318

Worth
£544
WIN
A LUXURY
ragdale hall
spa break
Britain’s No.1 fortnightly
bake a treat
from childhood
Retro cake and pud recipes
yours.co.uk
pineapple
upside-down cake
black forest
gateau
ISSUE 318
Find
sleep
your
solutions
What to do when you’ve tried everything
expert advice
New Pension
Credit rules
Will you miss
out on £££s?
countdown to
downton abbey
Latest pictures from
the film revealed
Exclusive chat
Julia roberts
On family life,
feeling lucky
& her latest film
feb 26-mar
11, 2019
£1.59
No-fly holidays
How to dress
yourself slimmer
this spring
from
£29
See Europe
by train, boat
or coach

Welcome... Win £100!
Find Sammy Squirrel…
For how to join the search see page 115
Get Yours
£1
for just
cover PIC: Michael Nagle/ Redux/eyevine
I
love a bit of nostalgia! Nothing makes me
happier than spending Sunday afternoon
watching a classic movie on TV. I love retro
style too. Whether it’s Fifties furniture or
Sixties fashion, I enjoy browsing vintage fairs
and antique shops looking for quirky buys.
I’m lucky to be able to indulge my passion
in print too with Yours Retro – a spin-off
magazine packed with rare pictures and
surprising stories of the stars we loved along
with memories of music
legends, cult TV shows and fads and fashions from
the past. The latest issue (pictured right) is on sale
this week – why not give it a try?
Food is a great way of sparking memories too.
How long is it since you had a Pineapple Upside-
Down Cake? There are some tasty retro recipes
to try on page 67. Speaking of tastes of the past,
if any of you have a really good recipe for Eccles
Cakes I’d love to see it. My mum made the best
ones but her recipe is long gone and, try as we
might, we’ve not been able to match them.
See you next issue…
Sharon Reid, Editor
…only when
you subscribe
See page 54
Get in
touch
Write to
Yours magazine, Media House,
Peterborough Business Park,
Peterborough PE2 6EA
editor’s choice
Retro looks for your home…
An iconic Sixties
look, authentic
bell ring and
traditional rotary
dial make this
GPO phone
both stylish and
practical.
£33.69
www.amazon.co.uk
Email
yours@
bauermedia.
co.uk
Whether you
want espresso,
cappuccino, or
latte, this Swan
coffee machine
will make a
cool cuppa.
£79.99
www.wayfair.co.uk
0800 1690423
Facebook
facebook.com/
Yoursmagazine
Dig out your
vinyl records
and relive those
teen afternoons
listening to the
latest hits on your
Dansette with this
Attaché Turntable.
£69.99
www.argos.co.uk
Join us online…
yours.co.uk
Inside this issue...
Real life
18 Debbie Dowie’s breast
cancer story
21 For the love of animals
22 Surprising seahorses
25 Plastic pollution
29 Helping victims of
modern slavery
Star chat
6 Cover Countdown
to Downton!
12 Cover Yours chats
to Julia Roberts
14 Keeley Hawes
16 The Great British
Sewing Bee’s Patrick
Grant
26 Twenty years of
Midsomer Murders
128 Pick of the best TV!
Your best life now!
33 Best eco beauty buys
34 Cover New season dresses
38 Reveal your radiance
40 Cover Sleep to improve memory
45 The true bone boosters
Good to know
51 Home clean-up tricks
52 Homes of tomorrow
55 Insurance black boxes
57 Savvy spec shopping
58 Cover New pension
credit rules
Nostalgia
83 Fashionable fringes
84 Designer Christian Dior
86 Valentines remembered
Leisure time
67 Cover Retro bakes!
71 Slimmer dinners
73 Cuddly creatures!
77 Knitted kittens
79 Anyone for camellias?
97 48 hours in Aldeburgh
100 Cover No-fly holidays!
Your favourites
8 Meeting Place
80 Short story
91 Roy Hudd
93 Friends of Yours
107 Carers in touch
109 FREE Cliff Richard
CD for every reader
115 Puzzles to test you &
Cover prizes to win
130 Horoscopes and
what’s in our next issue!
22
33
73
WIN
a spa
break!
p121
51

star chat
The Great British Sewing Bee judge
Patrick Grant, 46, tells us what
makes him tick: the great outdoors and oldfashioned
manners
n Nature
rejuvenates
As a kid, I’d help my
parents with the
garden and spent a
lot of time outdoors.
Now, I go wild camping
and do hill walking – I
feel really happy in
the mountains and
green spaces. You’re
just being. It’s very
regenerative. I love
gardening and nearly
became a gardener in
my 20s. I did week-long
stints for the National
Trust where you worked
as a gardener in one of
their properties. I always
came back rejuvenated.
n Manners maketh man
That was the motto of my
college at Oxford. It’s also
written in the stained glass in
the porch of my mum’s house
in Edinburgh. It’s great advice.
Trying to be kind in whatever
you’re doing is always good.
And being mindful of others;
this idea of gentlemanliness
in the more old-fashioned
sense of being empathetic.
n Value quality
My parents were careful with
the things they owned and
kept stuff a long time. My
mum never throws anything
away unless it’s absolutely
at the end of its life. Respect
quality. I’m not a huge
consumer, but when I buy
something – whether it’s a
piece of furniture or kitchen
pans – I save up to buy the
best version I could buy. I’m
not interested in anything
My
lessons
from
life
not built to last. My
saucepans are 25
years old.
n Find time for
friends
Having a busy job
doesn’t half get in
the way of friendship. Finding
time to spend with mates is
difficult, but important. We
do it through hill walking or
cycling trips. There’s a brilliant
bike festival, Eroica, in the
Peak District. We camp for
three days, ride vintage bikes
and put the world to rights.
n Relationships
aren’t easy
What have I learned about
love and relationships?
Probably not enough. For
me they play second fiddle
to work. I’m fortunate to
have a job I really love. I have
four clothing brands and
a factory in Blackburn. It’s
all-consuming. In a normal
week, I work 60-70 hours. In
a bad week, it’s up to 110.
It’s not easy to have fulfilling
personal relationships when
you’re working this much.
n Help others
I have an opportunity to
do a lot of things for the
benefit of others and that’s
important. I’ve a sustainable
ethical clothing business
called Community Clothing.
It’s making quality clothes
affordable, but also creating
and sustaining jobs in
communities in the UK that
really need good jobs. It feels
fabulous to do that.
n The Great British Sewing
Bee is on BBC2 on Tuesday
evenings.
n Patrick was talking to
Katherine Hassell
And finally…
16
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
Patrick with fellow Sewing
Bee judge Esme Young and
left, comedian Joe Lycett,
the show’s new presenter
n What advice would you tell your 18-year-old self?
I’ve been very fortunate, I don’t have any great regrets.
I do wish I’d kept the fashion I bought in my late teens
and early 20s, though – stuff that would now be hugely
valuable, all that old Gaultier and Westwood. It breaks my
heart to think I gave it away. Hopefully, somebody else is
enjoying it.
pics: bbc;richard young/shutterstock

As we inch ever nearer to the
hotly anticipated Downton
Abbey film, we get a taste of
what’s to come with these lovely
latest pictures
n In fine form: The Countess of
Grantham (Dame Maggie Smith),
pictured with some of the Crawley clan,
looks to be back to her normal acerbic
self. We can’t wait to hear the witty
one-liners she has to say in the film
PICs: wenn.com, jaap buitendijk: Focus features
This September we are all
cordially invited to spend an
evening in the company of
Lords, Ladies and some warmly
familiar friends as our favourite
and now much-missed TV show hits the
silver screen.
While it may still be a while away we
couldn’t resist taking a look at the latest
photos and behind-the-scenes shots.
When filming finished late last year,
producers posted on social media: ‘143
unforgettable scenes, 50 wonderful days,
one glorious film. It’s a wrap!’
All of the original cast will be returning
for the big-screen outing, including
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley,
Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley,
Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Hugh
Bonneville as Robert Crawley and
Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley. And
even Dame Maggie Smith is set to return as
Violet Crawley, Dowager
Countess of Grantham,
despite the actress
previously saying she
thought a movie might
be, “squeezing dry” the
Downton story.
One person who will
certainly be missing is
Lily James as she’s said
her character Lady Rose
couldn’t fit into the plot.
Speaking of the storyline, the stars
have intimated that the film picks up a
few months after the series ended,
meaning we’re likely to see the aftermath
of some key moments of that last episode
including Edith’s marriage to Bertie,
Lady Mary’s baby news and Carson’s
resignation. We also know we’re going
to need our handkerchiefs as it’s already
been rumoured the film is going to be a
weepy one!
n Downton Abbey is released on
September 13 in the UK
n Highclere Castle, used as the setting for
Downton Abbey, re-opens for the tourist
season on selected dates from April 7. For more
information visit www.highclerecastle.co.uk
Countdown to
Downto
6
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT

n Having a ball:
Months after
becoming parents,
the happy couple
Lady Mary (Michelle
Dockery) and
Henry Talbot
(Matthew Goode)
dance in each
other’s arms,
looking just as in
love as when we
last saw them
in the picture
on
the movie
n Will he stay or will
he go? Trusty butler
Carson played by
Jim Carter handed
in his notice at
the end of the last
series and seems
to be walking away
from Downton for
good in this film
still (left). But will
he be back, unable
to leave the house
he loves so much?
n Together again:
Newlyweds Lady
Edith (played by
Laura Carmichael)
and Bertie (Harry
Hadden-Paton) are
reunited with the
Crawley family. But
how will they adapt
to married life and
the responsibilities
of Bertie becoming
the Marquess of
Hexham?
n Behind the scenes: these
fun shots show the cast had
a ball reuniting to film the
Downton Abbey movie
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
7

As the V&A’s latest
exhibition pays homage
to Christian Dior,
Katharine Wootton
explores how his
sumptuously glamorous
designs changed the
face of fashion for ever
PICs: alamy stock photo; getty images, magnum photos, eyevine
It was February 12, 1947 when
a bustle of visitors stepped
out of the wintry cold and
inside 30 Avenue Montaigne,
Paris, for a new fashion show
from a burgeoning designer called
Christian Dior. It was just two years
Christian Dior illustrates his new longer skirt
lengths in the late Forties with a tape measure
after the end of the war and years
of austerity were reflected in drab
fashion styles. But in this corner of
France, Dior showed another way
as he presented what would be
one of the biggest
Dreams
Designer of
breakthroughs the
fashion world has
ever seen.
And now the
V&A Museum in
London is giving
a nod towards
this show, and
what happened next, in a new
corset gave the ideal foundations
exhibition of more than 500
for perfect proportions, which
objects, including rare photographs, were then layered with long, fullbodied
skirts, cinched-in waists
sketches, illustrations and, of course,
and elegantly draped shoulder
‘It’s quite a revolution dear lines. Add to that soft, coquettishlyplaced
hats and classic court shoes
Christian! Your dresses
have such a new look’
and it was a look that couldn’t have
marked a more dramatic departure
exquisitely gorgeous garments.
from the past.
For what Christian Dior did in that
This style required ladies to
critical moment in 1947 was to
overhaul every bit of their outfit
magic up something of a Cinderella to adopt each individual element
story for fashion, swapping the
of the fashion – from hat to shoes
severe, shapeless designs that
– giving the impression that this
the war had forced upon women
was a fresh start for everyone
for enchantingly voluminous,
after the horrors of war. Dior later
stylish and swirling outfits that
referred to this as, “the return to
had glamour, romance and class
an ideal of civilised happiness.”
lovingly sewn into every stitch.
Among the audience of that
No longer were women’s bodies first exhibition, Carmel Snow, the
hidden under drab, ill-fitting, rather editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar
masculine, styles, instead Dior
scribbled in her notebook: “It’s
celebrated the feminine hourglass quite a revolution, dear Christian!
silhouette. A boned, lightweight
Your dresses have such a new look.”
84
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT

emember retro favourites when
In that throwaway sentence she
coined a name for this landmark
style that has ever since been
referred to as the ‘new look’.
It had irresistible
appeal to everyone,
from the British royal
family, including
Princess Margaret to
the biggest stars of the
day and the average
housewife who craved
the sense of dreamy
luxury conjured up by
these fabulous designs they read
about in magazines. Indeed, as the
new look took off, London designers
began to adapt Dior’s outfits to
versions that a standard weekly wage
could afford.
The ‘new look’ featured some
key, specific pieces: the bar suit was
one of the most sought-after items,
with its full-pleated skirt and strictly
tailored hourglass jacket that gave
every woman who wore it a joyful,
elegant swing. The Passe-Partout (go
anywhere) suit was another classic,
made in navy blue wool crepe with
a crew-neck jacket, pockets on the
chest, tails and pencil skirt.
Princess Margaret meeting
Christian after a winter
collection show in 1954
Dior died in 1957 from his third
heart attack, but the Dior revolution
continued, at first under the
care of Yves Saint Laurent.
Since then, countless
creative directors have
followed and expanded
Dior’s range, with the first
female creative director,
Maria Grazia Chiuri,
appointed in 2016.
Today, Dior’s outfits look
remarkably different from
the fashions paraded at the
1947 exhibition – and come with a price
tag that only a privileged few can afford.
Nevertheless, even the most recent
collections still show the trademark Dior
style started in that 1947 exhibition of
opulent theatre and luxurious elegance.
In fact, the 2019 catwalk even featured
dance performances and a theatrical
staging. It all serves as a reminder that
the revolutionary fashion of fantasy
and frivolity Dior started in 1947 – the
designs of dreams – still lives on.
n The exhibition, Christian Dior: Designer
of Dreams, is at the V&A, London until July
14, For tickets call 0207 942 2000 or visit the
website vam.ac.uk
Marlene Dietrich
(left) shows off
a Dior creation
in Stage Fright
and below right
Elizabeth Taylor
in his Soiree a Rio
dress in 1961
Stars fell in love with Dior
Capturing the epitome of romantic
glamour and spectacular theatricality,
it’s no wonder Dior’s fabulous designs
have always attracted a string of
famous admirers.
Marlene Dietrich started it all after
attending that first 1947 exhibition.
She was so enamoured with what she
saw that she immediately stocked her
wardrobe with Dior, and even had
Christian as her designer for her role in
the 1950 Hitchcock film Stage Fright.
Countless starlets of the silver screen
followed suit, creating a number of now
truly iconic looks, from Grace Kelly’s
white satin dress for her engagement in
New York in 1956, to Elizabeth Taylor’s
Soiree a Rio dress which she wore to
accept the Best Actress award at
the 1961 Oscars.
Other Dior devotees
included Olivia de
Havilland, Marilyn
Monroe, Ingrid
Bergman and Sophia
Loren. Today’s star
Dior following
includes Jennifer
Lawrence (pictured
right), Charlize
Theron and
Madonna.
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
85
PIC:

After a season of extreme weather
changes and dry central heating, it’s
no surprise that dull skin is one of the
biggest skin complaints at this time of
year. While improving your diet, staying
hydrated and cutting down if you’re a smoker, will
all improve your skin’s natural radiance, using the
right skincare ingredients can be a big help, too.
glow booster: Retinol
When it comes to fighting the signs of
ageing and reviving that natural glow,
retinol should be your top choice. Research
shows it can reduce the appearance of
wrinkles and age spots, as well as having skinsmoothing
benefits. Retinol also encourages
skin regeneration and collagen production for
firmer and brighter results.
glow booster: Glycolic Acid
Don’t be put off by the name, glycolic acid
(GA) is derived from sugar cane and is an alpha
hydroxy acid – a group of natural and synthetic
exfoliators. With molecules small enough to
easily penetrate the surface layer of the skin, GA
works by ungluing skin-dulling dead cells, leaving
behind a smoother and brighter complexion. It can
even help reduce pigmented areas such as age
spots and scars and some research suggests it
encourages collagen production, too.
try… Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix
Radiance Shot, £19.95/30ml
Combining glycolic acid with
soothing aloe vera, this serum
works to improve the skin’s
texture and stimulate skin
cell renewal for fresh
faced results.
try… Pixi
Retinol Tonic,
£10/100ml
To avoid irritation,
it’s best to
introduce retinol to your
skin slowly. This gentle
tonic with its low
level of retinol, skinboosting
peptides,
plus healing jasmine
flower is a great way
to start.
glow booster:
Vitamin C
For ‘lit from within’ skin, Vitamin C in your
skincare is a must. Great for brightening
and evening out skintone, like all
antioxidants it’s also thought to help
protect the skin from external aggressors
such as the weather and pollution. Different
forms of Vitamin C that you’ll find on your
skincare ingredients list include ascorbic acid,
L-ascorbic acid and ascorbyl phosphate.
try… The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow
Boosting Microdermabrasion, £18/100ml
With rave reviews, use this exfoliator once or
twice a week to remove dead cells for skin
that’s smoother, brighter and more radiant.
38 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
Reveal
your
radiance
These beauty must-haves
promise to give you healthy,
radiant-looking skin on even
the greyest of days, says
Beauty Editor
Michelle Nightingale
DID YOU
KNOW
If you’re using
exfoliating acids
or retinol it’s extra
important to use
a high-factor sun
screen daily as
your skin will be
more susceptible
to sun damage
glow booster:
Hyaluronic Acid
Dry skin is dull skin, which is
why staying hydrated is the
key to healthy and happy
skin. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is
a moisturising powerhouse
that’s naturally produced by
our own skin cells and
acts as a magnet for
moisture, keeping us
hydrated for longer. As
we age, HA production
slows so skincare with
HA on the ingredients
list can benefit all skin
types.
try…
B. Hydrated
Hyaluronic Acid
Spritz, £7.99/75ml
We love this handy
spray, which
instantly hydrates
and perks up tired
skin. Use after
cleansing or as a
setting spray over
your make-up – it’s
our new handbag
essential.

looking good
glow booster: Niacinamide
Also known as Vitamin B3, Niacinamide is one of
the most useful anti-ageing ingredients you’ll find
in your skincare pack and is suitable for all skin
types. Great for reducing the appearance of fine
lines and wrinkles, it also works to improve your
complexion’s tone and texture. Best of all, it helps
boost your skin’s protective barrier function,
helping skin retain its natural, healthy glow.
:
try… Olay Luminous Brightening
& Protecting Day Cream SPF 20,
£29.99/50ml
For instantly brighter skin this day cream
is a great choice. With a built-in SPF 20,
it leaves the skintone more even and works
to reduce the appearance of age spots.
DID YOU KNOW
When introducing multiple
new skincare products you
should allow at least a few
days before each new addition
and remember to give them
time to work. New products
can take as long as 12 weeks
before results start to show
Glow
getter!
Highlighter is a great way
to quickly perk up dull skin.
For a healthy glow, apply your
foundation and blusher as normal
and then sweep No7’s Instant
Radiance Highlighter (£10) stick
along each cheekbone and
down the middle of your nose. Blend
well with your fingertips for
skin that’s luminous – not
lacklustre!
Stockists: B. available from Superdrug 0345 671 0709; Boots No7 0345 070
8090; NIP+ Fab available from Superdrug; Olay available from Boots; Pixi
available from M&S 0333 014 8555; The Body Shop 0800 092 9090.
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
39
PICs: getty imaes; shutterstock

good to know
Sav v y
specs
Glasses, contacts and prescription
sunglasses can be very
expensive but it is possible
to save money when
shopping for new ones,
says Gabrielle Albert
Eye tests and prescriptions
If you’re aged 60 or above, you’re eligible
for a free NHS-funded eye test. For those
younger, a typical eye test can cost around
£10-£30. However, many of the big opticians
often run free promotions throughout
the year, so it’s always worth shopping
around. Check out sites such as www.
moneysavingexpert.com/deals/free-eyetests-uk
and www.vouchercodes.co.uk to
see the latest deals on offer.
Opticians are
60-plus
discounts
n Specsavers
www.specsavers.co.uk
Over-60s can receive a
25 per cent discount on
glasses priced £69 and
above
n Boots
www.boots.com/
opticians
Over-60s save 25 per
cent on their first pair of
glasses or prescription
sunglasses and get
every additional pair of
glasses or prescription
sunglasses half price
n Optical Express
www.opticalexpress
.co.uk
Customers over 60
receive 25 per cent off
the complete cost of
glasses
required by law to
give you a copy of
your prescription
– regardless of
whether you
make a purchase.
So, even with a
free eye test, you
should still receive
a prescription. The
same applies to
contact lenses too.
If you’re
employed in a
job where you’re
required to use
computers, most
employers will pay
for a free eye test.
If you need glasses
for your job, they’ll
either subsidise or
pay for the cost of
your new specs.
Buying online
n How much can I save?
Ordering your prescription specs
online instead of on the high street
can work out cheaper. According to
moneysavingexpert.com, you could save
up to 80 per cent on the same pair of
frames instead of buying them in-store.
n Can I buy bifocals and varifocals?
Most online retailers offer these, but they
often come at an additional cost and
aren’t available for every type of frame.
n What do I need?
A prescription that’s no more than two
years old – or one year old if you’re over
70. But since they’re often free, it’s always
a good idea to get a new one anyway.
n How will I know if they’ll suit me?
Some sites have a virtual try-on tool
to give you an idea of what the frames
Where to buy online
Frame
price
will look like. Alternatively, for a low risk
option, choose a frame style similar to
your existing glasses.
n What if I need to change them?
Some dispensers offer a full money-back
guarantee. In other cases, provided you
return the frames within a specified time
limit, you should be entitled to a refund
or exchange but you’ll have to pay for the
postage.
n How can I get the best fit?
Check the frame dimensions on the
website and compare them with an old
pair of glasses that fit well. On the inside
arm of your current pair of glasses you’ll
find a pair of two-digit numbers that you
need to reference (ie. 55/21). The first
number represents the lens’ width and
the second represents the width of the
bridge.
Do they sell
bifocals
& varifocals?
Can I order
over the phone?
www.selectspecs.com £6 ✔ ✔ 0330 380 1190
www.goggles4u.co.uk £6.95 ✔ ✔ 0808 164 0580
www.opticiansdirect.co.uk £12 ✔ ✘
www.budgetspex.com £14 ✔ ✘ (For information call
0121 501 1106)
www.smartbuyglasses.co.uk £15 ✔ ✘
www.spex4less.com £19.96 ✔ ✔ 0151 632 6611
www.glassesdirect.co.uk £20 ✔ ✔ 01793 746601
www.glasses2you.co.uk £24.95 ✔ ✔ 01489 572340
www.framesbuy.co.uk £26 ✔ ✔ 0203 936 1166
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
57
pic: getty images