beresfords winter 2010

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MasterChef Live: Behind the scenesFashion from Paul SmithDevon’s Mercury Music Prize nominated folk singer/songwriter Seth LakemanBeth Tweddle: Taking to the floorInteriors: Berkshire’s finest interiordesign company Alexander James Jaguar’s Le Mans GT2 debutand much more...

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Beresfords_Cover section:Beresfords Cover section 8/12/10 11:29

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8 PROPERTY/PROPERTY SECTIONA selection of some of the finest properties currently available in your area from Beresfords.

40 EXCLUSIVE/35 YEARS AND STILL SOLD ON PROPERTY!April this year saw Paul Beresford clock up 35 years with the firm.

42 EXCLUSIVE/SPOTLIGHT...on two of the finest properties currentlyavailable for sale in the County.

44 MOTORING/LE MANSOur motoring man Kevin Haggarthy joins the Jaguar Racing Team as theirinvited guest, on their debut GT2 race entry at the famous 24hr Le Mans.

50 HOMES/ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTCaroline Rogers, Associate Director ofBerkshire’s finest interior design companyAlexander James, talks styles, spaces andthe ultimate design sin!

54 FASHION & BEAUTY/SIR PAUL SMITHThe iconic English fashion designer andentrepreneur talks exclusively about hisjourney to the pinnacle of British fashion, and the launch of his new Junior collection.

60 FOOD & DRINK/WINE FOR ALL SEASONSWe discover Chateau Civrac, the dream ventureof Cornishman Mark Hellyar, who sought tocreate a modern boutique wine in Bordeaux.

66 TRAVEL/ALGARVE’S HOLE IN ONETravel correspondent Claire Durkin takes atrip to Portugal’s exclusive resort, and golfinghaven, Vale do Lobo.

70 EVENTS/MASTERCHEF LIVEA behind the scenes look at London’spremier gourmet food event, and an exclusiveinterview with John Torode on MasterChef’sinvolvement in this year’s schedule.

79 ARTS/WINNING HEARTS & MINDSDevon’s Mercury Music Prize nominated folksinger/songwriter Seth Lakeman talksexclusively about the release of his latest album,and his battle to win mainstream recognition.

84 SPORT & FITNESS/TAKING TO THE FLOORDouble gymnastics World Champion BethTweddle MBE, tells of the highs and lows of life in the sporting spotlight.

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4 winter

www.beresfordsgroup.co.uk

Advertising: Tel: 0845 521 5377 E-mail: [email protected] Editorial: Tel: 0845 521 5221 E-mail: [email protected]

© Cream Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction is forbidden except by express permission of thepublishers. The content of this magazine is believed to be correct but its accuracy is not guaranteed and does not form part of any offer or contract. Beresfords cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors. The views expressed within editorials are those of the writers and not those of Cream Worldwide Ltd.

contentswinter 2010 collection

Ber OTB Summer 2010 contents:design b 8/12/10 10:38

COLCHESTER33 Sir Isaac’s Walk

Tel: 01206 577682E-mail:[email protected]

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Essex’ leading supplier and installer of high quality home entertainmentand home control systems. Experience the best.

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Rayleigh Hi-Fi OTB:Layout 1 21/9/10 15:33 Page 1

6 winter

Welcome to the new edition of our EssexHomes and Style Magazine.

Hutton Hall, on the rural fringes of Shenfield,is being offered for sale for the first time inhalf a century and is currently on the marketfor £5million.

A house has sat on the site of Hutton Hallsince before the Domesday Book was writtenwhere the original house started life as amoated farmhouse. When William theConqueror invaded England in 1066 heacquired the estate and rented it out to raise money for the abbey he was building in Battle, Sussex.

In 1381 Jack Straw, leader of the Essexpeasants, and Wat Tyler, leader of the Kentpeasants, successfully burnt down the houseas part of the Peasants Revolt. Whilst HenryVIII was on the throne he gave the HuttonHall Estate to Richard Rich as part payment of his infamous betrayal of Sir Thomas

Moore, which concluded with Moore losinghis head. Rich never actually lived at theEstate but a large Catholic family, the Whites,occupied the house and their daughter waslady in waiting to Mary Tudor.

Over the next 100 years Hutton Hall passedthrough various owners until it burnt down in 1720. The house was re-built around theexisting and surviving Tudor Hall and wasowned for a time by a Governor of the Bankof England in the mid 18th Century. DigbyNeave, a Colonel in the Indian army,inherited the house but was forced to sell offa significant part of the Estate to pay for deathduties. The house was then acquired in theearly 20th Century by the Pilkington Glassfamily who lived there until the outbreak ofthe Second World War when the house wasused as a children’s home for evacuees. The current owner’s late father purchased the house in 1960 and returned the Estate to a glorious family home.

Today, the Grade II listed house has thecapacity to provide 14 bedrooms and 7bathrooms in addition to Beadels a two storeylate Victorian wing with 4 bedrooms and 2bathrooms and the 2 bedroom Hutton HallLodge. The part moated grounds extend tonearly 8 acres and includes a 17th Centurywalled garden and stable block.

It is easy to see why Essex holds greatpotential for a place to live. The local schools,state and private, are plentiful and in some

cases lead the national league tables for theiracademic excellence. The transport linksserve the commuter well with LondonLiverpool Street and Fenchurch Street taking people direct into the heart of the City. The area has great diversity with rollingfarmland, hills and forest and Essex has thesecond longest coast line in England afterCornwall. The County has a wealth of finecountry properties ranging from littlecottages to some fine period mansions.

We are seeing a growing and consistentdemand for country houses in the area notjust from local buyers but also those movingfrom near our Greater London and CentralLondon offices into Essex.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Essex Homes& Style. If we can help you with any of yourproperty needs we’d be delighted to hearfrom you.

Paul Beresford FNAEAChairman/Managing DirectorBeresfords


Hutton Hall, currently on the market for £5 million

T H E

C L U B

Advertising: Tel: 0845 521 5377 E-mail: [email protected] Editorial: Tel: 0845 521 5221 E-mail: [email protected]

© Cream Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction is forbidden except by express permission of thepublishers. The content of this magazine is believed to be correct but its accuracy is not guaranteed and does not form part of any offer or contract. Beresfords cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors. The views expressed within editorials are those of the writers and not those of Cream Worldwide Ltd.

welcomewinter 2010 collection

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Offices throughout Essex, Greater and Central London

HuttonPrice £5,000,000

A Grade II Listed Georgian Manor house situated on the edge of Hutton Village. The main housecomprises 5 bedrooms, 5 reception rooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 bedroom second floor apartment, 2 bedroom first floor apartment, 2 bedroom lodge house and 4 bedroom Victorian wing. Positioned on a plot of 8 acres (stls).

Country Homes Office (01245) 397475

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Beresford Properties_autumn:BER 6/12/10 13:46

NavestockPrice £2,450,000

An exquisite timber framed Grade II Listed family house believed to date from 1640 and set withinbeautiful moated gardens and grounds approaching 1 acre (stls). Yew Tree Farm has been the subjectof considerable renovations and extension works and is beautifully presented throughoutincorporating many quality fixtures and fittings including some by Clive Christian.


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Woodham MortimerPrice £2,250,000

A large country house offering flexible accommodation with annexe and stables. The main housecomprises 5 reception rooms, master bedroom suite with bathroom and dressing room, 9 furtherbedrooms, 2 cloakrooms and 2 bathrooms. The grounds and paddock extend to 3 acres, 2 stablesand large double garage and workshop.


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BlackmorePrice On Application

Oaklands is a most attractive Victorian villa believed to date back to 1881 and has been the subject ofconsiderable improvements and renovations to create a spacious and comfortable family environmentfor those seeking an impressive country home coupled with excellent equestrian facilities withingrounds extending to approximately 8 acres (stls).


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Willingale Price £1,100,000

An attractive detached family house set in an idyllic country setting and surrounded by variousoutbuildings. The house is offered with planning consent to connect the house to the adjacent barnadding further accommodation. The property, not listed, is said to date in part from the 15th centuryand exposed beams and studwork can be seen throughout the house.


OngarPrice £1,000,000

Detached character house occupying a plot of land extending to circa 1.2 acres (stls). The propertyfeatures accommodation of great charm and character with feature fireplaces. Set within the groundsis a self contained 3 bedroom cottage and 2 bedroom barn conversion. There is also a heatedswimming pool with Roman end.


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TollesburyPrice £800,000

A Grade II Listed farmhouse in an idyllic setting. The house sits in its plot of approx 1 acre (stls) and has a useful 1 bedroom annexe, a large barn and outside office behind the main house. The house has been renovated to a very high standard offering bright and generous familyaccommodation throughout.


RivenhallPrice £725,000

The Granary is a delightful period property believed to date back approximately 250 years and wasformerly a grain store prior to being converted to workers’ cottages and is positioned adjacent toopen fields with panoramic views over adjoining countryside. 4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, stableblock, swimming pool, 0.6 of an acre.


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BockingPrice £599,995

A Grade II Listed 16th century converted water mill offering accommodation of great charm andcharacter and located on an established plot of land extending to circa 0.6 of an acre (stls). The property retains much of the original character and the rear gardens are flanked by the RiverBlackwater with superb views across open countryside.


RivenhallPrice £399,500

An ideal opportunity to acquire a recently refurbished Grade II Listed cottage dating from the early16th century. The 3 bedroom cottage is situated on the edge of the popular village of Rivenhall and isclose to the excellent shopping, recreational and commuting facilities of nearby Witham. The house benefits from a terrace off the garden room and a triple garage.


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Ramsden BellhousePrice £2,100,000

Situated in this sought after village location, is this impressive 7 bedroom executive home, which isset in grounds of approximately 1.25 acres. The accommodation is set over 3 floors and boastsimpressive entrance hallway and galleried landing, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/dining area, TV room,self contained annexe and outbuilding.

Billericay Office (01277) 626262

BillericayPrice £1,550,000

Impressive 7 bedroom detached residence in one of Billericay’s most prestigious roads backing ontoNorsey Woods. The accommodation is presented to a high specification and boasts a refittedkitchen/breakfast room, conservatory, 2 further reception rooms and snooker room. There is anestablished rear garden and a generous road frontage providing access to the double garage.


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Billericay Price £975,000

Substantial 5 bedroom detached house that is within close proximity to Billericay High Street andmainline railway station. The property benefits from 3 reception rooms, 2 en suites plus familybathroom and shower room, dance studio/gymnasium, indoor swimming pool complex, double garage and 130 ft rear garden.


Braintree Price £775,000

A 4 bedroom chalet bungalow situated in excess of 4 acres, (stls), providing wonderful countrysideviews. The property is set back from the popular London Road and provides convenient access toBraintree town centre, railway station and A120. The property offers spacious living accommodationwith the opportunity to adapt the accommodation further, subject to planning permission.

Braintree Office (01376) 348444

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View our properties on TV atwww.beresfords.tv




Black NotleyPrice £459,995

Enjoying a delightful location in the sought-after village of Black Notley, is this 4 bedroom detachedfamily residence. 4 spacious bedrooms with master benefiting from an en suite shower room, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/diner, utility room and ground floor WC. Garaging and off street parking facilities for multiple cars and established rear gardens.

Braintree Office (01376) 348444

BrentwoodPrice £1,350,000

Located in one of the premier turnings in central Brentwood is this 5 bedroom detached family home.3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room with granite working surfaces, conservatory, master suitewith dressing room and luxury en suite bathroom, guest room with en suite shower room, in and outdriveway, double garage and outdoor heated swimming pool.

Brentwood Office (01277) 231515

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HerongatePrice £925,000

Stunning double fronted Grade II listed period property, overlooking the attractive Herongate cricketgreen and offers a well established private walled rear garden. 5 bedrooms with en suite to master,attractive entrance hall is entered via 2 sets of double doors with an impressive staircase and doorsto 2 main reception rooms with walk in bay windows and views out across the cricket pitch.


IngravePrice £819,995

Attractive Grade II listed weather boarded 4 bedroom detached house standing on a superb plot ofjust 0.5 of an acre. Superb lounge with bi folding doors to garden, kitchen/breakfast room withgranite working surfaces, separate dining room, utility room, en suite, family bathroom, manycharacter features, superb gardens backing fields, double carport.


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Great WalthamPrice £525,000

An extended and detached 4 double bedroom family house situated in a cul-de-sac with views acrossopen farmland, 4 reception rooms, fitted kitchen, en suite to master, ground floor cloakroom, usefulstudio room with cloakroom above garage, off street parking, no onward chain and internal viewingstrongly advised.

Chelmsford Office (01245) 500555

ChelmsfordPrice £450,000

This charming detached family home has been extended and boasts 3 good sized bedrooms, 3reception areas and well established gardens to the rear and side of the property. Character featuresinclude original exposed beams, original stained glass windows to the front of the property with theadded benefit of a detached garage and off street parking and countryside views to the rear.

Chelmsford Office (01245) 500555

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NaylandPrice £409,995

Situated in a picturesque rural location in the popular secluded village of Wiston, an attractive wellpresented period family cottage set in approx 0.45 acres (stls) of mature, well tended gardens.Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, fitted kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, shower room. Parking for several vehicles, oil heating. Panoramic rural views.

Colchester Office (01206) 764444

Stoke by NaylandPrice £350,000

Victorian detached residence that has undergone extensive improvement by the present owners,maintaining much of its original character and is positioned in an elevated spot with delightful viewsover a mature front garden. Benefiting from 3 bedrooms, garden room, galley style fitted kitchen,utility area, oversized detached garage and ample off road parking for several cars.

Colchester Office (01206) 764444

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Havering-atte-BowerPrice £525,000

Chalet style detached property on a plot of approximately three quarters of an acre (stls) and isapproached via a private road. The property requires modernisation and therefore offers ideal scopefor possible re-development of a more substantial property (stpc). Kiln Wood Lane is a most attractiveroad and the plot itself provides an excellent rural feel.

Gidea Park Office (01708) 730255

Gidea Park Price £899,995

Detached family home, contemporary of the 1911 Exhibition, offering 4 bedrooms; 2 with en suites and2 receptions. The property also has the advantage of a long front garden with carriage drive, garageand a landscaped garden that backs Raphaels Park. Convenient for Gidea Park’s village shops, arterialroutes and mainline railway station.


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Gidea ParkPrice £625,000

An attractive 4 bedroom family house situated in one of Gidea Park’s premier locations. The propertyis approached via a reception hall giving access to the 2 ground floor reception rooms and cloakroom.Master bedroom with en suite shower room and fitted wardrobes, whilst the other 3 bedrooms are ofa good size. Splendid rear garden and a garage approached from own carriage drive.


Gidea ParkPrice £504,995

Large detached house, over 3 floors and incorporates a main loft area bedroom with shower room/wc,3 further double bedrooms, modern style bathroom and to the ground floor there is a lounge/diner,kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, conservatory addition and ground floor wc. Having ample parkingto front, an integral garage and approximately 100ft rear garden.


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Emerson Park£1,299,500

Situated in a most sought after location within Emerson Park is this fully detached 5 bedroom familyhouse, set in a walled and gated plot of 0.382 of an acre. The property has been carefully improvedand tastefully decorated throughout by its present owners and is highly recommended for an internalviewing.

Hornchurch Office (01708) 474034

Emerson ParkPrice £1,295,000

Unique fully detached Georgian Colonial style family residence situated in a private road set within theheart of the Emerson Park Estate. Benefiting from a generous road frontage of 96 ft and being setwell back from other properties. The property occupies 0.319 of an acre and has a totally secludedwest facing garden of 91 ft.


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Emerson ParkPrice £1,000,000

Situated in one of Emerson Park’s premier roads is this character fully detached family residence.Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing area, guest bedroom with en suite, 2 furtherdouble bedrooms and bathroom. Study, drawing room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utilityroom and sun room.


IngatestonePrice £1,550,000

Set within an established plot of approx 3.17 acres (stls) including lake, plus formal and informalgardens. 3 receptions, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, conservatory, ground floor cloakroom, first floorbathroom, 5 bedrooms (2 with en suites), games room, detached triple garage. Situated within theAnglo European school catchment area.

Ingatestone Office (01277) 350505

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BlackmorePrice £350,000

This pretty cottage style detached home with courtyard style rear garden, garage and ample parkingfacilities to the front, offers excellent potential to extend (subject to planning permission). Benefitingfrom lounge/diner, kitchen/breakfast room, 2 bedrooms and ground floor bathroom. Offered with noonward chain.

Ingatestone Office (01277) 350505

Hutton MountPrice On Application

Standing in an impressive 0.5 of an acre plot is this 5 bedroom detached family house extended andrefurbished by the current owners to provide good size living accommodation. Within easy reach ofShenfield Broadway and mainline railway station. Spacious reception hall leads to 3 reception roomsand kitchen/breakfast/family room. 5 bedrooms, 2 with en suite and family bathroom.

Shenfield Office (01277) 212111

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Hutton MountPrice on Application

Situated in this private residential estate is this impressive 6 bedroom house in 0.6 acre with superb243' rear garden. The property boasts superb bespoke fitted kitchen/family room, 4 receptions, 4 en suite bathrooms fitted with contemporary modern sanitary ware and underfloor heating, family bathroom, 90' wide frontage with carriage driveway, double garage with spiral wine cellar.


Hutton MountPrice £1,275,000

Originally constructed in 1992 is this attractive imposing 5 bedroom family residence standing in 0.26 of an acre with wide frontage including a detached double garage. The spacious accommodation includes 4 reception rooms, 2 en suites, country style fitted kitchen open plan to an attractive Edwardian styleconservatory and separate utility room. Offered for sale with the added benefit of no onward chain.


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ShenfieldPrice On Application

Charming detached house situated in a sought after cul-de-sac location within Old Shenfield close tothe Broadway with its mainline railway link to London Liverpool Street. 2 reception rooms,kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, 5 bedrooms, 1 with en suite bathroom and family bathroom.Spacious rear garden with an integral garage and driveway to the front.


UpminsterPrice £1,450,000

Constructed in 2007 by Rydon Homes, a substantial residence forming part of an exclusive gateddevelopment. 5 bedrooms, 4 with en suites, master bedroom with twin dressing areas, luxury familybathroom, spacious reception hall and galleried landing, ground floor cloakroom/WC. 5 receptionrooms, luxury kitchen, conservatory, ground floor shower room and double garage.

Upminster Office (01708) 222200

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UpminsterPrice £999,995

Detached executive home which has been extended and refurbished to an exceptionally high standard.Within easy reach of the town centre, station and Parklands lake and nature reserve. Impressivelounge, dining room and superb fitted kitchen. 4 bedrooms, the master with dressing room and ensuite bathroom/shower room. Integral garage with carriage drive and landscaped garden.


UpminsterPrice £690,000

Located at the end of a private gated drive in excess of 100 ft is this 3 bedroom detached familyhome set within approx. 0.75 of an acre of impressive grounds. Internally the property comprises 2 reception rooms, kitchen and utility room, 3 double bedrooms the master having an en suite.Detached double garage and detached timber constructed outbuilding.


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WrittlePrice £745,000

This recently completed detached 5 bedroom family home has been constructed to the design of aperiod property. There are some superb features, including spacious reception hall with oak staircase.The layout of the accommodation is exceptionally versatile, and externally the long own driveway leadsto garage with home office at the rear. Landscaped garden overlooks the adjacent pond.

Writtle Office (01245) 420880

RoxwellPrice £690,000

Situated in one of Roxwell's most prestigious cul-de-sacs, is this 5 bedroom detached property whichhas been modernised throughout with superb features. 2 receptions, family size kitchen/ dining room,utility room, ground floor shower/wc, en suite shower room to bed 3 and impressive family bathroom.Integral garage and rear garden backing onto open farmland.

Writtle Office (01245) 420880

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StockPrice £7,500 pcm

Located on a prestigious development in the village of Stock, is this spacious home with qualityfixtures and fittings throughout. Modern fitted kitchen, utility room, family room, dining room, study,lounge with vaulted ceiling and balcony over rear garden. 6 bedrooms 3 with en suites. Externally there is a drive with garage and landscaped gardens.

Billericay Lettings (01277) 658666

Great LeighsPrice £1,750 pcm

Detached 3 bedroom character property situated in the popular location of Great Leighs. This rareproperty benefits from 4 reception rooms, 2 bathrooms, master bedroom with en suite, fitted kitchenwith appliances, parking for several cars and a well kept large garden with gardener included in therental amount.

Braintree Lettings (01376) 348666

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BrentwoodPrice £2,950 pcm

Well presented 5 bedroom house situated on the corner of Hanging Hill Lane and Ridgeway withaccommodation comprising large kitchen/breakfast room with appliances, study, dining room,playroom/television room, 5 double bedrooms, 2 en suites, family bathroom, double garage, driveway parking for 4 cars and lawned rear garden.

Brentwood Lettings (01277) 218151

MashburyPrice £2000 pcm

A superb 4 bedroom detached barn conversion set within a large garden and parking area and issurrounded by open farmland. There is also a 3 bay carport, annexe flat which provides an additionalhome office. Internal inspection is recommended to appreciate the character of this desirable home.This property comes unfurnished.

Chelmsford Lettings (01245) 500666

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West BergholtPrice £1,150 pcm

A detached family home situated to the north side of Colchester in the ever popular village of WestBergholt. The village offers good access to local shops and amenities as well as Colchester’s mainlinerailway station. The property benefits from having a lounge, separate dining room and study, en suiteto master bedroom, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom and double garage.

Colchester Lettings (01206) 763333

Gidea ParkPrice£2,950 pcm

A stunning executive family home situated in a secluded setting within Gidea Park. Accommodationcomprises lounge, conservatory, dining room, games room, utility room, downstairs cloakroom,kitchen/breakfast room, 5 bedrooms with en suite to 2 of the bedrooms, large family bathroom withadditional benefits including a heated swimming pool.

Havering Lettings (01708) 222211

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40 winter

April this year saw Paul Beresford clock up 35 years with thefirm. Having originally joined the first office in Upminster, he hassteered the Company from a one office practice into one of thelargest independent regional companies in the country.

Paul Beresford FNAEA

Property has always been a passion for meand I still enjoy being out at the sharp end,particularly when it comes to meeting clientsand carrying out valuations. I think because

the business is about people, about helping andsupporting them through some of the mostimportant decisions in their lives, we have, as estateagents, to be mindful of all the stress that movinghome can involve and do everything in our power to reduce this to the absolute minimum.

All of us here at Beresfords live in the areas we serve. We bump into clients all the time – it is very important to do a good job! Ultimately, the only way to raise standards across the board is to introduce tighter controls and even licensing.

One of the biggest problems with our industry is thatpractically anyone can set themselves up as an agent,without any experience, training, or professionalqualifications. When you think that we are dealingwith people’s most valuable assets, this is a reallyunacceptable situation. Ultimately, the only way toraise standards across the board is to introducetighter controls and even licensing. Meanwhile, if youwant real peace of mind, then you need to choose an agent that is well-established, has a first-classreputation and is a member firm of one of theindustry’s recognised professional bodies such as the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or the Association of Residential Lettings Agents(ARLA).

Over the years, I believe Beresfords have earned a name for professionalism, customer service andintegrity, that we value greatly. How have we achievedthis? Firstly, by ensuring that we only ever recruitthe very best people; people who share ourpassion. Then we do everything in our power toensure that they stay – because in a people business,continuity of staffing is hugely important. We do thisby emphasising ongoing professional training and career development.

Unlike many other agents, all our managers anddirectors must be members of a recognisedprofessional body. We also encourage all other staff to join. Investment and training, together withretention of established teams is a major factor in our success and gives great confidence to our clients.

As a company we are very proud of the longevity of our team members.

First-class, well-trained and motivated staff are partof a very important business equation. However, an agent also needs to be very innovative intheir approach to marketing. Back in 1994, wewere the first agents to use colour advertising. More recently, we became the very first agentsin the country to launch our own internet TVsite. Beresfords TV has become a major marketingtool for our clients across the marketplace,showcasing properties alongside specially madefeatures on particular aspects of living and working in the area.

35 YEARS ANDSTILL SOLDON PROPERTY!

Beresfords Editorial_v2:amended 23/11/10 17:04

For our clients, it shows that we are liftingproperty marketing onto a new and altogetherhigher plane. At the same time, we also remaincommitted to those traditional marketing tools thatare proven to be effective. Our website is obviouslyhugely important, but so too are the print media. This is particularly important at the top end of themarket. Many of our successful sales and lets aregenerated through quality local, regional and nationaladvertising – those buyers and tenants would nothave been forthcoming if the press adverts hadn’tcaptivated their interest.

A major benefit to our clients is that their propertywill not only be marketed by their local branch, butalso through Beresfords network of offices whichcover Essex, into Greater and Central London and upto the Suffolk boarders. Analysing our clients movingpatterns shows that over sixty per cent are movingwithin the same area. However, over thirty per centare ‘migrating’ into Essex from London itself or itssuburbs. At Beresfords we take full advantage of thisby having direct access to all the applicants at ourbranches outside the local area.

Although we are always looking at ways to move thecompany and industry forward, we will never losesight of traditional Estate Agent values. Everything we do is focussed on our clients and our service levels to them.

We are one of the only Agents in the area to openon Sundays and it works. A comment from a recentpurchaser was:

“We only came into Braintree to buycushions and ended up buying a housethanks to Beresfords being open!”

winter 41

Traditional values, an innovativemarketing approach and the dedicationof our highly experienced staff meansthat we are in a privileged position tobe selling and letting some of the finest homes in the County.


42 winter

Yew Tree Farm is an exquisite timberframed Grade II Listed family housebelieved to date from 1640 and is set

within beautiful moated gardens and groundsapproaching 1 acre (stls). The property islocated in a delightful rural setting inNavestock Heath, with far reaching viewsacross open countryside towards the RiverRoding Valley.

The entrance to the property is from a gravelleddriveway and opens into the entrance vestibule withflagstone floor. From here access leads to theprinciple reception rooms with feature exposedtimbers and a magnificent crucifix design exposed

brickwork chimney breast with open hearths in bothrooms.

The kitchen/breakfast room is located at the rear ofthe property and enjoys pleasant views over thegarden and fields beyond. Extensively fitted by CliveChristian, the kitchen boasts a substantial number ofcupboards and drawers complimented by granite andsolid wood work surfaces. An adjacent dining roomalso features fitted furniture by Christians includingdresser unit concealing a remote control flat-screentelevision.

To the far end of the ground floor is a mostimpressive television room with vaulted ceiling, fitted

SPOTLIGHT...on two of the finest properties currently available for sale in the County


winter 43

book case by Christians and French doors opening tothe garden.

Upstairs is an impressive master bedroom with tripleaspect views and luxuriously fitted en suite dressingroom and bathroom. There are three furtherbedrooms, one having en suite shower, and a familybathroom off the main landing.

Within the grounds there is a brick built potentialannexe with planning permission granted in 2005 toredevelop into an auxiliary building with poolcomplex set within the contour of the grounds thuscreating superb leisure facilities.

Highview Hall is a most fabulous newly builtCountry House enjoying stunning views overthe Blackwater Estuary and is situated inTolleshunt Major.

Extending to over 10,000 sq ft the property has beenbuilt to an extremely high standard and all rooms areof generous proportions with good ceiling heights. The master bedroom has an en suite bathroom,dressing room and a staircase leading to a study. All of the remaining six bedrooms have en suite bathor shower rooms, designed by Nicholas Anthony, aswas the kitchen with central island that incorporatesmany integrated appliances such as a six burner hob,two conventional ovens, microwave oven, twodishwashers, two refrigerators and two freezers.

One of the major selling points of this stunningproperty is that it has been built to take fulladvantage of the setting, and offers unrivalledpanoramic views to the south over open farmland to the Blackwater Estuary. In all the grounds extendto approximately five acres.

Yew Tree Farm is currently on the market for £2.45 million and Highview Hall is price on application.

Further details on these properties can be found on our websiteswww.beresfordsgroup.co.uk, and www.beresfords.tv

Opposite page:Yew Tree FarmThis page: Highview Hall


Motoring’s Kevin Haggarthy travels to the Le Mans 24 Hour Race – the world’s oldest endurance race – as a special guest

of Jaguar at their Le Mans GT2 debut

LIVINGTHE

BOYHOODDREAM

For many of us, there is often just one specialsporting event we feel compelled to attend in ourlives. It can be something as challenging as

participating in the London Marathon, to being aspectator at the Wimbledon finals, or attending a WorldCup football event. For car buffs though, it is one thingand one thing only; attending the Le Mans 24 hrs.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans (in French its 24 Heures duMans) is the world's oldest endurance sports car race,held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans inFrance. It is 24 hours of gruelling racing, and an equalchallenge for car and driver alike. Many of the cars wesee racing at Le Mans in the GT Class, look identicalto those we can buy in our showrooms, thus the race becomes a perfect marketing and publicity toolfor manufacturers.

Every year, thousands of people descend on thefamous Le Mans circuit for the European motoringcalendar’s spectacle event. If you are doubtful aboutattending, don’t be, for it is a truly spectacularoccasion, and my advice to you would be ‘just do it.’

For many racing devotees, Le Mans is almost areligious commitment in their social calendar; it begins with the long 350 mile drive down to theevent itself, alongside many other enthusiasts. Step two is the setting up your tent when you getthere, (yes, most people camp on the site) and the restinvolves two days of just soaking up the atmosphere.

SPECIAL INVITATIONBut even that cannot beat an invitation to join a teamactually participating in the event, so you can imagine

44 winter

Le Mans Autumn OTB:Master 6/12/10 14:43

winter 45

Main Image: Jaguar’s Le MansGT2 offering in action on the

track. Inset from left: Jaguar’slatest medium-sized luxury

saloon, the XFR, which was usedto cruise down to the race


our delight at receiving such an invitation from Jaguar to join them as their guests for their Le Mans GT2 debut.

And what better way to do so than to head to Le Mans in Jaguar’s latest top, medium-sized luxurysaloon, the Jaguar XFR. Its supercharged 5.0L direct-injection V-8 develops some 510 bhp, and achieves 60 mph in under five seconds; a car that has already proved itself by outgunning themighty 500 bhp BMW M5 in testing.

MOBILE MOTOR SHOWDriving down to Le Mans is like participating in amobile motor show. If you’re driving an interesting car(like ‘my’ XFR) you are constantly stared at, or giventhe ‘thumbs up’ – especially being British. There are somany Brits attending that you wouldn’t be blamed forthinking Le Mans is a British race held in France. Just about every other Le Mans junkie has aninteresting set of wheels, and you’ll find them catchingup, or holding back, on those long, boring, but fastmotorways, to feast their eyes on someone else’s car.My XFR was getting a fair bit of attention too, so onjust the one occasion (honest) I floored it and wow! It left all of those hot GT’s for dead. The Dr Jeckyll inme lied that I was just testing the car on pickup andacceleration, but the Mr Hyde knew I was beingnaughty and wanted to entertain the masses.

To be frank, I just couldn’t get over how good theXFR was at overtaking – everything. This car hasseriously big cruising speeds and massive overtakingprowess, its power speaking volumes where it counts.A brief reflective period (Dr Jeckyll’s back again)suggested that I just may end up spending theweekend with the French Gendarmerie in a nice warm prison cell rather than enjoying Jaguar’sexcellent hospitality; somehow that would havedefeated the object. Nevertheless, it says a lot about

46 winter

Main Image: Competitors line upon the track during the Le Mans24 hour race 2010. Below fromleft: Rocketsports Racing’s JaguarGT2 qualified 15th for the mainevent; a spectacular air displayover the pit lane of Le Mans

➛


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Radiator Gallery 244x297:Layout 1 15/11/10 13:55 Page 2

the capability of the XF – it simply eats journeys like this for breakfast.

COUNTRY BASKINGSpeaking of breakfast, I felt even more grateful for my brief spell of sanity when seated for anexcellent breakfast spread at the Châteaux Coulans, Coulans-sur-Gee, where we stayed. Each of thebedrooms were as big as my house, and my room was haunted, but what better way to prelude thenoise, buzz, and excitement of Le Mans than this...

Day One - the Friday - was the Supercar Paradethrough the local town; a magnificent cavalcade of some of the greatest cars the world has known. Yours truly had the privilege of driving the Le Manswinning XK140 behind an original LMP1 classwinner, in a special parade to mark Jaguar’s 75th Anniversary.

Day Two was Race Day, and Jaguar kindly organisedfor us to be chauffeured to the event in the very latestJaguar XJ Saloon. Having just sampled some threehundred miles plus behind the wheel of the excellentXF, this surprising chauffeur-driven ride in the back of the XJ sealed a confident sense of optimism aboutJaguar and its future. This is a company that only justweathered the recession, and is now coming backmighty credibly on the strength of its class-leadingproducts alone – what better way to do it than that?

ROCKETSPORTS RACINGRocketsports Racing was founded in 1985 by my long-time buddy and friend, racing driver PaulGentilozzi, to compete in the Trans-Am series.Rocketsports competed in Trans-Am until 2004,when the championship was cancelled, and achieved57 outright wins in 20 years. It has also raced in theIMSA sports car racing championship. In 2010,Jaguar announced the company would enter the 201024 Hours of Le Mans with the JaguarRSR XKR GT2,built by Rocketsports Racing, so it was with greatanticipation that we attended the event.

So how did our Jaguar fare in qualifying? Well here’s what the press release said:

Ok, so only 15th on the grid, but at least we qualified.A great time was spent talking to Paul and his teamabout the car and its development; complex stuff. The car is still in its development stages and was besetby engine management problems from the start of therace, unfortunately leading to an early retirement. But that’s racing, and you have to be big enough totake it.

But hey, we had a truly great time, it was good to see Jaguar back at Le Mans, and the British crowdsimply loved its presence there. On the return journeyI spread my little green Jaguar flag, that had beenhanded out to the crowds, across the back window ofthe XFR in tribute to the Jaguar team. The XFRproceeded to eat up the miles on the journey home, in a time that would put an equivalent train journeyto shame. 750 miles of hard driving and the XFRdidn’t miss a beat, yet it took the journey with suchcommanding high speed authority, leaving merefreshed and relaxed behind the wheel. Come homeJaguar, all is forgiven, your road cars are proving thatyou will live to fight another day.

48 winter

LE MANS, FRANCE (JUNE 11, 2010)

“The second and third qualifying sessions for the Le Mans 24 Hours saw the JaguarRSR team make valuableimprovements from Wednesday. Drivers Ryan Dalziel, Paul Gentilozzi andMarc Goossens had adequate time behindthe wheel and gains were made in time. Le Mans rookie Dalziel recorded the #81 JaguarRSR XKR GT2’s fastest lap of4:12.431 minutes, putting it 15th in class.”

Clockwise from left: After an improvedperformance in the second and third

qualifying sessions, Jaguar’s GT2 entrysecured 15th place on the grid; heading

into the pit lane during qualifying; enginemanagement problems led to early

retirement from the race


Hatfields_OTB:Layout 1 17/8/10 17:03 Page 1

Main image: Attention todetail is key for CarolineRogers when achieving thestylish sophistication requiredfor this show home inWeybridge. Inset: CarolineRogers at work in her studio

50 winter

Alexander James OTB:Master 6/12/10 14:47

Alexander James’ Associate Design Director, Caroline Rogers, talks styles, spaces,and the ultimate design sin!

Words: Chris Peck

If the wonder of televisionhas taught us anything inthe past twenty years, it’s that as a nation our style

stinks. If we’re not being toldwhat not to wear, then we’rebeing shown how to look goodnaked. However, of all thesestyle focused shows, few havemanaged to capture the nation’simagination to quite the extentof the BBC’s Changing Rooms.

Seeing a trained (and occasionally eccentric) design professionalenter an average home and transform a dowdy terraced house,dusted with a liberal sprinkling of tacky commemorative plates, into a replica of the Sistine Chapel was unlike anything the viewingpublic had seen before. Of course, for many people the real pleasureof the show was the big reveal of the finished space – or morespecifically – the prospect that the home owner would be reduced to a trembling mass of tears and fury.

Who doesn’t secretly wish that occasionally someone would becomeso enraged that their reclining chair and plasma TV had beenreplaced by a chaise longue in the shape of a Canadian snow goose,that they would spontaneously burst into flames?

Fortunately, in the real world, the work of an interior designer isconsiderably more measured. Nothing is left to chance, and clientsare consulted every step of the way, through what is a sophisticatedand often painstaking process. Interior designer extraordinaire,

Caroline Rogers explains; “Your ultimate goal, professionally, when embarking on any project for a client is to be able to createsomething that fulfils their brief.”

This is a comforting thought given the often blasé attitude displayedtowards clients’ tastes by some of the TV interior designers ofyesteryear. However Rogers’ obvious desire to create beautifullydesigned living spaces, which realise dreams rather than evokingnightmares, is indicative of the ethos and approach she and hercolleagues employ in all their interior designs.

As a key player for the exclusive and highly regarded AlexanderJames Interior Design, Rogers is at the top of her game and overseesevery element of a project from start to finish. But, unlike the rapidtransformations performed on Changing Rooms, Rogers’ successdidn’t just happen overnight and it certainly wasn’t all glitz andglamour in the early days as she remembers; “I started out as a junior designer mostly making tea and ordering samples for a small showhome interior design company.”

“After a year I moved on and went to a retail interiors companywhere I first started working with private clients. Two years later I joined Alexander James where I started as a Designer for privateclients and also show homes. Eight years on I am still here and havegradually moved up the ladder, to where I am now; the AssociateDesign Director.”

Having reached the pinnacle of interior design and being a respected figure in her field, it would be easy to think that herclients would be more willing to listen to her opinions and advice in trying to fulfil their design dreams. However, as Rogers jovially

IMPROVEMENT

winter 51


admits, this isn’t always the case, and sometimesdissuading people from making disastrous choices is part of the territory; "Yes, it does happen.Sometimes it can be difficult as it’s their home and if their heart is set on something they love and you think it’s awful then it can be hard to getthem to change their mind.”

Equally, some design requests create challenges purely due to their obscurity. Reflecting on aparticular scenario with baffled amusement Rogersrecalls; “I was once asked to source a propeller for a couple who loved sailing so they could hang it on their wall!”

Given the absolute attention to detail that goes intoeach and every project, it understandably couldn’t becondensed into a half hour TV show a la ChangingRooms, but how long does a project of suchmagnitude actually take? The designer’s reply ismatter of fact: “It depends how big a house is really.If it’s needed urgently we can turn it all around infour weeks, but ideally a bit longer. A lot of the time,items like fabrics and furniture are out of stock whichis always a pain.”

To provide a sense of perspective as to just how bigsome of the houses can actually be, Rogers describes

one of her more demanding projects; “I did twohouses in St Georges Hill, Weybridge, which wereenormous - 18,000 sq ft. The rooms were so big andthere were so many of them that it was a challenge tomake them all look different and to fill all the space.”

Ultimately, when done well, interior design can addsignificant extra value to a home, so what helpfulhints can Rogers provide to those looking totransform their own homes and create a lasting look of stylish sophistication? “Styles do changepretty frequently. Shabby chic seems to still be really popular with the painted furniture look. The colour pewter is also popular at the moment.”

As Rogers stresses though, much like high fashion,interior styles do have a tendency to change withregularity, so how does one avoid the pitfall ofadopting a style that will almost certainly change?With effortless simplicity the dynamic designerprovides the perfect answer;” I would stick to classicneutral pieces of furniture and then you can justchange the accessory pieces like cushions as andwhen styles and colours change.”

The pleasure and enthusiasm with which Rogersdispenses this invaluable advice exemplifies theobvious passion she has for her work – a passion

which she happily takes home with her as sheexplains her constant desire to change the interior of her own home; “I would do it monthly if I couldafford it. I am always wanting to change pieces as I’m always seeing new and lovely things at work. I mostly just change accessories…quite often.”

So aside from constantly changing the style of herown home, does Rogers have her ambitious eyes onanywhere else that she believes could use a touch ofher makeover magic? With the slightest hint ofmischief she reveals; “I would like to revamp The Ritz, I love its Englishness, but I think it could do with an update.”

As a final gesture before rushing off to oversee hernext high profile design project, Rogers is happy tooffer a final piece of advice to steer people away fromcommitting the ultimate interior design crime.

“Avacado bathroom suites... the 1980s was a badtime for interior design!”

Clockwise from right : Neutral coloursand stand out features create anelegant and relaxed ambiance in thisCobham dining room; a mirrored deskcreates an eye-catching and modernfeature; Rogers’ distinct stylecontinues in this Esher sitting room

52 winter


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Website: www.rogergreensolicitors.co.ukEmail: [email protected]

Roger Green and Company, Foxcroft, 100 High Street, Billericay, Essex CM12 9BY

• Sales and purchases for bothfreehold and leasehold

• Transfer of ownership between owners

• Lettings and Tenancy Agreements

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• Finance Reclaim

• Matrimonial

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Roger Green and Company are a partnership of solicitors offering a wide range of conveyancing

and financial advice for private individuals, families and the commercial sector

Roger Green & Co_OTB USED:Layout 1 17/8/10 16:53 Page 17

54 winter

With the launch of his brand new Junior collection, we talk to one of Britain’s mostsuccessful designers, whose ‘classic with a twist’ style remains a firm favourite,

more than thirty years after its inception.

Words: Fiona Collins

PAUL SMITHMORE THAN JUST A NAME

Paul Smith_Master OTB:Master 8/11/10 14:16

winter 55

Paul Smith is one of those designer brand names,so universally known and yet so quintessentiallyEnglish, that one might well wonder - or those

at least for whom fashion is not a first language -whether Paul Smith is indeed a person, or in fact a prosaic marketing name dreamt up to reflect theBritishness of a brand which prides itself on its stylish,sharply tailored, and very wearable clothing lines.

Yet Smith, or Sir Paul as he has become known sincehis knighthood in 2000, is very much more than justa name. Born in Nottingham in 1946, Smith is ashard working as his own label, which now enjoyswholesale success in more than 35 countriesworldwide. Whilst perhaps lacking some of the artistic pretentions of his more flamboyant designercounterparts, it is Smith’s grounded, businesslike andentrepreneurial approach to fashion that has seen hisempire flourish.

“The secret to success is keeping your feet on theground,” Sir Paul says firmly. “Accountants should betrained to see both sides of the picture; finance andcreativity.” With his credentials as a businessman (his brand has an annual turnover of more than

£340 million), Smith has always kept a sensible head on his statuesque shoulders, and has never letcreativity impede sound judgement.

“The Paul Smith way started innocently, and cameabout because of my love of craftsmanship, traditionand Britishness, but also my love of humour,” he says.“Because of this, ‘classic with a twist’ was born, and now it is a very over-used phrase, but still veryrelevant today.”

Indeed, in Smith’s latest collection, classically-cutkhaki checked jackets are paired with red and purple chequered trousers and dramatic, overly-tallbowler hats, in a style described as “an elegant,detailed collection that references the modernbohemian gentlemen.”

One might well use the same phrase to describe Smith himself.

Born to working class parents in the town of Beeston,just south of Nottingham, Smith left school at 15 tobegin work at a local fabric warehouse. The job wasnot undertaken as an early calling to the fashionindustry, but rather was borne of necessity. Havingstruggled with formal schooling, Smith needed to fund an altogether more energetic ambition.

“I aspired as a teenager to be a professional racingcyclist,” says Smith, who at the time was clocking upto 300 miles a week as part of a rigorous trainingregime. “The dream was shattered after a bad accidentwhen I was 17.” In truth, the ‘bad accident’ was a horrifying smash with a car, which left Smith withsuch acute injuries that he was hospitalised for sixmonths, and resulted in him being unable to bend hisleg sufficiently to pedal a bicycle. “But to be honest I don’t think I would have succeeded (as a cyclist), as I was not brave enough or strong enough,” saysSmith pragmatically. He is – perhaps understandably -not bitter about the hand that fate dealt him.

Opposite page: Sir Paul Smith; the manbehind the name; Above from left; AutumnWinter 2010: Khaki check jacket, fish hookprint shirt, purple shadow check trousers;Prussian blue two button suit, white shirt;Pale grey knitted shawl collar coat, camel

crew knit, grey flannel trousers

Paul Smith_Master OTB:Master 8/11/10 14:17

56 winter

During his recuperation, Smith "discovered theEnglish pub” and it was here that he “met a lot ofpeople that were at the local college of fashion and art,and that’s what got me into fashion design.”

At the height of the swinging sixties, Smith moved toLondon and met Pauline Denyer, a fashion graduatefrom London’s Royal College of Art, whom he creditswith guiding and inspiring him throughout his career(the pair finally married in 2000). Following eveningtailoring classes, Smith joined Lincroft Kilgour inSavile Row, where he began to forge his earlyreputation as a stylish menswear designer. In 1970,with the help of Denyer, Smith finally opened his own store in his hometown of Nottingham.

His designs then, just as they are today, were inspiredby the playful dandyness of that era; beautifully cut,tall, lean suits with characteristically cheeky detailsuch as lime green trimmings, floral linings andintricately woven maps of London on the interiors. Or androgynous looking, vivid pink suits finishedwith bright red linings and bowler hats, which he designed for his Spring / Summer 2010 Congo-inspired collection. Without ever quite crossing the line into the ‘un-wearable’ realms of haut couture,it is this cheerful individuality, which has been so keyto Smith’s enduring success.

“The fashion industry today is more competitive thanever,” Smith says. “Especially with the addition of e-commerce sites and low cost high street brands thatfollow catwalk designs very closely. It’s so important to have a real character to your brand; in our case it isreliability, continuity and always easy to wear clothes,but with a sense of humour.”

By the early eighties, Smith had already begun toexpand his business, and had successfully opened twostores in London. But it was his invitation to Japan in 1982, at the hands of a local licensing scout, that really launched Paul Smith as a global brand. At the height of the eighties fashion explosion inJapan, at a time when many European designers“looked at the country as something of a cash cow”,Smith took the time to get to know its fashionindustry from the inside out.

Speaking in an earlier interview, Smith said of theexperience: “I was young and very keen. I'd makevisits to the factory several times a year, which I believe was key to our success. I also designed pieces for the Japanese market from scratch; they were getting pure ‘Paul Smith’."

The first Paul Smith store opened in Tokyo in 1984,and after early teething problems, the Japanese brandbecame so successful that Smith is now Europe’sbiggest selling designer in the country, with sales fromJapan alone accounting for half his brand’s annualsales. Smith’s iconic status in the country meant thatdoors were flung open for him in Hong Kong, Korea,Singapore, Thailand and China.

Closer to home, Smith’s brand was growing too, with ranges of shoes, fragrances, watches, pens,

Above from left: Brown Harris tweedjacket, pleated donegal wool corset dress,curved leather saddle belt, tweed flat cap,cashmere fingerless gloves and leather rolltop boots; Black and pink organza waterroses print fitted dress, black leather smallMaggie bag, cashmere fingerless gloves andleather Mary Janes; Lilac felted woolcircular dress, wide webbing belt andknee-high leather boots

Paul Smith_OTB_FW:Master 29/11/10 15:06

winter 57

furniture, rugs, china and spectacles all bearing his name. Ultimately, in 1994, Smith finally – ifsomewhat reluctantly – branched into womenswear.

“Women would ask, ‘Could you do men's clothes to fit us?’ But that wasn't really the truth,” he says.“They claimed they wanted just men's clothes, but then they'd say, ‘We need a skirt.’ ‘Can we have a dress?’” In the end, Smith played to his strengths and concentrated on tailored suits, coats and shirts,while an assistant designed the dresses and skirts. They still work this way today.

Which brings us to the present. The sub context for my interview today is the launch of Paul Smith’slatest venture; his brand new ‘Paul Smith Junior’collection, which is available from the end of August. With cheeky young models, and cheerfully colouredfabrics, Junior succeeds in being both playful and fun,whilst retaining Smith’s trademark love of classic cutand line.

But the collection is “not about mini-me adults” as Smith puts it. “It’s more about taking the spirit of what I do for men and women,” says Smith. “For instance, on a boy’s striped shirt there will alwaysbe a little secret that one day he will notice, like theinside of the cuff will be a different colour. For girls, it will be picking up on colours from the women’s

collection – maybe literally one of the prints, or maybe just the feeling of the print.

“Junior is about very simple styling with the boysclothes, leaning towards more of a preppy look, and the girls; slightly more fashionable, easy to wear,but definitely not urban or rock.”

At 64, Simth’s enthusiasm and verve for his fashionempire is as strong as ever, and three decades at thetop of this notoriously fickle industry have donenothing to dim the integrity of his mission. “What I want with the business is for it to retain its characterand have a heart; a business which is down to earth.”Smith is the embodiment of his own aspiration.

“I once read an obituary where a man wasremembered for living ‘a clean and honest life andhaving had a sense of humour’ – I think that soundsquite nice!”

Paul Smith Junior will be available in stores fromthe end of August 2010. For more information visit:www.paulsmith.co.uk/collections/paul-smith-junior

Clockwise from above: Paul Smith Juniorrange 2010: Mack wears a corduroy jacket,

long sleeve t.shirt and jeans, Calypsowears a corduroy skirt, tights and cardigan;

Willow in classic Paul Smith shorts, withshirt and fair isle cardigan; Finn shows off

Junior’s ‘preppy’ look, with curduroy jacket,shirt and jeans

Paul Smith_OTB_FW:Master 29/11/10 15:06

Steven Thorn DPS Advert1:Layout 1 29/11/10 16:47

T: +44 (0)1702 480 072 E: [email protected] Steven Thorne Design, 1430 London Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 2UL

steventhornedesign.com

Interiors designed with passion

Steven Thorn DPS Advert1:Layout 1 30/11/10 11:20

60 winter

Grapes are handpicked at Chateau Civrac, where a natural approach to winemaking is strictlyadhered to

Mark Hellyar - Chateau Civrac OTB:Layout 1 8/11/10 14:23

The West Country is not known for its winemakers, but Cornishman Mark Hellyar has set about redressing the balance, and has travelled to

Bordeaux to follow a lifelong dream, as we discover.

Words: Chris Peck

CHATEAUCIVRAC

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

The great Ernest Hemingway once said that“Wine is the most civilized thing in theworld." Clearly he’d never seen a rowdy hen

night at closing time in Yates’s wine lodge on a Fridaynight. However, despite this exception, he does makean interesting point. A good wine is a thing of beauty.It is a living entity which grows in flavour and changeswith age, and has a wonderful ability to elevate andcomplement food.

Like people, a good wine has individuality; a personality made up of subtle nuances of colour,aroma and flavour which differentiate it from its peers,so that every label you sample has its own uniquequalities. Wine is liquid elegance – the sophisticateddinner guest that is always welcome.

As a nation, our enduring relationship with wine isevident in the £15 billion which UK consumers spendon it each year, but how many of us could claim tolove it enough to give up a successful career in thepursuit of producing a wine of their own?

Step forward Cornishman Mark Hellyar, a man with such enthusiasm for wine that he elected to leavehis successful I.T. career to transform a neglected 18th century chateau in Bordeaux and go into thewinemaking business for himself.

So was this the choice of a man with a plan, or had Mark perhaps had one glass too many? Mark smiles wryly as he explains, “I would say that it was a carefully thought through career decision. Sarah, my wife, would say it was a mid-life crisis. Probably somewhere between the two is true!”

While, in most cases, such a dramatic change inlifestyle would serve to raise only eyebrows, Mark hasinstead been raising glasses, as some of the mostdiscerning palates in the world pour praise on his new Claret, Chateau Civrac.

But what makes Hellyar’s story all the moreimpressive, is that he embarked on his Claret crusadewith virtually no experience. “I’d had an interest infine wine for about 15 years and was lucky enough to work in a job that took me to some of the best winemaking areas of the world,” says Hellyar. “I believedthat I knew quite a bit about the science and had a good idea of what I wanted to make. Actually, I soon realised that I knew very little.”

With realisation that enthusiasm and a good palatewould not be sufficient to achieve his goal, Hellyar sought some expert advice. But, to succeed in producing something truly original in Bordeaux,this meant finding someone who shared his ownforward thinking and rebellious tendencies.

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62 winter

“Bordeaux is an extremely traditional and cautiousregion. It’s very hard to be innovative. However, being a maverick has allowed me to question many of the traditional views and has allowed me to have a wider view on the style of wine I wanted to make.

“Olivier Dauga has been my consultant since the startand he has guided me through this journey. Much likeme, Olivier is a maverick character in Bordeaux, and unlike many traditional consultants, he does not have a rigid formula.”

The strong bond forged between Hellyar and Daugahas proved to be a genuine recipe for success and as a result Chateau Civrac has become a star on the winelists of some of the best restaurants in the country.Hellyar is quick to credit the vital role his flamboyantconsultant plays, in making Chateau Civrac stand out.“Olivier advises me on all stages of the winemaking,from how we prune the vines to how we vinify. He always says that a wine should reflect where itcomes from and the person who makes it. He allowsme to express myself in my wine. He is a rock, but also an outrageous personality. I love him!”

So what exactly is the maverick approach towinemaking employed by Hellyar and his team at Chateau Civrac?

“Our style is a fusion - the handmade quality of the old world, with the fruit and approachability

of the New World. Chateau Civrac is a 'natural wine' that is made in a very natural and handmade style, with minimal intervention and chemical treatments. We make the wine by hand and respond to whatnature gives us for fruit each year. This ultimatelymeans that the wine has a true sense of where it comesfrom, it is able to age in the bottle, but is soft, fruity,and drinks younger.”

While the natural approach to winemaking employedby Chateau Civrac clearly has a big effect in itsfabulous richness of flavour, Hellyar believes that there is another even more vital element to the wine’samazing success.

“Making good wine is all about passion. You have tohave it because it’s extremely hard work, has littlefinancial reward and takes a long time to see theresults of your efforts. When I’m up all night duringvinification, alone and exhausted I think, ‘What am I doing here?’ Then I see someone in a fabulousLondon restaurant drinking and enjoying my wine.Then I know.”

And it’s this sense of achievement that Hellyar is nowenjoying with consistent regularity as Chateau Civracenchants the most discerning of palates of some of theworld’s greatest chefs. Even Hellyar himself is still leftmildly flabbergasted by the incredible response hiswine has received and the places it has thus far takenhim, as he explains with charming exuberance.

“Making good wine is allabout passion. You have to have it because it’sextremely hard work, has little financial reward, and takes a long time to see the results of your efforts.”

Left: Cornishman Mark Hellyarnow supplies wine to some of

the UK’s top restaurants

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64 winter

“It’s a fantastic feeling. I often can’t believe it myself.Perhaps the most surreal moment was sitting down in La Gavroche with Michel Roux Jr drinking mywine. It’s moments like this that makes all the hard work, stress, sleepless nights and money concerns worthwhile.”

For Hellyar, working with and learning from some of the country’s top chefs and restaurants has been one of the outstanding experiences of his winemakingjourney and it has also played an intricate part inChateau Civrac’s evolution.

“I love working with restaurants. My first break waswith chef Michael Caines at Gidleigh Park in Devon.That was, for me, the first in a set of wonderfulencounters. I love seeing how my wine works withfood, what it works with, and what it doesn’t work

with. I use this to tweak my own winemaking processand style.”

So, has working alongside giants of the culinary worldhad an effect of Hellyar’s own ability in the kitchen?With a huge smile he asserts confidently: “I think I’mpretty handy in the kitchen. But I like food that issimple and fast to prepare. Coming from Cornwall we are lucky to have some of the best seafood in thecountry. Fish is surely the ultimate fast food and youdo not need fancy sauces. One of the best things inthe world is a freshly caught mackerel on the BBQ.”

Clearly Hellyar is very proud of his Cornish roots anddespite his dedicated involvement in the productionof Chateau Civrac in Bordeaux, he remains based inhis native Cornwall. Being a UK resident he is keen to highlight the wines being produced this side of the

channel, and offers some insight as to what he thinksthey should aspire to.

“There are some good wines being produced in theUK, particularly white and sparkling white. I believe a wine should reflect where it comes from, so a goodUK wine should be green and crisp because that’swhat the UK is like.”

However, despite his enthusiasm and support for UKwine production, Hellyar has no intention of enteringinto the arena himself, or indeed of expanding hisexisting operation in Bordeaux.

“Chateau Civrac is small and it will remain so. There is a limited supply and I think it would be a mistake to attempt to expand it and expandproduction. That’s when quality could be compromised and that’s not something I’d ever want to do.”

However, this isn’t to say that the charismaticCornishman hasn’t got his eyes set on anothervineyard venture elsewhere in France. “If Civracremains as successful, then I would love to repeat the idea somewhere else. Maybe with a white in Burgundy.”

We’ll certainly drink to that.

Main image: Hellyar has transformed the neglected 18thcentury chateau in Bordeaux into a successful boutique

winery. Below inset from left: Barrels in the ancient cellarsof Chateau Civrac; the beautiful setting of the Chateau


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66 winter

Claire Durkin takes a trip to Portugal’s exclusive resort, and golfing haven, Vale do Lobo

ALGARVE’SHOLE IN ONE

From a distance, the Algarve doesn’t bear muchresemblance to the rest of Portugal. For a start, the landscape appears more North African than

European. Also, where are the cosmopolitan cities,medieval castles and grand palaces? Rather, it is morerecognisable for its luxury apartments, stunning hotelsand world-class golf courses, which actually, is thereason why you would want to be here in the first place.

To get to Vale do Lobo you will land at FaroInternational Airport, which is just twenty minutesaway by car. Despite being the provincial capital of theAlgarve, Faro is largely ignored by tourists, who tend tofly in, have their holiday somewhere else, and then flyout again. This is a shame because if you take time tolook around, you will discover a wealth of historic andcultural monuments, a picturesque old quarter, andauthentic restaurants, cafes and bars. So give it a chancenext time and soak it up.

Faro is largely ignored bytourists, which is a shamebecause if you take time tolook around, you will discovera wealth of historic andcultural monuments, a picturesque old quarter, and authentic restaurants, cafes and bars.I came here in order to visit the famous, and verypopular, Vale do Lobo, which is extra special as it wasthe earliest development of its kind in the Algarve. Even 48 years later, hats off to it for still being the

largest luxury resort of its kind. It is also still operatedby the same company.

Beautifully positioned on the wilder Atlantic coastline,there is something about the rugged formation of theochre-coloured cliffs that makes them appear to havebeen freshly revealed by nature.

Vale do Lobo was founded by Trust House Forte, under the watchful eye of Sir Richard Costain in 1962,but it was not until the resort had established a firmfoothold and its five star hotel, Dona Filipa, opened,that Faro International Airport was built.

When construction began in the early sixties, Vale do Lobo was actually an area of mature pine forest,and the main inhabitants were farmers and fishermen.Instead of removing all traces of the region’s heritage,the designers had the vision to retain many examples oflovely, indigenous architecture, and echoed the originalforests with the sympathetic planting of oleander,bougainvillea, lavender and olive trees to complete the picture.

In 1967, a Dutch entrepreneur called Sander vanGelder was holidaying at Vale do Lobo. Wowed by the beauty and character of the setting, and recognisingits potential, he bought the resort and set aboutnurturing it into a truly unique holiday location.

Thirty five years later it is now a stunning 450 hectareenterprise that is famous for being Europe’s finest golfand beach resort, offering countless luxury facilities andservices in a breathtaking location.

Catering for sports lovers, relaxing spa breaks,gourmands and sun worshippers, many of the resort’svillas are privately owned, meaning that real estate is a huge concern here. Vale do Lobo delivers a wide

Vale do Lobo OTB:Layout 1 8/11/10 14:30

winter 67

Main image: The breathtakingOcean Course at Vale do Lobo.

Inset from left: The Ocean Courseheads gently down the shores ofthe Atlantic; unspolit beaches arejust one of the highlights of Vale

do Lobo


68 winter

Clockwise from top left: The Royal Spapromises to be a revitalising renaissance

for mind, body and spirit; the Praca at Valedo Lobo; the resort delivers a wide

variety of properties from roomyapartments to luxury villas; The Royal

Spa at Vale do Lobo

variety of properties, from roomy studio apartmentsthrough to truly magnificent, five bedroom detachedvillas with private pools.

There are different styles of linked villas andapartments ready to be purchased off-plan, fromclassic design, to cutting-edge modern. Plots for self-style build are still available and come with a guiding hand throughout the whole project, if so desired. By the way, in 2003 Vale do Lobo won the “Best Luxury Development Worldwide,” in Homes Overseas Awards, and the PortugueseTourism Gold Medal of Merit was awarded toChairman Sander van Gelder. As the longestestablished development on the Algarve, resort property values have demonstrated consistentcapital appreciation and continue to rise every year.

Vale do Lobo’s main attraction is sport, and it is hometo two challenging and beautiful golf courses, theRoyal and the Ocean, which have twice been host tothe Portuguese Open; a European PGA Tour event.

To get a better idea of the Royal Golf Course, whichopened in 1997, try to imagine rolling fairways setamidst pine trees, and lakes flanked by an abundanceof wild flowers. Its features include the almost-islandgreen of the 9th, and the world famous 16th, whoseiconic cliff-top carryover (where players need to carrythe ball more than 200 metres over the spectacularcliffs to reach the green), has become one of the mostcelebrated golfing images in the world, and hasbecome the veritable symbol of golf in the Algarve.

The Ocean Golf Course features undulating fairwayswhich run alongside a nature reserve, before leadingdown gently to the shores of the Atlantic. Its emblematic holes are the challenging and

spectacular par 4, 11th and 14th, which treat golfersto some of the most breathtaking views in the Algarve.Then there’s the lovely par 3, 15th which runs parallelto the beach.

While holidaying at Vale do Lobo you will be offereda fifty per cent reduction on green fees, as well asdiscounts on golf equipment, such as trolleys, buggies and clubs. And for the less confident player,there are golf lessons available to help rid you of yourdivot tendencies, before you are set free on thesefabulous courses.

If tennis is more your style, the fantastic Roger TaylorTennis Centre, which was completed in 1980, has 14 courts (ten of which are all weather and foursynthetic). This is one of the largest tennis facilities in Portugal, (there are also a mini tennis and paddletennis courts), which attracts national andinternational tennis fixtures, including an annual ATPSeniors Tour competition: The Vale do Lobo GrandChampions Caixa Geral de Depositos tournament.

The Tennis Academy runs a busy year-roundprogramme of individual and group coaching,tournaments and social events for members and

holidaymakers. After you have thrashed it out on the courts you can take a refreshing dip in the cool,blue pool which is waiting for you round the corner.You will probably be hungry after all that activity, so help yourself to the selection of varied snacks andmeals on offer at the bar and restaurant.

You are supposed to be relaxing, so you must take a visit to the spa. Wow, no wonder they describe it asAbsolute Wellbeing. I strongly advise you to give inand succumb to the power of salt, water and nature,the three essential elements that are the inspirationbehind The Royal Spa at Vale do Lobo: “A revitalizingrenaissance for mind, body and spirit.”

Integrated in the Vale do Lobo Wellness Centre areseveral outstanding facilities, including The Royal Spawhich offers a diverse range of treatments and holistictherapies, and specialises in many excellent massagetypes, drawing on old and new techniques andfeaturing the latest technologies.

So, what else have we? Apart from the activities tokeep the active active, and the spa, don’t forget thatgorgeous beach, which is meticulously maintained and runs for two kilometres along this lovely coastline.Then there are the restaurants, 15 in total, ranging from French to Asian. I had a superb dinner at La Place and recommend it highly.

All in all, Vale do Lobo really does offer something foreveryone, in a classy setting which includes all theingredients for a great holiday. Enjoy!

Indicative property values at Vale do Lobo:

Studios from €256,000Apartments from €693,000Townhouses from €695,000Linked villas from €925,000Plots for custom designed villas from €1,150,000


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Grahams on the Green:Layout 1 17/8/10 16:40 Page 73

MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace and JohnTorode judge competitors of MasterChefLive’s Invention Test, under the watchful eyeof compère Andy Peters

70 winter

Masterchef Live OTB:2-1-2 8/11/10 14:38

FOOD HEAVENWe uncover the secrets of London Olympia’s upcoming culinary extravaganza, MasterChef Live,

and talk exclusively to one of the show’s star judges John Torode.


For true food lovers, there is surely no betterday out than to wander the aisles of one of thecountry’s leading gastronomic festivals, living,

breathing, eating and absorbing all things food.Wholesome cheeses, handmade chocolates, fresh breads, exotic spices, pickles, chutneys, sauces and marinades...and all that before you start on the wines.

However, the introduction of the MasterChefelement into what was formerly the BBC’s annual Good Food Show, has turned a grown up celebration of culinary excellence into a family-friendly food frenzy.

“I’ve talked to visitors with boys and girls as youngas 11 and 12, and the adults have said ‘Oh theymade me go, they really wanted to come and see theshow,’ which is amazing! If we’re influencing andgetting children of that age coming to a really, really fabulous celebration of great food andentertainment, then that’s a much nicer day out that sitting in and playing computer games!”

So says Laura Biggs, Managing Director of BBCHaymarket, the brains behind this year’s event.Such is the event’s dedication to its young fan base,

that on the Sunday of the three-day extravaganzakids go free, with a special parent and child‘invention test’ pitting families against each other in the ultimate winner-takes-all cook off.

“Obviously kids love food,” continues Biggs. “And there are some amazing, amazing deliciousfoods here. Last year there were more cupcakes thanyou could throw a stick at – I imagine it will bemacaroons this year! And the demonstrations arereally interesting, and it’s great fun because of all the live theatres, so as a family it’s a great day out.”

This is not to say that the food lover has beenforgotten in the cross-over to the new format, which made its successful debut in 2009; quite the opposite, in fact.

“We have over 250 exhibitors who will come to the show, and more than half of them are specialityproducers; tiny little producers of the most fantasticfoods. And generally the exhibitors love to have a chat and that’s what they’re there for,” says Biggs.

“That’s one of the great things about the show, thatyou can meet the people behind the product, whichyou wouldn’t necessarily be able to do in your local

store. The exhibitors will tell you exactly howthey’ve made their cheese for example, how long it’s matured, and where the cow’s come from! Or the ladies who hand-make the chocolates andtell you exactly what’s in them all.”

One addition to this year’s show, which is mostcertainly not aimed at the younger audience, is MasterChef Live’s new partnership with TheWine Show, which formerly took place each year in Islington. With tickets now interchangeablebetween the two events Biggs says that theexperience is not just about enjoyment, buteducation too.

“We’ll have over 150 wines here for people to try,and we’ll have wine talks, and wine walks, and ofcourse a fabulous bar. It’s a great place if you’relooking to get inspiration for how you pair wineswith different foods, and it will be very integrated.”

In addition, The Restaurant Experience (“the ultimate celebration of gourmet food”) - in which ten of London’s leading restaurants will cook up tester menus for visitors to try – is sponsored by Hardys Wine, who have pairedevery dish on offer with one of their own tipples.

winter 71

➛


72 winter

Then of course there’s the MasterChef element itself.“The big feature of the show is the Invention Test,”says Biggs. “It’s basically replicating the first round of the TV programme where contestants have 30minutes to make a dish from a bag of mysteryingredients. It’s the only place where the public can have a go and do that.”

Promising all the glitz and glamour of the TV showitself, the Invention Tests will run throughout the days(but be sure to pre-reserve your entry), and will becompèred by Andy Peters in front of a live audience.Former MasterChef contestants such 2010 winnerDhruv Barker will mentor each of the competitors on stage, while TV judges John Torode and GreggWallace will be on hand to deal out the prizes.

“Unless you are on adiet, I don’t think youcould have a bad dayat MasterChef Live!”

“It’s nerve-wracking I have to say,” says Biggs whoadmits to giving it a go last year. “But when you getout there it’s great, great fun!”

And if that’s not enough excitement, there is also theMasterChef Demonstration Stage, and the Chef ’sTheatre featuring the likes of James Martin, RickStein and Michel Roux Jr. Or you could just sidle upto one of the stars and get some tips all of your own. I ask Biggs whether the famous culinary names areshielded from the public at the event, “No quite theopposite actually, we have to pull them away to go totheir next thing; they’re all very approachable at the show!”

As Biggs says: “If you love food it is the ultimate day out; it is gastronome heaven; it’s a day out of great entertainment. Unless you are on a diet, I don’t think you could have a bad day at MasterChef Live!”

MasterChef Live takes place in the Grand Hall atOlympia in London, on 12-14 November 2010. For more information visitwww.londonbbcgoodfoodshow.com

Above left: A contestant inthe Invention Test dishes

up for the judges. Above right: Say cheese! One

of the 250 exhibitors onshow at MasterChef Live


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My interview with John Torode is squeezedbetween an 8am appearance on GMTV, and the beginning of the day’s filming for

the final few episodes of Celebrity MasterChef. Torode is businesslike in his approach, shooting back no-nonsense answers to my questions, and – withoutprompting - spelling out the names of people andrestaurants, which he suspects might trip me up. “I worked with a guy called John Gench G-E-N-C-H,in a place called Tsindos T-S-I-N-D-O-S,” Torodesays, rapid fire, when I ask him of his culinaryapprenticeship in his native Australia. Here is a man who has done an interview or two in his time. His approach is professional, almost blunt, but he has a schedule to stick to and clearly knows what isneeded for the interview to succeed.

Much as he is on MasterChef, today Torode is largely deadpan in his responses, with the oddglimmer of dry humour: “In the late 90s I used to be the resident chef on This Morning on a Friday and Saturday with Richard and Judy, and because I was so attractive they wanted me for television,” he pauses then chuckles, when I ask him how he made the transition from chef to TV personality.

After learning the ropes in Melbourne, Torode didwhat many young Aussies seem to do and headednorth, taking up positions in some of London’s bestknown restaurants including Quaglino's and Bluebird.As Torode himself acknowledges, times have changed. “The fact is, that people in the UK have decided thatthey actually quite like food, whereas when I firstarrived twenty years ago, I don’t think that they reallyliked it. I think they used to go out for occasions andsit opposite each other, and talk about nothing; thosesort of grand dining rooms with silence runningthrough them.”

“Now people go out to eat and to enjoy themselvesand have fun, and eating out is no longer just abouteating plates of food, it’s about going out with matesand having a good time.”

One thing has remained constant though, and that is

the role of commercial kitchen. Despite the apparent pressure and chaos of these culinary centres,captured on shows like MasterChef, Torode says thatprofessional cooks are actually immensely focussedand organised.

“In a commercial kitchen you’re a trained cook andyou’re part of a team in the same way that a footballteam will have a winger. In a commercial kitchen

you only do a certain job – you might only cook three dishes, and that’s all you do for three months.”By contrast, Torode says, the turmoil and stressdisplayed on MasterChef stems from the fact thatcooks are asked to produce multiple dishes acrossmultiple disciplines - without training - in a limited timeframe.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

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074 winter

There’s more to the man than a dislike of scallops on pea puree!

➛

Masterchef Live OTB:2-2-1 winter 6/12/10 14:58

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76 winter

“Masterchef is a competition about watching peoplegrow, about challenging people, and about challengingtheir perceptions of their own abilities. I think thepressure is absolutely enormous because it’s about self-achievement, self-belief, and about having theguts to put your food up and your personality on a plate and say to Gregg (Wallace) and I, ‘What do you think?’”

I am interested to know whether Torode himselfwould, as an aspiring young chef, have risen to thechallenge of contesting his own show?

“I would probably never answer that question for thesimple reason it’s not part of my psyche.” I’m notentirely sure what he means by this, but I think itmeans no! He elaborates: “I started off washing dishesand mopping floors, and worked my way up to beingable to make chocolates, to doing the basics, that’swhat I set out to do. I think MasterChef is a very, very different thing altogether. I think MasterChef isabout people who already have a love and a passionfor food, who want to go and do something new and interesting and something which is really, really exciting.”

But sometimes, as Torode and co-presenter GreggWallace’s grimacing reactions contest, they clearlydon’t find every dish ‘really, really exciting.’ ‘Are thereany dishes which you dread being made on the show?’Aspiring MasterChefs take note: “The beloved

chocolate fondant will always be the death knell ofsomebody. Presently, scallops, pea puree and blackpudding seems to be one of those things thateverybody loves to do, but actually really doesn’tinvolve very much. I think the idea of chickenwrapped in ham filled with cheese; that seems to beone of those ones that you think, ‘Oh no, please don’tdo that one again’, and when somebody says to methey’re going to be cooking chips, because invariablythey don’t have a thermometer, they don’t have thetime, and they don’t have the patience, because theyactually take quite a long time to do properly.”

My time is nearly up; the next media appointmentbeckons. ‘One final question, sorry, I know you’ve gotto get on.’ “Yeh, right!” Broad Aussie emerges for asecond. I ask whether Torode actually enjoys theMasterChef Live experiences; whether he enjoysmeeting the show’s adoring public.

“We are very fortunate with MasterChef...we’ve got a great viewing public and we want them to come andmeet us. They’ve got to understand we’re real people,but then also with MasterChef Live they have theability to get involved. They can come and do theInvention Test, they can come and watchdemonstrations, they can see other competitors. But more importantly they can come and be inspired,and they can go and buy the produce from varioussuppliers and all the equipment that goes with it, and they can go home and replicate it themselves.”

Aside from his TV work, Torode now owns two successful London restaurants, Smiths ofSmithfields, and The Luxe in Commercial Street,which, according to one noted critic, ‘sits in a littlegastrocluster of aching trendiness.’ A fitting analogy for Torode himself perhaps, for, as he says: “Human nature dictates that we all like to impresseach other, we all like to show off a little bit, and youknow food is a very, very good way of doing that.”

“Human naturedictates that we alllike to impress eachother, we all like toshow off a little bit,and you know, food isa very, very good wayof doing that.”

John Torode and fellow judge GreggWallace pose for the cameras in theMasterChef kitchen.

Masterchef Live OTB:2-2-1 winter 6/12/10 14:56

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Seth Lakeman has been at theforefront of the Nu Folk revival foralmost a decade, first embarking on

a solo career in 2001

If, in the distant future, the BBCdecides to bring back the I Love...series, then there is a strong

possibility that I Love 2010 will look at the phenomenon of Nu Folk. This all-encompassing term has comeinto popular use to describe the wave of acoustic and folk music that haspopulated the airwaves over the lasttwelve months, from such artists as Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes and Noah and The Whale.

But the spearhead of this revival hasundoubtedly been Seth Lakeman. The Devon-born multi-instrumentalistwas the first contemporary artist to crossover the folk/pop divide – paving the wayfor other ‘traditional’ musicians to followsuit. But despite this status, Lakeman stillfeels a little underwhelmed by the NuFolk term.

“I think it’s more of a media label thatthey have to pin on certain acts in orderto be able to sell them,” says Lakeman –talking by mobile phone on the way backfrom Leicester, after a successful gig atthe city’s cathedral the previous night.“But I think that’s the way it’s beenincorporated by the record companiesand by people who are ‘selling’ you – the marketeers.”

This relaxed attitude towards theperceived media hype is indicative of Lakeman’s pure love of music, which unsurprisingly was the dominantfeature of his childhood. At the age offour, he started to learn the violin, before quickly moving onto the banjoand tenor guitar. Before long, Lakemanwas performing with his parents andbrothers, Sam and Sean, at local fêtes and festivals, and immersing himself in

Andy Evans talks to Mercury Prize nominated musician Seth Lakeman about Nu Folk and old traditions

WINNINGHEARTS AND MINDS

Seth Lakeman OTB:Layout 1 8/11/10 14:46

80 winter

Main and inset: Lakeman began learningthe violin aged four and immersed himselfin traditional music from an early age

traditional music. But the young Lakeman was alreadylooking to other musical forms for inspiration.

“Obviously, I love folk music and I’ve grown upplaying it, really enjoying songs and stories,” he explains. “But when I was playing fiddle every dayin my early teens, I was really into swing jazz – swinggypsy jazz. I was a big fan of Joe Venuti and StéphaneGrappelli. I loved the way they played off each other.

“But also growing up, I got into the dance scene inPlymouth, which was massive, so I was a big fan ofhouse music and other different sounds.”

In between his weekend raving, Lakeman wasperforming at this time with his siblings as The Lakeman Brothers. The group soon joined forces with Kathryn Roberts and Kate Rusby to form the band Equation – leading to three criticallyacclaimed albums and successful tours of the UK,

Europe and the US. But in 2001, Lakeman took aleap of faith and decided to leave Equation to embarkon a solo career. It proved to be a successful choice.

Lakeman’s solo work immediately revealed a desire tomake folk music with traditional themes, but “a verydifferent sound” reflecting his many different tastes.This approach is still very much in vogue today. “I’ve been very much influenced by rock, Americanamusic, singer/songwriter music – all sorts of differentstyles,” says Lakeman. “So, there’s no doubt there’s a lot of other influences.”

“I mean, you can hear the house music influence quiteclearly when I play Kitty Jay. I have this stomp – this 4/4 stomp – which is quite hypnotic, with thefiddle pattern over the top.”

The aforementioned ‘Kitty Jay’ was the title track ofLakeman’s second solo album, which was nominated


winter 81

for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize; not bad for analbum that reportedly only cost £300 to make.Despite losing out to I Am a Bird Now by Antony and the Johnsons, Lakeman’s nomination made wavesin the music industry. Support slots with Billy Braggand Jools Holland, and a sell-out UK tour quicklyfollowed, and folk music was suddenly cool again –with Lakeman at its forefront.

Lakeman’s upsurge in popularity was reflected by hissuccess at the 2007 Radio 2 Folk Awards, where hewon ‘Singer of the Year’ and ‘Best Album’ for his 2006record, Freedom Fields. But it was in the live arena that Lakeman flourished, his outstanding festivalperformances winning over a host of fans whowouldn’t normally have given traditional music thetime of day - something which Lakeman is fully awareof. “To be honest, I don’t think the audiences that wehave were really into folk music beforehand – I reallydon’t,” he says. “Sometimes it’s hard to say becauseyou’re actually doing it, but they’re definitely not the

normal folk audience that I was seeing when I was working with artists like Cara Dillon and SteveKnightley. It’s definitely a different audience, so inthat way you don’t upset anyone because you haven’tbrought them into the ‘camp’ in the first place.”

So, does Lakeman think his music translates well in an outdoor setting? “It seems to, yeah, because it’squite energetic, it’s very rhythmical – so to that extent, I think it suits people who have got a drink and wantto jump up and down. I mean, we’re not an obviousrock band and to be honest, you don’t have to befamiliar with the songs in order to understand it andenjoy it. So in that way, it does seem to suit – it reallydoes. We’re lucky with that.”

Lakeman’s first live DVD certainly seems to suggest asmuch. Filmed at Cornwall’s open-air Minack Theatrein May 2009, it is a perfect snapshot of Lakeman’smastery as a live performer. “It was amazing for us – a very magical evening. It was something we’ll all

remember, and we’ve got it there as evidence. A fabulous performance and a wonderful audience –we had a brilliant night,” says Lakeman. “It’s probablyone of the best things we’ve done because obviouslywe love playing live, and to have an example of that insuch an incredible, stunning location is just fabulous.”

But perhaps inevitability, Lakeman’s success hasn’talways gone down well with some folk music purists.Some critics have accused him of crossing over toomuch into the mainstream, but Lakeman believes thatthey’ve missed the point. “I think certainly now, morethan ever, artists are experimenting and I guess they’rebridging genres – they’re incorporating lots and lots ofdifferent sounds,” he explains. “I think obviously theinternet has helped that a lot, and it’s helped newartists, it’s helped these new sounds. I think thatpeople aren’t as blinkered as they used to be.”

This sense of experimentation has informedLakeman’s latest album, Hearts and Minds.➛


82 winter

After the success of 2008’s Poor Man's Heaven,which reached no. 8 in the UK album charts,Lakeman has continued his quest for a different kindof folk music – leading to a record reminiscent ofRobert Plant at his most mystical and REM duringtheir Out Of Time era. “I guess I’ve approached it in a different way this time round,” explains Lakeman. “I was writing an awful lot of the songs when we wereout on the road live, so it’s a very live sounding record– no doubt about it.”

“It’s quite heavy. I think it’s a lot edgier and there’sprobably more variety of sound than other recordsthat we’ve done. So we’re really happy with it. We’re really proud of the final result.”

Despite his desire to experiment, Lakeman remains a folk musician at heart, and the theme of the lyrics on Hearts and Minds remain fuelled bytraditional tales of sea-farers and ghostly legends.“There’s obviously stories of the working man, there’s songs of heartache, there’s soldiers dyingabroad. Lyrically I’ve tried to make the approach more universal and bring it up to date, but I’veresorted back to the narratives that I’ve always loved to write on previous records, especially with songs like Preacher’s Ghost, which I wrote about Billy Bray (the 19th Century Cornish preacher).”

Lakeman can often be found jamming with localmusicians at his nearby pub – thus keeping alive oneof the founding traditions of folk music. And, when itcomes to comparisons, some critics have spotted links

to Led Zeppelin, Richard Thompson and DamianRice, but Lakeman is quite clear which association he values the most. “I’m absolutely flattered by everysingle one, and I’m majorly influenced by all of them.But Richard Thompson – I’m a massive fan of whathe does, because he’s just kept it alive for such a longperiod in his whole career, within FairportConvention and into his solo career.”

This desire for longevity is obviously very importantto Lakeman, but not many musicians manage toachieve it. However, if he continues to bridge the gapbetween folk and pop, whilst staying true to his roots,Seth Lakeman should be able to enjoy a long career.His forthcoming UK tour in late October andNovember will combine performances in concerthalls, with gigs in ‘stood up, sweaty, raucous venues’ –perfectly encapsulating Lakeman’s ethos. It’s aboutplaying authentic, traditional, yet contemporary music– and at the moment, he appears to be hitting all theright notes.

Left: Despite his desire toexperiment, Lakeman remains

a folk musician at heart

“It’s quite heavy. I thinkit’s a lot edgier and there’sprobably more variety ofsound than other recordsthat we’ve done.”


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84 winter

Double gymnastics World Champion Beth Tweddle talks of the highs andlows of life in the sporting spotlight.


TAKING TOTHE FLOOR

For most 25-year-olds, their career is still anewly-fledged, and precious thing. They havestepped out of the cocoon of the graduate

recruit - who are excused all but the most extreme of gaffes - and they might just be embarking on theirfirst tentative solo projects; even gaining a degree of authority. Sometimes, when managers are feelingtrusting, or jaded, the mid-twenties-employee mighteven be asked to pitch their ideas on serious, grown-up business matters!

Never, however, will a 25-year-old find that they are considered the grandmother of their chosencareer; wise beyond their years, seasoned, ripe forretirement. That is, unless their chosen career is that of a gymnast.

At 25, Britain’s reigning Floor World Champion,Beth Tweddle, is one of the oldest competitors still performing at the very highest level on theinternational circuit. That said, she is by no meansthe oldest. Germany’s Oksana Chusovitina won asilver medal in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at thegrand old age of 33. However, following a heart-breaking fourth place on her favourite apparatus-the uneven bars - in Beijing, the then-23-year-old

Tweddle could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel.

“Gymnastics is a sport where you have to specialisefrom such a young age,” Tweddle says afterconsideration. “Most gymnasts start from the ages of five or six, and from day one you’re just a gymnast; that’s it. I mean, I’ve been doing it for 18 years now, and I’ve literally just been doinggymnastics, so maybe people would assume that I’ve just had enough and would want to trysomething else.”

Not so Tweddle. In her typically stoic way, following what must have been a bitterdisappointment in Beijing, she cheerfully told thewaiting media, "I was pleased just to be in the final. I am not disappointed with fourth. Now I'll have toleave it to London in 2012 to get a medal.” One can only imagine what she must really have felt.

However, despite her knee-jerk reaction in 2008,that she would continue to compete until her homeOlympics at London 2012, there has since beenmuch debate as to an impending retirement. Never mind Tweddle’s metal fatigue, could her

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 8/11/10 14:55

Beth Tweddle launches The NationalLottery’s Games Brain quiz to celebrate£500 million being raised by players forLondon 2012. Photographer Mark Bond

winter 85

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 8/11/10 14:56

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This page: Beth Tweddle launches TheNational Lottery’s Games Brain quiz tocelebrate £500 million being raised byplayers for London 2012. PhotographerMark Bond Opposite page: In the run upto a major competition, Tweddle trains forup to 35 hours a week; here chalking herhands before taking to the bars

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 8/11/10 14:57

body really withstand another four years of thegruelling training regime, given that even by 2008 she had already undergone multiple surgeries on her ankles and shoulder?

“Obviously there’s a huge impact on your body,”Tweddle admits. “You’re constantly having to take the force of your own bodyweight plus gravity.”

“That’s why I made the decision to go from fourpiece, down to two piece,” she continues, referring toher decision to retire from the vault and beam eventsafter Beijing, effectively ruling her out of the allaround competition as well.

“It was a very hard decision to give up, but I think in the long-run it will be the right decision. My bodyjust wasn’t able to take the constant pounding. I wasstruggling a lot with the beam. I had a lot of injurieswith my feet, and it wasn’t one of my strongest events.I was also having foot injuries with the vault.”

This meant that at last year’s World Championships in London, Tweddle had just two shouts at a medal; in her favoured uneven bars, and in the floor event.

The bars were the first of the two events to take place,and, as a former World Champion on the apparatus in 2006 (this was the first World Championship goldever won by Britain), Tweddle was the big home hope,not just for a medal, but – when the fans dared towhisper it – maybe for a gold?

The stadium reverberated to the screams of an expectant crowd as Tweddle entered the arena for the qualifying event. Here was the British darlingof gymnastics, doing what she did best.

A shocked silence descended as Tweddle crashed tothe floor, slipping from the bars during a complicatedmove, ironically named after her as her signatureshowpiece (the Tweddle). She left the arena in tears,but was forced to compose herself when her coachalmost instantly made her face the media.

“Straight away they (the media) wanted to know howI was feeling. Obviously when you’ve just crashed out of what you were hoping to medal in, it’s not thebest feeling in the world,” Tweddle almost smiles at the recollection.

“But my coach said, ‘You’ve got to do the interviews,because you have to take the good with the bad’. I did it, and spoke to the press, which was hard.

“Then I went out to the main entrance. There were all these little kids there waiting for autographs, which put it all into perspective. My two little twincousins came running up to me saying that I wasamazing, and that they couldn’t believe that I hadfallen...‘we can’t wait to see you on the floor.’ And so I thought ‘Yes, I’ve fallen on bars, but at least I havesomething to aim for’. Really it was the kids who putthings into perspective.”

If Tweddle felt the pressure, as she came out four dayslater to try and give her fans something to cheerabout, by gaining a respectable placing in the

eight-women floor final, she didn’t show it. She was the first of the girls to take centre-stage, and, after stumbling on her first tumble in the earlierqualifying event, the crowd held their breath as they waited for her to begin.

With a practiced flick of the wrist to acknowledge the judges, Tweddle was off...spinning, tumbling and flipping across the mat. The routine was inchperfect and the crowd, who clapped along to her foot-tapping display, jumped to their feet as Tweddlescored 14.650 for a flawless effort.

What ensued, was forty of the most agonising minutesof Tweddle’s career, as she paced the floor with her

coach, Amanda Reddin, watching as one, thenanother of her fellow competitors failed to eclipse her score. Finally, to a standing ovation, Tweddle was confirmed as the new World Champion.

Needless to say, the ecstasy of Tweddle’s ensuing press conference was the antithesis of the onereluctantly given before the flashbulbs four daysearlier. Reddin’s insistence that her protégée take the good with the bad had proven to be prophetic.

“Winning the bars (World) title in 2006 was reallygood, but with this being on home soil and not in my signature event, it is probably my best everachievement,” a jubilant Tweddle said, post-event.

The stunning victory, and the fairytale nature of the win, helped to further increase Tweddle’s publicprofile in the UK, and earned her her secondnomination for the BBC’s Sports Personality of theYear; an award eventually won by footballer RyanGiggs, with the runner-up spot going to F1 WorldChampion Jenson Button. It is an ironic aside thatButton and Tweddle were both crowned WorldChampions on the same day, but only the formerreceived a congratulatory phone call from then PrimeMinister Gordon Brown; something which Tweddlelaughed off at the time saying, "Maybe the letter's got lost in the post?"

The truth is though, that until Tweddle’s rise toprominence, gymnastics was a sport largely ignored in this country, and she - almost single-handedly - has propelled it (both in terms of profile, and thefunding it receives) to its current standing.

Those behind Tweddle in the team have now begun to follow the path that she has forged, with the men’steam particularly helping to lift some of the pressurefrom Tweddle’s shoulders. Last year, Daniel Keatings(20) won silver in the all around event at the WorldChampionships, bettering by one position theOlympic bronze won by Louis Smith (21) on thepommel horse in Beijing a year earlier. Despite beingBritain’s first Olympic medal in 80 years, the momentum in the current squad means thatBritish Gymnastics have been tasked with bringinghome at least two medals in 2012.

Tweddle is obviously enjoying Britain’s newfoundsuccess in her sport. “It takes the pressure away fromme,” she says, smiling again. “It’s not just what willBeth do, but now it’s a case of what British gymnasticswill do at the Worlds or Europeans.”

Someone else who has watched with interest as Britishgymnastics has emerged from obscurity, is Tweddle’slong-time coach Reddin. “I’ve had the same coachsince I was twelve,” Tweddle says with obvious

Olympics 2012: “I’d rather say I tried to go forit, than I’ve retired and not given it a chance.”

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Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 8/12/10 11:21

88 winter

Tweddle flies through theair during a practice sessionin the gym. Photography bySean Malyon

affection, “and she’s basically like my second mum.”She pauses. “In fact, she probably knows me betterthan my mum!”

“Leading up to a major international, I train six days a week, 30 to 35 hours a week, and my life is entirelyfocussed around training. My life revolves aroundwhat time Amanda wants me in the gym, and it canbe intense, but from the age of seven I haven’t knownany different.”

Tweddle’s current focus is the 2010 WorldChampionships, which kick off in mid-October in Rotterdam, and so the gruelling regime is currently in full flow. But Tweddle is not one to moan, and comes across as a very grounded and matter-of-fact individual, not given to self pity. Perhaps this isanother thing instilled in her by Reddin, of whomTweddle says: “The only thing that she says to meprior to a major event is ‘Go and do what you do intraining, and if it works, it works, but if it doesn’t,then we have to work on it some more when we getback to training.’” One suspects that it is this calmpragmatism that has allowed Tweddle to find the

mental energy to continue with her sport for so long.That Tweddle is a model sportswoman isunquestioned – dedicated, hard working, and honest. What still remains a question markhowever is her participation at London 2012.Although nothing is a given in her gruelling sport,and with uncertainty still surrounding her ability to continue competing for another two years, I am surprised that Tweddle takes no time in coming up with an answer: “Yes. The Olympics in London are the main target now. That’s the one thing that I haven’t achieved yet,” she is matter of fact once again.

“Ever since Beijing, it’s been taking one competitionat a time and seeing how I go, and really, that’s stillthe mentality. But the qualifiers start this October (at the World Championships in Rotterdam), so I guess I’m getting towards it now.”

“I think that’s the one thing that I’m still chasing. I’ve got every other title to my name and obviously I would love to come home with any Olympicmedal...naturally gold,” this time she doesn’t laugh.

She pauses, and then adds, “I’d rather say I’d tried to go for it, rather than I’ve retired and not given it a chance. And at least I can look back at my careerand what I have achieved knowing that I’ve tried.”

Back in 2006, following her first World title, and inthe lead up to Beijing, Tweddle was asked whether shewould consider continuing to compete until London2012. Then, she had laughed and dismissed it out of hand: "I'll simply be too old by then. What I hopeis that winning the World Championship will inspireother young gymnasts, and there are some really goodones coming along aged 12 to 14. These are the kidswe should be looking at for 2012."

Four years on, with the focus very firmly on London,I’m sure I would have gained a similar response had I asked Tweddle about Rio 2016. But, by then,Tweddle will only be 31...two years younger thanBeijing’s silver medallist Chusovitina...so really, as I say, nothing is a given in this gruelling sport!

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 8/11/10 14:59

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