Fine Winter 2019

2019 WINTER

Focus on... Things New ~ The South Downs ~ Artisans

In this issue...

10 EXPLORING THE SOUTH DOWNS

Fine editor Lucy Pitts and her daughter continue to explore the

many walks and wonders of our great National Park.

30 GOING OFF PISTE

If you’re thinking of heading to the mountains, non skiers will find

a host of great things to do at Club Med in the Paradiski resort of

Les Arcs.

15 BLUE CLOUDS AT BALCOMBE

Meet our newest Sussex cheesemaker who having launched his

first cheese, is serving up a delicious recipe for cheese and ham

sourdough toasties.

34 MADE IN PROVENCE

If you’re heading to France this year, check out our series

featuring the best artisans of Provence.

8 BUSINESS SAVY

Fine contributor and Chartered Accountant Caroline Ritchie talks

us through what you need to do if you’re thinking of starting your

own business.

12 BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR

We interview three women who have left the corporate rat race

behind to start their own business. And we set you a new business

challenge!

17 FINE FODDER

Treat yourself to a delicious ham and blue cheese sourdough

toastie courtesy of local cheesemaker Chris Heyes.

18 MUSIC MATTERS

Hurst College’s Director of Music, Neil Matthews, explains why

music remains such an important part of the curriculum.

4 | fine

46 THE POTTING SHED

Dust off your secateurs and pull on your wellies, as we get out in

the garden with a few essential jobs that need doing.

53 A TOUCH OF THE ORIENT

If you’re thinking of a new look for your home, catch up on this

year’s trends and add a touch of style with the Ginkgo in Jade

collection.

48 IN THE DIARY

From award winning workshop to psychological thrillers, there is

lots on in our region to keep you busy until spring.

58 CELEBRATING SURREY

From craft beers to glassware, Surrey Hills recently celebrated its

amazing selection of artisans with a royal visit.

32 YOUR CHINESE NEW YEAR

Fine contributor and Feng Shui expert Janine Lowe reveals what the

Chinese calendar has in store for you in 2020.

60 DESERT TREKKING

Mother and daughter Lucy and Greta (yes, that’s our ed) explain

why they’re going to trek across the Sahara this year.

52 YOUNG AT HEART

How Horsham and Shipley Community are helping people of all ages

and from all walks of life to get outside and get active.

62 CHANGES TO CGT

Chartered Tax Adviser Stuart Ritchie explains the recent changes

to Capital Gains Tax for UK resident taxpayers on the disposal of

UK residential property.

In this issue | 5

The Trade Mark Surrey Hills

A Mark of quality and local provenance

The Trade Mark Surrey Hills is

a new accreditation celebrating

organisations of high quality that

reflect and support the distinct and

special nature of the Surrey Hills and

who share the values of supporting

the local community.

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, said:

“The Surrey Hills Trade Mark awards

play an important role in celebrating

the high-quality products and

services the area is renowned for,

and the awardees all deserve our

congratulations.”

Support local!

Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural

Beauty has an inspiring range of local

artisans, vineyards, micro-breweries and

businesses offering a fantastic range of

local produce and services as well as

exciting events, courses, craft workshops,

tastings, festivals and activities.

Discover more! Sign up for our

e-newsletter and receive regular

up-dates about the exciting range of

activities, courses and events in the

Surrey Hills.

www.surreyhills.org

Apply for the Trade Mark Award!

Are you a local business or charity?

Join a fast-growing community who are

benefiting from being part of the Surrey

Hills - apply to receive the Trade Mark

Surrey Hills Award.

www.surreyhills.org

6 | fine

A word from

the editor

Welcome to a new year, a new decade

and the latest edition of Fine Sussex and

Surrey. I always think that at this time of

year, whilst the days are still short and the

weather not always that great, there is a

sense of optimism and possibility in the air.

The evenings are getting slightly lighter, the

first signs of life are appearing in the garden

and many of us our getting stuck into new

year’s resolutions or plans. And what better

way to celebrate that, than with our “All

Things New” theme for this edition.

If you’re thinking of starting your own

business, we’ve got 4 inspiring stories of

local people who’ve made the switch from

corporate life to that of entrepreneur, as

well as some fantastic advice from our local

Chartered Accountant and Fine contributor

Caroline Ritchie. We’ve even got a Start

Your Business Challenge for you. And

those who may not want to start your own

business but who believe passionately in

supporting others who have, why not have

a look some of the amazing artisans we

have working in the Surrey Hills area and

featured on pages 58 and 59.

Earlier this year, I took to the Slopes of

Les Arcs in France to try a host of new

activities for those of you that like snow

but don’t necessarily want to ski and I may

have fallen just a little in love with snow

shoeing. Whilst closer to home, I’ve been

continuing my discovery of the beautiful

South Downs with one of my favourite

walks of last year!

If you’re looking for other things to do

during the course of the next few months,

we’ve got some great pub restaurant

recommendations, from the White Horse

in the heart of the South Downs, to The

Chequers at Rowhook and the Mulberry

Inn in Surrey and of course we have our

usual In The Diary feature with an eclectic

selection of events for you. And we’ve got

some suggestions for a few jobs you can

get started with to ensure your garden is

ready for spring.

So, throw another log on the fire, pour

that second glass of wine and get stuck in

because before you know it, winter will be

behind you.

FINE MAGAZINE LTD

finemagazine.co.uk

01243 717578

EDITOR

Lucy Pitts

lucy@finemagazine.co.uk

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Philippa French

production@finemagazine.co.uk

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Janine Lowe

Stuart Ritchie

Karen Stanton

Caroline Ritchie

CIRCULATION

distribution@finemagazine.co.uk

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Terry Oliver

toliver@finemagazine.co.uk

DIRECTOR

Jennifer Oliver

The views and opinions expressed in

the articles herein are those of the

authors concerned and are not endorsed

by the publisher. Whilst every care

has been taken during the production

process, the publisher does not accept

any liability for errors that may have

occurred or for the views expressed.

On the front...

Fine Sussex & Surrey Winter 201 9

This publication is protected

by copyright. ©2019

Printed in the UK by

Gemini Print

The car on the cover photo is a 1965 Ford Mustang

Fastback. A Hertz Shelby Tribute finished in Raven Black

with LeMans Stripes. Location Pangdean Farm Brighton.

Supplied by Pilgrim-Motorsports.co.uk

Photography by autovids.co.uk

A word from the editor | 7

New Year.

New Business?

Things to

consider when

setting up a

new business

is hard work, but the benefits can be huge

and multi-layered. You are also not alone,

in March 2019 the Office for National

Statistics estimated that there were 4.93

million self-employed people in the UK.

However passionate you are about your

new venture, setting up a business can

seem daunting as there are so many things

to consider. To set you on the right path

here are a few pointers:

Will 2020 be the year you take

the plunge and start working for

yourself? Many people harbour

a desire to work for themselves, to follow

a long held passion that truly interests and

excites them and make it more than just a

hobby or a side line. Working for yourself

Get to know yourself….. really well

Make sure you understand your strengths

and weaknesses; know where your skills

lie and where you might need support.

Understand your motivations for starting

your own business and what your longer

term goals are. Think through how you

might overcome challenges like working

long hours and weekends, dealing with

irregular income and no paid leave.

Thinking ahead will help you recognise

further down the track when you might

need to employ others to help you or

buy in expertise you don’t have. Having

8 | fine

a clear vision of where you are going will

help you stay focussed and enable you to

steer your fledgling business in the right

direction.

Test out your business idea

Do some market research and get some

feedback on your product or service.

Find out who your competitors are.

Understand your target market. If no-one

else is doing what you are doing, is there a

reason why not? What will be the demand

for your product or service? Who will

your potential customers be? Let people

get hands on with your product or service,

they might see a problem you have missed

or use the product in a way you haven’t

foreseen which presents your business

with further opportunities. Listen carefully

to feedback received and consider

implementing changes if necessary.

Business structure

There is no definitive answer when it

comes to choosing the right business

structure, much will depend on the nature

and potential size of your enterprise. There

are different costs, accounting, tax and

reporting requirements for each structure.

It is also worth thinking ahead to what

will happen when you want to sell your

business, retire or if you die. Exit planning

will again differ depending on which

business structure you choose. The four

most common business structures are:

• Sole trader

• Partnership

• Private limited company

• Limited liability partnership

Budget

Draw up a budget that takes into account

all the set up costs for your business plus

the regular, ongoing running costs. Also

think about the personal costs you need

to cover like rent/mortgage, utility bills,

food, childcare, car, and insurance. This will

help you decide whether you can afford

to invest some of your own money in the

business or whether you will need to look

for an investor or bank loan.

Initially your business may have fluctuating

levels of income. You should budget for

the lowest expected monthly income.

Should your income then be higher you

can start to build a safety net to help you

cover your costs should your income fall

back, or to help you ride out seasonal

fluctuations. Once your income settles

into a pattern you can revise your budget

and use it as a helpful tool to keep your

finances on track.

Don’t forget to budget for the tax and

national insurance you will need to pay on

your self-employed earnings. The tax due

on earnings made in the tax year is due

for payment at the end of the following

January, so you have nine or so months

to prepare, but if things have gone well it

could be a large bill.

If you have set your business up as a

private limited company or a limited

liability partnership then the corporation

tax on the profits will be due nine months

after the year end.

Write a business plan

A business plan will clarify your main

business idea and define your long-term

objectives. It sets out how the business

will be run and includes benchmarks to

measure your progress against. It will be

a key document if you are looking for

finance from a bank or potential investors.

Registering for VAT

You must register your business for VAT

if it has a taxable turnover of more than

£85,000pa. Sometimes it is beneficial to

register for VAT if your turnover is below

this level. Being registered for VAT means

that you have to charge VAT on the

goods and services you supply, however

you can claim back the VAT you pay

on goods and services relating to your

business.

Making Tax Digital for VAT was

introduced from 1 April 2019. This means

that VAT registered businesses with a

taxable turnover of over £85,000pa

must keep their records digitally and

submit their VAT returns through a

compatible software package. This may

sound unduly complicated, but good

record keeping will help you keep your

finances on track (see below).

Record keeping and bookkeeping

software

The rules for record keeping and the

accounting method you can use (cash

basis v traditional accounting) are different

depending on the turnover of your

business and the business structure.

Investing at an early stage in an online

bookkeeping package that will grow

with your business will help with record

and bookkeeping and make life easier in

terms of invoicing customers and keeping

track of bills from suppliers. Several

software providers have entry level

packages designed for sole traders or

small companies that will save time and

money in the long run as well as helping

with compliance.

Bank account

If you are a sole trader or partnership

you do not need a separate business

bank account, although you might find

it easier to keep your business and

personal finances separate. If you are a

limited company you will need a separate

business bank account.

Insurance

Adequate insurance for your business

is essential and the type of cover you

require depends on the nature of what

you are doing. If you are running your

business from your home, you may find

that your home insurance does not cover

things relating to the business. If you

employ people you will need employer’s

liability insurance.

If you have previously been employed and

are used to employer provided sickness

cover or health insurance you may also

wish to consider some sort of personal

insurance policy.

Intellectual property protection

Make sure you have your product or

intellectual property adequately protected.

You may need to consider registering:

• Trademarks

• Copyright

• Design protection

• Patents

Licences/permits

Are there any specific licenses or permits

you need to cover what you are doing?

HMRC provides a useful tool to help

determine what you might need for your

business. Your local council can provide

support in this area as well. Some business

sectors have very specific regulations

which you will need to get to grips with if

you are operating in one of those areas.

Employing people

There are a number of additional

responsibilities that arise when you

employ people including:

• Registering with HMRC as an

employer

• Running a payroll

• Paying national insurance

• Providing a workplace pension

• Checking someone has a right to

work in the UK

• Making sure you are paying at least

the National Minimum Wage

The above by no means covers

everything! I haven’t touched on the

considerations for selling online, selling

products abroad or importing products

into the UK, for example. There are also

the very necessary health and safety

requirements your new business will need

to comply with.

I hope that this does give you at least a

starting point for realising the dream of

working for yourself in 2020. Good luck

and a very Happy New Year.

Caroline is the partner responsible

for My Accountancy HQ and has a

passion for helping small and growing

businesses. Having trained as a

Chartered Accountant and worked with

entrepreneurs for much of her career,

Caroline understands what makes

business owners tick. My Accountancy

HQ provides flexible bookkeeping,

accounting, tax and business growth

services allowing entrepreneurs to get

time back to themselves and focus on

growing their business.

New Business | 9

Walking

the South Downs

You don’t need to travel far if you’re looking for adventure and

stunning landscapes

It’s easy to neglect some of the best

attractions in the area in which you

live. You might drive over the North

or South Downs on your way somewhere,

but how often do you stop and take time

to really explore and enjoy them in the way

that a visitor from further afield might?

With that in mind, I’m determined to get

out and rediscover our beautiful region.

My daughter and I are also in training to

trek across the Sahara. So, what better

way to combine training with local

exploring than by getting off the beaten

track and enjoying the great outdoors.

10 km walk from Singleton

The South Downs website provides loads

of information about local walks and we

downloaded details of a 10 km route

starting in Singleton on what turned out

to be a rare sunny day last November.

Singleton is just north of Chichester and

there’s plenty of reasons to visit which

include the nearby Weald and Download

Museum, West Dean College of Arts and

Conservation and its estate and the Levin

Down Nature Reserve.

It’s also a typically pretty Sussex village

with flint stone houses with thatched

roofs and a history that dates back to the

Doomsday Book.

Hitting the slopes

We were worried we hadn’t warmed up

properly, but the route starts with a steep

ascent to the north of the village and by

the time we’d conquered that, we were

pretty warm! This was definitely one of

the hardest parts of the walk so don’t let

it put you off. Instead, when you get to

the first gate, stop and look back at the

magnificent slopes facing you on the other

side of the village. Hard as it is to believe,

that’s where your route finishes!

Take provisions

The map we downloaded from the South

Downs website was pretty accurate to a

point, but clearly out of date. At one point,

just passed Broadham House we managed

to take a wrong turn and the mistake cost

us an extra 2 km and some road walking to

put right. And I still can’t figure out how or

where we went wrong!

We also found that in the place where

you’re supposed to cross the A286 just

north of Cocking Hill, the path on the

opposite side of the road, no longer exists.

It’s not a disaster, you just have to walk a

short distance up the road to your right to

pick up a different path that brings you to

the same spot by the dismantled railway.

However, it’s not the only place where the

map is difficult to follow and if you can take

your own Ordnance Survey Explorer map.

I’d recommend it. I’d also suggest you

pack light refreshments because you don’t

pass anywhere you can buy something on

the way.

A forgotten land

Personally, I find it quite hard to get a big

reaction from teenagers when out walking

(apart from some moaning) but my 13 year

old described this walk as amazing. From

the moment you round the crest of Levin

Down and see miles of forest stretching

across the horizon, to the moment you

discover the enchantingly overgrown old

railway, there are numerous moments

on this walk which are nothing short of

spellbinding.

10 | fine

One of the highlights has to be as you leave

the A286 behind you and enter a series of

breath-taking forests as you head towards

the West Dean Estate. The wooded path

starts with an archway of Golden Larch,

leading to a Beech Tree forest and then,

like a scene from little Red Riding Hood

or the Gruffalo, suddenly takes you in to a

tunnel of fern and pine trees.

It’s silent, it’s stunning, it’s secluded and I

would rate it as one of the most beautiful

places I’ve been all year. I still find it hard to

believe that there’s such outstanding and

unspoilt beauty right on our doorstop and

it really does feel like a place that time has

forgotten!

Heading for home

By the time you leave the forest behind

you, your legs are ready for home and

a long, meandering path takes you past

a beautifully remote house and back up

to Colworth Farm. We really felt like

we were in a scene from Tess of the

d’Urbervilles by now.

Then as you finally start your descent

down Hat Hill, you can see Singleton in the

valley below you and spot the start of your

route on what looks like the distant hills

the other side. It feels like a lifetime ago

since you set out.

Down time

The South Downs route planner

recommends you allow 3 ½ hours for this

walk but we did it in 2 ½ and that included

our extra 2 km. That said, we didn’t stop

much, and we do walk quite fast but even

so, the jam sandwiches we ate to keep us

going tasted like manna from heaven.

As we tumbled down back into the

village, we felt euphoric. It felt like we’d

had a real adventure, deciphering the

map, conquering the landscape and going

where no man had been before (well OK,

a few people maybe but we didn’t meet

anyone). And all that, for free, and right on

our doorstep. Better still, there’s a great

little pub in the village perfect for restoring

your strength before you head home for a

hot bath.

You can find more maps and routes at:

https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/enjoy/

walking/walking-trails/

| 11

Time for a

new start

Lucy Pitts talks to three business owners who have

re-invented their careers and redesigned their lives!

As increasing numbers of us say

goodbye to the corporate rat race

to set up business on our own,

at Fine, we’re always thrilled to uncover

the exciting and diverse new paths our

readers have chosen. As this edition marks

the start of a new year, a new decade and

a new era, we thought we’d showcase

three of our readers who have chosen a

new, different and we think, better way

of life.

Marietjie Troskie – From HR to Coaching

If you told me 9 years ago that I would

be running my own coaching practice, I

would not have believed you. At the time,

I worked for a local engineering company.

I had professional qualifications in HR

and Health and Safety and loved being

engaged and active in company life.

When my personal circumstances

changed, I contacted life coach Curly

Martin for help and guidance and fell in

love with the process. I went on to train

with Curly and soon reached level 7 in

coaching and mentoring.

12 | fine

I worked full time and did some coaching

in the evenings and weekends, but

the day arrived when all I wanted to

do was to fully commit to coaching,

guiding others in the same way Curly

had helped me. I also wanted to spend

more time on training and personal and

professional development and on the 9th

of September 2016, I gave up my “day” job.

I have not regretted it for one minute!

The old cliché “Do what you love, and you

will never work a day in your life” always

makes me smile. I love coaching and I

am always “working”. If I am not reading,

researching or listening to podcasts, I am

out coaching and mentoring. But it never

feels like work. I have to pinch myself

sometimes that I get to do what I love.

My practice covers private one-toone

coaching, mentoring clients in the

workplace and I recently qualified as an

IHEART facilitator. The training I received

from International coach and trainer

Curly Martin and the team at the INNATE

Health Practice in London was intense and

thorough. But leaves me confident that I

can deliver what I promise.

I am super excited about the possibilities

my latest qualification opens up. The

IHEART curriculum was written by a

group of educators, coaches and mental

health practitioners and can be delivered

to parents and children in private groups

and in schools. It enables me to work with

more people, especially with young people

in our community.

IHEART is the brainchild of Terry

Rubenstein, cofounder of Innate Health

ltd. Terry developed a curriculum for

young people, explaining in a simple and

clear language how our phycological

system works. Over an 8 or 10 week

program, we uncover innate mental health

and train participants how to access their

unique built in guidance system. We all

have everything we need inside ourselves

to be mentally healthy and happy.

Emotions are healthy, how we manage

them can be life changing.

Personal experience has shown me

the power of coaching. Having my own

practice allows me to train and develop

in the direction I passionately feel is

right for me. I set my hours and plan my

days around “work”, family life, training

for a trek in the Sahara desert for St

Catherine’s and appreciating my life

moment to moment. I feel hopeful and

excited about the future and what’s more,

I’m excited that everyone has the same

chance to feel the same.

www.marikitroskie.com

Danielle Bekker and Binary Botanical

Danielle Bekker is co-founder and head

brewer of Good Brewing Company

makers of Binary Botanical. She is a 42

year old mother of two who lives near

Woking in Surrey and moved to the UK

from South Africa for her work with SAB

Miller.

With over 20 years’ experience in the

brewing industry including Global Brewing

Innovation Director for SABMiller, Danielle

left the security and resources of working

for a multinational company to set up her

own business in 2018.

Binary Botanical’s low alcohol equivalent

launched a year later, since when

production has increased 10 times and the

beer is now available in Ocado, Harvey

Nichols and independent bars, restaurants

and retailers across the UK. The essential

difference between Binary Botanical and

other beers is that it uses organic hop

leaves - it’s named after the bines (rather

than vines) that hops grow on. The hop

leaf is normally thrown away at harvest so

it’s actually a waste product.

Danielle says she works even harder

now than before but there are many

rewards for running your own business

not least being there for her children

after school.

“I worked for both SABMiller and AB

InBev, latterly as Global Innovations

Director and they were both excellent

dynamic companies with great resources

and equipment and filled with very bright

hardworking people so I left behind

many friends…

I began by experimenting in my kitchen

before finding a brewery we could use

for production. One of the biggest

challenges is being responsible for the

full value chain including sales, marketing,

social media, route to market! There are

so many things to think about. In my

previous role I travelled a lot and felt I

missed out a lot on every day family life,

so although I work harder than ever now

including doing markets most weekends,

I am home for dinner every day and see

the kids off for school in the morning

which is a real privilege.”

New Start | 13

Evelyn Day and Chocodyllic

Evelyn worked in finance. Until she took

a leap of faith and took up extreme

chocolate making!

“Back in 2012, I took a break from work

and while I was off, a friend of mine

asked me to make a cake for a 50th. I

experimented and taught myself some of

the skills online and managed to create a

two-tier explosion cake. At the time I was

experimenting with different things trying

to decide what I wanted to do. I’d make

mosaics on Monday, restore furniture on

Tuesday etc. But I came to realise that

Wednesday sessions spent working with

chocolate was what I enjoyed the most.

As I made stuff, I’d post photos on social

media and I started to get commissions. I

was reluctant to accept at first and I also

wanted to make the break from cake but I

gradually started to accept and was even

commissioned to make the London skyline

for the London Chocolate Festival.

After spending some time traveling

with my husband, I took the plunge, got

some formal training and bought proper

equipment and that made a big difference.

I’ve been passionate about chocolate all my

life and I’ve now found a way to translate

that passion into (incr)edible art! It’s

challenging …working with chocolate is like

working with a combination of children and

animals in the dark but it’s very rewarding.

I like the impermanence of it too. I make

it and people eat it. I’m not adding to the

huge mountains of stuff people own.”

Evelyn creations are exquisite! From the

Eiffel Tower to the Brighton Bandstand,

and from the London Skyline to Brighton

Pavilions her stunning edible showpieces

are made using the best very Belgian

couverture chocolate.

Evelyn has appeared on a number

of episodes of Channel 4’s Extreme

Chocolate Makers and Channel 5’s

Wonderful World of Chocolate and has

made creations from a number of big

name celebrities!

https://www.chocadyllic.co.uk

Have you been inspired?

Why not take the challenge?

If you’ve been thinking about starting your

own business but are not quite sure about

the next step, we’ve got a challenge for

you.

Jenny Thomas of Revitalise Coaching had

a 20 year career in commercial marketing.

Now she runs her own business and helps

others do the same. She’s set up a free

5-day challenge where she shares what

she’s learnt about setting up and running

a business and gives you practical tips,

advice and guidance on how to start your

own. So why not start 2020 by taking the

challenge! And don’t forget to let us know

how you get on by sharing on our social

media.

https://mailchi.mp/33383de75c75/nbsp-

5-day-challenge

14 | fine

Blue Cloud Thinking

From marketing to cheese making!

When Chris Heyes left his job

in the city in marketing, most

people probably didn’t expect

him to start making cheese. And not just

any cheese, but a soft, blue artisan cheese

made just feet from where the cows

whose milk is used are grazed and milked

on the beautiful Balcombe Estate.

More extraordinary perhaps, is that Chris’s

passion and dedication to cheese making

was sparked and nurtured by traditions

that have their roots both in Italy and in

the remote Aberdare mountain range in

Kenya.

It all started when Chris got a job at High

Weald Dairy in Horsted Keynes helping

with their marketing. But then when one

of their cheesemakers left, Chris both

applied and got the position, thereby

changing the course of his future.

Skills learnt from the best

As a novice cheesemaker, Chris was

mentored by Michael Wisdom who

had worked for many years for both an

Italian cheesemaking family in the Kenyan

mountains and on his own farm there. In

fact, Michael’s talents were such that in

2009, one of his semi soft cheeses was

named as the fifth best cheese in the

world at the World Cheese Awards!

A rare opportunity

Inspired by his mentor’s passion and

attention to detail, Chris went on to study

with the Artisan School of Food and take

over from Michael when he retired as

Master Cheesemaker. Six years on, and

Chris was offered the unique chance to

use the old milking parlour at Balcombe

Dairy. But as he explains,

“The old milking parlour was OK but it

wasn’t ideal and when the opportunity

came up last year to buy four large

transport containers that had already

been adapted by Cornish cheesemakers, I

knew this was a once in a life time chance

to create and establish my own brand of

cheese. The herd here at Balcombe are a

Food | 15

mix of Norwegian Red, Holstein and Jersey

which produces great quality milk and they

graze within sight of my cheesemaking

containers. The new milking parlour is just

feet away. It was interesting transporting

the containers on to site from Cornwall,

but they’re perfect for my small batch

production processes.”

Traditional processes, all done by hand

It’s very important to Chris, that every

step of his making cheesemaking process

is carefully managed by hand. The milk

is not pumped to ensure it retains the

integrity of the butter fat and starter

cultures and rennets are carefully selected

and measured. The cheese is cut and

salted by hand using the most traditional

processes possible. Once in the maturing

room, again the cheeses are turned and

pierced by hand, and monitored carefully

to ensure the best possible quality.

Named Blue Cloud, in honour of Michael

Wisdom’s Mawingo Farm (meaning

Cloud Farm) in Kenya, Chris’s cheese and

cheesemaking processes have already

featured in Good Cheese magazine. Now,

after 8 weeks in the maturing rooms, the

first cheeses are ready, although Chris

continues to tweak his production to

ensure the best possible results. Blue

Cloud has a mild and creamy flavour and

it should soon be available in local farm

shops and delicatessens.

For more information, you can contact

Chris Heyes on 0785 7220822 or at

chris@balcombedairy.co.uk

16 | fine

Blue Clouds

and Ham

Sourdough toasties

Serves 4 as a starter or light lunch.

For more information, you can contact

Chris Heyes on 0785 7220822 or at

chris@balcombedairy.co.uk

Ingredients

Blue Clouds – 100g

Whole Milk - 150ml

Plain Flour - 20g

Butter – 20g

Dijon Mustard – 1 teaspoon

Small bunch of flatleaf parsley

– finely chopped.

4 slices Sourdough

4 thick slices of ham or British

charcuterie of your choice.

Salt and Pepper to season.

Method

Place saucepan over a medium heat and

add butter. When melted add flour and stir

in. Cook the roux for a couple of minutes

before gradually adding the milk. Stir whilst

the sauce begins to thicken. Continue to

stir for another 4-5 minutes to cook the

flour out. Add the Blue Clouds, mustard

and parsley. Stir until the cheese has

melted and the sauce is of a smooth

consistency. Season to taste and set aside.

Lightly grill your sourdough on both sides

and butter. Place your ham on each of

the toasts and top with the rich, creamy

sauce. Place back under the grill until

bubbling. Serve immediately with a side of

British watercress which cuts through the

richness of the toasties.

Food | 17

Music,

music,

music!

Director of Music, Neil Matthews, tells Fine Sussex & Surrey how

music at Hurst College is about inclusivity alongside quality, whilst

also allowing the most able to fulfil their potential

“Music is my first love and it will be my

last/Music of the future and music of the

past/To live without my music would

be impossible to do/So in this world of

troubles my music pulls me through” John

Miles Music 1976.

In this somewhat trite and ham-handed

lyric, John Miles encapsulates what music

means to virtually all of us on a purely

human level. Music surrounds us in our daily

lives whether we are choosing to listen

to it or simply hearing it as we go about

our business, wherever that may be. Music

speaks to every single one of us in some

way or other and the process of creating it

is something that everyone will experience

at some point or other. In the nursery

rhymes of our childhood to the hymns and

sporting anthems of our adulthood, we

will all engage in ensemble music-making

at some point. Music in any school is about

creating as many opportunities for that

music-making in as many styles as possible

and making those opportunities engaging,

worthwhile and enjoyable whilst striving

for the highest quality outcome as possible.

Music plays a huge role in our children’s

culture – it is everywhere – and fostering

a genuine appreciation of all manner of

styles and genres is key. Many studies

have concluded that there is a correlation

between learning music and academic

achievement and this is easy to see. The

single-minded determination required

to succeed when playing an instrument

is massive and the longitudinal approach

towards any musical outcome helps to

foster that way of working and thinking

elsewhere. Music is both a solo and

collaborative activity and, through honing

their skills individually before making music

with others, children develop socially

and are encouraged to push themselves

to achieve the best that they can.

Ensemble music-making and sharing music

collectively sparks intellectual thought and

fosters the ability to listen, learn and lead.

Both listening to and performing music

can stimulate all manner of emotional

responses from despair to sheer joy and,

for many pupils, is an important outlet to

express these emotions.

This is why it is so important that as much

music-making as possible is available to all

the pupils here at Hurst. Nobody should

ever be discouraged from taking part.

We have all heard friends and colleagues

declare that they can’t sing or play and all

too often this is accompanied by a tale

of a primary school teacher telling them

that they couldn’t. Music (alongside all the

other arts) is the adhesive which binds

together our civilised society and, as music

educators, we are at risk of closing the

door on music completely for our pupils.

It is important that we always remember

there is something for everyone, musically,

and no opportunity to perform or take

part should ever be squandered. These

musical opportunities do not need

to centre around music created by

traditional means either - with all of our

18 | fine

pupils having access to laptop and tablet

devices, it is perfectly possible to create

a unique and meaningful piece of music in

a comparatively short time using readily

available apps.

Music at Hurst has a key role as part of

the weekly timetable – both curricular

and co-curricular. Protected time is set

aside within the weekly timetable for

instrumental ensemble music – orchestra,

wind band, jazz band etc – as well as for

the choirs. Music is an inclusive activity

where all pupils are welcome to participate

in all aspects regardless of experience

and ability. “If you want to be in it, you’re

in it” is the key phrase that we repeat and

this means that the numbers taking part in

music are high. The choir contains some

120 pupils and, for many of them, this will

be their first experience of choral singing.

It is most gratifying to discover that it is

by no means their last either. To hear of

former pupils who have left here to go

on to join choral societies or other vocal

groups at university or in the wider world

means that we are getting something right.

Similarly, all of our instrumental groups are

open to all and this means that in many of

our smaller ensembles, more experienced

pupils can take the lead and can play an

important role in shaping the sound and

direction of the group. All styles of music

are accommodated – there are jazz, rock

and classical concerts every term. We

value the importance of live performance

– barely a week goes by without a concert

or recital of some sort, either here on

campus or in the wider community. In

these performances, we are always striving

to ensure that the musical interests of all

pupils are catered for.

This inclusivity is all very well but how

does this enable the most able to thrive

too? In a school like Hurst, we are lucky

enough to work with many exceptional

musicians many of whom will go on to

make performing music their profession.

The Chamber Choir exists to nurture and

train our best singers who will be applying

for choral scholarships to top universities.

Our vibrant team of visiting music staff will

always be found in our suite of practice

rooms coaching and guiding our most able

to help them prepare for performances

and competitions both in and out of

school. This, alongside leading and playing

in ensembles with our pupils. We have a

large network of professional musicians

who have become connected with the

department over the years who often give

mock auditions and feedback to those who

are preparing to apply to conservatoires.

Many of these musicians teach at the

country’s top institutions so are well placed

to give expert advice and insider’s insight.

Whilst music at Hurst is about inclusivity

alongside quality, it is also about allowing

the most able to fulfil their potential and

achieve the best that they can. It is about

all of us, both pupils and staff, working

together as equals to make the best music

possible both now and in the future.

Education | 19

A fine new beginning

How are you doing? It seems

strange to be writing about the

start of a year, as I don’t know

about you, but it feels like 5 minutes

since the beginning of the previous one!

I have heard it said that as you age your

time on earth gets bigger, consequently

the minutes, seconds, hours and

days progressively become a smaller

percentage of the whole. And so, it

rushes by… make any sense?

The start of a new year brings with it

many ‘resolutions’ and hopes and I’d like

to share a favourite Chinese proverb

with you that generally pings into my

thoughts as I support clients in their

plans for the year ahead:

‘When is the best time to plant an

apple tree? 20 years ago. When is

the second best time…? Today.’

In the busy world of family, friends, work

and home, it’s so easy to go with the

flow and keep the hopes, dreams and

aspirations safe on the back burner.

Ready for another day.

One day I’ll…….… fill the blank. What is

it? Visit that old friend who went to

New Zealand, lose that stone, do that

triathlon, walk the coastal path, you’ll join

that group who have such fun volunteering

to work on conserving the beautiful local

woods. What is it you’d like to achieve?

Well here’s the thing. If you haven’t already

done it you need to get started on those

plans because the time will pass anyway.

Start right now. It might not be practically

possible for you to go and fulfil that dream

right now but you WILL be able to take

baby steps towards it. Get the date in your

diary, logged into your consciousness, then

you can chip away at the bigger dream and

all at once BINGO, it’s part of your future.

If you have your health and can make a

choice, take that first step now. Perhaps

you need to save 50p a week for the

next 10 years or just avoid the biscuit jar

(always!). However small it is, making a

start is the important bit, you can shape it

as you go.

Don’t let another year just slip past...

Contact: My Active Life provides PT

and Lifestyle Consultancy services online

and face to face locally in West Sussex.

For more details please see

www.myactivelife.co or contact

Karen on 07766 260765 or

Karen.stanton@myactivelife.co

20 | fine

Carlo’s Trattoria, Shere Road, Newlands Corner, Guildford, Surrey, GU4 8SE

T: 01483 224180 eat@carlostrattoria.com www.carlostrattoria.com

22 | fine

Set Lunch Menu

Monday – Friday

2 courses £13.95 3 courses £15.95

Sunday Lunch

2 courses £15.95 3 courses £17.95

Since 1986 Carlo’s award winning restaurant has been serving

authentic Italian food and wine of the highest quality.

Combining timeless classics with fresh new creations Carlo’s

is a family run restaurant where the specials board

and handmade pastas have a reputation of their own.

Wines are selected with passion by Carlo for their quality and value

from his own House Selection to the very best Italy can offer.

Come and enjoy this little piece of Italy

nestled in the Surrey Hills.

From design to reality

5, Swan Lane, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4EQ • 01483 506111

www. simonpure.co.uk

3 Smithbrook Kilns, Horsham Road, Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8JJ • 01483 273111

Each design invites

you into

Simon Pure’s world

of indefinable beauty

5, Swan Lane, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4EQ • 01483 506111

www. simonpure.co.uk

3 Smithbrook Kilns, Horsham Road, Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8JJ • 01483 273111

drink, EAT, STAY: THE complete experience

The White Horse Inn is a modern British pub in an 18th century setting.

Situated in the centre of the village of Sutton, in the lee of the South Downs

and in the heart of the South Downs National Park, it is welcoming and relaxing.

We are a free house serving a fine array of local cask ales, beers and wines together with

the highest quality, locally sourced, traditional British pub food with a contemporary accent.

Our eight, beautiful ensuite rooms provide all modern amenities and comfort in a traditional, country setting.

Please join us to drink, eat, stay; you’ll be certain of a warm welcome.

58 | fine

“A superb project showing what can

be achieved with passion, vision and

commitment, ensuring ‘time’ will

not be called in the future for this

important community pub.

First class.”

To book a table or room call 01798 869191 or visit www.whitehorseinn-sutton.co.uk

email: info@whitehorseinn-sutton.co.uk

@whitehorseinnsutton

@WhiteHorseRH20

THE WHITE HORSE INN

The Street, Sutton, West Sussex RH20 1PS

Open every day 11.00 – 23.00

| 59

Winter at

The Chequers

at Rowhook

28 | fine

His menus include

wholesome, traditional

dishes with an elegant

twist, served to the

exceptional standard of

a prestigious

country house hotel

Enjoy a warm welcome, a long and

lingering meal and a chance to catch

up and relax with friends and family

here at The Chequers.

Come in from the cold

Whether you’ve been out walking and

battling the elements and want to come in

from the cold to warm up and recuperate,

or whether you just fancy treating

yourself, you’re always welcome at The

Chequers.

Roaring log fires and a homely

atmosphere greet you and you can relax

in the bar before your meal, with one

of our fine wines or local craft gins and

beers while you wait for your family and

friends to join you.

Local ingredients and elegant dishes

As a Master Chef of Great Britain, chef

proprietor Tim Neal loves sourcing local,

in-season fresh produce and game, and

can even be found foraging for wild

ingredients in the Sussex countryside.

Every dish is freshly-prepared in our

country kitchen and we offer a fine dining

menu as well as lighter dishes served in

our bar area. We also offer a selection

of fantastic wines. Wines on our list suit

every budget and they're sourced from all

over the globe, from vineyards in Sussex

to France, Italy and the New World.

Tim trained at some of the best venues

which include South Lodge Hotel in Lower

Beeding (where he was head chef and

earned the Camellia restaurant three AA

Rosettes). His menus include wholesome,

traditional dishes with an elegant twist,

served to the exceptional standard of a

prestigious country house hotel, but in a

relaxed and informal setting.

The Chequers is in the AA, Michelin and

Master Chefs of Great Britain guides. We

have two restaurants, plenty of seating

and parking.

Call now to book:

The Chequers Inn

Rowhook Road, Horsham, RH12 3PY

01403 790480

Food | 29

Exploring Les Arcs

The ski resort where you don’t have to ski!

I

love the mountains and snow, but I’m

not a great skier. There’s only so many

pistes that my nerves and my knees

can take. I don’t necessarily want to miss

out on the pine forests and beauty, but I’m

always on the lookout for something “off

piste” and a bit different.

Club Med

The Club Med Panorama opened in

December 2018 in the Les Arcs Paradiski

region. As you’d expect, it’s got pretty

much everything you could expect from a

Club Med with snacks and drinks waiting

for you as you ski off the piste, food and

drink of every description and an endless

supply of jollity and entertainment. If

you’re here with your family, they really

have got all bases covered!

Skiing into Spring

Spring skiing is a relatively new concept

here and it makes a lot of sense. Covering

the period from the end of March to the

end of April, there’s still plenty of snow

to be had with the added advantage of

much warmer days, lighter evenings and

less people on the slopes. I was amazed

that in early April, I often had the slopes

to myself and combined with a variety of

“special offers”, it makes it a great time for

beginners or families with young children

to ski.

Balades a Raquettes

But while the family flung themselves down

the slopes, I headed into the forest to

give snow shoeing a try. Snow shoeing is

diverse, brilliant fun and not as hard as you

may think. You need a good pair of boots

(which you can hire from Club Med) and a

guide who will supply you with snow shoes

and poles.

Tea and cake at 2,000 metres!

My first guide was Antoine, who offers a

whole host of snow shoeing and hiking

activities. You can snow shoe for as little

as an hour or for a whole week. There’s

even a day long snow shoe hike which

involves a fondue lunch at an Alpine chalet.

There’s also night snow shoeing and an

overnight option where you sleep in a log

cabin in the mountains.

Antoine’s style is pretty relaxed. He clearly

knows these mountains and their heritage

well, and he’ll soon have you snow jumping,

and bouncing down steep descents which

you never thought you’d be capable of.

Although perhaps his most impressive

feat is producing a large and delicious cake

intact from his back pack along with hot

tea at 2,000 metres! I could come to love

Antoine!

With Mont Blanc in the distance, you

can walk in the Mont Blanc forest, in the

Beaufortain mountains opposite Les Arcs

and up the Petit St Bernard pass along the

French Italian border. Antoine caters for

varying levels of fitness and stops often –

to point out a bird, a particular tree or a

mountain. And nothing beats the fact that

you’re high up and off the beaten track, in

amongst the pines, listening to the silence

of the snowy mountains.

http://www.baladesducolporteur.com/

Snow shoeing and Qigong

My second snow shoeing outing with

Marie was a much more spiritual affair. A

botanist, Marie’s style of snow shoeing

more closely resembled Nordic walking as

30 | fine

December to April, you can also go dog

sledding with a team of Alaskan Huskies,

including a discovery trip and night rides.

Rides start at €70 for 20 to 30 mins.

http://en.paradisled.com/

Tobogganing galore

And how does 3 km of toboggan track

with banked turns, alternating fast and

sliding sections sound? Impossibly hard

for the beginner (I seemed to do most of

it backwards), you do need a valid lift pass

but it’s an interesting change to skiing!

https://www.lesarcs-peiseyvallandry.ski/

en/rodeo-park

she taught us to use our poles and ensure

we got a full body work out. She explained

the energy of the forest and the detail of

the botany and we stopped to practice

Qigong, yoga and meditation along the

way. It was just as enjoyable as snow

shoeing with Antoine, just different.

Marie doesn’t have a website, but you can

find her on Facebook at Marie.Randos

La Passerelle

With its peak at over 3226m, the Aiguille

Rouge is the highest peak in the Paradiski

valley and they’ve just installed a breathtaking

viewing platform, La Passerelle. To

get there, you just take the Varet cable

car from Arc 2000 – although check the

weather first because it’s not always open.

At the top, you feel like you’re stepping

into air as you enjoy 360-degree views

across the top of the mountains. But

beware, it’s cold at the top – even if it’s

warm and sunny below!

Dog sledding

If you’re not sure you want to spend a

whole week in the peaceful serenity of

the mountains on foot, don’t despair. From

And relax at the Nama Springs

Tucked away in Eden Arc 1800m, is the

Nama Springs spa, with a hammam, four

different saunas, a salt flotation pool and

two outdoor pools. On a cold day, be

warned that while swimming in the snow

is wonderful, you’ll need nerves of steel to

strip off and dance through the ice to get

in and out of the pool.

Best lunch recommendation

Chalet de l’Arc (Arc 2000). The joy of Les

Arcs is that it’s largely pedestrianised and

you can walk to this altitude restaurant

across the slopes. It’s set in an original

farm building and oozes local charm. The

portion sizes are gigantean and the local

speciality “Le Chausson du Boulanger”

(particularly Le Savoyard one made with

cabbage, sour cream, Beaufort cheese and

sausage) is a must. But beware, you will

never fit into your salopettes again!

By the time you feel ready to roll down the

mountain, it’ll be time to head back to Club

Med for a 4-course dinner! But at least

with all of the activities you’ve done, you

feel like you’ve earnt it!

http://www.leschaletsdelarc.com/

You can find out more about Les Arcs,

visit www.france-montagnes.com

Travel | 31

What does 2020 have

in store for you?

The Year of the Metal Rat

From the Chinese Animal wheel shown on this page look

up the year you were born in. Then check out your animal

below and enjoy a glimpse of your chart for 2020.

PIG

RAT

Rat – The Golden Lock Star is in your chart this year, which is

extremely fortuitous and helps you to attract money. This year

all eyes are on you, you have the ability to bulldoze through any

problem that arises. Although relationships will need to be given

extra care and attention.

Ox – This is an optimistic year for you, a start of new beginnings

and the end of old ways. With a positive and focused intention,

you have the chance to make this year the best you have ever

had. You will need to give extra attention to your health though.

Eat healthily and set up a fitness program that suits you.

Tiger – Travel is on the cards for you, more than usual so

enjoy. You also have a lucky wealth star in your chart; look for

opportunities to make money safely, no stock market trading! You

will also need to up your physical activities as too much socializing

will effect your fitness.

Rabbit – The focus for you this year is relationships. If you are

single, this is the year to find a partner. If you are already in a

relationship, it’s time to nourish it and it will grow and bloom. You

may get distracted and miss an opportunity to make money this

year, but to expand your wealth invest in property.

Dragon – Career success and advancement are in the stars for

you this year. You will have helpful people in your life, learn how to

nurture them. Bring out your creative side this year and you will

be noticed but legal advice may be needed over documentation.

Snake – After 2019 you can now look forward to a more

prosperous year, opportunities in career and relationships are

high on the agenda. Good fortune is with you; take advantage

without hurting anyone else.

Horse – This is your clash year so you will need to be patient with

others and yourself. Problems show themselves in different forms,

and before making any important decision go over it three times

before making a commitment. You may find yourself at natures

mercy - think hurricane or massive flood, so come prepared for

2020 and learn to swim.

Goat – This year is about finding your passions and putting your

dreams into action. It will be a steady year for you after January

2020 but a great year to acquire assets in the form of property.

You may have a few obstacles in your way, but remember this is

your year, so there won’t be too much trouble.

Monkey – A year to study. And count your blessings. You have

a big heart, share it with others and the rewards will come. Be

aware of who you share your personal information with though,

you do not want to be cloned this year.

Rooster – This is your year to lead, and others will be watching

you. Show them the best path to go with kindness (which comes

easily to you). You have the happiness star in your chart and the

prosperity star, use them well. Not that this a problem unless you

ROOSTER

MONKEY

DOG

2017

2016

GOAT

2005

2004

2018

1993

1992

2015

2006

1981

1980

2003

1994

1969

1968

1991

HORSE

1979

2007

1995

1982

1967

1983

1970

1971

1959

1966

1978

1990

2002

2014

2008

1996

1984

1972

are in a relationship, but you have the salty pool star in your chart

which makes others attracted to you. Say no more!

Dog – The wisest words for you this year are that you cannot

control everything, so chill out a bit. Others seem to annoy you

more than usual. Good Fortune is in your chart this year in the

form of wealth. There will be a few challenges but there are

people around you this year that can help you, use them wisely.

Pig – A fantastic year for you with the wealth star prominent in

your chart. You can accumulate wealth through investment in

property and you may have a surprising windfall. You have the

death star in your chart, that doesn’t literally mean death, it could

mean an end of a relationship or a career change, etc.

1960

1965

1977

1989

2001

2013

1997

1985

1973

1961

1964

1962

1976

1974

1963

1988

2009

1986

1975

2000

1987

2012

1998

1999

SNAKE

2010

2011

OX

DRAGON

TIGER

RABBIT

If you would like to know

more join my subscription

group Journey Into The

World Of Feng Shui &

Astrology on Facebook. This

will give you daily horoscope

updates unique to your

Chinese Animal.

In this group you also learn

techniques to help you with

your relationships, career

and wealth.

Contact details janine@

janinelowe.co.uk or visit

www.janinelowe.co.uk

32 | fine

THE place to go for

Antiques & decorative items

Located in Tarrant Street, in the heart of Arundel, this amazing

independant shop is a haven for style-seekers on the hunt

for antiques and decorative items.

A

t Antiquities they take immense

pride in hunting for the most

unique and stylish items available;

scouring the UK and Europe, ... from dealer

contacts, markets and private collections

they personally select each piece for

their showroom, and after 30 years in the

business, the result is still never less than

beguiling.

It means that in-store you’ll discover a

refined eclecticism, which on any day

could range from 17th century carved

stone figures and 18th century walnut

buffets, to 19th century painted servers

and 20th century industrial tables. But if

you see something you like you’d best

be quick, because the stock may have

changed radically by the following week.

Antiquities is also a must stop destination

for its wide range of lighting and

decorative accessories.

Owners, Ian & Christina Fenwick

understand that the demands of

decorative living are no longer uniform

(that rulebook was thrown out long ago),

and in the 21st century the present must

exist alongside the past.

Of course, what the heart desires isn’t

always immediately obtainable. But for

Antiquities, disappointment is a dirty

word, which is why they run a finder’s

service; attempting to track down specific

items requested by their clients. If there

is an interior lacking decorative charm,

be sure Antiquities have someone on the

case trying to find that perfect item, just

for you.

It’s said that you can’t have it all. But

with an effortless blend of antique and

decorative elegance, industrial chic,

country charm and daring old world

glamour, Antiquities tries to prove that

adage wrong. And that is why this gem

on the south-coast of England is widely

regarded as one of the finest decorative

antique specialists in the UK.

www.antiquitiesarundel.com

e-mail:. antiquities@btconnect.com

#antiquitiesofarundel

5 Tarrant Street. Arundel. 01903 884355

Favourite things | 33

Made in Provence

Discovering a feast

for the senses and

a new approach to

traditions

Attitudes about the environment

and lifestyles are starting to shift

and more and more of us are

looking for traditional methods, higher

quality and a greater connection with our

environment over mass production.

We’re not alone in this yearning and

during a recent trip to Provence, I set off

to sniff out local artisans who are offering

something a little better, a little different,

and a little more immersive than your

average Leclerc, Tesco or Super U! And

over the course of the next year, we’ll be

showcasing some of the best of them!

Flavours of chocolate

The French high street may be struggling

with similar issues to ours, but in almost

every town you’ll still find a chocolatier.

And who doesn’t love chocolate.

Avignon in Provence is no exception and

tucked down a side alley off the central

Rue de la Republique, you’ll find the Aline

Géhan Chocolatier awaft with local

flavours, aromas, colours and design.

Amongst her many chocolates, Aline

offers a range called the “Balades en

Provence” or Walks in Provence. Each

chocolate in the series (le Mont Ventoux,

Sur le Pont d’Avignon and le Palais des

Papes) has local significance and comes in

a beautiful, hand illustrated packet with the

story behind it on a card inside.

For example, le Palais des Papes flavours

were inspired by the opulent colours

of the religious orders and worn by the

ancient popes (if you know Avignon, you’ll

know that between 1309 and 1377, it was

home to the Catholic Popes while Rome

was too dangerous and it still houses

the magnificent Palais des Papes) and

ingredients include fig for purple, pistachio

for green and apricots for orange!

Le Mont Ventoux was inspired by a cyclist

who conquered this local mountain and as

you’d expect, the ingredients are foraged

from the mountain slopes and include

cranberry and hazelnuts.

www.aline-gehant-chocolatier.com

34 | fine

The French high street

may be struggling with

similar issues to ours,

but in almost every

town you’ll still find a

chocolatier. And who

doesn’t love chocolate.

The sweet scent of Lavender

You may think of Provence as being all

about blue fields of lavender, but you’d

be wrong. Most of the iconic fields that

you see in the brochures are actually

an inferior hybrid called Lavandin which

was developed in the 1950s for mass

production and commercial purposes.

Unless, that is, you visit Chateau du Bois in

Cabrieres d’Avignon.

Le Chateau du Bois have been producing

and distilling real lavender for 5

generations and they opened a museum

in 1991. Historically, in this part of the

world lavender was of major importance

because of its plethora of health

properties. It’s used to treat everything

from headaches and circulation issues,

to mosquito bites, skin complaints, sleep

issues and as a natural disinfectant. In

the museum they showcase a number

of traditional distilleries, local dress and

lavender harvesting tools.

Real lavender has its own “appellation

d’origine contrôlée” (AOC) just like a good

wine and needs a specific combination

of factors only found in small parts of

Provence in order to thrive. At Chateau du

Bois’ Musée de la Lavande, they also have

an immersive workshop where you can

experience lavender via all your senses,

with perfumes, meringues, paints, take

themed tours (with a focus on perfume

or nature) or you can retreat to the soft

sofas of their VIP salon and try their face,

hand, foot and other beauty and health

products with a glass of wine.

www.museedelalavande.com

A new sort of co-operation

Rhonéa is a cooperative of wine producing

artisans based around Beaumes de Venise

in the Vaucluse. Boasting 200 skilled,

local winegrowers, they’ve developed

a concept that supports both the local

economy and the environment, whilst

giving visitors a rare chance to experience

local wine, landscapes and way of life!

Understanding wine like never before

Rhonéa is cradled in the arms of the

Dentelles de Montmirail mountains and

what better way to understand the

“terroir” than in a 4x4 in amongst the

vines and the mountains, with a picnic

surrounded by aromatic plants, green oaks

and Aleppo pines.

You can also hike or horse ride through

the vineyards and the Dentelles, and then

head back to their centre where they

run a selection of workshops From May

to December. These include tours of the

different vineyards, gourmand walking

tours, cookery workshops (with local

ingredients of course) and tastings. They

also served us one of the best cocktails

I’ve ever had called Origine, made with

Muscat, elderberry and thyme amongst

other ingredients.

www.rhonea.fr

Travel | 35

The Edge of the Florist,

Passionate, Professional,

Award Winning.

36 | fine

Based in the Surrey Hills, we are

storytellers through the art of floral design,

be it a celebration bouquet or floral gift,

your glorious wedding day, residential

floral arrangements, or tribute flowers in

respect of a life well lived.

Wedding flowers - floral trends are

constantly evolving and Benjamin Moore's

Colour for iconic year 2020 is "FIRST

LIGHT".

FIRST LIGHT is reminiscent of early

dawn, the soft rosy hue of delicate blush

just before the sun rises. Soft feminine

textures along with muted and tonal

flowers combine with lacy and airy foliages

to evoke the romantic sense of style with

sophistication.

For more information about the

Edge of the Florist,

pop into the store at Smithbrook Kilns on

the A281 between Horsham and Guildford.

www.theedgeoftheflorist.com

or to make an appointment call

01483277177

Floral | 37

Platinum

Certificated

Five Stone

Diamond Half

Eternity Ring

£2,595

Platinum GIA

Certificated

Four Claw

Diamond Twist

Solitaire Ring

£4,995

Platinum

Certificated

Princess-cut

Diamond

Cluster Ring

£2,795

Discover your perfect gift

18ct Gold

Certificated

Four Claw

Diamond

Solitaire Ring

£1,595

Platinum

Certificated

Four Claw

Twist Diamond

Solitaire Ring

£3,695

18ct Gold

Certificated

Five Stone

Diamond Half

Eternity Ring

£1,895

36 | fine

Mens

Speedmaster

Moonwatch

Professional

Calibre 1861

Bracelet Watch

£4,000

TAG Heuer Mens

Formula 1

Quartz

Chronograph

Blue Dial

Bracelet Watch

£1,295.00

TAG Heuer

Ladies

Aquaracer

Quartz

Bracelet

Watch

£1,150.00

MONTBLANC

Meisterstuck

Cufflinks £215

Gucci

Trademark

Heart

Necklace

£155

Gucci

Trademark

Heart

Silver Stud

Earrings

£130.00

49 West Street

Horsham

RH12 1PP

01403 258582

63 Churchill Square

Brighton

BN1 2TB

01273 710357

55 High Street

Alton, Hampshire

GU34 1AB

01420 82043

40 | fine

Motoring | 41

Chasing Cars

What happens when two friends with a lifelong passion for cars set out to

establish the most exciting specialist car boutique in the South East....

Over the last ten years, Mole

Valley Specialist Cars has built an

enviable reputation for the supply

of specialist and performance cars of the

highest quality.

Mole Valley has long been well-known

for it’s association with TVR, Morgan and

Noble cars and the sale of quality lowmileage

sports and performance cars

such as Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar,

Aston Martin and other exotica such as

Weismann and Spyker with a few carefully

chosen classic cars thrown into the mix so

there is always something interesting to

appeal to the car enthusiast!

Customers can browse classic and

modern models in the large boutique-style

indoor showroom in an environment that

understands the love of beautiful cars and

is free from sales pressure.

The stock is continually changing so carlovers

can always find something new and

interesting to view!

It is a rare place where customers and

enthusiasts alike can compare rival

marques under one roof and talk to

proprietors Chris Chadwick and John

Heywood who are always happy to

give advice and share their passion and

considerable knowledge.

The service department is always

busy, servicing and repairing TVR,

Morgan and Noble and again has an

enviable reputation in this area due

to the knowledge and expertise of

the technicians, who have many years

experience in these marques.

Mole Valley’s reputation is such that

customers return time after time and

many cars are sold unseen to customers

over the phone in the UK and overseas.

Some really exciting news is that TVR

launched it’s long-awaited new Griffith

model at Goodwood in 2017 and as

a TVR Heritage dealer, Mole Valley

will be eagerly awaiting arrival of the

new car which has been designed by

Gordon Murray and will be powered by

a new Cosworth V8 engine.

To view the full range of Mole Valley’s

prestige stock, visit the showroom and

workshop on the A24 between Dorking

and Horsham where you will be assured

of a warm welcome whether looking for a

new car or just to browse and dream!

www.mole-valley.co.uk

42 | fine

Jaguar SS

Suffolk Re-creation, £59,995

Maserati Grancabrio, 2010

20,500 miles, £41,995

Porsche Boxster 24V PDK, 2011

49,000 miles, £19,995

Morgan 4/4 1800, 1996

20,000 miles, £23,995

Motoring | 43

RICHMOND

VAULT

Here in Richmond we specialise in craft beers, holding 80 plus different craft beers at any time, sourced locally

and from all over the world. Customers are welcome to taste some of them before ordering. Our experience

barman can recommend which beer will go with the foods on offer, we call it 'Food and Beer Matching'.

The pub is located in the town centre of Richmond, short walk from the station and a min away from a

River Thames. We are fully underground which creates a unique ambiance which we think you’ll love!

Richmond Vault Beer Cellar & Restaurant

5 Hill Street, Richmond TW9 1SX

Book a Table 0208 332 0055 • reservations@richmondvault.co.uk • www.richmondvault.co.uk

44 | fine

On the outskirts of the village of Chiddingfold, you’ll find a warm welcome along with some melt

in your mouth seasonal dishes and a fantastic selection of local ales, lagers, spirits, ciders and

wines. We pride ourselves on being an authentic English pub, where you can relax and spend time

with friends while enjoying some of the best local produce.

Surrounded by the beautiful Surrey countryside, we also have three stylish guest rooms for those

looking for the perfect country retreat.

The Mulberry Inn, Petworth Road, Chiddingfold. • www.themulberryinn.co.uk • 01428 644460

Food | 45

Down at the

Potting Shed

A few jobs for the cold months ahead

46 | fine

Most of us who love our

gardens, aren’t that deterred

by the cold weather. And

whether it’s fair weather or foul, there’s

always something you can be getting

on with to make sure your garden is

looking its best come the Spring. So, if

you’re thinking of getting outside when

the weather permits, here are a few top

jobs for the months ahead.

January

If Christmas has kept you away from

your garden, the new year is a good

time to get outside and check how your

garden is doing. Start by checking that

all stakes, ties and supports are still in

place.

January is also a great time for pruning.

Cut back roses to just above any buds

and remove any dead branches. Cut

back and trim any damaged or diseased

willow branches as well as thinning out

overcrowded stems. Begin pruning

apple and pear trees, blackcurrants,

gooseberries and redcurrants. Cut back

ornamental grasses to within a few

centimetres of the ground.

If you haven’t already, remove any

weeds from your borders and cut back

the collapsed stems of perennials,

although watch out for any new growth.

Check any stored bulbs and tubers

for rot. Then head in doors with some

catalogues and plan this years’ planting

and order any seeds, bulbs or plants.

February

Now is the time to cut back any wisteria

side shoots to three buds from the

base, as well as pruning late-summer

flowering clematis, cutting stems back to

healthy buds about 30cm from the base.

Prune winter-blooming shrubs such as

mahonia, winter jasmine and heathers,

once they've finished flowering.

The wonderful thing about February is

that you can also start potting up your

containers with hardy spring bedding

plants for that first flash of colour.

March

As the garden slowly starts to come

back to life, there is plenty to keep us

busy. Finish off any pruning for plants

such as roses and continue deadheading

spring flowers and any remaining winter

bedding. Then add general-purpose

fertiliser to flowerbeds and around roses,

shrubs and hedges. Feed ericaceous

shrubs, such as rhododendrons, azaleas

and camellias, and tidy up borders,

removing weeds, before mulching

generously with garden compost.

Now at last you can start planting lilies

and other summer-flowering bulbs in

pots and borders, as well as planting new

roses and other shrubs and climbers. And

don’t forget to look out for slugs and

protect any new spring shoots.

Gardening | 47

In the

Diary

48 | fine

A 1930S CHRISTMAS - STANDEN HOUSE AND GARDEN, EAST GRINSTEAD

23rd November 2019 until 5th January 2020, 11am-3pm

Step into a 1930s Christmas party already in full swing with music and dancing, and be

immersed into the sights and sounds of family festivities at Standen. Discover each room

in the house dressed for a 1930s Christmas and feel like one of the Beales’s guests this

festive season.

Visitors are being invited to enjoy a traditional family Christmas, discovering how the

Beales would have celebrated the festivities themselves during the 1930s. Enjoy this

magical view of the decorated house, along with the 20-foot outdoor Winter Tree.

MY COUSIN RACHEL AT CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE

28 January - 1 February 2020

Theatre Royal Bath Productions presents Helen George in MY COUSIN RACHEL based

on the novel by Daphne du Maurier’s classic psychological thriller.

Murderess, seducer, thief, enchantress - or merely a woman intent on survival? Alluring,

exotic and unconventional, Countess Rachel Sangalletti travels from Florence to the

Ashley Estate in Cornwall, home of her recently deceased husband. Her presence in

the house arouses dark suspicions and uncontrollable desires, not least in young Philip,

cousin and heir to the Ashley home. Feverish passion battles reason in this classic Gothic

romance, set in the wild landscape of the rock-ribbed Cornish coast.

Box Office: book online at cft.org.uk or call 01243 781312.

AWARD-WINNING GARDENS AND WORKSHOPS -

WEST DEAN GARDENS NR CHICHESTER

15 February 2020

“Pruning garden shrubs and climbers” and “Simplifying the rules – easier ways to a

successful vegetable and fruit garden”. Attend one of these workshops or just enjoy

the gardens which include magnificent trees and swathes of evergreen structural shrubs

planted in ribbons throughout the spring. Visitors can also see how the Walled Garden

and Wild Garden start to rev up for the season to come.

For full details of each course visit www.westdean.ac.uk

COOKING OVER THE FIRE WORKSHOP - THE SALT BOX,

SOUTH NUTFIELD, SURREY

22nd February 2020

Join The Salt Box for a day in the woods celebrating cooking over fire in the great

outdoors.

Learn how to tame the fire and create delicious meals in a relaxed and informative

environment surrounded by the crackle and pop of fires with like-minded people. You’ll

learn about traditional fire lighting using flint and steel, wood selection and uses, and

different methods for cooking over fire – spit roasts, Dutch oven cooking, wooden planks,

skillets, grilling, hot smoking. You’ll also enjoy an introduction to butchery and preparation

of fur, feather and fin depending on the seasons.

For more information: https://wearethesaltbox.co.uk/cookingoverfire/

ALEX EDELMAN – JUST FOR US TOUR 2020

Assorted venues and dates

Bostonian comedian Alex Edelman has finally announced his first ever UK tour with

his Edinburgh Comedy Award & Barry nominated show ‘Just For Us’. Awarded the

prestigious Herald Angel Award, and garnering reviews that made it the Edinburgh

Festival’s most critically acclaimed show in more than a decade, ‘Just For Us’ marks

Edelman’s growth from promising newcomer to an artist lauded by fans, comedy legends,

and critics — on both sides of the Atlantic — as one of the best of his generation.

The tour starts on 31st January 2020 at Salford’s Lowry and culminates on 19th March in

Guildford. There will be 27 dates, including a 6-night run at London’s Vaults Festival and

local venues include Crawley, Dorking, Tunbridge Wells, Brighton and Guildford.

For details visit: http://www.alexedelmancomedy.com

In the Diary | 49

Tel: 01403 732822

enquiries@timberwindowshorsham.com

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM:

Timber Windows of Horsham

Unit 1, Blunts Yard, Newbuildings Place,

Dragons Green Road, Dragons Green,

Horsham, RH13 8GQ

www.timberwindows.com

Natural, sustainable & ethical, our beautiful timber windows and doors are the logical choice.

Constructed from engineered timber slow grown in cold climates, their strength, stability and beauty are guaranteed.

Unlike timber windows and doors of old, our products will not twist, will not rot and require very little maintenance.

With a 20% discount off all timber windows and doors in our Winter Sale, visit our showroom to view our lovely range of

products and receive expert advice on enhancing the value and beauty of your home.

Get Active with

Horsham & Shipley

Community Project

Age is no limit when it comes to getting outside!

The Horsham & Shipley Community

Project is inspiring older people

to keep active by making full

use of all the land at a local football

ground TD Shipley. The organisation

grew from a Horsham-based veterans’

football club, Hills Farm Lane. Since then,

the Community Project has created

an environment which offers weekday

activities in the fresh air.

“We wanted to provide some facilities

for people to stay active and involved

for as long as they can” says Chairman

Philip Gibbs. “We saw an opportunity

to use the areas around the main pitch

for some lower-impact sports. First we

built four 15m pétanque “pistes”. It is a

fantastic game which gets people outside!

We have over 20 members now, playing

regularly on Tuesday mornings and during

the warmer months they play on Friday

evenings too – sometimes before a glass

of wine in a local pub! It is a sociable

sport and we have a very relaxed and

friendly group.”

The walking football club, has grown from

strength to strength and now has over 35

members. The men – and four ladies enjoy

an active session on Tuesday mornings,

competing in a series of 20 minute games

before well-earned refreshments and a chat!

For those more interested in practical

activities, the Community Project also

erected its own “Men’s Shed” alongside

the football clubhouse. The shed is well

stocked with equipment and a wood store

behind the clubhouse. Now with over 20

members who come and go as they please

during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays,

the shedders (as they are fondly known), are

involved in helping to maintain the site with

fixing and repairing, plus making a variety of

items – some bigger commissioned items,

and other smaller things for sales and local

fêtes.

Philip says “The range of skill amongst the

Shedders is amazing, and for those less

practised at woodwork there is always a

chance to help out with something. The

slogan for the Men’s Shed movement,

which is an international organisation, is

"Shoulder To Shoulder" and this is how

things are at Shipley with a very supportive

group of gents. The newest activity on

offer through the drier months, is Health

Walks, often through nearby Knepp Castle

re-wilding project.

The original veterans’ football club, Hills

Farm Lane FC, now has 40 active members,

and plays home matches at Roffey FC. They

have a successful league squad as well as

squad playing friendlies, plus plenty of social

activities and an annual tour.

Giving people the opportunity to meet

and socialise while doing something active

is a good formula and at the summer

barbeques and other events the different

sections mingle. Friendships have formed

and everyone enjoys the camaraderie.

To find out more visit www.

HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.

org and follow the activities on

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/

HorshamShipleyCommunityProject/

52 | fine

Embracing Japanese

style and simplicity

The New Ginkgo in Jade collection

What’s new in interiors?

Interior design trends for 2020 continue

to embrace calm, stylish interiors, with

just a passing nod to minimalism. Biophillic

design (described as the use of nature,

space and materials to increase your

feeling of connection with the natural

environment and thereby enhance

your sense of wellbeing) continues to

be popular, as do natural and organic

materials.

A gentle refresh

Giving your home a fresh and elegant new

look doesn’t have to mean a complete

overhaul.

Instead, this year, use statement pieces

such as cushions, and natural textures,

textiles, patterns and fabrics to create

quietly elegant and uplifting spaces and

change the mood for your room.

If it’s the colour you want to change, this

year’s trends include warm neutrals or

toned down and subtle shades of teal, pink

and brown, mint and aquamarine, making a

welcome change from last year’s grey or

bold statement walls.

The new Ginkgo in Jade

In line with these trends, in the autumn

of 2019, Anna Jacobs launched her new

Ginkgo in Jade collection of hand made

lamps and velvet cushions and we think

this gorgeous collection epitomises this

year’s desire for enigmatic calm.

The story of the Ginkgo Biloba

Anna was captivated by both the

beautiful shape of the Ginkgo leaf and

its symbolism of strength and hope. The

Ginkgo Biloba is the oldest surviving

species of tree known to exist and some

individual trees are thought to be more

than 3000 years old! As such, they are

the subject of great veneration in the

East. They are considered a sacred tree

symbolising strength, endurance, the

unity of opposites, bearers of hope and

symbols of love.

Six Ginkgo trees even survived the

nuclear bomb on Hiroshima in 1945 and

one of these now stands in the Peace

Park and has been named the 'bearer of

hope', with prayers of peace engraved

on its bark.

The designer

Anna Jacobs is a British artist and

designer, who launched her first range

of homewares in January 2015. All Anna's

products are made in Britain and designed

from her own original hand painted

artworks. Each piece is printed using the

latest digital technology to capture the

subtlety of her hand drawn line and the

vivid colour of her original ink work.

Anna has designed every part of this latest

collection from her original painting of a

Ginkgo tree branch in pen, pencil, ink and

plaster on board.

You can find out more at

www.annajacobsart.com

Product name: Ginkgo In Jade velvet cushion

Description: A beautifully made and silky soft velvet

cushion designed by Anna from her original painting of

a Ginkgo Tree in ink, pencil and acrylic on plaster and

board. The cushion design focuses in on the beautiful

detail and ink work of the leaves

The back is a linen cotton union in oatmeal.

Price: £79

Photoprahy Anna Jacobs

Interiors | 53

Welcome to the

Old Barn showroom...

We spend time talking

about individual

requirements to make

sure customers select

the right bed.”

Gary Ewmett

... where specialist advice from the experts is

key to a good night’s sleep

The historic converted barn known as

‘The Bed Centre’ may be a familiar

landmark for regulars passing

through the village of Bramley on the

A281, but the extensive range (and, more

importantly knowledgeable advice) that lies

within may come as a surprise to most.

“We spend time talking about the

individual requirements our customers

may have to make sure they buy the

right bed.”

Clearly that extra bit of effort has paid

off.

This family business has more than 75

years’ experience helping customers get

that perfect night’s sleep.

Owner Gary Ewmett specialises in traditional

handmade pocket-sprung mattresses,

offering support for the spine and comfort to

relax the muscles and encourage a deeper

sleep. Memory foam, latex and coil sprung

mattresses are also available.

He says the thing that sets the Bed Centre

apart from others is the personal service it

provides.

“The one thing that is very apparent is that

the general public get very little advice

about buying the correct bed,” he said.

The majority of the centre’s business

comes from recommendations from

previous customers.

The Bed Centre has built up a solid

client base and offers a free delivery

service – it can also dispose of your old

bed for you, taking it for recycling.

Specialising in solid oak, ash, mahogany

and cherry wood bedsteads, metal

frames, drawer divans or ottoman

storage bases, there is plenty of choice

to complement a new mattress.

Why not pop in to see for yourselves?

54 | fine

THE BED

CENTRE

BRAMLEY

Old Barn, High Street, Bramley, Surrey GU5 0HS

Free Parking front and rear

Open: Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 5:30pm. Closed Sundays

Telephone (01483) 898209 www.bramleybedcentre.co.uk

FREE DELIVERY AND FREE DISPOSAL OF YOUR BED

| 54

56 | fine

January Offer

Main course £7.95

Saturday Lunch

2 courses £15.95

Friday Night Dinner

2 courses £16.95

Terms and Conditions:

Main course offer valid Monday to Friday for lunch and Monday to Thursday for dinner

between 2nd January and 31st January 2020 inc.

Friday dinner and Saturday lunch offers valid all month.

Pre- booked tables only – quoting offer at the time of booking.

Only one voucher offer required per table. Additional courses £6.75 per course

Only one visit to the carvery per person per course is included in this offer

The offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer and is subject to availability.

T: 01903 879494 E: info@oldtollgatehotel.com

www.oldtollgatehotel.com

THE STREET, BRAMBER, STEYNING, WEST SUSSEX BN44 3WE

| 57

Ruth Wheeler

Celebrating

Artisans of the Surrey Hills

58 | fine

Chimney Fire Coffee

Norbury Blue Cheese Company

His Royal Highness met

many of the outstanding

artisans who have been

awarded the Trade Mark

Surrey Hills

Adam Aaronson

Surrey Hills is becoming renowned

for its local artisans who are

growing or crafting award winning

produce within this extraordinary Area of

Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Produce such as the wines from the

Vineyards of the Surrey Hills, craft beers

and gins, local cheeses, free range meat

and traditional crafts such as Blacksmiths,

leather, woodland and glass crafts.

The range and special nature of these

producers and artisans are inspiring and

provide a wonderful way to highlight the

distinct character and quality of the local

area.

In recognition of the outstanding work

of these local artisans, HRH The Earl of

Wessex KG GCVO visited Surrey Hills

Enterprises in November 2019. His Royal

Highness met many of the outstanding

artisans who have been awarded the

Trade Mark Surrey Hills - an accreditation

and Mark of local provenance, quality and

sustainability.

The Royal Visit included a Surrey Hills

lunch with local beef from Coverwood

Farm, pork from Hill House Farm, bread

from Chalk Hills bakery and ethically

sourced coffee roasted in the Surrey Hills

by Chimney Fire Coffee. Wine from Albury

Organic Vineyard was served followed

by a tour of the Vineyard before being

presented with a hamper full of delicious

treats celebrating the variety and quality

of local, sustainable produce.

The Royal Visit was a wonderful

recognition of the growing reputation

and development of the Surrey Hills for

innovative, high quality, sustainable, local

products and services.

Surrey Hills offers exciting local hubs

where you can meet local artisans, such

as the Silent Pool Hub hosting Mandira’s

Kitchen, Norbury Blue Cheese Company,

Silent Pool Gin Distillery and Albury

Organic Vineyard, making this a special

place to visit and tie in with a walk across

the Surrey Hills with spectacular views.

Explore the Surrey Hills and visit some of

the Surrey Hills Artisans, purchase local

produce and enjoy great workshops,

tastings and events. The Surrey Hills

Artisan Trail will be launched in May 2020

followed by a 2-day Festival celebrating

the Artisans of the Surrey Hills.

The ‘Support Local’ section of the Surrey

Hills website showcases these and many

more extraordinary businesses and their

range of activities and events.

Find Out more and sign up for our

e-newsletter to keep up-dated with all the

local events.

www.surreyhills.org Click on ‘Support

local’ or ‘Events’.

Surrey Hills Artisan Festival

Sat 16th & Sunday 17th May 2020

A celebration of the very best of

Surrey Hills food, drink, art and craft

at the stunning Denbies Wine Estate

in Dorking.

Find out more and book your tickets

on-line for a 20% reduction

www.surreyhills.org click on ‘Events’

Surrey Hills Enterprises | 59

The call of the Sahara

Why editor Lucy Pitts and her daughter

are walking across the desert

Photo by Sophie Ward Photography

In March next year, our editor Lucy and

her 13-year-old daughter, Greta, are

joining a group of 56 others and walking

across the Sahara Desert. The aim is to

raise money for St. Catherine’s Hospice, a

vital local hospice and community service

based in Crawley. We think they’re both

mad but thought we’d ask them to explain!

The why?

Lucy: “I think we all know someone who

has spent time at the hospice, and I’ve lost

two friends in the last few years who both

spent their last few days and weeks there.

The work that they do and the way that

they do it, can’t be measured. It’s the very

essence of what makes us human. I do

like a challenge, and I was 50 this year so

when I heard about the trek, I knew it was

for me.”

Greta: “I had decided I wanted to do

something for charity this year. When

mum mentioned this, I knew it would be

amazing”.

The training

Lucy: “We started training in April last

year, and we thought we’d combine

training with fundraising! So far between

us, we’ve done 4 triathlons and a 20mile

night walk. Greta was not happy about

the night walk because I thought I’d

signed up to do 20km. It was cold, we

were dressed in shorts and t-shirts

and manifestly unprepared. About 2am

in the morning things felt pretty bleak

(she might have sworn at me) but we

both finished. We were practically on

our knees and I’m immensely proud of

her. For the next part of our training,

we’re building the distances of our

walks, making sure each walk includes a

fair measure of both mud and hills.”

Greta: “I’ve loved most of the training

so far, except for that walk! I hated

that!”

And the experience so far?

Greta: “To be honest, I don’t always

want to spend hours with my mother

training at the weekend, but I suppose

it does give us a chance to talk which

we probably wouldn’t normally do. And

I’ve been so inspired every time we’ve

been to St. Catherine’s.”

Lucy: “To be fair, she mainly talks and

I listen, but I’ve been impressed about

how dedicated she’s been. And it’s

fair to say, we’ve had some amazing

adventures together already and we

haven’t even got to Morocco yet!

If you’d like to sponsor them, you can do

so at:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/

lucy-dk-pitts

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/

greta-pitts

60 | fine

Looking for independent

financial advice?

Working with the right financial

advisers for you is an important part of

your financial strategy and part of its

success. With that in mind, we’d like to

introduce ourselves and explain how

we work.

Who we are

Alex De Silva and Co is a firm of

Independent Financial Advisers with a

difference. We have been established

for over 15 years, have offices in London

and Surrey, with a wealth of financial

experience provided by 3 core advisers:

• Alex De Silva - Director

• Jonathan Teidy - Director

• Andrew Hammond – Chartered

Financial Planner

What we do

We aim to provide our clients with an

excellent personal service whether it is

a simple mortgage or a complete holistic

financial plan and constantly look to add

value with the solutions and strategies we

recommend.

We put our clients at the forefront of

everything we do, and by developing

strong, trusting, relationships we are able

to provide the most appropriate solutions

to the many financial challenges our

personal and business clients face.

We specialise in providing complex

mortgage/financing solutions, tax efficient

investment and retirement planning

strategies, together with risk assessments

for small businesses but we can also help

clients in the following areas:

Areas of Advice

• Mortgages – Residential, Personal and

Ltd Co. Buy-to-Let, Commercial.

• Small Business Risk Assessment –

Shareholder/Partnership and Key

Person insurance.

• Workplace Pensions (Auto Enrolment)

for our business clients.

• Retirement Planning – Personal

Pensions, SIPPs, Employer Defined

Benefit Scheme assessment

and transfers, Annuities, Income

Drawdown etc.

• Employee Benefits – Pensions, Health

Care, Group Life & Relevant Life

assurance.

• Family and Loan Protection – Life

Assurance, Critical Illness, Income

Protection, Private Medical Insurance,

• General Insurance – Specialist House

& Buildings

• Tax efficient Investing – ISA’s,

Investment Trusts, Investment Bonds,

EIS and VCT’s.

• Wills, Trusts, Lasting Power of

Attorneys

• Succession Planning – Pensions,

Inheritance Tax schemes, Business

Property Relief.

• Financial Planning using modern ‘cash

flow’ forecasting.

If you’d like to know more, or have a chat

to find out if we’re your kind of people,

please contact us at

www.alexdesilvaco.com

Think carefully before securing other debts

against your home. Your home or property may be

repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on

your mortgage.

Alex De Silva & Co Limited, 158 Buckingham Palace

Road, London, SW1W 9TR is a company limited by

shares. Our Companies House number is 9644496.

We are also authorised and regulated by the

Financial Conduct Authority and we are entered

on the Financial Services Register No 712630

at https://register.fca.org.uk. The FCA does not

regulate taxation & trust advice and will writing and

some aspects of commercial mortgages, Buy to

Let mortgages, unsecured loans, secured loans and

bridging finance.

Financial | 61

Residential Property

& Capital Gains Tax Changes

Expected changes to have a significant impact for

UK resident taxpayers!

62 | fine

Significant changes to capital gains

tax for UK resident tax payers

on the disposal of UK residential

property have been announced. They

take effect from 6 April 2020 and will

have a substantial impact for:

• The payment date for capital

gains tax

• Reducing the final period for main

residence exemption

• Restricting lettings relief

In a small compromise, two extra

statutory concessions will become law.

30 Day Payment for Residential

Property Gains

From 6 April 2020, UK residents will be

required to pay tax on UK residential

property gains within 30 days of

completion. Alongside making payment,

a tax return will generally have to be

submitted to HMRC within the same

timeframe. Helpfully, no tax return will be

required for no gain / no loss disposals,

nor for disposals where no tax is due.

The tax return is only for the capital

gains tax computation for the asset

disposed of. That might seem

reasonable at first blush, but if the tax

payer has capital losses on the disposal

of other assets, they will not be taken

into account. The tax payment will

therefore be a payment on account of

the total capital gains tax liability for

the tax year with a further payment or

refund due on submission of the Self

Assessment tax return.

The introduction of this tax return is an

additional obligation in the sales process.

Currently, a return for Stamp Duty

Land Tax is required within 14 days of

completion, and is usually completed by

the lawyers dealing with the conveyance.

It is likely that early advice from your

tax advisor will be necessary to get a

full grasp of the intricacies of the capital

gains tax computation, particularly

where only partial main residence

exemption is available.

Final Exempt Period for Main Residence

Exemption

If a property has been the owner’s only

or main residence throughout the entire

period of ownership, then the capital gain

arising is wholly exempt from capital gains

tax. If however there is more than one

property used as a residence, there is

the possibility that the property disposed

of may not qualify for main residence

exemption if another property has been

nominated as the one to be regarded as

the main residence.

When nominations are involved, quite

often only part of the period of ownership

will qualify for the exemption, although in

all cases where the property qualifies in

part for the exemption, the final period of

ownership will be deemed to be occupied

as the main residence in any event and will

therefore qualify for exemption in respect

of this final period of ownership.

This final period of ownership has been

18 months since 6 April 2014. From 6 April

2020, the final exempt period will in most

cases be further reduced to 9 months

only. For disabled persons and those living

in care homes, the final exempt period will

continue to be three years after 6 April

2020, which was the position existing for

all tax payers prior to 6 April 2014.

Restriction of Letting Relief

In addition to the main residence

exemption, there was a further relief,

known as “letting relief” which home

owners often claimed when selling a

property which had been their main

residence but which they had vacated

and let to tenants. Letting relief was up

to £40,000 per individual, and therefore

for a couple could be up to £80,000.

In addition, the letting relief could be

available on multiple properties, if they

had each qualified for the main residence

exemption. From 6 April 2020, whilst

letting relief continues at £40,000, it will

only apply to those who share occupancy

with the tenant. It is expected that this

will significantly reduce the number

of disposals to which lettings relief is

available.

Late Nominations

The first concession to be legislated

relates to late nominations specifying

which of two of more residences are to

be treated as the main one qualifying for

the main residence exemption. Normally,

a period of two years from the date on

which more than one residence is available

is allowed for making the nomination.

Delay in Commencing Occupation

The second concession to be legislated

concerns delays in taking up occupation

of a main residence. Normally, the main

residence exemption only accrues from

the date occupation commences. If the

property has not been the residence

of another individual between the

date of acquisition and the taking up

of occupation, then that period will be

From 6 April 2020, whilst

letting relief continues

at £40,000, it will only

apply to those who share

occupancy with the tenant.

a period of deemed occupation if the

property is subject to building works

(for up to 24 months), or the individual is

disposing of their previous or only or main

residence (for up to 12 months).

Planning Points

There are a number of planning points:

• On almost any analysis, if a sale of

a property is contemplated, then it

should be completed before 6 April

2020.

• The sale of a buy to let property

which has previously been a main

residence is most likely to be affected

by at least one of these changes.

• You will need to plan ahead to ensure

that the capital gains tax computation

can be prepared in time to meet the

new 30 day deadline for filing the tax

return and payment of the capital

gains tax following a sale.

Whilst representations have been

submitted to HMRC in response to these

changes by the accountancy and taxation

bodies, it is expected that legislation

enacting these changes will come into

force on 6 April 2020, although it is

possible that some amendments to the

current draft legislation may be made.

Summary

The government’s focus on extracting

capital gains tax from residential

properties is now firmly on UK resident

taxpayers. For the multiple residential

property owner, these changes will have a

significant impact and professional advice

is most likely to be needed.

Stuart Ritchie is a chartered accountant

and chartered tax adviser with over 30

years’ experience having specialised

in private client taxation and in helping

individuals and their families all his

career. He is a tax partner with Ritchie

Philips LLP based in Horsham and can be

contacted on 020 3195 1300 or at

stuart.ritchie@ritchiephillips.co.uk

Your money, your business | 63

Horsham

35 Carfax, Horsham RH12 1EE

01403 886860 | horsham@struttandparker.com

West Sussex | Maplehurst

Guide Price £1,350,000

A Grade II Listed former farm house with detached garden office/studio, set in a sought after,

semi-rural location.

Entrance porch | Drawing room | Sitting room | Dining room | Study | Kitchen/breakfast room | Utility | 2 Cloakrooms | Master bedroom with en suite

bathroom | 4 Further bedrooms | Family bathroom | Garden office/studio

Gardens and grounds of just under 1 acre.

Horsham

Paula J Moore | 01403 886860

Horsham

Paula J Moore | 01403 886860

/struttandparker @struttandparker struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including Prime Central London

Horsham

35 Carfax, Horsham RH12 1EE

01403 886860 | horsham@struttandparker.com

West Sussex | Henfield


A 5-bedroom barn conversion with heated swimming pool, a variety of outbuildings and

delightful gardens.

Drawing/dining room | Sitting room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Family shower room | Laundry room and boot room | 3 Bedrooms (1 en suite) | Master

bedroom with en suite bathroom | Guest bedroom suite | Detached garden house | 2 Garages (1 with 1st floor studio room) | Greenhouse | EPC: E

Gardens and grounds of about 1.5 acres.

Horsham

Paula J Moore | 01403 886860

/struttandparker @struttandparker struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including Prime Central London

EAST PRESTON, WEST SUSSEX

A SPACIOUS, VERSATILE AND BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED DETACHED PROPERTY ON THE POPULAR WILLOWHAYNE PRIVATE ESTATE.

Entrance Hall, Sitting Room, Lantern Room, Dining Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room, Cloakroom, Inner Hall, Master Bedroom with En-suite Bathroom,

Further Bedroom with En-suite Shower Room, Bedroom/Study, First Floor Sitting Area, 3 Double Bedrooms all with En-suite Shower Rooms, Beautifully landscaped front

and rear gardens, Detached Outbuilding with Gymnasium, Jacuzzi and Wet Room, Attached Double Garage, Driveway with parking for several vehicles.

Guide Price £1,499,999 EPC C Arundel 01903 885886 arundel@jackson-stops.co.uk

AMBERLEY, WEST SUSSEX

AN EXCEPTIONAL GRADE II LISTED BARN CONVERSION OF JUST UNDER 9,000 SQ.FT. INCLUDING TWO SEPARATE ONE BEDROOM COTTAGES.

Dining Hall, Sitting Room, Games Room, Study, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, 3 Ground Floor Bedroom Suites all with En-suite facilities, Family Bathroom, Two Galleried

Landings, 3 Large Double Bedrooms all with En-suite facilities, Double Car Barn, Garage and Store Room, Extensive gravelled parking area, Gardens,

Feature walled garden, Two separate cart Cottages, Breathtaking views over the Amberley Wildbrooks nature reserve and beautiful South Downs National Park.

Guide Price £2,500,000 EPC Exempt Arundel 01903 885886 arundel@jackson-stops.co.uk

ARUNDEL

01903 885 886

28 High Street, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9AB

arundel@jackson-stops.co.uk

jackson-stops.co.uk

Local & National reach through a

network of London & Regional offices

PROPERTY EXPERTS SINCE 1910

WESTCOTT, SURREY

GRADE 11 LISTED GEORGIAN VILLAGE HOUSE OF GREAT CHARM AND CHARACTER.

Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room with larder, study, utility room, inner hall, cloakroom, five bedrooms, bedroom six/dressing room,

bathroom, two shower rooms, further bedroom and bathroom on second floor, double garage, single garage, three store rooms, gardener’s WC, covered parking,

south facing mature and well-kept gardens.


Dorking 01306 887560 dorking@jackson-stops.co.uk

REIGATE, SURREY

A RARE AND WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE A SUBSTANTIAL AND IMPOSING GRADE 11 LISTED RURAL RESIDENCE.

Entrance hall, WC, reception room, study, sitting room, kitchen/dining room, conservatory, utility room, stairs to cellar, seven bedrooms, dressing area and

three bathrooms, substantial in and out driveway, plot of approximately 1.5 acres, mature garden, paddock.


Reigate 01737 222027 reigate@jackson-stops.co.uk

Local & National reach through a

network of London & Regional offices

PROPERTY EXPERTS SINCE 1910

The Street, Patching Village, West Sussex Price Guide £800,000

Beautiful 17th Century cottage in a delightful Downland village setting with no through traffic

Perfect for the busy working couple to come home to as a peaceful retreat or ideal as a quality downsizing home |

A beautiful detached cottage, extended for its architect owner and re-thatched in 2012 | Mixing lovely period detail with

contemporary style | Great entertaining space | 1,687 sq ft interior, plus summer house & garden store/workroom |

Vaulted & beamed 24 x 21 ft sitting room | Bespoke kitchen, walk–in larder | Utility/prep area | 15 x 12ft period Dining Room |

Study/Bedroom 4 with garden view | Contemporary vanity/cloakroom | Large, stylish G/F shower bathroom | Cottage bath 2

downstairs | Three 1st floor bedrooms, or use one as a dressing room | Master bedroom upstairs & ES shower room | Oil-fired

radiator & underfloor heating | South extension double-glazed | Easy, colourful gardens by Chelsea Flower Show Designer |

Sunny terraces & lawns | Gated drive, 4-car parking | EPC N/A (Listed Building) | Available with no forward chain |

Thakeham/Storrington borders, West Sussex Price Guide £625,000

A stunning 4 bedroom home built in 2014/15 - handy for schools and close to countryside

Light, high-specification interior with contemporary style | Naturally secluded gardens with bespoke-built garden workroom/

Studio | 1,934 sq ft inclusive | Entrance porch, Karndean-floor hall | Cloakroom | Front Sitting room/Family room |

Feature rear Living room with wood- burner | Superb Kitchen Dining room, both with fold-aside doors opening onto Terrace

& Gardens | Utility/Laundry room | 4 First floor Bedrooms | Main Bedroom enjoying rear garden views | En-suite wet room/

Bathroom | Family Bath/shower room | Loft space | Light, neutral décor | Low maintenance exterior | Gas CH, High performance

double glazing & insulation | Cat 5 cabling & Surround Sound |

Full width Sandstone rear Terrace | Bespoke Garden room/Studio & cloakroom | Delightful gardens with trees at the end |

Home produce section, Greenhouse | Garage, electric roller door | Extensive drive & parking/turning area | EPC (76) |

Village & Country Homes for sale and wanted in West Sussex

01903 74 12 12

20 years as Independent Estate Agents, Residential Sales & Lettings

www.clarkeandcharlesworth.com

St Josephs Abbey, Greyfriars Lane, Storrington, West Sussex

Price Guide £1.350,000 Freehold

A particularly fine and gracious home with more than 3.600 sq ft of accommodation over two main floors

Unique in St Joseph’s in having its own large Freehold garden defined by walls, hedges and established planting - in addition to enjoying full use of the 5 acres of grounds and the residents’

private tennis court. Arched double front doors open into the entrance hall, where straight away a sense of grandeur is created by curving oak steps and a sweeping staircase. Walking through

into central Drawing Room, you’ll notice the baronial fireplace, high ceilings, ornate plasterwork and wonderful tall mullioned-stone windows with heraldic stained glass panels and fine views of

the grounds. Almost the same size is the east & south facing kitchen & family dining/sitting room with its imposing stone mullioned south bay window looking out over your own gardens, to

parklands and beyond. East and South main bedroom suites have high ceilings and fine views. Dressing Room, Linen Store. The top floor includes two further bedrooms, one making an ideal

study, opening onto your own private roof terrace with panoramic views of the maintained grounds and to the South Downs. Adjacent double carport, 20ft garage, plus a front parking space.

This is a large and gracious home and yet the scale suits a couple as well as family with children. Available with no chain. Call us to arrange your private viewing.

Clarke & Charlesworth

01903 74 12 12

e: property@clarkeandcharlesworth.com

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AQUARACER CALIBRE 5

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Fine Winter 2019

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