WITH LIVING IN Property Focus A Bigger, Better, Brighter Read Vol. 12 Issue 11 January 2015 Doctor and her affluent landlord prosecuted for benefit fraud while living in Virginia Water property Jane Gates awarded OBE in New Year’s honours list Jane Gates in No.10 Downing Street with husband Mike and daughter Rebecca. Jane Gates, Chief Executive Officer for local children’s charity Sebastian’s Action Trust, has received an OBE for services to seriously-ill children and their families in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list for 2015. Chair of Trustees Peter Boon said: “It is a fitting acknowledgement of the tireless work Jane has undertaken during the ten years since Sebastian’s Action Trust was formed. I’m sure all of you will want to join me in saying a massive �Well Done’ to Jane for what has been a fantastic personal achievement.” Jane added: “To say I am thrilled is an understatement; it is an honour that is accepted in the name of my beloved Sebastian who set us on this course and as a reflection of what �we’ who are the team that is Sebastian’s Action Trust have achieved.” Overall, 1,164 people have been FROM PAGE 14 www.livingwithin.com recommended to The Queen for an award in the New Year list. In July Sebastian’s Action Trust was awarded with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. In October, over 100 supporters, serviceusers and volunteers of Sebastian’s Action Trust were welcomed to a reception hosted by the wife of the Prime Minister, Mrs Samantha Cameron, at 10 Downing Street. The reception was a chance for the charity to celebrate the successes of their first 10 years working with seriously-ill and life-limited children and their families, whilst also sharing ambitious plans for the next 10 years. It was also an opportunity for the Trust to unveil its launch of the third stage of its campaign for a much needed counselling and therapies suite at its award winning family respite holiday home, �The Bluebells’. Louise Keenan, aged 29, formerly of Fernbank Farm, Bridge Lane, Virginia Water has been prosecuted for benefit fraud. Miss Keenan was found guilty of two offences under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 Section 111(1) (a) and two offences under the Fraud Act 2006 at Guildford Crown Court. Her landlord, Philip Gray (43) was also found guilty of an offence under the Fraud Act 2006. Miss Keenan is now a qualified Doctor and is currently living in Pirbright. She was awarded Housing and Council Tax benefit from Runnymede Borough in November 2009 based on her claim as a single parent. In December 2010 she notified Runnymede Borough Council of the birth of her third child and dishonestly declared her rent had increased from £875 to £1000 a month. A letter purporting to indicate a rental increase was signed by her landlord and produced to the Benefits Department in January 2011. Following an investigation into her claim benefit payments were suspended. Miss Keenan later dishonestly claimed to have been evicted on 31 July 2011 for nonpayment of rent and made an application for housing assistance with Runnymede Borough Council. Mr Gray, who describes himself as a property developer owns a number of properties including Fernbank Farm, Bridge Lane and recently sold a site in Chobham for £4million. The court heard Miss Keenan and Mr Gray had conspired to create fraudulent documents which were described as calculated and deliberate. They were both considered affluent people who had set out to fiddle the public purse. Miss Keenan and Mr Gray have been bailed to attend for sentence at Guildford Crown Court on 16 January 2015 Runnymede Borough Council's Chief Executive Officer, Paul Turrell said: "This was a very serious and calculated case of benefit fraud. The Investigation team worked hard to bring the offenders to justice and this sends out a strong message that we will not tolerate benefit fraud. If we have reason to believe that someone is claiming benefits fraudulently we will investigate and prosecute if appropriate." Great tree giveaway in Royal Borough The Royal Borough is giving away 5,000 trees to residents on a first come, first served basis. To pick up a tree, residents simply need to turn up to collect one at a holding station with evidence that they are Royal Borough resident. There is a small supply of trees available from Sunningdale Parish Council at Broomhall Lane, Sunningdale. They can also be picked up from Braywick Heath Nursery, on Braywick Road in Maidenhead, until Saturday 17 January. Cllr Derek Wilson, cabinet member for planning, said: "These trees will hopefully increase the numbers growing in the borough, particularly within towns and villages where they are most needed, and so improve the environment for all." The trees on offer are one year old, about 20cm tall and very easy to plant. They come in their own compost, termed a 'plug'. Because the trees are small, the council is also providing a shrub guard to protect each tree for the first year or two. The tree species available are native, both to enhance the underlying character of the area and to benefit wildlife. INSIDE THIS ISSUE 8 Health & Fitness 18 - 21 New Year Travel www.livingwithin.com 12 Food & Drink 13 Kirk Rice Celebrates 25 Years – [email protected] – 01276 858750 11 Gardening 2 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 Microsoft event a big hit with LVS girls +owWoGHalwiWKaGiIÀcXlW1Hw<Har It is widely acknowledged that January sees a sudden increase in the numbers of enquiries received by divorce lawyers 0any SeoSle hold off having that difÀcult conversation during the Christmas period in order to try and preserve the festive cheer over this busy and stressful time. With the dawning of a New Year, many feel that it is the time to consider their longer term prospects and whether Helen Habershon, their marriage or relationship has come to an end. It is Associate, a very emotional time for couples who are facing these Family department tough decisions and with careful consideration and 01483 748530 planning, particularly where children are concerned, it can be resolved with as little disruption as possible and in an amicable and cost effective way. It is important, for any couple in this situation, to consider taking advice from a specialist family solicitor. Just because you have an initial meeting with a family solicitor, does not mean a commitment to the Ànalisation of your relationship, for many it is an information seeking exercise and with this knowledge, empowers them to move forward in a positive way. It, essentially, gives them the opportunity to outline, with their solicitor, what they hope to achieve and how they wish to see their case resolved. There are many options open to couples and often cases can be settled without court intervention. For many, the main concern will be the effect of any breakdown on the children of the family. Often, with good communication between the parties or perhaps an alternative method of dispute resolution such as mediation, feelings can be discussed and options considered that are not only in the best interests of the children, which are always at the forefront, but for the separated parents too. www.barlowrobbins.com Seven girls from LVS Ascot enjoyed the privilege of being able to visit the Microsoft offices in London late last term to participate in one of a series of international DigiGirlz events taking place around the world. DigiGirlz, a Microsoft YouthSpark initiative, was created to help address the lack of women pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and computer science education. The London event, held on 28th November, gave students the opportunity to learn about careers in technology, connect with Microsoft employees, and participate in hands-on computer and technology workshops. These events are an important way to encourage girls to consider career choices in IT, as despite computing now being taught from Primary School right through to A-Levels, only around 6.5% of A-Level Computing places nationwide are filled by girls. Sheila Featherstone-Clark, Head of Department for IT and Computing at LVS Ascot, said: "I think that part of the problem is that parents do not understand the opportunities available so are unable to encourage their daughters in this area. When the girls get a chance to look inside the industry they are very excited by what is on offer, so events like Digigirlz are really valuable. At LVS Ascot we have a long history of encouraging Computing and IT skills and development, and want our female students to take full advantage of the choices available to them." Council offers new service for older drivers in Virginia Water A new safer driving service designed for older residents has been introduced by Runnymede Borough Council. Safer Driving with Age - or SAGE as it is otherwise known - is a service designed to support older drivers (55+) living in the Runnymede borough to continue driving for as long as it is safe to do so. SAGE provides a one hour driving session, in the user’s own car, with an approved driving instructor who will provide advice and support along the way. A feedback session will be offered at the end where any areas for improvement will be highlighted. Councillor Gill Warner, who piloted the scheme, said: "I would highly recommend this service. I was pleased with the constructive comments the instructor made, as I had not realised that I had got into a few bad habits. It has made me think more about my driving." SAGE sessions are currently being offered for a nominal fee of £10. If you would like to apply for a session, contact Erica Boylett on 01932 425668. January 2015 LIVING WITHIN 3 Bracknell puts Ascot Heath School rebuild plan on hold It was an early Christmas for residents living close to Ascot Heath Infant and Junior Schools in Rhododendron Walk, North Ascot. Many were unhappy when they first learnt of plans to rebuild both the Infant and the Junior schools. The company behind the scheme was offering a land swap whereby it would build the new schools on its land, and construct a small housing development, approximately 50 houses, on the existing schools’ site. But after a very public protest - which was reported in LIVING WITHIN December 2014 - they discovered that the plans had been put on hold. Parents and local residents received a letter from David Watkins, at Bracknell Forest Borough Council, in which he said: "It is clear that plans presented in their current form are not acceptable as there are many issues that need to be addressed before any formal proposals can be made. "Further work is required if the developer wishes to proceed to a more formal application in the future. I will continue to keep the lines of communication open on any approaches." The news came days after an exhibition and meetings took place to gain views on the potential expansion of the Infant and Junior schools. The redevelopment of the schools has been on the agenda for some time as the current schools are too small to accommodate the growing demand for places, Bracknell Forest Council said. Flood funding handed to residents and busineses in Royal Borough by flooding during what has been an extremely difficult time for them. "Flooding can have a devastating impact on people's homes, businesses and lives and it is important that financial support is available for those affected when they need it most. "We would urge all residents affected to take advantage of the support available, especially the repair and renew grants which can help to pay for flood mitigation measures for homes at risk." The government has announced that it will backdate the flooding support schemes to residents and businesses so those affected by flooding from April 2013 onwards can still make claims. wet days. Poinsettias provide festive cheer in the lead up to Christmas and hyacinths and scented narcissi fill the Temperate House with perfume through to January and February. Mark added: "The winter beds, with their concentration of bright colours and glorious scent, challenge the conventional view of January and February being a barren time in a garden. Whether it is the striking willows reflecting on the water's edge, the unashamed radiance of the dogwood stems or the clove-scented pink flowers of the Himalayan Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill', there certainly is a lot to enjoy at this time of year." DUCHAMP • LANVIN • POLO • RALPH LAUREN • CHURCH Blow away those winter cobwebs and enjoy fantastic walks with vivid pockets of colour and scent around The Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, which is free to visit throughout January and February (Normal car park charges apply). Mark Flanagan, Keeper of The Gardens, Windsor Great Park, said: "If your New Year's resolution is to have more exercise, why not come to The Savill Garden, enjoying as you go the national collection of Mahonias, the sweet scent and varied colour of witch hazel and the pockets of vibrant colours and intense perfume on show in the winter beds." The Queen Elizabeth Temperate House provides seasonal interest and a relaxing spot for cold and mewes MENSWEAR Savill Garden visitors offered free entry until end of February PAUL & SHARK • HILFIGER • PAL ZILERI • BARBOUR Hundreds of residents and businesses have been helped by the council to access more than £1.2m of funding in the wake of last year's flooding. The Royal Borough has assisted 186 residents to access around £884,000 of repair and renew grants to help them protect their homes against future flooding and 180 residents have received around £133,000 in council tax rebates while they were unable to live in their homes. A total of 112 businesses benefited from business rates relief worth £191,000 and 30 received hardship funding totalling £73,000. Cllr Geoff Hill, lead member for flooding, said: "I'm delighted the Royal Borough has been able to help so many residents and businesses affected SALE NOW ON D3B Fairoaks • Chobham Surrey GU24 8HU www.livingwithin.com GANT • ETON • BAUMLER • 01276 858750 [email protected] London Road, Sunningdale, SL5 0ER Telephone 01344 621333 • TIMBERLAND • LACOSTE LIVING WITHIN SIZES Small – 5XL 4 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 Money Matters with Peter Sharratt Q. We have three Buy To Let’s all worth more than we originally paid for them. Each property has a mortgage with a low interest rate which the rental income comfortably pays for. We want to purchase another BTL using equity in the existing properties. The options however seem to be; remortgage which means we lose the existing good interest rates, or sell one or more of the properties but selling one property to buy another seems ridiculous. Any other options I am missing? A. Your existing lender may be prepared to give you a further advance which means they lend you more money but probably on a different interest rate to the main mortgages. If they will not you could see if another lender is prepared to let you borrow more against the properties as a second charge. In both of the above you retain the existing Send your queries to Peter Sharratt, Kirk Rice LLP, The Courtyard, High Street, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7HP Email [email protected] Please note: answers are given for general guidance only and specific advice should be taken before acting on any of the suggestions made. Council eyes opportunities to open Surrey countryside up for business Photo Courtesy: Ruby Wilson Drawdown Pension Death Benefits mortgages and the low interest rates. If neither is possible the next option to consider is a remortgage to another lender. As part of this you may be able to borrow an additional amount giving you the funds to help purchase the additional Buy To Let (BTL) property. But, in this instance you will pay off the existing mortgages and lose the good interest rates. All of the above will mean higher payments especially the remortgage option as the interest rate is likely to higher for all of the mortgages rather than part. As a result you may find the rental Income no longer comfortably covers the mortgage payments. It may also mean you cannot borrow as much as you would like as the lender will want to see that the expected rental income will be sufficient to cover the mortgage payments. Selling is an option, but pointless unless you think the new property will be a better investment than the one/s you sell. Finally, there is a lender who will now lend against an existing BTL property on a Second Charge basis but you do not make monthly loan payments. Instead they take a share of the profit when you sell the property in future or decide to pay off the loan. Because there are no loan payments they also do not base the lending on the rental income. This is quite a complex product and clearly there is more to it than I have briefly described here. I would recommend that you speak with a Mortgage Adviser who will be able to look at all the options for you. Business potential: Surrey countryside Executives at Surrey County Council are working with Surrey Wildlife Trust in a quest to use the countryside as an income generator. If current ideas are implemented, adventure experience providers will be identified and evaluated, a nature-based holiday offering will be launched, pitches will be leased to mobile catering businesses and Christmas trees will be sold from countryside car parks around the county. Mike Goodman, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, calls the plan "excellent news for the county and its residents". The county council contributes around £1m a year to the wildlife trust, which manages Surrey County Council’s countryside estate on its behalf. The council's contribution will reduce to £859,000 for 2014/15 and £759,000 for 2015/16. The longterm aim is to see the countryside sites generate enough money to be self sufficient. "Initiatives like this are essential for us to manage the countryside we all value at a time when we face huge financial challenges," Mr Goodman continued. Nigel Davenport, Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, said the plans will deliver "improved facilities" and "a better experience for everyone". "Surrey Wildlife Trust is committed to the management of the countryside estate for the benefit of people and wildlife," he added. In May 2002, Surrey County Council awarded a 50-year Partnership Contract to Surrey Wildlife Trust for the management of its Estate in return for annual payments. The Countryside Estate comprises around 10,000 acres, a significant proportion of which is covered by national and international designations for wildlife conservation. Over 80 events are held on the Estate each year, and over 4200 volunteer days are spent helping to manage it. Royal Holloway scientists discover oldest stone tool ever found in Turkey Researchers from Royal Holloway in Egham have helped to discover the oldest recorded stone tool ever to be found in Turkey, revealing that humans passed through the gateway from Asia to Europe much earlier than previously thought, approximately 1.2 million years ago. According to research published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews, the chance find of a humanly-worked quartzite flake, in ancient deposits of the river Gediz, in western Turkey, provides a major new insight into when and how early humans dispersed out of Africa and Asia. Researchers from Royal Holloway, together with an international team from the UK, Turkey and the Netherlands, used high-precision equipment to date the deposits of the ancient river meander, giving the first accurate timeframe for when humans occupied the area. Professor Danielle Schreve, from the Department of Geography at Royal Holloway, said: "This discovery is critical for establishing the timing and route of early human dispersal into Europe. Our research suggests that the flake is the earliest securely-dated artefact from Turkey ever recorded and was dropped on the floodplain by an early hominin well over a million years ago." The researchers used high-precision radioisotopic dating and palaeomagnetic measurements from lava flows, which both predate and post-date the meander, to establish that early humans were present in the area between approximately 1.24 million and 1.17 million years ago. Previously, the oldest hominin fossils in western Turkey were recovered in 2007 at Koçabas, but the dating of these and other stone tool finds were uncertain. "The flake was an incredibly exciting find”, Professor Schreve said. “I had been studying the sediments in the meander bend and my eye was drawn to a pinkish stone on the surface. When I turned it over for a better look, the features of a humanly-struck artefact were immediately apparent. "By working together with geologists and dating specialists, we have been able to put a secure chronology to this find and shed new light on the behaviour of our most distant ancestors." January 2015 LIVING WITHIN 5 6 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 Prudential RideLondon raises £10 million for charity The 2014 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, part of the Mayor of London’s award-winning annual festival of cycling, has set a new UK fundraising record after the 20,709 finishers raised more than £10 million for charity. The new record is £3 million more than the sum raised at the inaugural event in 2013 when 16,000 riders raised more than £7 million to set a new UK record for a one day cycling event. Despite the wind and heavy rain during the 2014 event, which meant that the route was shortened for safety reasons to 86 miles, the average sum raised for charity by a fundraising rider was again over £900. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Prudential RideLondon is more than just a fantastic celebration of cycling; it is also an event that raises millions for charity. I applaud the effort of this year’s riders, who overcame such difficult conditions, and their generous Want to know the colleges from sponsors, in raising the bar for next year’s ride by generating a record-breaking sum of money for worthy causes.” Event Director Hugh Brasher said: “To raise £10 million for charity in our second year is a phenomenal achievement. We are extremely proud of the commitment of our riders, who cycled through some of the most challenging conditions imaginable, and the generosity of their supporters and we plan to help raise even more for charity in future years.” Cathy Lewis, Executive Director at Prudential UK, said: “We are incredibly proud of everyone who took on this challenge to raise money for charity. So many people gave so generously to provide a fantastic boost to good causes up and down the country.” Marist creativity wows Toni & Guy Collaborating with national hair salon franchise Toni & Guy, pupils at the Marist Senior School in Sunninghill put on a wonderfully imaginative Creative Arts event. The in-house event tasked pupils from every year group with producing hair and make-up designs to reflect a series of categories, from fairy tales, future and films to the seasons and tribal influenced designs. Toni & Guy, who are currently celebrating their 10th year at the salon based on Ascot High Street, kindly provided an evening workshop for sixth formers to learn professional techniques and take advice from experts to help them create some of their extreme designs. Des Dhesi, Manager at Toni and Guy Ascot said: "We are a local business to the school and welcomed the opportunity to be involved with this fascinating school event. We have really enjoyed working with the Marist Pupils, we are amazed at their creativity given such a short introduction to a highly complex brief. I am exceptionally impressed with the highly creative and remarkably skilled end results." Karl McCloskey, Head teacher responded: "Yet again we are utterly amazed by the creativity of our pupils. We set them increasingly unusual and testing challenges in all aspects of their education, from the academic to the sporting and the creative. This inaugural inter-house event enabled independent thinking skills and further extended leadership opportunities for the girls. Our Creative Arts competition has been great fun for our pupils and, thanks to staff at Toni & Guy, the girls have pulled off their final results with creativity, style and skill." The Marist are renowned for offering their pupils a huge variety of opportunities to participate in create activities, in their highly successful Art, Photography, Drama and Music departments. The 2015 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 takes place on Sunday 2 August. best schools and to help your children get ABC... ... to PhD? Top of the Class LIVING WITHIN • SCHOOLS & COLLEGES IF YOU Would like details to see how your SCHOOL CAN FEATURE IN LIVING WITHIN PLEASE TELEPHONE 01276 858750 • Email [email protected] For more local news as it happens visit www.livingwithin.com January 2015 LIVING WITHIN 7 8 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 TOBY’S Fitness Forum the car. When we are older it can be something as important as getting up from the toilet independently. Stretching can also minimize joint degeneration as we age. The short term benefits of stretching are that it relieves muscle stiffness and reduces injury. ALL ABOUT STRETCHING I have been asked so many questions about stretching I have lost count so thought it would be good to collate them all together to avoid any confusion on this important subject. Do you think people pay enough attention to stretching and including it in their workouts? Or do people just focus on cardio and strength training? Can it help you look longer and leaner too? Yes definitely! It helps overall posture and in doing so makes you look taller and leaner. Good healthy muscle bulk will also hold the skin a little more taught, and reduce body wrinkles. All areas are important but with mobile phones and computers increasingly in use, it is particularly important to stretch shoulder and back areas to prevent protracted shoulders and a forward head posture. Your head becomes heavier, the more you bend forwards due to gravity – a 60 degree angle is putting around 60 lbs on average of pressure on your spine – this weight dramatically increases as you lean forwards and you lose your natural curve. Introduction to massage Does stretching make you more flexible? Yes, but only when done properly. Are there any particular areas that are more important to focus on? Should you concentrate on large muscle groups? Due to confusion over the years on which type of stretching is useful before or after a workout, I think people are unsure on what to do and when, and therefore often miss it out completely! Everyone is different and has different requirements when it comes to stretching but most people don’t stretch efficiently or sufficiently. Why is it important to stretch everyday? What are the short and long-term benefits? From my background as an Olympic athlete and now coach and personal trainer I know it is important to stretch everyday to maintain overall well being and range of movement in all joints. The long-term benefits of stretching are to keep all areas of your body mobile. We can relate to this whilst doing everyday tasks we take for granted when younger, such as walking up stairs or looking over your shoulder to park www..cliffroesports.com www . . . many bargains in store If you are stretching daily, is there a better time of day for you to do it? Is evening better when your muscles are warmed up? In my experience I would suggest a morning stretch is more useful as it increases your range of movement for that day so therefore reduces injury and also mentally sets you up. If you have any troublesome muscles I would also advise massaging in Deep Heat rub, as this is an effective adjunct to increase blood flow to the area and thus warming it up. Regular massage, whether preventative Good luck with the Stretching - Toby or remedial, For any help, advice or to book a personal training session please contact me [email protected] stimulating or 07971089270 relaxing, is a proven Toby Garbett is an Olympian and two-time World Champion rower. He combines his own training regime with way to help alleviate providing leading edge fitness training to private clients. daily ailments and to Get set for the 2015 improve health and restore balance. Kempton to Reading bike ride challenge The British Heart Foundation London to Reading Bike Ride is back for an amazing fourth year in March. The organisers describe the ride as a fantastic but achievable challenge. This is one of the first big rides of the year, so it’s the perfect excuse to rescue your bike from the back of the shed and show it some TLC. Setting off from Kempton Park Race course the 40 mile route will take you through the outer fringes of London into the beautiful countryside and open roads beyond. Until you reach Christchurch Meadows in the heart of the bustling town of Reading. London to Reading is ideal for those looking to get fit, training for another event or just wanting to get a bit more active in 2015. The entry fee is £15 for adults and £7.50 for under 18 year olds. Your entry fee covers the cost of running the event; it’s your sponsorship money that will help save lives. The event takes place Sunday 29 March. Riders can set off any time between 8.00am and 10.30am. The event finishes at 4.00pm Email [email protected]. Visit www.bhf.org.uk Telephone 0845 130 8663 A professional massage is one of the most basic forms of natural healthcare. Greatly underestimated, it has both physical and psychological benefits, and is one of the easiest ways of attaining and maintaining good health by helping to ward off illnesses and relieve the stress and tension that can be the cause of many ailments. Massage increases the circulation of the blood, and the flow of lymph – part of the immune system which carries the body’s impurities and toxins. A series of linked strokes varying in pressure increases the flow of blood and causes the blood vessels to dilate, further helping the circulation and increasing the amount of oxygen being carried to the vital internal organs. Whereas blood is circulated around the body by the heart, the flow of lymph is assisted by muscle contractions, so massage will benefit both the inactive, whose lymph may have become sluggish, as well as the active for whom the removal of impurities, such as lactic acid, is equally important. This process also benefits the tone and function of the muscles and connective tissues of the body. There are many different kinds of massage for different areas of the body, all of which are beneficial holistically, some of which do not involve the removal of clothing. If you’re fed up with aches and pains, fatigue, stress, tension, difficulty sleeping, lack of appreciation, to name but a few, in addition to the benefits already outlined massage can aid digestion and elimination, sooth nerves, lower blood pressure, promote healing and enhance well-being and feeling cared for. Regular massage, whether preventative or remedial, stimulating or relaxing, is a proven way to help alleviate daily ailments and to improve health and restore balance. January 2015 LIVING WITHIN Late start for McLaren Ascot 9 Badly Dressed Men storm to victory in Sunninghill Wheelbarrow Race Customers visiting Jardine Motors’ website have been advised that McLaren Ascot is �coming soon’. McLaren has told Living Within that construction work at the new McLaren car showroom adjacent to Ascot Railway Station will not open before the end of the month. The work was originally scheduled for completion in October 2014. Hayley Ward, Dealership Secretary for McLaren London said: "The Ascot site is still currently being built. We have been assured by the contractors that this will be complete by the end of January however this may be subject to change. Unfortunately we cannot confirm a definitive opening date at this time." The new, state of the art facility in Ascot will be the largest McLaren showroom in the UK and will offer the full McLaren range of models including the new 650S Coupe and the 650S Spider. The facility will include an eight car showroom, a dedicated service centre and the largest selection of McLaren Qualified pre-owned models in the world. The site is owned by Jardine Motors Group which runs McLaren’s flagship site at Hyde Park, London. David Brimson, European Director for McLaren Automotive, said: "The UK market is key to the growth of the McLaren brand as we continue to strengthen the network, and this is shown by confirmation of McLaren Ascot. Jardine Motors Group has proved a valuable retail partner in establishing the brand over the past three years, and McLaren Ascot will provide an important second hub for the brand in the south of England." Mark Herbert, CEO of Jardine Motors Group added: "The addition of McLaren Ascot will be another jewel in the company’s retail network, complementing McLaren London at One Hyde Park to fully service the needs of customers in the south east of England." For more local news as it happens visit www.livingwithin.com 4 Badly Dressed Men (Fastest team and most sponsorship money raised) The annual New Year's Day Wheelbarrow Race took place around the streets of Sunninghill, on a day that was infinitely better than last year weather-wise, with cloud and cold, but without the torrential rain which was such a challenge in 2014. 14 teams set out on the one mile course, pushing or riding in an amazing and imaginative collection of wheeled devices loosely related to wheelbarrows. The competitors were cheered along the way by a crowd of some 500 spectators. All participants received a Certificate at the Carpenters Arms, where, as usual the Prize-giving and Raffle Drawing took place. There was also, as usual, a Hog Roast for the many who enjoyed a substantial snack. Financially, the day was a great success with a hoped-for Donation to the Ascot District Day Centre in the region of £7,000 Unstable (second best Fancy Dress) Local law firm Taylor Fordyce has since its start in 2010 always aimed to provide a first class legal service to its range of clients from private individuals and small businesses to large enterprises, developers, government institutions, international corporations and investors. Taylor Fordyce are now pleased to announce the appointment of Family Law and Mediator Martin Chambers at the Sunningdale office. Directors Peter Taylor and Rory Fordyce see the further development of the Family Law department as a natural addition to the firm’s existing company commercial, commercial property, litigation, employment, residential conveyancing and general private client work. Living locally, Martin has in excess of 30 years’ post qualification experience. Martin is a member of the Law Society Family Law Panel and of Resolution, the organisation of family lawyers and other professionals who are committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. Martin trained with Resolution as a Family Mediator. Martin’s legal specialisms include divorce, judicial separation, nullity, civil partnership breakdown and dissolution; other relationship breakdown; financial, property and pension issues following relationship breakdown; Children Act matters; Inheritance Act and Trusts of Land Act Claims together with the drafting of pre/post nuptial, pre/post civil partnership, cohabitation and separation agreements. Prior to joining Taylor Fordyce Martin worked for a number of firms in Surrey, Hampshire, the City and the West End of London, establishing family law departments at two London practices. Martin describes himself as an extremely experienced and client focused family lawyer, committed to operating in an approachable and down to earth manner, always to the highest standards of quality and professionalism. He utilises up to date technology and methods in providing legal services and fosters links with many other professionals to ensure high quality and efficiency. Martin is married with two teenage children. He is a member of the RG Blue Sox Softball Club. He also enjoys running. He is a supporter of and volunteer collector for Help for Heroes and a member of the Help for Heroes Running Team. He will be running the London 10k 2014 in order to raise funds for Help for Heroes. He is also a supporter of Helen & Douglas House and of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. • • • • • • • • • • • • • Commercial Property Conveyancing Construction Planning Corporate Civil & Commercial Litigation Wills and Probate Trusts Matrimonial Family Law Employment International Snow White (the Quince Players team) (second fastest team) Prizes were awarded as follows • Fastest Team: Badly Dressed Men in an amazing time of 8 minutes 28 seconds. Members: Ben Roberts; Mike Flynn; Adam Smith; Neil Callander • The second Fastest team was Snow White (Quince Players) in 10mins 25 secs. Members: Colin Keating; David Barker; Chris Harris, Tori Lander • Best Fancy Dress prize went to The Sunningdale Hope Trust, a new local Charity, dressed as Kamikaze Chorus- Mockado . This is a send-up of the Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta Mikado. Members: Andrew Garrett; James Garrett; Tony Maffre and Thomas Dyson. Also running; Alan Everett and Peter Harris • Runners up in the Fancy Dress were Un-Stable. Members: Tom Prowse; Neil Evans; Daniel Saunders; Terry Chapman. • The winners of the Most Sponsorship prize were Badly Dressed Men, with £201. www.taylorfordyce.co.uk • email: [email protected] 61 Chobham Road, Sunningdale, Berkshire SL5 0DT Tel: 01344 637960 1 & 2, City Business Centre, Hyde Street, Winchester SO23 7TA Tel: 01962 841041 24 Upton Lovell, Warminster, Wilts BA12 0JW Tel: 01985 851206 Mockado (The Sunningdale Hope Team) (Best Fancy Dress) 10 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 Taxing Times one person earns £5,000 and their partner earns £20,000, the lower earner can transfer £1,050 of their unused allowance to the higher earner. The higher earner can take home an additional £1,050 tax-free, so thanks to this relief they will pay £210 less tax over the year. This measure will come into effect from 6 April 2015. with Graham Jennings Q: I understand that new rules are coming in where my wife can transfer her personal allowance to me. Can you explain how this will work? A: This new measure will allow a spouse or civil partner who is not liable to income tax above the basic rate to transfer up to £1,050 of their personal allowance to their spouse/civil partner, provided that the recipient of the transfer is not liable to income tax above the basic rate. The transferred personal allowance will act as a tax reducer for the recipient with a reduction in income tax of £210 and an increase in disposable income of £1,050! All individuals have a personal allowance for tax purposes. This is the amount of money an individual can earn in a year before they must pay tax. It is currently £10,000 and will rise to £10,500 from 6 April 2015. Married couples and civil partners where one person earns less than the personal allowance will be allowed to transfer up to £1,050 of their unused allowance to their partner, reducing their tax bill. For example, if This will be available to couples provided that either spouse or civil partner is not a higher or additional rate taxpayer. Additionally, it will not be available to non-UK domiciled individuals who elect to pay tax on the remittance basis of taxation or non-UK residents who would be higher or additional rate taxpayers if their worldwide income was within the scope of UK tax. Married couples or civil partnerships who are eligible to claim the Married Couples Allowance (MCA) i.e. at least one of the spouses, or civil partners, was born before 6 April 1935, will not be able to make a transfer. Those with spouses and partners should ensure they are making the most of both allowances and the tax reliefs available to them. If you are unsure whether this relief would be available to you, please obtain professional advice from a tax advisor. Any reader interested in discussing this topic further can telephone Graham Jennings on 01344 875000. Send your taxation and accounting queries to Graham Jennings, Kirk Rice LLP, The Courtyard, High Street, Ascot SL5 7HP Email [email protected]. Please note: answers are given for general guidance only and specific advice should be taken before acting on any of the suggestions made. Chaos for London weekend train passengers until mid February Over six weekends in January and February, the South West Trains, Network Rail Alliance have warned passengers to expect frustrating journeys between Weybridge and Virginia Water. A £7 million programme of track maintenance work in the Wimbledon area will be undertaken. Engineering teams will be replacing 12 sets of points - used to cross trains between different lines - positioned to the West of Wimbledon Station. In an online statement, South West Trains said the infrastructure in the area dates back to the 1970s and is now at the end of its working life. Due to the sheer number of trains which pass through the Wimbledon area, speed restrictions or other problems here can cause delays and cancellations right across the network. "This work will improve reliability and punctuality of trains across this vital part of our route," it advised. This work will result in the closure of all lines in the Wimbledon area, affecting most South West Trains routes until Monday 2 February. A normal service is expected to run on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February but engineering work will then continue and disrupt services the following weekend. On Saturdays buses will replace stopping trains between Weybridge and Virginia Water. No trains will run between Clapham Junction and Surbiton. Long distance routes to Exeter/Bristol, Weymouth and Portsmouth which pass through Wimbledon will be diverted while the works are taking place. There will be revised departure and arrival times and alterations to the stopping points on most routes. John Halsall, infrastructure director for the Network Rail-South West Alliance, said: “This vital project will significantly improve one of the most important sections of railway on our route, which will boost reliability and punctuality for passengers travelling through Wimbledon and from many other stations and locations. “We have scheduled the work in order to minimise disruption to passengers as much as possible but if you, friends or family are travelling during these times, I strongly suggest checking travel details first. “This work will have a significant impact on our services and we apologise for the inconvenience caused but they are a vital part of improving our network and our service to passengers.” Passengers have been advised that the easiest way to plan a journey is via nationalrail.co.uk HOT Date this Valentine’s Day? FOR TOP RESTAURANTS, GIFTS AND MUCH MORE READ OUR SPECIAL VALENTINE’S EDITION NEXT MONTH Advertisers - Email [email protected] St Peter’s Hospital struggles with demand Just as Surrey was heading to get back to work after the festive break, executives at St Peter's in Chertsey issued a statement saying the hospital was under severe pressure and struggling to cope with emergency patients. In an online message, Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "Please don't come to A&E unless you are a real emergency". Non-emergency patients were warned they would face "an extremely long wait" and "could be taking staff away from caring for patients who need emergency or life-saving care". Because of the severe pressure, outpatient appointments were being cancelled and a number of operations were postponed. A spokesperson for the Foundation Trust advised residents to call NHS 111, visit an NHS Walk-in Centre, their GP or local pharmacy. St Peter's:Eexperiencing very high levels of demand on A&E For more local news as it happens visit www.livingwithin.com January 2015 LIVING WITHIN Good Gardening with Alison Jones January Gardening with Alison Jones Happy New Year! If you’ve been cooped up indoors over Christmas, why not get some fresh air in the garden? Winter rain means the soil is easy to work, so long as it’s not frozen, so dig over bare patches, which will soon warm you up. This month’s gardening advice is dedicated to wildlife-friendly gardening, since birds and other wildlife need a helping hand during the coldest months. If the ground isn’t frozen, consider planting some wildlife-friendly shrubs which produce berries that birds love to feed on in midwinter. As well as being useful to birds, these shrubs add interest through the less colourful months when much of the garden is dormant. The Cotoneaster gives colour and berries right through the winter – blackbirds are especially fond of them. It grows in full sun and partial shade and should reward you with lots of red berries in winter and flowers in summer. For an alternative to the tall-growing Cotoneaster, the Horizontalis variety provides ground cover and will grow to about 3 ft 4” /100cm high, with a spread of about 180cm. Pyracantha is another shrub that’s loved by birds for the yellow, red or orange berries. Because of their thorny nature, they provide a good security barrier round the edge of your garden. Berberis Darwinii is a hardy and fast-growing evergreen shrub that grows to around three foot square. It makes a good hedge and produces golden-orange flowers in spring followed by berries in autumn. Again, birds love the berries during the autumn and winter months. As their natural food declines, many wild birds rely on food from bird tables and in garden feeders. Make sure it’s high energy food as smaller birds in particular need large amounts to keep energy levels high. Ideal choices are balls of fat, suet cakes and treats, dried mealworms, peanuts and high energy seed mixes. Once you start feeding, try and keep going through the winter as they come to rely on it. Did you know different bird feeders suit different types of birds? Garsons has a wide range of feeders and feed. As well as basic feed mixes, there are different types of seed to attract specific species. The knowledgeable team will be happy to advise you on how to attract a wide variety of birds to your garden. Keep an unfrozen water source available throughout cold weather as birds will not only drink but bathe to keep their feathers in good condition. Other wildlife will drink from it too. If nesting boxes are left up over winter, birds will use them for night-time roosting. You can also get little habitats for bees, ladybirds and other insects – we’re late in the season for those as the insects have already hibernated, but you might want to get an insect habitat for later in the year. Other jobs in the garden this month • Prune apple and pear trees now before they start to bud. Remove dead or weak looking branches and aim for a strong shape with well-spaced branches. • Check stakes and supports that have taken a battering from winter weather. • Clear away dead branches and debris from your borders, but leave it a little messy for wildlife. – Happy gardening! Alison Jones is Plant Buyer for Garsons Farm in West End, Esher 11 Linda Regel’s GreenFingers Winter Colour The shortest day is past, the daylight is coming back and the first late winter flowers will soon be blooming in the garden. However, even at this cold and gloomy time of the year, there is still quite a lot of colour about. I walked around my garden this morning, and, as well as admiring the frost on the dead seed heads – always a good excuse not to tidy up in the autumn – there were plenty of bright berries adding colour to the borders. I planted a boundary hedge of mixed pyracanthas a few years ago. I wanted something thorny to keep out intruders – deer, mostly – and I chose a mixture of varieties, partly as an experiment to see how they grew. The most colourful at the moment is Pyracantha Saphyr Jaune, with lots of small butter yellow berries. Despite the cold weather, they have remained relatively untouched by the birds, and they are adding a warm glow along the length of the hedge. They also looked good in the Christmas door wreath I made. The same cannot be said of the red berried varieties, most of which have been eaten. There are still some small orange-red berries on Pyracantha Saphyr Orange and some densely packed clusters on Pyracantha Saphyr Rouge, one of my favourites. They make a nice contrast, along with the larger red berries left on Pyracantha coccinea Red Column. The individual plants are knitting together into a thick hedge, with branches growing out at every angle, so they need regular trimming to keep them compact. Pyracantha is easy to grow in sun or partial shade in any reasonable soil, and, of course, it is covered in creamy white flowers in May. The red berries on the Cotoneaster, growing against the cottage wall, have also stood up well to the weather and the wildlife. There are still plenty of large, blood red blobs covering the bush, looking like miniature rosehips. Cotoneaster are similar to Pyracantha, but without the thorns and equally easy to grow. They also come in various forms, for ground cover, growing against walls and fences and as freestanding shrubs the size of a small tree. There are still a few of the unusual berries of the Callicarpa bodinieri to be seen. They are a bright metallic purple and you might have trouble convincing people that they are real, and you haven’t just stuck them on the bush for show. The plant itself is not very interesting, and best suited to the back of the border, hidden by flowering perennials during the spring and summer. When these have died down in the winter, you will have the surprise of the berries. Hollies are another good berry plant for the garden, with the added attraction of shiny and sometimes variegated foliage. I found one red berry on my holly Handsworth New Silver, which is a lovely form, with dark green leaves with cream margins. As it is a female variety, it is supposed to be a good berry maker, so I assume the birds got there first, when I wasn’t looking. There is not much to do in the garden at the moment, but it is good to have some time to appreciate the plants, which have been chosen just for this time of year. Add a few to your borders and make the most of the season. Happy New Year! - Linda Regel “ I planted a boundary hedge of mixed pyracanthas a few years ago. I wanted something thorny to keep out intruders – deer, mostly – and I chose a mixture of varieties. 12 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 The festivities are pretty much over and another year has been celebrated and laid to rest. The New Year may be full of resolution and optimism, but there is no getting away from the fact that January is the bleakest month the calendar has to offer. Spring still has the significant buffer of February before we have real prospect of green shoots and renewal, the weather likely to be at its coldest and gloomiest, the days are short, and the sparkle and twinkle are done leaving our homes and gardens stripped, stark and, frankly, a bit bare. To brighten up this slightly desolate picture and attempt to gladden hearts I am writing this month to remind you of some shots of colour and flavour particular to January; some high spots in this challenging month, and hope that I can leave you in a better place than where I have started and with a little something to look forward to on your January tables. January marks the start of the forced rhubarb season, and it is pretty swiftly followed by the finish so make the most of it while you can. This delicate and refined rhubarb, brought forward from its more natural season, thrives in the cold and damp conditions provided by the Rhubarb Triangle of Yorkshire and is not, unlike most plant life, improved by any glint of daylight. Both grown and harvested without natural light, and in special sheds, artificially heated for the final push, it grows fast and furious in glorious shades of pink and red; no trace of green coarseness taints its beauty even in its yellow leaves. Rhubarb is an ancient plant, long ago used for medicinal purposes in Northern Asia. We English were amongst the first to cook with it and it became one of our kitchen staples. Its popularity dimmed at a time when sugar became both scarce and rationed with a wartime population encouraged to eat home-grown and plentiful rhubarb lacking, however, easy access to the sweetness needed to ameliorate its mouth-puckeringly sour natural flavour. Rhubarb became the stuff of bad memories for a generation and forced production is significantly diminished from its pre war glory years; its stock pretty low as a foodstuff that has for many years lacked sponsorship, glamour, or a clear identity (being technically a vegetable but used more like a fruit) and with a name, unfortunately, that lends little if any cachet. But, as often happens as fashions come and go and memories become consigned to history, it has had a bit of a resurgence in recent years and come to the notice of a new generation of British chefs looking for home grown produce in preference to the more exotic. We home cooks can also expand on it as an ingredient for a traditional humble crumble or a pie (good as both these are) and I can assure you that a stick or two of pink rhubarb can rise above the homely and the comforting and bring a touch of elegance to the table. Rhubarb requires gentle handling, low Rhubarb has had a bit of a resurgence in recent years and come to the notice of a new generation of British chefs looking for home grown produce in preference to the more exotic. temperatures, and careful watching if it is not to turn into a mush and needs ingredients that will complement and help reveal the natural, if somewhat concealed, sweetness that underlies its more obvious bitter overtones. It can be poached in dessert wine or sweet orange juice, with sugar or honey according to your own taste - don’t be tempted to be heavy handed with the sweetness however - one of rhubarb’s main charms is that it should retain its bitter integrity. It sits well with vanilla or ginger and looks beautiful when served with the red stained segments of a blood orange, also, happily, about to come into season. Two or three sticks, sliced into shortish lengths, put in a non-metallic oven-proof dish with enough wine or juice added to give a comfortable pool to bathe but not drown in and sprinkled with no more than about 50g of sugar, covered with foil and baked in an oven pre-heated to a moderate 150ºC160ºC for between 15 and 30 minutes (until a sharp knife will just pierce easily to the centre of the rhubarb) will poach rhubarb perfectly. Treat with great care while lifting the rhubarb from its juices from where it can be used to garnish some whipped cream on a soft chewy meringue, the cooking juices (with any less than perfect rhubarb pieces pushed through a sieve to join them) used as a syrupy sauce to drizzle over just before serving. Rhubarb will give dramatic effect to a tart, provided you are prepared to take a bit of time cutting the stems evenly, standing them up in regimented concentric circles or making pretty mosaic patterns, and then take care not to overcook them. It can also be used in more savoury fare as an accompanying sharpener to cut through rich fatty foods like pork, duck or an oily fish such as mackerel in place of other fruit that do a similar job, like apple, or orange. The sweet blood oranges also coming into their short season and the sour Seville ones that will make a brief appearance in January, for those interested in making their own marmalade, will add other bursts of January zest and vitality. I hope that I may have tempted some of you, not already familiar, to seek them out and try something with them. I wish you all a very Happy New Year and, with even January able to provide such sophisticated prospects, the domestic amongst them, imagine how much there is to look forward to once the days start getting perceptibly longer. Erica x www.acookinthekitchen.co.uk www.acooksblog.com “In a few sheds near Wakefield, you can hear the rhubarb grow” ~ Ian Jack, journalist Beef Rendang with cucumber and mint Raita Thanks to the a 50th celebration I was asked to cater for one weekend I had to come out of my comfort zone a prepare this curry, which originated in Indonesia and is often served at ceremonial occasions. Place the beef with the ingredients from Group A into a bowl and marinade for a couple of hours or even overnight as I did. Make a paste in a blender of everything in Group B. So here goes. YOU WILL NEED Group A 1kg stewing beef cut into 1 inch (approx) chunks. 3 cloves garlic crushed Heat the oil in a large enough pan and add the beef. Sear until brown all over (4-5 mins). Now add the spice paste that you have blended and cook on high for another 4-5 mins. Add the final Group C ingredients. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 2 ½ hours, or until meat is tender. Stir every 20 mins or so so that sauce doesn’t stick. 1tbsp chilli sauce (not sweet) 1 med onion Curry usually improves with age so a great one to cook the day before you require it. Remember you don’t need to be precise with your ingredient measurements, its all about taste so you may wish to adjust the flavourings as the dish cooks. It is important to taste, so often recipes are disappointing if just produced as per the recipe and without tasting. You may find that your preference is to have more sauce with this curry, so it is perfectly acceptable to add an extra can of coconut milk. 2tsp cumin powder Serve with basmati rice, chapatti and… 2tspcoriander powder CUCUMBER AND MINT RAITA 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 large pot of natural yoghurt 3tbsp chilli sauce (not a sweet one) ½ a cucumber (seeds stripped) finely chopped Salt or soy sauce to taste Large handful of mint leaves finely chopped 1 can coconut milk Salt to taste 2 teaspoons tamarind paste Simply mix all these ingredients together and serve with your curry. Delicious! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• When she’s not writing, Elizabeth runs her own catering business. She has also set up an initiative with volunteers who help feed patients at hospitals at meal times. 1 tbsp soy sauce 1tbsp sunflower or peanut oil Group B 2 inch piece fresh ginger skinned Juice of 1 lemon 1 tbsp sugar Sunflower oil for frying. January 2015 LIVING WITHIN 13 Kirk Rice Celebrates 25 Years in Business 2014 proved to be an exciting year for Ascot based accountancy and financial services firm, Kirk Rice LLP as it celebrated 25 years in business. It was a significant year for the growth and future of the firm as it appointed two new partners; Susan Beverly and Tim Neale. On the fundraising front it was also a successful year. Led by the firm’s charity committee, the Kirk Rice team took up the challenge of organising fundraising events and donations for each and every year it has been in business. Kirk Rice LLP began its life in 1989 and now has over 40 staff offering expertise in General Practice, Tax, Outsourcing and Financial Services and the team became quite competitive in their fundraising exploits. The �Bake Off’ in November was particularly entertaining; staff brought in their homemade bakes to compete for the much coveted Kirk Rice Bake Off Trophy! The theme of course was the 25th Anniversary and all bakers worked hard to produce impressive bakes. This one must have kept Delia busy for hours! “After 25 years we are fortunate to still be working with a good number of clients who started out with us.” - Maxine Guest, Partner founder and CEO, Fiona Devine and members of the Alexander Devine care team. Kirk Rice looks forward to supporting the charity throughout 2015 when building of the new children’s hospice begins. Alexander Devine’s corporate fundraiser, Jess Lamont said, “We are thrilled with the support of Kirk Rice who, without hesitation, gave a generous donation to Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service. We are really looking forward to working together to support our children who are life limited and life threatened and their families.” opportunity to thank these and all ourr clients for having confidence in us and d for their continued support; we reallyy value their business.” d: Co-founder and partner Kirk Rice said: one “I would especially like to thank anyone who has joined us in our anniversary events vents and celebrations. Here’s to the next 25!” !” Events and the charities supported Other bakes included tempting cupcakes, a classic lemon drizzle, brownies and a ginger cake, it certainly wasn’t a day to diet and there was no shortage of volunteers to pay £3 to taste and vote for their top three creations. At the end of the day the winner was announced; Priya Bhavsar, our newest member of staff, took the top prize with her delicious lemon drizzle cake. The Kirk Rice charity team had some festive fun filling shoe boxes with Christmas gifts for the Operation Christmas Child Appeal run by Samaritan’s Purse. All Operation Christmas Child boxes have now been sent to children overseas in refugee camps, orphanages, homeless shelters and impoverished neighborhoods in more than 100 countries across 6 continents. The team’s final donation was made in December through our new partnership with Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice. Mark Norman, Trainee Accountant and member of the Kirk Rice Charity Committee visited the charity’s office on Wednesday, December 10th where he had the privilege of meeting the co- “The partnership would also like to thank our team; we are extremely proud of our staff, not only for their hard work in the office but also for the efforts they put in to raise funds for our chosen charities. Since 2007 they have raised over £20,000,” said Maxine Guest, Partner. “After 25 years we are fortunate to still be working with a good number of clients who started out with us and we would like to take this 1 Ascot Relay for Life Cancer Research UK 2 Sponsorship of staff member Chloe Platts, Monster Race John Radcliffe Hospital, Heart Centre 3 Wear spots to work day Children in Need 4 Staff Bake Off Children in Need 5 Armed Forces Day – staff quiz and cream tea Care for Casualties 6 Sponsorship of a client in 3 Peaks Challenge Bike 4 Cancer 7 Donation Zakk’s First Steps 8 Donation Lauren’s Wishes 9 Donation Cardiomyopathy Association 10 Sponsorship of a golf hole at charity golf day Children with Special Needs Foundation 11 Donation Slough Food Bank 12 Donation North Yorkshire Air Ambulance 13 Children’s Christmas Boxes Operation Christmas Child 14 Staff Sport Sweepstake Sport Relief 15 Relay for Life Celebration Ball Cancer Research UK 16 Sponsorship of KCA’s Extreme Movember Movember 17 Sponsorship of staff member Kara Inman, Reading Rainbow Run Helen & Douglas House Hospice 18 Sponsorship of a local London marathon runner Shelter 19 Donation The Ascot District Day Centre and Day Care Plus 20 Christmas jumper day General fundraising 21 Staff tuck box General fundraising 22 World Cup Fever dress up day General fundraising 23 Staff Christmas party raffle General fundraising 24 50:50 club General fundraising 25 Donation to Children’s Christmas Party and Hospice Building project Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service 14 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 Local Care Home Celebrate �Care group of the Year’ Award Local care home, Lakeview, is celebrating being part of the �Care Group of the Year’. Hallmark Care Homes, the care provider behind the popular Lightwater care home, was awarded the prestigious accolade at the recent National Care Awards – the care sector’s premier awards event. Hallmark Care Homes, established in 1997, own and operate 17 care homes throughout the UK and are renowned for their innovative facilities and relationship-centred approach to elderly care. The group were presented the award in front of by television presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford at a glitzy Gala Night held at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, attended by 800 guests. Stuart King, General Manager at Lakeview said, "Hallmark Care Homes is one big family and this award is fantastic recognition for every single team member. We are so proud to be part of the best care group in UK." Lakeview, along with other care homes in the group, had to demonstrate "outstanding care for residents" and "excellent staff training". National Care Awards judges said: "Hallmark Care Homes shows unswerving commitment to great relationship centred dementia support. They are incredibly innovative in a sector with significant challenges. Hallmark are passionate and genuinely credible when it comes to valuing their people and the great support they deliver." Stunning showhome steals the show at Fairacre Court Upmarket housebuilder CALA Homes has opened the doors to Elmwood House, the stunning show home at Fairacre Court, a new development of three luxury homes in Ascot. Styled by an interior designer, the show home allows potential purchasers to experience the lifestyle on offer at Fairacre Court. The five bedroom detached home features elegant architectural design and the highest specification interiors. Designed over three storeys, it offers a large open plan kitchen/family/garden room, separate living and dining rooms, an impressive master suite with dressing room and en-suite, and four further bedrooms. Offering luxury living in a most prestigious location, Fairacre Court is a collection of five bedroom homes, just a short walk from Ascot’s high street and the world-famous Ascot Racecourse. Perfect for professionals, the development is close to many transport connections, including the M3, M4 and M25. Central London can be reached by train in just under an hour. What’s more, interested buyers can make the most of CALA’s Part Exchange service to secure their dream home at Fairacre Court and move up the property ladder with ease. Homes are currently available at £2,100,000. To find out more, visit development’s show home or call 01784 861670 Thursday to Monday. At all other times please contact agents, Aston Mead on 01932 950500 or visit cala.co.uk. Halifax says first-time buyers at highest level since 2007 The Halifax says the number of first-time buyers rose to its highest level in seven years in 2014. The number crunchers at the firm believe some 326,500 people bought their first residential property last year. Compared to 2013 that was a rise of 22%. First time buyers were helped by lower mortgage rates and government schemes including Help to Buy, which require small deposits. Analysts also believe improved job prospects played a part in the increase. The cost of an average deposit also fell by 7% in 2014, the Halifax said. A down-payment of £29,218 was required by first time buyers, which was £2,364 lower than a year earlier. Lower borrowing rates meant they spent a lower Call today on: Telephone: 01483 820226 Mobile: 07939 688597 email: [email protected] proportion of their income on the mortgage than in previous years. According to the Halifax, first-time buyers spent an average of 32% of their disposable incomes on paying the mortgage from 1 July to 30 September 2014. Seven years earlier they were spending 50% of their income on a mortgage. All good news, but house price actually increased in 2014 by as much as 9% compared to a year ealier. Four fifths of those taking advantage of the government's Help to Buy scheme purchased their first property. The scheme enabled them to put down a deposit as little as 5% of the selling price. For more property news as it happens visit www.livingwithin.com January 2015 LIVING WITHIN 15 NOW AVAILABLE Queen’s Road, Sunninghill Prices from £550,000 Ivory Homes bring you an exclusive and beautiful development on Queens Road consisting of a three bedroom house and two spacious open plan three bed apartments, just moments away from the heart of Sunninghill local shops and amenities. Land & New Homes Š‡•‡•–—‹‰Š‘‡•Šƒ�‡‡ƒ…Š„‡‡–ƒ‹Ž‘”‡†–‘ƒŠ‹‰Š•’‡…‹Ƥ…ƒ–‹‘ with modern interior architecture that provides a contemporary feel. Photography from Elmwood House, Fairacre Court 20: 1 5 T I ME YOUR MOVE TO P E R F E C T I ON C OME TO C A L A NOW ELMWOOD HOUSE SHOWHOME NOW OPEN £2,100,000 available with Part Exchange* FAIRACRE COURT, RAVENSDALE ROAD, ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, SL5 9HL. CALL ASTON MEAD ON 01932 950 500. CALA.CO.UK CALA HO ME S 5 star customer service 5 years running LW9JAN *CALA will obtain 2 independent valuations based on achieving a sale in 4-6 weeks, part exchange considered subject to CALA’s purchasing criteria, terms & conditions. 5 stars awarded for customers’ willingness to �Recommend to a Friend’ in findings of the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 surveys, undertaken by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) 16 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 CLAYGATE Situated in one of the most popular roads in Claygate is this beautiful detached family home of approximately 2788 sq ft. This fantastic home is ideally situated for local schools, the village centre, and Claygate train station giving access to London Waterloo. Energy rating C. MASTER BEDROOM WITH EN SUITE, 4 FURTHER BEDROOMS, 3 RECEPTION ROOMS, BATHROOM, KITCHEN, GARAGE, GARDEN C LD ST SO Guide Price: £1,350,000 CLAYGATE Situated on a secluded plot in a very popular area of Claygate is this simply wonderful detached family home. The property is approximately 2425 sq ft and generates a wonderful air of calm and tranquility throughout. Claygate village with its shops and train station is within very close proximity along with outstanding local schools. The A3 trunk road gives easy access to London and the south coast as well as to both Heathrow and Gatwick international airports. Energy rating D. MASTER BEDROOM WITH EN SUITE, 3 FURTHER BEDROOMS, 4 RECEPTION ROOMS, BATHROOM, KITCHEN, UTILITY ROOM, GARAGE, GARDEN. C LD ST SO Guide Price: £1,150,000 There is a lack of property currently available and we have applicants looking across all price ranges. Call us now for a confidential market appraisal to discuss this further. Doug Parks Branch Manager ESHER 01372 462211 [email protected] www.johndwood.co.uk January 2015 LIVING WITHIN 17 Wentworth Estate £4,950,000 A brand new house set in private wooded grounds at the end of a cul de sac, on the main island of Wentworth. This modern home amounts to approximately 8,374 sq ft and is finished to a very high standard. EPC rating B. 6 6 beds baths annexe garage 3 6 receptions 1 acre Wentworth Estate £4,250,000 A brand new family home recently completed to a magnificent level of specification and finish with a highly sophisticated level of design and flair from Alexander James Interiors. EPC Rating: C80 6 6 6 beds baths receptions annexe garage 2 0.45 acre Wentworth Estate £2,650,000 A classical Wentworth family home built by WG Tarrant in1936 situated in outstanding gardens of approximately one acre with a delightful outdoor swimming pool and a large garage with a one bedroom apartment over. EPC Rating: E45 4 2 beds baths annexe garage 2 4 receptions 1 acre The Estate Office - Wentworth - Virginia Water - Surrey - GU25 4DL. UK T: +44(0)1344 843000 - W: bartonwyatt.co.uk 18 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 • Tauck Directors provide warm, caring, thoughtful service throughout your trip • Each guest is treated as an individual, with their own needs understood • Guests share the experience with like-minded travellers Never Settle For Ordinary: From the very first Tour which departed in 1925, Tauck has pioneered the best way to discover landmark sights around the World. • Tauck's 90 years of destination expertise provides exceptional local access for travel experiences that are beyond the ordinary • Trips are seamlessly choreographed to maximise guests' time • Stay at fine hotels in prime locations, selected for comfort, ambiance, service and convenience; dining includes authentic regional cuisine at local restaurants • Quality means everything when you travel – innovative sightseeing and cultural events inspire Inclusive Value: • One up-front price with virtually everything included • No hidden costs, no surprises and no options sold on tour • Over 100 cost components included on every land tour, river cruise and small ship cruise 6 Products – 65 Countries – Tauck has the world covered As the world leader in luxury, escorted travel, Tauck offers over 130 programmes now in 60+ countries worldwide. Tauck showcase the “must-see” attractions in each destination, enhancing the experience with indepth commentary and insights that add perspective and understanding. Visits to must-see sites are complemented with insider access to “off-the-beaten-path” gems that deliver authentic cultural experiences, and are either unavailable or unknown to most travellers. When you travel with Tauck, “How You See The World Matters”… How You See The World Matters It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energise and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters Travel In Good Company: • Every detail on your Tauck vacation is taken care of so you completely connect with the destination We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energise and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters. Tauck World Discovery: The world’s amazing places up close on expertly choreographed land tours – the cobbled streets of Tuscany, an exotic game reserve in Africa, and everywhere in between. Tauck River Cruising: Voted the “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure magazine, sailing through Europe aboard elegant riverboats with uncommon experiences ashore, like dinner in imperial palaces. Tauck Bridges: Hassle-free, global travel for the whole family, designed for doing, seeing, and learning together as a family. Perfect for reunions and multigenerational celebrations! Tauck Culturious: Small group, hands-on journeys that put the emphasis on “sight-doing,” weaving guests into the very fabric of a culture’s daily life. Perfect for culturally curious, more active travellers. Tauck Small Ship Cruising: Cruise to small islands, hidden harbors, and exclusive ports of call, aboard club-like yachts and expeditionary vessels, with engaging cultural explorations ashore. Tauck Events: One-of-a-kind experiences with unparalleled insider access – Rio during Carnival, jazz in New Orleans, NYC with filmmaker Ken Burns, and a New Year’s Eve gala in a Viennese palace... Greenstar Travel - Telephone 01372 462226 www.greenstartravel.co.uk “Because How You See The World Matters…………………..” January 2015 LIVING WITHIN 19 Winter Adventures with Taber holidays Other trip highlights include a Sami reindeer encounter, a visit to the world-famous Icehotel for lunch and a trip to the unique Aurora Sky Station for an evening of gourmet food and Northern Lights hunting. Photo Courtesy: Gaute Bruvik - Innovation Norway Icelandic Cuisine and Culture – From £1711pp For a true taste of Iceland this winter, Taber Holidays have a brand new �Icelandic Cuisine and Culture’ packed full of local delicacies. Available as a five or seven-night break, the escorted tour combines the flavours of Iceland, with cultural treats, soft activities and Northern Lights. Food lovers will enjoy Icelandic cheese tasting, try hot steam baked bread, sample some local beer and enjoy a seafood feast at a Viking Museum, as well as sitting down to gourmet dinners every evening. Those feeling brave may even wish to try rotten shark meat or Brennivin (Black Death Schnapps), both local delicacies. Visits to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, the Langjökull Glacier (by Superjeep) where it is possible to walk upon the ice, the spectacular Gulfoss Waterfall and Iceland’s famous ash-cloud volcano, Eyjafjallajökull are all included and by evening, guests are free to hunt for the Northern Lights with guided searches. Northern Lights Lodge and Husky Safari – From £1795 Ever wanted to watch the Northern Lights dancing in the night sky from the comfort of your own bed? How about a relaxing pampering session at a Lapland Spa? Perhaps a culinary tour of Iceland or a whale-watching safari is more appealing? These are just some of the exciting new experiences on offer with Taber Holidays. The Lapland Indulgence – From £1685pp For a real Arctic indulgence aimed at total rejuvenation, Taber Holidays have introduced a fabulous new four-night break to Sweden. The Lapland Indulgence has a firm emphasis on relaxation. Included is a holistic spa bucket experience in the sensational Ripan Spa where you can indulge your senses with a bucket full of wonderful treatments, in between relaxing in the pool, unwinding in the sauna or enjoying a glass or two of wine or a cool smoothie. If you want to discover the full range of winter tours by Taber Holidays you can find more information from Greenstar Travel For a white winter teeming with exhilarating activities this 4-night holiday to Arctic Norway offers just that. With an emphasis on husky sledding, your closest neighbours live at the nearby Northern Lights Husky kennel and are eagerly awaiting your arrival, tails already wagging! Before a full day’s husky safari, you will be taught how to harness and care for the dogs by Trine Lyrek who is somewhat of a dog-sledding celebrity in Norway having competed in both Europe’s longest dog sledding race, Finnmarksløpet (1000 kms) and Iditarod, the world’s longest held in Alaska (1800 kms). Part of the reward of landing in the Arctic is the chance of encountering the Northern Lights, which a local guide and Aurora hunter will be dedicated to providing on your second night when you embark on a Northern Lights hunt. If this holiday wasn’t exciting enough, you will have the opportunity to sleep inside the Igloo Hotel, explore the wilderness on snowshoes before trying a spot of ice-fishing and enjoy delicious, expertly cooked dinners each evening whilst recounting the day’s activities. Greenstar Travel - Telephone 01372 462226 www.greenstartravel.co.uk Special Advertising Feature Treatments include an aromatic coffee scrub for the face and hands, a footbath of juniper salt and lemon, an exfoliating body scrub of newly sprouted birch leaves and soothing pine-scented body oil. All products in the spa bucket are made from natural ingredients, completely free of preservatives, and are based on ancient Swedish, Sami and Torne Valley medicinal knowledge. 20 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 Every Kirker holiday is carefully-crafted, using just the right combination of flights from your local airport, rail and transfers by private car, water taxi or helicopter, to ensure a relaxing and hassle-free journey to and from airports and stations. Italy offers such a wonderful variety of culture, history, scenery, food and wine – it can be hard to decide which city or region to visit next. We would be delighted to help you find the perfect destination to satisfy your personal requirements, whether it includes relaxing by the sea, exploring ancient ruins or sampling regional wines. We are also experts in creating hassle-free tailor-made itineraries to enable you to enjoy two or more destinations in the same holiday. Throughout Italy we highly recommend using the excellent network of high speed trains which enable you to glide effortlessly between city centres – for example it is only 90 minutes between Rome and Florence. If you are planning a holiday to mark a special birthday or anniversary, life is far too short not to celebrate in style – in particular, we highly recommend an unforgettable journey on the elegant Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train which glides majestically through the Alps before arriving in Venice – the ultimate indulgence for those who wish to celebrate in style. Kirker Concierge Service Kirker Holidays and Greenstar Travel have a passion for Italy and delight in sharing our expert knowledge to create memorable holiday experiences to cities, lakes, coast and countryside destinations. We launched our first Kirker Italy brochure in 1986 and have been enthusiastic promoters of holidays to this wonderful country ever since. We offer our clients a range of carefully chosen hotels, breath-taking culture including world class museums and art galleries, tickets to world class opera and music – and of course, superb food and wine. Whether you are looking for a charming pension in the heart of Rome, a stylish palazzo overlooking the lagoon in Venice, or a grand villa in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, Kirker now features over 200 carefully-selected properties. Many are privately-owned and managed, and all have been personally visited by our experienced team to make sure that they meet our strict criteria for style, comfort and location. Whether you are looking for a charming pension in the heart of Rome, a stylish palazzo overlooking the lagoon in Venice, or a grand villa in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, Kirker now features over 200 carefully selected properties. All holidays include the unique Kirker Concierge service to assist with bookings for a delicious dinner at a recommended restaurant to enjoy delicious Italian cuisine – from a local trattoria to the finest Michelin-starred establishment. They would also be delighted to arrange opera, ballet or concert tickets at one of the country’s famous theatres, or perhaps a private walking tour with an expert local guide. Kirker clients visiting Venice are now offered the opportunity to join a Kirker walking tour every Tuesday for only £10 per person during winter and £20 during the summer – an invaluable insight into the history of this fascinating city. Many of our clients also enjoy visiting Italy’s spectacular museums and art galleries and Kirker clients receive complimentary timed entrance tickets to museums such as the Uffizi, Bargello or Accademia in Florence; the Doge’s Palace, Accademia or Guggenheim in Venice and either the Borghese Gallery or Vatican Museum in Rome. If you have a particular exhibition in mind, please just ask the Kirker Concierge who would be delighted to help and who will ensure that our pre-booked tickets enable you to avoid the lengthy queues. Greenstar Travel - Telephone 01372 462226 www.greenstartravel.co.uk Special Advertising Feature New destinations for 2015 include Genoa in the west; Faenza – the home of majolica ceramics – in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, Italy’s gastronomic centre; and the UNESCO World Heritage town of Modica which has been added to our range of towns and cities in Sicily. January 2015 LIVING WITHIN 21 Discover St Ives Winner of a showcase of national awards including best family holiday destination by Coast magazine, St Ives is a seemingly subtropical oasis where the beaches are golden, the vegetation lush and the light piercingly bright. It’s no wonder then that the town has been attracting artists for decades who come to Our apartment is a new two bedroom, contemporary styled flat situated just capture the area’s undeniable natural beauty. It started yards from the busy streets of the bustling fishing town of St Ives, within with J.M.W. Turner and the marine artist Henry Moore easy walking distance to all the beautiful beaches, restaurants, shops and who first came to St Ives in the mid-1800s and since art galleries and yet in a very quiet and convenient location. The apartment then the town has become a magnet for some of the sleeps 4 guests comfortably. It offers stylish and modern living spaces with world’s greatest painters, sculptors and ceramists. the addition of a small, enclosed, courtyard, ideal for alfresco style dining St Ives’s arty connections are reflected in the and drinking on a hot summers’ day. There are many unusual design features numerous galleries and exhibitions dotted around the throughout the apartment adding to the bright and modern feel of this unique town and combine that with a great surfing beach, holiday home and there are sea glimpses to be enjoyed too. plenty of pavement cafes, ancient pubs, top notch The apartment is fully furnished and is fully equipped catering for all your needs, eateries and a fascinating working harbour, St Ives is including TV & freeview, DVD player, washing machine/dryer iron/ironing board, deservedly one of Cornwall’s top destinations. HOLIDAY APARTMENT TO LET microwave etc. There is also a little shed just off the courtyard to store all your beach and surf gear. Rents are from Saturday to Saturday. Arrive in breathtaking style by taking the twenty-minute train ride on the popular branch line from St Erth to St Ives and be the first to spot the colourful fishing boats coming into harbour as the branch line snakes around the golden bays to the town. Things to do in St Ives Kick off your shoes and stroll along the white sand at Portminster Beach where, out in the bay, you’ll see the dreamy view of Godrevy Lighthouse inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s famous novel To the Lighthouse. Relax and grab a coffee at the multi award winning Porthminster Café. Main Image courtesy Adam Gibbard/Visit Cornwall Visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in St Ives where sensual sculptures by one of the country’s leading 20th century artists are exhibited in tranquil gardens. Wander along pathways through trees and shrubs and discover some of her most celebrated works in bronze and limestone. MANY WEEKS AVAILABLE DURING MAY, JUNE, JULY AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER Prices from £420 per week with 15% off bookings for weeks out of school holidays if you mention this advert. Contact Gill or Bob Telephone 01372 467564/ 07940447681 E-mail [email protected] Behind the 14th century Sloop Inn on the Wharf and the Harbour beach there is a maze of narrow cobbled streets and fisherman’s cottages. This is the heart of old St Ives, known to the locals as �Downlong’. Spend an hour or so delving into the life and times of bygone St Ives at the local museum. The large space is packed with memorabilia and artefacts that reflect St Ives’s long and varied history including fishing, boatbuilding, art and agriculture. There are only four Tate galleries in the world and one of them is Tate St Ives. Since the 1930s visitors have been taking the boat trip from the harbour out sea to watch the local colony of seals frolicking in the sea and sunbathe on the rocks. Located 3½ miles (6km) to the West of St Ives, the aptly named Seal Island is home to more than 40 seals who inquisitively like to say �hello’ 22 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 COMING SOON TO THE ROSE Featuring East, Hobbs, Jigsaw, Monsoon, Oasis, Reiss Innovative business solutions – Offering a wide portfolio of Accounting, financial & business outsourcing services with a personal touch. Added value – The figures in the accounts are just the starting point, our job is to help our clients become more profitable as a business, for less effort. ROSE FASHION SHOW Accounting Audit & Tax Business Support and many more Financial Services Thu 29 Jan touchstone for success Kirk Rice The Courtyard High Street Ascot Berkshire SL5 7HP T: +44 (0)1344 875000 F: +44 (0)1344 873099 Initial consultations From the writer of Calendar Girls, Tim Firth are FREE of charge and without obligation www.kirkrice.co.uk Tue 3 - Sat 7 Feb Thu 12 - Sat 14 Feb By Jerome K Jerome ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON Visit rosetheatrekingston.org (bkg fee) 020 8174 0090 (bkg fee) marketplace monthly January 2015 LIVING WITHIN to advertise phone 01276 858750 23 Get Ready We supply and fit both commercial & domestic: vertical • roller • pleated • wooden venetian aluminium venetian • Roman blinds • shutters curtains • fabric tub chairs All our blinds are custom made • • • Free measuring service • • • 191 High Street, Egham, Surrey TW20 9ED for THE WEEKEND Discover the latest news and events where you live For your FREE e-zine subscription email [email protected] and we’ll start sending you the Weekend’s Guide 01784 471122 www.bellevueblinds.co.uk 24 LIVING WITHIN January 2015 THE WEEKEND GUIDE FREE SUBSCRIPTION Discover the latest news and the best things to do where you live ONLINE & IN YOUR INBOX - EVERY WEEK Subscribe Now! 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