Surrey Homes | SH116 | September 2024

PRICELESS 

SEPTEMBER 2024 

116 SEPTEMBER 

2024 

EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT inside 

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BOCONCEPT.COM 

08/08/2024 10:46

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Showrooms in Falmouth and Chelsea Harbour 

www.tomraffield.com sales@tomraffield.com 01326 722725 

Surrey Homes.indd 1 13/08/2024 08:41:51

Contents 

September 2024 

34 

104 

60 

14 

25 

29 

34 

51 

53 

57 

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 

GOOD FORTUNE 

A stunning Surrey home with a 

fascinating history is enjoying a 

new lease of life as a gallery space 

GET THE LOOK 

Create a classic aesthetic 

WHAT’S NEXT IN 

KITCHENS? 

Explore our trend-led guide 

WHAT’S NEXT IN 

BATHROOMS? 

The ultimate revamp inspiration 

60 

69 

104 

109 

110 

CREATIVE HEART 

Take a tour of artist Corinne 

Corbett-Thompson’s 

home and studio 

GET THE LOOK 

Personalise your living space 

STARS OF LATE SUMMER 

Jo Arnell eases us into 

late season dishes 

BIJOU BIJOU 

Rebecca Cuffe channels Netflix 

favourite Emily in Paris for 

her colourful fashion picks 

PENCILS & CRAYONS 

Inspired by the start of a 

new school year, Josephine 

Fairley preps a grown-up 

makeup pencil case 

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 © 2024 Priceless Media Ltd. The views of the 

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

113 

115 

116 

120 

122 

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE 

Sarah Maxwell sets the pace 

for getting into running 

NOURISH TO FLOURISH 

Charlotte Lau analyses the benefits 

of eating peaches, pears and plums 

DAISY DAISY 

Jo Arnell shares her love for a 

common garden flower family 

WHAT’S ON 

Fun-filled dates for your diary... 

FABLES FROM THE FARM 

Jane Howard’s latest instalment 

from Coopers Farm 

EDUCATION 

SUPPLEMENT 

A vibrant guide to 

schooling across 

the South East. 

After page 70 

7 

priceless-magazines.com

LIGHT UP 

YOUR OUTDOOR 

LIVING SPACES 

Choose from over 

500 exterior lights 

on display 

Tel: 01420 590510 

www.distinctivelightinguk.com 

SHOWROOM OPENING HOURS 

9am - 5pm: Monday - Friday. 

9am - 1pm: Saturday 

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

Surrey Homes - FP- Sept Edition.indd 1 12/08/2024 11:32:02

From the 

Editor 

Artworks abound in the magazine this month, 

as we photograph two homes where paintings, 

drawings, sculptures and ceramics certainly take 

centre stage. First off, Belgravia Gallery owner Laura 

Walford explains to us how she has turned her family 

home into the ideal exhibition space for the artists 

she represents, whilst also delving into the wonderful 

history of the building’s previous owner. Secondly, artist 

Corinne Corbett-Thompson talks to journalist Hilary 

Wilce about how her love of the planet, and quest to 

protect it, has influenced the art that she produces. 

This issue is also an action-packed one where education 

is concerned. Our supplement covers all the latest news 

from schools – from trips and travel to boarding and 

bursaries, there’s lots of fascinating info to unpack. 

In our food section, Jo Arnell works her magic 

in the kitchen creating a Thai spiced duck salad, 

aubergine & chickpea tagine, and pecan & maple 

tart – the perfect dishes to help you transition into 

late summer. Meanwhile Charlotte Lau highlights the 

health benefits of some popular summer fruits 

with an easy-to-make burrata salad that 

you’re sure to revisit again and again. 

Shop from Rebecca Cuffe’s funfilled 

fashion edit, inspired by Emily 

in Paris, and stock up your makeup 

bag with high-performance pencils and 

crayons, all tried and tested by beauty 

aficionado Josephine Fairley. 

The Artificial & Natural Grass Specialists 

The Artificial & Natural Grass Specialists 

Transform 

Your Transform 

Your Outdoor 

Space Outdoor 

Space 

Enjoy your Priceless Magazine 

Priceless Team 

EditorLucy Fleming 

Supplements & Features EditorRebecca Cuffe 

Sub Editor & Features Writer Emily Pavey 

Design & Production DirectorAnthony Boxall 

Sales Manager, Surrey HomesLisa Gordon-Hughes 

lisa.gordon-hughes@surrey-homes.co.uk 

Sales Manager, Wealden Times Maria Hurley 

maria.hurley@wealdentimes.co.uk 

Senior Account ManagerSarah Norwood 

Andrew Boughton 

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 

Contact number for Wealden Times01580 714705 

Contact number for Surrey Homes 01580 236072 

9 

MASTER INSTALLERS OF PREMIUM 

ARTIFICIAL GRASS & TURF 

MASTER INSTALLERS OF PREMIUM 

ARTIFICIAL GRASS & TURF 

LAWN SOLUTIONS FOR 

EVERY LIFESTYLE 

LAWN SOLUTIONS FOR 

EVERY LIFESTYLE 

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0800 07718540 3764380 

798 

07718 376 798 

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www.lovelawns.co.uk 


Discover our incredible 

World of Sleep 

Cavendish House, Sydenham Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3RX | 01483 380111 

jonesandtomlin.co.uk

Find us here! 

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of 

Surrey Homes or to get free copies delivered for £30 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 

istockphoto.com/ Maria Voronovich 

Ashtead 

• Patrick Gardner 

Bagshott 

• Cubbitt Antiques 

• Howlands 

Estate Agents 

• Longacres Nursery 

Betchworth 

• Buckland Deli 

• The Community 

Shop 

Bookham 


Buckland 

• Buckland Nurseries 

Garden Centre 

Camberley 

• Romans 

Caterham 

• Shard Solutions 

Cheam 

• Cook 

Chelsham 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Chobham 

• Melita 

• Pasha 

Claygate 

• Trew Art 

Cobham 

• Cobham Furniture 

• 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 

• High Clandon 

Estate Vineyard 

• Neptune 

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 

• Buckland Nurseries 

Garden Centre 

• 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 


Surrey’s Premier Builder 

Upfold Construction has been established since 2009 

and is a domestic builder providing services throughout 

Surrey, Sussex & Hampshire. 

Located in Cranleigh we are perfectly placed to offer a 

total building service to those clients seeking a local, 

professional and reliable builder. We carry out all aspects 

of building from extensions, renovations to a complete 

home refurbishment allowing us to provide a package of 

design, planning, building & finishing. 

We are members of The Chartered Institute of Building 

which guarantees our committment to quality of product, 

services and integrity of conduct. 

For more information, please contact us on: 01483 600335 

Email: info@upfoldconstruction.co.uk or www.upfoldconstruction.co.uk

House 

Month 

of the 

£1,450,000 

This month Gordon Lee focuses on 

beautiful barn conversions 

Cranleigh 

The dream: 400-year-old 

converted and extended barn, 

with superb, uninterrupted views 

over its own land. The perfect 

home for summer entertaining. 

Where: Tucked away off the 

Guildford Road in Cranleigh. 

Setting: Secluded residence, 

with private, picturesque 

courtyards, from which you’ll 

enjoy walking, cycling, or riding 

in the surrounding Surrey Hills. 

Beds: 5 Baths: 3 

Special features: Vaulted ceiling 

living room, with fireplace and 

wood burning stove. Light 

filled country dining room 

that opens to the garden. 

Separate TV, gaming room. 

Pleasing details: Lovely 

exposed beams, brickwork, 

and oak doors with wrought 

iron metalwork throughout. 

Outside: Charming, mature 

walled garden with raised beds 

and greenhouse. At the rear of 

the grounds there’s the option 

of creating a small equestrian 

centre, a work-from-home space, 

or self-contained annexe within 

the existing studios/stables. 

Time to town: 1/2 mile from 

the popular village of Cranleigh 

and close to Guildford (9 

miles) where trains to London 

Waterloo take 35 minutes. 

Agents: Knight Frank 

01483 378769 knightfrank.co.uk 

priceless-magazines.com 14

Charlwood 

£1,400,000 

The dream: Converted and extended by the current 

owners, Old Barns is a stunning mix of old and new. 

Where: Charlwood, in the Mole Valley. 

Setting: Fantastic semi-rural location, with 

formal gardens and a separate paddock. 

Beds: 5 Baths: 3 

Special features: A beautifully appointed kitchen 

with doors that open onto a charming sun 

terrace. Two double bedrooms on the ground 

floor, both with en suite shower rooms. 

Pleasing details: A brick fireplace houses a wood 

burning stove in the breakfast room, with doors 

leading to the rear garden, whilst a lovely glass link 

connects the old barn to the modern extension. 

Outside: Electric gates open into a large gravel 

driveway providing parking for multiple vehicles. 

At the front there’s a lovely sun trap terrace; at 

the rear a secluded lawned garden with patio 

seating and access to the paddock beyond. 

Time to town: Equidistant from the 

popular towns of Dorking and Reigate, 

it’s hard to believe that this rural haven 

is just 5 minutes from Gatwick. 

Agents: Exclusively Move Revolution 

0330 2231000 moverevolution.com/exclusively 

Redhill 

£1,100,000 

The dream: Grade II listed medieval barn 

conversion, extended and modernised to 

create this impressive family home. 

Where: A short distance from Redhill. 

Setting: A semi-rural location, walking 

distance from Salfords station. 

Beds: 4/5 Baths: 3 

Special features: Dating from 1432, English 

Heritage note that this barn is of both 

architectural and historical interest. Modernised 

to a high specification, there is underfloor heating 

and remote-controlled mood lighting throughout. 

Pleasing details: Exposed beams, vaulted 

ceilings, open tread stairwells, galleried landing 

and full height windows in the living area. 

Outside: The gated driveway leads to a 

heritage style double open garage at the rear. 

The south facing garden extends to around 

⅓ acre and has lovely countryside views. 

Time to town: South of the thriving market 

towns of Redhill (3 miles) and Reigate (5 

miles), 4 miles north of Gatwick, and just 

a mile from Salfords station, all with train 

services to London and the south coast. 

Agents: James Dean Estate Agents 

01293 784411 jamesdeanproperty.co.uk 

15 


If you have an architectural or interior design project 

please email gp@gregoryphillips.com 

gregoryphillips.com | 

@gregoryphillipsarchitects

Homes ready to move into 

OCKHAM GU23 GU23 6FL 6PD 

OVER 60% OF HOMES SOLD 

Green Oak Park is a delightful collection of 3 and 4 bedroom homes offering an all-inclusive 

specification in the beautiful Surrey village of Ockham. 

All homes are built to an exceptional standard inside and out and includes: 

Underfloor heating to ground floor 

All floor coverings included 

Minoli wall and floor tiles 

Matt fitted wardrobes 

Turf to front and rear garden 

Indian sandstone paths and patio 

Images: Flaticon.com 

Bespoke shaker style kitchens Bifold / patio doors to rear 

Integrated Siemens appliances Landscaped front garden 

Prices from £875,000 

Private parking and garage 

Electric car charging point 

SHOW HOME OPEN DAILY, 10AM TO 5PM 

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY, CALL 01483 921474 | 07500 070594

Launching 

26 th 

SEPT 

Landscaped and wild flower gardens 

Allotments available for hire 

Established friendly community 

Communal spaces 

Treatment room 

Hobby studio 

Car parking available 

On-site support team * 

9 mins walk to the town centre * 

Your invitation to our Grand Launch 

Phase 2: The East Wing 

Thursday 26th September 

10am-4pm 

Highfields West Byfleet is an established and 

welcoming community with 1, 2 and 3 bedroom 

homes set within beautifully landscaped 

gardens and allotments. 

RSVP to reserve your place 

01932 483 128 

highfields@pegasushomes.co.uk 

pegasushomes.co.uk/highfields 

Join us for the launch of Phase 2 The East Wing, 

and enjoy a glass of bubbly whilst touring our 

new homes, gardens, and communal spaces. 

Exclusive to those enjoying life over sixty. 

Prices start from 

£495,000 

*Times and distances from Google.co.uk/maps and are estimates only. Prices and information correct at time of print. Image shown is 

actual photography from Highfields. The on-site team are available during working hours Monday to Friday. A service charge will apply, 

please speak to the sales team for more information.

REDEFINING RETIREMENT IN 

THE heart OF SURREY AT 

HOMEWOOD GROVE, CHERTSEY 

Discover our exceptional age-exclusive lifestyle village, nestled 

among beautifully landscaped gardens on the outskirts of Chertsey. 

It is home to a stunning collection of spacious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom 

apartments, each expertly designed with you in mind. Indulge in 

new-found passions, relax in our state-of-the-art wellbeing facilities, 

and become part of this vibrant new community. 

Come and view our brand new showhome and learn about our 

fantastic new incentives. 

Reserve your dream home and we’ll pay 

your monthly community fee for 3 years 

and contribute towards your stamp duty!* 

Call us on 01932 645092 or visit 

www.rangefordvillages.co.uk 

Marketing Suite, Ottershaw, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 0AU. 

Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm 

Prices from £399,950 † 

*Terms and conditions apply. Offer includes the equivalent of three years of monthly community fees at today’s fee rate plus a contribution to stamp duty 

up to a maximum of £23,500. Available for reservations received from 3rd July to 30th October 2024 with legal completion on or before 20th December 2024. 

Offer applicable to new build purchases only. † Other charges apply. 

23147 RV_HWG_Surrey Homes_Full Page Ad_A4.indd 1 29/07/2024 09:52

Birchgrove Leatherhead 

Christ Church 

Apartments 

Luxury assisted living retirement apartments 

Maybe 

it’s time? 

As we age, our priorities naturally evolve, 

making us question if our home still meets our 

changing needs. Should we modify, downsize, 

or move closer to family for support? Is our 

home equipped to handle future challenges 

in vision, mobility, and isolation? 

If such questions resonate, why not explore 

Birchgrove? Say hello to a home thoughtfully 

designed to make living in later life easier. 

Be part of a lively social community with 

exceptional facilities, 24hr concierge, and 

the peace of mind to enjoy life. 

Maybe it’s time to think differently 

about retirement? 

Leading 

the way 

in retirement 

rental living 

Ready to make yourself at home? 

www.birchgrove.life / 020 3929 5599 

Locations in Surrey, Kent & London: 

Banstead | Chiswick | Ewell | Godalming | Hampton 

Leatherhead | Mill Hill | Sidcup | Woking

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

Find your perfect place 

Birchgrove is a specialist 

developer of retirement 

properties, offering highquality 

self-contained assisted 

living apartments in purpose-built 

developments. All apartments are spacious 

and designed in a contemporary style 

with all the mod-cons you’d expect. 

Many also have private patios and 

balconies. Location is a top priority 

too, with the communities built close 

to amenities and shops, plenty of places 

to walk, and good transport links. 

We pride ourselves on the quality of our 

communal facilities; we know the benefits 

a positive, vibrant, social environment has 

on personal well-being. Residents have 

access to exclusive onsite amenities such 

as a restaurant, licensed bar, club room, 

wellness suite, landscaped gardens, and 

much more, providing well-thoughtout 

spaces that are comfortable for 

people to meet, connect, and share 

experiences. From hobby groups to shared 

activities, our monthly events calendar 

has something for everyone: to turn 

ordinary and mundane into cherished 

memories you can fondly reflect on. 

Retirement living isn’t just about slowing 

down; it’s about embracing a new chapter 

of life which can be filled with joy, 

connections, and meaningful experiences. 

At Birchgrove, we believe that the secret 

to truly enjoying your golden years lies in 

the power of community connectedness. 

Loneliness and isolation don’t have 

to be the norm, the warmth of a 

community of like-minded people 

can create opportunities for people to 

form new friendships and meaningful 

interactions. Birchgrove residents come 

from diverse backgrounds, bringing a 

wealth of experience and skills. A simple 

stroll through the gardens could start 

conversations and lead to new adventures. 

Regular coffee mornings are a great 

place to catch up on what’s happening, 

and there’s always someone around who 

may share your passion or interest. 

Unlike most other assisted living 

developments, Birchgrove offers a unique 

blend of independent living with the 

benefits of assistance if you need it, while 

removing the complications of home 

ownership. Our high-quality apartments 

are solely for rent – no pressure to buy 

once you move in. There are no lengthy 

contracts or confusing small print. 

At Birchgrove, our rent is inclusive 

and covers the large-ticket expenses 

like energy costs - electricity, heating 

and water - and many of the rising 

incidental costs that go along with 

owning your own home. This includes 

housekeeping, broadband, window 

cleaning, gardening, building insurance, 

security, and a whole host of other things. 

This all-inclusive approach ensures 

you can enjoy your retirement without 

worrying about unexpected expenses. 

The rising cost of living is currently 

impacting most households. Here at 

Birchgrove, you don’t have any of the 

headaches or hassles associated with 

the above. This is because we have 

one inclusive rent, which is reviewed 

just once a year, and any increase is 

in line with the retail price index. A 

one-off joining fee is also payable. 

To find out more about Birchgrove and 

to explore your options, please get in 

touch with the team on 020 3929 5599 

or visit www.birchgrove.life


What is the best way to reduce 

your exposure to Inheritance Tax? 

Fiona Higgott, Partner, Thomson Snell & Passmore 

There has been much speculation 

that changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) 

may be included in the October 

Budget. Whether this happens 

remains to be seen, but regardless, 

IHT liabilities are increasing, with the 

latest figures from HMRC showing 

that IHT liabilities created for the tax 

year 2021/22 were £5.99 billion. 

So, what is the best way to reduce 

your exposure to IHT? The first thing 

everyone should do is have an up 

to date will to prevent your estate 

passing under the intestacy rules, 

which often produce unintended tax 

consequences. 

How do IHT exemptions work? 

There are various exemptions to 

IHT. The majority of gifts to legal 

spouses (including marriage and civil 

partnership), whether made during 

your lifetime or after death, are free 

of IHT. 

Everyone has a Nil-Rate-Band of 

£325,000. You may also have a 

Residence Nil-Rate Band if you are 

leaving your main home to children 

or grandchildren and your estate is 

worth under £2 million. This provides 

an additional £175,000 allowance. 

These allowances can be transferred 

between spouses, which means that 

up to £1million could be passed on 

free of IHT to children or grandchildren. 

Above these amounts, IHT is usually 

charged at 40%. Be aware that gifts 

made during your lifetime can reduce 

the amount of the Nil-Rate Band 

available on your death. 

Other exemptions include generous 

reliefs on business property (Business 

Relief) and agricultural property 

(Agricultural Relief). Any money gifted 

to a registered UK charity is also 

exempt from IHT, and a lower IHT 

rate of 36% also generally applies so 

long as 10% of the residuary estate 

passes to charity. 

Lifetime gifting and IHT 

Gifting assets is a simple way to 

reduce your estate. This includes 

gifting property, but there are strict 

rules around this including that you 

cannot continue to benefit from it - 

for example by still living in it. These 

gifts are usually Potentially Exempt 

Transfers (PETs) and will not be liable 

for IHT so long as you do not die 

within seven years of making them. 

You can also make various gifts 

outside of this seven year rule, which 

will not attract an IHT charge. For 

example each person can give away 

£3,000 a year. It is also possible to 

make regular gifts out of income, 

which are exempt from IHT, but you 

must be able to prove these form part 

of your normal expenditure, are from 

income and not capital and do not 

impact your standard of living. 

Can trusts help with IHT? 

Placing assets in certain types of 

trust can mean they are no longer 

considered part of an estate when it 

comes to IHT. 

If a beneficiary inherits from an 

estate, but wishes to remove that 

inheritance from their own estate 

for IHT purposes, a deed of variation 

can be used to create a trust, and the 

beneficiary will potentially still be able 

to benefit from the inheritance going 

forward. 

You can also nominate a trust to 

receive death-in-service benefits or 

place life insurance policies into a 

trust with the funds remaining fully 

available to your family should they 

need them, without incurring an IHT 

liability. 

A Family Investment Company is a 

bespoke private company, which can 

be used as a tax-efficient alternative 

to trusts if there is a large amount of 

cash involved. 

Pensions should also be considered. 

In most cases, pensions, either as 

lump sums or ongoing pensions, can 

pass free of IHT. There is currently no 

cap on the lifetime allowance you can 

save into a pension. 

With all of these elements, it is 

essential to take expert advice. Get in 

touch info@ts-p.co.uk or scan the QR 

code for more information.

FREE 

Roof Health check with every Roof Clean Booked 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

Is Moss a Growing Problem? 

Yes, is the answer on a roof, and the problem is growing exponentially. 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

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with more than 20 years experience in 

exterior hard service cleaning. 

We offer an assortment of specialist Moss, Lichen 

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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MOSS, LICHEN & ALGAE ISSUES 

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or contact one of our experts today for a Free quotation 

01420 479746 | info@mossmaster.co.uk 

Unit 7, Lindford Business 

Park, Chase Road, Lindford, 

Bordon, Hampshire GU35 0FE

Original Theatre & JAS Theatricals 

in association with Birdsong Productions & Wiltshire Creative present 

SEBASTIAN FAULKS’S 

Stage Version by 

RACHEL WAGSTAFF 

1 - 5 OCTOBER 2024 

atgtickets.com/richmond 

A4 Adverts BS - Richmond.indd 1 24/06/2024 15:16

Notebook 

Take note! We’ve rounded up the best 

of what to see and do near you 

Time to Travel 

Fancy some time away from it all? How about self-prescribing 

a large dose of winter sun or planning the trip of a lifetime. 

If you’re looking for ideas and recommendations for your next 

getaway you can join Baldwins Travel and more than 40 travel, tour, 

and cruise operators at the Holiday Inspirations Show on Sunday 22 

September. It’ll all be happening at the East Sussex National Hotel, 

Uckfield from 10am until 2pm. There will be presentations on luxury 

resorts in Greece, an introduction to cruises with P&O, intrepid 

cruising with Quark Expeditions, plus plenty more besides. 

Keep your eyes peeled for the exclusive offers available on 

the day. You can register free for fast track entry and 

to be entered into Baldwins free prize draw to win 

a holiday courtesy of Prestige Travel. 

Visit baldwinstravel.com/events for more details. 

25 

Rock Garden 

If you’re enthusiastic about art and 

sculpture you won’t want to miss the 

fantastic opportunity to meet Hillary 

Manhuwe and Tapuwa Kwenda, as 

they display hundreds of examples 

of their Shona Stone Sculptures at 

Denbies until 30 September. Shona 

sculpture originates in Zimbabwe 

where the Shona people have a 

long history of stone carving. 

See how these beautiful artworks 

are crafted – Hillary and Tapuwa 

are happy to give demonstrations 

and tell you all about the individual 

bespoke sculptures, you can even 

commission your own piece. The 

beautiful surroundings of Denbies 

vineyards provide the perfect 

backdrop to these incredible works. 

cultureinstone.com 

CASTLE 

CRAFTS 

Heavenly Hever Castle will 

be hosting the Contemporary Craft 

Fair on 12-15 September. Head along 

to discover some of the very best craft makers 

from across the country. Browse around 180 

exhibitors and purchase direct from makers. 

There will be live demonstrations, music 

and a food village. While you’re there 

you can take in the wonderful gardens 

and grounds of the castle. Children 

can enjoy the fabulous adventure 

playground and don’t miss the water 

maze. The Fair opens at 9.30am 

and closes at 5.30pm each day. 

Entry is included in normal 

Garden admission charges. 

craftinfocus.com 


Lovely View 

Kent-based landscape painter 

Hannah Buchanan is the new 

director of Benenden Art Fair. 

Thrilled to see the return of 

the fair this year, she says “We 

are coming back with a bang!” 

Hannah’s work is pictured. With 

over 30 talented artists from 

Kent and Sussex, Benenden 

Art Fair will celebrate the 

abundance of artistic talent flourishing in the 

area. There will be a great range of work on display, from 

painting to printmaking, stitchwork to ceramics, jewellery, stone 

carving, collage and more! The Private View will take place 

at Benenden Village Hall on Friday 4 October from 6-8pm – 

please RSVP via the fair’s website. It will be open on Saturday 

5th from 10am-5pm and then Sunday 6th from 10am-4pm. 

@benendenartfair benendenartfair@gmail.com 

benendenartfair.com 

Theatre Trip 

This year marks 

the 30th anniversary 

of Birdsong, one of the 

great novels about the 

First World War. The stage 

show stars Max Bowden 

(EastEnders), who returns, 

this time as Jack Firebrace. 

“I think it’s so important 

to inform the youth of today by 

showing them what their ancestors went 

through to fight for their freedom,” 

he says. Birdsong is at Richmond 

Theatre 1-5 October. 

Atgtickets.com/Richmond 

If, like us, you are 

enchanted by the works of 

Corinne Corbett-Thompson, as 

featured in ‘Creative Heart’ in this 

issue, you have a treat in store at Hastings 

Museum & Art Gallery from 28th 

September until 12th January next year. 

Corinne’s work will be on display in the 

Long Gallery and will encourage viewers 

to reflect on their connection with our 

beautiful and fragile planet. 

hmag.org.uk 

Universal Appeal 

WHAT THE DICKENS! 

Rochester Art Fair, from 4-6 October, is another 

exciting event providing art lovers, art collectors and 

the local community with the opportunity to browse 

and buy beautiful, original artwork and interact with 

artists from across the UK and Europe. Set against 

the lavish backdrop of the 18th century Rochester 

Corn Exchange in the historic town, the fair will 

showcase work created by both established and 

emerging artists. Easy to access by car, rail and foot, 

it’s located in the centre of the historic and culturally 

significant town of Rochester, packed with independent 

shops, restaurants and cafés. rochesterartfair.co.uk 

istockphoto.com/ Stephanie Zieber 

priceless-magazines.com 

26

Exhibition 

SEPTEMBER DENBIES WINE ESTATE 

Culture in Stone invites you to an intimate exhibition of Zimbabwean 

Shona sculpture in a garden setting at Denbies Wine Estate, 

Dorking, throughout September. Meet the artists, watch them 

work with hand tools, and explore our range of sculptures, crafted 

from colourful Zimbabwean stones. From tabletop to monumental 

garden pieces, all are priced to sell directly from the artists. 

www.cultureinstone.com | info@cultureinstone.com 

Tel {Artist}: Hillary 07765075170, Tapuwa 07934436009 

Denbies Wine Estate, Bradley Lane, Dorking RH5 6AA

Tunbridge Wells . 70 Calverley Road . TN1 2UJ . 01892 548 111 

Oxshott . 1 High Street . KT22 0JN . 01372 841 730

In need of a fresh scent 

to take you from late 

summer to early autumn? 

London’s Czech & Speake 

have the answer. Their 

new Amber 7 Eau de Parfum 

is a unisex fragrance that 

elegantly combines scents 

including lime, eucalyptus, 

rosemary, amber and 

vanilla. Made with essential 

oils derived from natural 

ingredients the scent is all 

at once exotic and woody, 

resinous and honeyed, 

fresh and soothing. Get 

yours for £160 (100ml) at 

czechandspeake.com 

Lux Umbra’s vegan candles are 

hand-poured in the Surrey Hills, 

using soy, coconut wax and the 

highest quality fragrances. The 

Library is oh-so-hygge with its 

spicy ginger, rich plum, incense 

and amber. £31 for a medium 

(150g) or £39 for large (215g) 

at luxumbracandles.co.uk 

Right on time for early 

festive shopping, 

Amelia Scott, has 

announced 

they are now 

available at 

Hoopers. 

The brand 

recently 

won Retail 

Jeweller’s 

Emerging 

Jewellery Brand of 

the Year Award with their 

vintage-inspired pieces and 

signature combo of sparkle and bold colour. They 

are quickly becoming a go-to for standout, affordable 

pieces – like this charming hand painted Lucky Clover 

pendant necklace which is £99 at amelia-scott.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! 

As so many young adults swarm 

back to uni, likely laden with 

books, this one may be worth 

adding. Summersdale publishes 

Little Books of all sorts 

including topics from Astrology 

and Anthropology to Wellness 

and Wild Swimming. The Little 

Book of Student Food will build 

kitchen-confidence with budgetfriendly 

tasty and easy recipes 

like meatballs, curries and stir 

fries. £6.99 at summersdale.com 

Brit lighting brand Tom Raffield’s new 

Bough range seamlessly puts a sleek 

minimalist twist on organic inspiration and 

sustainably-sourced wood. The collection 

includes desk lights (like this Spire table 

light for £295) and super functional wall 

lights. Whether you’re curling up with 

a good book this autumn, or buckling 

down to studies or work, they will 

light the way in style. tomraffield.com 

For those bracing 

themselves for the 

inevitable back-to-school-shoeshop, 

Stampede may be just 

what you need. They have lots 

of options for all styles and 

needs, and a staff of expert 

shoe-fitters who will find your 

child the perfect pair while 

making the experience fun too. 

They also offer discounts for 

twins, friend referrals and have 

a point-based voucher scheme. 

Book your appointment at 

stampedeshoes.co.uk 

29 

Recycle Week commences on 14 October. 

Which is why we’d like to share Divine 

Savages who produce gorgeous 

velvets made from plastic bottles 

(£110/metre) and wallpapers 

made from 79% renewable 

fibres (£159/roll). There 

are also items made 

using these fabrics such 

as this fringed lampshade 

which is £415 and made 

with Safari Soirée ‘Heron 

Blue’ Recycled Velvet. 

divinesavages.com 

Autumn arrives 

this month and 

with it the urge 

to snuggle up with a 

cosy throw. This one 

from Country Mouse 

is made from 100% 

sumptuous Swedish 

wool and is £79 at 

countrymouse.co.uk 


Ryan O’Connell, Technician at Prestons Wilmslow 

The Art of Watchmaking; 

Prestons’ Authorised 

Rolex Service Centre 

Here, we talk with Prestons’ After 

Sales team about their experience 

as Rolex-trained Watchmakers at 

each of Prestons’ Rolex Authorised 

Service Centres. We hear about 

the relationships they build with 

their clients, supporting the 

Prestons showrooms in Wilmslow, 

Guildford, Norwich and Leeds. 

Opened in February 2020, the first Rolex Authorised 

Service Centre is located on the first floor of Prestons 

Wilmslow whilst the second, opened in 2023, located 

in Prestons Norwich. Here, we explore with the 

team what led them to become watchmakers, the 

importance of servicing your wristwatch and what 

makes Prestons showrooms so special. 

Did you always know you wanted 

to work with watches? 

Steve: “I think I knew very early on; I could have only 

been 16 years old. I remember vividly my mother seeing 

an advert in the local newspaper and saying to me “you 

like taking things apart, why don’t you have a go at this?” 

I read the advert and have been a watchmaker ever since. 

I suppose I have my mother to thank for where I am today.” 

Ryan: “I started out selling watches rather than servicing 

them, but quickly discovered a passion for watchmaking. 

I am now a Rolex Technician, and it is my dream to 

become a Rolex watchmaker in future.” 

Nick: “I initially began my career in a creative role, 

but have always been intrigued by watches. I fell in love 

with the engineering that goes into these timepieces, and 

seized an opportunity to enroll on a WOSTEP polishing 

course. The WOSTEP Foundation is an internationally 

recognised watchmaking institution based in Switzerland, 

founded in 1966 it is an incredible place for those aspiring 

to work in an Authorised Service Centre like ours, or 

elsewhere in the watch industry. I find that polishing 

combines my creative and technical interests, as there is 

true beauty in restoring a watch to its original condition 

while preserving its unique character. I have now qualified 

as a Rolex Accredited Refinisher, and I am so pleased 

to be working in Prestons’ Rolex Authorised Service 

Centre in Norwich supporting each of our clients.”


What does it mean to be a 

Rolex-trained watchmaker? 

Ryan: “Each watchmaker working within a Rolex 

Authorised Service Centre is specially trained by Rolex 

to ensure consistent quality across all their operations 

worldwide. Here at Prestons, we are always on hand 

when a client brings their watch into the showroom. 

As the first to make a technical examination of a 

client’s timepiece, we see the memories in every 

mark on the case.” 

“The team and I know these 

wristwatches have been worn 

and loved, often for decades, 

and we are honoured to be 

trusted with their servicing” 

Saul Biddulph, Watchmaker at Prestons Wilmslow 

Laura New, Saul Biddulph, Steve Tillston, Abbas Ikleriya & Ryan O’Connell 

Saul: “I started my journey to becoming 

a Rolex-trained watchmaker at the British 

School of Watchmaking in Manchester, it was 

a fascinating experience and only reinforced 

my passion for horology. Now I am qualified 

and based at Prestons Wilmslow, it brings me so 

much joy to work amongst my passion each day. 

The team and I know these wristwatches have 

been worn and loved, often for decades, and we 

are honoured to be trusted with their servicing.” 

Out of all the watches you’ve serviced, 

which is your favourite? 

Joseph: “Personally, I love working on 

watches from clients who visit us regularly. 

The team and I recently received a watch from 

a returning client who had been gifted the 

timepiece for his twenty-first birthday here at 

Prestons Norwich. It is always a pleasure to see 

these watches come back in for servicing, and to 

see them develop with their wearer over time. 

These timepieces become an integral part of 

a person’s day-to-day, and a physical reminder 

of the special moments in their life.” 

What advice would you give on 

the care of a Rolex watch? 

Steve: “The fitting of the watch onto a wrist is 

so important. Each of our dedicated sales team 

members are Rolex trained and therefore able 

to advise on the size of the bracelet to suit the 

size of your wrist.” 

Nick: “Rolex watches are designed to be worn 

and loved every day. Over the years, it is natural 

for scratches and marks to appear. We would 

advise keeping to the servicing schedule rather 

than bringing the timepiece in for polishing 

whenever it sustains a scratch, and only ever 

entrusting the watch to a Rolex-trained polisher. 

This will help to ensure the longevity of the 

watch and keep it looking its best for 

decades to come.” 

Wilmslow | Guildford | Norwich | Leeds 

prestonsdiamonds.co.uk

Neil Body, Andrew Reynolds, Joseph Bentley, Jake Peasgood & Nick Clayton 

What makes the Rolex Servicing 

process so special? 

Joseph: “Rolex watches are designed and built to 

last. The service process begins from the moment 

a client brings their wristwatch to one of our 

showrooms and ends when it leaves us with 

its two-year international guarantee. 

The servicing of a Rolex watch comprises several 

detailed steps requiring the use of specific tools and 

instruments that are tested and sometimes even 

developed by the brand – I love how meticulous 

every step is. The team and I begin the service 

process by separating the bracelet from the case 

and delicately removing the movement. From that 

point on, the movement, case and bracelet follow 

separate servicing paths. 

Each component is carefully examined 

to determine whether it still meets Rolex 

requirements, cleaned, dried, lubricated and 

carefully reassembled piece by piece. The case, 

bracelet and parts are individually re-polished or 

satin-finished by hand by myself or one of the 

other watchmakers in our team. 

“The servicing of a Rolex 

watch comprises several 

detailed steps requiring 

the use of specific tools and 

instruments that are tested 

and sometimes even developed 

by the brand – I love how 

meticulous every step is” 

Joseph Bentley, Head Watchmaker at Prestons Norwich 

The watch is tested for accuracy, precision and 

waterproofness as well as pressure-tested to ensure 

it meets the expected chronometric performance 

set by Rolex. At the end of the process, the 

timepiece is placed in a specialist pouch and 

is presented back to the client by one of our 

dedicated sales consultants. It is an incredibly 

detailed process.”


What do you think having an 

in-house Rolex Authorised 

Service Centre brings to 

Prestons and their clients? 

Jake: “It offers in-house expertise to 

each of our clients, as often we are 

client-facing in the showroom or the 

Service Centre. The teams at each of 

our Rolex Authorised Service Centres 

loves to show our clients the servicing 

process and guide them through the 

work that will be undertaken on 

their timepiece.” 

Ryan: “When a client brings a 

watch to us, it can be a great act of 

trust. I remember we were once visited 

by a lady who had received her watch 

as a bequest from her mother. The 

timepiece was unfortunately in need of 

significant repairs, and she was nervous 

about any changes we might make to 

it. I was so glad to be able to speak 

with her in person, so that she could 

be reassured that the character and 

sentiment of the watch would remain 

intact after the servicing process.” 

What makes the Prestons 

Experience so special? 

Steve: “Here at Prestons, we operate to 

traditional values of service and quality. 

The Rolex Authorised Service Centres 

in Wilmslow and Norwich ensure the 

highest standards are maintained across 

all our watchmaking services, while our 

showrooms allow us to meet with and 

understand our clients’ needs.” 

Laura: “Whether a client brings their 

watch into Prestons Wilmslow, Prestons 

Guildford, Prestons Norwich or Rolex 

by Prestons, Leeds, each of our Rolex 

Authorised Service Centres ensures they 

can trust that it receives our personal 

care at every step of the process.” 

Steve, Joseph and their teams look 

forward to supporting and advising 

Prestons’ clients for years to come. 

Joseph Bentley, Head Watchmaker at Prestons Norwich 

“The Rolex Authorised Service 

Centres in Wilmslow and 

Norwich ensure the highest 

standards are maintained across 

all our watchmaking services” 

Steve Tillston, Head Watchmaker at Prestons Wilmslow 

For further information please visit: 

prestonsdiamonds.co.uk 

Wilmslow | Guildford | Norwich | Leeds 

prestonsdiamonds.co.uk

Good 

Fortune 


34

Words: Gordon Lee 

Photographs: David Merewether 

With a rich and fascinating history, Laura 

Walford’s elegant Surrey home doubles as 

the perfect exhibition space for the artists 

she represents through Belgravia Gallery 

35 


EST. 1997 

BLIND AND CURTAIN 

SHOWROOM 

Our newly redesigned Luxaflex showroom, showcases 

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With over 25 years experience in window styling we 

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CURTAINS & BLINDS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 

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52 Friars Stile Road, 

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info@curtain-call.co.uk 

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01344 868 668 www.sashwindow.com 


36

Previous page: The oak panelled entrance 

hall with ceramics by Colin Caffell, 

sculpture by Tanis Saxby and paintings by 

Monroe Hodder and Dion Salvador Lloyd 

Above: The recently extended kitchen has 

created a contemporary heart to the house 

Below: Photographs taken by Laura show the 

beautiful view of evening sunsets from the kitchen 

Every house has a story to tell. 

A history woven within its 

walls, by those who have visited 

or called it home. King Charles III, 

Nelson Mandela, and a renowned 

19th century botanist and explorer 

are just three of the characters in the 

tale of Fortune House, Cranleigh. 

Built by his grandson, this elegant, 

red-bricked, Victorian family home, 

was named after Robert Fortune. 

Commissioned by the Horticultural 

Society of London – and later by the 

East India Company to bring back 

samples of the tea plant – Fortune 

travelled deep into China, Japan, and 

Formosa (Taiwan), and is credited 

with introducing numerous trees, 

shrubs, and flowers to the west. If, 

using botanical nomenclature, you 

spot one that ends in “fortunei”, that’s one of his. The arboretum that sits next to 

the house has an abundance of Rhododendrons, no doubt including Rhododendron 

fortunei. The palms you see through the kitchen window also carry his name. 

Fortune would have transported these and other cuttings, seedlings, and plants 

back to London in Wardian cases, one of which sits proudly in the house today. 

A Wardian case is of itself a thing of beauty: a piece of art that both delights and 

inspires thoughts of past times, people and distant places. Which is appropriate 

given that today Fortune House is not only the home of Laura Walford and her 

family but also the Belgravia Gallery, the family business she relocated here nearly 

seven years ago. Ahead of the post Covid curve when it came to leaving London for 

the home counties and beyond, Laura sought space and light and calm for both 

her family and her art – and she found it here in Cranleigh. Their home is close 

37 


Above: Ghost chairs surround the kitchen dining table, 

which looks out into the spacious garden. The figurative 

sculpture is by Bettina Seitz, and the marble piece by 

the window is by Ian Thomson Left: A cosy seating 

area occupies one corner of the open plan living space, 

with a painting by Maria Filopoulou above the sofa 

to the disused Downs Link railway line, turned popular 

cycling and walking path that runs from Guildford to the 

seaside at Shoreham – a far cry from life in central London. 

When they arrived in Cranleigh, some reconfiguration 

was required. A new garage and driveway, redecoration 

throughout, plus a new and extended kitchen, that became 

the heart of their family home. A space to cook, to eat, 

to socialise. A vast sky light and doors that open to the 

garden flood the room with light and both illuminate and 

frame the landscape, and Hascombe Hill beyond. Laura 

recruited MJL Construction from Shalford in Surrey for 

the build, SJ Epps Joinery for their bespoke kitchen, and 

Love Your Home for a good deal of their home furnishings 

– but most of the interior design she did herself. 

For someone who champions emerging artists, and has 

a very modern outlook, the reconditioned AGA in their 

kitchen felt like a slightly surprising choice. That is of 

course until you stop to appreciate the visual and emotional 

beauty of an AGA. Comforting and reassuring – like the 

perfect cheese toasties it produces – it is an engineering 

masterpiece and, as Laura quite rightly points out, a work 

of art. Another thing that is comforting is the knowledge 


38

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40

This page: Velvet chairs from Love Your 

Home surround the large formal dining 

table. An abstract piece by Monroe 

Hodder hangs to the right, whilst a Charlie 

Mackesy work depicting New Orleans is 

to the left Right: A Jan Coutts triptych 

that oil prices haven’t risen as steeply 

as gas and electric, so they’re not as 

expensive to run as some may fear. 

And then, like the rest of the house, 

there are works of art dotted around. 

Pieces of treasure that are a delight 

to discover. As you walk from room 

to room, you find yourself saying to 

yourself, and sometimes out loud, “Oh, 

I love this... and this,” and, “Who did 

this – tell me more about this artist.” 

And that’s one of the many joys about 

owning art – the story of its provenance. 

A story that becomes yours: how 

you found it, and why you love it. 

Given her passion for art and her 

eye for the aesthetic, it’s no surprise 

that Laura also has a love of interiors 

and design. Something that’s very 

apparent when you’re welcomed 

into her beautiful home. The high 

windows bring lots of natural light 

into the rooms, whilst the Farrow & 

Ball colour palette provides the perfect 

backdrop to their ever-changing art 

collection. A collection of more than 40 artists that they represent, including 

Charlie Mackesy, whose joyous illustrations from his best-selling book, The Boy, 

the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, will be familiar to many; Maria Filopoulou’s 

peaceful, serene swimmers; and Ian Thomson, a meticulous and masterful 

craftsman who works with the finest Italian Carrara marble, to create the 

most extraordinarily delicate yet wonderfully tactile pieces of sculpture. 

When it comes to designing a room – where the sofa, sideboard or TV might go – 

Laura’s starting point, her north star, is first visualising where the art will go. What’s 

particularly important, and often overlooked, is the lighting, and in particular the use 

of wall lights, which can often get in the way. Laura’s preference is to do without wall 

lights entirely. Instead use directional spot or other ceiling lights. Leave the walls for 

pictures. Her other top tip is to consider reframing your existing art. Traditional oils 

can find their place in a modern home, if their ornate, gilded frames are exchanged 

for something more contemporary. She works with some of the best framers in 

41 


Top: A leopard by Jan Coutts has found its perfect home in the bar area, just off the kitchen Above left & right: The entrance hall is filled with 

works by artists such as Keith Calder, Ben Dearnley, Charlie Mackesy, Ian Thomson and Monroe Hodder. The colourful rug is by Jan Erika 

the business and will happily connect 

you. Giving a new lease of life to an old 

painting is incredibly satisfying too. 

If you want to see up close how 

Laura does it, if there is some art 

you’re interested in buying, or 

perhaps you’d like her advice on how 

art can enhance your home, you 

can book an appointment to visit 

Fortune House or, better still, get 

invited to one of their exhibitions. 

Most recently they hosted an art 

lunch to showcase the paintings of 

John Illsley, the Dire Straits bass player, 

and Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Famer. His 

paintings of Stratocaster and Gibson 

guitars were particularly popular. If 

you’re a fan, head to their website and 

secure yourself a limited-edition print. 

But it is a story of serendipity and 

chutzpah that links the Belgravia Gallery 

and Fortune House to their most 

famous artist: King Charles III. Laura’s 

mother Anna, who founded the 


42


As seen on TV! 

Posh Pawn is just a stone’s throw away. 

As part of the esteemed Prestige 

Pawnbrokers family serving Surrey, 

London and the home counties, 

and made increasingly popular by 

the hit TV Show ‘Posh Pawn’; Posh Pawn has 

established itself as the ultimate destination 

for individuals seeking to sell, loan against, 

exchange or purchase preloved luxury items. 

SO WHERE ARE YOUR 

NEAREST STORES? 

In Surrey and the surrounding areas 

Posh Pawn is situated in Weybridge, 

Guildford and Richmond. 

The Weybridge store is the place it all 

began. Being the first branch and situated 

in a very affluent part of Surrey, as you’d 

expect, the team see some high value goods 

and collections including art and cars as well 

as amazing branded jewellery pieces such as 

Cartier and Bvlgari. Luxury brands like Rolex, 

Patek, Chanel and Hermes are appraised daily 

due to the clientele and current cash needs. 

“It’s certainly been busy in recent months 

with record numbers coming in to sell or 

borrow against luxury goods.” 

Owner, James Contantinou. 

After the success of Weybridge a 

second location opened up for Posh 

Pawn in Richmond, pawnbroking in the 

highly influential borough of London for 

over 10 years, with a new retail premises 

opening in the past 2 years to fill the gap 

of luxury retail in the area. Richmond 

is a beautiful appraisal and retail store, 

the attention to detail in respect of the 

finishes gives a true feeling of opulence. 

“Classic style and old money aesthetics are 

key factors for Richmond clientele. Chanel, 

Hermes and Cartier are brands that 

perform extremely well in our retail sector, 

even bringing in a few celebrities through 

the doors.” 

Store Manager, AnnaGrace Johnson 

More recently is the Posh Pawn 

Guildford branch. Purchased and fitted 

during the pandemic presented the 

team with unique challenges, which 

were overcome, nevertheless. 

“Guildford really is a showcase of what we 

have achieved, giving a great insight into 

the variety of assets that we deal with. The 

large open space gives us an opportunity to 

display the larger assets among the array of 

glorious luxury goods displayed on the walls 

and cabinets.” 

Owner, James Constantinou 

Loan Against or Sell or Buy Luxury 

With years of experience in the industry, 

Posh Pawn has become synonymous 

with trust, reliability, and exceptional 

customer service. This legacy of excellence 

is reflected in every aspect of Posh Pawn’s 

operations including their Weybridge, 

Richmond and Guildford stores. 

Posh Pawn are proud to offer a flexible 

pawnbroking service, allowing you to leverage 

your luxury assets to secure a short-term loan, 

providing you with the immediate funds 

you need while retaining ownership of your 

prized possessions. Or if you are looking to 

part with your possessions for good, Posh 

Pawn offers a seamless and confidential 

selling experience. Their team of experts 

possesses an in-depth understanding of 

the luxury market, enabling them to assess 

and appraise your items with precision. 

Also at Posh Pawn you’ll find luxury items 

at a fraction of their original retail prices! 

Each item undergoes rigorous authentication 

and quality checks, ensuring that you get 

genuine luxury without compromise – unable 

to visit in store? No problem! You can shop 

online at www.shopprestige.com. Whether 

you’re looking for an investment piece to 

add to your collection or statement accessory 

to elevate your style, Posh Pawn has it all. 

So why not take a trip to Posh Pawn 

today! 8 UK locations including: 

GUILDFORD - 01483 964019 

164-166 High Street, Guildford GU1 3HW 

guildford@prestigepawnbrokers.co.uk 

WEYBRIDGE - 01932 859880 

109 Queens Rd, Weybridge KT13 9UJ 

weybridge@prestigepawnbrokers.co.uk 

RICHMOND - 0208 948 4867 

2-2a George Street, Richmond TW9 1JY 

richmond@prestigepawnbrokers.co.uk 

www.prestigepawnbrokers.co.uk 

www.shopprestige.com

*BOOK IN ADVANCE AND SAVE 

LAST FAIR FOR 2024! 

SUNDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 

OPENS 10:00AM - 3:00PM 

ADMISSION: £2PP 

(Children under 16yrs free) 

(Cash only on the door) 

FREE PARKING 

INSIDE & OUTSIDE STALLS 

HOT & COLD REFRESHMENTS ON SITE 

(ONLY ASSISTANCE DOGS ARE PERMITTED AT 

SANDOWN PARK RACECOURSE) 

An abundance of antiques, collectables, furniture, 

paintings, vintage clothing, ceramics, jewellery, 

garden ephemera, silver and much much more 

For all bookings & general enquiries please contact 

01932 230 946 enquiries@sunburyantiques.com 

www.sunburyantiques.com 

SAVE OVER 

£8 * 

on advance adult tickets 

using discount code 

CRAFT2024 

Purchase direct 

from 180 of the UK’s 

finest contemporary 

craftmakers and artists 

Live Music • Demonstrations 

12-15 

September 

Hever 

Castle 

& Gardens 

TN8 7NG 

Putting the WOW 

back into Craft Fairs 

See website for full details on discount / admission costs 

Craft Fair entry included in normal Garden admission charges 

RHS Members free (weekdays only) 

*Admission £12 using offer code 

until Friday 6th September, valid on dates of craft fair only 

9.30am – 

5.30pm Daily 

(Garden open until 6pm daily) 

CIF_Hever_Sept24_130x90.indd 1 12/08/2024 13:40 

Your Dream, Our Vision 

Photo Credit: Louisa Grace Interiors 

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44

Above: The sitting room is decorated in a 

palette of soft peach and greeny-grey. A pair 

of chairs with footstools are upholstered in 

Botanical Print Velvet by Love Your Home 

and the Verbier paintings are by Victor Egorov 

Left: Next to the sitting room, a side room 

acts as an office space for Belgravia Gallery, 

filled with pieces from the likes of HM King 

Charles III, Charlie Mackesy and Nelson 

Mandela Below: Damien Hirsts in the hallway 

Gallery, wrote to the then HRH The 

Prince of Wales to suggest that signed 

lithographs of his watercolours could be 

sold to raise money for his Charitable 

Foundation. Some months after her 

initial enquiry she received a letter from 

the Palace, concurring that this would 

indeed be a very good idea. Since then, 

they have together raised millions for 

his charitable causes. When you view it 

in this context, it is extraordinary the 

power and influence that art can have. 

It was whilst exhibiting the Prince’s 

paintings in New York that they were 

introduced to the publishers of Nelson 

Mandela’s art. Laura and Anna travelled 

to Johannesburg to meet the great man 

and spent time with him whilst they 

discussed his art, and he signed his 

work. An exhibition on Robben Island 

followed shortly after and you can still 

buy Mandela’s art from the Belgravia 

Gallery today, including the famous 

Hand of Africa print. The charitable 

ethos of both King Charles and 

45 


This page: The main bedroom and en suite. The wallpaper is Rotherby Mural by Zoffany. ‘Two Young Lovers’ by John Illsley hangs above the sofa 

next to a wax and resin sculpture by Claire Burbridge. A copper bathtub occupies a private position overlooking the house’s rooftop 

Nelson Mandela runs deeply throughout 

this family business too. The Sebastian 

Hunter Memorial Trust, established 

to honour the memory of Laura’s late 

brother, provides educational, healthcare 

and livelihood support in rural, southern 

India, with much of the funding 

coming from the art that they sell. 

Art can make such a difference to a 

home, your mood, and your outlook 

on life. Waking up to an artwork or 

sculpture that you love and that makes 

you smile is the best way to start 

every day. The Antiques Roadshow 

has conditioned us to look at art 


46

Traditionally Made Architectural Porches, Verandas and Door Canopies 

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or call one of our helpful design team 020 3957 6150

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48

Top left: Laura stripped back the original 

panelling to expose the beautiful oak 

underneath – pieces by Charlie Mackesy 

and Maria Filopoulou hang above Above & 

below left: A guest bathroom, complete with 

lithographs of line drawings by Henri Matisse 

and other antiques as if they might be 

winning lottery tickets. We cross our 

fingers and hope that we could have 

stumbled across or inherited a winner. 

But as Laura wisely advises, don’t 

begin by buying art as an investment, 

instead buy art that you love. Art 

that stirs joyful emotions within you. 

That’s where the real value lies. 

It can also be transformative at work 

too. Where will you be more creative, 

more productive and feel more valued: 

a bland, characterless office or one 

where bright, colourful pieces of art 

give you a fresh perspective, inspire you 

to see further, and think deeper? Laura 

has a number of client businesses that 

lean into her expertise in this area, and 

who rent art for their offices. If we are 

to entice people to return to work in 

offices, then creating an environment 

that is socially, intellectually, and visually 

stimulating will be key and art will, 

without doubt, play an important part. 

Address Book: 

As well as giving guidance for individual 

collectors, corporate clients, and 

interior designers, Laura and Anna 

offer site visits to view artwork in 

situ, in your home or office. With a 

wealth of knowledge, they advise on 

everything from expert sourcing of art 

and current market trends through 

to installation, framing services, 

rental, insurance valuations, shipping 

and restoration. Contact Belgravia 

Gallery for more information. 

belgraviagallery.com 020 7495 1010 

Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust 

sebsschool.org 

Love Your Home love-your-home.co.uk 

MJL Construction mjlconstruction.co.uk 

S J Epps Joinery sjeppsjoinery.co.uk 

49 


warnham interiors 

Interior design studio 

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Handmade curtains & blinds, covering 

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50 

48 December

Get the 

LOOK 

1 Laura Ashley Aidan 5 light globe chandelier £469 där lighting darlighting.co.uk 2 Chester Dove Grey 2 

door hallway cupboard £999 The Cotswold Company cotswoldco.com 3 Swimmers II original oil on canvas 

(77x140.54.5 cm) by Maria Filopoulou £15,000 Belgravia Gallery belgraviagallery.com 4 Mouthblown 

candlestick £48 Joanna Wood shop.joannawood.com 5 Indivi corner sofa in Dusty Rose Leeds fabric 6024 

£2,419 BoConcept boconcept.com 6 Leaves & Flowers maximalism print cushion 2 £32 Ink & Drop 

inkanddrop.com 7 Foxcote metal and glass coffee table £375 The Cotswold Company cotswoldco.com 

8 Antelope Canyon Pool rug from £1,772 (170x140cm) Sonya Winner Rug Studio sonyawinner.com 

51 


Hide & Sleek 

“This desirable walk-in space is cleverly integrated 

into the overall kitchen design, creating a hidden 

pantry that is both beautiful and useful. When 

the doors are opened, the effect is breathtaking. 

Handcrafted racks and shelves display jars, spices 

and herbs and wicker baskets for storing fruit and 

vegetables. Small appliances finally have a home, 

safely stored away from the main kitchen. Rather 

than a conventional standalone pantry design, this 

‘invisible’ solution can be cleverly concealed behind 

doors that blend into the overall kitchen design, 

creating a clean and cohesive look. For the ultimate 

luxury, you can also add integrated lighting, which 

comes on automatically when the doors open.” 

– Tom Howley, Creative Design Director 

at Tom Howley tomhowley.co.uk 

Café-core 

“Café-core has emerged as a major 

trend, with homeowners creating cosy, 

coffee shop-inspired nooks within 

their kitchens. These dedicated coffee 

stations, whether subtly integrated or 

prominently showcased, offer a warm, 

inviting space to start or end the day. 

At LochAnna, we’re seeing a growing 

demand for these custom units, which 

reflect a love for coffee and serve 

as a gathering spot for family and 

friends. Café-core spaces bring a touch 

of luxury to everyday routines and 

special moments.” 

– Sinead Trainor, Kitchen Category 

Manager at LochAnna Kitchens 

lochannakitchens.co.uk 

What’s 

NEXT 

in kitchens? 

Excited for 2025’s fresh batch of trends? 

We’ve asked around to bring you a preview 

of what’s in store 

Eclecticism 

“This season it’s all about making 

bold choices and mixing styles, textures 

and colours to create a truly bespoke, 

eclectic look which oozes elegance, 

personality and drama. We love 

hand painted cabinetry in dark and 

dramatic tones, fluted glass fronts to 

allow vibrant interiors to pop through, 

and topping off with polished chrome 

handles. And if you’re really looking to 

push the boundaries, why not plump 

for an eye-catching wallpaper like this 

reimagined Chinoiserie which we used 

in a recent kitchen project designed 

in collaboration with esteemed 

designer, Ashton Taylor-Smith.” 

– John Stephens, MD of 

Rencraft rencraft.co.uk 

Take a Seat 

“Banquette seating allows 

homeowners to create a space for 

eating that feels formal and informal 

all at once. Perfect for a room that 

is the heart of the home. Curved 

banquette seating in particular can 

add a beautiful design statement – 

opt for positioning at the end of the 

island rather than in the middle, 

where the deep curve needed for 

the seating would eat into your 

potential food preparation space. 

Match the curve of your banquette 

with a round or oval-shaped table 

for a cohesive final look. This use of 

curves will help the kitchen feel more 

spacious and improve the overall 

flow. It is a good technique for both 

small and large kitchens alike.” 

– Tiago Carvalho, Senior 

Designer, The Main Company 

maincompany.co.uk 

53 


C R E A T I N G T H E A R T O F S T Y L I S H L I V I N G 

Visit our kitchen and bathroom showroom, situated over two floors. 

01732 848444 www.potts.ltd.uk info@potts.ltd.uk 

Kiln Barn Road | East Malling | Maidstone | Kent | ME19 6BQ

Marble Moments 

“We are all familiar with marble being used in big ticket 

items around the kitchen, like countertops and tiles, but 

we are now seeing it gain popularity in smaller kitchen 

accessories which can add little touches of luxury to your 

space. Whether you’re drawn to its classic elegance or its 

modern versatility, few materials can rival the timeless 

beauty of marble. Its aesthetic appeal and numerous 

practical benefits make it a perfect choice for people 

seeking to create a sophisticated and inviting living 

space, and investing in smaller marble home and kitchen 

accessories offers an inexpensive way to achieve this.” 

– Hannah Fleming, founder of Ivymore 

insta@ivymoreliving ivymoreliving.com 

Wine not? 

“The kitchen island is often the central 

focal point, making it a perfect spot 

for storing wine. An on-trend way to 

incorporate wine storage is via a wine 

rack built into the kitchen island, 

making full use of this under-utilised 

space. It’s particularly important in 

smaller kitchens where maximising 

storage is crucial. It also means that the 

wine is within easy reach whilst cooking 

and entertaining, enhancing the flow 

and efficiency of the kitchen area.” 

– Ashleigh Hanwell, Senior Designer, 

Second Nature sncollection.co.uk 

Pure Glass 

“Aluminium bi-fold doors have really come 

into their own for those who want a seamless 

transition to their outside space, and are 

especially popular in kitchen extensions as 

an alternative to traditional French doors. 

Their large expanses of glass, slimline frames, 

streamlined opening system and ability to 

completely open up a whole wall mean you 

can create an open-plan feel between kitchen 

and garden and bring the outdoors in. The 

large glazed areas flood a space with natural 

light and provide unobtrusive views. 

– Steve Rawding, Sales Director of 

leading South East home improvement 

company SEH BAC sehbac.com 

Badger Bathrooms 

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55 


Time for your 

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56

Round About 

“Curves are big news in the bathroom 

this autumn. We have already seen 

this in tiles, with soft scalloped shapes 

replacing the more rigid squares and 

rectangles previously popular. And this 

trend is continuing across bathroom 

fittings with gently rounded baths and 

circular basins all helping to create 

a more relaxing, less rigid bathroom 

style. These shapes can be repeated 

with round and lozenge shaped 

mirrors and even curved archways 

replacing square architecture.” 

– Jamie Bebbington, managing 

director, Aston Matthews 

astonmatthews.co.uk 

Elma concrete 

basin with integral 

arched splashback. 

Concrete basins are 

priced from £1,692 

at Aston Matthews 

astonmatthews.co.uk 

Coffee Colours 

“Beige, cream and brown are warm 

and easy to live with and there’s 

no need to compromise on luxury. 

It’s easy to add interest to a neutral 

bathroom design with texture, 

pattern and tone. Here, a walnut 

vanity unit with vertical grain 

is complemented by the Corian 

trough basins. Fluted wall tiles in 

cream and marble design floor tiles 

complete the look. This colourway 

works well with most brassware 

finishes, but looks particularly good 

with brushed brass and gold.” 

– Dan Tanner, Director, 

Badger Bathrooms 

badgerbathrooms.com 

What’s 

NEXT 

in bathrooms? 

Excited for 2025’s fresh new look? 

We’ve flushed out all that’s new to inspire 

your next bathroom revamp 

Seascape Tile Mural 

at Solstice £180 (12 

tiles) Abigail Edwards 

abigailedwards.com 

Tile Style 

“Mural tiles in the bathroom are a perfect way 

to add a little softness and creativity to what can 

sometimes be a space that is lacking in character. 

The hardness of white goods are offset by delicate 

patterns on tiles, bringing a sense of uniqueness 

whilst also being practical and without distracting 

from the clean lines of the space.” 

– Abigail Edwards, Designer, Abigail Edwards 

abigailedwards.com 

Bold as Brass 

“It’s all about the finer details this season, with new 

brushed bronze and nickel finishes taking over our 

modern and traditional brassware collections. Pair 

these perfectly with the newest trends in ribbed wood 

bathroom furniture and vanity units. Whether you’re 

planning a full remodel or simply replacing your 

bathroom accessories, the newly refurbished Easy 

Bathrooms in Weybridge has everything you need.” 

– Niamh Byron, Senior Designer, 

Easy Bathrooms easybathrooms.com 

Natural Touch 

“We love incorporating natural 

textures and materials such as wood, 

stone, and marble. This understated 

cloakroom showcases a calming colour 

palette and our exquisite La Parisienne 

Washstand in Arabescato Marble. 

Complemented by Aged Brass fittings, 

the washstand adds a touch of timeless 

sophistication. The harmonious blend 

of luxurious marble and warm Aged 

Brass creates a visually appealing and 

functional centrepiece. Perfect for those 

seeking refined aesthetics and superior 

craftsmanship, our La Parisienne 

Washstand merges classic beauty 

with contemporary functionality. 

– Lizzi Catchpole, Head of 

Design, Catchpole & Rye 

catchpoleandrye.com 

57 


carlton 

alto 

roma 

astonian original 

astonian original brassware geo wall hung wc shape bath 

aged brass 

kast concrete

Old & New 

“The current trend for modern bathrooms 

in older style properties blends contemporary 

functionality with classic aesthetics. Key 

elements include sleek, minimalist fixtures 

combined with vintage-inspired features 

like clawfoot tubs or brass basin mixers. 

Natural materials such as marble or 

subway tiles are popular, often in neutral 

tones to maintain a timeless appeal. Open 

shelving or glass-front cabinets offer a nod 

to the past while ensuring practicality. The 

overall design emphasizes a balance between 

preserving the character of the property and 

incorporating modern conveniences.” 

– Jeremy Colson, Director, Jeremy 

Colson Bathrooms jeremycolson.co.uk 

Stripe Hype 

“I love the latest trend for stripes in interior 

decor as it’s hugely versatile. Striped tiles can 

enhance the look of a room by making it look 

larger and can even make ceilings appear higher. 

You’ll achieve a structured look in a bathroom 

and this design will complement a wide range 

of decor from minimalist to maximalist styling. 

Stripes also add more depth to a design and 

will add more colour to an interior scheme.” 

– Richard Skeoch, director at 

Hyperion Tiles hyperiontiles.co.uk 

Green Light 

“The colour green stands for balance and 

nature, making it the perfect shade to use in a 

calm, relaxing bathroom. We are increasingly 

moving away from white, utilitarian bathrooms 

in favour of a more spa like sanctuary and 

this can be achieved with a scattering of green 

accessories, green tiles or fully committing to 

this colour trend with green sanitaryware.” 

– Jamie Bebbington, managing director, 

Aston Matthews astonmatthews.co.uk 

Astonian Roma 1200mm wide double 

basin in forest green £2,320 Aston 

Matthews astonmatthews.co.uk 

Simply Luxurious 

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59 


Creative 

Heart 

Words: Hilary Wilce 



60

Artist and fitness instructor 

Corinne Corbett-Thompson 

has had quite the 70th 

birthday year – from 

cycling 700 miles and 

planting 70 trees to going 

on 70 wild swims and 

circumnavigating the 

Isle of Wight on foot. 

Here, she tells Hilary 

Wilce about her latest 

exhibition as she guides 

her round her home in the 

heart of a Kent village 

61 


Previous pages & this page: Corinne created a semi open-plan area 

on the ground floor, with the kitchen right at the heart of it. Filled 

with artworks created by her grandchildren, alongside her own pieces, 

this family-friendly space is certainly the hub of the home 

When a spacious 1930s 

house, near the centre 

of a popular High 

Weald village, came on the market, 

artist Corinne Corbett-Thompson 

knew at once it was what she was 

looking for. It had lots of room, 

it was rural but not remote – you 

could walk from it to the village 

shop and pub – and above all it 

had a large attic space which would 

make a perfect artist’s studio. 

Eleven years and quite a lot 

of remodelling work later, the 

front door welcomes you into 

a marvellous kingdom of light, 

space and colour. So much so, you 

almost feel that you’ve stepped into 

another world. Everywhere you 

look, your eye lights on paintings 

and ceramics that prompt thoughts 

of deserts, mountains and seas, while 

swirling circular paintings whisk 

your thoughts up to the planets 

and the stars. And the effect is 

multiplied at the moment, because 

work for an upcoming major solo 

exhibition in Hastings is stacked 

and hung on every surface. 

But more of that later. 

First came the house... 

“We had been living in 

Cranbrook, in a 15th century 

beamed cottage with tiny leadedlight 

windows,” says Corinne. 

“But I paint on the floor, so in 

the cottage, when I painted, I 

always had those criss-cross shaped 

shadows falling over the work and I 

couldn’t see what I was doing.” 


The cottage also only had a small 

garden, down a back lane from the 

main house, while the house she and 

her husband moved into had a large 

garden, with green space all around. 

It was on this green patch that they 

lived for a year, in a caravan parked next 

to the drive, while work was done inside 

the house to create the particular kind 

of spaces they needed for their busy 

Left: Pieces from Corinne’s Galaxy 

Series hang in her office space 

Below: There are several inviting seating 

spaces throughout the ground floor with 

furnishings and paint in a colour palette 

of deep greens and blues – the perfect 

tones to complement Corinne’s artworks 

63 


lives. As well as being a painter and 

ceramist, Corinne is a fitness instructor, 

running both online and outdoor 

classes, while her husband, an executive 

in the energy industry, also paints and 

is just finishing a Classics degree. On 

top of which they both cycle and wild 

swim, and Corinne is a very hands-on 

‘grand-mère’, with all her three children 

and partners, plus five grandchildren, 

at times moving in for extended stays. 

The house needed to serve all these 

differing needs, so a semi open-plan area 

was created on the ground floor, with 

the kitchen at the heart of it, and other 

spaces circling around it, much like 

Top: Corinne’s ceramics are arranged on 

a coffee table in the garden-facing sitting 

room, with a ‘no space for waste’ painting 

reiterating her green-living ethos Left: A 

large sliding door, that Corinne found in a 

reclamation yard, separates the sitting area at 

the front of the house from the entrance hall 

the swirling clouds in one of her space 

paintings. The living and dining area 

at the back of the house make the most 

of light pouring in from the terrace of 

the south-facing garden. This then leads 

round to an area that Corinne uses as 

an office, and then around to another 

space at the front of the house which is 

used as a break-out sitting and television 

area. This darker, north-facing space 

is made cosy with a teal wall, a navy 

sofa and a brilliant yellow armchair. 

To one side of this is her husband’s 

office, where he retreats to find quiet 

and order, among other paintings 

by both him and Corinne, while the 

other side of this inventive gyratory 

system leads to a boot room and utility 

area and then outside to an annex, 

which is used either for tenants or 

family members, as needs change. 

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, 

in frequent use, and above them, 


64

Left & top left: Corinne’s husband’s office is full of artworks by both himself and Corinne, 

alongside framed posters that reflect the couple’s shared love of cycling Above: A painting 

entitled ‘Genesis’ hangs on the wall behind the dining table 

Corinne’s sky-lit, roof space studio, 

with a feast of works in progress, and 

dustsheets on the floor which have 

turned into glorious colourful abstracts 

in their own right, over years of use. 

This is a house made beautiful not 

by a rigorous interior designer’s eye, but 

by being the kaleidoscope reflection 

of a life where every moment is lived 

actively, creatively and reflectively. 

(In fact, Corinne would very much 

like readers to know that, just outside 

the frame of every lovely photograph 

featured here, is all the usual chaos 

and muddle of family life.) “All I do 

is keep my decor simple,” she says, 

“mainly white walls, lots of light. And 

I’m fairly ruthless about getting rid of 

things – if I realise I haven’t properly 

looked at something for two years, 

I thank it and send it on its way.” 

Corinne grew up in Spain, and still 

keeps a flat in her home village near 

Benidorm. Over the course of an 

eventful life she has lived in Sarawak, 

Oman, Turkey and Brunei, and all 

these different influences coalesce in 

her work, which has been exhibited 

in Madrid, Monaco and London, 

and bought by collectors in Spain, 

France, Australia and America. The 

American astronaut Nicole Stott 

bought a circular universe painting 

because, she told Corinne, it reminded 

her of what she had seen in space. 

“I’ve been on a long reflective 

journey,” she says. “From the earth, 

outwards to the universe. I never 

know what I’m going to paint. I put 

on my overalls and I feel like I’m 

almost a conduit. It’s all intuitive. 

The paint dictates what I do.” 

However she is clear that all the 

time she spends outdoors, informs her 

painting. When she is not teaching her 

‘pole-zing’ classes in the woods, she is 

sea swimming, or walking, or cycling. In 

recent years, she and her husband have 

cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s 

End, and the entire length of Spain. 

“The one is always part of the other. 

It works as a whole. I bring things 

65 


This page: The main bedroom is a peaceful white space, punctuated with 

pops of colour from artworks and cushions. Exposed brick walls and a 

hexagonal tiled basin stand add a terracotta warmth to the family bathroom 

back to my painting from what 

I’ve experienced outdoors. And 

I couldn’t do my fitness work 

without having my painting to 

retreat into. I’m so aware of the 

planet that we live on, its beauty 

and its fragility, and that we 

all have a voice, if we want to 

use it, to help look after it, and 

to try and make people think 

about the things they do.” 

At seventy, Corinne raised her 

voice with a series of birthday 

challenges including walking 

seventy miles alone round the Isle 

of Wight, undertaking seventy 

litter picks, cycling 700 miles 

and planting seventy trees – in 

fact, this turned into several 

hundred – and now her art 

installations and ceramics reflect 

her concern about the rising 

tide of plastics and pollution. 

In her studio, to the side of the 

colourful dust cloths, a mirrored 

river of blue bowls is taking 

shape, the centrepiece installation 

of her forthcoming exhibition, 

showing how water can emerge 

from pollution, back into crystal 

clarity. Another installation 

consists of small, seascape tanks, 

contrasting a dirty and polluted 

sea bed environment, with a 

sparklingly clean and alive one. 

“I want to make people think 

about the healing of our planet. 

Obviously there are so many 

things to worry about, but it’s so 

important to have hope, and if 

we all raise our voices together 

maybe things will change.” 


66

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They know they’ll find clothes that you won’t 

see on the high street, from exhibitors who 

have personally designed, made or sourced 

everything they sell and know exactly what’s 

going to suit them. It’s such a joy buying 

directly from knowledgeable people who are 

passionate about fabrics, styles, prints, pattern 

cuts, colour and quality. Follow the likes of 

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Style on Instagram and you’ll know, too! 

Regular Midwinter Fair visitors also know 

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This page: Right at the top of the house, 

Corinne’s studio is a hive of creative 

activity, with views out over the beautiful 

garden. A mirrored river of blue bowls 

(left) will form the centrepiece installation 

of her forthcoming exhibition 

It is her work reflecting all this that will 

be showcased in the Hastings Museum 

& Art Gallery this autumn and winter. 

Meanwhile her influence is clearly 

percolating down into future 

generations. Around her kitchen 

shelves, another gallery is growing, 

of all the art works of her young 

grandchildren, who she encourages 

to draw and paint, as well as to walk, 

swim, play tennis and paddleboard. 

“Life is so short and precious, and our 

planet so beautiful and fragile, I just 

don’t want to waste a moment,” she 

says. And her house is a vibrant and 

colourful testament to exactly this. 

Address Book: 

Corinne Corbett-Thompson’s 

solo exhibition will be running at 

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery 

from 28 September 2024 until 12 

January 2025. Find out more at 

corbett-thompson.com 


Get the 

LOOK 

1 Elin wall light £145 Tom Raffield tomraffield.com 2 Genesis by Corinne Corbett-Thompson 102x117cm artwork 

from a selection corbett-thompson.com 3 Lucy Goose Blue No. 70 paint £44.95 Victory Colours victorycolours.co.uk 

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69 


FUTURE READY 

Everything we do, every single day, prepares our pupils for the future. 

Our pupils leave us grounded, knowing what it means to be a good human being, 

not fearing the unknown, and, ultimately, prepared to live a life that is fulfilled. 

AUTUMN WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN MORNING 

Friday 4 October 2024 9.30-11.30 

To register visit: www.royal-school.org 

Pupils’ self-confidence, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-knowledge, and resilience are excellent. 

ISI Inspection, April 2023 

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in all areas 

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full, weekly and flexi boarding options 

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Independent day & boarding school for girls 

and boys aged 10 to 18 in Haslemere, Surrey. 

WWW.ROYAL-SCHOOL.ORG | T: +44 (0)1428 605805

INTERNATIONAL | COEDUCATIONAL | DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL | AGES 3-18 

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IN OVER 150 INSTITUTIONS 

WORLDWIDE 

A HOLISTIC AND 

UNIQUE LEARNING 

EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CHILD 

CONNECT 

Engaging with your classmates is as important as exploring the subject being taught. 

In TASIS England's diverse and welcoming community, we celebrate the unique contributions of each person. As students 

share different cultures and perspectives, horizons are broadened, memories are made, and strong, life-long relationships are 

cultivated. Find your friends, prepare for your future. Discover your path at TASIS England. 

Our beautiful 46-acre campus is located in Thorpe, Surrey. 

Bus service is available locally and from West London. 

BOOK YOUR PLACE AT TASISENGLAND.ORG/DISCOVER

The Priceless Education Supplement 

75 WHAT’S NEW 

Bulletins from our schools 

79 HOME & AWAY 

How time away aids development 

82 ALL ABOARD 

Tips and info about boarding 

85 HOW TO BE NEW 

Invaluable advice on settling in 

89 INTRODUCING... 

Learn more about schools and 

headteachers 

93 DEUS EX MACHINA 

AI and its impact on education 

97 GOLDEN TICKETS 

All about bursuries 

98 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 

We meet two rising stars 

100 BACK TO SCHOOL 

Mike Piercy gives advice 

102 7 STEPS TO MASTER 

HOMEWORK 

Top tips for studying 

Thank you to Banstead Prep School for 

providing our beautiful cover image 

GUILDFORD 

Where girls thrive 

OPEN MORNINGS 

Book your place: 

73 


SCHOOL Tadworth 

“Excellent in all areas” 

ISI 2023 

A Junior School of 

Reigate Grammar School 

Co-educational school for 

children aged 2 1 / 2 – 11 years 

Shortlisted for 2024 

Independent Pre-Prep 

School of the Year 

Visit us at www.chinthurstschool.co.uk 

Chinthurst School, Tadworth Street, Tadworth 

Surrey KT20 5QZ T: 01737 812 011 

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74


What’s New? 

For the latest education bulletins read on... 

istockphoto.com/ Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury 

ACS Egham celebrates 10 

years of inspiring international 

humanitarian project 

This year, ACS International School Egham 

celebrates the 10th anniversary of its awardwinning 

Project Nepal. More than 200 students 

and staff from the school have travelled to Nepal 

to work on construction projects. The project 

has raised funds to support local communities 

by supplying much needed educational resources 

as well as supporting the construction of school 

buildings and facilities. Carmel Kelly, Director of 

Project Nepal, says: “The initiative has developed 

our students’ commitment to service, social 

justice, and community involvement.” Learn 

more at acs-schools.com/egham 

Relocation Relocation 

TASIS England is delighted 

to announce that it has been 

honoured with the prestigious 

Excellence in Education – Schools 

or Education Consultancy award. 

This recognises the outstanding 

quality of education provided 

to mobile families, reflecting 

the school’s commitment to 

successful, timely, and stressfree 

relocations. The judges 

highlighted the comprehensive 

and inclusive approach to 

relocation and mobility. “TASIS 

England is to be congratulated 

for their coordinated range of 

onboarding support offerings 

for the entire school community 

and their agility in responding 

to international policy change, 

ensuring that support for 

relocation remains focused on the 

personal (human) experience for 

each family.” “We are incredibly 

honored to receive this award, 

which is a testament to the 

dedication and hard work of our 

entire community,” said Head 

of School, Bryan Nixon. Mary 

Biddlecombe, Executive Director, 

Development and External 

Relations, TASIS England added, 

“Our commitment to providing 

seamless support for relocating 

families is at the heart of what 

we do, and we are thrilled to be 

recognized for our efforts.” 

To learn more find TASIS 

online at tasisengland.org 

Sir William Perkins’s School Student Earns 

Young Creative of the Year Award 

Congratulations to SWPS Art student, Serenna who has won the coveted Young Creative 

of the Year Award. Last summer Serenna worked diligently on completing a commission 

she had been given by SWPS school’s governing body, to paint a portrait in 

oils of the retiring Headteacher, Mr Muller. The finished portrait shows 

incredible ability, sensitivity, and maturity as an artist. Serenna’s GCSE 

exam board, Edexcel, have borrowed all her Art GCSE coursework 

to show art teachers across the country as an example of exceptional 

excellence in GCSE. If you’d like to find out more about Sir William 

Perkins’s School and their many achievements, visit swps.org.uk 

75 



ACS Cobham’s early years team wins 

national award for inspiring learners 

ACS International School Cobham’s EYFS team has been 

awarded the Pearson Bronze award for Early Years Team 

of the Year 2024, in recognition of their high levels of 

enthusiasm, expertise and commitment to education. The 

team has implemented the school’s own Early Childhood 

curriculum, allowing staff to be more inquiry-focused, playbased 

and hands-on in their teaching, while maintaining the 

rigour of learning. Head of School, Barnaby Sandow BEM, 

says: “It makes me proud that we’re able to offer our teachers 

the freedom and flexibility to give our children the best 

education possible.” Find more at acs-schools.com/cobham 

Marlborough House named 

Small Independent School of 

the Year in 2024 Shortlist 

First steps with Notre Dame 

Notre Dame Nursery is a year-round Early Years setting 

for girls and boys aged 2-5 years old. In addition to 

private tours year-round, their next Open Event is 

on Saturday 12 October 9am-12pm. This spacious 

and vibrant Nursery begins the Notre Dame journey, 

providing an exceptional education experience from 

Nursery to Sixth Form. Nursery children enjoy a rich and 

creative curriculum which warmly promotes academic, 

social and emotional development. Specialist staff prepare 

and nurture children to transition from the Early Years 

with confidence and ease. To register your interest call 

01932 869993 or visit notredame.co.uk/admissions 

Marlborough House are feeling like winners as they have 

been shortlisted for the ‘Small Independent School of the 

Year’ category of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 

2024. They consider their size as a strength, with benefits 

from small class sizes supporting every child to reach their 

potential, to the unique family-feel of the school. They are 

small but mighty! Congratulations to the inspiring and 

dedicated MHS team and their talented pupils on a fantastic 

whole school achievement in this, their 150th year. Learn 

more about this school at marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk 

Sleepout teaches lessons about homelessness 

Tonbridge’s First Years spent a night in the Quad during the 

summer term as they took part in the annual Sleepout. The boys 

were raising funds for Porchlight, a Kent-based charity which 

helps people facing the devastating effects of homelessness, and 

to date the event has raised more than £23,500. The Quad was 

transformed into a cardboard city, with groups building shelters 

and gaining insights into the reality of life on the streets as they 

tried to settle down on a wet night. Boys also heard talks on the 

subject, and were asked to write about their experiences. “Lasting 

just one night was much harder than I expected, and I feel a new 

level of awareness,” wrote one student. tonbridge-school.co.uk 


76

Reigate 


children aged 3–11 years 

Now part of the Reigate Grammar School family 

Visit www.micklefieldschool.co.uk to find out more 

micklefield_prep 

MicklefieldSchoolReigate T: 01737 224 212 E: admissions@micklefieldschool.co.uk 


KNOW THYSELF 

SLINDON 

COLLEGE 

Slindon College is an Independent Day and Boarding School providing a Specialist Learning Environment 

for boys aged 8-18. The College is set in the historic Slindon House located in the South Downs National Park. 

Slindon College provides a stimulating, broad and balanced educational experience 

for pupils of all academic abilities, taking into account their strengths and talents. 

Open Mornings 

9.30am-12noon 

Saturday 28th September 2024 

Saturday 1st March 2025 

Private visits available throughout the year 

. 

Register Attendance: 01243 814320 registrar@slindoncollege.co.uk 

www.slindoncollege.co.uk 

. 

Scan to register! 

77 


NOW OFFERING 

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JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING OPEN MORNING OR BOOK A ONE-TO-ONE 

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Where girls thrive 


78


Home & Away 

Two schools give us 

the lowdown on the 

wonderful opportunities 

their pupils have for 

experiences away from 

their desks 

We hear from The New Beacon 

about their extensive and enriching 

beyond-the-classroom opportunities 

Iceland or Paris, Ightham 

Mote or Wisley, Reculver or 

Ypres, Italy or Ramsgate?! 

At The New Beacon there is no need 

to choose, 30 trips ran for our boys 

this year, starting from as young as 

Reception right through to Year 8 and 

ranging from field trips to workshops, 

sports competitions to theatre visits, 

concerts to tournaments, museum 

exploration to sailing regattas. 

We firmly believe in the benefits 

of life and learning beyond 

the classroom, extending the 

experiences of our boys and fostering 

independence and self-awareness. 

Preparing for a school trip can be 

challenging, whether a week-long 

residential or a day trip to Hastings. 

Some children are nervous at the 

prospect of being away from familiar 

routines but the confidence they 

gain and the opportunities they 

experience are immeasurable in their 

educational value. Social interactions, 

personal development and a broader 

perspective on life are just some of 

the many benefits we see following 

these trips and that is aside from 

the ‘actual’ purpose – the delight in 

picking pumpkins, climbing the Eiffel 

Tower or swimming in hot springs! 

School inspectors cite ‘wide 

ranging out of classroom activities, 

including trips’ as examples of 

outstanding teaching – at The New 

Beacon we couldn’t agree more! 

newbeacon.org.uk 

“the confidence 

they gain 

and the 

opportunities 

they 

experience are 

immeasurable” 

79 



Penny Daniel, 

who teaches English 

at Churcher’s College, 

runs the school’s First and 

World Challenge expedition 

programmes, alongside her husband 

who also teaches at the school. She tells 

us all about their wonderful travels. 

Standing above the clouds on top of Mount 

Kilimanjaro, alongside 15 students who had 

summited that morning, I physically felt my 

heart leap. Bursting with pride for all they had 

achieved – battered and broken as they were – 

was a defining moment of my life; I cannot begin 

to comprehend what was going through their 

minds at the ages of 15 and 16, other than what 

an incredible thing it was that they had done. 

My husband and I have had the privilege of 

leading many school expeditions across the 

years and we’ve been to some incredible places: 

Ecuador and the Galapagos, China, Peru and 

Bolivia to name but a few. But what drives 

us to devote our holiday time to taking 

the students away is never just about the 

destination. Each year we say, ‘Is it time to 

do our own travelling?’ and each year we 

agree: no, because the students are what 

make these experiences so special. 

To try and explain the ‘growth’ 

they achieve while ‘out there’ is 

almost impossible. One of 

our students, who has 

since travelled 

with me as an 

assistant leader, and 

who was one of those who 

summited Kilimanjaro said, ‘It 

sounds cheesy, I went out there a 

boy, but I came back a man.’ In fact, 

he says it every single time I see him! 

His story is not unique. I’ve lost track of 

the times I have seen the most withdrawn 

of students negotiating with a mob of taxi 

drivers in the middle of Tanzania. I’ve seen 

shy students haggling over chickens in the 

middle of a Beijing market, in a language they 

barely know. I’ve seen formerly reclusive students 

stand up in assembly on their return, in front 

of hundreds of people, and talk confidently and 

candidly about their experiences. This is what 

makes the trips for us: the fact that this travel 

experience, with care and guidance while we’re 

‘in country’, inspires them to plan their own 

trips, plot their own itineraries and dream 

big about their futures and where they could 

end up. Dr Seuss wrote the book, ‘Oh, the 

Places You’ll Go!’ and it’s such an immense 

privilege to be along for the ride. 

As I type, I have a running bet that we 

will make it to Chile before one of our 

students from our last trip to Peru 

and Bolivia. We had better get our 

skates on. As the good doctor says, 

‘Your mountain is waiting, 

so get on your way!’ 

churcherscollege.com 


80

qe college, 2024: times top 20 school for academic performance 

senior schools rank 1st & 7th in the north for academic performance 

qe college placed 2nd in the uk & 1st in the north for a level results 

queen ethelburga’s 

collegiate, york 

welcomes students 3 months to year 13 

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day on 

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open mornings: 

28th september, 16th november 2024 

& 25th january 2025 

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admissions@qe.org | 01423 333330


All aboard 

Two boarding schools give us hints and tips 

on choosing a school and settling in 

4 Questions 

to Consider 

when choosing a boarding school 

Looking for a Boarding School that is as unique as your child? 

Sotiria Vlahodimou, Headteacher at Slindon College, suggests 

boarding schools can benefit pupils of all abilities and backgrounds 

1What does the child need? First and 

foremost, parents must think about 

their child’s strengths and needs. A 

holistic boarding school that removes barriers 

to learning can aid pupils’ development both 

academically and personally. Does your child 

need a varied or altered academic programme, 

structured extracurricular activities or specific 

personal development? Consider carefully 

whether a different growth pathway rather than 

a traditional academic programme might be 

more suitable. The school should offer a variety 

of extra-curricular activities allowing the child to 

explore different interests and develop new skills. 

2What about the quality of staff? 

Boarding Houseparents should be 

knowledgeable, create a homely family 

oriented atmosphere, understand individual 

needs, and promote self-exploration through 

exciting evening and weekend activities. 

Communication between academic and 

boarding staff should be clear so the child has 

a rounded experience both in and out of the 

classroom with parents kept well informed. 

3What size is best? Think about the 

size of the school and the pupil to staff 

ratios. Smaller schools may provide a 

more personalised experience. Slindon College 

has a boarding community of 20-25 pupils 

and class sizes of maximum 10 pupils. This 

offers an effective and adaptable environment. 

4What are the school’s driving values? 

These should align with those of the 

parents to ensure consistency. At the 

heart of boarding at Slindon College is the 

strength of the pastoral care and personal 

development of its pupils. Our values; Empathy, 

Perseverance, Integrity, Community and Selfworth 

provide pupils with a moral compass. 

Research and evaluate different options 

to make a decision and find out 

more online at slindoncollege.co.uk 

Top Tips 

To get you started 

at boarding school 

Settling into a new school can be 

challenging, especially for first-time 

boarders. The Duke of York’s Royal 

Military School are experienced in 

providing a seamless transition for 

students, and their parents – here are their 

top tips 

Select a School with Strong Pastoral Support. 

Trust in the school’s staff is essential. We guide 

parents supporting their child through the transition, 

keeping open lines of communication and updates. 

Involve Your Child in the Decision. Make sure 

your child feels comfortable within the school during 

visits. Once the decision is made, focus conversations 

on the exciting opportunities at the new school. 

Understand the Induction Process. Schools should 

offer a comprehensive induction program, including 

meetings with key staff and students. These 

introductions help everyone feel at ease by clarifying 

the support system in place. 

Look for a Buddy System. A buddy system, where 

existing students are trained to assist newcomers, 

ensures a reliable point of contact. 

Consider Co-curricular and Extracurricular 

Activities: Schools should offer a wide variety of 

activities to keep students engaged, helping them 

avoid homesickness and quickly integrate into their 

new environment. 

By thoroughly researching your chosen school and 

following these tips, you can confidently trust your 

decision. This will enable your child to develop 

independently alongside their peers, supported and 

nurtured by school staff. doyrms.com 


Students of The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

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How to be 

Invaluable advice on 

how to help your 

child settle into 

their new setting 

New 

5 Top 

Tips 

Sarah Nunn, the Deputy 

Head, Academic at 

Banstead Prep School, 

shares tips for starting at a 

new school or nursery 

Starting school for the first 

time or moving to a new 

school can be daunting for 

children of any age, but preparation 

can help them be confident about 

their new environment. 

Help develop independence in preschool 

or reception starters – practise 

getting dressed and putting on 

their coat and shoes by themselves. 

Encourage older children to manage 

their own equipment and pack 

what they need for the next day. 

Help younger children talk about 

how they are feeling so that if 

they feel worried, they can let an 

adult know. Discuss any worries 

e.g. knowing where the toilets are 

and practise asking for help. 

Take every opportunity to visit and 

become more familiar with the school 

– even driving past and pointing it out 

can be helpful for younger children. 

Appreciate that the transition is 

tiring and make allowances. Once 

school has started, make sure 

children have some downtime after 

school and get plenty of sleep. 

If anything is concerning you 

or your child, do raise it early 

– communication between 

school and home helps everyone 

provide the best support. 

Banstead Prep School is an 

independent coeducational prep 

school, pre-school and nursery for 

children aged 2 – 11. For more 

info visit bansteadprep.com 

First Steps 

We hear how familiarity and positivity 

are key factors in settling in at Little 

Hearts Nursery, Sacred Heart School 

Settling a child into nursery can 

be a smooth process with a few 

thoughtful strategies. At Little Hearts 

Nursery, Sacred Heart School, we recommend 

families attend our fortnightly Parent and 

Toddler sessions as a chance to familiarise 

your child with the nursery environment 

before their start date. During these visits, 

children will meet each other and the staff 

in the nursery and play with our toys, which 

makes the setting feel more comfortable. 

Once back at home, it is important to talk 

about the experience in an enthusiastic and 

positive manner. Children often pick up on 

parental cues, so your confidence helps them 

feel more secure. We take lots of pictures of 

our nursery children throughout the week, 

so take time to look through these with 

your child to celebrate their new friends and 

activities and help create a sense of excitement 

about returning. Our children love to fill their 

trays with pictures and craft they have made, 

ready to share at pick-up! Your child will also 

be assigned a key worker, who will observe 

and track their progress, and feed back 

regularly to parents, further strengthening the 

links between home and school. 

Patience and consistency are key, as each child 

adapts at their own pace. Remember, staff are 

always there to guide the process, to reassure 

you and your child and to offer a cuddle 

when it is needed (both for the child and 

parent!) sacredheartwadhurst.org.uk 

85 



Growing Little Vines 

Vinehall School explain how they help little ones settle at nursery 

Starting nursery is a 

significant milestone for both 

children and parents, often 

accompanied by excitement and 

anxiety. At Little Vines Nursery, we 

understand the importance of this 

transition and are committed to 

making it as smooth and supportive 

as possible. Our philosophy focuses 

around building strong partnerships 

with families, ensuring that every 

child feels secure and valued 

from day one. We are dedicated 

to prioritising the emotional and 

developmental needs of every child. 

Time and Patience 

Every child adjusts at their own 

pace. We encourage parents to be 

patient and provide their children 

with the time they need to settle in 

comfortably. 

Building Trust 

Trust is the foundation of a positive 

nursery experience. We focus on 

creating an atmosphere where 

both parents and children feel safe 

and confident, fostering strong 

relationships between staff and 

families. 

Individualised Support 

Recognising that each child is 

unique, we use All About Me forms 

to gather detailed information 

about your child’s likes, dislikes, and 

needs. This personalised approach 

helps us cater to each child’s specific 

requirements, ensuring a nurturing 

and supportive environment. 

Key Person System 

Every child is assigned a Key Person 

along with Co Key People who play 

a crucial role in their development. 

This system ensures consistent 

care and attention, helping form 

secure attachments and enhancing 

emotional wellbeing. 

Gradual Introduction 

To ease the transition, we offer 

Taster Sessions where parents can 

accompany their children for short 

periods. This gradual introduction 

helps both children and parents feel 

more comfortable and confident in 

the new setting. 

Community Engagement 

We believe in creating a sense of 

community. Our free Toddler 

Sessions, Messy Monkeys, and 

Forest School are perfect for families 

to explore our nursery and build 

connections with our staff and 

other families. Throughout the 

year, we organise events like We’re 

Going On A Bear Hunt, offering 

families the chance to get familiar 

with our nursery and its beautiful 

surroundings. These events are 

integral in helping families feel a 

part of our vibrant community. 

vinehallschool.com/nursery 


86

BEING THE BEST 

I CAN BE STARTS 

WITH BEING 

RIGHT HERE. 

At Sir William Perkins’s School, the ethos of championing the individual is not just a motto but a way of life. 

Going beyond the traditional confines of education we nurture curiosity, ambition, 

and generosity in every student. 

A leading independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Chertsey, welcoming boys from 2026. 

Book your place at an open event at swps.org.uk 

Guildford Road, Chertsey, KT16 9BN Tel. 01932 574 900 admissions@swps.org.uk

Courage | Confidence | Character 

An independent school for boys aged 4-13 years, with a co-educational nursery. 

Set on 45 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside, we offer convenient school 

bus routes to surrounding villages and Southwest London. 

“A popular and successful prep that sends boys off to the big name 

Surrey schools with a confident handshake and a spring in their step” 

Good Schools Guide - March 2024 

Individual tours are welcomed year-round 

To find out more, please email admissions@parkside-school.co.uk or call 01932 862 749 

parkside-school.co.uk 

Parkside School: The Manor, Stoke D’Abernon Cobham, Surrey KT11 3PX


Introducing... 

Discover people and places new to you and find out more about those you know already 

Kent College Pembury 

We hear about Kent College Pembury from 

the Head, Miss Katrina Handford 

Kent College Pembury is a school which ensures every 

student, whether they are 3 or 18 years of age, succeeds 

above and beyond their potential. Whatever a student’s 

strength, the environment and opportunities at Kent 

College provide the perfect setting to stretch, challenge and 

champion them to thrive. A whole school, community 

approach nurtures confidence and unleashes talent. 

A recent whole school spectacle of Carnival of the Animals 

saw students through from Nursery to Sixth Form, 

showcasing their musical, artistic and creative talents with 

a repertoire of musical pieces from a range of genres from 

baroque to rock scattered in amongst performances of their 

own poetry. The Countess of Wessex theatre was festooned 

with art from every year group, sculptures, ceramics, paintings 

and drawings. The students wowed the audience not just 

with their many and varied talents, but because of their 

confident and poised approach. The support, mentoring 

and encouragement from the older students was clear to 

see, alongside the camaraderie between the year groups. 

Benenden 

School is delighted to 

welcome Ms Rachel Bailey as their new Head 

this term. Rachel is an experienced educational 

leader with a clear track record of delivering a holistic 

education centred on strong academics while building the 

confidence, resilience and self-esteem that are so necessary 

for life and work in the 21st Century. “I am delighted and 

honoured to have been appointed to lead such a wonderful school 

as Benenden as it moves into its second century at the forefront 

of girls’ education. I am very much looking forward to getting to 

know the girls and the entire Benenden community over the coming 

months.” Ms Bailey joined Benenden from another girls’ school, Royal 

Masonic School for Girls, where she was Head of Senior School, having 

previously been its Senior Deputy Academic. 

She holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and is also an accomplished 

musician and music aficionado, passionate about equestrianism and 

reading. Ms Bailey joins Benenden at a particularly exciting time; it 

is launching its first bus route for local day students and is preparing 

to expand its Sixth Form from 2025 at the same time as creating a 

Lower School House for all its Year 7 and 8 students. In November 

it will be hosting an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Conference 

for Sixth Formers from across the country. 

benenden.school 

Benenden School’s new Head 

This whole school approach and learning from one 

another happens across many elements of school life from 

peer mentoring programmes, peer-led mental health 

schemes, buddy schemes and anti-bullying ambassadors. 

Above all, cross-year group activities and whole school 

events foster a warm community spirit where all the kind, 

compassionate and unique individuals, 

each with their own characters, 

personalities and strengths, 

come together to 

celebrate learning and 

growth. Come and 

see for yourself at 

our open events 

this Autumn. 

kent-college.co.uk 

89 



Millfield Prep School 

Millfield Prep School is a co-educational day and 

boarding school for ages 2-13 in 200 acres of Somerset 

countryside. The school was recently named the 

Independent Prep School of the Year, Best Sports School 

in the country for the 10th time in 11 years by School 

Sport Magazine and last year received a double excellent 

inspection rating, the highest possible. 

The school offers a diverse range of academic subjects, 

sports, creative arts and activities, supported by 

outstanding facilities including: an equestrian centre, 25 

metre swimming pool, golf courses, science centre, music 

ages 7+. Full boarders enjoy evenings and weekends filled 

with trips and activities including visits to the cinema, 

international sports matches, bowling, Weston-super- 

Mare beach, Go Ape, baking, craft nights, sport and 

birthdays are celebrated with lots of singing and cake! 

The boarding house is the place where most pupils 

make long-lasting friendships and receive the support 

and guidance of a team of dedicated staff to guide 

them through their time at the school. “The quality of 

boarding provision and care is excellent. The experience 

of boarding is warmly praised by many, and significantly 

enhances boarders’ personal development, as they become 

self-reliant and tolerant of each other.” – ISI Inspection 

Report 2023 

Outstanding pastoral care is at the heart of everything 

“We feel like we have found school heaven!” 

– a happy parent 

halls, tennis bubble and numerous sports pitches. The 

schools’ aim is to ensure that every child can discover 

their brilliance across all aspects of school life. Pupils 

and staff live by the school values: Be Kind, Be You, Be 

Challengers, Be Curious and Be Brilliant. 

Millfield Prep offers full, weekly and flexi boarding from 

the school does. The innovative Wellbeing Curriculum 

educates pupils about their mental health and wellbeing 

through a series of activities such as Yoga, Movement to 

Music, Alfresco Pursuits, Mindful Walk and Talk and 

Meditation. Millfield Prep’s alumni include Tokyo 2020 

Olympic gold medallist swimmer James Guy, England 

Rugby player Chris Robshaw and singer-songwriter Ella 

Eyre. 

Hilden Oaks 

Preparatory School & Nursery are 

delighted to announce that Mrs Sharon 

Wade is stepping up to become Headteacher from 

September. Mrs Wade has been Deputy Head at Hilden 

Oaks for the past nine years and has been instrumental in 

implementing many of the successful initiatives that have been 

introduced during that time. Hilden Oaks is known as the ‘small 

school that cultivates brilliance’, and Mrs Wade is very much looking 

forward to continuing the mantle of making an excellent school 

even better. On her appointment Mrs Wade said “My vision is for 

Hilden Oaks to be the finest future-focused school where pupils, 

staff, and families become kind, brave, and brilliant, making a 

positive impact on the world. I am thrilled to lead this gem 

of a small school, with such skilful, dedicated staff, and 

inspiring pupils and families”. Please contact our Registrar 

e: registrar@hildenoaks.co.uk or t: 01732 353941, to 

book a place at our forthcoming Open Morning on 

Friday 4th October or to arrange a personal tour with 

Mrs Wade, at any other mutually convenient 

time. Further information may be 

found at hildenoaks.co.uk 

Hilden Oaks’ new Headteacher 

Visit Millfield Prep, meet Head Dan Thornburn and 

teachers, and learn more at their next Open Day on 

Saturday 5 October 2024 or contact prepadmissions@ 

millfieldschool.com to arrange a personal visit. Book 

online at millfieldschool.com 


90

Open Morning 

5th October 2024 

Private tours also 

available during the 

school week. 

Thinking of changing your daughter’s school? 

Why not book a tour and see for yourself 

all that Seaton House has to offer? 

We are a small school with a family environment, 

putting wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. 

Exceptional academic success ensures that our girls 

leave us to attend the very best schools in the area. 

15 hours Early Years Funding accepted in our Nursery 

To book a tour or for any other enquiries, 

call our Admissions team on: 

020 8642 2332 

Or email: 

marketing@seatonhouse.sutton.sch.uk 

The finest 

start in life 

Ranked 2nd in the 

Sunday Times Top 100 

Prep Schools 

in England

Coach Services Available from 

Surrounding Areas 

“A school with a kind heart where happy pupils 

thrive. Academically ambitious but without pressure, 

happiness is the RGS way.” 

THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE 

v 

TOP CO-EDUCATIONAL 

DAY SCHOOL IN SURREY 

BURSARY PLACES AVAILABLE 

admissions@reigategrammar.org | 01737 222231 

reigategrammar.org 

COME & VISIT US! 

See for yourself why we are the top 

choice for families in Surrey. Regular 

open mornings & bespoke private 

tours available. 

Visit rgs.to/open to book


deus ex 

machina 

We learn about AI and 

its wide-ranging impact 

on education 

Ashford School 

It’s here and it’s here to stay, so let’s be savvy and 

maximise the benefits, say Ashford School 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not ‘coming to a 

school near you’, it is already there. Teachers, 

parents and children are only just starting to 

see what impact AI might have on education 

and, with schools being among the earliest 

adopters of AI, what happens in schools will 

soon start to change societies everywhere. 

Getting an AI powered website like 

ChatGPT to write an essay is, quite literally, 

child’s play. Unleashing AI on the education 

of our children is already having far-reaching 

positive, negative – as well as unintended 

– consequences. The benefits of speed, 

efficiency and productivity for teachers and 

students are huge – but the introduction of 

AI does raise important questions about the 

purpose of education and the future of work, 

including working as a teacher. 

One possible response to a future ‘powered 

by AI’ is for schools to focus more on 

nurturing and training pupils to develop 

‘learning habits’ that make successful humans 

flourish in the long-term. Ashford School 

is pioneering the use of a skills framework 

that focuses on developing six characteristics 

of successful humans, such as curiosity, 

independence, collaboration and creativity. It 

is framed as “Education with Character”. 

Tom Vafidis, Assistant Head of Teaching and 

Learning at Ashford School says, “Children, 

“We still don’t 

know how well 

AI will deliver 

human centred 

skills and 

habits.” 

and young people, particularly adolescents, 

are facing massive challenges; some of these 

challenges are new, some were obvious 2,000 

years ago when the ancient Greeks first 

started to think about teaching and learning. 

Teachers need to successfully navigate the 

introduction of Artificial Intelligence and to 

give pupils the ability and strength of mind 

to put technology very firmly ‘back in its 

box’. Successful learners understand how to 

learn and how to be taught. They also know 

how far a tool, such as AI, can and should 

take them.” 

If AI in education goes from assisting 

teachers with planning lessons and marking 

homework – which is already well underway 

– might AI start to undermine the role and 

status of teachers? Saving human educators 

from ‘busy-work’ is just a short step away 

from replacing human teachers altogether. 

We still don’t know how well AI will deliver 

human centred skills and habits. Can AI 

teach children how to be resilient and 

independent learners? 

ChatGPT responds: “Teachers, parents, and 

peers play crucial roles in developing a child’s 

resilience and independence, offering the 

emotional support and human connection 

that AI cannot fully replicate.” 

We will see. 

ashfordschool.co.uk 

93 


INSPIRING INDIVIDUAL 

POTENTIAL 

Come along to our 

OPEN MORNING 

Saturday 12th October • 9.30am – 12pm 

Scan here 

to visit us. 

Notre Dame School, Convent Lane, Cobham KT11 1HA 

notredame.co.uk 

Please register your attendance by calling our Registrar on 01932 869993, 

on our website notredame.co.uk/admissions or simply scan the QR code. 

Independent Catholic Day School in Surrey for girls aged 2-18 years 

Notre Dame Press Ad Aug 2024 v3 Surrey Homes v2.indd 1 16/08/2024 13:05

CO-EDUCATIONAL | AGES 4-18 

DAY SCHOOL IN SURREY 

A SCHOOL THAT 

IGNITES THEIR 

CURIOSITY. 

Education should be lifelong, not lesson-long. At ACS Egham, we furnish 

children’s innate curiosity with the creative and analytical tools to succeed at 

university and beyond - ready for what the world needs next. 

International Baccalaureate through school 

Extensive busing in Surrey, Berkshire & West London 

Bursaries available 

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN DAY OR PERSONAL TOUR: VISIT ACS-SCHOOLS.COM/EGHAM 

OR CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM AT EGHAMADMISSIONS@ACS-SCHOOLS.COM / +44 (0) 1784 430611

FREE TO 

BE ME 

a Superhero 

SUPERHERO TRAINING EVENTS 

Our superhero training events are specifically 

tailored for children starting school in 

September 2025. 

You can meet our teachers, see our school and 

have fun with our Superhero training activities. 

JOIN US ON FRIDAY 

27 SEPTEMBER AT 2PM 

Dress as your favorite 

superhero, or simply be 

your superhero self! 

Find out how Banstead Prep School can develop 

your child’s learning super powers. Scan the QR code 

or visit www.bansteadprep.com 

instagram.com/bansteadprep 

facebook.com/bansteadprep 

Start your adventure 

A thriving co-educational 

Nursery and Prep School 

Visit Ripley Court 

Here 

Ripley Court School @Ripley Court Ripley Court School 

registrar@ripleycourt.co.uk 


96


Bursaries at Reigate Grammar School change lives and build futures 

istockphoto.com/ Oleh Svetiukha 

Reigate Grammar School (RGS), the 

leading coeducational day school in Surrey, 

is dedicated to providing top-tier education 

while ensuring financial accessibility for all 

students. With a rich history dating back 

to its foundation in 1675 as a ‘free school’, 

RGS has consistently upheld social mobility 

as a core value. 

Over the years, RGS has raised over £11.5 

million to fund life-changing bursaries. 

The school’s innovative approach includes 

the Nightingale Bursaries for families of 

NHS staff and STEM bursaries for students 

aspiring to careers in science or medicine. 

Recently, RGS introduced Humanitarian 

Bursaries to support children fleeing conflict 

zones such as Ukraine and Syria. 

Currently, 150 students benefit from RGS’s 

bursary scheme, with support ranging 

from 40% up to 110% of fees. The major 

bursaries can include support for food, 

travel, uniforms, and even the cost of an 

overseas educational trip, allowing students 

to fully embrace the school experience. The 

school aims to double this number, reaching 

30 percent of its student body, through 

the ambitious “Changing Lives, Building 

Futures” campaign. With a target fund of 

£20 million, RGS is dedicated to expanding 

“RGS has consistently upheld 

social mobility as a core value” 

support available. The Early Bursary process 

helps identify and nurture talented pupils 

from local primary schools, offering them 

early admission to foster their academic and 

personal growth. 

“Our vision is to be able to offer any child a 

place at RGS, no matter their background,” 

says Foundation Director Jonny Hylton. 

“Through the Changing Lives, Building 

Futures campaign, we seek support to 

provide first-class educational opportunities 

for children whose potential is far greater 

than their financial means.” 

RGS has a variety of income streams for 

bursaries, including alumni giving, profits 

from their international schools, and 

contributions from numerous individuals, 

companies, and partners who support their 

philanthropic work. 

In 2025, RGS will celebrate its 350 year 

anniversary, launching a decade of 

philanthropic celebration in partnership 

with the wider Reigatian community, aimed 

at securing a sustainable and ambitious 

future. This ethos is championed by 

Headmaster Shaun Fenton, whose passion 

for the bursary programme and community 

partnerships ensures that RGS’s exceptional 

education is accessible to those who may not 

have the financial means. 

Reigate Grammar School is committed 

to diversity and inclusion, recognising 

the value of different perspectives 

and backgrounds in enriching 

the educational experience. The 

school welcomes applications 

from families of all financial 

circumstances and encourages those 

who may benefit from financial 

assistance to explore the bursary 

options available. For more 

information please visit the 

RGS website or contact the 

admissions office directly. 

There will be an Open 

Morning on Saturday 28 

September. 

reigategrammar.org 

97 



Guardians of the Galaxy 

We’ve been getting to know Nattakarn (Ruk) and Jude, 

Cobham Hall’s Guardian and Deputy Guardian 

Ruk and Jude took time away from a 

whole school activity day celebrating 

the empowerment of women, to 

talk to us about life at Cobham Hall, their 

roles as Guardian and Deputy Guardian, 

and their hopes for the future. Jude was 

too modest to mention it but we hear that 

he is the school’s first ever male Deputy 

Guardian. Cobham Hall has become fully 

co-educational and are now taking applicants. 

Tell us about your titles and the 

responsibilities they bring. 

Ruk: Since our school was established we have had 

Guardians and Deputy Guardians. The whole 

school community (students and staff) takes part 

in the election process and it’s a real honour to 

have been chosen. I see my role as being someone 

who you can rely upon, who will listen to fellow 

students and represent them to improve the 

school. We have regular meetings and ensure 

good communication flows in each direction – 

we’re the bridge between students and staff. 

Jude: Ruk does a wonderful job as Guardian and 

as Deputy Guardian I am also here to be really 

approachable, to listen to our fellow students, 

and also to support Ruk in her role, which is 

very demanding. If she needs to step back or 

needs help, I am here. Alongside our meetings 

we have questionnaires for the students and 

ensure their suggestions are passed on to staff. 

What do you enjoy most about your role? 

Jude: I was a head boy at my previous school, so I 

have a bit of experience but this is slightly different 

because we’re given more freedom and also 

responsibility. I feel we’re treated more as adults. 

I really enjoy the fact that we get to organise 

events, which is great for developing skills. I 

get to coordinate with people in and out of 

school, a challenge I really relish. The diverse 

community of the school really adds to my 

enjoyment and learning experience too. 

Ruk: I also very much enjoy organising events. I’m 

from Thailand and so the opportunity to spread 

my culture and learn about others is fantastic. I 

am a boarder and recently I ran a Saturday School 

where I taught my fellow students to cook Pad 

Thai. There are over 28 nationalities in the school 

with many represented in my boarding house. 

It’s great to learn about others and I also love 

helping make everyone feel at home. Recently 

we ran culture day where everyone got the 

chance to wear their own traditional dresses and 

best of all, I learned how to make dumplings! 

What are your favourite subjects and activities? 

Ruk: I am a biology, chemistry and maths scholar. 

I’m also doing an EPQ looking at the factors 

increasing the prevalence of allergies, comparing 

low income and high income countries. We’re 

very lucky here to have small class sizes and so 

the teachers are able to give excellent support 

when you need it. I’ve had the opportunity 

to attend biology lectures, go on science trips 

and I run activities and sessions at STEM club. 

I have also just returned from the Duke of 

Edinburgh expedition, which was incredible. 

Jude: I take biology, chemistry and PE and I would 

say biology is my favourite subject. Away from the 

classroom I’m passionate about music. Earlier on 

in the year I joined the Benesonantes Chamber 

Choir here, which is slightly more experienced, 

it’s something I didn’t think I’d ever do but it’s 

a really enjoyable experience. I also take guitar 

lessons – I love the fact that there are so many 

opportunities here to learn diverse instruments 

and take part in so many different activities. 

What are your hopes for the future? 

Jude: At this particular point in time I hope to 

study biomedicine at university, then join the 

Army as a medic so that I can become a doctor. 

I’d love to retire nice and early and go into politics. 

I’m passionate about wanting to improve things. 

Ruk: I would like to study biochemistry 

and anthropology. I’m still deciding but I 

would like to finish my studies in the UK 

and then go back home to Thailand and 

hopefully help develop the country and do 

as many great things there as possible. 

Do you have someone who inspires you? 

Ruk: Krisana Kraisintu is a Thai scientist and 

doctor – one of those dedicated females in STEM 

who I find totally inspirational. She dedicated her 

time to formulating a vaccine to treat HIV and she 

was the first to achieve it. She also works to help 

those suffering from a lack of nutrition in Africa. 

Jude: I was diagnosed with epilepsy just before 

my 13th birthday. Dr Ahmed really helped 

me get through the whole process, which was 

so different to what life had been like prior 

to my diagnosis. Now I’ve really got used 

to it and I’m so grateful to him. He really 

looks after me and he has encouraged and 

inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. 

If you’d like to find out more about 

Cobham Hall, visit cobhamhall.com 


98

NEW 

Junior School 

minibus network 

from Sept 2025 

99 



Back to School 

istockphoto.com/ redchocolatte 

A Head for 25 years, Mike Piercy is now an educational consultant and 

governor at two schools, here he looks forward to the new academic year 

What’s in the school toolkit? What’s in the 

pencil case? Parents may remember their gold 

and blue Helix Oxford maths tin: compasses, 

protractor, set square, all neatly packaged and 

compact. Yes, it still exists. 

I was rather shocked to see ‘back to school’ 

stationery stocked in a supermarket even before 

the last academic year had finished. I imagined 

the children relishing the new-found freedom 

of summer witnessing a stark reminder 

that freedom has a use-by date. No doubt 

Christmas fayre will soon appear – maybe even 

Easter eggs? 

In August I wrote about 

the end of the school year, 

considering what gentle 

reflections there could be over 

the summer regarding the 

academic year just finished. 

Seemingly, suddenly, here we 

are: the new year. Hopefully 

last year’s reports have been 

re-read, advice registered 

and targets set for the new 

year. What else can be done 

to prepare? The practical elements speak for 

themselves: the full pencil case, shiny new 

stationery, the backpack with age-appropriate 

technology. Over-sized uniform: ‘They’ll grow 

into it.’ 

But what of the emotional, psychological 

backpack? To the older amongst us the pace 

of change today is dynamic – dizzyingly so. 

To pupils and students this is their world: they 

need to be nimble, having the ability to adapt. 

Experience and hindsight inform foresight 

making for measured, calculated decisions and 

actions. 

The nineteenth century nursery rhyme 

instructed Jack to be nimble, to be quick – 

to clear the candlestick. To do so without 

extinguishing the flame was said to bring good 

fortune. For me, the word ‘nimble’ effectively 

describes an essential twenty-first century 

attribute for our young people. Athletic and 

sporting quite possibly but, above all, mentally, 

emotionally, tactically and strategically agile. 

SATS, 11+, school entry tests, GCSEs, A Levels 

and the IB are the backbone of our schooling 

system. To what extent they are measures 

of intelligence is a deeper debate and not for 

now. Results, however, can dictate progression 

to the next stage; yet education is so much 

more than that. It must inculcate problemsolving 

as a mindset. No, let’s not call it that, 

let’s talk of solution-finding. Teachers have 

their resources. Pupils have theirs, stationery 

and tech, but the characteristic – the skill to 

encourage and develop – 

is resourcefulness. 

What of the 

“Resilience is 

not hardwired; 

it 

matures like a 

fine wine” 

disappointments which 

the new year will 

inevitably bring: targets 

set; some not achieved? 

Resilience is not hardwired: 

it matures like 

a fine wine. I worry 

about today’s risk-averse 

education; the fear and 

avoidance of ‘failure’. It 

is sometimes through trial and error, with 

consequent, occasional disappointment, 

that we grow – with the proviso that we 

should reflect on the reasons, the causes, the 

considered risk assessment. 

So, it’s all change as everyone embarks on the 

new school year. New classes, new teachers, 

new schools, new challenges. Very best wishes 

to all children and students – and to their 

parents. Have a go; take advantage of every 

opportunity. Be bold and use mistakes as 

building blocks. 

‘Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.’ 

Though there is some doubt over the 

provenance, the exact words, let’s give credit 

to the remarkable Stephen Hawking for his 

wisdom. 

You can read more from Mike in his new 

book, ‘Careering’ out now with Troubador 

Publishing. troubador.co.uk 


100

A Junior School of Reigate Grammar School 


children aged 2 1 / 2 – 11 years 

Shortlisted for 2024 

Independent School of the 

Year for Environmental 

Achievement 

“Excellent in all areas” 

ISI 2023 

Visit us at www.reigatestmarys.org 

Reigate St Mary’s, Chart Lane, Reigate 

Surrey RH2 7RN T: 01737 244 880 

ReigateStMarys rsmprepschool 


Offering a 

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101 



7 

Steps 

Homework1Before 

Master 

to 

The Learning and Development 

Team at Queen Ethelburga’s 

Collegiate share all their best 

homework tips 

5Focus on one 

task at a time, 

starting with the 

highest priority task, 

until it is complete 

starting, set up 

your homework space, 

making sure you have 

everything you need to 

hand and that you have 

limited distractions such 

as phones and TVs 

4Try 

to complete 

work two days 

before it is due to 

give yourself some 

flexibility 

3Make a timetable 

for when you are free 

to do homework, breaking 

your time into 40-60 minute 

chunks. Consider other 

commitments, such as 

extracurricular clubs, and 

rule out those times 

6Allow short breaks 

every hour or when 

you complete your work, 

whichever is shorter. During 

breaks do not reach for items 

which may encourage 

procrastination such as 

your phone 

2Write a to-do list 

of all outstanding 

homework projects and 

prioritise the list based on 

when it is due, how important 

the assignment is, how long it 

will take and how difficult 

it might be 

7Reward 

yourself when 

you’ve completed 

your work 

48 London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1AS T: 01732 902019 

COMING SOON 

After our refit in September, we will be pleased to 

offer ranges of ready to wear suits from £199, 

for all occasions, from Proms to Weddings and 

Business to Sixth Form, with a collection of 

co-ordinating shirts and accessories. 

Suits available for Children* . Youth / Adults 

Dress wear and Footwear 

*Suits from £132.75 


102

CO-EDUCATIONAL | AGES 2-18 

BOARDING & DAY, SURREY 

TEACH THEM 

TO STAND OUT, 

NOT BLEND IN. 

At ACS Cobham, we believe in helping every child to discover their true potential, stand 

out, and achieve excellence in their own field. Our 128-acre campus boasts world-class 

performing arts, sports and teaching facilities ensuring our students are ready for anything. 

Globally recognised curriculums | International Baccalaureate and Advanced 

Placement Programmes | Extensive busing | Bursaries available 

PEARSON NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING AWARD WINNERS 

REGISTER FOR AN OPEN DAY OR PERSONAL TOUR AT ACS-SCHOOLS.COM/COBHAM

104

Stars of Late 

Summer 

Jo Arnell adds some zest to late summer dishes 


September is meteorological autumn, but this golden month doesn’t let 

go of summer easily – it is still lovely and warm – and we can hold on 

for a little while longer too. Salad is definitely still on the menu, but 

evenings are cooler and there’s dew on the grass, so on some days we might 

need a bit of added warmth. Heat from chilli pepper will do nicely. 

Aubergine & chickpea tagine 

Serves 4 Prep time: 10 mins 

Cooking time: 40 mins 

You will need: a 

casserole pot or tagine 

The melting texture of 

aubergine in this warming 

vegetarian dish contrasts 

well with the nuttiness of 

chickpeas. As with curry, 

the flavours of a tagine 

deepen and intensify over 

time, so you can happily 

make this a day in advance. 

• 3 medium aubergines, 

thickly sliced (1cm) 

• 1 can chickpeas, drained 

• 1 onion, finely chopped 

• 1 tin of tomatoes 

• 1 tbsp tomato purée 

• 2 tsp harissa spices (to 

taste – it contains chilli) 

• 75g dried apricots (or 

dates), chopped 

• 1 tsp cinnamon 

• 100ml vegetable stock 

(or water) – use if the 

sauce becomes too thick 

• couscous, or rice (and/ 

or flatbread) and Greek 

style yoghurt, garnished 

with pomegranate or 

preserved lemon and 

coriander, to serve 

Preheat your oven to 

160°C. Gently fry the 

aubergines and onion 

until soft (5-10 mins), 

then add the rest of 

the ingredients to the 

casserole/tagine, combine 

well and bake for 30-40 

minutes in the oven. 

Remove from the oven 

and allow the flavours to 

develop for a few minutes 

(or overnight and then 

re-heat) before serving. 

 

105 


Thai-inspired 

duck salad 

Serves 4 Prep time: 30 mins 

Cooking time 15-20 mins 

You will need: a heavy 

based frying pan 

This is a simple and 

versatile salad – basically 

a combination of any 

crunchy salad vegetables 

that are in season, plus 

mint and coriander. Duck 

is a red meat and, unlike 

chicken, can be lightly 

cooked. For best results 

pan fry to make sure that 

the skin is nice and crisp. 

• 4 duck breasts, plus 2 tsp 

sea salt to rub into the skin 

• 1 little gem lettuce, shredded 

• ½ a medium cucumber, 

thinly sliced 

• 1 red pepper, thinly sliced 

• 5 spring onions, sliced 

thinly lengthways 

• ¼ of a red cabbage, or 2 

medium carrots, shredded 

• 100g sliced radishes, or 

other crunchy veg – sugarsnaps/kohlrabi/beansprouts 

• ¼ of a watermelon 

(2 oranges, a mango 

or a pomegranate 

will also work) 

• 1-2 large mild red 

chillies, finely sliced 

• 1 handful coriander, chopped 

• 1 small handful mint 

leaves, chopped 

For the dressing: 

• 2 limes – juice of 

both, zest of one 

• 30ml sesame oil 

• 30ml olive oil 

• 1 tbsp fish sauce or soy sauce 

• 1 tsp sea salt 

• ½ tsp Szechuan pepper 

• 1 tsp grated ginger 

• 1 garlic clove, minced/crushed 

• 2 tbsp honey 

• 30g crushed peanuts, or 1 

tbsp crunchy peanut butter 

1. Rub the skin of the duck 

breasts with a little sea salt 

and leave in the fridge for 

at least an hour prior to 

cooking. Pat dry and score 

the skin with a sharp knife, 

then pan fry on a medium 

high heat, skin 

side down for 10 

minutes. Turn over once 

skin is looking crispy and 

gently fry the other side of 

each breast for another 5-10 

minutes, depending on how 

rare you like the meat. Set 

aside to relax (the duck that 

is, we have chopping to do). 

2. Combine the salad 

ingredients in a large bowl 

(chopping the vegetables takes 

most of the preparation time). 

3. Combine the dressing 

ingredients in a jar with a 

lid and shake. Pour over 

the salad, toss gently. 

4. Carve the duck into 

1cm slices and serve with 

the dressed salad. 


106

Pecan pie 

Serves 8 Prep time 20 mins Cooking time: 40 mins in 

preheated oven – 180°C for blind baking and 160°C for the pie 

You will need: a 24cm loose bottomed tart tin, lightly greased 

For those not wedded to tradition (we are a little early 

for Thanksgiving), Pecan pie has to be one of the most 

glorious, yet simple to make desserts at any time of 

the year. This one is not too sickly sweet, of course 

it’s full of calories, but it’s packed with nutritious 

pecans too. Oh go on then, just one small slice. 

• 1 pack ready rolled 

shortcrust pastry 

(sweetcrust if you prefer), 

or make you own 

• 100g melted butter 

• 120g light brown sugar 

• 3 large eggs 

• 2 tbsp plain flour 

• 180 ml golden syrup 

• 1 tsp vanilla essence 

• ½ tsp sea salt 

• 400g pecan nuts – 

300g chopped, 100g 

whole halves 

• 1 tbsp extra syrup to pour 

over for a glossy finish 

1. Lay the pastry over the tin and gently press 

in to shape, leaving an overlap. Line with 

baking parchment and baking beans (or dried 

peas, basically something to stop the pastry 

bubbling up). Bake blind for 5 minutes – this 

will ensure that the pastry stays crisp. I added 

a small tray of pastry stars to the oven at this 

point (cut using a pastry shape cutter and 

baked for about 10 mins), made from the 

excess pastry on the roll, but this is optional. 

2. Add sugar, butter and eggs into a mixing bowl 

and whisk together, then add the rest of the 

ingredients, leaving the whole pecans to one side. 

3. Trim the pastry to neaten the edge, then 

pour in the pecan mixture. Arrange the whole 

pecans on top of the pie and bake in the oven 

for 40 minutes. Glaze with a little extra golden 

syrup and add the stars, if using. Serve cool 

with crème fraîche, cream or ice cream. 

107 


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108

Croissant 

necklace 

€80 Jukserei 

jukserei.com 

Mini alphabet necklace 

£69 Merci Maman 

mercimamanboutique.com 

Chanel CC 

multicolour pearl 

necklace £995 Prestige 

shopprestige.com 

istockphoto.com/ NicoElNino 

Green bee beret 

£28 Oliver Bonas 

oliverbonas.com 

L’Obscure Clarté 50s 

sunglasses £123 

The Revivas therevivas.com 

Banniere Paris silk scarf 

£329 Wolf & Badger 

wolfandbadger.com 

Evil eye amethyst & enamel 

rings £75 each Fool’s Gold 

foolsgoldjewellery.co.uk 

Silk Minnelli shirt in 

Blue £475 Bella Freud 

bellafreud.com 

Meadow Creatures bucket 

hat £20 Fable England 

fableengland.com 

Ulla Johnson Brigitte 

coat £620 Net-a-Porter 

net-a-porter.com 

Silver charm pendant 

£59 Thomas Sabo 

thomassabo.com 

Bijou Bijou 

It’s still all eyes on Paris following The Olympics as Emily in Paris is back 

and rocking her signature vibrant colours and cool clashing patterns 

Gerry Weber wool style coat 

£90 Experience the Difference 

experiencethedifference.co.uk 

Swinton 

sunglasses 

£85 IOLLA 

iolla.com 

Textured baker 

boy hat £16 

Accessorize 

accessorize.com 

Portobello suede boots £95 

Joe Browns joebrowns.co.uk 

Kate Spade 

Knott raffia bag 

£375 John Lewis 

johnlewis.com 

Aristea pearl and gold 

bead hoop earrings 

£59 Ottoman Hands 

ottomanhands.com 

Daring dogstooth 

skirt £45 Joe Browns 

joebrowns.co.uk 

Sacai faux fur jacket £525 

Net-a-Porter net-a-porter.com 

Maddy platform 

sandal £79 Blue Velvet 

bluevelvetshoes.com 

Pink ombre sweat £50 

Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com 

Enamel bow earrings £99 

Amelia Scott amelia-scott.com 

Chanel 19 

tween flap bag 

£3,995 Prestige 

shopprestige.com 

InWear Theia houndstooth 

jacket £159.95 John Lewis 

johnlewis.com 

Shooting star earrings 

£68 Fool’s Gold 

foolsgoldjewellery.co.uk 

109 


Pencils 

& Crayons 

Josephine Fairley sharpens her (beauty) pencils for autumn 

The only thing I loved about going back to school 

after the summer holidays was the acquisition 

of a new pencil case, and its contents. (I’ll never 

smell cedarwood without thinking of Derwent 2Bs.) There 

is a way to recapture that joy, though – with make-up. 

It’s now feasible to build a complete make-up kit from pencils 

and crayons, because their textures and staying power has improved 

exponentially in recent years – as has the breadth of options available 

to us. These stick-shaped make-up creations are also, generally, supereasy 

to use – the perfect, goof-proof choice for a ‘weekend’ make-up 

look (swipe, smoosh, go!), useful for adding a little definition when you 

want to be (nearly) bare-faced. But pencils aren’t just for low-key looks; 

the results can be highly sophisticated – and in general, by adding a 

flourish of translucent powder over the top of your pencilled make-up 

‘look’, you’ll achieve a polished finish that really stays the distance. 

One other advantage? If you travel, pencils aren’t 

required to be stowed in your see-through in-flight bag, 

so you can save that space for skincare and haircare. 

Clever complexion-perfectors. It’s always been Bobbi 

Brown’s mission to make our lives easier, and her new-ish Jones 

Road range is doing just that – notably with chubby Jones Road 

The Face Pencil, £24, in no less than 24 different tones, offering 

brilliant concealment and coverage that can be built to rival a liquid 

or cream foundation. In my own bag at all times, though, you’ll 

find delilah Farewell Cream Concealer, £26 – a narrower span 

of shades, so far, but anything up to medium tones will find a 

match in this super-blendable twist-up product. I use it as a sort of 

foundation touch-up, on the go; the ‘filling sphere technology’ really 

works to blur imperfections. (At weekends, I’ll often draw on a bit 

of this to even out my complexion, blend, and leave it at that.) 

Lovely lip pencils. We’re talking two types of 

lip pencil, here: the type for defining the lips, and the 

sort that works as an alternative to lipstick itself. 


I’m mostly going to focus on new discoveries, here, which may not be on your radar – and in terms of the kind of 

pencil used to outline lips, I’ve several very definite new favourites. (My advice is always to choose a shade that’s close to 

the lip’s natural tone, rather than one which matches your lipstick, though. Even the most budge-proof lipstick eventually 

wears off, which may leave a lip-line outline. Fine if that’s a sort of neutral, rosewood shade – but despite signs of a 

resurgence in popularity of visible lip liner, I still reckon a red or burgundy line looks very Mariah Carey circa 2000.) 

My new faves, both of which are creamy yet budge-proof, are the incredibly affordable (we’re talking three 

quid) e.l.f. Cream Lip liner (most flattering shades: Peachy Pink, Beige Pink and Light Neutral Beige), and – 

pricier but fabulous – Lisa Eldridge Sculpt and Shade Lip Pencil, £20, in shades 0N (a brilliant beige-nude), 

1C or 1W (these being perfect ‘nude’ pinks). These can be used to outline the lips – I absolutely need lip liner, 

as my lips have aged and sort of ‘blurred’, to create a sharp line – but also for ‘filling in’, just as you might fill in 

the outlines in a colouring book; this acts as a great base for lipstick, to turbo-charge how long it stays put. 

Pencils that are more akin to lipsticks themselves are becoming A Thing, meanwhile. ILIA Lip Sketch Hydrating 

Crayon, £26, is creamily comfy, with a soft-matte finish, and eliminates the need for a lip pencil. I have had LOTS of 

compliments, wearing these – the aptly-named Classic Red (smart enough for London meetings), and for more relaxed 

days, softly peachy Pampas. I also like Donna May London Lip Pencils, £15, which come in just two bold shades 

(Blue Red and Orange Red); an online quiz at donnamaylondon.com will steer you to your perfect match. Très chic. 

All of the above pencils need sharpening, however, so I would also point you in the direction of the 

brilliant Monika Blunder Beauty Kissen Lush Lipstick Crayon, £28, which I have in several shades: 

creamy (it’s packed with flower oils and nourishing squalane), and in a twist-up format so that there’s never 

a risk of scratching lips. (See my note about sharpening pencils, at the conclusion of this article.) 

I also recommend that you check out Stila Calligraphy Lip Stain, £23, a buildable, comfortable 

and long-lasting product with a super-clever tip; turn it one way and it can be used, calligraphy-style, to 

outline lips, while flip it sideways to deliver a natural wash of sheer colour. (N.B. This might STRICTLY 

be a liquid formula, if you’re planning to travel with it – but the format is pencil-style.) 

Easy-peasy eyes. Three brilliant twist-up eye crayons are top of my eye-shading pops, with frankly not a lot 

to choose between them. Charlotte Tilbury Easy Eye Wand, £15 comes in several metallic shades (good for 

highlighting), and one great matte nude-y brown (Super Chic). The Duracell bunny of eye crayons, for me, is Bobbi 

Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick, £29.50 – I’m on about my fifth or sixth of the Bark shade, one of 36 

shades in matte or gleaming finishes. Also commendable: Victoria Beckham Longwear Eyeshadow Stick, £32, in 

a choice of five mattes and five shimmers, promising eight hours of waterproof, smudge-proof wear. These can all be 

smoothed in with fingers, but I like to use the Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush, £26, to blur any edges. 

And then, of course, there are eyeliner pencils… My short shortlist: L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip 

Gel Automatic Eyeliner, £7.99 (absolutely does NOT budge, this one); Lisa Eldridge Seamless Glide 

Eye Pencil, £24 (‘glide’ really is the word); and – if I’m on holiday – Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof, 

£27, which is 100% sweat-proof and swim-proof. (And 100% glamorous, being Chanel.) 

Arch support. (Eyebrow arches, that is.) Eyebrow pencils are nothing new, but I’m going to point you in the 

direction of two new and completely brilliant options, which make it a cinch to draw on the lightest, most 

feathery strokes, delivering more natural-looking – but still ‘emphasised’ – brows: Benefit Precisely, My 

Brow Detailer, £22.50 (just brilliant for faking the ‘ends’ of a brow, in particular), and Merit Brow 

1990 Sheer Gel Pencil, £26, which offers the smoothest application and honestly best results of 

any pencil I’ve ever brandished in my brow zone. Neither of these need sharpening, BTW. 

Blush and go. Honestly? Clinique Chubby Stick, £23, is unbeatable on this front – a 

bit, yes, chubbier than any of the other pencils I’ve mentioned, but so easy to use (in 

four flattering shades); I’m honestly not surprised it’s been a worthy Beauty Bible 

Awards-winner, over many years. Dinkier in size and a little chubbier still is e.l.f. 

Monochromatic Multi Stick, £5; the five shades work on eyes, lips AND cheeks 

(and I love e.l.f.’s ‘Virtual Try-on tool, to help you find your best match). 

istockphoto.com/ LightFieldStudios 

The one caveat with pencils (the non-swivel kind) is that they must be kept sharp 

and never allowed to be used down to the wood. Invest in a MAC Universal Pencil 

Sharpener, £5 – because unlike in schooldays, when a blunt tip merely blurred your 

handwriting, the woody stub of a blunt make-up pencil can actually injure skin. 

That aside? I wish you fun – and hours of play – with your new pencil case. 

Visit beautybible.com for more of Jo’s makeup, skin and haircare tips. 

111 


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MEMORY 

CARE UNIT 

NOW OPEN 

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World 

Alzheimer’s Month 

Fri 20 - Sat 21 Sept | 10am - 4pm 

Join us at Greensand House to commemorate World Alzheimer’s Month 

and explore our newly opened memory care unit. This special event aims 

to raise awareness and is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about 

Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia while showcasing our commitment 

to providing exceptional care and support for those living with the condition. 

Enjoy complimentary refreshments and canapés while being entertained 

by live music. Participate in our exciting raffle for a chance to win 

fantastic prizes and join in a variety of fun games and activities. 

Book a private guided tour of our newly opened memory care unit 

for a chance to win a luxury Fortnum & Mason hamper worth £100! 

01276 944200 

averyhealthcare.co.uk 

West Avenue 

Redhill | RH1 5BA

Health 

Run for 

your life! 

Sarah Maxwell explains how to spring into action 

istockphoto.com/ PixelsEffect 

Following Keely Hodgkinson’s 

remarkable performance 

in the 800m at the Paris 

Olympics, where she clinched the 

gold medal, many of you may have 

been inspired to take up running. 

So, if you’re eager to get started 

and wondering how to embark on 

your running journey, here are some 

tips to get you... up and running. 

Warm up 

Always start with a warm-up, such 

as brisk walking, slow jogging 

and gentle dynamic stretches, to 

prepare yourself to run. Begin at a 

comfortable pace that would enable 

you to have a light conversation. As 

you start to feel more comfortable, 

pick up your pace a little. This 

helps your body to adapt to higher 

intensities and will keep your 

breathing steady and working 

correctly. I like to think of our 

energy system working like the gears 

of a car. Just as a car shifts through 

gears to optimise its performance, 

your energy system does the same 

Your feet 

Investing in good running shoes 

is a must. Specialist running 

shops cater to all levels of runners 

and will be able to fit you with 

the best shoes for your running 

journey. Focus on landing with 

a midfoot strike instead of your 

heels or toes. Landing on your 

midfoot helps to absorb shock 

better than heel striking, which 

should lead to less strain on your 

joints and a lower risk of injury. 

Posture and breathing 

Keep your shoulders down and 

arms relaxed by your side. As you 

run, allow your arms to swing 

naturally. Being aware of your 

posture from the start will set you 

up for long-term success and go a 

long way to help prevent injuries. 

It’s worthwhile practicing breathing 

in through your nose and out 

through your mouth, it can make 

a great difference to your mastery 

of running, and enhance your 

performance and enjoyment. 

Motivation 

• Whether you want to get fit, lose 

weight, or run a marathon, having 

a clear goal will help to keep you 

motivated, like completing a set 

distance or increasing your speed. 

• Running with others is a 

great way to stay motivated 

(especially on cold winter 

evenings) with camaraderie 

and support in abundance. 

• Running apps such as Strava 

and Map My Run enable you 

to log your runs, route, distance 

and pace. You can check out the 

17 best running apps of 2024, 

as recommended by Runner’s 

World, at runnersworld.com 

• The ‘couch-to-5k runner’ plan 

is a great way for beginners to 

dip their toes in, taking you 

from 0-5k in 8 weeks. 

• Park Runs are all over 

the country and cater 

to all ages and levels 

and, best of all, 

they’re completely 

free of charge. 

parkrun.org.uk 

Look up your local athletics 

track and see what they have 

on offer for beginners. Many 

clubs have courses and beginner 

sessions – just think, you could 

be running on a track where 

Olympians have run before you. 

And finally, celebrate your 

achievements, no matter how big 

or small, and remember that just 

one step in the right direction is 

a thousand times better 

than no step at all! 

Sarah 

Maxwell is a multiaward 

winning Lifestyle 

Wellbeing and Fitness coach. You 

can find her at sarahmaxwell.com 

Get in touch via email at 

sarahmaxwell@mail.com 

and on social 

@sarahmaxlife 

113 


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114 

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

istockphoto.com, miwa_in_oz , Magone, chokja, Elena Tsvetkova, Drazen Zigic, Agustin Vai /Olga Mazyarkina / Roman Samokhin 

Nourish to Flourish 

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau 

explores the benefits of incorporating another 

healthy ingredient into our diets. This month 

it’s peaches, pears & plums 

Common fruits like peaches, pears and plums, often 

found in our fruit bowl or lurking at the back of 

the fridge, are well known for their high levels of 

vitamin C; a water-soluble vitamin which supports many 

processes in your body including immune health and 

tissue repair. Dietary fibre is naturally present in plant 

foods and an apple or pear contains about 20% of the 

daily value of fibre for adults, while a peach, two apricots 

or two plums provide about 10% of the daily value. 

Consuming enough fibre contributes to smooth 

digestion, a lower risk of gut disorders, supports 

heart health and feeds the friendly bacteria in 

our gut. These fruits also contain beneficial plant 

compounds like antioxidants, which can help 

protect your body from ageing and disease. 

Most of the nutrients can be found in the peel, so 

try to enjoy these fruits whole; spread pear slices with 

peanut butter, slice into a fresh salad, enjoy on top of 

Greek yoghurt, or, if they can’t be eaten straight away, 

freeze and blend into your favourite smoothie. 

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 

Summer grilled peach and burrata salad 

Serves 4 

• 8 oz burrata cheese 

• 3 peaches, stoned and sliced 

• 1 tbsp butter 

• 1 tbsp coconut sugar 

• ½ cup balsamic vinegar 

• 4 cups rocket 

• ¼ cup pine nuts 

• ¼ cup olive oil 

• black pepper, to taste 

1. Heat the grill on medium heat. (The peaches can 

also be grilled on a BBQ, just make sure you slice them 

a little thicker, so they don’t fall between the bars!) 

2. Brush the open side of the peaches with butter and 

sprinkle with coconut sugar. Then, grill the peach 

slices for 2-3 minutes on each side, until you have 

grill marks and the open edge has caramelised. 

3. While the peaches are grilling, add the balsamic vinegar to 

a small pan on a medium heat and simmer for 5 minutes, or 

until slightly reduced. It will continue to thicken as it cools. 

4. To assemble the salad, add a small handful of rocket to 

a plate, some of the peach 

slices, and chunks of burrata. 

Sprinkle over some pine nuts 

and drizzle with olive oil 

and the reduced balsamic 

vinegar. Top it off with 

a little cracked black 

pepper. Delicious! 

115 


Garden 

Daisy Daisy 

Packed with nectar, resilient and bountiful in variety, Jo Arnell shares her 

love of the garden’s often overlooked inhabitants, the daisy family 

istockphoto.com/Michele Rogers / nieudacza / Michel VIARD 

A 

daisy strewn lawn is a lovely thing – redolent of 

idle childhood days spent making chains and 

head-dresses. Few of us mind them popping up in 

the garden – we are encouraged not to mow over them 

these days, but whether you like very short grass or not, 

the lawn daisy – Bellis perennis – is low growing and 

usually manages to escape decimation, ducking under the 

mower blades and then quickly sending up new flowers 

from the base. These little natives are real masters of 

survival, eking it out in paving cracks and dense sward, 

cheerily flowering all through spring and summer. 

Their name derives from ‘day’s eye’, due to the way 

that they open out wide in the morning and close up 

at night – a simple and charming tactic to preserve 

moisture and hide from hungry herbivores. We tend to 

think of daisies having white petals with a yellow centre, 

but the Asteraceae family is enormous and within it 

there are enough daisy flowers to fill your garden for 

most of the year. These are summer-loving plants in the 

main, but as the season drifts from summer into autumn 

late comers like Echinacea, Asters and Rudbeckias 

arrive to enjoy a glorious, sun bursting last hurrah. 

Perfect for Pollinators 

We love daisies for their simple, open centred shape, a 

central disc surrounded by petals – like a child’s drawing 

of a flower. Except that the radial petals are called ray 

florets – in a ring around the outside, working as a lure to 

guide in the insects and the middle is actually a mass of 

tiny individual flowers (disc florets), each with its own 

nectary, which is what makes them so popular with 

pollinators – lots of nectar can be accessed from 

one place, saving on flying time. The flower 

heads make convenient landing platforms too, 

with their wide centres and sturdy stems. 

Nectar sources start to dwindle as flowers fade 

and seeds begin to set, so it’s important to provide a 

boost from fresh blooms that will be much appreciated 

by insects out searching for their last meal. Choosing 

varieties that flower in succession will help to create a 

continual supply of nectar, and then cutting back and 

dead-heading flowers once they are past their best will 

encourage more to be produced, as the plants try to 

fulfil their mission to set seed for the next generation. 

Plants in the Asteraceae family produce prolific quantities 

of seeds too, so are important food sources for birds 

and small mammals through the autumn and winter. 

Growing success 

Daisies are sun lovers, resilient and, once established, able 

to thrive in situations that many plants would find almost 

impossible. The Mexican daisy, Erigeron karvinskianus, 

or Fleabane, as it’s sometimes called, actively prefers to 

grow between a rock and a hard place and will quickly 

proliferate through all the cracks in paving. Full sun for 

at least 6 hours a day will ensure that daisies bloom well 

– more shade means fewer flowers, although 

there are some cultivars that will manage 

in shadier places if they have to and a 

few species – Eurybia is one – that 

will do well in pockets of dry shade. 

These happy go lucky plants are 

not especially prone to pests and 

diseases. You 

Mexican 

fleabane 


may have to watch out for slugs as new shoots appear in the 

spring and rabbits will munch them to the ground if given 

the chance. Occasionally they can be attacked by aphids 

– these are easily dislodged with a squirt of water or – if 

you’re not squeamish, a quick squish with your fingers. 

Best daisies for borders 

Although I love the Oxeye daisies of the hedgerows and fields 

and their larger Shasta daisy cousins (Leucanthemum vulgare 

and Leucanthemum x superbum), they are enthusiastic, to put it 

politely, and so better restricted to wilder parts of the garden. 

The same might go for some of the Michaelmas daisies or 

Asters, as they are also commonly called. I say commonly, 

because the names are interchangeable, but a little misleading 

if you want to keep up with the official botanical labels, which 

for many of them has been 

updated to – hard to 

pronounce and therefore 

slower to catch on – 

Symphyotrichum. 

There are tall 

daisies for the 

back of the 

border – 

not just 

annual 

Echinacea 

Sunflowers like ‘Russian Giant’, but perennials too – try 

Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ for a burst of late lemony 

sun, or H. salicifolius, a towering variety – this one often 

grows to over 1.8m, with graceful willowy leaves. 

Low growing, floriferous daisies for the front of the border 

are very useful – Anthemis tinctoria is care-free, cottage 

garden stalwart. I grow a pale butter yellow variety called 

’E C Buxton’ or try the creamy and delicious sounding 

‘Sauce Hollandaise’. Cut Anthemis back hard after its first 

enthusiastic flush for more flowers later in the summer. 

Neater, and in shades of blue, mauve, pink or white are 

the smallest of the Asters/Symphyotrichum that will clump 

up into floriferous mounds. ‘Early Blue’ is a good one. 

Containers 

A wide range of daisies is available to grow as bedding for 

pots – some of these are not very hardy, so are treated as 

annuals, although most are actually tender perennials, and 

given protection over winter, will, after a haircut and a feed, 

happily show up for next year’s display. Osteospermums from 

South Africa are almost hardy, and in a mild winter or sheltered, 

free-draining position, will keep coming back year after year. 

Smaller and daintier is the Argyranthemum, or Marguerite, 

which will flower prolifically throughout the summer, just trim 

back occasionally to keep them looking fresh. Again, these are 

tender perennials, often treated as annuals, so may not last the 

winter. A favourite with florists is Gerbera, which has big showy 

flowers that last well in a vase. My favourite (at the moment) is 

Tithonia ‘Torch’ – a big vibrant orange daisy – and, a bit like 

the more popular Cosmos, very easy to grow from seed. 

Fibreglass ‘Faux Corten’ planter 

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The Planter Specialist 

Contemporary styles 

from tree planters to 

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iotagarden.com 

CheekyMonkeyWT249.indd 1 24/01/2023 117 17:06 


k 

Ex-Display 

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Up to 20% OFF 

between 16.09.24 and 18.10.24 

Visit your nearest show 

centre to experience the 

exceptional quality of our 

garden buildings. 

Cranleigh 

Notcutts Garden Centre, 

GU6 8LT 

Syon Park 

Hillier Garden Centre, 

TW8 8JF 

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For more products visit 

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Garden Building Collection 

Workshops, Storage Sheds, Hobby Rooms & Greenhouses 

Workshops, Storage Sheds, Hobby Rooms & Greenhouses

Garden 

Daisies don’t usually climb, 

but Thunbergia alata, or 

Black-eyed Susan, as it’s more 

commonly called, is a useful 

tender climber for adding 

height in container displays 

Daisies don’t usually 

climb, but Thunbergia 

alata, or Black-eyed Susan, 

as it’s more commonly called, is 

a useful tender climber for adding 

height in container displays. Available 

in a range of colours, all with a distinctive 

black eye, it will keep flowering all season, 

packing a punch from June until the frosts. 

Extending the Season 

Rudbeckias, Echinaceas, Asters and Heleniums 

are brilliant for blooms at the end of the 

summer and early autumn. The range of colours 

are suitably sultry, verging on autumnal – 

shades of dusky pink, mellow oranges, russet 

and mahogany, with splashes of blue from the 

asters. These late comers mix well with other 

late performers in the borders, but they really 

come into their own among ornamental 

grasses. September is when the grasses begin 

to shimmer in the early autumn light as 

the sun slants through them and creates 

silhouettes of flowers and seed heads. 

Daisies in all their variety contrast 

especially well with them, 

bringing solidity to the mix. 

Many have long lasting 

seed-heads too, 

so once the flowers 

have finished they persist 

as punctuation marks in the 

gently slide towards winter. 

Whether you want to encourage 

wildlife, pep up your pots, or boost 

your borders, it’s hard not to fall for 

the simple, cheerful loveliness of these 

versatile flowers. Daisies aren’t just 

cute, but a classic that deserve their 

place in our hearts and our gardens. 

Join Jo for a gardening class at 

her garden in Woodchurch, 

Kent hornbrookmanor.co.uk. 

Thunbergia 

alata 

Black-eyed 

Susan 

119 


istockphoto.com/ninelutsk / bomber- 

What’s On 

this Month 

Sun 15th Sep 10.30am - 11.30am 

Watts Gallery Artists’ Village, 

Down Lane, Compton, 

Guildford, Surrey GU3 1DQ 

THE BIG BOOK OF NATURE 

ART WORKSHOP 

Join best-selling author, illustrator 

and environmentalist Yuval 

Zommer at Watts Gallery’s 

woodland amphitheatre for a fun 

nature art workshop to celebrate 

The Big Book of Nature Art! Use 

twigs, seeds pods, petals and leaves 

to create your very own nature art. 

This event is part of the 

Guildford Book Festival and 

is suitable for 5-9-year-olds. 

Entry: £8 (family ticket £25) 

wattsgallery.org.uk 

Weds 25th Sep - 7.30pm 

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, 

Millbrook, Guildford, 

Surrey GU1 3UX 

AN EVENING WITH 

CAROL KLEIN 

Join plantswoman and bestselling 

author and one of Britain’s most 

familiar gardening experts, Carol 

Klein, as she celebrates the release 

of her memoir, Hortobiography, 

which tells the story of her life 

through the many gardens that 

have shaped her. Carol will explore 

why our gardens are so important 

and how they bring joy, creativity 

and good health to our lives 

and include lyrical stories of the 

plants, places and people that 

have defined her gardening life. 

Entry: tickets from £34 

yvonne-arnaud.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 Surrey Homes 

for only £150+VAT. Please supply up to 

75 words that should include date, time, 

venue, contact for enquiries and any entry 

price, plus an image to whatson@pricelessgroup.com 

or send with payment (cheques 

payable to Priceless Media Ltd.) to What’s 

On, Priceless Media, Kettle Chambers, 

21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 

3HF. Priceless Media reserves the right to 

edit text to fit space allocated. Deadline 

for the next issue is 9th September. 


120

Midwinter 

With 250+ independent retailers, the 

Wealden Times Midwinter Fair is the 

biggest and most beautifully curated 

shopping event of the season 

14 -16 November 

Book your 

tickets NOW 

QUOTE CODE 

‘SEPT24’ 

for your early 

bird discount 

FREE 

PARKING 

SHOP INDOORS IN FESTIVE 

HEATED MARQUEES 

THE HOP FARM, PADDOCK WOOD TN12 6PY 

Book your timed tickets at wealdentimes-fair.co.uk

Jane Howard looks into the 

reasoning behind the historic 

divisions of the farming year 

September, and specifically Michaelmas 

on September 29th, traditionally 

marks the end of one farming year 

and the start of the next. The crops have been 

harvested, the lambs weaned, the honey collected 

and, as the evenings draw in, it starts all over again. 

Today, only farming, the legal system and Oxbridge 

universities still use the ancient system of Quarter Days 

to divide up the year. These are Lady Day (the spring 

Equinox on 25th March when the sun sets due West and 

daytime and nightime hours are the same), the Summer 

solstice in June (the longest day of the year), Michaelmas 

29th September (the autumn Equinox when the sun sets 

due West again and daytime and nightime hours are the 

same) and Christmas (the shortest day of the year). 

Of all these, Michaelmas Day was the most significant 

to the farming community as it was the 

time when all the harvest had been safely 

gathered in and could be counted, so 

farms could be sold or change tenants 

before ploughing and sowing for the year 

ahead started off again. Farm workers 

and domestic servants were hired for 

the coming year and rents and debts 

became due. And while many of these 

traditions have been lost, there are still 

some vestiges to remind me of the 

significance of these calendar events. 

Few things give me more pleasure than 

blackberry-ing. I even have a little wicker 

basket woven onto a stout stick which 

allows you to balance it amongst the briars 

to get those prime berries – always the 

hardest to reach – and still have a spare hand to pick them 

and drop them into the basket. However – and funny how 

these saws stay with you – my Grandma always told us 

you should never pick blackberries after Michaelmas Day. 

In British folklore, it is said that on this day, St Michael 

the principal angelic warrior and protector against the 

dark of the night – in other words the good guy – expelled 

Unlike cows and pigs 

which are fertile all 

year and so you can 

have calves and piglets 

whenever suits your 

farming calendar, 

female sheep only start 

to come into season 

when the night time 

hours are longer than 

the daytime hours 

Satan from Heaven and landing on earth he fell onto a 

blackberry bush. He then cursed the fruit, scorched them 

with his fiery breath, spat and stamped on them and 

made them generally unfit for human consumption! 

And incidentally if any of you are at all interested in all 

this folklore stuff (possibly extending the Grandma and 

me club to three or four) there is an impressive painting 

by Raphael illustrating this very act – Saint Michael 

Vanquishing Satan – commissioned by Pope Leo X which 

has been hanging in the Louvre since 1667. 

But it’s not just a human thing, the 

sheep are in on the Michaelmas thing 

too. Unlike cows and pigs which are 

fertile all year and so you can have calves 

and piglets whenever suits your farming 

calendar, female sheep only start to come 

into season when the night time hours 

are longer than the daytime hours, in 

other words, after the autumn equinox. 

As they are pregnant for five months, this 

is nature’s way of ensuring lambs are only 

born in the spring when the weather is 

improving and the spring grass is growing. 

The chickens do Quarter days too. 

But in reverse of the sheep. As soon 

as the evenings start to draw in, my 

very beautiful, but sadly not very productive, Brown 

Sussex chickens shut up shop and stop laying. So 

that’s a long old haul of having to buy eggs through 

to Christmas when, miraculously, they may deign 

to get going again. Though of course the big event 

is when one goes broody so we get chicks for Easter. 

Oh there you go, another Quarter day event! 


THAMES 

DESIGN & BUILD 

Call us on 

020 8398 9252 

ARE YOU CONSIDERING AN EXTENSION, LOFT 

CONVERSION, OUTBUILDING, OR ANY OTHER 

ALTERATION OR ADDITION TO YOUR PROPERTY? 

Thames Design and Build provides architectural design 

and/or construction services to clients across Surrey, with 

over with 80% over of 80% our of projects our projects being being Elmbridge Surrey based. 

We offer: 

• A A free consultation to discuss your ideas and advise 

you advise on the you possibilities on the possibilities and permissions 

and permissions 

• A A fixed quote for all stages of architectural work 

• A A fixed quote for your build – we are equally happy to to 

provide a build quote in respect of your existing designs 

We have a large portfolio of clients within Surrey Elmbridge, and its so 

whatever surrounding your areas plans so are, whatever we should your be plans able are, to we show should you 

a be comparable able to show completed you a comparable project. completed project. 

Please email us at info@thamesdesignandbuild.com 

or visit the website www.thamesdesignandbuild.com 

Ditton Garages, Southville Road, Thames Ditton, KT7 0UL

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