J’AIME MAY 2022
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<strong>J’AIME</strong><br />
Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E<br />
M AY 2 0 2 2<br />
Win<br />
one of five<br />
family tickets<br />
to Staffordshire<br />
County Show<br />
MAKE AN<br />
IMPRESSION:<br />
tips to spruce up<br />
your hallway<br />
HOW A<br />
LICHFIELD<br />
STREET FOOD<br />
FAVOURITE<br />
SURVIVED THE<br />
PANDEMIC<br />
THE BIRMINGHAM YOUTH<br />
ORCHESTRA WHICH IS A<br />
WORLD FIRST
Welcome to <strong>J’AIME</strong><br />
As we head into the warmer months, the events calendar<br />
is hotting up, with shows, festivals and entertainment<br />
galore for the whole family to enjoy around the<br />
Midlands. After a pandemic-stricken two years, it’s such<br />
a joy to see the entertainment industry getting back on<br />
its feet.<br />
Birmingham Royal Ballet are taking on a residency at<br />
The Rep this month to showcase the next generation of<br />
dancers as they celebrate 25 years of Dance Track, their<br />
talent identification programme, and we caught up with<br />
their youngest board of directors member Shireenah<br />
Ingram to find out more. We also take a look at the<br />
National Open Youth Orchestra, a world-first disabledled<br />
orchestra which has a centre in Birmingham, about<br />
pushing musical boundaries.<br />
The Staffordshire County Show is back in its usual early<br />
summer slot after a pandemic-driven move last year, and<br />
once again we have five family tickets to give away. It’s a<br />
jam-packed day out with plenty to keep every member<br />
of the family occupied, so enter our competition for your<br />
chance to join in the fun.<br />
Despite their own struggles over the past two years,<br />
theatres are notoriously good at rallying together<br />
for good causes, and this month sees Lichfield panto<br />
favourite Sam Rabone bring a wonderful fundraising<br />
variety show to the Garrick Stage, in aid of the Disasters<br />
Emergency Committee’s humanitarian work in Ukraine,<br />
and Lichfield City of Sanctuary. We caught up with Sam<br />
ahead of the show.<br />
With a whole host of other favourites, from fashion to<br />
food, homes to health, we hope there’s plenty here to<br />
keep you entertained this month.<br />
If you enjoy what you read in this issue, then why not<br />
help us to spread the word? As well as being delivered<br />
directly to homes in selected postcodes across the<br />
area, you can pick <strong>J’AIME</strong> up free of charge in major<br />
supermarkets around the Midlands, as well as read the<br />
whole thing - and plenty more! - online at<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
EDITOR: AMY NORBURY<br />
EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY<br />
ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
07388 335 931<br />
DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
CONTRIBUTORS: KATY EDGINGTON,<br />
ALEX KELLER, JEAN LAMB, DR DAVID<br />
ECCLESTON, DEBORAH MITCHELL,<br />
RETO PETER<br />
<strong>J’AIME</strong> IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY<br />
PUBLICATIONS LIMITED.<br />
Check us out online at:<br />
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CO N T E N T S<br />
InsideJ’aime this month...<br />
6 Birmingham Royal Ballet - Showcasing the next<br />
generation of dancers<br />
10 National Open Youth Orchestra - The disabledled<br />
youth orchestra pushing musical<br />
boundaries<br />
14 Property - Property of the month<br />
16 Property - New beginnings for Chosen Home<br />
18 Interiors - Make a good first impression<br />
22 Interiors - Ruffle some feathers<br />
26 Richard Winterton - Celebrating an impressive<br />
milestone<br />
28 Gardening - A Lichfield designer’s legacy<br />
garden for Cancer Research UK<br />
32 Food and drink - How The English Indian<br />
survived - and thrived - through the pandemic<br />
36 Food and drink - Reviewing The Oak Room at<br />
Moor Hall Hotel<br />
38 Competition - Win one of five family tickets to<br />
the Staffordshire County Show<br />
42 Lichfield Garrick - A concert for Ukraine<br />
46 What’s On - Events around the Midlands this<br />
month<br />
49 Wealth Matters - The world of finance with<br />
Jean Lamb<br />
50 Health- The benefits of cycling<br />
51 Health Matters - Dr David Eccleston examines<br />
health topics each month<br />
52 Fashion - Go big or go home<br />
54 Fashion - Suits you, sir<br />
56 Beauty - Changing with the seasons<br />
58 In the news - The fitted storage experts<br />
SPONSORED BY<br />
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Fitted Wardrobes, Walk In Wardrobes, Bedroom Furniture, Storage Systems<br />
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F E AT U R E<br />
A celebration of dance<br />
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET SHOWCASES THE ART FORM AND CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF DANCE<br />
TRACK WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS AT THE REP THIS MONTH. KATY EDGINGTON DISCOVERS MORE<br />
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s very first<br />
residency at The Birmingham Rep is set to<br />
showcase the next generation of dancers this<br />
May, featuring members of the company and<br />
music from The Royal Ballet Sinfonia.<br />
The week-long residency continues the ballet<br />
company’s ongoing partnership with the<br />
theatre, forged by Birmingham Royal Ballet<br />
(BRB) Director Carlos Acosta and The Rep’s<br />
Artistic Director Sean Foley in 2020 to help<br />
revive the city’s cultural life after lockdown.<br />
In October 2020, the world premiere of<br />
Lazuli Sky by Will Tuckett marked the<br />
reopening of The Rep and BRB’s return to<br />
live performances. This was followed in June<br />
2021 with the world premiere of City of a<br />
Thousand Trades. BRB and The Rep also<br />
collaborated on specially adapted seasons of<br />
Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker and Sir<br />
David Bintley’s Cinderella during 2020 and<br />
2021.<br />
The company will open its residency on Sunday,<br />
May 8 with Dance Track 25, celebrating the flagship<br />
education initiative of the Learning, Education,<br />
Access and Participation (LEAP) department at BRB.<br />
BRB DIRECTOR CARLOS ACOSTA WITH A<br />
MEMBER OF DANCE TRACK. PHOTO BY<br />
MAN YEE LEE<br />
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET ARE TAKING<br />
A RESIDENCY AT THE REP THIS MONTH<br />
Dance Track is a talent identification programme<br />
which has nurtured, trained and supported more<br />
than 3,200 young dancers aged six to 11 since it<br />
was launched in 1997. Some 200 dancers are taking<br />
to the stage to mark its 25 year anniversary with<br />
performances, films, talks and more. Current Dance<br />
Trackers, together with alumni and special guests,<br />
will tell the story of the project that has been getting<br />
Birmingham dancing for 25 years.<br />
BRB’s Learning and Participation Manager, Rebecca<br />
Brookes, manages both large and small-scale projects<br />
including Dance Track, conducts ballet training in<br />
Birmingham and on tour, leads repertoire workshops<br />
and auditions, and has co-devised a new ballet fitness<br />
programme - as well as teaching on Dance Track.<br />
“We reach out to schools in areas that might not<br />
otherwise get the opportunity to access ballet<br />
classes,” Rebecca explains. “Every class that we give<br />
is free of charge, and they also get their uniform free<br />
of charge and the opportunity to come in and meet<br />
some of the dancers and see a performance on the<br />
main stage.<br />
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“Some families might not have<br />
stepped foot in a theatre before,<br />
so we introduce them to that and<br />
introduce our world. We want it to<br />
be inclusive, but there are a lot of<br />
barriers to break down.”<br />
When Dance Track started in<br />
1997, the team visited 11 schools.<br />
This year they’ve been to 36<br />
across South, Central and North<br />
Birmingham. The ambition is to<br />
expand into the East and West<br />
of the city, too. Rebecca and her<br />
colleagues audition Year 1 pupils<br />
for the programme, looking for those who show<br />
aptitude, enjoyment and focus. These children are<br />
invited to BRB’s base in the city centre for a final<br />
workshop. Then around 100 children are selected<br />
to take into the new Dance Track cohort every<br />
September. Of these, around half will be invited<br />
back for a second year.<br />
“They then get the opportunity to audition for the<br />
Royal Ballet School Junior Associates or Elmhurst<br />
Ballet School Young Dancers,” says Rebecca. “If<br />
they’re accepted onto one of those courses, they’re<br />
automatically eligible to graduate into Dance Track<br />
Plus, which means they get free lessons with us for<br />
another three years to supplement their ballet school<br />
training.”<br />
For Rebecca, the best part of the 25th anniversary<br />
celebrations this spring will be seeing her Dance<br />
Trackers having fun: “They’re getting to perform on<br />
the professional stage, in a professional theatre, in<br />
costume and full lighting. Even though they’re only<br />
on this journey with us for a short time, I would like<br />
them to have the gratification of a celebration of<br />
SHIREENAH INGRAM AS LADY CAPULET<br />
IN ROMEO AND JULIET, IN PART OF THE<br />
BALLET HOO! DOCUMENTARY<br />
SHIREENAH INGRAM IS THE YOUNGEST<br />
MEMBER OF THE BIRMINGHAM ROYAL<br />
BALLET BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
what the programme has achieved.<br />
“It’s also a chance for us to thank all of our donors<br />
and sponsors, without whom the programme<br />
wouldn’t exist. And to get as many old teachers back<br />
as possible to say thank you for joining us on this<br />
journey.”<br />
She’s also looking forward to seeing how much<br />
alumni from previous years have developed, changed<br />
and used Dance Track as a springboard. Jakob<br />
Myers, who now dances with Ballet Cymru, will be<br />
performing in the gala, and Oscar Kempsey-Fagg,<br />
one of three brothers who have been through the<br />
programme and are now in ballet schools, will be<br />
performing a solo.<br />
“For me, Dance Track isn’t just about learning ballet<br />
or the time you’re in the programme, it’s about<br />
changing lives,” Rebecca adds. “It’s teaching life<br />
skills, independence and focus, so they can take what<br />
they learn on this journey as they progress through<br />
their career - whether that’s in dance or not.”<br />
Dance Track 25 will also feature performances<br />
by BRB Principals Céline Gittens and Brandon<br />
Lawrence, who will be co-hosting alongside<br />
Shireenah Ingram, the Ballet’s<br />
youngest ever board member.<br />
Born and raised in Sheldon,<br />
Birmingham, Shireenah’s<br />
relationship with BRB began<br />
in 2006. She was the youngest<br />
participant in the four-part<br />
Channel 4 documentary Ballet<br />
Hoo! Ballet Changed My Life.<br />
“I grew up in a working class<br />
area,” she says. “Luckily my<br />
school had the option to learn<br />
instruments and put on spring<br />
and summer shows, so there<br />
was always the opportunity to<br />
perform.<br />
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7
“In my early teens, there were a few<br />
issues at home. My grandfather, who<br />
raised me, lost his sight. I was really<br />
struggling with that, but didn’t know<br />
how to communicate it as a child. Social<br />
services got involved to try and help<br />
the dynamic at home, and one of the<br />
opportunities they found was Ballet<br />
Hoo!”<br />
As part of the Ex Cathedra choir while<br />
at primary school, Shireenah’s earliest<br />
experience of ballet was as a chorister in<br />
Sir Peter Wright’s Nutcracker. But she<br />
had never danced before.<br />
“It was a very intensive programme<br />
and very new for the body, but the pace<br />
gave me the confidence to say ‘I can do this’. It was<br />
around the time of my GCSEs as well, so there<br />
was a lot going on at school and in life. It was quite<br />
demanding but I learnt the discipline of it all.”<br />
For Shireenah, this was one of the most important<br />
things she took away from the whole experience, and<br />
it has impacted her confidence and career ever since.<br />
“I remember growing up and going into auditions<br />
or workshops and being complimented on my<br />
professionalism, how I held myself and my<br />
discipline,” she explains. “And I strongly believe that<br />
that came from having that experience so early on<br />
in my life. I never thought I’d be performing on the<br />
Hippodrome stage or moving off to London and<br />
working with big companies. It gave me confidence,<br />
vision and direction that I never knew I had.”<br />
Now a professional actress, presenter and songwriter,<br />
last year Shireenah founded Red Lens, which<br />
specialises in acting classes and coaching to increase<br />
personal performance confidence. She’s working to<br />
expand her company alongside developing her acting<br />
KATE HOWELLS LEADS<br />
A FIRST STEPS CLASS<br />
DANCE TRACK IS A TALENT NURTURING<br />
PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN FROM THE<br />
AGE OF SIX<br />
career - her recent credits include Doctors, a BFI<br />
short film which was shortlisted for a BAFTA, and a<br />
Marmite ad. She is looking forward to performing,<br />
connecting and engaging with audiences and<br />
reuniting with old friends from the company at the<br />
anniversary gala.<br />
Dance Track 25 is followed on Sunday, May 10 by<br />
New Dance Now - a showcase of new<br />
choreographic talent. The evening will feature brand<br />
new work by the next generation<br />
of young upcoming choreographers from the UK’s<br />
leading ballet companies. At the end of the night, the<br />
audience will be asked to vote for their favourite.<br />
The BRB’s residency at The Rep continues Friday,<br />
May 13 and Saturday, May 14 with An Evening<br />
of Music and Dance. The company’s world-class<br />
dancers will present a repertoire hand-picked by<br />
Acosta, accompanied by The Royal Ballet Sinfonia.<br />
Performances will include the famous Bluebird pas<br />
de deux from The Sleeping Beauty and the beautiful<br />
Farewell pas de deux from Kenneth MacMillan’s<br />
Winter Dreams.<br />
Shireenah will return to host<br />
Discover Dance & Music, also on<br />
May 13 and 14 - a magical journey<br />
into ballet for audiences aged<br />
four-plus. She will be joined by<br />
conductor Philip Ellis to introduce<br />
the instruments of the Royal Ballet<br />
Sinfonia, present BRB dancers in<br />
highlights from classic ballets, and<br />
host interactive fun and games.<br />
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s weeklong<br />
residency at The Rep runs<br />
from Sunday, May 8 until Saturday,<br />
May 14. Tickets can be booked at<br />
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk<br />
8<br />
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F E AT U R E<br />
The orchestra<br />
reimagining excellence<br />
THE DISABLED-LED YOUTH ORCHESTRA THAT’S PUSHING MUSICAL BOUNDARIES COMES<br />
TO BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL THIS JUNE. KATY EDGINGTON FINDS OUT MORE<br />
The National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO)<br />
was launched back in September 2018. Its<br />
aims? To promote musical excellence and<br />
support 11-25 year old disabled and nondisabled<br />
musicians to come together as<br />
members of an inclusive ensemble. And it’s a<br />
world first.<br />
After more than two years of delays and<br />
disappointments due to the Covid-19<br />
pandemic, NOYO will perform their first ever<br />
series of concerts this spring and summer,<br />
kicking off in London at the end of April<br />
followed by May performances in Bristol and<br />
Poole. You can catch them at Birmingham<br />
Town Hall on Sunday, June 5 for the fourth<br />
and final date.<br />
Although there are now many organisations<br />
working to provide opportunities for disabled<br />
musicians to develop their and to play,<br />
generations of young people have missed out<br />
on that chance. That’s why NOYO co-founder<br />
and Musical Director Doug Bott says the<br />
orchestra was set up with two key purposes in<br />
mind.<br />
“First, we wanted to provide a practical<br />
progression route for young disabled people<br />
who have a precocious musical talent, but who may<br />
face barriers to developing that talent through more<br />
conventional youth orchestras.<br />
“The second is to provide a youth orchestra which<br />
can perform in public, shining as a beacon of<br />
opportunity to give people around the country and<br />
the world a clear sense of what young disabled<br />
people can achieve as musicians, to raise aspirations.”<br />
Applications to join NOYO open every March.<br />
They’re open to 11-25 year old disabled and nondisabled<br />
musicians. Some recruits come straight in<br />
as full members, while others who show potential<br />
NATIONAL OPEN YOUTH<br />
ORCHESTRA IS A WORLD FIRST.<br />
PHOTO BY PAUL BLAKEMORE<br />
but require a little more time and development, are<br />
brought on as trainees. Though they don’t perform<br />
in concerts, they do get to develop their skills.<br />
Under the auspices of Open Up Music, NOYO<br />
is delivered through regional centres in London,<br />
Bournemouth, Bristol, and Birmingham - the newest<br />
of the four. Birmingham NOYO Centre is run in<br />
partnership with Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), a<br />
contemporary arts centre and charity in Cannon Hill<br />
Park, education and training charity Services For<br />
Education, and music charity B:Music.<br />
Currently there are just three young people at<br />
the Birmingham centre, but the team are hoping<br />
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Jaime_DoubleSpread_December2021.indd 1 19/04/<strong>2022</strong> 14:02:17
to boost numbers through the <strong>2022</strong><br />
audition process. Holly Radford-James<br />
is a producer at MAC. She manages the<br />
partnership between Open Up Music,<br />
B:Music and Services for Education, and<br />
explains why this is the case.<br />
“We’ve started off very small so that we<br />
can really get to know the young people<br />
within our centre and make sure that the<br />
offer and the rehearsals are bespoke to<br />
their needs, the way they work and how<br />
they make music.<br />
“NOYO has a fantastic pastoral support<br />
officer, Ben, who has worked alongside the young<br />
people on their personal development plans and to<br />
get a really good idea of what they’re interested in,<br />
what their ambitions are, where they might need<br />
extra support and what they’re really flourishing<br />
in. We’ve been working with Ben to support that<br />
development with our music leader and assistant<br />
music leader within the rehearsals.”<br />
The young musicians take part in 10 regional<br />
rehearsals over the course of a year and come<br />
together with their peers from across the UK at an<br />
Easter residential to rehearse and have fun.<br />
Quite unusually in the orchestral world, NOYO<br />
takes on board the views of its members in the music<br />
HOLLI IS ALSO STUDYING<br />
AT BIRMINGHAM ROYAL<br />
CONSERVATOIRE<br />
NOYO WAS LAUNCHED IN 2018<br />
AS AN INCLUSIVE ENSEMBLE<br />
commissioning process. This year they will present<br />
a beautiful new co-commissioned work, ‘What Fear<br />
We Then?’ by Alexander Campkin, who is himself a<br />
disabled composer.<br />
Jamie, a saxophonist in the orchestra says: “One of<br />
the most rewarding aspects of NOYO is feeling like<br />
an active participant in the music we play. All too<br />
often, in a lot of other music groups, you tend to play<br />
from the same repertoire of classical and romantic<br />
and baroque pieces, and the interpretations and<br />
expressions of that music will either be based on how<br />
every other orchestra has played these pieces, or how<br />
the conductor thinks it should be played.<br />
“It’s amazing playing a piece that has only been<br />
composed in the past few years, having a living<br />
composer who could talk to us about his feelings<br />
behind the piece and not only give feedback, but also<br />
listen to our suggestions.”<br />
This focus on the young people over the music<br />
is necessary, Doug explains, as each year there<br />
is a cohort of players who might play very<br />
diverse instruments and come from very diverse<br />
backgrounds. They’re not necessarily in a position to<br />
simply play a standard piece of music. So the process<br />
starts with understanding who they are, what they<br />
want to play, and how they are going to play it.<br />
“When we commission music, we don’t commission<br />
it for set instruments,” Doug adds. “We commission<br />
composers to create music with lots of different parts<br />
which we can then adapt to whichever instruments<br />
we have. This has the potential to reinvigorate<br />
classical music across the board, not only for young<br />
people but also professionally.”<br />
Traditional orchestral instruments like the violin,<br />
viola, cello, trumpet, French horn, and percussion<br />
are represented in the ensemble, but so too are<br />
the saxophone and electric guitar. Plus there are<br />
three interesting electronic instruments played by<br />
members of the orchestra: the clarion, which can<br />
be played with any part of the musician’s body,<br />
12 www.jaimemagazine.com
and the beautifully expressive<br />
Linnstrument and Seaboard<br />
Rise.<br />
With NOYO the first of its kind<br />
in the world, we asked Holly<br />
and Doug what more they think<br />
can be done to level the playing<br />
field for disabled and nondisabled<br />
musicians.<br />
“I think reimagining what we<br />
see as ‘excellence’ based on<br />
modern standards will help,<br />
because there won’t be the<br />
same expectations put on young<br />
people that stop them being able<br />
to access opportunities,” says<br />
Holly. “And looking at things<br />
from an equity point of view<br />
rather than an equality point of<br />
view. What can we be doing to<br />
support those people who have<br />
larger barriers in place?”<br />
“My experience of music<br />
education, and I think a lot of<br />
other people would echo this, is<br />
it’s all about music first in order<br />
to generate excellence, and<br />
you as a person come second,”<br />
Doug responds. “We believe<br />
if you’re going to develop musical excellence - and<br />
NOYO really is about musical excellence - you have<br />
to engage with the person first and understand who<br />
they are, what they want to achieve, and how best<br />
they can achieve that.<br />
“In so much of this work, the approaches we learn<br />
to take to be accessible and inclusive for disabled<br />
people have universal benefits for everybody. If we<br />
can get it right for disabled people and if that can<br />
filter through to music education and the professional<br />
industry more widely, that’s a good thing.”<br />
Every NOYO concert is relaxed and suitable for a<br />
neurodiverse audience, as well as those who benefit<br />
from a more informal setting. Adjustments include<br />
dimmed lights, a dedicated chillout space for quiet<br />
time before or during the performance, and a relaxed<br />
attitude to noise and audience movement. Everyone<br />
is encouraged to come and have their expectations of<br />
a classical concert challenged.<br />
“Our musicians are really excited,” Holly says.<br />
“And we’re very proud that we’re going to host<br />
one of the concerts in Birmingham Town Hall. It’s<br />
such an iconic venue. If you’ve never taken your<br />
NOYO HARPPIST HOLLI<br />
children to see a concert before, how amazing would<br />
it be for their first experience of classical music to<br />
see contemporary music played by a disabled-led<br />
orchestra?”<br />
NOYO harpist Holli, who is also studying at the<br />
Birmingham Royal Conservatoire, echoes Holly’s<br />
sentiments: “I like the word influential to describe<br />
NOYO because there aren’t other orchestras, youth<br />
ones, who are as passionate about showing disabled<br />
people can play on the same stages as non-disabled<br />
people.<br />
“‘Creative’ is another really good word. Lots of<br />
the music we play, you wouldn’t really get that in<br />
a stereotypical classical music concert. We believe<br />
that it’s best if disabled and non-disabled musicians<br />
can integrate together, and then we can come up<br />
with fresh new ideas and be more creative, explore<br />
different parts of music. We can be more free with<br />
the music… Come to our concert. I’ll see you there!”<br />
For more information about the National Open<br />
Youth Orchestra, visit noyo.org.uk<br />
Tickets for the Sunday, June 5 concert at<br />
Birmingham Town Hall are available from<br />
bmusic.co.uk<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
13
P R O P E RTY<br />
Property of the Month<br />
EACH MONTH WE SHOWCASE ONE OF THE MOST LUXURIOUS PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET IN THE<br />
MIDLANDS. THIS MONTH’S SELECTION IS A STUNNING, CONTEMPORARY DESIGNED NEW BUILD<br />
FIVE-BEDROOM FAMILY HOME WITH COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS CLOSE TO MERE GREEN CENTRE<br />
Broad View, Weeford Road, Sutton Coldfield: £1,895,000<br />
On the market with Aston Knowles: 0121 362 7878<br />
THE AGENT SAYS: This spectacular, high specification<br />
and superbly appointed new build five-bedroom<br />
family home boasts luxurious accommodation across<br />
approximately 5,000 square feet, which is all beautifully<br />
presented throughout with a meticulous eye for detail.<br />
As you enter the reception hall, the office is on your right<br />
and flooded with natural light through the sliding glass<br />
doors, the perfect environment for working from home. On<br />
your left is the living room featuring a bespoke fireplace<br />
that is visible between the living room and the reception<br />
hall.<br />
The kitchen/breakfast room is superbly designed with<br />
rear aspect and stunning bifolding doors, making this a<br />
magnificent space to enjoy the warmer months. It boasts<br />
a range of wall and base units, and an island with an<br />
induction hob and integrated wine fridge. Beyond the<br />
kitchen is space for a dining table and family area that<br />
looks out onto the sunken carp pool, a stunningly unique<br />
feature.<br />
Upstairs comprises five double bedrooms all with ensuites.<br />
Four out of the five bedrooms are complemented<br />
by fabulous Juliet balconies with large sliding glass doors,<br />
flooding the accommodation with natural light.<br />
A fantastic basement suite of rooms includes cinema room,<br />
gym and games room with underground garage secure<br />
parking.<br />
The ultimate definition of a smart home, the specification<br />
includes Control 4 Smart Home system controlling lighting<br />
and audio visual.<br />
The rear garden is vast in size and is lined with established<br />
trees and shrubs. The rear of the property is met with<br />
a large patio area surrounding the sunken carp pool, a<br />
stunning location for entertaining and al fresco dining. The<br />
garden also features a covered area perfect for seating or a<br />
Jacuzzi.<br />
W E L O V E : T H E C O N T EMP O R AR Y DE S I GN<br />
AND S M AR T T EC H<br />
14 www.jaimemagazine.com
0121 362 7878<br />
astonknowles.com<br />
NEW<br />
PRICE<br />
GUIDE PRICE £1,750,000<br />
GUIDE PRICE £1,650,000<br />
THE OLD FARMHOUSE<br />
SHUTTINGTON<br />
A truly unique six-bedroom detached farmhouse, set on<br />
an idyllic plot in a semi-rural location.<br />
Reception hall, drawing room, dining room, sitting room,<br />
kitchen/family room, utility. Principal bedroom with en-suite,<br />
bedrooms two, three, four and five with en-suites, bedroom six.<br />
Bar/wine cellar, games room, extensive grounds.<br />
Approximate gross internal floor area 6,039 sq. ft (560 sq. m).<br />
EPC Rating: E<br />
THE DETAILS<br />
GRASMERE AVENUE<br />
LITTLE ASTON<br />
A stunning six-bedroom family home situated in a<br />
sought-after location in Little Aston.<br />
Reception hall, family room, drawing room, kitchen, utility,<br />
dining room. Principal bedroom with en-suite, bedrooms two,<br />
three and four with en-suites, family bathroom, study.<br />
Bedroom five with en-suite, entertainment room/bedroom<br />
six. Front and rear gardens.<br />
Approximate gross internal floor area 4,051 sq. ft (376 sq. m).<br />
EPC Rating: C<br />
THE DETAILS<br />
6 BEDS<br />
5 BATHS GATED 6 BEDS<br />
6 BATHS GATED<br />
GUIDE PRICE £1,300,000 GUIDE PRICE £2,750,000<br />
MULROY ROAD<br />
SUTTON COLDFIELD<br />
A generously sized six-bedroom family home situated in a<br />
sought after location, close to Sutton Park.<br />
Reception hall, dining room, shower room, drawing room,<br />
kitchen, dining area, utility, bedroom two with en-suite,<br />
conservatory. Three bedrooms with en-suite, two further<br />
bedrooms, family bathroom. Front and rear gardens.<br />
Approximate gross internal floor area 4,141 sq. ft (385 sq. m).<br />
EPC Rating: C<br />
THE DETAILS<br />
ROSEMARY HILL ROAD<br />
LITTLE ASTON<br />
An exciting opportunity to purchase a fully rennovated,<br />
stunning, five-bedroom family home finished to the highest<br />
of specifications.<br />
Architecturally designed with exceptional attention to detail.<br />
Approximately 5000 sq. ft. of stunning space including two<br />
master bedroom suites, designer bathrooms, chic kitchen,<br />
fully equipped cinema room, heated outdoor pool, gym and is<br />
set back from the road situated behind electric gates.<br />
THE DETAILS<br />
6 BEDS 6 BATHS<br />
2 BEDS 5 BATHS GATED<br />
ASTON KNOWLES 8 High Street, Sutton Coldfield B72 1XA 0121 362 7878 enquiries@astonknowles.com www.astonknowles.com<br />
@astonknowles
P R O P E RTY<br />
New beginnings for<br />
Chosen Home<br />
AWARD-WINNING ESTATE AGENCY CHOSEN HOME HAS MOVED INTO A HOME OF ITS OWN IN THE<br />
HEART OF THE MIDLANDS, WHILE BOOSTING ITS TEAM FURTHER WITH TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS<br />
Chosen Home, which was launched in September<br />
2020, has established its new HQ at Coleshill Manor,<br />
and welcomed a sales administrator and a social<br />
media consultant to its ranks.<br />
Nicki Ash, director of Chosen Home, said: “With<br />
high numbers of instructions and viewings, <strong>2022</strong><br />
is so far showing that the appetite for buying and<br />
selling is stronger than ever, and with the peak months<br />
for buying and selling just around the corner, we<br />
anticipate it becoming even more so.<br />
“With our business spread throughout the region, we<br />
wanted to move away from the remote working model<br />
we’ve had since we launched and site the Chosen<br />
Home team together centrally, and Coleshill Manor<br />
was the perfect spot – set at the heart of the motorway<br />
network, well-appointed for reaching Birmingham,<br />
Worcestershire, Warwickshire and beyond.<br />
“We also wanted to develop the team further. We take<br />
a great deal of pride in our reputation for providing<br />
outstanding customer service and in our 5* ‘excellent’<br />
Trustpilot rating, and we have appointed Victoria<br />
Maynard to our team to assist with sales progression<br />
and administration.<br />
“Victoria will help ensure we maintain those service<br />
levels and provide regular, transparent communication<br />
with our clients throughout the buying and selling<br />
process,” she said.<br />
SOCIAL MEDIA WHIZZ MASON GAIN<br />
NEW RECRUIT VICTORIA <strong>MAY</strong>NARD<br />
The second addition to the team is Mason Gain - a<br />
social media whizz who has already had a great<br />
impact on the business, filming video tours of the<br />
properties on the agency’s books, curating TikTok<br />
videos and Instagram and Facebook stories, and<br />
generally ensuring that its social media presence is<br />
eye-catching, fun and informative.<br />
Nicki added: “Property sales are in no way limited to<br />
face-to-face agency viewings, and with so many people<br />
scrolling through social media looking for inspiration,<br />
we thought that in addition to creating content around<br />
the diverse range of homes we have on offer, a strong<br />
social media presence would also provide people with<br />
another outlet to engage with us on. From sharing<br />
reviews of our service and tips on buying and selling<br />
to filming and editing virtual viewings, the social<br />
engagement has proved a great success so far.<br />
“In fact, the biggest problem we’ve had is managing<br />
to set up the filming as sales are going so well that<br />
we’ve had properties put under offer as we were on<br />
our way to shoot them!” she said.<br />
16 www.jaimemagazine.com
The Sutton<br />
Coldfield<br />
estate agent<br />
that doesn’t<br />
charge you to<br />
sell your home?<br />
Excellent<br />
Sold.<br />
chosenhome.com<br />
Call 0121 222 1180
I N T E R I O R S<br />
Welcome<br />
home<br />
IT’S the first space visitors to your home will get to see,<br />
so creating the right first impression is a must when it<br />
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area descending into chaos.<br />
Storage is key, so having a place to hang up coats and bags<br />
is a must, alongside storage ottomans or welly racks to<br />
create handy organisation for shoes. A console table is also<br />
handy as a spot to place keys, as well as hold decor touches<br />
such as flowers, photos or candles.<br />
If your hallway is small or narrow, opt for lighter and<br />
brighter colours on the walls to give the area an airier feel;<br />
a large mirror will also make the space feel bigger and<br />
more open. Lighting, too, can make all the difference, so<br />
don’t be afraid to make a statement<br />
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18 www.jaimemagazine.com
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I N T E R I O R S<br />
A light<br />
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IT’S time to ruffle some feathers with the hottest motif in<br />
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Feathers have long been a fundamental feature in art and<br />
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During the Art Nouveau period, feathers started popping<br />
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If you’re looking to embrace feathers in a big way, opt for<br />
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22<br />
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ARACARI TIGER LILY FABRIC FROM THE JACAMAR<br />
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F E AT U R E<br />
A milestone celebration<br />
THE WINTERTON NAME HAS BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH AUCTIONEERING ACROSS<br />
STAFFORDSHIRE SINCE 1864. NOW THE CURRENT INCARNATION OF THAT ILLUSTRIOUS<br />
LINEAGE IS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS IN BUSINESS. ALEX KELLER FINDS OUT MORE<br />
“Emotional.” That’s<br />
the one word Richard<br />
Winterton can muster to<br />
sum up the past quarter<br />
of a century.<br />
From a young age,<br />
Richard was always<br />
destined to yield the<br />
gavel. From helming his<br />
first auction of farming<br />
implements at the age<br />
of 19 whilst working in<br />
York to coming back<br />
home to Lichfield to help<br />
at Wintertons’ livestock<br />
market at Smithfield –<br />
now site of the city’s Tesco<br />
superstore – auctioneering<br />
and valuing is in his blood.<br />
Not surprisingly, for the<br />
Winterton name has<br />
been a driving force in<br />
the industry for seven<br />
RICHARD AND JAN WERE<br />
PRESENTED WITH A SURPRISE<br />
GIFT AT THE CELEBRATION – A<br />
WORK BY FAVOURITE ARTIST<br />
DOUG HYDE. THEY ARE PICTURED<br />
WITH SONS TOM, BEN, JAMES<br />
AND HARRY, WHO ARE ALL PART<br />
OF THE BUSINESS<br />
generations, auctioneering across Staffordshire since<br />
1864.<br />
There have been numerous guises of Wintertons<br />
with different directors but the current incarnation<br />
of the family firm is now celebrating 25 years since<br />
Richard and his wife Janet took over in their own<br />
right.<br />
And what a ride it has been.<br />
Since opening at The Schoolhouse in Burton in<br />
1997, more than half a million lots have gone under<br />
the hammer with Richard Winterton Auctioneers.<br />
Richard’s four sons Tom, Ben, James and Harry are<br />
now all part of the business and last October, the<br />
family firm launched auction rooms in a Grade II<br />
listed building in Tamworth in addition to the longterm<br />
base at The Lichfield Auction Centre off Wood<br />
End Lane at Fradley Park.<br />
“Emotional – emotional is the word,” said Richard,<br />
when prompted to sum up the quarter century<br />
milestone.<br />
“What we’ve gone through since that first day we<br />
opened at The Schoolhouse and the hours and<br />
hours of work, going from just a handful of staff<br />
to 40 people to build what we have now, it’s almost<br />
impossible to put into words – it’s just huge.<br />
“I am so proud of what we have all achieved. Yes, it’s<br />
been hard, but we believe in doing things the right<br />
way and always going that extra mile.<br />
“The 25th anniversary itself was an important and<br />
emotional day for myself and Jan and I want to say<br />
thank you to everyone who has been with us on this<br />
tremendous journey, especially to loyal staff and<br />
clients who have been with us for years.”<br />
Alongside his day job, Richard is a familiar face on<br />
television as auctioneer on programmes such as BBC<br />
Bargain Hunt and Dickinson’s Real Deal on ITV.<br />
But away from the limelight, he is a huge believer in<br />
community.<br />
Richard is chair of governors at Holy Trinity CE<br />
26 www.jaimemagazine.com
Primary School in Burton and is especially proud<br />
of the partnerships forged between the firm and<br />
local charities and organisations including We<br />
Love Lichfield, Burton Albion Community Trust,<br />
Burton YMCA, The Hub at St Mary’s in Lichfield,<br />
the Lichfield Garrick and Support Staffordshire’s<br />
Volunteer Star Awards.<br />
Richard Winterton Auctioneers is also the headline<br />
sponsor for both Staffordshire’s Best Kept Village<br />
Community Competition and Lichfield Cathedral’s<br />
Christmas illuminations.<br />
A glittering celebration ball for all staff and their<br />
partners at The School House, Weeford, saw the firm<br />
celebrate the anniversary in style.<br />
Richard and Jan were presented with a surprise gift<br />
– a picture by favourite artist Doug Hyde – and even<br />
the name of the venue gave a coincidental nod to<br />
their first premises in Burton.<br />
A quarter of a century on, these days the firm’s<br />
auctions attract thousands of online bidders from all<br />
over the world as well as local people in the room.<br />
An associate member of The National Association of<br />
Jewellers, the Spring Fine Art Sale included a soughtafter<br />
1970s Rolex ‘single red’ Submariner Date<br />
wristwatch in stainless steel, which sold for £17,000<br />
on behalf of a local vendor.<br />
The same auction featured a 19th century ‘parure’ –<br />
a suite of jewellery – crafted from multi-coloured and<br />
vari-patterned Roman glass, which sold at £5,800.<br />
As well as dealing<br />
in jewellery,<br />
watches, fine art<br />
and all types of<br />
collectables, the<br />
firm provides a<br />
bespoke house<br />
clearance service<br />
which has<br />
expanded greatly<br />
– in March alone,<br />
Richard visited<br />
82 houses to give<br />
quotations and the<br />
team cleared 62<br />
properties.<br />
“I’m just so<br />
delighted that<br />
we were able to<br />
continue to grow<br />
and improve our<br />
services throughout<br />
the awful times of Covid, which meant we could<br />
THIS ‘SINGLE RED’ ROLEX<br />
SUBMARINER DATE – NICKNAMED<br />
AS SUCH DUE TO THE MODEL<br />
NAME BEING WRITTEN IN RED<br />
ON THE DIAL – SOLD FOR £17,000<br />
WITH RICHARD WINTERTON<br />
AUCTIONEERS RECENTLY<br />
invest back into the area with 10 extra staff,” Richard<br />
added.<br />
“When I think back to how we started and where we<br />
are today – especially given the absolute rollercoaster<br />
of the past two years – only one word can sum it up<br />
really… emotional!”<br />
THE FAMILY FIRM CELEBRATED THE 25TH<br />
ANNIVERSARY IN STYLE WITH A GLITTERING<br />
CELEBRATION BALL FOR ALL STAFF AND THEIR<br />
PARTNERS AT THE SCHOOL HOUSE, WEEFORD.<br />
PHOTO BY FRASER HINCH VIDEO<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
27
G A R D E N I N G<br />
Planting a legacy<br />
LICHFIELD GARDEN DESIGNER KAREN TATLOW’S MOON-INSPIRED LEGACY GARDEN, CREATED FOR<br />
CANCER RESEARCH UK, WILL GO ON SHOW AT THE RHS MALVERN SPRING FESTIVAL THIS MONTH<br />
A SYMBOLIC MOON GATE<br />
CONNECTS THE TWO HALVES<br />
OF THE GARDEN<br />
An award-winning Lichfield garden designer has<br />
unveiled plans for the inspirational garden she has<br />
created for the RHS Malvern Spring Festival after<br />
joining forces with Cancer Research UK.<br />
Karen Tatlow, who lives and works in Whittington,<br />
took her emotional inspiration for the garden from<br />
the story of her own great-niece, Lauren, who felt<br />
connected to her grandfather after his death from<br />
cancer by looking at the moon.<br />
As a result, the moon gate, an architectural feature<br />
symbolising renewal and rebirth, is at the heart of<br />
53-year-old Karen’s Cancer Research UK garden.<br />
Filled with flowers and plants that have played a part<br />
in cancer research, the garden is composed of two<br />
halves, linked by the central moon gate.<br />
Karen said: “Lauren was extremely close to her<br />
grandad, David, who was my brother-in-law. She<br />
hated leaving him when they’d spent time together,<br />
so he used to tell her that all she had to do was look<br />
at the moon and know that he would be looking at it<br />
too. That way they would always be connected.<br />
“David was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in<br />
2015 when Lauren was 14. When David died in<br />
2017, looking at the moon made her feel closer<br />
to him again. In fact, it has become a symbol of<br />
connection to David for the whole family - with<br />
each full moon the family Facebook and WhatsApp<br />
groups all light up with thoughts of him,” said<br />
Karen.<br />
Cancer Research UK’s Malvern Legacy Garden is<br />
the fourth garden in a series of show gardens that<br />
have been designed for the RHS shows. Previous<br />
gardens have been hugely successful in winning<br />
awards, including gold medals at 2019 RHS<br />
Hampton Court, 2021 RHS Hampton Court, and<br />
2021 RHS Tatton Park.<br />
The brief for each designer was to create an<br />
immersive, contemplative space that symbolises<br />
how leaving a gift in a Will to Cancer Research<br />
UK ensures research can continue to save lives for<br />
generations to come.<br />
Karen conceived the idea of using the moon gate<br />
to symbolise the hope that legacies can bring. The<br />
visitor first travels through one half of the garden<br />
which is full of colourful flowers, echoing the blue,<br />
pink and purple palette of Cancer Research UK’s<br />
28 www.jaimemagazine.com
Your health<br />
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Meet the experts<br />
Come along to one of our free virtual events* to meet<br />
the experts at Spire Little Aston Hospital. You can<br />
get advice and information on the best treatments<br />
available from the comfort of your own home.<br />
12<br />
May<br />
Treatments for hip and knee pain, 6.30pm<br />
with Mr Sabur Malek and Prof Ed Davis<br />
26<br />
May<br />
Treatments for eye conditions, 6.30pm<br />
with Mrs Rupal Morjaria<br />
Booking is essential, so please visit our website or call<br />
0121 514 7034 to book your place.<br />
Book to see an expert today<br />
Search ‘Spire Little Aston Hospital’<br />
Call 0121 514 7034<br />
*All events are being held virtually via Zoom, you will not need to attend the hospital, and you can<br />
receive expert advice from the comfort of your own home. Mini consultations are an opportunity to<br />
ask any questions you have about surgery and are not a formal outpatient consultation. If you wish<br />
to proceed to surgery or your consultant suggests that further treatment may be necessary, a full<br />
outpatient appointment will be required to assess your suitability for surgery/treatment
logo. The vibrancy and variety of this section of the<br />
garden reflects the passion and imagination of those<br />
who have pledged to leave a gift in their Will for<br />
research.<br />
The central moon gate forms the link between the<br />
first and second section of the garden. Set into the<br />
ground is an engraved paving circle that represents<br />
how gifts left in Wills fuel Cancer Research UK’s<br />
work and lead the progress to beat cancer. After<br />
stepping through the moon gate there is a shift to a<br />
calmer, more reflective planting scheme, composed<br />
of greens and whites. This part of the garden has<br />
a more formal and clinical feel, symbolising the<br />
scientific research that is funded by legacy giving.<br />
Many of the 1,500 plants in the garden, ranging<br />
from well-known favourites such as rowan and<br />
aquilegia, to more obscure varieties such as<br />
podophyllum (mayapple) and vaccinium (blueberry),<br />
have been chosen because they have a connection<br />
with cancer. Chemicals from plants in the garden<br />
have been tested for their anti-cancer properties and<br />
some have even led to drugs that are in use today for<br />
treating cancer.<br />
Karen said: “I wanted the garden to demonstrate<br />
the symbiotic relationship between leaving a gift<br />
in your Will, and actual cancer science that helps<br />
people survive. It’s quite an abstract concept to get<br />
across and it does require a leap of the imagination<br />
to realise that leaving a legacy gift now, today, can<br />
improve treatments for people in the future.<br />
“Above all, the garden is a place of hope and<br />
connection to others. Moon gates are traditionally<br />
symbols of renewal and rebirth, as well as<br />
representing wisdom, immortality and knowledge.<br />
All of these qualities are inherent in the concept<br />
of legacy giving – where an act of wisdom by one<br />
person can give a new lease of life to others.”<br />
Originally trained as a ballet dancer, Karen was<br />
forced to rethink her career after a knee injury<br />
prevented her dancing professionally. She studied<br />
architecture and interior design, but then moved into<br />
a career in make-up, becoming a senior make-up<br />
artist for Revlon. After Karen was promoted to more<br />
senior commercial roles, she realised she missed dayto-day<br />
creativity in her life. She had always designed<br />
gardens for her own pleasure, so she retrained as<br />
a garden designer and has not looked back. Her<br />
original degree in architecture always informs her<br />
work, which aims to give a feeling of enclosure and<br />
progression from one space to another.<br />
Karen said: “I really enjoyed playing with the<br />
idea of the two sides of the Cancer Research UK<br />
garden being based on the same-sized circle, which<br />
encapsulates the relationship between research and<br />
legacy. I think the architectural aspects of garden<br />
design - the relationship between volume and mass -<br />
are just as important as the planting and I hope this<br />
comes over in the Legacy Garden,” said Karen.<br />
The RHS Malvern Spring Festival takes place at the<br />
Three Counties Showground from Thursday, May 5<br />
to Sunday, May 8. Tickets are available from<br />
www.cruk.org/rhs-malvern-<strong>2022</strong><br />
LICHFIELD GARDEN DESIGNER<br />
KAREN TATLOW<br />
30 www.jaimemagazine.com
Curborough<br />
Gift Shop<br />
GIFTS & CARDS FOR ALL OCCASIONS<br />
Springfest<br />
CURBOROUGH COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE<br />
WATERY LANE, LICHFIELD WS13 8ES<br />
TEL: 0843 289 4525 OR 07885 387640<br />
OPENING HOURS: 10AM – 4PM TUESDAY TO SUNDAY<br />
WWW.CURBOROUGHGIFTSHOP.CO.UK<br />
FOLLOW US<br />
May 14th & 15th <strong>2022</strong>, 10am to 4pm both days.<br />
FREE ENTRY and lots of free car parking.<br />
Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre is<br />
delighted to once again be hosting Springfest.<br />
This much loved event is organised by our very<br />
own Phoenix Interiors and will see a range of local<br />
independent makers, designers and suppliers<br />
here for the weekend...not forgetting all of our<br />
wonderful, permanent on-site retailers.<br />
As we look to happier times ahead, this is the<br />
perfect opportunity to find some wonderful<br />
bespoke items for your home & garden.<br />
Visit us: Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre, Lichfield - WS13 8ES<br />
www.curboroughcountrysidecentre.com<br />
www.facebook.com/CurboroughCountrysideCentre<br />
Available everyday in May & June. Must be pre-booked.<br />
Everyone deserves to be treated like royalty<br />
once in a while and Moor Hall’s new<br />
spa experience delivers just that!<br />
Sandwiches: Coronation chicken | Honey-glazed ham |<br />
Mature Cheddar cheese | Oak smoked salmon | Cucumber<br />
Homemade fruit and plain scone, strawberry jam and clotted cream<br />
Cakes: Victoria sponge | Trifle | Custard tart | Chocolate biscuit cake<br />
£23.50 Monday to Friday | £26 Saturday & Sunday<br />
£12.50 per child<br />
4 hours use of the spa<br />
(indoor pool, spa bath, steam room,<br />
sauna, gym and spa relaxation room)<br />
A 25 minute spa treatment<br />
which includes a gold hydrogel mask<br />
Cream tea and a glass of Prosecco<br />
£59 Monday to Friday<br />
£69 Saturday & Sunday<br />
www.moorhallhotel.co.uk<br />
Moor Hall Drive, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B75 6LN
F O O D & D R I N K<br />
Changes for the batter<br />
THE ENGLISH INDIAN ARE TURNING THEIR CHALLENGES INTO STRENGTHS AND STAYING<br />
TRUE TO THEIR ROOTS, AS CO-FOUNDER ANNA RILEY TELLS KATY EDGINGTON<br />
THE ENGLISH INDIAN’S SIGNATURE DISH -<br />
INDIAN-INSPIRED FISH AND CHIPS<br />
The English Indian is beloved across the West<br />
Midlands and beyond for its simple but delicious<br />
street food - and rightfully so. This is their sixth year<br />
of pleasing crowds via the comforting familiarity of<br />
fish and chips with an Indian twist: pakora battered<br />
cod goujons, chaat masala chips, mint and chilli<br />
mushy peas, delicious curry sauce, a wedge of lime<br />
and fresh coriander.<br />
After featuring The English Indian early on in<br />
their journey, we caught up with co-founder Anna<br />
Riley to find out what’s new and how the business<br />
has fared through the turmoil and uncertainty of<br />
the last couple of years. Anna has a hospitality and<br />
business management degree, and worked in human<br />
resources before running a successful clothes shop in<br />
Lichfield for 11-and-a-half years.<br />
James Lant, Anna’s partner and co-founder, has<br />
always had a passion for food, cooking the most<br />
amazing chicken and naan breads in a tandoor<br />
oven in their garden at home. In 2014, exploring<br />
alternatives to his day job, the pair hosted a series of<br />
pop-up curry nights at a local pub. But it was when<br />
they ate at Digbeth Dining Club they realised there<br />
was potential to do something a little different.<br />
“We did traditional Indian street food for about a<br />
year,” explains Anna. “Our food was delicious, and<br />
it was a unique product that nobody in the market<br />
knew about, which was part of its downfall. We just<br />
weren’t doing the numbers, so we had to go back to<br />
the drawing board.”<br />
It was only in 2016 that the couple came up with<br />
the idea for Indian-inspired fish and chips - and<br />
it was an immediate hit. In 2017, they won the<br />
People’s Choice award at The British Street Food<br />
Awards, their first two-star Great Taste Award for<br />
their signature mushy peas came in 2019, and in<br />
2020 they won the title of Best UK Mobile Operator<br />
at the National Fish and Chip Awards. They even<br />
32 www.jaimemagazine.com
opened a London food truck franchise, but, like<br />
many independent businesses, have had to fight to<br />
weather the storms of the past two years.<br />
“Things are starting to settle down, but for the last<br />
few years every single week has been different,” says<br />
Anna. “When lockdown hit in March 2020, our<br />
calendar and our London franchise’s calendar were<br />
wiped out. We went from having too many events to<br />
none. We were really worried - we thought we were<br />
going to lose the business. Everything came crashing<br />
down.”<br />
Luckily, with a chef as a longstanding member of<br />
the team and a history of making tasty curries, The<br />
English Indian was able to quickly pivot to a chilled<br />
curry home delivery service. They did this for 14<br />
weeks, saving the business from going under in the<br />
process. As soon as restrictions allowed them to get<br />
the food vans back out, the team developed their own<br />
click and collect service. Despite finding a way to roll<br />
with the punches, the pandemic has undoubtedly<br />
had a lasting impact.<br />
“Prior to Covid-19 we were on a real trajectory,”<br />
Anna relates. “It was really exciting. We were<br />
thinking about franchising across the UK. We had<br />
one franchise in place for a year, but we just couldn’t<br />
make it work with all the difficulties everyone has<br />
had. So we’ve pulled back from that idea for the<br />
moment.<br />
“It’s been a really tricky time and it’s still not<br />
ending, with the war [in Ukraine] and inflation.<br />
We use soya oil and the price has gone up so much.<br />
ANNA RILEY SET UP THE ENGLISH<br />
INDIAN WITH PARTNER JAMES<br />
They’re putting restrictions on how much we can<br />
buy. Our whole business is dependent on oil, gas<br />
and electricity. I’m sure we’ll be okay, but it’s been a<br />
long hard slog. Thankfully, we’ve got a really strong<br />
foundation.”<br />
Far from being deterred, Anna and James have taken<br />
the opportunity to make positive changes to the<br />
way they operate, particularly around sustainability.<br />
Although they’ve used biodegradable serveware for<br />
a while, always recycle their used cooking oil, and<br />
ensure their product is zero food waste, Anna is still<br />
looking to improve the businesses’ green credentials.<br />
One important new development is their vegan<br />
menu.<br />
“For a while now I’ve been concerned as to our<br />
heavy reliance on cod,” says Anna. “Being fished<br />
as heavily as it is, it hasn’t sat very well with me<br />
because of what that does to the oceans. So we’re<br />
trying to find an alternative to cod. Our vegan<br />
pakora-battered artichoke is delicious. It comes in a<br />
brine that has a vinegary undertone to it, so it works<br />
perfectly as ‘fish’ and chips.”<br />
While they don’t plan to stop serving cod - fish and<br />
chips is their forte, after all - she’s hoping as time<br />
goes on that their vegetarian halloumi and vegan<br />
artichoke options will start to outsell it. The team is<br />
already looking forward to some exclusively vegan<br />
and vegetarian events that are in the diary for <strong>2022</strong>.<br />
The English Indian has also been collaborating with<br />
Coeliac UK and Allergen Companions to make<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
33
their offering known to people who struggle to eat<br />
out because of their allergies. Everything on their<br />
menu was already gluten free, but Anna and James<br />
have made additional changes to make sure they’re<br />
as allergen free as possible and help every customer<br />
enjoy delicious food.<br />
In an industry where there’s so much competition,<br />
what sets The English Indian apart and makes it<br />
successful? Anna believes sticking to their guns with a<br />
fuss-free menu they can serve quickly, at high volume,<br />
without compromising on their high standards, is<br />
the key. As well as being sticklers for quality and<br />
customer service, of course.<br />
“I want to know when the customer isn’t happy,” she<br />
says. “It’s amazing to hear how much people love<br />
the food, and in the early days you do need that, but<br />
now I want to know when it isn’t right. I think it’s<br />
really important as a business owner to take - even to<br />
welcome - criticism.”<br />
Although street food is where The English Indian<br />
started out and they have no plans to quit the scene<br />
completely, Anna confesses that the industry is a<br />
little bit trickier than it used to be. Corporate events<br />
are where their business is really starting to flourish,<br />
post-pandemic. They’ve been booked by Porsche, for<br />
example, for client family days, and will also be part<br />
of JCB’s 75th birthday celebrations.<br />
“We’re starting to get a solid base of corporations<br />
that are rebooking us year-on-year for things like<br />
JAMES LANT IS ANNA’S PARTNER AND<br />
ENGLISH INDIAN CO-FOUNDER<br />
staff rewards, new product launches and even<br />
enticing people back to the office! Schools have<br />
been approaching us, too. A lot of organisations are<br />
keen to have some form of gathering, and obviously<br />
having it outside reduces the risk of infection.”<br />
The English Indian team has a packed festival<br />
and events season on the horizon. They will be at<br />
Glastonbury again this year, Womad, Wilderness,<br />
and Bearded Theory at Catton Park. They’re also<br />
hoping to do more regular trade closer to home.<br />
The English Indian’s Lichfield headquarters on<br />
Shires Industrial Estate has recently had a revamp in<br />
preparation for a busy spring and summer.<br />
“We’ve got so many lovely, loyal customers,” says<br />
Anna when I ask if it’s different serving up food in<br />
their hometown. “We love opening up on a Friday.<br />
Throughout May, and possibly most of June, we’re<br />
hoping to open every Friday here and maybe move<br />
away from click and collect. With Trinity Brewery<br />
open across the road, it works really well.”<br />
It may have been a rocky road to get to this point,<br />
but Anna is upbeat and optimistic about where The<br />
English Indian is at right now and where it’s heading.<br />
“Once we’re ready to progress again a bit more<br />
aggressively, all those internal things that probably<br />
needed our attention before will have been looked<br />
at,” she says. “Systems, processes, procedures - we’re<br />
making improvements everywhere that take time you<br />
don’t necessarily have when you’re flat out at events.<br />
So, I think in the end it’s going to strengthen us.”<br />
If you want to catch The English Indian this spring<br />
and summer, find their weekly whereabouts on<br />
Facebook and Instagram, or use the ‘find us’ feature<br />
on their website www.theenglishindian.co.uk<br />
34<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com
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F O O D & D R I N K<br />
Give me Moor<br />
AFTER A TORRID TIME FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, THE OAK ROOM AT<br />
MOOR HALL HOTEL IS BACK WITH A BANG, AS AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS<br />
As one of the most prestigious venues in<br />
Sutton Coldfield, Moor Hall needs no<br />
introduction. But, like every business in the<br />
hospitality industry, it has taken somewhat of<br />
a battering over the past two years.<br />
However, it’ll take more than a global<br />
pandemic to keep a good restaurant down.<br />
And Moor Hall’s award-winning, AA<br />
Rosette offering The Oak Room is certainly<br />
good. In fact, it is enjoying something of a<br />
renaissance; something <strong>J’AIME</strong> was only too<br />
happy to sample.<br />
We were greeted by restaurant manager<br />
Javier Diaz and shown to a private bar area<br />
for a pre-dinner drink and to peruse the<br />
menu. I couldn’t resist a signature Moor Hall Bellini,<br />
£8.95. A heady concoction of rhubarb and ginger<br />
gin, prosecco, pomegranate cordial and just a splash<br />
of lemonade, it was deliciously refreshing, offering<br />
the right balance of potency and flavour that a good<br />
cocktail should.<br />
While the stately splendour of The Oak Room is<br />
undeniable, Moor Hall have taken the opportunity<br />
to ring the changes slightly, opting for a more relaxed<br />
vibe by doing away with formalities such as the<br />
starched white table cloths.<br />
The menus have had a revamp too, championed<br />
by the new head chef and new pastry chef who<br />
THE OAK ROOM RESTAURANT<br />
AT MOOR HALL HOTEL & SPA<br />
have created a small but perfectly formed selection<br />
of modern British dishes driven by locality and<br />
seasonality.<br />
We were shown to our table, next to the lit fire - a<br />
welcome touch on what was a slightly chillier spring<br />
evening - and set about making those all-important<br />
culinary decisions. Our waiter explained that,<br />
like many restaurants, they’d had a little trouble<br />
with suppliers so the wine selection wasn’t as<br />
comprehensive as it would be normally. Our first<br />
choice of a Montepulciano wasn’t available, but<br />
happily our second choice Argentinian Malbec, at<br />
£26 for the bottle, was.<br />
Each starter sounded as delicious as the next,<br />
with both the vegetarian options of saltbaked<br />
celeriac veloute, pickled artichoke,<br />
mascarpone and crispy onion, £7, and<br />
marinated heritage tomato, fresh burrata,<br />
olive crumb and basil, £7.50, catching<br />
my eye. But it was the pan-seared scallops,<br />
£8.95, which proved to be the biggest<br />
temptation.<br />
The scallops were a generous portion and<br />
beautifully cooked, the sweet and tender<br />
flesh remaining meltingly soft. An equally<br />
generous shaving of black truffle adorned<br />
the scallops, which rested atop a bed - or<br />
should that be pool? - of lemongrass<br />
36 www.jaimemagazine.com
creamed potato. The lemongrass flavour<br />
was very subtle indeed, and the potato<br />
was a little more creamed than I was<br />
expecting, but tasty nonetheless.<br />
My husband only had eyes for the beef<br />
carpaccio, which came with cremeux<br />
egg yolk, fresh caper berries, fennel salad<br />
and tartar, £8.25. The beef was a real<br />
delight, and the plate was nicely balanced<br />
with the freshness of the fennel, rich egg<br />
yolk and salty capers. He had no trouble<br />
polishing off the lot.<br />
Onto the main event, and it was the<br />
roasted lamb rump, fondant potatoes,<br />
braised radicchio and whisky marinated<br />
blueberries, £28.95, which immediately<br />
caught my eye. It proved to be a worthy<br />
choice; the lamb itself was perfectly<br />
pink and tender, full of flavour from<br />
that delicious lamb fat, while the potato<br />
offered that lovely combination of<br />
fluffy interior and crisp exterior. A side<br />
of seasonal veg, £5.50, was a cut above the usual<br />
offerings, making the most of the seasonal produce.<br />
Normally a steak man, my husband has a certain<br />
fondness for game birds, so was delighted to see a<br />
duo of wood pigeon, £18.95, on offer. The pan-fried<br />
breast and confit leg were a real treat, cooked with<br />
skill and presented with aplomb, alongside beautifully<br />
caramelised tomato and onion, and baby carrots. A<br />
side dish of pommes puree, £5.50, completed what<br />
was a triumph of a dish.<br />
I’d been waiting for the promise of a sweet treat all<br />
night, but my husband was intrigued by the cheese<br />
board - and who am I to say no to cheese? - so we<br />
decided to share a dessert and have cheese too. And<br />
it was definitely the right decision because the dessert<br />
we chose - the Eton mess bavarois with Champagne<br />
jelly, lemon curd, meringue shard, and strawberry<br />
and basil sorbet, £7.50 - was an ample portion for<br />
two. And that’s something which, as a confirmed<br />
sweet tooth, I don’t say lightly.<br />
The bavarois was deliciously rich and creamy, the<br />
sorbet a perfectly sweet kiss on the taste buds. And<br />
that Champagne jelly, well you could really taste the<br />
Champagne - oh, it was just heavenly. Little pools of<br />
lemon curd added a welcome tartness and light–asair<br />
shards of meringue offered a textural contrast - it<br />
was really an accomplished dessert indeed.<br />
The cheese board was also a sizable feast, featuring<br />
a Cornish yarg, Stilton, brie and more, alongside<br />
ample crackers, grapes and chutney for two. It was<br />
a feat to finish it off, but finish it, we<br />
did.<br />
As you’d expect from a venue with<br />
the prestige of Moor Hall, the<br />
service throughout the evening<br />
was exemplary, with the young<br />
team striking the balance between<br />
welcoming and efficient. Nothing<br />
seemed too much trouble, and<br />
ensuring each guest had a memorable<br />
experience was top of the list.<br />
As the tide is, hopefully, turning for<br />
the hospitality industry, The Oak<br />
Room at Moor Hall has once again<br />
cemented its status as one of the<br />
area’s finest offerings.<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
37
CO M P E T I T I O N<br />
It’s showtime!<br />
STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY SHOW IS BACK FOR <strong>2022</strong> WITH A WHOLE HOST OF<br />
FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY - AND WE HAVE FIVE FAMILY TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY<br />
Following its later-than-usual slot last<br />
summer, the Staffordshire County Show is<br />
back to its traditional dates for <strong>2022</strong>, taking<br />
over the Staffordshire County Showground<br />
on Wednesday, June 1 and Thursday, June 2.<br />
This year’s show will be held during Jubilee<br />
Week and, accordingly, there will be some<br />
very special events at the show to celebrate<br />
the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with full<br />
details set to be revealed closer to showtime.<br />
The Staffordshire County Show offers<br />
something for visitors of all ages. Youngsters<br />
will enjoy riding on the narrow-gauge steam<br />
railway or traditional attractions such as<br />
Punch and Judy and donkey rides. Teenagers<br />
and adults will be thrilled by the Monster<br />
Trucks - the aptly-named Big Pete and the<br />
Grim Reaper - when they leap into the air<br />
and land on a row of cars, while the next<br />
generation of farmers will be inspired by the firstclass<br />
entries in livestock competitions across the<br />
showground that are at the heart of this traditional<br />
agricultural show.<br />
Held at the Staffordshire County Showground, just<br />
outside Stafford, the show is one of the region’s<br />
major summer events and is expected to attract more<br />
than 65,000 visitors over the two days. During the<br />
THE MONSTER TRUCKS ARE<br />
EXPECTED TO BE A BIG HIT<br />
school half-term holidays, the County Show offers a<br />
full day out for all the family.<br />
A packed Main Ring programme offers a range of<br />
attractions that includes the Young Farmer’s Floats<br />
- which this year has a theme of West End Musicals<br />
- as well as show jumping, the Grand Parade of<br />
Livestock and the Parade of Hounds, not to mention<br />
those mega Monster Trucks.<br />
In the Country Pursuits Arena, visitors<br />
can watch the birds of prey display, the<br />
ferret roadshow, have a go at fly casting or<br />
sit back and learn all about pigs with the<br />
Hogg Show.<br />
Around the showground there will be<br />
demonstrations of traditional rural crafts<br />
such as thatching, coracle making and<br />
drystone walling, as well as a display of<br />
vintage cars and agricultural machinery.<br />
However, at the heart of the show is<br />
livestock, with more than 1,000 cattle,<br />
sheep, pigs and goats and no fewer than<br />
1,500 horses and ponies expected.<br />
There are a number of competitions and<br />
shows within the show including the Sheep<br />
38 www.jaimemagazine.com
<strong>J’AIME</strong><br />
IS ONLINE<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
STAFFORDSHIRE<br />
COUNTY SHOW<br />
WEDNESDAY 1ST & THURSDAY 2ND JUNE <strong>2022</strong><br />
www.staffscountyshowground.co.uk
LIVESTOCK COMPETITIONS<br />
ARE AT THE HEART OF THE<br />
SHOW<br />
Shearing and Wool Handling Competitions, the<br />
Farriery Competition where blacksmiths compete to<br />
make the perfect horseshoe before using it to shoe a<br />
horse, the Fur and Feather Show with a vast array of<br />
poultry, waterfowl, cavies (hamsters and guinea pigs)<br />
and rabbits as well as the Bee and Honey Show with<br />
its working hive.<br />
In addition, the dog show will attract around 2,000<br />
dogs representing every breed in the UK - so if<br />
you’re thinking of buying a dog this is an ideal<br />
opportunity to compare the various breeds and talk<br />
to their owners.<br />
Children of all ages are especially well catered for<br />
with a children’s farm, fairground rides and the<br />
opportunity to have their picture taken with the giant<br />
tortoises. Shopaholics will be able to browse more<br />
than 400 trade stands selling everything from cars<br />
to hot tubs, and there is also a jam-packed food hall<br />
with a further 50 stands selling a range of mouthwatering<br />
local produce.<br />
When it’s time to take a break, what better way to<br />
relax than having a picnic next to the bandstand<br />
listening to the brass band or the jazz band?<br />
However, for something more tranquil there is a<br />
twenty-acre wood – ideal for a walk in the shade or a<br />
quiet picnic.<br />
Once again, the show is delighted to welcome Rea<br />
Valley Tractors and Dunstall Holdings as the event’s<br />
main sponsor.<br />
Advance tickets, which offer a substantial<br />
saving on the gate price, are on sale now until<br />
Saturday, May 28, and can be printed at home<br />
or downloaded to your phone. Further details<br />
about the show and details of how to purchase<br />
advance tickets are available on the website at<br />
www.staffscountyshowground.co.uk or<br />
follow Staffordshire County Show on Facebook<br />
@staffscountyshow<br />
Competition!<br />
<strong>J’AIME</strong> has teamed up with Staffordshire<br />
County Show to give away five family<br />
tickets to the show, worth £42. Each<br />
family ticket will admit two adults and up<br />
to three children.<br />
THE STAFFORDSHIRE<br />
COUNTY SHOW IS A GREAT<br />
FAMILY DAY OUT<br />
For your chance to win a family ticket,<br />
simply answer the following question:<br />
How many visitors are expected to<br />
attend the Staffordshire County Show?<br />
Send your answer, along with your name, address<br />
and telephone number via email to competitions@<br />
jaimemagazine.com with ‘Staffordshire County<br />
Show competition’ as the email subject. Entries<br />
must be received by midday on Wednesday, May<br />
25, <strong>2022</strong>. Terms and conditions apply. For more<br />
details visit www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
40 www.jaimemagazine.com
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F E AT U R E<br />
A fundraising showstopper<br />
THE LICHFIELD GARRICK IS HOSTING A FAMILY-FRIENDLY VARIETY SHOW ON SUNDAY, <strong>MAY</strong><br />
15, WITH ALL PROCEEDS TO BE DONATED TO THE DISASTERS EMERGENCY COMMITTEE<br />
UKRAINE HUMANITY APPEAL, AND LICHFIELD CITY OF SANCTUARY. AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS<br />
MORE FROM ORGANISER SAM RABONE<br />
Sam Rabone is a man on a mission. Best known in<br />
these parts for his long-standing role at the Lichfield<br />
Garrick’s resident panto dame, Sam is turning his<br />
talented hands - and not insubstantial little black<br />
book of showbiz contacts - to putting on a very<br />
important show.<br />
On Sunday, May 15, Sam and a whole host of<br />
entertainment stars will be taking to the stage for a<br />
fun-packed evening of variety suitable for the whole<br />
family. The aim? To raise as much money as possible<br />
for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal<br />
towards the humanitarian efforts against the war in<br />
Ukraine.<br />
“At times like this we always like to think about what<br />
we can do,” says Sam. “It’s the same as when we<br />
LICHFIELD PANTO FAVOURITE SAM<br />
RABONE HAS HELPED TO ORGANISE<br />
THE CONCERT FOR UKRAINE<br />
THE VEGAS SHOWGIRLS WILL<br />
BE AVAILABLE FOR PHOTO<br />
OPPORTUNITIES<br />
were in lockdown; it was all about thinking what we<br />
can do, how we can lend our support.<br />
“I contacted the theatre and asked if we could put<br />
on a show to raise some funds, and they were happy<br />
to put forward May 15 as a date, if I could organise<br />
something.”<br />
So Sam got to work, contacting some of the showbiz<br />
pals he’s worked with over the years - and the<br />
response was overwhelming.<br />
“Everyone wants to do their bit to help and be<br />
involved,” says Sam. “If they were free, everyone<br />
jumped at the chance to take part.<br />
“I wanted it to be a family-friendly variety night; I<br />
don’t think there’s enough family-friendly evening<br />
entertainment at the theatre, apart from the panto -<br />
which is, of course, what I’m known for.<br />
“And when the lovely Rebecca Keatley from<br />
CBeebies said she was available to be in the show, it<br />
42<br />
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CQC RATING GOOD
just seemed like the right way to go.”<br />
Rebecca Keatley, who will be well known to Lichfield<br />
audiences from her role as Fairy Godmother in the<br />
Garrick’s 2019 panto Cinderella, is teaming up with<br />
fellow CBeebies star Katy Ashworth as the hosts of a<br />
big, bonkers section of the show for the whole family<br />
to enjoy.<br />
“Stage Door Johnny is well known in the area, but<br />
has now blown up on TikTok; he’s coming along to<br />
do some songs for us,” says Sam. “Then we’ve got<br />
an amazing cabaret clown called Kiki Lovechild who<br />
is bringing one of my favourite acts I’ve ever seen.<br />
It’s just the most beautiful thing and something kids<br />
won’t see on a day-to-day basis so it’s something<br />
different for them.<br />
“Ian Billings and Chris White have done so many<br />
kids shows up at Edinburgh Festival, so it’s nice to<br />
have them here because they’re again a bit different,<br />
doing poetry and live drawing, which is again all very<br />
family-friendly.<br />
The event will be compèred by Sam, who will also<br />
be reunited with fellow Garrick panto veteran<br />
Ben Thornton - a comedy double-act beloved by<br />
Lichfield audiences.<br />
Other acts on the bill include the Garrick’s very own<br />
pantomime star Maria Conneely singing songs from<br />
the shows, house band Dancefloored, juggler Steve<br />
Arnold, the UK’s number one Craig David tribute<br />
act Kurtis Ray, and many more surprises on the<br />
night.<br />
The show starts at 5pm, but doors will be open from<br />
CABERET CLOWN KIKI LOVECHILD.<br />
PHOTO BY CHERRY BOMB ROCK<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
CBEEBIES STAR REBECCA KEATLEY<br />
WILL BE JOINING IN THE FUN<br />
4pm for guests to enjoy some pre-show entertainment<br />
and a drink from the bar. Entertainment includes<br />
live music from Rob Taylor and the Vegas Showgirls<br />
from the Royal Variety Show. There’ll also be close<br />
up magic from the legendary James Mitchell.<br />
Sam says: “I’m so excited because I like to make<br />
sure things are happening all around, not just on<br />
the stage, so people can arrive from 4pm. There’ll<br />
be the chance to have photos taken with the Vegas<br />
Showgirls for a small donation, and the theatre has<br />
agreed to donate all proceeds from the bar sales<br />
towards the charities too.<br />
“It’s a pleasure to be hosting and curating this night<br />
of fun for the whole family, while trying to raise as<br />
much money as we can for a worthy cause. And a<br />
huge shout out to all the acts who are giving up their<br />
time to raise the money with us.”<br />
All proceeds from ticket and bar sales will be<br />
donated to Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine<br />
Humanity Appeal, and Lichfield City of Sanctuary.<br />
There will also be a raffle on the night with some<br />
amazing prizes on offer.<br />
Tickets are £15 for adults and £10 for children.<br />
Any additional donations will be hugely appreciated<br />
and can be made at your time of booking, through<br />
the Garrick website, and there will also be bucket<br />
collections and donation points around the venue on<br />
the day of the show.<br />
Visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com/<br />
concertforukraine to book tickets.<br />
44<br />
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POOL HOUSE<br />
Professional advice with a personal approach<br />
Pool House Group provides bespoke financial planning that is tailored to your individual needs.<br />
We take our clients through the full financial planning journey from pension/savings accumulation,<br />
all the way through to retirement. We use cash flow software that will demonstrate how your<br />
objectives and future goals can come to life and how these will work for you in the future.<br />
WOMEN’S WEALTH - LET’S CLOSE THE GAP<br />
As a Chartered Financial Planning Practice, we have<br />
started to see a change in a ‘typical’ client profile -<br />
more women are now in senior roles, returning back<br />
to work after having their children, closing the gap<br />
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are the main household earners.<br />
During the pandemic, investment platforms and<br />
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investors - Pool House Advisers are passionate about<br />
establishing long term relationships with investors to<br />
ensure that our clients work towards and reach their<br />
financial freedom regardless of gender.<br />
Circumstances can change our financial freedom<br />
which could be an employment change, death of a<br />
loved one or a divorce, and Pool House are always<br />
here to assist our clients in every stage of life and<br />
every change of circumstances. We aim to establish a<br />
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at the end of the phone to help with your needs.<br />
• RETIREMENT PLANNING<br />
• INVESTMENT ADVICE<br />
• INHERITANCE TAX PLANNING<br />
• FAMILY PROTECTION<br />
• MORTGAGE ADVICE<br />
‘When starting off in the industry’<br />
quotes Phoebe ‘I was disappointed<br />
to be one of only a few female<br />
advisers and consequently this has<br />
made me very passionate about<br />
inspiring females to not only join<br />
the industry but to get qualified to<br />
financial adviser level. I understand<br />
the pressures of juggling a career<br />
alongside family life which can be<br />
relatable in particular to female<br />
clients. I am passionate about<br />
women doing well in all sectors and<br />
believe that my experience can<br />
assist my clients with both financial<br />
security and independence’.<br />
Phoebe Kalsi DipPFS -<br />
Director & Financial Adviser<br />
We pride ourselves on our informal<br />
but professional approach to<br />
financial advice and we believe<br />
that to generate a long-term<br />
relationship, service is always key.<br />
We are accessible and all of our<br />
staff are trained to a high level.<br />
You will always speak to the same<br />
person twice. We promise our clients<br />
that we will always be:<br />
• TRUSTWORTHY<br />
• RELIABLE<br />
• KNOWLEDGEABLE<br />
• FRIENDLY<br />
‘Women are instrumental at inspiring<br />
other women’ quotes Fiona ‘and it<br />
is important to support each other<br />
through business. Being a full time<br />
working mother myself, I know the<br />
pressures of being a parent and<br />
managing business responsibilities.<br />
There shouldn’t be any limitations<br />
on the success of females and their<br />
financial future’.<br />
Fiona Haigh - Director<br />
POOL HOUSE ARE ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPPORTING<br />
YOUNG WOMEN OUTSIDE OF OUR INDUSTRY - WE ARE PROUD TO<br />
SUPPORT A LOCAL CHARITY - SPARK BURNTWOOD WHICH WE ARE<br />
ASSISTING IN PROVIDING FREE CHILDCARE TO ENABLE YOUNG<br />
MOTHERS TO TAKE ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES<br />
Pool House, Dam Street, Lichfield WS13 6AA • 01543 441644 • www.poolhousegroup.co.uk<br />
*Pool House is a trading style of DRB Associates Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
W H AT ’ S O N<br />
What’s on in May?<br />
THERE’S MUSIC OF ALL GENRES TO ENJOY AROUND THE REGION THIS MONTH, PLUS<br />
APPEARANCES FROM COMEDY LEGENDS AND EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE STRICTLY JUDGE…<br />
WHAT: JASPER CARROTT’S STAND UP & ROCK<br />
WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK<br />
WHEN: <strong>MAY</strong> 4 TO 7<br />
With a comedy career spanning five decades, Jasper Carrott is back where he<br />
belongs this May – up front and centre stage for Stand Up & Rock. Among<br />
Carrott’s many accolades are BBC TV Personality of the Year, a Gold Medal<br />
at the New York TV and Film Awards, Midlander of the Year Award, his own<br />
star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars and the British Comedy Awards Lifetime<br />
Achievement Award in 2008. In recognition of his outstanding work for charity,<br />
he was also awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s New Year’s Honours List in<br />
2003.<br />
Jasper is joined by friend and rock legend Bev Bevan (founding member of<br />
Electric Light Orchestra and The Move), who brings along his band with guest<br />
star Andy Bennett, former Ocean Colour Scene guitarist. Enjoy a night of<br />
fantastic comedy and great music to lift the spirits and remind us what life is all<br />
about! Tickets are £28.50. For more details visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com<br />
WHAT: BRIAN DOWNEY’S ALIVE & DANGEROUS<br />
WHERE: TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS<br />
WHEN: <strong>MAY</strong> 7<br />
Often cited as an influence by the world’s top drummers, Brian Downey is in<br />
Tamworth for one night only, playing the songs he co-wrote in Thin Lizzy with<br />
his new band Alive and Dangerous.<br />
Originally from Dublin, Brian enjoyed his first taste of success in Ireland with<br />
the top 20 hit ‘Morning Dew’ before forming Orphanage with Phil Lynott.<br />
The two went on to form the legendary Thin Lizzy with Eric Bell, and Brian<br />
remained a member until the band split in 1983. He’s since been in constant<br />
demand as both a touring and session drummer and regularly played live shows<br />
and recorded with renowned guitarist Gary Moore.<br />
Now Brian returns with Matt Wilson on bass guitar and lead vocals, and Michal<br />
Kulbaka and Joe Merriman on guitar and vocals, in new band Alive and<br />
Dangerous. The doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start, with tickets priced at<br />
£23.50. For more information visit www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk<br />
WHAT: LICHFIELD GOSPEL CHOIR<br />
WHERE: LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL<br />
WHEN: <strong>MAY</strong> 14<br />
Lichfield Gospel Choir are teaming up with The City of Lichfield Concert<br />
Band for an unforgettable evening of powerful, moving and entertaining music<br />
in support of Lichfield Cathedral this month. The Grade I listed landmark<br />
currently costs £5,000 a day to keep open and free for the city.<br />
The City of Lichfield Concert Band is more than 100 years old and continues<br />
to entertain with a variety of genres such as pop, swing and classical, performed<br />
by its 50-member strong ensemble of local musicians. Lichfield Gospel Choir<br />
is a vibrant and joyful community choir with more than 100 members and a<br />
repertoire that covers African, gospel and soulful music – both traditional and<br />
modern.<br />
Join the two groups for a reprise of their sell-out performance in 2019.<br />
Tickets are priced at £10 or £12.50. For more information go to<br />
www.thelittleboxoffice.com<br />
46 www.jaimemagazine.com
WHAT: SPRINGFEST<br />
WHERE: CURBOROUGH COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE<br />
WHEN: <strong>MAY</strong> 14 AND 15<br />
Browse wares from a range of independent local makers, designers<br />
and suppliers, and discover new delights for your home and garden<br />
at Curborough Countryside Centre’s Springfest event. Organised by<br />
Phoenix Interiors, this shopping weekend will feature traders galore, from<br />
independents popping up to the centre’s permanent residents, and is the<br />
perfect opportunity to find your next bespoke interiors or garden love.<br />
Springfest will be open from 10am until 4pm on both days,<br />
with free entry and free parking. For more details visit<br />
www.curboroughcountrysidecentre.com or find Curborough<br />
Countryside Centre on Facebook.<br />
WHAT: DEAD LIES BY HILARY BONNER<br />
WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK<br />
WHEN: <strong>MAY</strong> 24 TO 29<br />
You won’t want to miss this world premiere of Dead Lies - a fast-moving,<br />
hard-hitting political English thriller from bestselling crime novelist Hilary<br />
Bonner. Offering a feast of murder, scandal, sexual indiscretion and political<br />
intrigue, the play is directed by critically acclaimed Joe Harmston and stars<br />
Holby City’s Jeremy Edwards.<br />
The story follows Peter George (Edwards), a politician who promises a new<br />
kind of politics beyond sleaze and spin. He is welcomed as a messiah by the<br />
British public and expected to restore trust in a broken political system. But a<br />
shocking secret lies deep in his past. As buried truths rise from the ashes, will<br />
his rise to power be destroyed by ghosts from another time?<br />
Tickets are available from £27. To book, visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com<br />
WHAT: CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD - THE ALL BALLS AND<br />
GLITTER TOUR<br />
WHERE: THE ALEXANDRA, BIRMINGHAM<br />
WHEN: <strong>MAY</strong> 26<br />
The star of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing - the judge everyone loves to hate<br />
- is taking to the road with his first solo tour in <strong>2022</strong>, and you can catch him<br />
at The Alexandra at the end of the month.<br />
Join Craig as he talks about his life so far, from Australia to the West End<br />
to Strictly, reveals a wealth of backstage gossip with his trademark wit and<br />
candour, and gives a very special performance of some of the music which<br />
has been the soundtrack to his career. Tickets for this fabulous evening of<br />
entertainment are available from £23. For more details visit<br />
www.atgtickets.com/birmingham<br />
WHAT: HOT CHOCOLATE<br />
WHERE: TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS<br />
WHEN: <strong>MAY</strong> 29<br />
For one night only, Hot Chocolate are in Tamworth! It was in the disco era<br />
of the mid-1970s that Hot Chocolate became a big success with hits like<br />
‘You Sexy Thing’ and ‘Everyone’s a Winner’. Hot Chocolate started their<br />
recording career with a reggae version of John Lennon’s ‘Give Peace a<br />
Chance’ and went on to become the only group, and one of just three acts<br />
(the others being Elvis Presley and Diana Ross), to score a hit in the UK<br />
charts in every year of the 1970s.<br />
In all, the group has charted 25 UK Top 40 hit singles, including at least<br />
one hit every year between 1970 and 1984. Their single ‘You Sexy Thing’<br />
became the only track that made the top ten in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s,<br />
appearing in a string of successful films starting with the 1997 comedy The<br />
Full Monty. Original lead vocalist Errol Brown left the group in 1986 with the<br />
current line-up fronted by Kennie Simon. Tickets are priced at £34.50. For<br />
more details visit www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk<br />
48 www.jaimemagazine.com
F I N A N C E<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Wealth Matters<br />
A MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE WORLD OF FINANCE FROM<br />
LICHFIELD FINANCIAL ADVISER JEAN LAMB DipPFS<br />
CAPITAL GAINS TAX (CGT)<br />
I find that of all the taxes I tend to deal with on a day<br />
to day basis with clients, CGT is the least understood or<br />
anticipated by them. So some people can end up paying<br />
it unnecessarily and conversely others may get caught<br />
out and fined for failing to properly declare their gains.<br />
WHAT IS CAPITAL GAINS TAX?<br />
CGT is a tax that is charged when you sell (or even<br />
give away) something – such as an investment – that<br />
has increased in value. The tax isn’t charged on the<br />
total sale price, but levied on the profit or gain that you<br />
made during your ownership of that asset.<br />
So, if you buy an antique ring for £10,000 and sell it<br />
for £15,000, your capital gain is £5,000.<br />
WHAT IS CGT CHARGED ON?<br />
The sale proceeds of almost any personal possession<br />
can be subject to CGT; from shares and investments,<br />
to buy-to-let properties, holiday homes, jewellery, fine<br />
wine, paintings, coins and stamps.<br />
There are, however, some exceptions such as<br />
investments held within a pension or an ISA, your<br />
primary home and your car.<br />
DO I HAVE A TAX-FREE ALLOWANCE FOR<br />
CGT?<br />
Yes. In the current tax year (<strong>2022</strong>/23) you can enjoy<br />
£12,300 of gains before you need to pay CGT. You<br />
might see this referred to as your annual exempt<br />
amount. This allowance has been frozen by the<br />
Government until 2026.<br />
There are a number of ways to legally reduce the<br />
amount of CGT that you pay. However, what works<br />
best for you will depend on the circumstances and it<br />
may need to be managed over time; making financial<br />
advice so important.<br />
WHAT HAPPENS IF I MAKE A LOSS?<br />
Of course, assets don’t always go up in value.<br />
However, if you make a profit when selling one item<br />
and a loss when selling another, you can deduct the loss<br />
from your gain when calculating how much tax you<br />
need to pay. So it’s not all bad news and you can carry<br />
forward any losses that haven’t been used to offset gains<br />
for up to four years.<br />
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I SOLD MY<br />
BUSINESS?<br />
You may qualify for Business Asset Disposal Relief<br />
(formerly Entrepreneurs’ Relief) if you are a sole trader<br />
or business partner and you’ve owned the business for<br />
at least two years. The relief reduces the rate of CGT<br />
on disposals of certain business assets from 20% to<br />
10%.<br />
HOW DO I DECLARE MY CAPITAL GAINS?<br />
When you sell assets, if you have made gains of more<br />
than £12,300, you must declare them to HMRC. How<br />
and when you do this depends on the asset or assets you<br />
sold.<br />
If you sell a property and it completed after 27 October<br />
2021, you have just 60 days to report your gain and pay<br />
the tax due. To do this, you need to set up a Capital<br />
Gains Tax on Property account on the Government<br />
website.<br />
You can report other gains and pay the tax straight<br />
away via the Government website or report them in a<br />
self-assessment tax return in the tax year after you sold<br />
the assets.<br />
IN SUMMARY<br />
Dependent upon the level of gain, CGT can be costly.<br />
Therefore it pays to be ahead of the game and take<br />
appropriate advice before, rather than after, the gain<br />
has been made.<br />
The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from<br />
taxation, can change at any time and are generally<br />
dependent on individual circumstances.<br />
Jean Lamb is Principal of Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy<br />
6A Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LH - Tel: 01543 417342<br />
Email: jean.lamb@sjpp.co.uk - Website: www.jeanlamb.co.uk<br />
Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management Plc (which is<br />
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products<br />
and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
49
H E A LT H<br />
Set yourself up for<br />
biking success<br />
WITH THE EVENINGS BECOMING LIGHTER, WE TALK TO SPIRE LITTLE ASTON’S<br />
SPECIALIST HIP AND KNEE SURGEON, MR SABUR MALEK ABOUT SETTING<br />
YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS IF YOU ARE WANTING TO BEGIN BIKING THIS YEAR<br />
When hip or knee problems strike, it’s easy to exercise<br />
less for fear of doing more damage than good.<br />
However, cycling offers a great way to exercise and lose<br />
weight, which will actually do your joints some good<br />
rather than causing any damage. Not to mention the<br />
chance to enjoy the outdoors and an endorphin hit.<br />
Simply put, cycling is great for your joints because it is<br />
a non-impact form of exercise. This means there is no<br />
jolting of your joints, in contrast to running, which is<br />
a high-impact activity and puts greater strain on your<br />
joints. Football also has a higher risk of joint injury due<br />
to the amount of twisting and turning involved.<br />
The only way cycling can damage your joints is if your<br />
seat is set too low. If you buy your bike from a specialist<br />
shop, they’ll adjust the seat for you to make sure it’s the<br />
correct height.<br />
Getting the right frame size is also important to help get<br />
the right fit. Online calculators are available on many<br />
bike manufacturer websites. Simply enter your height,<br />
inner leg length and arm length in order to determine<br />
the right frame size to order.<br />
Cycling isn’t just a great way to exercise because it<br />
protects your joints, it’s also cost effective, flexible and<br />
social.<br />
If you have a disability, there are specialist bike shops<br />
that offer bikes tailored to your mobility needs. This<br />
includes tricycles if you have balance issues, electric<br />
bikes (ebikes) if you have muscle weaknesses or are<br />
elderly, and hand bikes if you have lower body injuries.<br />
Road biking is ideal and will give your legs a good<br />
workout. With an increasing number of cycling lanes,<br />
the risk of dealing with motor traffic is much reduced.<br />
Look locally for trails that are marked by the National<br />
Cycling Network. These may be on road, on designated<br />
cycle paths or a combination of the two.<br />
If you have joint problems, exercise is recommended<br />
at least two to three times a week for around 30 to 45<br />
minutes. Cycling is one of the best types of exercise for<br />
joint degeneration because it will tone your muscles,<br />
which help support your joints and therefore take some<br />
of the stress off them.<br />
MR SABUR MALEK<br />
However, it is important not to overdo it with your<br />
exercise as this can wear your joints out. You don’t need<br />
to push yourself extremely hard. Although it is good<br />
to get your heart pumping from a heart-health point<br />
of view, when it comes to your joints and lower body<br />
workouts, steady exercise is all that is needed.<br />
Remember, always make sure that you stretch your<br />
hamstrings before and after cycling, as cycling has a<br />
tendency to cause short hamstrings. With your stretches<br />
complete, you can then enjoy the health benefits and<br />
fun of cycling.<br />
In May, Mr Malek is hosting free mini virtual<br />
appointments to talk about your various<br />
hip or knee problems. If you think you may<br />
benefit from talking to an expert, book your<br />
free appointment on Thursday, May 12, <strong>2022</strong>.<br />
Search ‘Spire Little Aston Hospital events’ or<br />
call 0121 514 7034.<br />
50 www.jaimemagazine.com
H E A LT H<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Health Matters<br />
DR DAVID ECCLESTON, FROM THE OAKLEY PARTNERSHIP<br />
PRIVATE GP PRACTICE IN FOUR OAKS, DISCUSSES ALL THINGS<br />
HEALTH EACH MONTH. THIS MONTH, HE TAKES A LOOK AT<br />
ALCOHOL EXCESS AND THE SINCLAIR METHOD<br />
Alcohol consumption is seen by most people as<br />
an essential part of their social life, lubricating<br />
conversation, reducing social shyness, and making<br />
the party a success. But what if you are one of those<br />
people who, once you have started, cannot stop<br />
drinking? You may have been there. Struggling to<br />
remember what happened last night? To be accepted<br />
in society, you have to avoid certain social situations,<br />
and make excuses why you can’t attend someone’s<br />
leaving party at work, or attend a friend’s family<br />
wedding.<br />
Now, what if your alcohol problem was NOT your<br />
fault? What if it was a medical condition that you<br />
didn’t cause? You just drink, the same as all of your<br />
friends, but they get away with it and you don’t.<br />
They still drink in a controlled way, they even get<br />
drunk occasionally, but they can stop when they want<br />
to. You, on the other hand, have one glass and you<br />
are in serious trouble. How is that fair? How is that<br />
your fault?<br />
Alcohol dependence is a medical condition. You did<br />
not cause it. Almost everyone tries alcohol at some<br />
point, and a large number overdo it, particularly<br />
when they are young. You just did what everyone<br />
else did, but you got into trouble. Conventional<br />
treatments involve abstention, detoxification, regular<br />
meetings, and the use of drugs with unpleasant side<br />
effects. The failure rate is high.<br />
The Sinclair Method is a modern method of<br />
treatment for alcohol addiction which is being used<br />
with very high success rates, particularly in Finland,<br />
where clinics are reporting that up to 78 per cent<br />
of clients are either stopping drinking altogether,<br />
or returning to controlled drinking. Our experience<br />
with patients at the practice supports these figures.<br />
The method works by a process called<br />
Pharmacological Extinction. When alcohol is<br />
consumed, pleasure hormones called ‘endorphins’<br />
are released, which attach to opioid receptors in the<br />
brain, giving sensory reward to the individual. These<br />
endorphins are released during many activities,<br />
including eating sweet and spicy foods, vigorous<br />
exercise, sex, placing bets, and taking part in highrisk<br />
activities.<br />
The problem with alcohol is that, after getting initial<br />
rewards from it, the urge to drink is reinforced, even<br />
when the person drinking is no longer getting any<br />
positive effects from their indulgence. The Sinclair<br />
Method involves the use of a drug called naltrexone,<br />
which blocks the opioid receptors, so that the<br />
endorphins cannot attach to them. Thus, the drinker<br />
experiences no reward. Over time, excessive drinking<br />
behaviour is ‘unlearned’, until the drinker is no<br />
longer addicted to alcohol.<br />
Using the Sinclair Method, contrary to conventional<br />
expectations, it is necessary to drink alcohol along<br />
with the medication, otherwise pharmacological<br />
extinction cannot occur. Drinking ceases or reduces<br />
to a healthy level after three-to-four months. While<br />
the Sinclair Method is a medical approach to treating<br />
alcohol dependence, pre-treatment education and<br />
ongoing medical support is necessary in order to<br />
help the patient understand the process fully, and to<br />
ensure success of the treatment.<br />
The Oakley Partnership is a private GP practice<br />
located in Four Oaks, and was founded in 2014.<br />
The practice provides a full range of private<br />
GP services for adults and children. We pride<br />
ourselves on our friendly and experienced GPs,<br />
nurses and reception staff, our flexible availability,<br />
and the additional services that we provide that<br />
are not available on the NHS. Visit our website<br />
for more details on the services we provide.<br />
The Oakley Partnership Private Medical Practice<br />
52 Bishops Way, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 4XS<br />
Tel: 0121 308 8876 - Fax: 0121 308 9551 - www.topmedicalpractice.co.uk<br />
CQC Registration 1-1346947216<br />
Please like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and leave a review on Doctify or Google.<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
51
FA S H I O N<br />
Go big or go home<br />
WITH BAGGY JEANS HAVING A SERIOUS MOMENT IN THE FASHION SPOTLIGHT,<br />
AMY NORBURY TAKES A LOOK AT THE BEST WAYS TO GO BIG<br />
MADNESS sang about their love of baggy trousers way back in<br />
the Eighties, while MC Hammer’s infamous ‘Hammer pants’ were<br />
a fashion icon of the early Nineties. And so, the fashion world’s love<br />
of wide-legged, loose-fitting threads remained - until the Noughties<br />
reared their head, heralding the era of the skinny jean.<br />
It was bye-bye to baggy, as spray-on styles stole our collective<br />
sartorial hearts, reigning supreme as the jeans of choice for the best<br />
part of two decades. Until last year, when Gen Z declared skinny<br />
jeans cancelled, labelling the fashion favourite ‘unflattering’ and<br />
‘outdated’.<br />
And while reports of the death of skinny jeans may be slightly<br />
exaggerated, there have since been many pretenders to the denim<br />
throne, with the 90s nostalgic loose-fit mom jeans being a strong<br />
contender for the crown.<br />
But for <strong>2022</strong> - perhaps influenced by our yearning for the good ol’<br />
days of lockdown-friendly loungewear - denim has gone seriously<br />
louche.<br />
Baggy, wide-legged jeans have been seen all over the SS22 catwalks,<br />
with designers such as Balenciaga, Molly Goddard and Regina<br />
Pyo championing a more laid-back approach to denim. Celebrity<br />
fashionistas galore have jumped onto the baggy jeans bandwagon,<br />
with Hailey Bieber rocking a grunge-inspired oversized look, while<br />
pop superstar Rihanna has channelled her love of wide leg jeans<br />
into her maternity style. Heck, even skinnies devotee Jennifer Lopez<br />
has been spotted swapping her spray-on denim for low-rise baggy<br />
jeans.<br />
The appeal of baggy denim is easy to see; the nipped-in waist<br />
balances out the capricious leg shape to create a flattering, ultrawearable<br />
style which can suit just about anyone. Add in the comfort<br />
factor one can enjoy with a loose-legged fit, and baggy jeans are<br />
making a serious case for that denim crown.<br />
When it comes to styling your baggy jeans, there are two schools of<br />
thought; balance the silhouette with a fitted top half, or go oversized<br />
all over. For the ultimate in off-duty comfort, an oversized hoodie or<br />
longline check shirt, a la Hailey Bieber, both work perfectly, while a<br />
fitted tank top or T-shirt embodies effortless casual style.<br />
For a more preppy vibe, opt for a crisp shirt - tucked in and with<br />
jeans belted to give a more structured look - paired with loafers. A<br />
bright white shirt never fails, but a block bright colour will make<br />
your outfit pop.<br />
As a light and airy alternative to your skintight skinnies, baggy<br />
jeans are the perfect denim for those brighter spring and summer<br />
days which are on the horizon; opt for a light wash and pair with<br />
a broderie anglaise blouse and your trusty Birkenstocks for an<br />
effortlessly stylish seasonal look.<br />
FRAME LE BAGGY HIGH RISE WIDE LEG JEANS,<br />
£285, NET-A-PORTER. WWW.NET-A-PORTER.COM<br />
52 www.jaimemagazine.com
£240 £305<br />
£170<br />
AGOLDE 90S LIGHT BLUE WIDE<br />
LEG JEANS, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />
WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />
GRACE LIGHT BLUE WIDE LEG JEANS,<br />
SLVRLAKE AT HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />
WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />
WANDLER CHAMOMILE BLACK<br />
BARREL LEG JEANS, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />
WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />
M&S COLLECTION BARREL JEANS,<br />
MARKS AND SPENCER.<br />
WWW.MARKSANDSPENCER.COM<br />
OPA ORGANIC COTTON BAGGY<br />
BOYFRIEND JEANS, RAEY AT<br />
WWW.MATCHESFASHION.COM<br />
V BY VERY MID WASH WIDE LEG<br />
JEANS. WWW.VERY.CO.UK<br />
£39.50<br />
£140<br />
£35<br />
ELISE WIDE LEGGED JEANS, £55, WEBBING<br />
LEATHER BELT, £16, AND NEW DAY GRAPHIC<br />
TEE, £25, ALL FATFACE. WWW.FATFACE.COM<br />
WIDE LEG JEANS, £75, FRILL SLEEVE TOP, £49,<br />
AND GLADIATOR SANDALS, £55, ALL AND/OR<br />
AT JOHN LEWIS. WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM
FA S H I O N<br />
Style edit: Suits you, sir!<br />
IT’S BEEN THE FASHION STAPLE FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY AND IT GOES WITHOUT<br />
SAYING THAT EVERY MAN NEEDS AT LEAST ONE GREAT-LOOKING SUIT IN THEIR<br />
WARDROBE THAT FITS LIKE A GLOVE AND MAKES THEM FEEL CONFIDENT. RETO PETER,<br />
CO-FOUNDER OF LEADING MADE-TO-MEASURE TAILORS EDIT SUITS CO, SHARES HIS<br />
EXPERTISE ON THIS SEASON’S KEY TRENDS AND HOW TO WEAR THEM<br />
WHY OWN A SUIT?<br />
Two years of Zoom calls in their sweatpants and<br />
many men have forgotten the joy of being suited and<br />
booted. But the classic two- or three-piece is making<br />
a post-pandemic return and we’re definitely here for<br />
that. Whether you’re inspired from James Bond’s<br />
super sharp tailoring or Harry Styles’ contemporary<br />
take, if you want to be taken seriously now we’re<br />
back in the real-life boardroom, a suit really means<br />
business.<br />
THE NAVY SUIT<br />
Guaranteed to always be in fashion, if you’re only<br />
going to own one suit then buy navy and you’ll fit in<br />
whatever the occasion. This most classic of colours<br />
immediately implies professionalism; added to that<br />
it works with every complexion. To keep it modern,<br />
opt for a peak lapel, single-breasted design and slim,<br />
tailored fit for a masculine and always elegant look.<br />
THE CHARCOAL SUIT<br />
Supremely versatile, charcoal teams perfectly with<br />
brown or tan accessories, and can be dressed up<br />
or down depending on the venue. As a styling tip,<br />
when it comes to a two-button suit only button<br />
the top button, never both; and if you’re wearing<br />
a waistcoat, again never fasten the bottom button.<br />
You’ll find it sits better and looks sharper.<br />
THE TUX … BLACK OR WHITE?<br />
The best way to nail this look is to stick with<br />
tradition, and that means choosing a single-breasted<br />
jacket with a peaked or shawl lapel. Black is the<br />
obvious choice; while white is better suited for<br />
summer weddings or formal outdoor events, keep<br />
it classic with black grosgrain trousers. Team with a<br />
turned down, pointed collar shirt and if you don’t<br />
54 www.jaimemagazine.com
know how to tie a bow tie, opt for the pre-tied<br />
version – do not, and I repeat do not, buy a clip-on.<br />
Shoe-wise, polished Oxfords are really the only way<br />
to go and avoid anything with tassels or elaborate<br />
stitching.<br />
SMART CASUAL<br />
When the invite says “smart casual” it can be<br />
confusing to know just what to wear: do you go smart<br />
or do you go casual? My advice is to lean towards the<br />
smart, that way you won’t feel out of place when you<br />
turn up in jeans and everyone else turns up in a suit.<br />
One of the season’s key colour trends is deep green<br />
and it can easily be worn with a classic white T-shirt,<br />
button-down shirt or plain roll-neck depending on<br />
the time of year. Pair with a stylish Chelsea boot or<br />
even a white trainer for a modern edge.<br />
STYLISH SEPARATES<br />
More and more men are opting to team their suit<br />
jackets with more casual trousers, such as chinos,<br />
light flannel or corduroy and these are all the ideal<br />
choice for any business/casual outfit. You can play<br />
around with a range of colours that work well with<br />
a contrasting jacket – opt for lightweight fabrics<br />
like merino or cotton during the warmer days, and<br />
cashmere during the winter – or finish off the look<br />
with a classic trench or overcoat.<br />
A FEW RULES TO BEAR IN MIND<br />
Your accessories should complement the colour or<br />
pattern of your suit. For example, if you’re wearing<br />
a patterned suit, opt for simple neckwear and vice<br />
versa.<br />
Your shoes should be appropriate for the occasion.<br />
While there are plenty of instances where trainers<br />
are okay with a suit, a top notch do isn’t one of them.<br />
Don’t overdo it with accessories – they should be<br />
used to enhance your outfit, not clutter it.<br />
Buy a suit that you love. If simple, navy suits are<br />
your thing, go for a simple, navy suit; if double<br />
breasted suits strike your fancy, get one! There’s no<br />
rule against what you can and can’t wear, just always<br />
make sure it fits properly.<br />
And consider going for made-to-measure – that way,<br />
you can choose the fit, customise sleeve lengths and<br />
even choose lapel width or back vents.<br />
Edit Suits was founded in 2014 by Reto Peter<br />
and Patrick Jungo offering made-to-measure<br />
Savile Row suiting and casual clothing<br />
without the hefty price tag. The brand has<br />
recently launched its first UK store outside<br />
London in Birmingham’s Mailbox. For more<br />
details visit www.editsuits.com.<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com 55
B E AU T Y<br />
Changing skincare with<br />
the changing seasons<br />
AS THE SEASONS CHANGE, SO TOO SHOULD YOUR SKINCARE. JUST AS YOU SWITCH UP YOUR<br />
WARDROBE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE COMING MONTHS, YOU CAN DO THE SAME WITH YOUR<br />
DAILY ESSENTIALS TO KEEP YOUR COMPLEXION LOOKING AND FEELING IT’S BEAUTIFUL BEST ALL YEAR<br />
ROUND. DEBORAH MITCHELL, FOUNDER OF HEAVEN SKINCARE, SHARES HER TIPS AND MUST-HAVES<br />
SPRING<br />
After months of hibernating your skin will be crying<br />
out for some TLC so buff away the winter with<br />
essentials that cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate. As you<br />
spend more time outdoors your daily routine needs<br />
to include products that protect against increased<br />
humidity and sun damage.<br />
New Edition Cleanser: Start the new season with<br />
a daily spring clean. New Edition Cleanser contains<br />
patented ABEETOXIN® formula to control facial<br />
muscles as it cleanses. Vitamin A works to resurface<br />
and repair skin cells for an anti-ageing effect.<br />
Chamomile Hydrogel: A blend of delicate<br />
chamomile and Echinacea act as an antiinflammatory<br />
and are anti-allergenic to normalise<br />
the skin. The addition of organic witch hazel means<br />
redness is reduced, making it the ideal choice to<br />
control sensitivity issues, acne, rosacea and eczema.<br />
Silk Skin Bee Bee Cream: Heaven’s all-day<br />
SPF 20 BB adds moisture to your skin and at the<br />
same time it reacts to your colour tone for a natural,<br />
gorgeous glow. Use in place of your foundation for a<br />
lighter, natural alternative.<br />
SUMMER<br />
The temperatures are on the up and the days are<br />
light and long so switch up your regime to include<br />
products that soothe and calm skin. Put those heavy<br />
or thick creams away for a few months; at this time<br />
of the year they will clog up your pores and cause<br />
breakouts.<br />
Hydro Cleansing Milk: This silky soft cleansing<br />
milk uses organic jojoba, the closest match to our<br />
own natural oil, to balance and condition. While it’s<br />
suitable for all complexions, it’s especially good for<br />
those with dry, blemished or oily skin.<br />
Age Defiance Cream: The anti-ageing Age<br />
Defiance moisturiser that plumps out fine lines,<br />
lightens pigmentation and prevents spot breakouts<br />
thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid. It soothes<br />
irritated, acne-prone, blemished or sensitive and oily<br />
skins – don’t head on holiday without it!<br />
Divine Cream: Bursting with organic mandarin<br />
and orange, both renowned natural sources of<br />
vitamin C. Together they help increase collagen and<br />
elastin levels in the skin, leaving you with a more<br />
youthful and radiant complexion. It’s light on the<br />
skin, making it the perfect all-day cream during the<br />
spring.<br />
56 www.jaimemagazine.com
AUTUMN<br />
As the days become cooler and the air becomes<br />
dry, you’ll notice that your complexion starts to lose<br />
moisture. Using the right skincare now means you’ll<br />
be laying the groundwork for the harsher winter<br />
weather.<br />
Cleanse and Foam: This cleanser and exfoliator<br />
in one works its way into pores to flush out dirt and<br />
remove blackheads. It contains organic carrot oil and<br />
mandarin essential oil to aid skin repair and balance<br />
oil and moisture levels.<br />
Peppermint Hydrogel: Your skin may be feeling<br />
dehydrated following the summer months so it’ll<br />
need a new season perk-up. Peppermint Hydrogel<br />
minimises oil secretion, balances the PH levels, refine<br />
pores and diminishes blemishes, leaving your skin<br />
feeling fully hydrated.<br />
Dock Cream: Tackle sensitivity and irritation with<br />
the plant-based Dock Cream. By harnessing the<br />
power of our own interferons – proteins that are<br />
produced by a variety of cells – it reinforces skin,<br />
helping to soothe and heal.<br />
WINTER<br />
The weather outside may well be frightful, but that<br />
doesn’t mean your skin has to be. Frosty mornings<br />
leave your complexion feeling dry, dull and lacklustre.<br />
Kick-start your winter skincare with these musthaves<br />
to tackle the cold, and improve hydration and<br />
elasticity.<br />
Overnight Success Cream: Thanks to its vitamin<br />
B content, the anti-ageing Overnight Cream releases<br />
oxygen to detoxify and replenish. Perfect for dull or<br />
damaged skin, it can also be used during the day and<br />
also helps keep acne at bay and controls rosacea.<br />
Silver Bee Venom Mask: One of Heaven’s<br />
signature products, this potent anti-ageing mask<br />
contains ABEETOXIN® – renowned as a natural<br />
alternative to Botox. It’s ideal for those who suffer<br />
from blemishes, rosacea, eczema, dry and mature<br />
skin.<br />
Nettle Venom Serum: Boasting a whole host of<br />
nutrients, including vitamins A, C and K as well as<br />
calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium<br />
and sodium. It’s extremely nourishing and you’ll<br />
notice the benefits immediately, including softer,<br />
more radiant skin and improvement of tone.<br />
Heaven Skincare by Deborah Mitchell is available at Heaven Health and Beauty,<br />
13a Market Place, Shifnal, Shropshire. You can also shop online at heavenskincare.com.<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
57
B U S I N E S S<br />
The perfect fit<br />
BASED IN HARBORNE, CAMPBELL WATSON ARE SPECIALISTS IN FITTED STORAGE,<br />
OFFERING AN UNRIVALLED SELECTION OF LUXURY FITTED WARDROBES, WALK-IN<br />
WARDROBES, HOME OFFICES, BEDROOM FURNITURE AND TV AND STORAGE SYSTEMS<br />
Established for more than 17 years,<br />
Campbell Watson’s team of experts<br />
design, deliver and install their stylish<br />
range of fitted storage products,<br />
which are all made in Italy to the<br />
highest standard. The company prides<br />
itself on offering superior products<br />
that are manufactured to the highest<br />
quality and are made and designed to<br />
last a lifetime.<br />
With beginnings in Solihull, Campbell<br />
Watson moved to their showroom<br />
in Harborne, Birmingham, in late<br />
2019, and have been based there ever<br />
since. On display you’ll find a range<br />
of wardrobes and walk-in wardrobes,<br />
among a selection of loose furniture<br />
items.<br />
The staff will be happy to answer<br />
any questions about their product range and can show<br />
customers samples and handle choices for the range of<br />
wardrobes and more.<br />
Working up and down the country, Campbell Watson<br />
has amassed a vast portfolio of work which can all be<br />
viewed on the website, along with the full product range<br />
and online brochures.<br />
They work closely with customers to create dream<br />
solutions that are perfect for any space. The designers<br />
are available for no-obligation consultations - which can<br />
be easily booked online - and the experienced fitting<br />
team will deliver and install your products seamlessly.<br />
The storage ranges are extensive, with a wide range<br />
of styles, finishes, handles and accessories to choose<br />
from. On top of this, Campbell Watson receives<br />
positive feedback from clients, with the overall customer<br />
experience and quality of installation top priorities.<br />
Whether a large or small, residential or commercial<br />
project, their experience as storage specialists means they<br />
can create the perfect solution for<br />
any environment.<br />
If you’d like to visit the<br />
showroom at 342 High Street,<br />
Harborne, Birmingham, B17<br />
9PU, the team is ready with a<br />
friendly welcome from Monday<br />
to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm, and<br />
Saturdays from 12noon to 3pm.<br />
Alternatively, you can contact<br />
Campbell Watson on 0121<br />
389 8422 or email info@<br />
campbellwatson.co.uk. Visit<br />
www.campbellwatson.co.uk<br />
for further details.<br />
THE ST<br />
58 www.jaimemagazine.com
Discover that hidden gem today,<br />
with the help of your local auctioneer<br />
Established – Professional – Transparent - Trusted<br />
The Winterton family name has been synonymous with auctioneering in Staffordshire since 1864<br />
FREE SPECIALIST VALUATIONS NEAR YOU<br />
FOR ALL YOUR JEWELLERY • WATCHES • GOLD • SILVER<br />
Tuesdays<br />
9.30am - 11.00am<br />
Meet Ben for general advice<br />
and auction consignments<br />
DROP IN<br />
Wednesdays<br />
9.30am - 4.00pm<br />
With Heather, gemmologist<br />
and diamond grader<br />
BY APPOINTMENT<br />
Thursdays<br />
9.30am - 4.00pm<br />
Meet Lisa and our jewellery team<br />
for auction estimates and advice<br />
BY APPOINTMENT<br />
The Hub At St Mary’s<br />
Market Square<br />
Lichfield City Centre, WS13 6LG<br />
Tamworth Auction Rooms<br />
34-35 Church Street<br />
Tamworth, B79 7BX<br />
The Lichfield Auction Centre<br />
Fradley Park (close to the A38)<br />
Wood End Lane, WS13 8NF<br />
Probate and formal<br />
valuations for inheritance<br />
tax purposes<br />
Our reliable and sympathetic<br />
team can assist all executors<br />
in the administration of<br />
deceased estates<br />
We handle everything<br />
from jewellery and large<br />
collections to cars, furniture<br />
and household items<br />
Comprehensive, bespoke<br />
clearance service and<br />
downsizing solutions<br />
The clearance of an entire<br />
estate, from houses,<br />
bungalows and flats to offices<br />
and all other buildings<br />
We specialise in:<br />
Antique and modern jewellery<br />
Watches and timepieces<br />
Pens<br />
Designer gear<br />
Gemstones<br />
Silverware<br />
Coins, medals and militaria<br />
Works of art<br />
Ceramics and glass<br />
Whisky, wine, port and cigars<br />
Vintage toys and trains<br />
Stamps and ephemera<br />
Cameras and telescopes<br />
Record collections<br />
Hi-fi and audio technology<br />
Scientific equipment<br />
Antique and modern furniture<br />
Video gaming and Pokémon<br />
Musical instruments<br />
FREE General Valuations of<br />
pictures, antiques and collectables<br />
are available by appointment<br />
Qualified<br />
Members of our specialist<br />
jewellery department are<br />
certified gemmologists and<br />
diamond graders<br />
Record-breaking<br />
international sales<br />
More than 3,800 bidders from<br />
all over the world join our<br />
auctions online each month<br />
Buy or sell with ease<br />
Valuations, viewing and<br />
consignments at our offices<br />
by appointment - free home<br />
visits for large collections,<br />
digital estimates and<br />
contactless pick-ups may<br />
be arranged<br />
The Lichfield Auction Centre<br />
Wood End Lane, Fradley Park WS13 8NF<br />
01543 251081<br />
office@richardwinterton.co.uk<br />
The Tamworth Auction Rooms<br />
34-35 Church Street, Tamworth B79 7BX<br />
01827 217746<br />
tamworth@richardwinterton.co.uk<br />
J'Aime Ad 190x280_June 2021.indd 10 12/04/<strong>2022</strong> 16:31