Surrey Homes | SH95 | December 2022 | Christmas Supplement inside

CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT inside 

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes 

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Contents 

December 2022 

istockphoto.com/ Berezka_Klo 

12 

21 

24 

29 

32 

51 

52 

32 

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 

Dream homes on the market 

NOTEBOOK 

December events for your diary 

MIDWINTER FAIR MAGIC 

A run-down of our glorious 

Christmas shopping event 

THE MUST LIST 

Keep up-to-date with the latest 

must-see and must-have goodies 

WELCOME TO THE 

FUN HOUSE 

A pint-sized home 

bursting with cool 

GET THE LOOK 

Seize The Playhouse’s arty feel 

TAKE ME TO CHURCH 

A look inside a chic conversion 

72 

69 

72 

74 

80 

83 

85 

GET THE LOOK 

Create your own unique 

interior with a blend 

of old and new 

FESTIVE LUXURY 

A bit of Christmas shine 

for joyful dressing 

CHRISTMAS COVERED 

Kent Cookery School gets 

festive with salmon, ham 

and Italian cookies 

JO’S SIGNATURE SCENTS 

Jo Fairley’s scents to impress 

TWELVE DAYS 

OF FITNESS 

Sarah Maxwell unveils her 

12-day exercise advent calendar 

NOURISH TO FLOURISH 

Charlotte Lau tackles 

Christmas stress 

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

Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF | Call 01580 714705 | Email info@priceless-group.com 

Visit priceless-group.com Copyright © 2022 Priceless Media Ltd. The views of the 

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

87 

93 

94 

95 

100 

52 

KEEPING IT REAL 

Nothing compares to fresh Christmas 

foliage, as Jo Arnell explains 

BEECHWOOD’S 

BEAUTIFUL GAME 

Beechwood chats football 

BUSY BEES 

News of the Independent Senior 

Schools’ Fair from Hazelwood School 

PANTOMIMES & WHAT’S ON 

Events throughout the month 

FARM FABLES 

Livestock gossip straight 

from the farmer’s mouth 

CHRISTMAS 

SUPPLEMENT 

Our festive round 

up to bid farewell 

to 2022 in style. 

After page 70 

Christmas 

7

POSSIBLY THE FINEST LIGHTING SHOWROOM IN THE UK! 

More than 3000 products on display, 

plus Christmas gift ideas too. 

Showroom open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm 

and Saturdays 9am - 1pm 

Visit: Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QJ 

T: 01420 590510 | W: www.distinctivelightinguk.com

Editor’s 

Letter 

What a fabulous three days we had at our Midwinter 

Fair despite the torrential downpour. Thank you to all 

the shoppers who came to support the huge variety 

of stalls, and to the amazing stallholders themselves, who worked 

so hard to make the event look so beautiful. We’d like to express 

our most sincere apologies to anyone who was caught up in the 

opening day traffic on the Thursday, and especially to those who 

were unable to enter The Hop Farm when we were forced to 

temporarily close the car park. Improvements to the car parking were 

implemented and we hope that those who couldn’t come on the 

Thursday managed to make a day of it on the Friday or Saturday. 

If you’ve broken the back of the Christmas shopping, take a 

breather and have a look at this month’s offering of striking interiors. 

We had lots of fun getting all festive in Jane Robinson’s converted 

church – see how her career in product development has influenced 

her personal style and decision to become an interior designer. And 

explore another renovation in the heart of Rye as you go on a tour 

of The Playhouse, a fun-filled creative holiday let, which is the 

brainchild of some of the seaside town’s residents, Justin and Imogen. 

We return to Kent Cookery School this month for chef James 

Palmer Rosser’s extra tasty take on traditional Christmas dishes. And 

there’s still plenty of time to tie up loose ends as Rebecca Cuffe presents 

our Christmas Supplement – 20 pages filled with last-minute gifts, 

stocking fillers, festive jumpers and plenty of handy chef’s tips. 

With a personal passion for fragrance, our beauty expert Josephine 

Fairley compiles a seductive coffret of scents to warm winter parties 

and gather plenty of compliments. And there’s plenty of health 

and wellbeing advice from Sarah Maxwell and Charlotte Lau, to 

keep both your mind and body healthy during what can often 

feel a rather stressful part of the year. Delegation is often key! 

Thomas 

Mansfield 

Thomas 

Mansfield 

Thomas 

Mansfield 

The Family Law Solicitors 

The Family Law Solicitors 

WILL YOUR 

The ARE Family 

DIVORCE 

The Family Law YOU Solicitors Law 

COST GOING Solicitors 

THROUGH A SEPARATION? 

YOU EVERYTHING? 

ARE ARE YOU YOU GOING GOING 

THROUGH A SEPARATION? 

A When it comes to the breakdown of a 

relationship, seeking specialist advice on 

the financial arrangements is crucial. 

Getting specialist advice at the 

right time is crucial. 

At Thomas Mansfield, we have a team of 

Getting Getting specialist specialist advice advice at the at the 

At experienced Thomas Mansfield, lawyers ready to help you 

right we time have right is time an crucial. experienced 

is crucial. 

team of family lawyers achieve ready the to right help outcome. you achieve 

At Thomas At Thomas Mansfield, Mansfield, we have we an have experienced the an right experienced outcome. 

team of team family of family lawyers lawyers ready ready to help to you help achieve you achieve 

the right the outcome. right outcome. 

Finances Collaborative Children Finances Collaborative Children Mediation Agreement Court Litigation 

We We are are with with you you every every step step of the of the way way 

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We are We with are with you every you every step step of the of way the way 

Enjoy your Surrey Homes and have the most wonderful Christmas! 

Call us today on 

Wealden Times & Surrey Homes Team 

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

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

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

Design Assistant...........................................................................Phoebe O’Leary 

Sales Managers ..............................................................................Rachel Norrie 

Lisa Gordon-Hughes 

Senior Account Managers ............................................................... Sara Henslow 

Maria Hurley 

Sarah Norwood 

Sub Editor/Features Writer ................................................................Emily Pavey 

Wealden Times Show Director ....................................................... Flo Simpson 

Events Manager .............................................................................. Liz Copping 

Senior Account Manager, Events ....................................................... Jude Brown 



01483 679332 


01483 610499 

01483 01483 610499 

610499 

For more information visit our website: 


www.tmfamilylaw.co.uk 





GUILDFORD GUILDFORD GUILDFORD WOKING WOKING WOKING WEYBRIDGE WEYBRIDGE WEYBRIDGE ESHER ESHER LEATHERHEAD ESHER EATHERHEAD LEATHERHEAD FARNHAM FARNHAM FARNHAM BASINGSTOKE 

FARNHAM BASINGSTOKE BASINGSTOKE BASINGSTOKE 

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

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

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ThomasMansfieldWT240- SURREY (Family Law).indd 1 06/04/2022 09:43

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kitchens | wardrobes | home furniture 

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AstonMatthewsWT246.indd 1 14/11/2022 09:49

House 

Month 

of the 

£3,650,000 

Damien Pestell picks his favourite homes 

on the market in Surrey this month 

Dorking 

The dream: A stunning 

contemporary family home 

inspired by the prairie and 

modernist styles in the heart 

of the Surrey Hills Area of 

Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Built in 2019 this eyecatching 

abode is an open 

plan, light filled space that 

blends inside with outside 

and centres around a majestic 

concrete helical staircase. 

Where: The charming 

village of Arbinger 

Hammer, situated high in 

the Surrey Hills between 

Guildford and Dorking. 

Setting: In a beautiful 

pocket of private green space, 

surrounded by mature trees. 

Beds: 5 Baths: 3 

Special features: The cosy 

open-plan sitting/dining area 

with Poggenpohl kitchen 

and direct access to the 

sun terrace is a functional, 

yet very livable space. 

Pleasing details: The roof 

sundeck is a fantastic feature 

for those warmer months. 

Outside: Stunning landscaped 

gardens of over an acre with far 

reaching countryside views. 

Time to town: From Dorking 

station seven miles away to 

Waterloo in just over 50 mins. 

Agent: House Partnership 

01483 266700 

housepartnership.co.uk 


12

Leatherhead 

£1,695,000 

The dream: A charming 17th century thatched 

barn which exudes a real sense of history. 

Originally built in Sussex, but moved to Surrey 

in 1920 by architect George Blair Imrie for the 

Lyle ‘Golden Syrup’ Family. A family home 

full of character and genuinely one-of-a-kind. 

Where: On the outskirts of Leatherhead 

town, just a short walk away from the 

town centre and its amenities. 

Setting: Located on the beautiful 

tree-lined Reigate Road and accessed 

via a sweeping gravel driveway. 


Special features: The impressive main 

drawing room with vaulted ceiling, exposed 

beams, large open fireplace and direct access 

to the loggia overlooking the garden. 

Pleasing details: The abundance of 

period features including original timber 

framework and the inglenook fireplace. 

Outside: The beautifully landscaped 

garden of just over half an acre with brick 

paving, topiary hedging and mature borders 

is the quintessential English garden. 

Time to town: From Leatherhead station, just 

over a mile away, to Waterloo in 48 minutes. 

Agent: Savills 01932 586200 savills.com 

Westcott 

£3,750,000 

The dream: An exceptional Grade II listed 

Tudor Hall, believed to date back to 1571 and 

once the home of actor/director Lesley Howard. 

With six bedrooms, a wine cellar, office, selfcontained 

annexe and even an outdoor pool, this 

is a family home with something for everyone. 

Where: The thriving village of Westcott 

nestled at the foot of the North Downs 

and just 1.5 miles west of Dorking. 

Setting: Off a private country lane 

surrounded by fields and trees. 


Special features: The remarkable living room with 

carved wooden fireplace and low beamed ceiling. 

Pleasing details: A further 14 acre 

paddock and ancient woodland are 

available by separate negotiation. 

Outside: The extensive gardens of 

3.25 acres include several outbuildings 

and a paddock/orchard. 

Time to town: From Dorking station, 

a 10 minute drive away, to London 

Waterloo in just under an hour. 

Agent: Patrick Gardner 

01306 877775 patrickgardner.com 

13 priceless-magazines.com

There’s much going on in the world that causes 

concern, and little we feel we can do about it. 

However, what we are very much in control 

of is how we think and act as individuals – 

our attitudes and the effort we put into things. 

This is why Birchgrove exists. 

What sets us apart are our strong core values and 

belief we can empower you to live healthier, happier 

and better at one of our retirement communities. 

How to live longer, 

Our environments don’t just bring people 

together they provide real opportunities 

to get involved and flourish. Purpose, 

Exercise, Diet – is one such initiative, 

supporting you to keep active, eat better 

and renew your sense of purpose. 

better. 

Reimagine how you live in later years. 

Scan the code, visit the website, or call to find out more: 

www.birchgrove.life/better 

020 3929 5599 

Leading 

the way 

in retirement 

rental living 

Queensgate 

Apartments 

Sidcup, Kent 

Woodbank 

Apartments 

Hook Heath, Woking 

Lower Mill 

Apartments 

Ewell Village, Surrey

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

Woodbank Apartments 

celebrates 2 nd anniversary 

Woodbank Apartments 

in Hook Heath, 

Woking – an assisted 

living community for 

people in later life - celebrated its second 

anniversary on 27 October 2022 with a 

magic-themed event. Attendees of ‘The 

Magic of Woodbank’ were delighted 

with card tricks from local magician 

Magic George and live singing from 

local entertainer, Graham Broad. 

The evening featured lots of 

culinary treats for residents and guests, 

starting with canapes and prosecco on 

arrival, freshly prepared food and later 

indulged in an extra special surprise 

celebration dessert all prepared by 

on-site chef Wendy and her team. 

Hook Heath, Woking, has been home 

to Woodbank Apartments since autumn 

2020. It provides modern and spacious 

apartments for people in later life who 

want to continue living independently in 

their own homes but with assistance and 

support available should they need it. The 

monthly events calendar provides lots of 

opportunities to forge new friendships, 

start a hobby or try something new. 

With community at its heart, residents 

of Woodbank Apartments have access 

to well thought-out social spaces like a 

restaurant, bar, club room, wellness suite, 

landscaped gardens, including a woodland 

walk and a communal terrace. These 

spaces afford opportunities for residents 

to socialise with each other, invite friends 

and family over and host events. 

It is easy to understand why assisted 

living has grown to be a popular lifestyle 

choice for many retirees. People are 

drawn to moving for a variety of reasons, 

including the ease of managing a smaller 

home, security, 24-hour staff presence. 

Woodbank Apartments boasts 51 

individual, independent one- and twobedroom 

apartments that are tastefully 

designed, light and future-proofed. 

Finished to the highest standard, the 

apartments are without compromise 

and include fully fitted kitchens 

complete with modern, waist-height 

appliances for easy operation and use, 

open plan living, spacious bedrooms 

with walk-in ensuite shower-room. 

The final release of apartments 

is now on offer, so act now to avoid 

disappointment. Why not move in and 

become part of the Birchgrove family. 

The team at Birchgrove offers 

viewings and personal tours so you 

can get a taste of what life is like in 

the community. If you would like 

to find out more about Woodbank 

Apartments, get in touch at 020 3929 

5599 or visit www.birchgrove.life

PLOT OR NOT? 

If you think your land or 

property has development 

potential, then give us 

a call without obligation 

and in confidence. 

We are always on 

the lookout for 

land and property 

with development 

potential. 

Many of our 

clients retain our 

services and, in the 

majority of cases, 

pay our fees saving 

property owners 

LAND AND significant PROPERTY costs. WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL 

Commercial buildings for residential 

conversion, former public houses, redundant 

buildings for redevelopment, buildings for 

conversion or replacement, houses for 

improvement, large sites on the edge of town, 

barn conversions, large gardens in residential 

areas and major regeneration projects. 

e majority of 

ificant costs. 

houses, redundant 

acement, houses 

ersions, large 

. 

Contact Stephen Donnelly on 

07739 514350 or 01892 579937 

website: sjd-projects.com 

email: steve@sjd-projects.com 

For more information contact 

Stephen Donnelly on: 

07739 514350 / 01892 579937 

steve@sjd-projects.com 

For regular updates, visit us at 

twitter.com/projects 

sjd-projects.com 

SJDprojectsWT245.indd 1 08/09/2022 12:04 

CREATIVE DESIGN FOR 21 

www.jamesclague.co.uk 

ST 

CENTURY LIVING 

01227 649073 

info@jamesclague.co.uk 

40/41 Castle Row, Canterbury, CT1 2QY 

Extensions | Restorations | Conversions | Refurbishments | Listed Buildings 


18 

JamesClagueArchitectsWT246.indd 1 18/10/2022 10:23

Show home launching 

early 2023 

Computer generated image 

Feel the beauty of nature that surrounds you. 

Set in a haven of leafy tranquility, the bright, 

stylish one and two bedroom apartments at 

Highfields offer sensational living with homes 

ready to move into in Spring 2023. 

Buy from £399,000. Exclusively for the Sixty+ 

Book an appointment at 

01932 483 138 

highfields@lifestory.group 

lifestory.group/highfields 

Prices correct at time of print. November 2022

Join us for 2 days 

of craft filled fun! 

Meet your 

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favourites! 

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HighlightCraftsWT247.indd 1 23/11/2022 14:43 

WHAT’S ON IN JANUARY 

BOOK ONLINE 

GLIVE.CO.UK 

THU 12 JANUARY 2023 

AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE 

FRI 13 - SAT 14 JANUARY 2023 

LUCY PORTER - WAKE UP CALL 

WED 18 JANUARY 2023 

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SERIAL KILLERS 

THU 19 JANUARY 2023 

GIOVANNI PERNICE - MADE IN ITALY 

FRI 27 JANUARY 2023 

WIFI WARS 

SAT 28 JANUARY 2023 

WHITNEY - QUEEN OF THE NIGHT 


20 

GLiveWT247.indd 1 08/11/2022 11:31

istock.com/ katatonia82 

Notebook 

What to do and see near you this month 

Whol ely Trinity 

In their most ambitious and exciting Christmas season yet, 

Trinity, Tunbridge Wells, present two world premieres and one 

absolute classic. Don’t miss The New Musketeers, a brand-new 

rip-roaring comedy adventure with brilliant music, terrible 

sword fighting and magical designs from Tony Award® winning 

set designer, Nigel Hook. This truly world class production is 

right on your doorstep, brought to you by many of the minds 

behind the world-conquering comedy The Play That Goes 

Wrong. Whilst The New Musketeers is suitable for kids 6+, 

the smallest theatre-goers will love Winnie Southgate’s new 

play; zany, interactive and downright joyous, The Aliens 

Who Saved Christmas will have your little ones entranced 

as they help the elves in the North Pole build presents 

in time for Christmas Eve. Last but by no means least 

Trinity presents a live musical radio play version of 

the classic story, Miracle on 34th Street. Peppered with 

Christmas carols in stunning four-part harmony and 

all backed by live piano accompaniment. So get on 

down to Royal Tunbridge Wells this Christmas and 

make great memories at Trinity. Book early to avoid 

disappointment and find dates and prices throughout the 

month at trinitytheatre.net 

21 

Elfie Walk 

Blow the cobwebs away with some 

festive fresh air at Bewl’s magical 

elf trail which will be ready to 

explore throughout the month with 

no bookings required. Head to 

the Waterfront Café for your map 

and let the adventure begin as you 

help Santa find his missing elves. 

Explore the trail and search for 

hidden clues which will lead you 

to a special sweet treat at the end. 

Worked up quite the appetite? 

A selection of winter warmer 

treats will be available from 

the café until 3pm (4pm on 

Saturdays and Sundays). Santa 

will also be popping in on some 

days for breakfast, you can find 

out more from the website. 

bewlwater.co.uk 

With plenty of carols, 

pantos and gift shopping to 

fill your December diary you 

might want to look forward to 

some January fun. The Jockey Club 

invite you to Sandown Park to start 

your 2023 with the thrill of winter 

jump racing. The first fixture of the new 

year at Sandown Park holds an afternoon 

of quality Jump racing, including 

the finale of the Veterans’ Chase Series 

and the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices’ 

Hurdle won so impressively in 2022 

by Constitution Hill for Nicky 

Henderson and Nico de Boinville. 

thejockeyclub.co.uk 

Jump for Joy 

priceless-magazines.com

Notebook 

Prints Charming 

Step into the world of Graham Clarke at his 

fascinating studio gallery in Boughton Monchelsea 

near Maidstone — open on Friday 2, Saturday 3 

and Sunday 4 December from 12 noon until 4pm. 

You’ll find a huge collection of Graham’s work 

including hand-produced etchings, watercolours, 

posters, books and cards. You’re also welcome to 

visit by appointment throughout the month, 

just contact Wendy on 07801 922081 or at 

wendy@grahamclarke.co.uk to arrange a time. Gift 

‘vultures’ are also available. grahamclarke.co.uk 

Just Dandy 

Gents of Tunbridge Wells can now get kitted 

out in the finest of clobber, courtesy of County 

Clothes as they open a brand new shop at 7 The 

High Street, this month. A local success story, there are 

now six branches across Kent, Sussex and Surrey. From 

classic and modern suits, sports jackets and wax jackets, 

to stylish knitwear, shirts and accessories, and traditional 

English shoes, their range of menswear is handpicked 

to offer a superb choice of classic brands and 

contemporary styles. Their fine quality clothes are 

stocked in a wide range of fittings, including for 

taller men and many garments measuring 

52” chest. countyclothesmenswear.co.uk 

Arty Party 

Browse a wonderful mix of work at all prices 

to help with your Christmas shopping at the 

lovely West End House Gallery in Smarden. To 

kick off the festive season, join Karen and Patricia 

for mulled wine and treats on 3 and 4 December 

from 10am to 5pm. Pictured above is Marie 

Prett’s adorable Fairy Bully, you’ll find her joyful 

work alongside a wide collection of prints, 

paintings, drawings, jewellery, ceramics 

and glasswork at the gallery. 

westendhousegallery.co.uk 

Yule Love This 

Gastro 

Time 

This winter, authentic country 

pubs The Leicester Arms and 

The Rock Inn are very excited to introduce Chef 

Dennis Duncanson – one of Jamie Oliver’s original 

15 students taken on at Fifteen in London. He 

will be supporting their teams and hosting a four 

course supper club for £30 every week at both pubs 

(a superb addition to your December calendar or 

a last minute Christmas present). Dennis worked for 

Jamie Oliver’s restaurant empire as Executive Chef 

until 2013. He then moved to Australia to start 

his own business, but is back in the UK, 

turning out some stunning dinners that 

are well worth trying while he’s here! 

The Leicester Arms and The Rock 

Embrace the wonder of Christmas at Notcutts Tunbridge 

Wells and discover gorgeous gifts, stock up on festive 

essentials and be inspired by beautiful Christmas displays. 

Five different Christmas themes will fill this local 

garden centre, in styles including traditional reds 

and golds, modern brights, and cosy Nordic-inspired 

tones. With everything from lights and trees to gifts 

for all the family, Notcutts is the perfect place to 

get you in the mood for Christmas. notcutts.co.uk 

Inn themselves are both steeped in 

medieval history, and serve great 

quality local beers, wine, spirits and 

exclusively locally sourced food. 

Plus to really make a full dining 

experience to remember, they will 

also be offering a wine matching 

addition for £25 with each 

course. Find out more and book 

at theleicesterarms.com 

or therockchiddingstone.com 

LOOK FORWARD: NEW TAPROOM 

Titsey Brewing Co specialises in crafting refreshing ales and 

lagers with an adventurous spirit and eco ethos. Found at the 

highest point of the North Downs Way, next to Botley Hill 

Farmhouse, they are inspired by the history, heritage and 

spectacular views of the Titsey Estate where they are based. 

January ’23 will see the opening of their new brewery and 

taproom. Until then you can visit their unofficial taproom at 

Hill Farmhouse, Limpsfield Road, Warlingham CR6 9QH 

or their website. titseybrewingco.com 

istock.com/ Dinkoobraz 


22

ADVENT 

CHRISTMAS 

EPIPHANY 

27 November - 2 February 

Experience the wonder of 

these seasons through 

readings, hymns, music, 

prayer - in darkness 

and in light. 

Services every day 

to mark the days 

and seasons. 

Come along 

for the whole journey 

www.guildford-cathedral.org 

Fine Art 

Pop Art 

Picture Framing 

Investment Art 

Sculptures 

From inspiration to creation, 

define your space with 

ART 

11 The Parade, Claygate, Surrey, KT10 0PD • WWW.TREWART.COM • PH 44 (0)1372 470997 

GuildfordCathedralWT247.indd 1 15/11/2022 TrewArtWT247.indd 14:29 

1 15/11/2022 11:47 

Join us for festive 

activities this Winter at 

Watts Gallery - Artists’ 

Village. 

Make a winter wreath, shop 

for prints in our Contemporary 

Gallery, or meet the Modern 

Pre-Raphaelite Visonaries in 

our winter exhibition, Dreams 

and Stories. 

Find out more at 

wattsgallery.org.uk 

Compton, GU3 1DQ 

Surrey Homes ad.indd 7 07/11/2022 12:46:53 


WattsGalleryWT247.indd 1 07/11/2022 12:55

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Midwinter Fair 

Magic 

Despite torrential downpours, this year’s 

event was back – bigger and better than 

ever – with stallholders galore offering 

the perfect opportunity to get your 

Christmas shopping well underway 

20 

Firstly, the whole Wealden Times Midwinter Fair team would like 

to say a HUGE sorry to anyone who was caught up in the opening 

day traffic on the Thursday, and especially to those who were unable 

to enter The Hop Farm whilst we were forced to temporarily close the 

car park to organise alternative spaces. Improvements to the car parking 

were implemented and we hope that those who couldn’t come on the 

Thursday managed to make a day of it on the Friday or Saturday. 

And a HUGE thank you to all the shoppers who came to shop from the 

Fair’s massive variety of stalls, and to our incredible stallholders, who created 

such a visual feast of stands. We were thrilled to award Best Stand to Inca 

Pottery, who put together a gorgeous display of greenery and twinkling lights 

to complement their handmade designs – which are all created in Kent. 

If you found a stall that you love – and are desperate to 

remember their name – you can browse the show listings online 

at wealdentimes-fair.co.uk or see a page turner of the Show Guide 

at wealdentimes.co.uk/advertise/read-our-magazines-online. 

 

21 

1. Treasure Tree 2. Jacqueline Headlam 3. Inca Pottery 4. The Golden Boot 5. Genny 

Graham 6. Nostara 7. Sida Says 8. WT Café 9. Forever Wild 10. MOTH 11. Thomas 

Cookie 12. Nonya’s Secret 13. Lotties Loft 14. Fenwick 15. Workshop Number 29 

16. Mousie Murray 17. Happy shoppers 18. Choice of Scandinavia 19. WT’s Vivien, Jude, Flo 

& Liz 20. Linda Jackson Antiques 21. Happy shoppers in the Café 22. The Carved Angel 

22

Midwinter Fair 

Magic 

1 

2 

4 

5 6 

7 

1. Fairy Dusk 2. Dan Cooper Garden 

4. Artisan Wood Creations 5. Ed’s Stuff 

6. Pip & Seed 7. Evie Illustrates 

8. Georgina Luck 9. Camper Catering 

10. Pinkster Gin 11. Sawn by Sarah 

12. Sacred Skincare 13. Thunder Flavoured Vodkas 

14. Rufus Country 15. Sarah Rickard Art 

14 

15 

8 9 

12 13 

10 11

Pick up your essential 

guide to what’s on this 

December in Epsom. 

From Carol services 

to Karaoke nights, 

it’s all in this guide. 

MAKE IT AN 

EPSOM 

CHRISTMAS 

YOUR HANDY CHRISTMAS GOING OUT GUIDE

Visit Oast & Rye’s new shop in Cranbrook 

High Street. The company is known for its 

sustainable credentials; their gorgeous products 

are vegan friendly, reusable, refillable and use 

compostable packaging. oastandrye.co.uk 

must 

The 

Boys Hall Ashford’s restaurant 

and bar are now open, with 

bedrooms to follow this 

month. boys-hall.com 

One Warwick Park Hotel in 

Tunbridge Wells is offering a lavish 

Christmas experience with all the 

trimmings! From private festive 

dining to parties, afternoon teas, 

breakfasts with Santa and even a 

gala, their yuletide calendar is filled 

to the brim with glitter and glamour. 

onewarwickpark.co.uk 

From must-sees to must-buys and 

must-dos, don’t miss this month’s 

round up of what to buy, see, do, 

and generally get excited about! 

Storigraphic’s eco wrapping paper is a godsend for those 

looking to make Christmas more planet friendly. The Surreybased 

company’s fun and unique paper is sustainably printed in 

the UK, using FSC certified paper, it’s also recyclable, with no 

glitter, foil, lamination or metallic ink used. storigraphic.com 

The winter chill is creeping in and, for us, that can 

only mean one thing – time to get your Welligogs on! 

These Chelsea boots are a perfect versatile investment 

to wear again and again throughout the colder seasons 

at £215. welligogs.com 

Christmas is just around 

the corner and it’s time to 

get those stockings 

on the mantel! 

This handmade 

traditional stocking uses 

a classic William Morris 

print, is handmade in the 

UK and it’s just £29.95 from 

Green & Heath. 

greenandheath.co.uk 

Little Fish brings delicious 

freshly prepared sushi and 

pan-Asian cuisine, conceived 

and created by Michelintrained, 

multi-award winning 

chef, Neil Witney, direct to your 

door. Yum! little-fish.uk 

Chloe May’s jewellery 

is top of our Christmas 

wish list! Crafted in the 

Kentish countryside, these 

£875 diamond hoops 

are a lovely bit of luxe you 

can add to any look. 

chloemayjewellery.co.uk 


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

Changes & Developments 

in Family Law in the last 12 months 

Head of Family at Riaa Barker Gillette solicitors, Vandana Chitroda explores 

the two main developments within family law over the last year or so; no fault 

divorce and the trend towards Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). 

Arguably one of the most 

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This was seen to be an outdated way 

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Another important change that has been 

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Practically, this had a huge effect on both 

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Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art 

Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations 

around the world, ski resorts in the European Alps, and the 

world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs 

to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, 

measuring 97 x 65 cms. Priced at £420 each (inc. UK 

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All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions 2022 

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Our central London gallery 

View and buy online at www.pullmaneditions.com

FUN HOUSE 

Justin and Imogen open the doors to their 

fabulously cool renovation project, tucked 

away behind the shops in Rye High Street 

Words: Jennifer Stuart-Smith 

Photographs: David Merewether

Previous pages & this spread: Having come in the front door, the first and most dramatic space you enter is 

a triple-height living room with an enormous pink Murano glass chandelier suspended overhead 

It takes a brave man, or woman, to leave the buzz of 

East London for a quiet coastal town such as Rye. Add 

three young children to the mix, a career change and 

the fact that the property in Rye is an historic butcher’s 

shop, a listed townhouse and a dilapidated outbuilding 

and you might be forgiven for thinking them mad. Or 

foolhardy at least. But Justin and Imogen are far from it. 

Creative, bold and incredibly likeable, the couple have not 

only embarked on a new life as gallery owners – inside the 

former butcher’s shop – but they have also transformed 

the outbuilding into a truly spectacular holiday let. 

Photos of what the building used to look like would 

strike fear into the heart of those of us who struggle with 

fairly standard home improvements or building projects. 

Not only was the outhouse dilapidated but it’s also a 

really unusual shape, bijou – and nestled in the heart of a 

picturesque and historic conservation area. One can only 

imagine the issues with planning, let alone finding 

 


34


FIFTY 

FOUR 

DEGREES 

CELSIUS 

The perfect medium rare 

New York Strip is cooked 

at fifty four degrees Celsius. 

A single millimetre is all that 

is needed for a flawless 

slice of Jamón Ibérico. 

Sixty four degree water 

gives the most rich, 

velvety poached eggs 

you’ve ever imagined. 

When you’re in the kitchen, 

perfection and joy come 

from precision. And it’s the 

same when we’re in the 

kitchen too — because we 

love what we do. 

This is German Enjoyneering. 

Kutchenhaus Farnborough 

70 Kingsmead, The Meads 

Shopping Centre, Farnborough 

GU14 7SL 

Tel : 01252 239051

Right: Pieces by artists available in Ashbees 100 appear throughout 

The Playhouse, like this smiley piece by Drew, tucked beneath some 

dried flower vases Above: ‘Greeny’ by Alberto Ferrari sits on top 

of a cupboard on the balcony Above right: Another Ferrari piece, 

‘3’s Company’, is displayed underneath a convex mirror by Shaun 

Phelan. Justin tracked down the original G Plan sideboard on eBay 

the right tradesmen to deal with such an ambitious project. 

So, how did the couple find the right people for the job? “I 

met people when I was working in the shop – as you can tell, I 

don’t stop talking – so everyone who came in, I’d chat to. Rye is 

such a small community everyone knows everyone. So, someone 

would say, ‘have you heard of him? He’s a good builder.’” It seems 

the old-fashioned way, or word-of-mouth referral, was key. 

“In Rye, if you’re bad at what you do, it gets found out 

very quickly,” says Justin. “When I first moved down, I 

didn’t really know anyone, other than those who came in to 

the shop – so we started up a Monday-night football club. 

There’s now 28 of us who play. Through that, well, one of 

them is a tree surgeon, one’s a plumber, one’s a locksmith. 

So, you see what I mean? Suddenly you know everyone!” 

Once the main structure was converted and the existing 

rooms created, Justin and Imogen turned their attention to the 

interiors. “We work really well together as I find ‘stuff’, and 

Imogen will know where to put it.” eBay is one of their most 

useful resources, though as we look around it becomes clear 

that local artists and friends also play a huge role. “Imogen will 

go online – she has a real eye for style,” says Justin. Imogen 

 


This page: Separated from the living area by a brick wall, the 

contemporary kitchen houses one of the building’s original wooden 

doors, which has been repurposed as a kitchen table top 

is a landscape architect by trade, who used to work for Dan 

Pearson, the renowned horticulturist and garden designer. 

An example of Imogen and Justin’s working relationship 

stands in the corner of the bedroom – a vintage paraffin tin, 

with an upturned, slightly kitsch crystal lampshade on top. 

“I got it turned into a lamp, then put the pink shade on. I 

had it in the shop to sell, and Imogen said, ‘No, I’ve got an 

idea for that…we’ll tie it in with the pink in the bedroom.’ 

 


38

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Up a couple of steps 

is a contemporary 

kitchen with a dark 

blue and bright 

yellow theme. Across 

a bare brick wall 

is an enormous 

vintage Bovril sign, 

in just those colours. 

“Another eBay 

find,” says Imogen 

This page: Imogen came up with 

the brilliant idea to use an old pan 

stand to tidy and store the outdoor 

furniture cushions when not in use 

She’s an interior designer really, but doesn’t know it.” 

The artworks and decorative items throughout the building 

are similar to those sold in Ashbees 100 – the former butcher’sshop-turned-gallery 

– so guests who like what they see can 

often find something similar to purchase. Or, if they really like 

an item in The Playhouse, Justin has been known to sell it, and 

replace it with something stocked in the shop. “We should do 

more of it… but to me, that approach can be a bit tacky. If 

our guests are paying a certain amount per night, I don’t want 

to be pushing them to buy what they see. The most we do is 

leave out a business card for the shop, with a discount offer.” 

Planning constraints, although restrictive as far as the outside 

of the building was concerned, have not interfered with the 

interiors and it’s clear from the vibrant graffiti-style artworks 

by Drew that Justin and Imogen’s creativity has been able 

to flow freely. Drew, a local artist and owner of Brewhouse 

Salvage, not only supplies the shop but his bright, modern 

designs can be found in every room of The Playhouse. 

Another friend, Jane, has also been a huge help. “My Mum’s 

a hoarder, and had so much stuff – I used to sell it in the 

shop,” says Justin. “But one day I had so much stuff I ended 

up putting a skip out the front of the building. People were 

like ants, just coming and taking stuff. And one of the people 

was Jane, who asked if she could take a frame. She came in 

the shop a week later and got chatting. She’s now best friends 

with Imogen.” As well as running Peartree Framing, Jane has 

helped with soft furnishings, sourcing – and bright ideas. 

One such idea includes repurposing an original wooden 

door as the kitchen table top – with a glass panel on 

top for functionality and a contemporary edge. “We’ve 

tried to keep as many original features as possible,” says 

Imogen, “even if that means removing and restoring them, 

before repurposing and/or repositioning them.” Another 

example includes some rustic wooden brackets, which 

would have been used to tether livestock, which are fixed 

on the wall by the front door to act as coat hooks. 

 


This page: The Murano glass chandelier was found on eBay. A large work by Drew hangs on the brick wall behind the stairs 

Having come in the front door, the first and most dramatic 

space you enter is a triple-height living room with an 

enormous pink Murano glass chandelier suspended overhead. 

In contrast to the bling of the chandelier are rustic wooden 

beams, original pulleys and an industrial-style metal stairway 

and balcony. The whole space is gloriously light thanks 

to a vast aluminium window and a patchwork of smaller 

windows which are the original openings to the outside 

world. “The wooden sledge as coffee table was another of 

Jane’s ideas,” says Justin. The cosy chalet-feel is amplified by a 

contemporary bio-fuel fire on the wall. You can see why this 

one bedroom house would appeal to couples wanting a cosy 

weekend away. Bare bricks and gnarly beams contrast with 

some mid-century modern and Scandi furniture. “The 


42

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This page: The velvet 

bed is by Laura James 

Left: Justin’s repurposed 

paraffin lamp and a 

pick-and-mix candle 

by Design+Made 

Right: A glass witch’s 

ball – historically hung 

in cottage windows to 

ward off evil spirits 

sideboard is G Plan,” says Justin, “a really affordable find on 

eBay.” On the wall opposite the vast window is a striking 

convex mirror by Sean Phelan, a Cotswolds craftsman. 

Up a couple of steps is a contemporary kitchen with a dark 

blue and bright yellow theme. Across a bare brick wall is an 

enormous vintage Bovril sign, in just those colours. “Another 

eBay find,” says Imogen. Although Justin and Imogen love a 

bargain, they do sometimes give into temptation. “The kitchen 

tiles are by Mandarin Stone – as are the large terrazzo tiles in 

the bathroom and downstairs washroom.” An ingenious and 

quirky touch is the metal saucepan rack used to hold garden 

cushions, for when guests want to head out to the private 

courtyard garden. “That was Imogen’s idea,” says Justin. 

Linking the outside to the inside – visually, at least – is a 

garden shed with vivid yellow window frames – an ‘homage’ 


In contrast to 

the bling of the 

chandelier are rustic 

wooden beams, 

original pulleys and 

an industrial-style 

metal stairway 

and balcony 

This page: The beams and 

pulleys offer a tantalising hint 

of the building’s previous 

life. Flooring throughout 

the house is by Karndean 

to Prospect Cottage in Dungeness and another find from 

Brewhouse Salvage in Lydd. Despite being right next to Justin 

and Imogen’s own garden, the courtyard is quiet and private, a 

feature shared by The Playhouse itself, which is set back from 

the high street, down a pretty alleyway. “If you just fancy a 

weekend away, somewhere quiet – as you can imagine, Rye can 

be mobbed at the weekend – you don’t want to be queuing 

up for your breakfast,” says Justin. “You can just pop out to 

get the croissants, then enjoy them in the courtyard garden.” 

Upstairs is the one and only bedroom, opened up to the 

eaves to reveal more ancient beams. A rustic slab of wood, 

rescued from the beach, serves as a sideboard and Imogen 

has upcycled a wardrobe and painted it a pale pink – to tie 

in with Justin’s paraffin-tin lamp. Suspended from the ceiling 

is a reflective glass sphere, the size of a football. “That’s a 

witch’s ball,” says Justin. “The thing about a witch’s ball 

is that you should never sell it, as it brings you bad luck.” 

So, how did Justin get hold of it? “I bought it from Keith 

who runs Strand House Interiors, a shop down the hill.” Is 

Keith still OK I wonder? “What I did was ask him to put it 

in a box, then I bought the box,” says Justin, with a smile. 

There’s certainly no bad juju in this gorgeous little house. 

To get to the bathroom, you walk across the mezzanine 

and step down a couple of steps. “We had to raise the 

height of the bathroom to provide more headroom, though 

the floor is the original height,” says Justin. Imogen was 

very much the brainchild behind this room and wanted it 

to feel open and light, despite being relatively small. “We 

went for a modern, open-style shower cubicle instead of 

a bath as I didn’t want the space to feel cramped.” 

 


46

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1 18/11/2022 10:49 

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48 

FoxFramingWT247.indd 1 31/10/2022 16:11

Top: Terrazzo tiles from Mandarin Stone, 

chosen for their practicality, are a stylish 

touch in the bathroom Below: The 

building’s smartly renovated exterior 

Bulkhead lights on either side of a 

modern round mirror are a nod to the 

cottage’s nautical location – while the 

room’s earthy shades are calming and 

contemporary. “We learn something new 

with every renovation,” says Imogen, 

adding, “plain tiles on the floor show 

every mark.” So, the terrazzo tiles don’t 

just look fab, they’re practical too. A 

circus scene on the wall of the bathroom, 

in primary colours, gives the space some 

levity and a sense of fun. There is a 

similar styling, and a brightly coloured 

painting, in the downstairs washroom. 

Such colourful touches are a neat 

summing-up of Justin and Imogen’s 

styling in the aptly named Playhouse. 

Clean, modern design mixed with 

historic architectural features and 

sprinkled with a selection of vibrant 

artworks and ‘objets’. Their personal 

touches make it feel homely and 

relaxed rather than a place where you 

have to take your shoes off and tiptoe 

round with caution. This bijou home 

would make the perfect retreat for 

a couple who want peace and quiet 

but with a vibrant historic town just 

a few steps away. And, even better, 

furry friends are welcome too. “We 

even had a cat stay once,” says Justin. 

Such relaxed and welcoming hosts… 

Address Book: 

To book a stay at The Playhouse, visit 

camberholidaycottages.co.uk/ 

the-playhouse-rye 

Find out more about Drew and 

Alberto Ferrari at ashbees100.co.uk 

Bad Marriage Retro 

badmarriageretro.co.uk 

Brewhouse Salvage 

Instagram @brewhousesalvage 

Hoof Brocante hoofbrocante.com 

Laura James laura-james.co.uk 

Jane at Peartree Framing can be 

contacted at peartreeframing@gmail.com 

Sean Phelan mirrorgilding.com 

Strand House Interiors 

Instagram @strandhouseinteriors 


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Take me to 

church 

Words: Jo Arnell 

Photographs: David Merewether 

Jane Robinson has worked with the 

unusual fabric of a former church to create 

a comfortable and stylish family home 

Church conversions can be 

tricky. The windows – 

although beautiful and large 

– are a peculiar shape and size, the 

dimensions of the building can make 

room divisions awkward and uneasy, 

and then there’s all the structural 

wooden and Gothic supports in the 

top of the building. “It was all that 

oppressive dark wood,” says owner 

Jane – which she thinks might have 

been a factor in preventing it selling. 

Looming and low trusses across the 

bedrooms aren’t always an enticing 

prospect for potential home owners – 

but this was actually one of the things 

that appealed to Jane. “We were living 

in Sevenoaks in a small end-of-terrace 

house and we wanted to move further 

out and get a bigger place. We spotted 

this on the internet. The conversion 

had been done many years before, over 

20 years ago at least. We really liked 

the feel, it was a bit more unusual, 

but all the top of the house was dark 

wood. I knew we’d have to paint all 

the ceilings white, but I fell in love.” 

The first thing they did when they 

moved into the church was all that 

painting, which was hard, because the 

black kept showing through. ‘‘It took a 

lot of stain blocker, then filler and then 

several coats of paint to do it properly, 

but it was really worth it,” says Jane. 

Then they had to buy a whole load 

of new furniture, because – and this 

is another factor to be borne in mind 

when relocating to a different sort of 

property – their possessions were totally 

out of scale. “All our furniture looked 

really silly in here,” Jane admits. “We 

came from a tiny property, so we had 

to buy all new, and put our stamp on 

it. We needed much bigger pieces.” 

They started with important items 

like sofas and beds and then, once 


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Above: The immaculately curated shelving unit was made for the space – along with the large-scale furniture it creates an inviting snug 

these were in, she began to furnish the rest of the rooms. 

Embarking on an interior design project from scratch 

is daunting, but this is something that Jane completely 

takes in her stride. As the owner of Interior Edit, an 

interior design and home staging company, she is able 

to visualise and then realise a restyling project – to 

boldly decorate, where many of us would fear to go. 

The impressive living space downstairs has been cleverly 

zoned to incorporate a dining area and then two separate 

seating places: one for sitting, playing board games at 

 


Above: Jane has created the perfect spot 

for Christmas board games by the fireside 

Left: The dining area, complete with church 

pew and Sanderson fabric wrapped canvas 

Christmas and chatting, designed 

around the imposing but very 

welcoming fireplace and another 

‘snug’ in front of an immaculately 

curated shelving unit, where the 

family can relax and watch TV. 

“We had the shelving unit made 

to fit,” says Jane. “It was one of the 

first things we did – that wall was 

so big, and so blank and such a 

potentially boring space.” Now it is a 

focal point and home to a fascinating 

array of objects and ornaments. The 

bespoke shelves also help to define 

the section visually, without physically 

dividing and blocking the space. 

Adjacent to the snug – and on the 

other side of the archway leading to the 

kitchen and staircase is the large dining 

table, complete with a pew – “to be in 

keeping with the theme,” Jane laughs. 

“We bought them from the previous 

homeowner as they fitted the scale of 

the space perfectly.” On the wall above 

the table there’s a large wrapped canvas, 

balancing the giant shelving unit on the 

other side and again helping to zone 

the dining area. Impressively, Jane made 

this herself, by stretching a piece of 

Sanderson fabric over a wooden frame. 

“I would say that my style is modern 

classic,” she says, “as I like my home 

to have new furniture and accessories 

but mixed with things that I have 

picked up on my travels or from junk 

shops and flea markets.” This ability 

to combine styles has proved very 

useful in Jane’s business when she is 

working with interior design clients. 

“It’s unlikely that a client will want to 

get rid of absolutely everything, so it’s 

important to be able to incorporate a 

client’s existing items when working 

on a room scheme, which gives the 


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This page: The sitting room table has been painted with Indian Yellow by Little Greene. Jane has styled her kitchen shelves with a mix of 

practical and interesting items 

room an individual and more personal touch.” 

Jane will happily mix the high street with bespoke pieces. 

“My office is a good example – there’s some expensive furniture 

in there, but also a lot from Ikea.” She is quick to spot a 

bargain too, citing the mirror above the fireplace as a case in 

point – “I saw it leaning up against a wall outside a junk shop 

and ran in – and said I have to have it.” This is one of the few 

things that has travelled with them from their old house. 


Above left: The landing with its fabulous rose window, which looks magical from the street at night when lit from within 

Above right: Jane has mixed relatively inexpensive high street furniture with heirloom pieces in her light and bright work space 

The walls downstairs are painted in Farrow & Ball’s French 

Grey, a neutral that changes hue with the light, appearing 

blue-grey in some areas and with hints of green elsewhere. 

Colour is introduced as accents – often as a really bright splash 

of colour in an object or piece of furniture. Jane highlights 

the little yellow table on a bright pink rug. “I painted the 

table in Indian Yellow by Little Greene,” she says – and hey 

presto, a potentially sad little wooden table is brought back 

to life and the whole of the space is brightened up – with just 

a few brushstrokes, but actually quite a lot of know how. 

It is Jane’s background in product design that helped her 

develop an eye for interiors – initially with a soft furnishings 

business, where she sold cushions to luxury retailers such 

as Harrods and Selfridges, and then going on to work as a 

product developer in London. “I designed products – mainly 

home fragrance – for many of the large high street retailers 

including John Lewis and Laura Ashley for over 10 years, 

until I decided to set up my own interior design business.” 

Upstairs, Jane reveals a few more design hacks, a clever and 

daringly bold solution to covering stains on a carpet. Where 

we might have wept or strategically moved a piece of furniture 

over the stains, Jane bought some fabric spray paint and 

audaciously dyed the whole thing black. What’s more, she only 

did it – on impulse – the week before we came to photograph. 

“It’s the stuff they use for spraying car seat covers and the 

mats for foot wells and things,” she explains. It has worked 

beautifully, fitting with the overall colour scheme in the 

room and toning in with Jane’s own handmade Designers 

Guild print pillows and dark-toned bedside lamps. 

The bed in the guest room (a very useful storage bed from 

sofa.com) nestles neatly under one of the large cruck trusses 

spanning the roof. These imposing structures, once so gloomy 

and foreboding, are now light and bright and add an authentic 

and unique feature to each of the second floor rooms. 


60

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Above and left: The deep blue of Plimsoll from Paint & 

Paper Library is reminiscent of the restful night sky 

A little further along the corridor, Jane has 

managed to transfer her fabric dying skills 

onto another expanse of material in the master 

bedroom, this time a sofa, painting it with 

special fabric paint. Reborn, it rests resplendent 

against a wall framed by a plaster arch. 

The decor in here is bold and simple, imbuing the 

room with a restrained sophistication. The walls are 

painted the deepest inky blue – Plimsoll from Paint 

& Paper Library – as if the night sky has lowered 

itself into the room. It is uncluttered and calm in 

here, just as a room for resting in should be. Beyond 

the bedroom, the landing pales in deference to the 

most fabulous – and you would buy this property 

just because of it – circular stained glass rose window. 

A gorgeous sight at this time of the day, but at 

night it really comes into its own, says Jane: “When 

the window is lit from the inside, if you’re walking 

along the street, it looks fab from the outside.” 

This is one window that will never need 

curtains, but the rest of them? “Well yes, the 

other thing we have is triangular windows. 

There wasn’t a single window treatment here – I 

don’t know how the previous owners managed 

without any blinds or curtains. In the end we 

got some bespoke shutters made to fit.” 

The en suite next to the master bedroom was 

dark brown, too, so they painted it in the same dark 

blue, thus uniting the rooms into a master suite. 

“Our daughter’s bedroom would have been 


Above: The bedside tables in the guest bedroom were 

from Swoon Editions, and the lamps from Nkuku 

Left: Dark wood floors create contrast in the bathroom 

so dark with all the wood – we painted it white, but 

there’s pale pink on the walls – a wallpaper from 

Hibou Home. Emma’s been in this room since she was 

tiny – we haven’t updated it, but it’s not too babyish.” 

Emma’s bed looks as if it’s bespoke, but just happens to 

be an M&S bed that fits perfectly into the alcove. Jane 

has been busy painting furniture for this room too, “I 

found the chest of drawers in a junk shop and painted 

it and the bookshelf in chalk paint from Annie Sloane.” 

She is averse to using too much white in an 

interior and restricted it to the wood. “I wouldn’t 

use that much white as it’s too stark, I don’t 

like it, at least not on walls. I always use off 

white – things stand out better that way.” 

Jane doesn’t usually start with the wall colour when 

planning design either. “I would say, as an interior 

designer, that I often start by showing people fabrics, 

as it is a great way to pull colours from the print or 

pattern.” Cleverly she turns the process into a talking 

point, and thereby gains an insight into a client’s taste 

this way too. “You can tell such a lot about a person 

from the fabrics they select, or it could be a vase, 

picture, rug or anything which draws out tones and 

textures. I don’t push my own taste onto people. I work 

to make an interior homely – and understand how 


64

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Above: The white woodwork gives a bright and airy feel 

Left: The M&S bed in daughter Emma’s 

room fits so perfectly it looks bespoke 

important it is to cater for a family with children 

and pets – you have to find practical solutions. 

“I’ve done coastal places and cottages and town 

houses – you learn from everything you’ve done 

in life and can use it to make a good business 

lesson. Having an interior designer doesn’t have 

to be expensive,” she adds, “you can choose to 

have a small makeover that could be done in a 

day, or part of a room even, it doesn’t have to be 

an entire interior.” Working on her own house 

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Christmas Supplement 

Fill Your Stockings 

These little treats are perfect to pad out a Christmas stocking 

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1 Mini Christmas selection £5 Hotel Chocolat hotelchocolat.com 2 Strawberry frozen lolly socks £19 Rockett St George rockettstgeorge.co.uk 3 Personalisable leather card 

holder £24 Koko Blossom kokoblossom.co.uk 4 Velvet bow barette £5 Accessorize accessorize.com 5 Harry Potter scarf £10 Dunelm dunelm.com 6 Kids’ bunny capped 

gloves £12.50 Accessorize accessorize.com 7 Feather pen £6.95 Annabel James annabeljames.co.uk 8 White chocolate golf balls £4.99 Mr Stanleys mrstanleys.co.uk 

9 I Love You candle £16 ChilliWinter chilliwinter.co.uk 10 Backpack brooch £22.50 Little Moose littlemoose.co.uk 11 Baylis & Harding vegan friendly light up bath 

bubbles decanter £13.50 Amazon amazon.co.uk 12 Cashmere socks £30 M&S marksandspencer.com 13 Shimmering amber nail polish top coat £25 Chanel 

chanel.com 14 Wooden robin badge £5.80 Storigraphic storigraphic.com 15 Bath bomb £20 Grace Sisters gracesisters.com 16 Offcut earpod pouch £12 White Stuff 

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Charles lunacharles.co.uk 20 Huckleberry kalidescope £10 National Trust shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 21 Twenty wash out pens £9.95 eatsleepdoodle eatsleepdoodle.co.uk 

22 Four cookie cutters £6 ProCook procook.co.uk 23 Festive nail stickers £4.50 Monsoon monsoon.co.uk 24 Growbar bee bar £12 Fenwick fenwick.co.uk 


Merry Christmas 

& a very Happy New Year 

From everyone at 

Surrey Homes x 



Last Minute Gifts 

These crowd pleasers are easy fixes for those you need to buy for late in the day 

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1 Angela Harding silver birches jigsaw £12 National Trust shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 2 Barbour Alnwick knitted gloves £24.95 Fenwick fenwick.co.uk 3 Christmas gin liqueur 

£12 National Trust shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 4 Deer throw £104 JJTextile jjtextile.co.uk 5 Emma Bridgewater mug £22 Daisy Park daisypark.co.uk 6 Deer plush £10 Dunelm 

dunelm.com 7 Phalaenopsis orchid £16.99 Dobbies dobbies.com 8 Purrfect day candle £45 Yvonne Ellen yvonneellen.com 9 Snowflake spinner tea light candle holder £10 John 

Lewis johnlewis.com 10 Sterling silver bracelet £98 Thomas Sabo thomassabo.com 11 Fawley pom pom beanie £35 Dune dunelondon.com 12 Mae check jug £49.50 Oliver Bonas 

oliverbonas.com 13 Edinburgh Gin Cranachan Gin £40 John Lewis johnlewis.com 14 Faux fur throw from £25 M&S marksandspencer.com 15 Christmas tree letterbox biscuit 

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All in the Presentation 

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1 Eco packing tape £6.50 Helen Round helenround.com 2 Velvet ribbon £6.50 Nancy and Betty Studio nancyandbetty.com 3 Ten London charity cards £2.99 Sue Ryder 

shop.sueryder.org 4 UK-made colour-in tags £7.95 (6 tags and 6 cards with envelopes) eatsleepdoodle eatsleepdoodle.co.uk 5 Reversible recycled wrapping paper £14.50 Cox & Cox 

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cardology.co.uk 9 Plantable seeded card £3.50 Made by Sarah Anne madebysarahanne.co.uk 10 Joy card £2.95 Nancy and Betty Studio nancyandbetty.com 11 Plantable deer card 

from £6.95 Plant a Bloomer plantabloomer.co.uk 12 Recyclable gift bag with tissue paper £3.95 Nancy and Betty Studio nancyandbetty.com 13 Woodland recycled bag £3 RSPB 

shopping.rspb.org.uk 14 Velvet ribbon £12.50 Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk 15 Ten recyclable cosy hedgehog cards £5 National Trust shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 16 Recyclable double 

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Imprint cambridgeimprint.co.uk 22 Furoshiki wrap using tea towel £32 Tori Murphy torimurphy.com 23 Daisy fabric gift wrap £6.50 FatFace fatface.com 



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sugarhillbrighton.com 5 Shining star crew neck jumper £75 White Stuff whitestuff.com 6 Green stitchy sparkle hem jumper £59.50 Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com 

7 Cream high neck knitted jumper £47 River Island riverisland.com 8 Scallop stitch sripe mint jumper £59.50 Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com 9 Rosie dinosaur 

Fairisle £54 Sugarhill Brighton sugarhillbrighton.com 10 Purple chenille cable knit jumper £45 River Island riverisland.com 11 Recycled blend patterned relaxed 

jumper in navy mix £35 M&S marksandspencer.com 12 Winters walk vintage vibe 80% wool Fairisle jumper £65 White Stuff whitestuff.com 


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Eat, Drink & Be Merry 

Man the pantry, stock the drinks cabinet and prepare the fridge! The holiday season is coming! 

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1 Vacherin Mont d’Or cheese £11.95 Macknade macknade.com 2 Iced whisky Christmas cake £70 The Simply Delicious Cake Company simplydeliciouscakes.co.uk 3 Charbonnel 

et Walker yule logs £16 Anthropologie anthropologie.com 4 Bacchus 2020 £18 Kin Vineyards kinvineyards.com 5 Brussels sprout dust £4.25 Ross & Ross Gifts rossandrossgifts.co.uk 

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johnlewis.com 9 Coole Swan superior Irish cream liqueur £25 John Lewis johnlewis.com 10 Christmas globe gin liqueur £29 Harvey Nichols harveynichols.com 11 Gingerbread 

house kit £38 Biscuiteers biscuiteers.com 12 Holly and mistletoe macarons £32 (for 6) Emma Dodi Cakes emmadodicakes.com 13 Mini cupcakes from £17.99 (box of 12) Cutter 

& Squidge cutterandsquidge.com 14 Luxury mince pies £5 National Trust shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 15 KellyBronze free range turkey from £86.40 Kent Turkeys kentturkeys.co.uk 

16 Mulled wine spice bags £5 Cartwright & Butler cartwrightandbutler.co.uk 17 Yule log making kit £14 Mon Dessert mondessert.co.uk 18 Cupcake decorating kit from £23 

Hummingbird Bakery hummingbirdbakery.com 19 Cranberry and orange mini mince pies £10 Cartwright & Butler cartwrightandbutler.co.uk 20 Milanese panetone from £10.75 

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Festive Feast 

We have collected advice from local chefs to revolutionise your Christmas dinner 

Festive Stuffed Porchetta 

Dennis Duncanson, who is holding residency at The Leicester Arms in Penshurst 

and The Rock in Chiddingstone this winter, suggests trying something different 

this Christmas! Turkey is in short supply in parts of the UK, so why not try Festive 

Stuffed Porchetta with all the trimmings? Plenty for 6-8 festive bellies. 

• 10 garlic cloves 

(finely diced) 

• 2 brown onion (finely diced) 

• salt and pepper 

• ½ bunch rosemary 

• ½ bunch parsley 

• ½ bunch sage 

• 50g walnuts 

• 50g dried cranberries 

• 3kg pork belly (also ask your 

butcher for some string) 

• 2 oranges 

1. Pop your onions and garlic into a pot to gently cook with some oil and a 

good pinch of salt and pepper, for approximately 5 minutes. 

2. Then add your fresh rosemary, sage and parsley (making sure to finely chop 

your parsley stalks too for great flavour) as well as the dried cranberries and 

walnuts. Cook for a further 5 minutes, before removing from the heat. 

3. Open up the pork belly at the natural seam, being careful not to pierce the 

skin. It should open almost like a book, ready to be well seasoned. 

4. Grate the zest of the oranges and squeeze out all the juice from them to 

massage into the meat. 

5. Now add your festive filling, spreading evenly, before you close the “book”. 

Roll the belly up and tie it up nice and tight with some butchers string. 

6. Place onto a roasting tray, adding a nice smother of oil, salt and pepper, 

before putting into a pre heated oven on 220˚C and roast for 30 minutes, 

then reduce temperature to 170˚C for a further hour. 

7. By now you should have the perfect crackle and moist festive meat. Leave to 

rest, then remove the string and slice away. 

To try Dennis’ food yourself, book at therockchiddingstone.com or theleicesterarms.com 

Top Tricks 

James Hickson from The Royal 

in St Leonards, shares how to 

elevate festive food plans 

Think as carefully about the drinks you’re 

serving, as you do the food. Start the 

celebrations with a sparkling Crémant de 

Bourgogne before a lightly chilled Pinot 

Noir with the roast turkey. A sweet dessert 

wine such a Pedro Ximenez is the perfect 

partner for Christmas pudding or for a 

lighter alternative, warm the sherry in a 

small pan before adding in a few handfuls 

of raisins. The dried fruit will soak up the 

warm alcohol, and the boozy raisins are 

great on a good quality vanilla ice cream. 

Plan for how to use the inevitable 

leftovers by having bread, noodles and 

eggs in the store cupboard for Boxing 

Day sandwiches, spicy noodle salad 

with roasted meat, shredded brussels 

sprouts and chilli and bubble and 

squeak cakes with a fried egg on top. 

Tins of smoked fish are so useful; try 

a few anchovies melted into olive oil 

with dried chilli and fennel seeds to 

toss through cooked and shredded 

cavolo nero, kale and cabbage, or 

smoked oysters on top of crackers and 

cream cheese, as an easy canapé. 

Find out more about James’ food 

at theroyalstleonards.co.uk 


Gift a Memory | Gift a Skill | Gift an Experience 

Gift Vouchers Available. 

Choose from over 50 courses. 

Suitable for all abilities. 

Hard Copy or Downloadable Vouchers. 

Located just outside Ashford, Kent. 

info@kentcookeryschool.co.uk 

www.kentcookeryschool.co.uk


Beetroot & Russet 

Apple Cured Salmon 

Perfect Prep 

Mark Charker, Head Chef at The Bell 

in Ticehurst, explains how to take the 

stress out of Christmas cooking by 

getting some prep work in early 

Get ahead by pre-cooking your potatoes and 

side dishes to be heated up on Christmas Day. 

Maris Piper potatoes can be peeled, cut and 

par boiled in salted water and then drained 

and cooled. Put on a flat tray and into the 

fridge, or even the freezer if you want to really 

help yourself, and then roast in hot duck fat to 

serve. This technique also works with Brussels 

sprouts, butternut squash and tougher winter 

greens such as cavolo nero and kale. 

Some side dishes can be made totally in 

advance and then reheated while the turkey 

or meat is resting. Try a Jerusalem artichoke 

and smoked bacon gratin by peeling and 

finely slicing the artichokes into ice cold 

lemon water, before tossing the slices with 

melted butter and layering in a butter dish 

with the smoked bacon and seasoning. Cover 

with parchment paper and tin foil and bake 

at 160˚C for around half an hour. Cool and 

refrigerate and reheat when needed. 

Braised red cabbage is another great vegetable 

dish to get done in advance and actually 

improves in flavour on sitting. 

Make sausage meat stuffing, pigs in blankets 

and your gravy ahead, ready to add to the 

juices in the roasting tray. 

All this prep leaves only cooking your festive 

centerpiece on the big day, and as long as the 

roasties are shatteringly crunchy and the gravy 

is hot and there’s enough of it, it will be the 

best Christmas Day lunch, ever. 

Find out more at thebellinticehurst.com 

Dan Austin, Head Chef at Balfour in Staplehurst, shares this cured salmon 

recipe – an excellent alternative to traditional smoked salmon or gravlax with 

a vibrant beetroot cure that makes for an effortlessly eye-catching starter. 

• 1 side of freshest possible 

salmon, or unsliced coldsmoked 

salmon 

• 2 large raw beetroots, peeled 

and quartered 

1. Ahead of time, blitz all of the ingredients – except for the dill and 

salmon – in a food processor until fairly smooth. 

2. Transfer the paste into a tray or oven dish and stir in the dill. 

3. If the salmon will fit neatly in the tray, it can remain there for the 

curing process, if not, remove it and place on some cling film. 

4. Smother the salmon heavily in the marinade so that all surfaces are 

coated in as much as possible. If it is on clingfilm, be sure to wrap it 

up tightly. 

5. The salt, sugar and acids from the fruit will cure the raw fish, so 

it’s important to use only very fresh salmon and allow it between 

24 and 72 hours in the fridge to safely cure. Alternatively, you can 

eliminate the risks of uncooked seafood by using unsliced, coldsmoked 

salmon. 

6. To serve, remove the fish and gently wash off the marinade in a 

little clean water and pat dry. Or – for a stronger saltier flavour – 

you can simply wipe off the marinade thoroughly using kitchen 

paper and no water. 

7. Slice your salmon immediately before serving to keep it safe. Using 

a sharp knife, slice at an angle to the board as thinly as possible, and 

arrange the slices fan-like on each plate. 

8. Garnish and serve with your choice of accompaniments. We 

recommend sweet, pickled fruit or onions, dill crème fraîche, a 

slightly sweetened, dense bread like rye or pumpernickel, and a glass 

of Leslie’s Reserve Sparkling Red NV. 

For more information visit balfourwinery.com 

• 100ml russet apple juice 

• 1 orange, zest and juice 

• 80g sea salt 

• 30g demerara sugar 

• small handful of chopped dill 


Share the joy of the season 

with the mark of a truly delicious gift 

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Pretty in Pastel 

Set the table with sweet pastel tones for a festive feast that’ll be fashionable all year round 

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poinsettia £3.49 Gisela Graham London shop.giselagraham.co.uk 8 Stag salt and pepper £8 Habitat habitat.co.uk 9 Blush side plate £44 Xavier China xavierbritain.com 

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16 London dessert plate £16 Anthropologie anthropologie.com 17 Festive dogs cracker £37 (box of 6) The Handmade Cracker Company thehandmadecrackercompany.co.uk 

18 Speckle Champagne flute £41.45 (set of 4) Not Just Jugs notjustjugs.com 19 Bristle trees £14.99 each Daisy Park daisypark.co.uk 20 Snowflake trivet £5 Dunelm dunelm.com 

21 Champagne coupe £29 (set of 2) Rockett St George rockettstgeorge.co.uk 22 Candle holder £15 Habitat habitat.co.uk 23 Cheetah cake tray £25 Yvonne Ellen yvonneellen.com 


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The night before christmas 

It’s all about the anticipation – Christmas Eve is where all the magic starts 

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Tables talkingtables.co.uk 4 Emma Bridgewater mince pies plate £19 Fenwick fenwick.co.uk 5 Velvetiser hot chocolate machine £99.95 Hotel Chocolat hotelchocolat.com 

6 Christmas pudding £15 National Trust shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 7 Christmas tree cookies for Santa plate and mug £45 Portmeirion portmeirion.co.uk 8 Colour-in stocking 

£14.95 eatsleepdoodle eatsleepdoodle.co.uk 9 Marshmallow hot chocolate stirrer £2.50 Cartwright & Butler cartwrightandbutler.co.uk 10 Midnight stripe linen pyjama shorts 

set £85 Piglet in Bed pigletinbed.com 11 Wardour sheepskin fur slippers £50 Dune London dunelondon.com 12 Joy coffee mug £11.96 The Wisteria Tree thewisteriatree.co.uk 

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The night before 2023 

Indulge in all that glitters to prepare for a golden New Year’s Eve 

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1 Cocktail stars £3.50 (24pcs) Cielshop cielshopinteriors.com 2 Rouge Allure l’Extrait lip colour £46 Chanel chanel.com 3 Mirror ball £30 John Lewis johnlewis.com 

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20

UNIT 11 HART SHOPPING CENTRE 

FLEET | HAMPSHIRE | GU51 3LA 

01252 621035 

www.experiencethedifference.co.uk

Photograph: David Merewether 

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Faux fur coat 

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jumpsuit £85 River 

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watch £199 

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earrings £350 

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Covered 

Recipes: James Palmer Rosser, Kent Cookery School 

Photographs: David Merewether 

Spice up your Christmas repertoire with the help of 

Kent Cookery School. Owner and head tutor, James 

Palmer Rosser, serves up the recipes for three traditional 

festive favourites that are bound to impress family and 

friends – smoked salmon, baked ham and Ricciarelli, 

a chewy almond cookie that originates from Siena 

– that are bound to impress family and friends. 

Vodka & Beetroot 

Cured Salmon 

Serves 12-16 people 

This beautifully vibrant salmon 

is the perfect show stopper 

for Christmas, it makes a 

delicious starter as thinly sliced 

as gravlax or a snack on some 

crispy rye crackers or bread. 

• 1kg single piece of fresh salmon 

• 400g beetroot, diced 

into 1cm cubes 

• 255g sea salt (do not substitute 

for table salt here) 

• 85g white sugar 

For the vodka cured flavourings: 

• 4 tsp caraway seeds 

• 4 tsp white peppercorn 

• 4 tsp coriander seeds 

• 5½ tbsp vodka/gin 

Serving suggestion: 

• dark rye bread 

• 2 tbsp of capers 

• 4 tbsp rapeseed oil 

• fresh dill sprigs and lemon 

wedges or slices 

 


B A L F O U R W I N E R Y 

TOURS | WINE TASTINGS | EVENTS | FOOD 

YULETIDE YOGA | DINING CLUB MUSIC SESSIONS 

VISIT BALFOURWINERY.COM FOR INFORMATION AND BOOKING 

Open daily from 10am | 01622 832794 

Balfour Winery, Five Oak Lane, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0HT

1. Make beetroot cure: Place the 

beetroot, sugar, salt plus the vodka 

or gin cure ingredients in a food 

processor. Blitz until pureed like a 

smoothie – about 15 seconds on high, 

scraping down the sides as needed. 

2. Line container: Use a container into 

which the salmon fits snugly, but flat 

(note 3). Line with two large pieces of 

cling wrap, overlapping one horizontally 

and one vertically, like a cross (so 

it will wrap salmon completely). 

3. Place salmon in beetroot: Spread 

beetroot mixture on the cling wrap 

inside the container. Lay salmon on 

top, flesh side down. Press down 

lightly but not too firmly – flesh 

should be fully in contact with 

beetroot, not base of container. 

4. 48-hour cure: Wrap up securely 

with the cling wrap, cover with lid (or 

seal container with more cling wrap). 

Refrigerate 48 hours (do not turn). 

5. Rinse: Unwrap salmon, rinse 

off beetroot mixture under 

cold water, then pat dry. 

6. Recommended – rest overnight: 

If time permits, place washed and 

dried salmon in an airtight container 

and refrigerate overnight. This allows 

the salt to redistribute more evenly 

throughout the salmon.

Glazed Christmas Ham 

Serves 6-8 

Cooking time: 3 hours 30 minutes 

An absolute must for Christmas dinner. 

Perfect for serving alongside your turkey 

or beef, but just as delicious in a ham 

and mustard sandwich or with Boxing 

Day lunch bubble and squeak. It is also 

super versatile for leftovers – if it doesn’t 

get devoured on Christmas Day or 

Boxing Day – you can make pea & ham 

soup or a hearty turkey & ham pie. 

• 1 whole gammon (5½-6kg) 

• 30 whole cloves 

• 2 tbsp English mustard 

• 150ml pineapple juice 

• 100g demerara sugar 

1. Using a clean washing up bowl, 

stockpot or sink filled with cold 

water, soak the gammon for 1 hour 

to remove some of the salt. Change 

the water and repeat. Then remove 

the gammon and pat dry. 

2. Using a large roasting tin, place 

a metre length of foil over the tray 

lengthways and push into the tray so 

the foil overhangs both ends. Repeat 

this in the other (sideways) direction. 

Place the gammon in the centre of the 

roasting pan/foil and pull the sides over 

to meet and scrunch together, then 

repeat with the foil in the other direction. 

You should now have a gammon parcel 

contained within the foil. Try to keep 

an air gap between the gammon and 

the foil while you are doing this. 

3. Put the gammon in the oven at 160˚C 

for 2½ to 3 hours, or until it reaches an 

internal temperature of 71˚C. Take out, 

open up the foil parcel and check if it’s 

cooked. The skin should be sticky to 

touch. Place a knife under one corner of 

the skin and try to pull it away from the 

fat. If it comes off in tiny pieces it’s not 

quite cooked, so replace foil and give it 

another 30 minutes in the oven. If it pulls 

away, fold the foil back around the tin so 

you have completely exposed the gammon. 

4. Turn the oven up to 200˚C. Lift the 

gammon out and pour all the juices into 

a bowl and set aside. Continue to peel 

away the skin, trying to leave a layer of 

fat on the meat. Discard the skin and 

return the gammon to the roasting tin. 

5. Now using a sharp knife, create a crisscross 

pattern on the diagonal on the fat by 

passing the tip of the knife down through 

the fat until you feel the meat underneath 

(typically the fat will be 3-5mm deep). It 

is now covered in diamond shapes. Rub 

the mustard all over to coat the gammon. 

Push a clove into the centre of each of 

the diamond shapes and then sprinkle 

the sugar over the whole gammon. 

6. Pour the pineapple juice into the 

roasting tray. Return the tray to the hot 

oven and baste every 5 minutes with the 

pineapple juice. Continue this for 25-30 

minutes or until the gammon is golden 


78

A chef 

for over 25 years, 

James has devised a mouthwatering 

range of courses to help 

you brush up on your skills, gain 

inspiration and – most importantly 

– enjoy some truly delicious food 

at Kent Cookery School. To find 

out more about the range 

of courses available, see 

kentcookeryschool.co.uk 

in colour. Remove from the oven. 

7. Lift the gammon from the tray and 

place on a chopping board. Allow 

to cool for at least 1 hour before 

serving if having it hot, or leave 

overnight to cool completely. Carve 

into slices 2-4mm thick and serve. 

Ricciarelli 

Makes 20 cookies Prep time: 30 minutes 

Cooking time: 20 minutes 

These delightful little treats make 

great gifts but are so moreish you 

may end up just eating them all! Soft 

centred and delicious you can’t ever 

just have one. Serve with fresh coffee. 

• 2 egg whites 

• dash lemon juice 

• 288g ground almonds 

• 225g icing sugar 

• 1 pinch salt 

• ¼ tsp baking powder 

• 1 tsp orange zest (about 

½ a large orange) 

• 1 tbsp almond extract 

• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

• 64g icing sugar (for dusting) 

1. Whip egg whites and lemon juice 

together with a stand mixer or hand 

mixer until stiff peaks form. 

2. Using a fine mesh sieve, sift in 

the ground almonds, icing sugar, salt 

and baking powder and fold into egg 

whites. I don’t do it all at once, but 

maybe in 2-3 batches. Try to keep 

some air in the egg whites, but at 

this point it will form a pretty sticky 

dough rather than a fluffy meringue. 

3. Add orange zest, vanilla 

extract and almond extract and 

fold in until combined. 

4. Line a baking sheet with parchment 

paper. Using clean hands, roll the dough 

into balls about 1 inch in diameter, then 

roll in icing sugar until well coated. Shape 

into an oval, then arrange on a baking 

sheet with a little space between to allow 

them to spread and flatten slightly. 

5. Leave at room temperature for about 

an hour or until the tops have dried out 

and formed almost a little shell. (This 

may take longer in humid areas.) 

6. Pre-crack the shell by squeezing 

the cookies slightly from opposite 

corners. (Not doing this won’t affect 

the taste, but pre-cracking makes 

them much prettier if you want that 

beautiful white-gold contrast!) 

7. While the cookies are drying, preheat 

the oven to 150˚C. When the cookies 

are ready, bake for about 20 minutes. 

Cool, dust with icing sugar and store 

in an airtight container. These are 

even better the next day and are great 

with coffee or tea! They also make 

great gifts – just pop in a cute tin! 


PARTY-PERFECT SCENTS 

JOSEPHINE FAIRLEY 

JO’S 

Signature 

SCENTS 

Some women put on a 

pair of heels, to get in the 

mood for a celebration. 

Others, sequins. Me? Fragrance. I 

don’t refer to my scent collection as a 

‘wardrobe’, but instead a ‘toolkit’. There 

may not yet be much scientific research 

to substantiate my theory, but I’m 

convinced that specific scents can trigger 

mood-shifts, for me at least. And, let me 

tell you, it takes quite a lot for anything 

to shift my mindset into ‘party mode’, 

triumphing over my natural urge to 

hunker down yet again at home with 

a bowl of rice and veg, binge-watching 

Bad Sisters. A fragrance that can pull off 

that magic trick? Impressive, indeed. 

So, my first tip to you is to try to 

identify the scent you perhaps already 

own, in your own ‘toolkit’, which is 

really the olfactory equivalent of a party 

frock or a chic black velvet le smoking 

trouser suit – something you can spritz 

for a sense of immediate excitement, 

confidence, even va-va-voom. Then 

be sure to spray it generously, on the 

night – or on Christmas Day; this isn’t 

a board meeting where you want to 

be fragrantly understated – no, we’re 

looking for the scent equivalent of 

glitter eyeshadow and red lipstick. 

Certain fragrance families lend 

themselves to this, I think. There 

are the ‘ambrée’ scents – from the 

family which used to be referred to 

as ‘Oriental’, but has had a welcome, 

culturally-sensitive ‘rebrand’; these 

tend to be heavier on the smoochy 

base notes – vanilla, patchouli, oudh 

and other woods – which also gives 

them staying power that would outlast 

a Cinderella-ish exit from the ball, 

since they cling to skin way more 

effectively than fresh ingredients. 

Florals, too, work well at night 

– not the dainty, demure kind, 

but the fragrance equivalent of an 

exotic bouquet of blooms, bursting 

with tuberose or rose, jasmine, 

gardenia: heady, head-turning, 

hedonistic. Shrinking violets need 

not apply. (But then, shrinking 

violets might be staying in with Bad 

Sisters or The Crown, anyway?) 

The third fragrance family I’d 

recommend for evening wear is the 

Chypre family (say it ‘sheep-rah’), always 

showcasing a mysterious and magical 

ingredient called oakmoss, and about 

as sophisticated as it gets, scent-wise. 

(If you’re confused about families, my 

advice is to talk to a fragrance sales 

consultant; they have a deep vein of 

knowledge, just waiting to be mined.) 

Meanwhile, some specific 

recommendations for scents 

to get that party started… 

Chanel Le Lion de Chanel, £169 

for 75ml eau de parfum. An absolute 

masterpiece, winner of The Fragrance 

Foundation’s blind-judged ‘Parfum 

Extraordinaire’ Award this year: a 

smoky, sexy swirl of a resinous, leathery 

note called labdanum, alongside a 

delectable vanilla, with bright flashes of 

bergamot for contrast. Purring on the 

skin for hours – at least till sun-up – 

this is a scent that almost begs you to 

dance on a tabletop, to do it justice. 

Guerlain Mitsouko, £112 for 75ml 

eau de parfum. The scent I always reach 

for on Christmas Day (in this eau de 

parfum format): impossibly grown-up, 

elegant, and generally recognised by 

the perfume elite as one of the greatest 

fragrances ever created. It’s a Chypre, 

and somehow manages to evoke the 

texture of velvet or the softest faux fur, 

caressing the skin notes of rose and 

lilac, with a real peachiness that unfurls, 

before the finale of almost Christmas 

pudding-y spices and oakmoss. 

Floral Street Ylang Ylang Espresso, 

from £25 for 10ml eau de parfum. 

Floral Street is really quite a rebellious 

fragrance house, bigging up its solid 

eco-credentials while offering fragrances 

that are really quite affordable, for 

the quality offered. (There are a LOT 

of gulp-making £240 price-tags for 

fragrance, out there.) This is a little bit 

sweet, a lot naughty, taking opulent 

ylang ylang and red rose, and giving it 

a jolt of cream-sweetened coffee, lightly 

spiced by pepper. Positively electric, on 

skin. (Ideally, in a shoulder-less gown.) 

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle 

Portrait of a Lady, £135 for 50ml 

eau de parfum. Until recently, I 

never felt quite grown-up enough 

istockphoto.com / phochi 


80

for this amazingly sophisticated 

creation created for Frédérique Malle’s 

‘library’ of fragrances by perfumer 

Dominique Ropion, sensually a-swirl 

with notes of sandalwood, patchouli 

and rich, opulent rose. It turns heads, 

this one, and so often triggers the 

question: ‘What are you wearing?’ 

(Always such a good sign, that.) 

Matière Première French Flower, £195 

for 100ml eau de parfum. Tuberose 

is considered so erotic an ingredient 

that it’s said that virgins were warned 

against walking through the tuberose 

fields at night, lest the heady blooms 

corrupt their innocence. In the wrong 

hands, tuberose can be headache-y, 

but with the deft signature of Matière 

Première founder-perfumer Aurélien 

Guichard, there’s a freshness and 

simplicity to this, like draping bare 

skin in not-at-all-virginal white satin. 

Goutal Folie d’un Soir, £92 for 

50ml. ‘The madness of an evening’ 

is the translation of this fragrance’s 

name, and it comes all dressed up 

in a pom-pommed bottle. I’m a fan 

of many Goutal fragrances, but this 

is a favourite, a little bit ‘Mummy’s 

handbag’, with its notes of velvety 

rose, sweetened by a sprinkling of 

cocoa powder and myrrh resin, shaken 

up by pink pepper for an almost 

Champagne-like fizz. 

& Other Stories Midnight Encore, 

£28 for 50ml eau de toilette. Smoochy, 

sultry ingredients – but with a 

lighter concentration than others I’ve 

mentioned here, in the form of an 

eau de toilette – and a great price-tag, 

with it. And actually, Midnight Encore 

begs to be spritzed frequently, to enjoy 

over and over the mix of black pepper, 

soft cashmere, woods and amber. 

Jo Malone London Velvet Rose & 

Oud, £102 for 50ml Cologne Intense. 

Many of Jo Malone London’s scents 

have a somewhat fleeting beauty, in my 

experience, but this really lasts on the 

skin, tethered by a not-overpowering 

note of oud, in the base. It really lives 

up to its name, deep and dark and rich, 

with a spicy warmth and a rich texture; 

if this was a fabric, it truly would be 

glorious, deep, dark crimson velvet. 

Swathe yourself in it, generously. 

Penhaligon’s The Favourite, £155 for 

100ml eau de parfum. At the more 

understated end of this fragrance lineup, 

this is a ‘mischief-tinged’ musk, 

all dressed up in a boudoir pink velvet 

ribbon that hints at the naughtiness 

within. It flirts rather than seduces, the 

flutter of a fan, a knowing glance, 

via notes of airy iris 

and skin musks which give way to 

the gentle woodiness of a sandalwood 

base. Pretty, pretty, pretty. 

Armani Sî, £59 for 30ml eau de 

parfum. A really chic, graceful modern 

Chypre, as epitomised by a red silkclad 

Cate Blanchett in Sì’s advertising. 

Again, I’d recommend choosing the eau 

de parfum concentration for evening, 

to veil skin in a dreamy cloud of 

freesias, honeyed rose de Maï, patchouli 

and oakmoss, the cocktail perfected 

with the sweet-yet-tart contrast of 

blackcurrant liqueur. And you have 

to wear this with heels; it’s the law. 

See beautybible.com for more of Jo’s 

tried and tested beauty reviews. 

81

Pamper Your Pets This Christmas 

Helios is a specialist homeopathic pharmacy 

based in the heart of Tunbridge Wells. 

Alongside our remedies we stock a wide range of organic 

and natural skin and hair care products, flower essences 

and vitamin and mineral supplements for all the family and 

a wide range of books, we like to look after your pets too. 

Why not treat your four legged friends to a Helios First 

Aid Kit for Pets which contains 24 homeopathic remedies 

covering a wide range of common complaints and first 

aid situations and our specially formulated SOeSsence 

flower essence for those emergency situations. There is 

a comprehensive booklet to help you choose the right 

remedy too. In addition our SOeSsence healing beeswax 

balm contains botanicals and essential oils to help heal 

sore paws and minor cuts and abrasions and our SLS 

free shampoo contains soothing plant based ingredients, 

particularly good for itchy and scurfy skin. Buy all three 

products and get 20% off. 

Our homeopaths and pharmacists are on hand to offer you 

a warm welcome and expert advice for all your health care 

needs. 

We look forward to seeing you soon. 

Helios Homeopathy Ltd, 97 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2QR 

Open Mon-Fri 9.00am - 5.30pm Sat 9.00am - 2.00pm 

01892 537254 www.helios.co.uk 

Outstanding care within an independent Home 

HeliosPharmacyWT246.indd 1 17/10/2022 16:06 

Maintaining the highest 

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by qualifi ed nurses 

• Long stay or respite care for seniors 

• Excellent home cooked menu 

• Varied range of activities 

• Comfortable and friendly atmosphere 

• Personal service with family-run values 

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82 

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

Twelve 

Days of 

Wellbeing 

Fitness 

Sarah Maxwell counts down to 

Christmas Day the healthy way 

istockphoto.com, urupong 

The festive season can be a 

magical time but often means 

that good habits are thrown out 

of the window. However, maintaining 

your health and fitness levels during 

this time has a whole host of benefits. 

Exercise can help you combat stress, 

prevent weight gain, get you off the 

sofa and improve your nutrition 

choices. In addition it’s proven to 

boost your energy, and even helps 

you manage anxiety and depression. 

Maintaining a level of health and 

fitness over the festive season makes it 

so much easier to move into January. 

This is traditionally the time when 

everyone else is is trying to motivate 

themselves and attempting extreme 

diet and exercise routines to make up 

for their Christmas excesses. Just think, 

you’ll already be ahead of the curve 

feeling and looking better than ever! 

How it works 

Aim to do all the challenges every 

other day and, on the days in between, 

factor in 10 minutes of relaxing self 

care. Adding this as a reminder in 

your diary really helps. I’m going to 

be posting short videos on Facebook 

and Instagram of all of the exercises 

listed in the challenge. Have a look at 

Instagram @sarahmaxlife and Facebook 

@sarahmaxlife to keep up to date and 

for the finer details of each exercise. 

12 Days of Fitness 

On the 1st day of fitness my trainer 

gave to me – a 1 minute plank 

On the 2nd day of fitness my trainer 

gave to me – 2 power jumps 

On the 3rd day of fitness my trainer 

gave to me – 3 lots of pelvic floors 

On the 4th day of fitness my trainer 

gave to me – 4 inch-worms 


gave to me – 5 burpees 


gave to me – 6 press ups 


gave to me – 7 jumping jacks 


gave to me – 8 tricep dips 


gave to me – 9 reverse curls 


gave to me – 10 hamstring curls 


gave to me – 11 lunges 

On the 12th day of fitness 

my trainer gave to me – 12 

crossovers (plank position) 

So in the festive season of giving, 

how about gifting something to yourself 

for a change? Pause for a moment to 

think about what you need to support 

you, and all of the things that make 

you feel good. Give yourself permission 

to regularly take time out and enjoy 

some precious ‘me’ time – this could 

be a relaxing bath, drinks with close 

friends or taking time out to read a 

chapter of your favourite book. 

I’m a huge fan of writing down 

my goals, intentions and planning 

downtime to recharge my batteries – 

it helps me remember to look after 

myself. It took me quite a while to get 

used to writing things I wanted and 

needed. After so many years of running 

around after everyone else, it wasn’t 

something that I took to straight away. 

I promise you it’s worth persevering 

with it until it becomes something 

you do automatically. Your health, 

mind and body will thank you for it! 

A gift to yourself of better health, less 

stress, more energy and building selfempathy 

will be the best present you 

can receive this season. 

Have a wonderful Christmas, 

love Sarah x 

Sarah Maxwell is a multi award-winning weight loss, lifestyle and fitness coach. Find out more about her work... 

Facebook & Instagram: @sarahmaxlife Twitter: @sarahmax100 sarahmaxwell.com 


Gastroenterology: 

Liver Awareness 

Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital 

Liver problems often develop without obvious symptoms, yet the disease is 

largely preventable through lifestyle changes. Early diagnosis is essential in 

order to minimise damage and preserve the liver function. 

Symptoms: 

It is likely that symptoms develop due to 

advanced scarring of the liver from damage 

known as cirrhosis. 

• Fatigue 

• Itchy skin 

• Jaundice 

• Swelling 

• Disturbed sleeping pattern 

• Loss of appetite/weight 

• Increased sensitivity to alcohol 

• Easy bruising/blotchy red palms 

• Tenderness and pain around the liver. 

Diagnosis: 

Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital offers 

state-of-the-art 3D imaging technology. 

◆ Routine and/or specific blood tests. 

◆ Imaging tests such as: ultrasound, CT and 

MRI scans to further investigate the liver for 

scarring and inflammation. 

Following these tests, we can provide a detailed 

assessment to understand the cause and 

possible treatment options available. 

Professor Aftab Ala: 

Gastroenterology Consultant 

Professor Ala is a renowned 

gastroenterologist and 

hepatologist with over 20 

years’ experience specialising 

in management of complex 

gastroenterology & hepatology 

related problems. 

He holds joint appointments as Consultant 

Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist at Royal Surrey 

NHS Foundation Trust (RSFT) and the Institute of 

Liver Studies, Kings College London. 

Prof Ala has been awarded International/National 

Grants including Advanced Hepatology Fellowships 

at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA (2003-2004) 

and Yale University (2013) with a focus on rare liver 

diseases and liver/bowel transplantation. 

He is a professional director for research & 

development at RSFT / University of Surrey and 

leads the Hepatology program for research in South 

East England supervising PHD research programs 

across London and South East. 

To find out more or make an appointment: 

Call 01483 342 635 

Visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/guildford 

Search Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital 

Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital 

Stirling Road, Guildford, GU2 7RF

Tis the season to be jolly (fa la la la la 

la la la laaa!) but it’s also an incredibly 

busy time of year! Our diaries are 

bursting with work parties, deadlines, nativity 

plays, to-do lists, family visits and Christmas 

shopping; let’s face it, December is hectic! But 

that doesn’t mean it has to be a time of stress and 

anxiety. Taking time to prioritise yourself, look 

at what you are feeding your body – planning 

ahead and finding time to rest – means a less 

stressed, calmer and more enjoyable December. 

Nourish to 

Flourish 

Nutrition & Lifestyle 

Coach Charlotte Lau 

explains how to manage 

Christmas stress 

Step away from… DOING IT ALL 

Delegate! You don’t have to tackle it all singlehanded! 

Encourage those around you to take on 

some of the Christmas preparations. Sit down early 

and plan what needs doing and who is going to take responsibility 

for it. This is a great way to ensure everyone is involved and feels 

part of the preparations as well as building connection. Children 

love to be involved with the decorating, making mince pies or 

designing Christmas cards. Discuss with family members and guests 

who is happy to make a certain dish or contribute their favourite 

dessert to Christmas lunch. If work pressures and deadlines are 

looming, try making a list that includes tasks, events, meetings 

and include preparation time in your diary – be kind and don’t 

place unrealistic expectations on yourself. Preparing a ‘back 

to work’ checklist for January, may help relieve some pressure 

over the Christmas break and allow you time to switch off. 

istockphoto.com, vaaseenaa , Marina Demidiuk , ElenaMedvedeva 

Learn to… SLEEP MORE 

The idea of this sounds wonderful but I’m sure 

many of you are thinking, how can I possibly do 

this in the busiest month of the year? Well, that is 

exactly the reason you should be prioritising your 

sleep this December. During sleep, the body and 

mind relax and recharge, giving us energy for the 

next day, as well as allowing time for maintenance 

and repair to take place in the brain and body. 

Having insufficient sleep can also impact your 

food choices the following day as more of the 

hunger hormone, ghrelin, is produced and less 

leptin (the satiety hormone) which may lead 

to overeating and snacking. Reduce things that 

can hinder sleep, such as spicy foods, caffeine 

and alcohol and include foods that are high in 

tryptophan as they help promote sleep; protein 

rich sources such eggs, poultry, fish and cheese are 

all good choices. Minimise the use of electronics 

and try not to work before bed, as this can 

impact the quantity and quality of your sleep. 

Charlotte runs Plume Nutrition, where she offers 

support and advice for weight management, 

controlling cravings, sleeplessness, stress and increasing 

energy levels. Find out more at plumenutrition.com 

Give it a go… EAT FOR YOUR MOOD 

External pressures can often make us feel like we should be 

enjoying every second of the festive period but for many of us it 

can be a stressful, sad or lonely time. A healthy diet can do a lot 

to boost your mood and wellbeing and can lead to more positive 

thoughts, feelings, better energy and calmer moods. A diet that is 

high in salt, saturated fat and sugars can lead to low mood, poor 

memory and depression, so instead try to focus on fresh, seasonal 

produce and include unsaturated fats like nuts, seeds and oily 

fish. Try to be mindful of the amount of Christmas chocolates, 

sugary cocktails and high sugar desserts you consume this festive 

period, if you know you are prone to low mood. Serotonin, 

the happy hormone, has mood-stabilising qualities, so boost its 

production with foods that are high in tryptophan such as milk 

or tuna. Eating a protein rich breakfast such as eggs and veg is 

a great way to begin the day, keeping you off the blood sugar 

rollercoaster and leaving you happier and more energetic for longer. 


L U X U R Y G A R D E N G A Z E B O S 

Visit one of our display showsites to explore our range of luxury gazebos 

W W W . B R E E Z E H O U S E . C O . U K

Keeping it Real 

When it comes to lush winter foliage, the magic’s in the authenticity, as Jo Arnell explains 

Fake plants are getting more and 

more realistic – I often have 

to pinch a leaf, or even myself, 

when I see an impossibly healthy 

looking plant growing somewhere 

unlikely indoors. I admit that they 

can look amazing – not at all the 

dust-ridden and hopelessly plastic 

versions of themselves I remember 

– but as gorgeous as they might 

appear, they are just objects and 

not nearly alive enough for me. 

There is something uplifting about 

being near to another living thing – a 

wordless and soothing connection (the 

wordlessness is one of the best parts of 

plant keeping for me). In the winter, 

when much appears to be dormant 

and lifeless and the weather and lack of 

daylight keeps many of us indoors, the 

presence of vegetation – anything from 

a tiny pot plant, to a freshly felled 

Christmas tree – can be a real joy. 

Festive Foliage 

On one level, dragging a whole tree 

inside your home and decorating it 

is a peculiar thing to do, but buried 

deep under the tinsel is a link to our 

ancient past and our relationship with 

the natural world. We tend to credit 

the Victorians and Prince Albert for 

introducing the Christmas tree into our 

living rooms, but before this, for many 

European cultures, bringing evergreens 

indoors was a symbolic practice to 

mark the winter solstice – the time 

when the Northern hemisphere of 

the Earth turns back towards the sun 

– and a sign, writ large in the heart 

of nature, that spring will return. 

Christmas trees, holly and ivy are 

the most traditional evergreens to 

use as decorations, but there are lots 

more – in fact there could be some 

really lovely evergreens lurking just 

outside your back door waiting to 

be part of the celebrations. Look for 

those with glossy, leathery leaves, 

as this is a sign that they will stay 

looking fresh for a long time. 


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88 

HarrierGatesWT247.indd 1 31/10/2022 11:39

Spotted Laurel (Aucuba 

japonica) can be used as 

a wreath base, or to line 

a plain bowl piled with 

nuts or clementines 

Transform 

Transform 

Your 

Your 

Outdoor 

Outdoor 

Space 

Space 

Conifer foliage is wonderful 

as a wreath or swag base and 

many varieties are scented, 

which is a bonus. For once 

you might not be cursing 

that huge old Leylandii tree 

looming over the garden. 

Viburnum tinus is 

completely overlooked in 

the borders for much of 

the year – a dark green 

blob that blends into the 

background, but it lasts 

very well once cut and often 

has flowers too, which can 

look effective on wreaths 

and in table decorations. 

Herbs are lovely fragrant 

additions and the leaves of 

bay and rosemary dry well. 

Ruscus, Pittosporum, 

Osmanthus and 

Euonymous are other 

long lasting leaves to try. 

These have small leaves 

and are useful as fillers 

in table decorations and 

on wreaths or swags. 

Blooms and Bulbs 

Getting things to flower in 

the winter is not easy. We 

tend to rely on plants that 

aren’t native, those that come 

from warmer parts of the 

world and sadly they are 

often treated as disposable, 

because they won’t survive for 

long – indoors or out. Light 

levels are low, but it’s cold 

by the window and, with the 

heating on full blast, it can 

be hot and dry everywhere 

else. Christmas is not always 

the most wonderful time of 

the year if you are sensitive 

and need to photosynthesise. 

Poinsettias are a case in 

point. These are a type of 

tender Euphorbia – and 

the lovely festive red flower 

is actually a bract, which 

is why it lasts so well. The 

problem with Poinsettias is 

that they can’t cope with the 

cold. Originally from South 

America, they should be 

kept warm at all times and 

will react badly if exposed 

to cold winds – even just 

during the short trip from 

the shop to the car. It can 

sometimes be enough to kill 

them, so do make sure they 

are wrapped up well for the 

journey home. The same 

might go for some of us… 

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LoveLawnsWT227.indd 1 08/03/2021 16:22

Create a stunning affordable entrance 

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Helleborus niger is a thing of beauty, 

with white flowers that shyly unfurl 

from within a clump of leaves. To 

keep them looking at their best from 

year to year, cut off any of the 

old and unsightly foliage 

to reveal the flowers 

istockphoto.com/ Maryna Andriichenko / lavendertime / victoriaashman / seven75 

A Christmas cactus makes a great 

decoration – and a lovely gift. These 

might fare a bit better than Poinsettias, 

as they are succulents and so are able 

to withstand dry interiors. If you 

manage to keep them going until the 

following year, then, in order to ensure 

that they bloom in time for Christmas, 

the compost needs to be kept fairly 

dry until about a month before, and 

then watered really well for a couple 

of weeks – as if the spring rains have 

come to the desert –which should 

trigger flowering at the right time. 

Tricking plants is another age old 

Christmas tradition most often practiced 

on bulbs like hyacinths and Paperwhite 

narcissi. The idea is to break dormancy 

and force them to bloom early. You 

need to buy prepared hyacinths that are 

already confused about what time of 

year it is, pot them up in the autumn, 

water, and then place the container in a 

dark cupboard. When you see a shoot 

emerging, bring them back into the light 

and lo, a flower should arrive in time 

to scent the house (and it will be the 

whole house!) at Christmas. Paperwhites 

are also highly scented, but a little 

faster than hyacinths – these should 

bloom within six weeks of planting – 

so for flowers over the festive period, 

plant them up in mid November. 

Whacking great amaryllis lilies are 

another festive bulb – truly spectacular 

and sure to dominate any festive floral 

arrangement. They can be bought ready 

to flower, or as dormant bulbs in the 

autumn. If gifted on the day itself, they 

will subsequently bloom – indoors 

remember, as they are tender – in the 

early spring. To get them to flower again 

the following year, pot them up into a 

bigger container and place outside for 

the summer so that they can build up 

the strength needed to produce another 

enormous bloom, and bring them in 

again before the cold weather starts. 

The cyclamen that we see in the 

garden centres at this time of the year 

are just more tender versions of our 

garden varieties. These are from the 

Mediterranean, and will not survive for 

long when kept outside in the bleak 

midwinter, nor do they much like 

watching Strictly by the fire. Annoyingly, 

they would prefer something in 

between – happily enjoying a lonely, 

liminal Christmas in the porch or 

other unheated halfway space. 

More reliable and fully hardy outside 

is the Christmas rose – not a rose 

at all, but a Hellebore. The earliest, 

Helleborus niger, is not to be confused 

(but it’s very easy to see how) with 

Helleborus orientalis, or H. hybridus, 

also known as the Lenten rose, because 

this one usually flowers in the spring 

(during Lent?). Helleborus niger is a 

thing of beauty, with white flowers 

that shyly unfurl from within a clump 

of leaves. To keep them looking at 

their best from year to year, cut off 

any of the old and unsightly foliage to 

reveal the flowers, which tend to point 

downwards – try to do this before the 

buds emerge to avoid a horticultural 

baby and bathwater situation, as it’s 

easy to snip off flower shoots in the 

process of tidying the foliage… 

Real trees, swathes of evergreen foliage 

and floral displays can’t be put back 

in the loft each January, but they are 

completely compostable. They aren’t 

always the tidiest of indoor decorations 

either, but they are hard to beat – 

exuding freshness, fragrance and the 

promise that our side of the world will 

soon be turning back towards the sun. 

Happy Christmas! 

Jo’s new gardening courses start in 

April. Call 01233 861186 or email 

jo@hornbrookmanor.co.uk for more 

information, and to book. 


INDEPENDENT SENIOR 

SCHOOLS’ FAIR 

Saturday 21 st January 2023 

10.30am until 12 noon 

ALL PARENTS AND CHILDREN WELCOME 

Where next? 

Let’s start the conversation 

20+ Independent Senior Schools 

will be attending: 

• Ardingly College • Bede’s Senior School • 

Benenden School • Bethany School • Box Hill 

School • Brighton College • Bryanston School • 

Caterham School • Cranleigh School • Croydon High 

School • Harrow School • Hurstpierpoint College • 

Kent College Pembury • Lancing College • Lingfield 

College • Mayfield School • Radnor House • Reigate 

Grammar School • Sackvilles School • Seaford 

College • Tonbridge School • Walthamstow Hall • 

Woldingham School • Worth School • 

Find the Senior School that will help your child thrive 

www.hazelwoodschool.co.uk 01883 733841 Wolf’s Hill, Surrey, RH8 0QU

Education 

Beechwood’s 

Beautiful Game 

With the aim of uniting 

football and academic 

excellence, Beechwood 

School have created an Elite 

Football Programme headed 

up by Director of Football, 

Greg Thurstans and Head 

of Coaching Matthew Rose. 

We find out all about it… 

Who will the programme be 

open to? The programme is open to 

boys and girls seeking a top football 

education to run parallel with their 

education. It is for players who are 

of minimum standard seeking an 

opportunity to better themselves. 

What inspired you to set up the 

programme? The opportunity to bring 

two areas of expertise together from 

education and the world of football and 

create a bespoke football development 

programme aimed at developing the 

individual whilst ensuring a good 

education. This is very much in line 

with Beechwood School’s philosophy 

and why the school is a perfect fit. 

Tell us about the football 

experience you bring to this 

project. Greg set up an elite football 

programme over eight years at Royal 

Russell School, which had huge success. 

Having played at Chelsea until 21 and 

not making the grade he realised the 

importance of education within sport. 

Matthew is an ex-pro football player for 

Arsenal, QPR and Yeovil — making 

over 300 appearances. He also coached 

for Arsenal and most recently was 

assistant head coach at Barnsley FC 

in the championship, helping them 

survive on the last day of the season. 

What has changed in the world 

of football since you played as a 

youngster? The biggest changes have 

been that the speed of the game has 

increased with the need now for greater 

awareness. Players have now become 

much more physical and faster with 

the introduction of sports science. 

What do you love about training 

new talent? The beauty of development 

coaching is seeing the journey a player 

makes, not just as a football player 

but also as a person. Whilst helping 

improve the player’s strengths and 

weaknesses you are also educating them 

on taking ownership of their career. 

What sets this programme 

apart from similar projects? 

The biggest differential and what makes 

this project unique is the standard of 

coaches and that this program is solely 

focused on developing the individuals, 

unlike other programmes whose 

focus is purely game orientated. 

How will the training fit around 

other lessons? There are two types 

of programmes, integrated into a 

student’s academic schedule. 16-18 

which is a full-time programme and 

a program for the younger years. 

Samples of a typical week for a younger 

player would be that a student would 

have a 1:1 once a week, a sports 

science session plus 2 more training 

sessions. Games are carefully selected to 

ensure the right exposure for players. 

What outcomes are you hoping 

for? The way we will judge success is 

when we see players that have successful 

outcomes. Whether that be professional 

football, scholarships to other countries 

or top universities. It will not be based 

on winning matches and competitions. 

Find out more at beechwood.org.uk 


Thomas 

Mansfield 

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Senior Schools’ Fair on Saturday 21st January 2023 

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GUILDFORD GUILDFORD WOKING WOKING WOKING WEYBRIDGE WEYBRIDGE ESHER ESHER ESHER LEATHERHEAD LEATHERHEAD 

If you are considering the independent school sector for 

your child, making the decision about which senior 

school to choose can be exciting, if not a little daunting. 

There are plenty of schools to choose from, both in the local 

area and those located a short, but manageable, bus or train 

ride away. All of them offer something slightly different and 

have their areas of strength in different aspects of school life, 

be it in the classroom, on the sports field, or on the concert 

stage. There are many schools where your child will perform 

academically but it is far more important to find somewhere 

where they will thrive. It is essential to choose a school 

where your child will be happy and will be well looked after 

pastorally; this will foster a love of learning, which in turn 

will help them achieve and excel across all areas of school 

life. But how do you ensure you make the right choice? 

The Independent Senior School’s Fair is an event designed for 

parents and children are also very welcome to attend. Over 20 

leading Independent Senior Schools will gather in the Sports Hall 

at Hazelwood School in Oxted on Saturday 21st January. Their 

sole purpose will be to meet families to give them an insight into 

what makes their school special and unique. They will be able 

to tell parents what kind of pupil does well at their particular 

school and to discuss admissions requirements and timeframes. 

The mix of represented schools is broad and wide ranging; 

including mixed schools, single sex schools, those which 

offer boarding and those which follow the International 

Baccalaureate curriculum in the sixth form. Staff from 

Ardingly to Walthamstow, from Hurstpierpoint College to 

Woldingham, from Caterham to Brighton College, from 

Harrow to Box Hill, from Benenden to Tonbridge School, 

will be on hand to meet parents and to answer questions. 

In the past, parents have always found the event to be very 

useful. For many, it changed their outlook on independent 

education and gave them more schools and choices to 

think about. The Fair is open to all families in the local 

community, regardless of whether 

they attend Hazelwood School. 

For further details of the Fair, which 

runs from 10.30am-12noon, 

contact Kate Whitehead on 

01883 733841 or email 

whiteheadk@hazelwoodschool.com 


ThomasMansfieldWT240-SURREY (Private Law).indd 1 06/04/2022 09:25 

94

Social icon 

Circle 

Only use blue and/or white. 

For more details check out our 

Brand Guidelines. 

Sat 26 Nov to Sat 31 Dec 

Hazlitt Theatre 

Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PL 

SLEEPING BEAUTY 

Full of songs, dances and even a 

fiery dragon, you won’t want to 

miss this much-loved classic. Will 

true love win the day? There’s 

only one way to find out. 

parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/ 

Hazlitt-Theatre 

Sat 3 Dec to Sun 8 Jan 

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre 

Millbrook, Guildford, 

Surrey GU1 3UX 

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 

Another festive family 

pantomime is sprouting from 

the Yvonne Arnaud’s stage! 

Jack bids farewell to his beloved 

cow in return for a magical 

bean-tacular investment, which 

has giant consequences! 

yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 

Fri 9 Dec to Sat 31 Dec 

Leas Cliff Hall 

The Leas, Folkestone, 

Kent CT20 2DZ 

ALADDIN 

Full of magic, mystery and 

make-believe, Aladdin will 

delight your senses in a blaze of 

shimmering scenery, sparkling 

costumes, splendid song and 

dance, and side-splitting laughter. 

atgtickets.com/venues/ 

leas-cliff-hall 

Fri 9 Dec to Sat 31 Dec 

The Harlequin 

Theatre & Cinema 

Warwick Quadrant 

Redhill, Surrey RH1 1NN 

CINDERELLA 

Featuring breathtaking special 

effects, spectacular scenery and 

sparkling costumes along with 

plenty of traditional pantomime 

mayhem, laughter… the clock 

is ticking to Redhill’s most 

magical pantomime yet! 

harlequintheatre.co.uk 

Sat 10 Dec to Sat 31 Dec 

Assembly Hall Theatre 

Crescent Road, Tunbridge 

Wells, Kent TN1 2LU 

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 

Fee Fi Fo Fum... Tunbridge 

Wells is in for some fun! 

With plenty of marvellous 

moo-sic, cow-ntless costumes 

and an udderley ridiculous 

Dame with giant size jokes! 

assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk 

Thu 15 to Sat 31 Dec 

White Rock Theatre 

White Rock, Hastings, 

East Sussex TN34 1JX 

BEAUTY & THE BEAST 

When an arrogant Prince is cursed 

to live as a beast his only hope 

of salvation is to find love before 

the last petal falls from a magic 

rose. When pretty village girl, 

Belle comes into his life is this the 

chance he has been waiting for? 

Enjoy song, dance and laughter 

at this year’s rip-roaring panto. 

whiterocktheatre.org.uk 

Thu 15 Dec to Mon 2 Jan 

Malthouse Theatre 

Malthouse Road, Canterbury, 

Kent CT2 7JA 

CINDERELLA 

You shall go to the ball this 

Pantomimes 

Christmas with the Fairy 

Godmother of all pantomimes, 

Cinderella. From the team 

that brought you last year’s 

record breaking production 

of Beauty and The Beast. 

malthousetheatre.co.uk 

Wed 14 Dec to Mon 2 Jan 

Trinity Theatre 

Church Road, Tunbridge 

Wells, TN1 1JP 

THE NEW MUSKETEERS 

A major new family comedy. 

When the famous Musketeers are 

lost in a shipwreck, their servants 

are left with no masters and an 

important mission to complete. 

Will they fool the king? Will 

they save the day? Will they even 

work out which end of the sword 

to use? Featuring brilliant music 

and terrible sword fighting. 

trinitytheatre.net 

Listings are correct at time of going to 

press but may be subject to change. 

Readers are advised to check with 

venues before making arrangements. 

Festive wonder and watercolour 

at Bateman's 

© National Trust 2022. Registered charity no. 205846. 

Image credit: Claire Fletcher 

Carol 

Concert 

Guildford Cathedral, Surrey 

Tuesday 13th December 2022 

Featuring 

your favourite 

carols 

7:30pm 

Give the gift of life and support your 

local Air Ambulance Charity 

Every ticket purchased will help us deliver 

critical care across Kent, Surrey and Sussex 

Tickets 

from 

£15 

Sponsored by 

Discover the home of Rudyard Kipling 

decorated for Christmas and delight in an 

exhibition of Claire Fletcher's illustrations. 

26 Nov – 2 Jan (closed 24–25 Dec) 

nationaltrust.org.uk/batemans 

Buy your tickets now 

aakss.org.uk/carolsguildford 

Charity no. 1021367 


BatemansWT246 1 18/10/2022 KSSWT247-SH.indd 11:10 

1 15/11/2022 16:32

Don’t miss our January issue 

Health & Beauty 

Supplement 

The new year is here and it’s time for a bit of selfpampering 

to glide into 2023 relaxed and empowered. 

• Find out how to effectively manage stress 

• Make the right pregnancy food choices 

• Learn how to adapt your exercise to combat the effects of the menopause 

• Discover what makes our hair thin as we age 

• Read about the wealth of treatments on offer at 

wellness retreats and spas across the South East 

• Tackle hearing loss with the help of expert audiologists 


CHRISTMAS CAROLS 

Thur 8 Dec 7.30pm Rochester 

Cathedral, The Precinct 

Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SX 

KSS AIR AMBULANCE 

CAROL CONCERT AT 

ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL 

Start your festive season 

with an uplifting Christmas 

Carol Concert at Rochester 

Cathedral in support of the lifesaving 

service provided to the 

community by Air Ambulance 

Charity Kent Surrey Sussex. 

Enjoy an evening of poems, 

inspiring speeches and your 

favourite Christmas carols, led by 

the Rochester Cathedral Choir. 

Every ticket purchased will help 

give the gift of life this Christmas. 

For further information or 

to book tickets, please visit 

aakss.org.uk/carolsrochester 

Entry: from £15 

Sun 11 Dec at 7pm 

Holy Trinity Church, GU1 3RR 

VIVACE CHOIR CHARITY 

CAROL CONCERT 

Join Vivace Chorus for the Mayor 

of Guildford’s Charity Carol 

Concert at Holy Trinity Church, 

Guildford. As always, there will 

be your favourite audience carols, 

plus a wonderful selection of 

traditional and contemporary 

carols sung by the choir. With 

wine, soft drinks and mince pies 

in the interval, this is the perfect 

way to start your countdown to 

Christmas! Tickets available from 

the website and on the door. 

Entry: adults £15, children £5 

vivacechorus.org 

Tues 13 Dec 7.30pm 

Guildford Cathedral, Stag 

Hill, Guildford, GU2 7UP 

KSS AIR AMBULANCE 

CAROL CONCERT AT 

GUILDFORD CATHERDRAL 

Kickstart the festive season with 

an uplifting Christmas Carol 

Concert at Guildford Cathedral 

in support of Air Ambulance 

Charity Kent Surrey Sussex. 

The evening will be full of 

festivity with a heart-warming 

programme of poems, inspiring 

speeches and your favourite 

Christmas carols, led by the 

Guildford Cathedral Singers. 

Every ticket purchased will help 

give the gift of life this Christmas. 

For further information or to book 

tickets, please visit the website. 

Entry: from £15 

aakss.org.uk/carolsguildford 

Friday 16 December, 11am 

Guildford Cathedral, Stag 

Hill, Guildford, GU2 7UP 

AGE UK CAROL SERVICE 

Gather at Guildford Cathedral 

for this fabulous service of 

lessons and carols, refreshments 

served from 10.15am. 

No tickets required. There are 

many other services throughout 

Advent including Christingle 

and more carol services, so 

please look at the diary of 

the events on the cathedral 

website to find out more. 

Entry: free 

guildford-cathedral.org 

CHRISTMAS FUN 

Sat 26 Nov – Mon 2 Jan (closed 

24 and 25 Dec) 10am-4pm 

Winkworth Arboretum, 

Hascombe Rd, Godalming 

GU8 4AD 

THE SNOWMAN AT 

WINKWORTH ARBORETUM 

The Snowman is coming to 

Winkworth Arboretum this 

Christmas. Relive the magic 

of Raymond Briggs’ heartwarming 

picture book. Find 

twelve decorated sculptures of 

The Snowman along a wintry 

woodland trail for all the family. 

Carousel rides, games and hot 

chocolate add to the festive fun. 

Your little ones will be ready for 

dreams full of Christmas wonder 

by the end of a fun-filled day. 

Walking with The Snowman 

at Winkworth Arboretum is 

presented by National Trust and 

Wild in Art in collaboration 

with Penguin Ventures (part 

of Penguin Random House 

UK). Book ahead online. 

Entry: see website 

nationaltrust.org.uk/ 

winkworth-arboretum 

What’s On in December 

Sat 3 Dec – Mon 2 Jan 

(closed 24 and 25 Dec) 

Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham, 

near Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BD 

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 

AT POLESDEN LACEY 

Celebrate Christmas in style 

at Polesden Lacey. Explore this 

sumptuously decorated house and 

wintry grounds, sparkling with 

Christmas splendour and a few 

spectacles on the way. Breathtaking 

displays in the decorated house 

count down the Twelve Days of 

Christmas, from swans a-swimming 

to a golden partridge in a secret, 

snowy courtyard. Follow children’s 

trails to find magic across the 

house and grounds or take a stroll 

across the gardens. With live music 

on selected Fridays and Saturdays 

and festive food and drink in the 

café, all the sights, sounds and 

flavours of Christmas are here. 


nationaltrust.org.uk/ 

polesden-lacey 

Sat 17 Dec 

Gates open 10.45am. Racing 

from 12.40pm 

Ascot Racecourse, 

Berkshire, SL5 7JX 

A NUTCRACKER 

CHRISTMAS AT ASCOT 

RACECOURSE 

Kick off the Christmas holidays 

in style, together with worldclass 

horse racing and plenty 

of festive cheer at the Howden 

Christmas Family Race Day. 

The theme for this year is A 

Nutcracker Christmas, and the 

event promises to be enjoyable 

for all ages. Featuring the most 

valuable meeting of Ascot’s Jumps 

season including the Grade One 

Howden Long Walk Hurdle, 

it’s a day not to be missed! Off 

the track, there’s a sensational 

selection of seasonal food and 

drink, as well as an abundance 

of festive entertainment set to 

delight racegoers of all ages, 

including fairground rides, a 

festive parade, candle-lit carol 

singing, and of course Father 

Christmas will be in attendance!. 

Entry: adult from £30, 

free for under 18s 

ascot.com 

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING 

Every Monday to Saturday 9-5, 

Sunday 10.30-4.30 (open 

at 10am for browsing 

and restaurant) 

Notcutts Garden Centre, 

Tonbridge Road, 

Pembury, Tunbridge 

Wells, Kent, TN2 4QN 

CHRISTMAS AT NOTCUTTS 

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 

Embrace the wonder of 

Christmas at Notcutts 

Tunbridge Wells and discover 

gorgeous gifts, stock up 

on festive essentials and be 

inspired by their beautiful 

Christmas displays. 

They’ve five different Christmas 

themes to fill your imagination, 

from traditional red and gold, 

to very modern bright colours, 

or a Nordic-inspired cosy 

Christmas. With everything 

from lights and trees to gifts 

for all the family, Notcutts is 

the perfect place to get you 

in the mood for Christmas. 

Entry: free 

notcutts.co.uk 

Sat 3 December 10am – 4pm 

Tenterden Market 

Square TN30 6BN 

THE CREATIVE MARKET 

Art and craft lovers come and 

meet your local artists and craft 

makers at The Creative Market. 

Enjoy free entry to this outdoor 

but undercover venue in the 

centre of Tenterden, with nearby 

independent shops and cafés 

to add to the experience. The 

Market comprises of 25 stalls of 

fabulous local handmade arts, 

crafts, jewellery and eco-friendly 

items. If you haven’t started 

your Christmas shopping, now 

is your chance to buy a unique, 

handmade present supporting 

a local artist/craftsperson, 

spreading the smiles. Find 

it located to the front of 

Waitrose carpark for ease of 

parking, enabling you to browse 

the market and be able to 

experience this beautiful town. 

Entry: free 


ANGELO 

PARAGOSO 

NEIL 

WHEATLEY 

ITV’s Bad Girls & Emmerdale 

NICOLE FARADAY 

ANTHONY 

SAHOTA 

PAUL 

WINTERFORD 

Featuring the voice of 

BRIAN BLESSED 

as the Genie of the Lamp 

9 - 31 DECEMBER 2022 

0844 871 7615* 

atgtickets.com/folkestone* 

*booking fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute + your phone company’s access charge 

AmbassadorTheatreGroupWT247.indd 1 14/11/2022 11:11 

Auctioneers Since 1929 

Make Winter 

Sparkle 

Collecting or consigning Fine Art and Antiques? 

Gorringe’s regular sales are home to a wealth 

of treasures, whilst our specialists provide an 

expert, no-obligation valuation service. 

Visit us online to discover more. 

See our Latest Collectables 

at gorringes.co.uk 

Clockwise from top: 14k white gold and emerald cut aquamarine dress ring – £1,700 + fees. Chinese blue and white prunus jar and 

cover, 19th century – £1,400 + fees. Gold and cabochon moonstone set fringe necklace – £1,600 + fees. Charles-Henri Contencin, 

‘Pelvoux et Glacier Blau’ – £2,600 + fees. Arts and Crafts silver mounted Ruskin pottery pedestal bowl – £2,200 + fees. 


98 

GorringesWT247.indd 1 07/11/2022 09:44

EXHIBITIONS 

Sat 3 Dec & Sun 4 Dec 

West End House Gallery, 

Water Lane, Smarden, 

Kent TN27 8QB 

CHRISTMAS WEEKEND 

Please join Karen and Patricia 

for mulled wine and festive treats 

to celebrate the start of their 

Christmas show at the lovely 

West End House Gallery. 

A wonderful mix of work at 

all prices to help with your 

Christmas shopping. A great 

opportunity to shop local and 

support the art community. 

The show continues until 

Christmas Eve. Open 

every Thursday to Sunday 

from 10am until 5pm. 

Entry: free 

westendhousegallery.co.uk 

MUSIC & THEATRE 

Dates throughout 

December (see website) 

Trinity Theatre, Church Road 

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1JP 

THE NEW MUSKETEERS 

Head to Trinity Theatre in 

Tunbridge Wells for this brandnew 

comedy with laughs galore. 

‘Think Blackadder meets Father 

Ted.’ There will be no shortage 

of laughs and silly sword fights. 

Trinity also have two other 

offerings this season, The Aliens 

Who Saved Christmas will also 

delight little ones and a not-tobe-missed 

live radio musical play 

performance of Miracle on 34th 

Street is bound to delight with its 

Christmas cheer, peppered with 

carols and four-part harmonies. 


trinitytheatre.net 

Sat 10 Dec 7pm - 1am 

G Live, London Road, 

Guildford. GU1 2AA 

CHRISTMAS WITH THE 

WEST END JERSEYS 

Stars of London’s West End 

celebrate the iconic music of 

Frankie Valli and The Four 

Seasons. Outstanding vocals, tight 

harmonies, and slick routines 

What’s On in December 

combined with a huge dose 

of showmanship to leave you 

’Beggin’ for more… Come and 

enjoy the West End Jerseys as 

they lovingly reproduce hits such 

as Sherry, Oh What A Night, 

Let’s Hang On and many more. 

Dance the night away with 

our resident DJ to your 

classic Christmas tunes. 

Includes an arrival drink and 

a three-course dinner.. 

Entry: £55 (plus possible 

transaction fee) 

glive.co.uk 

Thur 15 Dec 

G Live, London Road, 

Guildford. GU1 2AA 

MEMORY CINEMA: IT’S 

A WONDERFUL LIFE 

Join Glive for a monthly showing 

of a classic movie on the big 

screen in G Live’s Bellerby Studio. 

For this month’s viewing, light up 

your Christmas this year with the 

timeless classic It’s A Wonderful 

Life, starring the unforgettable 

James Stewart as George Bailey 

and featuring a superb ensemble 

cast including Donna Reed and 

Lionel Barrymore. This iconic 

film is sure to inspire memories 

and recall of days gone by in 

a relaxed, accessible space. 

Enjoy this iconic festive film 

for some Christmas nostalgia. 

Entry: £4 (plus possible 

transaction fee) 

glive.co.uk 

Listings are correct at time of going 

to press but may be subject to change. 

Readers are advised to check with 

venues before making arrangements. 

We can list your event in the next 

issue of Wealden Times for only 

£75+VAT. Please supply up to 200 

words that should include date, time, 

venue, contact for enquiries and any 

entry price to whatson@pricelessgroup.com 

or send with payment 

(cheques payable to Priceless Media 

Ltd.) to What’s On, Priceless Media, 

Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, 

Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF. Priceless 

Media reserves the right to edit text 

to fit space allocated. Deadline for the 

January issue is 6 December 2022. 


WhiteRockTheatreWT247.indd 1 01/11/2022 14:14

Farm 

Fables 

Jane Howard revels in 

festive feels as Christmas 

reaches Cooper Farm 

I’ve just brought the cows into the barn, 

which always heralds the end of the year 

and a long old haul till spring turn out. 

But it’s not all bad news. Having the cattle up 

in the farmyard near the house is a novelty for the 

first few weeks and the sight of seeing them all cosied 

up in deep straw is joyful. And best of all is the hay – 

open a bale on a grey December morning and you are 

treated to the heady aroma of the sunniest summer day. 

The bees will also be tucked up in their hives by now. 

Honey bees are the only insects that 

overwinter by collecting and storing 

honey in the summer to see them 

through the cold winter months. Most 

of the others overwinter as dormant eggs 

or as a fertilised hibernating queen. But 

the clever bees raise their workforce to 

about 50,000 in June and July to collect 

all that nectar and then overwinter with 

about 10,000 bees in the colony eating 

the honey. With it being generally 

too cold to get out and about in 

December (that’s before global warming 

changed everything) the principal job 

for these winter bees is to keep the 

queen warm and fed so she can start 

laying eggs big time in the New Year. 

Talking of which, December sees 

something rather amazing happening in the hen 

department. We have old fashioned hens that only 

lay at certain times of the year as opposed to modern 

hybrid varieties that lay 365 days a year. In August, 

our beautiful, but not very prolific, Brown Sussex hens 

moult and lose most of their feathers, and until they 

grow a new set we won’t get any eggs. But remarkably 

we know exactly when that will be. December 21st – the 

winter solstice – is the shortest day of the year and a 

few days later, often between Christmas and New Year, 

The ancient Druids 

spent most of their 

lives outdoors and, 

not surprisingly, they 

worshipped the sun, 

which was seen as a 

wheel that changed the 

seasons. It was from the 

word for a wheel – houl 

– that the word yule is 

thought to have come 

egg songs (the tuneless screeching they make when they 

lay an egg) will ring out once more at Coopers Farm. 

Historically, when we were far 

more in tune with the natural world, 

the lengthening of the days was also 

hugely significant to humans. The 

ancient Druids spent most of their lives 

outdoors and, not surprisingly, they 

worshipped the sun, which was seen 

as a wheel that changed the seasons. 

It was from the word for a wheel – 

houl – that the word yule is thought 

to have come. They believed the sun 

stood still for twelve days after the 

winter solstice, so during this time a 

log was lit to conquer the darkness, 

banish evil spirits and bring luck for 

the coming year. Hence the yule log. 

Call me an old hippy (my children 

do) but every year I look forward to 

setting off to the woods to choose a yule log. As we 

live in Sussex our log will be oak, but the Scots use 

birch and the French cherry, which gets soaked in wine 

before being burnt to give off a pleasant aroma (how 

very French!). And while I’m about it I’ll collect lots 

of holly, ivy, oak and pine to deck the house (tra la 

la la la, la la la la). By going for quantity rather than 

quality one can cleverly hide the cobwebs and the 

general outside-inside effect, though I say it myself, 

is rather enchanting. Happy Christmas one and all. 

Find out more about daily life at Coopers Farm by visiting coopersfarmstonegate.co.uk 


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Surrey Homes | SH95 | December 2022 | Christmas Supplement inside

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