RBA Rising Stars Competition, which had been delayed due to the pandemic. The winning pieces submitted by the semifinalists will be exhibited at the Royal Over-Seas League in Mayfair, and the final heat will take place in November. One overall winner will be awarded the RBS Rome Scholarship and spend a month at Rome’s Sala Uno arts centre and gallery. “We have had many Farlington students recognised by the RBA in the past, and I am absolutely delighted to see some of our wonderful artists selected once again this year,” adds Rosalyn. Founded in 1896, Farlington School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school located near Horsham in West Sussex, England. Set within 33 acres of beautiful parkland, on the borders of Sussex and Surrey, Farlington o ers a perfect rural backdrop with plenty of space to grow. Formerly an all-girls’ school, Farlington began welcoming boys in 2018 and has been fully co-educational since September 2021. The arts are part of the fabric of Farlington, and the school’s thriving art department has an excellent reputation. A-level art students at Farlington have consistently achieved grade A* or A in recent years, and in 2020 the school was awarded the prestigious Silver Artsmark. The next Farlington School Open Morning will be held on Saturday 24 September from 10am1pm. The next Sixth Form Open Evening will be held on Tuesday 4 October at 6.30pm. Advance booking is essential for open events: please visit farlingtonschool.com to reserve your place I n June, talented students at Farlington School in Horsham, West Sussex, celebrated victory in two prestigious competitions for young artists – the Independent Schools Association (ISA) London South Art Competition, and the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) Rising Stars Competition. The school is thrilled to announce that no fewer than ten Farlington School students scooped at last London South Art Competition. celebrates creativity at ISA schools in showcasing the fabulous is the London South of which took place on June, place

a precursor to the national ﬁnal in November. At

This annual event

Family SpecialistsLaw Offices across Sussex Call us on 0800 84 94 101 www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

If you feel that your child has received unfair grading, there is the option to appeal. It may be worth providing the college/sixth form with examples of work where your child has achieved higher grades, to demonstrate their ability to achieve on their desired course. We have previously done this on behalf of a student who was on the borderline of a grade 4, enabling them to resit their exams in November while at college.

“If your child does not open an envelope to straight grade 9s, it's not the end of the world”

LOOKING AT THE EVIDENCE

DON’T STRESS! This year students will receive a Teacher Assessed Grade which will be based on assessments and mock exams taken throughout the year. Although this grade is determined by teacher judgement, every e ort has been made to ensure that this is a true reﬂection of your child’s ability, with further moderations taking place with exam boards. If your child does not open an envelope to straight grade 9s, it's important to consider that this is not the end of the world. This year is like no other, students have been under added pressure from missing lessons, a lack of peer interaction GCSE results are imminent... but what to do if your child doesn't get the grades?

ABSOLUTELY magazines 111 TLC LIVE Josh Blackburn is education specialist at online tutoring ﬁrm TLC Live. tlclive.com

t the time of writing, GCSE results day is here once again, so here is some advice on what you can do if your child doesn’t quite get the results they/you had expected.

NUMBERS

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

There are programmes and extra teaching support available to children who haven’t passed core subjects or who have missed out on lessons this year. If you ask the school, your child could receive extra support via one of the government’s pandemic programmes, which could help support them with retakes in autumn. Ultimately, it’s about getting over the line and moving onwards and upwards.

EDUCATION • EXAMS

RESITS ARE AN OPTION Students have the option to retake exams if they don’t meet their grade requirements, and many schools and colleges allow you to retake GCSEs alongside A-levels. Maths and English retakes are compulsory if your child hasn’t achieved a pass (grade 4). Students can ask their destination college if they can continue studying these subjects with their A-levels to avoid delaying sixth form life. Although a specific date hasn’t been announced yet, there will be an opportunity to sit an exam in the autumn or the summer of 2022. Your child will have other education obligations at this time, so it’s a good idea to only retake the most important exams – this should not be a vanity exercise. Private resits are also an option, but you’ll need to arrange these on behalf of your child and then encourage out-of-school GCSE revision. We estimate 5-10 hours of tutoring would be enough to help a student get over the pass mark if they were on the cusp of achieving a grade 4, so you may need to sacrifice other commitments to fit this in.

By JOSH BLACKBURN GAME and loss of extra teaching support. Most important is their mental wellbeing and that they’ve got what they need to move to the next stage of their academic lives.

Speech DELAY

Parents often wonder if their child’s development is on track, but one of the most problematic areas is speech and language. ﬁnd out about sources of support

Milestones are monitored and alarm bells ring when other children appear to have key skills your child is struggling with. Children do, of course, develop at di erent paces.

Speech therapist Amy Loxley, a Lead Speech & Language Advisor for the children’s communication charity I CAN, believes lockdown deprived children of many of the usual routes for developing communication. “Even that requirement to stay close to home and have limited contact with others has deprived children of a range of social experiences,” she says. “This is the range of experiences you have in early life where you’re exposed to new words.”

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There’s now some evidence to support the idea that this has led to an increase in speech and language issues. “I CAN undertook some research last year, published in a report called

There isn’t a parent on the planet who doesn’t worry at some point if their child is on track.

But on top of existing concerns about the impact of screen use in early years, now we have nearly two years of intermittent lockdowns to contend with. This is raising concerns among experts as well as parents about speech, language and communication skills – especially for our youngest learners.

WARNING SIGNS One of the big questions for parents is: do I need to seek help? While no-one wants a label on their child, the fundamental building blocks need to be in place. “Language skills underly all skills, so even when children learn to read and write, that’s based on them understanding and using spoken language,” says Amy. I CAN runs a free phone advice service where parents can talk to a speech and language therapist. Typically, parents ring for advice because they have noticed that their child uses less words or simpler words and sentences than their peers. It could be that a child’s speech sounds jumbled or muddled up, so that it’s hard to understand. Less commonly, parents may recognise their child is having trouble understanding what is said to them – often this isn’t spotted so early. It might be trouble following an instruction, for instance, or a teacher reporting that the child doesn’t listen in class or isn’t getting work done when asked. The issue here can become complicated by how adults view this failure to do what’s asked. “Sometimes that’s interpreted as something else – people think it’s a behaviour problem, when it’s actually the child not understanding language.”

A FIRST PRACTICAL STEP FOR PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT SPEECH DELAY CAN BE TO TRY SOME SIMPLE TECHNIQUES AT HOME

For more guidance and support about speech, language and communication, visit I CAN’s talking point for parents at ican.org.uk

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‘Speaking up for the COVID generation’. We found in that research that there are 1.5m children in the UK who are at risk of not being able to speak and understand language at an age-appropriate level,” says Amy. Certainly, referrals for communication di culties have increased – noted by both the Department for Education and speech therapists. I CAN develops intervention programmes used in mainstream schools, as well as running two specialist schools for children with complex language di culties. A lot of their work with mainstream schools centres on Developmental Language Delay (DLD). This is a condition unconnected with any other conditions that can cause lifelong issues speaking and understanding others. “It a ects 7.6% of children, so is actually quite common,” says Amy. The other key group that I CAN works with is children who have language di culties due to environmental factors – in other words, the setting they are in. This group is much larger in areas of disadvantage. “One in ten children across the UK has a di culty with speech and language, but that can rise to one in four in areas of disadvantage,” says Amy.

GETTING SUPPORT If parents are worried and believe they may need expert support, the team at I CAN can explain the steps for getting a speech therapy referral via the NHS or privately. Usually, the ﬁrst recommended step is approaches to try at home. They include going a bit slower when you are talking and making comments rather than asking questions – a technique to open up dialogue without putting undue pressure on a child. “Children do pick up on that feeling when parents are particularly anxious or worried and are trying to get them to do something,” adds Amy. Although lockdown hasn’t helped any of our children, the good news is that parents can make a real di erence to build both speech and understanding.

Chatting and playing are vital, says Amy, and also a really good way to spot potential issues. Taking time and choosing the right language level are vital, which means choosing simple, age-appropriate words and keeping things light and open. “It’s about talking with children rather than talking to them – you’re trying to get them into a back-and-forth interaction,” says Amy. As to screen time, expert guidance suggests that the less children have in early years the better. TV (or other devices) is never a substitute for the learning provided by good old-fashioned play and interaction. That said, children love screen time, and so watching an age-appropriate programme with your child and discussing what’s going on with them is a way to make this an active experience that builds communication skills. The other great route that helps children get into speaking and understanding language is books, using the same sharing approach. “Parents don’t always have to read all the words in the book. They can even just talk about the pictures and about what the child is interested in,” says Amy. “Relate things in the book back to their experiences – it’s all about drawing those connections for your child.”

EDUCATION • COMMUNICATION

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By CLAIRE BAKER The Head of Lower School at Mayﬁeld School looks at the importance of developing soft skills within your child’s education Character TRAITS 116 ABSOLUTELY magazines

to being work ready, based on research with employers. These three pillars are: character – an individual’s traits and strengths; knowledge – the best and most powerful knowledge within subject disciplines; and skills – the application of knowledge and character in real world scenarios through teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and communication. Here at Mayfield, our Lower School Diploma has been designed with these soft skills in mind, centred around the development of responsibility, curiosity, collaboration, creativity and innovation. This is supported by a comprehensive life skills and careers education programme, so whilst developing soft skills, pupils are also learning how they can apply these skills in their future careers. We value the importance of developing personal attributes and qualities that will develop them as confident, reflective, empathetic and successful world citizens.

As part of their Mayﬁeld journey, we provide plenty of opportunities to develop soft skills such as teamwork, problem solving and resilience, with these opportunities embedded within the curricular and co-curricular life of the school. Each term we run a themed cross-curricular day, with recent examples including Earth Day, Moon Camp, Code

Achieving the highest academic grades doesn’t provide a guarantee that your child will be a wellrounded individual. Dealing with the opportunities and challenges of life requires well developed soft skills and Senior School provides a vital opportunity to develop these skills. It is a time when habits are formed and pupils need to be encouraged to try new things, in order to help them discover interests and passions and learn more about themselves, as well as how to interact and work e ectively alongside peers.

THE COOKIE PROJECT

MAYFIELD

The CBIs ‘Getting young people work ready’ study (2019) set out three pillars Breaking, and the Cookie Project, when girls are taken o timetable to explore topics in greater depth and bring to life the links between subjects. The Cookie Project, for example, is based on The Apprentice TV programme, with the girls working in teams to producecookies, design packaging and a marketing plan, and then deliver a presentation and a short advert promoting their product. The girls have great fun taking part and a range of valuable soft skills – communication, listening, empathy, problem solving, creativity, teamwork, resilience – are all enhanced as they tackle the challenges of the day.

It is our belief that the ﬁrst two years at Senior School (Years 7 and 8) are an ideal time to broaden horizons, before pupils are asked to make subject choices. It’s also an age when habits are formed, so if you can instil a ‘give everything a go’ attitude and encourage pupils to step outside of their comfort zone, as well as discover new talents, positive behaviours are formed that will stand them in good stead throughout their lives.

BE INQUISITIVE So, when you are thinking about the best school for your child, do enquire as to how the school is developing pupils’ soft skills. Look for a school that can nurture your child along their journey, inspire a love of learning, and in doing so create a well-rounded individual who is prepared for the opportunities and challenges beyond school.

“We look andresponsibility,developtocuriosity,collaborationinnovation” SCHOOL Mayfield is a leading Catholic independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, located in 75 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside. To find out more about life at Mayfield, join them at their Open Morning on Saturday 24 September or Tuesday 18 October. Book your place at mayfieldgirls.org CLAIRE BAKER

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DEVELOPING CAREER READY YOUNG PEOPLE

you can study from your own bedroom? Online feels more like regular homework and less like an extra activity, while for tutors who might have spent the day teaching at school, an online session in the evening is a far simpler prospect than traveling to a pupil’s house. Cognita is the UK’s largest independent schools group and its online tutoring o ering spans Year 3 to GCSE. Each tutor is a qualiﬁed teacher, a subject specialist who’s fully immersed in the curriculum. The process is simple: pick a subject and a year group on the website and a list of potential tutors appears, with photographs of smiling, approachable-looking faces and an informal ‘get to know me’ biography. It’s an accessible approach that fully recognises the personal nature of the pupil/tutor relationship. It also works

120 ABSOLUTELY magazines ONLINE TUTORING AT HOME CAN BE FITTED IN LIKE REGULAR HOMEWORK By PENDLE HARTE

Online tutoring existed pre-pandemic as a lesser option, but now it’s the obvious choice and makes in-person sessions seem like a hassle. Why travel somewhere when

London state) school is patchy, and she struggles with most subjects to varying degrees. It’s been this way since primary stage, and now, in the years leading to GCSE, we agree that it’s time to take action.

“Each tutor is a qualiﬁed teacher, a subject immersedwho’sspecialistfullyinthecurriculum”

Some children are fully booked with tutor sessions from Reception onwards, while others might sign up for a few sessions preGCSE. There are countless reasons why we might consider a tutor for our children, but for us a ﬂexible approach appealed to my reluctant Year 8 daughter. She was prepared to engage with a few one-to-one sessions to help with speciﬁc areas, but she wasn’t keen on committing to a regular schedule. Some parents would, of course, say that these decisions should lie with adults; for me, I’m not sure. I don’t want to put my daughter under pressure, but nor do I want her to feel totally at sea in her maths lessons. Like countless dyslexic children, the support she receives at her (inner With online tutoring options growing fast, Absolutely Sussex co-opts a student keen to get some help to road test Cognita’s new teaching platform

TUTOR TEST

OFFERS Ongoing support as well as specific catch-up or revision AGES Year 3 to GCSE COST £55 per hour, including unlimited access to the digital learning platform. First session free SUBJECTS Maths, English, science, 11+ preparation PROGRESS Feedback a er every session and a mini parents' evening at the end of a block of six sessions cognitatutoring.com well in presenting tutors as relaxed and personable, which is especially relevant for a reluctant child who perceives many teachers at school as "strict" or "shouty". We booked four sessions: two English and two maths/science. An informative welcome pack arrived instantly, along with a preliminary form with some background questions about my daughter and her aims. Already familiar with Microsoft Teams, L entered her first session easily and was quickly put at ease. Her tutor introduced herself to both of us, and told us about the school she taught at (highlighting its excellent exam results – perhaps more for my benefit). She asked us about our aims for the sessions and whether we had specific goals. Our aims were nonspecific; L wanted to catch up and gain confidence in class. She said that she’d been enjoying poetry and so a single session based around one of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes ensued. After 45 minutes I was called back and given clear feedback from the session by the tutor. All sessions are recorded, so children can go back through bits they’re unclear about, and parents can examine the whole thing if they like. L was left with some clear tasks and pointers to consider before the next session. This meant she came prepared with a list of specific questions directly related to her lessons in school, and the session served as a thorough catch up on issues that had ba ed her in Macbeth. L reported feeling comfortable and not "stupid" as she sometimes does when putting her hand up in class.

“She came prepared with a list of speciﬁc questions directly related to her lessons in school, and the session served as a thorough catch up”

TutoringCognita ABSOLUTELY magazines 121 EDUCATION • TUTORING

Similarly, the combined maths/science sessions were able to focus on speciﬁcs. Ratios had caused L much distress in class, but she emerged with a vastly improved understanding and attitude –less fear. Children often develop blocks about subjects and refuse to engage, and it’s situations like this where a tutor can provide a new viewpoint and a fresh start. Cognita’s commitment is clear. Signing up for weekly sessions gives children unlimited access to a digital learning platform, and they’re able to contact the tutor via chat between sessions. Homework is targeted and manageable. Communication is impressive, and tutors were ﬂexible when we needed to move the timing of a session. We’re not in the market for a weekly commitment right now, but we’ll be dipping in and out of tutoring as needed. For this, our verdict is that Cognita is perfect.

IF YOU THINK YOUR LAND OR PROPERTY HAS DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL, THEN GIVE US A CALL WITHOUT OBLIGATION AND IN CONFIDENCE. Many of our clients retain our services and, in the majority of cases, pay our fees saving property owners significant costs. For more information contact Stephen Donnelly on: 07739 514350 01892 steve@sjd-projects.com579937 We are always on the lookout for land and property with developmentpotential . PROPERTY WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL Contact Stephen Donnelly on 07739 514350 or 01892 579937 website: sjd-projects.com email: steve@sjd-projects.com For regular updates, visit us at twitter.com/projects Commercial buildings for residential conversion, former public houses, redundant buildings for redevelopment, buildings for conversion or replacement, houses for improvement, large sites on the edge of town, barn conversions, large gardens in residential areas and major regeneration projects. sjd-projects.com ORPLOTNOT?

ABSOLUTELY magazines 123 H orstedpond House is a delightful detached property, set in over an acre of beautiful grounds. It is Grade II listed, and o ers much period character and charm. There are six bedrooms, two bathrooms, three reception rooms, and landscaped gardens, orchard and pond. SAVILLS HAYWARDS HEATH 01444 446 000 savills.co.uk PROPERTY PONDHORSTEDHOUSE £2,250,000 GUIDETN22PRICE

Estate agency has moved on.Wealso go further to ensure your property and the lifestyle it enables is shown in the best possible Sumptuouslight.photography and video, and a contemporary web experience not only shows buyers how your home looks, but how it feels to live there. It’s the new, innovative way to add value when selling your house. The premium online estate agency. housepartnership.co.uk country house town house period house modern house dream house moving house? on. house. is different We know people are starting to consider online only estate agents, but still want the reassurance of face-to-face help from local experts. You get both with us, because we provide that personal service without expensive high street locations that customers have to pay for. We also

Experience your own breathtaking sea views. Experience Calista. Calista faithfully lives up to its name, which is inspired by the Greek Kallistō, meaning “most beautiful”, with its harmonious architecture, stylish interiors and panoramic sea views. The apartments occupy a striking new focal point on the south-east corner of Grand Avenue and are designed to provide an elegant sanctuary from the bustle of Worthing town centre, which is only a short walk away. Each home has been expertly cra ed to the highest standards: • 29 two & three bedroom apartments • Majestic sea views • Exquisite interiors with natural ﬂow • Spacious outdoor living areas for an ‘al fresco’ lifestyle • Private landscaped residents’ garden • Private allocated underground parking • Secure cycle stores • Completing in Spring 2023 60% SOLD FINALSELLINGNOWPHASE Book your appointment 01903 228601 newhomes@michaeljones.co.uk Prices £475,000from www.calista-worthing.co.uk Developmentwww.roﬀeyhomes.comby Worthing Seafront

Regency Mews, Brighton, is on the market for £2,500,000. For more information, visit brandvaughan.co.uk

PROPERTY • FOCUS

REGENCYSTYLE

ou would be forgiven for not knowing Regency Mews exists as it is so peacefully tucked away from the main thoroughfare in the city centre – yet it sits in an incredibly central location within walking distance of Brighton Station, the clean beaches and lawns of Hove seafront, and an array of fashionable restaurants and bars. The mews itself is an artisan area with some residential two and three storey housing interspersed with commercial and light industrial premises. This house is formerly the glassworks producing glass windows for the Regency homes within the square and surrounding areas, and only ceased trading in recent years and has sat empty while awaiting its transformation to a superior family home.

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From the half landing on the staircase, you enter the bedroom floor where there are four exceptional king size bedrooms, all of which are en-suite. The en-suite bathroom sets the master bedroom apart from the rest. Not only are there dual concrete hand basins, but alongside the shower room sits a four-person plunge pool lined in smooth concrete. Stepping up to the second-floor loft-style living space, running along the rear of the room, the Italian kitchen is a metre deep o ering a huge amount of storage. The entire 6-metre front with front elevation of 8 metres from the loft room opens to the expansive roof terrace. From within the room you can see the roofline opposite below open skies with the city’s newest landmark, the i360 rising up into view, reminding you just how close to the coast you are here.

Stepping through the door you are greeted by carriage bricks underfoot and the staircase rising up 9-metres through all floors. Concealed LEDs light the way up, but first to the right is the incredible 12-metre long live/work, creative space spanning the entire ground floor with iron columns and a polished concrete floor. This is a vast space which invites entertaining, but also a space for work and meetings with its own entrance so clients do not need to enter through the living areas.

Property developer James Watts initially bought the house to renovate and live in himself as the space was so unique and the plot came with parking which certainly appealed. It was his desire to live here, as well as his deep respect for the building’s original character and indigenous materials, which ensured no corners were cut in the development. The façade faces south so it is bathed in natural light throughout the day, which can be enjoyed from its upper levels from a steel balcony on the first floor and a generous roof terrace along the roofline.

The original timber doors running full width along the front have been retained and restored for use inside and replaced with 8-metres of industrial style double doors.

Absolutely Sussex takes a tour of a unique property in the heart of Brighton

The world famous Harlem Globetrotters have extended their newly reimagined Spread Game Tour, which arrives at Brighton Centre on 16 October. Spread Game is the epitome of Globetrotter excellence; it's shown through basketball wizardry night after night and demonstrated through years of commitment to unsurpassed entertainment. For over 95 years, the Harlem Globetrotters have been committed to spreading joy through their artful athleticism and unparalleled basketball skills. The Spread Game Tour is a basketball event like no other. Anklebreaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, and rim-rattling dunks are only some of the thrills you can expect from this new version of the Globetrotters game. “We’re ready to start spreading game again to our fans, especially the next generation,” says coach Barry Hardy, Vice President of Player Personnel and Tour Development. “The players are showcasing their skills as ballers like you’ve never seen the Globetrotters before.”

The American behemoths are heading to the Brighton Centre in October, a chance to see the best in basketball close up which allows fans to join the players on court before the game to shoot some hoops, get autographs and snap pics. The originators of basketball style, inﬂuencers on today’s game, and skilled athletes of the highest order, the Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents since their founding in 1926.

Proud inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, their mission to spread game and bring entertainment to the world continues to drive them today. The Globetrotters are innovators of the game who popularized the jump shot, slam dunk, and the half-court hook shot. For nearly a century, the Globetrotters have exhibited Black excellence on and o the court, advancing the racial progress of today.

GLOBETROTTERSHARLEM

As a joint collaboration with awardwinning Broadway professionals, the show will introduce exciting new characters guaranteed to energize the action. Dedicated to honouring their past, but focused on paving their future, the Globetrotters’ fully redesigned all-black jerseys put a modern spin on their look, while still featuring the classic stars and stripes and names of past legends. The Spread Game Tour is also introducing new premium fan experiences that allow the audience to interact directly with the players. Don’t miss the Magic Pass,

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iseveryonewhy talking about…

LAST WORD • EVENT

THE

See more at harlemglobetrotters.com and for tickets head to brightoncentre.co.uk