J'AIME January 2021

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 

J’AIME 

Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E 

Bossy 

Boots: 

LOUNGING AROUND - 

KEY UPDATES FOR YOUR 

LIVING SPACE 

YOUR JANUARY 

FOOTWEAR SORTED 

Win 

£100 of soft 

furnishings 

SUITS YOU, SIR: 

MEET BIRMINGHAM’S 

CRAFTSMAN TAILOR

FOR ALL ASPECTS OF FAMILY LAW 

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To ensure you receive 

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HELPING THE LOCAL 

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www.qualitysolicitors.com/davisons 

254 Lichfield Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2UH 

Offices in Colmore Row l Cotteridge l Edgbaston l Solihull l Stratford-upon-Avon l Sutton Coldfield l Weoley Castle l Wolverhampton

Welcome to J’AIME 

Here at J’AIME we’re very excited to be starting a 

shiny new year with all the possibilities that brings. 

We’re hopeful that life will gradually start to return to 

normal this year and that we’ll get some of our muchmissed 

freedoms back. Oh for days when we can go 

out for dinner with a group of friends, catch a film, 

sit in the audience of a brilliant show at the theatre 

or even just hug the people we love. Those days will 

come. 

2021 brings exciting developments for J’AIME. You’ll 

see the address of our website across the bottom of 

each page in this magazine and that’s because we’ve 

given www.jaimemagazine.com a wonderful 

revamp. You can now visit the website to read 

everything you see in the magazine plus much, much 

more. The website will be updated each day and will 

include positive, uplifting lifestyle articles from right 

across the Midlands. 

As well as being delivered to homes in selected 

postcodes J’AIME is now available to pick up free of 

charge in major supermarkets around the Midlands. 

You can also read a digital version of the magazine 

free of charge at read.jaimemagazine.com 

Within the January magazine you can enter a 

competition to win £100 of soft furnishings, read 

about Birmingham’s craftsman bespoke tailor and find 

out about the best walking spots in the region. 

Add to that our usual mix of interiors, property, 

fashion, beauty, travel, fitness, what’s on and food and 

we hope we have something for everyone. 

At the time of going to press we have no idea of when 

coronavirus restrictions will ease in the region. We 

hope our upbeat, positive content will bring a little 

positivity to your life. 

Please don’t forget to support your local independent 

businesses. When you buy from a small business you’re 

supporting your community and helping to keep 

people in jobs. 

From everyone at J’AIME, may we wish you a very 

happy new year. We’re looking forward to sharing 

2021 with you. 

EDITOR: AMY NORBURY 

EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY 

ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

07388 335 931 

DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

CONTRIBUTORS: JENNY AMPHLETT, HOLLY 

THOMSON, RAUL ROMERO, DEBORAH MITCHELL 

J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY 

PUBLICATIONS LIMITED AND PRINTED BY KEP 

LIMITED, TAMWORTH. 

Check us out online at: 

WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

Find us on 

/JAIMEMAGAZINE 

@JAIMEMAGAZINE 

@JAIMEMAGAZINE 

SPONSORED BY 

3

CONTENTS 

InsideJ’aime this month... 

6 Suits you, sir - Meet Birmingham’s craftsman 

bespoke tailor 

12 Property - Prepare to be stunned by our 

property of the month 

14 Interiors - Embrace the colour teal 

18 Interiors - Give your lounge a new year update 

22 Food and drink - Take it easy with a restaurantquality 

takeaway 

24 Travel - Why a holiday close to home could be 

just the ticket 

26 Travel - Get your groove on in Cuba 

32 Fitness - Why you should be setting your 

summer fitness goals now 

34 Fashion - New year, new boots 

36 What’s on - Great ideas for the month ahead 

38 What’s on - Four beautiful gardens to visit 

this month 

40 What’s on - Our guide to some of the best 

walking spots in the region 

42 Positive thinking - Why 2021 really can be your 

year 

44 In the news - Meet the writer and the schoolgirl 

who are both winning at life 

46 In the news - Meet the award-winning Pakistani 

author who chose to publish her book 4,000 

miles away, in Staffordshire 

48 Competition - Win £100 of soft furnishings 

49 Health - The little pill that could kickstart your 

weight loss regime 

50 Beauty - Why great-looking skin starts from the 

inside 

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F E AT U R E 

Suits you, sir 

MARK PURCELL IS BIRMINGHAM’S LAST REMAINING APPRENTICE-TRAINED 

BESPOKE TAILOR. JENNY AMPHLETT WENT TO MEET HIM 

A three piece suit handmade by Mark 

Purcell using British woven wool is 

likely to set you back around £2,800 

and take at least three months to be 

made - yet he has people queuing up 

for them. 

The 52-year-old, who works out of a 

converted garage at his Handsworth 

Wood Home, has made suits for 

everyone from pop stars to wealthy 

businessmen. He makes plus fours for 

the landed gentry and has even made 

frock coats for an ancient order of 

woodsmen, including leather pouches 

to hold their arrows. 

His USP is that he’s a true craftsman 

in an automated age - doing 

everything from measuring to design 

concept and from pattern cutting 

to sewing personally, often using 

traditional methods. 

“A lot of people call themselves a 

tailor and a lot of people use the work 

bespoke, but there aren’t many people 

around who are doing what I do,” he 

said. 

“I’m the only remaining 

apprentice-trained bespoke tailor in 

Birmingham. I like to think of myself 

as a true craftsman, a true tailor. 

“I’m first and foremost a coat maker, 

although I can do every other part of 

what it takes to make a three piece 

suit.” 

Mark didn’t actually start his tailoring 

apprenticeship until the age of 27, 

after first training to be an engineer. 

It may seem an odd transition, but he 

says there are definitely transferable 

skills between the seemingly very 

different worlds of work. 

6 www.jaimemagazine.com

“I spent four years working in a factory, training 

to be an engineer and initially thinking that was 

what I wanted to do with my life. It was only 

later, when my love for tailoring developed, that I 

realised that was where my passions really lay.” 

Mark was house sharing with friends who were 

in a band during his engineering years and found 

himself hankering after a taste of their creative 

lifestyle. 

“I thought it looked like they were having 

an awful lot more fun than me. I’d always 

wanted to be a craftsman. I decided to pack 

in the engineering, do some travelling with my 

friends’ band and then look at finding a career 

afterwards. 

“So I basically did an engineering apprenticeship 

then ran away with the circus. When I wasn’t 

driving them to gigs I was learning to sew at 

night school and making shirts and suits.” 

Mark was making clothes for himself and his 

friends, sometimes the more flamboyant the 

better, and getting involved in the local music 

scene. 

“A chain of events led to me working with 

fashion designer Patti Bell, of the fashion label 

and boutique Kahn and Bell opposite the 

Hippodrome in Birmingham.” 

Patti Bell was at the forefront of New 

Romantic fashion and made outfits for many 

of the best known pop bands of the day. 

“She could call Boy George and the 

members of Duran Duran her personal 

friends. She was Birmingham’s answer to 

Vivienne Westwood. It was very exciting for 

me to be a part of that.” 

Mark is himself a good friend of Pete 

Williams, the bass player from 80s band 

Dexys Midnight Runners, and made suits for 

a series of shows the band performed at the 

Duke of York Theatre in London. 

“Pete put in a request for a suit and I 

knocked it up for him as quickly as possible.” 

He’s also made suits for a member of punk 

rock band The Ruts. 

Mark set up on his own as Mark Purcell 

Bespoke Tailoring in 2013, aiming to use his 

experience working for Patti Bell and other 

later employers to offer a unique service as a 

complete craftsman tailor. 

“I just wanted to be a craftsman. I didn’t 

want to work in retail or to buy in then sell 

ready-to-wear items. I just wanted to use my 

www.jaimemagazine.com 

7

skills to make coats, suits and other items for 

people to invest in and wear for many years.” 

As well as working directly for individual 

customers he has, over the years, made very 

special coats for a luxury brand in the south of 

England that supplies none other than Captain 

Tom with his coats. 

It generally takes Mark at least three months 

to make each item, which includes fittings, 

pattern cutting and stitching the garment. 

A three piece suit made with British woven 

wool costs in the region of £2,800, although 

Mark says people are less inclined to order 

business suits at the moment and more likely 

to be looking for bespoke countrywear. 

“People aren’t in the office and they aren’t 

wearing a suit to work from home, so instead 

they’re investing in clothes for outdoor 

pursuits. 

“At the moment I’m making a naval peacoat 

for a gentleman. It’s one key item that 

he’s going to be wearing for many years to 

come and probably handing down to future 

generations. 

“It isn’t cheap to have it made but it isn’t until 

he’s owned it for 20 years and looks back that 

he’ll realise that it’s been a cheap garment 

because he’s had so much use out of it. 

“A ready-to-wear coat might last you for three 

years before the cloth starts to go thin and you 

get rid of it. Where’s the economy in that?” 

Mark says his customers are drawn from 

all walks of life: businesspeople, pop stars, 

enthusiasts for a particular era of fashion. 

He says they can often be categorised as either 

connoisseurs or people with an unusual figure 

who buy items to fit them off the peg. 

He even has one client who was bitten on the 

arm by a shark and needs clothes created to fit 

accordingly. 

Perhaps because of his interest in the music 

scene Mark says his own preference is for 

flamboyant clothes, but that he always tries to 

gauge what might work best for the customer 

rather than himself. 

“If you have flamboyant tastes then go for a 

suit with a flamboyant lining, but if you don’t 

then you should avoid that because it’ll start to 

annoy you and you won’t want to wear it. 

“People are very critical of what they see. If 

someone walks into a room wearing clothes 

that don’t fit very well then we critique them, 

8 

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it’s a natural instinct. 

“But if someone walks into a room in perfectly fitting 

clothes then it almost gives them an air of mystery, 

we don’t immediately feel that we know something 

about them.” 

Mark mostly creates menswear but he does make 

clothes for women too, such as tailored country 

pursuits jackets. 

He still makes clothes for himself when he has time, 

and tries to make sure he treats himself to at least 

one Mark Purcell Bespoke Tailoring item each year. 

“It reminds me of the days when I used to go to the 

fancy silk stall and buy fabric to make a shirt I knew 

nobody else would be wearing when I went out. 

“Most recently I’ve made myself a nice tweed 

bomber jacket. It’s good to be able to show these 

things to customers to give them ideas for the sorts of 

things they could have made too.” 

A far cry from 80s pop bands, Mark says his biggest 

style icon was The Duke of Windsor. 

“I admired him sartorially. The way he matched his 

clothes together was fabulous. When his possessions 

were sold off a catalogue was put together, and the 

suits were just fantastic. The colours and designs 

were fabulous. Such an inspiration.” 

Mark Purcell Bespoke Tailoring, 

https://markpurcell.co.uk, 07890 003523 


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P R O P E RTY 

Property of the Month 

EACH MONTH WE SHOWCASE ONE OF THE MOST LUXURIOUS PROPERTIES 

CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET IN THE MIDLANDS. THIS HOUSE HAS TO BE ONE 

OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR YOU WILL SEE ALL YEAR. 

Wall House, Green Lane, Wall, near Lichfield. Guide price: £4.25 million. 

On the market with Aston Knowles: 0121 362 7878 

THE AGENT SAYS: Wall House, located in the historic 

Hamlet of Wall on the outskirts of Lichfield, is a residence 

that’s steeped in history and charm. It offers a rare 

opportunity to escape the city and acquire an enviably 

located country pile. 

The remarkable eight-bedroom, Grade II listed Georgian 

property is reported to have been built on the site of a 

sixteenth century residence and still contains part of the 

structure as well as some of the panelling from the earlier 

house. 

Wall House stands in beautiful formal gardens with more 

than four acres of grounds and commanding views over the 

Staffordshire countryside. 

Over a century later, Wall House still retains many of its 

exquisite original features and has been sympathetically 

enlarged and luxuriously appointed by the current owners, 

who have also obtained planning permission for a singlestorey 

structure of circa 1900 sq. feet in the secret garden, 

next to the walled garden. The extension is planned to house 

a state-of-the-art leisure complex with swimming pool or 

alternatively could be used as a contemporary guest annexe 

to the main house. 

Wall House really is the perfect home for the discerning buyer 

and there is truly very little to rival it as a prime example 

of authenticity existing comfortably within the luxurious 

modern world. 

W E L O V E : 

THE MIX OF HISTORIC CHARACTER 

FEATURES AND MODERN COMFORTS. 

12 


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www.kitchensbybroadway.co.uk

I N T E R I O R S 

Ocean 

hues 

AS we head into a brand new year after the 

unprecedented chaos that has been 2020, it’s time to take 

a moment to reflect and reset. And it’s only natural that we 

want our spaces to mirror that need for contemplation and 

renewal. 

Paint specialists Benjamin Moore have encompassed just 

that in their Colour of the Year for 2021 - Aegean Teal. 

Intriguing, balanced, and deeply soothing, Aegean Teal 

creates natural harmony. 

“This year’s Colour of the Year is a balanced and 

soothing blue-green hue, softened with a touch of grey to 

create spaces with a casual elegance.” says Helen Shaw, 

marketing director at Benjamin Moore UK. 

This ocean-inspired shade works well in a multitude of 

settings, bringing joy to all interior spaces. Adding a fresh, 

crisp feel to a decor scheme, it also creates a relaxed and 

soothing atmosphere - exactly what we need in the current 

challenging climate. 

TEAL VELVET THROW, £220, THE FRENCH BEDROOM CO. 

WWW.FRENCHBEDROOMCOMPANY.CO.UK 

CHEVRON THROW, SHIMU. 

WWW.SHIMU.CO.UK 

£45 

£45 

£119 

PORTO LINEN LAMPSHADE, 

WWW.MADE.COM 

£599 

CARNABY FOOTSTOOL IN TEAL VELVET, 

ATKIN AND THYME. 

WWW.ATKINANDTHYME.CO.UK 

ARPEN DESK IN TEAL AND BRASS, 

WWW.MADE.COM 

14 


£67 £135 £779 

VILLA NOVA SAMI CUSHION, SWEETPEA & WILLOW. 

WWW.SWEETPEAANDWILLOW.COM 

BROSTE COPENHAGEN AIR LOUNGE CHAIR, 

CUCKOOLAND. WWW.CUCKOOLAND.COM 

PINEAPPLE GLASS FLOOR LAMP 

WITH TEAL VELVET SHADE, AUDENZA. 

WWW.AUDENZA.COM 

TEAL AND GREEN GLASS MARBLE EFFECT 

LAMP, NEEDWOOD LIVING, ALREWAS. 

WWW.NEEDWOODLIVING.CO.UK 

£495 

£449 

£125 

EICHHOLTZ SET OF TWO COOPER DINING 

CHAIRS, SWEETPEA & WILLOW. 

WWW.SWEETPEAANDWILLOW.COM 

TANDY DRESSING TABLE, 

WWW.MADE.COM 

FINCHLEY TWO SEATER SOFA, £699, 

SOFOLOGY. WWW.SOFOLOGY.CO.UK 

SUBMARINE BLUE HERITAGE LOUNGE DESIGN 

BY NAOMI STARR AT NAOMI STARR DESIGN. 

WWW.NAOMISTARRDESIGN.COM

BENJAMIN MOORE COLOUR OF THE YEAR 

2021 AEGEAN TEAL, FROM £24 FOR 0.94L. 

WWW.BENJAMINMOOREPAINT.CO.UK 

ACHILLES TEAL MIX FISH SCALE TILES, 

£39.95 PER SQM, WALLS AND FLOORS. 

WWW.WALLSANDFLOORS.CO.UK 

THE REBEL THREE SEATER SOFA IN 

A BOX IN TEAL, £899, SNUG SHACK. 

WWW.SNUGSHACK.CO.UK 

LEO LIGHT TEAL KING SIZE BED, £549, 

DANETTI. WWW.DANETTI.COM 

DULWICH MMIDI SOFA, £1,218, DARLINGS OF CHELSEA. 

WWW.DARLINGSOFCHELSEA.CO.UK

Fully bespoke & 

custom designed 

Bedrooms 

Home Office 

Family Rooms 

Sliding Doors 

Walk In 

Wardrobes 

5 The Lanes 

340 Birmingham Road 

Sutton Coldfield 

0121 377 6090 

Based in the heart of Staffordshire in the picturesque 

villages of Alrewas & Tutbury, our shops are packed 

with ideas and inspiration for your home. Incorporating 

Jo Raybould Interior Design within, for those who 

require the services of a professional designer. 

needwoodliving.co.uk 

info@needwoodliving.co.uk 

oliversfittedfurniture.co.uk 

136 Main Street 

Alrewas, DE13 7ED 

01283 711 272 

7A High Street, 

Tutbury, DE13 9LP 

01283 813 322 

Curtains | Blinds | Wallpaper 

Refresh your home with 

soft furnishings from our family 

owned and run business 

3 year guarantee 

Expert fitting service 

Best of Lichfield ««««« 

Top brands across all price ranges 

Lichfield Showroom 

NOW OPEN 

Interior Choice 

1st Floor 

Sure Store 

WS13 6UY 

Sale starts Jan 4th 

25% off Selected ranges 

By appointment only. FREE parking. Please book in 

online: www.interiorchoice.net or call 01543 406162 

PHOTO ME

I N T E R I O R S 

Lounging 

around 

AS ‘lockdown’ became not only a new buzzword for our 

vocabulary but a way of life in 2020, it meant that we 

spent a whole lot more time at home. And more time at 

home means making sure our spaces are as cosy as can be. 

If your living room has been multitasking as an office and 

classroom for much of the past nine months, it might just 

be time for a little refresh now life is getting a bit more 

back to normal. 

The sofa is the heart of the living room so choose wisely; 

opt for something luxuriously comfortable to ensure you’re 

relaxing in style, and because it’s not a piece you’ll want to 

replace year in, year out it’s always best to invest in quality. 

Elsewhere, small updates can make a big difference; try 

switching up your soft furnishings to change your colour 

scheme, or add a new lamp to two for some extra ambient 

lighting - perfect for creating a cosy vibe. 

VIVIAN COCKTAIL CHAIR, £149, MONKEY SIDE TABLE, £149, 

AND ACCESSORIES FROM A SELECTION AT DUMELM. 

WWW.DUNELM.COM 

£999 

DION THREE SEATER SOFA, £999, 

WWW.MADE.COM 

£4.50 

AGRA TEALIGHT HOLDER, 

HABITAT. WWW.HABITAT.CO.UK 

CORDELIA GLASS AND MARBLE 

TABLE LAMP, CULT FURNITURE. 

WWW.CULTFURNITURE.COM 

£10 

NESTING SIDE TABLES, FROM 

A SELECTION AT AMARA. 

WWW.AMARA.COM 

WOVEN CUSHION IN CORAL, HABITAT. 

WWW.HABITAT.CO.UK 

£59 

18 


£659 

£2300 

TEDDY SOFABED IN PLUM SMART VELVET, 

£2,300, WWW.SOFA.COM 

FERM LIVING POUF, AMARA. 

WWW.AMARA.COM 

£529 

£30 

LEXON MINA LED LIGHT IN DARK PLUM, 

AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM 

£1,924 

WARM NORDIC CAPE LOUNGE CHAIR, 

WWW.NEST.CO.UK 

AUZERA ARMCHAIR IN PLUM AND BRASS, 

SWOON. WWW.SWOONEDITIONS.COM 

HARRIET SOFA IN BLUSH PINK, £1,050, LIVING IT UP. 

WWW.LIVINGITUP.CO.UK

COPPER FALLS COLLECTION BY 

PRESTIGIOUS TEXTILES, AVAILABLE FROM 

INTERIOR CHOICE, LICHFIELD. 

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ABACUS SOFA AND GARY FLOOR LAMP 

BY PORADA, AVAILABLE FROM CHAPLINS 

FURNITURE. WWW.CHAPLINS.CO.UK 

AIDA TWO-SEATER VELVET SOFA IN 

AUBERGINE, £499, DFS. WWW.DFS.CO.UK 

GIGI TABLE LAMP PINK, £35, JUNGLE LUXE 

NAVY WALLPAPER, £12, AND ANYA LARGE 

SIDEBOARD, £499, ALL DUNELM. 

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SONA STORAGE COFFEE TABLE, £195, 

HABITAT. WWW.HABITAT.CO.UK 

20

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F O O D & D R I N K 

Take it easy 

IT MAY STILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO EAT OUT AT THE MOMENT BUT THAT DOESN’T 

MEAN YOU CAN’T ENJOY RESTAURANT QUALITY FOOD. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR 

FAVOURITE PLACES TO GET A LUXURY TAKEAWAY THIS MONTH 

WHAT: BREAKFAST, BRUNCH AND LUNCH 

WHERE: THYME KITCHEN, LICHFIELD 

From soups and sandwiches to coffees and cakes, 

brunch eaterie Thyme Kitchen is offering a full 

takeaway service. 

If you’ve been hankering after a full English (but 

not the washing up afterwards) then this is the 

place for you. 

We can heartily recommend their Persian eggs 

(the prettiest poached eggs team J’AIME have 

ever seen) and the luxury hot chocolate that is so 

substantial it’s practically a meal in itself. 

WHAT: A TESTING MENU PREPARED BY AN 

AWARD-WINNING CHEF 

WHERE: SAUCE SUPPER CLUB, DELIVERED 

TO YOUR HOME 

You don’t even need to step outside your front 

door to enjoy amazing food created by one of the 

best chefs in the Midlands (and we’re not talking 

about your other half). 

You can order a Sauce Supper Club menu online 

and have it delivered to your doorstep. It’s as 

simple as that. 

The food, created by chef Tom Shepherd, is 

available for home delivery from Thursday to 

Sunday each week. 

WHAT: DELICIOUS FRESH BAKES 

WHERE: ON THE BREAD LINE, FOUR OAKS 

The delicious aromas hit your nostrils long before you step into 

Sebastian Clough’s independent bakery. 

We’re talking seriously fragrant, freshly baked bread, cakes, 

pastries and tarts - our mouths are watering just at the thought 

of it. 

A professionally trained baker with French pastry skills, Sebastian 

has been working hard throughout both lockdowns to keep 

delicious treats on tables right across the region. 

22 


WHAT: CAKES AND BAKES 

WHERE: NOMS FROM TOM, BURNTWOOD 

Established just last year as a hobby for keen 

home baker Tom, Noms From Tom has quickly 

turned into a full-time business. 

Tom’s specials include weekly lucky dip sweet 

treat boxes containing five randomly selected 

slices of brownies, blondies and traybakes. The 

postal boxes ‘go live’ every Sunday evening and 

usually sell out quickly. 

He also makes the sort of special occasion cakes 

that are almost too beautiful to actually eat. 

WHAT: DELI AND FRESHLY PREPARED FOOD 

WHERE: POM’S KITCHEN AND DELI, 

LICHFIELD 

Not only can you get a take out of delicious 

breakfast, brunch or lunch from Pom’s Kitchen, 

you can also stock up your fridge and pantry at 

the deli. 

Fresh, locally sourced produce is the key here - 

for both the kitchen and the deli alike. 

You can pick up everything from teabags to 

ketchup and from luxury dog treats to a bottle of 

gin - and buy your lunch and a coffee to go at the 

same time. 

WHAT: TAKEAWAY MEALS, FRESH 

PRODUCE AND MORE 

WHERE: STRAWBERRYFIELDS FARM AND 

COFFEE SHOP, BURNTWOOD 

From pizzas to fish and chips to Sunday roast 

baps, the good folk at Strawberryfields have 

been cooking up all manner of delicious meals 

for people to take away. 

The beauty of this place is that you can also 

pick up pretty much everything you could 

need for a weekly shop at the same time. 

There’s always a tempting array of fruit and 

vegetables, much of which is grown on the 

farm. 

You’ll find something new every time you 

visit, depending on what’s in season. 


23

T R AV E L 

Cheshire - where science meets nature 

HOLIDAYS CLOSER TO HOME HAVE BECOME THE NORM IN OUR NEW COVID-19 

WORLD. JENNY AMPHLETT DISCOVERS THAT YOU NEED GO NO FURTHER THAN 

A COUPLE OF COUNTIES TO COMPLETELY GET AWAY FROM THINGS 

The moon landings were 200,000 

miles away, but there’s a strong link 

just a couple of hours up the M6. 

It was one small step for man and 

one giant leap for mankind when 

Neil Armstrong set foot on the 

moon, and it’s just a handful of 

junctions along the motorway to a 

place with serious connections to 

that momentous occasion. 

On July 20, 1969 the planet’s 

population looked skywards as Neil 

Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 

on the moon. 

More than 200,000 miles away, back 

on Earth, their mission was being 

unofficially monitored and recorded by telescopes 

close to our neck of the woods. 

Jodrell Bank Observatory was keeping a close 

eye on the Russian and American space race and 

monitoring signals from both lunar missions. 

Signals intercepted at Jodrell Bank, now a World 

Heritage Site, caught the moment the astronauts 

touched down on the surface. 

I’ve seen endless images of the vast Lovell Telescope 

but I’d never been to Jodrell Bank before. 

The sheer size and scale of it takes your breath 

away in person. We watched engineers who looked 

like Lego Minifigures ascend in a lift and then walk 

around the structure, like something from a science 

fiction film. 

Our knowledge of astrophysics extends little further 

than watching too many episodes of The Big Bang 

Theory, but you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy a 

visit to the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre. 

There are lots of interactive exhibits. My young 

daughter’s imagination was 

captured by rolling balls into a 

black hole and sending messages 

via the outdoor whispering dishes. 

Admission is £8.50 for adults, 

£7.50 for concessions, £6.50 for 

children and free for under-4s, with 

various family tickets available, 

making it cheaper than a visit to the 

cinema. 

It’s so close to home that a visit to 

Jodrell Bank combined with time 

in one of the woodlands or rural 

beauty spots around Cheshire 

makes for a well-rounded day out 

or short break, with just a short 

24 


drive back home afterwards. 

Lyme Park, at Disley, is an ideal choice for a stroll 

after a visit to Jodrell Bank. 

Garden-only admission to Lyme Park is from £8 for 

adults and £4 for children, with group and family 

offers available. 

However we headed to Tatton Park, at Knutsford, 

and discovered that rather than an add-on to a 

daytrip it was a day out in itself. 

Our first port of call was the rare breeds farm where 

we were able to pet and coo over donkeys, goats, 

reindeer and freshly hatched chicks. 

We watched piglets causing mayhem while mummy 

pig closed her eyes in a mud bath just out of their 

reach. 

From the farm it was onto the mansion house, which 

held my young daughter’s attention much better than 

I had anticipated. Remember to ask for a trail sheet 

for any little guests to fill in. 

We paid a few extra pounds to ride on the old 

fashioned carousel in the stableyard and to ride the 

land train between the adventure playground and 

farm, which both felt well worth the price. 

On another visit we’d hire bikes, which are available 

from around £5 per hour. 

If you have the time to explore, the 50 acres of 

gardens at Tatton and stunning. You’ll find yourself 

constantly whipping your phone out for just another 

photo. 

At Tatton you can buy a discounted admission pass 

for all three attractions but then use the tickets on 

different days. Combined tickets are £13 for adults, 

£7 for children or £33 for a family which could 

potentially offer you three separate days out. 

It was close enough to drive home, but instead we 

headed for dinner at Cottons Hotel in Knutsford. It’s 

a four star hotel that’s smart but family friendly. 

Cottons has a child-friendly spa which is well worth 

a visit with your little people if you’re in the area, 

and not just for the mini robes with ‘V I Little P’ 

embroidered on the back. We spent a happy few 

hours in the pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room. 

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy a break. 

Sometimes the perfect day out or short break might 

be right on your doorstep the whole time. 

For more information on the places mentioned in the 

article visit: 

Cheshire: Where Science Meets Nature, 

www.visitcheshire.com/science-meets-nature 

Cottons Hotel, 01565 650333, 

www.cottonshotel.co.uk 

Jodrell Bank, 01477 571766, www.jodrellbank.net 

Tatton Park, 01625 374400, www.tattonpark.org.uk 

Lyme, 01663 762023, www.nationaltrust.org.uk 


25

T R AV E L 

Cuba - Get Your Groove On! 

HOLLY THOMSON LEAVES RAINY OLD BRITAIN 

BEHIND TO EXPLORE VIBRANT CUBA 

When choosing a destination to holiday, Cuba may 

seem like an odd choice. For those fond of history, 

Cuba will be well remembered for the infamous 

Cuban Missile Crisis and its tumultuous history 

with the USA. Those interested in politics may be 

intrigued by the country’s ties to communism and a 

way of life unlike our own. Others may know Cuba 

for its lucrative rum and cigar trade but maybe only 

a few would associate Cuba as a holiday destination. 

I also had these varied assumptions of the country 

before I set foot on its soil. I had learnt about 

the Cuban Missile Crisis at school, its politics at 

university and as a result of student life, also became 

fond of the rum Cuba supplied as well! 

As I boarded my flight to this secretive country, 

weighed down with presumptions about what I 

would encounter, I wasn’t quite prepared to be 

greeted with warm hospitality, rich and vibrant 

culture and a zest for life which I haven’t experienced 

anywhere else. 

Over the course of two weeks I travelled across 

Cuba, from Havana to Trinidad, and broadened my 

ideas of the world from within this small, secretive 

and secluded nation. 

My journey across this Caribbean island started in 

Havana. I stayed in a guest house a stone’s throw 

away from Old Havana and spent four days in the 

capital. 

The city has expanded, with the outskirts of the old 

centre becoming more and more high rise, adapting 

to the demands of the 21st century. Whilst this part 

of the city may seem cold and lifeless, the larger and 

more tempting Old Havana certainly doesn’t lack life 

and warmth. 

A short stroll through the market streets and squares 

will reveal colourful and varied store fronts, selling 

everything from original artwork to cigar cases. 

Alongside these tourist shops are produce stores, 

filled with the tempting colours and aroma of 

tropical fruit. 

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In the rooftops and balconies above the streets sprawl 

bars and restaurants, often with live bands, the 

collision of these different sounds coming together to 

create a vibrant celebration of life. 

Amongst the expansive choice of bars that line 

and atop Old Havana’s streets there are a few with 

history sealed within the walls. One of these is El 

Floridita, which was a favourite of the Nobel Prize 

winner Ernest Hemingway. Story has it that the 

famous author would finish the day with a Daiquiri 

here. The atmosphere is always vibrant with 

large crowds coming each day to try the famous 

Hemingway Daiquiri. Although this bar does get 

busy and is perhaps not best suited for your everyday 

local, it is a great spot to end your day amongst the 

hustle and bustle of the shopping district. 

Old Havana is also home to many traditional 

squares often inspired by Spanish and European 

architecture. Admire the cathedrals and other 

historical buildings and take the time to notice the 

difference in architecture from one property to the 

next. I was amazed at how one property could so 

closely resemble a spanish courthouse and the next a 

French villa! 

Of course, one of the famous images of Cuba and 

a must do whilst in Havana is to take a trip in a 

classic car. Although the country is slowly beginning 

to import more modern cars, the absence of widespread 

trade with other countries has meant that 

many parts of Cuban life have lagged behind the rest 

of the world. Many cars used by locals date back to 

the 1950s, as new parts are a lot easier to obtain than 

a new car. 

Make sure to research a fair price and 

enjoy a friendly barter with the many 

Havanans offering classic car tours. 

On our trip our guide took us through 

the streets of Old Havana as well as 

along the beachfront and into the more 

modern portions of the city where 

history is still found. The famous Plaza 

de la Revolución was our mid-way 

point on our tour where you can witness 

the huge steel memorials of the two 

most celebrated heroes of the Cuban 

Revolution, Che Guevara and Camilo 

Cienfuegos. 

The capital is certainly the hub of 

history and nightlife in Cuba but I was 

most surprised by the variety on offer 

only a few hours away from the city. 

Our first stop after Havana was in 

Vinales, a small town nestled within a 

countryside of sloping green fields and 

dramatic limestone cliffs. This town 

and province are most famous for their 

tobacco growing and we were lucky enough to visit a 

tobacco farm and learn the art of cigar rolling from 

the experts themselves. 

This is a popular attraction in the area and even as 

someone who has no interest in smoking, the process 

and craft was fascinating to learn about and watch. 

My biggest take away was that nicotine is most 

28 


prevalent in the stem of the tobacco plant, therefore 

it can be removed to create a virtually nicotine free 

cigar. After watching the demonstration we were 

given the opportunity to purchase cigars directly 

from the farm itself which is much preferred as not 

only do you get a better price, but also the benefit of 

supporting a small local business. 

During our evenings in Vinales we were invited to 

join the locals for salsa in the square. 

This entailed dressing in our best flowing 

dresses and hitting the make-shift dance 

floor whilst the local band played lively 

Latin music. The local townsmen were 

keen to show off their moves and give us 

impromptu dance lessons in the process. I 

was put through my paces by a local salsa 

teacher who after dancing with me for 

quite some time declared that I needed 

more work and I should attend his dance 

class the next day. 

Cubans love to dance and this was clear 

to see as all of the locals took to the dance 

floor to show us how Salsa should really 

look. I was mesmerised by their flawless 

moves and impressive synchronisation 

with their dance partners. I was also 

impressed by the amount of rum that can 

be consumed on a typical salsa evening! 

Events like this are a common occurrence 

around all of Cuba. Please do join in 

if you stumble past a square filled with 

dancing and music. I was warmed by 

the local’s hospitality and enthusiasm in 

introducing us to a fundamental part of 

their culture. 

Our final stop on our trip was Trinidad. 

On the journey to this cultural heart of 

the country we spent several nights in 

various beach side towns where we were 

treated to the warm and clear waters 

of the Caribbean. Do make sure to also 

make this part of your trip to Cuba, the 

beach resorts are untouched and a real 

getaway. 

Trinidad is the cultural hub of Cuba and 

for good reason. Originally home to the 

sugar industry in the country, the town 

has since left its industrial past behind 

and embraced tourism. Due to the city 

no longer being seen as a major town 

for industry in the region, very few new 

buildings have been erected, allowing 

the charm and colours of the traditional 

buildings to shine. Nowhere is this more 

prevalent than in the Plaza Mayor which 

is like stepping back in time. 

Amongst these buildings are art museums, 

restaurants and places of worship. In the evening 

the stairs off to the right of the plaza come alive with 

dancing and music leading to more magical salsa and 

rumba nights. 

In the day, walking the streets is enough to simply 

soak up the culture and feel of this amazing city, 


29

ut the outskirts of Trinidad are 

filled with goodies too. I chose to 

take a horse ride to a waterfall 

nestled in the neighbouring 

Escambray Mountains. On the 

way, along a rocky path, we were 

offered sugar cane juice and 

other refreshments. When we got 

to the waterfall we were able to 

swim, all while surrounded by 

tropical jungle - a far cry from the 

colourful buildings we had left 

behind only a few miles away. 

Back in Trinidad we also 

discovered more about the way 

of life for Cubans all over the 

country. Every other evening or so 

I would make my way to a local 

park, which was always full of 

people and life. Although from 

the outside this may seem idyllic, the parks are so 

busy as for many they are the only source of internet. 

A wifi card can be purchased from a shop on the 

edge of the park and with this you will get an hour 

of internet on one device. The parks were lined with 

tourists and locals alike, all trying to update their 

friends and social media with what they had been up 

to in recent days. 

With only an hour of internet, accessible only in a 

park, you may be wondering how Cubans manage 

to watch movies, TV shows and access other media. 

The Cubans are nothing but resourceful and use 

their community spirit to make sure everyone has 

access to what they want or need. Although shops 

are available to buy basic clothing, Cubans often opt 

to shop out of their neighbours’ spare bedrooms, 

trading clothes or selling items purchased on recent 

trips to Mexico. 

Life may seem constricted and oppressed from an 

outsider’s perspective but after spending some time 

on this mysterious island what was apparent to me 

was how community spirit and camaraderie can 

make anything possible. Cubans are proud of their 

country, its industry, politics and people. They are 

well educated and are not ignorant of their place in 

the world. However, whilst they listen to our stories 

of fast-paced lifestyles they remain content with their 

lot in life. 

Cuba was more than I expected, a breath of fresh 

air and full of surprises. The country has attractions 

aplenty and makes for a fantastic trip with a fabulous 

mix of adventure and relaxation. With the country 

only set to become more modernised in the future, 

there is no better time to see Cuba than now or in 

the near future. 

To plan and book your holiday to Cuba call or 

WhatsApp RB Collection on 01543 258631 or 

email vip@rbcollection.com. Book before 

February 28, 2021 and mention J’aime Magazine to 

receive a free Cuba guide book with personal hints 

and tips added in www.rbcollection.com/cuba 

30 


Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy 

My offices are situated in the historic city of Lichfield and I have been providing personal 

wealth management advice to my clients for more 

than 25 years. 

I specialise in the following key areas 

and welcome your enquiry: 

• Investment Planning 

• InheritanceTax and Estate Planning 

• Pre and Post-Retirement Planning 

• Care Fees Planning and Funding for Care 

Telephone: 01543 417342 

Website: www.jeanlamb.co.uk 

Email: jean.lamb@sjpp.co.uk 

Office: 6A Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LH 

Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management Plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) 

for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

H E A LT H 

Summer Bodies Are Made In Winter 

LICHFIELD PERSONAL TRAINER RAUL ROMERO LOOKS AT 

WORKING ON A LONG TERM FITNESS PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR 

Bitterly cold weather, short dark days and icy winter 

mornings...all perfect excuses to stay at home in front 

of a toasty fire with a hot cuppa, binge watching the 

latest TV shows and filling our boots with satisfying 

comfort food whilst repeating the mantra as old as 

time of ‘I’ll start tomorrow’ in reference to our fitness 

journey. 

Or, another way of looking at it, creating and 

envisaging your fitness goal, having the grit, 

determination and self motivation to get up and out 

especially on those dark, dreary, cold wet days, one 

day at a time to make those goals a reality. 

Many of our New Year’s resolutions include health 

and fitness goals of all types. The start of the New 

Year can be such a great opportunity to properly 

plan and create a realistic fitness training plan that 

suits your individual needs and lifestyle. 

The key is sticking to your plan one day at a time 

and keeping momentum even on those long, dark 

and difficult winter nights. 

As straightforward as this sounds, this is not usually 

what we see in the glossy magazines. Here we often 

find glamorised ‘six week beach body’ type plans that 

focus on the short term, usually for those who are 

looking for a last minute solution before a holiday or 

special occasion. Whilst there is nothing wrong with 

this, these types of regimes aren’t usually suitable for 

everyone or sustainable for the long term. 

There are various reasons for this: 

- Our bodies need to build a solid foundation of 

fitness before we push ourselves to higher levels. 

Some of these short term programmes are extremely 

demanding on the body and could do more damage 

than good. Preparing our bodies to become stronger 

and fitter is key! 

- Technique! Training with the correct technique in 

the execution of exercises is vital to avoid injuries. 

This is something that is learnt and perfected over 

32 


time, which fits in perfectly with long term goals and 

plans. 

- If exercises are too demanding for our unprepared 

bodies they aren’t usually enjoyable. Naturally 

if something is not enjoyable we are going to 

lose motivation a lot quicker and usually give up 

altogether. 

Suffice to say, there is no magic pill or diet that can 

transform our bodies in the blink of an eye. Short 

term extreme fitness regimes or diets may work for 

a while but are almost never sustainable and it is so 

easy to regress and be in an even worse fitness state 

than before. 

Achieving our fitness goals, just like achieving any 

other goals worth having, takes planning, hard work, 

dedication and time. 

The key is finding a way of exercising that we truly 

enjoy and that can be incorporated into our daily 

lives, and a way of healthy eating that again we enjoy 

and can then sustain, thus resulting in a lifestyle 

change rather than a short term temporary fitness 

stint. Another way of looking at it is keeping in shape 

all year round, then having some ‘peak’ times in the 

year where we push ourselves even more, maybe in 

preparation for a special event or holiday. 

In order to achieve our summer bodies we have 

to start the hard work now, by planning carefully 

and realistically, then maintaining motivation and 

dedication and working hard, even through the 

winter months. 

Seeking professional guidance with the planning and 

execution of fitness training and nutrition planning 

is a very helpful tool which also helps add a layer of 

accountability, thus making it easier not to fall off the 

wagon. 

I have many clients who start training with me in 

January after the Christmas binge and who very 

often have a holiday booked in July so want to 

physically see results by then. That means there are 

around 75-80 training days to make the most of 

before the holiday. That is enough time to learn and 

develop good technique, create strong foundations 

and gradually build up the volume and intensity of 

training for them to have made noticeable gains by 

July. 

Training in this structured way, consistently, every 

week without any excuses, not only helps achieve 

fitness goals but also gives a much lower chance of 

developing pain or injuries. 

Training with a mid to long term goal like this 

eliminates any losses to fitness goals in case you have 

to miss a few days of training due to illness. 

Similar planning strategies can be applied to our 

nutrition habits. Planning and making small, steady, 

realistic changes to improve our diet and nutrition 

can work hand in hand perfectly with a structured 

training regime. Small changes over a period of time 

really can help us achieve massive noticeable results. 

That leads me on to my top tips to be 

successful with your health and fitness goals 

in 2021: 

1) Establish a routine. 

2) Start with exercises you like. Make it fun. 

3) Seek expert support. 

4) Join group sessions for that extra support 

(if possible). 

5) Be kind to yourself. 

6) Try and find a training buddy. 

7) Track your progress. 

Happy New Year to all & happy training! If you 

would like any help or advice on anything health and 

fitness related please feel free to get in touch with me 

at raul@ambitionpt.co.uk or via social media 

(@ambitionpersonaltraininguk). 


33

FA S H I O N 

Bossy boots 

WINTER-PROOF YOUR TOOTSIES WITH SOME OF THE HOTTEST BOOTS 

STYLES AROUND. AMY NORBURY HUNTS DOWN THE BEST PICKS TO SEE 

YOU THROUGH TO SPRING 

AFTER the ubiquitous winter coat, boots are the biggest ticket 

purchase for any fashionista’s winter wardrobe. An essential 

piece of kit to combat the vagaries of the great British weather, 

boots are a seasonal must-have; the go-to footwear pick until the 

thermometer starts its springtime rise. 

In past seasons, boots have become a style statement in 

their own right; from sky high and thigh high to full-on 

embellishments, there have been some seriously showy offerings 

glamming up the catwalks and high streets alike. 

But this winter, things are a little more pared back. Throughout 

2020, fashion trends have erred towards the practical - after all, 

we’ve been lounging through lockdown in our comfiest garb, 

and casualwear has replaced office chic for working from home 

and Zoom meetings galore. 

And that ethos has carried through to footwear; from gum boots 

at Christian Dior to hiking boots at Chloé, we’ve all fallen for 

footwear with function at its heart. 

When it comes to heels, it’s all about taking it low. Sturdy 

block heels have taken over, with not a stiletto in sight, and 

highly wearable ankle styles have become a firm favourite, with 

chunkier biker and combat boots offering the perfect balance of 

practicality and attitude. 

If you’re looking at knee high or above, opt for an equestrian 

vibe with either flats or a sturdy heel in classic black or tan. 

For easy everyday chic, a classic Chelsea boot hits the right note, 

while the ever-popular Western styles which have been top of 

the wishlist for a few seasons remain a solid pick. 

And while suede has been having its moment in the fashion 

spotlight recently, the tide has once again turned back towards 

the practicality and durability of leather. Forget dodging 

downpours in your new suede numbers; this season opt for boots 

that’ll have you splashing in puddles without a second thought. 

PASSO BOOTS, £140, DUNE LONDON. 

WWW.DUNELONDON.COM 

34 


£95 

£120 

£45 

ADJUST BOOTS, OFFICE. 

WWW.OFFICE.CO.UK 

PAXTONE2 BOOTS, DUNE LONDON. 


OLIVIA BLACK ABOVE THE KNEE 

BOOTS, MISS SELFRIDGE. 

WWW.MISSSELFRIDGE.COM 

£145 

£55 

PICTOR BOOTS, DUNE LONDON. 


PER UNA BOOTS, MARKS AND SPENCER. 

WWW.MARKSANDSPENCER.COM 

£80 

A TOUCH OF BOHO SLOUCHY 

BOOTS, JOE BROWNS. 

WWW.JOEBROWNS.CO.UK 

£185 

£92 

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35

W H AT ’ S O N 

What’s On Local 

START THE YEAR AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON BY GETTING 

OUT OF THE HOUSE AND FINDING SOME FUN 

WHAT: DRIVE-IN CINEMA 

WHERE: SANDON HALL, SANDON, STAFFORDSHIRE 

WHEN: DATES THROUGHOUT JANUARY 

Drive-in entertainment was able to restart at the end of the national 

lockdown, despite many indoor entertainment venues having to 

remain closed. It’s seen a resurgence of drive-in cinema screenings 

around the country. 

The Great British Drive In, at Sandon Hall, is one of our absolute 

favourites. Members of the J’AIME team have been paying 

customers and heartily recommend it. 

It feels very safe and you have the backdrop of a stunning stately 

home behind the massive cinema screen. 

There’s no need to leave your car at all but if you do you can buy 

food prepared by Digbeth Dining Club. 

January’s films are set to include Grease, The Greatest Showman 

and Interstellar. 

WHAT: PANTOMIME 

WHERE: ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM 

WHEN: JANUARY 15 TO 31 

At the time of going to print, Birmingham is still set to get a good old 

fashioned pantomime, Robin Hood, starring Craig Revel Horwood 

from Strictly Come Dancing as The Sheriff of Nottingham. 

The socially distanced, one-act show has been shortened so that 

members of the audience won’t risk mingling during an interval. 

The line-up is also due to include Richard Cadell and Sooty, Black 

Country favourite Doreen Tipton and Matt Slack who usually 

appears in panto at the Birmingham Hippodrome. 

Expect traditional panto fun at the end of a very untraditional year. 

WHAT: CHINESE NEW YEAR 

WHERE: LOCATIONS AROUND BIRMINGHAM 

WHEN: JANUARY 24 TO 26 

At the time of going to press Birmingham city centre was still set 

to play host to elaborate celebrations to mark the Chinese New 

Year. 

COVID-19 may cause some plans to change, but you can still 

anticipate a riot of colour in Birmingham’s Chinatown. 

There’s due to be a wish tree in Grand central that visitors can 

add their own wishes to. 

There are also set to be stalls, street entertainers and 

performances. 

36 


WHAT: SELF-GUIDED WALK 

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM 

WHEN: WHENEVER YOU LIKE 

You can enjoy a guided heritage walk around Birmingham with 

members of your bubble without even needing to interact with 

another human. 

Curious About has organised two different walks around the city, 

both with a treasure hunt theme. 

You simply need to download the guide from the website and then 

get out and about at a time and day to suit you. 

You can find out more by visiting the website at 

www.curiousabout.co.uk/birmingham 

WHAT: ART EXHIBITION 

WHERE: IKON GALLERY, BRINDLEYPLACE, BIRMINGHAM 

WHEN: THROUGHOUT JANUARY 

Ikon Gallery’s new group show, Faster Than Ever, is an 

exhibition invented out of necessity in response to the 

challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Involving more than 20 artists from across the world, it is 

an exercise in capitalising on chance, making the most of 

incongruity and happy accidents. 

Participating artists include Thomas Bewick, Julie Brook, 

Alice Cattaneo, Lee Bul, Edmund Clark, Martin Creed, Kate 

Groobey, Graham Gussin, Arturo Herrera, Carmen Herrera, 

On Kawara, Lutz and Guggisberg, Haroon Mirza, Ivan 

Morison, Nástio Mosquito, Grace Ndiritu, Cornelia Parker, 

Navin Rawanchaikul, Noguchi Rika, Shimabuku, Dayanita 

Singh, Bosco Sodi, Nancy Spero and Beat Streuli. 

Admission is free of charge. 

WHAT: LIVE MUSIC 

WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK 

WHEN: SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 

At the time of going to press live music was still set to return 

to Lichfield Garrick in January, including tribute evening The 

George Michael Legacy. 

International tribute artiste Wayne Dilks and his band pay tribute 

to the late George Michael in this show. 

Wayne has been a George Michael tribute artiste for almost 20 

years, dedicating his professional career to pay homage to the late 

pop phenomenon. 

He delivers his heartfelt tribute to the global superstar in 

a sensitive and spectacular way, receiving five star reviews 

nationwide. 

www.jaimemagazine.com 37

LO CA L A R E A 

Escape into a Garden 

WHATEVER THE WEATHER, VISITING SOME GLORIOUS GARDENS WILL STILL BE 

WONDERFULLY SOOTHING FOR MIND, BODY AND SOUL THIS MONTH. HERE ARE 

SOME OF OUR FAVOURITES, RIGHT ON THE DOORSTEP 

Shugborough, Milford, near Stafford 

The gardens and parkland of this National 

Trust-run property are due to be open between 

9am and 4pm every day in January. Visitors are 

asked to book in advance wherever possible, to 

avoid disappointment on the day. Takeaway food 

and drink are available and the play area is still 

open. 

Wightwick Manor and Gardens, 

Wightwick Bank, Wolverhampton 

The gardens at Wightwick Manor are due to be 

open to visitors every day in January, but you’ll 

need to book your visit in advance. You will also 

be able to buy takeaway food and drink from 

the tearoom. The gardens at Wightwick were 

redesigned by Thomas Mawson in 1904 and 

have plenty to discover, even in the depths of 

winter. 

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 

Edgbaston 

The glasshouses are currently closed due to 

coronavirus restrictions but you can still visit the 

gardens and playground. Booking in advance is 

requested and you will be able to buy takeaway 

food from the cafe. If you’re very lucky you may 

well catch some early flowers in bloom. 

Winterbourne House and Garden, 

Edgbaston 

The house and tearoom may be closed but the 

gardens and shop remain open to visitors at 

Winterbourne. People are asked to book their 

visit in advance and follow the suggested route 

around the garden. Winterbourne is one of the 

best surviving examples of an Edwardian Arts 

and Crafts suburban villa garden in the country. 


eyond the horizon 

Let’s create something to look forward to 

Nothing can beat personal advice when you’re looking to put 

the last few months behind you and make plans to look 

forward, whether that’s a last-minute getaway or you’re 

planning ahead to next year. 

You will always have the support of a real person, 

be it face-to-face, by video, phone or email - 

whenever you need me. 

Charlotte Mitchell 

Travel Counsellor 

0121 314 6650 or 07860 944207 

charlotte.mitchell@travelcounsellors.com 

www.travelcounsellors.com/charlotte.mitchell 

www.facebook.com/CharlotteMitchellTC 

Proud to be a family run business for over 35 years 

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Thanks Kieran” 

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surrounds, and gas and woodburning stoves, since 1981. 

For your safety and to observe social distancing we are 

asking that you telephone or email to arrange a personal 

viewing of our showroom. 

abbeyfirecentre @abbeyfirecentre abbeyfirecentreltd

LO CA L A R E A 

Walk this way 

WHETHER IT’S AROUND THE BLOCK OR UP A HILL, WALKING HAS KEPT SO MANY OF 

US GOING THROUGHOUT LOCKDOWNS AND RESTRICTIONS. HERE ARE SOME OF 

OUR FAVOURITE WALKING DESTINATIONS TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE INSPIRATION 

Birches Valley, Cannock Chase 

Birches Valley is the perfect place for a magical 

walk in the woods. There are so many different 

trails to try, but we particularly love the childfriendly 

walk that includes a fairy garden and 

Gruffalo statue. There’s no admission fee, but 

you will need to pay for parking. There’s a 

brilliant free playground, and don’t forget to take 

along some money for a takeaway coffee or even 

an ice cream. 

Downs Banks, Oulton Heath, near Stone 

Take a leisurely stroll along Downs Banks brook 

and you may be lucky enough to see a kingfisher 

catching his lunch. On a clear day there are 

brilliant views from the highest point of the 

downs and you should be able to make out Mow 

Cop and the Wrekin. There’s plenty of parking 

at the site, but it can get busy when the weather 

is good. 

Kinver Edge, Kinver 

You’ll find miles of waymarked footpaths at 

Kinver Edge, including plenty that are suitable 

for all the family. We particularly like the 

woodland trail, which has natural play areas 

to explore along the way. It’s quite steep in 

places but the magnificent views make the effort 

worthwhile. Dogs on leads are very welcome too. 

Canalside stroll, a towpath near you 

A walk along a canal towpath is a walk that 

just keeps on giving. You’ll generally find the 

paths easily accessible and you’ll see plenty of 

interesting things along the way. If you’re lucky 

you’ll spot some interesting barges and perhaps 

be able to watch a canal lock in action. We 

particularly like the stretch of the Trent and 

Mersey that runs through Stone, and not just 

because a walk can be combined with a trip to 

the lovely town itself. 

40 


Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield 

It’s right on our doorstep and it’s free, so make 

the most of beautiful Sutton Park. A designated 

national nature reserve, it’s one of the largest 

urban parks in Europe. Back in the time of 

Henry VIII it was a hunting forest but now 

you’re more likely to spot great crested grebes. 

Tittesworth Reservoir, near Leek 

You’ll need to drive to visit this man-made 

beauty spot, but it’s well worth the journey. You 

can take a 4.5 mile trail which loops right around 

the reservoir or a short 1.5 mile walk if needs 

be. After all that walking you can refuel with 

takeaway food and drink from the on-site cafe. 

Sandwell Valley, West Bromwich 

If you’re looking for a stroll that isn’t too taxing 

then this RSPB nature reserve could be a good 

choice for you. There are walking and cycle 

routes and you’re almost guaranteed to spot 

some spectacular wildlife. Depending on the 

time of year you may see kingfishers, skylarks 

and lapwings. 

Rudyard Lake, near Leek 

In decades gone 

by a visit to 

Rudyard Lake 

was the equivalent 

of a day at the 

seaside for many 

families, for very 

good reason. 

Expect spectacular 

scenery and the 

opportunity to go 

out on a boat or 

travel aboard a 

miniature steam 

train, restrictions 

allowing. There 

is plentiful on-site 

parking. 

Chatsworth Estate, Derbyshire 

It’s a bit of a drive, but the parkland 

at the Chatsworth Estate is among the 

most beautiful you will find anywhere 

in the country. You can talk a circular 

walking route around the Devonshire 

family’s stately pile completely free 

of charge without even stepping foot 

inside the house itself. 


41

P O S I T I V E T H I N K I N G 

A happy and positive 

2021 really is possible 

JENNY AMPHLETT LOOKS ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF 2020 AND SAYS YOU SHOULD 

MAKE IT YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION TO FIND POSITIVITY IN THE YEAR AHEAD. 

I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions. 

Those dark days of January, when people are 

reining in their social life or counting the cost 

of the festive season, can be depressing enough 

without denying yourself life’s small pleasures. 

The thought of 31 days without a decent night 

out might just be bearable if you allow yourself 

to finish the rest of the tin of Quality Street and 

that bottle of Advocaat from the back of the 

cupboard. Or at least that’s the way I usually 

look at it. 

If you want to start a new health regime then 

I reckon you should do it in the middle of 

summer when the sun is shining, when it feels 

less tortuous and when you actually stand a 

fighting chance of sticking to it. 

Instead of devising ways to get fit, lose weight 

or generally make myself miserable, I tend to 

spend some time at New Year looking back over 

the previous 12 months and trying to remind 

myself of the things I have to be thankful for. 

We all have some, even if we need to hunt them 

out for what has been a difficult and unusual 

year for so many of us. 

The list is obviously different for every one of us, but 

for me it usually includes the likes of managing not to 

lose any loved ones during 

the past year, time spent 

with close family, having 

wonderful friends. 

In a more normal year 

my list would include 

holidays, days out, theatre 

and cinema visits, and 

particularly memorable 

meals. Most of that has 

been nigh on impossible to 

achieve this year, but I can 

still add managing not to 

kill any houseplants, books 

I’ve read, work projects 

42 


I’ve felt proud of and things I’d been putting off but 

finally got around to doing to that list. 

For me it’s been a year of being brave, taking chances 

and leaping into the unknown in a way I may well not 

have been prepared to do had 2020 been just any old 

year. 

Unlike most years I can also add a serious amount 

of walking to my list of happy moments, getting to 

know the village I live in a bit better by pounding its 

pavements each day and becoming more attuned to 

nature by disappearing into the woods or across fields 

whenever the opportunity presented itself. 

It’s a year when I’ve picked nettles and turned 

them into soup, cooked all manner of puddings 

from windfall apples and photographed every wild 

mushroom I’ve laid eyes on. 

Every single one of us has had low points during the 

past 12 months, I know that I certainly have. But look 

at them in the right way and they can be reasons to 

be thankful too. However tough those things may 

have been, and perhaps continue to be for some of us, 

we’re still here on the other side of them. And we’re 

looking a shiny, hopeful new year in the face; a year in 

which we may well be able to get some of our muchmissed 

freedoms back. 

Looking for the happy moments from the past 12 

months and finding ways to have more of the same in 

the coming 12 months is a much more positive way of 

dealing with the New Year than picking out the things 

you don’t like about yourself and deciding how to 

change them. 

If you’re going to make a New Year’s Resolution, 

please make it to embrace all the positive things 

that 2021 brings. Resolve to never take the people 

in your life for granted again, to support your local 

community in any way you can and to realise that 

happiness really can be found in the small things. 


43

I N T H E N E W S 

The write stuff for author Lisa 

A STAFFORDSHIRE AUTHOR HAS WON A LITERARY PRIZE FOR HER 

BOOK INSPIRED BY STRONG WOMEN FROM THE COUNTY 

A collection of short stories inspired by feisty 

Staffordshire women has been awarded this year’s 

Arnold Bennett Literary Prize. 

It’s Gone Dark Over Bill’s Mother’s, written by Lisa 

Blower, was revealed as the winner in an online 

ceremony. 

The book had been shortlisted alongside former 

Coronation Street actress Deborah McAndrew’s play 

The D Road, Peter Cash’s poetry anthology Pitying 

The Planet and academic John Shapcott’s Arnold 

Bennett and Frederick Marriott Parallel Lives. 

“I’m pleased as punch to win, chuffed to bits, in fact I 

did have a little cry,” Lisa said. 

“As part of the awards ceremony the shortlisted 

writers each read out an extract of their work. I was 

so completely mesmerised by the others that I was 

convinced I wouldn’t win. 

“When they said my name I was so shocked I just 

literally hadn’t thought it would be me in the face of 

such strong opposition.” 

The 46-year-old has received a £500 prize and the 

prestige of following in the footsteps of previous 

winners such as Guardian culture columnist Charlotte 

Higgins, who was awarded last year for Red Thread: 

On Mazes and Labyrinths. 

Lisa now works as a senior lecturer and course leader 

in creative and professional writing at Wolverhampton 

University. 

After studying at Sheffield, Manchester and Bangor 

universities, she began her career lecturing in creative 

writing at Bangor University. 

She taught the first course in working class fiction at 

a UK university and has been a guest lecturer on the 

topic at Staffordshire University . 

Lisa’s debut novel, Sitting Ducks, was shortlisted 

for the inaugural Arnold Bennett Prize in 2017 and 

longlisted for The Guardian’s Not the Booker in 2016. 

It’s Gone Dark Over Bill’s Mother’s features 

strong, working class women including Lisa’s own 

grandmother, Nellie Edwards, who died in her 90s 

after a lifetime of working as a dipper for various 

potteries across Stoke-on-Trent. 

Lisa said: 

“After she 

died I sat 

down to write 

the eulogy for 

her funeral 

and began 

remembering 

all the things 

she used to 

say to me 

when I was a 

child. 

“She was a 

witty and 

outspoken 

woman. If 

she fell out 

with a shop 

steward at 

work she’d walk across the road and start working for 

another potbank instead.” 

That funeral tribute turned into a short story which 

won Lisa The Guardian National Short Story Award 

in 2009, was shortlisted for the BBC National Short 

Story Award in 2013 and was longlisted for The 

Sunday Times Short Story Award in 2018. 

It was only natural then that it should form part of a 

collection of short tales featuring the likes of Ruthie 

the ‘happy hooker’, sleep-deprived Laura and young 

mum Roxanne. 

“It’s fiction but there are some autobiographical 

moments in there, like the journey my family used to 

make to Barmouth during the Potters Holidays every 

year. 

“They’re mostly stories about women but I remember 

growing up with a lot of women around me. I was 

surrounded by chattering matriarchs who were always 

telling stories and gossiping. 

“The women of that time didn’t think they were doing 

anything interesting or significant or contributing to 

history, but of course they were. 

44 


“I remember telling my nan that I’d like to write her 

life history and she said whatever for as she hadn’t 

done anything. Those women were accepting rather 

than expecting. They worked their whole lives, they 

made armaments during the war – but they didn’t 

think they’d done anything interesting.” 

The title of the book is a phrase that Lisa’s nan used 

to often say to her. It means that it looks like rain is on 

the way. 

“It’s Gone Dark over Bill’s Mother’s felt like an apt 

title for a collection of stories that mine the pits, pots 

and poets I grew up with, where I played in the backs 

behind the Leek New Road, or sat listening to my 

nan’s stories and scruffy wisdom. 

“We’d spend weekends walking the towpaths around 

Stockton Brook before heading home to tape the 

charts, a pan of lobby on the stove. 

“It was a peachy childhood, despite the smog, strikes 

and Thatcher gunning for the unions back in the early 

80s; my mum making us all wipe our feet on a Vote 

Conservative board before she put it out for the dog to 

do his business on. 

“The stalwart citizens of the Potteries working class 

owned neither a car, passport or a mortgage but were 

the vital participants in its industry. Any potter worth 

their salt will flip over a plate seeking Made in Stokeon-Trent 

because at least someone in their family 

will have had a hand in making it. And that’s what I 

wanted to capture.” 

It’s Gone Dark Over Bill’s Mother’s is published by 

Myriad and priced £8.99. Lisa’s novel Pondweed will 

be out in paperback in April 2021. 

Music to her ears 

A LICHFIELD TEENAGER HAS WON A NATIONAL COMPOSING AWARD 

A Staffordshire schoolgirl has won a national 

composing award and had her work broadcast to the 

nation on BBC Radio 3 despite it being her very first 

choral composition. 

Eilidh Owen, 17, says she was surprised and excited 

to pick up the Young Composer Award 2020 from the 

National Centre for Early Music. 

The year 13 pupil at Lichfield Cathedral School will 

have her work performed at a concert at the Cadogan 

Hall in March. It will then be broadcast on BBC 

Radio 3’s Early Music Show. 

She said: ““I was so surprised and excited when I 

heard my name announced as the winner of the 

NCEM Young Composers Award. This was the first 

choir piece I’ve ever written and I didn’t expect to do 

so well. 

“I still can’t believe that Radio 3 played part of my 

piece on the In Tune program and the nice comments 

made by Katie Derham. I’m really looking forward 

to hearing the Tallis Scholars perform my piece in 

London in March.” 

Her winning 

composition was 

based on the first and 

last verses of George 

Herbert’s poem The 

Flower. 

Dad Richard Owen 

said: “It was exciting 

for us to see and 

hear Eilidh’s piece 

performed and a 

total shock when she 

won. The reaction from friends and family who were 

able to watch online has been incredible. 

“We just want to say thank you to the NCEM for 

organising the competition and for everyone who has 

trained and encouraged Eilidh at Lichfield Cathedral 

School and Lichfield Cathedral Choir.” 

You can see and hear all the finalist’s pieces sung and 

the awards being announced here: 

www.ncem.co.uk/composersaward2020/ 


45


Through The Cracks 

A PRIZE-WINNING PAKISTANI AUTHOR HAS CHOSEN TO PUBLISH HER NEW BOOK 

IN STAFFORDSHIRE. JENNY AMPHLETT FOUND OUT WHY A COUNTY IN THE 

MIDDLE OF A COUNTRY 4,000 MILES AWAY WAS SO APPEALING 

An award-winning Pakistani author has chosen to 

publish her latest book four thousand miles away - in 

Staffordshire. 

Bushra Naqi, who lives in the historic city of Lahore 

in the Punjab, was awarded the prestigious Patrus 

Bokhari Prize by the Government of Pakistan in 

honour of her literary contribution to the country. 

Her latest book, Through The Cracks, has been 

published by North Staffordshire Press and is being 

released simultaneously in the UK and Pakistan. 

Written in English rather than Urdu, it is a 

collection of short stories that give an insight into 

Pakistani culture and look at both traditional and 

unconventional relationships. 

“Pakistan is a very conservative country. Writing in 

English gives me more freedom,” she said. “The 

majority of people in Pakistan don’t understand or 

read English. The people who do read English are not 

the conservative types, so you can get away with a lot 

more things when you’re writing in English.” 

The 69-year-old says that living in what she calls a 

traditionally conservative society encouraged her to 

‘become a reactionary’ and challenge a ‘stagnant and 

static’ way of life. 

The book, which Bushra says is partly 

autobiographical, gives snapshots into the lives of 

everyone from committed spinsters to women fleeing 

abusive relationships and from immigrants struggling 

to fit into their new country to people engaged in 

clandestine love affairs. 

“There’s no state censorship in Pakistan,” she said. 

“People do write whatever they want to in my country. 

I wanted to publish in the UK because I thought there 

would be a market for my work there too. 

“I found North Staffordshire Press on the internet and 

have found them very good to deal with, via emails 

and video calls.” 

Bushra chose the book’s title, Through The Cracks, 

as each of her stories gives an insight into a different 

person’s life. 

“We never really see people in their wholeness, we 

BUSHRA NAQI 

don’t get the whole picture, there’s always something 

concealed. I’m looking behind that,” she said. 

Bushra studied creative writing in New York after 

being introduced to classic English literature at a 

very young age by her father, who had studied at 

Cambridge University. 

“My father told us a lot about life in England,” said 

Bushra. “I was reading the English classics at a very 

young age - Dickens, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the 

Brontes. It helped me to develop a love for literature 

and reading. 

“I started writing poetry when I was 19 and had my 

work published. I then found the medium of short 

stories more effective to articulate my observations 

about human nature. 

“My stories are partly autobiographical - I had all of 

these stories inside of me somewhere.” 

Through The Cracks is published by North 

Staffs Press priced £10. It can be ordered 

from all good book sellers using the ISBN 

code 978 1 8 380893 9 9. 

46 


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Rosemary Lodge Care Home is a family 

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CO M P E T I T I O N 

Win £100 of soft furnishings 

WE HAVE TEAMED UP WITH LICHFIELD-BASED INTERIOR CHOICE 

TO GIVE AWAY A £100 VOUCHER TO SPEND IN STORE 

With more than 35 years of soft furnishings 

experience and two-and-a-half years of running a 

family business, opening a Lichfield showroom was a 

natural next step for Interior Choice. 

The first floor showroom above Sure Storage in 

Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, stocks all the leading fabric 

and blind brands as well as offering a design and fit 

service if required. 

Customers can choose from more than 6,000 options 

across curtains, blinds and wallpapers with tracks, 

poles, awning and automated blinds also available. 

Interior Choice aims to have the largest selection in 

the area and to compete with internet prices. 

Key brands include Romo, Voyage and Prestigious 

Textiles plus ILiv, Bill Beaumont, Curtain Express, 

Villa Nova, Luxaflex, Silent Gliss and ILiv Contract 

collections. 

All budgets are catered for, from entry-level express 

curtain and roman blinds to machine-sewn and 

bespoke hand-sewn products. 

Everything comes with a three year warranty, subject 

to fair usage rules, with a five year warranty on certain 

Luxaflex lines. All blinds are fitted with child safety 

devices as standard. 

If you’ve just moved into a new home or need your 

new purchases quickly then an express service means 

that some blinds and curtains can be delivered and 

fitted within seven to 10 days. 

And if you’re looking for blinds or curtains for a 

commercial premises then Interior Choice even has 

ranges designed specifically with your needs in mind 

which carry commercial grade specification. 

Visits to the 512sq ft showroom are currently by 

appointment only, which means that you can browse 

the collections with peace of mind. 

There is a seven day no-obligation booked 

appointment system in place. When you arrive you 

can park free of charge and will have exclusive, no 

obligation to purchase use of the showroom for 

up to two hours. No other customers will enter the 

showroom during your slot and refreshments will be 

available. 

During the friendly and personal consultation you 

will get to see lots of samples and will have all of the 

options explained to you so that you can choose the 

right option for your family and your home. 

NHS track and trace systems are in place and plentiful 

free hand sanitiser is available. 

Late night appointments are available to fit in around 

busy work and life schedules. 

Interior Choice is a family-owned and family-run 

local business with a reputation that is growing daily. 

They have become a five star rated Best of Lichfield 

approved supplier. If you’re looking for new soft 

furnishings then they could be the right choice for you. 

Interior Choice’s January sale starts on January 4, with 

25% off selected ranges. 

Interior Choice, 1st Floor, Sure Store, Eastern Avenue, 

Lichfield, WS13 6UY, 01543 406162 

www.interiorchoice.net 

COMPETITION 

WIN A £100 VOUCHER TO SPEND IN-STORE AT INTERIOR CHOICE. 

FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN, SIMPLY ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: 

WHICH THREE KEY BRANDS DO INTERIOR CHOICE STOCK? 

Send your answer along with your name, address and telephone number via email to competitions@jaimemagazine.com with Interior Choice competition in the 

email subject box. Entries must be received by midday on Friday, January 29. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.jainemagazine.com for further details. 

48 



Kick-start your weight loss 

A BALLOON PILL AND A GLASS OF WATER COULD BE THE 

ANSWER IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO LOSE WEIGHT THIS YEAR 

A slimming ‘balloon pill’ that can be taken with a 

glass of water has been introduced to Spire Little 

Aston Hospital in Sutton Coldfield. 

The Elipse ‘balloon pill’, developed by Allurion, 

works by filling the stomach and making the patient 

feel full more quickly and so enables them to cut back 

on the amount they eat. 

Unlike the gastric band, sleeve or bypass there is 

no need for surgery, a general anaesthetic or an 

overnight stay in hospital. 

Instead a small capsule that contains the balloon 

is attached to a thin tube and swallowed. Once it 

reaches the stomach an X-ray is taken to check it is 

in the correct position before the balloon is released 

and filled with up to 550ml of saline. 

Designed to deflate after four months before passing 

naturally through the body, the Elipse is aimed at 

people with a BMI of 27 or above in order to help 

them kick-start their dieting regime. 

The procedure is overseen by Consultant General 

Surgeon Mr Amir Khan who explained: “It isn’t a 

miracle pill, it still needs the patient to eat less and 

choose their foods more wisely, but it is a great aid to 

those who are serious about weight loss. 

“The balloon will reduce the hunger pangs but the 

patient still has to show willpower and determination 

in order to get the very best results from the process. 

It may be that the patient is advised to stick to a 

liquid diet for a couple of days after taking the pill 

but they will then be able to move onto solid foods. 

“What is really important is that they use the feeling 

of fullness provided by the balloon to help them 

change their eating habits. Smaller portions and 

healthier options really are the key to success.” 

Patients lose an average of 10 to 15kgs (1.57 to 2.36 

stone) in 16 weeks by using the balloon. 

Mr Khan is offering free virtual mini consultations 

on Thursday, February 4 between 4pm and 6pm. 

Call 0121 514 7034 for more information or to 

make an appointment. 

www.jaimemagazine.com 49

B E AU T Y 

Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep 

KICK-START 2021 WITH A RESOLUTION TO GIVE YOUR SKIN A MUCH-NEEDED NEW 

YEAR BOOST. WE TALK TO ROYAL FACIALIST AND FOUNDER OF HEAVEN SKINCARE 

DEBORAH MITCHELL ABOUT HER LATEST RANGE DESIGNED TO TACKLE SKINCARE 

WOES FROM THE INSIDE OUT 

Renowned around the world for her 

Heaven Skincare saviours, Deborah 

Mitchell has been treating countless 

famous faces for more than 30 years. 

From Tess Daley and Dannii Minogue 

to the Duchess of Cornwall, her client 

list reads like the ultimate who’s who. 

Her sought-after products are sold in 

some of the most famous hotels and 

spas from New York to Dubai, and 

she recently appeared in the Netflix 

documentary Un(well) showing how 

she makes her renowned Bee Venom 

Masks. 

Now the celebrity facialist has 

unveiled her latest line of defence 

for anti-ageing – a range of seven 

supplements that work in tandem 

with her bestselling skincare essentials. 

Each of the carefully selected vitamins 

and minerals are designed to tackle a 

whole host of complexion issues, from 

hair and nail strength to protection 

from free radicals. 

“In all of the 30 years I have spent 

healing and treating anti-ageing from 

the outside, I realised through my 

extensive research that many of the 

skin problems we suffer from are often 

caused by what is going on inside our 

bodies,” explains Deborah. 

“By learning how to match the needs 

of the skin on the outside to the needs 

of the skin from the inside I discovered I can quickly 

treat complexion issues and at the same time provide 

much-needed health benefits too. 

“As an example, if a client comes to see me because 

they suffer from eczema, I know it can often be 

blamed on a dairy intolerance or deficient vitamin 

absorption on the inside and an overgrowth of 

microbes on the outside. 

“Now, with the launch of my new supplements range 

I can recommend the correct combination for their 

skin: my new Inner Nettle Shoots combined with my 

Hydro Cleansing Milk and Nettle Venom Cream; or 

my Inner Bee-ing and Silver Bee Venom Mask. 

“Because these contain the natural amino acids and 

vitamins needed to help ease their eczema from the 

inside, they will keep their skin in great condition on 

the outside too.” 

Heaven’s new Inner Beauty supplements are priced 

at £37 each and are available online at 

heavenskincare.com and from selected Heaven 

salons. 


Probate and formal valuations 

for inheritance tax purposes 

Our reliable and sympathetic 

team can assist all executors in the 

administration of deceased estates 

From jewellery and large collections 

to cars, furniture and household 

items, we handle everything 

FREE 

jewellery, watch 

and silver valuations 

by appointment only 

Thursdays 9.30am-4pm 

at The Lichfield 

Auction Centre 

Comprehensive, bespoke 

clearance service and 

downsizing solutions 

We handle clearance of an entire 

estate from houses, bungalows and 

flats to offices and all other buildings 

We specialise in: 

Antique and modern jewellery 

Watches 

Gemstones 

Silverware 

Coins, medals and militaria 

Works of art 

Whisky and wine 

Vintage toys 

Stamps and ephemera 

Cameras and record collections 

Scientific equipment 

Antique and modern furniture 

Record-breaking 

international sales 

More than 3,800 bidders from 

all over the world joined our 

online auctions last month 

Online services available 

Virtual estimates, online auctions 

and contactless collections. 

Valuations and viewing by 

appointment only 

Qualified 

All members of our jewellery 

department are certified 

gemmologists and diamond graders 

Established – Professional – Transparent 

The Winterton family name has been synonymous 

with auctioneering in Staffordshire since 1864 

01543 251081 

www.richardwinterton.co.uk 

richardwinterton@richardwinterton.co.uk 

The Lichfield 

Auction Centre, 

Wood End Lane, 

Fradley Park 

WS13 8NF 

NAJ A4 ad_Jan_2021.indd 1 07/12/2020 16:27

J'AIME January 2021

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