Guildford Living Feb - Mar 2022

Contents 

16 A Culinary Journey through 

Northern 

We catch Ireland 

up with Chef Brian Turner 

21 

A real life bathroom 

transformation 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Assistant Editor Kate Norris Production Manager Rebecca Rose 

Contributors Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs 

Front cover courtesy of Lipsy Clothing 

Interim Account Manager Katie Thomson 

e katie@minervapublications.co.uk 

e 01225 984 430 

twitter: @GuildfordLivin1 

Our competition 

page returns 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton, Trowbridge 

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w www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

visit our website www.minervamagazines.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. 

04 

18 

Delicious vegan 

dishes 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

Hello and welcome to our first, fullyfledged 

edition of 2022. I hope that 

January has been gentle to you! I 

know that for my own part I called 

the start of the year a ‘soft opening’ 

- taking some of the pressure off 

myself to ease into some better 

habits, rather than cut off my supply 

of Quality Streets cold turkey - that 

kind of thing can be dangerous 

- especially for those around me 

when that 11am craving hit! 

I would encourage anyone to take 

a bit more of a holistic approach to 

goal setting - and just to be kinder 

to ourselves generally. Perhaps 

naively, we assumed we’d be wellshot 

of all the COVID business by 

now - but amidst this new normal, 

our habits have changed and our 

priorities have re-framed a little - I 

think for the better. 

In line with this, we have done 

away with the usual ‘New Year 

New You’ sentiments - let’s leave 

any judgement at the door - and 

instead we’ve looked at ways to 

feel healthier and steps toward a 

greener home. We can all make 

improvements in our home to 

better their energy efficiency and 

reduce their toxic loads, and our 

guide gives some practical steps. 

We were thrilled to welcome top 

Yorkshireman and TV Chef Brian 

Turner into this issue - plus we are 

serving up some meat free recipes 

if you’re still giving plant-based 

eating a good go. 

Also on the home front is an 

amazing family bathroom 

transformation, which we hope will 

inspire you to make your home 

work that bit better for you. 

There’s lots more to enjoy this 

edition - grab a cuppa and any of 

that lingering Christmas chocolate 

and please enjoy. We will see you 

again in April when we will be talking 

all things Easter! 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

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4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

ADAPTING 

TO A VERY 

DIFFERENT 

WORLD 

With the second anniversary of 

the beginning of the coronavirus 

pandemic approaching, how have 

boarding schools responded to the 

challenges created by COVID-19? 

Robin Fletcher, CEO of the 

Boarding Schools’ Association 

(BSA) and BSA Group, explains... 

It’s hard to believe we have been living in 

the shadow of coronavirus for nearly two 

years. During that time, every walk of life 

has had to change and adapt to the very 

different world we’re now living in. 

Boarding schools have been no 

exception. When the pandemic first hit, 

our schools quickly had to put in place 

strict hygiene protocols for pupil and 

staff safety, organise remote learning 

for students unable to return to the 

classroom due to international travel 

restrictions, and ensure pastoral support 

for students and staff, given the added 

pressures the pandemic would place on 

mental health and wellbeing. 

Despite the enormous work required, the 

whole boarding community acted swiftly 

to get these measures in place. Two 

years on, dealing with challenges created 

by the pandemic is part of the business 

model for every school, and will continue 

to be so while COVID-19 remains a 

threat. 

Throughout the pandemic, the primary 

concern for parents has always been the 

safety of their children. Boarding schools 

are unique in that they are their own selfcontained 

communities, so managing any 

COVID cases could be done more easily 

than in some environments. To support 

member schools in this, BSA created a 

COVID-Safe Charter, which they could 

sign up to voluntarily. This meant they 

could provide reassurance to parents 

and pupils that they had done everything 

they possibly could to ensure their 

safety. This was particularly important 

for international families who wanted to 

make sure the UK was a safe place for 

their children to be. 

COVID-19 has ushered remote learning 

much quicker than had ever been 

envisaged. With some students being 

unable to return to the UK while travel 

restrictions were in place, schools 

worked hard to ensure the technology 

worked for them to continue their studies 

without compromising the quality of their 

education. 

For BSA, online technology has also 

meant we have been able to deliver a 

comprehensive range of training to our 

members virtually. This has allowed us 

offer these sessions to many international 

members who would have been unable 

to participate had the training been run 

face-to-face. 

One of the great advances in recent years 

in boarding has been the development 

of pastoral care for students and 

staff. Dedicated members of staff with 

specialist expertise in wellbeing and 

mental health have been absolutely 

crucial during the pandemic, and 

provided vital support to students and 

staff separated from their families or 

struggling with COVID-related anxieties. 

While there are still challenges, 

particularly around overseas travel 

affecting international students, boarding 

schools have shown throughout the 

pandemic that they can respond quickly 

when a new situation arises, and will 

undoubtedly continue to do so. 

For more information, please visit: 

www.boarding.org.uk 


The best way to get to know 

Freemen’s is to see it for yourself. 

Friday 25 March - Discover Freemen’s Open Event 

Book at www.freemens.org/openevents 

Discover Freemen’s is a fun activity afternoon that will give children a flavour 

of what it is like at our School, designed for children currently in Year 5, looking 

to join Freemen’s in Year 7 in September 2023. 

In the 2022 The Sunday Times Parent Power league table, Freemen’s ranks 

14 th in the UK amongst co-educational independent schools for results at 

GCSE. A co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 7-18, 

Freemen’s is set in 57 acres of Surrey countryside with transport available. 

WWW.FREEMENS.ORG 

ADMISSIONS@FREEMENS.ORG 

CALL US ON 01372 822 423

SCOOTalong 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

WITH RESTRICTIONS EASING, 

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER 

TIME TO GET THE KIDS OUT OF 

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MICRO SCOOTERS HAVE GOT 

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FOR EVERY AGE AND SIZE OF 

ADVENTURER. WE COVER 

SOME TIPS TO GET LITTLE LEGS 

SCOOTING OUTDOORS... 

Got yourself or your child a scooter 

but not sure where to test it out? Look 

no further than the The National Cycle 

Network. 

It makes up a whopping 14,000 miles 

of the most perfect terrain for scooting, 

because the routes are safe, flat and 

traffic free and they connect hundreds of 

towns and villages across the UK. Over 

half the UK population live within 1 mile 

of their nearest route, scooting along the 

Network has never been easier. Chances 

are there’s a route near you. 

Over 27 million journeys on the Network 

are made by children travelling to and 

from school. Chances are your school run 

could suddenly become a lot healthier and 

less stressful. 

Scooting with your children regularly 

will inspire them to consider sustainable 

alternatives as long term solutions to 

travel. You’ll be supporting and promoting 

good habits, fostering healthy transport 

solutions which will last a lifetime. 

TIPS 

Spend a bit of time showing your child 

how to reach for the brake in order 

to come to a stop. They’ll have more 

confidence in travelling independently if 

they can use their back foot to stop and 

less likely to crash or fall. 

Trusting your child to scoot alone can 

feel a bit daunting. You should agree 

some rules before setting off. Talk about 

possible dangers and set limitations about 

how far they are allowed to scoot away 

from you. Measuring in lamp posts is 

always a winner and an exciting way to 

breed independence. 

The Chilli 

Pro Rocky scooter 

offers beginner riders 

to chance to try out 

their first stunt scooter 

without compromising 

quality or 

safety 

FACTS AT A GLANCE 

Model: Chilli Spider HIC 

Rider height: 141-170cm 

Handlebar height: 760mm 

Scooter height: 79cm 

Scooter weights: 3.5kg 

Wheel size: 110mm wheels 

Ages: 5-10 Years 

To register for a tour or Open Day please visit 

our website or contact Admissions on 

T: 01483 893225 

E: admissions@longacreschool.co.uk 

www.longacreschool.co.uk 

Hullbrook Lane 

Shamley Green 

Guildford, Surrey 

GU5 0NQ 

OPEN MORNING 

1 st MARCH 

9.30 – 12.00 

Watch our video 

#ReadyForTheNextAdventure 



fantastic new facilities at 

Duke of Kent school 

On Friday 26th November, Duke of Kent School, Ewhurst, was 

proud and delighted to open two brand new, state of the art 

Science laboratories. 

The event provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate the School’s 

community ethos, by inviting former Deputy Head Boy from 2013-14, 

James Harrison, to cut the ribbon and officially open the laboratories. 

Jamesrecounted fond memories of studying Science at Duke of 

Kent School, and how it inspired him to go to the University of 

Southampton, where he is now in his final year at Medical School. 

Breathtaking educational graphics were made for the new laboratory 

walls by parent, Roo Ball, bringing to life photosynthesis, the human 

body, the electromagnetic spectrum and the solar system. Mrs 

Sue Knox, Head, thanked him and all involved in the project; Keith 

Stacey, Operations Bursar who led the project, Steve Petch, Facilities 

Manager, and Trevor Tyrell who led the design and construction. 

Year 11 pupils were in attendance and STEM Prefect, Oscar H (Year 

11), spoke on behalf of the pupils, relaying their delight with the new 

learning environments. 

The Science Department re-named their three laboratories 

after scientists who achieved incredible success despite facing 

immense challenges. Head of Science, Mrs Tattan-Robb, unveiled 

the chosen scientists; DNA and virus pioneer Rosalind Franklin, 

NASA’s first black, female engineer Mary Jackson and selfeducated 

Michael Faraday. 

The fantastic new facilities at Duke of Kent School provide a 

stimulating and engaging environment for pupils from Year 3 to 

Year 11 to pursue the ever increasing range of enriching science 

opportunities on offer at the School over and above the curriculum. 

Prep School pupils will have access to the labs, enabling them to 

gain exciting practical experience in preparation for Senior School. 

Our aim is to give pupils the opportunity to achieve in Science 

beyond gaining their GCSE by entering national competitions, 

expanding knowledge through in-school science events, working 

towards science awards and participating in science clubs. 

Mrs Tattan-Robb 

Head of Science

Opening of Outstanding School 

Science Laboratories 

On Friday 26th November, Duke of 

Kent School, Ewhurst, was proud 

and delighted to open two brand 

new, state of the art Science 

laboratories. The event provided 

the perfect opportunity to celebrate 

the School's community ethos, by 

inviting former Deputy Head Boy 

from 2013-14, James Harrison, to 

cut the ribbon and officially open 

the laboratories. James recounted 

fond memories of studying Science 

at Duke of Kent School, and how it 

inspired him to go to the University 

of Southampton, where he is now 

in his final year at Medical School. 

Breathtaking educational graphics 

were made for the new laboratory 

walls by parent, Roo Ball, bringing 

to life photosynthesis, the human 

body, the electromagnetic spectrum 

and the solar system. Mrs Sue Knox, 

Head, thanked him and all involved 

in the project; Keith Stacey, 

Operations Bursar who led the 

project, Steve Petch, Facilities 

Manager, and Trevor Tyrell who led 

the design and construction. Year 

11 pupils were in attendance and 

STEM Prefect, Oscar H (Year 11), 

spoke on behalf of the pupils, 

relaying their delight with the new 

learning environments. 

The Science Department re-named 

their three laboratories after 

scientists who achieved incredible 

success despite facing immense 

challenges. Head of Science, Mrs 

Tattan-Robb, unveiled the chosen 

scientists; DNA and virus pioneer 

Rosalind Franklin, NASA’s first 

black, female engineer Mary Jackson 

and self-educated Michael Faraday. 

The fantastic new facilities at Duke 

of Kent School provide a stimulating 

and engaging environment for 

pupils from Year 3 to Year 11 to 

pursue the ever increasing range 

of enriching science opportunities 

on offer at the School over and 

above the curriculum. Prep School 

pupils will have access to the labs, 

enabling them to gain exciting 

practical experience in preparation 

for Senior School. Our aim is to give 

pupils the opportunity to achieve 

in Science beyond gaining their 

GCSE by entering national 

competitions, expanding knowledge 

through in-school science events, 

working towards science awards 

and participating in science clubs. 

Mrs Tattan-Robb 

Head of Science 

A vibrant and nurturing co-educational setting from Nursery to GCSE 

To book a tour of the school, please visit our website or contact us on 01483 277313 

Duke of Kent School, Peaslake Road, Ewhurst, Surrey, GU6 7NS www.dukeofkentschool.org.uk 

@dukeofkentschool 

@DoKSchool 

Duke of Kent School

DISCOVER YOUR TALENT 

AT CRANLEIGH 

WEEKLY BOARDING WITH EXCELLENT ACADEMICS SUPPORTED BY A FULL 

PROGRAMME OF MUSIC, SPORT, ART, DESIGN AND DRAMA. 

REGISTERING NOW FOR 2023 AND 2024. 

ADMISSIONS@CRANLEIGH.ORG OR 

WWW.CRANLEIGH.ORG | 01438 276377


Thrills, Spills, Leadership 

and Resilience 

Why CCF is the best Education for 

Teenagers, by Maj Dan Reed CCF, 

Cranleigh School, Surrey... 

In the past, Combined Cadet Force (CCF) 

groups in schools have been perceived 

as afternoons of relentless drills and 

shouting. Nothing could be further from 

the truth. Modern CCF programmes 

contain a broad range of activities – from 

treks and adventure activities to escape 

rooms and mentoring – and offer the best 

possible experience for teenagers to gain 

resilience, independence and leadership 

skills. 

Cranleigh now has 175 recruits with a 

mix of boys and girls, and is becoming 

more popular each year with 10 members 

of staff involved as well as outside 

volunteers. We have taken out a lot of the 

drill activities and added more outdoor 

experiences like navigation training, 

which also improves team work and 

discipline. Much of the training for the 

ever-popular Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 

is also managed by our CCF team. 

CCF is all about teenagers gaining 

confidence and getting to understand 

more about themselves. So we do 

a lot to push our recruits out of their 

comfort zone with adventurous training, 

rock climbing, mountain biking – and 

even parachuting, which is the ultimate 

test of mettle. The last group of Sixth 

Formers to try it said had a life-changing 

effect on their confidence. Expeditions, 

too, by placing teenagers in situations 

where they might be uncomfortable, or 

have to fend for themselves, develop 

character and independence in a safe 

and controlled way. In an uncertain world, 

where parents do everything to remove 

risk for their children, such activities are 

a vital part of education, revealing the grit 

and resilience that young people need for 

their futures. 

We run a wide range of trips and 

training, beginning with Exercise TIGER 

CUB – where pupils learn how to live 

in a field and take care of themselves 

and their equipment – moving through 

to Exercise TIGERS FURY where they 

learn basic tactics. Our Easter camps 

offer adventurous training – mountain 

biking, abseiling, rock climbing – and 

in Summer camp they’re trained by the 

army in a trip that includes shooting 

ranges, paintballing, confidence courses 

and escape rooms. We’ve restarted our 

shooting fixtures and last year qualified 

for the cadet nationals at Bisley. We’ve 

also become a national centre for Target 

Sprint - air rifle shooting and running, 

which is a great co-ed sport – and plan to 

host a national qualifier in the summer. 

Modern leadership is all about motivation 

and empowering those around you, so 

CCF teaches pupils about the softer side 

of leading people, giving them skills in 

mentoring and encouraging others at 

the same time and providing a practical 

application for leadership skills. The 

programme changes pupils so much in 

the years they take part. It gives them a 

real morale boost and you can see pupils 

grow in stature as they tackle things they 

never dreamed they’d be able to do. It 

is difficult to learn leadership without 

being put in a situation to lead and CCF 

teaches those practical aspects where 

pupils are suddenly section commanders, 

leading teams and solving problems. 

That’s why universities and employers are 

keen to see CCF listed on CVs. 

Ultimately the programme gives young 

people confidence, and allows those 

who may not be sporty to believe in 

themselves. If you’re thinking about it, 

just give it a go – whether you enjoy 

adventures, tactics or leadership, CCF 

has something for everyone. 

Dan Reed joined Cranleigh in 2013 

as teacher of Design Engineering and 

Deputy Housemaster, after eight years 

of service as an Officer in the Army. A 

keen sportsman, he represented Wales in 

Clay Pigeon Shooting, is a qualified Ski 

instructor and won numerous Army rugby 

cups with his regimental side, The Royal 

Welsh. 


FACTS & FIGURES 

28 

94 % 

7 

88 

15 

A Level subjects 

A* - B at A Level 

- average class size 

leadership roles 

Careers events a year 

FACILITIES 

The 6 - new Sixth Form Centre 

Sixth Form Library 

State-of-the-art Auditorium 

Specialist sports facilities 

By the time they leave 

School, they are able 

to think critically, have 

high aspirations and a 

self -belief that there are 

few things they cannot 

achieve. 

Independent Schools Inspectorate 

+44 (0)1483 899609 

admissions@stcatherines.info

hoosing the right Sixth Form 

C is quite a challenge, but a 

very exciting prospect nonetheless. 

Start with the subjects that you 

are looking forward to studying in 

depth and do your research on the 

teaching curriculum to make sure 

it offers everything you want. At St 

Catherine’s you can choose from 

almost 30 A Level subjects – from 

Physics to Fine Art, from History to 

Theatre Studies. Check class sizes 

too - at St Catherine’s the classes 

are purposely small. With a group 

of seven on average you’ll enjoy 

a far closer relationship with your 

teacher and your classmates than 

you have before, experiencing 

the camaraderie that comes from 

spending time with like-minded 

people. 

Next, you need to get a good feel for 

the place. Visit at Open Mornings, 

explore websites and ask around. 

All of our subject teachers and 

U6 subject mentors have recently 

produced videos about their A 

Level courses so you can explore 

the opportunities. We hope we’ll 

be able to welcome you on site 

soon. Can you see yourself at St 

Catherine’s? Do you like to be busy, 

active, challenged in your studies? 

Do you want to be in a community 

of girls from across the globe who 

bring unique perspectives and 

experience to the classroom? What 

are your passions – running the tech 

crew for drama productions, playing 

competitive netball, photography 

or Jazz? Make sure that the school 

you choose caters for all of the 

things that matter most to you. 

The Sixth Form at St Catherine’s is 

distinctive. Whilst very much a part 

of the School as a whole with all the 

facilities it has to offer, it is also set 

apart. You’ll have your very own 

Library - a dedicated private study 

space. And from Spring 2020 girls 

in the Sixth Form will have a brand 

new building offering modern, 

vibrant boarding accommodation 

and a huge Common Room, a place 

for day girls and boarders to relax 

and recharge during the school day. 

There really is no better reward 

after a lax match or tough study 

session than tea or hot chocolate 

and toast, sitting on a comfy sofa 

chatting with your friends! 

At 16 we recognise you are mature 

and independent, and we respect 

that. The Sixth Form offers you a 

transition to university life. You will 

be guided and encouraged in your 

study, but free to schedule your 

work and pursue your interests, 

whether they are in sport, music, 

drama or art. You will have the 

support of your teachers and a 

dedicated sixth form tutor, careers 

and UCAS support, but also an 

increasing amount of autonomy 

and responsibility. 

Uniquely, the U6 at St Catherine’s 

every girl is given a leadership 

position. We expect you to step 

up and you will have a significant 

impact within the school 

community. You may be a Subject 

Mentor, helping younger girls 

grasp their Chemistry homework; 

or a Charities Prefect leading 

fundraising for The Sixth Form’s 

nominated causes; a Music Prefect 

leading concerts and ensembles; 

or a Head Boarder supporting the 

global boarding community. 

St Catherine’s is a community, not 

an 8.30am-4.00pm School. Our 

boarding community of over 130 

girls means St Cat’s is always ‘open’. 

You might want to try boarding for 

the first time. You could make use 

of the gym or pool in the morning 

or the Art Block in the evening, 

cut down on your travel time and 

focus on your studies. It is a great 

stepping stone to university life and, 

at the heart of the School, our new 

building The 6 resembles a very 

smart Hall of Residence. 

Whether a boarder or a day girl you 

will make friends for life and leave 

St Cat’s with links across the world. 

The L6 camping trip before the 

year starts is a great way to build 

friendships and, by the end of L6, 

you’ll be independently creating a 

Sixth Form Musical to perform to 

the whole School, working together 

and making lifelong memories. 

The Sixth Form at St Catherine’s 

is characterised by energy, hard 

work, laughter and fun. And, when 

your two years have flown by and 

you’re heading to University or a 

career choice, you’ll also benefit 

from a very strong alumnae and 

parent network – the Association – 

ready and able to welcome you to 

University and support you in your 

career. 

If you think St Cat’s might be right 

for you, find out more today. 

https://www.stcatherines.info/ 

senior-school/sixth-form/sixthform 

Kate Hawtin, Head of Sixth Form

gravy 

IT'S ALL 

FULLER’S PUBS HAVE TEAMED 

UP WITH LEGENDARY CHEF, 

BRIAN TURNER CBE, TO TELL 

THE STORY OF FULLER’S 

SUNDAY ROASTS AND ALL 

THE TOUCHES THAT MAKE 

THEM A CUT ABOVE THE 

REST. FROM CAREFULLY 

SOURCED INGREDIENTS 

TO PASSIONATE PEOPLE, 

FULLER’S PRIDE THEMSELVES 

ON DELIVERING EVERYTHING 

THAT MAKES A SUNDAY 

SPECIAL AND EVEN BETTER 

WHEN YOU CAN SHARE THESE 

MOMENTS WITH FAMILY 

AND FRIENDS. THAT’S WHY 

THEY’VE INTRODUCED SHARE 

SUNDAYS. 

WE CAUGHT UP WITH CHEF 

BRIAN TURNER TO FIND OUT 

MORE... 

How did you get involved with Fuller’s 

pubs, and what made you choose to 

carry on with it? 

The way I got into Fuller’s was quite 

easy. For 28-29 years I was the British 

president of the UK team of the Bocuse 

d’Or competition, which is a worldwide 

cooking competition in Leon in France. 

It was held every two years and then it 

became every year and I was the judge 

for the British team. And somebody 

managed to make a connection between 

Fuller’s and the Bocuse d’Or, wanting to 

help sponsor it. So that’s how I met the 

Fuller’s team. Listening to Fuller’s team, 

I was really enthused and excited by the 

way they approached their training of 

chefs. 

From what I understood, they want 

to do something great as far as Chef 

training is concerned? 

Well, the reality of course is quite simple; 

it is for the survival of the future of the 

hospitality industry, which has been 

amazingly good to me. And amazingly 

good to lots of people. And those that 

have taken the opportunity have actually, 

I believe, got a better way of life. Even 

if you get trained in the hospitality 

business. If you get trained to be a chef, 

and for whatever reason you need to 

leave the industry, it leaves you with 

life skills; knowing how to buy the right 

product from the right place at the right 

price, and then convert it to the right dish 

on a plate. And then eventually, if you 

leave the business, it’s a skill that you 

need at home. 

I remember when I was at school a 

long, long time ago, we had domestic 

science, which was two hours on a 

Wednesday afternoon. It was a good 

thing to do! 

It was even better in my day. I was at 

school in the 1950s and in those days 

when we got to the third year in grammar 

school, you had to choose a craft, a skill. 

For boys it was woodwork or metal work 

for girls needlework or cookery. I was one 

of the few in Yorkshire that said ‘I want to 

do cookery’. They said ‘no lad, you can’t 

do that!’. But I did. Elsie Bibby, the lady 

who taught cookery at the parish, after 

the first month would say, “Okay girls, 

let’s gather around Brian’s table because 

his is always the best”. I was hated by the 

girls, but loved by Elsie Bibby! 

Is that when you first started cooking 

or were you always interested in it? 

No, I was quite fortunate in that respect in 

that my father was conscripted and went 

to the Second World War and served 

in Belgium and he was drafted into the 

catering corps. When he came back he 

went back to his job in the Morley Co-op. 

It would appear, having read the history 

of Morley Co-operative society, that my 

father gained a bit of a reputation for 

being a bit of a whiz with the old food 

knowledge he picked up in the war. So 

he opened a transport cafe. He had four 

children with my mother in five years so 

consequently she was overworked. I was 

the eldest, so whenever he could my dad 

took me down to his cafe to get me out 

of my mums way! So add Elsie Bibby on 

top of that, I would say that’s how I really 

got started in the business. 

So what’s your first foodie 

memory then? 

As a young man I was in the Salvation 

Army; I used to play in their band. And 

they used to have a congress regularly 

where all the Salvation Armys around the 

area in Yorkshire would meet together 

and have a jolly old singsong. It was on a 

Sunday, but we had to eat so we had to 

go out. We had elders who helped. And 

they took us to an Italian restaurant where 

I ate food like I’ve never eaten before. 

So it was a very rare occasion and it was 

just so special. And we only managed to 

get to go there when we would do this 

congress. 

So what was your first job when you 

actually did go into kitchens proper, so 

to speak? 

Well, if we count the fact that I worked 

for my Dad in his transport cafe, so 

eventually all four of us used to go on a 


Saturday morning, leave my mother to 

have a rest at home, we would come to 

the café with my dad and then my dad 

when he closed at 11 o’clock would lock 

the doors from the outside. And he would 

say: “I’m just going to see a man about 

a dog”. We didn’t realise he meant The 

Dog and Hound pub next door! So we 

would then clean up the cafe and get it all 

ready so that Monday morning when you 

reopen it was bright and sparkling. For 

that we were rewarded; we were allowed 

to have one Blue Ribbon chocolate 

biscuit. 

What other projects are you getting 

stuck into lately? 

I run a competition called Future chef, 

which I think is part of which attracted 

Fuller’s because it is getting 11 to 16 year 

olds, getting them interested in where 

their food comes from. All the things 

that we have talked about, we’re trying 

to instil those because we’d like to do it 

earlier in life. But the education system 

doesn’t allow us to do that. What I don’t 

understand is that I suspect if you did a 

poll, that at least 50% of our MPs have 

children in school. They are then going 

to finish school and go to university and 

you need them to be healthy and have a 

proper functioning brain, which is what 

we teach kids with cooking. If you get the 

right balance of food, then you grow to 

be healthy. 

We run a scheme as well called Adopt 

a School for the Royal Academy where 

we send chefs into classrooms to try and 

teach young people about the palette 

and where food comes from and what 

to look for. So what we want to do is to 

stimulate. And I have to say we have a 

waiting list of schools as long as your 

arm. Once people have been in and done 

it, everybody gets on telling their mates! 

That’s fantastic, are you running that 

nationwide? 

Yes, we have a Northwest branch and we 

have a Scottish branch. But it is far more 

East London centric with the outposts, 

if you like, who do a great job. Because 

we don’t really want to send too many 

people from London to Scotland because 

it’s A) expensive, and B) it doesn’t help 

our carbon footprint. How it started was 

one gentleman whose daughter was at 

school in Putney and learning nothing 

about food and he was getting frustrated. 

“Well I’ll come and do it!” he said. So he 

did and it was as simple as that! 

My husband has only just got into 

cooking and now he’s into it in a big 

way. And I’m now not allowed in the 

kitchen! 

Well that’s the thing, you can share 

it around a bit now! You’d be gobsmacked 

the number of people, when I 

did the shows, that walk past, men by 

themselves, and they say: ‘Hi Brian. You 

saved my life because my wife passed 

away and I’ve suddenly nobody to cook 

for me”. It’s so gratifying to see this 

system actually works. 

Do you ever get a chance to eat out 

yourself? 

Yes, I do. I haven’t been out as much just 

recently. But certainly, it’s in my DNA if 

you like. I go out to lunches more than 

dinners these days. Then I can get home 

at a sensible time. But it’s keeping up 

with what’s going on. And there’s so 

many things that are changing these days 

and so many people that need supporting 

that the list of where to go is just getting 

bigger and bigger and bigger. 

Apart from James Martin who you’re 

very friendly with, do you have any 

other foodie heroes in your life? 

Well two of my heroes have sadly passed 

away, the Roux brothers. But then there’s 

the wonderful Raymond Blanc who is a 

foodie hero of mine. He’s a wonderful 

man and we have had some good times 

together. But let me just take you back 

a little bit; there was a guy called Eric 

Scamman, who taught me to make 

sauces at the Savoy Grill. I’ll never forget 

the words that he gave me, helping me 

understand how to make the right the 

right sauce. Then of course, Paul Bocuse; 

the great French chef of my era, who has 

also sadly passed away. He was a great 

contributor to all our lives. 

He influenced your cooking? 

Oh yes. The way I look at it is you know 

with music colleges when you come to 

do your examinations? They ask you to 

choose a piece of music that you want to 

play and you choose whatever you want 

to play, and you play. And then they say 

‘Right, that’s very good. Now, here’s a 

piece of music you’ve never seen. Play 

that’. You have to cite read it. I think 

that’s how we should look at cooking. 

We need people to be able to understand 

the basics of the classics, the French 

cuisine as I understood it. Once you’ve 

learned that you can go off on a tangent 

and you can cite read someone. I don’t 

wish to uplift Ready, Steady Cook too 

much, but that’s what that programme 

did. Here are some items, do something 

with them. Sometimes you did something 

phenomenal. People would say ‘Oh I 

must make that!’. Other times people 

would say ‘Oh, that looks rubbish. I’m 

not going to do that’. But in fact, the 

two principles were aligned with a music 

examination. 

What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? 

You’re going to ask me for the dishes, 

which I won’t be able to tell you but 

many moons ago, I can’t remember 

when it was now, I was filming in Hong 

Kong. The food and beverage manager 

of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which 

was where we were staying, invited me 

to dinner one night after we had finished 

filming. We had dinner in the Mandarin 

Oriental overlooking Victoria Harbour 

in a Chinese restaurant called Manwah 

and that was probably the best meal 

I’ve ever had. I’ve been very fortunate to 

have some wonderful meals around the 

world in the houses of some great chefs. 

But I have also sat around the table with 

friends and just sat and eaten and you 

couldn’t ask for much more. 

What are your plans for this year? 

I think that Fuller’s Sunday lunchtime is 

going to take quite a bit of my time this 

year and I’m quite happy to devote my 

time to that. I think that certainly in winter 

times when you can go into a pub like 

Fuller’s and see a an open fire going…to 

me that suddenly tells you this is the time 

to sit down and eat and enjoy yourself 

and the company of others. 

To find your nearest Fuller’s pub and to 

book a table, please visit: 

www.fullers.co.uk/pubs/pub-finder 


WALNUT, 

AUBERGINE & 

MUSHROOM 

KEEMA CURRY 

Now Veganuary might 

be over, but we felt 

compelled to include 

a couple more vegan 

recipes in this issue, 

perfect for those 

midweek days when 

you just aren’t sure 

what to serve up! 

PREP TIME: 20 minutes 

COOK TIME: 20 minutes 

SERVINGS: 4 

CALORIES: 561kcal 

INGREDIENTS 

150g California Walnuts chopped 

1 tbsp oil 

1 onion chopped 

1 red chilli finely diced 

1 tbsp medium curry powder 

1 tsp ground turmeric 

1 aubergine cut into 1cm dice 

200g mushrooms sliced 

400g can chopped tomatoes 

100g baby spinach 

225g basmati rice cooked 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Soak the walnuts in lukewarm water for 

20 minutes, drain well. 

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying 

pan and fry the onion and chilli for 4-5 

minutes, add the spices and then the 

aubergine and mushrooms, cook for a 

further 4-5 minutes. 

Stir in the tomatoes, 100ml water and 

the walnuts, bring to the boil, cover and 

simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the spinach 

until just wilted and season. 

Serve with the cooked basmati rice. 

COOKS TIP 

Try adding chickpeas instead of the 

aubergine and stir in chopped coriander 

at the end. 

www.californiawalnuts.co.uk 


MOROCCAN 

MINCED 

WALNUT 

FLATBREADS 



SERVINGS: 2 


INGREDIENTS 

100g California Walnuts plus extra to 

serve 

1 tbsp olive oil 


2 tsp harissa paste 

1 tsp honey 

3 tbsp chopped coriander 

2 flatbreads 

100g houmous 

50g pomegranate seeds 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Finely chop the walnuts and place in a 

bowl, cover with lukewarm water for 20 

minutes, drain well. 

Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the 

onion for 5 minutes, add the harissa and 

honey then add the walnuts and half 

the coriander and cook for a further 2 

minutes. 

Warm the flatbreads and spread with 

the houmous. Sprinkle over the walnut 

mixture and then the pomegranate seeds, 

extra chopped walnuts and the remaining 

coriander. 

COOKS TIP 

Great rolled up in wraps or used to fill 

pittas instead of flatbreads. 

WALNUT, 

AUBERGINE & 

MUSHROOM 

KEEMA CURRY 



SERVINGS: 4 


INGREDIENTS 

150g California Walnuts chopped 

1 tbsp oil 


1 red chilli finely diced 

1 tbsp medium curry powder 

1 tsp ground turmeric 

1 aubergine cut into 1cm dice 

200g mushrooms sliced 

400g can chopped tomatoes 

100g baby spinach 

225g basmati rice cooked 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Soak the walnuts in lukewarm water for 

20 minutes, drain well. 

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying 

pan and fry the onion and chilli for 4-5 

minutes, add the spices and then the 

aubergine and mushrooms, cook for a 

further 4-5 minutes. 

Stir in the tomatoes, 100ml water and 

the walnuts, bring to the boil, cover and 

simmer for 10 minutes. 

Stir in the spinach until just wilted and 

season. 

Serve with the cooked basmati rice. 

COOKS TIP 

Try adding chickpeas instead of the 

aubergine and stir in chopped coriander 

at the end. 

NUTRITION 

Serving: 481g | Calories: 561kcal 

Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 16g 

Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 3.6g | Fibre: 8.2g 

Sugar: 9.2g 

www.californiawalnuts.co.uk 


SEVENTIES 

Revival 

The throwback we can really get 

behind - it’s all about the stripes and 

soft silhouettes 

Bronze 

Knitted 

Midi Skirt, 

£55, Oliver 

Bonas 

Jumpsuit, 

£60, Joe 

Browns 

Broiderie Frill Green 

Cotton Blouse, £28, 

oliverbonas.com 

Kayla Blouse, £42.50, 

FatFace 

Shoes, £32.99, 

New Look 

Phase Eight Tania 

Dress, £99, Freemans 

Ultra High Rise 

Flare Jeans, £72, 

abercrombie.com 

Military Button 

Cowl Neck 

Jumper, £36, Lipsy 

SPRING/SUMMER ‘22 

Trends 

Suedette Jogger, 

£18, F&F at Tesco 

Leather Trainers, 

£39, Kaleidoscope 

Sweatshirt, £25, 

Joggers, £25 and 

Teddy Coat, £68, 

all Anyday at John 

Lewis 

Emmy Pointelle 

Jumper, £48, 

FatFace 

Belted Ribbed 

Dress, £38, 

riverisland.com 

Hygge Tunic, £69, 

White Stuff 

BACK TO 

Basics 

Roll Neck Jumper, 

£19.99, New Look 

After nearly two years of home-based 

fashion, we aren’t quite ready to give up 

our comfies. Trends are reflecting this, 

with super soft basics and loose fits 


BATHROOM 

BLISS 

How rethinking a layout and some luxury finishes can transform a 

dated family space. We caught up with homeowner Kate to find 

out how she made this little sanctuary 

Tiles: RAK Ceramics Fashion Stone in Ivory; 

Bath: RAK Cloud Freestanding Bath 


The drying wall 

solution - hooks 

RAK Moon 

The sleek Lithe Audio Ceiling 

Mounted Bluetooth Speaker 

looks amazing paired with 

the flush shower head 

What were some of the obstacles you 

faced with this project? 

Firstly, the room is really small for a family 

bathroom! It measures 2.2m long by 

1.65m wide. Previously, I guess because 

of the small width, the bath was against 

the longer wall with the door - but it 

meant you basically walked into it as 

soon as you entered the room. By opting 

for a shorter bath, we were able to flip the 

orientation and create a space that feels 

much larger. 

What made you choose this design? 

I love the look of micro cement and 

Venetian plaster, but it was coming out 

at £130 per square metre. So when I 

found the Fashion Stone range at RAK 

Ceramics, I was thrilled - it’s exactly the 

warm stoney beige colour I was looking 

for and had a beautiful graduation 

of pattern through it that mimics the 

micro-cement. I also had the mosaic tiles 

installed in the shower niche - cement 

doesn’t allow for pattern, so I think it was 

the perfect option. 

I’ve wanted black taps since about 2016 

when I saw them on an Australian design 

show - I was so thrilled to find RAK also 

stock them. Most of the bathroom is 

kitted out with the Amalfi range, which 

has the most amazing textured finish - it 

looks and feels so luxurious. 

The basin tap feels so amazing - I read 

once that you should invest in the objects 

you touch everyday and this tap is 

honestly dreamy. The motion to turn it on 

is really slick - it’s the little things that add 

up to making a space feel luxurious. 

Is the shower over a freestanding bath? 

Yes - this design decision did cause 

some head scratching for the builder! I 

wanted the look of a free standing bath, 

especially because we knew we’d have 

to get a smaller one, so I thought why not 

emphasise it. The way we counteracted 

the water issue is to have a small wet 

room former tray in each corner behind 

the bath, and also to run the underfloor 

heating in this area to help dry out the 

splashes. So far, so good! 

The bath is an absolute beauty - it’s the 

RAK Cloud design and at a petite 1.4m, 

it was the perfect size. It is very heavy 

though, as it’s resin - so just bear that in 

mind when planning! The shape of it is 

unlike anything I’ve ever seen before - it 

really has a beautiful form and gorgeous 

curves. I love that it sits on a base. 

Did you have any tech installed? 

Yes - was a must for my partner. We’ve 

got the most beautiful shaver socket 

and dimmer switches from Corston 

Architectural Detail- the black bronze 

finish is so modern but also timeless. The 

switch outside controls the spotlights and 

then the LED strip lighting in the recess 

by the bath separately. The recess it sits 

in offers a handy space to put products 

for showering and was created by adding 

a shallow stud wall. 

Then there’s the Lithe Audio waterproof 

speaker in the ceiling - it looks amazing 

set against the inset circular RAK shower 

head too. It allows you to connect your 

phone or tablet wirelessly - amazing for 

watching movies in the bath or listening to 

the radio in the morning as you get ready 

for work. We will be using the same tech 

all synced up in the rest of the house. 

Finally, the loo! Who knew a toilet could 

be exciting, but this one is! The RAK 

Ceramics Des Rimless Close Coupled loo 

has a touch-less flush - super hygienic 

and very easy to clean - the battery life 

RAK Joy Wall Hung Vanity 

Unit with Built in Basin in 

Grey Elm - 600mm with 

Amalfi Basin Tap 

Corston Architectural 

Shaver Socket in bronze 

Before 


LAYOUT 

More than anything, it was the 

layout of this space that made it 

feel cramped. The bath protruded, 

meaning you all but knocked into 

it as you came in. You’d have to 

edge past the basin to get to the 

loo. By moving the loo and flipping 

the bath, the whole space is more 

open and that creates an amazing 

feeling of luxury. 

Below is the before and after of the 

layout. Thee door has also been 

flipped so you come into an open 

space, rather than side stepping. 

After 

WC 

lasts two years too! The toilet is also rimless inside, meaning 

there are fewer nooks and crannies for bacteria to live. 

BATH 

BASIN 

WINDOW 

Where’s the towel rail? 

Another one that confounded the builder a bit - again because of 

the size of the bathroom, I was worried about the projection of a 

towel rail into the room. My other half also only hangs his towels 

rather than folding them on a rail - so we came up with a different 

solution. The underfloor heating is electric and these wires can 

be (carefully) taken out of the matting - we asked the builder to 

cut grooves into the wall to accommodate the cables and tile 

over them - thus creating a warm wall. We then positioned hooks 

about 10cm clear of the top edge of the cables and the towels 

hang against a warm wall to speed drying. 

DOOR 

What’s the secret to a successful bathroom scheme? 

I think we are looking for bathrooms to feel like an escape - in 

line with that, lots of storage is essential - looking at clutter is 

not relaxing! Making more of a layout and maybe opting for 

smaller baths to maximise the feeling of space also helps. Our 

vanity unit is a floating one, helping the volume of furniture in 

the room to feel smaller. 

BATH 

STOCKIST INFORMATION: 

For tiles, bathroom furniture and taps: 

RAK Ceramics: www.rakceramics.com 

Find your nearest supplier here: www.rakceramics.com/uk/en/ 

store-locator/united-kingdom 

WC 

WINDOW 

For light swtiches and sockets: 

Corston Architectural Detail: www.corston.com 

For audio Equipment: 

Lithe Audio: www.litheaudio.com 

DOOR 

BASIN 


NOTES FROM THE GARDEN 

STEPPING INTO SPRING 

In this edition Matt Biggs gives us some 

ideas as to how to get our gardens in 

order ready for the Spring... 

Looking out at the garden in mid-winter might not seem the ideal 

time to gain inspiration – but it is the ideal time to look at the 

bones of what you have and plan for the year ahead! 

With little in the way of foliage and flowers to distract you, an 

hour spent contemplating your space can be very useful. 

You can see what works, see if the paths are in the best places, 

what you need to work on, any spaces that are overcrowded or 

those that are underused. If the paths don’t take you the way you 

like to walk you should be able to see the short cuts that show on 

the lawn- known as lines of desire - and you can plan to reset the 

paths to suit the way you use the space. You can also see if there 

are areas that don’t get much traffic, areas that are odd shapes – 

it is all there before you. 

If you aren’t a dab hand with a pencil, then photograph what you 

have and make a list of what you would like. 

If the past couple of years have taught us anything, the value 

of accessible outdoor space must be high on the list, as is the 

necessity to be kind to our world, so maybe a high maintenance 

lawn can give way to a wildflower lawn, trees can have nesting 

boxes added, a space for composting might be included and 

maybe a pond for wildlife – with child safety in mind – could be 

an addition you would want to make. Growing veggies, herbs, 

fruit and delicious items for the kitchen can also be incorporated 

– what an exciting prospect and now is the ideal time to plan it! 

If you are daunted by the task, call in a local landscaper or 

garden designer and see how your space can be transformed 

into something useful, beautiful and productive – 2022 is the 

year for you! 

A different approach to 

family law 

Our Horsham team deliver exceptional client 

care and promote the use of alternative 

dispute resolution to help minimise both the 

emotional and financial cost of separation. 

The Family Law Partners office is in 

central Horsham. We also advise clients in 

Billingshurst, Cranleigh, Crawley, Godalming, 

Guildford and surrounding areas. 

We can help you with: 

Children matters 

• 

Divorce and Separation 

Dissolution of Civil Partnerships 

Cohabitation disputes 

Prenuptial and Postnuptial agreements 

Cohabitation agreements 

Mediation and Collaborative Law 

For a confidential conversation and to learn 

more about our fixed fee appointments 

contact our team: 

01403 599215 

info@familylawpartners.co.uk 

www.familylawpartners.co.uk 


VERDIS 

TRADITIONAL GARDENING & 

TRADITIONAL HOTICULTURAL GARDENING SERVICES & 

HOTICULTURAL SERVICES 

TT O PI I A R Y 

PLANTING 

HEE D G E S 

PPR R U NI I N G 

D 

E 

E 

S 

S 

I 

I G N 

B E S P O K E & P L A N N E D V I S I T S 

B TO E S P OC AK RE E & F OP LR AYO N NU ER D GVA IRS DI TE S N 

TO C A R E F O R YO U R G A R D E N 

0 1 4 8 3 2 7 5 9 2 0 

0 1 4 8 3 2 7 5 9 2 0 

www.verdisuk.com 

www.verdisuk.com 

ADAM GREGORY 

ADAM ON THE GREGORY 

THREE P’S 

ON THE THREE P’S 

PUTTING IN THE WORK NOW WILL ENSURE 

GROWTH AND ABUNDANCE THIS SUMMER 

PUTTING IN THE WORK NOW WILL ENSURE 

GROWTH AND ABUNDANCE THIS SUMMER 

Late winter and early spring in the garden can mean many 

things but for me it’s mostly the time for the three P’s, 

Late winter and early spring in the garden can mean many 

Preparation, Planning, Projects and Planting. I know that’s 

things but for me it’s mostly the time for the three P’s, 

four but you get my meaning. 

Preparation, Planning, Projects and Planting. I know that’s 

four At but this you time get of my year meaning. we imagine that our gardens are sleeping 

or somehow in hibernation, yet in fact they are building 

At this time of year we imagine that our gardens are sleeping 

up stores 

or somehow 

of energy 

in hibernation, 

so when the 

yet 

time 

in fact 

is 

they 

right 

are 

it can 

building 

use that 

up energy stores to of put energy its foot so when down the in the time growth is right race. it can use that 

energy This is to where put its the foot first down of in the the P’s growth comes race. into play. In order 

to This give is your where plants the first the of best the start P’s comes the preparation into play. In of order your 

to soil give is key. your Whether plants the or best not start it’s an the established preparation border of your or new 

soil bed is the key. time Whether you give or not to it’s your an soil established now will border pay you or back new in 

bed spades the time later you on in give the to year. your So soil now when will pay your beds back are in relatively 

clear later on (if in you the haven’t year. So done now it when already), your beds mulch are them rel- 

with 

spades 

atively a thick clear layer (if of you compost. haven’t Later done it in already), Spring fertilise mulch them with with some 

a granular thick layer slow of and compost. fast release Later in fertiliser Spring fertilise and this with will some keep 

granular most things slow happy. and fast Some release of fertiliser the hungrier and this plants will such keep as 

most 

Cannas 

things 

and 

happy. 

larger 

Some 

leaved 

of 

plants 

the hungrier 

Bananas 

plants 

will 

such 

benefit 

as 

from a 

Cannas and larger leaved plants Bananas will benefit from a 

fortnightly liquid feed. 

fortnightly liquid feed. 

Planning and projects go hand in hand. Planning how you 

Planning and projects go hand in hand. Planning how you 

would like your garden to look and what you would like to 

would like your garden to look and what you would like to 

see 

see 

in 

in 

the 

the 

coming 

coming 

season 

season 

can 

can 

while 

while 

away 

away 

many 

many 

a happy 

a happy 

Winter hour. hour. Looking Looking through through plant plant catalogs catalogs and and gardening 

books with with their their many many inspirational photos photos can can get get the the 

garden- 

creative juices flowing not not to to mention mention the the joy joy of watching of watching 

the exploration of of exotic gardens in in far far flung flung places places on the on the 

television. 

“ 

“ 

Giving your plants an environment 

“ 

Giving your plants an environment 

they can can thrive in in is is key. key. 

So before the garden goes into overdrive, getting your 

So before the garden goes into overdrive, getting your 

plans together now will give you time to complete your 

plans together now will give you time to complete your 

projects and then more importantly enjoy them for the rest 

of 

projects 

the year. 

and then more importantly enjoy them for the rest 

of the year. 

This of course brings us to the last and in my opinion the 

most This important of course P brings and that us is to of the course last the and plants. in my They opinion the 

are most the important garden. Is P a and garden that without is of course plants the really plants. a garden? They 

Plants are the determine garden. Is the a style garden of your without garden, plants from really minimalist a garden? 

and Plants modern determine through the to style jungle of and your classic garden, English from cottage. minimalist 

They and modern can all be through amazing to spaces jungle and full of classic joy, inspiration, English cottage. contemplation 

They can all and be well amazing being. spaces full of joy, inspiration, contemplation 

Get stuck in and to well the three being. (four) P’s and I’ll have some great 

tips Get for stuck you next in to time. the three (four) P’s and I’ll have some great 

tips As always, for you if next you time. need help with a design, a planting plan 

or planned visits for your garden, give us a call. 

As always, if you need help with a design, a planting plan 

or 

You 

planned 

can find more 

visits 

gardening 

for your garden, give us a call. 

advice and musings on the 

You can find more gardening 

Verdis Horticultural blog 

advice and musings on the 

Verdis Horticultural blog 

www.verdisuk.com/blog 

www.verdisuk.com/blog 

“ 

Adam, owner and horticulturist at 

Verdis Horticultural 

Adam, owner and horticulturist at 

Verdis Horticultural


"SO MUCH 

MORE THAN 

A ROOF OVER 

OUR HEADS" 

Buy to Let Hunter is a 

niche company offering 

investors a chance to 

purchase perfect small 

properties to rent on 

a short-term, serviced 

basis in the dormitory 

suburbs... 

But who, I hear you ask, chooses to stay 

in a tiny house in Binfield? One of our 

guests, Blair Baker, recently had a chat 

with us about her experience as a guest 

with Buy To Let Hunter. 

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE STAYING 

IN ONE OF OUR PROPERTIES? 

“We sold our house in June, on the very 

day we put it up for market! We were 

relocating as a family to the States and 

for that to happen, my husband needed 

a visa. Due to Covid his application was 

delayed. We found ourselves in a total 

pickle – we were advised to stay in an 

Airbnb and wait. We had no idea it would 

be for six months!” 

HOW HAS THE EXPERIENCE WITH 

BTLH BEEN? 

“When we found your house in Binfield, 

we felt grateful and blessed: it was a 

proper home for us – with a garden for 

Shadow and a locked shed for storage. It 

was just so wonderful to find somewhere 

we were able to live with the dog and feel 

like part of the neighbourhood and to be 

looked after.” 

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER 

PEOPLE IN YOUR POSITION? 

“This has been a major life transition 

for us and being able to feel at home, 

welcomed by the neighbours and 

supported by the BTLH team has made 

it so much easier than staying in a hotel. 

You have shown us flexibility and genuine 

care, giving so much more than a roof 

over our heads: honestly, it has made all 

the difference! This great set-up provides 

the perfect stop gap for those who are 

stuck in a life transition, a true safe place 

for us to be in the midst of stress and 

turmoil.” 

BLAIR AND HER FAMILY ARE 

PACKING AND HOPEFUL TO 

FINALLY MAKE THE NEXT STEP 

TOWARDS A NEW LIFE TOGETHER 

IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH FLIGHTS 

SCHEDULED AND A SHINY NEW VISA 

IN HAND. 

“As difficult as it has been there are a few 

tender memories: the genuine friendships 

with our neighbours, your staff have 

been super great and I believe they 

genuinely care - this isn’t just a business 

for them. We think we will leave next 

week – but now we have to take Covid 

tests, so everything is still somewhat up 

in the air… it’s like the most suspenseful 

storyline narrative ever, isn’t it! “Will they 

stay or will they go?”” 

IN THE NICEST POSSIBLE WAY, WE 

HOPE BLAIR, SHADOW AND HER 

FAMILY LEAVE FOR GOOD! 

The owner of Blair’s serviced and 

furnished home has been earning twice 

as much in rental, has the warm fuzzy 

feeling of providing a much-needed home 

and has a hassle free, flexible investment. 

If you would like to learn about our other 

guests or investors please do read the 

whole series of interviews on the website. 

Can BTLH help you find the perfect 

property? Get in touch and have a 

chat: 020 7550 9396 or 

hello@buytolethunter.com. 

For more information check out 

www.buytolethunter.com 


Caring for the elderly members of your family 

Over Christmas you may have spent some time with the family and perhaps more time with 

the elderly members and you become concerned about their health? 

Here we list 8 warning signs to assess if 

they need help and what to do if they do. 

You may wish to consider the following 

questions: 

1. Is the person (persons) able to take care 

of themselves? 

Pay attention to their appearance. Failure 

to keep up with daily routines - such as 

bathing and tooth brushing - could indicate 

dementia, depression or other physical 

impairments.Also pay attention to their 

home. Are the lights working? Is the heat 

on? Is the garden overgrown? Any changes 

in the way things are being done around the 

house could provide clues to their health. 

For example, scorched pots could mean 

they are forgetting about food cooking on 

the stove. Neglected housework could be 

a sign of depression, dementia or other 

concerns. 

2. Are they experiencing memory loss? 

Everyone forgets things from time to time. 

Modest memory problems are a fairly 

common part of ageing, and sometimes 

medication side effects or underlying 

conditions contribute to memory loss. 

There’s a difference, though, between 

normal Changes in memory and the type of 

memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s 

disease and other types of dementia. Are 

the memory changes limited to misplaced 

glasses or an occasionally forgotten 

appointment - or are the changes more 

concerning, such as forgetting common 

words when speaking, getting lost in 

familiar neighbourhoods or being unable to 

follow directions? 

3. Are they safe in their home? 

Take a look around their home, keeping an 

eye out for any problems. Could their be a 

difficulty navigating a narrow stairway? Are 

they able to read directions on medication 

containers? When asked, do they say they 

feel safe at home? 

4. Are they safe on the road? 

Driving can be challenging for older adults. 

Do they become confused while driving 

or are you concerned about their ability to 

drive safely, it might be time to stop driving. 

They could be a danger to others. 

5. Have they lost weight? 

Losing weight without trying could be a sign 

that something’s wrong. Weight loss could 

be related to many factors, including: 

• Difficulty cooking. 

• Loss of taste or smell. 

• Underlying conditions - indicating ill health. 

6. Is the person (persons) in good spirits? 

Note their moods and ask how they’re 

feeling. A drastically different mood could 

be a sign of depression or other health 

concerns. 

7. Are they still social? 

Talk to them about their activities. Are 

they connecting with friends? Have they 

maintained interest in hobbies and other 

daily activities? Are they involved in 

organisations or clubs? Have they given up 

on being with others, it could be a sign of 

a problem. 

8. Is the person (persons) able to get 

around? 

Pay attention to how they are walking. 

Are they reluctant or unable to walk usual 

distances? Have they fallen recently? Is 

knee or hip arthritis making it difficult to get 

around the house? Would they benefit from 

a cane or walker? Issues such as muscle 

weakness and joint pain can make it difficult 

to move around as well. If someone is 

unsteady on their feet, they might be at risk 

of falling - a major cause of disability among 

older adults. 

Taking action 

There are many steps you can take to 

ensure the person/persons’ health and wellbeing, 

even if you don’t live nearby. Share 

your concerns with them. Your concerns 

might motivate them to see a doctor or 

make other changes. 

Encourage regular medical check-ups 

If you’re worried about weight loss, 

depressed mood, memory loss or other 

signs and symptoms,encourage them to 

schedule a doctor’s visit. 

You might offer to schedule the visit or to 

accompany them to the doctor - or find 

someone else to attend the visit. Ask about 

follow-up visits as well. 

Address safety issues 

Point out any potential safety issues you 

have observed - then make a plan to 

address the problems. For example, the 

person (persons) concerned might benefit 

from using assistive devices to help them 

reach items on high shelves. A higher toilet 

seat or handrails in the bathroom might help 

prevent falls. If they are no longer able to 

drive safely, suggest other transportation 

options -such as taking the bus or using 

a taxi. 

Consider home care services 

Particularly if they are having trouble taking 

care of themselves, you could hire someone 

to clean the house and run errands and 

help with daily activities, such as bathing. To 

ensure good nutrition Meals on Wheels is 

also an option. 

And finally 

It would be a good idea to secure an 

Enduring Power of Attorney to ensure that 

if things get worse you can step in without 

having to involve the Court of Protection. 

Your solicitor will be able to give you good 

advice on this. 


*Two 

weeks 

free 

9.8 

Rated June 2019 

West Hall care home 

review score** 

carehome.co.uk 

**carehome.co.uk review scores are based on independent reviews with a 

maximum score of 10. Review quoted and rating correct as of 01/01/2022. 

Who cares if Jan wants to 

look her best? We do. 

West Hall luxury care home 

O Parvis Road, West Byeet, Surrey, KT14 6EY 

Call 01932 338 000 | Visit www.WestHall.org.uk 

*T&C’s apply. Please see website for details

NEW YEAR 

Greener Home 

Looking to make some 

sustainable changes in the 

home this year? Read on... 

CHANGE YOUR 

HEATING 

As boilers can be fuelled generally by four 

different fuels, homeowners can decide 

what would be best for their house. 

The possibilities range from gas boilers, 

oil, electric boilers, and biomass boilers. 

Ground-source heat pumps use buried 

pipes to extract heat from the earth 

for your home’s heating and hot water 

circuits. You won’t usually need planning 

permission, but you’ll need to be 

prepared for the disruption of digging up 

your garden. 

Air-source systems use a similar 

principle, but extract heat from the air. 

They can be fitted to an external wall or 

sometimes in roof space, making them 

ideal for retrofits. Air source heat pumps 

cost from around £2,000. 

Wood-fuelled heating systems burn 

pellets or logs to power central heating 

or warm a single room. A biomass boiler 

(from £9,000 including installation) feeds 

your central heating and hot water. It 

should provide for all your heating needs, 

but requires plenty of space; a spacious 

utility room should suffice. A standalone 

stove (around £3,000) heats one room 

and can be fitted with a back boiler to 

provide water heating. 

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert 

sunlight into electricity. They don’t need 

direct sunlight to work – so you can 

generate on a cloudy day – but you’ll 

need to attach them to a roof or wall that 

faces within 90 degrees of south. Costs 

vary between £8,000 and £14,000. 

INSULATE 

Attaching renewables to your home is 

pointless if it’s so poorly insulated that 

heat flows straight out. Insulation is 

essential for any eco-renovation, 

because as much as 40 per cent of a 

home’s heat loss is down to a lack of it. 

Insulating loft or cavity walls is relatively 

simple. You can be do this with a range 

of materials, from sheep’s wool to 

expanding foam. Insulating either will 

cost from £250 and could save more 

than £150 a year in energy bills. 

IMPROVE GLAZING 

Over 10 per cent of a home’s energy 

can be lost through the windows, so 

it’s essential that yours perform well. 

Replacing single-glazed windows with 

double- or even triple-glazed versions will 

slow heat transfer. To reduce this further, 

consider a product filled with a lowconductivity 

gas, such as argon. 

You can even get hold of low-emissivity 

(low-e) glass, which has a special coating 

to reflect heat back into the room. 

CHEMICAL-FREE 

CLEANING 

A lot of mainstream cleaning products 

contain various ingredients that 

are harmful to the environment. In 

fact, a lot of chemicals used to clean 

our clothes, dishes, and house end 

up causing damage to our planet 

and its biodiversity. Chemicals such 

as detergents, preservatives, or foaming 

agents are the ones that cause the most 

harm to nature. Switching to products 

that contain sustainably grown or raised 

ingredients that do not deplete the 

ecosystem, nor harm it when expelled 

back out. 

DECREASE THE 

TOXIC LOAD 

We are becoming increasingly aware of 

the volume of chemicals in the building 

products used in our homes - but by 

choosing products consciously, we can 

reduce these elements. Most eco-paints 

are water-soluble and use plant oils and 

resins to form the solution, with pigments 

coming from minerals or plant dyes. 

Environmentally-friendly wood varnishes 

and waxes are also available, as are 

green options to clean and prepare walls. 

Sustainable wallpapers include natural 

coverings made from materials such as 

hessian, cotton and wool. 

There are many natural flooring products, 

with wood being the most popular. Make 

sure it is derived from a sustainable 

source (the FSC logo is a good indicator). 

If wood’s not your thing, consider cork, 

marmoleum or even rubber, which can 

all be 100 per cent natural – but always 

check the supply chain. 

LAY UNDERFLOOR 

HEATING 

If you’ve always used radiators, maybe 

it’s time for a change. Underfloor 

heating (UFH) is a great alternative, 

and should be easy to install if you’re 

pulling up floors as part of the renovation 

process. It operates at a temperature just 

a few degrees warmer than the room air 

temperature by circulating warm water 

through a network of cross-linked pipes 

installed under your flooring. The low 

operating temperature means it’s easily 

linked with alternative heating sources 

with similar low temperature outputs – 

such as solar thermal or heat pumps. 

RECYCLE WATER 

Thousands of litres of rainwater fall on 

your roof each year – so why not collect 

it? This water can function to flush 

toilets, fill washing machines and water 

gardens. Consider a rainwater harvesting 

system that collects rainfall via a 

drainpipe, filters out leaves and debris, 

and then stores the useable water in a 

tank. Also think about changing your 

toilets and showers. A low-flush toilet 

uses less than four litres per flush and a 

low-flow showerhead less than 10 litres 

per minute. 

“We are becoming increasingly aware of 

the volume of chemicals in the building 

products used in our homes - but by 

choosing products consciously, we can 

reduce these elements.” 


Meet our experts at 

Meet a free our online experts eventat 

a free online event 

Join one of our free virtual presentations where our experts will share advice 

and treatment options on a range of healthcare issues. These events, led 

Join by leading one of professionals, our free virtual will presentations also provide where you with our the experts opportunity will share to ask advice 

and individual treatment questions options within on a an range open of forum healthcare discussion. issues. These events, led 

by leading professionals, will also provide you with the opportunity to ask 

individual questions within an open forum discussion. 

How to Access Private Health Treatment Prevention of Winter Sports Injuries 

Tuesday Cataract 19 surgery October 2021 7pm to 8pm 

Women’s Thursday 21 Health October 2021 7pm to 8pm 

with the Hospital Enquiries Team 

with Mr Ben Claxton, Physiotherapy Manager 

How Wed to 2nd Access February Private 1:00pm Health Treatment Prevention Thurs 3rd March of Winter at 6:00pm Sports Injuries 

Tuesday with Mr Michael 19 October Tappin, 2021 Consultant 7pm to Ophthalmologist 

8pm 

Thursday with Mr Shaheen 21 October Khazali, 2021 Consultant 7pm to Gynaecologist 

8pm 

Symptoms of Endometriosis 

Shoulder Pain and Treatment Options 

with the Hospital Enquiries Team 

with Mr Ben Claxton, Physiotherapy Manager 

Tuesday 2 November 2021 7pm to 8pm 

Thursday 4 November 7pm to 8pm 

Hernias 

Varicose veins 

with Mr Matthew Erritty, Consultant Gynaecologist with Mr Ali Narvani, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon 

Symptoms Wed 23rd February of Endometriosis at 6:00pm 

Shoulder Wed 16th Pain March and at Treatment 6:30pm Options 

Tuesday with Mr Neville 2 November Menezes, 2021 Consultant 7pm to General 8pm Surgeon Thursday with Mr Tahir 4 November Ali, Consultant 7pm Vascular to 8pmSurgeon 

with Mr Matthew Erritty, Consultant Gynaecologist with Mr Ali Narvani, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon 

For more information on these events please call the Woking Enquiries Team on 01483 331 028 

For more information on these events please call the Woking Enquiries Team on 01483 331 028 

To book, please call 01483 331028 

or visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/events 

To Nuffield book, Health please call Woking 01483 Hospital 331028 

Shores visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/events 

Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 4BY 

Nuffield Health Woking Hospital 

Shores Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 4BY 

@NuffieldHealthWokingHospital 

@NuffieldHealthWokingHospital 

J11665-115 Woking Autumn Patient Events 264x320.indd 1 17/09 

J11665-115 Woking Autumn Patient Events 264x320.indd 1 17/09

Guildford Living Feb - Mar 2022

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