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J U N E 2 0 1 8<br />
J’AIME<br />
Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E<br />
MELLOW<br />
YELLOW:<br />
SUMMER<br />
HOMES<br />
TRENDS<br />
Father’s Day sorted, plus win<br />
a £150 watch for your dad<br />
Festival fever<br />
comes to Lichfield<br />
GOING, GOING, GONE:<br />
BEHIND THE SCENES AT<br />
LICHFIELD’S AUCTION HOUSE
B E S P O K E S O F A M A N U F A C T U R E<br />
& R E - U P H O L S T E R Y S P E C I A L I S T<br />
Our team of highly skilled professional craftsmen, create and manufacture<br />
sofa’s from design, for a living space that is truly unique. Coupled with our huge<br />
selection of fabrics we have the ability to create almost any type of bespoke design.<br />
Using traditional skills, we can also strip down your old suite or sofa and re-create the original<br />
design with our superior re-upholstery which is highly renowned for its finish and meticulous detail.<br />
‘For a truly unique and individual lounge setting we welcome<br />
you to our factory showroom to see what we can create for you.’<br />
Unit 19, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 7XN<br />
Contact Simon Edwards or Chris Edwards on 01543 505539<br />
Email: sales@ralvernupholstery.co.uk - www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk
Welcome to J’AIME<br />
We’ve got festival fever at J’AIME HQ this<br />
month as the annual spectacular that is the<br />
Lichfield Festival gets ready to descend on<br />
the city. This year’s Festival is packed with<br />
fantastic shows across the arts, and celebrates<br />
#extraordinarywomen with a series of<br />
events inspired by the centenary of votes for<br />
women. We chat to Festival director Damian<br />
Thantrey, and we’ve also got a pair of<br />
tickets for restaurant critic and Masterchef<br />
favourite Jay Rayner’s show My Dining Hell<br />
at the Garrick up for grabs.<br />
Speaking of extraordinary women, we<br />
also catch up with Lichfield’s latest gold<br />
medallist, netball star Beth Cobden, fresh<br />
from a historic victory as part of Team<br />
England at the Commonwealth Games.<br />
With Father’s Day just around the corner,<br />
our gift guide should give you plenty of ideas<br />
for treats for dad, plus we’ve got a special<br />
Father’s Day competition courtesy of Allen<br />
Brown Jewellery - to be in with a chance<br />
of winning a £150 voucher for a designer<br />
watch, just tell us why your dad deserves to<br />
win.<br />
Next month, look out for our bumper<br />
summer double edition, which is hugely<br />
exciting for us as it will also mark our first<br />
birthday. It’s hard to believe that J’AIME<br />
is already a year old, and we’ll have<br />
some fantastic competitions to celebrate<br />
our milestone, alongside our usual mix<br />
of entertaining features and the best in<br />
interiors, food and drink, entertainment,<br />
travel, fashion and more.<br />
There are also congratulations in order<br />
for our latest winner; Amy Poppitt, from<br />
Wimblebury, scooped the stylish fire pit from<br />
Skillcraft Products which featured in our<br />
April issue. We hope you enjoy the prize!<br />
EDITOR: AMY NORBURY<br />
EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY<br />
ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
07388 335 931<br />
DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
CONTRIBUTORS: MICHAEL BEARDMORE,<br />
FIONA FRASER, MARTIN PLOWMAN, SHAUN<br />
CRAVEN, NICOLA BRERETON, LISA PIDDINGTON,<br />
JILL HARTLEY, PATRICK GAUNT<br />
J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY<br />
PUBLICATIONS LIMITED AND PRINTED<br />
BY KEP LIMITED, TAMWORTH.<br />
Check us out online at:<br />
WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
Find us on<br />
/JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />
@JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />
@JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />
3
CONTENTS<br />
InsideJ’aime this month...<br />
6 Richard Winterton Auctioneers - Behind the<br />
scenes at one of Lichfield’s oldest businesses<br />
12 Property - Property of the month<br />
14 Interiors - Mellow yellow<br />
18 Interiors - Time for style<br />
22 Competition - Win a £150 watch for your dad<br />
from Allen Brown Jewellery<br />
24 Father’s Day - Gifts for top dads<br />
28 Lichfield Festival - A chat with Festival director<br />
Damian Thantrey<br />
32 Lichfield Festival - Win tickets to Jay Rayner at<br />
the Garrick<br />
34 Beth Cobden interview - Lichfield’s<br />
Commonwealth Games gold medallist<br />
38 Food and drink - Reviewing The Ivy, Temple Row<br />
40 Food and drink - Cocktail of the month from<br />
Le Rêve<br />
44 Travel - The Spice Island<br />
48 Competition - Win tickets to the red carpet<br />
opener of Birmingham Indian Film Festival<br />
52 What’s On - Our pick of events around our<br />
area this month<br />
56 What’s On - The hottest tickets around<br />
Birmingham<br />
58 Fashion - Shorts story<br />
60 Fashion - The bride guide from Nero e Bianco<br />
63 Health - Could minerals be the answer?<br />
64 Beauty - Cruelty-free beauty from Harvey<br />
Nichols Birmingham<br />
65 Motors - Is Formula E coming to Birmingham?<br />
4
CONSEQUENCE<br />
CONSEQUENCE<br />
OF WAR<br />
OF<br />
WAR<br />
1918 - <strong>2018</strong><br />
1918 - <strong>2018</strong><br />
LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL | FREE | 16 APRIL – 24 <strong>JUNE</strong><br />
a major exhibition exploring themes of<br />
war & peace through art and history<br />
Like us on Facebook<br />
Follow us on twitter @LichfieldCath<br />
www.lichfield-cathedral.org/peace<br />
Refreshingly Different<br />
Aluminium Bi Folding Doors<br />
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FEATURE<br />
Going, going, gone<br />
IT’S A FAST-PACED WORLD WHERE YOU COULD DISCOVER A PRICELESS WORK OF ART - OR BAG<br />
A BARGAIN. AMY NORBURY GOES BEHIND THE SCENES AT LICHFIELD’S RICHARD WINTERTON<br />
AUCTIONEERS TO DISCOVER MORE<br />
FURNITURE OF ALL STYLES<br />
CAN BE FOUND GOING FOR<br />
A SONG AT AUCTION<br />
The vast saleroom is a hive of activity as<br />
preparations are underway for the latest auction.<br />
Lots for the three-day home and interiors sale are<br />
being carefully sorted and catalogued, before being<br />
photographed for the auction brochure.<br />
Room after room are filled with all manner of items,<br />
each being prepared for its moment in the spotlight.<br />
Walls are adorned with gilt-framed mirrors and art<br />
prints and originals as far as the eye can see, while<br />
the furniture storage room is stacked high with tables,<br />
chairs, sideboards and sofas of all descriptions.<br />
At the other end of the building, there are rooms<br />
filled with ceramics and glass, toys and games,<br />
medals and coins - you name it.<br />
But it’s not just fine art, antiques and collectables.<br />
The latest home and interiors sale includes electronic<br />
goods like fridges and televisions, even a box of<br />
XBox games and accessories, as well as slightly more<br />
random items including several motorbike helmets.<br />
Highlights of an upcoming toys and railwayana sale<br />
include a “very rare” vintage model Birmingham bus<br />
with an impressive guide price of £300 to £400, and<br />
a full-sized replica Dalek which could be yours for an<br />
estimated £250 to £350 - unless dedicated Doctor<br />
Who fans send the bidding soaring.<br />
Over the years, Richard Winterton’s Lichfield<br />
auction centre has seen pretty much everything you<br />
can imagine come through the doors on it’s way to a<br />
new home, secured by the highest bidder.<br />
“”It certainly makes life interesting,” says Richard.<br />
“It doesn’t matter to us what we sell; if we can put a<br />
lot number on it and shift it, we’re happy.<br />
“We have bikes, cars, microwaves, cookers, threepiece<br />
suits and the like coming from house clearances<br />
which go into our homes sales, and then at the other<br />
end of the scale we move up to the top-end fine art<br />
6
lots.<br />
“We had a garden sale recently where you could by<br />
tools, chainsaws, garden ornaments and furniture.<br />
“Watches, wines and whiskeys are all quite hot at<br />
the moment, but I really just love anything which is<br />
going to come in and sell well.”<br />
While the run-up to a sale involves a steady stream<br />
of activity behind the scenes before the public is<br />
invited in to view the items for sale - with up to 1,500<br />
lots on offer in a three-day sale - it is in the saleroom<br />
itself on auction day when things reach fever pitch.<br />
Punters pack in, some having taken advantage of<br />
the last-minute early morning viewing opportunity,<br />
some already prepared with items on their wishlist,<br />
and there’s a distinct buzz of anticipation as Richard<br />
prepares to take the rostrum.<br />
With one eye on the room and one on the screen<br />
which shows bidding activity online - as well as the<br />
occasional glance across to the bank of telephone<br />
bidders - you may think it’s difficult to keep track of<br />
the fast-moving activity. And, for the inexperienced,<br />
you’d be right. But for Richard, it comes as second<br />
nature.<br />
“When I first started there were people in front of<br />
you and a few bids on the book; now it’s the internet,<br />
it’s telephones, my screen has bids coming all over<br />
and I can see where they’re all coming from,” he<br />
says. “At our last auction we had about 730 people<br />
bidding online. And we get online bidders from<br />
around the world, not just the UK; we’ve got bidders<br />
registered in 15 countries.”<br />
And with Richard eagle-eyed at the helm, you<br />
don’t have to worry about inadvertently bidding<br />
on an unwanted item with a scratch of the nose or<br />
a wipe of the brow. Years of experience mean he<br />
instinctively knows who’s interested - often even<br />
before the bidding starts.<br />
“People bid in all sorts of ways,” laughs Richard.<br />
“We’ve still got the old farmers who wink and nudge,<br />
and it’s just instinctive. I know instantly who’s looking<br />
for certain items; if we have a watch come up, or<br />
jewellery, I know where in the room to look for<br />
bidders.<br />
“And everything happens at pace, it’s really quick.<br />
A lot of auctioneers are different, but lots of people<br />
come to us because we don’t mess around, we just get<br />
on with selling and get through<br />
RICHARD WINTERTON<br />
GIVES J’AIME EDITOR<br />
AMY NORBURY A<br />
LESSON IN THE ART OF<br />
AUCTIONEERING<br />
THESE VINTAGE<br />
SUITCASES WERE A LOT<br />
AT THE RECENT THREE-<br />
DAY AUCTION<br />
the lots quickly. Time is precious<br />
to people so we don’t waste it.”<br />
The Winterton family name<br />
has been synonymous with<br />
auctioneering in Staffordshire<br />
since 1864, from its early<br />
beginnings in the Smithfield<br />
livestock market in Lichfield. As<br />
the sixth generation born into a<br />
family of auctioneers - son Tom,<br />
who now works alongside Richard<br />
is the seventh - auctioneering is<br />
the only career choice he ever<br />
imagined.<br />
“Since I was a little boy, there was<br />
7
EACH LOT IS CAREFULLY<br />
PHOTOGRAPHED FOR THE<br />
AUCTION SALES CATALOGUE<br />
no doubt,” says Richard. “My family were livestock<br />
auctioneers so we were brought up with it; Monday<br />
was cattle market day and there were different things<br />
going on all the time. It was all I wanted to do. I was<br />
away at school from the age of eight and every time<br />
I was back it was straight up to the market. As soon<br />
as I could get out of college at 17 or 18 I was straight<br />
into the business; I just wanted to get hands-on.”<br />
The auction house is a true family business; as well as<br />
Richard and Tom valuing lots and taking charge on<br />
sale days, Richard’s wife Janet works tirelessly behind<br />
the scenes, unpacking, checking and preparing items<br />
for auction alongside a dedicated team.<br />
“The whole process, from me going out to value an<br />
item to someone buying it and it being packed up<br />
and taken away is a huge amount of work,” says<br />
Richard.<br />
“Everything has to be checked over pre-sale, we<br />
pride ourselves on that. And it doesn’t end at the<br />
auction; our after-sales work involves packaging items<br />
up for posting or delivering.”<br />
Richard’s expertise is broad, and at house clearances<br />
he is the first person to cast his eye over and assess<br />
the potential of items for sale. But he relies on his<br />
team of expert valuers to get to the nitty gritty.<br />
“I’ve got a very broad eye, but my valuers will dig<br />
deeper,” Richard says. “I would know a Doulton<br />
vase is a Doulton period piece from 1910, but Sarah<br />
(senior valuer Sarah Leedham) would be able to<br />
tell me who the artist is, exactly when it was made,<br />
whether it was limited edition, all the finer detail.”<br />
House clearances make up a sizeable portion of<br />
the auction house’s business; both for downsizing<br />
purposes and sadder occasion<br />
involving divorce or a<br />
deceased estate. Richard and<br />
his team are well experienced<br />
in the delicate nature of such<br />
work.<br />
“We have to deal with people<br />
going through an emotional,<br />
traumatic time so it’s of<br />
the utmost importance to<br />
be sensitive,” says Richard.<br />
“Clearing a house is a difficult<br />
job, especially when you’re<br />
dealing with the emotional<br />
side of things too, and our<br />
team is brilliant at helping to<br />
smooth out the process.”<br />
House clearances, in<br />
particular, can throw up some<br />
unusual items. So what sort of<br />
things usually pique the interests of buyers?<br />
“Local interest is always good; postcards do really<br />
well and we’ve had some nice postcard collections<br />
from Lichfield and Sutton which haven’t been seen<br />
before,” says Richard. “Postcards are very difficult<br />
to value though; we might not have seen them but<br />
everyone might have them and they may not be rare<br />
at all, so we tend to put each collection together as<br />
one lot.<br />
RICHARD WINTERTON<br />
HAS APPEARED ON<br />
BARGAIN HUNT<br />
8
A QUIRKY CHAIR AND BRASS RACK<br />
MAKE FOR AN INTERESTING LOT<br />
“A lot of people are interested in social history, and<br />
there’s a huge market for nostalgia.<br />
“I love medals, and the people who collect medals<br />
are so passionate,” he adds. “First World War medals<br />
were always engraved with names so people who are<br />
buying medals are looking at the age of that medal<br />
and wondering if the recipient survived, was young<br />
enough to go into the Second World War, or if he<br />
was too old for the Second World War did he go to<br />
the Boer War? They want to build a history around<br />
these medals, and it’s fascinating.”<br />
Weird and wonderful, often macabre, items also<br />
attract a huge amount of attention from buyers -<br />
especially if there’s a historical element.<br />
“A calling card left by Jack the Ripper has just sold<br />
down south for thousands,” says Richard.<br />
The item in question was an ink-written card which<br />
arrived at Ealing Police Station on October 29, 1888<br />
- just 11 days before the serial killer’s last suspected<br />
victim Mary Kelly was disembowelled, and was<br />
found among a selection of cards put up for auction.<br />
The hammer price? £22,000, with a final price<br />
closer to £30,000 once an auction premium is paid.<br />
“Macabre will always sell,” says Richard. “We’re<br />
thinking of doing an ‘out-of-the-ordinary’ sale in<br />
December; we had a pair of glass eyes come in<br />
yesterday and we had a false leg from 1910 at our last<br />
sale, so I want to do a sale of weird and wonderful<br />
lots. We get all sorts of strange things coming in, so<br />
I think if we can put together 100 or so lots, it’ll be a<br />
good talking point and people will come along just to<br />
have a look.”<br />
The unpredictable nature of auctions, with bidding<br />
varying wildly from one sale to the next, means that<br />
punters should buy<br />
things for enjoyment,<br />
rather than any<br />
sort of long-term<br />
investment, stresses<br />
Richard.<br />
“People ask me what<br />
they should buy to<br />
invest in but that’s<br />
the wrong thing to<br />
do; if you’re going<br />
into antiques, do it<br />
because you like it<br />
and want to enjoy it,”<br />
he explains. “For me,<br />
it’s value for money;<br />
if you go and buy at<br />
Ikea or places like<br />
that, furniture costs a<br />
lot for what it is and it won’t last. But if you go and<br />
spend a couple of hundred quid on a quality piece at<br />
auction that’s been built to last it’ll hold its price, or it<br />
won’t lose you much. It’s good value.<br />
“It’s always interesting to see what things make, and<br />
it changes from sale to sale. What goes well one week<br />
might not be so good the next, it just depends who’s<br />
THIS STYLISH CHAIR<br />
WAS SNAPPED UP FOR<br />
£90 BY A HAPPY BIDDER<br />
9
in the room and who’s<br />
online.<br />
“And there’s a competitive<br />
element with bidding, so<br />
if there are two people<br />
after the same lot it can<br />
go up and up. But quality<br />
will always sell; it doesn’t<br />
matter what it is, furniture,<br />
pictures, the top end will<br />
always do well.<br />
“The main concern of the<br />
job, for me, is handling<br />
people’s expectations.<br />
People bring items in for<br />
auction which they think<br />
are worth hundreds, when<br />
in reality they’ll make a<br />
fiver. Everyone thinks they’ve got something which is<br />
worth something, but we have to be brutally honest.<br />
We’re happy to sell it for them and it makes what it<br />
makes.”<br />
Over the years, Richard has done his bit to raise the<br />
profile of auctions in Staffordshire, appearing on<br />
AMY NORBURY TAKES TO<br />
THE ROSTRUM<br />
RECENT FURNITURE<br />
LOTS AT THE THREE-DAY<br />
SALE<br />
both BBC’s Bargain Hunt and ITV’s Dickinson’s<br />
Real Deal, two shows which have helped to<br />
popularise auctions among the masses.<br />
“We’ve done Bargain Hunt for a very long time,”<br />
says Richard. “We were one of the first on Bargain<br />
Hunt and we did the very first live show, which<br />
was exciting I have to say. I was trying to sell<br />
and it was non-stop chatter in my ear from the<br />
production team, which is so difficult. It gives you<br />
new admiration for newsreaders and the like who<br />
have to do their job with constant talking in their<br />
ear.<br />
“On our second live show, we had a lot which<br />
just went higher and higher, it made about £760;<br />
it was right near the end of the show and the<br />
bidding just kept going and the production team<br />
were saying ‘RIchard, we need to wrap it up, we<br />
go off-air in a minute-and-a-half and we need to<br />
do the wraps’, and I’m there with a live bidding<br />
going on, which you just can’t stop!<br />
“Shows like Bargain Hunt and Dickinson’s Real<br />
Deal have opened up the world of auctions to<br />
a wider audience,” adds Richard. “They make<br />
auctions seem more accessible, which is what we<br />
need to get across.<br />
“Yes, we have prestigious fine art coming into<br />
sale, but honestly there really is something for<br />
everyone. We don’t want people to feel afraid to<br />
come along. There might be a perception that<br />
auctions are a bit elitist, but they’re not in the<br />
slightest. You might even get a bargain.”<br />
For more information, visit the Lichfield Auction<br />
Centre at Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, call<br />
01543 251081 or visit the website at<br />
www.richardwinterton.co.uk<br />
10
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PROPERTY<br />
Property of the Month<br />
WE TAKE A SNEAKY PEEK AT SOME OF THE HOTTEST PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET IN<br />
THE AREA EACH MONTH. THIS MONTH’S SELECTION IS AN EXTENSIVE LUXURY HOME<br />
IN A PRESTIGIOUS LOCATION<br />
Roman Road, Little Aston Park, Sutton Coldfield: offers over £2,895,000<br />
On the market with Fine and Country: 0121 272 6900<br />
THE AGENT SAYS: A stunning executive property nestled<br />
in a private gated location on the prestigious private estate<br />
of Little Aston Park. This large 10 bedroom and seven<br />
bathroom modern property (approximately 8,300 square feet)<br />
offers flexible accommodation with a ground floor annexe<br />
facility and lift.<br />
The opulence afforded to the grand entrance hall is<br />
continued throughout this recently refurbished property. A<br />
beautifully fitted kitchen from the locally hailed Broadway<br />
Kitchens opens onto a breakfast room, family room with<br />
additional intimate TV room, all looking over the private rear<br />
garden; this is a perfect family space. A more formal spacious<br />
drawing room leads through to a dining room. Further<br />
reception rooms afford a large office and a separate sitting<br />
room and kitchen at the other side of the house offering<br />
space for additional family/staff with a lift installed.<br />
Continuing with this spacious layout, the upper floor offers<br />
10 bedrooms, carefully planned with spacious landings and<br />
beautifully appointed bathrooms.<br />
This luxury property affords one of the most prestigious<br />
addresses in the West Midlands with privacy, extensive<br />
parking and elegant spacious living.<br />
THAT STUNNING KITCHEN -<br />
W E L O V E : <br />
A REAL ‘WOW’ FACTOR<br />
12
INTERIORS<br />
Mellow<br />
yellow<br />
WHEN you think of spring and summer one of the<br />
colours that immediately springs to mind is yellow.<br />
Whether that’s daffodils, beaches or just sunshine in<br />
general, we all know yellow has a connection to the<br />
warmer seasons.<br />
Colour gurus Pantone’s SS18 top colours include a<br />
vibrant yellow called Meadowlark, which is the ideal<br />
shade to add a bright and bold touch to your home’s<br />
decor scheme.<br />
As a statement piece in a room - we adore the look of a<br />
vibrant velvet sofa - yellow really brings the ‘wow’ factor<br />
and, as our love affair with grey doesn’t seem to be going<br />
anywhere soon, yellow is the perfect foil to industrial<br />
grey walls.<br />
If you don’t want to invest in a major furniture piece,<br />
accessories are a great way to inject a touch of cheer<br />
into your room. Look out for soft furnishings, table<br />
lamps, rugs and more in sunny shades to bring a pop of<br />
colour to any space.<br />
JULIEN MACDONALD DRESSING TABLE,<br />
DEBENHAMS. WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />
£168<br />
£70<br />
ALESSI DOTTY WALL CLOCK,<br />
WWW.BLACK-BY-DESIGN.CO.UK<br />
£31<br />
FIELD WOOL BLANKET, ANDSHINE.<br />
WWW.ANDSHINE.CO.UK<br />
BITOSSI HOME HOURGLASS<br />
SAND TIMER, AMARA.<br />
WWW.AMARA.COM £70<br />
MASTERS CHAIR IN MUSTARD<br />
BY KARTELL, WWW.HEALS.COM<br />
14
MUUTO UNFOLD YELLOW PENDANT<br />
LIGHT, RUME. WWW.RUME.CO.UK<br />
£199<br />
£595 £149<br />
DERRY LEATHER ARMCHAIR,<br />
PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,<br />
BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.<br />
WWW.PEPPERMILLINTERIORS.COM<br />
ZIRA YELLOW RUG,<br />
MODERN RUGS.<br />
WWW.MODERN-RUGS.CO.UK<br />
LICHFIELD PRINT, CHRIS DAY DESIGN.<br />
WWW.CHRISDAYDESIGN.CO.UK<br />
TULI TABLE LAMP TULIP,<br />
WWW.MADE.COM<br />
£25<br />
REGENT TOASTER,<br />
RED CANDY.<br />
WWW.REDCANDY.CO.UK<br />
£190<br />
£15<br />
£60<br />
£3,499<br />
BALMORAL TWO SEATER SOFA<br />
IN VARESE VELVET ALCHEMILLA,<br />
FROM HEAL’S. WWW.HEALS.COM<br />
NEON YELLOW ‘LOVE’<br />
LIGHT, MINI MAISON.<br />
WWW.MINIMAISON.CO.UK<br />
ALEXANDER AND JAMES<br />
JUDE CHAIR, £468, COOKES.<br />
WWW.COOKESFURNITURE.CO.UK<br />
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J’AIME<br />
LO VES
I N T E R I O R S<br />
Make time<br />
for style<br />
AS well as its obvious functional use, a wall clock<br />
can add oodles of style to your home - but it can be<br />
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Whether as a statement in itself - think oversized or<br />
bold by design - or maybe as part of a gallery wall<br />
alongside complementary prints, a well-chosen clock is<br />
a household essential.<br />
Much like interior design in general, metallics are a<br />
huge trend, particularly warmer tones like gold, brass<br />
and copper. Combine brass and concrete to tap into<br />
the industrial luxe vibe, or pair gold with marble for a<br />
glamorous edge.<br />
When it comes to design, both modern minimalism<br />
and retro styles are emerging as the ones to watch.<br />
Sleek simplicity will blend effortlessly with your home<br />
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And clocks aren’t just for indoors; make a feature in<br />
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DIVER CLOCKS, £119, ESCAPOLOGY.<br />
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18
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NEWGATE OSLO WALL CLOCK,<br />
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CO M P E T I T I O N<br />
Win a treat for dad<br />
IT’S TIME TO SAY ‘THANKS’ TO DAD FOR EVERYTHING HE DOES - AND YOU COULD WIN A FATHER’S<br />
DAY VOUCHER WORTH £150 TO SPEND ON A WATCH AT ALLEN BROWN JEWELLERY<br />
With Father’s Day just around the corner, J’AIME has<br />
teamed up with Allen Brown Jewellery at Heart of the<br />
Country Shopping Village, Swinfen, to offer readers<br />
the chance to win a special treat for their dad.<br />
Our lucky winner will scoop a voucher worth £150 for<br />
their dad to spend on a stylish gents watch from the<br />
exclusive watch gallery at Allen Brown Jewellery.<br />
The watch gallery was created in 2016 and offers a<br />
wide selection of designs and brands for both ladies<br />
and gents ranging from around £80 to around £600.<br />
The extensive selection includes timepieces from from<br />
Danish Design, Panzera, Jacob Jensen, Issey Miyake<br />
and Faber.<br />
Allen Brown Jewellery are experienced in the<br />
exceptional. They specialise in handmade, fine<br />
jewellery using unusually cut and coloured precious<br />
and semi precious stones. Coloured diamonds are key<br />
to Allen Brown’s collections, which include pendants,<br />
necklaces, earrings, rings, all wedding jewellery, as well<br />
as gents’ jewellery and watches.<br />
Why not visit to browse the latest collections or discuss<br />
commission ideas with Allen and his team of designer<br />
makers? With an onsite workshop along with viewing<br />
gallery, customers also have the opportunity to view<br />
beautiful jewellery being created.<br />
Located in beautiful surroundings at Heart of the<br />
Country off the A38 in Lichfield, it is a great place to<br />
spend the day in the heart of rural Staffordshire.<br />
For more details call 01543 481948 or visit<br />
www.allenbrownjewellery.co.uk and follow Allen<br />
Brown Jewellery on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter<br />
for the latest news, competitions and collections.<br />
OUR WINNER WILL HAVE £150 TO<br />
SPEND ON A WATCH AT ALLEN<br />
BROWN JEWELLERY<br />
The Competition<br />
A STYLISH WATCH BY DANISH DESIGN<br />
- ONE OF THE MANY AVAILABLE AT<br />
ALLEN BROWN JEWELLERY<br />
J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH ALLEN BROWN JEWELLERY TO OFFER<br />
READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN A £150 VOUCHER FOR A GENTS WATCH<br />
FOR THEIR DAD TO SPEND AT THE EXCLUSIVE JEWELLERY GALLERY.<br />
TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING THIS FANTASTIC PRIZE,<br />
SIMPLY TELL US BRIEFLY WHY YOUR DAD DESERVES TO WIN.<br />
Send your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number, by email<br />
to competitions@jaimemagazine.com with Allen Brown Father’s Day competition<br />
as the email subject. Entries must be received by 5pm on Wednesday, June 13, and<br />
our winner will be notified by Friday, June 15. Terms and conditions apply. The<br />
prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and not redeemable for cash or other<br />
prizes. Visit www.jaimemagazine.com for further details.<br />
22
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c r ê p e r i e<br />
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Sunday 17th June why not treat Dad to a<br />
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G I F T G U I D E<br />
Say ‘thanks’ to dad<br />
FATHER’S DAY IS FAST APPROACHING SO MARK <strong>JUNE</strong> 17 IN YOUR DIARY AND MAKE SURE YOU’RE<br />
PREPARED. FROM SIMPLE TOKENS OF AFFECTION TO CUFFLINKS, WATCHES AND LUXURY GIFT SETS,<br />
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MOUSTACHE BOTTLE<br />
STOPPER, AUDENZA.<br />
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£375<br />
THE DALMORE DISTILLERY<br />
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ISSEY MIYAKE WATCH, ALLEN BROWN<br />
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WOLF BLUE LEATHER WATCH<br />
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24
倀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀<br />
䤀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀<br />
一 攀 眀 ☀ 嘀 椀 渀 琀 愀 最 攀 䘀 甀 爀 渀 椀 琀 甀 爀 攀 昀 漀 爀 䠀 漀 洀 攀 猀 Ⰰ 䈀 愀 爀 猀 ☀ 刀 攀 猀 琀 愀 甀 爀 愀 渀 琀 猀<br />
嘀 椀 猀 椀 琀 漀 甀 爀 猀 栀 漀 眀 爀 漀 漀 洀 椀 渀 䈀 甀 爀 渀 琀 眀 漀 漀 搀 ℀ 圀 攀 ᤠ 爀 攀 漀 瀀 攀 渀 䴀 漀 渀 搀 愀 礀 琀 漀 匀 愀 琀 甀 爀 搀 愀 礀<br />
唀 渀 椀 琀 㘀 Ⰰ 刀 椀 渀 最 刀 漀 愀 搀 Ⰰ 娀 漀 渀 攀 ㈀Ⰰ 䈀 甀 爀 渀 琀 眀 漀 漀 搀 䈀 甀 猀 椀 渀 攀 猀 猀 倀 愀 爀 欀 Ⰰ 䈀 甀 爀 渀 琀 眀 漀 漀 搀 Ⰰ 圀 匀 㜀 アパート 䨀 儀<br />
眀 眀 眀 ⸀ 瀀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 椀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀 簀 㔀 㐀 アパート アパート 㜀 㔀 㠀 㜀 ㈀ 簀 猀 愀 氀 攀 猀 䀀 瀀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 椀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀<br />
倀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 䤀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀 椀 猀 愀 琀 爀 愀 搀 椀 渀 最 渀 愀 洀 攀 漀 昀 倀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 䄀 渀 琀 椀 焀 甀 攀 猀 䰀 琀 搀 ⸀<br />
⨀ 吀 攀 爀 洀 猀 ☀ 挀 漀 渀 搀 椀 琀 椀 漀 渀 猀 愀 瀀 瀀 氀 礀 ⸀
PEERLESS FONDERIE 47<br />
COLLECTOR’S EDITION ROLLERBALL<br />
PEN, SALLOWAYS OF LICHFIELD.<br />
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£225<br />
STAINLESS STEEL CUFFLINKS, ALLEN BROWN<br />
JEWELLERY AT HEART OF THE COUNTRY.<br />
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£17<br />
SOPHIE ALLPORT PHEASANT<br />
OILCLOTH WASH BAG,<br />
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HOUSE 99 SOFTER TOUCH<br />
BEARD OIL, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />
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£208<br />
£58<br />
FATHER’S DAY SPA VOUCHER<br />
INCLUDING RELAXING BACK, NECK<br />
AND SHOULDER MASSAGE AND A<br />
MALE MINI FACIAL, MOOR HALL SPA.<br />
WWW.MOORHALLHOTEL.CO.UK<br />
£22<br />
MISSONI HOME REX<br />
HOODED BATHROBE, AMARA.<br />
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£55<br />
£190<br />
TOM DIXON TANK WHISKEY<br />
DECANTER, WWW.NEST.CO.UK<br />
GUCCI GG CARD HOLDER,<br />
HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />
WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />
£80<br />
£45<br />
BERKELEY LEATHER ARMCHAIR,<br />
PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,<br />
BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK<br />
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RUBY+ED MR STAG CHECK<br />
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£795<br />
26
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W H AT ’ S O N<br />
An extraordinary celebration<br />
FESTIVAL FEVER RETURNS TO LICHFIELD FROM JULY 4 TO 14, WHEN THE CITY WILL COME ALIVE<br />
WITH A CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS. FIONA FRASER SPOKE TO FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR<br />
DAMIAN THANTREY ABOUT HIS TOP PICKS FOR FESTIVAL SEASON<br />
Anyone who has been remotely near<br />
Lichfield in July knows that Lichfield<br />
Festival fever takes hold of the city with<br />
music, dance, theatre and art, picnics on<br />
the Cathedral lawn, street entertainment,<br />
and a chance to simply soak up the<br />
atmosphere at one of the country’s most<br />
colourful and eclectic festivals.<br />
Damian Thantrey is this year’s guest<br />
artistic director, surely not an easy task:<br />
“Like planning anything – you start with<br />
a handful of what you hope are strong<br />
ideas, put them at the centre and work<br />
your way out, while keeping a very close<br />
eye on your budget!” says Damian. “I<br />
was mindful that, as ‘caretaker’ for the<br />
year, I wanted to make sure that I gave<br />
the Festival back in at least as good condition as I<br />
received it! There are definitely some new things, but I<br />
hope I have stayed true to the Festival’s traditions.”<br />
LIZA PULMAN<br />
2017 LICHFIELD<br />
FESTIVAL CREDIT<br />
REDLOCK<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Picking out highlights, especially when you’re the<br />
Festival’s director is obviously tricky, says Damian,<br />
who grew up in Burton-on-Trent: “Everything on the<br />
programme is there because I would go it to myself.<br />
If you twisted my arm, I would say that the events<br />
with our six Artists in Residence will be special - I’ve<br />
worked with them all in some capacity and they are<br />
all superb and compelling performers. And in the<br />
run-up to the Festival, I was wowed by Liza Pulman<br />
(whom people will also know from Fascinating Aida)<br />
and her sensational song-fest about the legendary<br />
Barbra Streisand; also BBC Folk Singer of the Year,<br />
Kris Drever (with special guest Julie Fowlis) will close<br />
the Festival for us – an amazing musician and singersongwriter<br />
to kick back and enjoy at the end of the<br />
week. For the younger audience - and my ‘wild card’<br />
choice for grown-ups! - I would say Hansel and Gretel<br />
which will be a dark and exciting mix of music,<br />
puppetry and story-telling, with words and poetry<br />
by the wonderful Simon Armitage. Finally, I have<br />
to mention our opening Cathedral night and a new<br />
show by Neil and Katya Jones, stars of Strictly Come<br />
Dancing, created especially for us. When else do you<br />
get to hang a metaphorical glitterball in one of the<br />
country’s most stunning buildings?”<br />
This year’s Festival, which runs from July 4 to 14,<br />
celebrates #ExtraordinaryWomen with a series of<br />
28
WWW.LICHFIELDGARRICK.COM<br />
BOX OFFICE 01543 412121<br />
TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
events inspired by the centenary of votes for women. “I<br />
didn’t set out to weave a theme into the Festival,” says<br />
Damian, “but it was hard to ignore such an important<br />
anniversary as women’s suffrage. However, rather than<br />
looking solely at the heroic efforts of the Pankhursts,<br />
Emily Davies and many others, I wanted to celebrate<br />
#ExtraordinaryWomen in all their guises. So,<br />
alongside that centenary, we honour groundbreaking<br />
women from the worlds of jazz, theatre, science,<br />
literature, composition, religion and Hollywood, as<br />
well as works written specifically for a woman’s voice.<br />
The #ExtraordinaryWomen events themselves cover<br />
music and song, film, talks, dance and the stage - many<br />
of which you can only see in Lichfield this July!”<br />
Internationally-acclaimed singer, Jessica Walker, is one<br />
of the Festival’s Artists in Residence and a focal point<br />
in the #ExtraordinaryWomen series. Her brand new<br />
cabaret Soldiers, Sirens and Suffragettes with pianist<br />
Joseph Atkins takes place at the city’s McKenzie’s<br />
Restaurant. She also performs her acclaimed onewoman<br />
show Pat Kirkwood is Angry and, over at the<br />
beautiful Swinfen Hall Hotel, A Century of Popular<br />
Song, in which Jessica and Joseph conjure up the<br />
unique atmosphere of each decade from the Victorian<br />
music hall to the Swinging 60s, accompanied by a<br />
sumptuous afternoon tea.<br />
So what makes Lichfield Festival so special? “There is a<br />
pride and passion about this Festival that is astonishing.<br />
The commitment shown by the office team, chairman,<br />
board, the Cathedral and other venue partners, our<br />
sponsors, supporters and volunteers, is what makes the<br />
Festival thrive.<br />
“That support for the arts is reflected by the huge<br />
pool of talent with strong links to Lichfield and the<br />
surrounding area. As a Burton boy myself, one of<br />
the things I wanted to do was to celebrate that too,<br />
LICHFIELD FESTIVAL<br />
MARKET<br />
STRICTLY COME<br />
DANCING’S NEIL<br />
& KATYA JONES<br />
and so I’m delighted that major talents with local<br />
connections are coming this year – Lucy Crowe (from<br />
Marchington) is one of the world’s most sought-after<br />
sopranos, singing regularly at the Met and Covent<br />
Garden and working with Sir Simon Rattle; the<br />
CBSO are coming and their CEO, Stephen Maddock<br />
(Lichfield-born), will also talk about running one of the<br />
world’s great orchestras;<br />
Patrick Craig (Lichfield<br />
again) returns with The<br />
Cardinall’s Musick, having<br />
sung over 1000 concerts<br />
across the world with<br />
renowned group The Tallis<br />
Scholars. And there are<br />
others too – so please come<br />
and join us and celebrate<br />
this #ExtraordinaryCity<br />
with its very<br />
#ExtraordinaryFestival this<br />
July.”<br />
For more information on<br />
Lichfield Festival visit<br />
www.lichfieldfestival.<br />
org or phone<br />
01543 412121.<br />
30
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CO M P E T I T I O N<br />
A feast of festival fun<br />
RESTAURANT CRITIC AND MASTERCHEF FAVOURITE JAY RAYNER IS BRINGING NOT ONE, BUT TWO VERY<br />
DIFFERENT SHOWS TO THIS YEAR’S LICHFIELD FESTIVAL - AND YOU COULD WIN TICKETS TO SEE HIM<br />
JAY RAYNER BRINGS<br />
MY DINING HELL TO<br />
LICHFIELD GARRICK<br />
ON JULY 13<br />
When it comes to journalism there are things Jay<br />
Rayner has not written about. A business page<br />
summary of a motor component company report,<br />
or a football match, perhaps. But<br />
that is probably the extent of the<br />
empty folders in the Rayner archive.<br />
Even before 1992, when he was<br />
named Young Journalist of the Year<br />
in the British Press Awards, he was<br />
investigating and writing about nearly<br />
everything, so there are bulging arts,<br />
fashion, crime, politics and general<br />
features sections in that same Rayner<br />
back catalogue.<br />
And that is before we get on to the<br />
novels, four to date, including The<br />
Marble Kiss which was nominated for<br />
the Author’s Club of Great Britain<br />
First Novel Award, and Day Of<br />
Atonement which was nominated for<br />
the Jewish Quarterly’s international<br />
prize for Jewish fiction.<br />
JAY RAYNER’S JAZZ<br />
QUARTET<br />
But it is as a food writer and broadcaster that he<br />
remains best known. Jay has just been named<br />
Restaurant Writer of the Year <strong>2018</strong> in the Fortnum<br />
& Mason Food and Drink Awards, a prize that will<br />
sit alongside his awards as Food and Drink writer<br />
(for three years in a row), nominations for three<br />
Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards, Restaurant Critic<br />
of the Year in 2001 and the Derek Cooper Award for<br />
Investigative and Campaigning Journalism from the<br />
Guild of Food Writers in 2013. He has appeared as<br />
a judge in multiple series of Masterchef, and as part<br />
of the panel on BBC2’s Eating With The Enemy. In<br />
the US he was a part of the expert panel on Top<br />
Chef Masters, was resident food expert on The One<br />
Show from 2009 to 2016, and has been the host of<br />
the award-nominated food panel show The Kitchen<br />
Cabinet for BBC Radio 4 for the last six years.<br />
As if all that writing and broadcasting wasn’t enough,<br />
in 2012, he officially turned what had been a private<br />
hobby into another very public string to his bow. To<br />
be more accurate: a full 88 set of piano strings. He<br />
formed the Jay Rayner Quartet – his wife, Pat Gordon-<br />
Smith, is the band’s singer – and began playing gigs<br />
around the land.<br />
It is beneath two of his many hats, that Jay Rayner<br />
32
appears at the <strong>2018</strong> Lichfield Festival, both of them on<br />
Friday 13 July. One is as restaurant critic, the other is<br />
as jazz pianist, and common to both is his compelling<br />
skill as a raconteur.<br />
My Dining Hell comes first, an early afternoon oneman<br />
show in which the critic of in excess of 700 eating<br />
establishments homes in on what he knows his readers<br />
take the most delicious delight in: damning reviews of<br />
lousy restaurants.<br />
He writes about his Penguin-published book of this<br />
title – its subtitle is Twenty Ways To Have A Lousy<br />
Night Out:<br />
“I have been a restaurant critic for over a decade,<br />
written reviews of well over 700 establishments, and<br />
if there is one thing I have learnt it is that people like<br />
reviews of bad restaurants. No, scratch that. They<br />
adore them, feast upon them like starving vultures who<br />
have spotted fly-blown carrion out in the bush.<br />
“They claim otherwise, of course. Readers like to<br />
present themselves as private arbiters of taste; as<br />
people interested in the good stuff. I’m sure they are.<br />
I’m sure they really do care whether the steak was<br />
served au point as requested or whether the soufflé had<br />
achieved a certain ineffable lightness. And yet, when<br />
I compare dinner to bodily fluids, the room to an S &<br />
M chamber in Neasden (only without the glamour or<br />
class), and the bill to an act of grand larceny, why, then<br />
the baying crowd is truly happy.”<br />
On the evening of Friday, July 13, Jay untucks the<br />
napkin, re-caps the poison pen and unpacks the sheet<br />
music and set list instead. Although there is not a<br />
complete break with food: songs like The Ladies Who<br />
Lunch, Black Coffee, Peel Me A Grape and Food,<br />
Glorious Food are likely to feature in that set list.<br />
With Jay on piano are double bass player Robert<br />
Rickenberg, saxophonist Dave Lewis and Pat Gordon-<br />
Smith on vocals. Their first CD is called A Night Of<br />
Food And Agony.<br />
Jay writes: “It’s not enough to choose songs; you<br />
have to know why you are playing them. Happily, I<br />
always have. My job as a restaurant critic gave me<br />
half the repertoire. Jazz and restaurants have been<br />
long intertwined. After all I met the Quartet’s brilliant<br />
musicians, bassist Robert Rickenberg and saxophonist<br />
Dave Lewis in the Ivy Club. And then there was my<br />
late mother, agony aunt Claire Rayner. The anecdotes<br />
she left me provided the other half of our setlists.<br />
Because so many blues songs sound like letters to a<br />
problem page.”<br />
What unites both shows is the larger-than-life<br />
character and generosity of spirit that is Jay Rayner.<br />
As celebrated jazz critic Clive Davis points out:<br />
“Rayner… boulevardier, is the perfect communicator”.<br />
Jay Rayner: My Dining Hell and Jay Rayner Jazz<br />
Quartet are at Lichfield Garrick Theatre on Friday,<br />
July 13, at 2pm and 8pm respectively, as part of<br />
Lichfield Festival. For more information on the Festival<br />
see www.lichfieldfestival.org or phone 01543 412121.<br />
The Competition<br />
J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH THE LICHFIELD FESTIVAL TO OFFER TWO TICKETS FOR JAY<br />
RAYNER’S HUGELY ENTERTAINING SHOW, MY DINING HELL, AT THE LICHFIELD GARRICK<br />
ON FRIDAY 13 JULY AT 2PM. TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING, SIMPLY ANSWER THE<br />
FOLLOWING QUESTION:<br />
WHICH BBC TV SHOW DOES JAY RAYNER REGULARLY APPEAR ON AS A JUDGE?<br />
Send your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number, by email to competitions@jaimemagazine.com with Lichfield<br />
Festival competition as the email subject. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday, June 29, and our winner will be notified by<br />
Wednesday, July 4. No cash alternative is available. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.jaimemagazine.com for further details.<br />
33
F E AT U R E<br />
A golden era for Beth<br />
MICHAEL BEARDMORE SPEAKS TO LICHFIELD’S NEWEST GOLDEN GIRL – COMMONWEALTH<br />
GAMES NETBALL GOLD MEDALLIST BETH COBDEN ABOUT GLORY, GLEE AND GLOBE-TROTTING<br />
NETBALL PLAYER BETH COBDEN.<br />
PHOTO CREDIT MARK METCALFE_<br />
GETTY SPORT<br />
When it comes to British sport, sisters really are<br />
doing it for themselves. And for no one is that phrase<br />
more apt than Beth Cobden.<br />
Colloquially, having been part of the England<br />
netball team that has followed their ‘sporting sisters’<br />
in football, cricket, hockey and rugby in achieving<br />
global glory. But also literally, setting the bar at its<br />
highest within her own sports-mad family, with Beth<br />
counting two top rugby stars as her siblings.<br />
At every Games – be it Olympic or Commonwealth<br />
– there is always one event, often a team sport, that<br />
captures the nation’s hearts. With the Rio Olympics<br />
of 2016, it was hockey’s golden girls. This year, in the<br />
Commonwealths on Australia’s Gold Coast, it was<br />
netball’s turn.<br />
In a sport traditionally dominated by Australia and<br />
New Zealand, England beat both – the latter in the<br />
group stage and the Aussies in the final – on the way<br />
to a remarkable podium-topping triumph.<br />
It was a high Beth is still to come down from – a long<br />
way from her schooldays in Cannock and Lichfield<br />
where she first took up the sport to follow in the<br />
footsteps of her mom Patricia, a county player in her<br />
own right. And she hopes the success can produce<br />
the same boom in netball that those other sports have<br />
enjoyed due to their successes.<br />
Beth, a former King Edward VI student, beams: “It’s<br />
definitely changed things for me. Hopefully it will<br />
help the sport to grow.<br />
“I think the more people that play, the more sponsors<br />
we can attract and the bigger we can make the game<br />
– that’s where we can benefit from this win. That will<br />
be what drives us in the future.<br />
“We are going here, there and everywhere as much<br />
as we can. We are back in our season now so you<br />
have to fit everything in around your training, which<br />
has obviously got to come first. But anything that we<br />
have been able to do, we’ve been lapping it up, trying<br />
to get as much done as we can. When you’re getting<br />
a bit of attention, you’ve got to make the most of it,<br />
haven’t you?<br />
“When you see the little girls in schools, it’s amazing<br />
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to see that you are inspiring them.<br />
You get them asking what they can<br />
do to become an England netball<br />
player and it inspires them to play.<br />
I went to my old primary school,<br />
Five Ways (in Cannock) just before<br />
Christmas but I am sure I will be<br />
going back there again with my<br />
medal!<br />
“Anything that we can do to<br />
get more people playing netball<br />
and even just playing a sport,<br />
it’s so important. I think people<br />
underestimate how important it is.”<br />
To put the win into context, imagine England’s men<br />
beating Germany and Brazil to win the football<br />
World Cup, or our cricketers seeing off Australia and<br />
South Africa to win their version.<br />
Beth says: “We always had the belief that we could<br />
do it and we knew that we had a good squad. But<br />
we had not beaten Australia in recent years so to<br />
actually go out there and do it in the final in their<br />
backyard, it was just brilliant – we couldn’t have<br />
asked for anything better. They have dominated for<br />
so long now but we have been creeping up there<br />
slowly.<br />
“This was my first time at the Commonwealths but<br />
the last time the girls were there, we just missed out,<br />
BETH COBDEN. PHOTO CREDIT MARK<br />
METCALFE_GETTY SPORT<br />
BETH COBEN, LEFT, AT THE BAFTAS<br />
WITH TEAMMATES AND BBC<br />
PRESENTER CLARE BALDING<br />
we lost to Australia and New Zealand by one goal<br />
each time. But that gave the team belief that we were<br />
up there with those two countries, we just needed to<br />
pull out the win.<br />
“I think having that experience and having had more<br />
time together, it just allowed us to beat them this<br />
time. But we can’t just be content with that one win,<br />
we need to back it up and do well at the World Cup<br />
next year.”<br />
Not only was the win historic, it was thrilling too<br />
– England came from behind to beat Jamaica by a<br />
point with a last-second score in the semi-final and<br />
did the same to the hosts in the final.<br />
It might not have been good for the ultra-fit hearts of<br />
those on court but it made an exciting spectacle for<br />
those watching at home on TV.<br />
Beth, who plays wing defence, one of the less<br />
glamorous, unsung, positions admitted: “It was<br />
crazy!<br />
“It’s really rare that you win a game by one<br />
goal in the dying seconds – so to do it two days<br />
in a row was really, really bizarre but, of course,<br />
brilliant at the same time!<br />
“It was good because the people back at home<br />
watching got really into it and I think having<br />
those closer games has just shown people what<br />
netball is about and how good it can be.<br />
“I think a lot of people underestimate it. I’ve<br />
had so many people commenting about how<br />
they were impressed with it and about how<br />
they haven’t watched netball since they were at<br />
school.<br />
“I think they have the wrong image in their<br />
head – I don’t think they realise how different<br />
the game is to when you are playing at school<br />
level. The difference to international level is<br />
massive.”<br />
Beth should know. She started young – ‘in Year<br />
3 or 4 I think’ – playing for Sutton Coldfield<br />
sides Fairfax and Parkside. The latter was a<br />
renowned club and Beth soon progressed to<br />
county level. National recognition followed with<br />
England at junior age groups before blossoming<br />
36
into a full international and SuperLeague regular<br />
with Loughborough Lightning.<br />
A wanderer at heart, Beth is doubly lucky because<br />
her netball talent helps her indulge her other great<br />
passion – travelling all over the globe.<br />
She took a year off from the sport in her early 20s to<br />
trek around South America and admits she has to<br />
pinch herself at some of the places she gets to visit<br />
and combine business with pleasure.<br />
Beth said: “We had quite a long trip for the<br />
Commonwealths because we went out there for a<br />
few weeks beforehand, so we were away for five-anda-half<br />
weeks in the end. We went to Sydney where<br />
I’ve never been, and Brisbane as well. The whole<br />
experience was just amazing, a once-in-a-lifetime<br />
thing.<br />
“That’s another reason why I love netball – it’s a job<br />
that comes with a lot of travelling! In the past two<br />
years when I have been playing for the seniors, I’ve<br />
been to Australia probably five times, New Zealand a<br />
couple of times, South Africa. It’s amazing really to<br />
go to these places.<br />
“Obviously you are doing a lot of netball when you<br />
are there but you get the odd day’s<br />
rest where you can go and have a<br />
little explore which makes it even<br />
better – it’s brilliant, I love it.”<br />
There won’t be much travelling<br />
for next year’s World Cup though<br />
as England seek to build on their<br />
Commonwealth triumph – it’s being<br />
held in Liverpool.<br />
And Beth won’t be at the Tokyo<br />
2020 Olympics either. It’s not that<br />
she wouldn’t get picked or that<br />
England wouldn’t quality. It’s that<br />
netball, amazingly, isn’t recognised as<br />
an Olympic sport.<br />
BETH COBDEN<br />
WAS PART OF<br />
ENGLAND’S<br />
COMMONWEALTH<br />
GAMES GOLD<br />
MEDAL-WINNING<br />
NETBALL TEAM<br />
She says: “There is a lot going on to try to get it into<br />
the Olympics. It is a shame it’s not there already<br />
because it would be really good for the sport to have<br />
another big competition to focus on.<br />
“We sort of have a four-year cycle where we focus<br />
on the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup<br />
which are in back-to-back years, and then have a<br />
two-year, kind of like, development stage.<br />
“To have another big thing in there would be really<br />
good. I think we just need more countries to play it<br />
really and I think there is a lot of stuff in place to try<br />
to get more countries involved.<br />
“So fingers crossed in the future we will be able to get<br />
it in the Olympics.”<br />
Beth’s triumphant Commonwealth champions are<br />
coached by Tracey Neville – a former England ace<br />
herself, whose brothers Gary and Phil were famous<br />
footballers for England and Manchester United.<br />
The Nevilles are arguably the country’s most famous<br />
sporting brothers and sisters – but the Cobdens give<br />
them a run for their money.<br />
Beth’s brothers Joe and Jack both play top-level<br />
rugby – Joe, 26, for Nottingham and, intriguingly,<br />
Jack, 29, plays out in Romania where he is now<br />
actually eligible to play for their national team.<br />
She smiles: “Jack’s a bit like me, got the travel bug!<br />
He got offered a contract out there three or four<br />
years ago.<br />
“He’s got a daughter out there as well so he’s settled<br />
and he really loves it out there. He’s had a few caps<br />
for Romania and he’s hoping he can maybe end up<br />
going to the World Cup.”<br />
That would mean another trip abroad for parents<br />
Pat and Ian, who took the last-minute decision to<br />
cheer Beth on to glory Down Under.<br />
She smiles: “It was all a bit last minute. You don’t<br />
get picked until a few weeks before, that’s when they<br />
announce the squad, so they weren’t sure whether to<br />
come.<br />
“But when I did get picked, they decided to go – and<br />
they were really pleased they did!”<br />
BETH IN ACTION VERSUS AUSTRALIA.<br />
PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES
F O O D & D R I N K<br />
Decadent dining<br />
ICONIC LONDON RESTAURANT THE IVY’S FORAY INTO BIRMINGHAM ADDS A TOUCH OF LUXURY AND A<br />
WHOLE HEAP OF GLAMOUR TO THE SECOND CITY’S THRIVING DINING SCENE, AS AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS<br />
Fresh lobster? On a Monday? In<br />
Birmingham? Such decadence, I hear you<br />
cry. But decadence is all part and parcel of<br />
The Ivy name.<br />
The original London restaurant, situated in<br />
the heart of theatreland, has been a byword<br />
for glamorous dining for decades, attracting<br />
a clientele that reads like a who’s who of the<br />
glitterati, literati and Hollywood’s finest.<br />
Laurence Olivier dined there, Noel Coward<br />
was a regular and Dame Nellie Melba<br />
and Marlene Dietrich could be spotted at<br />
their favourite tables, while in the Nineties,<br />
it was a magnet for stars, with Brad Pitt,<br />
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman attracting<br />
paparazzi and headlines with every visit.<br />
Tables were hard to come by - unless your<br />
name’s Kate Moss, that is. But if you could<br />
wangle a seat, chances are you’d spot a<br />
celebrity or three.<br />
And now, you can get The Ivy experience right here in<br />
the Midlands, with the opening of the latest The lvy<br />
Collection restaurant in the heart of Birmingham. The<br />
Ivy Collection brings the inimitable service and vibrant<br />
surroundings for which The Ivy is revered to a select<br />
group of upmarket brasseries and neighbourhood<br />
cafés.<br />
Each restaurant has been designed to deliver the<br />
memorable experience that is synonymous with The<br />
Ivy’s unique style, and extend the magic of the iconic<br />
West Street venue to handpicked locations across<br />
London and the UK.<br />
While The Ivy Temple Row certainly exudes the<br />
luxury of its sister restaurants, with it’s stunning art<br />
deco-inspired decor and familiar modern British menu,<br />
there’s a focus on accessibility as well as glamour.<br />
Booking a table on a Friday or Saturday night is par<br />
for the course, but the restaurant holds back a certain<br />
amount of covers each day for walk-in diners, so those<br />
living and working locally can drop in at their leisure.<br />
J’AIME were invited to give the all-day menu a try -<br />
and when they say all-day, they mean all-day, with food<br />
served until 11pm on weekdays, 11.30pm on Saturdays<br />
and 10.30pm on Sundays.<br />
On the Monday evening of our visit, the restaurant<br />
was packed with diners over both floors - impressive<br />
for the start of the week, the buzz of the new addition<br />
to Birmingham’s thriving dining scene still in full force.<br />
What was a Louis Vuitton boutique has been<br />
transformed into a beautiful space; The Ivy<br />
Collection’s signature green colour palette contrasting<br />
with striking burnt orange banquettes and polished<br />
38
marble floors.<br />
We were shown to a cosy table for<br />
two along the wall upstairs - the<br />
kind of intimate table it’s said to<br />
have been favoured by Laurence<br />
Olivier, Noel Coward et al - and<br />
furnished with a glass of chilled<br />
Champagne. So far, so glamorous.<br />
The a la carte menu is a notinsubstantial<br />
selection of Ivy<br />
classics; think steak tartare,<br />
seared scallops and heavy dose<br />
of Asian inspiration, as well as<br />
The Ivy’s signature hamburger<br />
and shepherd’s pie. We were<br />
presented with a warm salt-crusted<br />
sourdough, £3.95, and truffle<br />
arancini, £5.50, to nibble on while<br />
we made our choices.<br />
The bread was a thing of baked<br />
beauty, with the salt adding a<br />
wonderful crunch to the crust, and the arancini - fried<br />
balls of arborio rice with a hefty punch of delicious<br />
truffle - were incredibly moreish.<br />
To start I opted for the steak tartare, £9.95, which was<br />
a rich and indulgent plate, the finely chopped steak<br />
topped with a Tabasco dressing, cornichons, shallot,<br />
parsley and a sizeable egg yolk.<br />
My husband’s duck liver parfait with caramelised<br />
hazelnuts, truffle and a tamarind glaze, £6.95, was rich<br />
and silky, the savoury flavours complemented nicely by<br />
a sweetness from the accompanying pear and ginger<br />
compote and toasted brioche.<br />
Onto the main event, and I just had to give the lobster<br />
a whirl. It’s not something you find on many a menu<br />
in these parts, so the chance couldn’t be passed up. A<br />
luxurious dish for a luxurious setting, right? At £34,<br />
it’s the priciest item on the menu, but you certainly get<br />
plenty of bang for your buck. The whole - that’s right,<br />
whole - lobster is simply grilled and served with garlic<br />
and parsley butter, watercress salad and a bucket of<br />
perfectly fluffy-yet-crisp thick-cut chips.<br />
Thankfully you’re presented with the appropriate tools<br />
for the job - it can get messy, but the succulent, sweet<br />
lobster meat with a hint of smoky char is oh so worth<br />
it.<br />
My husband’s rib-eye steak, £27.95, was again cooked<br />
to a perfect medium-rare, as recommended by our<br />
waiter over my husband’s usual rare-to-blue to give the<br />
fat in the meat chance to render down and add flavour.<br />
Side orders of truffle and parmesan chips, £4.50, and<br />
delicious zucchini fritti, £5.75, were tasty, and the<br />
substantial portions all round meant -<br />
admittedly with one eye on dessert - we<br />
just couldn’t finish it all.<br />
For a little sweet something to end<br />
the meal, our waiter recommended<br />
the chocolate bombe, £8.50, which<br />
we opted to share, alongside coffees.<br />
This heavenly dessert adds a touch of<br />
theatre to the meal, with hot salted<br />
caramel sauce poured over a dark<br />
chocolate sphere which melts away to<br />
reveal a honeycomb centre. A must for<br />
chocolate lovers, it was a fitting end to<br />
a fine meal.<br />
For decadent - yet relaxed, convivial<br />
and very reasonably-priced - dining<br />
with a heavy dose of glitz and<br />
glamour, The Ivy Temple Row it<br />
the place to be. Celebrities, on this<br />
occasion at least, not included.<br />
39
F O O D & D R I N K<br />
Cocktail of the month<br />
SHAUN CRAVEN, FROM LE RÊVE COCKTAIL BAR IN LICHFIELD, SHARES A COOL,<br />
CLASSIC COCKTAIL PERFECT FOR A CELEBRATORY TIPPLE THIS FATHER’S DAY<br />
Gentleman Jack<br />
Old Fashioned<br />
25ml sugar syrup<br />
50ml Gentleman Jack bourbon<br />
2 dashes of angostura bitters<br />
2 dashes of orange bitters<br />
1 orange peel<br />
Add sugar syrup,<br />
angostura bitters,<br />
orange bitters and<br />
orange peel into a<br />
mixing glass. Add<br />
ice and Gentleman<br />
Jack gradually while<br />
continuously stirring<br />
for around five<br />
minutes<br />
Single strain into a<br />
hobstar over an ice<br />
ball. Orange zest to<br />
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rim of the glass.<br />
40
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F O O D & D R I N K<br />
Everything on red<br />
PATRICK GAUNT, OPERATIONS MANAGER OF SPECIALIST WINE COMPANY<br />
ITAL SARDO, SHOWCASES SOME STANDOUT SARDINIAN RED WINES<br />
Being able to personally source and supply our<br />
customers with exclusive wines from Italy is a huge<br />
pleasure to be a part of. Each wine has been personally<br />
sourced by myself. I have shaken the hand of each<br />
winemaker, bringing the local treasure of Sardinia to<br />
our clients.<br />
Our range of reds are a variety of rich and bold wines,<br />
to fruity and spicy numbers. A lot of this is down to<br />
the blending, with most Sardinian wines blended with<br />
Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, having a more rounded<br />
feel. All wines that are 100 per cent of a specific variety<br />
are what we have found in being the ‘perfect example’<br />
of that type of wine. Here are some fantastic examples<br />
of our diverse range:<br />
Reds to be social with:<br />
Cagnulari, Chessa – An exclusive<br />
wine, that provides an excellent dark<br />
cherry nose with a velvety liquorice<br />
finish. There is a sense of richness, but<br />
the pleasant balance of this wine makes<br />
it very easy to be enjoyed on its own.<br />
The perfect way to round off your day.<br />
Rich in history:<br />
Giuseppe Sedilesu – A winemaker<br />
of tradition and pride. We<br />
were informed of the techniques<br />
used by Giuseppe Sedilesu<br />
when asking around with the<br />
local people, on the search for<br />
hidden gems. This wine, named<br />
after the wine-maker himself,<br />
is only produced after a perfect<br />
year, showing how passionate<br />
the producer is to create the<br />
best he can. This is 100 per<br />
cent Cannonau (which is said to<br />
increase longevity), aged in oak<br />
and then in the bottle. This wine<br />
really is a great example of the<br />
result of hard work and tradition.<br />
Without bombarding our trusted readers with wines,<br />
we are aiming to spread the work of Ital Sardo and<br />
provide our clients with the best wines that we can get<br />
our hands on. With wine tastings on the horizon, we<br />
invite all those interested to visit our website at<br />
www.italsardo.com. As well as this, please do not<br />
hesitate to contact myself, Patrick Gaunt, on<br />
01283 711588 with any questions or requests.<br />
Wines that work wonders<br />
with food:<br />
Geo, Tenute Delogu – Here is a wine<br />
from our debut shipment, a blend of<br />
Cannonau, Cabernet Sauvignon and<br />
Syrah. This blend creates an incredibly<br />
warming effect, lightened by spice. A red<br />
of this stature is best enjoyed with what<br />
I call ‘slow cooker style’ food. Meaty<br />
dishes that have a rich, earthy taste like<br />
braised lamb shanks.<br />
42
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T R AV E L<br />
The spice island<br />
NICOLA BRERETON, FROM RB COLLECTION IN LICHFIELD,<br />
FINDS A SLICE OF CARIBBEAN PARADISE IN GRENADA<br />
GRENADA IN THE CARIBBEAN<br />
My love of the Caribbean is well known among my<br />
friends and family and, having visited a number<br />
of Islands, I was very excited to be heading to the<br />
beautiful Island of Grenada. Also affectionately<br />
known as Spice Island due to its abundance of<br />
nutmeg plantations, I’d made a short cruise stop<br />
there a number of years ago. I knew it was a<br />
beautiful Island, but just how beautiful… well that I<br />
was about to discover.<br />
We left behind a cold winter’s morning in London<br />
and our direct flight to Grenada – with a short<br />
touchdown in St Lucia - had us arriving in glorious<br />
sunshine. We were met with a warm welcome and<br />
a cold flannel ready for a short transfer to our home<br />
for the next two nights; the stunning Spice Island<br />
Resort. If first impressions are anything to go by<br />
then we were in for a treat. This beautiful resort is set<br />
on a perfect spot on Grand Anse beach. As soon as<br />
we stepped out of the car we were met with the most<br />
amazing view of the Caribbean Sea and with a quick<br />
check-in and cold flannels and welcoming cocktails<br />
we were taken to our suites, all located short walk<br />
from reception and the pool area.<br />
As soon as I walked through my door I knew this<br />
would be a truly special experience. From the<br />
luxurious bathroom with tub looking out to the<br />
beach to the gigantic (and oh-so-comfortable) bed<br />
to the living area and right out onto the patio with<br />
direct access to the beach, this suite was just simply<br />
stunning.<br />
A couple of hours relaxing in the sun on my day bed<br />
and it was time for quick change as we headed off for<br />
dinner that evening in the hotel’s restaurant, Oliver’s.<br />
The setting for the restaurant is outstanding, with the<br />
hotel maximising its prime position on once of the<br />
most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. But the view<br />
44
was not its only selling point,<br />
nor was the sumptuous food we<br />
were presented with but what<br />
really set it above for me was<br />
the staff. Nothing was too much<br />
trouble and they very quickly<br />
learnt your name as well as<br />
your favourite tipple - which<br />
they ensured was continually<br />
topped up - but what came<br />
across in abundance was their<br />
love for the resort and their<br />
pride in being a part of the<br />
‘family’ they really did make<br />
a beautiful resort all the more<br />
special.<br />
The next morning was spent<br />
very chilled around the pool<br />
looking out to the Caribbean<br />
Sea and with a freshly made<br />
cocktail in hand - the cold,<br />
harsh winter I’d left behind the day before suddenly<br />
felt a million miles away. A tour of the hotel had<br />
us sampling the different suites Spice Island has to<br />
offer, ranging from their Seagrape Beach Suite that<br />
I had right through to stunning pool suites, set back<br />
a little further but all with their own private entrance<br />
and pool. Later that day we were able to sample the<br />
stunning onsite spa with the most relaxing neck and<br />
back massage before once again dining at Oliver’s<br />
and enjoying a few cocktails in the Surf and Terrace<br />
bar while enjoying a local band.<br />
The following morning I was given a very special<br />
treat with breakfast on my terrace with the most<br />
A GRENADA SUNSET<br />
stunning views before we headed off for a day of<br />
resorts visits. The island of Grenada is quite small in<br />
comparison to its neighbours but, as everyone knows,<br />
great things come in small packages and Grenada<br />
was not about to disappoint.<br />
Our first stop was the beautiful Mount Cinnamon<br />
Resort, further along Anse beach and set a little up<br />
in to the hill offering the most spectacular panoramic<br />
views from their beautifully designed suites and villas.<br />
From here we carried on along the coastal road to<br />
visit Laluna Resort, nestled into a private hillside<br />
on one of Grenada’s most beautiful and secluded<br />
beaches. Although it is only 10 minutes from the<br />
capital, St Georges, it feels like your own Caribbean<br />
LALUNA RESORT<br />
45
hideaway with its Balinese decor, semi-open<br />
bathrooms, and either amazing views or steps from<br />
the beach. With a big focus on health wellness and<br />
relaxation in their Asian spa, it really is something<br />
very special.<br />
Our next stop was to be our home for the next two<br />
nights and a complete change in hotel style. The<br />
beautiful Calabash is an exclusive family owned hotel<br />
with 30 suites arranged around the lovely gardens,<br />
facing out towards the secluded white sandy beach<br />
of Prickly Bay with its scattering of small yachts<br />
dotted around. From the moment we arrived it<br />
became obvious how much they pride themselves<br />
on delivering superb personal service and a unique<br />
experiences for all their guests - and this was before<br />
we had even stepped foot in their suites. From their<br />
junior suites up to the pool suites all are simply<br />
stunning. Stylish and welcoming and with amazing<br />
bathrooms - they really do like to make a big feature<br />
of this - with either a terrace or balcony, and all seafacing.<br />
This evening we had a very relaxed diner at<br />
the Beach Club with a steel band entertaining us as<br />
we moved from the table round a campfire set up on<br />
the beach.<br />
The emphasis at Calabash is on understated<br />
elegance and service combined with Caribbean<br />
informality; they like their guests to feel very relaxed<br />
from the moment they arrive and one of their<br />
unique experiences is the cooked to order breakfasts<br />
served on your suite’s patio or, if you prefer, on the<br />
beach; the perfect way to start a relaxed day. After<br />
breakfast we headed off for a tour of this amazing<br />
island. While it has plenty to offer with its rum and<br />
chocolate factories (both got my vote) we decided we<br />
would head in to the rainforest with a stop en route<br />
in the capital, St George’s, which offered the most<br />
stunning panoramic views of the bay below. It is so<br />
clear to see why Grenada is called the ‘spice island’;<br />
everywhere you look, you can see spices. Nutmeg,<br />
cinnamon, turmeric and cloves to name just a few<br />
and as we went further into the rainforest we were<br />
able to see first-hand these spices being farmed.<br />
Grenada is also renowned for its stunning waterfalls<br />
and we were about to embark on its most famous one<br />
- Concorde Waterfalls. Tucked away in the rainforest,<br />
cascades of water tumble down rugged cliffs to gush<br />
into pristine swimming pools. Young men will jump<br />
the falls for a fee and are literally heart-stopping but<br />
amazing at the same time. With our driver/guide<br />
enthralling us with tales of days of old when pirates<br />
would hide their stash along the shores, we stopped<br />
for a cold beer and in a small fishing town before<br />
46
carrying on around the enchanting island. Our next<br />
stop was to be Grand Etang Lake, created from a<br />
crater from an extinct volcano where, legend has it,<br />
a mermaid is living in the depths of the lake to lure<br />
men to their watery grave.<br />
After a very enjoyable day we made our way back to<br />
Calabash as the sun began to set over St George’s.<br />
This evening we were treated to a fabulous meal<br />
in the renowned Rhodes Restaurant - personally<br />
opened by Gary Rhodes. We had heard so much<br />
about the food here that expectations were so high<br />
but her were not to be disappointed; the food here<br />
alone is enough to entice anyone to visit Grenada<br />
and the banana crumble was simply to die for.<br />
After a long, leisurely breakfast in the beach club<br />
and a last dip in the pool soaking up the sunshine,<br />
unfortunately it was time to pack up and head home.<br />
Although it was only a short visit to Grenada the<br />
memory of this wonderful and captivating island will<br />
last a lifetime and I am already planning my next<br />
visit – if only to sample that banana crumble once<br />
more!<br />
To plan and book your holiday to Grenada contact<br />
RB Collection on 01543 258631, browse the hotels<br />
at www.rbcollection.com/grenada.<br />
J’aime<br />
reader offer<br />
BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY TO GRENADA WITH RB<br />
COLLECTION BEFORE THE END OF <strong>JUNE</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY CARIBBEAN<br />
GIFT HAMPER.<br />
MENTION J’AIME MAGAZINE WHEN YOU<br />
ENQUIRE, APPLICABLE TO NEW BOOKINGS<br />
ONLY.<br />
YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE NICOLA’S TOP TIPS<br />
FOR THE ISLAND TO HELP MAKE THE MOST<br />
OF YOUR TRIP.<br />
LALUNA VILLA<br />
47
F E AT U R E<br />
A celebration of indian film<br />
THE FOURTH BIRMINGHAM INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL COMES TO THE SECOND CITY THIS MONTH -<br />
AND YOU COULD WIN TICKETS TO THE GLITTERING RED CARPET OPENING NIGHT<br />
Birmingham Indian Film Festival is a<br />
cinematic treasure trove of carefully<br />
curated premieres of South Asian<br />
independent films, offering rare glimpses<br />
into some of the billion-plus lives in the<br />
sub-continent.<br />
The festival is presented by the Bagri<br />
Foundation London Indian Film Festival<br />
and returns for its fourth consecutive<br />
year at Cineworld Broad Street, mac<br />
Birmingham and The Mockingbird<br />
Cinema and Kitchen from Friday, June 22<br />
to Sunday, July 1.<br />
Audiences can expect a spectacular 10<br />
days of Midland premieres of feature<br />
films, documentaries and shorts exploring<br />
a compelling slate of controversial,<br />
entertaining and thought-provoking<br />
themes with global resonances, plus lively<br />
Q&As and panel debates.<br />
New to this year is the annual London International<br />
Film Festival Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition<br />
Entries showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers.<br />
The festival opener - featuring an all-star Hollywood<br />
and Bollywood cast including Demi Moore, Freida<br />
Pinto, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Richa<br />
Chadda, Anupam Kher, Adil Hussain, Sunny<br />
Parwar and Mrunal Thakur - is the Birmingham<br />
CHARMING FAMILY FILM<br />
HALKAA WAS GRAND PRIX<br />
WINNER AT MONTREAL FILM<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
premiere of Love Sonia, a compelling story of two<br />
loving sisters who are forced into the sex industry<br />
in Mumbai from the Academy Award-nominated<br />
producer of Life Of Pi, David Womark. Inspired by<br />
true events, this is the story of a young Indian village<br />
girl, Sonia. Her life changes irrevocably when she is<br />
entrapped in the global sex trade while trying to save<br />
her beloved sister Preeti. Sustained by a fragile dream<br />
that is worth surviving for, her searing journey spans<br />
three continents and a lifetime of experiences that no<br />
young girl should have.<br />
Sonia is determined not<br />
to become one of the<br />
800,000 women and<br />
children who are victims<br />
of the international sex<br />
trade industry every<br />
year.<br />
Director Tabrez<br />
Noorani - who was<br />
previously line producer<br />
on the multiple<br />
VENUS WILL BE THE<br />
FESTIVAL’S CLOSING FILM<br />
Academy, BAFTA and<br />
Golden Globe winner<br />
Slumdog Millionaire,<br />
48
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and films like Zero Dark Thirty - is expected at<br />
Cineworld, Broad Street on Friday 22 June.<br />
The Festival closes at mac Birmingham with Venus,<br />
a feel-good comedy about a Canadian Punjabi<br />
transgender person who is about to embark on<br />
surgery but suddenly discovers they are the father of<br />
a teenage boy who thinks they are the coolest dad on<br />
the planet. The director Eisha Marjara and talent<br />
are expected on Sunday 1 July.<br />
Wolverhampton-born actor Antonio Aakeel stars<br />
in the feel-good British-comedy Eaten by Lions<br />
written and directed by Jason Wingard. The film<br />
also stars Jack Carroll, Johnny Vegas, and Asim<br />
THE OPENING EVENT WILL BE<br />
THE MIDLANDS PREMIERE OF<br />
LOVE SONIA<br />
The Competition<br />
Chaudhry. Eaten by Lions is<br />
the feature-length adaptation<br />
of the director’s 2013 short film<br />
Going to Mecca, which won<br />
best comedy at the Manchester<br />
International Film Festival.<br />
The film follows half-brothers<br />
Omar and Pete as they embark<br />
on a journey to find Omar’s<br />
estranged father, confronting<br />
him on the day of his daughter’s<br />
engagement party.<br />
Students from Birmingham City<br />
University including the School<br />
of Media will be working on the<br />
festival; volunteering, managing<br />
screenings and creating digital<br />
content, and Professor Rajinder<br />
Dudrah, Indian cinema expert<br />
and Professor of Cultural Studies<br />
and Creative Industries at<br />
Birmingham City University, will<br />
lead a panel debate exploring<br />
independent Indian cinema.<br />
“Birmingham City University is delighted to be a<br />
headline sponsor of this year’s Birmingham Indian<br />
Film Festival and join in the celebrations of South<br />
Asian history, heritage, arts and culture. The 10-day<br />
event will feature a host of inspirational films created<br />
by some of the finest creative professionals. We look<br />
forward to the films being showcased to generate<br />
discussion as well as to entertain.”<br />
Tickets to screenings can be purchased directly<br />
from the cinemas. For more information visit<br />
www.birminghamindianfilmfestival.co.uk<br />
J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH BIRMINGHAM INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL TO OFFER READERS THE<br />
CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE FESTIVAL’S OPENING NIGHT EVENT ON FRIDAY,<br />
<strong>JUNE</strong> 22. OUR LUCKY WINNER AND A GUEST WILL ATTEND THE GLITTERING RED CARPET<br />
EVENT AT CINEWORLD BIRMINGHAM, MARKING THE OPENING OF THE FESTIVAL, BEFORE<br />
TAKING THEIR SEATS FOR THE MIDLANDS PREMIERE OF LOVE SONIA.<br />
TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING, SIMPLY ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:<br />
NAME ONE OF THE STARS OF LOVE SONIA.<br />
Send your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number, by email to competitions@<br />
jaimemagazine.com with Birmingham Indian Film Festival competition as the email subject. Entries must<br />
be received by 5pm on Wednesday, June 13, and our winner will be notified by Friday, June 15. Terms and<br />
conditions apply. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and not redeemable for cash or other prizes.<br />
Visit www.jaimemagazine.com for further details.<br />
50
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LO CA L A R E A<br />
What’s On Local<br />
YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST OF WHAT’S ON IN AND AROUND<br />
SUTTON COLDFIELD, LICHFIELD, WALSALL AND BEYOND<br />
WHAT:<br />
Movies, Musicals<br />
and More<br />
WHERE:<br />
Partridge Brothers<br />
Music Centre<br />
WHEN:<br />
June 1<br />
Join talented singers and musicians at the Partridge<br />
Brothers Music Centre at Heart of the Country for a<br />
fantastic evening of songs from movies, musicals, Disney<br />
and more. Following on from their our smash hit musicals<br />
concert in March, join the amazing Annie, Dalma and<br />
Amy, accompanied by Stephen Partridge, for a truly<br />
scrumptious evening to remember.<br />
You will hear many of your old favourites, some less<br />
known songs and some simply stunning singing by top<br />
class professional singers. This promises to be a busy<br />
evening so book before all of the tickets are gone. Please<br />
note that the venue is upstairs and does not have lift<br />
access as the building is very old. For more details visit<br />
www.partridgebrothers.com or call 07963 894282.<br />
WHAT:<br />
Ain’t No Angels<br />
WHERE:<br />
Sutton Coldfield Town<br />
Hall<br />
WHEN:<br />
June 5 and 6<br />
What happens when two<br />
egotistical giants of the entertainment world get trapped<br />
in a place they’d rather not be? Added to this the fact that<br />
they have always despised each other and… boom!<br />
Al Jolson and Frank Sinatra; both brilliant in their own<br />
right but equally as self-centred. Ain’t No Angels tells the<br />
story of Jolson and Sinatra stuck together in purgatory,<br />
waiting to discover whether they get to go ‘up’ or ‘down’.<br />
The show takes a look back over the pair’s lifetimes,<br />
providing new and informative insights into the lives of<br />
two musical heavyweights all woven together by their<br />
timeless classics, supported by an awesome live swing<br />
band. Ain’t No Angels, is a refreshingly slick piece of<br />
theatre that is sure to leave audiences in awe.<br />
Tickets are now on sale, starting at just £16. Visit<br />
www.townhallsuttoncoldfield.co.uk or call the<br />
Town Hall Box Office on 0121 296 9543.<br />
WHAT: Consequences of War<br />
WHERE: Lichfield Cathedral<br />
WHEN: Until June 24<br />
A poignant, moving and revealing free exhibition<br />
which draws attention to the effect of World War One,<br />
Consequences of War will explore the immediate<br />
aftermath of the conflict and the quest and failure of<br />
the search for peace over the subsequent century.<br />
The exhibition combines reflections of conflict from<br />
a local and national perspective and involves the<br />
work of some of Britain’s most significant post-war<br />
artists, which will question our notions of peace and<br />
war. Artists whose work will be on display include<br />
Henry Moore, Paul Nash, Graham Sutherland and<br />
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. Other exhibits will include<br />
original work by the Cathedral’s Artist in Residence<br />
Peter Walker, items from the Staffordshire Regiment<br />
Museum, Military Valour awards and trench art. For<br />
more details visit www.lichfield-cathedral.org<br />
52
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WHAT: An evening with<br />
Samantha-Jayne<br />
WHERE: The Pear<br />
Tree Creperie<br />
WHEN: June 29<br />
Back by popular demand,<br />
fantastic wedding and<br />
events saxophonist<br />
Samantha-Jayne will be<br />
playing for diners at the<br />
Pear Tree Creperie, Heart<br />
of the Country, on Friday,<br />
June 29 from 7.30pm.<br />
Samantha-Jayne is a self-taught saxophonist who only<br />
plays ‘by ear’. She has toured the UK, Germany, and<br />
Miami with local gospel bands. Samantha plays the<br />
soprano, alto and tenor saxophones.<br />
With the close resemblance of the saxophone to the<br />
human voice, combined with Samantha-Jayne’s warm<br />
sax tones and exceptional improvisational skills, her<br />
performances are full of emotion and expression.<br />
Samantha-Jayne doesn’t just play, she makes her<br />
saxophones sing, as well as speak, to the listener.<br />
Booking for the evening is essential, call<br />
01543 481807.<br />
WHAT: Monstersaurus<br />
WHERE:Lichfield Garrick<br />
WHEN: June 30<br />
One day Monty found a book, ‘Inventions Very Rare’.<br />
Create yourself a monster friend, but only if you dare!<br />
This brand new show from the creators of Aliens<br />
Love Underpants is monster-ously good! Follow young<br />
inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of wacky<br />
inventions and incredible monsters, but he has a<br />
problem - now he has made them all, what is he going<br />
to do with them?<br />
This energetic show full of thrills, spills, magic and<br />
mayhem will delight the whole family – with original<br />
music and plenty of audience participation. For more<br />
details visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com<br />
WHAT: Concerts<br />
in the Park<br />
WHERE: Sutton Park<br />
WHEN:<br />
June 30 and July 1<br />
Concerts in the Park are returning to Sutton Coldfield<br />
this month, bringing a weekend of spectacular arts<br />
and cultural activity to the beautiful outdoor setting of<br />
Sutton Park. Enjoy world class music, brilliant family<br />
entertainment and great food, with something on the<br />
programme for everyone.<br />
Arts organisations and local community groups will<br />
contribute to the performance programme across both<br />
days, and the event will be headlined by the world-class<br />
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Listen<br />
to a lively outdoor fiesta programme, from classic to<br />
contemporary, Strauss waltzes to Bernstein. Concerts<br />
in the Park will provide a high point of the summer in<br />
Sutton Coldfield.<br />
All shows are suitable for children, and there will be a<br />
relaxed environment for youngsters to enjoy the music<br />
and performances. For more details visit<br />
www.townhallsuttoncoldfield.co.uk<br />
WHAT: for-Wards presents Harmonious Generations<br />
WHERE: Sutton Park<br />
WHEN: July 1<br />
Access Creative College presents Harmonious<br />
Generations by Chris Eddowes, aka Pøgman, with<br />
Whitehouse Common Primary School, Sutton Rock<br />
Choir, Greville House Retirement Home and Shaggy<br />
Dog Golf Club. Come and hear Sutton Coldfield as<br />
you have never heard it before. Delve deep into the<br />
diverse sounds of the area transformed into a musical<br />
journey. Generations of Sutton working together to<br />
bring the district to life in sound.<br />
The concert in the park is part of major city-wide<br />
music project for-Wards, creating new music inspired<br />
by the second city. In just two years, for-Wards<br />
has worked across 40 wards, 10 districts, with 10<br />
composers and 40 community groups and will have<br />
created 10 local performances premiering 10 new<br />
musical creations. Tickets to the concert are free; for<br />
more details visit www.for-wards.co.uk<br />
GET INVOLVED: Have you got a local event<br />
you’d like to promote? Then we’d love to hear<br />
from you. From charity nights to local theatre<br />
productions and more, send details to editor@<br />
jaimemagazine.com and you could see your<br />
event on these pages.<br />
54
“A 3000 YEAR OLD EASTERN SECRET REVEALED OF<br />
LONG LIFE & OPTIMUM HEALTH.”<br />
F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T :<br />
W W W . C O L L O I D A L E A R T H . C O M<br />
SOY FREE DAIRY FREE GLUTEN FREE VEGAN FRIENDLY<br />
Testing takes place on all products for quality<br />
assurance in order to meet the rigorous<br />
standards put in place. Each batch is tested as<br />
well as samples being sent to an independent<br />
laboratory to ensure overall quality. In addition,<br />
colloidal silver is tested by a WADA approved<br />
laboratory which ensures the product is free<br />
form banned substances.<br />
Would you like your business to be seen by<br />
15,000 up-market households each month?<br />
J’AIME IS FREELY DISTRIBUTED TO<br />
15,000 SELECTED HOMES IN SUTTON<br />
COLDFIELD, STREETLY, WALSALL,<br />
LICHFIELD AND THE SURROUNDING<br />
VILLAGES OF SHENSTONE, SLITTING<br />
MILL, THE LONGDONS, STREETHAY,<br />
WHITTINGTON, FRADLEY, ALREWAS AND<br />
BARTON UNDER NEEDWOOD EVERY<br />
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IN LOCAL HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND<br />
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OUR ADVERTISERS ALSO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF<br />
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AT AN ALL INCLUSIVE COMPETITIVE PRICE.<br />
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE PLEASE CONTACT JAN ASHLEY<br />
ON 07388 335931 OR EMAIL ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM
LO CA L A R E A<br />
What’s<br />
Competition<br />
on Second City<br />
A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST<br />
EVENTS TO COME TO BIRMINGHAM THIS MONTH<br />
WHAT: Inspired<br />
Family Day<br />
WHERE: Birmingham<br />
City University<br />
WHEN: June 9<br />
From starring in your own play, jewellery making and<br />
designing your own railway, to science experiments,<br />
craft workshops and a Commonwealth Gamesinspired<br />
sports day, Birmingham City University will<br />
be throwing open its doors to the public once again on<br />
Saturday, June 9, for a unique, hands-on experience.<br />
The University’s second Inspired Family Day will<br />
welcome families to the Eastside campus in the city<br />
centre for an action-packed day of free and fun-filled<br />
events and activities for all ages between 11am and<br />
4pm. Highlights of Inspired Family Day include<br />
drop in, make-and-take sessions for the under 10s,<br />
while young adults can have a go at making their<br />
own television programme in one of the University’s<br />
state-of-the-art broadcasting studios. Plus, Birmingham<br />
Hippodrome will be taking part and offering groups of<br />
youngsters the opportunity to write, direct and star in<br />
their own play which will be performed at the end of<br />
Inspired Family Day. For more details visit<br />
www.bcu.ac.uk/familyday<br />
WHAT:<br />
The Life and Rhymes<br />
of Benjamin Zephaniah<br />
WHERE:<br />
Birmingham Town Hall<br />
WHEN: June 15<br />
He befriended Nelson Mandela,<br />
fought in the 1980s race riots<br />
and recorded radical and<br />
relevant reggae music with Bob<br />
Marley’s former band. Benjamin Zephaniah was unable<br />
to read and write at school but became one of Britain’s<br />
most remarkable poets. And now he’s back with his first<br />
tour in eight years, to coincide with his autobiography,<br />
The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah.<br />
In a compelling and inspiring show, Zephaniah will<br />
explain how he fought injustice and discrimination<br />
to lead a remarkable life, while sharing a selection of<br />
favourite stories and poems. Signed copies of The Life<br />
and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah will be available<br />
after the show. For more details visit www.thsh.co.uk<br />
WHAT: Woyzeck<br />
WHERE: Birmingham REP<br />
WHEN: June 15 to 23<br />
Woyzeck just can't get a break. He's stuck living<br />
in military barracks. He's forced to shave his<br />
condescending commanding officer everyday. His wages<br />
are pitiful. His girlfriend might be having an affair.<br />
And now he is hearing voices. Maybe he's starting to<br />
crack? Or maybe it's just because his doctor is trialling a<br />
pea-only diet on him? It's far from ideal but his doctor's<br />
poking and prodding comes with the reward of some<br />
extra money. It's the chance for a better life if Woyzeck<br />
can just hold on that little bit longer…<br />
Theatre and dance combine in an exhilarating story<br />
about fighting for a better life when everything else<br />
seems to be fighting against you. It's also a story that<br />
celebrates the West Midlands spirit as a community<br />
chorus of one hundred performers and dancers bring<br />
this show to life. Woyzeck is part of Birmingham<br />
International Dance Festival. For more information visit<br />
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk<br />
56
WHAT:<br />
Birdsong<br />
WHERE:<br />
New Alexandra Theatre<br />
WHEN:<br />
June 18 to 23<br />
Marking the 100th<br />
anniversary of the First<br />
World War, Birdsong is the<br />
hit, critically-acclaimed<br />
stage show based on the<br />
world famous novel by Sebastian Faulks.<br />
In pre-war France, a young Englishman Stephen<br />
Wraysford embarks on a passionate and dangerous<br />
affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their<br />
world upside down.<br />
As the war breaks out over the idyll of his former life,<br />
Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of<br />
the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling<br />
tunnels that lie deep underground. Faced with the<br />
unprecedented horror of the war Stephen clings to<br />
the memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around<br />
him. A mesmerising story of love and courage set both<br />
before and during the Great War. For more details visit<br />
www.atgtickets.com/birmingham<br />
WHAT:<br />
Lenny Kravitz<br />
WHERE:<br />
Arena<br />
Birmingham<br />
WHEN:<br />
June 20<br />
American rock<br />
legend Lenny Kravitz is bringing his summer UK tour<br />
to Arena Birmingham this month.<br />
Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians<br />
of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre,<br />
style, race and class over the course of a 20-year<br />
musical career which revels in the rich influences of<br />
'60s and '70s soul, rock and funk. From 1999 to 2002,<br />
he won four consecutive Grammy Awards, setting a<br />
record for the most wins in the Best Male Rock Vocal<br />
Performance category with his single Dig In, having<br />
previously won for Again, American Woman and Fly<br />
Away.<br />
This will be Kravitz’s first time in the UK since 2015<br />
and it is set to be an irresistible show. For more details<br />
visit www.arenabham.co.uk<br />
WHAT:<br />
Jess Gillam<br />
WHERE:<br />
Royal<br />
Birmingham<br />
Conservatoire,<br />
Recital Hall<br />
WHEN:<br />
June 26<br />
In 2016, at the age of 17, Jess Gillam made history<br />
as the first saxophonist to make the finals of the BBC<br />
Young Musician of the Year competition. Since<br />
then, she’s appeared at the BBC Proms and achieved<br />
widespread success. Jess’s lunchtime recital is part<br />
of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s 15-month<br />
long Opening Festival and if you haven’t already had<br />
a chance to visit Birmingham’s newest concert venue,<br />
this hour-long concert is the perfect opportunity. Why<br />
not stop for lunch in the venue’s café afterwards?<br />
Ticket information and further details can be found<br />
at www.bcu.ac.uk/opening-festival or<br />
0121 331 5909.<br />
GET INVOLVED: Have you got a local event<br />
you’d like to promote? Then we’d love to hear<br />
from you. From charity nights to local theatre<br />
productions and more, send details to editor@<br />
jaimemagazine.com and you could see your<br />
event on these pages.<br />
WHAT:<br />
Birmingham<br />
Royal Ballet<br />
- Romeo and<br />
Juliet<br />
WHERE:<br />
Birmingham<br />
Hippodrome<br />
WHEN:<br />
June 26 to 30<br />
“My only love<br />
sprung from<br />
my only hate.”<br />
Prokofiev’s glorious score sets hearts alight in Kenneth<br />
MacMillan’s enduringly popular Romeo and Juliet,<br />
which returns to Birmingham this month, performed<br />
by Birmingham Royal Ballet.<br />
Love at first dance, forbidden passions, dangerous<br />
secrets and star-crossed fate combine in this<br />
exhilarating classic ballet. In the most famous love<br />
story ever told, a dangerous cocktail of arrogant youth,<br />
simmering tension and deadly feuds erupts, leaving<br />
two young lovers at the mercy of powerful families and<br />
their own hearts. From the balcony scene’s ecstatic pas<br />
de deux, exploring love in all its soaring wonder, to the<br />
lovers’ heart-breaking ends, Romeo and Juliet is dance<br />
at its most poignant and beautiful. For more details<br />
visit www.birminghamhipodrome.com<br />
57
FA S H I O N<br />
Shorts story<br />
WITH SUMMER AROUND THE CORNER, GIVE YOUR WARDROBE<br />
A SHORT AND SWEET UPDATE SAYS AMY NORBURY<br />
ONCE the preserve of faraway vacations and schoolboy uniforms,<br />
the humble short has been resurrected to become a fashion-forward<br />
option for summer style.<br />
But we’re not talking about your trusty denim cut-offs, the cycling<br />
variety à la Kim Kardashian or those seasonal short-shorts that leave<br />
little to the imagination. This season, shorts have smartened up their<br />
act to become a viable choice from boardroom to bar.<br />
The surprise hit of the summer catwalks, we saw high-waisted<br />
and worn with metallic blouses at Isabel Marant, a lean and chic<br />
iteration paired with slick double-breasted blazers at Off-White,<br />
Saint Laurent’s high-waisted leathers, and a whole host of shorts<br />
suits. That’s right – fashion-forward summer tailoring will finish at<br />
the knee. This is the shot in the leg your summer wardrobe needs<br />
now.<br />
The biggest new player on the smart summer scene is the power<br />
short. These ones are clean cut, chic enough to pull off at the office<br />
but still playful enough for a night out – and examples have been<br />
spotted all over the runway.<br />
Perfect for work or play, a great piece of tailoring is key to any<br />
wardrobe, and these summery, loose-fit shorts leave just the right<br />
amount of leg on show. Wear yours with coordinating jackets, silky<br />
camisoles and heels by night, or a casual T-shirt and flat mules by<br />
day.<br />
When it comes to hemlines, leave the hot pants for holidays and<br />
opt for a more conservative length for your day-to-day summer<br />
wardrobe. Short culottes are are great option for those times when<br />
you need below-the-knee coverage; a glamorous and sophisticated<br />
addition to your wardrobe, culottes are having a major fashion<br />
comeback in <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
To up the glam factor, look out for tailored elements like upturned<br />
hems and button detail; the high-waisted ‘paper bag’ style is a superflattering<br />
cut which will nip in your mid-section nicely. Structured<br />
fabrics, rather than blousy, add a more formal air to your outfit,<br />
while leather and satin numbers are particularly on-trend choices for<br />
a night on the tiles.<br />
SHORTS, £22, TOP,<br />
£28, AND HEELS,<br />
£25, ALL DOROTHY<br />
PERKINS<br />
58
£415<br />
£22<br />
PETUNIA MUSTARD<br />
CRINKLED LINEN SHORT<br />
CULOTTES, WTR AT<br />
HARVEY NICHOLS<br />
SCARLET STRIPED LINEN<br />
SHORTS, ALICE + OLIVIA<br />
AT HARVEY NICHOLS<br />
NAVY POM POM<br />
HEM SHORTS,<br />
DOROTHY PERKINS<br />
£325<br />
£59.50<br />
£185<br />
BLACK HIGH-WAISTED<br />
SHORTS, VINCE AT<br />
HARVEY NICHOLS<br />
POINT ASYMMETRIC<br />
TIE CULOTTES,<br />
OLIVER BONAS<br />
KHAKI TIE WAIST<br />
SHORTS, M&CO<br />
£30<br />
£18<br />
BLUE STRIPED PAPER BAG<br />
SHORTS, MISS SELFRIDGE<br />
BLACK GINGHAM CULOTTE<br />
JUMPSUIT, £28, DOROTHY PERKINS
FA S H I O N<br />
The bride guide<br />
JILL HARTLEY, CO-OWNER AND DIRECTOR OF NERO E BIANCO EXCLUSIVE FASHION<br />
AND BRIDAL BOUTIQUE AT BARTON MARINA, SHARES HER STYLE TIPS FOR BRIDES-TO-BE<br />
At Nero e Bianco, we pride ourselves in giving all our brides to be - and all who come with - the most special<br />
experience in finding your dream wedding dress.<br />
With wedding season in full swing, all you brides-to-be out there will be looking for ideas for your special day, so<br />
we have brought together a few amazing dresses to suit different body shapes and sizes to help you in making that<br />
very important decision in the form of a silhouette guide.<br />
Ball gown<br />
The timeless and classic wedding dress. Worn for<br />
generations and never goes out of fashion.<br />
A dress quite literally fit for a princess.<br />
<br />
About the style:<br />
• A sweetheart neckline and waist-hugging bodice.<br />
• A stunning full bell-shaped skirt that is breathtaking<br />
and memorising.<br />
• A beautiful trail that flows behind you elegantly as<br />
you walk down the aisle.<br />
Sheath<br />
A long length figure-hugging dress, perfect for tall<br />
brides. This slim-fit style looks effortlessly gorgeous.<br />
<br />
About the style:<br />
• The cut of this dress sits on your natural body shape.<br />
• It’s sleek, stylish and contemporary.<br />
• The long vertical lines of this style gives the dress a<br />
lengthening effect making you look deceptively taller.<br />
60
www.neroebianco.co.uk<br />
Nero e Bianco<br />
Exclusive Fashion & Bridal<br />
Barton Marina<br />
Burton upon Trent<br />
DE13 8AS<br />
01283 346704
Mermaid<br />
Mermaid style dress, also commonly known as<br />
a ‘fishtail’ dress.<br />
It has a luxurious fit that’s perfect for amplifying<br />
curvier figures.<br />
About the style:<br />
• The upper bodice elegantly hugs your figure.<br />
• The stunning skirt flares out either mid-thigh or at<br />
the knees leaving a gorgeous trail behind you and<br />
showing off your curves.<br />
• The cut of the dress emphasises an hourglass<br />
shape to show off your figure.<br />
A-line<br />
This dress is the epitome of elegance; its classic silhouette<br />
flatters every bride.<br />
About the style:<br />
• A fitted bodice accentuates your waistline to show off your<br />
body type.<br />
• The skirt flows out into the shape of an ‘A’ which is where<br />
the name of the style comes from.<br />
• It’s an ‘easy to wear’ dress that’s perfect for almost any<br />
shape, and particularly flatters hourglass figures.<br />
Tea dress<br />
Something different to your typical floor length dresses.<br />
A sweet, short dress for all figures.<br />
About the style:<br />
• A leg-baring dress great for vintage style weddings.<br />
• A dress that gives you the opportunity to show off those<br />
gorgeous bridal shoes and accessories!<br />
62
H E A LT H<br />
Are minerals the answer for optimum health?<br />
BIRMINGHAM ENTREPRENEUR SUKHMANIE SEMBHY IS HOPING TO HELP PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH<br />
AND WELLBEING - THANKS TO A 3,000-YEAR-OLD EASTERN SECRET. AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS MORE<br />
When Sukhmanie Sembhy was just 16 years old,<br />
she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an<br />
autoimmune condition which causes pain, swelling<br />
and stiffness in the joints. In search of relief from<br />
her condition, Sukhmanie and her family turned<br />
to a series of private hospitals and doctors, only to<br />
find that conventional drugs seemed to make her<br />
symptoms worse.<br />
After years of research into alternative medicines,<br />
Sukhmanie discovered the healing power of colloidal<br />
minerals and silver back in 2014.<br />
For thousands of years silver has been used as a<br />
healing and anti-bacterial agent by civilizations<br />
throughout the world. Its medical, preservative and<br />
restorative powers can be traced as far back as the<br />
ancient Greek and Roman Empires. Long before the<br />
development of modern pharmaceuticals, silver was<br />
employed as a germicide and antibiotic.<br />
Trace minerals are a mineral essential to our body<br />
for optimal health but not required by our body in<br />
significant quantities. Specifically, trace minerals<br />
support metabolism, antioxidant protection, immune<br />
system function and energy. Liquid colloidal mineral<br />
supplements are types of trace mineral supplements<br />
that purport better absorption by the body due to the<br />
small size of the colloidal minerals.<br />
“I found a supplier in America,” she explains,<br />
“and within a week of taking the supplements my<br />
symptoms had eased off.<br />
Now, aged 25, Sukhmanie is the founder of<br />
Colloidal Earth, supplying colloidal mineral and<br />
silver supplements to customers around the UK and<br />
beyond. She set up the business in February and has<br />
already seen rave reviews from customers.<br />
“The feedback has been amazingly positive,” she<br />
says. “People have been leaving remarkable reviews<br />
on the website about how much of a difference the<br />
minerals have made to their health and wellbeing.<br />
“Two-Time Nobel Prize winner Dr. Linus Pauling<br />
said ‘You can trace every sickness, every disease, and<br />
every ailment to a mineral deficiency’ and our liquid<br />
minerals are minimally processed so you’re getting<br />
up to 98 per cent of the vitamins and nutrients from<br />
them, compared to only ten per cent in tablets and<br />
pills from other main retail stores.”<br />
So why can’t we get these minerals today from<br />
our fruit and<br />
vegetables? According<br />
to Sukhmanie,<br />
commercial farming<br />
has robbed us of these<br />
important minerals<br />
from soil depletion.<br />
“Because of soil<br />
depletion, crops<br />
grown decades ago<br />
were much richer<br />
in vitamins and<br />
minerals than the<br />
SUKHMANIE SEMBHY,<br />
FOUNDER OF<br />
COLLOIDAL EARTH<br />
varieties most of us get today,” she explains. “Our<br />
complete colloidal mineral complex contains up to<br />
72 plant-derived trace minerals and elements which<br />
are used by the body to help it perform optimally<br />
and maintain health. They help protect the cells<br />
of the body from free radical damage by providing<br />
antioxidant support. These colloidal minerals are<br />
better absorbed and utilised by the body to improve<br />
efficacy and results.”<br />
Sukhmanie gave up a job working for a top fashion<br />
designer in London to pursue her dream of helping<br />
people achieve optimum health.<br />
“I found that working in fashion wasn’t feeding my<br />
soul, and I wanted to do something to help people,”<br />
she says.<br />
“The fast pace of life in London had caught up with<br />
me and I wanted something more. Colloidal minerals<br />
and silver made a huge difference to my life, and I<br />
hope they can make a difference to others too.”<br />
For more information visit www.colloidalearth.com<br />
63
B E AU T Y<br />
Cruelty-free and beautiful<br />
AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE PRODUCTS THEY USE ON THEIR FACE, THE<br />
BEAUTY INDUSTRY HAS SEEN A MASSIVE RISE IN VEGAN SKINCARE. LISA PIDDINGTON, FROM HARVEY<br />
NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM, PICKS HER FAVOURITE ETHICAL MUST-HAVES TO ENSURE GREAT-LOOKING SKIN.<br />
With its 100% natural blend of<br />
highly concentrated ingredients, the<br />
Elemis Superfood Facial Oil,<br />
£45, deeply nourishes and hydrates<br />
your skin. Anti-oxidant and omegarich<br />
broccoli, flax seed and daikon<br />
radish help to soften and smooth.<br />
Lightweight, non-greasy and easily<br />
absorbed, this oil will leave skin<br />
balanced with a healthy, radiant<br />
glow.<br />
Emma Hardie’s super charged<br />
Vit C Serum, £49, helps brighten<br />
skin and reduce dark spots and<br />
pigmentation. The time-released<br />
vitamin C helps promote collagen<br />
synthesis while vitamin B3 works as<br />
a daily defence against the harmful<br />
effects from pollution and sun damage.<br />
Its water-light formula<br />
absorbs quickly, leaving<br />
the perfect platform for<br />
your daily moisturiser.<br />
BYBI Beauty Babe Balm, £18, is a rich moisturiser by night and glossy lip<br />
balm, cheek highlighter, eyebrow gloss or hand cream by day ... the choice is<br />
yours! Super-firming Coenzyme Q10 is the key ingredient, along with a nourishing<br />
combination of Squalene, Hibiscus and Calendula. It looks like peach sorbet<br />
(that’ll be the pink sweet potato extract) and smells like a tropical sunset (thanks<br />
to the Brazilian Pequi oil). It also comes in a compostable tube made of<br />
sugarcane just to up its ethical cred.<br />
With Iconic London’s Illuminator<br />
drops, £30, a little certainly goes a long<br />
way. These versatile, customisable shimmer<br />
drops allow you to bump up the highlight<br />
factor of any product in your makeup bag<br />
– just add to your usual foundation, primer<br />
or moisturiser or use on its own for a super<br />
highlighted golden glow.<br />
Relieve dry skin with<br />
Sarah Chapman’s<br />
Intense Hydrating<br />
Booster, £59. For<br />
a complexion that<br />
feels comforted, this<br />
lightweight silky oilfree<br />
formula is ideal for<br />
dehydrated, stressed, and<br />
unbalanced skin with its<br />
combination of hydrators<br />
and immune defence skin<br />
protectors.<br />
ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE GROUND FLOOR<br />
BEAUTY HALL AT HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM, THE MAILBOX.<br />
64
Life in the fast lane<br />
M OTO R S<br />
THIS MONTH J’AIME’S MOTORING CORRESPONDENT AND RESIDENT RACING DRIVER<br />
MARTIN PLOWMAN ASKS “COULD FORMULA E BE COMING TO BIRMINGHAM IN 2019?”<br />
FORMULA E IS IN ADVANCED<br />
TALKS TO BRING MOTORSPORT<br />
BACK TO BIRMINGHAM<br />
Formula E is the first fully-electric form of<br />
motorsport that has taken the world by storm since<br />
its debut in 2014. Despite many doubters who felt<br />
racing cars that sounded like juiced up remotecontrolled<br />
cars would turn off true petrol-heads have<br />
been proven wrong so far. Formula E has grown at<br />
an exponential rate in the last four years and has<br />
become a global force to be reckoned with.<br />
The championship boasts 20 of the world’s best<br />
drivers, participation by seven major manufacturers<br />
including Audi, Renault and Jaguar Land Rover. It<br />
travels to five different continents and 11 host cities.<br />
Outside of Formula 1, it is quickly becoming one of<br />
the world’s most prestigious racing championships.<br />
As of the time of writing this, Birmingham is in<br />
‘advanced talks’ with the organisers of Formula E to<br />
host an event in 2019 and beyond, according to West<br />
Midlands mayor Andy Street.<br />
“Over the last year, we have been in negotiations<br />
with the organisers of the FIA Formula E<br />
Championship about bringing a road race to<br />
Birmingham, effectively reviving the Super Prix,”<br />
said Street. “We are now in the advanced stages of<br />
these negotiations.”<br />
Street explained that Birmingham wanted to<br />
showcase its revamped city centre and also the<br />
region’s position “as a world leader in the next<br />
generation of automotive technologies. So much of<br />
65
COULD THIS BE A SCENE IN<br />
BIRMINGHAM FROM 2019?<br />
the engineering that goes into the cars already used<br />
in Formula E racing comes from the West Midlands,<br />
it makes perfect sense we should be hosting such<br />
events.”<br />
If the mayor can pull this off, it would be huge<br />
news for Birmingham and the whole of the West<br />
Midlands. Birmingham has not hosted a major<br />
motorsport event since 1990 when it held the<br />
fabled Birmingham Super Prix between 1986-1990<br />
contested by Formula 3000 cars<br />
(equivalent to today’s second<br />
tier Formula 2 cars). The event<br />
would bring glitz, glamour, and<br />
the world’s attention to a city in<br />
full revival mode.<br />
Formula E’s recipe for success<br />
boils down to the fact that<br />
they are very fan-friendly. Fan<br />
engagement is at the core of<br />
the championship’s focus,<br />
even down to the extreme of<br />
where fans get to vote for their<br />
favourite driver to receive a ‘fan<br />
boost’ of extra power during the<br />
race to gain an advantage for a<br />
predetermined amount of time.<br />
Formula E race events are<br />
massive occasions that are more<br />
akin to street carnivals, with<br />
temporary race tracks set up in<br />
the heart of the city. I can only<br />
hope that Electric Avenue forms<br />
BIRMINGHAM HOSTED THE SUPER<br />
PRIX FROM 1986 TO 1990<br />
part of the circuit or<br />
else they will be missing<br />
out on some major PR<br />
fodder! By taking the<br />
party to the people, it<br />
ensures there are always<br />
big crowds and plenty<br />
of things to do for the<br />
whole family.<br />
Financially speaking,<br />
the race will help give<br />
a big shock to the local<br />
economy too. The last<br />
time Formula E raced<br />
in the UK, 120,000 fans<br />
flocked to Battersea Park<br />
on race day alone, many<br />
of whom were out-oftown<br />
guests needing<br />
hotels, transportation<br />
and restaurants.<br />
The whole of the West Midlands is in the middle of<br />
a sporting and cultural resurgence with some bigticket<br />
events on the horizon after it was announced<br />
that Birmingham had won its bid to host the<br />
Commonwealth Games in 2022. The addition of a<br />
Formula E race would add a welcome spark to the<br />
West Midlands cultural scene.<br />
66
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