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Lifestyle magazine for Cheshire villages of Bramhall | Wilmlsow | Alderley Edge | Prestbury & Knutsford.
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PEOPLE | FASHION | SHOPPING | BEAUTY | FOOD | TRAVEL | HEALTH | INTERIORS
APRIL/MAY 201 5 • ISSUE 39a publication
Amazing Graze at
MICHAEL CAINE’S
RESTAURANTAbode Manchester
WIN a 5-star break in Cyprus
From the streets ofBangkok to
CHAOPHRAYA
Kim Kaewkraikhot
1
Editor’s letter
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Established 2002
One of the great pleasures of working
for a magazine is that we get invited
to lots of lovely launches, and the
past couple of months have been no
exception.
February saw the reopening of The
Whitworth, the first gallery in a park.
The £15million redevelopment has
doubled public space and created
state-of-the-art facilities. The blank
brick wall at the back of the building
has been opened up with two new
wings projecting into the park. It’s like
the gallery is opening its arms and
welcoming the people of Manchester,
which is exactly what they aimed to
achieve.
Beechwood Cancer Care celebrated 25
years with the Butterfly Ladies Lunch
and Fashion Show at The Mere Golf
Resort and Spa with some well-known
faces, including Leanne Brown and
Tanya Bardsley from Real Housewives
of Cheshire, who promised us an
interview.
We were proud sponsors of The Eat
Sleep and Drink Awards, nicknamed
The Drinkies, and saw the cream of
Manchester’s hospitality industry
receive their awards at a glitzy event
at The Mercure Piccadilly Hotel. We
were also more than happy to award
The Lime Tree and Neighbourhood
their awards for Best Premium Dining
and Best Premium Casual Dining
respectively.
Our company was privileged to be
invited by Sky News to question
George Osborne and Ed Balls at the
stunning Facebook HQ in central
London. Salim, along with 29 other
businesses, questioned the Chancellor
and Shadow Chancellor – so now
we’re all waiting for a pay rise!
Thanks to everyone who supported
our Charity Balls in 2014. We raised
more than £12,000 for the Royal
Manchester Children’s Hospital’s Many
Hands Appeal. This resulted in us
being finalists for The Many Hands
Campaign, which encouraged
north-west businesses to support the
charity by signing up to a fundraising
target of £1,000 each over the course
of 12 months. The finale saw five
short-listed companies pitching to
a panel of judges with the aim of
becoming champion of Many Hands
2015.
The evening, which included a Q&A
session with Theo Paphitis, was hosted
by former BBC presenter Andy Johnson,
best known for presenting Inside Out,
and the judges included Maurice
Watkins CBE, Chairman of RMCH
Charity, and ex-dragon Theo Paphitis.
This year’s Christmas Ball is on 28
November. Full details soon to be
revealed! So with longer days, warmer
temperatures and sun on its way,
enjoy the Easter holidays.
Jens Hallman
General Manager
Radisson Blu Airport HotelImage: Stephen McGowan
Martin Cockx
The Hale Plan
Hale Karate ClubImage: Martin Hambleton
The Brasserie
Alderley Edge Hotel
Imola Chair
BoConcept
48
Beverleye: [email protected]
WELCOME
2
01 EDITOR’S LETTER
News from the editor
05 / 07 / 08 / 10 / 12 / 14
NEWS
What’s happening in your
area?
15 CHARLOTTE’S
DIARY
Exam fever
16WOMEN’S FASHION
Festival folk
18 MEN’S FASHION
Holiday heroes
20TRAVEL
A mini-break in the
Languedoc-Roussillon
27 WE LOVE…
These are a few of our
favourite things
INTERIORS
48 Garden-time
50 Brighten up your garden
49 GARDENSTYLE
Sitting pretty
51 LADY MUCK
Grow your own
Lady Muck style
Established 2002
EVERYISSUE…
55 FOOD REVIEW
Michael Caine’s
Abode Manchester
56 DINING GUIDE
Eateries & bars in and around
the area
68TABLE FOR TWO
With Paul Wolfgang Webster
At Piccolino, Didsbury
74THE BUSINESS
With Vikas Shah
77 / 81 / 83 / 85 / 86
EDUCATION NEWS
News and achievements
from the schools
79 SPOTLIGHT…
Martin Dunn
New Head, Moor Allerton
School
90 REVIEWS
Music, books and films
92WHAT’S ON
The city is full of drama, song
and dance this spring
94 GADGETS
We’ve got you covered
with our gadgets round-up
96 MOTORS
High Swede impact and
Supercar beats Hypercar
57
93
22
90
27
94
3
Established 2002
GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Beverley Uddin-Khandakar
GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
Salim Uddin-Khandakar
GROUP RESOURCE DIRECTORJoanne Price
Tel: 0161 445 2883
SALES
Michelle Atack, Nigel Reed,
Selma Horsefield
ART DIRECTION & DESIGN
www.twistedgifted.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Anne Britt, Catherine Reed,
Fay Wertheimer, John Waddington,
Oliver Chesher, Mark Kureishy,
Dr Jill Nash, Julie Neville,
Helen Lawson, Charlotte Batra
and Catherine Saunders
HEAD OF DIGITAL
Philip Valentino
PHOTOGRAPHY
PR Shots, Bigstockphoto.com,
Press Loft, Martin Hambleton
and Stephen McGowan
DISTRIBUTION
Avanti
This Magazine is published six times a year by Salutions Limited.
The contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior
written permission. The publishers are not liable for statements
made and opinions expressed. While every care is taken, prices
and details are subject to change and the publisher can take no
responsibility for omissions and errors.
The Old Bank, 99 Palatine Road, Didsbury,
Manchester M20 3JQ.
Tel: 0161 445 2883 | E: [email protected]
visit us online www.salutions.co.uk
CONTRIBUTORS
15 28 30 62 71
WIN
22 A 5-night stay at the
luxurious Columbia Beach
Hotel
46 An Imola chair from
BoConcept
worth over £2K
87 An evening at Haydock
Racecourse and a pair of tickets
to see Madness or the Kaiser
Chiefs
24 SOUTH MANCHESTER
CAMERA CLUB
This historic club embraces
the digital revolution
28 EMMA O’REILLY
Owner of The Body Clinic
30VERITY SILVA
MD of Sri Tea
53 CAROLYN MELLOR
Celebrating 25 years of homes4U
and Supporting the Maggie’s charity
58THE EAT DRINK SLEEP
AWARDS
The best the north west has
to offer
62 SUE CRIMES
CEO of Gusto Restaurants
66 KIM KAEWKRAIHOT
Owner of Chaophraya
72WENDY MORAN
Senior PR Lecturer at Manchester
Metropolitan University
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5
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
Charity (RMCH) recently held
its Many Hands Campaign finale
at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.
The Many Hands Campaign, which was
first launched in 2008, encouraged
north-west businesses to support the
charity by signing up to a fundraising
target of £1,000 each over the course
of 12 months.
The campaign, spearheaded for the
third time by renowned businessman
and long-term charity supporter Theo
Paphitis, has raised £52,000 from 52
participating companies since last year’s
launch. We are happy to report that
Salutions were short-listed as winners
for Many Hands champion 2015.
The finale saw five short-listed
companies pitching to a panel of judges.
Salutions held two balls in support of
Many Hands; the first was in the
summer of 2014, which was hosted by
Key 103’s Darren Proctor and attended
by 130 people. The second was hosted
by Chelsea Norris and RMCH Charity
patron, John Thompson. Both events
raised more than £12,000.
Money raised by this year’s campaign
will support the enhancement of the
hospital’s Burns Unit, which last year
celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Finalists Salim and Beverley Uddin-Khandakar
with Theo Paphitis. Image: Martin Hambleton
A new cafe for Didsbury, which hopes
to nourish both body and soul, is set
to open in April. Home Community
Cafe is the centrepiece of a redesigned
space at the front of Emmanuel Church
on Barlow Moor Road.
“I’ve always looked at that space and
thought there was an opportunity to
build something really good,” says
Home's Creative Director Hannah
Heasley. “Something that was exciting,
creative, and enabled the church to
express something of itself, and its
vision and values to the community
in a fresh way.”
Home is at the heart of St James and
Emmanuel’s ethos that “everyone is
welcome”. Vicar and cafe trustee
Reverend Ben Edson welcomed its
arrival. “It’s a new way for all the
community of Didsbury to find a place
where they know they belong,” he said.
“We want to build a community at this
cafe around the values of welcome and
belonging, and enable people to engage
with that in a way that feels
comfortable to them,” says Hannah.
“But if you just want a coffee and
catch-up – then that’s great too!”
The values and vision of Home will
also be reflected in its food and drink.
“We’re going to work with suppliers
who care about the planet and pay their
workers well,” adds Hannah. “We’re
supporting local businesses where
possible; we’ll serve barista-made
coffee, teas, cakes and other sweet
treats throughout the day, as well as a
small but perfectly formed lunch menu
between 12 noon and 2pm.”
Home opens on 29 April, initially from
10.30am to 6pm, Wednesday to Friday.
“We’re starting small while dreaming
big,” says Hannah. “We want the people
of Didsbury to really take ownership of
Home, and we have free space to offer
for non-profit groups that want to do
something good for the community.
“Essentially, Home respond to a belief
that we are at our best when we are in
the community.”
FINALISTS AT MANY HANDSEVENT WITH THEO PAPHITIS
CAFÉ
LOCAL NEWS
Hannah Heasley
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7
NEW PRESIDENT ZEE HUSSAINIS WELCOMED AT ASCC
LocaL NeWs
Bringing the perfect consultations,
personalised colour and individually
tailored cuts that ensure HOB Salons
deliver the incomparable hair that
you deserve, current Leeds Franchisee
Shabaz Hussain will take the reins of
the second HOB Salon in the North.
Shabaz’s CV includes television work
for programmes including Coleens Real
Women, styling the hair of footballers’
wives and celebrities such as Jade Jagger
and even Lady Gaga, as well as fragrance
campaigns and working backstage at
London and Milan Fashion Week.
The sumptuous salon surroundings and
the carefully selected team bring the
hottest trends and techniques to Hale,
while the salon décor is for those who
enjoy luxury interiors and five-star
customer service.
The salon also offers a full range of
beauty services with renowned therapist
Natasha Filippidi and is on hand seven
days a week to help you look and feel
beautiful.
To celebrate the opening of HOB Salons
in Hale, enjoy 50% off your first cut,
colour and styling service until 30 April
2015. (With selected stylists, subject to
availability.)
For further info Tel. 941 4777
Sue Aldridge, retiring President, said:
“When I was elected I promised to
‘review and improve the communications
and image of the Chamber’. It was a big
promise and one that could not be
achieved by one woman alone. The
Chamber team has been fantastic; we
have all pulled together to work through
difficult times financially and to shape a
successful Chamber our members can
be proud of. The Breakfast events
schedule has been remodelled and
upgraded to include informative and
relevant business-focused content,
formal lunches have been reduced in
number, and we have reintroduced the
famous ‘mixer’ events. The Business
Academy was successfully launched
with the support of members sharing
their skills, and it will now be a regular
feature in our calendar with a focus on
supporting start-up businesses this year.
“I would like to thank everyone who
has given their time, enthusiasm and
commitment over the past two years
to help and support the Chamber. While
I still have items on my ‘wish list’ that
I have not even started to bring to
fruition, I know new President Zee
Hussain will commit to the ongoing
revitalisation and progress we have
made to date. Best wishes for
continued success.”
Zee Hussain, incoming President, said:
“It is an honour and privilege to take
on the role of President and lead this
historic Chamber. I believe there is lots
of potential to further enhance and
grow the Chamber, not least given our
location and the development taking
place in the area. Sue and chairman
Tony Collier have done exceptionally
well to steer the Chamber through a
turbulent period, and I am confident
that with the help of our members we
can build on this success. I am delighted
that the Chamber has retained the
services of both Sue and Tony – we
all look forward with optimism to a
successful 2015 and beyond.”
For more information about how you
can join the Chamber or come along
to one of the events, visit
www.altrinchamchamber.co.uk or
follow us on twitter: @altichamber
AWARD-WINNING HAIRDRESSING COMES TO MANCHESTER!
Gorgeous colour and exceptional cuts are the standard for award-winning
hairdressing group HOB Salons, and the quality of the renowned salon name
will now be available to the people of Manchester as they opened their
25th salon in Hale!
The Altrincham and Sale Chamber of Commerce celebrated the success of
Sue Aldridge’s two-year reign as President and welcomed new President
Zee Hussain at their new year annual lunch at the Belmore Hotel in Sale.
8
FOODIES FESTIVALTENTH ANNIVERSARY 17-19 JULY
LocaL NeWs
TONY’S TOUGHEST CHALLENGE
After a record-breaking 25,000 visitors
attending Tatton Park’s Foodies
Festival last summer for the tenth
anniversary celebrations, organisers
are extending the festival with new
food and drink theatres and longer
opening hours.
This year, a New Tasting Theatre will host
masterclasses with local experts, inviting
visitors to try the latest foods and learn
new skills including oyster-shucking,
bee-keeping, cheese-selecting, foraging,
preparing raw and vegan foods, and herb
cocktail-making.
Summer cooking inspiration comes from
the Aga Rangemaster Chefs Theatre,
with top chefs including MasterChef
winner Tim Anderson and finalist Jackie
Kearney.
A Wine and Champagne Theatre will
host tutored tastings with experts Neil
Phillips and Charles Metcalfe, who will
guide visitors through this season’s best
British bubblies from the UK and around
the world, and beer expert Melissa Cole
will host masterclasses in the New Craft
Beer Theatre, matching foods with
locally produced craft beers.
Chocolate addicts should head to the
Chocolate Theatre for an instant hit of
cocoa in ‘How to Sniff Chocolate like a
Rockstar’ masterclasses with Coeur de
Xocolat, while the Cake & Bake Theatre
offers masterclasses in 3D cake-
modelling, pastry, chocolate-making and
sugar-craft with the north west’s best
bakers and pâtisseries. A complementing
Chocolate, Cake and Bake Village will
sell bakes, jams, gadgets and baking
essentials.
Delicious smells wafting from The Street
Food Avenue will tantalise visitors to
feast on the huge selection of hot and
cold dishes from around the world. Two
hundred producers will be selling award-
winning cheeses and wines, breads and
bakes, jams and condiments, while cured
meats will be available at the Artisan
Producers Market. There will also be live
music from the entertainment stage.
Little foodies can explore their taste buds
and learn basic skills with Picnic in the
Park-themed masterclasses in the
Children’s Cookery Theatre, where Kiddy
Cook will show them how to make finger
sandwiches, jellies and chocolate bugs.
After a day of feasting and fun, foodies
can relax with a spot on the grass and
soak up the atmosphere with a
refreshing cocktail, glass of bubbly, or a
Pimm’s from the giant Pimm’s teapot or
Galleon Mojito bars.
Tickets are on sale now at
www.foodiesfestival.com or by
calling 0844 995 1111
Good luck to MBL Director Tony Collier
who’s participating in ‘The Comrades’,
the biggest and one of the toughest
marathon road races anywhere in
the world. Originating in 1921 to
commemorate the fallen heroes of
WW1 (the Comrades), 31 May 2015
will see its 90th race.
The race is from Durban to
Pietermaritzburg in South Africa –
a distance of 54 to 56 miles with
6,500 feet of climbing, 4,000 feet of
descending and temperatures in the
thirties.
Tony said: “Although I now consider my-
self a reasonably experienced marathon
runner, having completed 12 marathons
including all six of the World Marathon
Majors, the 26.2-mile distance of a
marathon is one hell of a long way. How
on earth do you do more than double the
marathon distance, climb 6,500 feet and
cope with the heat? One thing’s for sure:
I’m going to find out!”
You can make a donation by sending a
cheque payable to CAFT to MBL House,
16 Edward Court, Altrincham WA14 5GL
or via www.justgiving.com/tonycollier4caft
CHEESEMONGERDELICATESSENBUTCHERFISHMONGER BAKERYWINE MERCHANTGROCERCAFÉ
Booths Hale Barns The Square, Hale RoadHale Barns, Altrincham WA15 8ZN
YOUR NEW STORE IN HALE BARNS OPENS WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL
www.booths.co.uk
Twitter @boothscountry
Facebook /boothscountry
Instagram @boothscountry
10
Business networking group Moxie
Mingle ventured into Didsbury with an
event at Thyme Out on Nell Lane. It was
the first collaboration between Moxie,
run by Bramhall-based Wendy Green,
and Thyme Out, owned by Didsbury
couple Ben and Kate Hayes.
The team at Thyme Out treated the
networkers to a selection of delicious
canapés to showcase their outside
catering, including goats’ cheese
and beetroot mousse crostini, mini-
Yorkshire puddings, silverside beef
and delicious home-baked brownie
bites, all washed down with prosecco
and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Kate from Thyme Out commented:
“We’ve wanted to host a networking
event for a while, so we were delighted
to get this evening in the diary. We
really enjoyed hosting and welcoming
some lovely people. Hopefully, this will
be the first of many similar events in
the future.”
Find out more and book onto the next
Moxie Mingle event
www.moxie-mingle.com
LocaL NeWs
COLLABORATION BETWEENBRAMHALL AND DIDSBURY BUSINESS
Following last year’s hugely successful Brazilian
Carnival, the Bramhall Together Trust have
decided that the 2015 Festival will be a
nostalgic one, with a Step Back In Time
theme promising to bring a touch of vintage
style to the village this summer.
The Trust – a group of volunteers who put a
great deal of time and effort into such events
– are now looking for support to make this
year’s Festival as successful as the last one.
Local authority cost-cutting has contributed
to the demise of several festivals, but last
year’s Bramhall Carnival went ahead thanks
to resolute fundraising and the generous
support of sponsors. Once again, such
support is being sought to make the event
viable and as spectacular as possible.
However, as co-organiser Sue Day of Modiste
explains, there are many other areas in
which people can get involved: “We are
putting a call out to anyone who thinks they
might be able to add to the Festival. They
might have a vintage car they would like to
show off, or perhaps they could take a stall
at the Vintage Market & Vinyl Fair, which is
being held in the Village Square.
And we’re always looking for groups that
would like to take part in the parade on
Saturday – last year 1st Bramhall Scouts won
the Festival Cup and £200 by ‘water skiing’
down Bramhall Lane South!”
The call is out for community groups,
schools and businesses to get in touch and
get involved. Be a helper, a supporter or an
entertainer!
To find out more please contact
The organisers of Bramhall Festival are on a recruitment drive.
He
len
Bu
rto
n a
nd
Stu
art
Ge
rra
rd.
Ima
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: M
ark
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k
Facial Rejuvenation
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Facial Rejuvenation - £40 or 4 sessions for £160
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T: 0161 438 0851 | www.oneproactivephysio.com
THE VILLAGE GOES VINTAGE FOR THE 2015 BRAMHALL FESTIVAL 12–14 JUNE
11
Property – boom and bust days aside
– has rarely let investors down in
terms of investment. Growth may at
times stagnate or be slow, but on the
whole, financial returns have ranged
from good to significant.
Founded by experienced property
investment director Peter Kiely,
Harewood Associates construct
bespoke high-quality family homes in
desirable north west locations and
provide investment opportunities for
those wanting high yield for their cash.
Peter explains: “We can offer investors
between 20% and 30% return on their
investment, and that would take some
beating if you were looking at putting
your money in an ordinary or even
high-performing savings account.
“More than 400 people have invested
with us and we have a 100 per cent
client satisfaction rate, which is
something I am extremely proud of.”
It is a simple concept too. Investors
can own shares in a residential
development owned by a single-
purpose vehicle (SPV) which is a
private limited company established
by Harewood Associates for the
specific purpose of buying and selling
properties on the site.
Share certificates are issued at the
start of the build, and once the last
house is sold, investors are asked for
their share certificates back and they
receive their original stake and
subsequent profit back as a lump sum.
The transactions are all subject to
the legal process and managed via an
independent firm of solicitors.
Peter’s extensive experience in
relation to property investment is
more than matched by his passion
and hands-on approach to Harewood
Associates’ residential development
schemes.
Peter continues: “We are ultimately
investing in the UK, creating beautiful
and high-quality homes, as well as
employment for local people during
the construction phase.
I wouldn’t build in an area I wouldn’t
want to live in myself and I am proud
to have created new family-centred
communities where people want to
live and invest.”
All Harewood Associates’ residential
developments are in the north west.
Shares can be bought for a minimum
stake of £5,000 and developments
generally complete within a year.
The high-quality homes are built to
industry standards and regulations,
and investors are given the
opportunity to visit the sites during
the construction phase.
Peter concludes: “It is important that
our investors feel confident they will
get the return they have been assured
of receiving. Our 100 per cent
satisfaction rate is a clear testament
to our success in achieving that.”
Smart move for investors
For those with money to invest these days, knowing what product or service will deliver the
best return can be tricky. However, Harewood Associates, Bolton-based property developers,
have found a niche in the market that not only offers a safe and high rate of return for
property investors, but also creates local jobs, high-quality housing and new communities.
12
LOVE YOUR HEALTH
LocaL NeWs
EBOLA ORPHAN APPEAL3 PEAKS CHALLENGEJoin Street Child’s team and compete to scale Ben Nevis,
Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours on 10 to 12 July
to raise money to support children orphaned by Ebola in
West Africa.
Juliet Appleby, local fundraiser for Street Child, said: “This
is a tough but magnificent event and participants should
be prepared to do it without much sleep! If you’re up for
the challenge, join us and help raise enough funds to
support 200 orphaned children.” More than 10,000 people
have died of Ebola in the recent outbreak in West Africa
which has left 30,000 children orphaned. This 24-hour
challenge will help Street Child provide a sustainable future
for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.
For further info
please email [email protected]
The Great Kathmandu Tandoori RestaurantAward winning Nepalese & Indian CuisineWinners of the Hardens Observer Readers Choice for Indian Cuisine in the UK
www.greatkathmandu.com | T: 0161 445 2145 or 0161 434 6413
*(ex Bank Hols not valid with any other offer) just mention Salutions when booking!
140-144 Burton Road, West Didsbury M20 1JQ
Open 7 days a week. Lunch 12 noon - 2.30pm & 6.00pm - Midnight
Function room available for hire.
20 %OFF
Total food billMon-Weds*
Hayley was able to discuss how
hypnotherapy can help according
to the person’s needs, covering how
to eradicate an unwanted habit or
behaviour, how to gain relief from
a specific emotional issue, or simply
how to have more self-belief to make
those all-important changes in life.
Hayley told us: “I use a solution-
focused model to help clients reach
their goals in a positive way.” Health,
fitness and lifestyle companies got
involved and the event grew and
became a mini-health and fitness
event with the emphasis on the
Twitter #loveyourhealth.
Inhale Yoga discussed the benefits
of yoga, Hale Fitness spoke about
personal training, and Mam from
The Chandra Healing Centre treated
guests to a luxury 15-minute Thai yoga
massage. There were delicious juices
on offer from Juicelife and delightful
organic canapés from The Garden in
Hale. Guests were truly pampered
with special offers, give-aways and
goody bags, and went on to enjoy
Bellini cocktails and sushi at the
fashionable bar/restaurant Victors
In Hale.
The concept was put together by
Lynette Cutler, who runs The Edge
Events. Lynette told us: “Several
meetings later it was agreed the Love
Your Health event was a great way to
increase awareness.”
Precious health was the venue for the Love Your Health event that took
place recently, where Hayley Kiemel of Insight Hypnotherapy gave people
an outlook of what hypnotherapy is all about.
13
MEMBERSHIP OFFERS: on production of this magazine, the Northern is offering 10% off Full or Fitness and Health rates.
Discounts for off-peak, families and students. Terms and conditions apply. Come along for a tour of our facilities,
or contact us for a free trial at [email protected] and quote Salutions Magazine.
Put a spring in your step at the Northern
What’s on at Come along and see what theNorthern has to offer you and
your family. Open Day Saturday 25 April 1–4pm
COME ALONG AND JOIN IN:
Adult and junior, tennis and squash
taster sessions: Introduction to Body
Control Pilates. Physiquipe physio-
therapy, physical rehab and
conditioning facility. Children’s craft
sessions, face painting, bouncy castle
(weather permitting) and barbecue
DISCOUNTS:
Membership, tennis and squash
camp promotional rates available
FITNESS:
At the Northern, we are fortunate to
be able to offer an excellent gym and
studio facility to complement our
racket sports. Excellent instruction
available from our Personal Training
team, giving sport-specific
programmes, or support for
whatever your goal – a 10K race,
marathon, triathlon, or even to
improve your fitness and keep up
with the kids!
We have a varied range of fitness
classes and running club sessions.
FREE to members. Discounted
regular-user rate or pay as you go.
Online bookings required to ensure
your place up to a week ahead.
For full details go to
www.thenorthern.co.uk/fitness
We have extensive tennis and
squash coaching programmes for all
ages and abilities. These include
holiday and summer camps.
For further details go to
www.thenorthern.co.uk/sports
Or email [email protected]
ATP men’s international tennis returns to Manchester, with the Aegon
Manchester Trophy to be played at the Northern Club, West Didsbury.
CALENDAR OF
EvENTS:
APRIL
8 Christie Support Group
11 Race Night
18 Private Function
MAY
11 First Aid Course
17 Family Tennis
Tournament
23 Bronze Sanctioned
Squash Tournament
30 Aegon Tennis
Tournament Qualifying
(see main text)
REGULAR SOCIAL EvENTS
Tuesday
Zumba Kids, Baby Ballet,
Tennis Club Night,
Speciality Food Night
Wednesday
Squash Club Night
Thursday
Talking Tots
Friday
Stories and Sensory Babies
Family Evening with Films
Saturday
Tennis and Squash Junior
Squads
Sunday
Wisemove
TO BOOK THE CLUBHOUSE [email protected] To see images of the Northern, go to the club website www.thenorthern.co.uk and look at our galleries.
THE NORTHERN
Sunday 31 May – Sunday 7 June 2015.
This men’s €42.5K ATP Challenger,
which takes place in the second week
of the French Open, will be the first
opportunity of the season for the men
to compete in a professional event on
grass. Traditionally, this has been a
popular week on the calendar, with
a number of players world-ranked
between 50 and 100 seeking to sharpen
their skills on grass. The equivalent
event in Nottingham last year saw
former top 10 player and Australian
Open finalist, Marcos Baghdatis
capture the title, while the following
week an emerging Nick Kyrgios won the
title before going on to beat Rafa Nadal
at Wimbledon. Spectators can look
forward to seeing a great mix of
emerging young players on the verge
of breaking into the big time, plus
established stars on the ATP Challenger
circuit.
Ticket information.
Entry is free for the general public
Sunday and Monday, with tickets from
Tuesday through to the men’s singles
final on Sunday 7 June.
For tickets visit:
https://int.theticketfactory.com/
ltacm/online/ or call 0844 581 6902.
Email [email protected]
Twenty-one-year-old Northern member,
Liam Broady, current British number four,
a member of the club, who has reached a
career high of 184 in February 2015. Successful
junior career, reaching a career high No. 2 in
2012. Won two junior Grand Slam doubles
titles (2010 Wimbledon and 2010 Australia
Open) and reached two junior Grand Slam
singles finals (2011 Wimbledon and 2012
US Open).
14
Booths, the north-west-based food
retailer, will open its 31st store in
Hale Barns on 15 April. Edwin Booth,
Chairman of Booths, said: “We’re
very excited to open our state-of-
the-art store in Hale Barns in a prime
position in the heart of south
Manchester.”
The brand-new 30,000-square-
foot Booths food store will be one
of the retailer’s largest, and is part
of the redevelopment of The Square,
Hale Barns’ 1960s shopping centre.
Containing fresh food counters,
including a butcher, fishmonger,
delicatessen, hot food-seller and
cheesemonger, it will play a key part
in the reinvigoration of the Square.
The new store will create over 90
new jobs in the region, ranging from
management roles to flexible part-
time employment. New store manager
Matthew Welsh started working for
Booths 20 years ago. He has worked
in nine Booths stores and became a
manager in 2008. In the weeks before
the opening, he’s spending time visiting
the store’s local suppliers, including
Burt’s Cheese, Cheshire Farm Chips
and Tatton Brewery.
Booths is renowned for top-
quality food and drink and sourcing
fresh, local produce in season. The
vast majority of their fresh food is
sourced within this region due to their
commitment to working with
suppliers in the four counties Booths
operate in: Lancashire, Cheshire,
Cumbria and Yorkshire.
Chairman Edwin Booth said:
“Booths is a supermarket retailer like
no other –proudly Northern, family-
run and independent. Our regional
roots and relative small size help to
forge close relationships with our
farmers and producers. We’re able
to source exceptional food and drink
from small-scale producers that would
normally avoid supplying the super-
markets.
We’re deeply committed to giving
producers a fair price and shoppers
great food and we’re very excited to
be opening in Hale Barns.”
BOOTHS COUNTRYCOMES TO HALE BARNS
Bringing meat, mayhem and music to
the city, Grillstock Manchester will be
headlined by legendary New York DJ
Grandmaster Flash, as well as purveyors
of sexy music, riotous comedy, and
sensational dancing – the Cuban Bros.
Grillstock favourite the inimitable Levi
Roots will also be on hand, delivering
some lunchtime reggae and soul,
while indie rock band The Heavy
headline the Sunday in Albert Square.
Festival-goers can expect a smouldering
hot US-style low 'n' slow BBQ
competition, chilli-pepper and hot-dog
eating competitions, as well as bands
and DJs playing on two music stages.
The competition puts the teams
through their paces as they show off
their culinary skills over the smoky
coals and battle it out to be crowned
King of the Grill.
The competition allows festival-goers
the chance to interact with the teams,
taste the food and experience their
passion for authentic barbecue.
Increasing the heat, US BBQ veteran
Dr BBQ aka Ray Lampe will oversee
the judging.
Food fans can also check out the
Weber BBQ Academy, imported
craft beer in a New York Dive Bar,
bourbon dens and village of BBQ
traders serving pit-smoked meaty
treats and Grillstock’s very own pale
ale, which was created especially for
BBQ.
Tickets are on sale now
www.grillstock.co.uk/tickets. Follow
www.facebook.com/grillstockBBQ or
@grillstock for further line-up
announcements and meaty goodness.
GRILLSTOCK MANCHESTERGrillstock has announced the music bill for Manchester’s big weekend of meat, music and mayhem with
Grandmaster Flash, The Heavy, Levi Roots and Cuban Bros all confirmed to play on 30 and 31 May.
LocaL NeWs
15
I find myself comparing my 16/18-
year-old self to my two children and
remembering all the blood, sweat and
occasional good grades from my days
of revision. I was very diligent, not that
it did me much good, but when the
stress levels were raised, my solution
was to head straight to the stationary
section of a reputable shop and stock
up on different coloured pens, paper
clips and a robust ruler. This meant I
had all the tools for an organised
approach to revision. I can’t tell you
the joy I had in creating a colour-coded
chart of when my revision would take
place, the topic, the length of time - all
accurately listed with perfect straight
lines that would be the envy of – well,
actually no-one – but I was chuffed to
bits. Not much revision took place
though.
I always thought I would do my best
to help my children revise – test them,
ask questions, and make time to
understand the topics under discussion.
But I soon discovered I was pretty much
useless to them. For instance, they
overtook my knowledge of maths
before high school. I knew when I was
beaten, so walked away, head held
very low indeed.
There is so much more noise and
distraction these days. I am incredulous
at just how many flat screens a child can
sit in front of while supposedly revising.
I express my ‘admiration’ for one child’s
ability to do all this simultaneously and
he looks at me with that confused face
(Am I in trouble? Has she spotted that
I am not revising? Is this praise?) and
smiles wryly before skipping off to
the fridge to forage for yet more food,
perhaps even in the belief that he has
got away with it.
All is not lost though. I spot one of
them at the kitchen table apparently
revising. Admittedly, there is a flat
screen around, but there would also
seem to be a file, some pens and
writing happening. As I meander over
to offer refreshment, I glance down
to see copious notes having been
made, but closer examination reveals
elaborately drawn doodles too, which
have nothing to do with the topic in
hand. Ah well, I think to myself, perhaps
this means a good mark in art.
I always thought I woulddo my best to help my
children revise – test them,ask questions, and maketime to understand thetopics under discussion.
t’s exam fever in our house. The age gap between offspringhas led to the delightful double whammy of GCSEs and A levels during the months of May and June, which has already resulted in my hair turning grey (nothing to do withmy age of course) and an ever-increasing level of anxietyover what actual revision should be done over the comingweeks.I
Charlotte’s Diary
By Charlotte Batra
Step in to the new season with ease this Summer
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Denim jacket, £30
Suede rucksack £62
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Suedette tassel jacket, £55
Embellished vest, £18
Mini across-the body bag, £22
Gladiator style sandals, £36
F
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Khaki jacket, £65D
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F
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Dip dye shorts, £22
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Relaxed flared jeans, £26
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Buckle Detail sandals, £50
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17
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Buckle sandal, £30
American freshman cap, £12
Tie Dye t-shirt, £18
Denim shorts, £20 Jute slip-on, £20
Straw trilby, £12
Leaf shorts, £18
Jacquard T-Shirt, £20
Linen shirt, £22
Canvas slip on, £24
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MeN’s FasHIoN
18
To reserve your private appointment at our showroom Tel: 0161 773 0000
Or you can email: [email protected]
F I N E J E W E L L E R Y S I N C E 1 8 9 4
YOUR PERSONAL JEWELLER BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
”WHERE DIAMONDS COST LESS”
TRaVeL
20
Château Les Carrasses is a stunning 19th-
century Wine Domaine in the heart of
Languedoc – a restoration project of
Irish duo Karl O’Hanlon and his wife.
The château oozes charm and character
with luxury hotel accommodation and
the freedom of self-catering. The château
is perfect for a girls’ getaway, or a
short-haul family holiday, and children
are made very welcome, with an
on-site Kids HQ, and organised summer
activities run by bilingual staff.
The range, size and options of
accommodation on offer are superb.
Twenty-eight different self-catering
holiday homes have been created,
ranging in size from studio and one-
bedroom suites in the château, to
houses sleeping eight with private
pools. Some suites have terraces, while
most of the apartments have gardens.
A heavenly French château is the perfect setting for sipping
local wine in the spring. Jill Nash enjoys a mini-break in the
Languedoc-Roussillon.
Château
cHâTeau cHIc
21
Each property is designed differently,
but décor throughout is a calming blend
of contemporary tones and traditional
French country flair. All have fully
equipped kitchens, TV and DVD players,
satellite TV, iPod and docking station,
wi-fi, air-conditioning and top-quality
bed linen and towels (including pool
towels) as standard.
There is plenty to keep you occupied
on-site. You can while away the hours
by sipping a glass or two of locally
produced rosé while soaking up the
beautiful countryside scenery on the
stunning terrace, spend a restful day
next to the splendid infinity pool, or
absorb yourself in a good read in the
delightful conservatory. If you are
feeling energetic, there are floodlit
tennis courts, table tennis or French
Boules to keep you entertained.
The reception area doubles up as a
salon, boutique and bistro serving
lunches and breakfasts. The bistro
and bar serve Mediterranean tapas
complemented by the best regional
wines (including their own) and classic
cocktails, which can be enjoyed
throughout the day by the pool, in the
salon, in the tasting rooms, or on any
one of several terraces. During the
summer, dinner can be served alfresco,
and the château occasionally has
wonderful live music to set the
atmosphere.
The area boasts plenty of leisurely
pursuits, including barge trips along
the Canal du Midi and bike rides around
the rolling vineyards and surrounding
villages. The château can arrange picnic
lunches and local wine-tasting trips
(including their own production site).
A trip to the local Pezenas market is
a must; there you can wander around
the historical town and indulge in local
cheeses, bread and local produce
(or take some back to your apartment
to enjoy later).
A short drive from Les Carrasses brings
you to the golden stretch of sand on
the Mediterranean coast near Sérignan.
The historic cities of Narbonne and
Béziers are also close by. The nearest
airport is Béziers, which you can fly
directly to from Manchester airport,
and the château is only 30 minutes by
car, making this a wonderful choice for
a mini-break. Rooms are priced from
€169 per room per night for a suite.
Book via email [email protected]
or visit www.lescarrasses.com
chic
coMPeTITIoN
WIN A FIVE-NIGHT STAY at the luxurious five-star Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri Bay, Cyprus
We’ve teamed up with the lovely people at Epicure Hotels, who pride
themselves on having personally inspected every one of their featured
beach-front hotels. They've sipped the cocktails, sampled the watersports,
indulged in spa treatments, and dined on the very best in five-star gourmet,
truly making them your local experts on luxury holidays!
To celebrate the launch of their
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your favourite magazine and Epicure
Hotels are offering readers an
exclusive prize of a five-night stay
at the award-winning five-star
luxury Columbia Beach Resort,
Pissouri Bay, Limassol, Cyprus.
Columbia Beach Resort boasts an
enviable position on a Blue Flag-
awarded bay, surrounded by the
white cliffs of Cape Aspro, vineyards
and orchards. This all-suite resort,
with Hébe Spa at its centre, includes
an 80-metre lagoon-style infinity
pool, two tennis courts, two squash
courts, a traditional Cypriot tavern,
an Italian gourmet restaurant,
watersports on the bay, a cycling
centre run by a Swiss cycling
champion, a nautically themed
cocktail bar, a swimming-pool bar,
and a beach bar.
It really isn't surprising to hear that
so many celebrities and members of
the royal family choose this stunning
hideaway for their luxury holidays.
Like them on Facebook and Twitter too for regular unbeatable offers. facebook.com/epicurehotels | twitter.com/epicurehotels
Terms and conditions: The prize is based on two people sharing a Junior Suite Garden View, on a bed and breakfast basis.
Holiday to be taken between publication date and February 2016 and is subject to availability.
Email your answer to [email protected] with A, B or C in the subject field.
Or look online www.salutions.co.uk Closing day for entries: 17 May 2015
Simply answer the following question to be in with a chance of winning this five-star prize:
Where is the Columbia Beach Resort located? a) Paphos. b) Nicosia. c) Pissouri Bay.
They ensure you receive your personalised holiday quotation within
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and with no call centre, agent or corporate costs, you are guaranteed to
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22
At Victoria Highfield, we aspire to make every customer feel special whether that be from a simple repair to the procurement
of a diamond ring. Now open on Didsbury high street, we’re adding our own touch of sparkle to the village.
N O W O P E N I N D I D S B U R Y7 3 5 W I L M S L O W R O A D
735 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury M20 6WF T. 0161 434 8111 www.victoriahighfield.com
STORE ALSO IN HEATON MOOR
Didsbury in Bloom
Designed by floodcreative.co.uk
N
N O W O P E 7 3 5 W
N I N D I DO W R O I L M S L
Y D S B U RA D
24
Pursuit of the perfect image has
always been one of the aims of
Didsbury’s South Manchester Camera
Club, and though its name may seem
redolent of Box Brownies and
technically challenging equipment,
the club has eagerly welcomed the
explosion in digital imagery that now
prevails. More media - film and digital
cameras, including the ubiquitous
smartphone - simply mean more
opportunities to capture that perfect
image.
Founded in Didsbury in 1952, by Fred
Veal and a group of like-minded
friends, their aim was to encourage
‘good fellowship through photography’,
and it remains to this day the club’s
motto. With some 80 members, it‘s
one of the largest in the region and is
highly regarded by other competing
clubs. It’s a progressive club with
an excellent website and a well-
maintained social media presence,
courtesy of the club’s Publicity
Secretary, Emma Finch.
Creativity is the spur for SMCC, and
though technical expertise is clearly
evident in some of the club’s more
practised and experienced members’
works, it’s certainly not a prerequisite
for membership. Members are very
proud that the club contains a wide
and diverse range of photography
enthusiasts holding a wide range of
abilities and experience. The same
applies to the club’s demographic
make-up; men and women of all ages
are all equally welcome. The only
requirement is the desire to take
photographs.
The club offers a varied programme
of activities, including monthly
competitions for both print and
digital images. These competitions
are voluntary and present a great
opportunity for members to have
their work critically appraised. The
standards are high but creativity is
always encouraged at the club and
the members are all highly supportive
of each other’s endeavours.
Renowned and prominent practitioners
are regularly invited to come and
address the club on all aspects of
photography. These presentations
are greatly informative and interesting
and present tremendous opportunities
for developing skills and techniques.
The club has a great social aspect
to it too, with regular day trips to
interesting photographic locations
organised for the members. Exotic
foreign excursions are also arranged
(eg. Venice last year), so there’s plenty
of scope for the keen photographic
eye to take in!
The club will be exhibiting a selection
of its diverse photographic art at the
Didsbury Parsonage as part of the
Didsbury Arts Festival. The exhibition
will run from 20–28 June and members
will be in attendance to talk about all
aspects of the club’s activities.
If you’re interested in photography
and would like to meet like-minded
people, the South Manchester Camera
Club would like to extend a warm
welcome to you; all you need is a
camera!
Go to smcc.org.uk for more
information, or pop along to the club.
Members meet every Monday evening
at 8pm at Barlow Moor Methodist
Church, which is located on the corner
of Wilmslow Road and Sandhurst
Road, Didsbury, M20 5LR.
To celebrate the digital explosion and
its potential benefits to photographers,
the club is running a competition that
is open to all. To enter, simply email a
jpeg image that is original and was
taken by you. There are no restrictions
on the image subject, and any kind of
camera is eligible, especially smart-
phones. The winning entry will be
judged on its creative merits. The
winner will receive a fabulous prize of
Dinner for Two, courtesy of the kind
people at Didsbury’s Croma
restaurant.
Only one entry per person is
allowed and it must be submitted to
[email protected] by 30 April.
Get focused and good luck!
By Mark Kureishy
Click! Historic South Manchester Camera Club embraces the digital revolution
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26
Sassoon Salon
1 Marsden Street, Manchester M2 1HW
Phone: 0161 827 7140
The art of beautyFrom Salvador Dali to Man Ray
and Horst P, this seasons beauty
trends take their cues from
surrealist art.
The New Natural
Fresh, subtle and tousled waves
– the secret to working SS15
beauty trends. There is some-
thing irresistibly seductive
about perfectly textured hair.
“Loose movement and soft
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Try It… Use a medium-sized
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Colour Lustre
Take your cues from a surrealist
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colour this season.
Dreamlike shades of beautiful
colour are the essential choice.
The key to mastering the
palette? “Colours are diffused
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to light and back again,” says
Edward Darley, Sassoon UK
Colour Director. This creates
a subtle flow of colours to
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Try It… Book the ultimate
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The bob has been the haircut of
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To keep the style modern,
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Try it… This look can be worn
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SASSOONPRESENTS UMBRA SS15
Everyone’s welcome at Virgin Active– young or old, fit or unfit. We setout to create a health club that’s
different from all the rest. We lovehelping our members to be active
but we’re not uptight or overly serious about it - that’s just the way
we do things around here.
At Virgin Active Didsbury, we’ve created a game-changing
new club following a £1.1million investment. As well as
existing luxuries such as red-hot classes, awesome
innovations and heated pools, we are now starting to serve
a range of fantastic, fresh facilities to offer you a whole
new level of refinement. From innovative gym floors,
upgraded lounge facilities and spruced-up studios, we are
doing everything we can to make sure you put some more
wow into your workout.
So why not work up a sweat in style with the newly
refurbished studio and gym floor spaces, which feature
the finest equipment to make sure you get the most out
of your workout.
Or why not try The Grid – The Grid will push you, pull and
squat you. It’ll lunge, bend and twist you, and move you
the way you were meant to. You will be able to choose
from four new intense classes: Grid Active, Grid Lean, Grid
Strong and Grid Fit. Every intense class is based around
flexibility and motion. We’ll teach you to move the tough
way and will get the best out of you. It’s all part of your
Virgin Active membership.
So step inside and you’ll experience a health club that’s
actively different from all the rest. You’ll be encouraged,
inspired, and made to feel right at home.
Come and try out our
brand-spanking-new facilities at
our Family Fun Day in June.
For more information about what’s on offer, please call 0161 249 5600 or
get in touch via email at [email protected]
27
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Intensive Age Diffusing Serum£65 // John Lewis
SUN KISS ME
Gradual TanEasy to use - For face & body.
Perfect for a gorgeous sun-kissed golden
glow – all year round!
£9 // www.sun-believable.com
AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES
Relax Light Bath & Shower Oil£40
www.aromatherapyassociates.com
Love
TED BAKERLyla Purse Spray
Available at selected Ted Baker
stores and Boots.
£15 // www.tedbaker.com
These are a few of our favourite things…
We
MY OWN FAIRYBrings children’s Imagination to life.
These little wooden fairy doors are
perfectly packaged alongside a bottle of fairy
dust and a miniature key, designed with the
idea to ‘capture the magic in a box’.
The handcrafted, hand painted doors can be
placed in a special place or secret corner of
the house with the miniature key. When the
key is gone and the fairy dust appears the
next morning, the fairy has been to visit and
has moved into their new home.
My Own Fairy is aimed at children aged 3-9
years, but is also loved by fairy fans of all
ages. The doors come in a range of colours
including red, blue, pink, yellow and purple,
and the fairy shop also stocks accessories
such as stepping-stones, wall stickers and
bottles of fairy dust. The magical visitor can
secretly come and go at night, and find the
letters and presents left for them.
The My Own Fairy website also features a
‘Parents Zone’ for mums and dads to go to
find tips and advice on how to welcome
fairies into their home and answer their
children’s questions about their fairy’s
secret life.
£19.99 // www.myownfairy.com
EDITOR’S FAVOURITE
CLARINS New Garden Escape
Spring Make-Up Collection
Limited Edition
Six colour Eye Palette // £32
Blush Prodige / / £26
Instant Lip Comfort Oil / / £18
Available from most department stores
28
Ten years ago Emma bought and took over the running ofThe Body Clinic in Hale. She was determined to build on its success and sought to growand expand the business’s offer to the local community.
Emma’s skills and experience as a sports therapist working
with the World’s No. 1 cycling team, means she has a vast
knowledge and understanding of the treatment of sports
injuries, and the benefits sports massage and physiotherapy
can bring following major sports events. Indeed, The Body
Clinic’s expertise attracts a range of professional sports
patients, including among others, Olympic Gold medal-
winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton.
However, The Body Clinic’s eight-person team of
physiotherapists means it also provides a comprehensive
range of treatments to suit a variety of problems for all
ages.
Emma explains: “It is important to me and the team at
The Body Clinic that we treat the source of the pain or
discomfort by providing the treatment regimes that best
suit the patient. We have a range of physiotherapists with
different skills so we can offer a solution that is right for
the patient. We have worked with children as young as six
and elderly patients as old as 96. Their individual needs
will differ enormously so we ensure we have the right
person working with them right from the start.”
Initial consultations at The Body Clinic last an hour and
give the physiotherapist the chance to make a thorough
assessment so that a treatment programme is put in
place that will deal with the injury successfully.
Emma O’Reilly, owner of The Body Clinic, is probably best knownfor her previous role as sports therapist for former cycling world
champion Lance Armstrong.
Expert physiotherapists
in the heart of Hale
29
By Charlotte Batra
“The initial assessment is vital for us to get to know exactly
what the patient needs,” says Emma. “We can then ensure
that they are treated effectively and efficiently. Staff are
friendly and approachable and do their best to put a person
at ease.”
With a vast client base it is clear that The Body Clinic’s
ethos works. Its comprehensive range of services includes
physiotherapy, a back pain clinic, women’s health physio,
sports massage and accupuncture, prenatal and postnatal
massage, office injury prevention, and medical legal
services. There is also the opportunity to arrange exercise
classes in your office.
Emma continues: “One of the many reasons I like working
here is that patients work with us. They listen carefully to
our advice and tend to play their part in their recovery by
doing the recommended exercises and taking our advice,
so they can go back to living their normal lives.
“It is also vital that our team of experts get the diagnosis
right from the very start and recommend a treatment plan
that is both bespoke and realistic. Taking the whole person
into account is an important part of our treatment.”
Treatments available at The Body Clinic now include
acupuncture and reflexology together with general
physiotherapy techniques, including mobilisation,
electrotherapy and, of course, massage. The Body Clinic
team is a highly skilled, motivated and professional one,
which combines its vast experience with a welcoming feel
for patients so they feel relaxed the moment they walk in
the door.
The publication of Emma’s book, ‘The Race to Truth;
Blowing the whistle on Lance Armstrong and cycling’s
doping culture’, was published last year and put her
back in the media spotlight.
This time, however, she was in more control. Having
set their differences aside, Lance Armstrong wrote the
foreword for the book and it will soon be published in
America.
“It was a tough time for me personally,” she remembers,
“The media attention was fast, furious and persistent but
I somehow managed to negotiate my way through it, and
The Body Clinic was my haven. My treatment room and
my patients allowed me to escape from the media glare
and I could really focus on what I wanted to achieve, which
was to create a physiotherapist service in the heart of
Hale that employed highly skilled staff but also created
an environment that was warm, friendly and relaxing.”
Emma concludes: “The book was my chance to set out
the facts of what happened. I am really excited about its
publication in America and it will be out in paperback in
the UK this spring.”
THE BODY CLINIC | 1 Victoria Road | Hale | Cheshire WA15 9AF www.bodyclinichale.co.uk
30
When Verity Silva took a tour of a Sri Lankan tea plantation, one rainy day back
in 2011, little did she know how closely this unassuming, yet universally
popular, beverage would intertwine with her life. The humble cuppa, second
only to water as the most consumed drink in the world, is too often regarded
as the old-fashioned matron to coffee’s bright new thing but Sri Tea are
infusing new vitality into the grand dame’s long and fascinating history.
TIME TO PUT THE kETTLE ON!
SRI TEArefreshing and reviving new flavours
from the home of Ceylon Tea
Originating in South East Asia, tea was, according to legend,
first drunk by the Chinese in 2737BC. Its herbal medicinal
properties saw its popularity spread rapidly throughout the
rest of Asia.
Despite its inextricable and profound cultural links with
Britain, tea only arrived here in the 17th century, after its
European introduction by Portuguese traders. Catherine
of Braganza’s marriage to Charles II in 1662 popularised tea
as the national drink; arriving in Portsmouth after a rough
sea crossing, she had asked for some tea, but as none was
available she was offered a glass of English ale instead,
which promptly aggravated her sea sickness. From that
moment on she made it her business to promote tea as
the drink du jour!
The mid-18th century saw the British East India Company
establish tea plantations in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) as a
replacement for the ailing coffee crops. The island’s climate
and soil conditions are ideally suited for tea cultivation and
soon Ceylon Tea became synonymous with high quality
and an exceptionally delicious taste. This reputation for
excellence endures and Sri Lanka remains at the forefront
of the leading tea-producing countries of the world.
Sri Tea can be found at: www.sritea.co.uk | Telephone: +44 (0) 191 551 7020 | Email: [email protected]
Nova Trading (UK) Ltd. PO Box 1343, Sunderland SR5 9LT
31
• Yogi Tea (immune booster)
• Tulsi Herbal Tea (rejuvinating)
• Sapphire Oolong Tea
(weight loss)
• Player’s Club Blend
(tea infused with cognac)
• Lapsang Souchong & Tulsi
(promotes inner wellbeing)
• Lapsang Souchong &
Lemongrass (detoxifies
liver & digestory tract)
• Green Tea and Lemongrass
(weight loss, detox)
• Green Tea & Earl Grey
(calming, weight loss)
• Green Tea & Chamomile
(aids sleep, anti-inflammatory)
• Flowery Small Leaf
(strong morning tea)
• Flowery Medium
(everyday all rounder)
• Floral Green Tea
(weight loss, detox)
• Cinnamon Tea
(lowers cholesterol)
• Blue Pekoe (aids digestion)
By Mark Kureishy | Photographer: Stephen McGowan
Verity’s familial links with Sri Lanka saw her grow up with
an appreciation for the island’s fine teas and its significant
relationship to the country’s cultural and economic
wellbeing. So, it was perhaps not surprising that her outing
to the tea plantation would spark the catalyst and inspire
her to import Sri Lanka’s highest quality teas to the UK.
Within a year of her visit she had established Sri Tea as an
online and phone order company, designed the modern
and visually striking packaging;, and last, but certainly by
no means least, developed a small but highly distinct range
of speciality teas that were not only delicious but also had
very definite health benefits for modern stressful lives.
She works closely with the estate, the very same plantation
that originally inspired her, and together they produce her
unique range of teas. All of her teas are vacuum-sealed and
packaged at the plantation, thus ensuring that the taste and
aroma remain fresh throughout the teas’ long journey from
Sri Lanka’s fertile soil all the way to our teacups.
Sri Tea’s initial range of four original and distinctive loose
leaf teas-Cinnamon, Floral Green, Sapphire Oolong and
Yogi-has now been expanded to fourteen, with ten new
exciting additions. Amongst these are Green Tea with
Chamomile, Blue Pekoe, Lapsang Souchong and
Lemongrass, and even a black tea blended with cognac,
the Player’s Club Brand, which is faintly evocative of the
smoky after-dinner lounges of the Raj.
Of course, tea’s long recognised health benefits are also
present in Sri Tea’s range. Among these are:
• Floral Green Tea, which increases fat oxidisation and
metabolic processes
• Tulsi Herbal Tea, which can be an aid to minimise colds
and reduce fevers
• Green Tea and Chamomile, which has anti-irritant and
anti-microbial properties.
Naturally, all Sri Tea’s specialist health teas are organic and
herbicide- and pesticide-free.
Sri Tea’s rapid success has inspired Verity to expand into
cafes, restaurants, hotels and, of course, afternoon tea
shops. With this in mind, five of her teas are now available
in teabag form too. A small, but soon to be extended, range
of attractive infusers to complement the loose teas is also
available online.
A retail shop in the Durham area, close to their head office,
is currently being planned and Manchester-born Verity has
our city, naturally, in her sights, too!
Sri Tea’s subtle infusions of delicious new flavours are the
perfect pick-me-up to revive and restore us through our
busy lives. Sri Tea are deliciously reviving our minds and
bodies and reminding us that tea, now more than ever,
is the best antidote to our modern stress-filled lives.
We’ll drink to that!
32
PR
O S
PIN
to
op
en
a s
econ
d s
tud
io
It seems that celebrities can’t get enough ofspinning. The Beckhams, Lady Gaga andBradley Cooper can all be spotted working outin the indoor cycling studios of Los Angeles andNew York, where the lights are low, the beat isstrong, instructors are motivational, and where500 calories can be burned off in just 45 minutes.
Now Pay As You Go Spinning has
arrived in Manchester and Cheshire
thanks to Pro Spin, spoiling us with not
one but two new exciting studios. The
first to open is in Ashley, close to both
Hale and Alderley, and the separately
branded Spin Factory will follow
shortly in – appropriately enough –
Spinningfields, where it will house
Europe’s largest spinning operation.
Cheshire residents can have guilt-free
PAYG access to the same experience as
the LA and NYC fitness scene with the
newly opened Pro Spin Club, where
two dozen of the best Spin Bikes and
a handful of pro-cycle Wattbikes mix
with the Allstar Spinners to bring
daytime, evening and weekend
classes to thronging life.
Master Spinner Ross and his team
ensure that nobody leaves without
a sweaty smile, no matter what their
level of fitness. Whether you’re a
cyclist or a spinner, or you’re looking
for something new like Family Spin -
weekend mornings are all about the
kids, when mum and dad can spin
with their children to the latest chart
music.
The latest Wattbikes used by team GB
are available, and GB medallist coach
Ross Edgar puts road cyclists of all
levels through simulated rides. There
are also races to be won on the big
screen in the training studio. The
signature 60-minute Pro Spin class,
defeats most outdoor climbers.
The booking process is equally slick,
and riders who have downloaded the
app for either location (Pro Spin and
Spin Factory each have their own
separate apps) can book classes up
to 52 weeks in advance. Prices start
from £5 per session with multi-ride
packs also available. One tap, and
that’s it, your bike is booked, meaning
that gym goers now have more choice,
and non-gym-goers can train without
the burden or guilt of a contract.
Charity organisers are also making a
beeline to use the studios for long-
distance endurance events, news of
which readers should look out for in
this magazine. No doubt we will be
people-spotting there soon, but we
wanted to be the first to coin
#spinface and #spinselfie
3, 2, 1 Go! Contact Pro Spin on 0161 924 0293 or email [email protected] the Apps:
ProSpin | Spin Factory
If you have a knee
problem, consult one
of the Uk’s leading
knee Specialists
Consultations now available at 52 Alderley Road
Consultations available at:
• BMI Alexandra Hospital Cheadle
• Bridgewater Hospital Manchester
• Ramsay Oaklands Hospital Salford
• Spire Hospital Manchester
• Spire Hale Clinic
Contact details:
For further information or to book a consultation:
• Telephone: 0161 445 4988
• Web: www.thekneedoc.co.uk
• Email: [email protected]
Professor Sanjiv Jari,
Consultant Knee,
Lower Limb & Orthopaedic
Sports Medicine Surgeon
The knee Doc Consultant:
• US and UK trained Consultant Knee and Orthopaedic
Sports Medicine Surgeon who has worked with NBA
and NFL teams
• Professor Faculty of Engineering, Science and Sports,
University of Bolton
• Honorary clinical lecturer at the University of Manchester
• International and national speaker on knee problems
and sports injuries
• Treats international, professional, elite sportspeople
and weekend warriors playing many different sports
• Team Surgeon for GB Olympic Wrestling Team
• Sports Medicine Consultant for 2002 commonwealth
games.
Treatments available:
• Bespoke Personalised Knee Replacement Surgery
• Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery
• Ligament reconstruction (anterior cruciate ligament, ACL)
• Minimally Invasive Personalised Knee Replacement
Surgery - which can allow you to leave hospital rapidly,
often within 2-3 days and the surgery is designed
specifically to your knee using the latest cutting edge
technological innovations
• State of the art Arthritis treatments available.
The knee Doc... it’s all you need to know
knee Injury? For quick effective treatment
contact the kneedoc... it’s all you need to know.
Dr Bruce Jobling
The Private GP& Night Doctor Service
4 Covering Hale, Wilmslow, Didsbury
and their surrounding areas
4 Night and weekend home visits
4 Early or late same day appointments
T: 0161 980 2626 | [email protected] | www.NightDoctor.co.ukThe Surgery, 96 Church Road, Gatley, Cheshire, SK8 4NQ
If this service is of interest to you or your family, please contact us to register.
• Registration fee from £15 per month plus consultation fees
• You can remain with your NHS GP• Additional surgery in Hale opening soon
4 24 hrs a day
4 7 days a week
4 Personal and confidential
“Peace of mind for you
and your family,at all times”
35
Glaucoma is a common eye condition often called the ‘silent
thief of sight’; it has no symptoms in its early stages but is
a potentially blinding eye condition. An estimated 500,000
British adults suffer from the disease and yet a further 50
per cent of glaucoma cases are currently undetected. Local
eye health specialist Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital has
launched a bespoke new monitoring service to help detect
and treat the disease.
It is available at Didsbury-based Optegra Manchester
Eye Hospital, and at Optegra’s outreach clinics in
Altrincham and Macclesfield. Caroline McHugh, Hospital
Director at Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital, explains:
"This is a completely new service for the region. Patients
can simply attend the clinic with a referral from their GP or
optometrist. We truly believe this is a way of reassuring local
people and helping to treat this terrible condition before it
has progressed."
Designed to support patients who are at risk, or
concerned about glaucoma, the service offers regular
in-depth assessments with a leading glaucoma specialist
Optegra ophthalmic consultant.
The new service includes:
• A 12-month diagnosis and monitoring service to identify
and capture conditions early
• Continued care with direct access to a leading
glaucoma ophthalmic specialist
• Expert examination with state-of-the-art diagnostic
equipment
• Two to three assessments during the year
• Imaging of the optic nerve with OCT
• Peace of mind, comfort and support for patients and
their families
• Advice on any necessary treatment.
Mr Dan Nguyen, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Optegra
Manchester Eye Hospital, says: "Glaucoma is a disease that
damages the optic nerves, which connect the eye to the
brain. There are different types of glaucoma, and in the early
stages most of them do not cause any symptoms, but if they
are left untreated, they can cause vision loss and blindness.
If we can identify, help and support patients, we can then offer
treatment to prevent it affecting their vision.”
At Optegra we offer expert eyelid surgery to help correct a wide range of eyelid issues all within our dedicated eye hospital with one of our expert eyelid surgeons.
Come to our open evening at Optegra Birmingham Eye Hospital on 26th February at 6.30pm to fi nd out more. Call 0808 252 3878 or visit optegra.com/eyelid
Dedicated eye hospitals,personalised care
• Hooded eyelids• Eyelid lifts & Bags• Blemish & Cyst removal
Turn back the clock with Optegra eyelid surgery
To enquire about upcoming open evenings at
Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital or to find out more
Call 0808 252 3878 or visit optegra.com/eyelid
Optegra Eye Hospital:
Manchester experts launch attack on the ‘silent thief of sight’
To find out more. Call 0808 252 3878 or visit optegra.com
36
For those not in the know, MAMIL is
an acronym for ‘Middle-Aged Men in
Lycra’ principally aimed at those men
who decide that cycling is the sport to
get their physique back in shape – and,
if they’re going to do it, they should
invest in not only an expensive bike
but also in-vogue cycling gear. Possibly
more to the point is the investment
they should make in ensuring their
equipment fits their personal needs.
An estimated 2.1million adults are
regular cyclists and when occasional
cyclists are added to this number, it
rises to 3.1million people riding a bicycle
each month, and while cycling is one of
the easiest and most effective ways to
exercise, problems can occasionally occur.
A large number of cyclists who seek
medical help for cycling-related problems
complain of generalised aches and
pains. Phil Burt, Lead Physiotherapist
at British Cycling and Consultant
Physiotherapist to Sky Pro Cycling
Team, believes that most of these
common problems can be addressed
through selecting the correct
equipment and expert bike-fitting.
Len Funk
Consultant Shoulder Surgeon
T. 01625 545 071
Mike Hayton
Consultant Hand & Wrist Specialist
T. 0845 838 7766
CY Ng
Consultant Hand & Peripheral
Nerve Surgeon T. 0161 495 7766
Nick Phillips
Consultant Shoulder & Elbow
Surgeon T. 0161 495 7745
Matt Ravenscroft
Consultant Shoulder & Elbow
Surgeon T. 0161 495 6803
Adam Watts
Consultant Elbow, Hand & Upper
Limb Surgeon T. 01625 545 073
UP
PE
R L
IMB
SU
RG
ICA
L S
PE
CIA
LIS
TS
GET ON YOUR
BIkE!
Phil Burt, Lead
Physiotherapist
at British Cycling
How many MAMILs do you spot in
a day? According to British Cycling
it should be quite a few!
37
Hand and wrist problems tend to
present as tingling, numbness, pain
or weakness in the hand. These
symptoms are most often caused
by pressure on a nerve overextension.
Elbow problems may be due to
inflammation or small tears around the
tendons; these are commonly known as
tennis or golfer's elbow and cause pain
on the outside and inside of the elbow.
Phil suggests two main courses of
action - get your bike checked to make
sure it’s not set up to throw more
weight onto your hands and arms (eg.
saddle too high, handlebars too low or
an overly stretched cockpit), and seek
exercise advice from a physiotherapist
to resolve the current problem.
Foot soreness can be resolved by
wearing the right footwear, correct
cleat set-up and ensuring the correct
bike fitting. In addition to wearing stiff-
soled cycling shoes, Phil recommends
the simple process of marking shoes
in line with the bony prominence at the
base of the big toe, in order to position
cleats in a neutral set-up position.
Saddle soreness can be the most
invasive and embarrassing of all cycling
related conditions. In addition to
considering good-quality cycling shorts,
cleanliness and a gradual increase in the
time spent in the saddle, Phil advises
a well-fitting bike and saddle. Incorrect
saddle height or handlebar reach can
contribute towards rocking in the
saddle or poor weight distribution.
Phil recommends that, among other
things, cyclists look at the angle of the
saddle to the ground and the height of
the saddle in relation to heel pressure
on the pedal, when the knee is fully
extended.
Safety is of paramount importance
and some injuries can be avoided by the
use of high-visibility clothing, effective
lighting and, of course, helmets. Riding
responsibly will also reduce the risk of
accidents and avoid antagonising motor
vehicle drivers.
Broken collar bones and elbow, hand
and wrist fractures all result from a
tumble – as does ‘road rash’, which
is bad grazing to the skin. OrthTeam
consultants regularly treat fractured
bones of elite and non-elite cyclists.
Many fractures do not need an
operation but some need fixing
surgically. The benefit of fixation is
that it often enables a faster return
to cycling; however, it doesn’t confer
bionic status, as unfortunately further
fractures can occur in the event of
a fall!
More details on
bike fitting and
the use of other
equipment can
be found within
the Insight Zone
on British
Cycling’s website
(www.britishcycling.org.uk)
or in Phil Burt’s book ‘Bike Fit’.
OrthTeam are a group of 12 super-
specialist consultants who are highly
experienced in the care and surgical
management of people with
orthopaedic problems associated with
the shoulder, hand and arm, hip, knee,
foot and ankle. The consultants’ super-
specialist status has been gained as a
result of intensive training and clinical
experience in specialist Centres of
Excellence both in the Uk and abroad.
It is rewarded by invitations to speak at
international conferences and requests
to treat elite athletes from a spectrum
of different sports. OrthTeam
consultants treat a wide range of
upper and lower limb problems,
including those associated with
long-term wear (eg. arthritis) and
short-term acute sports-related injury.
Tel: 0800 328 2975
Fax: 0161 667 4499
Emergency: 07732 247 247
Email: [email protected]
www.orthteam.com
Twitter: @OrthT
Sanjay Anand
Consultant Knee Surgeon
T. 0161 495 6803
Tim Board
Consultant Hip & Knee Surgeon
T. 07713 451339
Jon Borrill
Consultant Knee Surgeon
T. 0161 495 7726
Tim Clough
Consultant Foot & Ankle Surgeon
T. 0161 495 7028
Adam Hoad-Reddick
Consultant Hip & Knee Surgeon
T. 0161 904 0434
Philip Turner
Consultant Knee Surgeon
T. 0161 495 6869
LOW
ER
LIM
B S
UR
GIC
AL S
PE
CIA
LIS
TS
OrthTeam consultants are proud to have provided care for local
cyclists and members of elite cycling teams over the past ten years.
Ovarian cancer is currently the
fifth most common cancer among
women in the UK – after breast,
lung, bowel and womb – with
approximately 7,100 females in
Britain diagnosed every year with
the disease.
Most cases of cancer of the ovary
develop in women over the age of
50, are often due to gene changes
that develop during a woman’s life,
and are not inherited. However, 1 in
10 ovarian cancers (10%) are caused
by an inherited faulty gene. Faulty
inherited genes that increase the risk
of ovarian cancer include BRCA1
and BRCA2. These genes also
increase the risk of breast cancer.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
is a great time to let women know
that they can do really positive
things to improve their health, and
that early detection can also make
a massive difference to the success
of their treatment.
It is really important that women
are aware of what is ‘normal for
them,’ so that they recognise any
changes. If you know your body,
then you can act early if something
out-of-the-ordinary happens. Mr Richard Slade
SYMPTOMS TO BE AWARE OF
and bloating
full quickly
(diarrhoea or constipation)
Anyone who experiences the
symptoms associated with ovarian
cancer, or who is worried that they
may have the inherited faulty gene,
should visit their GP, who can then
refer them to a specialist if necessary.
Your GP will arrange a number of
tests, which will include:
If these tests suggest that you may
have ovarian cancer, then your GP
will refer you to a specialist for
further investigations to confirm if
this is the case.
Mr Richard Slade is a Consultant
Gynaecological Surgeon at The
Wilmslow Hospital at 52 Alderley
Road and at The Christie Clinic. He
specialises in gynaecological cancers.
The private Wilmslow Hospital at
52 Alderley Road has a dedicated
Women’s Health Unit. This not
only offers patients access to an
experienced multi-disciplinary team
of leading consultants and specialist
nurses, but also provides women
with additional convenience and
privacy as the unit has its own
reception and seating area. This
unique bespoke service offers
patients routine investigations and
surgical procedures across a wide
range of conditions, from breast care
to gynaecological issues.
For more information or to book a
consultation with Mr Richard Slade,
please call 01625 545 036.
What women need to know about Ovarian Cancer
38
~ ~
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
~ ~
52 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 1NY www.52alderleyroad.co.uk ~ Open 7 days a week, 7am–10pm
WORLD-CLASS PRIVATE HEALTHCARE IS
CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
Feel the benefitsSri Tea offers a selection of fourteen of the finest loose-leaf teas, each produced
using only the highest quality, responsibly sourced and traditionally prepared leaves.
Ceylon teas are an excellent source of anti-oxidants and have been linked with
the treatment of many conditions including diabetes, obesity and lethargy.
Only loose-leaf teas are used in our products as this allows the leaves to release
their full aroma thus maximising their potential health benefits.
Order yours now just click www.sritea.co.uk or call 0191 551 7020
The finest loose leaf tea now being served here in the UK
Order
3 teas and get 4th
free
41
It’s all about the lifestyleThere’s more than one side to Martin Cockx – from lawyer to lifestyle
Martin Cockx launched Injury Lawyers4U
in 2002. Just over three years ago he
decided he had gone as far as he wanted
to go with law and retired. Retirement
wasn’t all that he expected and he
decided there had to be more to life
than just sitting on a beach.
Having enjoyed karate on and off for
many years, Martin decided to rekindle
his passion and launched Hale Karate
Club. The club has since attracted
children from age 5 to adults in their
60s. Karate’s unique blend of the physical
and the mental means it is challenging in
many different ways, thereby keeping
the mind active and reducing stress
while also providing a great workout.
Recently, Martin launched a Ladies Only
Beginners’ Class in order to appeal to as
many different groups of people as
possible.
Eighteen months after setting up the
club while training on the west coast of
America, Martin discovered an eating
programme that he believes has totally
changed his life and complements the
karate he enjoys. Martin explains: “Life
is for living, so seize the day! Many of us
go through life striving for more – a
better salary, a new car, more holidays –
but my experiences in life have taught
me that our health is undoubtedly the
most important factor, and I strongly
believe we should do everything possible
to maintain that.”
After his USA trip and the incredible
‘eating programme’ he enjoyed, Martin
returned to the UK and tried to find
something similar. Sadly, nothing
matched what he had experienced.
Martin continues: “What I found in the
USA literally changed my life. It was far
more than just a diet with the temporary
results they entail. My main way of
eating (with the odd lapse because we
are all human!) became gluten-free,
dairy-free and sugar-free. That had a
profound effect on how I looked and
felt. I did lose weight but it was so much
more than that. The feel-good factor
returned to my life and I was desperate
to keep it.
“I met with celebrity chef David
Vanderhook, who has prepared specific
meals for the likes of the Aga Khan, the
Sultan of Brunei and the Rothschild
family. We discussed my findings and
together set about producing meals and
capturing all I had experienced in the
States. Here we are 12 months later
and I think we have found it.
“The Hale Plan is based upon an under-
standing of how the human body has
evolved to extract necessary nutrients
from particular types of food, and how
it has not yet evolved to effectively
process other food types. By following
the specially prepared nutritious meals,
your body will adjust, meaning that not
only do you lose weight but you feel so
much better too. The delicious meals are
delivered to your door and come with
details on storage and how to reheat.
“The Hale Plan is available for just one
week, although to achieve the best
results we recommend a four-week
programme. The boost The Hale Plan
provides really does highlight the
benefits of sticking to this type of diet,
and customers are finding that their
future eating habits are greatly improved.
“It goes without saying that a fitness
programme alongside The Hale Plan will
further add to the positive results. The
choice and level of exercise is up to you,
but for me the link to karate has been
significant. I honestly believe 60 will be
my new 30. Join me and start to ‘Feel like
you again’.”
Like to find out more?
The Hale Plan
www.thehaleplan.co.uk
Telephone 0800 817 4820
Hale karate Club
www.halekarateclub.co.uk
Telephone: 07753 244 638
Martin Cockx, founder of
The Hale Plan And karate teacher,
features on the Front cover of this
month’s Hale&Bowdon Magazine
Hip pain
Mr Simon Ghalayini, Consultant
Orthopaedic Surgeon with Manchester
Orthopaedic Group, discusses some
causes of hip pain.
There are many causes of pain around
the hip. The pain can come from a
variety of sources, including hip joint,
structures around the hip, or elsewhere.
The symptoms of many hip problems
consist of pain around the hip joint. It
can be felt towards the front of the hip
in the groin or on the side or back of
the hip. The pain can also be felt in the
thigh and on occasion be felt as far as
the knee.
If symptoms are present around the
hip and are troublesome, they can often
be effectively assessed by your GP,
who can advise on treatment. There are
times when a referral to an appropriate
specialist such as a hip surgeon or other
appropriate specialist may be needed.
Some orthopaedic causes of pain
around the hip in adults are listed below.
Arthritis
Arthritis of the hip is one of the most
common problems seen by a hip
surgeon. The commonest cause is
osteoarthritis, which can develop
primarily or secondary to other problems,
including fracture, problems with the
blood supply to the hip joint, and hip
problems from infancy or childhood. Pain
is often felt in the groin. It can also be
felt in the thigh and knee. As well as pain
there is often stiffness felt in the joint.
Diagnosis is commonly confirmed with
X-rays that show the hips. On occasion
it may be necessary to consider other
investigations – such as CT scans and
MRI scans – to look for more isolated
areas of arthritis or other problems.
If troublesome, non-surgical treatment
of symptoms should generally be trialled.
These consist primarily of measures to
control the pain and activity modification.
Commonly used strategies include
pain-killers, physiotherapy and the use
of walking aids. Weight loss can also
help. Early on, most will manage their
symptoms effectively this way and this
may be all that is needed.
If these measures are not effective,
surgery may be appropriate. Surgery
for hip arthritis traditionally consists
of replacing the worn joint with an
artificial one. The hip is referred to as
a ball-and-socket joint and surgery
involves replacing the two sides of the
joint – the socket or acetabulum and
the ball or femoral head. Hip replace-
ment surgery is very common, and in
2013 more than 80,000 patients
underwent hip-replacement surgery in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Impingement
This problem arises when separate
sections of the hip joint come into
contact during hip movements. Pain in
the groin is worsened when the hip is
in certain positions. There can also be
a clicking or catching sensation felt.
Further investigation in the form of
X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans are
often needed when symptoms are
problematic. When non-surgical treat-
ment fails surgery may be considered.
Soft tissue problems
The soft tissue around the hip joint
can also be a source of pain. Problems
can include:
Trochanteric Bursitis – a common
diagnosis given to pain and tenderness
felt at the side of the hip. It can be a
difficult problem to settle but can be
helped by physiotherapy and activity
modifications. Injections can be
considered and, rarely, surgery may
be discussed.
Adductor strain – causing pain, ache
and stiffness, which are felt within the
inner aspect of the upper thigh. It can
develop in those who participate in
with Mr Simon Ghalayini, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Manchester Orthopaedic Group
DO I NEED HIP SURGERY?
Find out more about our spinal surgeons on our website www.manchesterorthopaedicgroup.co.uk
42
Simon Ghalayini
43
competitive sports such as football and
tennis. The treatment is generally non-
surgical and recovery could be helped
by physiotherapy.
Iliopsoas Tendonitis – a problem that
can develop in those participating in
activities such as football, running and
rowing. Pain is felt at the front of the
hip and may travel into the thigh.
Sometimes, a snap or a click can be
felt in the groin. Ultrasound and MRI
scans can aid the diagnosis. Treatment
is predominantly non-surgical with
physiotherapy, and injections may
sometimes be considered.
Fractures
Acute fractures occur after an injury
and are more common in older age
groups. The nature of the injury and the
immediate symptoms that follow often
cause the patient to attend A&E. These
require an urgent assessment and
surgery.
Stress fractures can also occur. These
can happen after repeated loading of
the bone and can occur at the hip and
elsewhere. If suspected an orthopaedic
surgeon should review as an urgency.
High-impact activities can be the cause,
particularly if they are taken up with
vigour after a sedentary lifestyle. They
can be diagnosed with X-rays, but
further imaging such as an MRI scan
will often be needed. Surgery is often
required after a full assessment.
Other causes
Infection within the hip joint is a
serious cause of hip pain. If it occurs,
it generally results in severe pain felt
at the hip, with difficulty moving the
hip, weight-bearing and walking.
A fever and general unwellness can
also be present. If suspected, this is
an emergency that needs an urgent
medical assessment.
Spinal problems can cause pain around
the hip and it is important that the
spine is assessed in those with hip pain
to ensure that this is not the source of
the pain.
The following Surgeons are members of Manchester Orthopaedic Group:
Spinal Surgeons
Vik kapoor –
MBBS MS(Orth) FRCS(Tr&Orth)
Spinal Surgery
Brian David Todd –
MB ChB FRCS(Orth)
Spinal Surgery
Upper Limb Surgeons
Jochen Fischer –
MD FRCS (Tr&Orth)
All aspects of shoulder, elbow, wrist &
hand surgery including arthroscopy,
arthroplasty and trauma
Steve Royle –
MB ChB MD FRCS(Orth)
Hand, wrist & elbow surgery, including
fractures, soft tissue & sports injuries
Mohammad Waseem –
BSc MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth)
Comprehensive Upper Limb & Trauma.
Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder.
Mark Webber – BSc, MB ChB, FRCS
Arthroscopic Procedures to Upper Limb
Lower Limb Surgeons
David Bamford –
MB,ChB,FRCS,FRCS(Orth)
Total Hip Replacement, Revision Hip
Surgery & Hip Arthroscopy, Total Knee
Replacement & Knee Arthroscopy
Richard Samarji –
MCh FRCSEd FRCS(Orth)
Foot, Ankle, Knee, Trauma, Sports
injury & Hand Surgery
Pankaj Sharma –
MBBS FRCS(Orth)
Knee Replacement, ACL Reconstruction
& Arthroscopy, Sports Injury & Trauma
Simon Reuben –
MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth)
Hip & Knee Surgery, Trauma
David Johnson –
BSc(Hons) MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth) MPhil
Knee Replacement, ACL Reconstruction
& Arthroscopy, Sports Injury & Trauma
Mike O’Connor –
MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth)
Hip & Knee Replacements,
Arthroscopy & Trauma
Arun kumar –
FRCS(Tr & Orth), Dip Sports & Exercise
Medicine, FRCS, MSc (Trauma), MS Orth
Lower limb surgery, Hip and Knee
replacement, Sports Injury,
Arthroscopic Surgery of Hip & Knee
Steven kershaw –
MB ChB(Manc) FRCS(Eng)
FRCS(Tr&Orth)
Primary hip & knee replacements,
knee arthroscopy, foot & ankle surgery
& trauma
Simon Ghalayini –
MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth)
Lower limb surgery including Hip &
Knee Replacement and Arthroscopy
of the Knee
Sanat Shah –
MB BS MS(Orth) MCh, FRCS(Orth)
Hip & Knee Replacement, Revision,
Re-surfacing, Arthroscopy & Trauma
Tahir Mahmud –
BSc(Hons), MBBS, FRCS(Tr&Orth)
Lower limb surgery including Hip &
Knee Replacement, Knee Arthroscopy
& Trauma
Amer Shoaib –
BSc(Hons) LMSSA FRCS(Orth)
Specialist Foot & Ankle Assessment &
Treatment, Limb Deformities & Trauma
www.manchesterorthopaedicgroup.co.uk
Manchester
Orthopaedic GroupManor Lodge, Mill Lane, Cheadle,
Cheshire SK8 2NT
Tel: 0845 437 9663
Tel: 0161 495 7783
Fax: 0161 610 1755
Email:
Stunning new Manchester Showroom
open now...
Bespoke, classic, beautiful handmade to ordersofas, sofa beds, beds and chairs in any fabric...
With thousands of house and designer fabrics to choose from,
Alwinton in Walloon Stripe Red
Prices start from £1196
40 Dearmans Place, M3 5EW
Call us on 0161 393 7140
Camden in Cerise VelvetPrices start from £1574
ComPETITIon
46
Winan Imola chair fromBoConcept to thevalue of £2,065Henrik Pedersen graduated as a fashion designer in 1990 but uses
his education to explore the full range of design. One of Henrik's first
pieces of furniture was the iconic Imola chair for BoConcept, and he
is one of the leading Danish designers of lamps. 'I get inspired by
seeing things up close. Maybe the handle on an old kitchen appliance
or interesting colour combinations as food mix on the plate. Little
details that can evolve into a complete product.' Like the Imola chair,
that is inspired by a close-up of the lines on a tennis ball.
To win simply answer this question
When did Henrik Pedersen graduate as a
fashion designer?
A) 1990
B) 1890
C) 1650
Email your answer to
[email protected] with IMOLA in the
subject field or send a postcard to Imola
Chair Competition, Salutions, The Old Bank,
99 Palatine Road, Didsbury, Manchester
M20 3JQ.
For further info on the Imola chair visit
www.boconcept.com/en-gb/furniture/
living/armchairs/23053
T&C’s
Please see full competition terms & conditions
on the Salutions website www.salutions.co.uk
The value of the prize is for a price group 1 fabric
Imola, although other fabrics and leathers are
available at an additional cost to the winner.
Delivery of the Imola chair will be to UK mainland
only. The prize cannot be exchanged for another
product or cash.
47
BOCONCEPT PRESENTS DANISH ACTOR MADS MIKKELSEN
AS THE STAR IN NEW FILM
A new thrilling film is out with Danish star actor Mads Mikkelsen. The Call features the award-winning actor in very
stylish surroundings created by Danish furniture retailer BoConcept.
Mads Mikkelsen is at the peak of his career, and known worldwide for his roles as Le Chiffre in the James Bond movie
Casino Royale, in the TV series Hannibal and in his latest films The Hunt and The Salvation.
“I am an actor, and I want to act. Of course in the end it is about selling furniture, but BoConcept hired me for my acting
skills, not for me to just go and say BoConcept is great – although I am proud to be working with a Danish company that
is succeeding on an international level with their design” says Mads.
“We wanted to make something watchable. Of course Mads and our designs will be a thrill to the eyes of many viewers
around the world, and Mads will for sure help to increase the awareness of our brand. But the entertainment factor was
important to us as we want people to see the whole film and be left with a good and memorable experience - something
they would like to share,” says BoConcept CEO Torben Paulin.
The Call is the first film of two films. The second film The Guest will be launched later this year.
Watch The Call on www.boconcept.com/en-gb/
For more information visit:
BoConcept Manchester // 109-117 Great Ancoats Street // Manchester // M4 5AG
48
Sophie Conran Galvanised Trug
£19.95 www.occa-home.co.uk
Rowlinson mini Greenhouse
A practical,space saving solution for the smaller garden or apartment balcony,
providing an innovative combination of potting bench, storage unit and mini
greenhouse. With styrene glazing it is pressure treated against rot and has a
natural timber finish. Heritage Gardens www.heritagegardens.co.uk
Personalised outdoor Garden Sign
A unique handmade and perfectly personalised gift for garden
lovers. Can be personalised for gardens allotments, workshops,
sheds etc. This design can have up to 3 Custom lines of text and
a choice of colours. Made from treated, off-white painted timber
suitable for exterior use. Approx. 30cm x 10cm. Comes with a
rope hanging unless otherwise requested. £20
No Ordinary Gift Company
www.noordinarygiftcompany.co.uk
GARDEN TIMEPerfect accessories for the
spring gardener
Sophie Allport Rose Garden kneeler
This lovely handmade, wipe-clean, Garden
Kneeler is made from a Rose Oilcloth
fabric. Filled with a firm supportive foam
inner the Garden Kneeler is both water
repellent & hard-wearing. Matching
Garden Apron available.
Sophie Allport Limited
www.sophieallport.com
Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Also available in white, black and pink.
10 metres. £107 www.cuckooland.com
“Should i buy a seat for my new garden or can i do without?” asked myrather stingy friend. (i suspect she’d rather buy a new bag than a bench.)yes, of course you should have a seat; in fact, i’d go further and say you
should have several, as indeed do i.
Seats in the garden can perform many
functions, from providing places to rest
in both sunshine and shade, to acting
as decorative punctuation marks at the
end of a vista, drawing the eye to the
farthest corner of the garden. What is
important is that they are functional,
beautiful and permanently placed.
Those seats with sloping as
opposed to straight backs are most
comfortable, and those with armrests
feel cosier (they also provide a place to
rest one’s Yorkshire tea and gingernuts!).
But why is it that I frequently walk
through someone’s stylishly furnished
Didsbury home and out into the garden,
only to be faced with a set of four
battered plastic chairs and a broken
bench painted in ‘dog-poo’ brown?
We should furnish our gardens with
the same care given to our homes as,
let’s face it, we spend a huge part of
our lives looking out onto our garden
rooms and the furniture within it.
So which materials are best? I would
stick to wood and metal – leaving
cold stone to stately homes, and plastic
to, well – bury it in the cellar and never,
never admit to having owned any!
Painting both wood and metal is
advisable, to protect it so that seating
can be left out all year round, as it
should be. Having permanent seating
means it will form part of the
architectural bones of the garden, and
is available to use on that first warm day
of the year as well as on the last. And
never paint anything white – we don’t
live in Spain, we live in Manchester,
where the softer light requires softer
colours. I always go for a grey, green or
blue; but if you’re setting a seat against
a dark yew hedge, a soft cream can be
very telling.
A trip to Farrow and Ball is a must
for a perusal of gorgeous paint colours;
my current favourites are both greys -
‘Railings’ and ‘Plummett’.
Finally, position your seating
carefully. A bench just outside the back
door is useful for those few snatched
moments when you don’t want to stray
too far from the phone/cooker/front
doorbell. Another, positioned at the far
end of the garden, tastefully painted
and surrounded by lush planting, with
perhaps a small tree arching overhead,
will draw the eye all year round and
encourage you out on warm days.
Most importantly, remember that
garden furniture should be beautiful as
well as functional – for when it ceases
to be a seat, it becomes part of the
view. Happy loafing!
Anne Britt is a garden designer
working in Didsbury. You can contact
her at [email protected]
Sitting pretty
www.bickhamhouse.co.uk | Green Walk, Bowdon, Altrincham WA14 2SN | Tel: 0161 928 2514
GardenStyle sponsored by Bickham House - Providing Quality Care in Later Life
50
Rustic Metal Garden Mirror with Four Planters
Beautiful rustic feel design with three shutter style windows with four bucket
planters underneath. Each bucket is ideal for a small bedding/potting plant.
Wall mountable - two hooks to the back. £46.95 // Melody Maison
www.MelodyMaison.co.uk
Brighten upyour garden
Living Wall Planter Woolly Pocket Garden House Design
Create your very own vertical living wall in an instance with the Living Wall
Planters, by Woolly Pocket. Like building blocks, you can easily decide how
many Wally's you'll need for your design. Just attach the living wall planters
to your chosen walls (fixings including), fill with soil and get planting.
Wally's felt tongue wicks water to the roots, so don't water the plant -
water the tongue. £29.99-£114.99 // Garden House Design
www.gardenhousedesign.co.uk
Victorian Jardiniere
These cast stone jardinieres are used
by the RHS to enhance the border
of the canal area at Wisley.
£799 // Haddonstone
www.haddonstone.com
Upper (£139) and Lower (£155) plinth
sold separately, making total price
£1093
Personalised Small Wooden Crate
Perfect for outdoor herbs, the
personalised small wooden apple
crate is a replica of the traditional
crate scaled down to make a
wonderful gift for any one of your
family or friends! It makes a stunning
mini garden for your kitchen,
windowsill or patio. £22.95.
Plantabox
www.plantabox.co.uk
Waterspout Flower Pot
Waterspout Set of 2 Hanging Flower
Pots can be bought in 2 Sizes: Small
and Large. They are created with
Antiqued Iron. £20 // IN-SPACES
www.in-spaces.com
with a colourful display of
pots and planters
rabbing the mobile I
called the supplier to sort
out the cock-up, only to
discover that the cock-up
was all mine. Apparently I’d ticked the
‘inches’ and not the ‘centimetres’ box
on the order form. Instead of my
elegant 60cm x 60cm planters, I had
actually ordered the giant 60” x 60”
size. Fan-bloody-tastic.
Clutching the Bombay Sapphire, I tried
to figure out what to do. Lord Muck
wasn’t due back from his conference
till Saturday so I had time to hide my
expensive blunder. All I really needed
was some muscle.
Cue Twitter ad: ‘Fit Man needed
urgently. Must be good with wood.’
Cue fast and furious responses. Most
with x-rated photos attached. I blame
EL James and her damn book. I mean
the ad was innocent enough, but
somehow I’d now become the
go-to-gal for all the Christian Grey
wannabes. Anyway, having weeded
out the weirdoes, I found ten local
contenders and what better way to
spend an evening than with your best
mate, interviewing cute guys, one of
whom was definitely the Diet Coke ad
guy’s twin. And seeing as he would
need strong core muscles to cope with
all that heavy lifting it seemed only
right to ask to see his six-pack – and
snap a photo. For health and safety
records, obviously.
Thankfully, the planters have now
been resized by my buff guy and filled
with compost, all ready for my veggie
plants to go in. And his Lordship is
none the wiser. Or so I thought.
Regrettably, I’ve just discovered he’s
actually one of my followers and has
watched the whole sordid story unfold
on Twitter. Oops
Anyhow, if you fancy growing some
veggies at home, pots and planters
are great. If you’re a newbie, start
with easy-to-grow vegetables like
cut-and-come-again salad leaves,
courgettes, French beans, cherry
tomatoes, rocket and basil. Use good
seed compost such as John Innes No 1
and invest in a Compact Plant Trainer,
which is a boon for beginners (£14.29
from www.gardening-naturally.com).
At this time of year I always bring
my compost indoors to warm
up for a couple of days before
sowing seeds, as this really helps
germination; when your seedlings
start to emerge pot them into
bigger pots and protect them
from frosts if growing outside.
If you don’t fancy starting from
scratch, give ‘plug’ plants a go;
these are widely available from
garden centres.
Last, but by no means least, if you
don’t have a garden – no problem.
Look for mini-veggie seed varieties,
often described as ‘dwarf’, ‘baby’
or ‘bush’, as these grow well in pots
on a windowsill.
Right, must dash – I need
to grab a Diet Coke and ogle
that six-pack photo one
more time before deleting.
Grow your own
It’s official. I am an idiot. i ordered some hand-crafted wooden planters lastmonth to grow some veggies in at home. Six of the beauties – 2’ x 2’ in size.
Just perfect to border our large deck. imagine my horror then when i arrivedhome to find six enormous planters outside the Summerhouse, 5’ x 5’ each.
By Catherine Saunders. Follow Lady Muck on Twitter @LadyMuckStyle
Style
G
52
homes4u celebrates its silver anniversary!Appreciative of 25 years of loyal custom, award-winningletting agent homes4u is celebrating its silver anniversary
with a series of charity, cultural and social events.
homes4u’s success is underpinned by
its attention to detail and provision of
that personal touch. Consequently,
there is low staff turnover within all
four citywide branches and repeat
business is the norm; 30% of the 50-
strong homes4u team have achieved
over five years’ service and 13% have
remained with the firm over a decade.
From the spacious new Fallowfield
offices a half mile from the company’s
original 1990 base Withington, MD
Carolyn Mellor says: “We’re more than
a shopfront with houses and apart-
ments to sell and rent. We’re a team -
a close-knit group of friends as well as
colleagues. It feels more like a family.”
She continues: “Our front-line staff
recognise that technology is key to
speed and efficiency, but they’re
equally aware that people like talking
to people. After all, finding your next
home is a major life decision for
anyone.
For many people renting or buying,
this may be their first time, so we
encourage them to pop in and talk
to us.”
Having recently increased her
executive Team, Carolyn finds time
to diversify and affiliate with causes
such as the Maggie’s Charity, which
provides drop-in centres for anyone
affected by cancer. Since 1996, the
first Maggie’s Centre in Edinburgh
has grown to 18 centres across the
UK and abroad.
On 22 April, Carolyn and other
Manchester Board members, will
attend the launch of the Maggie’s
Centre due to open at The Christie
in 2016.
A 20-foot timber truss will be erected
on site and a time capsule buried
there in the presence of hospital and
charity dignitaries, principal sponsors,
architect Sir Norman Foster and
landscape architect Dan Pearson.
Architecture and landscape design
are integral to providing the charity’s
uplifting, caring environment and so
the homes4u commitment to Maggie’s
will be celebrated in July when it
sponsors a Maggie’s Water Garden at
the 2015 RHS Flower Show at Tatton.
Carolyn and her family, like one in
three UK citizens, have been touched
by cancer. In her marketing and
fundraising capacity, Carolyn has been
astounded by public generosity. She
concludes: “In our anniversary year,
it’s wonderful for our local business
to have involvement in the local arm
of a growing international charity. The
Maggie’s Charity is close to me on a
personal level and location-wise too.
I welcome the opportunity to give
back something to this community,
which has supported homes4u over
the past 25 years.”
2015 is young and homes4u has a
number of other events in store
during their 25th anniversary year -
watch this space.
Whether you are looking you to
buy, rent, sell or let, homes4u offers
unrivalled, stress-free service.
Email: [email protected] or visit
www.homes4u.co.uk
By Fay Wertheimer
Located in central Wilmslow, in-toto kitchens provide a tailored
service to each client, mixing award winning German quality
and craftsmanship to each kitchen designed specifically for you
and your lifestyle.
With a wealth of experience, working from either Architects
Plans or a Home Survey visit, we provide a free design
service, through to project management and complete Kitchen
installation.
t: 01625 530792 | e: [email protected] | w: intoto.co.uk
Wilmslow Green I Station Road I Wilmslow I Cheshire I SK9 1BT
SPECIALIST KITCHEN DESIGN | INSTALLATION | PROJECT MANAGEMENT
OUR PassiOn...
If you’re looking for inspiration,
why not call in to discuss your ideas and
plans with our Kitchen Specialists team.
54
Associate Artist Noriko Ogawa leads this exploration into the piano music of Ravel & Rachmaninov, aided by Peter Donohoe. The series includes recitals by both performers, plus lectures and family events. It culminates in a Piano
Concerto Finale on Friday 24 April, when Noriko and Peter are joined by Martin Roscoe and Kathryn Stott together with the BBC Philharmonic.
Part of the International Concert Series 14|15Box Office: 0161 907 9000www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Tuesday 31 March - Friday 24 April A series of concerts & events for the piano
at The Bridgewater Hall
A Night at the MoviesDavid Arnold with Manchester CamerataTuesday 14 April 7.30pm
Includes music from the James Bond movies, Independence Day & Godzilla
Jonathan Scott Spring Lunchtime Organ RecitalsDancing FeetTuesday 19 May 1.10pm
Jonathan Scott performs music from the world of ballet & dance
Wayne Marshall organMatthew Hamilton conductor Manchester Chamber ChoirSaturday 23 May 7.30pm
A programme of French20th century organ works
COMING SOON
Box Office: 0161 907 9000 www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Food RevieW
55
Manchester restaurants might be
struggling to win a Michelin star but
there is no shortage of Michelin star
chefs coming to cook here. Michael
Caines, a regular on Saturday Kitchen,
winning chef of The Great British Menu
and with two stars to his name, has
been in Manchester longer than most.
His eponymous restaurant at Abode
Hotel on Piccadilly is relaunching its
Amazing Graze lunch menu, so we
went along to enjoy a taster.
Abode is a beautiful Victorian boutique
hotel with a stunning tiled entrance.
Walk down the stairs to the basement
restaurant on a sunny afternoon and it
takes the eyes a moment or two to
adjust. The restaurant had a delightful
buzz with a mixture of suits and ladies
sampling the lunchtime menu, and at
£15 for three small plates, who can
blame them?
We began by ordering two small
savoury plates, saving one small plate
so we could choose a dessert.
It was roasted watermelon with feta
and pickled cucumber for my lunch
guest, and roasted cauliflower bacon
bouillon for me. Naturally, I have to
sample all the dishes and the chilled but
chargrilled watermelon was incredibly
refreshing with the saltiness of the feta
giving the dish some substance.
My cauliflower was extremely al dente
but the bouillon broth had a powerful
flavour. It was a very small portion and
I was glad to have another plate on the
way and the delicious home-made
bread to soak up the bouillon.
My lunch guest had wild mushroom
tagliatelle, which wasn’t a very
imaginative vegetarian option but
wonderfully tasty.
A portion of roasted skrei cod came to
me with a confit of lemon purée and
more cauliflower (which was so well
cooked I wanted seconds), all served
on a bed of tabbouleh. The flaky,
white, well-seasoned cod was divine
and the lemon purée packed a punch.
Beautifully presented, these dishes
are impressive.
For dessert we shared the artic roll
with rich and creamy vanilla ice cream
surrounded by sponge. It looked so
authentic it took me back to fighting
over a portion with my brother and
sister. A dark chocolate cremeux gave
an intense hit and the griottine cherries
were an absolute delight. This great-
value and beautiful lunch was washed
down with one of the creamiest, most
beautiful bottles of Viognier I’ve had in
years. Bravo. When can we go back?
Tickets for ‘An Evening with Michael
Caines’ at the Abode Hotel on 14 May
are now available.
By Helen Lawson
Amazing graze offers amazing food at
Michael Caines’ Abode, Manchester
56
SOuTHeRn eLeVenManchester
neIGHbOuRHOOd eATeRyAnd bAR Manchester
VIneyARd West Didsbury
dInInG GuIde
southerneleven
@southerneleven
neighbourhoodrestaurant
@neighbourhood4 Tel: 0161 222 0984
www.southern11.co.uk
3 Hardman Street | Spinningfields
Manchester | M3 3EB | Tel: 0161 843 0482
www.neighbourhoodrestaurant.co.uk
The Avenue North | Spinningfields
Manchester | M3 3BT | Tel: 0161 832 6334
www.vineyardmed.co.uk
Vineyard Restaurant and Winery
198 Burton Road | West Didsbury
Manchester M20 1LH
To get your business featured contact the Sales Team on 0161 445 2883 or email [email protected]
A new licensed Turkish restaurant and
winery in the heart of Burton Road,
West Didsbury. It’s an inviting Turkish
restaurant that aims for customers to
feel relaxed and comfortable. The great
décor and unique adornment of the
restaurant contribute to a special
atmosphere where anything feels
possible, especially after a glass of
chilled wine. The waiting staff are
friendly and attentive and led by the
ever-jolly manager. The experienced
chef displays his worldly appreciation
of flavour in the varied dishes on the
menu. Vineyard select the most
popular, best-quality Turkish dishes
that they think superbly complement
Turkish cuisine. Well, the only way to
find out, is to go and visit them!
SPECIAL OFFER | Weekend Early Bird
and Lunch Menu. Visit the website for
menu and reservations.
Head to Southern Eleven, Manchester’s
original American barbecue restaurant,
for home-comfort favourites straight
from the Eleven Southern States. These
include hickory-smoked pulled pork,
beef brisket, fried chicken, baby back
and belly ribs – all slow-cooked in their
Oklahoman wood-burning ovens and
served with a selection of home-made
barbecue sauces and sides. If you’re
feeling particularly hungry, Tuesday is
the day for you – all-you-can-eat
chicken and ribs are served from noon
until 10pm for only £14.95 per person,
including one free bottle of beer in the
offer. Open from noon seven days a
week.
A New York eatery and bar inspired by
Manhattan’s definitive neighbourhoods
is honing its unique take on casual fine
dining, luxury ingredients and industrial
chic aesthetics on Spinningfield’s The
Avenue North. The team at Neighbour-
hood Eatery and Bar have produced a
Manhattan execution of international
cuisine. Neighbourhood's flavours
and ingredients are determined by
the borough's diverse gastronomic
experience and distinct European
flourish. Brunch, lunch and dinner are
served daily, and there is an impressive
cocktail, champagne and wine selection.
The restaurant also offers a unique
Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea with the
choice of traditional sandwiches and
cakes or Neighbourhood favourites,
including mini-burgers, hot dogs and
lobster tacos. The venue is dressed
to a standard suitable for the Hatter
himself, with giant teacups, grassy
tables and playing cards. Open from
noon seven days a week.
VeLO eSpReSSOAltrincham
FILTHy COWManchester
THe LIMe TRee Didsbury & Bollington
cyclemancuk
@cyclemancuk velo_espressouk
@filthycowuk
The-Lime-Tree-Didsbury
@thelimetreeres @thelimetreeres
Velo Espresso
11–13 Moss Lane | Altrincham WA14 1BL
Tel: 0161 215 2578
www.filthycowburgers.co.uk
10 Tib Lane | Manchester | M32 4JB
Tel: 0161 839 5498
www.thelimetreerestaurant.co.uk
Didsbury: M20 2WS | Tel: 0161 445 1217
Bollington: SK10 5PH | Tel: 01625 578 182
To get your business featured contact the Sales Team on 0161 445 2883 or email [email protected]
Any dedicated epicure will be aware that
more often than not, London over-
whelmingly ‘milks’ the limelight as far
as the hottest restaurant openings and
newest food concepts are concerned.
Well the herd at Filthy Cow are bored of
that and don’t believe the North should
continue to be overshadowed as a foodie
destination. Following months of covert
undercover investigations into the existing
burger scene, Filthy Cow has made it their
mission to indulge the burger connois-
seur’s wildest meat fantasies. They have
gone to great lengths to make sure their
well-hung, prime beef burgers are the
ultimate guilty pleasure and promise
quality and indulgence served up with
genuine passion and an overriding sense
of fun. The menu is deliberately short and
punchy but will satisfy the most carnal
burger desires. The herd at Filthy Cow love
their outdoor action and all their beef is
locally sourced, outdoor reared and from
the best farms in the country. Filthy Cow
will set the benchmark for memorable
dining in Manchester, with creamy milk-
shakes, local craft beers and weekly-
changing wines from small independent
local producers. These will accompany the
main event and are served alongside rustic
‘skin on’ chips, authentic ‘slaw’ and onion
rings. The interior design is farmyard-in-
dustrial crossed with Soho-neon and the
staff have undergone extensive training
to ensure they are the finest burger
connoisseurs in the land, no-one will know
better than them to advise of what goes
well with your Filthy Beast burger.
57
dInInG GuIde
The Lime Tree Restaurant is an award-
winning family-run business established
in 1987 in Didsbury, Manchester by chef-
owner Patrick Hannity. In 2012 Patrick
opened The Lime Tree Restaurant and
Wine Bar in Bollington, Cheshire. Both
restaurants produce a regularly changing
menu focusing on top-quality local
produce, much of which comes from
their own farm at Macclesfield Forest.
Patrick purchased Hardingland Farm with
the purpose of rearing his own rare breed
pork, lamb and other seasonal produce
for a specialist menu in both restaurants.
You can follow the link to their farm here
www.hardinglandfarm.com/index.htm
They also have their own in-house baker
who bakes fresh bread and pasta. Their
front-of-house style is unfussy, efficient
and friendly. There is an extensive wine
list and a regular Wine Club is hosted by
Patrick and a guest sommelier or
producer. An outside catering service to
suit any event or venue is also offered.
In March this year The Lime Tree
was awarded Best Restaurant South
Manchester in The Fine Dining Category
of the Eat Drink Sleep Awards.
A new Altrincham venture is attracting
bike enthusiasts after combining an
artisan coffee shop with a cycle
boutique. Dedicated to celebrating the
history, success and importance of
cycling in Greater Manchester, Velo
Espresso sells cycle-related products,
from sports nutrition to clothing. Run
by Neil Lee and Marie Lee, the Stamford
House Altrincham Velo Espresso is a
25-seat coffee shop featuring cycling
memorabilia. It offers a range of
premium, ethically sourced coffee
along with home-made cakes and
sandwiches, as well as a display of
handbuilt bikes from some of Britain’s
best frame and cycle builders, including
the Classic British brand Pashley.
Neil said: “Velo Espresso and Cycle
Manchester is a destination where
cyclists and non-cyclists alike can relax
over a coffee, enjoy a healthy lunch,
find out about cycling events locally, or
just chill and watch one of the classic
races shown on TV.”
E: Coffee Shop: [email protected]
58
THe eAT dRiNk SLeeP AWARdS 2015
What a night to be part ofManchester's hospitality
industryThe Eat Drink Sleep Awards 2015 saw the
crème de la crème turn out in force for a
glitzy celebration of the best the north west
has to offer.
The event was held at the Mercure Hotel,
where guests tucked into a three-course
meal as they waited to see if their favourite
restaurants and hotels had won prizes at the
inaugural event.
Decided by the greatest and most sought-
after critics on the planet - you, the general
public – an impressive 63,000 votes were
cast across numerous categories pertaining
to Manchester's vibrant offering of dining
and drinking.
Someone who definitely knows what she
likes, Magali Gorre, from ITVBe's Real
Housewives of Cheshire, was on hand to
present awards to winners such as Mottram
Hall and The Lowry, and she added an extra
touch of glamour to the proceedings.
Among the big winners of the evening were
The Alderley Edge Hotel (South) and Great
John Street (Central), which claimed Best
Boutique Hotel.
Almost Famous (Central) received a nod for
Best Casual Dining, while Tim Bacon and
Jeremy Rogers were honoured with the title
of Best Entrepreneurs for Living Ventures
(Greater Manchester).
Love was also in the air for The Mere Resort
& Spa (South), Nutters (North) and
The Midland Hotel (Central), who picked
up Best Wedding Venue.
Reflecting on a successful first year for the
Eat Drink Sleep Awards 2015 (The Drinkies),
founder Paul Kilroe, who is also the man
behind The Grafters and Talk Of Manchester,
said: "Everyone had an amazing night and it
was a fantastic springboard for our Liverpool
and Leeds ceremonies."
He added: "It was really special to see
Tim Bacon honoured for all he does for the
industry. Huge congratulations to all of the
many worthy winners."
Great John Street Hotel
Alderley Edge Hotel
Dean & Magali Gorre with Tim Bacon
The Midland Hotel
Russell Feingold
Tim Bacon
The Limetree
59
THe eAT dRiNk SLeeP AWARdS 2015
Ziara Siddique, Salim Uddin-Khandakar, Dean & Magali Gorre
Paul & Nicola Kilroe with Magali Gorre
The Lowry Hotel
The Botanist
Chaophraya
Neighbourhood
Fazenda
Mottram Hall
ZiyA ASiAN GRiLL
60
I spent the journey from my home near Liverpool looking
forward to the food, as it was a long time since I had enjoyed
a really good curry and I could not wait to see what everyone
had been talking about. I had heard whispers that none other
than the famous boxer Amir Khan had eaten at Ziya recently.
Well, I thought – if it was good enough for him…!
As soon as we pulled up outside the restaurant I could tell we
were in for a treat. Ziya stands out by a mile in comparison to
its neighbours, with its elegant and contemporary design
creating a brilliant impression before you even walk through
the door.
We were warmly welcomed by Olivia, the assistant manager,
and Adam on the bar, who settled us in with an excellent
chilled Pinot Grigio. Before long, Ziya’s lovely co-owner Jane
arrived and we had a good chat about the new menu and
their planned expansion into takeaway and home delivery.
I was given a tour of the restaurant, which is split over three
floors. The third floor is a large private dining room with a
separate bar that can be hired for events. The restaurant is
lavishly furnished, with a well-stocked marble bar, candlelit
lanterns and an eye-catching chandelier. The bathrooms are
modern and immaculately clean, which is definitely one of
the marks of a quality restaurant.
I was lucky enough to go behind the scenes once again,
meeting the chefs, exploring the kitchens and seeing the
amazing Tandoor oven in operation, which was a first for
me. I was soon getting under Chef Ali’s feet and I managed
to capture some great shots of him at work!
We sat with Jane for dinner and drinks, and it was so lovely
to chat about a million different subjects and especially about
how useful social media is for business these days! All that
interesting chat meant we had worked up an appetite for
dinner – and what a meal it was.
After amazing mixed starters of Tandoori Chicken and
Peshwari Lamb Chop, we were treated to the Corn Cheese
Tikki (delicious pan-fried patties made from sweetcorn,
potato, cheese and herbs). I had never tried these before
and they were so moreish and delicious. We were spoiled
with wonderfully sweet and doughy Peshwari Naan, Garlic
Naan and Plain Naan bread.
For the main course we had Pilau rice, Chicken Korma, Makhni
Chicken, Lamb Dopiaza and a Channa Masala (a wonderful
vegetarian curry with tangy cream sauce). Indeed, Ziya offers
many delightful dishes to cater for vegetarian diners, such as
Shani Paneer (a North Indian curry with cheese and cashew
nuts) and Gobi Masala with Cauliflower and Jeera Aloo
(a potato curry with cumin and onions).
After the wonderful main courses, which were delicately
spiced and deliciously moreish, we were quick to protest
at the idea of dessert until Jane told us about the delights
of Mango Phirni, a cardamom-infused rice pudding topped
with mango.
i was lucky enough to sample the delights of the delicious Ziya Asian grill in the heart of the renowned ‘Curry Mile’ in Manchester.
An evening at
ZiyA ASiAn grill
61
There was also the tempting-sounding Jamon o Gull to consider (milk dumplings
soaked in saffron syrup and served with ice cream). We decided to order these two
desserts to share between us and we were absolutely delighted by the wonderful
flavours of both. The Mango Phirni was a light and delicious dessert with exotic
flavours perfect for a hot evening in Mumbai! The Jamon o Gull was sinfully
delicious, with the rich syrupy dumplings providing a perfectly sweet note upon
which to conclude the wonderful meal!
I would recommend Ziya to anybody who loves excellent Indian food, as they offer
an amazing array of wonderful dishes in a chic and sophisticated setting. There is
a great selection of cocktails on offer too, even non-alcoholic ones. We had a
wonderful night meeting Jane and the team and we set off back towards Liverpool
with the feeling of amazing contentment that follows a perfect meal. Thank you so
much to Jane and all at Ziya. See you again soon!
By Camille Allcroft
www.cococami.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter: @cococamiblog
Ziya
65–67 Wilmslow Road Manchester M14 5TB
0161 257 2010 | www.ziyarestaurant.co.uk
62
chance encounter in a Chester restaurant
was to provide the launch pad for a
remarkable woman’s brilliant career
that saw her rise from waitressing to
her current position as one of the
most influential women in Britain’s
competitive restaurant and bar market.
Born and raised in Chester, Sue Crimes,
Chief Executive Officer of Gusto
Restaurants, had had an ordinary life
that gave no indication of the future
life to come. Though she had done well
at school, she was unsure of her next
step until a fortuitous meeting with the
future founders of one of the country’s
leading restaurant groups was to
dramatically change all that.
I met up with Sue in the elegant art
deco surroundings of Gusto’s new
restaurant in Elliot House on Lloyd
Street. The beautifully transformed
building provided the perfect location
for Sue’s recollection of her own equally
vivid transformation:
“After completing my A levels I took a
break from further education, and while
weighing up my options I took a job as a
waitress at Watergates restaurant in the
city centre. It was my first experience
of catering and, like many other people,
I’d really just fallen into it as a stop-gap
measure. After about two years of
working there I was approached by
Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts, now
CEO and Group Commercial Director,
respectively, of restaurant group Living
Ventures. They asked me to work for
them as a junior manager at their new
venture, Via Vita, which was about to
open next door.”
Susan had some experience of
restaurant work at this stage, so was
there something that stood out to mark
her potential and invite a potential
headhunt?
Her reply is refreshingly frank:
“I don’t really know what they saw in
me that made them ask me to work
with them. Tim did say that I had a
good eye for detail, but it can’t really
just have been that alone. I did enjoy
working in the restaurant and perhaps
that showed. I honestly don’t know
why they picked me.”
Clearly though, Sue was displaying signs
that marked her out as above average,
as just weeks after starting work at Via
Vita, Tim and Jeremy suggested that
Susan should really jump into the deep
end.
“They fast-tracked me into management
with on-the-floor training, and after a
couple of weeks at Via Vita they asked
me to relocate to Bristol as assistant
general manager of their restaurant
there. I looked around me and even
though my life in Chester was good, I
realised that I did want to see and
experience more of life outside my
comfort zone. I liked Tim and Jeremy
and the ethos and culture of their
fledgling restaurant business, and
wanted to continue working for them.
It just made sense to me.”
Of course, she went to Bristol and was
successful there; so much so, that when
Via Vita was sold off, Sue was the only
restaurant manager to be retained
for their next venture, Life Cafe, in
Liverpool. A pattern had been set and
Sue was now most definitely a part of it.
“I loved my job and worked hard too,
and after proving myself in Bristol,
I alone out of all the managers went
with Tim and Jeremy to Life Cafe. I
was young, had energy and I learned
on the job very quickly. I also found that,
despite not liking maths at school, I had
a good head for business numbers.”
Was she, on reflection, a workaholic
at this stage in her life?
“Yes, I probably was. I wasn’t like that in
any of my previous jobs but everything
just seemed to click into place when I
met Tim and Jeremy; I loved working
with them at Life Cafe and when that
eventually led to the Living Room and
the setting up of Living Ventures I
became a part of the operations team,
which meant leaving the restaurant
floor. I’d grown up and developed my
skills with this company and so it just
seemed natural.”
Living Ventures was formed in 1999 and
soon proceeded to revolutionise the
north west drinking and dining scene.
Sue was there from the beginning, and
after many varying roles – including
concept management and Director of
Training and Development, as well as
many brand launches – she eventually
found herself with the Gusto brand,
which is where we find her today. So far,
so smooth, but surely there must have
been some turbulence along the way?
“Of course there was; I had some pretty
steep learning curves to overcome and
there were tears, tantrums and fights as
the pressures built up. I never seriously
considered walking away as I loved my
job and the company too much, but
there were moments, certainly, when
I might have contemplated it.”
The arrival of her son, Oscar (with long-
term partner Lee) five years ago has
seen a change of pace for Sue but no
lessening of responsibility. A partnership
between Living Ventures and Palatine
Equity has provided a launch pad for
expansion of the group’s Gusto brand.
Sue’s in charge of this and I wondered
how she balances the two competing
demands of home and work?
“I’m in a very fortunate position; I have
a very supportive family, not least my
partner, Lee, and I also have a brilliant
team working with me. I’d always
wanted children but just never seemed
to get around to it, but now that Oscar’s
here he’s my priority. I do have great
responsibility for meeting the
expectations of our new investment
partners but it’s a fabulous opportunity
and I’m learning so much along the way.
I can manage the juggling and enjoy
my family, which is of paramount
importance to me, because it’s what
I’ve always done.”
I believe she can, and one thing’s for
certain: she won’t miss any of the
details.
A
63
GO TO
gustorestaurants.uk.com
for more information on
your nearest restaurant.
Gusto Manchester
4 Lloyd Street
(off Deansgate)
Manchester
M2 5AB
Tel: 0161 832 2866
LIVInG VenTuReS’ Sue CRIMeS
living life to the full withzeal and – gusto!
64
Food & dRiNk
Your wedding is second nature
Terms and conditions apply. Open days and wedding fayre date subject to change at the discretion of the hotel.
It’s about never needing to let your feet touch the ground. Ever.
as consummate professionals handle each and every detail before your very eyes. It’s about nature. We have it. 270 glorious acres of it. Your wedding at Mottram Hall. It’s second nature to us.
01625 828 [email protected]/MottramHallWeddings
CHAoPHRAyA
66
Kim Kaewkraihot’s life might seem
improbable and even too fantastic for
comparison with the tale of Anna and
the King of Siam, but Kim’s voyage of
self-discovery is all the more compelling
because it really is true. As her dream
of bringing the fabulously rich taste
of Thailand to the UK is ever-more
realised, so her tale grows more vivid
and inspirational.
Born in a small village, Kirimart, in
the north of Thailand in 1968, her early
life was marked by events that perhaps
defined her future. “I was only four
when my father died and then we
lost my brother too, which was very
upsetting, and of course a great loss
to me and my family. I then left school
when I was eight with very little formal
education, though it hasn’t really held
me back. I went on to work in garment
factories to help provide for our family.
I always cooked the family meals with
my mum while I was working in factories.”
Clearly, love of family, hard work
and determination were key to Kim
successfully overcoming such sad
events at that very young age, and once
she’d started, there seemed to be no
holding her back. “I set up my own
garment factory in 1988, all the while
cooking the family meals with mum and
cooking for up to 50 factory workers.”
Then in 1993 Kim moved to
Bangkok, and like Anna, it was there
that her dreams started to become very
real. “It was around 1993 that I started
my street stall from a hand-pushed cart
in Bangkok. It was hard to start with,
but I always loved cooking and loved
pleasing my customers. I wasn’t always
good, but I listened to my customers
and always tried to improve. Soon I had
queues for my food cart and even won
an award for my Pad Thai sauce –
the same sauce we still use in our
restaurants now!”
Bangkok also provided her with
her future partner in love and business,
Martin Stead. “I was working on my
street stall in Bangkok when I met
Martin. It was around two o’clock in the
morning and this charming Englishman
and his friends came to buy some food
from my food cart. They were in
Thailand on holiday. Martin was hungry
but his friends were tired and wanted
to go back to the hotel; he managed to
convince them to come and get some
food – and then he met me. He’s lucky,
right? Ha ha!”
So began the next leg of Kim’s
journey: one that would lead her to
the north of England and into success
unimagined from the vantage point of
a Bangkok street food stall. “As Martin
and I got to know each other, he
believed I had a real flair for creative
cooking. He had a vision of bringing
authentic Thai food and genuine Thai
hospitality to the UK, and I realised this
might be possible.
I had always enjoyed cooking, from
helping mum in the kitchen when I was
very young, to going out to market in
the morning to try and buy fresh
ingredients. “So in 2004, after setting
up my home from home in Leeds, we
opened our first Chaophraya restaurant
in the city. Now, here we are ten years
later with 11 restaurants and employing
over 500 people – amazing! I never
once imagined that I would come
from a street cart to owning so many
restaurants that cook for hundreds of
regular customers.”
I asked Kim if she could explain the
secret of her success. “My ingredients
for success are passion and determination,
but you need to have passion!
My family motto, ‘Ow Jai Sai’, which
means ‘care from the heart’, is also
important and we have other core
Thai beliefs that help us deliver superb
service, such as ‘Sanook’, which
encourages you to smile, have fun
and be natural!”
Kim and Martin’s company, Thai
Leisure Group, has recently launched
Thaikhun, which reflects Kim’s former
life as a street food seller. “As it is such
a big part of my roots, I am so proud
of Thaikhun (pronounced ‘tycoon’) as
it celebrates the work of the street
hawkers back in Bangkok; they are the
real foodie entrepreneurs. Thaikhun
is like the younger, crazy and funkier
sister to Chaophraya, ha! Many of our
customers tell me it reminds them of
their holidays in Thailand, which makes
me very happy.
“Within the next five years we hope
to grow the business, opening more
Thaikhun and Chaophraya sites. London
is also in our sights, both for Chaophraya
and Thaikhun, but location is key to
success in the big smoke!”
I asked this remarkable woman
about the future and if it might include
slowing down! “Luckily, I regularly
travel back to Thailand to research new
ingredients and dishes, and shop for
the interiors of our restaurants, some
of which are blessed by Thai monks.
We always visit my mum and some-
times even steal things from her house
to put in our restaurants; her hat’s in
Thaikhun Manchester and her fishing
basket in Thaikhun Aberdeen!
Perhaps, when I’m older, I’ll take some
time to relax and then alternate living
between England and Thailand.” I’d say
she will have certainly earned her rest
by then!
67
The Queen and I
from the streets of Bangkok, Kim Kaewkraikhot brings the
majesty of Thailand’s delicious cuisine to the United Kingdom.
68
Alessandro, our gracious host, started
the ball rolling perfectly with a
deliciously hearty ribollita for Paul
and succulent gamberoni for me.
Paul’s roots are firmly Northern; he
was born in Rochdale but his horizon
broadened when he emigrated to
Australia with his parents on a £10
Assisted Passage ticket. He loved
living in Sydney as a child but his
stay was brief; after seven years
down under, homesickness brought
the family sailing back to Rochdale.
Simultaneously, a double dose of
pneumonia severely debilitated him
and also had the unfortunate effect
of wiping clean most of his Australian
memories.
As we digested this significant event
over ravioli di zucca and bistecca, Paul
told me about how images have since
come to dominate his memories. One
striking recollection of a small white
church atop a hill bedecked in green
and black foliage in Tahiti perhaps
exemplifies his strong visual gifts best.
After leaving school he did a series
of jobs, including a spell in a cotton
mill. It was there that he first met
Fred Dibnah, whom he was to later
photograph. Influenced by the
dominant post-punk scene in
Manchester, Paul was drawn to
creative expression and so, in his
mid-20s, enrolled on a photography
course at Bradford. While there
he met and was influenced and
encouraged by such photographic
greats as Don McCullin. Paul’s
strengths as a portrait photographer
emerged and he slowly began to
compile an impressive portfolio of
renowned subjects.
For the past couple of years, Paul has
been planning his book, Made in the
North, which is a collection of his
impressive portraits. As we savoured
our panettone al cioccolato and panna
cotta, Paul told me that his aim was
to produce a book that was filled with
inspirational Northerners. They’re not
all well-known faces but they are
all significant figures in their own
respective fields. He has a singular
talent for drawing the eye to less
obvious points of the picture; his
portrait of Ken Dodd is haunting
because his aged hands become
the focus of the gaze.
Paul has had his photographs
exhibited in the National Portrait
Gallery; his portraits of Brian Cox and
Fred Dibnah could even be described
as the definitive images of these two
well-known faces. His works are also
exhibited for sale in Sam’s and
Mr Thomas’s Chop Houses and the
Albert Square Chop House, with all
sales contributing a donation to the
Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention
charity. His gallery in Cheadle Hulme
is home to his impressive portfolio of
work, which also includes his equally
detailed pieces on New York and
Venice.
Paul Wolfgang Webster’s portfolio of
great Northerners is a reminder of our
region’s terrific creative drive and how
we’ve harnessed it for our industry for
the greater good. I would nominate
Paul as an appropriate subject for his
own book given the subjects he’s so
brilliantly captured. Only a self-
portrait could possibly do him justice
though!
Our thanks to Alessandro and
Piccolino in Didsbury for their very
kind hospitality.
individualrestaurants.com/piccolino
Wolfgang Webster Gallery
Gill Bent Road
Cheadle Hulme
Stockport
SK8 6NB
T: 0161 488 4889
M: 0781 218 1589
wolfgangwebstergallery.com
By Mark Kureishy
table for two……with paul Wolfgang Webster at piccolino, Didsbury
Fine art photographer Paul Wolfgang Webster has been chronicling the faces of prominent
Northerners throughout his distinguished working life; Tony Wilson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian
Cox and Betty Boothroyd are just a few of the 200 or so subjects he’s captured to create a
portrait of the North
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It starts with a dream ….and leads to the ultimate
fairy-talewedding venue
Summer dates still available for 2015Dates still available throughout summer. From £100 per person.Please enquire to find out about our special last minute wedding packages.
70
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To make your reservation please call 0161 885 5075or visit www.abodemanchester.co.uk
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71
How does Manchester compare to
Stockholm?
Manchester is more laid back. People
are friendlier and not as pretentious.
There is a clear sense that people
don’t take themselves as seriously as
us Swedes. This is a side I have really
come to enjoy living in the North,
and of course football is much better
in Manchester. You also have the
modern Mancunian music scene that
is world-class.
Stockholm is very trendy with a strong
presence of technology, food, cars and
fashion. It is a very clean and beautiful
city on the coast with a fantastic
archipelago. However, my favourite
Swedish city is Gothenburg, our second
city, which is more laid back, warmer
and offers far better football.
You’ve worked in various cities around
the world. What’s your favourite and why?
I worked in Salzburg, Austria for a while
and this is a truly amazing city. It is small
and friendly with incredible culture,
good food and drink, and you have the
best of many worlds. You are close to
the Alps, with world-class skiing within
an hour’s travel, and you are equally
close to Italy and the Balkans.
Everything of interest is so close.
Why did you embark on a career in
Hospitality?
Because I like to eat good food and I like
to meet new people. Being a General
Manager is a perfect balance between
administration, being host and getting
to be involved in eating a lot of good
food.
The Radisson Blu at Manchester
Airport has recently had a £10million
refurbishment programme. For readers
who haven’t been, what can they
expect to see?
A full transformation to a modern
first-class hotel. All aspects of the hotel
have been meticulously considered and
planned before the remodelling.
With our new Business Class offer,
which includes a fantastic lounge, and
our new bar we are bringing laidback
luxury to the airport. This did not exist
in the airport before our remodelling.
Rock stars and celebrities are notorious
for wrecking hotel rooms. What’s the
most bizarre thing you’ve witnessed?
I have hosted a range of dignitaries and
rock stars in my various jobs over the
years, including Bill Clinton and the
Rolling Stones, and while demands are
high the celebrities I’ve come across
have been exemplary. I’m sorry I don’t
have anything more exciting to share.
Guests can be demanding. Are there
any unusual requests you can remember?
One guest wanted bin-liners taped over
the windows, and another wanted a
satellite dish installed to watch certain
TV programmes. Most requests are
doable as long as the budget is right.
What’s the best way of getting upgraded?
Throwing in the name of the manager?
Telling the receptionist how often you
visit? Showing your appreciation with a tip?
Be a bit forward and ask for one, but
make sure it is in a pleasant way. If you
don’t ask, you don’t get. Sometimes it
works.
How do you unwind?
I suppose this is where I should say I
listen to opera and sip an expensive
Pinot Noir, but that is not me. My big
passion in life other than my family
and kids is racing motorbikes. I try to
do that as much as I can.
Finally, Sweden means Volvo, Saab
and, of course, ABBA. What’s your
favourite ABBA song?
I suppose being Swedish it is compulsory
to love ABBA. ABBA did a great thing for
Sweden and for Swedish music, which
is now part of our modern culture. I like
Waterloo, as that was the song that
really kicked it all off for the group.
Jens Hallman is General Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport.
Swedish-born Jens has over 20 years’ experience within the hospitality industry,
having held positions in conference and banqueting, food and beverage, sales and
marketing, and general management; he has worked in Sweden, Norway, Austria,
United States, England, Scotland and Wales.
Jen
s H
allm
an
Photography: Stephen McGowan
PEOPLE
72
Wendy Moran, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at Manchester Metropolitan
University Business School, turned from journalism to teaching and from
environmental education to public sector communications before co-writing
a practitioners’ manual with Gordon Brown’s brother John, and entering
academia in 2007. Her students reap the benefit because modest, multifaceted
Wendy, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Public
Services Group, offers them tried-and-tested advice - not lofty ideals.
Lecturing undergraduates is inspiring. We’re part of theirlaunch. At 21, few people knowwhat they want to do, so myown ‘twisty’ journey reassuresthem. After all, Steve Jobs, whonever graduated, concluded,’You often can’t see any senseat the time but looking back allthe dots join up.’
How’s PR viewed?
For many its Ab Fab: champagne and parties. Forme its public sector PR. My first inadvertent foray into it was in 2002, persuading every Bathand Somerset secondary school,including one utterly averse tothe idea, to recycle. IronicallyPR has a bad reputation, deriving from its origins of propaganda and manipulationof the masses.
PR has been associated withspin. The CIPR was formed bylocal government practitionersto work towards ethical practice.
Could you define PR please?
There are over 500 definitions – on different levels too. IdeallyPR is about creating mutual understanding between an organisation and its publics - aconversation. PR should involvenetworking, engagement andconsultation. PR is not teenagershanding out flyers for night-clubs.
And marketing?
From a PR perspective, marketing is more transactionaland predominantly in retail. But marketeers claim their areaalso includes relationships.
What skills do PR professionalsneed?
Good communication, goodEnglish and a love for people.But the charisma and behaviourto get you to the top can’t betaught.
The first PR stunt?
Bernays launched the controverisal idea of womensmoking through a number ofNew York debutantes lightingup in a statue of liberty pose.
Subsequent smoking campaigns have tried to address this powerful iconography.
Any PR disasters?
At 5pm, after a tricky day handling Kingston’s flooding crisis, I was called by BBC London Tonight about a parking attendant filmed booking vehicles emergingfrom the subsiding waters. Luckily, a quick interventionand hasty apology cleared the air.
Any funnies?
At a CIPR conference, Alastair Campbell refused my politeoffer of a cup of tea, deferred to his own ‘minions‘ and, havingmistaken me for a waitress, took a double take when I satbeside him at the top table!
Wendy Moran explainsPR to Fay Wertheimer
73
The value of investments can go down as well as up. Past performance is no indicator of future returns.
This article is correct at the time of print, and does not constitute advice. Authorised and regulated by
the Financial Conduct Authority.
Kellands (Hale) Limited.24 Victoria Road, Hale, Altrincham WA15 9AD
0161 929 [email protected]
TIME FOR A SPRING-CLEANIt’s the long-awaited Spring-time, apparently! So time to spring clean the
home, and all those other things that we put off to this time..
New tax year6 April marks the start of the new tax
year, making this the ideal time to also
spring-clean your finances! Perhaps
take a look at your budget planning
and update this in line with your
savings, investments and retirement
objectives. To more accurately calculate
these plans, cash flow modelling is just
one of the tools used by Kellands to
further enable clients to understand
their current and future monetary
position, by generating a graphical,
financial planning forecast.
Over the past two budgets, dramatic
changes have been announced for both
ISAs and pensions. There is no doubt
that the improved flexibility on pension
withdrawal after the age of 55 will leave
many with the need to reconsider their
savings strategy.
When reviewing you plans and options
this may again open up the common
question – ‘is an ISA or a pension the
best for building my future savings?’ In
order to help answer this it is important
to fully understand your personal
situation and what the best options
are for you.
MortgagesOne of the largest outgoings for most
households is the mortgage repayment.
With interest rates at an all-time low you
should review the rate you are paying,
maybe consider a fixed-rate deal, or
perhaps become mortgage-free sooner!
ProtectionMany parents have already recognised
the importance of protecting loved
ones through the purchase of critical
illness or life cover, but without reviewing
this they may find themselves
inadequately protected. As with any
other policy it should be reviewed to
ascertain both its effectiveness to achieve
objectives and the competitiveness of
its monthly costs. Often, considerable
savings can be made in this area.
WillsIt’s surprising how few people have
actually made a will, and if they have
they are often out of date. A will is
simply a legal document that ensures
your wishes are acted upon after you
die, meaning that those you would like
to benefit from the proceeds of your
pensions, investments, savings and
protection, actually do so. Your loved
ones will then have the peace of mind
knowing they will receive any legacies
in a timely manner.
So, dust off your existing paperwork
and give them a spring clean to help
ensure they are still in-line with your
objectives for 2015, and beyond.
Kellands Chartered Financial Planners
offer private and corporate clients a
full advisory service on tax planning,
investments, pensions and mortgages.
Call the team on 0161 929 8838.
You may have noticed our Hale office
on Victoria Road is currently
undergoing a full make-over!
We are still hard at work with
BUSINESS AS USUAL in our
temporary office two doors away
at 28 Victoria Road. All numbers
and emails remain unchanged.
74
Before you bring people on
It’s critical that you and your team
have a real understanding of what your
company is all about. I’m not talking
about the tangible here (relating to
your product or service), but rather the
intangible element concerning your
company culture. Unless you know the
personality of your organisation – its
culture, its ethics and its motivations –
you cannot expect a new entrant to buy
into the passion. Many SMEs argue this
is ‘big company’ territory, but I’ve seen
many organisations first hand, that have
grown from start-up to multibillion-
dollar organisations, and believe me –
they had this together from the get-go.
The recruitment process
The mechanics of how you assess
candidates will vary from company to
company, ranging from an informal
coffee, to extreme psychometric
testing. However, one of the most
common mistakes made by companies
of all sizes during recruitment is
managing expectations. We all like to
think we’re the best company in the
world, but candidates will seriously
appreciate an honest and frank view
of the organisation they’re looking at.
Nobody is naïve enough to think they’re
about to enter a wondrous place of
perfection, but balancing the ‘we’re
great because’ attitude with some
honest ‘but we also need to develop
xyz’ can really separate you from others
in the market and show the candidate
that you’re human.
It’s also important to turn this around in
the interview and really get to know
who that person is. For example, most
investors take great pain to explain how
they largely invest in the person rather
than the idea, and this is true of you
investing in new individuals for your
company. Get to know them! Are they
a good fit for you and your company
culture?
The first few weeks
The first few weeks are critical, not just
from a performance perspective but
also in terms of you (as a company)
listening to your gut about a candidate’s
future with your organisation.
Ultimately, you’re doing a disservice to
your company and the candidate if
you’re not honest about keeping them
or don’t base your decision on a healthy
mix of the gut and performance.
TheBusinessThe coaching legend Vince Lombardi once said, “Individual commitment to a
group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work,
a civilisation work.” It’s one of my favourite quotes about team-work, and really
summarises the crux of what recruitment is all about.
Got a question? Email: [email protected] | www.thoughtstrategy.com
Recruiting the right teamI’m not going to bore or patronise you with a piece telling you to make sure that your new hire is affordable, bench-
marked against market rates, supported well, given clear job descriptions, incentivised and so on. That’s all pretty much
common sense; instead, I’ll give you three insights into the less-discussed parts of recruiting that have helped me over
the years.
75
What is an ISA?
ISA stands for Individual Savings
Account. ISAs were introduced by
the Government to encourage us all
to develop a regular savings habit.
Everyone over the age of 16 in the
UK can currently save up to £15,240
a year in ISAs, tax-free. Junior ISAs
allow parents or grandparents to
invest £4,080 for children aged
under 16.
Make use of your 2015/16 ISA
allowance. Now is the time to act.
Why should I have an ISA?
Investing in an ISA offers you a tax-
efficient income and capital growth
over the long term. The money you
invest in an ISA is shielded from income
tax and capital gains tax. There are two
types of ISA. A Cash ISA has a fixed
interest rate, which is usually higher
than a normal savings account.
A Stocks and Shares ISA is linked to
the performance of selected funds,
bonds and shares in companies on
the international stock market.
Why should I speak to a financial
adviser about ISAs?
Good financial advisers offer
professional guidance when it comes
to selecting an ISA. The complexity and
range of financial products available
means that even the most informed
investors should seek expert advice.
In my experience there are no off-
the-shelf solutions, as every client is
individual. By meeting face to face I can
assess your personal requirements and
attitude to risk, as well as your financial
concerns, responsibilities and ambitions.
I then use my financial expertise to help
you address the big picture and make
managing your wealth simple and easy.
So once I’m set up with an ISA,
is that it?
Regular review of your investments and
overall finances is the key to successful
wealth management. Over time,
changes in your personal circumstances,
changing legislation and the effects of
inflation will all have an impact on your
financial situation. As your trusted
wealth manager, my role is to ensure
any plans we put in place remain on
course and appropriate, no matter
what changes. Through regular reviews,
I can help you reach your financial goals
and plan a secure future for you and
your family.
The value of an ISA with St James’s
Place will be directly linked to the
performance of the funds selected
and may fall as well as rise. You may
get back less than you invested, as
investment in a Stocks and Shares ISA
will not provide the same security of
capital associated with a Cash ISA.
The favourable tax treatment of ISAs
may not be maintained in the future
and is subject to changes in legislation.
The Partner Practice represents only
St James’s Place Wealth Management
plc (which is authorised and regulated
by the Financial Conduct Authority)
for the purpose of advising solely on
the Group’s wealth management
products and services. More details
are set out on the Group’s website at:
www.sjp.co.uk/products. The title
‘Partner Practice’ is the marketing
term used to describe St James’s Place
representatives.
For all your money matters,
please contact:
Kathryn L Wilkinson
Wealth Management Ltd
Partner Practice of
St James’s Place
Wealth Management
Manchester-based Wealth Management expert Kath Wilkinson
gives us the lowdown on investing in an ISA.
Email: [email protected] | Mobile: 07973 779595 | Website: www.kathwilkinson.co.uk
It’s Time For ActionMoneyMatters-
77
EDUCATION NEWS
Pupils at Manchester High School for Girls achieve some
of the best public examination results in the country.
However, they were recently taught how to cope with
failure and disappointment. ‘Hug the Monster’ week
focused on improving pupils’ emotional resilience and
self-esteem, teaching them to embrace risks and not to
give up when faced with disappointment.
Senior School and sixth form girls gave advice to younger
pupils about how they should respond to disappointments,
and various activities including workshops and assemblies
took place in school to raise awareness of this important
topic.
Mrs Helen Jeys, Deputy Headmistress at Manchester High
School for Girls, said: “This is a serious issue; a lack of
emotional resilience can have a huge impact on our ability to
deal with disappointment and change. We have an important
duty to ensure that the girls we teach are able to develop
strategies that will help them cope with any setbacks they
experience in life.”
Mrs Jeys added: “The monster theme is memorable and
one that will remind them to accept setbacks as potential
opportunities for development. Failure and disappointments
should not stop our students from following their dreams and
aspirations. In the future, Hug the Monster week will become
an annual feature of Manchester High’s broad Wellbeing
programme. It has been fantastic to see how enthusiastically
our girls have engaged with the campaign.”
Eleven-year-old Iman Sheen from Didsbury said: “I have learnt
a lot from Hug the Monster week. It has been really helpful
and I have learnt to embrace any disappointments, hug the
monster and move on. If I get a bad test result in the future,
I will pick myself up and do better next time.”
Mr Alun Jones, president of the Girls’ Schools Association,
said: “It’s great to see another GSA school taking positive
steps to help girls embrace the learning opportunities that
come from failure. To paraphrase Richard Branson, we must
not be embarrassed by our failures, we must learn from
them and start again.”
Twelve-year-old
Iman Sheen and
17-year-old
Sarah Strickland
from Didsbury
MGS CROSS-COUNTRY TEAMSSMASH THEIR WAY TO VICTORY
The event, which saw 167 runners from
11 schools compete at Wythenshawe
Park, was held to select the Manchester
Schools’ team for the Greater
Manchester Schools Championships.
Out of the 33 athletes selected for the
Manchester team, 14 were MGS pupils,
a fantastic achievement for the School.
MGS’s Year 10/11 team won for the
11th time and its Year 8/9 team won
for the 12th time in the past 13 years.
Speaking about the race, Matthew
Webb said: “This year the course was
very muddy, which made the running
really difficult. The Wythenshawe Park
course is quite difficult at the best of
times, so I am really pleased to have run
so well on this particularly wet day!”
Adam Smith, a teacher at MGS, added:
“To have a team that has made history
is an incredible achievement for the
School. We are delighted at the success
of our runners, and that we have such
a strong presence in the Manchester
team this year. Huge congratulations to
our teams on doing so brilliantly; it is a
well-deserved success!”
Manchester Grammar School’s Year 10 and 11 Cross-Country smashed
a 42-year-old record recently at the 69th Annual Manchester Schools
Cross-Country Championships. The MGS team, which included 15-year-
olds Matthew Webb, from Hale; Daniel Shaw, from Todmorden; Mac
O’Malley, from Manchester; and George Rushton, from Macclesfield,
filled the podium at the event, with its runners coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd
and 4th in the challenging 2K race.
PUPILS TAUGHT TO HUG THEIR MONSTERS
78
79
SPOTLIGHT ON
Martin DunnTell us about yourself
I live in Bramhall, with my partner
Helen and our two boys. I'm originally
from near Liverpool, but I've been
based in the south Manchester area
on and off for the past 25 years so I
know it very well. I actually used to
live within shouting distance of Moor
Allerton. I'm a keen sportsman with
fairly wide interests, but tennis is my
current favourite.
Have you always worked in
education?
No. I worked for British Gas as a
Systems Analyst for six years, and at
one point I was even a scuba diving
instructor!
So when did you get into teaching,
and what inspired you?
During some time that I spent away
from the UK, I ended up at one point
doing supply teaching at a bilingual
school in Honduras. I was absolutely
taken in by the influence and impact
that a good teacher could have on
the children. When I returned home,
I spent a year working as a classroom
assistant at Beech Hall School in
Macclesfield, then did my teacher
training at MMU before setting off
on my teaching career proper.
When did you move to your current
school?
After four years working in London,
I moved to Firwood Manor in
Chadderton. From there I moved to
Greenbank School in Cheadle Hulme
in 2006 as their Director of Studies,
and then Assistant Head.
What approach will you be bringing
to Moor Allerton?
I have a deep commitment to bringing
out children's abilities and encouraging
them to reach their potential. I also
feel passionately that a child's
education, especially at the primary
school level, should be a positive and
enriching experience. There are so
many incredible opportunities for
wonder at this age, and children who
are in the right environment can be
given a love of learning and new
experiences that will set them up with
open enquiring minds for the rest of
their lives.
Have you faced any major challenges
in your teaching career?
When I worked in London, I was in a
state school in a fairly deprived part
of north west London. Just getting the
children into school to work was a
daily trial. Getting them to love and
respect their learning was even
harder. However, the change from
that environment to the very
different expectations presented by
independent education was without
doubt the biggest challenge I have
faced.
What are you most looking forward
to in your new role at Moor Allerton?
It is a joy to be joining such a vibrant
and successful school. The confidence
and enthusiasm of the children as
I toured for the first time was very
much a part of my decision to accept
the job. I am extremely excited by the
opportunities presented by the new
building and by the chance it will give
us to widen and further improve the
children's education experience.
80
Inspiring your ChildInspiring your Child
An independent school for girls and boys from 3-18 years
FOUNDED IN 1487
STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Junior School Open Morning Saturday 9th May 2015, 10am - 12pm
Come and spend a day in the Senior SchoolYear 5 Taster Days 15th May, 20th May or 12th June To book call 0161 419 2408
School day tours also available
Bursaries available at 11+ and 16+
Tel: 0161 456 9000Tel: 0161 456 9000
.www.stockpor
or r.co.uktgrammar.co.uk
EDUCATION NEWS
HIGH FIVECongratulations to five students from The Grange who have
received offers from Oxford and Cambridge.
HARRY POTTER NIGHTFOR SGS PUPILS
For all five it is a well-deserved reward after an arduous process
involving extensive preparation, rigorous testing and demanding
interviews. Three hold Cambridge offers: Thomas Roe to read
Veterinary Medicine at Emmanuel College, and Laragh Harvey-Kelly
and Smriti Ramakrishnan to read Medicine at Christ's and Murray
Edwards respectively. Two hold Oxford offers: Charlie Davies to read
Geography at Jesus College, and Natasha Daly to read Philosophy
and Psychology at Worcester.
81
MORE STELLA SUCCESSPupils at Stella Maris School have been celebrating after
each Year 6 child was offered a place at one or more of
their chosen grammar schools - maintaining Stella Maris’s
100% record of success for grammar school entry across
Manchester, Trafford and Stockport.
Pupils at the Heaton Mersey School were offered places at
Withington Girls’ School, Manchester High School for Girls,
Stockport Grammar School, St Ambrose College, Cheadle
Hulme School, and St Bede’s College, with some children
even offered academic scholarships due to outstanding
performance in the exams.
Headteacher and Year 6 class teacher Mrs Johnson was
delighted with the results and commented: “Our children
deserve this high level of success because they have worked
hard, demonstrating commitment and determination at
every stage in the process. More importantly, they have
enjoyed the journey and never felt under any pressure to
produce these outstanding results.”
Stockport Grammar School Library
hosted their own Harry Potter Night
for pupils across the school – joining in
Bloomsbury Publishing’s first-ever
global event celebrating the hugely
popular series.
After stepping through Platform 9¾,
Harry Potter fans found themselves in a
magically transformed, candlelit library.
The Sorting Hat placed the pupils into
their houses and they chatted excitedly
among themselves about who might be
the biggest Harry Potter expert among
them.
As they listened to an extract from
Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s
Stone the tone was set for an evening
of wizardry.
The four house teams – Gryffindor,
Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin –
searched for objects from the wizarding
world in a treasure hunt and wand-
duelled their way through a game of
Petrified Potters (aka musical statues!)
before feasting on ‘butter beer’,
‘pumpkin’ juice, pasties, treacle tarts,
‘Bertie Bots Every Flavour Beans’ and
chocolate frogs.
A wizard-drawing contest and trivia quiz
tested everybody’s knowledge and saw
the houses ardently competing for the
most points, with Ravenclaw steaming
ahead to become the victors of the
evening. After the Junior School’s Year
5 and 6 classes also experienced the fun
the following day, teacher Mrs Joan
Mercer said: “A huge thank you to the
library for the Harry Potter party – the
children from my class absolutely loved
it. They returned completely fired up by
the whole event and haven’t stopped
talking about it all afternoon!”
82
• Independent, school for boys and girls from 3-11 years old
• Excellent provision for Early Years Foundation Stage
• Safe, Nurturing and Stimulating Environment
• Excellent entrance exam results
• Fantastic new facilities currently under Construction.
Moor Allerton Preparatory SchoolFortiter Laborare, Fortiter Ludite
Please come along and see what our school has to offer your child. For further information
or to book a visit: Call (0161) 445 4521, email: [email protected] or visit
www.moorallertonschool.co.uk | 131 Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2PW
EDUCATION NEWS
83
ST BEDE’S PUPIL RECEIVESROYAL APPROVAL FOR HER
PART IN SCHOOL PLAY
St Bede’s pupil Scarlett Gillis was so
excited to be chosen for the role of
Kate Middleton in a school play that
she decided to write to the Duchess
to tell her all about it.
The five-year-old Prep pupil played
the Duchess alongside her leading
man Joshua Rogers (also five), who
played Prince William, in ‘A Tale of
Two Birthdays,’ performed before an
audience of friends and family.
The youngster wrote to the
Duchess telling her about how she
enjoyed being in the play and how her
mum had bought her a lovely new red
dress especially for the part.
But when an envelope with the Royal
crest on it arrived for her at her home
in Didsbury she couldn’t believe it:
“I was amazed. I didn’t really think she
would have time to reply to all those
letters,” said Scarlett.
“I was really happy and glad when
I saw the letter and the photograph.
I thought she was beautiful.”
Claire Hunt, Head of Prep at St Bede’s
College, said Scarlett loves singing and
dancing and was the perfect choice for
the part: “Scarlett played the part very
well and enjoyed every minute of it.
She even wore jewellery that had
been bought from a gift shop during
a visit to the Tower of London.
“We were all very impressed with
Scarlett’s letter. It was beautifully
written and we’re delighted she got
such a lovely response.”
OXBRIDGE OFFERSFOR TWELVE ANDUSA BECKONS FOR
OTHERS
Twelve Withington Girls’ School sixth
form students are holding conditional
offers for places to study at Oxford or
Cambridge University later this year,
and two girls have also been offered
places at prestigious American
universities.
As university offers continue to
arrive for Withington’s Class of 2015,
for the third year in succession twelve
girls have celebrated the new year
by receiving conditional offers from
Oxford or Cambridge. This equates
to nearly one in six of the current
77-strong Upper Sixth cohort.
Seven girls have received offers
(dependent on A level results) from
Cambridge: Ellie Stonehouse – Jesus,
Medicine; Eugenie Yen – St John’s,
Natural Sciences (Biology); Haleh
Taghinejadi – St Catharine’s, Natural
Sciences (Physics); Penny Jones –
Pembroke, Natural Sciences (Physics);
Sabriyah Saeed – Magdalene, English
Literature; Siyang Wei – Newnham,
HSPS (Human, Social and Political
Sciences); and Vidya Ramesh –
Gonville and Caius, History.
A further five students have achieved
conditional offers from Oxford: Anisha
Chopra – St Hilda’s, Medicine; Ellie
Hughes – Trinity College, Medicine;
Jessica Quirke – Exeter, Biochemistry;
Miranda Gold – Hertford, French and
Spanish; and Teneeka Mai – Corpus
Christi, Physics.
Headmistress Mrs Marks commented:
“Competition for places at Oxford and
Cambridge has always been very
closely fought and, since the
introduction of tuition fees, it has
become increasingly international.
We are delighted for our girls’
successes in competition with some
of the world’s most able students.”
With applications to American
universities growing in popularity,
two Withington students are now
holding unconditional offers from the
other side of the Atlantic. Sixth former
Charlotte Pang has a scholarship
offer to read for a degree in animation
at The Savannah College of Art and
Design in Georgia, one of the top
universities for this discipline, and
which has a close association with
Disney and Pixar; and Nadia Al-Amin
(Class of 2014) has had an
unconditional offer from the Univer-
sity of Arizona, also with a scholarship.
Many members of Withington’s sixth
form have also received conditional
offers from other British, mainly
Russell Group, universities.
84
Limited places are available in Years 5 and 6, please call for
more information
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on”Albert Einstein
To arrange a tour call 0161 224 1077Wellington Road, Fallowfi eld, Manchester M14 6BL
wgs.orgMeans -tested
bursaries now available from Year 5
upwards
For more information: 01625 583028 | [email protected] | @schoolforgirlswww.aesg.co.uk | Wilmslow Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7QERegistered charity number 1006726
A top performing independent girls’ school in Cheshire
AESG achieved the top rankings across the board in the ISI Inspection February 2015
• For girls aged 2–18 years • Located in a safe,
secure environment• Nursery, Junior School,
Senior School and Sixth Form• Scholarships and bursaries
available• Working day tours available• Taster days for prospective pupils• Wrap around care
Dates For Your Diary
Early Years Taster MorningTuesday 12 May9.30am–11.30am
EDUCATION NEWS
85
SGS GIRLS TO CUT THEIR HAIR
FOR THE LITTLE PRINCESS TRUSTTwo Stockport Grammar Junior School girls are having their hair cut and
donating it to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real hair wigs
for children who lose their hair through cancer treatment.
North Cestrian Grammar School’s bid to become a
non-selective, non-fee-paying academy through the
Government’s Free School programme has been approved
and the School will now enter the pre-opening phase.
The new status, subject to public consultation, will take
effect from September 2016, enabling it to open its doors
to non-fee paying students.
North Cestrian will still be able to set its own extended
curriculum, term dates and length of school day. Its governing
body will oversee and operate the school, but pupils will not
have to sit an entrance exam.
Lee Bergin, headmaster at North Cestrian, said: “We’re
excited to have the opportunity to provide the same high
standard of independent grammar school education and
pastoral care we’re known for, but without having to charge
fees. We’re now able to help meet the demand from
parents in the area for a greater choice of educational
establishment.
“Thank you to everyone for their support throughout
the bid process and helping us to achieve free school
status. More than 750 showed their support, including
Graham Brady, MP of Altrincham and Sale West. We’re
pleased to have gained support from Altrincham Grammar
School for Boys and we’re looking forward to working
closely with such an outstanding school.”
Until September 2016, North Cestrian will remain a
co-educational, selective, fee-paying grammar school,
and places for September 2015 can still be applied for.
Full academic scholarships for 100 per cent fee remission
are available. Pupils on school roll at the point of the
changeover to a free school will remain members of the
school and will cease to pay fees.
An Open Day will take place on Saturday 25 April 2015,
11am–1pm and the open week will be held week
commencing Monday 27 April.
www.ncgs.co.uk
Follow North Cestrian Grammar School on
Twitter @NorthCestrianGS or like the School on
Facebook: Facebook.com/NorthCestrian.
NORTH CESTRIAN GAINS FREE SCHOOL STATUS
Year five pupils Talia Zelhof and Lily Amet heard about the
charity from Junior School Headmaster Mr Tim Wheeler,
the charity’s Chair of Trustees, who is also running for the
cause in this year’s London Marathon. The girls will be
having their hair cut on 18 April. Talia said: “It’s sad that
children are losing their hair when they’re so ill, so we
thought it’d be nice to help. We’ve got very long hair at
the moment and so we’re going to have it cut to about
chin-length. We’re excited about how it’ll look, and proud
that we’re able to help children by doing something so
simple!”
Talia and Lily are raising sponsorship as well as donating
their hair, and you can donate to the Little Princess Trust
at justgiving.com/Talia-Lily/
Mr Wheeler became involved with the charity when it
was founded in memory of a child at his previous school
in Hereford, who fought a brave battle against cancer.
Since its inception, the charity has now helped thousands
of children by providing the wigs.
You can sponsor Mr Wheeler’s marathon at
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LPTman
86
For Smart Schooling
STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
To request a prospectus or book a personal tour call 0161 432 0532 email [email protected]
or visit www.StellaMarisSchool.co.uk
Registered Charitable Trust Number 505848
How does your
Average Class Size - 14 Pupils or Fewer Sibling Discounts Care Available 8am - 5.30pm
Nursery Grant/Childcare Vouchers Accepted
Affordable Independent Education for Boys and Girls aged 3-11 years
100% Success for Grammar School Entry2015 offers include
Stockport Grammar, Cheadle Hulme, St Bedes , St Ambrose, Sale Grammar, Withington Girls School, Manchester High School For Girls
TOP INSPECTION RESULTS FOR
ALDERLEY EDGE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Alderley Edge School for Girls is celebrating as it received the full
report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), a Government-
approved inspectorate responsible for the inspection of independent
schools. Eight inspectors visited the school and the school is delighted
with the outcome. The Junior, Senior and Sixth Form divisions have
been rated on eight criteria for which judgements are awarded.
‘Excellent’ is the highest rating that can be awarded and the school
has achieved ‘Excellent’ judgements across the board –
including achievement and learning, teaching, pastoral care and
welfare to name a few.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is assessed against four
main categories: ‘Outstanding’ is the highest rating and this has been
achieved by the EYFS team in all areas: wellbeing, the leadership and
management of the Early Years provision and the overall quality and
standard of the department. The inspectors’ recommendation for
the Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form is in line with AESG’s
whole-school target for this year: ‘to develop further the good
practice of intellectual risk-taking throughout the school’.
The recommendation for the Early Years Foundation Stage is to
‘extend the opportunities for the oldest children in the EYFS to take
their planned learning outside, across all areas of the curriculum’.
COMPETITION
The Jockey Club Live presents ‘An Evening At The Races’ returns
with a bang for 2015. Global superstar Kylie, indie rockers Kaiser
Chiefs and the iconic Madness are the first acts to join their 2015
‘Haydock Nights’ season. Having previously played on prestigious
stages such as on top of Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee concert and at 2012’s London Olympic Games
Closing Ceremony, Madness’s live show is a perfect fit for the
Haydock Park grandstands.
Brit-award-winning, multimillion-selling Kaiser Chiefs – led by
BBC1’s ‘The Voice’ coach Ricky Wilson – will be bringing their
formidable live show to the course on 7 August. The band first shot
to recognition in 2005 for breakout hit ‘I Predict A Riot’, followed
by hits including ‘Oh My God’, ‘Everyday I Love You Less and Less’
and 2007’s #1 ‘Ruby’. They released their latest LP, ‘Education,
Education, Education & War’ last year, smashing into the #1 spot on
the UK album chart on release. The record became their second
#1 long play, following 2007’s ‘Yours Truly Angry Mob’ and became
their fifth top 10 album.
‘AN EVENING AT THE RACES’
MADNESSHAYDOCK PARK RACECOURSE – 3 JULY 2015
KAISER CHIEFSHAYDOCK PARK RACECOURSE – 7 AUGUST 2015
Madness said: “Come see, come see the world’s strongest band
perform incredible feats live! Marvel as Madness lift an enormous
set of polished pop songs high in the air, single-handed! The UK's
biggest open-air tour ever! Rolling into a town near you soon.”
Win a pair of tickets to see
Madness and the Kaiser Chiefs
To enter just answer the following: What is the venue
for the Kylie, Madness and Kaiser Chiefs concerts?
A. Haydock Park | B. Regent’s Park | C. Hyde Park
Email your answer to [email protected] with
Madness or Kaiser Chiefs in the subject field. Closing date
is 31 May 2015. See website for full terms and conditions.
Win
Band La Esencia provided fabulous live music and DJ Martinez
& DJ Royce of Latin Client entertained everyone to the early
hours. There was lots of Salsa and Bachata dancing which
created a truly Latin feel! The Didsbury Lounge provided
Cuban Tapas and a free Mojito for everyone.
Over 100 people came and supported the event and £1500
was raised in aid of Francis House.
Check out www.facebook.com/havanafusionmanchester for
future events. The next event is planned for the end of the summer.
DANCING FOR CHARITYHavana Fusion (Rachel McQuitty and Tara Meeks) organised aLatin charity night at theDidsbury Lounge last month.
87
Ph
oto
s: D
an
iell
e C
oo
pe
r
NORTHERN ARTClark Art Ltd of Hale are the North’s leading
art gallery and are national specialists in
LS Lowry and northern investment art.
A wide range of work is always on display at our Hale
gallery. We also give free valuations.
Theodore Major, Men and Sky, 30” x 37”
Artists include:
LS Lowry, Helen Bradley, Theodore Major, Alan Lowndes, Braaq, Harold Riley,
Harry Rutherford, John Thompson, William Turner, Adolphe Valette, Trevor Grimshaw,
Sheila Fell, Ben Kelly, Liam Spencer, Fred Yates, Reg Gardner, Geoffrey Key, Peter Brook,
Phil George, Stephen Campbell and many others.
Next Exhibition – Liam Spencer one man show,opens on April 23rd. Contact the gallery for details.
155 Ashley Road, Hale, Cheshire WA14 2UW
Tel: 0161 929 5150 email: [email protected]
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5.30pm
www.clark-art.co.uk
Book today0843 208 6010 | thelowry.com
Wed 3 June - Sat 25 July
Mon 14 December - Sat 2 January Wed 13 - Sat 30 January
Tue 4 - Sat 8 August
Tue 28 April - Sat 2 May
Shows that are too good to miss:
Tue 17 - Sat 21 November
Reviews IIIII By John Waddington
Courtney Barnett
Sometimes I Sitand Think, andSometimes I JustSit
Aussie songwriter Courtney Barnett releasesher debut album-proper, following a collectionof her early EPs in 2013 and some heavy radiorotation. One of the best rock and roll recordsof recent times, this album is brimmingwith caustic wit and deft lyricism, marriedwith infectious melodies and Velvets-esque
playing – just the right side of sloppy.
Blur –
The Magic Whip
Britpop stalwarts Blurreturn with their firstalbum in 12 years. Inthe time since 2003’sThink Tank, the band have played a handfulof high-profile live shows, and released thesingle Under the Westway, but held out onthe full album until now. The Magic Whip is slightly reminiscent of Bowie’s Berlin material, but is, of course, unmistakablyBlur.
Laura Marling –
Short Movie
Moving away fromthe intimate folksound of her earlierwork with ShortMovie, Marling goes for a much more expansive, electric, live-band feel. Sailingvery close to PJ Harvey waters at times, this is nevertheless a solid effort with some stand-out tunes - namely the titletrack - and a warm, engaging production.
Anthony Doerr –
All the Light We Cannot SeeThis is a beautiful and ambitious novelabout a blind French girl and a Germanboy whose paths collide in occupiedFrance as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Skilfully interweaving the lives of the protagonists,Doerr illuminates the ways people can begood to one another.
Jill Alexander Essbaum – HausfrauIntimate, intense, and written precision,the debut novel by poet-turned-novelistJill Alexander Essbaum is a story of marriage, fidelity, sex and morality. AnnaBenz, an American in her late thirties, livesin Zürich with her Swiss husband Brunoand their three young children, but feelsemotionally disconnected and seeks solace in new, exciting experiences.
Graeme Cameron – NormalIn this dark, twisted and compellingthriller, Cameron weaves a darkly comictale from a gruesome and potentially disturbing subject matter. Drawing comparisons with the hugely popular Dexter series, Normal paints a picture of aserial killer who tries to go straight, but thepolice are closing in, and there’s a womanlocked in his basement.
FILMS
BOOKS
MUSIC
Rosewater –
Director: Jon StewartThe directorial debut by successful producerand writer Jon Stewart is based on a truestory, in which the journalist Maziar Bahariwas blindfolded and interrogated for fourmonths in Evin prison in Iran because the authorities believed he was a spy. The onlydistinguishable feature about his captor wassaid to be the distinct smell of rosewater.
The Longest Ride –
Director: George Tillman JrA former rodeo rider falls in love with anartist in this passionate romantic drama inwhich past and present collide. Adaptedfrom a novel by Nicholas Sparks, the authorof the hugely popular book-turned-film TheNotebook, this has all the same passion andromance.
Tomorrowland: A World Beyond –
Director: Brad BirdA young girl is whisked to the incredible Tomorrowland in this mind-blowing sci-fi adventure. When troubledteen Casey Newton finds a strange pinamong her possessions, it transports herbriefly to the fabulously futuristic Tomorrowland. To help solve the mystery,she tracks down ageing inventor FrankWalker (played by George Clooney).
•
••
90
Friday 12th June 2015
In the Marquee, set at
the prestigious Bowdon Club
Three course dinner catered and
served by Francs of Altrincham.
Tables: Of ten £450
or £45 per ticket
Dress Code: Black Tie
For more information:
Contact Steve
at Events in the City on 07585002386
or e-mail: [email protected]
From: 7pm until late
The Bowdon Club, South Downs Road,
Bowdon, Cheshire WA14 3DT
An evening with
England cricket legend
Graham Gooch OBE
Present:
Pre-Ashes Sportsmans Dinner
Charity for the event.
The city is full of drama this spring –
with productions such as King Lear,
The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, The Ghost
Train and To Kill A Mockingbird all
playing out on the stages of Greater
Manchester while HOME, the new
home of Cornerhouse and The Library
Theatre, opens its doors to stage its
first production, The Fun Fair. There is
plenty to sing and dance about too
with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
returning and the international
hit musical Wicked getting ready
to end its UK tour at The Lowry.
IIIII
What’s
ON
92
Swanhunter
Saturday 25 April The Lowry
An Opera North production for a family
audience based on a gripping Finnish
folk tale with puppetry, opera and live
action.
My First Ballet – Swan Lake
2/3 May Palace Theatre
English National Ballet return with
another enchanting addition to their
My First Ballet series. Featuring a
narrator to help young audiences follow
the story, and a shortened version of
Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score, these
performances make ballet accessible
and hugely enjoyable for children aged
3 years+.
Chicken Licken
Sunday 10 May The Lowry
A show for children aged 3 to 8 years
featuring puppets, clowning, baking and
original music.
The Basil Brush Show
Sunday 10 May at Stockport Plaza
Sunday 24 May at The Lowry
A show for all the family, with fun,
comedy, storytelling and songs, plus
there’s the chance to meet Basil after
the show.
The Octonauts
16/17 May Opera House
Live for the first time in a brand-new
stage show, the Octonauts take families
on a journey through strange new
worlds unravelling mysteries and
finding surprises as they go.
By Catherine Reed
FaMily
Singalong A Frozen
Tuesday 14 April Stockport Plaza
Dress up as your favourite character
and sing along to all the songs with the
help of lyrics on screen, a host and a
magic moments fun pack. Book early –
the recent singalong screenings at
The Lowry all sold out!
Varmints
Tuesday 21 April The Lowry
A poignant tale of one small creature’s
struggle to preserve a world in danger
of being lost forever. For ages 7+.
Musicals
Anything Goes
7–18 April Opera House
This brand-new production of the Cole
Porter classic features a cast that
includes Shaun Williamson and Kate
Anthony, some really entertaining
choreography including a ship load of
tap dancing sailors and a whole host
of wonderful show stoppers such as
I Get A Kick Out Of You and It’s
De-Lovely.
Jesus Christ Superstar
13–18 April Palace Theatre
Glenn Carter stars as Jesus in this
well-loved musical, which has been
entertaining audiences for over forty
years. He is joined by X Factor 2007
runner-up Rhydian as Pontius Pilot,
and Tim Rogers in the role of Judas.
There are some terrific songs here,
including I Don’t Know How to Love
Him and Superstar.
Return to The Forbidden Planet
4–9 May Palace Theatre
The Olivier award-winning musical is
on its 25th-anniversary tour and returns
to the Palace to entertain audiences
with its stunning special effects and
great song list. It also gives everyone
an opportunity to raid their fancy
dress box and dress up for the show.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
20–30 May Opera House
This laugh-out-loud funny, fast-
moving and incredibly slick musical
returns to Manchester following its
highly successful visit last year.
Wicked
3 June – 25 July The Lowry
Wicked winds up its spectacular tour of
the UK with a visit to The Lowry. This
brilliant reimagining of the stories and
characters from the Wizard of Oz is
packed with wonderful songs, technical
wizardry and fabulous costumes. Get a
ticket while you can – this is your last
chance to see it outside London.
93
The Ghost Train
14 May – 20 June
Royal Exchange Theatre
A group of passengers are left
stranded at a remote railway station
facing the prospect of a night in the
waiting room amid spooky goings-on.
Expect a ghostly driver, sudden deaths
and a travelling parrot in this very
funny take on the classic 1920s ghost
story. Director Paul Hunter is looking
forward to the challenge of staging
this play. He said: “Staging action that
would normally happen off stage and
using every inch of that extraordinary
space will be thrilling.”
Expect the unexpected.
The Funfair
14 May – 13 June HOME
HOME’s hotly anticipated first
production features a live band, a big
dipper and an evocative set design.
The Funfair is adapted by Simon
Stephens, who also adapted the
fabulous, award-winning Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
This exciting production is a reworking
of the 20th-century classic Kasimir and
Karoline, and is a dark, political and
very funny play that sets two young
lovers in the throes of a break-up
against the hypnotic whirl and bright
lights of a funfair.
To Kill A Mockingbird
19–23 May The Lowry
Set in America’s Deep South, Harper
Lee’s much-loved story sees racial
injustice envelop a small-town
community. The Pulitzer Prize novel
is adapted for the stage by
Christopher Sergel and has received
five-star reviews as well as being
winner of the What’s On Stage 2014
Best Play Revival Award.
DaNCE
Dance ‘Til Dawn
21–25 April The Lowry
Transporting you back to the Golden
Age of Hollywood, Vincent Simone and
Flavia Cacace perform glorious dance
routines in this sensational new show.
Circa – Opus
8/9 May The Lowry
Fourteen acrobats tumble, spin and
fly around a string quartet in a
performance filled with jaw-dropping
physical feats.
The Car Man
26–30 May The Lowry
Don’t miss these stunning
performances of Matthew Bourne’s
brilliant Car Man. Described as Bizet’s
Carmen reimagined, it is glamorous yet
gritty, sexy and funny and definitely
thrilling. The Car Man is set to the most
amazing Bizet score and was last
revived in 2007 when the show won
awards for choreography and musical
event of the year.
Drama
Beautiful Thing
13–18 April The Lowry
Nikolai Foster’s celebrated
anniversary production of Jonathan
Harvey’s modern classic starring
Charlie Brooks, Sam Jackson and
Thomas Law.
The Boy in Striped Pyjamas
15–18 April The Lowry
A heart-wrenching tale of an unlikely
friendship between two innocent boys
set during World War II.
The Woman in Black
28 April – 2 May The Lowry
The gripping theatrical adaptation
of Susan Hill’s spine-chilling novel
returns to The Lowry. Don’t miss the
chance to see the most terrifying live
theatre experience ever!
King Lear
5–9 May The Lowry
This Northern Broadsides production
is directed by Jonathan Miller and
under his direction we are shown a
Lear stripped back to its heart and
soul – intimate, moving and utterly
believable. Be ready to see Lear afresh
as you have never seen it before, as
Miller brings his remarkable talent for
human observation to the play.
94
Gadgets
By
Joh
n W
ad
din
gto
n
If you’re out and about at a festival this year, or just tucked up nice and warm
at home, we’ve got you covered with our gadgets round-up.
s Nest Learning Thermostat
If you want to take your first
steps in creating a smarter home,
the Nest Learning Thermostat is
a great starting point. This little
gizmo is both a futuristic device
and a familiar one. It’s fully
connected, using a mobile app to
change the temperature and alter
settings wherever you are, but it
still feels like a regular thermostat
so isn’t too scary for technophobes.
£179.95, apple.com
s Pioneer DDJ-WeGO3
If you’re having a house party
and want to be able to seamlessly
mix music on your iPad while
adding the odd creative effect
for your guests’ pleasure, look
no further than the DDJ-WeGO3.
It’s a fun little toy and should
provide hours of entertainment
for the budding DJ, but you
definitely won’t be seeing
Armand Van Helden rocking
out on one of these down the
Ministry of Sound.
£199.95, veho-muvi.com
t Sennheiser Momentum
Wireless Headphones
There are headphones, and there
are headphones. If you’re serious
about your music, you could do
worse than pick up a pair of
these, but beware – at almost
£400 they will create a serious
dent in your wallet. However,
you get what you pay for, as the
build is sturdy and durable, the
materials used are premium,
and clever additions – such as
the foldable frame – are genuine
advances over the previous
wired models.
£379.99, amazon.co.uk
t Casio G-Shock GBA-400
Control the tunes on your smart-
phone using your watch! This
baby does just that, by harnessing
the power of Bluetooth. As we’ve
come to expect from G-Shock,
the watch is tough and the
display is as crowded and difficult
to read as ever. However, while
so many of the smart watches
currently out there try to achieve
too much, the GBA-400 is simple
and satisfying in its remit, making
it a real winner.
£150, amazon.co.uk
s Sony Walkman NWZ-A15
Remember the Sony Walkman?
The large plastic box that played
those cassette tape thingies? Well
here’s the latest addition to the
family. We’re not talking cassettes
here of course, but high-
resolution audio files. Sony are
stepping up to rival the Astell &
Kern AK120 II, which we reviewed
last year. Well, this device is
£850 cheaper than the AK120 II,
making it a less luxurious but
more sensible audiophile
purchase.
£150, sony.co.uk
s Asus ZenWatch
Competing with the Casio
G-Shock for the smart watch
throne this issue is the Asus
ZenWatch. It looks more like a
watch than a gimmick, which is
more than can be said for some
smart watches. It looks good,
is well made, and performs its
tasks well enough, but with only
enough battery juice to get through
the day, you will have to be
prepared to charge it every night.
£169, asus.com
95
Private GP& Night DoctorDr Bruce Jobling
0161 980 262624 Hours | 7 Days
“Peace of mind for you and your family, at all times”
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APOLOGY AND CORRECTIONIn our Dec/Jan 2015 edition we included an interview with Mr Sacha Lord-Marchionne that included comments relating to ITV Granada andto the conduct of its journalists at a press conference organised by Mr Lord-Marchionne. We now accept that there was no factual basis forthese comments, and we would like to apologise to ITV Granada and the reporters concerned for any distress the comments caused them.
By Oliver Chesher
MOTORING
96
HIGH SWEDE IMPACT
SUPERCAR BEATS
HYPERCARWhat separates a hypercar from a run-of-the-mill supercar
nowadays? Normally, it’s a matter of an extra few hundred
grand, and a few hundred more horsepower. But now that a
thousand horsepower has been done, and there are plenty
of cars to choose from that cost more than a house in Hale,
it’s all getting a bit silly.
This is especially so when you look at the new Porsche
911 GT3 RS, which wouldn’t even be in the same deck of
Top Trumps. It doesn’t have 12, 10 or even 8 cylinders; it
doesn’t cost a million, half a million or even a quarter of
a million. Horsepower is less than 800, less than 700, less
than 600; it wouldn’t even get noticed in Dubai or outside
Harrods.
And that’s why I want it. This is a proper street-legal racing
car that you can use every day. The most extreme version
of one of the most perfect performance cars of all time,
it has trounced almost every production car ever built
with its lap times around Germany’s famous Nürburgring,
including all the big-name billionaires’ playthings. Modified
to microscopic tolerances, it is a masterpiece of single-
minded, lightweight, intelligent, precision motorsport
engineering.
The first-ever car crash I was in was a memorable affair, in that it was spectacular to the point of being
cinematic, yet nobody was hurt. This is because I was in a 1993 Volvo 240, which was known to be
one of the safest cars in history at the time. Dads like mine coveted big Volvos because they were
second only to the Chieftain tank in terms of occupant protection.
In years gone by, conventional wisdom
was that the safest cars were those
that could simply obliterate anything
they happened to crash into. This
contributed in no small part to the
arms race outside every school gate,
which saw parents falling over one
another to acquire the most
aggressively enormous vehicles.
Thankfully, carmakers today have
demonstrated that we don’t need
to be so selfish in order to be safe.
And still in the lead is Volvo, which
has just won the Safest Car category
in Carbuyer’s Best Car Awards 2015 for
its mid-sized V40 range. This car proves
that even a relatively small vehicle can
excel in all four subcategories: adult
occupant protection, child protection,
pedestrian protection, and safety assist.
The V40 includes a safety world first:
the Pedestrian Airbag. The system uses
sensors in the front bumper to trigger
pyrotechnics to release the bonnet
hinges, allowing it to be raised by the
inflated airbag that covers the lower
part of the windscreen and the A-pillars,
helping to reduce injuries.
With other standard features such as
AEB (autonomous emergency braking)
and options such as Pedestrian and
Cyclist Detection with Full Autobrake
and Blind Spot Information System, Volvo
has set a new standard for protecting
people both inside and outside the car.
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