Surrey Homes | SH65 | March 2020 | Good Living supplement inside

PRICELESS 

AUGUST MARCH 2020 2019 

GOOD LIVING SUPPLEMENT inside 

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes

Designed to stand the test of time 

The difference is in the detail

Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms 

Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart 

Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES 

Tel: 01732 762682 

81 Calverley Road 

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY 

Tel: 01892 520730 

www.rencraft.co.uk

ON THE EDGE OF THE SURREY HILLS 

BEARE GREEN, DORKING 

SALES LAUNCH 

SATURDAY 29TH FEB 

INCENTIVES AVAILABLE ON THE DAY 

1 

PERFECTLY POSITIONED 

2 

& BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED 

3 

FOR MODERN LIVING 

HIGHLIGHTS AT THE LAURELS 

JUST A 5% DEPOSIT REQUIRED ON SELECTED HOMES* 

1 

2 

3 

The Laurels is conveniently located just south of the 

market town of Dorking in a leafy village location and 

enjoys easy access to Holmwood railway station. 

An aesthetically pleasing mix of architectural styling using 

time-honoured building traditions and the finest materials. 

Design-led interiors optimise space for maximum 

flexibility - highly specified kitchens blend with light-filled 

living areas to become the hub of the home. 

JOIN US AT THE SALES LAUNCH 

SATURDAY 29TH FEBRUARY BETWEEN 

10AM & 4PM. REGISTER TODAY. 

READY TO MOVE INTO NOW 

Guide price from £379,950 

01372 360832 

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE 

A wide selection of styles, including apartments, semi detached 

and detached houses - in 2, 3 & 4 bedroom designs. 

www.patrickgardner.com 

www.thelaurelsbearegreen.com 

THE LAURELS, HORSHAM ROAD, BEARE GREEN, DORKING. SAT NAV CODE: RH5 4PG 

* Government provides an equity loan of up to 20%, interest-free for five years. 75% mortgage required. Terms and conditions apply.

Contents 

March 2020 

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96 

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25 

32 

53 

56 

77 

MIND YOUR MANORS 

Maggie Alderson finds grand 

and stately properties on 

the market in Surrey now 

NOTEBOOK 

This month take note of Mother’s 

Day tea, Nelson Mandela’s 

artwork and Easter egg hunts 

THE HOUSE OF 

MAGICAL OBJECTS 

Maggie Alderson tours the 

home of acclaimed children’s 

writer, Sally Gardner 

GET THE LOOK 

Our guide to Sally’s 

signature style 

THE FOREVER HOME 

Take a look inside a cottage 

with interiors designed by 

Justine Hodgson-Barker 

GET THE LOOK 

Imitate Justine’s fresh styling 

80 

89 

93 

95 

96 

102 

108 

SUSTAINABLE STYLE 

Proof that preloved pieces 

can be fashion forward 

SUPERPRODUCTS 

The star products of 2020’s 

Beauty Bible awards revealed 

RESETTING THE 

BALANCE 

How to ease or prevent 

Endometriosis 

THE FEAR OF FITNESS 

Sarah Maxwell puts an end 

to exercise intimidation 

A PIECE OF CAKE 

Mums will love Nicci 

Gurr’s beautiful bakes 

EASY EDIBLES 

Jo Arnell’s expert guide to 

growing edible garden goodies 

IT’S A WILD WORLD 

We celebrate biodiversity 

Published by Priceless Media Ltd. Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, 

Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF | Call 01580 714705 | Email info@surrey-homes.co.uk 

Visit surrey-homes.co.uk Copyright © 2020 Priceless Media Ltd. The views of 

the advertisers & contributors are not necessarily those of Priceless Media Ltd. 

117 

121 

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128 

JOIN THE CLUB 

Explore exciting extra curriculars 

FRESH THINKING 

Hilary Wilce examines the significance 

of learning environment 

WHAT’S ON 

Get excited about March’s best events 

COMPETITION 

Win a one-day cookery course 

for two at the newly opened 

Limpsfield Cookery School 

FABLES FROM THE FARM 

Cooper’s Farm welcomes 

this years’ calves 

GOOD LIVING 

SUPPLEMENT 

24 pages of 

holidays, hobbies 

and health for 

over 50s. After 

page 78. 

5 

Fabulous 50+ fashion • Adventurous holidays • Exciting hobbies

Surrey, Sussex 

& Hampshire’s 

Premier Oak 

Framed Specialist 

Surrey Oak Barns is a specialist 

oak frame contractor offering a 

complete and seamless multitrade 

service, from simple garages 

and garden rooms to fully finished 

buildings, all tailored to meet our 

client’s specific requirements. 

We offer a complete service from 

design, planning and construction 

through to completion, ensuring 

our clients achieve their aspirations 

for oak buildings from a single source. 

Surrey Oak Barns is the only oak 

framed contractor to be awarded 

Chartered Building Company 

status which identifies those 

businesses that are committed 

to quality of product and service, 

integrity of conduct and concern 

for client’s needs. 

01483 420 258 

info@surreyoakbarns.co.uk 

www.surreyoakbarns.co.uk

Build your dreams...enhance your home 

The gallery of images are of recent work we have undertaken. 

These include oak garages, buildings, conservatories and extensions.

THE MARTINGALES 

LOWER ROAD, BOOKHAM KT23 4EF 

TWO BEDROOM HOMES From £590,000 | THREE BEDROOM HOMES From £610,000 

A BESPOKE COURTYARD 

COLLECTION OF JUST 15 NEW HOMES 

READY TO MOVE INTO 

*Prices correct at time of printing

NEW SHOWHOME OPENING 

Join us for the unveiling of our new showhome and beautiful 

courtyard on 28th – 29th March. Book your appointment today. 

Marketing Suite and Showhome Open Daily 10am to 5pm 

Please call us on 01372 231585 

Discover more at www.the-martingales.com

STAMP DUTY 

INCENTIVE AVAILABLE 

(T&Cs apply) 

AN EXCLUSIVE NEW DEVELOPMENT 

OF EIGHT FAMILY HOMES IN THE HEART 

OF GODSTONE 

Available immediately, William Way is a collection of eight, 3 bedroom family homes set on a private 

road in the village of Godstone. Oxted & Caterham train stations are less than 3 miles away, with 

regular train services to London Bridge & London Victoria taking from 33 minutes. 

Prices from £585,000 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST TODAY ON 

01883 717272 robertleech.com/william-way

FINAL HOMES RELEASED FOR SALE 

A stunning selection of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom brand new 

homes available in a fantastic Surrey location. 

WEST END VILLAGE • SURREY • GU24 9JS 

The computer generated illustrations are for general guidance only. Interior images are of the show homes

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE FROM MOLE VALLEY’S AWARD WINNING ESTATE AGENT - BE BETTER PLACED WITH PATRICKGARDNER.COM 

never released on 

the open market....until now. 

HEADLEY COURT ESTATE. 

THE DREAM LOCATION 

FOR FAMILY LIVING. 

If it’s your dream to renovate an older property, 

creating a home with interiors to suit your unique 

tastes and lifestyle, don’t miss the opportunity on offer 

at Dale View on the Headley Court Estate. 

Here, you’ll discover family homes in a beautiful 

parkland setting, ready and waiting to be 

transformed into ‘dream homes.’ 

Dale View - a collection of attractive crescents set amongst 22 acres of parkland, which neighbours Headley Court’s Grade II Listed Mansion. 

Tucked away in 22 acres of parkland 

between Leatherhead and Epsom, this 

collection of properties once housed 

military personnel working at the MoD’s 

Medical Rehabilitation Centre. Now, for 

the very first time, the houses have been 

released for sale on the open market, 

with prices starting from just £395,000. 

The two, three and four-bedroom homes, 

nestled in a wooded area close to the 

historic Headley Court Mansion, enjoy the type 

of setting that is rarely available without an 

unlimited budget. 

At Dale View, acres of parkland, woodland 

and green open space are just waiting to be 

explored. There’s a play area for younger 

children, whilst the older ones will have space 

to run, climb and explore. Anyone who enjoys 

being out in the fresh air - running, jogging or 

walking dogs - will delight in the wonderful 

walks that are right on the doorstep. 

The traditional village green, at the heart of 

Dale View, will soon become a focal point 

for community activities. 

surrey-homes.co.uk 

12 

PATRICKGARDNER.COM

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

“The homes at Dale View, which are ready 

for renovation, offer an amazing investment 

opportunity,” comments Vari Bowling of selling 

agent, Patrick Gardner. “As the former homes of 

military personnel, they need updating rather 

than structural work and once they have been 

brought into the 21st century, they will be 

even more desirable.” 

“Not only is this a chance for local 

homebuyers to modernise and update the 

existing houses and create wonderful homes, 

it is an opportunity to buy a property in an 

outstanding location, carry out some cosmetic 

improvements and enhance the value of 

the property.” 

TRANSFORM AN EXISTING 

20TH CENTURY HOUSE INTO YOUR 

21ST CENTURY DREAM HOME at Dale View. 

Make an appointment to visit the two show homes that have 

already been sympathetically refurbished and you’ll get an idea of the 

type of transformation that is possible at Dale View. 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

“With two, three and four-bedroom houses, 

the majority set in four sweeping crescents, 

there is plenty of choice - and each home comes 

with a private garden and parking. There are 

relatively few houses set in huge areas of open 

space - and this, in itself, is attractive. These 

houses will certainly appeal to home buyers 

who want new interiors - and to those who 

enjoying making cosmetic improvements 

to a property.” 

Dale View enjoys a rural, ‘country’ feel but 

with both Epsom and Leatherhead town centres 

less than three miles away, Headley Court is well 

connected - a local bus service, mainline train 

services from both Epsom and Leatherhead, a 

good choice of independent and state schools are 

all within easy driving distance, including a 

wealth of sports facilities. 

BEFORE 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

AFTER 

Little or no structural changes are required but a fresh coat of paint, 

new wall and floor coverings, updated light fittings, contemporary new kitchens 

and bathrooms and your own personal touches will ensure that these 

traditional homes ooze 21st century style. 

Neighbouring Dale View, Headley Court’s Grade II Listed mansion. 

To make an appointment to visit the show homes, 

which have already been transformed into stylish, contemporary living 

spaces and to take a look at this unique setting, 

call: 01372 360832 or email: salesandmarketing@patrickgardner.com 

All you have to do is take the first step on the journey to your 

dream home at Headley Court Estate. 

FOR HOMES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT DALE VIEW, HEADLEY COURT - PLEASE VISIT AWARD WINNING SELLING AGENT PATRICKGARDNER.COM

JUST 3 

APARTMENTS 

REMAINING! 

LEATHERHEAD 

TOWN CENTRE 

LUXURIOUS APARTMENT 

LIVING IN LEATHERHEAD FOR 

LESS THAN YOU THOUGHT... 

DEVONSHIRE 

HOUSE 

...5% DEPOSIT * - 100% YOURS! † 

A private courtyard setting that is 

wonderfully located in the Conservation Area 

of Leatherhead’s bustling town centre. 

Newly built apartments sit harmoniously 

next to those that are carefully converted within 

an attractive 17th century historic building. 

Conveniently located close to the High Street, 

the mainline station is also nearby and perfectly 

suited to London commuters. 

READY 

TO MOVE 

INTO 

NOW 

The four remaining 1 & 2 bedroom single 

and dual level apartments are priced from £275,000. 

Show apartment available to view by appointment. 

Tel: 01372 360832 

salesandmarketing@patrickgardner.com www.patrickgardner.com 

DEVONSHIRE HOUSE, CHURCH STREET, LEATHERHEAD, SURREY KT22 8DP 

* Help to Buy is available. 5% deposit required, the Government provides an equity loan of up to 20%, interest-free for five years. 75% mortgage required. Terms and conditions apply. 

†100% Yours - whilst you own the home, it may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

CLOCK FIELD 

TURNERS HILL 

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY AT CLOCK FIELD 

PRICES FROM £515,000 TO £735,000

*TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. CALL FOR DETAILS 


16

MOVE IN NOW 

PART EXCHANGE NOW AVAILABLE † 

VISIT TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE AND VIEW THE STUNNING NEW SHOWHOME 

Experience spacious family living at Barleycroft with our beautiful new 4 bedroom Showhome. 

With a stunning countryside setting and easy access to Horsham, Guildford and Dorking, 

this exclusive development is a wonderful place to make your forever home. 

2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes from £399,950 * 

CONTACT US TO BOOK YOUR VIEWING APPOINTMENT 

01403 885225 

barleycroft-rudgwick.co.uk 

Church Street, Rudgwick, West Sussex RH12 3ED 

Sales Suite & Showhomes open daily, 10am - 5pm (Thursdays 12pm - 8pm) 

*Price correct at time of going to press. Photography depicts streetscene, Showhome and lifestyle and is indicative only. †Part Exchange available on selected plots only. Terms and conditions apply. 

Selling Agent 

01483 268 555

ENJOY AN EASY- 

LIVING APARTMENT, 

AND STILL GO 

upstairs, 

TO BED 

The duplex apartments at Lynwood Village offer 

a generous 1,153*sq ft of flexible living space. 

Designed for easy living, these fantastic 

apartments are set over two floors, so you can 

still go upstairs to bed. 

Upstairs you’ll find a lovely 27ft dual aspect 

room with ensuite shower room, walk-in 

storage and private balcony, which makes a 

beautiful master suite or living room. 

Downstairs you’ll find the second bedroom, 

living room and fully fitted kitchen. And if the 

stairs become too much you can have a stairlift 

or walk-in lift fitted in the future. 

COME AND ENJOY THE EASY LIFE, BOOK 

YOUR VIEWING OF ONE OUR BEAUTIFUL 

DUPLEX APARTMENTS TODAY. 

Independent living made easy for the over 65s 

SUNNINGHILL | ASCOT | BERKSHIRE 

Ben – Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. Lynwood Court, Lynwood Village, Rise Road, Ascot, 

SL5 0FG. A charity registered in England and Wales (no.297877) and Scotland (no.SC039842). A company 

limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (no.02163894). Registered with the Homes and 

Communities Agency (no. LH 3766). 

To arrange a visit, please call: 01344 797 830 

visit: lynwoodvillage.co.uk or 

email: sales@lynwoodvillage.co.uk

House 

Month 

of the 

£30,000,000 

Mind your Manors 

Maggie Alderson finds grand and stately homes on the market 

Sydenhurst 

The dream: A brand-new porticoed 

mansion, in beautiful Derbyshire 

sandstone – a similar colour to 

Chatsworth – which looks as though 

it has been there since Jane Austen’s 

day. The marble floor in the hall is 

similar to another great house, nearby 

Petworth. Unlike those stately homes, 

it is designed for modern living, 

with a superb social kitchen/dining 

area/family room, as well as more 

formal reception rooms. There is a 

fountain outside the main entrance. 

Beds: 9, all with en suite bathrooms 

and dressing rooms, plus an 

additional seven-bed sleepover 

dormitory with 2 more bathrooms. 

Special features: The leisure 

complex has an indoor pool of 

Roman baths splendour, gym, 

treatment rooms, sauna and steam 

room, plus a screening room, a 

bowling alley, a sitting area and a 

double-height main party room. 

Pleasing details: All the 

ground floor windows are fulllength 

to the ground. 

Outside: Over 30 acres of manicured 

gardens, with a Mr Darcy lake, a 

formal parterre and a spectacular 

outdoor pool, an entertaining 

loggia and a tennis court. 

Time to town: 10 minutes to Witley 

and then an hour to Waterloo. 

Agent: House 01483 266700 

housepartnership.co.uk 


20

Windsor Manner 

£4,999,999 

The dream: A spacious Edwardian 

mansion, built in 1908, with tall 

chimneys, peaked gables and other 

lovely Arts & Crafts details. The 

generously proportioned main 

reception rooms are all south-facing. 

Where: Sunningdale, equidistant 

from Ascot and Virginia Water. 

Setting: Amid wooded country, on the 

edge of Sunningdale Golf Course. Train 

your binocs and you might spot Hugh 

Grant putting, or John Terry at the tee. 

Beds: 13 Baths: 6 

Special features: Gorgeous limed-oak 

panelling through the entrance hall and 

corridor and one reception room. 

Pleasing details: Mullioned 

leaded windows and wonderful 

carvings on the exterior. 

Outside: In 11.5 acres of its own grounds, 

with lawns, woods and a large terrace for 

entertaining, and a pool with a pavilion. 

Time to town: Drive 10 minutes to Ascot 

station, around an hour to Waterloo. 

Agent: Savills, Sunningdale 

01344 295356 savills.com 

Sondes Place 

£1,750,000 

The dream: A superbly fitted 

penthouse apartment in an exceptional 

re-modelling of an early Victorian 

mansion. The proportions are grand, 

with a high-ceiling nine metre sitting 

room with wonderful views. 

Where: Dorking. 

Setting: Surrounded by mature trees, 

close enough to central Dorking 

to be handy, surrounded by the 

landscape of the Surrey Hills. 

Beds: 3 Baths: 2 

Special features: A glazed sun 

lounge on the terrace. 

Pleasing details: Beautiful 

herringbone parquet floors. 

Outside: A 15 metre private roof terrace 

with stunning views, over crenulated walls. 

Time to town: Five minutes drive 

(or 35 minute walk) to Dorking 

Main station (there are two others) 

and it’s under an hour to Waterloo, 

Victoria, or London Bridge. 

Agent: Patrick Gardner, Dorking 

01306 877775 patrickgardner.com 

21 surrey-homes.co.uk

MAXIMISE THE VALUE 

OF YOUR LAND 

Have you got a large 

garden or plot of land? 

We are experts at working 

with owners to maximise 

the full value of their land 

Industry leading experts 

We take care of the planning permission! 

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Zero cost to you! 

Planning laws are changing 

Act now before its too late! 

What our clients say… 

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in a professional manner. Their excellent 

relationship with the local planning 

department helped achieve a fantastic 

result for us. We would have no 

hesitation in recommending them to 

anyone who wants to achieve planning". 

Amanda and Robert Petch 

June 2016 

"The cost involved to try and 

get planning on our land 

were just not feasible for us. 

Working with Country House 

meant we didn’t have to risk 

our money as they took care 

of everything" 

Mr C Partridge (Loose, Kent) 

September 2016 

For a free appraisal call 0843 557 4080 

www.maximisemyland.co.uk 

sales@countryhousehomes.co.uk 


22 

“Guy and team at CHH did a fantastic 

job securing planning permission on 

our rear garden plot. Although a fairly 

problematic application (which took 

over 18 months), they kept us informed 

throughout the entire process. 

I would certainly use them again” 

David J (Oxted, Surrey) 

January 2017

UNTO 

THIS 

LAST 

Two Hundred Years of John Ruskin 

10 March - 31 May 2020 

Including works by J. M. W. Turner, John Everett Millais, 

and Edward Burne-Jones. Produced by YCBA. 

Book tickets online at wattsgallery.org.uk

Notebook 

What to do and see near you this month 

The Artist 

This month, visit Belgravia Gallery in Cranleigh to see artworks 

by Nelson Mandela in a truly inspirational exhibition, telling 

the story of his life and country. The works are fresh and bright 

and further testament to Mandela’s ability to overcome adversity 

and see the positive in even the most negative situations. 

The great man’s drawings and words document memories of his 

time on Robben Island, including the prison hospital ward which 

was the only place where political prisoners crossed paths with 

the other inmates. This place became a lifeline of news from the 

outside world – it is where they learnt that the tide of opinion was 

turning against the apartheid regime. A must-see for art lovers and 

those interested in one of the greatest figures of the 21st century. 

Each artwork is signed by Mandela and has been verified. The work 

will be on show at the Cranleigh Arts Centre from 3-14 March 2020, 

and thereafter at Belgravia Gallery’s exhibition space in Cranleigh. 

For more information on signed art by Nelson 

Mandela contact Belgravia Gallery 

belgraviagallery.com 

A breath of 

fresh air 

From Sunday 1 March, think 

of Polesden Lacey as a tranquil 

getaway and haven of wellbeing 

and mindfulness. There will be 

beautiful art sculptures installed 

throughout the gardens where 

you can take a moment to be 

inspired to enjoy the beauty of your 

surroundings. Meanwhile in the 

Edwardian country house there will 

be a mindful trail to help you to see 

things in a new way. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey 

pring 

SFling 

RHS Garden Wisley is 

having a free day this month. 

If you’re looking for a family 

day out on a budget, visit this 

inspirational garden on Tuesday 

24 March and you can explore 

its beautiful sights free of charge. 

This also coincides with the 

early daffodil competition in the 

glasshouse which is free to enter 

and open to all. rhs.org.uk 

25

Notebook 

2020 VISIONS 

NS 

Freshly prepared finger sandwiches, 

homemade mini scones with strawberry 

jam and clotted cream, sparkling wine, a 

mouthwatering mixture of mini cakes 

and desserts, and of course freshly 

Keep dancing! 

brewed tea and coffee. Treat your 

From 30 March, visit Denbies 

Wine Estate to see Shed Art’s 

latest stunning exhibition 

showing art from the 

perspective of ten unique 

artists including Barbara 

Liddle, Diana Croft, 

Genevieve Brown and Alana 

Dunlevy. Discover a diverse 

and inspiring collection of 

original and contemporary 

paintings including Stitch Art 

and prints. The art is affordable, 

there is something for everyone and 

GLive is getting strictlified as they are visited by four 

of Strictly Come Dancing’s brightest stars this March. First, 

on Saturday 7 March, Gorka Marquez and Karen Hauer 

get pulses racing with passionate latin favourites. Then AJ 

Live comes to Guildford on Tuesday 17, combining all the 

best moments from Strictly you know and love with a little 

help from his brother Curtis. Finally Tuesday 31 will see 

Graziano di Parma’s fresh and innovative show Havanna 

Nights with partner Giada. Plus keep an eye out for 

future Strictly shows throughout the year including 

Burn The Floor with Kevin and Joanne Clifton, 

Strictly Ballroom the Musical and Viva La 

Divas. Keep Dancing! glive.co.uk 

mum to a wonderful afternoon 

at Painshill this Mother’s Day, 

with a special tea which also 

includes entry to the beautiful 

18th century landscape garden. 

painshill.co.uk 

entry is free. denbies.co.uk / shedart.org 

GET ART 

Experience the unique buzz of the Contemporary Arts Fair at Sandown Racecourse. An exciting 

mix of 160 artists, printmakers, photographers, sculptors and galleries will gather to share the very 

best in contemporary art as this vibrant and welcoming event returns for its 3rd year. There will 

also be Plus Creative Workshops, Live Art Demonstrations, Children’s Art Quest, Gin Tasting, a 

Café and Free Parking. Check out their website for earlybird ticket offers. contemporaryartfairs.co.uk 

LOOK FORWARD: APRIL 

Next month we are thoroughly looking forward to the Cadbury Easter Egg hunt with National 

Trust. Surrey National Trust locations including Polesden Lacey, Box Hill and Hatchlands Park 

will be stocking up on Cadbury goodies and hosting quests, trails and adventures to celebrate 

Easter in delicious style. The only question is: which National Trust location to choose? Will you 

follow a rainbow of different coloured clues at Winkworth Arboretum? Get crafty with ornamental 

Easter egg trees and bunny door stops at Dapdune Wharf ? Help Hattie the Duck find the best 

place to build a nest at Claremont Landscape Garden? Whatever you choose there is bound to 

be chocolate involved so there is really no losing. cadbury.co.uk/easter / nationaltrust.org.uk 


26

N E L S O N M A N D E L A 

T H E A R T I S T 

Image: Nelson Mandela, London 1990 ©Greg Bartley 2020 

AN EXHIBITION OF LIMITED EDITION HAND-SIGNED ARTWORKS 

BY NELSON MANDELA 

AT CRANLEIGH ARTS CENTRE 

CRANLEIGH ARTS CENTRE | 1 HIGH STREET | CRANLEIGH | GU6 8AS 

3 -14TH MARCH 2020 

CONTACT US FOR PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS 

ART FOR THE HOME AND OFFICE 

SCULPTURE | PAINTINGS | PRINTS | ART ADVISORY | INSTALLATION 

Laura@belgraviagallery.com | 020 7495 1010 

www.belgraviagallery.com

Swimming Pool Design & Construction in Surrey, London, Berkshire 

Contemporary, reliable and expertly crafted. These are the core values to which 

Lagoon Pools adheres to on every construction, design and maintenance project undertaken. 

If you are looking to add a new swimming pool feature to your home, please call us today on 

01932 569569 to speak to a member of our team or email us at info@lagoonpoolsltd.co.uk. 

229 Chertsey Road Addlestone Surrey KT15 2EW 

01932 569 569 info@lagoonpoolsltd.co.uk lagoonpools.co.uk

Editor’s 

Letter 

We’re proud to introduce a brand new Supplement 

this issue, centred around making the most of a wellearned 

retirement with a focus on luxury living. Take 

a break with stunning holiday destinations – both home and 

away – get in shape with tips from fitness guru Sarah Maxwell 

and get the low-down on buying a property in France. 

Every month we’re lucky to get to explore stunning homes 

and gather info. on decorating tips, tricks and bargains that we 

wouldn’t necessarily have happened upon had we been researching 

the conventional way. See how children’s author Sally Gardner has 

projected her writer’s imagination onto the décor of a Georgian 

Cottage in the heart of Hastings and find out why Andy and 

Ran turned to interior design friend Justine Hodgson-Barker to 

transform their run-down Brighton house into a family home. 

If vintage is your bag when it comes to fashion, you’ll love 

Kate Liz Watts’ round-up of premium pre-loved. Beauty addicts 

take note as Josephine Fairley reveals the winners of the 2020 

Beauty Bible Awards, sharing her ‘Beauty Bible Superstars’ 

– outstanding skincare with the highest reviewer scores. 

Plus, don’t forget Mother’s Day! In celebration of lovely mums 

across Surrey, Nicci Gurr from Home Gurr’Own has shared three 

sensationally tasty cake recipes to treat them on Sunday 22 March. 

Thomas 

Mansfield 

The Family Law Solicitors 

WILL YOUR DIVORCE COST 

YOU EVERYTHING? 

When it comes to the breakdown of a 

relationship, seeking specialist advice on 

the financial arrangements is crucial. 

At Thomas Mansfield, we have a team of 

experienced lawyers ready to help you 

achieve the right outcome. 

Enjoy your Surrey Homes! 

Finances Children Collaborative Mediation Court 

We are with you every step of the way 

Surrey Homes Team 

Editor ............................................................................................ Lucy Fleming 

Deputy Editor ..................................................................................Emily Pavey 

News & Features Editor ...............................................................Rebecca Cuffe 

Fashion Editor ............................................................................. Kate Liz Watts 

Distribution .......................................................................................Katie Wood 

Design ...........................................................................................Powerful Pierre 

Design Director ..........................................................................Anthony Boxall 

Design Team ................................................................................. Ryan Huggins 

Phoebe O’Leary 

Tanya Goldsmith 

Executive Chairman ...................................................................... Julie Simpson 

Managing Director .............................................................. Vivien Cotterill-Lee 

Sales Manager ......................................................................Lisa Gordon-Hughes 

Senior Account Manager ....................................................................Katie Wood 

Sara Henslow 

Paul Santer 

Events Team 

Sales Account Manager .................................................................... Jude Brown 

Show Director ................................................................................. Flo Simpson 

Events Assistant .....................................................................................Ed Steele 

Call us today on 

01483 610499 

For more information visit our website: 

www.tmfamilylaw.co.uk 

GUILDFORD WOKING WEYBRIDGE ESHER EATHERHEAD FARNHAM BASINGSTOKE 

29 surrey-homes.co.uk 

ThomasMansfieldS64.indd 1 29/01/2020 10:31

VISIT US IN SEVENOAKS - 5000 SQ FT OF BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE AND GIFTS OVER 3 FLOORS! 

W W W. L O N D O N R O A D F U R N I T U R E . C O . U K 

TEL 01959 533433 - LONDON ROAD, HALSTEAD, SEVENOAKS, KENT TN14 7AA 

FarninghamPineOakWT217.indd 1 19/02/2020 11:38 

Cranleigh 

Tiles & Bathrooms 

Range of Tiles, Bathrooms and Showers from 

Laura Ashley, Heritage Bathrooms 

and Burlington Bathrooms. 

Suppliers of Contemporary Ranges including 

Laufen, Roca, Vitra and Roper Rhodes 

Quote ‘SURREY HOMES’ 

to receive 10% off 

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30 

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Words: Maggie Alderson 

Photographs: David Merewether 

Styling: Holly Levett 


32

The House of 

Magical Objects 

Maggie Alderson takes a step 

through the looking glass into 

this Hastings writer’s home 


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Above left: The gilded mirror over the fireplace with ferns, 

candles in place, came from Norman Road in St Leonards 

Above right: The bear cubs holding up a slice of a tree trunk are 

from Graham & Green Left: The sitting room is painted in a 

dark rich purple (Farrow & Ball’s Pelt) 

Sally Gardner writes award-winning children’s books of 

extraordinary imagination – and has the house to match. 

Some houses are family homes, some are private havens, 

others are works of art, displays of status, or expressions 

of lifelong dreams. Cuckoo Cottage is a fairy tale. 

The sense of something special begins in finding it, 

tucked away in a central part of Hastings near the chainstore 

shopping hub, in what feels like a secret little row of 

Georgian cottages, that has somehow escaped 200 years of 

wrecking balls and bulldozers, up some steps and along. 

Tucked windward of the castle, it has the air of a pocket 

of the town that you might stumble across by accident 

one day – then never be able to find again. Which is just 

the sort of thing that happens in one of Sally’s books. 

Her most recent release, Invisible In A Bright Light, is 

so intriguing and gripping, I was awake most of the 

night finishing it – and it’s aimed at ages 10 and up. 

It’s set in a theatre in a city resembling Copenhagen, 

which has a huge crystal chandelier in the shape of a 


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Sally’s life in the theatre is as apparent in the 

house as her writer’s imagination 

 


This page: In the dining room, varied lengths of bright orange corded 

cable stretch out from the central ceiling rose with bare bulbs hanging 

from hooks. The classic woven plastic Swedish rugs in the dining room 

are by Pappelina 

galleon hanging in the dome over the auditorium. 

When you walk into the sitting room of Cuckoo 

Cottage, there is just such a crystal galleon, 

but it’s inside a bottle on the mantelpiece. 

Any ship in a bottle is a thing of wonder – but 

a crystal galleon takes it to another level. It’s the 

kind of object that exerts a magnetic pull on the 

viewer. You have to go and have a closer look, to 

be sure you are seeing what you think you are. 

Sally grins at such a reaction. “There is a crystal 

galleon chandelier at the Royal Opera house in 

Copenhagen, which I discovered when I was designing 

The Mikado there in the late 1970s, when I was a 

theatre designer, which was my first career. I have 

always wanted to put it in a book. When I saw this 

one in the auction in Essex Road I had to have it.” 

Sally’s life in the theatre is as apparent in the house 

as her writer’s imagination. Starting with the red velvet 

curtain hung in the hallway to block draughts from the 

front door which is romantically hooked back against 

the wall, in a style reminiscent of stage curtains. 

I’m sure that curtain wasn’t there the last time I 

visited Cuckoo Cottage and the hallway is one of many 

elements in the house that contribute to my feeling 

– and I am lucky to be a regular visitor here – that 

every time I come to the house, it’s a bit different. 


38

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Above: In the kitchen, Sally has found room to pack in plenty of her magical objects, including some lifesize 

wooden ducks and a large metal orange squeezer, that she brought back from Mexico 

In this case it’s because Sally is gradually studding 

the soft green hall walls with seven-point gold stars and 

a few more have been added each time I drop in. 

Another new development since my last visit are the 

wall hooks, used for hats and leads for Sally’s adorable 

Yorkshire terrier, Sparrow, which are in the shape of 

three classic chairs – a Thonet bentwood, a school chair 

and the Emeco 1006 Navy chair – in miniature. 

These objects of wonder turn out to be from IKEA, 

painted by Sally to match the walls. With a stand containing 

umbrellas and fox-headed walking canes worthy of Mary 

Poppins – and a feather duster for good measure – the tone 

of the house is set the moment you take two steps inside. 

And two steps does take you quite a long way into this 

cottage, which really is very modest in size – Thumbelina 

would feel very much at home – but the Georgian 

proportions, combined with Sally’s wonderfully bold 

décor, stop it feeling in any way cramped. Thinking big, 

as she does with such aplomb, makes a space feel bigger. 

The sitting room – one of those very special rooms, which 

I never want to leave once I sit down there – is painted in a 

dark rich purple (Farrow & Ball’s Pelt), a colour so bold only 

someone with Sally’s professional design confidence might 

have dared to choose it for such a small room. Certainly, 

her painter and decorator tried to talk her out of it. 

“The painter said: ‘I think you are making a big mistake 

painting with this colour. It’s going to make it very small 

and claustrophobic…’ Then he painted it and said, ‘Bloody 

hell! How did you know it was going to look this good?!’” 

It looks simply wonderful, creating a cocooning atmosphere 

and the perfect backdrop to set off all the fascinating 

objects in the room. Wherever your eye falls, it lights upon 

something which looks as though it could tell you a story. 

To the side of the purple velvet-upholstered, canesided 

armchair that I sit in to chat to Sally is one 

of two side tables in the form of bear cubs holding 

up a slice of a tree trunk, complete with bark. 

They are from Graham & Green, but seem 

like something right out of the Brothers Grimm. 

Sally is delighted at the idea – fairy stories are her 

passion and the inspiration for her writing. 

She collects volumes of them, along with other very 

specific and fascinating books about folklore in 

Transylvania and the like. The bookcase to the left 

 


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Sally found her cottage – 

her next challenge was to 

find furniture to scale with 

it. “All my furniture was 

really big, I thought ‘what 

have I done? I’ve bought 

a little mouse house…’” 

Thinking big, as she 

does with such aplomb, 

makes a space feel bigger 

This page: There are pillars on either side of the kitchen entrance – where Sally plans to add a theatrical curtain, 

currently drawn on the wall with pencil – and three working cuckoo clocks 

of the fireplace – one of two glass-doored IKEA Billys, 

which she had painted dark blue – contains part of 

her book collection and another she inherited. 

It also displays a collection of china parrots that 

belonged to her mother. The symmetrical cupboard 

in the other recess contains a collection of Pollocks 

toy theatres and a chess set of Chinese figures. 

Sitting on top of the bear table next to me, in his 

own little chair, is a wooden figure of a naked man, 

with articulated arms and legs, like one of those artist’s 

manikins, except this one has a very characterful face, 

with hair and a beard (and shoes). “He is Joseph from 

a church display in Italy. I bought it in an antique shop 

there and brought it home. I have to save these things.” 

In a similar spirit there is a Dutch figure of 

the Madonna that Sally came across in France. 

“I brought her home on the plane.” 

From closer to home, the gilded mirror over the fireplace 

with ferns, candles in place, came from Norman Road 

in St Leonards, around the corner from the cottage Sally 

rented when she first moved down from London. “It was 

broken when I found it and I had it restored by people 

in St Leonards who do restoration for the V&A.” 

As for what prompted Sally to rent that first cottage 

– similar in feel, if slightly later in period, than the 

one she now lives in – I can claim a small part in it. 

 


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Above left: Sally is gradually studding the soft green hall walls with seven-point gold stars Middle: Sally has emphasised 

the steep staircase by positioning a tiny wardrobe and a top hat on top of a cupboard beneath it Right: A large portrait of 

Lillie Langtry by Richard Jack hangs on the landing below another striking Ikea paper lampshade 

I was coming down for a writers’ lunch club, which I 

was one of the organisers of, which made Sally think 

that St Leonards-on-Sea really was the place to be. 

“I was living in a 1930s flat in Stoke Newington and the 

freeholders decided to renovate the building and there were 

suddenly massive fees, so I started to think about moving. 

I knew Hastings because I went to boarding school here for 

two and a half years. I hated the school, but every weekend 

I would run away to St Leonards beach and I still had happy 

memories of that. 

“When I came down to that lunch I immediately 

thought, ‘I could live here’. I started browsing Rightmove, 

saw a house to rent in Burton St Leonards and took 

it on the spot. After that it was a no brainer.” 

There was a brief sidestep to possibly moving to 

neighbouring Bexhill-on-Sea, when Sally took part in an 

episode of Homes by the Sea, with fellow author Jane Harris 

– who had also been at that now rather legendary writers’ 

lunch – and decided she wanted to move down too. 

The researchers found Sally a very nice house in 

Bexhill, but for various reasons it fell through and 

she decided it had to be St Leonards or Hastings. 

“There are so many interesting people living here. 

People speak to you. I thought they might be snotty 

about Londoners ‘moving down here, taking our 

houses…’ but you couldn’t find nicer, kinder, genuinely 

pleasant people, once they know you are moving 

down to live here, not buying a place to Airbnb.” 

After a search, at times nail biting, Sally found her 

cottage – her next challenge was to find furniture to 

scale with it. “All my furniture was really big, this 

room would have died and I thought, ‘what have 

I done? I’ve bought a little mouse house…’” 

But after finding the armchairs at Ben Southgate (formerly 

in Kings Road, St Leonards, now online) and a small 

sofa on eBay, she was set up. The finishing touch was 


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to add a very large chandelier, from Norman Road. 

“Part of it is Georgian and it has the original crystals. 

It’s not connected to the electricity, it’s purely ornamental 

and pulls the whole room together. It’s magical with tea 

lights lit in it. I love chandeliers, they are like dreams.” 

Stepping back through to the dining room – along classic 

woven plastic Swedish rugs, by Pappelina, in their bold 

geometric designs – there is another example of Sally’s 

skill with lighting, learned from her theatrical days. 

Multiple and varied lengths of bright orange corded cable 

stretch out from the central ceiling rose, over the round dining 

table, with bare bulbs hanging from hooks. It brilliantly 

brings together a space that is almost like a square corridor, 

with a door going off each corner, into the hall, pantry, 

courtyard and kitchen. “If you have good lighting you can 

get away with anything. I hate central ceiling lights.” 

She has done the same dangling lights in the kitchen 

– a space for which the term ‘galley’ is almost an 

overstatement. Yet, with the sink and cooker on one side, 

looking out to the courtyard, and a dresser built on the 

back wall, it’s a brilliantly efficient space to cook in. 

However, even in such a compact area, Sally has found 

room to pack in plenty of her magical objects, including 

a witch’s ball, an angel hanging from the pan rack, some 

life-size wooden ducks and a large metal orange squeezer, 

that she brought back (in the cabin) from Mexico. 

Also, in this spirit of not everything needing to have a 

purpose, apart from being interesting, on the end wall of the 

kitchen she had the carpenter build a kind of altar piece, that 

they have in houses in Romania. “It doesn’t do anything, 

but it provides a focal point, gives the space a personality.” 

Adding to that are the pillars on either side of the kitchen 


This page: Sally’s bedroom. An oversized 

wall hanging of flowers, from which a swan 

protudes, adds to the fairytale feel 

entrance – where she plans to add another theatrical 

curtain, currently drawn on the wall with pencil – 

and three working cuckoo clocks. “They are my new 

obsession. I’m writing a book about snow that has 

a cuckoo clock in it. I want more, at least five…” 

Upstairs, the fairy tale references continue, with the 

very large brass bed, in the very modestly-sized main 

bedroom, made up with Goldilocks bedding of red 

and white gingham (from Debenhams) and a black 

Afghan sequined bedspread from Shop in Norman 

Road. Keeping up Sally’s love of juggling scale, there 

is an oversized wall hanging of flowers behind the 

bed. “I think it looks like a Dutch still life,” says 

Sally. Which it does, but as seen by Tom Thumb. 

The huge handkerchief light fitting over the bed 

is another of her IKEA finds – but it’s never turned 

on. The room is lit instead by more dangling light 

bulbs hanging from hooks on either side of the bed. 

“I like them, because you can move them around…” 

Heading back out onto the landing, the house 

seems to sprinkle a little magic of its own, in the 

wonderfully characterful steep staircase heading up to 

the attic guest room, its curved undercarriage creating 

lovely shapes at eye level, which Sally has emphasised 

by positioning a tiny wardrobe and a top hat 


48

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This page: Sally’s workroom complete 

with teddy on his own chair, a crow in a 

snow dome and a pair of cornflower blue 

button boots 

on top of a cupboard beneath it. 

From this spot you step into Sally’s 

workroom, where again your eye hops 

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The Forever Home 

When it came to renovating their dream house, 

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home fit to start the next chapter of their life 

Words: Antonia Methuen 


Styling: Lucy Fleming 

This page: What was once the garage space was further 

opened up to create a spacious dining area 


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Andy Clark and Ran Bradu were looking for 

their forever home when they first arrived in 

Rottingdean, near Brighton. Leaving their life 

in East Dulwich of 22 years behind, the journey that 

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thousands of miles and several continents away. Andy 

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get their offer accepted. “I looked in central Brighton,” says 

Andy “but the estate agent suggested Rottingdean. As soon 

as I saw it, I just knew it was the one. I fell in love and I 

knew we would buy it. Well, at least from the outside… 

the inside was another matter entirely.” Andy slightly 

winces at the memory. “The former owners were lovely 


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This page: The house is filled with natural fabrics, coupled with 

indoor planting there’s a strong sense of vitality throughout 

but they had done much of the DIY themselves over the 

years. There was an ageing conservatory that had rickety 

windows with ivy growing straight through them. There 

were radiators halfway up the wall and there seemed to be 

steps, walls and doors where they had no right to be! It 

really was a bit of a mess, so that’s when I called Justine.” 

Andy and Ran tasked the renovation to friend and interior 

designer Justine Hodgson-Barker, based in Tunbridge Wells. 

Justine had helped re-model the couple’s apartment in 

East Dulwich, so she already knew their taste, their likes 

and also their dislikes. She jumped at the chance to help 

them re-model and bring much-needed light into what 

had become a rather dark interior. All the timbers had 

been painted dark brown, so one of the first jobs Justine 

did was to get the beams, the doors and the woodwork 

sandblasted. “It was pretty oppressive with that dark colour 

everywhere,” says Justine. “It looked a bit like an old pub. 

We needed to keep the sense of natural wood and texture 

but get rid of the faux-Tudor look. As soon as we did that it 

immediately changed the entire atmosphere of the house.” 

Justine then worked on the restructure of the interior, 


Right: Sassy Luke’s image of the Queen blowing 

bubble gum casts a gaze over the main bedroom 

Below: Large-scale artworks line the stairway walls. 

The sisal-style carpet continues the natural theme 

taking out internal walls and replacing windows with French 

doors and tri-folds to let light flood in from the front, the 

side and rear of the house, opening the inside to the outside 

and offering views over the terraced garden and side deck. 

The kitchen was also opened up, the downstairs loo (now 

with under-floor heating) was moved to under the stairs, 

enabling a kitchen island and another set of French doors 

to be installed. The kitchen, which was once small and 

dark, is now the heart of the home. The old fireplace now 

houses the large Rangemaster oven, new ceiling beams 

were created to match the newly sandblasted beams in the 

rest of the house. A kitchen, by Krieder, was given a sense 

of texture with leather handles from Turnstyle and yet 

more texture in the worktops which Justine’s contractor 

created from scaffolding boards stained with Osmo oil. A 

dresser from Designer Vintage, rattan baskets and hand 

made spotlights create a space that is functional yet tactile. 

Justine also kept a sense of industrial in the wall lights by 

Industville and the lights above the island by Trainspotters. 

“I’m an ex-chef,” says Andy, “so I needed all my gadgets and 

spices, the Kilner jars and the crockery, Justine has created 

the perfect place for everything. It just works so well.” 

Another room that had previously been the garage for 

the house, was further opened up to create a spacious 


62

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Above: The staggering gold portrait hanging above the bed was accidentally cut in two by the builder, then thankfully salvaged by the artist 

dining area and the wall of the staircase was removed to 

again create a sense of space and flow. “We stripped out 

anything that felt inappropriate, like the really dark joinery, 

but kept everything that had integrity,” says Justine. “Even 

when elements were entirely replaced like the floor, we tried 

to find something that felt authentic so we went for an 

aged and tumbled wood floor by Antares in Lewes.” The 

entire house has now been transformed into a working, 

connected family home with a sense of flow from one area 

to the next. Rooms that had once been redundant are now 

used; spaces that were once dark and uninviting are flooded 

with light and purpose. “It’s not the most massive of houses 

and yet there were entire areas we ignored, which seems 

crazy,” says Andy. “Now every space has a function.” 

Being so close to the couple, Justine was able to work 

with Andy and Ran to create an overall colour palette that 

they could work off, setting the foundations and specifying 

the furniture. Colours from Little Green and Mylands, 

including Pearl Colour Dark, Normandy Grey and Stonelime, 

effortlessly flow from one room to the next. “Justine was 


“Justine was also 

really helpful with the 

furniture. We like to 

repurpose pieces, wherever 

possible,” says Andy 

Above left and right: Justine has turned the small bathroom into a hotel-standard space, with a vintage free-standing vanity 

unit and brushed brass taps that perfectly reflect the aesthetic in the rest of the house. More houseplants lend a vibrant feel 

also really helpful with the furniture. We like to repurpose 

pieces, wherever possible,” says Andy. “This coffee table was 

originally a dining table but we took the legs off and had 

the table shortened with pin legs. The benches have the 

old table legs on them and we now use it as a console table 

in the summer house.” A sense of mindfulness is apparent 

throughout the interior, both in the upcycled and recycled 

pieces that the couple have created as well as in the overall 

Scandinavian aesthetic, which is both clean and uncluttered, 

mirroring the couple’s lifestyle as vegetarian/vegans. Natural 

fibres are visible throughout the house in curtains, rugs, 

cushions and throws as well as indoor planting that adds 

vitality in every area. “We needed the house to be practical,” 

says Andy. “We have dogs, who have muddy paws and 

sit on the sofas, so we couldn’t be too precious. The stair 

carpet is a polypropylene that looks like sisal and we had 

to source items that would last, these are incredibly comfy 

sofas, although perhaps a pale chenille and two dogs wasn’t 

the best idea so we always have covers on them now!” 

The artwork in the house reflects Andy and Ran’s travels: 

Thai brass rubbings, photographs from their travels and of 

their families, South African tribal art and various souvenirs 

and mementos are all subtly on show, showing off the couple’s 

past. A chubby Balinese Buddha sits on the stairs that lead 

up to the bedrooms. In the master bedroom, a staggering 

gold portrait of a woman in red overlooks the bed. 


66

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Above and left: The dressing room 

houses a trundle bed for guests cleverly 

concealed behind louvred doors 

“That is the most expensive piece 

of art I have ever bought,” says Andy. 

“So you can imagine my horror 

when the builder cut it in two!” 

Luckily, the tale has a happy ending 

and the artist, based in Tunbridge 

Wells, was able to repair and repaint 

over the damage. Indeed, the size 

of the painting is such that to hang 

it in the bedroom was only made 

possible by yet another of Justine’s 

ingenious ideas. Where once there 

was a small and faceless room 

there is now a soaring spacious and 

deliciously theatrical bedroom, the 

ceiling having been removed all the 

way to the eaves. It is a bedroom 

worthy of any boutique hotel. 


One thing not visible in the bedroom is any cupboards. 

That is because the couple’s clothes have in fact been 

given their own room entirely. The third bedroom has 

been generously converted into a dressing room, a trundle 

bed for overnight guests cleverly hidden behind wooden 

louvered doors, a look that was big in the 1970s and 

well overdue a comeback. A series of stunning smoked 

ceramic handles on the doors, from Granby Workshop, 

offer another touch of detail and a wonderful sense 

of texture. A spacious second bedroom will shortly be 

taking in the couple’s first foster child whilst Justine 

has once again worked her magic, turning the small 

bathroom into a hotel-standard space, with a vintage freestanding 

vanity unit and brushed brass taps that perfectly 

reflect the aesthetic found in the rest of the house. 

It can be seen in every room and is the backdrop to 

This page: The kitchen by Krieder, was given a sense of texture with leather handles from Turnstyle 

 


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Above: The loo has moved under the stairs, freeing up space elsewhere and is now blessed with underfloor heating 

their new life, so it was no surprise that when Andy 

and Ran came into an inheritance last year, they 

chose to invest in their garden, which rises steeply 

from the back of the house. “We used to be perched 

on the edge of a terrace and could hardly get the 

barbecue on it,” says Andy. “Look at it now!” 

Larch timbered decking, weathered steel panels 

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room at the back of the house. “I spend so much 

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Above: Evergreen planting schemes and wide terraces designed by Tina Vallis lead up towards the summerhouse 


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020 7600 1660 

Follow us on: +44 (0) 20 7600 1660 

info@jmfinn.com 

www.jmfinn.com 

The value of investments and the income from 

them can go down as well as up and investors 

may not get back the amount originally invested. 

JM Finn and JM Finn & Co are trading names of J.M. Finn & Co. Ltd which is registered in 

England with number 05772581. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.


It’s good to talk 

With the baby boomer generation set to pass on a significant 

amount of wealth, discussing plans and goals with beneficiaries 

can give everyone a head start, as Anna Murdock explains 

In my 15 years of giving individuals 

advice on their wealth and financial 

wellbeing, one of the biggest issues 

I experience is the surprise, shock and 

disappointment that can come following 

a death in the family. The one piece of 

advice that I try to hammer home is to 

discuss your inheritance 

plans with your family; the 

last thing you want is to 

be embroiled in conflict 

at a time when you want 

to be left to grieve. 

Communication is 

something we as a nation 

have always been good 

at, but not when it comes 

to airing our views or 

concerns about money. 

I believe that it’s a generational 

thing, as in my experience baby 

boomers often adopt the view 

that having a conversation with 

someone about wealth and money 

“Communication 

is something we 

as a nation have 

always been 

good at, but not 

when it comes 

to money” 

is definitely one of life’s taboos. 

Many believe that leaving a will 

counts as communicating with one’s 

beneficiaries. I know that when 

imparting my advice on someone’s 

pension options, for example, it is far 

better to do so on a face-to-face basis. 

You learn so much more 

about someone’s reaction 

to your decision whether 

it be in their facial 

expressions or their verbal 

response; it is human 

nature to scan faces and 

look for reactions. 

Ask anyone in business. 

All (successful) CEOs 

will tell you, and their 

staff will tell you, your 

children, your spouse, everyone will 

tell you that communication is key. If 

you put communication into the books 

section of Amazon it will return over 

70,000 results on self-help books, all 

teaching you to 

communicate 

better. 

With a huge 

amount of wealth transfer on the 

horizon, my advice would be to discuss 

your requests and bequests and explain 

to your children, grandchildren and any 

other beneficiaries what your plans are. 

You may not be able to pay for a deposit 

for a house, or you may not want to, but 

either way it is not worth letting that be 

a disappointment once you have gone. 

As a wealth planner who advises on 

all aspects of individuals’ wealth, all 

the advice I give is on a personal basis. 

I strongly encour age families to learn 

more about each other’s individual 

attitudes to money and wealth and, 

if appropriate, set expectations for 

any inheritance while you still can. 

Anna Murdock is Head of Wealth 

Planning at JM Finn jmfinn.com 



GET UP AND 

GET MOVING 

The experts at Fitness Superstore educate 

us on the importance of physical activity. 

Right: Bowflex Max Trainer M8. 

Our price £1,999 | Save £700 

As we all grow older and gradually slow down, it’s likely a 

sedentary lifestyle takes hold and our physical activity 

takes a backseat. But when it comes to fitness, it’s never too 

late to start, no matter your age. In fact, an active lifestyle is more 

important than ever to your health in your senior years. 

Naturally, our metabolism slows down with age, meaning 

maintaining a healthy weight can become a challenge. By adding 

exercise into your daily routine, your metabolism can increase, 

while building important muscle mass and burning calories. 

In turn, the impact of illness or chronic disease can reduce, and 

you will see improvements in your mobility, flexibility and balance. 

And the benefits are not just physical! You’ll find that your sleep 

improves which is vital for your overall health, meaning you wake 

feeling more energised, confident, and ready for the day. 

You should aim 

for 30 minutes 

of exercise, five 

times a week. 

The NHS suggest aiming for at 

least 150 minutes of moderate 

activity a week. This may sound 

daunting at first, but when broken 

down equates to just 30 minutes 

of exercise, five times a week. 

Remember, it’s important to start 

slowly, making sure you’ve warmed up properly before each workout. 

If you haven’t trained for a while it may take a little longer to get 

into the swing of things, and the last thing you want is to injure 

yourself in your first session! 

SAVE 7.5% 

with offer code 

SH0320 * 

*T’s&C’s apply, see website 

for more details. Expires 

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What equipment should I get? 

Here are our top product picks, designed to accommodate all users, 

no matter your fitness or mobility levels… 

Bowflex Max Trainer M8 (shown above): Combining an elliptical 

and a stepper into one space-saving machine, the Max Trainer is 

designed to maximise your calorie-burn while taking the stress and 

impact away from your joints and bones. On the Max Trainer, 14 

minutes a day is all it takes to see results. 

Recumbent Bikes: Benefitting from a lower seat position, a 

recumbent bike is much easier to get onto and ride than its 

upright counterparts. They offer unbeatable comfort thanks to the 

chair-like seat that supports your back throughout your workout, 

meaning you can ride for longer and burn more calories. 

Free Weights: Preserve bone density, independence and vitality by 

incorporating some resistance training into your routine. All you 

need are some light dumbbells or a barbell set and some simple 

movements to see the benefits. 

Not sure which type of product will suit you? 

No problem. Fitness Superstore has 11 stores located across the UK, 

all packed with a range of machines that are all available for you to 

try before you buy. Each store is staffed by expert sales advisors who 

will be more than happy to discuss your individual training needs 

and help you choose the right options to reach your goals. Visit your 

local showroom in Frimley. Find us at 30/32 Frimley High Street, 

Frimley, Camberley, GU16 7JD, call us on 01276 818542. 

Or you can shop our unrivalled range of fitness products online at 

www.fitness-superstore.co.uk.


Fit over 50! 

Sarah Maxwell explains how it’s time to ramp things up when it comes to exercise 

Are you 50+ and think it’s about 

time that you slowed down 

and took things easier? 

I’m going to disappoint a few 

of you now because, 50+ is the 

time to speed things up! 

We lose muscle mass, bone density, 

mobility and flexibility naturally as we 

age, belly fat becomes an issue as we 

start thickening around the middle. 

Even if you are naturally slim, 

you could have excess visceral fat. 

Visceral fat is fat that you can’t see, 

the fat wraps around the vital organs, 

heart, liver and underused muscle. 

An excess of visceral fat 

greatly increases the risk of: 

• Heart attack and 

heart disease 

• Type 2 diabetes 

• Stroke 

• Breast cancer 

• Alzheimer’s 

The link below will show you how to go 

about measuring your level and give you 

an indication of your visceral fat levels. 

healthline.com/health/waistto-hip-ratio#calculate 

Now let me tell you the good news! 

Regular exercise, combining 

aerobic activity and weight 

bearing exercises will go a long 

way to reducing your fat levels. 

A well balanced diet, reducing 

sugar, processed food and upping the 

vegetables is the way to go. Reducing 

stress levels, regular exercise, relaxation, 

a good sleep pattern, meditation and 

me-time are all essential ingredients. 

Regular exercise will make a huge 

difference to your mental health 

whether it is a steady walk with friends 

or a training session at the gym or 

class. You will 

build muscle, lose 

fat, increase bone 

density, mobility and 

flexibility – there is 

no reason why in 

your 50s and beyond 

you can’t be as strong 

and flexible as you 

were in your 30s! 

People who take this approach 

will look younger, have better 

skin, more energy and a much 

more positive outlook along with 

an increased quality of life. 

“We lose muscle 

mass, bone 

density, mobility 

and flexibility 

naturally as 

we age” 

Here is my recipe for being fit 

and fabulous at 50 and beyond: 

Regular aerobic exercise: 

2-3 times a week 

This can be walking, dancing, climbing 

the stairs (anything that gets your heart 

rate up). Try to get outside as often as 

possible for around 15 minutes a day 

to boost your vitamin D levels and to 

make you feel good inside and out. 

Strength training/interval training: 

2-3 times a week (this doesn’t have to 

take long, 10-15 minutes is good) 

You don’t need to use weights, 

your body weight is just fine. 

Stretch and mobilise every day (I do this 

before my morning shower every day) 

Exercise can be done in stages 

throughout the day and is just as 

effective. If you don’t have time for a 

20-minute walk, do 10 minutes and 

some more or something different later 

in the day. Dance around your kitchen, 

walk around the supermarket instead 

of shopping online. It all helps. 

You don’t have to be a gym bunny, but 

if you want to bounce now and through 

old age, the time to think about your 

physical and mental health is now! 

Sarah is running a free two-day 10-minute fitness course – you can sign 

up at sarahmaxwell.teachable.com/p/free10minutefitness 



See Katie 

Mullally and 

Funky Readers at 

Wealden Times 

Midsummer Fair 

this June 

You’re so classic 

Timeless pieces that never go out of style make a wardrobe that is easy to mix and match 

First Row: Farthing pendant, £90, Katie Mullally katiemullally.co.uk; blue reading glasses, £27, Funky Readers funkyreaders.co.uk; cross 

body bag £59, Experience the Difference experiencethedifference.co.uk; Hinged ring, £4,100, Dominic Walmsley dominicwalmsley.com 

Second Row: White shirt, £149, The Gate Boutique thegateboutique.co.uk; cotton striped t-shirt, £45, The White Company 

thewhitecompany.com; Camellia camel coat, £219, Hobbs hobbs.com; Mos Mosh Lizza knit, £119, The Courtyard courtyarduk.co.uk 

Third Row: J Brand Josie trouser, £230, Hall & Co. halland.co; Modern Rarity silk slip skirt, £120, John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com; 

Symons skinny jeans, £89, The White Company thewhitecompany.com; wide leg bay pant, £59.50, Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com 

Bottom Row: Juliana loafers, £139.99, Blue Velvet Shoes bluevelvetshoes.com; gold lightening bolt leather trainer, £65, Oliver Bonas 

oliverbonas.com; black Hudson boot, £120, The Gate Boutique thegateboutique.co.uk; Andina courts, £80, Dune London dunelondon.com 


12

UNIT 11 HART SHOPPING CENTRE 

FLEET | HAMPSHIRE | GU51 3LA 

01252 621035 

www.experiencethedifference.co.uk

JO CHATER 

makes beautiful gardens 

delightful 

● 

inspirational ● functional 

● Mother’s day and Easter hampers & gifts 

● Freshly baked bread 

● A large selection of cheese & charcuterie 

● Ready-made ‘cook’ meals 

● Jams, chutneys & sauces 

● Cottage tea garden serving 

homemade sandwiches & cakes 

● Vintage treasures, gifts and plants 

● Vintage furniture 

Jo Chater Garden Designs 

07787 777 262 

www.chaterdesigns.com 

Try something 

different... 

JoChaterDesignsS65.indd 1 26/02/2020 BucklandDeliS31.indd 14:03 

1 13/02/2018 15:05 

come curling 

& love it! 

Staff Outings 

Entertaining Clients 

Birthday Parties 

find us on facebook & twitter 

Christmas Parties 

Stag & Hen Parties 

Social Events 

FUN on ice! 

LOVE CURLING IN KENT! 

Dundale Farm, Dundale Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9AQ • 01892 826004 • info@curlinginkent.co.uk • www.curlinginkent.co.uk 


14 

FentonsRinkWT163.indd 1 18/08/2015 16:33


Courses & 

Hobbies 

Our rundown of five of the best 

from across the South East 

Got it Covered... 

If you’ve always fancied getting to 

grips with upholstery, then sign 

up to one of Sarah Louise Dix’s 

traditional courses. Learn upholstery 

skills using time-honoured materials 

such as coil springs, fibre (coir), 

hessian, cotton wadding and calico. 

Choose from a selection of 

courses and workshops, taught in 

small groups with a maximum 10 

students and run during the week, 

at weekends and in the evenings at 

Sarah’s studio in Godalming, Surrey. 

• Beginners Workshop 

(for students new to upholstery.) 

Available as a one-day Saturday 

workshop. 10.30am-3.30pm. 

Learn how to upholster a footstool 

with a drop in seat. You don’t need 

to bring a piece of furniture with 

you, as this is included, but you 

will need to provide your own 

top fabric (approx. half a metre of 

upholstery weight fabric.) All other 

tools and materials are provided. 

Photo for Lucie Bennett by Claudia Goedke 

Cook Smart... 

Last month, The Limpsfield Cookery 

School in Surrey opened its doors 

for the first time to provide a 

range of classes focusing on various 

culinary skills, taught by top chefs. 

The brainchild of Jacqueline 

Derbyshire, the School’s aim is to 

provide pupils with the tools and 

knowledge to create dishes with a huge 

selection of courses throughout the 

year, from bread and cake making, to 

mastering international cuisines. “I have 

always considered myself proficient 

in the kitchen,” says Jacqueline, “and 

indeed have usually been the go-to 

person to cater for family parties and 

events. However, after my daughter 

married a Michelin-trained chef, I 

was made very aware that there was a 

huge range of skills and dishes that I 

was lacking. I found that there were 

either no courses available to help 

me learn, or those that were available 

were more geared to professional chefs 

and felt cold and unwelcoming. This 

is where the idea for The Limpsfield 

Cookery School was born!” 

Alongside the courses, once every 

month, Jacqueline will be hosting a 

Friday night Supper Club where up to 

35 guests can enjoy a casual, informal 

buffet-style gathering, focused on 

fresh, seasonal produce – the perfect 

way to kick-start the weekend. 

thelimpsfieldcookeryschool.co.uk 

• Intermediate or Upholster 

a Sprung Dining Chair 

A one-day Saturday workshop. 

10.30am-6.30pm. 

This is an ideal follow on to 

the Beginners Workshop and 

is ideally for students with a 

basic knowledge of upholstery 

tools and some techniques. 

You’ll need to bring along a sprung 

dining chair and your own top 

fabric, but all tools will be provided. 

• 10 Week Course 

10 x 3 hour sessions 

(school term times). 

The perfect progression from the 

previous courses. Students can 

bring along an item of furniture 

no larger than a wingback 

armchair. All tools are provided. 

Prices start from £130 per person. 

Find out more, and book online 

at www.sarahlouisedix.co.uk 

 



The Pro Approach... 

This spring, tennis fans should check out the Château 

Lou Casteou and Rose Tennis Academy, which will 

be running from 14-19 April in a stunning château 

set in the beautiful Côte d’Azur countryside. It is 

structured to welcome all levels of tennis players – from 

beginners to advanced – with coaches James Rose and 

Richie Baker leading an experienced team of tennis 

pros. Six hours’ daily coaching and tournaments, 

luxe all-inclusive accommodation and a ticket to the 

ATP Tournament in Monaco is priced at £1,998 

single occupancy, or £1,750 pp for two sharing. 

If you’re after something more fitness-orientated, 

you could try Body Tonic at Lou Casteou, a 

luxurious, four-night all-inclusive fitness retreat, 

which provides energetic training classes, vibrant 

Latin dance parties, stunning coastal treks, a tennis 

workshop, private chef and pampered chateau 

accommodation. Upcoming retreats are 27-31 May, 

24-18 June or 16-20 September. loucasteou.eu 

Fun with Fitness... 

If you’re keen to up your fitness levels and enjoyment of 

exercise, but are daunted by the gym or just lacking in 

motivation, Surrey Homes columnist Sarah Maxwell runs 

a series of online fitness courses alongside ballet barre and 

personal and group training classes at her studio in Cranbrook. 

Sarah’s fun, action-packed sessions are filled with laughter and 

positivity and offer the perfect chance to reap the benefits 

of a whole body workout under her expert supervision. 

Sarah will be hosting a very special health and fitness retreat 

with a difference in Palermo, Sicily (European capital of 

culture 2018) from 9-13 September. The retreat will be for a 

maximum of eight people and will be based in elegant and stylish 

accommodation with a wide variety of room options (your own 

room and bathroom as standard). Sarah’s private air-conditioned 

fitness studio is ideal for Pilates, barre, Ariel fitness and yoga. 

Enjoy a few days surrounded by wonderful people, great food 

– “No starvation juice here,” says Sarah – and fabulous wine, 

“Yes, that too!” It’s suitable for all abilities. Contact Sarah to be 

one of the first to receive full details about this retreat and future 

dates. sarahmaxwell.com / Instagram @sarahmaxwelllifestyle 

Fancy Broomwork... 

England’s first ever dedicated curling rink is 

tucked down a country lane, just three miles from 

Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Fenton’s Rink welcomes 

a wide range of people, all keen to try their hand 

at this fascinating Winter Olympic sport. 

The 50-metre ice rink has been specially 

designed for curling, so everyone gets to try the 

real thing, complete with curling stones, brushes 

and shoes – as you would see on televised games. 

Beginners can use rubber-soled shoes to get the 

hang of throwing the stone before advancing to 

sliding on the ice – if you want to try that, too. 

For elderly visitors, or those with a bad back, you 

can just push the stone along with our specially 

designed cues, so everyone can have a go! 

The season runs until the end of April, so there’s 

still plenty of time to try something really different. 

Check out Fenton’s website and online booking 

system at fentonsrink.co.uk for current availability.

GANT . HACKETT LONDON 

TOMMY HILFIGER . CLAUDIO LUGLI 

Opening Hours Mon - Sat 09:30 - 17:30 

3, Oakdene Parade, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2LR 

Telephone 01932 865700 

www.jeremyhobbs.co.uk info@jeremyhobbs.co.uk

Independent womenswear 

retailer of the year 2017/18 

Spring Summer 

Collections 2020 

womenswear retailer 

of the year 

Mos Mosh 

Dea Kudibal 

120% linen 

Essentiel Antwerp 

5/6 Angel Gate 360 cashmere 

Guildford 

01483 452825 And much more. 

Open seven days a week 

@courtyardsurrey 01483 452825 

www.courtyarduk.co.uk 

5/6 Angel Gate 

Guildford 

CourtyardS44.indd 1 30/05/2018 14:22 

Inoa 

Henry Christ 

Le Tricot Perugia 

Primrose Park 

Project AJ117 

Cecelie Copenhagen 

Supporting ethical and 

sustainable fashion 

Iro 

the gate 

b o u t i q u e 

BRANDS INCLUDE 

CAMILLA WITH LOVE 

PAIGE 

SET 

OTTOD’AME 

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and many more 

57 NORTH STREET GUILDFORD GU1 4AH 

WWW.THEGATEBOUTIQUE.CO.UK 

SAM EDELMAN 

CourtyardS65.indd 1 17/02/2020 GateBoutiqueS65.indd 16:15 

1 20/02/2020 16:55 

THE SUPREME TEST of THE RACEHORSE 

AND THE WARDROBE 

INVESTEC DERBY FESTIVAL 

5 - 6 JUNE 

Epsom Downs Racecourse 


18 

JockeyClubRacecoursesS65(Epsom).indd 1 18/02/2020 11:32


The Evolution of Beauty 

How does the way we look after our skin and hair change as we age? We go straight 

to the experts for tips, tricks and treatments to maintain optimum condition 

Hair... 

Russell Barradell, owner of 

William Charles Hair, Tenterden 

How does our hair 

change as we age? 

As we age our hair ages too. 

There are many changes in our 

hair over different periods of 

our lives. The most common 

change in our hair is that it 

can go grey. Hair goes grey 

due to the lack of melanin 

production, which gives hair 

its colour. The texture of the 

hair can change as well, due 

to the lack of protein. Grey 

hair will feel a lot coarser and 

drier than natural coloured 

hair. Thinning hair is another 

major concern as we get 

older due to the density and 

volume of the hair decreasing. 

Are there any styles or 

colours I should avoid 

once I reach 55+? 

There are not any specific 

rules on styles for the over 55s. 

It depends on the individual 

guest. At William Charles Hair 

we offer a full consultation 

to our guests to determine 

their desired style and colour, 

which they will be able to 

manage within their lifestyle. 

Does ageing hair need 

more maintenance? 

Ageing hair will need more 

maintenance especially if the 

guest wants to colour their 

hair. At William Charles 

Hair we would recommend 

repeat appointments every 

4-6 weeks to maintain your 

hair colour and style. Visits to 

the salon to have treatments 

is also recommended as this 

will help drier/coarser hair to 

feel softer and look shinier. 

Could you recommend 

an essential hair care 

product/treatment? 

At Aveda we have a whole 

range of home care products 

to manage all hair concerns 

i.e. colour, dry, and damaged. 

Some great examples of the 

products we have are: Invati 

advanced system, to help guests 

with thinning hair solutions; 

Damage remedy range which 

will reduce breakage by 90% in 

just 1 week, plus our new Nutri- 

Plenish range which hydrates 

the hair for 72 hours after using. 

01580 762564 

williamcharleshair.co.uk 

Skin... 

Uma Jeyanathan 

BDS, MFDS RCS (Ed) 

Skin Health & Facial Aesthetics 

at Bella Vou, Pantiles Clinic 

What changes as your skin 

ages? The skin loses collagen 

and elastin as we age, this 

means the plumpness and 

bounce we see in younger 

skin diminishes. The skin 

gets more fragile and thin 

over time and pigmentation 

can be more apparent. 

Will this affect my skincare 

regime? We need to tailor 

our skincare routine to the 

changes that are happening in 

the ageing skin. We can use 

products that will improve 

collagen stimulation, help 

thicken the skin and build 

resilience. There are also 

skincare products which 

reduce pigmentation and 

protect from solar radiation, 

which contributes to 90% 

of premature ageing. 

Are there any treatments 

that are particularly 

beneficial for over 50s? 

Skin health treatments, which 

improve collagen content 

dramatically, are Profhilo®, 

a pure hyaluronic acid skin 

booster, which bio-remodels 

skin cells. This is a true 

investment in the skin. 

Micro-needling is also a great 

way to rejuvenate collagen 

within the skin. This can be 

repeated monthly to start with 

to produce the optimal results. 

How can I keep my skin 

in optimum condition? 

The best course of 

action is prevention, so 

where possible protect 

from sun damage, eat 

a balanced healthy diet 

and hydrate well. 

I would advise an effective 

SPF cream daily, with a 

tailored skin care regime. 

Light facial peels and microneedling 

are a great start on 

your skin health journey. 

Call Bella Vou’s Pantiles 

Clinic in Tunbridge Wells on 

01892 257357 to arrange a 

complimentary consultation 

with Uma. bellavou.co.uk 


Makeup... 

Hair & Makeup 

Artist, Nina Gregory 

Now I’m over 50, 

can I still wear the 

same makeup as I 

did in my 30s and 40s? Do I need 

more? I wouldn’t say you need more 

coverage, but you do need the correct 

products and the know-how in product 

application. Getting the application 

right will make a huge difference to the 

way you look. If you’ve always had a 

signature look like a red lip, black liquid 

liner, nude lip, smudgy 60s liner… these 

can all be adapted to suit more mature 

looks without losing your personality. 

You need two looks, one for 

daytime and a more evening look 

with a bolder lip or accent of the eye. 

Stay away from shimmers or glittery 

products at all costs. These will only 

sit in the creases and lines we all try 

so much to hide and look dated. 

What should I be filling my makeup 

bag with? Heavily invest in a good 

skincare regime for more mature 

skin then your products should 

really consist of the following: 

Tinted Moisturiser / Water Light 

Foundations, these are new to the market 

and the colour matching for these are so 

much easier than typical foundations. 

A lighter tone concealer – but not 

too pale. Choose your usual skin 

tone colour and apply it to any slight 

imperfections, dabbing it on with a 

fluffy brush or lightly with your finger. 

A great liner pen in brown or 

navy blue. Opt for a soft twist up 

rather than a sharp pencil as these 

are harsh on the skin to smudge 

into the eye socket for definition. 

A great blush and bronzer duo, 

these are great for subtle colour 

or more colour for evenings or 

holidays if you tend to tan. 

Cream blush and bronze are 

great and easy to apply. Stay away 

from the glittery blushes – use a 

slightly more matte version. 

Always get an eyebrow pencil that 

will accent your brows rather than 

make a focal point of them. Choose 

one with a brush at the end so you can 

keep brushing through your brows to 

soften the colour but still give your face 

definition and accent your features. 

Invest in a good waterproof 

mascara, this will last all day and not 

transfer to lids or under the eye. I’m 

a great lover of black mascara for 

all ages, but if not a dark brown. 

Lip colour should be either satin finish 

or a creamier consistency. Steer clear of 

matte shades as these sit in lines and bleed 

and are hard to upkeep during the day. 

For the more daring of you, investigate 

treatments such as eyelash extensions or 

microblading for your brows. Always seek 

professional advice and take in pictures 

Outstanding care within an independent Home 

Maintaining the highest 

professional standards within 

a quiet, comfortable ‘Home 

from Home’ environment 

• 24 hour expert Nursing Care 

by qualifi ed nurses 

• Long stay or respite care for seniors 

• Excellent home cooked menu 

• Varied range of activities 

• Comfortable and friendly atmosphere 

• Personal service with family-run values 

For further information call today on 01737 240563 

or 242647 or visit www.wray-common.co.uk 

Wray Common Road I Reigate I Surrey I RH2 0ND 

For further information call today on 

01737 240563 or 242647 or visit 

www.wray-common.co.uk 

Wray Common Road I Reigate 

Surrey I RH2 0ND 


20 

WrayCommonS64A.indd 1 28/01/2020 12:25


of how you want your treatment to 

look that will suit your individual needs. 

These treatments are great and very easy 

for mature looks, not just youngsters! 

Finally… the tools of the trade. 

Invest in a great set of brushes, you’ll 

notice the difference immediately. 

What should I be steering clear of at 

the makeup counter? Anything that 

says matte or full coverage. Trust your 

own judgement and try products on 

the back of your hand for an hour or 

so before you buy. See how the product 

feels, how the air has oxidised the 

colour – it’s a good indication of how 

the colour will transfer on your face. 

Skin tends to become slightly drier the 

older we get so go for nourishing, light 

reflecting or moisturising products. Avoid 

facial powders in any format – these 

will be appearing chalky and ageing. 

I would also browse all the products 

in the store, just because you like one 

brand, or have used it for years, it doesn’t 

always mean it’s the right one. There 

are so many brands on offer which can 

be daunting, but ask some advice from 

some of the newer, ‘younger’ brands. 

All makeup companies will make 

something that will be suitable for all 

age ranges. Be brave! You really don’t 

have to spend a fortune either, high 

street brands are amazing these days. 

How can I keep my look fresh and on 

trend? Don’t be stuck in a rut! There 

is such a variety of images, advice, 

online tutorials, products, magazines, 

advertisements etc. to take inspiration 

from and explore trends at any age. Try 

one of the many online tutorials on 

YouTube and other social media outlets. 

Use the consultants on the counters 

for advice, book a makeup lesson, book 

a shopping lesson, too. Lots of makeup 

artists offer a shopping service. They 

will meet you for a coffee and take 

you through an informed shopping 

list – whatever your budget – to work 

out a great list of cosmetics that work 

for you. You can also pay to have a 

lesson with your own makeup bag 

contents – take notes, look and learn. 

Be open minded and practise new 

looks, you’ll soon find out what works 

and doesn’t work for you. Have a few key 

products that you use all the time instead 

of hoarding a makeup bag of products 

that haven’t seen the light of day in years. 

We all love making the best of 

ourselves and keeping 

up with the latest trends 

including make-up. 

Remember knowledge is 

power in the vast world 

of makeup and skincare! 

Nina is an award-winning 

international freelance 

Hair & Makeup Artist. 

To see more of her 

work, and to find out 

about booking her, visit 

ninagregorymakeup.com. 

Luxury Tennis, Fitness and Dance 

Retreats in the South of France 

Let’s Salsa Latin Dance Retreat: 

April 2nd-5th 2020 

Tennis Academy and Montecarlo ATP: 

April 14th-19th 2020 

Body Tonic Luxury Fitness Retreats: 

May 27th - 31st 2020 

June 24th - 28th 2020 

Set in the beautiful French Cote d’Azur countryside, minutes from 

the sea. These Luxurious Retreats provides the perfect balance of 

gourmet meals, pampered luxury, energetic fitness classes, Latin 

dance sessions and outdoor activities including coastal treks, tennis, 

boxercise, aqua-gym, circuit training, sea kayaking and beach workouts, 

to help guests improve their fitness level or kick start a regime. 

Retreats include 5 days of luxury accommodation in the 

chateau in en-suite bedrooms with sea or mountain views. 

Meals are fabulous, nutritious and elegant 3 course dinners 

with a quality open bar, evening parties and entertainment. 

Please contact info@LouCasteou.eu 

with questions and for reservations. 

www.loucasteou.eu 


MMBaxterS65.indd 1 14/02/2020 16:54

Up to 

£10,000 

paid towards your 

stamp duty on your new 

property with us*. 

If you think you’re ‘not ready’ for later living, think again. Our village offers 

an active and busy lifestyle with everything you could ever wish for. 

Last few properties remaining at Bramshott Place 

Experience the best of both town and country, 

get in touch for more details: 

01428 788 245 

www.bramshottplace.co.uk/stamp 

8 Connaught Drive, Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7GZ 

*Terms and conditions apply. 


22


Retire in Style 

Our retirement living picks 

Sell for all feature pages 

Stunning Surroundings at Wildernesse House 

collection of 31 one- and twobedroom 

apartments in the A 

historic Grade II listed Wildernesse 

House, and eight new mews houses set 

in the sprawling Wildernesse Estate, 

Sevenoaks, are now available from luxury 

retirement home specialists PegasusLife. 

Each apartment has been meticulously 

renovated, with impressive details and 

little luxuries that make these homes 

so welcoming. The newly built twobedroom 

mews houses offer large, light 

living spaces, with peaceful outdoor areas 

to be enjoyed throughout the season. 

The Wildernesse Estate offers a wealth 

of enriching activities and facilities 

literally on your doorstep; from a 

pleasant stroll through the surrounding 

parklands, or a visit to the luxurious 

wellness centre, spanning the lower 

ground floor of the house, offering a 

pool, sauna and steam rooms, treatment 

rooms, fully equipped gym and studio. 

The affluent town of Sevenoaks is 

less than two miles away, and has so 

much to offer all year round, including 

a variety of independent and high 

street shops and dining. With easy 

transport links to London and beyond, 

and surrounded by stunning Kentish 

countryside, Wildernesse House 

offers the very best in later living. 

Prices start from £610,000. To 

find out more about Wildernesse 

House or to book an appointment, 

call 01732 608144. pegasuslife.co.uk 

CARRIAGES – All THE 

BENEFITS OF A HOTEL 

Carriages is a development of 28 

one and two bedroom apartments, 

moments from the centre of Purley. 

Designed for the discerning retirement 

market, this development won an Evening 

Standard New Homes Award for The Best New 

Development in the Retirement Living Sector. 

A ground floor reception lends the scheme a real 

hotel feel and this is supported by the roof garden and 

Sky Lounge where there are views across Purley. A 

social kitchen with its food larder and honesty bar sits 

at the heart of this Pegasus Life retirement complex. 

Among the many impressive benefits is a 

ground floor Guest Suite, spacious lift, parking 

and wellbeing services which include everything 

from Pet Care to Apartment Housekeeping. 

“I have attended a number of social events at 

Carriages and met many of the residents; I have 

to say there is a lovely warm and homely feel to 

the place.” Bob Barber, Director, Fine & Country 

Prices range from £320,000 to £615,000 Carriages. 

Find out more by calling Fine & Country Estate 

Agents 01883 653040 fineandcountry.com 


Find your dream home in France 

+44 (0) 1233 800 200 

countryhomesfrance.co.uk 

Dreaming of a 

Discover the 

freedom of renting… 

CountryHomesFranceWT217.indd 1 14/02/2020 16:57 

Exclusively for over 55’s our properties include independent living 

Exclusively spaces alongside for over welcoming 55’s our properties communal include lounges independent with maintained living 

spaces gardens alongside for socialising welcoming & relaxing. communal On-site lounges managers with and maintained 24 hour 

gardens emergency for care socialising line for & additional relaxing. On-site peace of managers mind. All and these 24 services hour 

emergency and more are care included line for in additional the rent! peace of mind. All these services 

and more are included in the rent! 

Why RENT?: 

Why RENT?: 

• Flexibility to choose 

• Flexibility to live and to move choose - where 

to and live when and you move want - where 

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and 

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or 

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living Start your 

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to full! the 

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Register Properties with currently us to available find your near new you home in: Ashford, today. Beckenham, We have Bognor properties Regis, 

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Ramsgate, Sidcup and Worthing - plus more nationwide! 

0800 525 184 

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Are you lusting after the idea of owning 

a rural property in France, but not sure 

how and where to start your search? 

SH asks the advice of French property 

finders, Country Homes France 

How does Country Home s France work? 

“Country Homes France work in partnership 

with a network of independent French estate 

agents, built up over many years and mostly family run, 

this enables us to provide a personalised service to our 

clients. Our service starts from the initial contact to 

discuss property search requirements, advice with property 

selection, arrange viewing appointments, assist with offer 

negotiation, through to the purchase completion. We have 

extensive knowledge of French regions and are happy to 

share this with our clients to provide them with as much 

information about properties and their search criteria.” 

What do you specialise in? “Country Homes France 

specialise in country and village property from barns 

and houses to renovate, through to fully renovated 

country houses, manor houses and small chateaux. 

Our clients may be looking for a second home, retiring 

or making a permanent move to France to enjoy the 


GirlingsWT217.indd 1 05/02/2020 10:49 

24


Do French properties tend to hold their value? 

“French properties tend to hold their value and have 

always appreciated over a longer period than in the UK. 

Prices in France did suffer following the global financial 

crisis in 2008 and have remained level since. However 

last year there were a record number of property 

sales in France and we continue to see an upturn in 

confidence and property demand from both French 

and UK buyers which will ultimately have a positive 

effect on property values. At the present time prices 

in France still represent very good value for money.” 

French Escape? 

French lifestyle and climate. Many of those looking 

to relocate to France are seeking a home with income 

potential and a house with gite accommodation is 

often the first choice – we have helped many clients 

who are now running successful gite businesses.” 

Which regions prove the most popular? “The most 

popular regions to purchase a property in France fall into 

two categories. For those who want to have easy access 

or be close to the UK, then the regions of Normandy, 

Brittany, Picardy and the Pas de Calais are the natural 

choices and where it is still possible to buy a renovated 

2-4 bedroom home for €125,000. For those looking 

to be further south, the most popular regions are the 

Charente, Charente-Maritime, Dordogne, Garonne, 

Lot and Lot et Garonne areas that enjoy a good yearround 

climate and which currently offer very good 

value for money and regular flights to the UK.” 

How do you go about getting a mortgage for a 

property in France? “Country Homes France have 

worked in partnership for many years with a Parisbased 

mortgage broker who works with the major 

French banks and lenders (UK banks will not lend 

against a property in France) and who we are happy 

to recommend to clients. Mortgages are available 

for both permanent and second homes and interest 

rates are comparable with those in the UK. Our 

partners are English speaking and are able to give 

pre-agreement indications before you make a viewing 

trip so that you are in a position to offer on your 

new home in France during your visit if you wish.” 

Has Brexit affected the rules and regulations 

surrounding buying a property in France? “Buying 

a property in France will always be possible, and the 

French have no wish to place unnecessary obstacles 

in the way, however some of the rules and regulations 

will change with regard to owning property in France 

following Brexit. For a permanent move to France, UK 

passport holders will need to obtain a residents permit 

which we understand can be applied for online from 

July 2020 and before July 2021. For second home 

owners using their property less than 90 consecutive 

days per year there are no changes. For those wanting to 

use their property for more than 90 days and less than 

180 days it may be necessary to apply for a visitor’s visa 

similar to the ESTA form when visiting the USA.” 

Follow this website link for information: 

gov.uk/guidance/living-in-france#visas-and-residency 

Get in touch with the Country Homes 

France team at countryhomesfrance.co.uk. 

✁Cost Cutters – Discounts for over 60s 

The National Trust offer senior 

members a concession of 25 per 

cent off their adult rates. If you’re 

60 or over and you’ve held an 

individual or joint membership 

for at least five of the last ten 

years, you’ll be eligible for the 

reduced fee. nationaltrust.org.uk 

English Heritage offer a variety of 

reduced rates – Adult & Senior (1 

adult under 65 and 1 senior over 

65), Joint Senior (2 adults aged 

65+), Senior Individual and Senior 

Lifetime. Plus, membership includes 

six accompanying children per adult 

member english-heritage.org.uk 

Over 60s can claim a large chunk 

off the cost of lifetime membership 

of Royal Horticultural Society 

at £835 for Individual (usually 

£1,395) and £1,255 for Joint 

(usually £1,945) rhs.org.uk 

Kino Hawkhurst & Rye: Seniors 

60+ can save £1 per ticket on the 

regular adult price kinodigital.co.uk 

Everyman Cinemas offer off-peak 

senior citizen concessions for 60+ 

at all their cinemas. Silver Screen 

is a weekly matinee screening 

of a current release for film fans 

aged 55 and over. Ticket prices 

include a free hot drink and a 

slice of cake! everymancinema.com 

✁ 


This page: 1970s silk dress, 

£145, vintage earrings, £25, 

Kathryn Vintage; Nine West 

leather boots, £32, Déjà Vu. 

Next page: Aquascutum Trench, 

£85, Betty Jackson for Autograph 

linen suit, £60, Ghost silk ruffle 

blouse, £45, Zara silver flatform 

shoes, £20, Déjà Vu; vintage 

earrings, £25, Kathryn Vintage

Sustainable Style 

Shop sustainably for your new season spring/summer wardrobe. 

Kate Liz Watts styles this season’s trends using preloved and vintage pieces 

Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Kate Liz Watts Model: Janine, Fresh Agents 



2. 

1. 

North Hampshire’s largest indie Boutique est 1995, 

stocking over twenty premium brands 

1. Joseph Ribkoff Style 201438 monochrome stripe jacket £279 

2. Joseph Ribkoff style 201504 spot sleeve Top £165 

3. Joseph Ribkoff style 201320 burn out sleeve detail dress £235 

4. Joseph Ribkoff style 201436 turn back cuff jacket £245 

5. Joseph Ribkoff style 202368 lily print wide leg trousers £175 

4. 

5. 

UNIT 11 HART SHOPPING CENTRE 

FLEET | HAMPSHIRE | GU51 3LA 

3. 

01252 621035 

www.experiencethedifference.co.uk

Stripe pussybow blouse, £35, 

original 1970s jeans, £55, vintage 

waistcoat, £30, Hawk & Dove; 

Mulberry shoe boots, £200, Bond 

Street to Your Street; vintage ring, 

£38, Kathryn Vintage

Munthe blush blazer, £220, 

Hermes silk scarf, £105, Bond 

Street to Your Street; Ines De La 

Fressange x Uniqlo Polka Dot 

shirt, £10, Zara leather mules, 

£22, One Scoop Store; House of 

CB velvet trousers, £50, Déjà Vu

The One Stop Shop for 

the Mother of the Bride/ 

Groom in Surrey 

Surrey’s Premier 

stockist of Condici and 

Veni Infantino 

Spring 2020 

now arriving 

in store! 

www.melitaboutique.co.uk | 57 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AF | Tel: 01276 856308 

MelitaOfChobhamS65.indd 1 24/02/2020 15:48 

Stylish Activewear 

Birdie London has created a wonderful 

range of activewear for men and women, 

made from the finest merino wool to 

take you effortlessly through the day. 

Our jumpers are the perfect staple for your 

wardrobe, whether you’re active or just 

wanting smart everyday wear. The unique 

fibre of merino wool ensures a smooth 

fit while the natural cooling properties 

allow you to be sporty. Great for a variety 

of activities including golf, skiing, cycling, 

riding or going off to Pilates, or simply out 

to lunch. Birdie London has a style for you, 

made in an array of seasonal colours. 

To help you choose your look, we are 

offering a 10% reader discount - simply 

enter SURREY10 at checkout. 

birdie.london l birdielondon@hotmail.com l 


BirdieLondonLtdS65A.indd 1 26/02/2020 11:48

The home of contemporary 

and luxury footwear direct 

from the heart of Europe 

Always one step ahead, they have 

established themselves on their 

quality and first-rate service 

Blue Velvet 

Call 020 7376 7442 Visit them at: 174 Kings Road SW3 4UP Buy Online: wwwbluevelvetshoescom 

www.bluevelvetshoes.com 

BlueVelvetS65.indd 1 Spring 

20/02/2020 11:37 

is in 

MADE IN 

IRELAND 

the Air 

New Spring Summer 

season arriving The tradition daily, of Irish 

find knitwear, in store now. 

inspired by the 

chill coastal winds of the 

Atlantic, is built around 

individual knitters and 

small cottage industries 

hand finishing every 

single garment. 

www.countyclothesmenswear.co.uk 

County Clothes 

Quality clothing and a personal service 

Kent Surrey East Sussex 


86 

CountyClothesS65.indd 1 17/02/2020 10:24

Selkie polka-dot crêpe tea dress, £60, Zara leather mules, 

£22, vintage Art Deco inspired earrings, £10, One Scoop 

Store; red original sombrero cordobés, £69, Déjà Vu 

Vintage waistcoat two-piece, £25, Déjà Vu; volume sleeve 

blouse, £40, silver necklace, £30, Kathryn Vintage 

A special thanks to Sissinghurst Location House for letting us 

shoot in their beautiful grounds. Sissinghurst Location House 

is a 16th Century Farmhouse with Edwardian and modern 

additions. The location is situated in 4 acres of gardens, 

which include a stunning 60ft derelict Victorian greenhouse, 

brick courtyard and two large weatherboard buildings. 

The spacious house and garden can easily accommodate a 

large crew, and is a versatile shoot location for a variety of 

photo, TV and film requirements. For more information 

contact Sally Littlestone on 07813 856361/ Instagram 

@sissinghurstlocationhouse / sissinghurstlocationhouse.co.uk 

A huge thank you to both Emma Garrow and Village Vintage 

Hire for the floral arrangements and props. Emma grows seasonal 

natural flowers and styles them for any occasion, runs creative 

workshops and offers fresh flowers for door delivery. Village 

Vintage Hire holds a beautiful collection of rustic and vintage 

furniture and accessories available to hire for any location or event. 

Address Book: 

Bond Street to your Street 

Cranbrook 01580 712900 

Facebook @bondstreettoyourstreet 

Déjà Vu Instagram @dejavu_reloved, 

dejavu_reloved@outlook.com, 

07787 148783, also available to buy 

in Pearl & Queenie, 10 Marine Court, 

St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 0DX 

Emma Garrow 07967 087165 

Instagram @emmasflowerdesign, 

Fresh Agents freshagents.co.uk 

Hawk & Dove Hastings Old 

Town hawkanddove.shop, 

Etsy: hawkanddovehastings 

Kathryn Vintage Instagram 

@kathrynvintage.shop 

nina gregory Make Up 07843 204544 

ninagregorymakeup.com / Instagram 

@ninagregorymakeup/ 

One Scoop Store London 

onescoopstore.com 

Village Vintage Hire 

Sarah Andrew 07976 359344 

Instagram @villagevintagehire 


Let’s talk 

about HRT 

Residential | Nursing | Dementia | Respite 

Award-Winning Private Care Home 

Offering the highest level of care and support 

Winners of the 

Excellence and Innovation in Dementia Care Award 

Enjoy all-inclusive fees & no deposits 

with complimentary physiotherapy, chiropody, 

hairdressing & much more. 

St Catherine’s Road, Frimley Green 

Camberley, Surrey, GU16 9NP 

t: 01252 833080 

e: hollylodge@forestcare.co.uk 

w: forestcare.co.uk 

We are a friendly and knowledgeable 

team of doctors who all have a 

special interest in Women’s Health, 

led by the very experienced 

Consultant and Menopause 

Specialist, Dr Tina Peers. 

CALL NOW OR BOOK ONLINE 

tillowbarnhealth.co.uk 01737 844659 

The 

Menopause Clinic at Tillow Barn 

Roothill Lane, Betchworth, Surrey RH3 7AS 

Merriments Loves Mums ! 

ForestCareS63.indd 1 19/12/2019 DrTinaPeersS61.indd 10:40 

1 29/10/2019 09:38 

It’s the time of year to thank the amazing 

women in your life & we’re here to help! 

· Mothering Sunday - March 22nd · 

· Classic Afternoon Teas (from 3pm) £12.5o* · 

· A selection of freshly made Sandwiches · 

· Sultana Scones, Strawberry Jam & Clotted Cream · 

· A selection of traditional Cakes · 

∙ All served with your choice of Tea or Coffee · 

Make it a Luxury Classic Tea & add a glass of Prosecco 

*Price per person 

Merriments Gardens 

Hawkhurst Rd Hurst Green 

East Sussex TN19 7RA 

01580 860666 

info@merriments.co.uk 

www.merriments.co.uk 

BOOKING ESSENTIAL FOR MOTHER’S DAY 

The perfect venue from which 

to relax, celebrate and explore… 

Award winning guest accommodation in 

the heart of Hastings Old Town. 

Georgian elegance with contemporary ‘Twists’. 

The Laindons Guest House, 

23 High Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3EY 

01424 437710 | www.thelaindons.com 


88 

Merriments1/4WT217.indd 1 19/02/2020 LaindonsGuestHouseWT217.indd 10:25 

1 06/02/2020 17:52

Beauty 

Superproducts 

Josephine Fairley reveals the winners of the 2020 Beauty Bible Awards 

For the past 25 years, bobbing 

alongside everything else I’ve 

ever worked on, my Beauty Bible 

co-author Sarah Stacey and I have 

organised The Beauty Bible Awards, 

sending real products to real women 

to trial in real life. Astonishingly, 

we’ve now had almost 30,000 women 

testing products for us, the results of 

which initially appeared in our series 

of books, and are now available for 

all to see online at beautybible.com. 

(There are skincare, haircare, make-up 

and bodycare categories to peruse.) 

We have literally just unveiled 

the latest line-up of winners, from 

thousands of products trialled. We give 

Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards – and 

in many cases, more than one, because 

we just get such darned great scores. 

The reason, we’ve always believed, 

is because when women are taking 

part in our trials – over a period of 

three to four months – they are really 

asked to use the products in line with 

the beauty companies’ instructions. 

And it’s that regular use and diligence 

which, we think, delivers really mindblowing 

average scores and comments 

about effectiveness. (We ask women 

to use treatment products on one 

side of the face, for comparison.) 

Fact: when you chop and change 

your regime all the time, nothing gets 

the chance to work properly. (And a 

few days or a week isn’t enough; you 

really need to leave it for an entire 

skin cycle – around 28 days – to 

see the longer-term benefits.) Fact: 

neck creams and eye creams can be 

super-effective and deliver impressive 

results – but again, they need to be 

used daily/nightly, not whenever you 

can be faffed. This year, for whatever 

reason, we had the highest-ever scores 

we’ve ever seen, with many notching 

up 9/10 average (or above) across a 

panel of 10 women. We’re calling them 

the Beauty Bible Superstars – and 

I’m delighted to share some of these 

ultra-high-scoring products, below. 

BOdY lOTION 

D’Alchemy Essential Body Balm, 

£58.60 for 200ml dalchemyskincare. 

uk. With an average of 9.14/10, an 

outstanding score for an all-natural, 

pump-action body lotion blending 

shea and shorea butter, hop extract, 

acerola, cranberry and guarana, 

argan and almond oils, with a fab 

uplifting scent of sweet orange, 

grapefruit and tangerine. 

Comments: ‘Applying it felt 

like soft silk – I could hear 

myself saying “ooooh” and 

“aaaahh.”’ • ‘Whenever 

I use it I feel a 

million dollars.’ 

‘My skin over the 

weeks has improved 

so much in appearance. 

I was even told I look 

younger, and my skin feels 

really soft and fresh’ 

‘If you love soft, 

smooth, beautifully 

clean skin then 

you will love this 

product.’ 

ClEANSING MIlK 

Beauty Pie Jeju Daily, £28 for 190ml. 

By sourcing direct from factories 

and selling direct to the beautyhound, 

Beauty Pie founder Marcia 

Kilgore keeps prices lean and keen. 

The £28 price is the top price you’d 

pay for this high-scorer – which 

notched up 9.57/10 – but if you 

sign up to one of the different tiers 

of membership, starting at a fiver a 

month, the price drops dramatically. 

Comments: ‘I was blown away by 

this formulation. It felt super gentle 

yet totally effective a.m./p.m. on my 

combination skin – shiny T-zone, 

with open pores and comedones, 

then drier and red across cheeks and 

neck. Makeup was removed quickly 

and easily, and it was delightful to 

use’ • ‘Talk about cult beauty; this 

product deserves to be worshipped 

and I would be a dedicated preacher.’ 

BOdY OIl 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour 

Cream All Over Miracle 

Oil, £29 for 100ml. A 

stonking 9.14/10 for a 

body oil that’s higher in 

natural ingredients than 

most of Elizabeth Arden’s 

creations, including rice 

bran, grapeseed, camellia, 

sunflower, olive, avocado 

and castor oils, spritzed 

onto the body as a 

nourishing mist. 

Comments: ‘Great 

product; I usually 

hate using body 

oils but this is the 

lightest I’ve ever come 

across. It’s gently 

scented, easy to 

dispense, absorbs well 

and is so versatile. Just 

about perfect!’ • ‘Skin felt 

much more moisturised, 

softer and smoother, 

less tight. I loved 

the pleasant, 

subtle fragrance.’ 

 

‘My skin felt more 

supple and healthy 

within days. It’s very easy to 

spread and absorbs quickly. 

All in all it’s amazing. I 

would definitely buy and 

recommend to others’

BRIGHTENING FACE MASK 

Rituals Renewing AHA Glow Mask, £29.50 for 

50ml. Rituals – probably better known as a home 

fragrance/fragrance line – scored super-high 

marks for several entries in this year’s Beauty 

Bible Awards, here for a peach-toned mask with 

natural alpha-hydroxy ‘fruit’ acids, including 

lactic acid, to dissolve pore-clogging dead cells. 

Comments: ‘A winner for me leaving my normal 

skin with a “just out of the spa” freshness and 

glow, which gets compliments from friends.’ 

• ‘I love this mask, which smells delicious 

and leaves my combination skin visibly 

clearer and glowing. My make-up goes on so 

much better in the days after using this.’ 

‘A noticeable 

difference in brightness and 

radiance, which lasts a couple 

of days. Softness is improved as the 

mask is slightly exfoliating, and also 

plumpness. It promised radiance 

and illumination with smoothed 

skin and absolutely delivered 

on all counts. Love it!’ 

‘I couldn’t believe 

how soft my feet felt after 

one application. My feet 

touched when I woke up and I 

almost felt like they were someone 

else’s feet as the skin was so soft 

and supple and the overall 

condition improved’ 

FOOT TREAT 

Margaret Dabbs Foot Hygiene Cream, £20 for 100g. The 

cornerstone of award-winning foot expert Margaret 

Dabbs’s range, this is described as a ‘miracle in a 

jar’, whose effects go way beyond the cosmetic. 

Comments: ‘10/10. I have really dry feet and have 

used two products recently, each for over a month; 

neither gave any real results, but this is fantastic.’ • 

‘My job entails me being on my feet much of the day 

and I have a baby. This left my feet feeling amazing 

after application especially if they had a tough day, the 

main thing was how soft my skin was and how easily 

my toes glided when I rubbed them together. My 

feet were very soft, refreshed and smelling lovely.’ 

NIGHT TREATMENT 

Tropic Skin Dream Age-Defying Firming Cream 

Concentrate, £42 for 50ml. A truly incredible score, 

here – an average of 9.75/10 across the 10-strong panel 

– for a luxurious, skin-plumping formula which, as 

Tropic put it, is ‘supercharged with intelligent plant 

ceramide complexes and a blend of exotic butters.’ 

Comments: ‘A few people have already asked what I was 

using and I have had compliments on how well I look. 

This is a fantastic product, which I loved 

immediately. After two weeks, then four, the 

reduction in fine lines is very noticeable. 

The best night cream I‘ve ever tried; 

massive improvement in tone, lines and 

wrinkles. I can’t fault this in any way it 

made me feel fantastic. My skin looked 

like I‘d had a salon treatment. It was 

bright and soft and a lot of my fine 

lines had all but gone; even my “11” 

frown lines looked filled out.’ 

‘After the first use 

I noticed that the treated 

side of my face appeared more 

firm and taut with less lines. It 

was visibly firmer that the other 

untreated side. After two weeks, there 

was a marked difference between 

the two sides with definitely 

fewer lines and wrinkles 

on the treated side’ 

‘Brilliant for my 

lips, which can be dry and 

chapped at times. It smooths 

on beautifully from the tiny tube 

and you only need a tiny amount. 

It doesn’t absorb immediately which 

I like because it looks like a nice 

lip gloss; in fact I stopped using 

lipstick because my lips 

look nice without’ 

lIP BAlM 

Weleda Skin Food Lip Balm, £6.95 for 8ml. 

This all-natural high-scorer is so affordable 

you could pop one in every coat pocket 

and never be without its protective blend of 

glycerine, beeswax, sunflower oil and lanolin. 

Comments: ‘I loved this product and will be buying 

it again. There is a definite improvement in the 

condition of my lips after using for a fortnight.’ 

• ‘Over two weeks the condition of my lips has 

definitely improved. I’m addicted to this now!’


PERFECTING THE ART 

OF GRACEFUL AGING 

Dr Kim Prescott discusses treatments that 

enhance collagen production in the skin 

Many lifestyle factors that lead to 

accelerated aging are hard to 

avoid; from nutrient deficiencies 

or changes in hormone levels, to 

sun exposure and environmental 

pollution. Over time, the active cells in the 

skin, the fibroblasts, become less effi cient at 

producing collagen, elastin and hyaluronic 

acid leading to skin laxity, fine lines and 

wrinkles, along with uneven pigmentation. 

There are many treatments out there 

for improving skin quality, and a commonly 

asked question in my practice is which one 

is the best. There really is no correct answer 

to that question, as most skin technologies 

come with clinical studies demonstrating 

results (with few comparative trials). It is 

important to remember, however, that in 

every study, there is a group of people 

who do not respond as well as others. 

In addition, some technologies are also 

associated with higher risk of adverse effects 

in certain people. It is important that your 

skin practitioner assesses your skin carefully 

and selects the treatment that is safest, and 

most likely to work the best for you, and a 

combination of treatments is very likely to be 

more effective than a single modality alone. 

I’ve recently had a few questions 

about 2 of my preferred treatments, both 

well established in terms of their effi cacy 

and safety profiles: microneedling and 

radiofrequency, so I’ll cover them in a little 

more detail this month. If you’re looking 

to go make-up free this summer, then 

these 2 treatments may help with overall 

improvement in skin texture and tone. 

COLLAGEN INDUCTION THERAPY 

Also known as collagen induction therapy, 

microneedling involves creating tiny channels 

in the epidermis and dermis of the skin. The 

treatment improves penetration of targeted 

ingredients into the dermis, activates 

fibroblasts, to produce collagen and elastin 

and stimulates the release of the body’s own 

rejuvenation messengers known as growth 

factors. Overall improvements in skin texture 

and tone following a microneedling treatment 

are clinically proven in a number of clinical 

studies, including a series of skin biopsies 

published by Dr Des Fernandes, a renowned 

skin research scientist, that clearly showed 

an increase in collagen of more than 400%. 

Superficial microneedling can 

be done at home or in the salon 

to brighten and exfoliate the skin, 

but medical microneedling by a 

trained healthcare professional is 

indicated to manage more specific 

skin concerns, including scarring and 

pigmentation. As it doesn’t use any kind of 

energy source, microneedling remains one 

of the best treatments to treat skin in certain 

areas, including skin over the thyroid or breast 

area and the delicate skin under the eyes. 

(Figure 1) 

Figure 1. Improvements in skin quality after a course 

of microneedling (images courtesy of Dermapen) 

Figure 2. Improvements in skin quality after a course 

of microneedling (images courtesy of Dermapen) 

VOLUMISING THE SKIN 

Radiofrequency (RF) is a skin rejuvenation 

technology that has been widely used in skin 

tightening treatments, and for improvement 

of cellulite, scarring and stretchmarks. A few 

years ago, skin experts started presenting 

case studies combining the effects of RF and 

microneedling, with faster healing time, and 

noticeable improvement in the volume of the 

skin; very good news for those who prefer to 

avoid using injectable hyaluronic acid fillers in 

the face. 

New technologies were subsequently 

developed and a number of highly 

sophisticated technology platforms are 

currently available, including Fractora and 

VoluDerm. The new VoluDerm Hybrid Energy 

treatment combines dual energy, RF first for 

effective penetration and controlled heating 

of the skin, followed by galvanic current for 

enhanced clinical results. The hybrid energy is 

delivered via an array of sophisticated micropins, 

with minimal disruption to the outer layer 

of the skin. This means that there is negligible 

downtime, with the majority of people going 

home with nothing more than a mild flush. A 

number of clinical studies have demonstrated 

significant improvement in the volume of 

the skin due to increased levels of collagen, 

elastin and hyaluronic acid. (Figures 3 and 4) 

A 

Figure 3. Collagen density has increased 10 days 

after VoluDerm HE (Eur J Dermatol 2014; 24(1): 46- 

52 with permission from Pollogen Ltd) 

Before 

Before 

Dr Kim Prescott is a highly trained doctor in 

aesthetic medicine and consults from the 

PSMD Clinic in Cobham and Esher Groves. 

You are welcome to email her on 

info@drkpclinic.co.uk with any questions 

you might have. Dr Prescott will endeavor 

to respond directly, but topics that come up 

frequently may also be c overed in one of 

these monthly pages. 

www.drkpclinic.co.uk 

info@drkpclinic.co.uk 

B 

41 days after 3 Treatments 

41 days after 3 Treatments 

Microneedling is widely used in the 

following indications: 

Skin tightening 

Natural collagen induction 

Lifting and rejuvenating 

Reduces wrinkles and fine lines 

Hyper- and hypopigmentation 

Improves stretch marks 

Hair regeneration and hair thinning, alopecia 

Acne scars, surgical scars and wound healing 

Minimises pore size


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diagnostic clinic’ to help diagnose your back pain faster. 

The same-day service includes: 

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symptoms. If he believes you need an MRI scan it will 

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◆ The MRI scan itself. 

◆ A follow up with Mr Paremain to discuss your MRI 

results and treatment options. 

What are the benefits? 

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◆ You only have to visit us once for your consultation 

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◆ Transparent pricing with no hidden extras. 

◆ A faster diagnosis. 

How much will it cost? 

The package price, including your initial consultation, 

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Mr Guy Paremain 

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Mr Paremain was 

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Surgeon in 1999, 

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St Georges Hospital. 

For 20 years he has focused on managing spine 

related problems, performing several hundred 

operations on the spine each year. 

He is a member of the British Association of 

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To enquire about our services or to make an appointment: 

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visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/guildford 

search @NuffieldHealthGuildfordHospital 

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Wellbeing 

Resetting the Balance 

March is Endometriosis Month. Henrietta Norton explores the beneficial 

effects that a considered diet can have on this painful condition 

¹ Marziali M et al (2012) Gluten-free diet: a new strategy for management of painful endometriosis related symptoms? Minerva Chirurgica. 2012 Dec; 67(6):499-504. 2 U.S EPA, (1985) Health 

Assessment document for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. Office of Health and Environmental Assessment. EPA/600-8-84/014f 3 DeVito MJ and Schecter A. (2002) Exposure assessment to 

dioxins from the use of tampons and diapers. Environmental Health Perspectives. 110:23-28 4 Nassar S. (2003) Tampon Safety. National Centre for Policy Research (CPR) for women and Families. 

Approximately 10% of all 

premenopausal women 

within the UK have been 

diagnosed with endometriosis, a 

complex disorder of the female 

reproductive tract. There are 

also many more women with 

the condition who remain 

undiagnosed – the average length 

of time for diagnosis is 7½ years. 

Endometriosis is where cells, 

similar to those found in the lining 

of the womb, are found elsewhere 

in the body. During the female 

monthly cycle the fluctuation in 

hormones stimulates these cells to 

grow, then break down and bleed, 

as they would in the lining of the 

womb, leading to inflammation, pain 

and the formation of scar tissue. 

Research published in Fertility & 

Sterility demonstrated that nutritional 

therapy through diet and supplements 

was more effective at obtaining relief 

of pain and improving the quality 

of life of sufferers, than medical 

hormonal treatment post-surgery. 

There are five important dietary 

and lifestyle changes that can 

help to manage endometriosis: 

Eat ColoUr 

Research shows women who 

ate green vegetables 13 times or 

more per week (roughly twice 

a day) were 70% less likely to 

have endometriosis. A study 

published earlier this year 

concluded that Carotenoid rich 

foods (especially citrus fruit) also 

positively affected symptoms of 

endometriosis. Use smoothies, 

juicing or soups to deeply nourish. 

BEFrIEnd yoUr gUt 

Incorporate natural, organic yogurt 

into your daily diet either on its 

own or use it to make dressings 

and sauces. Fermented foods such 

as sauerkraut or Kefir are excellent 

sources of beneficial bacteria too, 

or take a probiotic supplement 

(min 10 billion CFU – Colony- 

Forming Unit is a measure of 

viable bacterial or fungal cells). 

FATS ARE ESSENTIAL 

Use of essential fatty acids are 

blocked by processed oils and 

margarines, as well as white 

flour, sugar, excessive animal 

and monounsaturated fats, 

alcohol, poor nutrition and stress. 

Keeping these to a minimum is 

vital to reduce inflammation. 

ConsIdEr glUtEn 

More recently, research has 

documented an improved response 

in those following a glutenfree 

diet; 75% of participants 

found a significant decrease in 

symptoms over 12 months¹. 

BE ConsCIoUs oF What yoU 

pUt In and on yoUr Body 

Tampons use bleached paper 

products that contain dioxins2, 

proven to have an adverse effect on 

the hormonal system3/4. Chemicals, 

such as parabens and phthalates, 

found in your toiletries and 

cosmetics have also been linked with 

development of endometriosis. 

rEdUCE syMptoMs 

WIth sUpplEMEnts 

Research shows that taking the 

right nutrients in food supplements 

can reduce the symptoms of 

endometriosis significantly (98% 

of the women in one study 

experienced improvements). An 

expertly formulated supplement 

that addresses the complexity 

of the condition affecting the 

immune system, digestive system 

and hormonal stability, such as 

Wild Nutrition’s Endo Complex, 

can be very supportive. 

Visit wildnutrition.com for Food-Grown® 

supplements and information on Nutritional 

Therapists at clinics in Lewes and London. 


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94 

EverycareS64.indd 1 28/01/2020 14:13

The fear of f itness 

Don’t be put off before you’ve begun, Sarah Maxwell 

explains how realistic goals will get you on track 

I 

recently ran a 10-day quit sugar 

course on Facebook with many 

people from all around the world. 

As well as looking at how sugar is 

now in the most unlikely everyday 

foods, finding out from our food 

diaries just how much hidden sugar 

we were all eating, supporting each 

other in our journeys of discovery and 

sharing sugar-free recipes, I included 

videos with 10 minutes of exercise 

for people to follow each day. 

Everyone who signed up to the 

course wanted to feel good about 

themselves and learn to incorporate a 

little exercise into their life – especially 

after the Christmas excesses. 

Everyone engaged wholeheartedly 

with the nutrition, food diaries, 

sharing recipes and supporting 

each other. The one thing that was 

really apparent though, was that 

many were reluctant to begin the 

exercises, even though they had 

been enthusiastic before the start. 

Exercise can be a scary word for 

many and often we have a rigid view 

of what constitutes exercise. Picture 

perfect fit bodies on Instagram, 

daily Facebook updates on how 

many miles your fit friend ran the 

previous day... It’s no wonder you 

can be put off before you even start! 

This is why it is so important to 

change your perception of what 

physical fitness is supposed to be and 

in particular what it means for you. 

So, if you’ve been thinking about 

exercise but instead have just 

found yourself going through all 

the reasons why you can’t exercise, 

don’t like gyms, don’t know where 

to start and don’t have enough 

time, trust me, you are not alone! 

It doesn’t have to be that way. 

Let me show you how… 

1Have an honest conversation 

with yourself about the value 

of your health. Regardless of how 

rich, successful and beautiful you 

are, none of this matters if you’re not 

healthy enough to enjoy it. If you see 

exercise as maintaining or improving 

your health, you have more of a 

motivator and are less likely to see it 

as something to punish yourself with. 

2Start your day with a positive 

mindset. As soon as you get out 

of bed do some mobility exercises 

loosening your shoulders, circling 

your hips and gently warming 

your body up. This is not only a 

great way to gently wake yourself 

up it will also start your positive 

mental process for the day ahead. 

Manage your expectations. 

3 

I have found that after many 

years of being a fitness trainer one 

of the common reasons for failure is 

over commitment. The idea behind 

fitness isn’t to make a quick change 

it is about creating something that is 

sustainable and enjoyable. I’m all for 

goals, but don’t set yourself up for 

failure, be realistic about what you 

have time and the ability to achieve. 

4Be aware of social media and take 

it with a pinch of salt. Unrealistic 

images can play havoc with selfesteem. 

Those just-got-out-of-bedwithout-my-make-up-shots? 

There is a 

team of specialists behind them. These 

are people who want you to think 

they look like that all of the time. 

5Find a Personal Trainer who 

can motivate you. If you really 

can’t motivate yourself to get started, 

consider taking on a personal 

trainer for a few sessions either 

on your own or with a few likeminded 

friends. This can be a great 

way to get you started, motivated 

and enable you to start exercising 

in a safe and effective way. 

“One of the common 

reasons for failure is 

over commitment” 

6There are so many great online 

fitness courses and classes 

available. You don’t even have 

to leave the house to get fit. The 

bottom line? Exercise shouldn’t 

be stressful so don’t force yourself 

to do something you don’t enjoy. 

Don’t forget, a short walk counts as 

exercise, find something that makes 

you feel great, doesn’t add to your 

stress levels and is realistic for you. 

Exercise of the month: 

5 MINUTES OF MOVEMENT EVERY DAY 

This can be dancing to your favourite 

song, going up and down the stairs, 

following an online exercise class. 

Whatever it is, enjoy it, it’s only 5 minutes! 

Sarah Maxwell is a multiple awardwinning 

Fitness and Lifestyle coach 

and mum of two who juggles a lot 

of balls. Find out more about Sarah 

and her work at sarahmaxwell.com 

Sarah shares her Fitness and 

Lifestyle tips on Instagram 

@sarahmaxwelllifestyle 


A Piece 

of Cake 

Home Gurr’own’s Nicci Gurr dishes up 

tempting Mother’s Day bakes, each with 

a tasty twist 

Recipes: Nicci Gurr 


Styling: Lucy Fleming 

surrey-homes.co.uk 96

97 

surrey-homes.co.uk

Cinnamon ‘Breakfast in Bed Cake’ 

Serves 10-14 Prep Time: 60 

mins including cooking time 

• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 

• 1 tsp salt 

• 3 tbsp soft brown sugar 

• 1 tsp lemon juice 

• 250ml milk 

• 200g butter 

• 200g caster sugar 

• 2 eggs 

• 500g self-raising flour 

Preheat oven to 160°C, 

1 fan140°C, gas 3. Oil and 

line an 8 inch spring form 

cake tin. Mix cinnamon, 

salt and brown sugar in a 

bowl and leave to one side. 

2Add the lemon juice 

to the milk. 

Beat your butter and 

3 caster sugar together until 

light and fluffy. (An electric 

stand alone beater is best.) 

Slowly add your eggs, adding 

a spoonful of flour if the mix 

looks like it is separating, 

then slowly add rest of flour. 

Now slowly add the milk and 

lemon juice mix to the batter. 

4Layer the wet cake mix and 

sugary cinnamon mix into 

the cake tin, swirling as you go 

to create a marbled effect. Bake 

in the oven for 45 mins. 

99 

surrey-homes.co.uk

Rhubarb Crumble 

and Custard Cake 

Serves 8-10 Prep Time: 90 mins including 

cooking time 

Crumble topping: 

• 20g plain flour 

• 20g porridge oats 

• 20g salted butter 

• 20g brown sugar 

For the cake: 

• 600g rhubarb – trimmed and 

cut into small pieces 

• 350g plain flour 

• 1 tbsp baking powder 

• 100g ground almonds 

• 1 tsp ground ginger 


• 150g caster sugar 

• 4 eggs 

• ¼ tsp vanilla extract 

• 400ml milk 

For the buttercream: 

• 50ml double cream 

• 50g custard powder 

• 1 vanilla pod 


• 350g icing sugar 

To make the crumble: 

1Put all crumble ingredients into a bowl and 

rub until it resembles chunky breadcrumbs. 

To make the cake: 

2Preheat your oven to 160°C, fan 140°C, 

gas 3. Oil and line 2 x 8 inch spring form 

cake tins. Sift all the dry ingredients together 

and set aside. Beat your butter and caster sugar 

together until light and fluffy (an electric stand 

alone beater is best). Now beat in the eggs 

one by one and add vanilla and the milk.. 

3Stir the rhubarb in with the dry 

ingredients, then fold slowly into the 

egg mix. Divide the mix between the 2 tins 

and sprinkle the crumble mix on top. 

4Bake in the oven for 50-55 min. When 

a skewer comes out clean remove 

from oven and leave to cool in tins for 10 

mins before moving to cooling racks. 

surrey-homes.co.uk 100 

To make the buttercream filling: 

5Add some of the cream to the custard powder 

to make a paste. Heat the rest of the cream 

and scraped vanilla pod, until almost to the boil. 

6Remove pod and slowly mix in the 

custard paste. Bring to boil and set 

to one side to cool completely. 

7Beat the butter until fluffy and add cooled 

double cream and custard mix slowly. Spread 

between the two layers of cake and serve.

Banana Loaf 

Rope in some extra help – this recipe is great for the kids to get messy with 

Serves 8 Prep Time: 60 mins 

including cooking time 

• 3 ripe bananas 

• 130g butter 

• 130g soft brown sugar 

• 2 medium eggs 

• 1 tsp vanilla essence 

• 70g chocolate chips 

• 130g self-raising flour 

• 1 tsp baking powder 

Preheat your oven to 180°C, fan 

1160°C, gas 4. Oil and line a 2lb loaf 

cake tin. Put the bananas still in their 

skins in a pan with 1 tbsp of water and 

cook in the oven until the skins go black. 

Take out of the oven and remove the 

bananas from their skins. Leave to cool. 

2Beat your butter and brown sugar 

together until light and fluffy. 

If the kids are helping give them a 

bowl and a wooden spoon, and let 

them at it (it will take longer but 

doesn’t have to be perfect). You can 

soften the butter in the microwave 

a bit first if using this approach. 

3With a fork, mash the cooled 

bananas with the eggs and vanilla 

essence. Then with a wooden spoon, 

slowly add your egg and banana mix 

to the butter and sugar (add a spoonful 

of flour if the mix is separating). Stir 

in 50g of the chocolate chips. 

4Fold in the rest of the flour and 

baking powder. When thoroughly 

mixed, spoon into the loaf tin – it’s 

a thick mix. Bake in the oven for 

45 mins until a skewer inserted 

in the cake comes out clean. 

5Sprinkle with the rest of 

the chocolate chips while 

warm so they melt on top. 

Nicci Gurr is Head Chef at Home 

Gurr’own, who cater for rustic 

rural weddings and events in 

Kent using locally-sourced and 

hown grown produce. To find out 

more visit homegurrown.co.uk 

or call 07747 816541.

Easy 

E 

dibles 

Read Jo Arnell’s words of wisdom and 

your gardening confidence will grow 

alongside your supply of home grown veg 


102

Garden 

Whatever anyone tells you about growing your own 

vegetables – it’s a lot of hard work, things often 

go wrong, pests are everywhere, they’re cheaper 

to buy… well, they are right. Some vegetables are hard to 

grow (cauliflowers and Brussels sprouts go to the back of the 

room and hang your button and curdy heads), there are pesky 

pests lurking around waiting to picnic in your patch and, if 

you added up all the time you spent out there, your precious 

harvest might be equable to diamonds. Don’t let any of this 

put you off. There are lots of really easy – and delicious crops 

to grow too. I promise that it is worth it, but if you are new 

to vegetable growing, start with the simpler things and build 

from there. Nothing can beat the taste of fresh, homegrown 

vegetables, garnished with a little pinch of triumph. 

Plotting Ahead 

You will need to assess how much space in your garden 

that you want to give over to growing vegetables, 

where that space will be and how much time you will 

realistically have to care for them. Few crops thrive in 

the shade, in exposed, windy conditions or poor soil, 

so find a sunny, sheltered spot for your edibles. 

It is totally possible to grow crops in pots, window boxes, 

on balconies and patios, but you will need to take extra care 

of them, feeding and watering – quite a lot. In general, most 

will prefer to be planted out into enriched garden soil, as 

vegetable plants tend to be fairly greedy. Raised beds will 

Left page top: Chard pink flamingo Bottom: Peas in pods This 

page top: Planting out a row of salad Above: Pea seedlings in a 

root trainer 

Nothing can beat the taste of fresh, 

homegrown vegetables, garnished 

with a little pinch of triumph 

make the whole process much easier and (in theory) tidier, 

but many varieties can be grown in garden borders among 

the flowers too. In fact, this is how our domestic gardens 

came about in the first place, and a true cottage garden is 

supposed to be a joyful jumble of flowers, fruit and vegetables. 

The Soil, The Soil, The Soil 

I would like to spend the rest of this piece talking about how 

important the soil is, how little we know about the complex 

relationships between the soil microbiome and the roots of 

plants – and how the quality of the soil will dictate not just 

the health of the soil, but how healthy and nutritious your 

vegetables will be. For now I’ll just say look after your soil. 

The best way to improve soil is to add organic matter 

in the form of well-rotted manure, spent mushroom 

compost, or your own (weed-free) compost. If the soil 

in your garden is heavy (clay), you may need to add this 

as a mulch in the autumn and let the soil organisms 

incorporate it over the winter – and do the digging in for 

you. If your soil is light, add the mulch in the spring to 

stop the nutrients leaching away in winter. Concentrated 

organic fertilisers like diluted liquid seaweed, chicken 

 


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104 

UrbanGrowPodWT216.indd 1 13/01/2020 10:14

Garden 

manure pellets and blood fish and bone can be added 

at planting time if the crop requires an extra boost. 

Easy Peas-y 

The least troublesome crops to grow will depend to a 

certain extent on your soil, but some well-behaved plants 

manage to do well whatever the circumstances. On my 

light soil I’m usually successful with leeks and onions, 

roots, such as beetroot and carrots, and also salads and 

herbs. On heavier clay soils, which are more nutrientrich, 

brassicas – cabbage, broccoli and, if you firm them 

in really well, Brussels sprouts – should flourish. Soil type 

aside, the list below would make a general starter pack: 

Peas and broad beans – start these off directly in the 

ground now, but only if mice can’t detect them (remember the 

mouse in Mr McGregor’s garden with the pea in her mouth?). 

Beetroot and perpetual spinach – sow this early or 

Top left: Beetroot Top right: Cabbages and kale Above: Small 

Chantenay carrots can be grown in containers 

late and avoid the height of the summer when these 

crops can bolt (or buy bolt-resistant varieties). 

Loose leaved lettuce – you can harvest this over a long 

period by picking the outer leaves and allowing the rest to 

keep growing. Loose leaved, as opposed to varieties with 

‘hearts’, won’t run to seed so quickly in hot weather. 

Short carrots – these are much easier and quicker to 

grow than the longer ones and are good in containers. 

Kale – can be grown all year and is as handsome as it 

is nutritious, but watch out for pests such as white fly 

and cabbage white caterpillars in the summer months. 

You can grow the above all from seed, or buy them as 

little plug plants and plant them straight out. Buying 

plants isn’t cheating – it is the quickest, simplest way to a 

successful harvest, but remember that the garden centres, 

a bit like the supermarkets, are choosing varieties for their 

own reasons, so flavour might come lower down the list than 

something like heavy cropping, or uniform shape and size. 

Best Value 

The vegetables that will give you the best value for money are 

those that crop prolifically, such as courgettes, climbing beans 

and tomatoes. Go easy on these super producers (you’ll know 

if you’ve overdone it if you catch your neighbours crossing 

the road when they see you). One or two courgette plants is 

definitely enough to feed a family, if not the neighbourhood. 

Gluts also have a habit of appearing just when you go on 

holiday too – avoid this by picking heavily just before you 

go, which should give you a small gap for a week or so. 

These crops are tender and won’t tolerate frosts, so 

don’t be tempted to plant them out too early (or too 

late). Late May is usually when half-hardy vegetable 

(and bedding) plants are safe to be left outside. 

Water-wise 

Plants that bear fruits and pods may need watering in dry 

spells once they start to flower and set fruit. I try to keep 

watering to a minimum, and dig a ‘bean trench’ under beans, 

courgettes and squashes. This involves digging a hole/trench 

18-24 inches deep earlier in the season and filling it with 

kitchen scraps, cardboard, organic matter – the sort of things 

you’d put on a compost heap. Then finish with a layer of 

earth to plant into. The vegetables will have a nutritious and 

moisture retaining root run, so you won’t have to water 


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106 

RedwoodTreeServicesS59.indd 1 29/08/2019 11:24

them as much. Only water if it gets exceptionally dry – and 

it is better to water deeply once a week than little and often. 

Un-buyable Taste 

There are some vegetables you just can’t buy, and a few that 

when homegrown have a very different taste to those bought 

in shops. Peas and sweetcorn start to lose their sweetness as 

soon as they are picked because the sugars in them turn into 

starch and by the time they get to the shops they are often 

woolly and tasteless. Frozen peas are always better to buy than 

fresh, because they are harvested and frozen out in the fields. 

Sun ripened homegrown tomatoes are unbeatable for 

flavour – from tiny cherry style up to big and beefy, your 

own tomatoes will always be better than those in the 

shops. Then there are things like courgette flowers, tiny 

artichokes and pea tips (the first few leaves that appear). 

Living Larders 

One of the many joys of vegetable growing is that you will have 

fresh veg on tap – just waiting outside on the patch for you 

to harvest when you need it. Some crops need to be picked as 

soon as they are ripe but others, especially those that are happy 

to sit in the ground through winter, really do become like a 

living larder. I find that leeks, kale, perpetual spinach (spinach 

beet), winter-hardy salad leaves and most herbs just tick away 

for months, ready to be picked – until the following spring 

that is, when they will suddenly rush into flower and set seed. 

Forking Hell 

The things that go wrong are usually related either to the 

soil and weather conditions, or to attack from pests. Carrots 

and parsnips will fork into un-peelable little monsters if the 

soil is too rich, or too stony. Brussels sprouts may ‘blow’ and 

cauliflowers fail to produce curds in light, friable soil. If it 

gets very hot and dry then rocket, spinach, beetroot and some 

lettuces will ‘bolt’ and run to seed – these are best grown in 

the spring or early autumn when the weather is cooler. 

Pests are numerous so, if possible, net susceptible crops at 

vulnerable times in the year. Most importantly encourage a 

healthy ecosystem so your allies – birds, frogs, hedgehogs, 

wasps and beetles – do a lot of your pest control for you. 

It is still a little early to be sowing crops directly outside 

– the exception being hardy things like broad beans, peas, 

spinach onions and leeks, but many can be started off under 

cover this month. Like much in life, vegetable growing 

is an adventure; nothing ventured, nothing to harvest. 

With any luck and a favourable wind, some sunshine and 

rain (at night please) this could be a bumper year… 

For details of Jo’s gardening courses visit 

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Top: Leeks and celeriac Above left: Mixed salad Above right: Cabbage 


Garden 

It’s a Wild 

World 

Sue Whigham discusses the measures we 

can all take to protect biodiversity 

Above: Common Red Soldier Beetles, often seen on umbelifer flowers 

Last week, squeezed in amongst 

the newspaper supplements, I 

spotted a report on comments 

made by the new President of the 

British Ecological Society. In it she 

urges us to take ‘meaningful action’ to 

protect our pollinators by not digging 

out or spraying dandelions with 

noxious substances the moment you 

spot them in or near your garden. She 

emphasises that they are a fantastic 

source of both nectar and pollen 

for the early pollinators, hence her 

suggestion to try to resist eradicating 

them. She also quotes the depressing 

statistic that in a 30-year period from 

1980, a third of more than 300 of our 

pollinators have seen large declines in 

their populations. A sobering thought. 

There used to be a patch of 

dandelions, complete with buzzing 

pollinators, on one of my dog walks 

until a couple of years ago. They seem 


108

Garden 

to have disappeared and their demise 

coincided with the local farmer’s ‘slash 

and burn’ policy of that year. I wonder 

what happened there. However, with a 

bit of luck, they may pop up somewhere 

else and flourish. Let’s hope so. 

But maybe things are looking up with 

attitudes changing towards conserving 

the biodiversity we have and the need 

there is to preserve it; to realise the 

importance of biodiversity’s contribution 

to all aspects of our wellbeing. It seems 

contrary that despite this, human 

actions worldwide are still very much 

contributing to all the factors that lead 

to biodiversity being under siege. 

However, there is no obvious sign 

that the current loss of biodiversity 

and changes in the environment is 

actively slowing down, but I think 

that if we all stopped to think and 

did what we could, even in a small 

way, the direction of travel could be 

deflected. We need to spread the word. 

We all know that both natural and 

human induced factors (referred to as 

‘drivers’) contribute to both species 

decline and climate change – although 

of course we have some, unfortunately 

in positions of power internationally, 

who seem to have their heads in the 

sand as they see making 

money as the default 

position come what may. 

The culprits, or main 

‘drivers’ are endless; 

from habitat loss, to over 

exploitation of natural 

landscapes, destruction 

of forests, pollution and careless use 

of our soil and water resources. 

I recently read a report of a speech 

that the then Environmental Minister, 

Theresa Villiers, gave last autumn from 

the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in 

Barnes. One or two remarks stood out, 

“Protect our 

pollinators by 

not digging 

out or spraying 

dandelions” 

one being ‘that we are utterly reliant 

on nature, from the most fortunate 

of us to the most vulnerable, not least 

because wildlife pollinates the crops that 

account for over a third of global food 

supply’. She stressed the belief that we 

have solutions for loss of diversity and 

climate change, despite the fact that the 

scale of the challenge is 

huge and that our global 

response leaves quite a 

lot to be desired. I know 

that the international 

push to plant more trees 

– trees in their millions 

– seems to be gaining 

momentum. And we can do that too 

even if we have the tiniest of patches. 

My son, who lives in a particularly 

polluted part of London, showed me an 

old photograph of where he lives taken 

at the beginning of the 20th century. 

Most noticeable of course was the 

 


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110 

HarrierGatesS60.indd 1 20/09/2019 11:11

Garden 

lack of vehicles and the children playing 

in the street but also the street trees. 

More recently, the local council have 

been making some effort to plant new 

saplings on their patch so as long as 

the trees survive their formative years, 

aftercare being a bit hit and miss, maybe 

things are looking up. But what can 

we do to save the day? 

Organisations, such 

as the CPRE, (Council 

for the Preservation of 

Rural England), set up 

to help preserve our 

landscape, are worth 

joining and actively 

supporting. In a report last year, they 

explained, or at least confirmed, how 

critical to all life on earth is the all too 

thin layer of top soil covering the planet. 

Each square inch of soil contains myriad 

single organisms, all manner of minute 

insects, and fungi through to animals, 

such as voles, moles and badgers. They 

are all interconnected and have a reason 

“Organisations, such 

as the CPRE, are 

worth joining and 

actively supporting” 

for being there. We have so many vole 

runs in part of the garden that the lawn 

has collapsed, but at least we know 

that we are providing a habitat for 

one of the main food sources for barn 

owls. It’s good to see that ploughing 

is being reduced and that farmers are 

encouraged to leave wildlife corridors 

round their fields. 

And hopefully the 

use of pesticides and 

fertilisers will gradually 

be replaced with more 

organic products, 

which are nontoxic 

to the natural 

world, one of these days. 

In October 2019, Great Dixter 

published an in-depth Biodiversity 

Audit for the period 2017/19. It is well 

worth a read. A grant from the Heritage 

Lottery Fund, plus monies from private 

donors, enabled Great Dixter to have a 

wide ranging audit done by experts in 

their particular field, of the habitat 

 

Above: A field vole peeps out from its woodland cover 

Right: A butterfly and bee enjoying cosmos pollen 


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112 

CurveGardenRoomsWT212.indd 1 02/09/2019 10:44

Garden 

Top left: Insect hotel Middle left: Sedum 

heads Right: Lichen 

Bottom: Lichen on garden bench 

in and around the gardens, farmland 

and woodland that make up the estate. 

The whole estate is already a haven for 

all manner of wildlife and the ethos of 

working with nature there has proved to 

pay such dividends. It’s such a good time 

for us all to follow their lead if we don’t 

already, leaving the edges of our gardens 

a little less manicured (and frankly, less 

boring) and letting biodiversity have a 

bit of a chance. I did a little recce of my 

own patch when I was thinking about 

this subject and despite it being a rather 

cold and wet afternoon, it gave me a 

chance to appreciate the beauty of the 

lichen growing thickly on some of my 

old garden furniture and the moss on 

the huge old tree stump that I managed 

to drag out of the woods some years ago! 

We’re all so lucky too to have the 

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, which 

is celebrating its 50th Anniversary 

this year, on our patch. The Reserve 

covers a vast area (1,149 acres) of 

coastal land with many diverse habitats, 

including shingle, salt marsh, salt water 

lagoons, freshwater gravel pits, grazing 

marsh and reed beds (to provide the 

perfect habitat for bitterns) which in 

turn attract a huge variety of species 

including ‘more than 300 which are 

considered rare and endangered in 

Britain’. It has been recognised as 

a SSSI, a Site of Special Scientific 

Interest, and all biodiversity is there. 

Throughout the year, and especially 

in this celebratory year, there are 

walks and talks on everything from 

winter owls, to bumblebees and 

bitterns, waders and shingle birds 

and flowers and invertebrates such as 

damselflies, dragonflies, spiders and 

moths. And it is all on our doorstep. 

sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/ryeharbour 

greatdixter.co.uk 

cpre.org.uk 

Sue Whigham can be contacted on 

07810 457948 for gardening advice 

and help in the sourcing and supply of 

interesting garden plants. 



Topiary Care 

Buxus or Box topiary has been used 

in English gardens for centuries to 

create form with timeless elegance. 

Recently, pests and fungal diseases in 

Box topiary and hedging have become 

more widespread, to avoid losing your 

topiary almost overnight there are 

some things to watch out for. 

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adverse effects to other wildlife. 

Box Blight is a fungal infection which will 

initially appear as dark spots on the leaf 

and streaks on the stems. The blight can 

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successfully treated with regular maintenance 

using both ground and leaf fertilisers, clearing 

dead leaves and sterilising your tools. 

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Education 

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We talk to schools about what goes on outside the classroom 

Marlborough House, Kent 

Mayfield School, East Sussex 

“Mayfield School has a tradition of developing academic 

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reflection, creativity and the freedom to learn from mistakes. 

While maths and science are among our most popular and 

successful subjects at A Level, we have a first-class reputation 

for creativity, and excel in the creative and performing arts. 

We strongly believe in the benefits of studying a broad 

range of subjects. The humanities afford an opportunity 

for students to develop their own considered opinions 

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amplifies the importance of studying languages; and 

the creative and performing arts have an extremely 

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Mayfield girls are encouraged to “give everything a go” so 

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“Life at Marlborough House School (MHS) extends well 

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in 1999 to open the new Sports Hall and revisit the 

cricket pitch where he scored his fir st century. 

Prep School pupils have the opportunity to join 

residential trips, this year includes a visit to France, a 

classics trip to Pompeii and skiing in Italy. The school 

also participates in national projects with Year 7s taking 

part in the Young Entrepreneur Scheme, which aims 

to inspire them to think big and shoot for the stars.” 

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Cranleigh Preparatory School, 

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CranleighSchoolS64.indd 1 28/01/2020 14:52 

118

FREWEN 

COLLEGE 

The Dyslexia School 

Since 1910 

Hurst College, West Sussex 

“At Hurst, we now use the term co-curricular rather than 

extra-curricular because we believe that these activities should 

form part of, and run alongside, the academic curriculum. 

We value what goes on outside of the classroom as much 

as what goes on inside, as skills that are learnt through cocurricular 

activities can be transferable to the classroom. 

Sport is compulsory throughout the week and our service 

afternoon is compulsory for students in Years 10 and 11. 

Dance, music and drama are compulsory for Year 9 students 

and have protected slots as part of the weekly timetable. 

Specialist sports during timetabled games sessions include 

archery, climbing, rowing, sailing and mountain-biking. 

We encourage our students to engage in as much of 

the co-curricular programme as possible – whether that 

is as a member of one of our dance companies or sports 

teams, performing in one of our drama productions 

or taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

We have highly qualified staff to deliver the activities and to 

bring out the best in each student – and some students discover 

talents they didn’t realise they had. For example, first team rugby 

players have also taken lead roles in our Dance Showcase. By the 

time students leave Hurst, the majority will have performed in 

a sports team, on a dance floor, on the stage, as well as having 

marched with the CCF and been involved with recycling or 

another environmental activity as part of the service afternoon. 

Education at Hurst is deliberately outward-looking. 

The range of activities provide many opportunities for our 

students to try new ventures, confront risks and learn from 

experience. The aim of our co-curricular programme is to 

equip our students with the skills and experience to make a 

success of their lives beyond Hurst. Respect, responsibility, 

resilience and reflection are learnt through the programme, 

and students also learn how to communicate with each other 

as part of a team and in leading a team. The various activities 

also help them to become accurate decision-makers, another 

important asset for later life. Benefits from the more physical 

activities help to improve students’ health, wellbeing and 

fitness levels in order to maintain a balanced lifestyle.” 

hppc.co.uk 

Prep 

School 

Senior 

• • 

School 

Sixth 

Form 

Frewen College is a leading Day and Boarding 

School for boys and girls aged 7-19 with Dyslexia 

and Dyspraxia. We are proud to be different: 

Frewen is the oldest specialist 

dyslexia school in the UK 

Best GCSE grades in 2019 and pupil 

progress for the 5th consecutive year 

All teachers have specialist 

dyslexia qualifications 

Assistive Technology is used 

throughout the school 

Winner of the BDA’s 

‘Best Dyslexia-Friendly School’ 2018 

OPEN MORNING 

Thursday 19th March 2020 

Email: office@frewencollege.co.uk 

Tel: 01797 252494 

Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex, TN31 6NL 

www.frewencollege.co.uk 


FrewenCollegeS65.indd 1 25/02/2020 16:05

We are Hurst 

At Hurst, we believe that by challenging our 

students every day, we can help them develop 

the skills and values they need to ensure their 

future is as bright as they are. 

We warmly invite you to visit us at our next 

Open Morning on Saturday 2 May 2020 

Book your place now www.hppc.co.uk 

• Truly co-educational school for pupils from 4-18 years 

• Day, flexi and weekly boarding 

• Extensive bus routes across Sussex, Surrey and Kent

Education 

Fresh Thinking 

Hilary Wilce looks at the impact of 

environment on learning outcomes 

March winds and April showers bring forth May 

flowers, the old rhyme tells us. But according 

to many teachers March winds bring forth 

something altogether less welcome – classrooms full of 

excited, wild-eyed children who find it hard to settle 

down and concentrate. “You’re definitely scraping them 

off the ceiling when it’s windy outside,” one teacher says. 

There’s actually little hard evidence for this, but since 

animals are known to respond to atmospheric pressure, 

and psychiatric hospitals report increased admissions 

ahead of storms and winds, it would be surprising if 

children didn’t react to the weather around them. 

And we know for a fact that hot summers take their 

toll. Students grow lethargic and irritable 

as temperatures rise, and they learn 

significantly less well. When researchers 

working for the US’s National Bureau 

of Economic Research matched the test 

scores of 10 million high school pupils 

with weather records they found that 

learning dropped on average by 1% for every one degree 

temperature rise the year before an exam. The effect 

was particularly noticeable for pupils in deprived areas 

where schools were less likely to be air-conditioned. 

In this country, new school buildings are adapted 

for heatwaves, but old ones are a nightmare for pupils 

and teachers. Teachers say they can just about get 

students through morning lessons but by the afternoon, 

everyone is dehydrated, overheated and headachy. And 

studies have shown that very hot weather affects us all, 

decreasing our ability to make decisions or cope with 

new information, as well as keeping us indoors and away 

from outdoor exercise – all things which impact directly 

on children’s ability to do their best in the classroom. 

Alas, cold weather is not much better. Classrooms 

have, by law, to reach 18 degrees Celsius to be 

usable and when schools fear that their buildings 

will be too cold or that school travel will be 

dangerous, they close. Bad winters can see multiple 

school closures, with added school absences for 

less well-off children who don’t have good warm 

clothes, or a parent’s car to get them to school. 

All of which means that the more extreme 

climate swings we are seeing now will bring new 

challenges for parents, teachers and children. 

Meanwhile, a recent study has added significantly 

“Noise directly 

impacts how 

well children 

learn to read” 

to the existing evidence that air pollution impacts 

children’s learning. When 18 schools in Los Angeles 

began to filter their air following a natural gas leak, 

researchers were astonished to see that test scores 

leapt up. The effect of air filters was, they estimated, 

the equivalent of students getting two and a half 

months of extra learning before taking their tests. 

Already many UK schools are trying to 

keep their air clean by planting screens of ivy 

around their playgrounds, and telling parents 

to turn off car engines at the school gate. 

But all sorts of environmental factors can affect school 

performance. Noise directly impacts how well children 

learn to read and acquire language – so 

pity the children whose schools are near 

major airports – while exposure to lead, 

mercury and other metals damages 

children’s brains and nervous systems. 

Of course, we’re so lucky here in 

The Weald where lots of schools enjoy 

quiet settings, where our many woods and hedgerows 

filter the air, and where most of us live very far away 

from the worst ravages of industrial pollution. 

But we still need to remember that children are 

not little human robots, easily programmed for test 

success. They are living, breathing human animals, 

affected by every aspect of their environment, 

whose ability to learn may sometimes be greatly 

challenged by the world around them. 


Jackie Sexton Diana Croft Renate Wilbraham 

- Stitch Art 

2020 Visions - Art in Perspective 

Alana Dunlevy 

Liz Holloway 

Barbara Liddle 

Stella Mance 

March 30th - April 5th, 2020 

at Denbies Gallery - Dorking 

10am - 5pm Monday to Saturday and 

10am - 4pm Sunday 

A stunning exhibition showing art from the perspective of 

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Denbies Wine Estate 

Free Entry, Parking, Gallery Restaurant and Shop 

London Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6AA 

www.denbies.co.uk 

Jill Bellamy 

(Paintings not to scale) 

Fancy a ride in a supercar? 

ShedArt 

www.shedart.org 

shedart@shedart.org 

M: 07851 741395 

Genevieve Brown 

Judy Staight 

ShedArtS65A.indd 1 10/02/2020 17:27 

Fancy a ride in a supercar? 

Friday, 24 and 

Saturday, 25 July 2020 

Friday, Goodwood 24 and Motor Circuit, 

Saturday, Chichester 25 PO18 July 2020 0PX 

Goodwood Motor Circuit, 

Chichester PO18 0PX 

Book now for 20% discount.* 

The Children’s Trust Supercar Event 2020 

Experience an adrenaline-fuelled ride around the world-famous 

Goodwood Motor Circuit in some of the world’s most incredible 

cars. Book tickets at: www.thesupercarevent.com 

*Booking fees fees apply. apply. Applies Applies to entrance to entrance tickets only. tickets Tickets only. must Tickets be booked must be booked 

by 31/12/19. T&Cs T&Cs apply.Charity apply.Charity registration registration no: 288018. no: 288018. TCT_658 11/19. TCT_658 11/19. 


122 

ChildrensTrustS56.indd 1 26/02/2020 WindsorEventsLtdS64.indd 10:35 

1 27/01/2020 10:23

ART 

Fri 13 Mar, (private view 

or ticket only) Sat 14 

Mar, & Sun 15 Mar 

Sandown Park Racecourse, 

Portsmouth Road, 

Esher KT10 9AJ 

Contemporary Arts Fair 

Coming back for its third year for a 

full weekend with over 160 curated 

artists, printmakers, photographers, 

sculptors and ceramicists from 

all over the UK and Europe. 

contemporaryartfairs.co.uk 

Fri 20 Mar 6-8.30pm, & Sat 

21 – Sun 22 Mar 10am-5pm 

Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry 

Road, Teddington TW11 9NN 

Contemporary 

Textile Fair 

Over 70 exhibitors show and 

sell quality handmade textiles, 

plus a special exhibition and 

talks by members of S.E.W. (the 

Society of Embroidered Work). 

Entry: £4 

landmarkartscentre.org 

30 Mar – 5 Apr (10am-5pm 

Monday to Saturday & 

10am-4pm on Sundays) 

Denbies Wine Estate, London 

Road, Dorking RH5 6AA 

2020 Visions – Art 

in Perspective 

A stunning exhibition showing 

art from the perspective of ten 

artists including Barbara Liddle, 

Diana Croft, Genevieve Brown, 

and Alana Dunlevy. Discover a 

diverse and inspiring collection 

of original and contemporary 

paintings including Stitch Art and 

prints. The art is affordable and 

there is something for everyone. 

Entry: Free 

07851 741395 / 

denbies.co.uk / shedart.org 

Children & Families 

Sat 28 Mar – Mon 13 

Apr 11am-4pm 

Claremont Landscape 

Gradens, Portsmouth 

Road, Esher, KT10 9JG 

Cadbury Easter 

egg hunt 

Join Claremont Landscape 

gardens for an Easter egg hunt 

and Tree trumps trail. 

Search for clues on their eight 

colourful egg-shaped boards 

hidden around the garden or 

explore Claremont far and wide 

with the whole family, collecting 

facts about the amazing trees. 

Entry: Normal admission plus 

£3.50 per hunt or £1 per trail 

nationaltrust.org.uk 

Mother’s Day 

Tue 27 Mar 7-9pm 

Mad Lilies, 84 High Street, 

Banstead SM7 2NN 

Flower arranging 

workshop 

An ideal opportunity for quality 

bonding time while getting creative 

and learning how to master making 

a perfect hand-tied bouquet. 

You will learn the technique of 

spiraling while working with 

stunning seasonal flowers. 

Entry: £120pp 

madliliesathome.co.uk 

Wellbeing 

Sun 29 Mar 10am-5pm 

Denbies Wine Estate, London 

Road, Dorking, RH5 6AA 

Mind, Body & Soul 

Surrey’s Premier Holistic MBS 

and wellbeing show. In Denbies’ 

beautiful vineyard in the Surrey 

Hills, around 60 experienced 

and gifted therapists, spiritual 

counsellors and retailers come 

together to share their wisdom, 

covering a wide range of subject 

areas and immersive experiences. 

Entry: £5.80 

eventbrite.co.uk / 

holisticandmystic.com 

Workshops 

Sun 15 Mar 10am-1.30pm 

Surrey Art School, Dean 

House Farm, Newdigate, 

Dorking RH5 5DL 

Tapestry Weaving with 

Susannah Bolton 

This weaving workshop is designed 

What’s On in March 

to teach beginners to work with 

stunning hand-made notched 

lap looms. Susannah Bolton will 

explain the anatomy of the looms 

before helping students to plan a 

small tapestry and start to weave 

either working from an image or 

completely freely. At the end of 

the workshop you will be taught 

how to remove it to leave your 

beautiful finished tapestry. 

Entry: £65pp 

surreyartschool.com 

Various dates throughout March 

Limpsfield Cookery School, 

The Old Printworks, High 

St, Limpsfield RH8 0DR 

Asian Cuisine 

Limpsfield Cookery School is spicing 

things up for March with a series 

of Asian cuisine courses including 

Indian Cuisine courses and an 

Indian Supper Club hosted by the 

fabulous Jaya Malani of Breech 

Lane Curry House. Pamela Chen 

will also lead several Asian Fusion 

classes and Vegetarian / Vegan chef 

and author, Jenny Chandler starts 

off the school’s vegan classes with 

More Plants on Plates. Renowned 

chefs Ollie Thompson and Andy 

Tyrell will be running masterclasses 

for meat and bread making. 

Entry: Courses from £85 (1/2 

day), supper club £65pp 


Look Forward: 

April 

Tue 7 Apr 

Sandown Park, Portsmouth 

Road Esher KT10 9AJ UK 

Tue 14 & Tue 28 Apr 

Kempton Park Racecourse, 

Staines Road East, 

Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5AQ 

Sunbury & Sandown 

Antiques Markets 

These two antique markets are go-to 

shopping destinations and sources 

of inspiration for celebrities and 

Kings. No really, they have been 

visited by Keira Knightly, Paloma 

Faith, the King of Thailand as well 

as film studios and many of Europe’s 

top design houses. A few times a 

month these markets gather up well 

over 800 quirky characters from 

across Europe to exhibit antiques, 

collectables, vintage, fashion and 

retro treasures in a sort of hibrid 

somewhere between your favourite 

Parisian flea market and a secret offthe-beaten 

track vintage store of your 

dreams. Somehow people still regard 

it as their own little find. Well sorry 

folks - we’re taking this one public. 

Entry: Free 

sunburyantiques.com 

Fri 3 Apr – Sat 31 Oct 

(Closed on Mondays, open 

for group appointments of 4+ 

on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 

open 11am-6pm Thursday to 

Saturday, open 12noon-5pm on 

Sundays, open 11am-6pm on 

Bank Holiday Monday) 

Hannah Peschar 

Sculpture Garden’s 

Annual Sculpture 

Exhibition 

April will see the Hannah Peschar 

Garden reopen, exhibiting around 

200 pieces by some 50+ artists 

in the magical environment of 

a garden designed by landscape 

architect Anthony Paul. This 

mind boggling garden is like a 

trip down the rabbit hole with 

its wonderful mix of sculptures 

Entry: Adults £12, concessions 

£8, Children (5-16) £7, 

by appointment £12 

hannahpescharsculpture.com 

Listings are correct at time of going 

to press but may be subject to change. 

Readers are advised to check with 

venues before making arrangements. 

We can list your event in the next 

issue of Surrey Homes for only 

£15+VAT! Please supply up to 200 

words that should include date, 

time, venue, and any entry price to 

whatson@surrey-homes.co.uk or send 

with payment (cheques payable to 

Priceless Media Ltd.) to What’s On, 

Surrey Homes, Kettle Chambers, 

21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent 

TN17 3HF. Surrey Homes reserves 

the right to edit text to fit space 

allocated. If you would like your 

event listing to be accompanied by 

a full colour reproduction (42.5 

x 62.5mm) of a poster or other 

pictorial image, the total charge 

will be £95+VAT. Deadline for the 

April issue is 10 March 2020. 


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Kempton Park 

Racecourse 

Staines Road East, Sunbury on 

Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ 

Sandown Antiques 

Home & Interiors Fair 

Sandown Park Racecourse 

Sandown Park, Portsmouth Rd, Esher, Surrey KT10 9AJ 

FREE ADMISSION AND FREE PARKING 

EVERY SECOND AND LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH 

2020 Market Dates: 

January Tuesday 14th Tuesday 28th 

February Tuesday 11th Tuesday 25th 

March Tuesday 10th Tuesday 31st 

April Tuesday 14th Tuesday 28th 

May Tuesday 12th Tuesday 26th 

June Tuesday 9th Tuesday 30th 

July Tuesday 14th Tuesday 28th 

August Tuesday 11th Tuesday 25th 

September Tuesday 8th Tuesday 29th 

October Tuesday 13th Tuesday 27th 

November Tuesday 10th Tuesday 24th 

December 

Tuesday 8th 

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“With London’s finest sourcing their interior 

pieces here, no matter what you’re looking for, 

somebody at Sunbury will be selling it” 

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S u e 

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A n 

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i q u e s 

Est. 

Free Admission 

Free 

Parking 

Open 6.30-2pm 

Over 700 Inside 

and Outside 

Stalls 

For Bookings and 

General Enquiries 


01932 230946 

enquiries@ 


Surrey Antiques Ltd, PO Box 155, Shepperton, TW17 9WE Company No. 10943281 

t: 01932 230946 e: enquiries@sunburyantiques.com www.sunburyantiques.com 

M a 

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2020 Market Dates: 

Open Tuesdays 7am - 1pm 

April 

October 

Open Sundays 10am-3pm 

February 

May 

July 

August 

November 

Tuesday 7 th 

Tuesday 6 th 

Sunday 16 th 

Sunday 31 st 

Sunday 19 th 

Sunday 30 th 

Sunday 29 th 

Offering Inside Stalls 

Inside Furniture Pitches 

and Outside Stalls 

Enquiries: 01932 230946 

S u n b u 

1 9 7 9 

r y 

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t e n d e n 

i q u e s 

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Est. 

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FREE 

VALUATION & 

APPRAISALS 

“Vintage Inspiration 

to adorn your home” 

Bookings & Enquiries: 01932 230946 Free Admission & Parking. 

01932 230946 enquiries@sunburyantiques.com www.sunburyantiques.com 

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SurreyAntiquesS65.indd 1 24/02/2020 16:23 

Contemporary 

Textilesfair 

2020 

70 exhibitors with quality handmade textiles 

21 & 22 March 

10am – 5pm 

Preview Evening 

20 March 6 – 8.30pm 

Admission £4, Concessions £3, U16s & LAC Members FREE 

www.landmarkartscentre.org 

contemporarytextilesfair 

Ferry Road, Teddington, TW11 9NN 020 8977 7558 landmarkarts 

Image: Brigitte Kaltenbacher Registered Charity No: 1047080 


124 

LandmarkArtsCentreS65.indd 1 03/02/2020 16:24

16 & 17th May 2020, Sandown Park, Surrey 

* Exhibition * Informative and Inspiring Talks 

* Demonstrations * Delicious Samplings 

* Interactive Workshops * One to One Advice Clinics 

Join us for a day of discovery at this new lifestyle event where those 

planning or enjoying their retirement will learn how to achieve their 

optimum lifestyle. 

Style, Beauty & Grooming 

Travel & Leisure 

Financial Services and 

Estate Planning 

Food & Drink 

Health, Fitness, Wellbeing 

& Nutrition 

Lifestyle Services 

Tickets - £10 per person Register to visit at www.lifeisforlivingshow.co.uk/register 

Charity Partner Travel Partner FOLLOW US 

Life Events Group Ltd www.lifeisforlivingshow.co.uk hello@lifeisforlivingshow.co.uk

Audi E-tron 55 

Arrange a test drive today. 

EPSOM AUDI 

Epsom Audi 

Part of the Drift Bridge Group - Family owned since 1936 

Reigate Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3LA 

01737 365365 

@DriftBridge 

/DriftBridgeGroup 

www.driftbridge.co.uk

Competition 

Win A ONE-DAY COOKERY COURSE 

FOR TWO AT the newly opened 

limpsfield cookery school 

The Limpsfield Cookery School 

opened its doors for the first time 

last month to offer budding chefs 

and home cooks an extensive range of 

courses from cake making and chocolate 

skills to Asian Fusion and Fish Cookery. 

The School was founded by Jacqueline 

Derbyshire, a self-confessed foodie, in 

response to discovering a lack of courses 

which could help her learn and improve 

her own cookery skills. “I found that there 

were either no courses available to help 

me learn, or those that were available were 

more geared to professional chefs and 

felt cold and unwelcoming.” She says. 

To create a warm and inviting 

atmosphere, Limpsfield’s courses are 

run from the School’s purpose-built 

farmhouse style kitchen, where guests 

will be educated in a fun and inclusive 

way. Whether you are looking to start 

out with kitchen basics, practise your 

baking, or planning to learn a whole new 

cuisine, there will be a course for you. 

All full day courses include lunch and 

Jacqueline and her team fully encourage 

everyone to use this time to have a chat 

about what they’ve learnt with their 

classmates and teacher. You will take 

home everything that you cook 

to wow your friends and family 

with your new-found skills! 

The Limpsfield Cookery 

School takes menu inspiration 

from the local surroundings and 

ensures that all food, wherever 

possible, is sourced from Surrey, 

with careful attention paid to 

minimising food miles and waste. 

For more information, and 

to see the range of courses 

available, call 01883 818383 or visit 


How to enter: 

For your chance to win just answer 

the following question: Who founded 

The Limpsfield Cookery School? Enter 

your answer with your contact details 

in the online form at surrey-homes.co.uk/ 

competition by 31 March 2020. There is 

no cash alternative and the prize must be 

taken by the end of 30 September 2020. 

You must be over the age of 18 to enter. 

Congratulations to Alison Moppett who 

wins our January competition for a Louise 

Deluxe Waxed Jacket from Welligogs. 


Jane Howard’s 

Fables from 

the Farm 

Jane gets set to welcome this year’s calves to 

the farm and clarifies the difference between 

grass-fed and intensively reared beef 

Excitement is rising at Coopers 

Farm. It’s nine months now since 

our new bull Captain Fantastic 

ran out with the cows and hopefully 

he’ll live up to his name and produce 

some suitably impressive calves. I’ve 

been shopping in anticipation of the 

patter of tiny hooves. Lubricant, ropes, 

iodine and some calf starter paste – 

effectively a tube of concentrated Red 

Bull – to help the ones exhausted 

by a tricky birth get up and get on 

with the business of surviving. 

It couldn’t be more important. New 

calves, like lambs and piglets, are 

delivered into a world that is far from 

hygienic – no clean sheets or sterilised 

bottles for them. Immunity comes 

from their mother’s colostrum – the 

first thick milk which is stuffed with 

antibodies – but the problem is they 

can only absorb it for the first six or 

seven hours of life. After that, the 

lining of their gut changes and they 

Captain Fantastic 

himself 

can no longer absorb the big antibody 

molecules. So in the first few hours 

they must consume at least two litres 

of colostrum and if they don’t, then 

the likelihood of them succumbing to 

infection in the weeks ahead is high. 

And it’s not just the calves that need 

to get going; the mother also has to 

be a willing partner. So imagine, it’s 

three in the morning you’ve pulled and 

tugged a healthy calf into the world 

and left it with mum to vigorously 

lick dry (it’s where the saying lick into 

shape comes from) and then push and 

nudge to encourage it 

to stand up and drink. 

Time for a cup of tea. 

It’s sooo annoying then 

to return back half an 

hour later to discover 

nothing has happened, 

the wet confused calf is 

still lying where it was 

born and the mother is 

nonchalantly munching 

hay with the other cows as though 

nothing much has happened. This is 

most common with heifers – first time 

mums – who are far from impressed 

by the effort of giving birth and see 

no good reason to pursue motherhood 

and its associated responsibilities 

any further, thank you very much. 

What then follows is an hour of 

making a slippery, wet, heavy (about 

40kg) calf stand up with its head by 

her udder. If you open its mouth 

and squirt milk from a teat down 

its throat, trying to avoid a faceful 

yourself, it gets the message and starts 

sucking. And then nature takes over 

and it doesn’t stop. In these situations, 

the only way to encourage mum’s 

“Immunity comes 

from their mother’s 

colostrum – the 

first thick milk 

which is stuffed 

with antibodies” 

participation is by bribing her with 

food. Give her a bucket of grub and 

you usually have about 10 minutes 

when she’s more interested in the 

bucket than kicking you away, to 

get the calf on and sucking. Phew. 

We usually calve the heifers first and 

then move on to the cows which is all 

round less eventful. Not surprisingly if 

you’ve already had six or seven calves, 

number eight is likely to pop out fairly 

quickly and you know exactly what the 

job description involves. Happy days. 

Except this year there are a few clouds 

on the horizon for all 

British beef farmers. 

I don’t think the beef 

industry has done a 

good job of explaining 

to you, the consumer, 

the difference between 

eating grass-fed beef 

living an outdoor life 

pretty much as nature 

intended, and eating 

intensively reared beef that is fed 

inside on a high protein diet – which 

pretty much describes all supermarket 

beef. It’s important we all eat less 

meat, but truth is a plate of grassfed 

locally produced steak and chips 

has far less environmental impact 

in terms of carbon footprint, water 

used and food miles travelled than an 

avocado (Mexico), tomato (polythene 

hothouse in Spain at this time of 

year) and mozzarella (Italy) salad 

washed down with an almond milk 

(California) latte. Food for thought. 

Follow Jane Howard – and the farm – on 

Instagram @coopersfarm 


128

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01428 714 014 

www.miscellanea.co.uk 

www.thesculpturepark.com 

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Jumps Road, Churt, Surrey 

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Surrey Homes | SH65 | March 2020 | Good Living supplement inside

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