Taunton and South Somerset Living Apr - May 2020

Contents 

A Note 

from the editor 

Hello Spring – I’ve been waiting for your 

arrival like a lovelorn maiden, excitedly 

hopping out of bed to look out the window 

for signs of new life and sunny skies. I 

know that in recent years April weather has 

been…unpredictable, but nevertheless I’m 

hopeful and cheery. 

A Culinary Easter Journey bites through to take you 

38Perfect through Northern the Ireland whole weekend 

Avid readers might remember reading 

about my new year’s pledge in a past 

issue – to walk, run or cycle 5km every 

day of 2020. Not having a bike, or access 

to a stationary one continues to be slightly 

problematic, but apart from a particularly 

grim night during a storm (I can’t remember 

which given name, we’ve had so many of 

late), I’ve done it! I’m not sure yet if I’m fitter 

or slimmer, but I’ve really enjoyed carving 

little moments out of my usually hectic day 

to go for a head-clearing walk. It’s never 

too late to start! 

We catch up with 

James Martin 

IN THIS ISSUE... 

04 What’s On 

33 

As the weather gets warmer, we share 

our pick of the best family events over 

April and May 

12 Education Guide 

The Boarding School Association gives 

us their insights into the myriad of 

benefits of boarding 

33 James Martin 

We catch up with TV’s favourite chef 

ahead of his appearances at Pub in 

the Park 

38 Easter Eats 

Catering for big occasions needn’t be a 

hassle - we bring together some simple, 

delicious dishes for the weekend 

46 Renew, Refresh 

A guide to home renovation products 

both big and small, if you are feeling the 

itch for a change this spring 

65 Alan Titchmarsh 

We catch up with the nation’s favourite 

gardener on his perfect gardens and his 

love of writing poetry 

Spring Home 

Renovations 

46 

65 

We interview 

Alan Titchmarsh 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre Press Manager Kate O’Connell 

Contributors Rebecca Williams, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Angela Cave, Pete 

Lawrence, Lucy Saunders. Front cover courtesy of Clarance Court Eggs 

Key Account Manager 

Skye O’Hara-Street 

e skye@minervapublications.co.uk 

d/l 01225 613 518 

www.TauntonLiving.co.uk 

This issue we have really turned the focus 

on Easter, with cracking pressies and some 

egg-cellent recipes – hey, if you’re running 

five kilometres a day, you go ahead and 

enjoy that hot cross bun pudding! There’s 

also lots to look forward to in the calendar, 

with some of our favourite attractions 

opening again. 

Our chef this issue is James Martin, proud 

Yorkshireman and TV legend - we caught 

up with him ahead of his appearances at 

a raft of summer festivals and before the 

release of his new book. 

On the home front we’ve got a big feature 

on refreshing the home for spring, be that 

large-scale changes or little ideas to give 

you and your home a lift! 

We will see you again in June - when we 

will be in full summer mode! 

Katie 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

County Gate, County Way, 

Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 7FJ 

t 01225 308128 

w www.minervapublications.co.uk 

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an 

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and 

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the 

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers. 

3

Barrington Court 

Barrington, Ilminster TA19 0NQ 

01460 241938 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court 

Saturday 4 - Sunday 19 April 

Spring Time Nature Discovery Trail 

Go along and take part in a family nature 

trail to find out about all the exciting things 

happening at Barrington in the spring. 

As spring time emerges, discover what’s 

happening to the plants, animals and 

creatures that live at Barrington and why 

some of them are so special. 

Friday 10 - Monday 13 April 

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 

Go along and have great fun in the fresh air 

with this year’s Cadbury Easter egg hunt. 

Follow the tracks and trails around the 

grounds and identify the creatures that 

made them. If you are successful it will lead 

you to a delicious chocolate prize! 

Tuesday 26 - Thursday 28 May 

Wildlife Days 

Three days dedicated to everything in the 

natural world. 

Go along and discover lots of exhibits and 

hands-on activities with our friends from 

other wildlife activities. Get up close and 

learn about bugs, bees, moths, butterflies, 

pondlife, birdlife and more. 

Friday 29 May, 11am & 3.30pm 

Half Term Falconry Day 

The falconry day offers you the chance 

to see the birds up close on their static 

displays and chat to their expert handlers 

between flying displays, with the south 

lawn and surrounding parkland as a 

stunning backdrop. Please note display 

timings approximate. 

East Somerset Railway 

Cranmore, Shepton Mallet BA4 4QP 

01749 880417 

www.eastsomersetrailway.com 


Easter Fun! 

In an age of computers and apps, go and 

spend Easter with your family and the 

friendly staff, to experience steam in all its 

whistling glory. There will be an Easter Egg 

trail around the station - as well as other 

children’s activities. 

Wednesday 15 April 

Peter Rabbit 

Peter Rabbit will make guest appearances 

on the platform various times during the 

day. Don’t forget your camera! 

There will also be a Peter Rabbit Trail and 

quiz as well as Punch and Judy to entertain 

you when Peter takes a rest! 

Monday 25 May 

Paddington Bear 

Paddington Bear will make guest 

appearances on the platform at various 

times! 

There will also be a Paddington trail and 

Punch and Judy to entertain. 

Northernhay Gardens 

and Exeter Castle 

Nr High Street, Exeter EX4 3PU 

01392 278801 

www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk 

Friday 8 - Sunday 10 May 

Exeter Festival of South West Food 

& Drink 2020 

The festival returns over 3 days from Friday 

8th to Sunday 10th May 2020, with 2 music 

nights on the Friday and Saturday. 

Supported by Visit Exeter, the foodie 

and music lovers spectacular weekend 

celebrates the start of spring with live 

music, chef demonstrations, artisan 

produce, real ales and cider, family-friendly 

workshops, kids cookery classes, health 

and nutrition sessions and a chance to 

meet the dedicated producers behind the 

products. 

Exeter Northcott 

Theatre 

Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QB 

01392 726363 

www.exeternorthcott.co.uk 

Wednesday 8 - Saturday 11 April 

My Fair Lady 

Exeter Musical Society present the classic 

musical, My Fair Lady, originally performed 

on the Broadway stage in 1956. 

The show is full of classic show tunes, 

including I could have danced all night, Get 

me to the church on time and On the street 

where you live. 

Saturday 18 April 

David Baddiel - Trolls - 

Not The Dolls 

David has stories to tell, of the dark, terrible 

and hysterically absurd cyber-paths that 

interacting with trolls has led him down. 

Come with him on this comedy journey 

into our culture’s most dank virtual 

underground. You will come back safe, 

more able to deflect your own trolls, and 

only a little bit soiled. 

Tuesday 28 April 

Spontaneous Potter 

The smash hit Spontaneous Potter is an 

entirely improvised Harry Potter comedy 

play, based on an audience suggestion 

of a fanfiction title. Hilarity ensues as an 

EVENTS GUIDE 

entirely new Potter adventure is magically 

improvised on the spot with live musical 

accompaniment! 

Monday 4 - Saturday 9 May 

A Bunch of Amateurs 

The Everyman Theatre Company is proud 

to present Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s 

hilarious comedy A Bunch of Amateurs. 

Keen to boost his flagging career, fading 

Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele 

arrives in England to play King Lear in 

Stratford only to find that this is not the 

birthplace of Shakespeare, but a sleepy 

Suffolk village. And instead of starring 

alongside Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi 

Dench, the cast are a bunch of amateurs 

trying to save their theatre from ruthless 

developers. 

Sunday 24 May 

Ellie Taylor - Don’t Got This 

Fresh from her debut Netflix stand-up 

special, the star of The Mash Report, Live 

at the Apollo and QI is back with a brandnew 

show. 

Join Ellie as she bangs on about life, love 

and what will happen if one more person 

tells her “you got this”. 

Wednesday 27 - Thursday 28 May 

English Touring Opera presents - 

Cosi fan Tutte 

Mozart’s combination of glorious music 

and farcical comedy make Cosi fan Tutte 

an enduring favourite, a story of young love 

and fidelity. It is in many ways Mozart’s 

most perfect opera. 

Forde Abbey 

Chard TA20 4LU 

01460 221290 

www.fordeabbey.co.uk 


An Expialidocious Easter Trail! 

With a spoonful of magic and a cast 

list of characters straight from the 

pages of Mary Poppins, get ready for a 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious adventure 

this Easter. 

In best 17 Cherry Tree Lane spit spot 

fashion, they’ll be ‘Um-dittle-ittle-umdittle-I’ing” 

through the adventures of a 

childhood classic with one of Britain’s bestloved 

nannies. In the most delightful way 

of course. 

Saturday 18 April - Sunday 10 May 

A Spring Tapestry 

It is the burst of colour after the minimalism 

of the Winter landscape, a flamboyant 

sashay during the months of April and May. 

Joshua Sparkes, head gardener at Forde 

Abbey, will be shifting the focus from 

continued 

Spring is finally here - check out what is 

happening in the area and enjoy! 

4

massed tulips in Spring to creating a 

tapestry of different flowers “ We have 

to be more clever with our planting, 

encouraging the tulips to have more of a 

perennial nature.” 

Thursday 14 May 

Forde Abbey Concerts - 

The Endellion Quartet 

Founded in 1979 the Endelllion Quartet has 

become known as one of the world’s great 

quartets. In celebration of Beethoven’s 

250th Anniversary, their programme will 

start with the most radiant of the late 

quartet, Op. 127 in E flat major. Their 

second half will be another of the greatest 

works in the literature, Mozart’s G minor 

viola quintet, for which they will be joined 

by Douglas Paterson. 

6 

Haynes International 

Motor Museum 

Sparkford, Yeovil BA22 7LH 

019634 40804 

www.haynesmotormuseum.com 


Designing Cars - Family Event 

This Easter school holidays, get inspired 

and design the car of the future! 

Calling all budding artists and designers, 

this Easter school break join a visiting local 

artist to create your own car design of the 

future. 

Friday 8 - Monday 11 May 

Somerset Day & VE Day 

Anniversary Weekend 

Haynes International Motor Museum 

invites you to join in with a celebratory 

long weekend event that highlights both 

Somerset Day and the 75th anniversary of 

VE Day. 

Saturday 23 - Sunday 31 May 

Half Term - Get Closer 

This special event is for all ages, giving 

visitors the opportunity to lift the Museum 

rope on selected vehicles and explore 

inside and under the bonnet with 

experienced members of the Museum 

team. 

Hestercombe Gardens 

Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton TA2 8LG 

01823 413923 

www.hestercombe.com 


Easter Trail - 

Coplestone and the Grand Tour 

Paris! Venice! Switzerland! Greece! Visit 

stop-offs inspired by locations visited by 

Georgians on their European ‘Grand Tour’. 

Try to find Coplestone in a Where’s Wallystyle 

challenge. 

Wednesday 15 April 

Guided Bluebell Walk 

Join a guided bluebell walk into the 

stunning Bluebell Wood at Hestercombe 

with gardener Ben. Learn about the 

different varieties, how they grow, and how 

the area is managed. 

Saturday 25 April, 10am - 4pm 

Plant Fair at Hestercombe 

This is a brilliant opportunity to meet local 

growers and pick up some blooms for your 

garden and home. 

Simon and Thelma at play 

There will be specialist nurseries selling 

herbs, perennials and roses, rare and 

interesting plants as well as well as metal 

and willow plant supports. 

Saturday 23 May 

May Half Term - Young visitors will be 

given a piece of drawing charcoal and 

challenged to create charcoal rubbings 

from hidden plaques dotted around 

Hestercombe’s gardens. 

The charcoal used on the trail will be 

sourced from their very own charcoal 

burner which sometimes burns at the 

Charcoal Burner’s Camp high up in the 

gardens. 

Monkey World Ape 

Rescue Centre 

Longthorns, Nr Wareham BH20 6HH 

01929 462537 

www.monkeyworld.org/events 

Saturday 4 April- Sunday 19 April 

Go EAST for Easter! 

Help us put gibbons back into the wild 

in Vietnam! Visit Monkey World and take 

part in our fundraising games, activities 

and trails all to raise funds for EAST (the 

Endangered Asian Species Trust). 

Friday 10 April – Monday 13 April 

Easter Eggs-travaganza! 

Free chocolate Easter Egg for the first 100 

children into the park every day from Good 

Friday to Easter Monday! 

Friday 8 May - Sunday 10 May 

Go NUTS at Monkey World! 

Every child who brings an unopened bag 

of nuts for the primates receives a free 

Monkey World badge over the bank holiday 

weekend. 

Saturday 16 May 

Autism Friendly Day 

Monkey World opens an hour early at 9am, 

exclusively for visitors with autism and their 

families. Sensory trails, a calm room, and 

drop-In room for support all ensure that 

Monkey World is a great day out - for all. 

Ilminster Arts Centre 

35 East Street, Ilminster TA19 0AN 

01460 55783 

www.themeetinghouse.org.uk 

Friday 10 April, 8pm 

Jazz - Gabrielle Ducomble with her 

Quintet 

Gabrielle was the winner of the French TV 

“Pop Idol” series in 2003. Now resident 

in London, she has since developed as a 

highly acclaimed and much sought after 

jazz singer playing gigs widely across the 

UK and Europe. 

Friday 17 April, 8pm 

Tribute - Beatles with Wings 

This is a tribute band led by sax player 

Howie Casey, who toured and recorded 

with Paul McCartney and Wings for 

ten years. ‘Beatles with Wings’ play 

music typified by the “Sergeant Pepper” 

album and the “Wings” album “Band 

on the Run”, with the band expanded 

to ten players and a much wider mix of 

instrumentation than heard on the original 

Beatles hits. 

Friday 22 May, 7.30pm 

Flying Folk 

A Jim Reynolds performance is always a 

rare delight, his repertoire consisting, for the 

most part, of his own material. Songs about 

his experiences and inspired instrumental 

pieces, interwoven with classic blues and 

ragtime and the odd old romantic ballad. 

Octagon Theatre 

Hendford, Yeovil BA20 1UX 

01935 422884 

www.octagon-theatre.co.uk 

Monday 6 - Thursday 9 April 

Dad’s Army - Project Play 

The classic BBC TV comedy series of 

the Home Guard of Walmington-on-Sea 

who battle daily against the Germans and 

local ARP Warden Hodges, comes to the 

stage complete with all the well-loved 

characters “stupid boy” Pike, “Don’t panic, 

don’t panic” Jonesey, “Doomed, we’re all 

continued

T H E B I S H O P ' S P A L A C E & G A R D E N S 

Tickets: 

£15 Adult 

£10 Child 

Palace Pageant 

1st & 2nd May 2020 

6:30pm 

800 years of history 

in one evening! 

Take 

THAT! 

With dreadful dragons, barmy bishops, ruthless rulers and terrible 

tales; expect music, magic, mystery, movement, madness and 

mayhem! 

Performed in the open air www.bishopspalace.org.uk 

7

doomed!” Fraser, “May I be excused, sir?” 

Godfrey, and all under the command of 

the redoutable Captain Mainwaring and his 

effacing deputy Sergeant Wilson. 


Legend - The Music of Bob Marley 

When you think Reggae, there is only one 

name that comes to your mind the legend 

that was Bob Marley. 

Legend, the music of Bob Marley is an 

unforgettable evening celebrating this 

musical icon in one fantastic stage show 

extravaganza. 

Sunday 26 April 

Yeovilton Military Wives Choir In 

Concert 

The popularity of the Yeovilton Military 

Wives Choir goes before them as they 

continue to grow in numbers and popularity 

since their formation which was made 

famous through the widely televised work 

of Gareth Malone. 

Friday 1 May 

Remembering The Oscars 

Remembering The Oscars will celebrate 

the iconic award-winning songs and 

films through a dance spectacular led 

by Strictly’s Janette Manrara and Aljaz 

Skorjanec, who married in July 2017. 

The production promises to range across 

a number of acclaimed films, from Disney 

favourites to the Golden Ages of Hollywood 

and beyond. 

Wednesday 13 May 

BBC Big Band The Music of James 

Bond....And Beyond 

The internationally acclaimed BBC Big 

Band are joined by special guest vocalists 

to celebrate the music of the world’s most 

iconic movie franchise, James Bond. 

The concert features classic numbers 

including Diamonds are Forever, 

Thunderball, We Have All The Time In The 

World, View to James Bond Theme. 

Sunday 17 May 

Sense and Sensibility 

Set to a glorious score, true to the era, this 

ballet holds the essence of a true period 

drama combing heart wrenching pas de 

deux and stunning classical ballet. . 

Thursday 28 - Saturday 30 May 

School Of Rock - 

Castaway Theatre Group 

School of Rock is a modern rock musical 

with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The 

story follows failed rock musician Dewey 

Finn, as he poses as a substitute teacher 

at a posh school. Soon getting bored of 

teaching he transforms his classroom into 

a fun filled rock loving environment by 

creating his very own rock band! 

Powderham Castle 

Kenton, Exeter EX6 8JQ 

01626 890243 

www.powderham.co.uk 

Friday 24 April 

Music in the Castle - Wells 

Cathedral School Brass Quintet 

This concert will feature the most senior 

and finest young musicians currently 

studying on the government specialist 

music scheme at Wells Cathedral School. 

This is a unique chance to hear these 

remarkable and highly gifted young 

musicians, before they embark on their 

professional music careers. 


Muddy Dog Challenge 2020 

The Muddy Dog Challenge 2020 is a 

2.5km or 5km obstacle run that you can 

tackle with your dog! 

Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or just 

looking for a fun day out, humans and 

their dogs are welcome to take part and 

raise money to help care for the dogs and 

cats at Battersea. 

Friday 1 May - Saturday 2 May 

Toby’s Garden Festival 2020 

Toby’s Garden Festival is a joint 

collaboration by gardening broadcaster 

Toby Buckland and the popular magazine 

Country Gardener. 

The main focus is to bring together the 

best nurseries from the West Country 

and beyond - including many well-known 

Chelsea medal winners and host two 

days of quality gardening talks on a wide 

range of horticultural topics all free to 

visitors. 

Monday 25 - Friday 29 May 

Wonderland Week 

Fall down the rabbit hole this May halfterm 

at Powderham... 

Keep an eye on your Pocketwatch and 

don’t be late to the topsy-turvy tea party 

as Alice takes a trip down the rabbit 

hole to meet the kooky characters in 

Wonderland! 

For a week of exciting interactive theatre 

with the incredible Pocketwatch Theatre 

company as they return for mischief and 

mayhem throughout May half-term, with 

face-painting, themed trails and more! 

eat:Festivals 

These festivals are a social enterprise 

focused on reconnecting people with 

the productive landscape that surrounds 

them. Local food and drink producers 

will be focuased at busy, one day food 

and drink festivals in town centres across 

Somerset. 

eat:Castle Cary 

2 May, 10am - 4pm 

Somerset’s prettiest market town, Castle 

Cary is a small town with a big heart. It 

has a regular Tuesday market and thriving 

vintage event once a month. The new 

festival is timed to coincide with the early 

May bank holiday! 

We will have around 70 producers from 

within 30 miles of the town, with a laid 

back soundtrack and entertainment all 

day. In the Market House will be the Cook 

School, followed by a Kitchen Gardener’s 

Question Time at 4pm. BBQ celebrity 

Ben Forte will be demoing outdoor 

cooking all day on Barclay’s corner. Look 

out for Mr Punch on a quest to maintain 

control of the sausages. 

eat:Taunton 


Last year the event took place on 

Hammet Street and St Mary Magdalene 

Church and will again this year. 

Somerset’s county town Taunton is 

a busy town with a strong tradition of 

markets. This event is timed to coincide 

with Somerset Day #lovesomerset. there 

will be street entertainment on the lawns 

surrounding the site. There will be some 

90 producers at the event and the church 

will host the Cook School and new 

shopping crèche. 

eat:Burnham 


This is where it all began. It is held twice 

a year in the cheery seaside town of 

Burnham-on-Sea. Five streets and four 

indoor venues are used to host the event. 

Expect street entertainment and buskers 

dotted throughout the site. The Cook 

School is in the Methodist Church and 

the screen printing workshops are in the 

Baptist Church. 

The May festival you can look forward to 

the Love Your Local Market campaign 

joining in for the 7th time. 

eat:Wellington 

5 September, 10am - 4pm 

It is held in the heart of this pretty market 

town at the foot of the Blackdown Hills. 

The event takes place in the main streets 

- the festival includes a Cook School, 

screen printing workshops and lots of 

free entertainment. Look out for some 90 

traders. 

Toby’s Garden Festival will take place at Powderham once again this May 

We take great care in compiling the 

listings, however, we recommend that 

you contact the venue in advance as 

events and activities can be subject to 

change. 

8

Social icon 

Circle 

Only use blue and/or white. 

For more details check out our 

Brand Guidelines. 

TAUNTON, SOMERSET 

TOR THEATRE 

SUN 3 MAY, 2:30PM 

HOT ROCK PRODUCTIONS 

SAT 23 MAY, 2PM & 6PM 

CRIMES, CAMERA, ACTION 

NEW OLD FRIENDS 

SAT 30 MAY, 7:30PM 

SUN 31 MAY, 2:30PM & 7:30PM 

Satisfied souls 

made at Killerton 

Take in the views of the parkland or 

find a moment of calm in the garden. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton 

SAT 27 JUN, 7:30PM 

01823 414141 | tacchi-morris.com 

© National Trust 2020. Registered Charity no. 205846. 

Photography © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey. 

9

Dean's Hot Wings and Tagine 

sure to be a hit at Royal 

Bath & West Show 

With The Royal Bath & West Show 

taking place at the end of May, there is 

growing excitement amongst foodies 

about ‘The Great British Kitchen’ 

attraction... 

Saturday 

30th May 

Its fully functional demonstration kitchen will be put to good use 

during the show by three celebrity chefs, one of whom is Dean 

Edwards. 

Dean came second in BBC’s MasterChef Goes Large in 2006, 

and became a household name cooking family-friendly recipes 

on ITV’s This Morning and Lorraine. He’s also been featured on 

shows including Good Morning Britain, MasterChef, Take on the 

Takeaway, Market Kitchen, QVC, Saturday Cookbook and The 

Big Eat; has written three cookbooks; and regularly features in 

the food pages of national publications. He also has his own 

YouTube channel, Dean Edwards Proper Food. 

Bristol-born Dean’s ethos on food is that it should be achievable, 

simple and above all taste fantastic. He takes inspiration from 

across the globe but always uses ingredients familiar to us all, 

and the recipes 

he creates at The 

Royal Bath & West 

Show will, where possible, use items which can be purchased 

from its Artisan Food Tent. Dean will be at the Show on the final 

day (Saturday 30th May), where he will be creating Hot Wings 

and Mac and cheese; and Tagine and Gnocchi. Our mouths are 

watering just thinking about it! 

The other celebrity chefs are Briony May Williams, who will be 

attending on Thursday 28th May, and Josh Eggleton, who will be 

there on Friday 29th May. 

Tickets are on sale now 

www.bathandwest.com/tickets 

11

Boarding schools offer unrivalled 

opportunities for learning 

State and independent schools understand 

that a good education is a powerful tool 

and all educators need to encourage a 

passion for learning. We all undertake to 

join the dots together to give our pupils the 

best chance but if all schools are ultimately 

striving for the same outcome, does a full 

boarding school environment have the 

edge? 

Boarding schools have time to prepare a 

young mind, academically and pastorally. 

Longer days and weekends provide the 

opportunity for a whole host of extra 

experiences and support, leading to a wellrounded 

individual. 

Encouragement and facilitation begin in 

the House environment. At Sherborne 

the first wave of support comes from the 

House Team led by the Housemaster. 

Tutors have time with their tutees 

discussing academic progress and pastoral 

concerns, each week. This regular contact 

and rounded view of each boy builds a 

strong relationship to ensure all pupils are 

motivated and engaged. 

Matrons play an integral part within 

boarding schools. Any misconceptions 

by Sherborne boys that matrons will tidy 

their rooms are quickly dispelled and 

self-sufficiency, an important life skill, is 

developed! Our matrons are held close 

to the hearts of the boys and it is a very 

special relationship where these key 

stalwarts of the School have the medical, 

emotional and organisational needs of the 

boys at the forefront of their minds. 

Academic progress is important. The nature 

of full boarding brings a longer school day 

and departments are open beyond the 

working day. Boys can access support but 

there are also opportunities for enrichment 

with boarding schools offering an unrivalled 

range of co-curricular clubs supplementing 

the more traditional activities. Maybe full 

boarding offers ‘an educational experience 

with no limits’. 

The most recent example at Sherborne 

is a Calligraphy club run by new Head of 

Computer Science Dr Wild alongside some 

popular long-standing clubs including Fives, 

Fly Fishing, Sailing and Debating! Boys also 

enjoy a close relationship with Sherborne 

Girls with whom joint activities, subjects and 

social opportunities are well established. 

Boarding schools offer the chance to 

separate home life in the boarding house 

from study time. Our newly refurbished 

School Library offers a wonderful setting 

and with notable alumni including Alan 

Turing, Hugh Bonneville, Chris Martin and 

Jeremy Irons there is a distinct sense of 

purpose at the School. The friendly team of 

library staff is on hand to help with research 

and study skills and boys (and staff) are 

often found having a little bit of quiet time. 

Integral values at Sherborne encourage 

boys to be respectful, confident, 

passionate, independent and curious, while 

PSHE and School Assemblies promote 

a culture of kindness and compassion. 

Mentors, predominately Sixth Form, offer 

an alternative listening service or extra 

academic support. This in turn strengthens 

the community in House and takes the 

‘Sherborne Spirit’ into life beyond the 

School. 

So do boarding schools have the edge over 

their day counterparts? Well, all schools 

work incredibly hard to support their pupils 

academically and pastorally, teachers 

are passionate about their subjects 

and institutions aspire to prepare pupils 

effectively for ‘the world beyond’. 

We believe full boarding at Sherborne 

works, providing an outstanding 

educational experience for our boys. And 

we hope that when boys leave Sherborne, 

they go into the world with a determination 

to do something remarkable with their 

lives… and most of them do just that! It’s 

not always plain sailing, but our community 

has time on its side which is the benefit of 

full boarding. 

By Vicky Clayton, Head of Learning 

Development, Sherborne School 

Sherborne School is an independent 

boarding school for boys aged 13-18 and 

is a full member of the Boarding Schools’ 

Association. Visit www.sherborne.org 

The Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) 

is the voice of UK independent boarding 

schools. For additional information on 

the BSA please log onto www.boarding. 

org.uk where you can also view a list of 

all boarding schools in the UK. 

14

millfield 

school 

Millfield Easter Revision 

Courses offer extra exam prep 

for students... 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

The Millfield Easter Revision Course helps students to prepare for 

examinations at GCSE and A Level, with time divided between 

formal teaching and examination technique. 

Students can choose up to three subjects to study on the 

course, each consisting of 11 hours, with 12 IGCSE and GCSE 

subjects including Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, French, 

Geography, German and Physics. 

A level students have the opportunity to choose from over 14 

subjects from Years 1 and 2, with courses including Economics, 

English Literature, Politics, Media Studies and Physical 

Education. There are also three options for Pre-U History, 

covering Early Modern Europe, 19th Century British and Nazi 

Germany. It is also possible to offer a reduced programme of one 

or two subjects. 

The course is offered on both a residential and a non-residential 

basis, with accommodation provided in single-sex boarding 

houses. The course fees include dinner and supper for nonresidential 

students and full board for residential students, 

housed in Millfield’s recently refurbished Dining Hall. Catering 

options include vegetarian and vegan choices, freshly baked 

bread and salad bar. 

The course runs from Monday 30th March to Friday 3rd April 

2020. 

Millfield Enterprises also run English Language Holiday Courses 

in the Easter and summer holidays, which provide international 

students with an opportunity to develop their English language 

skills alongside a selection of creative and sporting academies, 

excursions and vibrant social programme. 

Contact enterprises@millfieldschool.com for more 

information. 

15


TAUNTON SCHOOL 

-WHAT SETS IT APART? 

Taunton School has outstanding 

results, state-of-the-art facilities and 

a beautiful 56-acre campus, but that 

really is a given when you send your 

child to an independent school... 

So what sets it apart? As a non-selective 

school for students aged 3 months to 

18 years, there is a clear focus on the 

wellbeing of every child. Taunton School 

has been recognised nationally for its 

approach to mental health in the TES 

Education Awards. All teachers are aware 

that, for children to achieve academically, 

their physical, social and emotional needs 

must be met. Self-development is high 

on the school’s agenda, and parents 

say “There’s never been a day when my 

children have not wanted to go to school” 

and “It’s an inclusive sort of place… 

you’d struggle not to fit in”. 

What’s more, Taunton School takes 

it environmental responsibility very 

seriously. From the success of ‘Zero 

to Landfill’ introduction two years ago, 

where all waste produced by the school 

is recycled - the first school in Somerset 

to do this - Taunton School continue in 

their ambition to be a truly ‘green’ school. 

A revolutionary environmentally-friendly 

cleaning product is used across the 

campus using technology which allows 

the oxygen in ordinary tap water to be 

safely and temporarily converted into a 

non-chemical powerful cleaner. There 

are various ‘Eco-Clubs’ run by students, 

who are supported to implement their 

own environmental projects such as 

beekeeping and tree-planting. 

Headmaster Lee Glaser says “Being a 

responsible and caring member of our 

wider community is a key element of our 

school values. We educate children to 

embrace a global outlook, and doing our 

bit to safeguard the planet for their future 

is something we take seriously.” 

“We educate children to embrace a 

global outlook, and doing our bit to 

safeguard the planet for their future is 

something we take seriously.” 

Taunton School is also more accessible 

than you might think. There is an evergrowing 

transport network with a fleet of 

coaches, minibuses and cars to transport 

day pupils to and from school covering 

a very large area of the south west. A 

number of Scholarships are available and 

many are considered for Assisted Places, 

which are means-tested awards for 

financial assistance. 

The Good Schools Guide said: 

“…despite its strong work ethic and drive 

to succeed, Taunton is a very friendly and 

relaxed place to live and work… Taunton 

[School] has got the balance exactly 

right”. 

Find out more at our open mornings or 

contact us for a personal visit. We’re 

excited to meet you. 

tauntonschool.co.uk 

16


OPEN 

MORNINGS 

Junior, Pre-Prep & Nursery (3 mths -11 yrs) 

Friday 1st May • 9.30am -12noon 

Senior and Sixth Form (11-18 yrs) 

Saturday 2nd May • 9.30am -12noon 

Scholarships available at 11+, 13+, 16+ 

If you are unable to attend, 

contact us to book a personal visit 

01823 340830 

admissions@queenscollege.org.uk 

www.queenscollege.org.uk 

Student transport from across Somerset 

Queen’s College • Trull Road • Taunton • Somerset • TA1 4QS 

Methodist Independent Schools Trust • Registered Charity No. 1142794 

QUEEN'S College 

We live in a rapidly changing world and, 

as educationalists, we are attempting to 

prepare young people for a future we do 

not recognise... 

As such, it is essential we respond to the latest educational 

research as well as listening to feedback from our school 

community. 

The result of doing this at Queen’s led to a raft of changes 

from September to improve our timetable, co-curricular 

offering and pastoral system. 

The first area we looked at was the timetable – 40-minute 

lessons are considered too short, 80-minute lessons too 

long, while research shows that one-hour lessons are “ideal”. 

We also felt there were a series of issues to address 

regarding our Co-Curricular Programme – not least of which 

that it was under-utilised by some students. 

We decided to reduce the length of the lunch period, which 

enabled us to insert two co-curricular periods at the end 

of each day with opportunities ranging from Engineering 

(pictured) to Dance. 

The next area we considered was our pastoral system – 

previously with two boys’ Houses and two for girls – and we 

decided to move to a ‘horizontal’ Year Group system with 

a Year Leader responsible for the needs of all pupils in that 

year. 

In order to develop House competitions, pupils were also 

allocated to one of four ‘vertical’ Houses named after the 

founders of Queen’s – Ray, French, Barnicott and Woolmer. 

And it seems fitting that, having recently marked our 175th 

anniversary, these exciting developments for our educational 

future have also remembered our beginning. 

Schools like Queen’s must continue to build without ever 

forgetting their original foundations. 

Visit our May Open Mornings – for further information, 

email admissions@queenscollege.org.uk 

or call 01823 340830 

18

19


TAUNTon chamber of commerce 

The recent bad weather and the terrible flooding that has affected many 

parts of the country including our local area is a reminder of the impact of 

these events on our lives and businesses. Nigel Pearce, President of Taunton 

Chamber of Commerce, explains more... 

20 

We have been lucky in Taunton that we 

have not been directly impacted, but 

indirectly we can be affected by supply 

chain issues from other parts of the 

country and beyond. Climate issues do 

affect us and will continue to do so and 

it is perhaps a timely reminder that the 

business community needs to embrace 

the challenge of climate change and do 

what we can to limit the impact of what 

we do. 

I recently attended a thought provoking 

Somerset Business Summit facilitated 

by Somerset County Council about 

the Climate Emergency. This outlined 

their strategy which is supported and 

endorsed by all the local authorities, 

which aims to make Somerset carbon 

neutral and more resilient to climate 

change by 2030, This has to be taken 

seriously by all businesses, as apart 

from being a good ambition, I think our 

customers and clients will increasingly 

want to see that we are taking 

appropriate measures. 

At the meeting we heard from businesses 

large and small who are already taking 

steps to reduce their carbon footprint, 

and all the speakers provided a positive 

outlook on the initiatives they were 

implementing. The point which came 

across strongly is that there will be 

impacts but also opportunities and we 

should not automatically think that this is 

going to increase costs as many simple 

measures such as reducing waste, energy 

use, and perhaps using conference or 

video calls instead of attending all those 

meetings in person will make us more 

efficient and reduce costs. There is 

also the opportunity for new markets in 

our various sectors which we probably 

haven’t even identified yet. 

There were two phrases used which I 

thought summed up what we all need to 

do: ‘Find Small Changes to Produce Big 

Impacts’ and ‘Make Green Normal’. 

The County Council are being proactive 

and are providing a Business Toolkit 

“There were two phrases used which 

I thought summed up what we all 

need to do: ‘Find Small Changes to 

Produce Big Impacts’ and ‘Make Green 

Normal’.” 

to provide advice, guidance and links 

to best practice, and perhaps more 

importantly they are setting up a Grant 

Scheme to help businesses implement 

initiatives that will reduce energy use and 

carbon emissions. 

The grants are limited and need to be 

match funded by the applicants on a 

50/50 basis, but it is a start and will 

be of assistance particularly to smaller 

businesses. The grants will be available 

from April this year until March 2021, 

but there will be a limit on the total fund 

available so any interested businesses 

should look into this sooner rather than 

later. 

In the workshop that followed, Business 

Partnering and sharing best practice 

seemed to focus strongly, and that is 

perhaps where the Chamber can help by 

assisting contact between like-minded 

businesses who have the same goals and 

ambitions. 

All the information about the toolkit and 

grants is available on the Somerset 

County Council website, or do please 

contact the Taunton Chamber for more 

details. 

Contact Taunton Chamber of 

Commerce: 01823 230898 

Office 332, Bridge House, 

7 Bridge St, Taunton TA1 1TG


Putting your financial future 

in to focus 

Louise Osborne, Partner at Albert Goodman speaks about the 

right kind of planning and considering your own financial 

needs when approaching retirement... 

Whether we are approaching retirement or already retired, taking 

a close look at our finances is all too often a job we put off for 

another day. 

However, the right kind of planning can provide valuable 

peace of mind and give us the confidence to make life 

changing choices, such as retiring earlier than planned, helping 

“We are unbiased and 

comprehensive. We are well 

connected with experts in other 

industries, meaning you recieve 

impartial, expert, holistic 

advice.” 

grandchildren get on the property ladder or simply having an 

extra holiday each year, safe in the knowledge you can afford it. 

At Albert Goodman our advisers work with you to build a 

complete picture of your aspirations; our later life planning 

service helps you consider your own financial needs and create 

a plan with you and your family in mind. The earlier you start 

considering your finances, the more options you have available 

to you. 

Our advisers are paid a salary, are independent and are paid no 

commission; therefore you can guarantee we are unbiased and 

comprehensive. We are well connected with experts in other 

industries, meaning you receive impartial, expert, holistic advice. 

Louise Osborne – Partner 

Albert Goodman 

0330 333 5039 

www.albertgoodman.co.uk

StrawberryFields forever 

Living the good life 

Set within beautiful Somerset countryside, Strawberryfield Park is a unique selection 

of luxury self-catering lodges with spacious and stylish interiors and private hot 

tubs. Skye O’Hara visited one of their eco lodges with her partner and daughter and 

discovered a hidden treasure... 

22 

With spring almost upon us and summer just 

around the corner, now is the perfect time to 

start planning a staycation in good ol’ Blighty. 

And why not? Britain is blessed with some 

beautiful coastlines, world-class cities 

and spectacular rural regions. Plus, when 

the weather’s right (and it does happen 

occasionally!), it’s hard to beat the UK as a 

holiday destination. This is why I decided to 

stay at Strawberryfield Park in Cheddar. It 

couldn’t be further away from the hustle and 

bustle of the fast lane. 

I must mention was how easy it was to find 

Pamela’s Meadow and once inside it is clear 

how much care and attention has gone into 

crafting the amazing space. A wonderful 

welcome awaited us with a bottle of wine, 

cookies and a card. The kitchen was open 

plan with access to the decked terrace and 

fully equipped with everything you could ever 

need - It was a pleasure a cook in. We had a 

full log basket and an excellent log burner. 

There was a huge corner sofa for four, a 

wall-mounted 46”’ Bang & Olufsen TV and 

audio equipment, Blu-Ray player and Apple 

TV - so plenty of the luxuries that you would 

expect to find in a 5 star lodge. 

One of my favourite parts of Pamela’s 

Meadow is the stunning outside area with 

its twinkling lights in the roof and led lighting 

along the edge of the decking sides. There 

is also a private, partially sunken hot tub, 

which I have to admit is where I spent most 

of my stay. Sun loungers, a BBQ and plenty 

of outside seating is also provided, so lots of 

space to enjoy the wonderful views outside. 

However, as it was getting chilly, we decided 

to take in the monopoly board. It was easy 

to shut the blinds and the rest of the world 

out while you cosy in front of the log burner. 

The master bedroom hosted a comfortable 

king-size bed with wall mounted bedside 

tables and lamps. Smart TV and built in 

wardrobes with mirror, plenty of hanging 

space and shelves. The en-suite was Villeroy 

and Boch which had a wonderfully large 

walk in rainfall shower and a lovely supply of 

towels, slippers and robes. 

We opted to turn in and get a good night’s 

sleep to prepare ourselves for a day of 

adventure and exploration in the beautiful 

countryside, not forgetting the amazing 

Chedder Gorge and Caves. 

If you are looking for that perfect get away 

then I would highly recommend booking one 

of the lodges at Strawberry Field Park. The 

lodges are available to book all year round. 

Book today and receive 10% off your booking 

using code MAG10. 

Strawberryfield Park 

Draycott, Cheddar BS27 3FN 

strawberryfieldpark.co.uk 

01934 533280

Glorious walks from the Highbullen Hotel, Devon 

STYLISH Staycations 

Whether you want the buzz of the city or a 

complete country retreat, here are our pick of 

UK staycations... 

the best of the city and west end at 

THE STRAND PALACE, LONDON 

Having welcomed guests since 1909, the Strand Palace is surrounded by 

the best London has to offer - located just minutes from Covent Garden. 

Having recently undergone a large-scale multi million pound renovation, 

myself and my partner decided to tie in a spot of winter shopping/ 

sightseeing in with a stay in what is most definitely the heart of London. 

The Strand Palace creates a fabulous impression the minute you meet the 

doorman! The front entrance, lobby and reception are one large, bright, 

open spaced hub, featuring art deco influences that create a very relaxed 

and sophisticated atmosphere. We checked in and made our way up to 

our room, which was a tranquil, comforting retreat from the hussle and 

bustle of the street below. 

It is at this stage that I feel I must confess: I am a bit of a tourist when it 

comes to London. In the past I have found myself booking into hotels that 

seem to be on the other side of the city in location to all the spots I wished 

to visit, and although there’s the tube, it’s still nice to be situated near 

the action. This is what makes The Strand Palace so perfect. Its location 

is brilliant - right in the heart of the West End, and with Covent Garden 

a mere two minutes away you really have got it all on your doorstep. 

I couldn’t believe our luck when a trip to The National Portrait Gallery 

took....seven minutes on foot! 

We made our way back to the hotel after a spot of lunch, opting for the 

pre-theatre menu which is brilliant value for money if you are trying to 

keep costs down. Pre 7pm, you can indulge with 2 courses for £20, so 

we tucked into some crispy lime squid, followed by fish and chips, with a 

lovely light batter. All washed down with a bottle of red. Delightful! 

The city felt like ours for the taking! We took ourselves off for a stroll around 

Covent Garden, closely followed by a visit to a couple of ‘proper’ London 

pubs. If you are after a weekend away in the city and want to make London 

your own, The Strand Palace offers a truly unbeatable location. 

Sam Norris | strandpalacehotel.co.uk, rooms from £175 per night 

escape to the country at 

UPPER TETCHWICK 

HOUSE, NR AYLESBURY 

There is surely no better ointment for the weary 

soul than a weekend in pristine countryside 

with your closest friends. I found that sense of 

reatreat at the beautiful Upper Tetchwick House, 

booked through holidaycottages.co.uk. 

With a whole host of different holiday 

accommodation options to suit couples, families 

and large or small parties, holidaycottages.co.uk 

was the perfect site through which to book our 

little staycation. We settled on Upper Tetchwick 

House, which sleeps 12. 

In a rural location on the outskirts of Aylesbury, 

the property is a home away from home - if your 

home is a resplendent country pad complete 

with six bedrooms, a swimming pool, a billiards 

room and a duck pond, with far reaching views 

across the countryside! It’s a house that would 

cater in any season - with a huge garden and 

pool for the warmer months and a wonderful 

wood burning stove when the chill sets in. 

The whole process was easy as anything - 

meaning we all felt immediately on holiday - that 

was in part thanks to the lovely locally-sourced 

welcome hamper waiting on the counter. 

The house had the added benefit of being dog 

friendly too, meaning my pooches didn’t miss 

out on any of the holiday action. 

Katie Thomson | holidaycottages.co.uk, 

a three night stay costs £1,568 total 

23

take time out at 

DONNINGTON VALLEY 

HOTEL & SPA, BERKSHIRE 

It really does go without saying that a visit to the 

spa is a great way to relax, de-stress and unwind 

from the day-to-day. However we should never 

need an excuse for a little pampering. After all, 

many of our modern-day spas have deep roots, 

dating back thousands of years. Hence my 

lack of guilt in booking myself and Mum in for a 

weekend stay at Donnington Valley Hotel. 

A privately owned hotel, spa and golf club, 

Donnington Valley is located just off the M4. 

Arriving in the surrounding beautiful Berkshire 

countryside, this truly felt like a retreat. 

Sharing an Executive suite, we were graced with 

gorgeously comfy beds and a rather spacious 

bathroom! We quickly put on the robes provided 

and made our way to the spa. There we had 

a luxury 55 minute Sonoma Aromatherapy 

Massage. Melting our tensions away, my 

thoughts drifted to the hustle and bustle of 

life, and what a rarity it is to have 55 minutes 

to yourself to just…be. It occurred to me how 

important it is to take time for yourself. It’s a 

win-win for everyone too surely, as by feeling 

and looking your best, you are better able to take 

care of your loved ones without feeling burnt out. 

We took ourselves off to the capacious pool, 

and made use of the indulgent sauna and 

steam rooms, not to mention a quick lounge 

in the jacuzzi, before quickly freshening up for 

our dinner reservations. On the menu: scallops 

on a bed of pea purée, black pudding and 

smoked pancetta, followed by a juicy sirloin 

steak, all complimented beautifully by some 

well-recommended wine, and last but not least 

followed by a delectable espresso martini. 

Naughty? Yes. But perhaps we all need to take 

a weekend every once in a while to look after 

number one. 

Kate O’Connell | donningtonvalley.co.uk, 

rooms from £135 per night 

find sanctuary in the city at 

PARK PLAZA LONDON RIVERBANK 

As a former Londoner who now resides in the countryside, there is always a 

thrill when returning to the capital. The beauty of being a visitor, instead of a 

resident, is getting to appreciate the wealth of culture, architectural marvels 

and general buzz of this sprawling metropolis. And there is nowhere better 

located to explore it all from than the Park Plaza London Riverbank. 

Located on the south side of the River Thames, it sits near many of 

London’s most legendary tourist attractions. The Houses of Parliament, the 

seat of England’s political authority, are just across Westminster Bridge, and 

the London Eye, the city’s enormous Ferris wheel, is only a 15-minute walk 

away. My room had an uninterrupted view out to Big Ben and the Palace of 

Westminster. Being so central might feel chaotic, but the hotel really does 

feel like a sanctuary away from it all. 

I visited with my small niece and nephew in tow - travelling with children 

is never easy, but the London Riverbank hotel has taken a huge step 

toward making it a breeze - it has just launched the capital’s first hotel 

room designed by families, for families - featuring elements such as chalk 

board walls, neon lights, a bunk bed for the kids, and chic décor and iconic 

London view for the adults, along with bespoke services. The suite is 

available from just £179 per night and can be booked by visiting 

parkplaza.com/ultimatefamily 

Daniel Weston | radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/park-plaza-Londonriverbank 

Rooms from £119 per night 

sleep like a royal at 

HARTWELL HOUSE, NR AYLESBURY 

I would call myself an explorer, but it isn’t often that I can feel as I’m back 

in the 17th century and living as the royals once had. That is exactly how 

this weekend felt, exploring the warmth, romance and delicious cuisine that 

Hartwell House had to offer. 

The hotel makes an impression straight away - the exquisite drive to the 

front entrance, greetings from smiling staff and the aroma of a burning stove 

made us feel we were somewhere very special. 

As we settled in our large room, with far-reaching views across the fields we 

were very pleased by the little touches - the room’s decor transporting you 

to an era of vintage style. History oozes from every pore of this house and 

there is so much to be explored - even the walk to dinner took us past the 

characterful staircase - each spindle of the bannister is hand carved into a 

caricature - we delighted in spotting famous historical figures, including a 

grave-faced Winston Churchill. 

The house has both Jacobean and Georgian features with outstanding 

decorative ceilings and panelling, fine paintings and antique furniture. It has a 

remarkable history too: its most famous resident was Louis XVIII, exiled King 

24

soak in the views at 

THE HIGHBULLEN HOTEL 

& COUNTRY CLUB, NORTH DEVON 

Arriving after nightfall to a hotel destination is always a bit of a treat - 

there is something exciting about waking up to an undiscovered view 

- pulling back the curtains to reveal the surprise. 

This delight surely hits its peak at the Highbullen Hotel, nestled in the 

rolling hills of North Devon. As I ambled, sleepily, from the sumptuous 

seven-foot bed in our suite, I opened the curtains with a cup of tea in 

hand, I was greeted by the most glorious, expansive views - rolling hills, 

a view down the Mole Valley and out towards national parks. From the 

hotel’s high vantage point on a ridge between Dartmoor and Exmoor, on 

a clear day you can see for 18 miles across pristine British countryside - 

it really is something to behold. 

An opportunity to enjoy these views is never missed - as well as a 

lovely reading nook in our own room, the elegant drawing rooms and 

sun terraces offered chances to sit and soak it all in. The hotel’s Devon 

View Restaurant also offers these panoramas, alongside its 2 AA 

rosettes - making for a very special dining experience. With a changing 

daily menu featuring the best local, seasonal produce, the restaurant 

is a foodie destination in its own right. We dined on the house-smoked 

salmon with avocado, a deliciously light leek and cheddar tart and 

perfectly succulent lamb cutlets with a perfect umami punch. The 

portions are perfect, leaving just enough room for a shared dessert of 

treacle tart with clotted cream - simple dessert pastry at its best. This is 

also the restaurant where residents can enjoy breakfast - 

it’s a great spread with lots to choose from. 

If the dishes in the restaurant gets you in the indulgent 

foodie mood (and they will) you can also head down to 

the lovely Laura Ashley Tearoom on site for a classic 

Devon cream tea or a more indulgent offering with fizz. 

As well as the main hotel, guests have accommodation 

options in self catered cottages - meaning the facilities 

of the whole resort are still on their doorstep. An 18-hole 

USGA golf course set within richly wooded parkland, 

tennis courts, a multi-sport simulator, a leisure centre, 

fishing, shooting, snooker - the list is expansive and 

caters for every member of the family, making it a 

wonderful holiday destination. Keen walkers can also 

make the most of miles of local country walks, Exmoor or 

the nearby South West Coast path. 

Katie Thomson | highbullen.co.uk, 

B&B from £110 per night 

of France, for five years from 1809 - no wonder we felt like royalty. 

That evening we shared a decadent three course dinner. The food was 

wonderful and the ambiance pure romance - with a piano playing in the 

background. I would highly recommend a starter of scallops or smoked 

salmon, the cod for a main and a trio of the delicious sorbets to finish it off. 

The majestic tone set the night before continued at breakfast - the 

spread pure elegance - hand polished silverware, white table cloths and 

loose leaf earl grey tea. Then it was out to explore the grounds. Hartwell 

House is a National Trust owned property with Capability Browninspired 

landscapes - we pretended it was all our domain as we strolled 

from one spectacular vista to another. 

Then it was time to relax even further in the beautiful spa - with its 

stylistic echoes of a Roman bathing house. Our treatments were 

sublime - taking away all the strain of a working week. 

From the first sights of history, to the genuine comforts of a homely room 

and stunning food, I arrive back in the big city, relaxed, romanced and so 

full of fond memories. Hartwell House comes highly recommended and I 

can see why - it is the perfect weekend away, only if you wish to get lost 

in time and take a moment to enjoy your surroundings. 

Lucy Elamad | hartwell-house.com, B&B from £250 per night 

25

Available Tuesday - Saturday 

Tuesday - Friday 12 - 2pm 

Saturday 12 - 2:30pm

YOUR TIME TO RELAX 

LUXURY ROOMS | BOUTIQUE SPA | FINE DINING | LOVELY GARDENS 

Winner 

“Best Luxury Value Hotel” 

in England 

Conde Nast Johansens 

Readers Awards 2020 

“Two hours and a world away 

from London” 

Country and Townhouse 2019 

“English country house charm, 

contemporary comfort and 

excellent food” 

Absolutely Kensington & 

Chelsea 2019 

The Eastbury is a luxury Georgian country house style hotel and unique boutique spa 

with lovely gardens and award-winning seasons restaurant, set in the heart of the lively 

historic town of Sherborne in the glorious countryside of Dorset. 

www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk | 01935 813131


the eastbury hotel & spa 

Passionate about all things local, we speak with Matthew Street, 

Executive Chef with ‘Seasons’ Restaurant, at The Eastbury.... 

Matthew has been leading The Seasons 

kitchen and a team of seven for twelve 

years now. His love of cooking stems 

from his childhood growing up in a home 

where food, friends and entertaining were 

a way of life, full of flavours and fun and 

Sunday night homework sessions were a 

little side-tracked by Rick Stein on TV. 

For Matthew the definition of good food 

is “flavoursome, fresh, connective” and 

most importantly local. In the kitchen, 

he tries to use as much as he can from 

the natural surroundings and relies 

on a trusty list of local suppliers who 

are as passionate about food as he is. 

Particularly formative experiences were 

being a finalist in the 2009 Master Chef 

– The Professionals and as a 2009 Roux 

Scholarship Finalist. 

Matthew describes his cooking style 

as “imaginative and fun with a hint of 

nostalgia” and his inspiration most 

often stemming from the produce itself. 

Along with Sous Chef Ashley and the 

rest of the team they love to work with 

flavour combinations and fresh seasonal 

Dorset produce. His perfect supper? “It 

would probably have to be some type 

of charcuterie, a few cheeses, pickles, 

olives, some amazing bread and a few 

cold drinks.” 

1) The name of the restaurant, 

Seasons, certainly gives an impression 

of the style of food – is seasonal 

sourcing and food provenance 

important to you? 

Choosing the best produce is where it all 

starts – by keeping the menu seasonal it’s 

a good way of being innovative. 

“The definition of good food is ‘flavoursome, 

fresh, connective’ and most importantly 

local...” 

2) You are a local chef – what do you 

love about the West Country and what 

inspires you – there are certainly some 

amazing local producers? 

We are blessed in the West Country, 

there are hundreds of Great Taste Award 

Winners and Artisan Producers making 

their own unique produce. I take a lot of 

inspiration from the hedge rows and our 

vegetable garden at the hotel. We have 

an amazing gardener called Tina who I 

work closely with. 

3) You have had a decorated career so 

far, as a finalist on MasterChef – The 

Professionals and as a 2009 Roux 

Scholarship Finalist – what did those 

experiences teach you and what are 

your ambitions for Seasons? 

It gave me a lot more confidence. 

Cooking in your kitchen versus in front of 

an audience are two different things. It’s 

good to be pushed out of your comfort 

zone. We achieved some great accolades 

last year however, my teams goal this 

year is to gain Three Rosettes. 

4) When you’re not in the restaurant, 

how do you like to spend your time? 

I love cooking outdoors in the garden. 

Making pizza and sourdough is my new 

hobby. I now have an outdoor pizza oven 

and have tested various doughs ready 

to entertain my wife and friends in the 

summer! 

The Eastbury Hotel, Long Street, 

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3BY. 

Telephone: 01935 813131 

Email: relax@theeastburyhotel.co.uk 

29


eat:Taunton 

Come and see the great line-up we have 

for the eat:Taunton Festival this May 

for all of the family.... 

Saturday 

9th May 

Somerset Day celebrations in Taunton 

town centre look to be bigger and better 

than ever. The multi-award winning 

eat:Taunton returns to Hammet Street and 

the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene for 

an all day celebration of local food and 

drink on Saturday 9 May. Alongside the 

90+ local producers the organisers have a 

great line-up of free entertainment. 

Organiser Sarah Milner Simonds told us 

“we are proud of the festival here in 

Taunton and think that the range of food 

and drink producers we attract to here 

is one of our best. This festival is very 

popular with our producers as the visitors 

are always so interested in the stories 

behind the produce. These two festivals 

were the first to be booked up and we 

have made a few changes to the layout to 

ensure visitors have enough elbow room 

and we can accommodate a few more 

producers. 

We will have music from Court 

Productions and strolling entertainment, 

sponsored by Porter Dodson, drop in 

cook school and lots of strolling street 

entertainers. 

Co-organiser Bev Milner Simonds added 

“In 2020 we will have 10 brand new to 

eat:Taunton producers plus three schools 

competing in the Somerset finals of the 

Young Enterprise competition. It is great to 

have local community partners onboard, 

like the Taunton Area Cycling Campaign - 

which aligns very well with our sustainable 

transport goals for our festivals. 

We have a great range of producers 

offering farmers’ markets favourites like 

ales, cheese and bread alongside brand 

new gin flavours, street food, vegan 

chocolate and curled ice cream.” 

The event is fully accessible, dogs are 

welcome and there are plenty of gluten 

free, vegan, vegetarian and dairy free 

options as well as smaller portions. The 

festival is also single-use plastic free 

and all food to go packaging is fully 

compostable. Don’t forget your shopping 

bags. 

The festival opens at 10am and runs until 

4pm on Hammet Street and in & around St 

Mary Magdalene Church. Road closures 

and diversions will be in place from 0700 

to 1900, including the closure of Whirligig 

car park. 

For more information visit: 

www.eatfestivals.org/taunton 

“We have a great range of producers offering 

farmers’ markets favourites like ales, cheese and 

bread alongside brand new gin flavours, street 

food, vegan chocolate and curled ice cream” 

30

Tristan’s 

Bar & Bistro 

- Taunton 

Local Small family 

run Bistro Serving 

quality homemade 

seasonal food. 

2 courses 

£20.00 

Celebrate in 

Style with 

our Private 

Dining area 

Seats up to 

25 people 

Book your 

special occasion 

today! 

11 East Reach, 

Taunton 

TA1 3EW 

01823 332117 

tristansbistro.co.uk 

*T&Cs apply 

Trading Post Farm Shop 

Local, Fresh, Organic 

The Feed Station in Merriott, 

formerly a Grade II Listed former 

Sunday School, now a cycling themed 

café/bar which offers a warm and 

welcoming ambience together with 

great food and service. Whether you 

cycle or walk, are young or old, have 

babies or dogs, The Feed Station 

welcomes you all, Merriott’s original 

meeting place. Fully licenced and also 

available for private hire. 

Visit us at 

www.thefeedstationmerriott.co.uk 

With it’s focus 

on organic, local, 

delicious food and 

drink, The Trading 

Post Farm Shop is 

an essential stop off; 

not only for local 

customers but also 

travellers heading 

to and from the 

Westcountry. 

01460 271598 

café@thefeedstationmerriott.co.uk 

The Feed Station, Sandy Hole, 

Merriott, Somerset TA16 5QR 

01460 241666 

kate@tradingpostfarmshop.co.uk 

Lopenhead, Somerset TA13 5JH 

31

All of our rates include breakfast, complimentary Car parking and complimentary WI-FI. 

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BRIDGWATER 

Market Way, Bridgwater, TA6 6DF, UK 

E: reservations@hiexbridgwater.co.uk 

T: 01278558250 

holidayinnexpress.com

COOK, SLEEP, 

ROCK, REPEAT 

Katie Thomson caught up with 

chef James Martin ahead of his 

summer festival circuit and 

discussed stellar culinary talents, 

his new book and finding time to 

rock out... 

Katie: We must talk about Pub in the 

Park – we spoke with Tom Kerridge a 

couple of years back, just as he was 

expanding the event out of Marlow 

to include Bath and a couple of other 

areas. In the past few years its really 

become huge, attracting so much 

talent from the food industry but also 

the music industry so it must be quite 

exciting to be involved? 

James: He has roped me into it! He roped 

me into it last year as he had managed to 

double book himself! So now he wants 

me to do it again! He’s probably off on 

holiday! But it’s good fun, and anybody 

who’s been there will know that its unique 

and there’s nothing else like it. 

So you’ll be hosting the Tunbridge 

Wells and Chichester events? 

Yeah that’s right, and I’ll be appearing at 

the Bath one, Tom is hosting that one but 

I’ll be there doing some demonstrations 

and other bits and pieces. It’s a great lineup 

of people that he’s got and I’m very 

pleased to play my part. 

I think it’s really nice that you try 

to reflect the local restaurants in 

each individual area plus there’s 

some serious culinary talent from the 

country as a whole. 

Well the thing about the chefs is you get 

the great and the good from all over the 

place. So for example with Bath, you’ve 

got Paul Ainsworth coming up from 

Cornwall, Atul Kochhar from London, 

Steven Terry from Wales, Angela Hartley 

from London…we’ve got people from all 

over the place! It’s the same with music; 

there’s something for everybody. 

Who are you looking forward to 

seeing if you can steal a little time 

away to enjoy it? 

I’m a wannabe musician, I’ve got a little 

band so I’m looking forward to seeing 

a few of them. I listened to Toploader 

when I was training as a kid working in 

kitchens, so I’m looking forward to seeing 

them. Beverley Knight I’ve known for 

quite a while so it will be nice to say hi to 

her and James Blunt is playing as well! 

So I’m looking forward to chilling out and 

fundamentally seeing my mates! All these 

chefs I speak to on the phone quite a lot 

but I only really ever see them at these 

festivals so three in a year is great for me. 

How does the cookery stage in the 

festival setting compare to live 

TV? I can image you are quite unflappable. 

Well you’ve got a bit more to hand at my 

place when we film at the house, and I 

know where everything is. But they build 

an amazing marquee where we do the 

demos, that almost looks like something 

from outer space. You never know with 

the weather, we might get wet, so the 

marquee is amazing. But the same team 

that work on my show work on Pub in the 

Park, so the industry is big but that group 

is quite small. I’ve known the guys that 

organise Pub in the Park from the twelve 

years of doing Carfest. 

So you are an old hand on the 

festival circuit then? 

I’ve been around it a long time! I do 

certain food festivals, the biggest one 

of its kind is in Bolton and had 400,000 

people last year, and I usually do that 

after Carfest South. I’m Hampshirebased, 

so sort of in between the two 

from Bath to Chichester area. I’m looking 

forward to Chichester because I spend 

a bit of time at Goodwood - so I know 

and love the area. Tunbridge Wells I’m 

interested in going to see because I’ve 

not really been there a lot, and I love 

going to Bath because there’s a great 

guitar shop there that always gets a visit! 

Your show Saturday Morning always 

looks like a lot of fun to film, and in 

particular you and Galton seem to 

have a really great relationship. 

The great thing about the show is the 

chefs that come on I’ve known for years – 

33

a lot of them are turning up to Pub in the 

Park! I’ve known them for years and I’ve 

supported them over the years, and of 

course when I decided to leave Saturday 

Kitchen they supported me since then 

as well. So it’s an accumulation of me 

supporting them and them supporting 

me. So they’re great mates and I think 

that comes across on camera. 

Have you had any guests that have 

been particularly memorable? 

We had Jack Savoretti here recently, 

he was fantastic. He was trying to learn 

from the master baker Richard Bertinet, 

who was attempting to teach him how to 

make bread and he making a right mess 

of it! So he was great fun. You just have 

such a great laugh, and that’s the key to 

doing it here. 

We film it at the house and it’s quite 

chilled out and very similar to this 

festival. Those are the projects I’m 

enjoying these days - and that’s why 

Pub in the Park appeals so much. It’s 

very much a family atmosphere and I 

can just walk around. You go to some 

festivals and you are hidden around the 

back, you aren’t allowed to come out 

and have a wander around. 

Other than a busy schedule of 

summer festivals, have you got any 

books in the pipeline? 

I’ve just finished a book and TV show 

called Islands to Highlands. The TV 

show will be out in April and book is out 

now. We’ve also just taken over a hotel 

at Silverstone so I’m going to be busy 

doing that. Yeah, there’s a few things 

happening and a few more things in the 

pipeline - I should be busy! But not too 

busy to indulge in a bit of music and fun 

this summer! 

Find out more about Pub in the Park here: 

pubintheparkuk.com 

James Martin’s Islands to Highlands is 

published by Quadrille Publishing and is 

available through good bookshops and 

online now. 

“We had Jack Savoretti 

here recently, he was 

fantastic. He was 

trying to learn from the 

master baker Richard 

Bertinet, who was 

attempting to teach 

him how to make bread 

and he making a right 

mess of it!” 

34

Midweek 

Specials 

Sunday - Thursday 

Book 2 nights 

get one FREE! 

T&C apply 

TARR FARM INN 

Tarr Steps, Dulverton, Exmoor, TA22 9PY 

Telephone: +44 (0)1643 851507 

Email: enquiries@tarrfarm.co.uk 

www.tarrfarm.co.uk 

35

EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES 

Fantastic vegan recipes from cookwithmands.com 

WARM CRISPY 

TOFU SALAD 

with orange and lime dressing 

SERVES 2 

INGREDIENTS 

lime wedges 

2 spring onions 

1 pack High protein pea noodles 

1 pack Edamame and pea stir fry 

1 pack Lime and orange dressing 

2 tsp maple syrup 

1 tbsp soy sauce 

1 tsp black peppercorns 

1 red chilli 

3 garlic cloves 

15g ginger 

2 tsp sesame oil 

1 tbsp olive oil 

1 tbsp cornflour 

200g firm tofu 

PREPARATION 

Thinly slice the spring onions. Lightly 

crush the black peppercorns. Thinly 

slice and remove seeds if you prefer 

less heat from the red chillis. Crush the 

garlic cloves. Crush the ginger. Drain, 

pat dry and cut into approx. 2cm cubes 

the firm tofu. 

METHOD 

In a bowl, toss the tofu in the cornflour 

ensuring it is well coated. Heat the 

olive oil in a wide-based pan or wok on 

a medium-high heat. Once hot, cook 

the tofu until golden brown and crispy, 

around 5 – 7 mins. Drain on kitchen paper 

and sprinkle with salt. 

Heat the sesame oil in the same pan on a 

low heat. Add the ginger, garlic and chilli 

and cook until soft, around 6 – 8 mins. 

Stir frequently. 

Add the peppercorns, soy sauce and 

maple syrup. Cook for another 2 mins on 

a low heat. Stir the tofu back into the pan 

with the edamame and pea stir fry mix. 

Cook for 3 mins and season to taste.Heat 

the noodles according to the back of pack 

instructions and place in a large bowl with 

the warm stir fry mix and dress with the 

lime and orange dressing. Serve the tofu 

on the noodle salad sprinkled with the 

spring onions. Garnish with lime wedges. 

PUMPKIN TEMPURA 

SERVES 4 

INGREDIENTS 

For the dip - 50g soy sauce 

2 tbsp rice wine vinegar 

1 garlic clove 

1cm piece of ginger 

1 small red chilli 

For the tempura - 1 litre vegetable oil 

1 pumpkin (approximately 1kg in weight) 

150g self-raising flour 

1.5 tbsp cornflour 

1.5 tsp baking powder 

225ml cold sparkling water 

PREPARATION 

Peel and crush the garlic cloves. Peel and 

finely grate the piece of ginger. Deseed 

and finely dice the red chillis. Peel and 

remove the seeds of the pumpkin. Finely 

chop 4 of the sage leaves. 

METHOD 

Make the dip by combining all the 

ingredients in a small bowl, and set aside. 

Cut the pumpkin in half lengthways and 

cut into slices approximately 2cm wide. 

Heat the oil in a deep-sided, heavy-based 

pan until hot. Make the batter. In a bowl, 

combine the flour, cornflour, baking 

powder, ½ tsp salt and chopped sage. 

Slowly whisk in the cold sparkling water 

until the batter has the consistency of 

single cream – don’t worry about any 

small lumps, they will disappear. 

Test if the oil is the right temperature by 

dropping a teaspoon of batter into the 

pan – if it cooks quickly, the oil is ready. 

Dip the pumpkin slices into the batter 

and carefully add to the pan. Cook in 

the hot oil, in batches of 5-6 at a time, 

for 4 minutes or until golden and cooked 

through. Remove with a slotted spoon 

and drain on kitchen paper. Serve 

immediately with the soy dip. 

VEGAN PAVLOVA 

SERVES 6 

INGREDIENTS 

300g blackberries 

1 tbsp icing sugar 

150ml liquid from 400g tin of chickpeas 

0.25 tsp xanthan gum 

0.25 tsp cream of tartar 

225g caster sugar 

250g fresh coconut cream (from chilled 

aisle) 

1 handful basil leaves 

METHOD 

Heat the oven to 120°C/ 100°C fan/gas 

½. In a food processor, blitz 150g of the 

blackberries with the icing sugar. Sieve 

and set aside. 

Whisk the chickpea liquid, xanthan gum 

and cream of tartar for 2 mins, until fluffy. 

Whisk in the caster sugar, 1-2 tbsp at 

a time. Fold in 2 tbsp of the blackberry 

coulis. 

Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. 

Spread half the mix in a circle on one. 

Pipe mini meringues on the other. 

Bake the large meringue for 3 hours 

and the small ones for 1½ hours. Turn 

off heat, and leave to cool in the oven 

completely. Spread the cream over the 

meringue base. 

Top with blackberries, mini meringues, 

icing sugar, coulis and basil. 

36

MADEON 

exmor 

ARTISANGIN 

www.exmoordistilery.co.uk 

01398323488

Eggs 

Our focus on Easter eggs, without any chocolate in sight! A celebration 

of eggs in their most delicious forms with some seasonal recipes - all 

courtesy of Clarence Court Eggs 

ASPARAGUS 

RISOTTO 

with crispy fried 

soft boiled egg 

Risotto is a brilliant way of show casing 

British asparagus. The slightly woodier 

stems are sliced and used to add body 

to the base of the risotto. The tender 

tips are lightly cooked in a little butter 

to keep al dente and brightly coloured 

to be served on top of the risotto. 

Partnered with a crispy fried soft boiled 

Burford Brown or quail egg makes for an 

indulgent dinner. 

PREP TIME: 20 minutes 

COOK TIME: 30 minutes 

SERVES: 4 

INGREDIENTS: 

5 Clarence Court Burford Brown eggs (or 6 

Clarence Court quail eggs and 1 hens egg) 

2 tbsp plain flour 

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 

50g panko bread crumbs 

Vegetable oil for deep fat frying 

100g unsalted butter 

1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped 

1 stick celery, trimmed and finely 

chopped 

1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped 

16 spears of British asparagus, woody ends 

removed, stems sliced and tips kept whole 

220g arborio risotto rice 

150ml dry white wine 

550ml hot vegetable stock 

100g parmesan cheese, finely grated 

Zest of 1 lemon finely grated 

METHOD: 

Place a pan of water on to boil and soft 

boil 4 of the hens eggs or the 6 quails 

eggs to your liking (around 6 minutes for 

a hens egg or 1 minute 30 seconds for a 

quails egg.) 

Once cooked, plunge the eggs into a 

bowl of iced water. Carefully peel the 

eggs and place them back into the bowl 

filled with fresh cold water. 

Place the plain flour on one plate and 

season well with salt and pepper. Whisk 

the remaining hens egg into a bowl and 

place the panko crumbs on to another 

plate. Pat the eggs dry then one at a time 

roll the egg in flour dip in beaten egg and 

roll in the panko crumbs. Place the eggs 

on to another plate and repeat with the 

remaining eggs until they’re all crumbed. 

Place the plate of eggs in the fridge whilst 

you make the risotto. 

Place a 26cm heavy based frying pan 

on a medium to low heat and add 40g 

butter to melt and bubble a little. Then 

add the chopped onion, celery and garlic 

with a pinch of salt. Stir with a wooden 

spoon continuously until the vegetables 

are softened but not coloured (around 10 

minutes). Add the sliced asparagus stems 

and stir for a further 2 minutes. Stir in the 

rice and keep stirring for 2 minutes until 

the rice grains are coated and starting to 

turn translucent. 

Add all the wine to the pan and turn 

up the heat and stir until it is reduced 

by ⅔. Then ladle by ladle stir in the hot 

vegetable stock until it is absorbed before 

adding the next. This will take around 10 

- 15 minutes until the rice is cooked but 

with some bite. 

Meanwhile place the vegetable oil on to 

heat up, have a plate lined with kitchen 

roll and a slotted spoon ready. When the 

risotto is nearly cooked add 40g butter 

and half of the parmesan and most of the 

asparagus tips. Season to taste and turn 

off the heat and place a lid on the pan. 

When the oil is hot enough carefully lower 

the eggs into the hot oil one at a time until 

the breadcrumbs are lightly golden, this 

takes around 2 minutes. Carefully remove 

the eggs with a slotted spoon and place 

on the plate lined with kitchen roll. 

Place a small frying pan on low heat 

and add the remaining 20g butter. Once 

melted add the asparagus tips and gently 

fry for 2 to 3 minutes until soft but still 

crunchy. 

To assemble the dish, spoon the risotto 

into serving dishes, half the deep fried 

eggs distribute over the risottos, top 

with the lightly buttered asparagus tips. 

Sprinkle over the remaining parmesan 

and a grating of lemon zest. 

GREEN VEG 

FRITTATA 

by Eva H umphries 

High in protein with heaps of nutrients, 

this versatile frittata is packed with 

greens. Delicious any time of day, mix up 

your choice of vegetables depending on 

what’s in season. 

PREP TIME: 10 minutes 

COOK TIME: 25 minutes 

SERVES: 8 

INGREDIENTS: 

12 Clarence Court hens eggs, lightly 

beaten 

150g asparagus, roughly chopped, 

woody ends discarded 

38

Sliced florets from half a head of broccoli 

(150-170g) 

150g frozen peas 

2 large handfuls of spinach (100g approx) 

125g of feta 

2 tsp rapeseed oil or a knob of organic 

butter 

Sea salt and freshly cracked black 

pepper 

Grated zest of half a lemon 

METHOD: 

Preheat a grill to medium. Heat the oil 

or butter in a frying pan over a medium 

heat, add the broccoli, asparagus and 

peas and cook for 5 minutes until the 

vegetables begin to soften. Season well 

with sea salt and freshly cracked black 

pepper. 

Stir in the spinach, season again and 

grate over the zest of half a lemon. Cook 

for another minute until the spinach wilts. 

Pour in the eggs and give the mixture a 

stir to evenly distribute the vegetables. 

Cook on a medium heat until the edges 

are firm (the centre will still be liquid), 

approximately 10-15 minutes. 

Crumble the feta over the top and 

transfer the pan to under the grill. Grill for 

10 minutes until the egg mixture is firm 

and the feta turns light golden around the 

edges. 

Remove from the pan and either eat 

immediately or slice it up, allow it to cool 

and refrigerate.The frittata keeps well in a 

fridge for up to 3 days. 

HOT CROSS 

BUN LOAF 

This orange and cranberry hot cross bun 

loaf is bursting with bright, zesty and 

fruity flavours. Perfect for sharing with 

your family this Easter. 

PREP TIME: 4 hours 

COOK TIME: 30-40 minutes 

SERVES: 8 

INGREDIENTS: 

500g strong bread flour, plus extra for 

dusting 

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

¼ teaspoon mixed spice 

A few gratings of whole nutmeg 

1/4 teaspoon fine salt 

75g caster sugar 

7g sachet dry yeast 

170ml whole milk, warmed to hand heat 

2 large Clarence Court Burford Browns 

eggs, beaten 

80g unsalted butter, softened well, plus 

extra for greasing 

80g sultanas 

60g mixed peel 

80g dried cranberries 

Fine grated zest of 2 oranges 

25g plain flour 

1 tsp sunflower oil 

2-3 tbsp cold water 

Juice of 2 oranges 

2 tbsp marmalade 

METHOD: 

Grease a 2lb (900g) loaf tin with 

softened butter.Sieve the flour, 

cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg and salt 

into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar 

and make a well in the centre. Place the 

yeast in a jug with the warm milk, stir 

until dissolved and bubbling. Add the 

milk, eggs and butter to the well and mix 

into a soft dough. 

Lightly dust a clean work surface with 

a little flour or tip into the bowl of a free 

standing mixer with a dough hook and 

knead for 7 minutes until smooth and 

elastic. 

Place into a lightly oiled mixing bowl 

and cover with cling film. Place in a 

warm place to rise for 1-2hours until it’s 

doubled in size. 

When time is up lightly flour a clean work 

surface. Tip the dough on to the surface 

and lightly knead. A few spoonful’s at a 

time sprinkle over the fruit and zest then 

knead and fold into the dough. When it’s 

all incorporated place back in the oiled 

bowl and cover with cling film. Allow to 

rise for a further hour. 

Divide the dough into 8 equal size balls 

(use a weighing scale to make sure 

they’re all the same size). Shape the balls 

into fat sausages. Place the sausages 

side by side in the tin. Place the tin in a 

large sandwich bag and seal it. Allow 

to rise in a warm place for 1 more hour. 

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 

4/ 350°F. 

Meanwhile, mix the plain flour, oil and 

cold water in a bowl to make a smooth 

paste. Spoon in to a small piping bag 

and snip off a small hole. Pipe a little 

cross on top of each of the hot cross 

buns. Place the tin in the oven and 

bake for 30-40 minutes until golden 

and risen. 

Place the juice and marmalade in a 

small pan and allow to bubble and 

thicken on a low heat. When the loaf 

is ready, carefully and quickly turn 

it out of the tin and on to a cooling 

rack. Brush over the glaze and leave 

to cool. 

Serve warm with salted butter. This 

loaf is best eaten on the day it’s made 

but will come back to a lovely soft 

loaf if warmed through in the oven 

the next day. It makes great toast or 

as the base for a bread and butter 

pudding. 

39

Join in a Summer of Pub with CAMRA 

There are few things more enjoyable than visiting 

a pub on a hot summer day. 

Whether it’s a street-corner local in the heart of London or a quiet 

countryside pub after a long walk, our nation’s pubs are the ideal 

place to spend a lazy summer afternoon. 

That’s why CAMRA is once again launching its Summer of Pub 

campaign as beer gardens open across the country. 

The idea is simple - we want to get as many people as possible 

celebrating Britain’s pubs by heading down to their local for a pint 

during the warmer months. 

Pubs offer numerous benefits to our mental and social wellbeing, as 

well as improving community cohesion. Drinking cheap supermarket 

booze at home does little to improve your life - but change that 

setting to the social environment of a pub and you can combat 

loneliness, increase your happiness, make friends and connect with 

others in your local community. 

Our campaign kicked off with the first May Bank Holiday, where 

friends, families and colleagues headed down to their local to 

celebrate the extended pub hours to mark VE day. We will also be 

highlighting various events throughout the summer to enjoy at your 

local - from screening the Euro 2020 to joining the national ‘cheers 

to beer’ on Beer Day Britain. 

Not sure where to find a real ale pub near you? Check out the UK’s 

best-selling beer and pub guide, CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, which 

is available in stores, at the CAMRA shop or as an app for download. 

The guide is compiled by our volunteers across the country and is 

completely independent - a pub can never buy its way into the Guide. 

While you’re getting involved, consider joining the Campaign - 

CAMRA represents nearly 200,000 beer drinkers and pub-goers 

across the UK, championing for your right to be able to access 

better beer in better pubs, wherever you live. Your support and 

membership helps our campaigns to cut beer tax, save pubs from 

demolition and keep beer festivals alive and thriving. 

So why not join us for a #SummerOfPub? You can let us know how 

you’re getting involved by sharing your activity on Twitter with @ 

CAMRA_Official and find local events near you by visiting www. 

camra.org.uk/summerofpub/ 

Let’s all head down to the 

pub to make friends and 

memories, and show how 

loved Britain’s pubs are 

to consumers across the 

country. 

The Monkton Inn 

Peter and Val Mustoe, the owners of The Monkton Inn, 

look forward to welcoming you and invite you to enjoy our 

wide selection of food and drink. 

All meals are cooked fresh and there is always lots of variety on the 

menu. Along with our well thought out menu and popular Sunday 

Roasts, we offer South African specials such as zebra, crocodile, 

ostrich and South African curries. 

Monday to Wednesday evening specials £11 including a drink. 

Monday is Fish and Chips, Tuesday is South African Curries, 

Wednesday is Burgers. 

THURSDAY STEAK NIGHT at the pub is always a hit - steaks are 

cut to order at the table, so you get the desired portion cooked to 

absolute perfection. 

Food is served alongside a carefully selected range of local ales and 

ciders, wine and spirits. We cater for all dietary requirements. 

Why not pop in and soak up some of our wonderful 

atmosphere! 

We look forward to welcoming you. 

A traditional freehold country pub 

in the Polden village of Catcott 

This idyllic pub is over 400 years old and has the warmth and 

character so many pubs have lost over the years, retaining 

the wonderful open log fire (great on a chilly night), original 

flagstone floors, cob walls and low beamed ceilings. Perfect 

accompanied by our home cooked food and fantastic selection 

of cask ales, wines and ciders. 

Function Room • Garden • Camping 

Steaks Cooked to Perfection 

Glorious Beer Garden 

Blundells Lane, West Monkton, Taunton TA2 8NP 

01823 412414 | www.themonktoninn.co.uk 

1 Nidon Lane, Bridgwater TA7 9HQ 

01278 722288 

crowninncatcott@outlook.com 

www.crowninncatcott.com 

40

Pioneering lifestyle 

store to open 

on the A303 at North Cadbury, 

Somerset Summer 2020 

The exciting new venture, called 

“Teals,” aims to connect local 

communities and passers-by to an 

array of south west producers and 

makers via its kitchen, food market 

and lifestyle store... 

The first electric car-charging only stop-off on the regional 

route from London to the wider West Country, Teals will offer 

commuters and holidaymakers a new experience on the UK 

roadside: an opportunity to break their journey in a beautiful 

environment, get a delicious healthy meal or takeaway, walk the 

dog, let the kids explore the traditional apple orchard before 

jumping back in the car - “fast food with slowing down for.” 

“fast food with slowing down for” 

For Somerset locals this exciting new store promises to bring 

together a selection of carefully sourced local fresh produce and 

independent label gifts. There will be fresh flowers, a butcher and 

deli counter, bottle store and great coffee, all in one easy to reach 

location. 

Founder Ash said: “We’re hugely excited to be bringing this 

new store to Somerset. We feel a real responsibility to make a 

meaningful contribution to the rural economy and the store gives 

us a great platform on which to celebrate the abundance of 

brilliant suppliers and makers, as well as offer nearby towns and 

villages an alternative to supermarkets”. 

Teals is set to open summer 2020. 


FROM LONDON TO THE WEST COUNTRY 

SUPERFAST! 

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Taunton, 

llminster, 

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41

ENGLISH WINE WEEK 

Celebrating our home grown wines by Julia Trustram Eve 

In the world of wine, Great Britain ranks as 

one of the smallest wine regions. Arguably, 

though, it is one of the most dynamic, 

attracting plenty of attention over here and 

making its mark with significant competition 

wins and appraisals by wine experts and 

influencers both here and overseas. 

Great Britain is one of the fastest-growing 

wine regions in the world; area planted with 

grapevines is growing year on year and now 

exceeds over 5,000 acres, having expanded 

by nearly 200% in the last ten years alone. 

Recently the wine industry’s body, Wines of 

Great Britain (WineGB), predicted that in just 

over 20 years’ time, we may be producing 40 

million bottles. 

There are now some 700 vineyards in 

England and Wales, with the majority in 

the south of England and stretching up to 

Yorkshire and in north and south Wales. You’ll 

find large wineries to one-man operations, 

each with a story to tell. Approximately 70% 

of all production is sparkling wine, with the 

remaining 30% delicious still white, red and 

rosé wine. In 2018 the UK produced just over 

13 million bottles. 

Luckily it is easy to discover our homegrown 

wines: English and Welsh wines are 

now readily-available in supermarkets to 

independent retailers; online retailers, as well 

as many restaurants and bars, and of course 

direct from the vineyards themselves, either 

via their websites or by visiting the cellar door. 

The UK wine industry is launching their 

awareness campaign English Wine Week and 

Welsh Wine Week which this year takes place 

from Saturday 23 - Sunday 31 May. Over 

the Week look out for promotions, events 

and activities to shine a light on this exciting 

industry and its wines. 

The end of May kicks off the summer 

season and invites us outside to explore, 

so what better time to visit to the vineyards 

themselves. There are now around 200 

vineyards open to visitors and located in 

some of the most beautiful parts of the 

country. 

Vineyards offer a range of experiences 

from guided and self-guided tours through 

a vineyard to soak up the beautiful 

surroundings, to visiting the cellar door 

for a tasting. Some have a shop, restaurant 

and even accommodation on site. It’s worth 

checking opening times as some smaller 

vineyards are open by appointment or at 

set times. Larger vineyards are open all year 

round. Guided tours are conducted by people 

who are knowledgeable and entertaining and 

in some smaller vineyards you may even get 

the owner or winemaker. Visitors will take 

away a great memory and new experience. 

Some vineyards are now working closely 

together to promote their region and enhance 

other local attractions and amenities. Check 

out Kent’s Wine Garden of England; Sussex 

Wineries; Vineyards of Hampshire; Vineyards 

of the Surrey Hills to name but a few - there 

will soon be a Yorkshire wine trail too. 

So let’s enjoy a summer of English wine 

… in a country that sells one of the widest 

ranges of wines across the globe, the wines 

produced on our doorstep are a noteworthy 

success story and worth celebrating. Now 

surely that is something to raise a glass to - 

cheers! 

For more information on English Wine Week 

and Welsh Wine Week, visit www.winegb. 

co.uk. The website also lists the vineyards 

of Great Britain and provides plenty of 

background information on English and 

Welsh wines. There are now also a number 

of great books and guides for the wine 

enthusiast. 

Wine styles in Great Britain 

Sparkling wines account for about two-thirds 

of the country’s total wine production and 

a style that is leading the UK’s reputation 

for producing high quality wines. Most are 

produced from the same varieties grown in 

Champagne (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and 

Pinot Meunier). Their finesse and longevity 

are proving themselves year upon year 

on the world stage in blind tastings and 

competitions, and even Champagne houses 

are investing in England - proof of the 

confidence in this wine country and its future. 

The UK’s still wines are also worth 

discovering. Grape varieties such as 

Bacchus, Pinot Gris, Pinot and Chardonnay 

are producing styles of wines to delight the 

palate, as well as other aromatic and new 

varieties that thrive in Britain’s cool climate. 

The result is a great range of styles from 

dry to medium dry whites, refreshing rosé, 

luscious dessert wines and fruity reds. 

42

MEET THE 

FOODIE 

Binixa (Bini) Ludlow, 

Owner, Sweet Cumin and 

Bini Fine Foods Ltd 

We are a nation of curry lovers but few of us know how to 

make authentic, fresh curries. What do you cover in your 

courses? 

Authentic curries are made with fresh ingredients such as 

spices, vegetables to name a few. The courses cover spice 

tasting so that the cooks understand how they taste, learn about 

blending of the spices, so that when they cook with them and 

understand what flavours they are going to achieve. 

I then teach the cooks how to cook curries from meat dishes, 

vegetarian dishes and vegan, prepare and cook the perfect 

spiced rice, create and develop flavour is the key during the 

cooking process, tasty salads, how to make chapatis from 

scratch and hints and tips of how to prepare ingredients to 

minimise food wastage. 

I run a range of half day sessions to full day courses throughout 

the week day and occasional Saturdays. All the courses are 

hands on and suitable for all ability levels. Gift vouchers are also 

available and make ideal presents. 

Thai dishes with the use of clever spicing, the perfect balance 

of ingredient has made Bini curries very popular. Every dish 

tastes different. All gluten free. I now stock the range in farm 

shops, garden centres, food halls and amazing delis across the 

southwest, as far as Suffolk, and the Midlands. 

Find out more at www.sweetcumin.co.uk 

Your love of Gujarati cooking is evident - why do you love 

teaching? 

Teaching is a passion - I was a qualified secondary school 

teacher for 15 years before I left the profession to start Sweet 

Cumin. I love meeting people who are keen to learn how to a 

proper curry. The youngest cook has been 5 years old to the 

oldest 89 years old. Everyone who books onto a session may 

come from different backgrounds, countries but they have one 

thing in common, is that they love curry. 

Cooks go away inspired, they can feel nervous excitement 

to start, settled with a cuppa, they go through the cookery 

course learning traditional cookery techniques and leave with 

confidence, more knowledge and feeling enthused. They love 

the food they have created, the feedback is positive. It’s like 

having friends over for dinner, but they cook it themselves. 

As part of the courses we sit and enjoy the food they have 

made. I teach them how to eat rice with their fingers which is 

entertaining. 

Can you tell us a little more about your readymeals and 

where to buy them? 

I started cooking the Bini ready meals because a friend who 

had just retired from teaching wanted to eat homecooked Indian 

food. We would meet up in Bath, go for a coffee and catch 

up on each other’s news and exchange money for curry. The 

feedback was amazing. So I started selling them from my home 

and my neighbours and others around me began to come and 

buy them. I entered food awards and with winning Gold for taste 

of the West. Since then, I have won 12 Great Taste awards and 

champion product awards, sent the food to Buckingham palace 

and cooked for events such as the ICC world cup cricket with 

Somerset County Cricket. Wow who would have thought £200 

start-up small business would achieve so much. 

The range consists of 10 of the best curries you need. All family 

recipes and authentic to the Gujarat region of India. They all tell 

a story. The Gujarat region is famous for its vegetarian / vegan 

Hands on cooking 

for all abilities 

Vegetarian and 

gluten free 

cooking 

Learn to spice 

with confidence 

Bini set up Sweet Cumin in 2011 

and she now runs a broad range of 

half and full day cookery classes 

to suit all abilities. Hosted at Bini’s 

charming country home in Somerset, 

class attendees can expect a 

personalised, hands-on experience, 

in a supportive environment. With 

class sizes set at a maximum of four 

people – attendees are guaranteed 

to learn with absolute confidence. 

www.sweetcumin.co.uk 

07961 320193 bini@sweetcumin.co.uk

It's official, playing golf is 

good for your health! 

But just what are those benefits and how can playing 

the game help improve people’s lives while also stopping 

diseases? 

There have been various studies looking 

into how beneficial a round of golf can be 

to your health and mind. One such study, 

which has been a catalyst for others to 

follow, was carried out by the Swedish 

medical university in 2008. 

The study, produced by the Karolinksa 

Institute in Stockholm, showed that from 

data collected from 300,000 Swedish 

players, the death rate amongst golfers 

was 40 per cent less compared to the 

rest of the population. This equates to an 

increased life expectancy of five years. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

In a nine-hole round of golf, a player will 

walk two to three miles, take over 5,000 

steps and burn over 450 calories. 

In 2016, researchers at The University 

of Edinburgh, led by Dr Andrew Murray, 

conducted the most comprehensive 

study of golf and health. 

is recommended by the World Health 

Organisation for its key role in improving 

life expectancy, helping prevent over 40 

major chronic diseases such as type 2 

diabetes, heart attacks and strokes and 

improving mental health.” 

Golf can provide regular exercise to 

prevent a person’s chances of getting 

type 2 diabetes by up to 40 per cent, 

while studies specific to the game show 

beneficial effects on blood sugar. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

Walking 2.5 hours per week reduces the 

risk of having a heart attack by 30-40 

per cent. 

It is now known to prevent cardiovascular 

disease, which is responsible for over 30 

per cent of worldwide deaths per year. It 

is also considered to be a suitable activity 

for cardiac and stroke rehabilitation 

patients. 

At the 2014 Ryder Cup, more than 20,000 

spectators tagged themselves at all 

checkpoints locations at Gleneagles in 

England, meaning they had walked five 

miles each. 

“It is important to hear that spectators 

not only see some of the best sporting 

theatre on earth, but can potentially 

gain health benefits themselves,” said 

Stephen Gethins MP, Chairperson for the 

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf. 

As well as physical and health benefits, 

golf also provides a key social element 

for players of all ages and abilities. 

It doesn’t matter about your age, ability or 

gender, the golf course is a social place 

and provides people with down-time, 

away from the stress of work. 

So, when you’re next out on the course, 

make sure you spread the word; along 

with its many other benefits, perhaps 

most importantly, golf is good for your 

health and well-being. 

The review found that golfers live longer 

than non-golfers, while playing the game 

improves cholesterol levels and body 

composition, while also appearing to 

improve wellness and self-confidence. 

The study also highlighted golf is 

expected to decrease the risk of more 

than 40 major chronic diseases. 

Dr Andrew commented: “Golf provides 

moderate intensity physical activity, which 

Golf is unique in that spectators can 

potentially enjoy the same health benefits 

when they attend an event as those 

playing in them. 

In 2017, it was found that fans who go to 

watch their favourite sporting heroes at 

an event averaged 11,589 steps per day, 

with just under 83 per cent achieving their 

recommended daily step-count (10,000). 

44

RENEW 

Refresh 

RENOVATE 

Spring is a time of rebirth and it makes 

sense that it’s a period to think about 

changes we want to make in the home. 

Whether your ambitions are large or small 

in scale, here’s some inspiration to get you 

going on your transformation... 

Ian Snow Dark 

Green Floral 

Velvet Cushion, 

topdrawer.co.uk 

desenio.co.uk 

RENEW your soft furnishings. 

Some strong trends to emerge this 

season are hand-printed monochromes 

and really textural, woven pieces with a 

Scandi-boho vibe. 

Throws and blankets are great to mix 

up the look when seasons change. A 

new rug can really change a space too 

- uniting furniture and making a space 

more cohesive. 

Leopard Velvet Cushion, £50, 

frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 

Petra Cushion Cover, 

£33 and Floor Cushion 

£109, both with free P&P, 

hauslife.co.uk 

If you don’t want to buy new cushions or 

throws, simply swapping pieces between 

rooms can have a similar renewing effect. 

Clockwise from top left: Electra Block 

Print Cushion, £29.95; Seascape In 

Dusk Rug, 160cm x 230cm, £1288, 

abigailedwards.com; Himmeli Wool Blanket, 

£105,cloudberryliving.co.uk; Herringbone 

Linen Throw, £119.99, truelinen.co.uk 

Lola Burnt Orange Velvet 

Armchair £520; Frau Eule 

Velvet Cushion £65; Chevron 

Sienna Patterned Rug From 

£199; Pink Quartz Side Table 

£262, all audenza.com 

46

Dobbies 

REFRESH your walls with some new 

prints. Never underestimate the transformative 

power of art! Get some favourite posters, 

postcards or even fabrics framed or invest in 

some new, fun eye candy for the walls - it’s cheap 

but effective! 

We love Desenio’s vast range of posters, with 

options for framed, unframed and mounted 

finishes. From £3.95, desenio.co.uk 

RENOVATE by bringing 

the outside in. Try to create connected 

spaces, either by echoing flooring 

choices in the home and the patio, or 

using complementary furniture styles 

as you’ll see in the home. 

Some experts estimate that bi-folding 

doors can add around 5-10% to the 

resale valuation of a property, so 

if you’re thinking about renovation 

changes, glazing is a good investment 

which will also improve the way you 

use the space in the interim. Metal 

Crittall doors also make a fabulous 

statement when paired with other 

black glazing and fixtures. 

Left: Linen Viscose 

Mix Curtains In Denim, 

loomandlast.com and below: 

Plantation Shutters from Just 

Shutters, justshutters.co.uk 

REFRESH your window 

treatments. Whether you add a new 

blind or a new set of curtains, or 

even add new trims to you existing 

dressings, it can make a space feel 

wholly different. If you’re looking 

for a larger-scale change with a 

big impact, shutters are a fabulous 

choice - we love the plantation style 

ones - you can really shut the world 

out come evening! 

47

RENEW your light fixtures 

and room hardware for an instant 

update. Multi-level lighting makes 

a huge impact, as does a new 

pendant light in the centre of the 

room - these are impact points 

and lighting will help guide the 

eye around the room. Matching 

lightswitches and sockets help the 

final feel of the room, making it more 

‘pulled-together’. 

Glass & Velvet 

Lamp, £175, 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Pontoon Picture 

Light, £111, 

darlighting.co.uk 

Juliet Table Light, £69, 

atkinandthyme.co.uk 

Midi 3 Light Bar Pendant 

Black, £84, darlighting.co.uk 

Double Socket, £34.99 and 

Quadruple Toggle Switch, £35.99, 

dowsingandreynolds.com 

Volcano 5 

Light Pendant 

Gold, £594, 

darlighting.co.uk 

MULTI-DIMENSIONAL 

CLEANING 

VAX are market leaders in the cordless cleaning 

industry and their latest releases certainly have 

us excited (and yes, it’s totally ok to get excited 

about vacuums). 

TIP: QUICK WINS 

When you’re feeling overwhelmed 

by mess, try just one of these 

quick wins: 

First up is the Glide ONEPWR Hard Floor 

Cleaner (£249) is a god-send if you have mostly 

hard floors in the home - it vacuums, washes 

and dries at the same time and kills 99.9% of 

bacteria. It’s built-in LED light helps you spot dirt 

and its lightweight design makes it easy to use. 

For carpeted areas and furniture, the new 

ONEPWR Blade 4 (£219.99) is a great choice. 

At only 3.1kg it’s light enough to use all over 

the house and still offers unrivalled suction 

- it outperforms the UK’s top 3 best-selling 

cordless vacuums. 

The main advantage to all of these products 

is the ONEPWR battery that is fully shareable 

across the products, which means you can buy 

two if you like to extend run-time, or you can 

share batteries between ‘bare units’, products 

without batteries - saving money. 

Both available from www.vax.co.uk 

REFRESH with a deep clean. We all 

know how satisfying it is to spring clean and 

being thorough is the name of the game - pull 

out furniture, wipe down all surfaces (including 

skirting boards, light switches, shelves etc), and 

get scrubbing. Brabantia have a great range 

of products to keep you on top of your kitchen 

tidiness game - we love the silcone dish drainer 

which folds away and the food caddy to help you 

keep food waste recylcing tidy and odour free. 

Go through your dresser and 

choose one drawer. Take 

everything out and refold and stack. 

Choose one collection (athletic 

equipment, tools, cleaning supplies, 

etc.) and declutter. Toss or recycle 

anything you no longer use. 

Vacuum your car. 

Install hooks in your garage. 

Use them to hang beach chairs, 

tools, or bikes. 

Declutter the tops drawer of 

your night table. Dust, tidy, and 

purge your night table of anything 

you no longer need. 

Walk around your home and 

gather light bulbs, batteries, 

and stamps. Make sure you store 

these in the same spot so you 

don’t buy more than you need. 

Go through one file drawer and 

declutter. Recycle old papers, 

shred credit card statements, and 

refile anything out of place. 

Store your receipts. Sit at your 

desk, open your wallet, and input 

receipts into your filing system. 

Do a clutter sweep. Sit on the 

couch in your living room and 

notice any distracting piles. 

Declutter. 

Recycle some electronics. Do 

you have an older item (television, 

gaming system, or VCR) that 

you’re not sure how to recycle? 

Find your item, and schedule a 

time to recycle it 

48

TIP: PROJECT SCALER 

Looking to refresh the kitchen or bathroom? 

From simple steps to overhauls, here are 

some ideas: 

RENOVATE the larger spaces - 

these are not small decisions, but transforming 

the bathroom or kitchen will have a dramatic 

impact on the way you feel in your home. 

EASY: 

Repaint the walls. 

Re-tile the backsplashes. 

Change the blinds or window dressings. 

Buy new accessories. 

Replace handles and knobs. 

Hang some art. 

MEDIUM: 

Invest in new flooring. 

Replace door and drawer fronts. 

Replace worktops and surfaces. 

HARD: 

Bathroom or kitchen refurb - new base units 

or sanitaryware. 

Reconfigure space with advice from designer. 

Annie Sloan Paints 

REFRESH with a declutter. 

Streamline your space to 

make an instant improvement and 

thoroughly comb through cupboards 

and drawers, recycling items you 

no longer use and grouping similar 

pieces together so you can find them 

in a hurry. 

Collection from Dunelm 

We love Brabantia’s handy Linn 

Clothes rack (£144). Organize, air and 

dry your clothes in style - perfect in the 

guest room or utility. This free-standing 

clothing rack with solid bamboo rod 

and two adjustable shelves is as 

stylish as it is functional.Combine 

open storage like this with collections 

of decorative baskets and boxes for a 

contemporary take on storage. 

Pom Pom 

Basket, 

rexlondon.com 

REFRESH your walls with a 

change in colour. This is probably the 

quickest way to breathe new life into 

a room - not only could you introduce 

new colour, but even a refresh of 

existing paintwork can eliminate 

scuffs and marks. 

Colour trends this year haven’t taken 

a huge step away from last - expect 

to see vibrant coral and sky blue, but 

also lots of lovely pastels and neutrals 

like camel, olive green, blush, off 

white and sage green. 

Paints, clockwise from top left - Spruce Things Up, 

dowsingandreynolds.com; Dulux Smooth Maple, dulux.co.uk; 

First Light (blush pink) benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk; Polar Bear 

Selfie, dowsingandreynolds.com; Coral Mix Using Tilton And 

Emperor’s Silk, anniesloan.com; Dulux Tranquilty Dawn, dulux. 

co.uk; B&Q’s GoodHome Cincinnati Paint, diy.com 

49

Rust-Oleum 

Slate Satin 

Furniture paint 

750ml, £14 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris 

Grey and Old Violet, anniesloan. 

com and registered stockists 

TIP: REPAINTING HANDLES 

We were a little sceptical about this too, especially in 

the kitchen, but we’ve found a good workable solution. 

The key is priming the handles properly - especially 

if they’re metal. We like Rust-Oleum’s All Purpose 

Priming spray followed by your chosen spray paint. In a 

recent renovation, we paired the Satin Finish Furniture 

paint above in Slate with painted handles in Rust- 

Oleum Gold Spray Paint - the end result was beautiful 

and thanks to the priming, the coat was even. 

Extra Tip: to make spray painting easier, stick handles 

into a Styrofoam block 

Clockwise from top 

left: Navy Rye Snuggler 

and Saltdean Portland 

Velvet Rosewood Chair, 

both sofasandstuff. 

com; Muuto Outline 

2 Seater Sofa, £3049, 

somedaydesigns.co.uk 

Rust-Oleum 

Metallic 

Spray Paint, 

£11, diy.com 

RENEW by making unloved kitchen 

cupboards look new again with a coat of 

paint. The beauty of paint is its changeability, 

so you can pick some more ‘trendy’ colours 

without worrying about longevity. Replacing 

the worktops is a great solution too - wood, 

laminate, quartz, granite, marble or composite 

materials all look good against painted units. 

If your doors are past the salvageable 

point, or are too old-fashioned, you 

could save money by buying new doors 

and tops, and keeping the existing 

units. This can have a dramatic effect 

and can look like a whole new kitchen. 

REFRESH your furniture. If you 

still love the frame of your sofa, chairs or 

bed, then look into re-upholstery to breathe 

new life into it. If you’ve moved house and 

the shape doesn’t work any more or simply 

need a change, you could donate your old 

sofa to charity and check out some of these 

fabulous designs... 

Oriental Black Floral 

Headboard, £475, 

rockettstgeorge.co.uk; 

Kingsley Headboard, £550, 

laresidenceinteriors.co.uk 

TIP: SMALL SCALE 

Rather than replacing your whole 

bed, consider just replacing the 

headboard. You can still get that 

new impact you are after, but with 

less upheaval and cost. 

Sofas & Stuff 

50

keeping it in the 

family - C E keeble 

C E Keeble Ltd are a local 

building and joinery firm with 

a good reputation and a loyal 

customer base... 

The joinery produces hand-crafted quality pieces which will last 

for decades – windows, doors, staircases, gates, furniture… 

Everything is done in-house, from the initial customer visit to 

discuss the project, through to delivery and fitting by our skilled 

carpenters. 

A recent testimonial from one of customers speaks for itself: 

“ 

CE Keeble did a great job for us and were 

professional throughout. They arrived 

to quote when agreed, provided a quote 

within a few days, started the work 

on the agreed date, finished within the 

agreed time, left everywhere clean and 

tidy but most importantly our new porch 

is lovely. We will be using them again 

and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. 

“ 

As a small local firm costs are kept down so the customer can have 

quality work without the huge price tag of the big national companies. 

If you are planning a project this year give C E Keeble a call. 

Office: 01823 412652 

Joinery: 07815 967818 

Email: info@cekeebleltd.co.uk 

Website: www.cekeebleltd.co.uk 

Don’t get left in the cold this winter, speak with CHG about boiler 

servicing 

With the colder months approaching why not get prepared and take 

out one of our Service Plans 

• Guaranteed to attend to callout within 24 hours 

• Includes annual service of boiler 

• Exclusive discounts on further works 

• Cost can be spread monthly, starting at £8.03 per month 

For all enquiries call 01308 420170 or visit 

chgsouthwest.com 

51

WEST COUNTRY GUNS 

01984 623 829 

www.wcgsporting.co.uk 

9 The Square, Wiveliscombe, Somerset TA4 2JT 

Independent advisers and retailers of new and used guns 

with a good range of shooting accessories and cartridges. 

The best selection of country clothing and footwear in the 

area. We are able to offer an extensive range for men, ladies 

and children, as well as a variety of country themed gifts. 

52

Mike Colwill Contracting offers you all types of 

building, carpentry and painting services in Somerset. 

We take care of: 

• Building services 

• Home improvement 

services 

• Renovations 

• Joinery 

• Flooring 

• Kitchens 

• Bathrooms 

• Painting and much more 

Aerial & Satellite Installation 

& Aerial Repair Services 

SAME DAY SERVICE 

FREE ESTIMATES 

NO HIDDEN COSTS 

LOCAL, FAMILY-RUN 

BUSINESS SINCE 2000 

We offer free quotes on all our services and make 

customer satisfaction our priority. We are also 

available for contractual work for projects of all sizes. 

mike@mikecolwillcontracting.co.uk 

07814 143 799 

01823 325930 | aerialcaresouthwest@gmail.com 

toneaerials.co.uk 

enquiries@countryknoleinteriors.com 

www.countryknoleinteriors.co.uk 

Specialist Interior 

Design Services 

Refurbishment 

Project 

Management 

For Residential 

and Commercial 

Interiors 

Made to measure 

handmade 

Curtains & blinds 

Measure and Fit 

Service 

Furniture 

Loose covers 

Re-upholstery 

service 

Heatherton Park Studios, 

Bradford on Tone, Taunton TA4 1EU 

Telephone number 01823 461189 

Studio Open Tues-Thursday 10-4pm, Fridays and Saturdays by appointment. 

53

TAUNTON 

Priorswood Industrial Estate, Units 1-2, Merlin Industrial Park, 

Venture Way, Taunton TA2 8DG 

Tel: 01823 334 723 E-mail: taunton@howdens.com

modern & 

timeless style 

at heart 

Ross Mcmillian speaks about 

Howdens Joinery’s free home survey 

and how it helps their customers get 

a better feel of space and talk about 

all aspects of a kitchen... 

We offer a free home survey to our 

customers for us to get a better feel 

of space and go through a check list 

covering all aspects in a kitchen. Not 

only to find out what they like but also to 

find out what they dislike to make it more 

personal to the customer. 

For example a question I like to ask the 

customer is; 

‘What is your favourite colour?’ 

So when it comes to the presentation I 

can throw in a splash of colour whether 

it’s in the frontals or using vibrant colours 

from our range of coloured backboards 

to go round the kitchen or just a small 

feature. I’ve had some customers put 

up their own art work in behind the hobs 

covered by our clear glass splashback for 

protection, again making it more personal 

to them. 

We open our doors to everyone and 

would invite anyone in to have a tour 

around the depot. Once customers come 

through our doors not only do we like to 

show them around our showroom but I 

also like to take them into the warehouse 

to show them how we operate behind 

the scenes and that everything we sell is 

in stock. 

We also have a presentation room with 

a 70” touch control TV where we sit our 

customers down with a cuppa enjoying 

the 3D design experience getting a better 

visual of how their kitchen can look 

making the changes as we go along. 

Since the Great British Bake Off has been 

on our screens what’s proving to be a big 

hit for us is the NEFF slide and hide oven. 

For me personally I went for the pyrolytic 

oven which is self cleaning giving me one 

less job to do at home. 

Trends are changing all the time but at 

the moment for modern kitchens the 

linear look is a big trend setter with 

straight clean lines and simplicity in our 

new Balham range. 

If you’re not one for modern we offer 

a wide range from Shaker to Universal 

kitchen ranges with a timeless style. 

HOWDENS WELLINGTON 

01823 200 100 

wellington@howdens.com 

Block 5 Unit C, Westpark 26, 

Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9AD 

HOWDENS TAUNTON: 

01823 334 723 

taunton@howdens.com 

Priorswood Industrial Estate, Units 1-2, 

Merlin Industrial Park, Venture Way, 

Taunton TA2 8DG 

55


every Blackdown hut 

has a story 

what will yours be? 

Established in 2011 in Ilminster, from 

humble roots Blackdown Shepherd 

Huts have become one of the leading 

shepherd hut manufacturers in the 

country, building bespoke and high-end 

luxury living spaces... 

From their Artisan Self-Build Huts for the 

craftsman, through to opulent fully fitted 

Brace Huts for hotels and glampsites, 

these distinct huts are often seen 

being carried to their destinations on 

the country roads. They have become 

well-known in Britain and across the 

globe for their high-quality product and 

outstanding customer journey. 

From the outset quality has always been 

a core value of the business as Creator, 

Will Vickery says, “we would rather 

explain the cost of quality than apologize 

for anything less”. This ideology runs 

right through their business model. From 

the design and creation of the shepherd 

huts to their signature features like their 

wall-bed. 

Crafted with materials sourced locally 

and from trusted suppliers, the versatile 

space in a Blackdown Modular Turnkey 

Hut includes a tranquil dining nook which 

transforms with a dreamy wall-bed for 

guests to relax and lay their heavy heads 

whilst looking up at the stars through 

the aptly named stargazer; another 

signature feature designed with quality 

and the users experience in mind. Built 

into the curve of the roof, the stargazer 

provides an idyllic place for guests to 

stay connected to the outdoors from the 

warmth and comfort of the wall-bed with 

the crackling fire as their only soundtrack. 

Blackdown Shepherd Hut’s customer 

experience is just as high end as their 

shepherd huts. Your dream becomes a 

reality as soon as your customer journey 

starts. With a cup of tea in their office 

just ten minutes away from Taunton, 

where you’ll unload your ideas with Alan 

the customer relationship manager, who 

will work with you to make your vision of 

that extra space for the family to stay, a 

glamping business to bridge the gap of 

that early retirement, or a bolt hole at the 

bottom of the garden, take shape with a 

Blackdown Shepherd Hut. 

01460 929774 

blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk 

Photo © Matt Sweeting Photography 

56

Beautiful bespoke 

kitchens & furniture 

The Old Yard, Logge Farm, West Street, South Petherton TA13 5DJ 

T: 01460 241261 | www.eternalkitchens.co.uk

ustic town house 

Looking into a client profile with Eternal Kitchens... 


Our recent commission was to produce 

a kitchen that combined the traditional 

character of the property with new and 

contemporary practical living. 

We sourced a beautiful antique butcher 

block to add a traditional statement and 

combined with the pale quartz we think 

looks great. 

Adding in beautiful ceramic floor tiles 

from mandarin stone help set off the 

Mylands ‘Bond Street’ paint specified 

for the island. Beautiful Zellige tiles 

from Mosaic Del Sur add charm and 

understated elegance behind the Aga. 

Feature lighting was used from Jim 

Lawrence to add a traditional feel 

softening the chimney breast yet also 

adding task lighting. 

Rustic 

For more information contact Eternal 

Kitchens: 

Tel: 01460 241261 

Web: Eternalkitchens.co.uk 

Email: info@eternalkitchens.co.uk 

Town 

H ouse 

Mylands ‘Bond 

Street’ Paint 

Lighting 

Zellige Tiles 

Details 

Wall Paint 

59

We meet 

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Designer, artist and WIT 

60 

Sally Thomson was recently invited to the beautiful Cotswolds home of 

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to find out more about his latest wallpaper 

range, the creativity behind his work and how he gets his inspiration 

from William Morris... 

Sally: Your lovely late father was a 

surgeon and your mother was a teacher, 

what made you choose to go into the arts? 

Laurence: Because I really didn’t want to 

be a surgeon and I really didn’t want to 

be a teacher! When my father died it was 

so tragic. I was only nine and he was so 

eminent and it was so embarrassing being 

kind of patted on the head with people 

saying ‘Oh you are going to take after 

your father’. Just the idea of surgery was 

just so abhorrent! Not that I’m particularly 

squeamish. Actually I’m often drawn to the 

nastier sorts of 14th century alter pieces, 

where there’s a lot of cutting up saints! But 

my sister is a doctor so it is definitely in 

the blood. I actually always wanted to be 

a barrister. It was very simple, ever since I 

was very young and it was only when the 

absolute reality of how much work it would 

require hit me at about sixteen that I thought 

no. I was intellectually quite successful 

at school and so there was an enormous 

shockwave when I suddenly decided 

that I was going to do art instead which 

is something that I never considered as 

something that I was here to do. 

You appeared on ‘Who Do You Think You 

Are’ and you discovered more about your 

grandparents. 

It was the dullest ‘Who Do You Think 

You Are’ ever. And I did say to them that 

unfortunately I am the most interesting thing 

in my family! 

So your great grandfather being blown up 

by a U-boat didn’t count? 

Actually he was quite interesting. He 

was a very exotic and powerful person, I 

remember him very clearly and he died 

when I was about four. Very commanding 

and very elegant. He also had a reputation 

for being very over-perfumed! But he got 

sunk in both world wars! He was obviously 

completely and utterly indestructible. He also 

ended up getting a medal from the mayor of 

Nagasaki right in the middle of the second 

world war; when we were at war with Japan! 

He saved an entire crew of Japanese 

merchant shipmen and rowed them ashore 

himself. So it was all very bemusing. But 

I remember my mother said to me during 

filming: ‘Never be part of somebody else’s 

dynasty, start your own.’ After my father died 

and when she became very ill she became 

very feisty about stuff. She was inevitably 

very protective of us as children. And it was 

difficult for her as her family felt that she 

was not fit to bring us up and wanted to step 

in and even social services were sniffing 

around. 

You went to Camberwell College of Arts 

is that where you found your passion for 

interior design? 

No. I went to Camberwell to do the 

foundation course without having a clear 

idea yet of what I wanted to do. In fact at that 

stage, at the interview stage they felt I was 

better suited to the illustration course. But 

actually I felt very strongly whilst doing the 

foundation course that I wanted to do fine 

art, to do painting. This was because I was 

very aware of the quite crushing snobbery 

that was happening in the art market, which 

is that if you were a painter/fine artist you 

could go on and do whatever you wanted, 

such as stage design or illustration. You 

brought an enormous amount of kudos with 

you if you did that. But if you specialised as 

an illustrator you would never be able to do 

fine art. 

But fine art must have been very difficult 

to break into? 

It was very difficult, I had to totally change 

because up until that point I am ashamed 

to say I was quite arrogant about my art. 

I know you will find this very difficult to 

believe! But I always had a phenomenal 

facility to draw, I could draw very well and 

very effortlessly. But too stylistically. So half 

way through I had to pretend that I liked 

doing things the way they liked to, you know 

with the little scratchy marks and making 

paintings very dank and brown. So I did all 

of that to get to get onto the fine art course, 

which I did, and then immediately threw off 

the cloak and went back to my monumental 

neo-classical nudes in blousy landscapes, 

which I think annoyed the feminist 

movement in Camberwell! I used to say 

‘For goodness sake, I am celebrating these 

women, look at them, they are goddesses!’ 

Nudes are history and truths. 

continued

So when did your first break come in TV? 

Well, I was on Magpie when I was a child! 

I know! That was very difficult though 

because my father had removed the ITV 

button so that we couldn’t watch ITV, so he 

had to find it again so that he could watch 

me in it. I remember my parents being very 

disapproving, saying ‘Why couldn’t you 

go on Blue Peter?’. Magpie was just too 

funky! They all wore flares and had regional 

accents. 

But then you got into it, and along came 

other programmes, such as Changing 

Rooms etc? 

As soon as I left college I was on the 

edge of a lot of media stuff. I had a very 

successful degree show and sold paintings 

to people like Adam Ant and Terry Jones. 

I was with the Crucial Gallery in Notting 

Hill who were very, very fashionable. So I 

actually ended up doing some weird stuff 

like advertising work in Japan, but that’s 

when I had a kind of scene change and 

decided I didn’t want to do any of that at 

all, and went off and spent three years 

marketing rubber flooring. Because I just felt 

like it. I actually really enjoyed it, and I really 

enjoyed the responsibility of it. But after 

three years I started looking around at what 

I really wanted to do. I had done so many 

different things at college and I had done 

a lot of interior design, but I had also done 

an enormous amount of stage design and I 

was very keen on that. I’m still keen on that 

now! But I sort of trickled into interiors really 

through styling committee parties and then 

I’d be asked to design a conservatory and 

things went from there. And I was literally 

plucked from that to do a screen test for 

the BBC for something they were calling 

‘Changing Rooms’. And the rest they say 

is history. 

We must talk about your new wallpaper. 

How did that happen? 

Well, similarly to when you were asking 

about the television break, one of the 

defining moments was Changing Rooms, 

which is funny because I was quite grumpy 

about doing it. I was very busy and I had a 

lot of stuff going on but I filmed it. But it did 

have a disastrous effect on my business. I 

had a really lovely coterie of about eight or 

nine repeat clients who were terribly discreet 

and very wealthy. It started getting irritating 

when I would turn up for a site meeting and 

there would be paparazzi, and so one-byone 

I started getting those ‘it’s not you, it’s 

me’ telephone calls from clients, who would 

say that they love my work but they can’t 

cope with it all. But it was actually my wife 

Jackie who came up with this idea of ‘if 

everybody in the world is watching television 

then lets sell to everybody in the world. 

Let’s work with B&Q, Homebase, House of 

Fraser. Let’s create licensed products’. 

Your latest design of wallpapers are 

exquisite. The intricacy of some of these 

designs is absolutely beautiful. How do 

you set about creating that? 

Well, this is the big thing because it’s now 

twenty years since we actually launched 

this and it’s been incredibly successful and 

actually that’s what I want on my tombstone! 

I don’t want ‘that bloke off the telly’. I want 

‘Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen - Designer’. 

That’s what I do. But for the twentieth 

anniversary of the brand I wanted to have 

something really very authoritative. 

When you create that design, the 

bit I don’t get is how you turn it into 

wallpaper. How does that work? And 

where do you create them? At home? 

Largely on planes! My rider, you would 

expect snow leopards and lilies, actually 

consists of Epsom salts, gin and a drawing 

board. Very monastic! Everything starts as 

a drawing, which I will do wherever I am 

(which can even sometimes be in the lounge 

of an airport, should inspiration strike!). 

Sometimes I’ll come back from being away 

with an enormous portfolio of drawings, but 

more often than not I’ll photograph them 

on my phone and send them to the design 

office and then they put them into repeat. 

I’ll always design with repeat in mind. The 

repeat is the clever thing because I suppose 

the big thing is that there’s always an innate 

homage to William Morris in everything I do. 

We recently went to the Jane Austin 

Museum. The wallpaper was so bright, it 

was not what I expected. 

We always think of the Georgian period as 

being wonderfully understated and rather 

pastel-hued. But no, it was vulgar as hell! If 

they could get it bright yellow they certainly 

would! But it’s very interesting with wallpaper 

because I think it is quintessentially a 

British product. It sort of doesn’t really exist 

anywhere else. It’s because it’s a very easily 

read symbol of the middle class. In France 

or Italy or anywhere else where there was 

no middle class you would have real silk on 

the walls. 

You have bedding and wallpaper in the 

Signature range is that correct? 

We’ve got beds, we’ve got furniture but the 

wallpaper I always see as being the flagship 

of my style. 

Going back to art, what do you think of 

our local boy, Banksy? 

We actually share an art dealer! It’s very 

interesting because I think there is a very 

pronounced movement now for art to 

become a lot more interesting and a lot 

more readable. I think the art of the 80s and 

90s, the Brit Art movement, and actually a 

lot of late 20th century art was deliberately 

over-intellectual. I think a lot of people would 

go into a contemporary art gallery and think 

‘yeah, okay’. It’s almost that feeling of ‘I can 

do that’. But stick them in front of one that 

everyone goes crazy for, Leighton’s Flaming 

June and you would say ‘Oh my god!’ You 

know, that’s one of the best paintings in the 

world. And we do love them and I think there 

is a real return to a level of craftsmanship. I 

mean, Banksy doesn’t really do a lot himself. 

He has a huge studio that create these 

things. But then, so did Rodin, and so did 

Rembrandt. But then you’ve also got people 

like Grayson Perry, who I think is very 

interesting as well and his work is, unusually, 

every bit as interesting as him. 

You have a place in Cornwall don’t you? 

Do you paint when you go down there? 

We have, in Port Issac. But no, I wish! I 

tend not to do any work. When we first went 

there, a long time ago, I used to do a lot of 

landscape work there, and I do love it as 

somewhere for inspiration. 

Left: Lawrence’s original drawing ‘Club 

Tropicana’, Middle: the finished printed 

wallpaper, Below: Lawerence’s Aspen 

Headboard with Monoglam bedlinen. 

Selected wallpapers are available from 

the Llewelyn-Bowen Signature Collection 

at Wallpaperdirect.com 

61

Children: getting them 

interested in gardening 

Here our resident gardener and radio personality, Matt Biggs 

aka The People’s Gardener, explains the benefits of getting 

children involved in the garden and how it provides them with 

skills to help their development. 

You and your children will enjoy every stage of the process. We 

hear a lot about children not knowing where their food comes from 

and, of course, if we don’t give them the info then, with all of the 

distractions of modern living, it is not surprising if they think a chip 

comes from the freezer aisle and kohlrabi is a character in the latest 

Star Wars film! 

Gardening for kids is just such a great thing - exercise, knowledge, 

fun and hopefully an interest that will last them a lifetime, what more 

do we need? Many garden centres offer kids activity days, whether 

that is pumpkin carving, seed sowing or making animals out of fruit 

and veg. there is a lot you can get them involved with and much of it 

is free too. Many garden centres have clubs for children, and this is 

a good option if you have one near to you. It is good for socialising 

and excellent for learning the basics and having fun. 

If you have a garden marking them out their own space is an easy 

thing to do. It gives them a sense of responsibility and you can 

make a bug hotel out of recycled bits and bobs, plan to grow some 

herbs or mini veg, write down their favourite colours and hunt 

through plant catalogues or online for suitable plants to match. 

There are lots of skills involved in all of these activities, from maths 

- how many plants do we need for the space, to practical skills 

in making things, to research and planning skills - so one small 

space can lead to a lot of learning! If you have a local country 

show or fayre there will probably be a few children’s classes in that 

too - making a miniature garden or a dinosaur from fruit and veg. 

whatever it is take advantage of it - country 

shows are a great day out! 

So, having got the kids organised it is time 

to do our own planning for summer, whether 

you have a window box, a court-yard or 

acres of space there is summer colour for 

every option. If you are fortunate enough to 

have a greenhouse then you can start early and bring on your own 

plants, you can share with neighbours or garden clubs which is a 

very economical way of gardening or you can visit your local nursery 

or garden centre to see what choices are available - and there is a 

lot of choice. 

Every year Chelsea highlights a new favourite plant or colour 

scheme, gardening magazines and books have so many ideas 

- one of the most pleasurable jobs in the year is planning your 

garden - and then - best bit of all, enjoying the fruits of your labour! 

To discover more about Matt and his books please 

visit www.mattbiggs.com 

62

64 

CALL: 07771 666938

Alan Titchmarsh... 

on some of his favourite things 

Sally Thomson recently had 

a chat with Alan Titchmarsh 

MBE, DL, HonFSE and 

discussed some of the many 

passions he enjoys - extending 

far beyond gardening. 

He has written more than forty 

gardening books, memoirs and 

his latest creation is a book on 

poetry which illustrates the love 

he has for not just plants, but 

all of life... 

You still do Saturday mornings on 

Classic FM. Of all the music that 

you enjoy, what is your favourite? 

It’s fairly classic, although I like a lot 

of stuff! Whether it’s Handel or Mozart 

or Tchaikovsky. It’s part of my life. I’ve 

always loved light opera. I love The Merry 

Widow and Fledermaus and things like 

that, as well as the heavier stuff. But I 

think sometimes Operetta is overlooked. 

It has the most glorious melodies and it 

tends to fall between two categories; it’s 

not a musical and it’s not an opera and so 

I feel that at the moment Operetta seems 

to fall in the dark. 

Do you endeavour to put them forward 

a little bit on the show? 

Oh, I do! I do suggest it to the producers. 

I’ve been listening to some snippets on 

your show on gardening and there are 

such useful tips. I mean, I don’t fancy 

going out there at the moment because 

it’s so wet. But when Easter arrives how 

should we start in the garden? 

The great thing about the winter months 

is that everything moves so slowly, so 

when Easter arrives it gives us time to 

catch up in the garden. We can get stuff 

cut back, fed, mulched. 

Mulching is probably one of the best 

things to do this time of year isn’t it? 

Well it is because the ground is moist and 

the weeds haven’t started growing yet so 

you can spread it now and it will keep the 

weeds down. 

Yes, obviously the bulbs are coming up 

now and I’m dreading a frost that will 

knock down my narcissus… 

Oh, frost won’t knock them down! They’re 

tough as old boots. They might bow 

down for a night if it gets really frosty, but 

they’ll pick up as the day progresses. The 

thing about narcissus and snowdrops 

is that they are not susceptible to frost. 

They really are hardy. 

That’s good to know! I’m really 

interested in your 50 shades of Green - 

the programme. Tell me all about that, 

how did it happen? 

ITV very sweetly said they wanted to 

mark my seventieth birthday, which was 

very kind, and they wanted to do it in a 

very engaging way, so they had me name 

my top 50, and they went from there. 

Were they difficult choices to make? 

Oh yes! It was like Desert Island Discs! 

But we covered all the main things you 

know, like trees, water, roses, and the last 

one was my garden which has not been 

seen on telly before. 

I know. A bit special! One of the 

elements of the show is about you 

visiting the National Gallery, and how 

the masterpieces have inspired you. 

Which were the paintings in particular 

that inspired you? 

Oh gosh, well for me it’s so difficult 

to choose, I mean there’s Mr and Mrs 

Andrews by Gainsborough, then you see 

Whistlejacket by Stubbs. Just walking 

past them all and the feeling of joy that 

it was open for us to see them all, it was 

like being a boy in a sweet shop! When 

you manage to see them without bodies 

all around you, and it’s one-to-one with 

you and the painting. It’s such a treat. 

continued 

65

What about going into where the 

Queen’s perfumer was working? 

That was wonderful! I use the aftershave 

now! I was terrified of course, when I 

arrived there. 

Alan will be at BBC Gardeners’ 

World Live on Saturday 20th 

June 2020 

You cannot hide your emotions can 

you? 

No, I’m not very good at that! It was a joy 

though. 

Of the gardens that you’ve visited, do 

you have a special one? Or do you find 

that different gardens affect different 

moods, a bit like music? 

They do. There are aspects of every 

garden where you think ‘Oh I like that’, or 

‘I wish I had that’. I love Chatsworth, I’ve 

always loved Chatsworth, it’s a special 

place. The Prince of Wales’ garden at 

Highgrove. Sissinghurst is another one. 

Gardens that reflect the soul of their 

makers are really special. 

You are attending Highgrove again 

aren’t you? For Talking Gardens. Are 

you excited about that, as you go there 

quite regularly don’t you? 

I seem to go there every year. I’m a 

regular! I will be discussing the way we 

look at our gardens and the way they can 

help us and we can help them. It’s not 

just analytical, it’s getting to grips with 

a garden and what a garden can offer. I 

get so dispirited when I see gardens laid 

to paving blocks. I know that cars are 

precious, but you don’t have to pave the 

whole thing. There are all kinds of things 

you can do to make room for nature. 

When we spoke last time, you talked 

about your poetry with Debbie 

Wiseman from Classic FM. 

Yes, the book is coming out! Well I’ve 

written poetry for years before that 

but mainly for Christmas. But Debbie 

suggested I write something about 

plants, so we did The Glorious Garden 

which happened to go to No.1 in the 

classical charts - not that I like to boast! 

So that’s what got me going on writing 

poetry other than just for Christmas. 

So yes, I have put all these poems plus 

a load of new ones into a book called 

Marigolds, Myrtle and Moles. 

Do you think you have any more 

poems up your sleeve? 

Well I really enjoy writing them, so we’ll 

see how this one goes down. I might do 

another one! 

Will we be seeing any more of ‘Love 

Your Garden’? 

We’ve got four episodes that will be 

coming out in the Spring, and we will 

start filming more in April. We filmed half 

the series last year in September and 

the other half will be done in Spring as 

they split the recordings, and they have 

commissioned another two series which 

is very nice! 

Marigolds, Myrtle and Moles by Alan 

Titchmarsh is published by Hodder 

& Stoughton 

Below, from left: Highgrove, Chatsworth 

and Sissinghurst 

66


A DISCUSSION OF BOTULINUM 

TOXIN TREATMENT 

Botulinum Toxin is made under different trade names, for example Azzalure, Botox, 

Dysport and Boucoutur. I will refer to it as bot-tox in this article so as not to favour any 

one trade name. It is somewhat similar to the fact that your vacuum cleaner could be of any 

make, but you are still most likely to call it the ‘hoover’. 

Bot-tox originates from the toxin produced by a bacterium which 

in full doses can be lethal to the sufferer of botulism, a fairly rare 

food-borne condition. I believe that the last outbreak in the UK 

was in 1989. 

However before you cancel your appointments for bot-tox 

treatment with me in fear of paralysis, I must reassure you that 

what I inject (usually Azzalure) is a purified and much-diluted 

form of the toxin. Aesthetic medical practitioners use it to 

paralyse the small muscles of facial expression thereby reducing 

the lines in the face which form as a result of the action of these 

muscles. 

We have all seen them on other people, or even had them 

ourselves: the ‘number 11s’ between the eyes (known as the 

glabellar area), those horizontal lines across the forehead, 

(frontal lines) and the lovely smile-lines radiating out from the 

outer corners of our eyes, known prettily as ‘crows’ feet’. 

In general I see these wrinkles or creases appearing in many 

patients from their later 20s onwards, and I think that the early 

30s is the peak time when patients consulting me seem to have 

first noticed them or first been bothered by them. People in the 

younger age group are more and more having bot-tox injections 

to try to prevent the lines ever coming. The theory is that if you 

can’t spend a lot of time contracting your muscles, the skin 

won’t be forced into scrunching up and leaving marks of this 

behind as the skin becomes less elastic with advancing years. 

The wrinkles we get are classed as either dynamic lines (those 

that only appear when there is movement of the facial muscles) 

or static lines (which remain visible even when we are not 

contracting any muscles at the time). Once the treatment with 

bot-tox has been carried out, the patient must wait up to 2 

weeks to see how good a result has been achieved. However 

the toxin starts to work earlier on, usually within 2 or 3 days, 

although not everyone notices it as early as this. 

The review appointment (usually at 2 weeks) offered by the 

majority of doctors will be to assess the end result, first to see 

if the lines have gone, and then to see if there is any residual 

movement in the treated muscles. 

It is very important and is in the GMC guidelines, to take before 

and after photos because then there is definitive evidence of 

the end result. In my practice, if there is any lack of activity, or 

an asymmetrical result, I always offer a top-up of the toxin if 

appropriate without extra charge. 

In most cases, the effect is good and we can expect to meet 

again in 3-4 months or even longer if you are lucky enough for it 

to last well. 

Sometimes there can be more than just paralysis of the muscles, 

and especially the frontal muscles can completely lose their 

tone resulting in a degree of dropping of the eyebrows. If this 

happens there may be ways of improving it using injections in 

other places, but not in every case. 

If you would like to find out more, or book an appointment for a 

free consultation or even for a treatment, please visit my website 

where there is a contact form and a ‘book now’ tab, or visit my 

facebook page where you can click a booking link. 

I see patients in my home consulting room in Pawlett, near J23 

of the M5, at NV Salon in Bridgwater, at Manor Lodge Beauty in 

Castle Cary, and in Charminster Studio in Bournemouth. 

I also visit the wonderful Colorseum in Bideford and the equally 

amazing Peach in Barnstaple every 2 weeks. 

Dr John Buckmaster MA MB BChir DRCOG 

www.drjbuckmaster.co.uk 

Freefone: 0800 2545048 Text: 07968181652 

Email: aesthetics@drjbuckmaster.org.uk 

68

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For further information please telephone: 0800 2545048 

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Join a new age of 

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enjoy a hotel-style fully-serviced option. 

It’s also reassuring to know that there are 

care facilities on site, should they become 

necessary in the future. 

With an array of one- and two-bedroom 

cottages and apartments currently 

for sale at the village, your Cornish 

retirement dream could be only a phone 

call away. 

Prices start from £299,000. 

For more information on Roseland Parc 

please visit www.roselandparc.co.uk 

Gittisham Hill Park 

Blagdon Village 

Roseland Parc 

We would be delighted to welcome 

you to our villages – you can arrange a 

personal tour of your preferred village by 

calling 01372 383950 or why not attend 

one of our open days which you can find 

on our website 

www.retirementvillages.co.uk 

*Tenure options differ per village, 

please enquire for more information. 

**Prices correct at time of publication. 

70

SOMETHING TO 

SMILE ABOUT 

Between 18th May and 18th June 2020, 

National Smile Month will be sharing positive 

messages and engaging others to develop and 

maintain a healthy mouth. We look at what 

can you do to improve your pearly whites... 

Half the nation dislike their own smile - with many believing 

the state of their teeth has held them back at work and in their 

personal lives.* 

Researchers found a large percentage of the population are so 

self-conscious about their teeth that it affects them on an almost 

daily basis. In fact, one in five feel their teeth have had more of 

a negative effect on their confidence than their physique, hair or 

wrinkles. According to the study 17 per cent of those who took 

part have concerns that the appearance of their smile has had a 

negative impact on their career. Even more worryingly, one in ten 

went as far as to claim they have been turned down for a job due 

to their problematic teeth. 

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE A SMILE? 

Straightening 

Yes, adults can have orthodontic treatment to straighten their 

teeth. Adults can have orthodontic treatment to correct the 

same dental problems that children have, such as crowding, an 

overbite or gaps between the teeth. 

Orthodontic treatment can improve the positioning of your teeth 

and, in turn, their look and how well they work. Since crowded 

teeth are more difficult to keep clean, orthodontic treatment might 

reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. 

Composite Bonding 

Composite bonding (also known as tooth bonding or dental 

bonding) offers a solution for minor damage or gaps in teeth. 

When carried out as a cosmetic treatment, it is not available on 

the NHS but many practices offer cosmetic composite bonding 

as a private service. 

Bonding is usually used for filling chips, fractures or gaps 

between teeth, or for fixing discolouration. A composite resin is 

attached to a tooth and shaped to restore its original 

appearance. The colour of the resin is matched to your teeth, so 

it will appear as though it is a natural part of the tooth. 

*survey by app.straightteethdirect.com 

A well-established 

Denture clinic 

Services We Offer 

You can count on my expertise to assist you with all your 

denture requirements. 

• New Dentures 

• Denture Replacements 

• Complete dentures 

direct to public 

• Registered & qualified 

dental technician 

• Denture repairs 

• Home visits 

Thomas Farm, Nythe, Ashcott, Bridgwater, 

Somerset TA7 9BN 

01458 210 039 | www.newdentureclinic.co.uk 

72

Crafting beautiful homes 

01225 791155 

ashford-homes.co.uk 

lfii 

Long Hazel Farm, Sparkford 

Six luxury farmhouse style homes with an eclectic mix 

of designs offering unrivalled quality and specification 

Prices from £450,000 

Yeovil - 01935 431 129 

yeovil@connells.co.uk 

Shaftesbury - 01747 854 001 

shaftesbury@connells.co.uk

clinical 

hypnotherapist 

Spring - A Time for Growth 

Sharon Dyke, a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist based in 

Taunton, explains how spring time can increase the production 

of serotonin in our brains, just through exposure to more daylight 

and longer evenings. Sharon suggests, in so many ways spring 

can elevate our mood and make life a little easier. We may feel 

more optimistic, open to change, and often, it’s a time when we 

look for new opportunities in our lives. 

Sharon says, change is not easy, it takes effort and commitment, 

especially when nowadays we all juggle so many roles, often we 

can become overwhelmed by all the things we want to achieve. 

Sharon goes on to explain, it’s not the events in our lives that 

create anxiety. It’s our response to those events. The attitude 

and thought processes that we adopt. As a Solution Focused 

Hypnotherapist Sharon helps her clients manage those thoughts, 

and achieve the positive outcomes they desire by taking small 

steps and committing to finding solutions. 

Sharon is a fully-qualified and insured hypnotherapist and 

psychotherapist and a member of the CNHC, a voluntary regulator 

for supplementary therapies. Sharon is also a senior supervisor 

supporting practitioners across the country, and a senior lecture 

with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, teaching other likeminded 

people to join one of the country’s fastest growing models 

of therapeutic interventions. 

To find out more visit www.sdykehypnotherapy.co.uk or contact 

Sharon directly to book a consultation on 07766250113. 

Hypnotherapy 

Targets Exam Stress! 

Local Hypnotherapist, Sharon Dyke, is focusing 

this month on the issue of stress caused by exams 

as many people start to revise (or cram) for those 

oh-so-important examinations this summer. 

Thousands of people up and down the country will be taking an exam 

of some sort during the late spring and early summer. Other than the 

obvious (GCSEs, A levels, and Degrees) there are many people taking 

exams leading to professional qualifications, and many rely on a good 

pass grade to obtain a place at university or college, a professional 

qualification leading to employment, or even being able to just keep 

their job. All very stressful and, although most of us get through 

exams without too much difficulty in the end, there are a significant 

number of us for whom the pressure can become too much, leading 

to poor results, or being physically unable to participate in the actual 

exams resulting in associated negative outcomes. 

Sharon says, “It is completely normal, and in some ways a positive 

thing to feel some anxiety around preparing for and taking exams. A 

little bit of anxiety, that ‘nervous tension’, can act as a motivator and 

can help the person to focus their attention, keeping the mind alert. 

However, exam stress becomes a problem when it reaches a level 

where it interferes with the ability to prepare for and perform in exams. 

Too high an anxiety level interferes with clear, coherent, and creative 

thinking and can also create a negative mindset, leading to panic.” 

Sharon is a senior practitioner of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy 

(SFH). She tells us how SFH, a modern research-based combination 

of hypnosis and psychotherapy, is a great way to reduce stress and 

create new positive study habits. She adds, “It can help during study 

periods and also help on the day of the exam itself because you are 


feeling more in control and relaxed, it can also improve and restore 

confidence and the motivation to succeed.” 

Sharon works with the client to help them make positive changes and 

move forward in a relaxed, calm and confident manner. Sharon says, 

“We know that too much pressure can lead to a range of physical and 

mental health problems.” Adding, “You don’t need this at any time, 

but especially when you need to be on top of your game and get 

those grades.” Sharon further adds, “Stress affects the way we think, 

feel, and behave, impacting every area of our lives. 

“We encourage clients to focus on how they want things to be. 

We avoid problem-talk and instead help our clients to visualise 

their preferred future. By encouraging clients to think and express 

themselves positively, we can help to improve their outcomes.” 

Sharon is a fully-qualified and insured senior hypnotherapy 

practitioner and member of the CNHC, a voluntary regulator for 

supplementary therapies. Sharon is also a a founder member of 

the AfSFH, a senior supervisor supporting practitioners across the 

country, and a senior lecture with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy 

Training, teaching other like-minded people to join one of the country’s 

fastest growing models of therapeutic interventions. To find out more 

please visit Sharon’s website www.sharondykehypnotherapy.co.uk 

or contact her directly to book a consultation on 07766250113. 

74

WHAT IS A LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY? 

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to nominate a person to make decisions 

and take actions on your behalf if you lose the mental capacity to do so yourself in the 

future, or if you no longer want to make decisions 

It is important to choose someone you trust implicitly to look 

after your affairs and act in your best interests. This might be 

one or more members of your family, a friend, or a solicitor. 

There are two types of LPA: 

A Property & Financial Affairs LPA does exactly what it says and 

authorises your Attorneys to deal with financial matters including 

selling your house and access to your bank accounts to take 

care of your financial responsibilities such as paying your bills. 

A Health & Welfare LPA indicates how you would wish to be 

cared for if you were no longer able to make those decisions 

yourself. These decisions might include living arrangements, 

personal welfare and health care. 

You can have one or both types of LPA. They are independent of 

each other and you may appoint different Attorneys. 

Why do I need a Lasting Power of Attorney? 

They are invaluable documents for adults of any age. Anyone 

can become physically or mentally incapable as a result of an 

unanticipated illness or a serious accident regardless of 

their age. 

A spouse, partner, or next of kin are not automatically entitled 

to deal with your bank account or able to make decisions about 

your health care if you lose the ability to do so. Without an LPA 

they do not have such authority. It is a wise precaution to have 

appointed Attorneys that you trust to take important actions on 

your behalf should the need arise. 

Can I restrict an Attorney’s powers? 

Yes, you can give as wide or restrictive powers as you like and it 

can be set up to allow Attorneys to 

deal with all decisions, or just specific matters of your choice. 

For example, you may wish not to give your Attorneys authority 

over particular assets. 

When can an Attorney act? 

An Attorney can only start to act once the LPA is registered at 

the Office of the Public Guardian, but once they do start to act 

must always do so in your best interests. 

It can be registered at any time, whether immediately after 

the document has been completed, or later, when the need 

to use it arises. Registration of the LPA does not mean that 

you have lost capacity. You can continue to make decisions, 

despite registration, until such time as capacity is lost and your 

Attorneys should continue to consult you whilst you are able to 

express your own opinion about decisions. 

What happens without a Power of Attorney? 

If you become incapacitated without this type of provision in 

place, then no one would have the authority to sort out your 

financial affairs or make decisions about your care and someone 

(not necessarily the person you would choose) would need 

to apply to the Court of Protection to be legally appointed to 

manage your affairs through a Deputyship Order. This process is 

substantially more expensive, takes longer and is less flexible for 

the person appointed.

DIVORCE IS COMPLEX 


Is it possible to hide assets on divorce? 

Parties to divorce may be tempted to hide assets to pay a 

reduced financial settlement. Each have a duty to fully and frankly 

disclose their finances, whether attempting to deal with matters 

amicably or through the courts, otherwise the financial settlement 

may be unfair 

The court can order a party who has deliberately failed to 

disclose assets to pay the legal costs incurred by their spouse. 

They may receive a lower financial settlement and ultimately, a 

custodial sentence can be imposed. 

Urgent legal advice should be sought if you believe your spouse 

is hiding or attempting to dispose of assets. The court has power 

to freeze assets and to add them back where they have already 

been transferred. A financial settlement can even be re-opened 

through non-disclosure. 

How are pensions treated on divorce? 

The cash equivalent values of pensions must be considered on 

divorce. Any disparity in the parties’ CEVs can be addressed by 

pension sharing, where a proportion of the member’s pension 

rights are shared with the former spouse, by “Attachment” where 

the former spouse receives a percentage of the member’s rights 

or by “Offsetting” where they take cash instead of a pension 

share. With ‘attachment’, the member continues to own/control 

the rights, the amount payable can be varied and will cease 

on the remarriage or death of the payee. Unlike with pension 

sharing, there is no financial clean break. An Actuary should be 

instructed to provide calculations on these options. 

Protecting Assets on Marriage 

Planning for what should happen to assets on divorce can help 

avoid a messy dispute later on. Although Pre-Nuptial Agreements 

are not binding on the courts, recent cases illustrate they are 

likely to be upheld where freely entered into (they should be 

signed at least 21 days before the wedding to avoid allegations 

of duress), and each party appreciates the implications. There 

should be full financial disclosure with each taking independent 

legal advice and the terms of the Agreement must be fair and 

not prejudice the needs of any children. Although the courts still 

retain discretion to vary a Nuptial Agreement to achieve fairness, 

case law means that such an Agreement should be taken into 

account and in the right case can carry decisive weight. 

Jayne Turner is a Partner in Ashfords’ Family Team in Taunton. 

She is a trained and experienced collaborative lawyer and a 

Resolution Accredited Specialist in Complex Financial Remedies 

and Pensions on Divorce as well as an Advanced Member of the 

Law Society’s Family Law Panel. Jayne is described in the Legal 

500 directory as “sensible, client focused and knowledgeable”. 

Jayne’s Direct Line: +44 (0)1823 232370 

Email: cj.turner@ashfords.co.uk 

www.ashfords.co.uk/expertise/family 

DIVORCE IS 

COMPLEX 

Our Family Team appreciate that a relationship breakdown is a traumatic 

event, we treat all issues with sensitivity and provide a tailored service to meet 

your demands, whether you need help regarding a divorce, seperation or 

children issues. 

Please contact Jayne Turner for advice. Jayne is a Partner in the Family team 

in Taunton. She is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in Complex Financial 

Remedies and Pensions on Divorce, an Advanced Member of the Law Society’s 

Family Law Panel and trained and experienced collaborative lawyer. Jayne is 

described in the Legal 500 as “sensible, client focused and knowledgeable.” 

+44 (0)01823 232370 cj.turner@ashfords.co.uk 

A number of our team 

are Resolution Accredited 

Ashfords LLP 

ashfords.co.uk/expertise/family 

76

Priory Court Nursing Home 

Priory Court Nursing Home 

At Priory Court we provide the highest standards of nursing, 

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residential we’d want all & dementia of our loved care. ones Family-led, to receive. our Our care home is the is tastefully kind 

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furnished, to make our with residents modern feel facilities at home and with thoughtful us. touches throughout 

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• 24 hour nursing care 

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Visit our website countrycourtcare.com to find out more. 

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01278 768 000 

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priorycourt@countrycourtcare.com 

priorycourt@countrycourtcare.com

MOBILITY AIDS 

If you or someone you know has difficulty walking or getting around (mobility), a wheelchair, 

scooter or walking aid might help. 

WALKING STICKS 

Choosing a walking stick. There are different types of walking 

sticks. You should think about: 

• making sure the stick is the correct height for you (ask for 

advice when you get your walking stick) 

• whether you need one that stands up by itself (some have 

3 or 4 feet) 

• whether you need the stick to be right-handed or lefthanded 

• whether you need a seat so you can rest 

• whether you need a stick to go up steps (you should speak 

to a physiotherapist for advice) 

• Contact your GP surgery about how to get an appointment 

with a physiotherapist. 

WALKING FRAMES 

A walking frame gives you more support than walking sticks. You 

can use them to get around your home or to get out and about. 

You can borrow walking frames from the NHS. Speak to a GP, 

physiotherapist or hospital staff. You might have to pay a deposit. 

You can buy walking frames online, or search online for mobility 

shops in your area. Prices range from £20 to £200. 

Choosing a walking frame. You should think about: 

• making sure it’s the correct height for you (ask hospital staff 

or your mobility shop for advice) 

• whether you want to only use it indoors (frames without 

wheels are best) 

• whether you’re strong enough to lift a frame without wheels 

• whether you want to get out and about (frames with wheels 

are better for outdoors) 

• whether you need a seat, basket or tray attached 

• whether you need to fold it to get it into a car 

MOBILITY SCOOTERS 

Mobility scooters can be useful if you struggle to walk or are 

disabled, need to travel long distances, and are able to get on 

and off a mobility scooter easily. 

Mobility scooters are not generally available on the NHS. Search 

online for local mobility shops. Mobility scooters range in price 

from £400 to more than £5,000. The Motability Scheme can 

help if you want to hire or buy a mobility scooter. It allows some 

people to use their benefits to pay for one. 

Choosing a scooter - You should think about: 

• how often you need to use a scooter 

• what you need it for (roads or pavements) 

• whether it needs to go in a car 

• where you’ll store your scooter 

• how much it costs to maintain and repair 

• whether you’ll be able to steer it (some have special levers 

to steer them if you have arthritis in your hands) 

Ask to try different types before you make your decision. 

79

Visiting a 

care home; 


the a-z 

of top 

tips 

Dementia expert Professor June Andrews 

gives us her insightful tips into visiting a 

loved one in residential or nursing care... 

When someone with dementia moves into 

a care home, it is often a great relief for 

the family. Many things are immediately 

better. You can get an undisturbed night’s 

sleep and it’s possible to go out and about 

without worrying how your loved one is, and 

whether they are safe. But it is not always 

so simple. You might worry about whether 

the new resident is being looked after 

properly, or whether they are fretting and 

missing you. 

Visiting now becomes an important issue. 

How often should you go and for how long, 

and what on earth do you do when you are 

there? Because people ask me this, I made 

an A-Z of visiting ideas an important part 

of my new book on care home. Especially 

as you know the person you are visiting, I 

expect you will be able to think of variations 

on this theme. 

AAvoid contradicting someone with 

dementia, even for clarification. 

Bring the newspaper or photos to look at. 

Calmly sit and wait. Just being there is 

good in itself. 

Don’t be louder than needed. 

Even if you are in a hurry, don’t appear to 

rush. 

Find conversation-starters apart from ‘Do 

you remember when … ?’ Direct questions 

are like a memory test, and uncomfortable. 

Give a hug (with permission) or find 

appropriate contact like a hand massage. 

Have food to share, or go for a 

cuppa. 

Introduce yourself again every time, even if 

you are sure they know you. 

Just wait after speaking. To give extra time 

for a response, count to ten. 

Keep an eye out for tiredness, and offer 

sips of water. 

Limit the numbers visiting at any one time. 

Make an attempt to get outside, if only on a 

roof terrace or balcony. 

Never forget that the person can read your 

body language. 

Offer to bring your dog or other pet, 

especially if it is calm and affectionate. 

Pick their best time of day. 

Quick visits are acceptable - what matters 

is the quality. 

Read out loud. 

Sing together. 

Try to be in a quiet room. 

Understand, if they are rude, that this is not 

personal. 

Visiting cards or notes let others know that 

you called and are good for reminding the 

resident that they are loved and respected. 

When it is time to go, find a distraction to 

cover your departure. 

XXX is for kissing - only do it if you used to 

do it before. 

Young visitors are always popular, and 

babies are amazing. 

ZZZ is for when they sleep through your 

visit; you were there - that matters - so leave 

a card. Use the time to relax yourself or talk 

to someone else who is lonely. 

Z 

If just visiting the care home starts to be 

hard work for the family, neighbours and 

friends can help. It might be hard to make 

sure someone is there every day, and you 

can work together to fill the gaps. Have fun! 

Professor June’s book, Care Homes: The 

One Stop Guide: When, Why and How to 

Choose a Care Home will be released in 

June. 

It is Dementia Action Week from 11-17 May 

2020. Find out more at www.alzheimers.org. 

uk. You can also call the National Dementia 

Helpline for support on 0300 222 11 22. 

80

81

what is probate? 

Probate is the process of administering a 

deceased person’s estate... 


Probate involves: - 

• gathering details of their assets and debts; 

• completing an Inheritance Tax return and paying any tax (if 

required); 

• applying for a Grant (of Probate) which is the official 

document that confirms the Executors or Administrators 

position (if necessary); 

• gathering in assets, settling liabilities and debts; 

• distributing the estate in accordance with the Will or the 

laws of Intestacy. 

The process can take approximately a year in most cases, but 

depends on size and complexity of the estate. 

Only the executors in the Will can apply for Probate (but not all 

of them need to do so). If no executors then rules determine who 

can apply to administer the estate. If there is no Will then the laws 

of Intestacy set out who can apply to administer the estate with a 

Grant (known as a Grant of Letters of Administration). 

Leaving a Will ensures your affairs are taken care of after death 

but consider what happens if you are unable to manage your 

affairs in life. 

To enable somebody to manage your financial affairs and welfare 

requires what is known as a Lasting Power of Attorney (“LPA”); 

this allows you to appoint someone to be your “attorney” if 

declining health prevents you from managing your own affairs 

and finances. There are two: - 

(i) Property & Finance which allows you appoint individual/s to 

make decisions i.e. help managing your finances. Attorneys 

can help you at your discretion whilst you still have capacity and 

continue if you lose capacity. 

(ii) Health & Welfare only to be used if you lose capacity to make 

decisions for yourself. Attorneys make decisions relating to 

personal care, accommodation, medical consents etc. 

It is worth considering how LPAs can protect your business 

interests. With an LPA, you can appoint someone who you trust 

to think like you and make decisions you would make. You can 

make an LPA for this separately from personal LPAs. 

Contact Taunton Solicitors for further information: 

info@tauntonsolicitors.com 01823 351122 

www.tauntonsolicitors.com 

Taunton 

SOLICITORS 

Legal Services and Advice 

BUYING AND SELLING 

PROPERTY 

SHARED OWNERSHIP 

HELP TO BUY 

FAMILY LAW 

& DIVORCE 

LASTING POWERS OF 

ATTORNEY 

COMMERCIAL 

PROPERTY 

WILLS 

PROBATE & TRUSTS 

Visit our website for discounts and costs www.tauntonsolicitors.com 

2 hours free client car parking 

Ground floor office, disabled parking and facilities and private meeting rooms 

2 Tangier Central Taunton TA1 4AP 

Call our office for more details 01823 351122 

Email: info@tauntonsolicitors.com 

82

family law 

Tips on handling relationship breakdown 


Associate Solicitor Amy Langford from The Family Law 

Company looks at ways to make breaking up a little less painful. 

orders or solicitor’s letters. A prompt 

response keeps matters moving 

forward and legal fees to a minimum. 

Failing to provide information to the 

court hinders the process and reflects 

negatively on you. 

• Don’t involve the children; keep 

them protected from ongoing court 

proceedings. Don’t speak negatively 

about your ex-partner in front of them 

or behave in a way that forces them 

to take sides. Try to stay positive and 

enthusiastic about the time your child 

is spending with their other parent. 

January’s infamous ‘Divorce Day’ has 

officially passed. Of course, this doesn’t 

mean people will be free from relationship 

breakdown for the rest of the year – it can 

happen at any time. This is often a time of 

hurt and stress but if the right approach is 

taken, it does not have to be as negative 

and difficult as one may think. The 

breakdown of a relationship can actually go 

smoothly if handled with consideration. 

Things you can do to help 

• Put the children first in everything. 

The court will always consider 

the children’s well-being as a first 

consideration when deciding financial 

matters in a divorce. Think how to 

best provide for your children before 

considering what you want for 

yourself. 

• Try mediation. This is a nonconfrontational 

way to have a 

discussion and reach an agreement 

regarding financial matters and/or 

children matters without having to go 

to court. It is also less expensive than 

issuing court proceedings. 

• If you are in financial proceedings, 

provide full financial disclosure. The 

court takes a very dim view if financial 

assets are not disclosed. If you delay 

in providing disclosure it will only 

prolong matters and prevent you from 

moving forward. 

• Try to communicate without 

getting angry or passing blame. If 

communication becomes difficult 

you might decide to leave it to the 

solicitors or only communicate via 

email. Avoid communicating late 

at night or when you are feeling 

emotional and try to keep interactions 

as neutral as possible. If you are 

asking your ex-spouse/partner for 

a change in current circumstances 

(particularly in relation to children) 

try to explain the reasoning behind 

what you want to happen and keep it 

child-focused. 

Things to avoid 

• Don’t make sweeping statements or 

accusations as this will only upset the 

other party and increase the tension 

between you. 

• Don’t delay in responding to court 

“This is often a time of hurt and stress but if the 

right approach is taken, it does not have to be 

as negative and difficult as one may think. The 

breakdown of a relationship can actually go 

smoothly if handled with consideration.” 

• Don’t ignore the fact that your 

relationship has broken down. Whilst 

it may be tempting to hope everything 

goes away, particularly if you do not 

want to get divorced or separated, 

pretending nothing is happening will 

not help. If your spouse has filed an 

application for divorce, then they 

clearly believe the marriage is over. 

As much as you may wish it were 

otherwise, refusing to cooperate 

will only prolong the process and 

ultimately make matters more painful 

for you. Similarly, if your ex-partner 

has left you and wants to talk about 

the time they spend with the children, 

engage in the conversation. If you 

ignore them and refuse to talk you 

might find yourself receiving court 

papers. If at all possible, it is far 

better to talk about resolving children 

matters, perhaps with the help of a 

mediator, before rushing to court. 

Going through relationship breakdown 

can be difficult but the correct legal advice 

prevents unnecessary stress and worry. 

Having a family law specialist to assist you 

will ensure that any matters that ought to 

be dealt with alongside your relationship 

breakdown do not go unnoticed or 

forgotten. At The Family Law Company, 

we always try to take a calm approach to 

any matter and avoid an unnecessarily 

adversarial approach whenever possible. 

If you require further information or 

advice in respect of this or any other 

family matter, please contact 

Amy Langford on 01823 785070. 

www.thefamilylawco.co.uk

michaelspiers.co.uk 

M_Spiers_Taunton Living-Ad-JAN2020.indd 1 20/01/2020 11:29

Taunton and South Somerset Living Apr - May 2020

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