Surrey Homes | SH106 | November 2023 | Christmas Gift Supplement inside

PRICELESS 

NOVEMBER 2023 

106 

NOVEMBER 2023 

CHRISTMAS GIFT SUPPLEMENT inside 

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes

BESPOKE KITCHEN DESIGN 

DESIGN • SUPPLY • MANAGE • INSTALL

Come and visit our showroom: 

Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 7RP 

01737240403 

www.rdokitchenstudio.co.uk 

rdokitchenstudio

Surrey, Sussex & Hampshire’s 

Premier Oak Framed Specialist 

Tel: 01483 420 258 I info@surreyoakbarns.co.uk I www.surreyoakbarns.co.uk 

SurreyOakBarnsWT246DPS.indd All Pages

5 

19/10/2022 10:46

Many clearance models on display in our Alton showroom, visit us today. 

Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire GU34 2QJ Tel: 01420 590510 

Open: 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday | 9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday 

www.distinctivelightinguk.com

Contents 

November 2023 

12 

17 

21 

24 

41 

42 

53 

81 

24 

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 

Dream homes on the market 

NOTEBOOK 

Upcoming events for your diary 

THE MUST LIST 

Keep up-to-date with the latest 

must-see and must-have goodies 

A HOUSE WELL TRAVELLED 

A surprising oast house 

with a Mexican twist 

GET THE LOOK 

Learn how to effortlessly 

blend cultures and styles 

VIEW FINDER 

Explore photographer Mel Smith’s 

new studio and living space 

GET THE LOOK 

Learn how to be inventive 

and thrifty like Mel 

TIED WITH A BOW 

Festive fashion picks 

84 

82 

84 

90 

95 

97 

98 

ALL WRAPPED UP 

Rebecca Cuffe edits evening 

wear with bow embellishments 

COSY AWAITS 

Family friendly winter 

warmer recipes 

SCENTS FOR THE SEASON 

Josephine Fairley explains 

why it’s time to expand 

your scent wardrobe 

POSTURE PERFECT 

Sarah Maxwell’s tips 

for a stronger core 

NOURISH TO FLOURISH 

Charlotte Lau explores the 

health benefits of salmon 

TROUBLE AHEAD 

Jo Arnell shares her expertise 

to help your garden ride 

out harsh winters and 

baking summers 

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 © 2023 Priceless Media Ltd. The views of the 

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

102 

107 

109 

110 

111 

114 

42 

HEART OF THE HIVE 

Sue Whigham explores an 

inspirational project headed up by 

Syrian bee expert Dr. Ryad Alsous 

MEET THE HEAD 

Get to know Parkside School’s 

head, Nicole Janssen 

TOP MARKS 

Mike Piercy discusses SPAG 

LOOK TO THE FUTURE 

Explore the potential benefits 

of financial planning 

WHAT’S ON? 

From pantos to courses, find out... 

FABLES FROM THE FARM 

Jane Howard focuses in on 

the health of her flock 

CHRISTMAS 

GIFT 

SUPPLEMENT 

24 pages of 

fabulous festive 

inspiration. 

From page 55. 

Christmas Gifts 

7 

istockphoto.com/ cienpies

SUSSEX 

HERITAGE 

TRUST 

AWARDS 

THE FARMHOUSE / NEW BUILD 

PHOTOGRAPH: TARRY + PERRY 

HAMPSHIRE / SURREY / SUSSEX 

NEW BUILDS · EXTENSIONS · REFURBISHMENTS · GEORGEANDJAMES.CO.UK/SURREY-HOMES · 01730 887287 

G&J Advert SurreyHomes ad 061023.indd 1 06/10/2023 13:30

From the 

Editor 

As I write it’s mid-October and over 20 degrees, 

but Christmas is approaching at pace and this issue 

comes with its very own Gift Guide to help you get 

all your ducks in a row! Browse gifts from teeny to 

statement with our themed shopping pages that cater 

for everyone, from animal lovers to jewellery magpies, 

children to avid gardeners, alongside a rundown of 

gorgeous decorations and excellent advent calendars. 

Combine this with a day out at our Midwinter Fair 

(16-18th November at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood 

wealdentimes-fair.co.uk) and you’re onto a winner! 

Over the next few pages, two really unusual homes 

are ready to be explored at your leisure. Photographer 

David Merewether and I loved the unique differences 

in each – from the noteworthy conversion and 

decoration of our first home, an oast in Surrey, to 

the upcycling genius of photographer Mel Smith, 

where not a piece of old wood was left without a 

new purpose in his studio and living space. 

Cosy is key this month, and our choice of autumn 

recipes are sure to satisfy that craving for 

home-cooked comfort food for the chillier 

season and longer evenings. Plus, be 

sure to check out our event pages for 

some fun-filled family events to fill 

your diary with over the festive season. 

Enjoy your Priceless magazine 

Cranleigh 

Tiles & Bathrooms 

Range of Tiles, Bathrooms and Showers from 

Thomas Crapper Bathrooms, Heritage Bathrooms 

and Burlington Bathrooms. 

Suppliers of Contemporary Ranges including 

Laufen, Roca, Vitra and Roper Rhodes 

Priceless Team 

EditorLucy Fleming 

Supplements & Features EditorRebecca Cuffe 

Sub Editor & Features Writer Emily Pavey 

Design & Production DirectorAnthony Boxall 

Sales ManagersLisa Gordon-Hughes 

Maria Hurley 

Senior Account ManagerSarah Norwood 

Account ExecutiveMarnie Newman 

Sales & Marketing Executive Zoe Parrish 

Wealden Times Show Director Flo Simpson 

Events Manager Liz Miles 

Events Sales Director Jude Brown 

Financial ControllerStephen Hunt 

Accounts Sarah Davies 

Nicola O’Leary 

Social Media ManagerCharlotte Lau 

Managing DirectorVivien Cotterill-Lee 

Executive Chairman Julie Simpson 

9 

15% off when you 

mention this Ad 

Open 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday 

9.00am to 12.00 midday Saturday, closed on Sundays 

Due to covid we kindly ask for you to ring to make an 

appointment so we can be covid secure 

Cranleigh Tiles and Bathrooms 

Telephone 01483 272727 

craig@cranleighbathroomstudios.co.uk 

www.cranleighbathroomstudios.co.uk 

priceless-magazines.com

Introducing the Origin Home Range… 

As Origin Platinum Partners, we can fi nd the ultimate prestige products for your home. Offering 

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Get in touch with our sales team today or why not take a visit to our showroom in Caterham, 

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ORG5086_Shard Solutions -Christmas Ad - A4.indd 1 05/10/2023 14:25

Find us here! 

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of 

Surrey Homes or to get free copies delivered for £25 a year. 

12,000 copies of Surrey Homes are printed every month. 

We are available in the following outlets and 

are the only local magazine available at 

key commuter stations. If you 

have any questions about our 

distribution please contact 

Vivien Cotterill-Lee 

vivien.cotterill-lee@priceless-group.com 

Thomas Thomas 

Mansfield 

The Family The Law Family Solicitors Law Solicitors 

istockphoto.com/ Maria Voronovich 

Ashtead 

• Patrick Gardner 

Bagshott 

• Cubbitt Antiques 

• Howlands 

Estate Agents 

• Longacres Nursery 

Banstead 

• King of Cotton 

Betchworth 

• Buckland Deli 

• The Community 

Shop 

Bookham 


Buckland 

• Buckland Nurseries 

Camberley 

• Romans 

Caterham 

• Shard Solutions 

Cheam 

• Cook 

Chelsham 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Chobham 

• Melita 

• Pasha 

Claygate 

• Trew Art 

Cobham 

• Cobham Furniture 

• Fego Café 

• Oh So Coco 

Cranleigh 

• Curchods Prime 

• Notcutts 

• Roger Coupe 

Dorking 

• Dorking Travel 


• Princess Alice 

Hospice 

• Sainsbury’s 

Epsom 

• Mayfield Lavender 

Nursery & Shop 


Esher 

• Sandown Park 

Racecourse 

Farnham 

• Cook 

• ME Estate Agents 


• Waterstones 

Felbridge 

• Doves Barn 

Nursery 

Godalming 

• Cook 


• Sarah Louise Dix 


Godstone 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Guildford 

• BoConcept 

• Elm Nursery 

Farm Shop 

• Loaf 

• Neptune 

• Nuffield Gym 

Haslemere 

• Lythe Hill 

Hotel & Spa 

• Tesco Superstore 

Knaphill 


Leatherhead 


• Robert Leech 

& Partners 

Lingfield 


Lyne 

• The Farm 

Shop Lyne 

Milford 

• Secretts 

Old Oxted 

• Fish Plaice & Grill 

Oxted 

• Cook 

• Jackson-Stops 

& Staff 

• Limpsfield Stores 

• Morrisons 


Oxshott 

• The Bear 

Redhill 

• Priory Farm 

Reigate 

• County Clothes 


• RDO Kitchens 

Ripley 

• Ripley Nurseries 

Farm Shop 

• The Talbot 

Surbiton 


Walton on 

Thames 



Warlingham 

• Botley Hill 

Farmhouse 

• Rayners Estate 

Agents 

West Byfleet 

• Roman Tiles 

Weybridge 

• Tesco Extra 

Woldingham 

• Fine & Country 

TRAIN 

STATIONS 

• Dorking 

• East Grinstead 

• Epsom 

• Esher 

• Guildford 

• Haslemere 

• Kingston 

• Redhill 

• Richmond 

• Surbiton 

• Weybridge 

• Wimbledon 

• Woking 

11 

Experts in 

Family & Divorce Law 

If you are going through a separation or 

thinking about divorce, getting specialist 

advice at the right time is crucial. 

Contact us to arrange a 

free, no-obligation call back 

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Call us today on 

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128 High Street, Tunsgate Arch, Guildford 

www.tmfamilylaw.co.uk 

enquiry@thomasmansfield.com 

Separation & Divorce • Finances 

Children • Mediation • Cohabitation 

Prenuptial Agreements • Estate Planning 


House 

Month 

of the 

£3,750,000 

Damien Pestell picks his favourite 

homes on the market 

Esher 

The dream: A spectacular RIBA 

award-winning home built in 

2006 and set in a generous south 

facing plot in one of Esher’s 

finest locations. The unassuming 

property unfolds as you enter the 

grounds, with the cantilevered 

design creating the illusion of 

the garden flowing seamlessly 

under the floating upper floor. 

Where: Located approximately 

1.8 miles from the centre 

of Esher with its appealing 

range of shops. 

Setting: The property is located 

in a prestigious private road 

hidden behind double wooden 

gates at the end of a cul-de-sac. 

Beds: 5 Baths: 6 

Special features: The jawdropping 

principal bedroom 

with floor to ceiling windows 

has glorious views of the garden 

and a generous en suite. 

Pleasing details: The reception 

room at the southern boundary 

is a delight, open on two sides 

with views out to the pool 

area and landscaped gardens. 

Outside: The pretty 

gardens are laid to lawn and 

surrounded by high aspect 

trees and hedging to create a 

peaceful and secluded spot. 

Time to town: From Esher 

station to London Waterloo 

in just 23 minutes. 

Agent: Savills 

01372 461900 savills.com 

priceless-magazines.com 12

Outwood 

£2,950,000 

The dream: A charming country house 

dating back to 1700, set in an idyllic 

village location adjacent to National 

Trust Land, with far reaching rural views 

and splendid walking opportunities. 

Where: The enchanting village of Outwood 

in the heart of Surrey’s lush countryside, with 

both Redhill and Reigate a short drive away. 

Setting: Accessed via a private driveway, 

the property occupies a discreet position 

within the Outwood Conservation area. 


Special features: The kitchen/breakfast room is 

a culinary haven furnished with a four-oven oilfired 

Aga and adjoining spacious utility room. 

Pleasing details: The principal suite features 

a custom dressing room and a lavish en 

suite bathroom with underfloor heating. 

Outside: The immaculately maintained 

gardens of 7.5 acres include a picturesque lake 

and orchard, while leisure facilities extend 

to a 12m indoor pool and tennis court. 

Time to town: From Redhill Station, 5 

miles away, to London in just 31 minutes. 

Agent: Maison Partnership 

0333 242 3292 maisonpartnership.com 

Dunsfold 

£2,750,000 

The dream: A charming Grade II listed 

farmhouse tucked away in the centre of a 

wonderful village location. With an extensive 

range of outbuildings, approximately 38 acres and 

planning permission, this is a fantastic opportunity 

to create your very own country estate. 

Where: The thriving village of Dunsfold 

with many amenities, as well as some of 

the county’s most beautiful countryside. 

Setting: An idyllic location just off the Common. 


Special features: The lovely period barn 

conversion could provide useful ancillary 

income or separate guest accommodation. 

Pleasing details: Dating from the early 17th 

century, the property has been in the same 

family for over 60 years and was previously in 

the ownership of the Duke of Westminster. 

Outside: The landscaped gardens and grounds are 

well presented and include a private woodland, 

tennis court and substantial pasture land. 

Time to town: From Godalming station 7 miles 

away to London Waterloo in just 46 minutes. 

Agent: Knight Frank 

020 3869 4758 knightfrank.com 

13 


S T A M P D U T Y P A I D 

O N S E L E C T E D P L O T S * * 

NEW TWO BEDROOM 

SHOWHOME NOW OPEN 

HOMES READY TO MOVE INTO THIS WINTER 

2 bedroom homes from £450,000* 



Set in a hidden oasis opposite a beautiful 62-acre 

country park, mere minutes from Cranleigh High Street, 

Leighwood Fields is the ultimate Surrey postcode. 

01483 944 011 

sales@leighwoodfields.co.uk 

Relax knowing you can sell with our 

part exchange scheme.** 

GET IN TOUCH TO VIEW THE 

NEW SHOWHOME TODAY 

Leighwood Fields, 

Alfold Road, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8WQ 

“THIS IS A 

WONDERFUL 

PLACE TO LIVE” 

Lena, an educational psychology 

lecturer, and Wayne, an electrical 

engineer, moved their life in Hong Kong 

to the UK, after purchasing a brand 

new four bedroom house at 

Leighwood Fields. 

“We were previously living in a 

3 bedroom apartment on the 33rd 

floor of a high-rise building. It was 

so tiny compared to our beautiful 

new home, surrounded by the 

Surrey countryside in Cranleigh” 

- Dr Chan 

*Prices correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. Photography is indicative only. **T&Cs apply, speak to our Sales Consultants for more information. 

43518_Berkeley_LeighwoodFields_SurreyHomesNovAd_v1.indd 1 05/10/2023 17:00

Dovehouse Dorking A5 Flyer 2023 print file.pdf 1 05/09/2022 17:23 

Dovehouse Dorking A5 Flyer 2023 print file.pdf 1 05/09/2022 17:23 

WIMBLEDON INTERNATIONAL 

MUSIC FESTIVAL 

11 - 26 November 

C 

M 

We know it has to be something really special 

to tempt you from Surrey to Wimbledon 

Y 

C 

CM 

M 

MY 

Y 

CY 

CM 

CMY 

MY 

K 

CY 

… The Juilliard ‘the most important American quartet in history’ - Tippett 

Quartet celebrating 25 years - Armonico Consort, with Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ and 

important baroque discovery … Mozart’s greatest wind music; and Cosi fan 

Tutti… superstar Roderick Williams with ‘Love’s Philosophy’…Sofya Gulyak, 

first female winner of Leeds Piano competition…so much more to discover! 

BOX OFFICE OPEN: 

wimbledonmusicfestival.co.uk 

“one of the most distinguished festivals in the UK” Musical Opinion 

CMY 

K 

NEXT FAIR 

Sunday, 19 November 2023 

Sparkle 

17-19 

Festive 

Fair 

November 

2023 

OVER 75 STANDS - FESTIVE WORKSHOPS - PLUS MAGICAL SANTA EXPERIENCE 

BOOK NOW 

ONLINE 

Fri 17 Nov 4pm-8.30pm Sat 18 & Sun 19 Nov 10am-5pm 

landmarkartscentre.org/christmas Ferry Road, Teddington, TW11 9NN 020 8977 7558 

Admission: £5, Concessions £4, U16s & LAC Friends FREE 

Images by: Charleydog Designs Registered Charity No: 1047080 

priceless-magazines.com 

16

Notebook 

Take note! We’ve rounded up the best 

of what to see and do near you 

istockphoto.com/ RomanOkopny / mfto / chaiwarin 

Light Fantastic 

Looking for brilliant ideas for festive outings this season? You won’t want 

to miss the spectacular Christmas Lights at picture-perfect Leeds Castle 

from 24th November until 31st December, brought to you by Sony 

Music and created by Culture Creative. Prepare to be wowed by 

new installations as well as some previously seen favourites as you 

wander through the magical trail. Appearing for the first time this 

year is Loomaland’s hypnotic Cygnus, whilst other mesmerising 

new features include 12 days of Christmas by North Devon 

artist Woody Fox and Heart Walk by Cristina Ottonello. 

Chandelier Walk, by Crescent Moon Events, is a series of 

beautifully designed chandeliers delicately suspended in the 

trees, whilst Squidsoup’s Feast of Light features immersive, 

glowing strings filled with all the colours of the rainbow. 

You can also catch a glimpse of Father Christmas 

along the way and enjoy some festive snacks. 

It’s well worth booking early to secure 

your chosen date and time. 

christmaslightsatleedscastle.seetickets.com 

Winter 

Wonderland 

It’s time to wrap up warm, get outdoors 

and blow away the cobwebs with 

National Trust this month. If you’re 

keen to get the family out in the fresh 

air head to Claremont Landscape 

Gardens for The Snow Queen family 

trail between 25th November and 2nd 

January. Explore the magical installations 

reflecting scenes from the story with 

activities along the way (normal 

charges apply) nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ 

surrey/claremont-landscape-garden. 

Or how about the Winter Welly Wander 

at Winkworth from 16th December to 

3rd January. Pick up a trail sheet at the 

welcome kiosk and play a range of wellybased 

games for some rosy-cheeked fun. 

£2 per child plus normal admission. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/ 

winkworth-arboretum 

ALL THE 

TRIMMINGS 

Taywell Farmshop in 

Goudhurst will be holding 

The Spirit of Christmas on 24th 

November from noon until 7pm. Visit 

their local stockists and sample plenty of 

tasty produce. All sorts of delicious festive 

delights will be on offer and you’ll be 

able to get your Christmas sorted by 

ordering hampers, turkeys and all the 

trimmings. Bespoke and corporate 

hampers will be made to order by 

the Taywell Hamper Co. who also 

supply picnic hampers all year round. 

taywellfarm.co.uk 

17 


The wonderfully 

welcoming Ceramic Studio 

in Brenchley will be hosting a Makers 

Market on 3rd December from 10am until 

4pm. The market is a brilliant opportunity to 

support small, local business and makers, giving 

visitors the chance to meet the people that make the 

products. As well as the market stalls there will be 

live music from The Fireflies and a complimentary 

glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. Contact 

the studio if you’d like to have a stall. 

theceramicstudio.co.uk 

make it fun 

Christmas Present 

Celebrate the best of Surrey’s artists and artisans 

and shop a huge range of interesting and one-off 

gifts. West Horsley Place (location of the genius 

BBC comedy Ghosts), will host the Christmas 

Fair from 24th to 26th November. You’ll find 

exhibits from Surrey Hills Enterprises, Surrey 

Guild of Craftsmen, Wey Ceramics, Guildford 

Art Society and many more. With stalls across 

the barn and the manor it’s a great chance to 

soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful historic 

house. Open from 10am until 4pm, tickets 

are £9. westhorsleyplace.org/Event/ 

arts-crafts-artisan-christmas-fair 

‘Tis the season 

Head to Guildford Cathedral for shopping, food, music 

and art this Advent and Christmas. The Cathedral 

will be full of festive cheer throughout November and 

December, with music from Rick Wakeman and friends 

to John Rutter to the Snowman. Advent services start 

on Sunday 1 December with the Advent Carol Service 

at 6pm. A Virtual Advent Calendar will have a door a 

day opening to the cathedral’s wonderful choir singing, 

so do follow their social media. Find details of services 

and events on their website guildford-cathedral.org 

Festive Feels 

Merriments 

Gardens are hosting a 

Christmas Craft Fair on 3rd December 

in their lovely Orangery. Head along to join 

talented local crafters, cooks and bakers and pick 

up some beautiful handmade Christmas gifts. From 

local honey, beeswax candles, essential oil candles and 

crocheted homewares to delicious homemade chutneys and 

jams, festive tray-bakes and fantastic cakes, all alongside 

handmade wreaths and seasonal planters. Staplehurst 

Community Choir will be performing carols and 

there will be mince pies and mulled wine on 

offer to keep you fuelled. 

merriments.co.uk 

SHOW TIME 

From party nights to sensational shows, you’ll find plenty to keep you 

entertained this Christmas at G Live. The Season starts with a nostalgic sleigh 

ride through rock ’n’ roll with That’ll Be The Day Christmas Show followed 

by a Christmas classic as Guildford Choral perform Handel’s Messiah. Get the 

party started with Tropicana 80s and MASSAOKE Christmas or if a festive 

three course dinner and fizz is more your style, enjoy their Christmas dining 

events with live entertainment from the West End Jerseys and The Arg Band. 

Santa’s On His Sleigh is the brand-new magical family show 

written by Justin Fletcher, and Pop Princesses and Cirque 

Enchantment will have you spoilt for choice. 

What will you be seeing at G Live, this festive season? glive.co.uk 


TickeT HoTline 

01428 684494 

Hotline Open 9:00 - 3:00 Monday - Friday 

The Tithe Barn & 

Special Pavilions, 

Compton, 

Guildford, GU3 1HS 

16 - 19 November 

Opening Times: 9:00 - 5:00 Sunday 9:00 - 4:00 

Step into a creative world & rediscover the art of enjoyable 

Christmas shopping. An opportunity to meet Britain’s most talented 

makers and purchase inspirational gifts and festive foods. 

Supporting Shooting Star Children’s Hospice. 

MR.BRAINWASH 

AARRT GAALLLLERRY 

11 The Parade, Claygate, Surrey, KT10 0PD • WWW.TREWART.COM • PH 44 01372 470997 

TREWARTGALLERY 

In Advance: Adults: £5.00 Seniors: £4.50 

At the Event: Adults £6.50 Seniors: £6.00 

(telephone & on-line bookings are subject to a 70p handling fee 

- this is per order not per ticket) 

Rural Crafts Association, Station Lane, Brook Road, Wormley, 

Surrey, GU8 5UA rca@ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk 

www.ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk Follow us on Instagram @ruralcrafts 

ARTS & ARTISAN 

CHRISTMAS MARKET 

at West Horsley Place 

ART 

Fri 24 - Sun 26 Nov 

Entry: £9 

westhorsleyplace.org 

Ducks by 

Karen Pearson 

19 


Add a bit of colour to your Home and Life 

RaggedRose 

sales@raggedrose.com | www.raggedrose.com 

See our range of velvet chairs, 

cushions, throws in stunning colours. 

RaggedRoseWT163.indd 1 13/08/2015 12:37 

RaggedRose_GiftwareReview1305.indd 1 09/05/2013 12:20 

LUXURY FITNESS, DANCE AND TENNIS RETREATS 

DISCOVER CHÂTEAU LOU CASTEOU 

Set in the beautiful French Cote d’Azur countryside, minutes from the sea. These Luxurious Retreats provides the perfect balance of gourmet 

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Retreats include 5 days of luxury accommodation in the chateau in en‐suite bedrooms with sea or mountain views. 

Delicious, nutritious gourmet meals served with elegant 3 course dinners. Enjoy a quality open bar, excellent provencal wines, evening parties and entertainment. 

Please contact Morag@Loucasteou.com with questions and for reservations. www.loucasteou.com 


20 

MMBaxterWT248.indd 1 02/12/2022 16:55

With no shortage of perfect selfie moments 

amid the larger-than-life fauna, Christmas 

at Bedgebury makes for a fairytale outing. 

christmasatbedgebury.seetickets.com 

must 

The 

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! 

Say goodbye to the disposable 

party hat and hello to this glorious 

reusable pop out crown, one of 

a set of four beautiful designs, 

from The Shop Floor Project. Go 

on, give your Christmas dinner a 

regal flair! theshopfloorproject.com 

If you’re festive shopping at Fenwick, Kingston, 

be sure to try their new Mediterranean-inspired 

tapas restaurant, Fuego. Their charcuterie and 

cheese boards, traditional tortillas, and stonebaked 

Napoli-style sourdough pizza make for ultimate 

shopping fuel, especially when topped off with a trip to the 

fabulous champagne and cocktail bar! fenwick.co.uk 

For perfect 

party season 

catering, 

those clever 

peeps at The 

Curious now deliver their 

exquisite canapés. Order 

online and they’ll be delivered in 

a gorgeous presentation box, 

ready to serve. All you 

have to do is open the fizz! 

thecuriousevents.co.uk 

We love a shop at our 

Midwinter Fair to discover 

some unusual gift ideas 

you won’t find elsewhere. 

With fab art like this 

piece, among other quirky 

home accessories, The 

ever-popular Artisan 

Designers are a must-see. 

The decoupage makers are 

from East Sussex and they 

even take commissions! 

theartisandesignersltd.co.uk 

Elevate your Christmas dinner 

with festive place settings 

by Catherine Jane Designs. 

Catherine hand draws her 

designs in her Kentish 

studio and then turns 

them into stunning 

homeware and 

accessories like these 

ribbon placemats 

which are £52.50 for a 

set of 4 and matching 

coasters £15 for 4. 

catherinejanedesigns.co.uk 

Is there anything more 

luxuriously pampering than 

a massage candle? We love 

Douvall’s Argan Massage 

Candle in this festive orange and 

frankincense scent. Blended with 

nourishing oils, including cocoa butter 

and Douvall’s 100% first cold-pressed 

argan oil, it is rich in vitamin E, 

antioxidants, and essential fatty acids 

to hydrate and rejuvenate your skin 

through the colder months. With the 

hustle and bustle of the festive season 

fast approaching, it’s a great way to 

de-stress and unwind. £45 douvalls.com 

Sofa shopping? This Salamanca sofa by Henrik 

Pedersen, is from BoConcept’s new 23/24 

collection and it makes lounging an art form! Its 

low ‘floating’ style creates a 70s boho feel, and the 

modular freestanding design adds a lovely sense 

of warmth. It’s seriously comfy with oversized 

proportions and super-soft deep foam seats. Plus, 

it’s very versatile, with moveable back cushions 

adding extra flexibility and options to customise 

it in different configurations, from 2-seaters (from 

£2,999), to large corner sofas (from £6,430) or the 

above option at £9,670. boconcept.com 

21 


Why I love 

Wealden Times 

Midwinter Fair 

Loyal reader Alexandra tells us why she’s such a fan of the Fair 

It’s the perfect day out with my daughter and I can 

catch up with my mates too. Such a fun place to 

shop and we stay nice and warm as it’s all indoors. 

The best coffee 

First things first we’ll grab ourselves 

a delicious coffee from Fine Grind 

in the Ivy Café, next to the Purple 

Marquee. The Fair is a series of 

marquees in a circle, so if you start 

further in, you miss the crowds 

at the entrance. We’ll catch the 

shops in the 

first Green 

Marquee at 

the end of our 

circuit. 

Homeware & Art 

The Wealden Times Fairs always seems 

to unearth the most incredibly talented 

designers and makers. Their pottery, 

paintings, and objets d’art are one-offs, 

designed from the heart. I love The 

Artisan Designers and this year I’ll 

make sure I pick up a gift for me! Then 

I’ll head to Candle Wise for an Ibiza 

candle for my bestie. 

Presents for each other 

Edie and I always buy gifts for each other 

at the Fair, that way we both get what 

we want and it’s so nice doing it 

together. She’s got her eye on 

a new handbag from Sarah 

Haran and I’d really like one 

of Asunsti’s stunning shawls – 

both in the Purple Marquee. 

16 -18th November 2023, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6PY 

B

Foodie gifts 

We then head into the Yellow Food 

Hall where I know we’ll find lots of 

treats there to go in the Christmas 

hamper that Edie and her brother 

give to their Dad. Chalkstream 

Smoked Trout; some Mighty Spice 

curry sauces; Salcombe Dairy 

Chocolates; a box of cakes from 

Pip & Seed; and some Damson 

Vodka, (which he adds to fizz to 

make a Christmas Kir Royale) 

will all be going in the hamper. 

Tickets available on the 

door or to pre-book 

Fashion & Jewellery 

My daughter Edie wants some clothes 

for Christmas, and I need something 

new for the Christmas Party, so we’ll head 

for Rosella Style, Wardrobe No9 and 

Philippa London. My Mum wants me 

to buy Edie some jewellery from her, 

so we’ll also head to Mary Mary and 

Moody Tom in the Blue Marquee 

to find some beautiful earrings and 

maybe a super cute bracelet. 

Local school choirs 

My friend’s daughter is singing with 

her choir, so we’ll make sure we 

head to the Holly Café to listen to 

them and soak up the festive feels. 

Sponsored by 

Christmas 

decorations 

We always get into the 

Christmas spirit – the Pinkster Gin 

and Anno Vodka samples help! Full of 

cheer, we love finding new delights to 

decorate our tree, home and table. 

Delicious food 

It’s great to take a break at 

lunchtime in the Holly Café. 

This year we’ve got our eyes on 

the Lebanese street food from 

Emilio’s. I love a posh sausage, 

so we’ll make sure to visit 

Supreme Gourmet. 

Book your tickets at wealdentimes-fair.co.uk using discount code “MWF23”

A house 

well travelled 

Alec and Heidy’s very unusual oast 

house is a delightful cultural melting 

pot of styles from all over the world 


Photographs: David Merewether 

Words: Antonia Deeson 

25 


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26

Previous pages & this page: The Oast Bar. Alec and Heidy 

lifted the flooring to reveal the stunning stone beneath. The 

artwork behind the pink velvet sofa was made by Alec and his 

sons using the colours of the renovation project, painted onto 

offcuts. A staircase above leads upwards into the oast tower 

towards the amazing 18ft crystal drop chandelier 

Human resources leader Alec and his Mexican 

wife Heidy didn’t set out to become interior 

designers. However, having now renovated 

three houses, it’s safe to say that their part time hobby 

has turned into a skill worthy of many professionals. 

The couple and their twin boys found their latest project 

in the heart of Surrey, during the summer of 2021. Built 

in 1832, the building – a 5000 sq ft former hop drying 

oast house – was attached to a ballroom originally built 

for the hop pickers and their families. “When we found 

the property we fell in love with the setting,” says Alec, 

“which is very close to Great Frensham Pond. The house 

itself was very quirky, the garden and exterior were both 

impactful but inside there was an awful lack of light, 

due to the nature of the oast towers which were, at the 

end of the day, made to dry hops and not for providing 

a light and airy residential living space!” says Alec. 

The year-long renovation project involved a complete 

refurbishment of the property, including a new heating 

system, new plumbing, new roof and insulation, painting 

the entire house, new flooring, new bathrooms as well as 

fitted elements like wardrobes. A big job if you are living 

off site, an even bigger headache when you are trying 

27 


“Hanging overhead is a huge gold pendant light, from 

Authentic Reclamation. It was so big that it could only 

be fitted during the build when we had the correct 

access available. Again, it was all about scale for us and 

finding fittings that would work with the space.” 

to live on site, with two children and a 

daily chain of builders and contractors. 

“Before we even got to the lovely stuff 

like sourcing art, furniture and textiles, 

the infrastructure had to come first. 

All the things you can’t see to make it 

more efficient, before all the things you 

can see!” says Alec. This also included 

a brand-new boiler system and a series 

of fully reconditioned radiators from 

The Old Radiator Company, some of 

which were so heavy that they had to 

be hoisted in using ropes and pullies. 

“It was a huge undertaking, but it now 

means every radiator in the house works 

effectively, especially within the largest 

rooms such as huge drawing room.” 

When Alec and his family moved 

in, the interior of the house was a 

mass of dark brown. It was oppressive 

and really constraining the light and 

airiness of the house, so, one of the first 

things they did was paint everything 

including all the beams. “Our painter 

was working full time on the rooms 

and beams for ten months. We 

researched the paint with the best colour 

pigmentation and then played with 

the colours, using one tone of white 

paint on the ceilings (Little Greene 


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The drawing room: Alec and Heidy zoned the drawing room, hanging 

two chairs from ManoMano off one of the beams to create a reading 

area with a library at one end, and a velvet chaise and sofa from Loaf at 

the other end to offer a soft space for seating and socialising. Two sets 

of triple height soaring arched windows pour light into the room and 

are mirrored in the geometric brick work of the new chimney breast 

and wood burning stove. The walls are in Pearl by Little Greene 

The dining room: The dining room is painted in 

Little Greene Aquamarine. The ten-seater dining table 

from The Packhouse inspired the rest of the room and 

Anthropologie candlesticks offer pops of subtle colour 

Loft White) and then an off-white colour on the beams (Little 

Greene Portland Stone Pale), which allowed for the texture 

and space of the beams to sing.” It is very much this attention 

to detail that makes the interior of Alec and Heidy’s house so 

special and perhaps also reveals a level of care and love that only a 

homeowner might take on the renovation of their own house. 

However whilst it is undeniable that Alec was determined not 

to cut any corners when it came to the first and second fix of the 

refurbishment, ensuring that the day to day utilities all worked at 

optimum output (in hindsight, especially important due the current 

fuel crisis) it is the couple’s love of sourcing the decorative elements 

for their home that really makes this house stand out. Inspired 

both by Alec’s Scottish roots and Heidy’s Latin American heritage, 

the interior design of the house is truly an explosion of colour, 

texture and design and as Alec calls them, “objects of impact”. “We 

have spent a long time buying objects that interested us whilst 

travelling to see family in Mexico. This includes craftsmanship 

such as amate, which is a paper thin wood carving technique 

specialised in Mexico, as well as ornately carved and painted 

symbolic animal carvings called alebrijes. We have sourced textiles 

as well and what we really love is that Mexican craftsmanship 


knows no bounds in terms of their use of colour.” 

Alec continues, “Whilst we were in Scotland we acquired a 

huge wooden wall carving, which we call the Rose, but which 

is actually a lotus flower that originates from Southeast Asia. It 

came from a big house on the west coast of Scotland. We are 

lucky that due to the scale of the rooms in our house – both the 

former ballroom and the towers of the two oasts – we are able 

to find and accommodate these amazing pieces of scale with 

some fantastic provenance from houses all over the UK. We 

found an 18ft glass chandelier from Authentic Reclamation in 

East Sussex which was reputedly from the London home of one 

of the UK’s most famous composers. We knew it would look 

amazing in one of our oasts, once we added in the skylight, but 

it weighed over half a tonne. It was also missing quite a few 

glass drops, which we got remade in acrylic in Guildford and 

as serendipity would have it, one of the UK’s best chandelier 

renovators lives really near us, so he rewired it. These are not 

easy things to just throw up, they needed precision handling by 

the contractors and it was an almost once-in-a-lifetime chance 

within the refurbishment process to install it. We were very 

lucky that we have a builder that we trust. We have worked 

with Russell Hyde of Russell Hyde Construction across all our 

homes and I don’t think we could have done it without him.” 

At the heart of the house is the amazing drawing room. 

For many non-professionals, a room of this size would 

be intimidating. For Alec and Heidy it was a wonderful 

opportunity to let their imaginations run riot. “We decided 

to zone the room so we hung two chairs from ManoMano off 

one of the beams to create a reading area with a library. We 

added a velvet chaise and sofa from Loaf to offer a soft space 

for seating and socialising as well as a brown leather love seat, 

which gave a different colour and texture. At the end of the 

room we hung a piece called ‘Aqua’ – one of a series of abstract 

artworks we have acquired by Robin Mullin inspired by images 

of the Hubble telescope. Hanging overhead is a huge gold 

pendant light, also from Authentic Reclamation, that we had 

to completely respray and re-paint to get it up to scratch. It was 

sold as medieval in style but I’m not sure there is much about 

it that was very medieval,” laughs Alec. “It was so big, like 

the crystal chandelier that we also bought from them, that it 

could only be fitted during the build when we had the correct 

access available. Again, it was all about scale for us and finding 

fittings that would work with the space. For the floor in this 

room we were lucky the wood was still here, so we just stripped 

it back to the original but to a more matt finish.” Two sets of 

triple height soaring arched windows pour light into the 

31 


This page: An Indian daybed from a Scottish 

antique dealer and an Indian mirror from The 

Packhouse work seamlessly with a large tapestry 

in the sitting room. Art pieces from Mexico 

again show how clever Alec and Heidy have 

been with mixing styles from all over the world 

room and are mirrored in the geometric 

brick work of the new chimney breast 

and wood burning stove which Alec 

designed with a wonderful Art Deco 

paint finish reminiscent of the Empire 

State Building. Two John Lewis Deco 

style wall lights were colour matched to 

the wall paint, Pearl by Little Greene. 

Extra-long and fully lined bespoke 

heavy weight velvet curtains, with a light 

reflective fleck by Closs and Hamblin, 

were designed to add further insulation 

and warmth during the winter months. 

Down a small set of steps, linked 

to the main space by a thread of red 

brickwork, is the Oast Bar. A small snug 

area at the bottom of the oast tower, it 

sits underneath the sisal covered wooden 

staircase that wraps upwards overhead. 

“We had to get a specialist in to strip 

back the dark floor staining which had 

been applied on top of the stunning 

stone floor that we found beneath 

(which even revealed a fossilised bird in 

one of the stones) and also mirrors the 

wonderful stone fireplace surround,” 

says Alec. The beams in the space were 

completely repainted introducing yet 

more light. Further colour and texture 

were added by mixing a soft pink velvet 

chaise and two green armchairs, 


33 


Clockwise from top: The large open plan kitchen incorporates 

another more informal dining area; The downstairs cloakroom is 

creatively tiled in hexagonal florals; The entrance hall is painted 

in Little Greene Slaked Lime, Celestial Blue and Livid 

heirlooms from Alec’s family in Scotland, 

which are covered in leather from the 

tannery that Alec’s grandfather managed 

(the company in Bridge of Weir still 

supplies leather to Aston Martin for their 

cars today). The artwork was made by 

Alec and his sons utilising all the colours 

used in the renovation project, painted 

onto offcuts. A wonderful collaborative 

reminder of the project for all the family. 

Overhead a brass and blown glass light 

pendant adds some fun and colour to 

the space. Once again there is a nod 

to all the family’s cultural roots, with a 

Day of the Dead figure from Mexico 

keeping watch over the fireplace. 

The staircase above leads upwards 


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36

This page: The kitchen cupboards are painted in Little Greene Brighton Blue and the island in Little Greene Royal Navy. Abstract artwork 

by Robin Mullin graces the dining area wall 

into the oast tower towards another of 

the new skylights and the amazing 18ft 

crystal drop chandelier. The entire effect 

is mesmerising, almost sci-fi in its effect 

– and so beloved by iconic architect 

Oscar Niemeyer – as the light ripples 

across the brick and plaster walls and the 

glass drops of the light fitting. “It’s a bit 

like being in the tip of a rocket,” says 

Alec. “Most people add side windows 

to their oast towers but we think adding 

a skylight at the tip encourages the 

maximum amount of light possible 

and makes quite a special effect.” 

At the bottom of the other oast tower 

sits the dining room, above which is a 

guest bedroom and on top of that is the 

playroom for the boys, now home to an 

ever-growing Lego set. In the ground 

floor dining room, the original flooring 

was kept and, like the drawing room, 

sanded down with a matt finish. Little 

Greene Aquamarine added to the walls. 

“We sourced a ten-seater dining table 

from The Packhouse which inspired 

the rest of the room,” says Alec. “The 

sideboard had been left by the previous 

owner and so I re-painted it to work with 

the dining table and then changed the 

handles. An antique settle sourced from 

an old pub in Scotland was also painted 

to work in the room. Velvet dining chairs 

in a range of muted colours complete 

the look, fun yet understated, whilst 

Anthropologie candlesticks offer yet more 

pops of subtle colour. The fire surround 

with Delft style blue and white tiles 

was left by the former owners, a further 

pop of blue can be seen in the standard 

lamp. The roman blinds have been 

kept simple, with fabric from Closs and 

Hamblin, as in the drawing room. 

37 


Above: The romantic white rattan bed 

was bought from Lock Stock and Barrel 

Left: A guest bedroom on the first floor 

of the oast tower makes the most of 

its unique and quirky circular space 

The sitting room – another of the 

many reception rooms – offers yet more 

comfortable seating and provides another 

canvas for Alex and Heidy’s artistic flair. 

New herringbone wooden flooring was 

added and on the walls the couple used 

Little Greene Salix. An Indian daybed 

from a Scottish antique dealer and an 

Indian mirror from The Packhouse 

work seamlessly with a large tapestry 

from Mexico. Port red Art Deco style 

upholstered pieces bought in 2006 still 

sit well with pieces of brown furniture 

found in Inverness. Art pieces from 

Mexico again show how clever Alec and 

Heidy have been with mixing styles 

from all over the world – a true cultural 

melting pot. Off the sitting room is 

the entrance hall, painted in white and 

blues, almost Gustavian in its look. All 

the dark wood panelling was re-painted 

in Little Greene Slaked Lime, Celestial 

Blue and Livid. A large vase of flouncy 

florals jauntily greets guest along with 

a smart white painted hall bench. 

Off the entrance hall is the huge open 

plan family kitchen dining room. “We 

repainted the kitchen cupboards with 

Little Greene Brighton Blue and on the 

island Little Greene Royal Navy to give 

a contrast in the colours. We have kept 

and reused much of the furniture from 

our past houses in here. The handmade 

table, benches and dresser have lasted us 

almost two decades and are still very well 

loved.” One of the most striking aspects 

of the room is the geometric tiled splash 

back of the kitchen, worthy of the optic 

work of British artist Bridget Riley. Alec 

actually used a bathroom tile design here, 

which has proved hugely effective. “We 

looked at brass and getting a patina effect 

for the splashback, but we felt the 60s 

style worked really well with the black 

leathered granite worksurfaces.” The light 

above the dining table had originally 

been bought for the drawing room. “We 

had chosen this for that space, but then 

we when put it in the drawing room we 

instantly knew that, due to our issues 

with scale, it would never work, and so 

now the kitchen has a rather fantastic 

light fitting instead!” says Alec. More 

abstract artwork by Robin Mullin graces 

the dining area wall. The downstairs 

loo shows off yet more tiling dexterity 

with a hexagonal floral tile design from 

the Farnham Tile Boutique seeming 

to almost cascade down the wall. 

Upstairs are the bedrooms. The main 

bedroom is once again an essay in 

lightness – white walls and white ceiling 

and off-white beams reflect the pale 

wood floor below. A huge decorative 

and highly romantic white rattan bed 


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Top: The contemporary main bathroom 

features illuminated mirrors and plenty of 

rounded brass fixtures and fittings – a nod 

to the curves of the roundels Right: The 

unusual design of the oast house becomes 

more apparent from the garden to the rear 

by Lock Stock and Barrel is the hero of 

the room which overlooks the stunning 

garden below via original leaded windows. 

The wardrobes have been hidden away 

by the local joinery Magic Bean Designs 

to allow maximum space and airiness. 

A picture of The Flower Seller by Diego 

Rivera provides the main pop of colour 

in the room. A guest bedroom on the 

first floor of the oast tower makes the 

most of its unique and quirky circular 

space – the bed sits underneath the 

three leaded windows with simple 

roman blinds, whilst a large gilt framed 

mirror again throws as much light as 

possible back into the room. The main 

bathroom is an essay in contemporary 

bathroom design. A clean monochrome 

mosaic tile on the walls complements 

and shows off the round mirrors, round 

basins with rounded brass fittings and 

rounded door handles in homage to 

the round oast house. The illuminated 

mirrors add the most chic of flourishes. 

Alec and Heidy have created something 

very special. A house made not from 

the guide book to interior design, but 

very much from their hearts. They 

have produced a space for their family 

that truly reflects them and their 

unique heritage. Colour, texture and 

narrative are apparent throughout, 

paying homage to all their interests 

and experiences – everything has a 

Address Book: 

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41 


View Finder 


Photographs: David Merewether 

Words: Jo Arnell 

Photographer Mel Smith has combined his 

work and home requirements to create the 

ultimate welcoming studio – a homely and 

stylish space to work from where his creative 

approach to reuse and recycle takes centre stage 

43 


Previous pages & above: The kitchen space doubles up as a darkroom. A beaded chandelier from The Wall Lighting Company – thewalllightingcompany.co.uk 

– is one of the few new items in the building. The wood throughout has been treated with Liberon antique pine wax to give a mellow patina 

It is a rare thing to go on a property 

restoration journey without a 

route map, to let the building off 

the lead and head into the unknown. 

Architects, building consultants and 

surveyors provide a plan of action, an 

idea of what the end result will look like, 

help with building regulations and give 

professional advice. When Mel Smith, 

photographer – and now, intrepid 

renovator – found a potential studio 

space, he decided to take it on himself. 

We meet him here at the finished 

Smallhythe Studio to find out more. 

“I started this with no clue,” he says 

with an air of nonchalance. “A really 

good friend of mine, Jon, came to visit 

it with me and we built it together.” 


Mel had been looking for a new photographic studio, and 

while not sure what form it would take, he was clear what 

it wouldn’t be. “I didn’t want a shop or industrial unit,” he 

says, “which didn’t actually leave many options – so many of 

the old buildings in the area have already been converted.” 

But in the serendipitous way of things, the property came 

up through a friend of a friend. “It needed everything 

doing to it, but I knew it was the perfect studio space.” 

The one storey building has had many uses in 

its time, once a school room and most recently an 

art gallery, as evidenced by what was left behind. 

“There was a little tea hatch and a loo, strip lights, 

a storage loft,” he says. “We ripped it all out. 

Everything. We had skips here for six weeks.” 

Mel, Jon and Jon’s son George – who “came in to help 

for a week and stayed for a year” – set to work. They 

pulled down the whole of the ceiling, leaving just the 

structural joists and then put down scaffolding boards. 

Mel could see from the outside that the pitch of the 

roof was high – something that was hard to visualise 

initially from inside. “I knew there was space, but didn’t 

think about it at all because the ceiling was there. I 

thought, if there was a possibility, a vaulted ceiling 

was a must, because it would give me more light.” 

The space turned out to be bigger than he imagined, 

so he decided to install a tiny second floor. “Once 

the ceiling was down I could see there was room for a 

mezzanine and planned to make just a little one – and 

then decided to do a bigger one and extend it. We 

started at the top – I never realised that was the best 

place to start,” he says, “but of course it makes sense.” 

Unfortunately the only way was down in more ways than 

one – he hit rock bottom when they reached the floor. 

Replacing it really was the low point of the build for Mel 

– “a black moment in the whole thing”. It was a gruelling, 

back-breaking task, involving lifting ancient Canadian 

This page: A backgammon scoreboard is tucked away behind a 

set of doors above the dining table. Mel and his team have been 

creative with every inch of this property, including putting the bin 

on a wooden base with castors to whizz around where needed 

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This page: The plan chest was originally meant to go into the kitchen, 

but it was too deep for the position, so George and Mel incorporated 

it into the staircase Right: A door in the downstairs loo conceals a 

private bathroom for when clients have left at the end of the day 

pine tongue-and-groove floorboards and much shovelling of 

concrete. “George and I had to angle grind all the grooves out 

and put them outside somewhere where they wouldn’t warp. 

We pulled something like 4,000 nails out in order to preserve 

the floor joists. Then used 60 tonnes of crushed concrete to 

fill the void and pumped in a 4” pad of concrete all through. 

We re-enforced it and then added in 8” of insulation, put 

in the underfloor heating then a self-levelling screed.” 

The floor has been sealed and the studio section painted 

white. Kilim rugs bring warmth and texture. “The screed 

is designed to have a floor put on top,” Mel explains, “but 

it feels soft to walk on and it’s not cold underfoot at all, in 

fact with the underfloor heating it stays lovely and warm. It’s 

like an eco-home – the windows are triple glazed, we have 

an air source heat pump and with the 8” of insulation, our 

energy usage is really low – it’s like a new build house.” 

Up on the mezzanine it’s cosy too – big enough for a bed, 

an office area and a large format digital printer, but the very 

best thing about it is the view through the Velux windows on 

the end wall, which look out across the beautiful Wealden 

countryside. A low chair can be strategically placed in 

47 


The one storey building has 

had many uses in its time, 

once a school room and 

most recently an art gallery, 

as evidenced by what was 

left behind. “There was a 

little tea hatch and a loo, 

strip lights, a storage loft,” 

he says. “We ripped it all 

out. Everything. We had 

skips here for six weeks.” 

front of the window. “When we stay 

here I have my coffee just here,” he 

indicates, “and look out at the view.” 

There’s an impressive view of the 

interior from up here too. The structure 

of the roof, its supports, the staircase 

and the wooden clad RSJ beams that 

span across where the old ceiling used to 

be, have a simple architectural beauty. 

Mel’s work as a photographer has 

had to fit in around the build. “We 

made the studio and loo first, because 

people were asking for shoots. There 

were the two sofas and a trestle table set 

up to give people coffee etc., and just 

a ladder going up to the mezzanine,” 

Organising the layout and making 

a functioning studio and gallery was 

key – it had to work, but it was hard 

to imagine exactly how. “Originally 

there were two doors into the building 

which was bizarre – we knew we had 

to get rid of one of them,” he says. 

“So the wall came up on that side, 

but I still didn’t have enough gallery 

space, so some of the windows had 

to go too. It changed the way we 

shot – we extended the wall to the 

right and added in more wall space.” 

The cool white of this interior 

is warmed with the wood of the 

building’s structure, the staircase, 

wooden kitchen and table. The wood 

has been treated with Liberon antique 

pine wax and brings a rich, mellow 

patina, turning scaffolding boards 

and bits of a big old handmade bed 

into smooth and beautiful pieces of 

furniture – I am amazed at how far 

the wood from the bed has stretched 

and how imaginatively it’s been used. 

Soft leather sofas and huge hessian 

curtains – that divide the studio from 

the rest of the room – match the colour 

of the wood, but also add texture, 

“Texture is key,” says Mel. “I rely on 

shapes and forms. A visitor to our 

garden once told me that I was using 

interesting colour choices,” he smiles. 

“It’s because I’m colour blind. I work 

in black and white. The camera’s 


This page: Lush green 

houseplants are a prominent 

presence throughout, each 

perfectly matched to their 

surroundings – either 

displayed in a pleasingly 

weathered terracotta pot, 

or wrapped in hessian 

set up so that I look into a black and 

white world through the lens.” 

The kitchen doubles up as a darkroom 

– it’s a shared space. There is a framing 

and finishing workshop to the back of 

the kitchen and Mel has managed to 

balance the double aspect and has made 

the space attractive and functional – full 

of quirky detail. He points to the sink. 

“It was from the garden. The taps were 

made up – I got them from a salvage 

yard. We reground them to make them 

work. There are two sets of taps, but I 

like that. I like the texture of the copper 

piping – it came from a shop in Lyme 

Regis. Originally the units were going 

to be ply, but we used some shelving 

from a brick furnace in the end. We 

built the work surface for £150.” 

The ingenious little fixes and 

inventions are too many to mention, 

49 


This page: Hidden away on the mezzanine, with cleverly thoughtout 

triangular wooden ‘screens’, the bedroom/computer editing space 

has beautiful countryside views through the skylights. Mel stores the 

bits needed for his shoots in wicker baskets hung from a beam 

but include a pulley system for opening 

and shutting the dishwasher because it 

wouldn’t quite fit its allocated space, a 

Monet poster cooker splash-back, the 

scaffold pole that supports a projector 

screen – for clients to view pictures and 

for movie nights – the ‘privacy wheat’ 

in the bathroom (an artful sandwiching 

of grass between two pieces of glass), 

the endless uses that Mel’s old bed 

has been put to. Many of these have 

sprung from Mel’s ‘inspiration folder’ 

– a folder on his phone where he keeps 

track of all the things he sees on his 

travels – but much comes organically. 

The evolution of the stairs up to the 

mezzanine is a case in point. “I was 

going to have a spiral staircase,” he 

explains, “then one that went straight 

down, but building regs wouldn’t allow 

it. The plan chest was originally meant 

to go into the kitchen, but it was too 

deep for where it was meant to be, so 

George and I decided to incorporate it 

into the staircase.” It fits so perfectly – as 

if that was the original idea all along. 

At the top of the stairs the joists 

support the structure with a ‘V’ shape. 

“The 45° angle looked ugly from 

downstairs, so we’ve infilled with 

planks and you step through.” This also 

separates the mezzanine platform from 

the stairs, but without closing it off. “We 

might add a gantry one day,” he smiles 

– “I’m inspired by things all the time.” 

Mel, a keen gardener, has been bold 

and inventive with the outside space 

too, using architectural plants in big 

containers. “It is tarmac underneath,” 


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Urban&GreyWT243.indd 1 22/07/2022 14:07

Clockwise from top left: Mel drilled through the 

tarmac and concrete beneath to install large planters 

at the front of the building, filled with wildflowers; 

The luxurious bug hotel; A framing room is tucked 

away outside, to the rear of the building 

he explains, “so we drilled through it, 

went through the concrete below to 

give a bit more depth to the soil in 

the troughs. We used large planters 

made from sleepers either side of the 

path and filled with wildflowers.” 

There’s an impressive bug hotel 

offering what looks like luxury 

accommodation for discerning insects. 

There are framed objects on the outside 

walls containing ancient gardening tools 

and interesting coils of rope – Mel’s 

motto for displaying his collections 

being “if in doubt frame it”. It is a 

curated space, but again, a functional 

one that blends a charming parade of 

gardenalia and horticultural flair. 

The genius of this place has come 

from either re-purposing existing 

objects, or from the necessity of having 

to overcome an obstacle, imposed 

by planning, by the layout of the 

building and by the space implications. 

Above all, it has been the crack team 

of Mel, Jon and George, who have 

each brought their own very different 

strengths to this build – “Jon is a great 

builder, a perfectionist,” says Mel 

warmly. “Everything is finished to 

such a high standard. George will do 

anything – he’s so good with wood and 

works with me when I’m just thinking 

about what I want – like the loo roll 

holder or the lock on the loo door.” 

(These both made – naturally – from 

bits of that old bed). “George has an 

ingenuity – when you put us all in a 

team – I didn’t realise it at the time, 

but in retrospect it’s worked really 

well. Day by day it grew organically 

– we evolved the project together.” 

Visualising an end result is not 

easy. Re-purposing an old building 

from scratch is fraught with pitfalls 

and frustrations. Navigating the way 

without a clear set of plans can be head 

slappingly hard, but when the end 

result is as good – and as ingeniously 

effective as this – who needs a rulebook? 

Address Book: 

To find out about Mel Smith's 

black & white family photography, 

see melsmithphotography.co.uk. 

Mel will be at this year’s Wealden 

Times Midwinter Fair, from 16-18 

November at The Hop Farm. Find 

out more at wealdentimes-fair.co.uk 

Jon Rodger Property Maintenance 

01233 770592 jonathan.rodger@icloud.com 


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Quarter page- 1340mm deep x 90mm wide .pdf 1 10/10/2023 18:43 

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lucyhomerjones.com 

Star design Champagne 

saucer £70 (set of 6) 

Osski osski.co.uk 

Fired Earth ceramic 

diffuser £30 

Jones & Tomlin 

jonesandtomlin.co.uk 

Twilight decanter £110 

Dartington Crystal 

dartington.co.uk 

Handmade ceramic 

geometric vase Sussex 

artist Gaynor Sadlo 

£125 Greenfinch 

greenfinchshop.co.uk 

Rotating snowflake tea light 

holder £8 National Trust 

shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 

Antique hand-painted bone 

trinket box from Rajasthan, 

India £495 Trading Boundaries 

tradingboundaries.com 

63 


Upholstery Design Services 

christmas fair 

Wed 22 & Thu 23 November 2023 

A bustling marketplace full of festive cheer! Find unique 

gifts from over 140 independent stallholders. 

Tickets: £3*(under 18s free) 

Book: farnhammaltings.com *plus booking fee 

Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR 

Passionate about fabric & creating unique furniture 

sarahlouisedix.co.uk | enquiries@sarahlouisedix.co.uk | 01483 801108 

SarahLouiseDixWT254.indd 1 07/06/2023 15:36:21 

www.theweygallery.com 

Featuring the stunning original collage & Mixed media work of Sabina Pieper 

throughout November along with a wide selection of original Art, 

Limited editions and Sculpture 

44 Bridge Street,Godalming,Surrey,GU7 1HL Tel: 01483 418013 info@theweygallery.com 


64


Eiderglass stained 

glass mistletoe 

wreath £36 

Folksy folksy.com 

Sparkle winter 

spice vegan scented 

candle from £25 

SevenSeventeen 

seven-seventeen.co.uk 

Lupins In The Sun 

limited edition fine 

art print from £95 

Abbie Carnegy Art 

abbiecarnegyart.com 

That Little Map Shop illustrated 

Surrey Map £15 Etsy etsy.com 

Crack List card game £20 

Amazon amazon.co.uk 

One of a kind clock £60 

Desiré North desirenorth.com 


Ho mes 

Ho us eh ol 

ds 

& 

Carved glass pebble vase £155 

Rebel Roses rebelroses.co.uk 

Rainbow hand shaped 

boxed puzzle £35 

Jonathan Adler 

uk.jonathanadler.com 

Woodland in steel 

and wood by David 

Mayne £240 West 

End House Gallery 

westendhousegallery.co.uk 

Ellen Hayward Angel 

candle holder £200 

Shop Floor Project 

theshopfloorproject.com 

Ocean Spray short mug £34 Emily 

Doran Pottery emilydoranpottery.com 

Large hand-painted plate £55 

Gillshaw Pottery gillshawpottery.co.uk 

Home set with Awakening room spray 

and diffuser and a calming candle £55 

(worth £80) GAIA gaiaskincare.com 

Mesa tabletop 

fire pit £89.99 

Solo Stoves 

solostove.com 

Personalised house coaster £10 

Reimagined by Anna Stark 

reimaginedbyannastark.com 

Edelweiss Noel cushion £132 Jan 

Constantine janconstantine.com 

Angus table lamp 

with shade £300 

Elstead Lighting 

elsteadlighting.com 

Stacie star frame 

£27 Fable and Mirth 

fableandmirth.com 

65 


JEREMY HOBBS 

FINE MENSWEAR 

Opening Hours Monday to Saturday 09.30 - 17.30 

3 Oakdene Parade, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2LR 

Telephone: 01932 865700 | info@jeremyhobbs.co.uk 

www.jeremyhobbs.co.uk 

@jeremyhobbsmenswear 

Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 09.30 - 17.30 

3 Oakdene Parade, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2LR. 

Telephone: 01932 865700 

info@jeremyhobbs.co.uk 

@jeremyhobbsmenswear 

www.jeremyhobbs.co.uk


31 Le Rouge 

refillable lipstick in 

Rouge Premier £140 

Chanel chanel.com 

Diamond trefoil 

cluster pendant 

Cousins £5,995 

tbcousins.co.uk 

Portrait commission 

voucher from £2,000 

Royal Society of Portrait 

Painters therp.co.uk 

Rose gold Peekaboo 

earrings with two roundcut 

morganites and 18 

brilliant-cut diamonds 

£3,250 Bucherer Fine 

Jewellery bucherer.com 

Clase Azul Reposado 

tequila £215 Selfridges 

selfridges.com 

Meisterstück 

Neo briefcase 

£1,460 Montblanc 

montblanc.com 

Noel double 

wick candle £129 

Holland & Cooper 

hollandcooper.com 

Oaklee coat £980 

Temperley London 

temperleylondon.com 


A Lit tl e Lu xu 

ry 

Rose gold mandarin garnet 

and pink tourmaline serpent 

ring £4,000 Robert Bicknell 

robertbicknellfinejewellery.co.uk 

Utopia woman 

decanter £295 

Jonathan Adler 

uk.jonathanadler.com 

Gold Autumn ring with 

garnets, citrines, sapphires 

and diamonds £6,300 

Dominic Walmsley Jewellery 


Beoplay HX headphones 

£449 Bang & Olufsen 

bang-olufsen.com 

Starlight View Small 

Zip-Around Dark Cherry 

Grab Bag £199 Radley 

radley.co.uk 

Freelancer 2490 

watch £1,795 

Raymond Weil 

raymond-weil.co.uk 

Dream nightdress £135 Simone 

Perele uk.simone-perele.com 

Pro-Ject E1 Phono turntable 

£299 John Lewis johnlewis.com 


We didn’t invent fire. 

We defeated smoke. 

Give the Gift 

of Culinary Delight 

with The Abinger Cookery 

School Vouchers 

BUY NOW ON OUR WEBSITE 

abingercookeryschool.com 

solostove.com 

Make A Statement 

UNLOCK THE MAGIC THIS CHRISTMAS 

WITH SILENT POOL GIN 

silentpooldistillers.com 

Please enjoy Silent Pool Gin responsibly 


1698_SPG_Wealdon Times xmas ad.indd 1 68 

05/10/2023 15:08


Revive green 

Le Creuset casserole tea £12.95 Baiji 

from £285 John Lewis baijilife.co.uk 

johnlewis.com 

Cranberry, Port & Orange 

sauce £7.05 Tracklements 

tracklements.co.uk 


snow globe 

gin by Gravity 

Drinks £29 

Harvey Nichols 

harveynichols.com 

Wild Forest 

biscotti gift box 

£30 Biscottilicious 

biscottilicious.com 


F od 

ie s Ch 

ef 

s 

Basil hydro-herb kit made 

from a recycled wine bottle 

£25 hydro-herb.co.uk 

Barista coffee 

syrup £3.79 

Sweet Freedom 

sweetfreedom.co.uk 

& 

Bolivian Wild Truffle gift box £19.99 

MELT Chocolates meltchocolates.com 

Mince Pie, 43.5% 

Venezuelan Milk 

Chocolate bar £5.50 

Only Coco only-coco.co.uk 

Soups £14.99 

National Trust Books 

shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 

Winter Woodland yule log cake from 

£25 Lola’s Cupcakes lolascupcakes.co.uk 

Acorn mug £15 National 

Trust shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 

English sparkling 

wine London 

Brut 2018 £38 

DifferentKind 

thedifferentkind.com 

Silent Pool Black 

Juniper Gin 

£295 Silent Pool 

silentpooldistillers.com 

Ultimate Sushi Kit £34.99 

Kelly Loves kellyloves.com 

Box of 6 mince pie cookie 

cups £20.99 Blondies Kitchen 

blondieskitchen.co.uk 

Gift box with 2 jars of moonshine, 

2 shot glasses and a pouring lid 

£56.90 O’Donnell Moonshine 

odonnellmoonshine.co.uk 

69 


● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Freshly baked baguettes 

A large selection of cheese, charcuterie & pastries 

Ready-made frozen cook meals 

Jams, chutneys & sauces 

Delicious made to order filled 

baguettes and sandwiches 

Large selection of cards, candles 

& Christmas food gifts 

Christmas hampers 

Our Argan Oil powered skin and bodycare, prized for its 

hydrating benefits for your healthiest and best skin yet. 

Shop Douvalls.com 

Or online Sephora.co.uk and Superdrug.com 

BETWEEN DORKING & 

REIGATE, OFF THE A25 

19 - 21 Harbour St, Ramsgate 

CT11 8HA 

Gifts 

Jewellery 

Art 

Exhibitions 

Classes 

Gift Vouchers 

www.turnerroweartcentre.com . info@turnerroweartcentre.com . 07307527848 


70 

TurnerRoweArtCentre&GalleryWT253.indd 1 24/05/2023 10:31:42


London Grace nail 

polish £12 Ticketyboo 

ticketybooshop.com 

Candy cane 

reusable 

bubble bar £5 

Lush lush.com 

Smell the Roses soap 

£7 Elstree Soaps 

elstreesoaps.com 

Wildsmith Skin shower 

oil £40 wildsmithskin.com 

Gifts to ... 

Bouncing Santa 

shower jelly 

£6.50 Lush 

lush.com 

Pa mpe 

r Sp oi 

l 

Aurelie crimson stripe silk shirt 

£190 and trouser 170 Sleepy 

Wilson sleepywilson.com 

Red French clay natural soap on a rope 

£7.50 The Vely Soapery thevelysoapery.com 

& 

Charlotte Tilbury 

Lip Blur £27 

John Lewis 

johnlewis.com 

Rescue Ritual Cleanse 

& Nourish gift 

set £56 Douvall’s 

douvalls.com 

Wave Pro skin 

spatula with 

SonicGlow 

Technology and 

EMS £119 PMD 

uk.pmdbeauty.com 

Midnight Reset 

sleeping balm 

£50 Kelsey 

kelseyskin.com 

Embroidered flowers linen 

makeup bag £35 Sarah Becvar 

Design sarahbecvardesign.com 

Wella Christmas 

mini luxe oil bauble 

£12 Look Fantastic 

lookfantastic.com 

Wash bag £22.50 Sarah Louise Dix 

sarahlouisedix.co.uk 

Put on Something Ice 

nail laquer £14.90 

OPI opi.com 

C.O. Bigelow coconut 

body cleanser and 

body lotion duo 

set £29 Liberty 

libertylondon.com 

Chloe stripe PJ bottoms 

£129.50 Jessica Russel Flint 

jessicarussellflint.co.uk 

71 


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 

sales tax). Private commissions are also welcome. 

@pullmaneditionsposters 

All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions 2023 

Pullman Editions 

94 Pimlico Road 

Chelsea 

London SW1W 8PL 

+44 (0)20 7730 0547 

info@pullmaneditions.com 

Our central London gallery 

View and buy online at www.pullmaneditions.com


Silver Tree of Life pendant 

£125 Dower & Hall 

dowerandhall.com 

National Trust Gardener’s 

Almanac 2024 

£9.99 National Trust 

nationaltrust.org.uk 

Grow It bonsai tree plant £16 

Moonpig moonpig.com 

Gardening apron £32.99 

Perkins & Morley 

perkinsandmorley.com 

Watering can pin 

badge £6 Storigraphic 



Gre en 

-Fi nge 

rs 

Women’s Arctic Sport II Tall 

Boots £150 Muck Boot Company 

muckbootcompany.co.uk 

RHS Gardening 

caddy bag £69 

Genus genus.gs 

“Plant Dreams, Pull Weeds & Grow 

a Happy Life” mug £6 Vicky Yorke 

Designs vickyyorkedesigns.com 

Personalised leather 

effect gardening journal 

£26.95 Martha Brook 

marthabrook.com 

Bonsai plant 

seed kit £14 

Seed Pantry 

seedpantry.co.uk 

Small World 1 

terrarium £99 

Four Store London 

fourstore.co.uk 

V&A Sweet pea 

seed pack £2 

V&A vam.ac.uk 

Rolife Cathy’s flower house wooden kit 

£50 John Lewis johnlewis.com 

Bundle & Rust gardeners soap 

£4.75 Rural Crafts Association 

ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk 

Calathea Orbifolia 

with Windsor Sage 

planter £34 Leaf Envy 

leafenvy.co.uk 

Houseplant colour 

pressure mister £14.99 

Dobbies dobbies.com 

3in1 moisture meter 

£24 Leaf Envy 

leafenvy.co.uk 

Grow embroidery kit £22.95 

Hawthorn Handmade 

hawthornhandmade.com 

73 


Flight Experiences 

and Introductory Lessons 

At White Waltham Airfield 

Buy a unique and exciting present for 

a special person - from £98 

Tiger Moth 

. 

Piper Cub 

An exciting & unique gift for a racing fan 

Own a share in a yearling 

for the 2024 season 

Open cockpit 

Piper Warrior 

Happy Christmas 

Chipmunk 

Learn to fly 

Wartime Experience 

Beautiful wartime airfield-30 miles from London 

CAA qualified Instructors. Friendly bar and 

restaurant with wonderful views and plenty of 

vintage aircraft to see. 

West London Aero Club, 

White Waltham Airfield, Maidenhead 

SL6 3NJ 01628823272 wlac.co.uk 

• Racehorse Ownership Gift pack from £500 

• Providing exclusive behind the scenes 

organised trips to the training yard/ 

Owners badges when racing/Share of any 

prize money won/Regular updates 

from your Racing Manager 

• Choose from a small number 

of carefully selected yearlings 

who are exciting prospects for 

the 2024 horse racing season 

Established in 2006, racehorse-ownership has provided 

racing enthusiasts with plenty of winners and exciting 

days out throughout the UK and overseas. 

07887 500777 | www.racehorse-ownership.com 

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 


74 

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


Molly Black Cat pin 

badge £6 Storigraphic 


“The Queen of Wands” 

talisman necklace 

£36 Fable England 

fableengland.com 

Personalised pet bowl £27 

Reimagined by Anna Stark 

reimaginedbyannastark.com 

Silver star dog poo bag 

pouch £15 Rockett St 

George rockettstgeorge.co.uk 

Paw ring £45 Lily Charmed 

lilycharmed.com 


Furbo 360° dog camera 

with treat dispenser, 

colour night vision, 

and barking alert £139 

Furbo furbo.com 

An im al Lo 

ve 

rs 

Life’s-a-ball Limited edition screenprint by 

Sarah Targett 30x30cm £60 (unframed) 

The Wey Gallery theweygallery.com 

Sprout chew toy £4 M&S 

marksandspencer.com 

PetKit Smart 

Antibacterial Pet 

Bowl £32 

John Lewis 

johnlewis.com 

Pink sapphire gem 

collar charm £16 

Cheshire & Wain 

cheshireandwain.com 

Ceramic bird 

candle holder 

£62.50 Fable 

and Mirth 

fableandmirth.com 

‘I Spies Mince 

Pies’ plate £22.50 

Jimbobart 

jimbobart.com 

Pudding dog 

socks £7.50 

FatFace 

fatface.com 

Karate Cats and 

Kung Fu Dogs 

card game £11.99 

Ginger Fox 

gingerfox.co.uk 

Deeply Dishy luxury 

dog bed from £153 

Charley Chau 

charleychau.com 

Sausage dog tricks mug £15 

Jane Abbott janeabbott.com 

Radley & Friends slipper 

£50 Radley radley.co.uk 

Shelter Stevie sheep dog 

jumper £24 FatFace fatface.com 

75 



The Hot One 

Price: £20-50 

What’s inside: 24 pouches of your 

pick of hot drink 

From the edge of the Peak 

District, Yawn are sending out 

hot drink advents that will have 

you feeling warm and cosy all 

December. There’s options galore 

with hot cocoa in milk or dark, 

and with a cup, or marshmallows 

too, if you like. Tea can be loose leaf 

or bags, caffine-free or even bags for 

two. And coffee comes in options 

of beans or a grind to suit your 

coffee maker or even add a reusable 

advent. yawnbrew.com 

The Personalised One 

Price: £249 

What’s inside: £450 worth of jewellery including pendants, 

necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets 

Abbott Lyon’s advent is available in gold or silver with 

personalisable details so you can unveil pieces with your 

initial and birthstone, as well as getting your name printed 

on the box itself. Nothing says luxury like a bespoke option 

and this one is a really lovely treat! abbottlyon.com 

Advent Calendars 

From classic chocs to jewellery, beauty treats, candles and tipples – we have a grown-up advent to suit 

every taste and have you joyfully counting down the days ‘til Christmas! 

The Jewellery One 

The Pampering One 

Price: £195 

What’s inside: 25 fabulous and festive Lush 

products including bath bombs, soaps, lotions, 

scrubs, and shower gels. 

The Lush Advent Calendar is big, beautiful 

and filled with all you need to spend your 

festive season sweet-scented and feeling 

pampered to the fullest. A lot of the products 

included are exclusive to this box and there is 

a joyful Christmas theme running throughout 

with penguins, snowflakes and santas all 

getting involved. Is it a luxury? Yes. Is it very 

lush? Yes it is! lush.com 

The Pet’s One 

Price: £12.50 for cats, £14 for dogs 

What’s inside: 24 natural treats in 2 or 3 flavours 

Lily’s Kitchen’s proper pet food advents let fourlegged 

friends enjoy counting down the days 

with you. These treats will be the highlight of 

your pet’s day with their natural ingredients, 

using real meat, steamed veggies, and nutritious 

herbs and no nasties whatsoever. lilyskitchen.co.uk 

Price: £220 

What’s inside: 12 really pretty pieces of 

jewellery worth over £400 total 

Sussex brand, Posh Totty’s advent is a 

top pick for jewellery magpies. It is one 

of the brand’s many products that raises 

money for Women International with 

every sale – helping women who have 

survived war. These lovely handmade 

advents are in limited edition of 50 so 

don’t dilly dally! poshtottydesigns.com 


76

The Chocolate One 

Price: £27.50 (or two for £50) What’s inside: 25 delicious handcrafted chocolates 

Chococo’s award-winning plastic-free calendars are always sure to please. This year, they 

have a few exciting new flavours including Bottoms Up! Champagne Gem, We Three Fruits 

and Panela Panache Truffle. This is a chocolate advent that feels indulgent and grown-up 

and at a very reasonable price, while also being sustainable, UK-made, AND they even 

have a plant-based option for the same price! This one checks all our boxes. chococo.co.uk 


The Anything One 

Price: £115 

What’s inside: Whatever you want! 

Kent-based Nancy & Betty Studio’s 

personalised embroidered fabric option 

is perfect for those wanting to do their 

own thing and make an eco-friendly 

choice. The pockets have plenty of 

room so you can fill with whatever you 

want, or get a pair for you and a loved 

one so you can fill them for each other 

for an extra suprise element! 

nancyandbetty.com 

The Whisky One 

The Candle One 

Price: £60 

What’s inside: 24 luxury tealights in 21 

scents, in festive gold aluminium cups 

Great House Farm Stores’ first ever 

advent is filled with tealights that are 

hand-poured on their Welsh farm. 

Candle lovers will adore opening up 

this sustainable box each day to find 

a new scent to try out over a 5 hour 

burn time. This one is homely and 

gentle, a real breath of fresh (or rather 

beautifully scented) air for a soothing 

advent experience. 

greathousefarmstores.co.uk 

Price: £179.95 

What’s inside: 24 50ml drams of Scotch whisky 

The Whisky Tour of Scotland Advent Calendar 

by Gravity Drinks takes you on a journey 

across Scotland. This beautiful handmade 

wooden cabinet also comes with two spirit 

nosing glasses so you can share a tipple each 

night of December. masterofmalt.com 

The Nice List One 

Price: £14.99 

What’s inside: 25 scrummy chocolates in 10 flavours including 

hazelnut, popping sugar, caramel, pretzel and sea salt 

Tony’s Chocolonely Countdown Calendar supports the fight 

for a fairer chocolate industry. With a fact about the industry 

for every day, it educates us while also giving us a seriously 

tasty choc, demonstrating just what the industry could 

and should be doing. All this with a great taste, fair price 

tag, and it’s free from palm oil and plastic packaging. 

Definitely one for the nice list! tonyschocolonely.com 

77 



Pink & gold glitter 

bauble £6.50 

Trading Boundaries 

tradingboundaries.com 

Honeycomb 

bauble decorations 

£45 (set of 6) 

OKA oka.com 

Toy tox tree 

decoration 

£16 Nancy & 

Betty Studio 

nancyandbetty.com 

Harbour stripe 

radish bow £45 

Tori Murphy 

torimurphy.com 

Twisted tapered 

LED candles 

£20 (pair) OKA 

oka.com 

A Royal Celebration 

Take inspiration from Victoria & Albert’s traditional Christmases with ribbons and 

candles, luxury plastic-free materials like silk velvet, glass and paper, and handmade 

details – add a touch of gold and jewel tones, and a dusting of Dickensian snow to finish 

Huxley, the 

Dachshund in 

recycled metal £15.99 

Adams & Mack 

adamsandmack.com 

Glass BonBon jar set of 2 £32.90 

Solavia Glassware solavia.co.uk 

Green velvet 

bow £3.50 

John Lewis 

johnlewis.com 

Footed antique 

brass wine 

cooler, £225 

Cox & Cox 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Terracotta dove 

decoration, £3.99 

Sourced by Oxfam 

onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk 

Pewter mistletoe 

Christmas decoration 

£28 Dower & Hall 

dowerandhall.com 

Lyon Champagne glass 

with diamond cut detail 

£7.50 The Wisteria Tree 

thewisteriatree.co.uk 

Gold LED star light/ 

tree topper £40 

Rockett St George 

rockettstgeorge.co.uk 

Openable 

bauble £9.95 

Annabel James 

annabeljames.co.uk 

First Christmas 

carousel wooden 

decoration £25 

No Ordinary Gift 

noordinarygift.co.uk 

Plum recycled glass 

bauble (hand-blown 

by Muslims in 

Hebron, and handpainted 

by Christians 

in Bethlehem) £18 

Bethlehem Baubles 

bethlehembaubles.com 

Enchanted bow 

charm from £10 

Velvet Linen 

velvetlinen.co.uk 

Kaso lantern aged 

antique brass 

small £70 Nkuku 

nkuku.com 

Dimali antique brass 

candle holder with handle 

£18 Nkuku nkuku.com 

Remote control 

candle tree lights 

£50 (set of 10) 

Cox & Cox 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Damson Berry 

and Gold Leaf 

Wreath £35 

John Lewis 

johnlewis.com 

Brass bells £40 (pair) 

Layered Lounge 

layeredlounge.com 


Untitled-5 1 17/10/2017 14:40 

Art&SoulS37.indd 1 17/10/2017 14:59

HERNE BAY STORE - NOW OPEN 

BEXHILL - CANTERBURY - HERNE BAY - REIGATE 

SEVENOAKS - TENTERDEN - TUNBRIDGE WELLS 

COUNTY CLOTHES 

MENSWEAR 

Proud stockists of: 

Barbour, Barker, Geox, Jeep, Lacuzzo, 

Sergio Duletti, John White, R M Williams, 

Bugatti and Savelli, boots & shoes 

WWW.COUNTYCLOTHESMENSWEAR.CO.UK 

BLUE VELVET SHOES 

Visit Blue Velvet Shoes at 174 Kings Road, SW3 4UP or buy online www.bluevelvetshoes.com 


80

Tied with a bow 

A blush pink cubic zirconia is encircled with a hand painted 

emerald green enamel bow in this beautifully festive ring 

Photograph: David Merewether 

Styling: Lucy Fleming 

Amelia Bow Ring in emerald, 

blush pink & gold, £99, 

Amelia Scott amelia-scott.com

Jacquard gold foil 

star kimono £89 

Scamp & Dude 

scampanddude.com 

Looking good 

slouchy boots 

£60 Joe Browns 

joebrowns.co.uk 

Love knot pendant £95 

Dominic Walmsley 


Black silk bow 

headband £39 

Phase Eight 

phase-eight.com 

istockphoto.com/ Lana-Light 

Bow necklace £60 

Scream Pretty 

screampretty.com 

Alohas fossil cream leather 

ballet flats £120 Oliver 

Bonas oliverbonas.com 

Marlow halter 

dress in black £695 

Temperley London 

temperleylondon.com 

All Wrapped Up! 

PU wrap belted 

midi skirt £35 

Very very.co.uk 

Stripe blouse 

£31 John Lewis 

johnlewis.com 

Your presence is the ultimate present, so take style inspo from 

luxurious gift wrapping by gathering, draping, tying and generally 

swathing yourself in wintry glamour. Just add a bow or two to top it 

off and you’ll be all set for the festive season! 

Lisa The Label Bow 

Belle sweater £245 

Wolf & Badger 

wolfandbadger.com 

Matilda antique Victorian 

true lover’s knot ring £1,680 

The Vintage Ring Company 

thevintageringco.com 

Beaded star hair 

bow £20 Accessorize 

accessorize.com 

Rope knot ring 

£42 SEOL + GOLD 

seolgold.com 

Gold sailors knot 

earrings £2,123.87 

(per earring) 

Cervin Blanc 

cervinblanc.com 

Elegant bootie 

£150 Steve Madden 

stevemadden.co.uk 

Juniper velvet 

jumpsuit 

£95 FatFace 

fatface.com 

Autograph leather trench coat £350 

M&S marksandspencer.com 

Peri paisley devore dress £120 

Monsoon monsoon.co.uk 


Bow detail bag 

£55 Monsoon 

monsoon.co.uk 

Happiest gold 

slingbacks £85 

Dune London 

dunelondon.com

ICONA 

UNIT 11 HART SHOPPING CENTRE 

FLEET | HAMPSHIRE | GU51 3LA 

01252 621035 

www.experiencethedifference.co.uk


What’s for dinner? 

Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Rossi started sharing her family friendly fussfree 

recipes online over ten years ago, after the arrival of her twin babies. Having 

previously run a small cookery and cake decorating school, she drew on her experience 

to develop easy-to-cook recipes that slotted effortlessly into family life, which she 

added to her website, Taming Twins. This year, Sarah has released not one but two 

successful cookery books, from the second of which, What’s For Dinner? In One 

Pot, we’ve taken this issue’s tasty trio of comforting recipes. Best of all, you can 

pop each one in a slow cooker whilst you get on with other things – genius! 

Photographs: Sam Folan 

Slow cooker one-pan lasagne 

Serves 4 

Cooking time: 5hrs 45mins 

So many of you loved my One-pan 

Lasagne recipe in my first book that 

I had to come up with a slow cooker 

version, and here it is! I’ve added a pot 

of ricotta on top here as an instant 

extra cheesy layer. The pasta cooking 

time at the end can vary quite a lot – 

it’ll depend on your slow cooker. Use 

your own judgement and cook until 

the pasta is the right texture for you. 

For the slow cook: 

• 500g beef mince (5% fat) 

• 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 

• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 

• 3 celery sticks, finely chopped 

• 3 carrots, peeled and finely chopped 

• 2 × 400g tins chopped tomatoes 

• 75g tomato purée 

• 2 tsp dried oregano 

• 4 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce 

(or Henderson’s Relish) 

• 3 bay leaves 

• sea salt and freshly ground 

black pepper 

To finish: 

• 500ml hot beef stock (made 

with a stock cube is fine) 

• 250g dried lasagne sheets (uncooked) 

• 250g ricotta cheese 

• 100g grated mozzarella cheese (I 

use grated mozzarella here as it’s very 

easy to keep in the fridge – you can 

use buffalo mozzarella if you prefer.) 

1. Add all of the slow cook ingredients 

to the slow cooker pot and season 

with salt and pepper. Mix everything 

together, pop the lid on and cook on 

HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 7-9 

hours until the sauce is thick and rich. 

2. Remove the bay leaves and discard. 

Add the beef stock and give everything 

a mix to combine with the sauce. 

Take the dried lasagne sheets and 

push them into the sauce in the 

slow cooker, so they are standing up 

vertically side by side (if you can avoid 

them touching each other too much 

as they cook it helps to stop them 

sticking together). You will need to 

snap some of them in half (or smaller) 

to fit them all in. Put the lid back on 

and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes. 

3. Give everything a good stir, 

moving the softened pasta around 

so any partially uncooked pieces are 

now submerged. Now dollop the 

ricotta cheese all over the surface and 

sprinkle the mozzarella on top. Put 

the lid on and cook on HIGH for a 

further 15-25 minutes, then serve. 

Optional: If you want the cheese to 

be crispy and you have a slow cooker 

pan that is safe to use under the 

grill (please check!), pop it under 

a hot grill for 5 minutes until the 

cheese is golden and bubbling. 

 

85 


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Slow cooker meatfree 

Monday tacos 

with pink onions 

Cooking time: 6hrs Serves 4 

Tacos are not only simple, tasty and 

affordable but they are also social and 

fun to eat as a family. Pile everything 

on the table and help yourself. It’s also 

a great way to encourage children to try 

new foods on their own terms as they 

fill their own tortillas. Often my taco 

fillings have relied on pan-fried meat, 

but here I really wanted to come up with 

a vegetarian alternative that had a deeply 

savoury, meaty texture. A few tricks 

(walnuts and Marmite, I’m looking at 

you) add texture and a depth of flavour. 

For the slow cook: 

• 2 × 400g tins chopped tomatoes 

• 2 × 400g tins green lentils, 

drained and rinsed 

• 100g walnuts, finely chopped 

• 2 tbsp tomato purée 

• 1 tbsp ground cumin 

• 1 tbsp sweet smoked paprika 

• 2 tsp garlic granules 

• 1 tbsp Marmite 

• 2 tbsp soft dark brown sugar 

• sea salt and freshly 

ground black pepper 

To serve: 

• 8 small flour tortillas 

• 1 avocado, halved, peeled, 

stone removed and sliced 

• 200g feta cheese 

1. Open the tins of tomatoes and drain 

off the liquid using a sieve (we don’t 

want too much of the watery juice). 

2. Add everything for the slow cook 

to the slow cooker pot (including 

the drained tomatoes), season with 

salt and pepper and give it a good 

mix. Put a clean tea towel across the 

top of the slow cooker (this absorbs 

excess water as condensation) and 

place the lid on top. Cook on HIGH 

for 6 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours. 

The mixture is ready when it’s 

thickened and deep red in colour. 

3. Serve piled into tortillas (I like 

to carefully toast the tortillas over a 

gas flame to give them some texture, 

otherwise you can warm them in the 

oven or microwave) with the avocado 

slices and feta cheese crumbled on top. 

Sarah’s tip: If you’d like to make these 

vegan, omit the feta cheese and serve 

with a dollop of vegan yoghurt on 

top instead. Obviously check the 

ingredients of your tortillas too. 

If you don’t have a slow cooker: Cook the 

‘slow cook’ ingredients in a large lidded 

saucepan over a medium heat for 30-40 

minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. 

Pink onions 

Prep time: 20mins Serves 4 

These little pink gems are perfect for 

serving as an accompaniment to tacos, 

in sandwiches or over salads. They are 

super quick to make and add a little 

extra sparkle to so many dishes. Leave 

any leftovers in the soaking liquid 

and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

• 1 red onion, peeled and very thinly 

sliced (as thinly as you can manage) 

• 100ml white wine vinegar 

• 1 tbsp caster sugar 

• 1 tsp sea salt 

• 100ml boiling water 

Put all of the ingredients in a small 

bowl. Mix well and leave for at least 

15 minutes. Spoon the onion out of 

the liquid as you serve them. 

 

87 


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88

Slow cooker pain au 

chocolat bread & 

butter pudding with 

vanilla crème fraîche 

Cooking time: 3 hours 10 mins Serves 8 

This recipe is the perfect solution for 

any pastries slightly past their best 

(you could use ordinary croissants 

instead, and add choc chips if you 

like). They are brought back to life 

in this comforting pudding. Cooking 

dairy in a slow cooker can be a little 

tricky as it can split, so the key is 

to cook this very gently on the low 

temperature. This is a brilliant recipe 

to prepare in advance, as the pastry 

soaks up the liquid more. Make up to 

step 3, cover and store in the fridge 

overnight for cooking the next day. 

• 20g unsalted butter, at room 

temperature, for greasing 

For the pudding: 

• 300g pain au chocolat, 

cut into 3cm cubes 

• 50g soft light brown sugar 

• 4 eggs 

• 500ml milk (semi-skimmed or full-fat) 

• 150ml double cream 

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon 

• 2 tsp vanilla extract 

1. Grease the slow cooker pot 

very well with the 20g roomtemperature 

butter (see Note). 

2. Tip the cubes of pain au chocolat 

into the pot and sprinkle over the sugar. 

3. Put the eggs, milk, double cream, 

cinnamon and vanilla in a jug or 

bowl and whisk until combined. 

Pour this over the pain au chocolat. 

4. Put a clean tea towel over the top of 

the slow cooker, then place the lid on 

top of that (this absorbs the water and 

stops the pudding from being wet). 

5. Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours 

until the top of the pudding is 

evenly cooked and doesn’t look wet 

in the middle. Serve immediately. 

6. This recipe serves 8 as it’s the 

right size for a 3.5 litre slow cooker. 

Keep leftovers in the fridge and 

re-heat in the microwave (or serve 

cold) for pudding the next day. 

Note: If your slow cooker is the ceramic 

type (and is NOT non-stick) I would 

recommend lining it with baking 

paper. Just squash a large sheet into 

the shape of the cooker (so there are 

no gaps for the pudding mixture to 

escape) and there will be no need 

to use the butter to grease it. 

Vanilla crème fraîche 

Prep time: 5mins Serves 4 

This quick mix is a good alternative 

to custard or ice cream. 

• 200ml crème fraîche 

(reduced fat if you prefer) 

• 2 tsp icing sugar, sifted 

• 2 tsp vanilla extract 

Mix the ingredients together 

in a bowl and serve. 

What’s for Dinner? In 

One Pot by Sarah Rossi 

is published by Harper 

Collins and is available 

for £20 hardback 

89 


“From a cult British scent 

start-up, this takes beeswax, 

iris, sandalwood and vetiver 

and – via some extraordinary 

alchemy – creates something 

that has everyone I know 

who’s tried it compulsively 

sniffing their own skin.” 

Jo describing Olfactive O’s Skin

Scents for the 

Season 

Josephine Fairley handpicks the finest winter fragrances that’ll have you returning for spritz after spritz 

Images: Skin image courtesy of Olfacttive O, all others: istockphoto.com/ Seng kui Lim / banusevim/ Wirestock / Suchat longthara 

There’s only one thing that has me looking forward to 

winter. It is the prospect of switching over my scent 

wardrobe to fragrances that I love, but which feel 

heavy as a faux fur coat on a summer’s day, almost physically 

making me hot and sweaty. For me, some fragrances are floaty 

frocks – my summer choices. Others are velvet, cashmere and 

– yes – opaque tights. And it’s at the exact getting-out-theopaque-tights 

moment in the calendar that I change over my 

perfumes, too. A real olfactory highlight, for me, in the year. 

You, of course, may be one of those people with a 

‘signature’ scent that you’ve worn for forever, and be sitting 

there muttering: ‘That’s irrelevant to me.’ But actually, I’d 

like to persuade you otherwise, because there’s a very good 

reason, at least occasionally, to switch up what you wear. 

Because I’ll bet you also say, at least sometimes: ‘Trouble 

is, I can’t smell it on myself any more.’ And that’s precisely 

because you do have a signature scent, and your nose – 

or rather, your brain – treats it like wallpaper. In other 

words, it just becomes a background smell, and you miss 

out on enjoying something you love, except perhaps for 

a minute or two when first applying. Imagine how bored 

your sense of taste would become if you ate the same food, 

morning, noon and night. Now think about how that 

translates to smell – and maybe at least experiment with 

some of the scents I’m about to go into raptures over. 

Autumn 2023 is actually a very good moment for 

fragrance. During the pandemic, fragrance launches got 

backed up like planes circling round Heathrow. When 

we were all liberated, there was much uncertainty in 

the marketplace, and a lot of the fragrances launched 

were ‘flankers’, existing perfumes which had been given 

a bit of a twist. But this season, the floodgates have 

opened, creativity abounds – and we perfumistas are 

happy people indeed. So, here’s what I’m loving… 

Guerlain Tobacco Honey, from £90 for 50ml eau de 

parfum. There’s a strong tobacco trend wafting through 

perfumery right now. It’s all a bit decadent, considering how 

long the smoking ban’s been in place – but in truth, tobacco 

as a perfumery note is quite different to standing in a fug 

at the King’s Head (for anyone who remembers how much 

they used to have to splash out on dry cleaning, back in the 

day). It tends to be grassy, woody, complex, yet warm and 

seductive, which is why perfumers are having so much fun 

with it. This Guerlain latest really does give the sense of honey 

drizzled with honey, its sweet seductiveness further enhanced 

by vanilla, tonka and sesame, all enveloped in a cigar-like 

smokiness; indeed, it begs for you to dress up in your very 

finest and take it out to a fancy bar, as far as I’m concerned. 

La Montaña Divine Sunset, from £22 for 10ml eau de 

parfum. Used up all your annual leave allocation? From a 

Sussex-based brand (well, in truth, founder Cassandra Hall 

is based between Brighton and a Spanish mountainside), 

Divine Sunset is a real holding-on-to-summer scent which 

invites you to bask in the warmth of orange blossom and 

musks. This is the scent equivalent of finding a protected spot 

on a sunny, blustery winter’s day and turning your face 

91 


to the sun for warmth – an invitation 

to travel, without ever leaving home. 

AKRO Bake, £80 for 50ml eau de 

parfum. Vanilla is probably the No.1 

most popular ingredient in perfumery 

this autumn, a strong revival of the 

‘gourmand’ (or ‘good-enough-to-eat’ 

family of fragrances). Some are supersweet 

(not my bag), but others are 

delicious, without being in any way 

sickly. I was lucky enough to attend 

the launch of this, over a tasting menu 

at The Berkeley’s patisserie (over 

which Parisian pastry darling Cedric 

Grolet presides), where the assembled 

company of perfume writers agreed: 

on paper, we shouldn’t like this, but 

we all fell, hook, line and sinker, 

spritzing and re-spritzing (I still am). 

It’s light, it’s fluffy – a lighter-than-air 

cake, in scented form, dusted with 

icing sugar and utterly moreish. 

Tom Ford Café Rose, from £106 

for 50ml eau de parfum. Not to be 

confused with the intensely rich Café 

Rose which was previously in Tom 

Ford’s collection, this has far less 

of an espresso jolt, and much more 

rosiness. It’s a completely beautiful 

rose, sheer and wearable, but with 

the coffee note adding intrigue (and 

more than a little addiction). 

Escentric Molecules H01, £180 

for 100ml eau de parfum. Escentric 

Molecules became famous when word 

got out that their fragrance acted like 

a pheromone, attracting the opposite 

sex. Strictly, it doesn’t – but plenty of 

people find it very, very smoochy – and 

this being mistletoe season, it might 

be worth experimenting to see just 

how magnetic the Escentric Molecules 

collection is. H01 is the latest addition 

to the line-up, a Harrods exclusive 

which promises to be ‘an olfactory 

oasis among the uncertainty of the 

modern world’ (and we probably 

all need that). It’s leathery, woody, 

musky, and really quite addictive 

– but I also find it grounding and 

calming, something I badly need as 

the Christmas crescendo builds. 

The above have all joined my own 

fragrance wardrobe for autumn/winter, 

but then, it’s my job, and I’m lucky 

enough to have them gifted to me, 

in many (but not all) cases. 

However, there are a couple 

of other ‘old friends’ in scent 

form that I’m thrilled to be 

rediscovering, as the seasons 

change – and I would 

encourage you to make a 

perfume pilgrimage to 

sniff some of them 

out, too. At the 

very least, rather as 

you might with wine, 

you’ll learn what you 

do and don’t like. But 

here are three other scents 

that to me, are winter-perfect… 

Floral Street Black Lotus, £68 for 

50ml eau de parfum. Floral Street’s 

very reasonably priced fragrances have 

just landed in a bunch of M&S stores, 

which makes them easier to check 

out. This is the scent equivalent of a 

black leather jacket slung over a floral 

frock and worn with a cashmere shawl, 

lashings of rosa Centifolia contrasted 

with red pepper and leathery saffron. 

Olfactive O Skin, £110 for 30ml 

extrait de parfum. You want 

nuzzleable, addictive, truly the ‘skin 

scent’, as promised by the name of 

this fragrance? From a cult British 

scent start-up, this takes beeswax, 

iris, sandalwood and vetiver and 

– via some extraordinary alchemy – 

creates something that has everyone 

I know who’s tried it compulsively 

sniffing their own skin. Quite simply, 

sublime – and fascinatingly, it works 

as a brilliant ‘primer’ for any other 

fragrance you might apply on top. 

Zara Fleur de Patchouli, £25.99 for 

100ml eau de parfum. Personally, I love 

a waft of patchouli, whose woody notes 

seems so perfectly suited to winter: a 

crisp swish of autumn leaves, a touch 

of fireside smoulder. Haven’t checked 

out Zara’s fragrances yet? You’re missing 

out. Super-affordable, they are created 

by some of the leading fragrance talents 

in the world (Jo Malone CBE was the 

perfume ‘designer’ for this one), but 

what I would say is: if you fall head over 

heels for something, stockpile it – they 

don’t tend to stick around on the shelf. 

Now, still determined 

to stick to your signature 

scent..? It’s a free country, 

but to me, it’s the scent 

equivalent of always 

going on holiday to 

the exact same place, 

eating toast for every 

meal, or painting 

every room in your 

house in a single 

colour. So, I say: do 

your senses a favour, and 

spritz around, this winter. 

See beautybible.com for more of 

Jo’s tried and tested beauty reviews.

Take on a lifesaving 

challenge 

Walk 

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Find your challenge today and 

support your local air ambulance! 

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Put your best 

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DrChristineWT204.indd DrChristineWT248.indd 1 02/12/2022 22/01/2019 10:21 12:31

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94

Wellbeing 

Posture 

Perfect 

Sarah Maxwell straightens out the facts 

to help you stand – and sit – tall 

istockphoto.com/halfpoint 

In our fast-paced lives, the way 

we hold ourselves is frequently 

overlooked. We often neglect 

the importance of maintaining good 

posture and the impact it has on our 

health and wellbeing. Posture plays a 

vital role in our overall health, affecting 

not only our physical wellbeing but 

also our mental and emotional state. 

Poor posture can lead to myriad 

issues, including chronic pain, muscle 

imbalances, reduced flexibility, 

decreased lung capacity and even 

digestive problems. It can also 

contribute to feelings of fatigue, 

stress, and low self-confidence. 

In the next few paragraphs – the first 

of a two-part exploration – I’m going 

to explain how to do some simple but 

very effective exercises, some of which 

you can get on with whilst seated. 

If you spend a lot of time at a desk and 

hunched over your keyboard, you put 

yourself at risk of neck and back pain. 

And even if you have an ergonomic 

chair and a back support, you might 

find the effects more significant than 

you’d expect. Below are some simple 

but effective ways you can correct 

your posture and make a difference to 

your overall health and wellbeing. 

I recommend doing these tension 

release movements as often as you 

can if you’re seated for an extended 

period of time. I have a blue sticky 

dot on my desk as a reminder (along 

with numerous other coloured dots 

on my phone, laptop, bathroom 

mirror... In fact, my house looks like 

a Damien Hirst print currently!) 

You can do these exercises sitting 

or standing, although it’s always a 

good idea to get out of your chair 

at regular intervals if possible. 

Shoulder raises 

Lift your shoulders up towards your 

ears (breathe in through your nose as 

you lift), then release your shoulders 

down (breathing out through your 

nose as you relax your shoulders 

back down). Repeat 10 times. 

Shoulder rolls 

Lift your shoulders up towards 

your ears, then roll them back and 

down in a circular motion one way 

and then the other. Make sure your 

breathing is steady and relaxed 

throughout. Repeat 10 times. 

Shoulder blade squeeze 

This is a great exercise to strengthen 

the muscles between your shoulder 

blades which will improve your upper 

back posture. Inhale through your nose 

as you squeeze your shoulder blades 

together, feeling your chest open up. 

Exhale and release. Repeat 10 times. 

Stand in an open doorway (you can 

also do this in a chair). Raise each 

arm up to the side, perpendicular to 

your body, bent at a 90 degree angle 

at your elbow with palms forward. 

Rest your palms on either side of the 

door frame – if it feels uncomfortable, 

try lowering your elbows down 

slightly. Slowly step forward with 

one foot. Feel the stretch in your 

shoulders and chest. Stand as upright 

as you can and try to avoid leaning 

forward. Hold for 15 -30 seconds. 

In next issue’s part two I’m going to 

delve deeper into posture and show 

you more ways to strengthen, stretch 

and help you alleviate tension, for 

a much improved quality of life. 

Sarah Maxwell is a multiple awardwinning 

Fitness and Lifestyle coach 

and mum of two who juggles a lot 

of balls. Find out more about Sarah 

and her work at sarahmaxwell.com 

Sarah shares her Fitness and Lifestyle tips 

on Instagram @sarahmaxwelllifestyle 

95 


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Nourish to Flourish 

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau 

explores the benefits of incorporating 

another healthy ingredient into our 

diets. This month it’s salmon 

istockphoto.com, miwa_in_oz , Magone, chokja, Elena Tsvetkova, Drazen Zigic, Agustin Vai 

Oily fish is often promoted as a positive food 

choice due to its multitude of health benefits, 

but what exactly are they? Salmon is a great 

source of protein and typically provides 15-20g of protein 

per 100g. It is known as a complete protein which 

means that it contains all nine essential amino acids 

in sufficient quantities, it is also packed with omega- 

3 fatty acids; the important good fats. These help to 

maintain healthy cholesterol levels and protect blood 

vessels from inflammatory damage. Omega-3s are also 

vital for the health of the brain and the nervous system, 

strengthening our immune systems and cellular growth 

and regulating our hormones. Ultimately we need to 

be looking at increasing our omega-3 fats and reducing 

saturated and trans fats; aim for up to two portions of 

oily fish every week and enjoy a variety of nuts and seeds 

in small quantities to help achieve these goals. Salmon 

also contains many key nutrients including selenium, 

phosphorus, and B vitamins. Its unique, delicate flavour 

and less ‘fishy’ taste can make it more appealing than many 

other varieties of fatty fish, such as sardines and mackerel, 

which often make it a popular choice with children too. 

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 

Salmon & vegetable parcels 

This tasty recipe is packed with healthy omega-3s 

Serves 2 

• 2 salmon fillets 

• 1 lemon – zest and 

juice half and thinly 

slice other half 

• 1 red pepper, sliced 

• 1 green pepper, sliced 

• 1 white onion, sliced 

• 6 cherry tomatoes, halved 

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C 

and cut rectangles of baking 

paper for each salmon fillet, 

big enough to fold over 

and make into a parcel. 

2. Place 2 slices of lemon 

at the centre of each paper 

and rest the salmon on top. 

Add the peppers, onions, 

tomatoes and asparagus 

around the salmon and 

top with the garlic, capers, 

• 10-12 asparagus stalks 

• 1 clove of garlic, 

finely chopped 

• 2 tsp capers, chopped 

• 1 sprig of rosemary 

• 2 sprigs of thyme 

• 2 tbsp olive oil 

• salt and black pepper 

lemon zest and juice, 

rosemary, thyme and a 

pinch of salt and pepper. 

Drizzle over the olive oil. 

3. Fold the paper up and 

twist the ends to make an 

enclosed parcel. Place on 

a baking tray and roast for 

approximately 18 minutes 

until the fish is cooked 

through. Enjoy with sweet 

potatoes or brown rice. 

97 


Trouble 

Ahead 

Jo Arnell comes up with some practical solutions to help protect 

your plants during challenging periods of weather 

It’s been a tough year. Where the 

plants are concerned, it’s been a 

monumentally difficult one. The 

weather has been, putting it kindly, 

challenging. This time last year it was 

raining, and it didn’t stop raining until 

the beginning of December – when 

it froze. Many of our tender shrubs 

– things like hebes and pittosporums 

– died. The weather didn’t really start 

warming up until late spring and then 

suddenly it went very hot and dry. 

Long periods of extreme weather – 

which is more the norm now – make 

growing conditions difficult for all 

the plants. Some will cope better than 

others – the weeds for example, have 

barely noticed and are still romping 

away – but many of our cultivated, 

carefully nurtured plants are suffering. 

We need to find ways to help the 

garden in tricky times, ways to keep our 

plants alive, or, if we do end up losing 

them, an understanding of why they 

have died. The reason that our native 

and wild plants seem on the whole 

to manage much better than most is 

because they are ideally suited to their 

environment and able to withstand 

some of the effects of climate change 

– in the short term. Those from other 

places and the cultivated versions of 

them, where the soil and atmospheric 

conditions are very different, are only 

just at home here, so prolonged changes 

in the weather can be the final straw. 

Soil matters 

Your soil is going to go a long way 

to keep your plants healthy – or not, 

depending on several factors. It’s 

worth doing a soil test to find out 

the pH. Most soils are neutral, but 

if you have acidic soil you’ll be able 

to grow plants like camellias and 

azaleas. If it is alkaline, then lilac, 

lavender and vegetables like cabbage 

and Brussels sprouts will do well. 

The structure of the soil is important 

too. If yours is heavy clay, it may 

be waterlogged in winter and hard 

as concrete in summer. Sandy soils 

on the other hand are free draining 

– which means that they are very 

dry in summer and tend to be low 

in nutrients. Improve heavy clay by 

adding organic matter – manure or 

compost. Improve sandy soil by adding 

the same thing – organic matter will 

break up a clay soil and make it more 

free draining, and will help a sandy soil 

to hold onto moisture and nutrients. 

Good drainage is important, 

especially through long periods of 

wet, cold weather. Many plants more 

suited to Mediterranean conditions 

suffer in a wet winter because the 

area around their roots is saturated. 

This is often worse than the cold. 


Garden 

Many of the 

Mediterranean species 

– lavender, rosemary 

etc – can withstand the 

cold, but not prolonged 

periods of wet weather. 

This is why they are hard 

to grow in clay soil. Clay 

holds onto water and is 

very slow to dry out and 

warm up in the spring. 

istockphoto.com/ Nature, food, landscape, travel / Wirestock / scholes1 

Read my leaves 

You can tell a lot about a plant 

from its leaves. The size, texture and 

colour of the leaf will indicate the 

sort of conditions it has adapted 

to. Big floppy leaves with a large 

surface area – think jungle and pond 

side plants – are trying to get rid of 

excess water, whereas those with thin, 

needle-like leaves are trying to hold 

onto water. In fact, in the case of 

desert plants, the leaves have become 

spikes. Tough, leathery leaves, or 

a waxy coating will prevent water 

loss. Hairy or woolly leaves are also 

adaptations to arid conditions. 

Dark leaves absorb more light 

than pale, so the deep green leaves 

of a holly, or a camellia are ideally 

suited to shade. Pale, silvery or 

grey leaves, on the other hand, 

reflect light well, so won’t be 

overwhelmed in harsh sunlight. 

The root of it 

The rhizosphere is the area directly 

around the roots of the plant, a root 

‘microbiome’ made up of bacteria, 

fungi and other micro-organisms, 

spores, seeds and larval stages of tiny 

insects. It is the interaction of the biota 

within the rhizosphere – a bit like in 

our gut microbiome – that determines 

plant health. Plants form symbiotic 

relationships with soil bacteria and 

fungi that enable them to access 

nutrients, survive attack by pests and 

withstand periods of difficult weather. 

Drought 

Long periods with no rain are a disaster 

for plants that need moisture. We can 

help them by mulching at the end of 

the winter while the soil (in theory) 

is still damp. Mulching will help the 

soil hold onto moisture, suppress 

competitive weeds and improve the 

structure – feeding the soil ecosystem 

and encouraging the microbes that 

will come to the aid of plants. 

If there isn’t a hosepipe ban then 

water, but water carefully. Well 

established plants should be able to 

cope without regular watering, but 

anything planted in the last two years – 

especially woody plants –will need some 

help. Water plants deeply, rather than 

sprinkling them every night. It is better 

to water once a week, but to make 

sure the water gets to the roots. Light 

watering will evaporate before the plant 

can use it, or encourage the roots of the 

plant to stay near the surface of the soil. 

Watering at night is probably best, but 

remember that slugs and snails come 

out at night and will really enjoy the 

cool damp conditions. Watering very 

early in the morning is the alternative 

– in the middle of the day most of 

your hard work will evaporate. 

99 


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100 

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

Garden 

Pots are very prone to drying out, 

especially little ones, so try to plant up 

groups of plants in larger containers, or 

position small pots near to one another 

Most soils are neutral, 

but if you have acidic 

soil you’ll be able to grow 

plants like camellias 

Pots are very prone to drying out, 

especially little ones, so try to plant up 

groups of plants in larger containers, or 

position small pots near to one another. 

Place a saucer underneath to act as a 

reservoir – but remember to remove this 

in the autumn to stop the plants’ roots 

wallowing in water through the winter. 

It pays to install water butts – rain 

water is better for plants and will make 

all the difference, especially if there is 

a hosepipe ban. In that situation using 

grey water – from the bath or your 

washing up bowl – will be fine too. 

Storms and high winds 

Wind can be hugely destructive, pulling 

down power lines, fences and uprooting 

trees. Protecting plants in these extreme 

conditions is nigh on impossible, but 

there are precautions that can be taken 

to provide some shelter. Semi-permeable 

barriers, for instance, are better than 

solid ones, as these will slow down the 

wind, whereas a solid fence or wall 

will cause the wind to go up and over, 

causing it to whip down the other side, 

or channel along and cause havoc. 

A very fierce wind will just blow the 

fence down. Hedges work well to help 

prevent wind damage, because the wind 

filters through this living windbreak. 

Choose a good, robust hedge if 

it is to act as a shelter belt – laurel, 

elaeagnus, hawthorn and hornbeam are 

good in exposed situations. Remember 

to leave a gap between the hedge and 

the flowerbed to enable access for 

pruning and to keep the roots of the 

hedge away from the plants, as they 

will also be competing for moisture. 

Winter weather 

Our winters are generally mild, but 

every few years Arctic blasts and 

Beasts from the East come swooping 

in, bringing snow and hard frosts, 

killing the tender plants that normally 

just about make it through an 

average winter. Last year hebes and 

pittosporums were badly affected. 

Larger leaved salvias like amistad 

were killed too, although some of 

these did a good job of playing dead 

until May, then suddenly springing 

back to life – possibly once they 

were already on the compost heap. 

Plants native to the northern 

hemisphere tend to lose their leaves 

in the winter and go into a state of 

dormancy. Getting plants through 

extreme cold, when they have no 

adaptations to it, is a challenge. 

Fleece may help to keep off air frosts, 

mulching with organic matter – like 

laying a warm duvet over the ground 

– will provide some protection for 

dahlia tubers and other tender roots. 

If you have a greenhouse that can be 

kept frost-free, or even a porch or 

cool utility room, you’ll be able to 

overwinter those in pots, or cuttings 

of plants grown in the garden. 

Many of the Mediterranean species – 

lavender, rosemary etc – can withstand 

the cold, but not prolonged periods 

of wet weather. This is why they are 

hard to grow in clay soil. Clay holds 

onto water and is very slow to dry out 

and warm up in the spring. Plants 

like lavender need free-draining, or 

shallow, chalky soil, so may well be 

better grown in a container – one 

lifted onto feet, or up on bricks to 

stop it from sitting in a puddle. 

Good preparation is the key. It may 

well be mild this year, but who knows. 

One thing is sure – winter is coming. 

Join Jo in her garden in Woodchurch, 

Kent, for gardening classes and 

workshops. Find out more and 

book at hornbrookmanor.co.uk. 

101 


Garden 

Heart 

of the 

Hive 

Sue Whigham finds out about The Buzz Project, an inspirational 

initiative set up by Syrian bee expert Dr. Ryad Alsous 

One of the last things that Dr. 

Ryad Alsous did before he 

left his flat in Damascus was 

to open one of his windows a fraction. 

As the civil war raged, his block of 

flats had been bombed twice during 

what were daily attacks in the eastern 

part of the city. Realising that there 

would be no-one to feed the doves 

who had shared his balcony for years, 

he decided that they should be able to 

use his flat as he had no further use for 

it. Five years later he asked his cousin 

to visit the flat and take a picture for 

him. He found it was full of life as the 

doves had moved in and had happily 

colonised the place. Dr. Alsous felt 

it gave him validation to have left to 

start a new life in a safe country. 

Despite receiving death threats, Dr. 

Alsous was the last of his immediate 

family to leave Syria and in 2013 

he found himself in Huddersfield 

where he had relatives who had 

settled there over the past forty years. 

He found it somewhere where the 

community both helped him to 

settle in and to rebuild his life. 

He is a world renowned expert on 

bees and his experience both lecturing 

at Damascus University and being Head 

of Beekeeping – when he was in charge 

of 500 hives – stood him in good 

stead when he arrived in the UK. He 

began volunteering at the Huddersfield 

Beekeeping Association and through 

them a lady offered him both a hive 

and a colony of British Black Bees. He 

then wrote a proposal for The Buzz 

Project and met with the then Mayor 

of Huddersfield. It was through this 

meeting that he was offered a piece 

istockphoto.com/ Chisnikov 


British Black Bee images 

courtesy of Helen Gentle 

istockphoto.com/ Chisnikov 

of land to keep hives on by the local 

Canal and River Trust – who then 

refused to accept any rent from him. 

And so The Buzz Project was launched. 

The idea of the project was, and 

is, to offer fellow refugees and job 

seekers the chance to integrate, develop 

language skills, and to regain their self 

esteem and confidence whilst learning 

a trade. Many of the volunteers are 

now self employed and have their own 

hives from which they produce honey, 

essential oils, candles and organic 

cosmetics. The project also has open 

days when the volunteers educate 

schoolchildren about bees and how vital 

they are in the general scheme of things. 

I was reading a report produced by 

Friends of the Earth which tells us 

that it would cost UK farmers £1.8 

billion a year to pollinate crops without 

them (if indeed that were remotely 

feasible). So no bees equals no plants, 

no animals and subsequently, no food. 

Dr. Alsous was one of the inspirations 

for the bestselling novel by Christy 

Lefteri, The Beekeeper of Aleppo. As 

the daughter of refugees herself, she 

had spent several months in Athens 

volunteering with Syrian refugees 

where the seeds of her novel began 

to form. Having discovered an article 

written by Dr. Alsous, she contacted 

him through Facebook and he invited 

her up to Huddersfield to see how The 

Buzz Project worked and to “introduce 

her to the world of beekeeping”. She 

trusted him enough to meet his bees 

without wearing protective clothing, 

as he so obviously had such an affinity 

with them and she remembers the 

experience as “like being in a 

103 


Ilex Nellie R Stevens Ligustrum japonicum (pleached) Magnolia grandiflora 

Ct PvC 

t SC tS 

Photinia Red Robin 

Privacy in gardens can be created using 

trees to hide or screen out an undesirable 

view. Trees grown for this purpose often 

have a clear stem up to fence panel height 

around 1.8-2m with a full bushy canopy 

above, forming a good screen above the 

fence line. This type of screening is 

particularly useful if the garden is 

overlooked by neighbouring properties 

or to retain lower-level exposure to an 

attractive wall or area. 

Semi-mature trees can be planted to 

achieve effective screening from the offset 

with evergreens being preferred for this 

purpose as they screen throughout the year. 

However, a planting scheme that includes 

deciduous trees can provide rich contrast 

and seasonal interest. 

Screening trees 

Practicality Brown can supply a range of 

top quality trees for screening, which are 

particularly useful for creating privacy. 

This is our selection of the best screening 

trees, and all are in stock at our nursery in 

Iver, Bucks: 

• Eriobotrya japonica 

• Ilex aquifolium Nellie R Stevens 

• Ilex castaneifolia 

• Ligustrum japonicum 

• Magnolia grandiflora 

• Osmanthus aquifolium 

• Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’ 

• Pinus nigra 

• Prunus laurocerasus ‘Novita’ 

• Viburnum lucidum 

Pleached trees 

We also have a range of pleached trees 

which can be used in the same way; 

pleached trees can be effective for formal 

screening and where space is limited. 

These are our best trees that are in stock: 

• Ilex aquifolium Nellie R Stevens 

• Ligustrum japonicum 

• Magnolia grandiflora 

• Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’ 

• Prunus laurocerasus ‘Novita’ 

tree & edge ursery 

As well as the screening trees, Practicality 

Brown grows a range of premium quality 

Practical Instant Hedge at the nursery in 

Iver. You are welcome to visit to view both 

trees and hedges. 

www.pracbrown.co.uk 

Conac us for deails 

email rees@pracbrown.co.uk 

or call 01753 652022 for more informaion

Garden 

Dr. Alsous has been carrying out research comparing 

the British Black Bee with four other strains, 

including Syrian bees, and has found that our native 

bees came out top in their production of honey. 

dangerous but beautiful bubble”. 

The Dark European Bee, or British 

Black Bee, Apis mellifera mellifera, was 

the original native bee in the UK and 

by the 1920s was virtually extinct. 

Dr. Alsous is very much involved in 

promoting these bees over imported 

bees (usually from Italy). He is joined 

in this by Sir Tim Smit, inspirational 

co-founder of both The Eden Project 

and The Lost Gardens of Heligan, 

who suggests that we need a network 

of apiarists to champion these bees. As 

he says, “we super love these bees”. 

At the Eden Project they are working 

with B4 to set up a conservation and 

research project to champion the British 

Black Bee and to recognise the need 

to create reserves and help the bees 

develop ‘strongholds’ throughout the 

country. Sir Tim has been instrumental 

in both promoting the British Black 

Bee and setting up a fourth reserve. He 

confirms that there is a lot of interest 

amongst members of the public to both 

gardens and that Cornwall is one of the 

counties where these bees are thriving. 

It seems that most beekeepers 

(approximately 80%) keep the less 

hardy European bees which have 

a shorter life span but do have the 

advantage of producing large broods. 

However, it seems that the European 

strains ‘stay in and sulk’ at the first sign 

of bad weather. Both men champion 

the British Black Bee for a variety of 

reasons, which include the fact that 

they are hardy and can cope with the 

vagaries of British weather and – as they 

are hairy – are less prone to any form 

of mite. They also groom each other 

which helps in keeping disease away. Dr. 

Alsous has been carrying out research 

comparing the British Black Bee with 

four other strains, including Syrian bees, 

and has found that our native bees came 

out top in their production of honey. 

Finally, the HS2 project has been, 

and still is very controversial since 

its inception and has of course 

constantly been in the media. But for 

some, hopefully, good news. I read 

that HS2 has, it seems, partnered 

with the Great British Bee Project to 

plant up millions of native trees and 

shrubs along the ‘green corridor’ of 

the Phase One rail line of HS2 which 

will encourage the Black British Bee 

to once again flourish. They are to be 

monitored over the next few years too. 

I know that Dr. Alsous mentions 

limes and hawthorn as favourites of 

the British Black Bee. Perhaps any of 

us who has room for a new tree this 

winter might bear this in mind and 

perhaps plant one or other – or both. 

Sue Whigham can be contacted on 

07810 457948 for gardening advice. 

105 


More than Excellent 

An independent school for boys aged 2-13 years, with co-educational nursery. 

Set in 45 acres of beautiful countryside with school bus routes including to SW London. 

Book An Individual Tour 

To register your interest, please e-mail 

admissions@parkside-school.co.uk or call 01932 862749 

parkside-school.co.uk 

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106

Meet theHead 

We enjoyed finding out about Nicole Janssen, 

Head at Parkside School 

What or who inspired you to go into teaching? 

I had the most incredible piano teacher 

growing up who was so outside the box 

that she challenged my thinking from the 

very beginning. Having been rather bored 

in school, I found her approach so creative 

and motivating, that I would go home 

and practise for hours after every lesson. 

As a result, I feel that I am creative and 

very hands-on as a Head and I am always 

mindful of inspiring future generations. I 

still teach and wouldn’t want to do my job 

if I didn’t have that special connection with 

my pupils. I also encourage my staff to cast 

aside the textbooks and use their creativity 

and imaginative teaching style. I expect 

them to spark curiosity and a willingness 

to be open minded and pursue learning 

through enquiry. Lessons are practical 

and fast-paced, engaging all pupils. 

What do you love about Parkside? 

Everything! Throughout my career, I have 

mostly worked in co-ed settings and so I 

had to evaluate how to get the best out 

of the boys in an all-boys environment. I 

love working with them – they possess an 

energetic appreciation and we know what 

makes boys tick. I have a very privileged 

responsibility and have the most motivated 

and like-minded team I’ve ever worked 

with. We are never afraid to roll our sleeves 

up so that the boys have the best education 

and preparation for Senior School. Also, 

our grounds are incredible; it is amazing to 

walk around and appreciate the seasonal 

changes, which we make sure we share 

with the boys. They learn outdoors as 

much as possible and enjoy outdoor sport 

and activities such as wellbeing walks. 

When I was growing up one of my 

favourite series of books was Swallows 

and Amazons and I’m proud to say 

that Parkside’s likeness to it has been 

noticed by many visitors – it’s a beautiful 

school and a very special place. 

What are the greatest challenges of your role? 

I don’t feel there are challenges as such, I’m 

so passionate about getting it right. I’m 

determined to do the best for ‘my’ boys 

and I want to teach them about being a 

really good person. At Parkside, we go 

way beyond kindness (kindness is a given) 

and, happily, the boys are very responsive 

to this. I want to ensure the whole school 

community has time for one another and 

that they really understand the true meaning 

of appreciation, gratitude and family. My 

aim is for the boys to learn the satisfaction 

of working hard for what they achieve. 

What do you most enjoy about your job? 

I thrive on knowing that I really make a 

difference, as I watch these boys develop 

into well-rounded, excited, driven young 

men, who hold themselves with respect. I’m 

proud to have shifted the focus from judging 

the boys on exam results, to refining their 

social intelligence and that your respect for 

yourself and others is what gets you through 

in life. For example, we have established 

close links with a local old people’s home, 

so that the boys learn to value and respect 

107 

everybody. It’s charming to hear their stories 

when they return from a visit, but also 

the feedback from the home about how 

much these visits benefit the residents. 

My whole mantra is ‘make it happen’ and 

I’m determined to pass that on to the boys. 

What are you looking forward to? 

Christmas! I absolutely love it and we go all 

out with a wonderful tree and decorations. 

We also host a fantastic Christmas fair 

along with many other festive events. It is 

a time for our whole community to join as 

a family, to soak up the atmosphere. I do 

hope the tradition stays with the boys long 

after they’ve left the school as we encourage 

a huge amount of social interaction and an 

appreciation of the magic Christmas brings. 

A few of Nicole’s favourites 

Book: I go back to Dickens again and 

again. I like to revisit the classics because 

I find that I still learn things from them, 

even though I have read the before. 

City: I’ve had the most fantastic time 

in San Francisco. The whole history 

and the kaleidoscope of different 

experiences, the diversity, it’s magical. 

Christmas there is out of this world. 

Song: I love the musicality of 

Purple Rain, it’s so powerful. 

Explore what Parkside School has to 

offer at parkside-school.co.uk 


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108

If Good isn’t ‘it’ 

Education 

then who is? 

Mike Piercy, educational 

consultant and previous 

Head of The New Beacon, 

shares his thoughts on 

spelling, punctuation 

and grammar 

istockphoto.com/ Nuthawut Somsuk 

Seen on an advertising board on a 

Southeastern train this summer: 

‘Yes, ships do take longer 

than planes. Good isn’t it.’ 

Is the second sentence a statement 

about ‘catch and chase’ or is it a 

question? The very act of typing 

those words is painful, the fingers 

instinctively hovering; hesitating over 

punctuation keys. The marketeers have 

composed a clever message – agreed – 

which I suspect may well be deliberate, 

meant to be emphatic, reinforcing 

the point, trumping all technicality. 

Regrettably, in my view. I suppose, 

therefore, the advert has done its job: 

I’m thinking about it. Yet, my thoughts 

are not perhaps those desired by this 

Popular and Old British cruising brand: 

I am critical of what young people 

will notice and subliminally learn. 

Teaching in its very essence and (so 

it follows) teachers, should harbour a 

partiality for pedantry. Those who teach 

English, while wishing to see creativity 

and looking critically at literature in a 

search of human understanding, also 

seek accuracy. Much has been written 

about the ‘new’ language which has 

emerged through emails, texts, social 

media, iconography; the fear that the 

richness of language will be lost. For 

young people there is a blurring, a 

diminution of the distinction between 

formal and informal: when to do 

what; and how? Yes, language must 

evolve, as it has always done, but there 

should still be precision, an attention 

to technical correctness, which young 

people need to learn and then apply. 

Lynne Truss explores and bemoans 

the decline of punctuation in her 

book ‘Eats Shoots & Leaves’ – in an 

observant and delightfully dry, wry 

way. As an English teacher I have been 

trying to embed the importance of 

punctuation in my charges for many 

years. Introducing direct speech I 

would write on the board, without any 

punctuation, ‘what time is lunch dad 

asked mum’ questioning the children 

on its meaning. A good discussion 

would always follow – gender 

stereotyping sometimes featuring. 

Teaching the (admittedly) complex 

use of the apostrophe to the youngest 

a virulent outbreak of ‘apostrophitis’ 

would break out, the ‘s’ at the end 

of any word being blessed with this 

oft misused (proliferating or absent) 

punctuation mark. Some have argued 

the apostrophe is now redundant. ‘Its’ 

sees the most frequent aberration: how 

can the distinction between possession 

and contraction be misunderstood? 

But it’s not just children. How 

many reports have I read, proof-read 

and corrected over the years: millions? 

One doesn’t wish to point fingers 

but the word practice, or practice, 

will feature most often in sports and 

peripatetic music reports. ‘She needs 

to practise her shooting skills’ – ‘He 

must attend the lunchtime practice 

if he is to improve’… The analogy of 

‘advise’ and ‘advice’ provides an easier 

differentiation between verb and noun 

– respectively. It is not uncommon 

in the media – including the 

broadsheets – to find incorrect usage 

of collective nouns: ‘The team were…’ 

is incorrect. A team is a singular unit: 

the team was. And so it goes on. 

The amusements of Sheridan’s 

Malaprop and Shakespeare’s 

Dogberry aside, both of whom have 

entertained many an audience, we 

encourage in children the proper 

use of language and vocabulary. In 

correctly distinguishing between 

‘imply’ and ‘infer’ I would tell my 

pupils they had a better understanding 

than most adults. To imply is to 

suggest; to infer is to make your 

own subjective interpretation – the 

difference between send and receive. 

In aspiring to more sophisticated 

language children will inevitably, often 

amusingly, make mistakes. I would 

send a formal invitation to our Year 

8s (no apostrophe) for their Leavers’ 

Dinner, instructing them to reply 

in kind. One wrote, ‘X thanks Mr. 

Piercy for his kind invitation and 

will do the honour of attending.’ 

109 


Look to the 

Finance 

Future 

Lee Wood APFS, Chartered Financial Planner 

at Financial Advice & Services Ltd, 

explains the potential benefits of financial planning 

istockphoto.com/ JWand_Prapan 

When asked about their 

goals and objectives for 

the future, many would 

place financial security high on their 

list of priorities. Achieving this goal, 

however, takes forward thinking and 

planning and whilst it is possible 

to create a plan yourself, using an 

Independent Financial Adviser can 

provide expert advice and reassurance, 

help identify areas that you may not 

have considered, and save time too. 

A good first step in building a 

financial plan is to first establish the 

most important areas to focus on, as at 

different stages of our lives, our priorities 

will change. For example, a young family 

looking to purchase their first home 

may well be focused on obtaining a 

mortgage or protecting their family in 

the event of death or ill-health. Whilst 

long-term saving and pension planning 

would naturally be desirable at this time 

too, affordability may well dictate that 

these areas take a lower priority for the 

time being. Other life events that can 

lead to a significant shift in financial 

priorities are reaching retirement age, 

getting married or facing divorce. 

Engaging with an Independent Adviser 

can help identify the most important 

areas that need to be tackled first. 

Financial planning is a personal 

process. Everyone’s circumstances 

are different, and it is therefore not 

possible to create a financial planning 

template that best suits every possible 

situation. Engaging with an experienced 

and independent financial planner 

can introduce you to solutions and 

opportunities that may not immediately 

be apparent. These can range from ways 

to reduce your tax liability, to reviewing 

an existing investment portfolio to 

reduce risk and increase diversification. 

Taking a holistic view can also identify 

gaps in a financial plan, such as the 

need to arrange additional life cover, 

to establishing a plan to fund school 

fees or university costs in the future. 

None of us know what the future 

holds and even the best laid plans 

may need to adapt to a change in 

circumstances. This is why reviewing 

your finances on a regular basis is so 

important, as it provides the opportunity 

to consider whether you’re on track 

to meet your goals and understand 

how existing plans and arrangements 

may need to adapt. Holding a formal 

financial planning review at least once a 

year can also be the ideal time to look at 

annual planning opportunities, such as 

using available tax allowances or making 

the most of pension contributions. It can 

also make sure that your finances are not 

affected by any changes in legislation that 

have occurred since the previous review. 

Investment is a long-term process 

and markets will go through bouts of 

volatility from time to time. Behavioural 

finance studies show that investors can 

make rash decisions to sell investments 

when market conditions are difficult, 

which may not be the correct course 

of action to take. It is at this point that 

the true value of financial planning 

advice can be found. Speaking to an 

Adviser can provide reassurance and 

a calm voice through market turmoil, 

helping you focus on the longer 

term and taking an impartial view 

of your overall financial position. 

Using a Financial Adviser to create 

a financial plan, and undertake regular 

reviews, can provide many benefits, from 

reducing the amount of tax you pay to 

providing guidance and reassurance. 

Studies have also shown that it can 

boost returns over the long term. It is, 

however, important to choose the right 

Adviser. Independent firms can provide 

advice and recommend solutions from 

across the whole of the marketplace, 

whereas a Restricted Adviser may only 

be able to recommend a limited range of 

options. Also consider using a Chartered 

firm, as this brings further comfort 

that the Advisers are highly qualified, 

and the business will aim to deliver the 

highest standards of professionalism. 

For more information on the services 

available at Financial Advice & Services 

Ltd, see financial-advice.co.uk 

The content of this article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. It is for general information only and should not be relied upon when 

making any financial planning decisions. You should always obtain professional independent advice based on your circumstances. Financial Advice & Services 

Limited, Independent Financial Advisers, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.. Text © Financial Advice & Services Ltd 2023 


EVENT CARVED NAME ANGEL HEREAT WEALDEN TIMES MIDWINTER FAIR 

BEAUTY AND 

THE BEAST AT 

THE HARLEQUIN 

THEATRE 

EVENT NAME 

SARAH HERELOUISE DIX 

What’s On 

this Season 

CHARITY EVENTS 

Sat 11 Nov 7pm 

Nizels Golf Club, 

Tonbridge, TN11 8NU 

AROUND THE WORLD 

DINNER HILDENBOROUGH 

You are invited to a spectacular 

“Around the World Dinner 

Hildenborough”, from the highly 

popular Around the World Dinner 

series, organised by the Hospices of 

Hope Team. Grab your sunglasses 

and a suitcase as this world travel 

dinner promises a fabulous evening 

of great food, dancing, musical acts 

and more! ‘Boarding passes’ are £45 

per person and include a drinks 

reception in the ‘departure lounge’; a 

sumptuous three-course dinner with 

coffee; plus on-board entertainment! 

Hospices of Hope are dedicated 

to supporting the development of 

palliative and end-of-life care in south 

eastern Europe. Help to raise muchneeded 

funds and enjoy a great night 

out too.Book ASAP to secure your 

places. 

Tickets: £45 

hospicesofhope.co.uk/events/aroundthe-world-dinner-hildenborough 

COURSES 

Sat 18 Nov 10.30am-3.30pm 

Sarah Louise Dix, 57 St 

John’s Street, Farncombe, Nr 

Godalming, Surrey GU7 3EH 

ONE DAY FOOSTOOL 

UPHOLSTERY COURSE 

Enrol on this workshop to 

learn from Sarah herself. This 

introduction to upholstery for 

beginners is taught in classes 

of no more than 10 students. 

You’ll need to bring your own 

fabric (remnants are available 

to buy). All tools and other 

materials are provided. You will 

learn to upholster a beech frame 

footstool. Booking is essential. 

Tickets: £150 

sarahlouisedix.co.uk 

FAIRS & MARKETS 

Thurs 16 – Sat 18 Nov 

The Hop Farm, Paddock 

Wood, Kent TN12 6PY 

WEALDEN TIMES 

MIDWINTER FAIR 

Who is the fairest of them 

all? Do we really need to ask? 

111 

Welcome to Festive Shopping 

at its Finest. Our heated, 

interlinked marquees are full 

of celebratory spirit. You’ll find 

all your favourite exhibitors 

plus a wide selection of exciting 

new stands from independent 

businesses who’ll be selling 

gorgeous fashion, imaginative 

gifts, sustainable homeware and 

clothing, art and crafts, home 

and gardenware, beauty and 

everything you need to create 

the perfect Christmas. Head to 

the Holly or Ivy Café for a wellearned 

tasty lunch or snack. We 

look forward to welcoming you. 

Tickets and info at 

wealdentimes-fair.co.uk 

Thurs 16 – Sun 19 Nov 

Loseley Park, Guildford, 

Surrey GU3 1HS 

LOSELY HOUSE 

CHRISTMAS FAIR 

Step into a stylish, creative world 

and enjoy Christmas shopping 

at its best. Staged next to 

Loseley House, over 65 makers 

present their unique products in 

comfortable, festively decorated 

pavilions surrounding the Tithe 

Barn. Solve the Christmas list 

and treat yourselves to exciting 

artwork, fabulous fashions, 

dazzling jewellery and elegant 

candles and homewares. Enjoy a 

selection of artisan cheeses, gins, 

chocolates and scrumptious rum 

to add to your festive table. Free, 

easy parking and refreshments 

from the Loseley House team 

ensure a super day of shopping, 

browsing and enjoying friends 

company. Pre pay online or 

buy tickets on the door. 

ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk/ 

losely-house-christmas-fair 

Wed 22 & Thu 23 Nov 

Farnham Maltings 

FARNHAM MALTINGS 

CHRISTMAS FAIR 

Deck the halls with Christmas 

cheer. Find the perfect gift for 

everyone on your list at Farnham 

Maltings’ annual Christmas Fair. 

With over 140 stallholders to 

visit, the fair is bursting at the 

seams with unique items not 

found on the high street. Browse 

and buy from makers across a 

wide range from textiles and 

jewellery to ceramics, accessories, 

stocking fillers, decorations, 

seasonal food and more. Plus, 

enjoy late night shopping until 

9pm with two-for-one prosecco 

on Wednesday evening. 

Tickets: £3 adults, 

under 18s go free 

farnhammaltings.com 

MUSIC 

Sat 4 –Sun 26 Nov 

Venues acrross Wimbledon 

WIMBLEDON MUSIC 

FESTIVAL 

What an incredible opportunity. 

This in one of the ‘most 

distinguished festivals in the 

UK’ where world-class music 


Neighbours 

COLETTE MANN 

By Popular Demand 

PHIL REID 

PAUL HOLMAN ASSOCIATES PRESENT 

CBeebies Presenter 

JOANNA 

ADEYINKA-BURFORD 

Children’s TV Legend & MasterChef 

DAVE BENSON PHILLIPS 

Redhill Favourite 

SIMON BASHFORD 

Director ANDREW LYNFORD | Choreographer ALEX WOLF | Musical Director ASHLEY HARVEY 

8 - 31 DECEMBER 2023 

BOX OFFICE 01737 276500 

harlequintheatre.co.uk 

S A N D O W N A N T I Q U E S H O M E & I N T E R I O R S F A I R 

SUNDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 

S A N D O W N P A R K R A C E C O U R S E , P O R T S M O U T H R O A D , 

E S H E R , S U R R E Y , K T 1 0 9 A J 

OPENS 10AM - 3PM 

£2 ADMISSION 

(CASH ONLY ON THE GATE) 

(CHILDREN UNDER 16YRS FREE) 

FREE PARKING 

HOT & COLD REFRESHMENTS ON SITE 

INSIDE & OUTSIDE STALLS 

(ONLY ASSISTANCE DOGS ARE PERMITTED AT SANDOWN PARK RACECOURSE) 

A N A B U N D A N C E O F A N T I Q U E S , C O L L E C T A B L E S , F U R N I T U R E , 

P A I N T I N G S , V I N T A G E C L O T H I N G , C E R A M I C S , J E W E L L E R Y , 

G A R D E N E P H E M E R A , S I L V E R A N D M U C H M U C H M O R E 

For all bookings & general enquiries please contact 

01932 230 946 enquiries@sunburyantiques.com 

www.sunburyantiques.com 


112

music comes to Wimbledon. 

Highlights include The Juilliard 

Quartet, the most important 

quartet in US history; Rachel 

Podger & Brexon Baroque 

with Bach’s finest concertos; 

the Wigmore Ensemble; Sofya 

Gulyak, Leeds Piano competition 

winner; Philharmonia Orchestra; 

Academy Choir and many 

more besides. The musical 

superstars are heading to 

Wimbledon, don’t miss them. 

Tickets and info available at 

wimbledonmusicfestival.co.uk 

PANTOMIMES 

Sat 2 Dec – Sun 7 Dec 

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, 

Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3UX 

CINDERELLA 

This year’s stellar line up includes 

EastEnders and Detectorists 

favourite Lucy Benjamin as the 

Wicked Stepmother, Radio’s 

Peter Gordon in a hilarious 

Ugly Stepsister duo alongside 

Guildford Shakepeare Company 

co-founder Matt Pinches, and 

CBeebies star James Merry for 

his third Guildford panto. It 

promises to be full of slapstick 

and slosh, music and magic. 

BSL interpreted performances 

on 7 Dec at 10.30am and 

13 Dec at 7pm. Relaxed 

performance on 16 Dec at 

10.30am. Dementia friendly 

performance on 5 Jan at 1pm. 

Tickets: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 

istockphoto.com/ RolfSt & michelangeloop & ViewApart 

Fri 8 Dec – Sun 31 Dec 

The Harlequin Theatre & 

Cinema, Warwick Quadrant, 

Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1NN 

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 

Set in the French village of 

Populaire Sur la Mare, a host of 

creative roles, colourful scenery 

and a fast-paced story bring this 

pantomime tale right up to date 

with plenty of shenanigans, more 

than a trifle of tomfoolery and 

an amuse-bouche of comedy 

capers. Beauty and the Beast 

champions one of today’s most 

relevant pantomime stories; 

will Belle see beyond the Beast’s 

imposing façade and discover 

love is more than skin deep? 

Relaxed performance on 

17 Dec at 10.30. BSL 

interpreted performance 

on 14 Dec at 5.30pm. 

Tickets: from £13 

harlequintheatre.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 100 words 

that should include date, time, venue, 

contact for enquiries and any entry price to 

whatson@priceless-group.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 next issue is 6th November. 

01293 553636 hawth.co.uk 

01293 553636 • hawth.co.uk 

P 

O 

P 

U P 

Located at the Harlequin Pop up in 

The Belfry! 

Visit www. harlequintheatre.co.uk 

for more details! 

FARNHAM MALTINGS 

PANTO AT YVONNE 

ARNAUD 

Friday 15 th - Sunday 24 th 

December 

113 


Surrey Homes Santas North Pole Ad.indd 2 23/10/2023 16:54

Jane Howard explains how 

Coopers Farm prepares the flock 

for the start of the ‘sheep year’ 

November means tupping time at 

Coopers Farm, when the rams and 

the ewes get together and the whole ‘sheep 

year’ starts over again. But before that happens 

there has been lots of pre-match planning to make 

sure everyone is match fit and ready for action. 

The ewes operate on a five, four, three system. Five 

months pregnant, four months milking and three months 

off. So the lambs born in April 2023 were weaned in July 

to give their mums a bit of ‘me time’ and they have since 

been cosseted with good grass and plenty of supplements 

to prepare them for the demands of the year ahead. 

Unlike cows, pigs and indeed humans 

that cycle regularly all year, ewes are 

clever, and only come into season after 

the autumn (September 23rd) equinox 

when the night time hours exceed the 

daytime hours. Nature’s way of ensuring 

lambs arrive in the spring when the 

weather is better and the grass begins 

to grow. So traditionally, rams are 

always put with the ewes on Bonfire 

Night with the lambs arriving some five 

months later around April Fools Day. 

But first we need to go through all 

the ewes to check they are fit enough to 

have another successful lambing season. 

It takes a lot to produce – hopefully – a 

pair of healthy lambs and then provide 

them with enough milk to grow into two big strong 

lambs. So each one gets a thorough MOT – starting with 

their teeth. Like all of us, sheep’s teeth degrade as the 

years pass, and without a dentist to fit crowns, bridges 

and implants a sound pair of home grown gnashers is 

essential. So anyone with wobbly or missing ones is out. 

Next we check their teats to make sure they haven’t had 

mastitis, which makes them hard and lumpy, and to make 

sure they are not too low slung – another problem for 

Ewes are clever, and only 

come into season after 

the autumn equinox 

when the night time 

hours exceed the daytime 

hours. Natures way of 

ensuring lambs arrive 

in the spring when the 

weather is better and 

the grass begins to grow 

the older ewe. Lambs expect to find the teats high up so 

low down doesn’t work – sorry missus you’re out with the 

toothless ones. And then there’s the doom laden black tag... 

When we lamb in April, we expect the ewe to produce – 

without too much trouble – healthy lambs that she milks 

and mothers through the summer. If 

they don’t measure up – like the one 

last year that sat on and suffocated one 

of her lambs and the following day 

despatched the other in a similar fashion 

– then they get a black tag. Bad news. 

Once we’ve thinned out the ewes 

we make the numbers back up by 

introducing the tegs, the name given 

to female sheep once they are a year 

old but have yet to lamb and are now 

destined to be first time mums. 

And then, of course, there’s the 

other half of the equation, the boys! 

The ewe cycles every 18 days and 

young rams can manage to get round 

about 35 ewes at a time so we have 

two. All the action will be done and dusted well before 

Christmas and we’ll look forward to welcoming Malcolm 

the scan man in January to let us know how it has gone. 

But before I sign off, and a prelude to next month 

when it will be you know what, don’t forget to pick 

your holly now. Right now the branches are laden 

with berries, so gather them and leave in a bucket of 

water in cold place, because if you leave it till next 

month the blackbirds will have beaten you to it! 

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

Images: Tunbridge Wells showroom 

Visit our newly refurbished Tunbridge Wells showroom, 4 floors of beautiful kitchens and furniture 

81 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY - Tel: 01892 520730 

Contact us for our 2023 brochure 

Sevenoaks - Tel: 01732 762682 

Tunbridge Wells - Tel: 01892 520730 

www.rencraft.co.uk 

115

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Surrey Homes | SH106 | November 2023 | Christmas Gift Supplement inside

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