The lifestyle magazine for Surrey - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
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
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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.
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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
surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.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
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Industry leading experts
We take care of the planning permission!
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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
surrey-homes.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
surrey-homes.co.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!
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FarninghamPineOakWT217.indd 1 19/02/2020 11:38
Cranleigh
Tiles & Bathrooms
Range of Tiles, Bathrooms and Showers from
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surrey-homes.co.uk
32
The House of
Magical Objects
Maggie Alderson takes a step
through the looking glass into
this Hastings writer’s home
33 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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
35 surrey-homes.co.uk
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surrey-homes.co.uk
36
WeyGalleryS64.indd 1 24/02/2020 09:54
Sally’s life in the theatre is as apparent in the
house as her writer’s imagination
37 surrey-homes.co.uk
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.
surrey-homes.co.uk
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
41 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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.
43 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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
45 surrey-homes.co.uk
L O N D O N
Tunbridge Wells . 79 Calverley Road . TN1 2UY . 01892 548111
Oxshott . 1 High Street . KT22 0JN . 01372 841730
Above: The Goldilocks bedding of red and white gingham is from Debenhams and the black Afghan
sequined bedspread is from Shop in Norman Road
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
47 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
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
from the teddy on his own chair, to a
snow dome containing a crow, a pair of
cornflower blue button boots and, on
the desk itself, bookends in the shape of
a little mermaid. All part of the fairy tale
setting, where magical stories are made.
Address Book:
Ben Southgate bsouthgate.co.uk
Graham & Green grahamandgreen.co.uk
Pappelina pappelina.com/en
51 surrey-homes.co.uk
visit www.krieder.com | for enquiries & brochures 01892 619721
Get the
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3 burgundy blooms bouquet, £95, Bridgman bridgman.co.uk 4 pink fluffy wall-mounted swan, £52.95, Melody
Maison melodymaison.co.uk 5 Rose wall mural, £295, Woodchip and Magnolia woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk
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featherandblack.com 8 polar bear side table, £135, The French Bedroom Co frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk
53 surrey-homes.co.uk
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55 surrey-homes.co.uk
WellersOfGuildfordS64.indd 1 13/01/2020 12:40
The Forever Home
When it came to renovating their dream house,
Andy and Ran turned to their friend and interior designer
Justine Hodgson-Barker to ensure they ended up with a
home fit to start the next chapter of their life
Words: Antonia Methuen
Photographs: David Merewether
Styling: Lucy Fleming
This page: What was once the garage space was further
opened up to create a spacious dining area
57 surrey-homes.co.uk
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Above: Justine restructured the interior, 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
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
took them to the East Sussex coast had actually started
thousands of miles and several continents away. Andy
had spent his formative years living in Australia and
Ran was born in Israel and grew up in South Africa.
However, it was the lure of dog ownership that finally
made the couple take the plunge, packing their bags and
leaving their south-east London home behind them.
Nestled on the edge of the South Downs, one look at
Andy and Ran’s 19th century cottage and you can see why
the couple jumped feet first into their new life. We are sitting
in their living room, the rest of their four-legged family are
firmly in place, dogs Dylan and Alfie are curled up on the
sofas beside us. “I grew up by the sea,” explains Andy. “I
missed it living in London and so it’s nice to be back.”
Indeed once Andy and Ran made the decision to leave
London, it took them only six weeks to find the house and
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
59 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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,
61 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
62
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TheFigTreeS65.indd 1 25/02/2020 VentersSolicitorsS56.indd 14:44
1 photography: 20/05/2019 17:17
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63 surrey-homes.co.uk
WellsandMaguireS65.indd 1 24/02/2020 14:32
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64
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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
65 surrey-homes.co.uk
“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.
surrey-homes.co.uk
66
Executive design
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CustomCarpetsS65b.indd 1 03/02/2020 15:26
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67 surrey-homes.co.uk
MorganStewartInteriorsS65.indd 1 24/02/2020 12:49
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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.
69 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
70
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surrey-homes.co.uk
72
SashWindowHeritageS35.indd 1 15/08/2017 NewlandsJoineryS601/4.indd 15:20
1 19/09/2019 16:36
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
and evergreen planting has created a vista from every
room at the back of the house. “I spend so much
time outside now, I am out there every day during
the summer which is having an amazing effect on
my mood – I always have a smile on my face. I
have no stress now, my life is completely calm.”
Designer Tina Vallis has created a masterpiece
73 surrey-homes.co.uk
UNIQUE
ASPIRATIONAL
LIGHTING
Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QJ
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Showroom open 9:00am - 5:30pm Monday - Saturday
of wide terraces that lead you from the house up
towards a summerhouse that is perched high above
the roofline of the house, overlooking the south
It’s not surprising that the garden will soon be
providing the backdrop to the couple’s latest great
production, their forthcoming summer wedding.
As Andy and Ran start the next chapter of their life,
getting married and offering a family home to children,
many of whom will not have experienced positive family
life before, one can only think how lucky they will be to
come to a space so full of love, calm and serenity, in the
heart of the Sussex coast. I for one, wish them all well.
Address Book:
For more information on Justine Hodgson-Barker
please visit barker-design.com
Antares antareswoodfloors.com
Granby Workshop granbyworkshop.co.uk
Industville industville.co.uk
Krieder krieder.com
Tina Vallis tinavallis.co.uk
Trainspotters trainspotters.co.uk
Turnstyle turnstyledesigns.com
Above: Evergreen planting schemes and wide terraces designed by Tina Vallis lead up towards the summerhouse
75 surrey-homes.co.uk
Established 1985
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77 surrey-homes.co.uk
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Fabulous 50+ fashion • Adventurous holidays • Exciting hobbies
Pop into COOK and discover a dazzling menu of no fuss,
award-winning meals. Every dish is prepared by hand
from carefully sourced ingredients, just like a good cook
would at home, so everything looks and tastes homemade.
There’s everything from canapés, quiches, curries and
cakes, to pavlovas, pies and some new recipes for April,
created especially for Easter get-togethers. Almost
everything cooks straight from frozen, meaning you can
spend more time in the sunshine and less in the kitchen.
Award-winning
meals and puddings
Easter entertaining
4
12
Contents
4 HOLIDAY DREAMS
From a railtrail in India to a golfing getaway
in Kent, find your dream holiday adventure
9 IT’S GOOD TO TALK
Anna Murdoch explains wills and
inheritance
11 FIT OVER 50!
Sarah Maxwell’s exercise advice for over 50s
12 YOU’RE SO CLASSIC
Timeless fashion picks from Rebecca Cuffe
15 COURSES & HOBBIES
Hobbies to begin at 50
19 THE EVOLUTION OF BEAUTY
Expert tips and tricks on how to update
your beauty routines
We are now fully launched and have lots coming up in MARCH
2020. The fabulous Jaya Malani of Breech Lane Curry House will
be running full and half day Indian Cuisine courses and an Indian
SUPPER CLUB, as well as MASTERCLASSES with Head Chef,
Ollie Thompson and former Head Chef of River Cottage, Andy
Tyrell.
1/2 day Beginners Bread Making with Jacqueline Derbyshire -
Thursday, 5 March
Asian Fusion Course with Pamela Chen - Fri, 6 March
Choux Patisserie with Lucie Bennett - Weds, 11 March
Indian Cuisine with Jaya Malani - Thurs, 12 March
1/2 Day Indian Cuisine with Jaya Malani - Fri, 13 March
Indian Cuisine SUPPER CLUB - Friday, 13 March
More Plants on Plates with Jenny Chandler - Weds, 18 March
Moorish Vegetables with Jenny Chandler - Thurs, 19 March
Meat Masterclass with Oliver Thompson - Fri, 20 March
Asian Fusion Course with Pamela Chen - Thurs, 26 March
Bread Masterclass with Andy Tyrell - Mon, 30 March
Classes are either half or full day, with a maximum of 8 students per
class. 01883 818383 www.thelimpsfieldcookeryschool.co.uk
23 RETIRE IN STYLE
Retirement gets glamorous
24 DREAMING OF A FRENCH ESCAPE?
We get clued up on buying
property in France
19
15
23
3 surrey-homes.co.uk
LimpsfieldCookeryS65.indd 1 26/02/2020 14:05
SH
Holiday
Good Living Supplement
Dreams
Relax, unwind and take in the sights with
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railtrail.co.uk 01538 382323
surrey-homes.co.uk
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QUALITY ESCORTED HOLIDAYS BY TRAIN
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Witness the colourful ‘lowering of the flags’
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6
SH Good Living Supplement
Island hopping with Simply
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Two in Barbados for 3 nights,
bed and breakfast. Take a flight
to Bequia, operated by SVG,
and transfer to the hotel
Stay at the Bequia Beach
Hotel, Bequia for 9 nights,
all inclusive. Transfer to Port
Elizabeth and take 'The
Friendship Rose Schooner' to
the ultimate castaway chic of
Palm Island in the Grenadines.
Grenadines
Stay at Palm Island for 8
nights, all inclusive. Take
a flight from Union Island
to Barbados, operated by
SVG for your international
flight back to the UK.
From £5,995 per person
Call 01732 810372
quoting MWT 920
simplycaribbeanholidays.co.uk
Barbados
Bequia
The Stables at The White House
with Kent and Sussex Cottages
Located in Eastry, near Sandwich,
Kent, just four miles from Royal St
George’s golf club where the 149th Open
Championship will be held this July,
is this stunning property which sleeps
4 guests in 2 luxurious bedrooms. Set
within private grounds and with access
to a heated pool, The Stables at The
White House is exclusively available for
The Open. Exceptionally decorated with
antique furniture, vintage radiators and a
wrought-iron spiral staircase this property
offers a truly unique self-catering stay.
Available between 10-20 July
at £6,040
Visit kentandsussexcottages.
co.uk/golf-open-2020
for more information and to book
surrey-homes.co.uk
From
generation to
generation
We look after your
wealth so you can
nurture your passions.
Call us to learn how we can help
build the future you want to see.
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.
SH Good Living Supplement
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
9 surrey-homes.co.uk
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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As we all grow older and gradually slow down, it’s likely a
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What equipment should I get?
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SH Good Living Supplement
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
11 surrey-homes.co.uk
SH Good Living Supplement
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
14
FentonsRinkWT163.indd 1 18/08/2015 16:33
SH Good Living Supplement
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
15 surrey-homes.co.uk
SH Good Living Supplement
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
HALE BOB
MAX ET MOI
J BRAND
VELVET
PATRIZIA PEPE
FTC CASHMERE
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
18
JockeyClubRacecoursesS65(Epsom).indd 1 18/02/2020 11:32
SH Good Living Supplement
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
19 surrey-homes.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
surrey-homes.co.uk
20
WrayCommonS64A.indd 1 28/01/2020 12:25
SH Good Living Supplement
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
21 surrey-homes.co.uk
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.
surrey-homes.co.uk
22
SH Good Living Supplement
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
23 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
•
and
No property
when you
ownership
want
• No responsibilities property ownership
•
responsibilities
Added security with our
• Added assured security ‘lifetime’ with tenancy our
•
assured
Rent your
‘lifetime’
home for
tenancy
• Rent as long your as home you wish for
•
as
No
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service
as you
charges
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or
• No event service fees charges or
•
event
Landlord
fees
is responsible
• Landlord for maintenance is responsible
for maintenance
Start
living Start your
retirement
living your
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to full! the
full!
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!
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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
surrey-homes.co.uk
GirlingsWT217.indd 1 05/02/2020 10:49
24
SH Good Living Supplement
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
✁
25 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
81 surrey-homes.co.uk
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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
85 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
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
87 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
88
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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
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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!’
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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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The same-day service includes:
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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.
93 surrey-homes.co.uk
Put your best
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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
95 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
Photographs: David Merewether
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
• 250g salted butter
• 150g caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• 400ml milk
For the buttercream:
• 50ml double cream
• 50g custard powder
• 1 vanilla pod
• 150g salted butter
• 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
surrey-homes.co.uk
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
103 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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
105 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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
hornbrookmanor.co.uk
or contact Jo on 01233 861149
Top: Leeks and celeriac Above left: Mixed salad Above right: Cabbage
107 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
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
109 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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
111 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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.
113 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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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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
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on some of the most important areas of life; globalisation
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the creative and performing arts have an extremely
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“Life at Marlborough House School (MHS) extends well
beyond the classroom, where extra-curricular activities
enrich children’s experiences, developing the skills
children will need to thrive as adults in the 21st century.
Clubs at Marlborough House, including
mindfulness colouring to entrepreneurship, offer a
wide range of extra-curricular activities for pupils
to get stuck in to. The old favourites of chess, arts
and crafts, and karate are complemented by new
clubs such as construction and music technology.
Speech and drama, ballet, tap, street dance and
nine music clubs (including rock band and samba),
complete the selection for the performing arts
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experiences of public speaking and performing
either solo or as a part of an ensemble.
Marlborough House School also provides a great array
of sports clubs all taught by the school’s professional
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shooting, tennis and cricket. On the topic of cricket,
MHS alumnus David Gower returned to the school
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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Cranleigh,
Surrey GU6 8QH
www.cranprep.org
OPEN MORNINGS
Saturday 2 May 2020
Wednesday 17 June 2020
Please contact Catherine Staples to book an appointment:
01483 542051 admissions@cranprep.org
surrey-homes.co.uk
B2494 CranPrep 130x185mmL 3.indd 1 23/01/2020 12:11
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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
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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
119 surrey-homes.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
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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.
121 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
ten different artists. Join us this spring at Denbies art gallery
and discover a diverse and inspiring collection of original
and contemporary paintings including stitch art and prints.
Affordable art and something for everyone. Free parking,
restaurant and farm shop - makes for an enjoyable day out.
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.
surrey-homes.co.uk
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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
thelimpsfieldcookeryschool.co.uk
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.
123 surrey-homes.co.uk
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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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Est.
Free Admission
Free
Parking
Open 6.30-2pm
Over 700 Inside
and Outside
Stalls
For Bookings and
General Enquiries
sunburyantiques.com
01932 230946
enquiries@
sunburyantiques.com
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
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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
surrey-homes.co.uk
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
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Style, Beauty & Grooming
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& Nutrition
Lifestyle Services
Tickets - £10 per person Register to visit at www.lifeisforlivingshow.co.uk/register
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Arrange a test drive today.
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Part of the Drift Bridge Group - Family owned since 1936
Reigate Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3LA
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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
thelimpsfieldcookeryschool.co.uk
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.
127 surrey-homes.co.uk
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
surrey-homes.co.uk
128
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GU10 2JA
01428 714 014
www.miscellanea.co.uk
www.thesculpturepark.com
Curator: 07831 500 506
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Jumps Road, Churt, Surrey
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