the barrister life style supplement

LifeStyleLifeStylethe barrister

Supplement 2010

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Barrister Magazine_210x297.indd 1 27/01/2010 15:12:33

A national tresureBy Linda Christmas

Glorious Glyndebourne By Chandra Fifield

Stress behind “the bar” is common place

By Dr Jenny Leeser

Bay View VillasBy Paul H. Williams

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund: Repaying the “Debt We Owe”By Jonathan Heard

Return to the wild at Alladale Wilderness ReserveBy Emma Holifield

The tax regime is getting harsherBy Anne Gregory-Jones

the opening of Aqua London By Nicola Barlow

Stoke Place: a 17th-century country house hotel that’s more fab than trad By Jori White

The GranCabrio, the first four-seater convertible in the history of MaseratiBy Silvia Pini

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club By Adrian Houston

Jermyn Street, the Gem of St James’s

By Katie Thomas

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04 the barrister | Lifestyle supplement

A national treasureBy Linda Christmas

In the same year – 1999 - that this magazine was experiencing the excitement and trepidation of launching itself on the market, the Royal Opera House was facing similar first night nerves: the re-opening of the iconic Covent Garden building after a costly redevelopment. Ten years later both are smiling.

The past decade has seen the Royal Opera House emerge from a difficult, debt-ridden period, win back the loyalty of its supporters, embrace new audiences and generally get closer to the title it deserves – that of a National Treasure.

As you walk through the doors of this exceptional building you can feel the buoyant mood in the audience. They are expecting a special evening. And when you talk to the staff you can sense how proud – and often somewhat surprised – they are by all the exciting developments of the last ten years. Today some 900 people work in the building, not just to get the curtain up each night on an opera or a ballet, but also striving to develop young artists, expand the audience, and court new patrons to help support the vast range of activities that are now part of the everyday life of this busy organisation. The attempts to woo new audiences by offering tickets at low prices to the readers of the Sun newspaper received much publicity. So too did February’s special Tickets for Troops family performance on Valentine’s Day – this time free to members of the armed forces who served in recent wars and made possible by the generous support of Lord and Lady Laidlaw of Rothiemay. But much else is happening with less of a fanfare. Kishane Jayasinghe might well be struggling with Barrister’s Brief today if it had not been for the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme. She trained as a lawyer and was heading for Middle Temple when it was suggested to her that her hobby might be turned into her career.

“I loved the idea of being a barrister and it never occurred to me to do anything else. Singing was something I had enjoyed from childhood in Sri Lanka and I had never considered it as possible career. But when the idea was floated I decided to give it five years and if I didn’t succeed I’d turn back to the law.”

She went first to the Royal Academy of Music and then applied “at the 11th hour” for a place on the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme. “It was like walking through a golden arch. For the rest of my life the ROH will hold a special place in my heart. I was lucky enough to learn my craft in one of the best opera houses in the world. The building is so stunning. Everyone should go there at least once to experience the wonder of the place: it’s magical and all the gold and red is so majestic.”

During her two years on the Young Artists programme, Kishane sang small roles at Covent Garden and she is now singing larger roles, like Mimi in La bohème in Verona, and in June the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro at Garsington, but she thinks it might be a while before she is ready to face such top roles at Covent Garden “After all you don’t become a Silk overnight!” Meanwhile she is ever thankful that she did the legal training: “Performing as a singer is not so different from performing as a barrister – we are both trying to win over the audience!”

“Salim Moollan is eager to encourage other barristers to join him asPatrons”.

05the barrister | Lifestyle supplement

The programme which began in 2001 takes six emerging professionals a year and is generously funded by Oak Foundation. Indeed much of the expansion in the last ten years is dependent on funding from foundations and from individuals who love opera and ballet. Entry level Patrons of Covent Garden pay a modest sum of £4,600 a year. Salim Moollan, of Essex Court Chambers, became a Patron some four years ago. He grew up in Mauritius listening to opera on record, but it was not until he came to Europe to study that he first entered an opera house.

“Going to Covent Garden never ceases to dazzle me and becoming a Patron has really opened up the Opera House to me. I now find it so easy to exchange my tickets if I find I have got a hearing the next day. There’s a dedicated line. This enables you to book ahead with confidence. Further, once you have paid your £4,600 a year it does encourages you to try and see

everything. This summer’s operas have exceptional casting. There is Erwin Schrott in the Marriage of Figaro; Plácido Domingo

in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra; Anna Netrebko in a new production of Massenet’s Manon; and a wonderful

production of Richard Strauss’s Salome. I am planning to see the last three operas in one

week together with friends and family from Mauritius will

join me”.

Salim Moollan is eager to encourage other barristers to join him as Patrons. “I now feel a part of Covent Garden. Sometimes we can go backstage and meet singers. Several years ago this was just a dream. The staff are so welcoming and so keen to offer assistance. The financial commitment is not seen as prohibitive by the many members of the Bar who have already joined as Patrons, and the Royal Opera House needs our support to continue its work.”

Salim has noted that much has changed in recent years and is particularly pleased to see the increase in the number of co-productions with other opera houses. “This enables the work of the Royal Opera House to be seen in other countries as well as here in London.”

For further information on becoming a Patron of Covent Garden, please contact:

Eva Nijhof on 0207 212 9448 or [email protected]

For tickets to the performance of Simon Boccanegra with Plácido Domingo on Monday 5 July, followed by a dinner with members of the cast, please contact Victoria Green on 0207 212 9349 [email protected]

For information on performances at the Royal Opera House please visit

www.roh.org.uk


Tax DisclosureThere has been a lot of press coverage of HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Tax Health Plan. This is the new disclosure opportunity for health professionals whereby a voluntary disclosure of understated income is encouraged by offering reduced penalties.

Whilst this is not yet directly relevant for Barristers, HMRC has indicated that it is their intention to focus their attention on other groups of professionals in future to offer them a similar amnesty. Inevitably the focus will fall on Barristers at some point and you will have to be sure that you are satisfied that your accounts have been completed correctly and will survive close scrutiny by HMRC.

Loss of Personal AllowanceApart from the 50% rate on incomes over £150,000 from April 2010, the personal allowance (which for the 2009/2010 tax year, amounted to £6,475) will be reduced by £1 for every £2 of earnings in excess of £100,000 from that date also. So anyone earning over £112,950 from April 2010, will lose their tax free personal allowance. Where earnings are between £100,000 and £112,950, part of the personal allowance will be withdrawn. This means the marginal rate of income tax on taxable income between £100,000 and £112,950 will effectively be 60%.If your income is sufficiently high this will cause your personal allowance to be removed and so you may wish to consider taking action to avoid this 60% rate of tax by reducing your income or increasing other reliefs. You could consider shifting investments to your spouse to reduce your exposure to this restriction (this assumes that they have sufficient capacity to not have their personal allowance restricted themselves and most commonly entails moving investments between spouses to achieve the best possible level of taxation), making pension payments or payments under gift aid to reduce the taxable income. These courses of action could have other implications (including non-tax matters) and therefore it is important for your circumstances to be reviewed prior to any action being taken.

Gift AidPayments made to charities under the gift aid scheme reduce the tax payable at the higher rates of tax which will be 50% after 5 April 2010. This will not affect the tax that can be claimed by the charity which is the tax at the basic rate.

PensionsThe anti-forestalling rules have made this an increasingly complex and therefore much covered area. At its simplest, the tax planning entails

The tax regime is getting harsher and Barristers are being hit as much as other professionals.

Not only has the tax rate for high earners gone up to 50% in April 2010 but pension contributions have been badly

affected in the past year at a time when planning for the future has never been more important. Below

are some comments on the various changes.By Anne Gregory-Jones, Hays Macintyre


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ensuring that if you have “relevant income” (effectively total taxable income less qualifying losses, pension contributions up to £20,000 and gross gift aid payments) in 2009/10 and 2010/11 of less than £130,000, you pay as much pension as possible as the relief available to you is only restricted by the level of your earned income. If your “relevant income” is in excess of £150,000 then you should ensure that you pay up to your available limit which is normally £20,000 but could be up to £30,000 depending on previous years’ contributions.

The rules that are to apply from 6 April 2011 are much more straightforward and much less beneficial. If you have “gross income” of £150,000 and over, and your “relevant income” is more than £130,000, then the pensions relief is to be tapered down to 20%. If your gross income (effectively total income less qualifying reliefs, excluding gifts of qualifying assets to charity plus the total pension savings and excluding allowable contributions) is in excess of £180,000 then your pension relief is restricted to 20%.

Alternatives to Pension Contributions By making use of the investment opportunities mentioned below each year it is possible to build up a significant portfolio which can give rise to a useful tax free source of income which can be used to augment your traditional pension arrangements.

ISAsIt is possible to invest up to £10,200 each tax year in ISAs from 6th April 2010. Income and capital gains from ISAs are tax free. Investment can be in cash and stocks and shares ISAs depending on how you want to invest and the amount of risk you want to take.

Venture Capital Trusts (VCT)VCTs are investment trusts quoted on the London Stock Exchange investing in small to medium-sized qualifying companies. Each qualifying company must be unquoted or AIM listed and carry on a trade in the UK which is not, in broad terms, a financial or professional activity.

The tax benefits of VCT investment can be summarised as follows:

• Income tax relief at 30% on investments of up to £200,000 in any tax year. The shares must be held for a minimum of five years to maintain qualification for this relief.

• Tax free dividends on VCT shares acquired within the above income tax annual limit.

• Tax free capital gains on VCT shares acquired within the above income tax annual limit, provided VCT approval has remained uninterrupted since their acquisition.

• Tax free capital gains realised within the VCT on disposals of investments in qualifying companies.

Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)The EIS was introduced in the 1994 Finance Act as a successor to the Business Expansion Scheme. The tax reliefs only apply when the investor subscribes for newly issued shares in a qualifying company. To qualify, the company must be unquoted (although a listing on AIM is acceptable) throughout the initial three year period, carrying on a trade in the UK which is not, in broad terms, a financial or professional activity. It is also possible to invest in a discretionary portfolio service whereby investment is made in a series of qualifying companies selected by the manager. This spread will also help to reduce risk but tax relief is not available until investment in the qualifying companies has been made. Alternatively an approved EIS fund

will split investment between a number of companies and will qualify for income tax relief at the outset, although CGT deferral will not be available until investment in the qualifying companies has been made.

There are four potential elements of EIS tax relief:• Income tax relief at 20% on investments of up to £500,000 in any tax year i.e. a tax saving of up to £100,000. The shares must be held for a minimum of three years to maintain qualification for this relief. It is also possible to claim for EIS investments made during 2009/10 onwards to be treated as if made in the previous tax year.

• Tax free capital gains on the investment itself (on which EIS income tax relief has been given) provided the shares are held for at least three years and the company continues to qualify.

• Capital gains tax deferral - if an individual has a taxable capital gain, the gain can be re-invested under the EIS and the tax payable will be deferred for the life of the investment. The EIS investment must be made in the period beginning 12 months before and ending three years after the date of the disposal that has given rise to the gain (or, as the case may be, the date when a previously deferred gain crystallises). There is no maximum amount for CGT deferral.

• Inheritance tax exemption without limit provided the investment has been held for at least two years.

Anne Gregory-Jones


Portland, Jamaica, almost paradisiacal, with its picturesque coastlines, breathtaking views of the sea, cloud-caressed mountains, long, meandering rivers and sparkling waterfalls, is a nature-lover’s dream, located on Jamaica’s northeast coast. And in all of this natural magnificence is a magical place called Bay View Villas, perched on a hill near Port Antonio, and overlooking the rippling turquoise waters of Turtle Crawl Harbour, a marine preserve with its family of manatees.

Among the trees, on 30-acres of a semi-tropical rainforest, are five structures made of concrete and wood. This is where man meets nature in a symbiotic way, as the buildings were made to co-exist with the lush vegetation on the property. The protection of the environment is a notion that is jealously guard and observed at Bay View Villas, which offers a variety of accommodation for locals and foreigners.

Bay View Villas has spacious, self-contained, air-conditioned junior suites and standard rooms, exquisitely furnished and are as immaculately kept as the grounds are. Rooms are also equipped with king-size beds, cable TVs, hot and cold water. Each accommodation has a balcony from which there is a special view, whether of the hills, the harbour or the luxuriant foliage of shrub and trees. Occupants can reach out and touch the top of trees rising from several feet below.

When it rains, open your doors and windows, and hear the patter of water droplets falling on to leaves. Wake up to the sweet sounds of chirping birds and the soothing rush of the spring that runs through the property. And for the romantic at heart, at night, the dimly lit palm tree-lined avenue is perfect for a stroll in the cool Portland breeze, and if you listen carefully, you will hear angels sigh, for you are in heaven.

Whether it’s Ackee House, Bamboo House, Mango House, Palm House or the Main House (which has three rooms, ideal for groups) that you choose to lay your head in, the service that you get at Bay Villas is first-class. Each guest is greeted upon arrival by a charming receptionist who welcomes you with the characteristic inviting Jamaican smile.

There is a resident manager who oversees the smooth operation of the property, and makes sure guests are well looked after. Professional services are offered by a team of efficient landscapers, chefs, bartenders, housekeepers and workmen. Services include airport pick-ups – at a cost of US$100 (2-4 people) one way – so as to ensure guests get comfortable and hassle-free trips to and from destination.

The poolside building which houses the restaurant and bar has a well-ventilated conference/meeting hall, whose northern doors open out to a balcony that gives the best view of Turtle Crawl Harbour and headlands, and an overhead look into the four-foot deep swimming pool. To laze in the Bay View Villas sun, lounge around the pool or view the coastline from the look-out deck made of wood.

Bay View Villas caters for parties, social events, wedding receptions, re-unions, retreats and meetings. Rates include US$94 for single occupancy; US$120, double; US$150,

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triple, or the Jamaican-dollar equivalent, and are subject to change without notice. Additionally, there is a 10 per cent gratuity, and general consumption tax. All rates include complimentary breakfasts of mouth-watering Jamaican food, some of which are grown on the grounds.

For those who can’t get enough of the serenity of the environs and purity of the air at Bay View, they can live on property by owning their dream hideaways among the trees, some of which bear an abundance of food and fruit. Fertile and fruitful the land is, and there are 14 private residential lots of varying sizes now available for sale starting at US$65,000 or its United Kingdom currency or Jamaican dollar equivalent.

Two-storey houses, incorporated natural materials found in the area will be built with the preservation of the environment in mind. Prospective owners may build based on their original concepts, or follow those provided by the resident architect. Uniformity of structure and conformity to the idea of environmental preservation are fundamental to the development of the lots.

Gordon Townsend, developer, says, “It’s a peaceful place and we want to continue the tradition ... Basically, what we are doing to maintain the integrity of the place we want to do two concept drawings of what we would like the units to be, and if they (buyers) don’t use our architect, and want to use their own they can, but we are not going to agree with too much modification.” It’s all about protecting the area against development that is inimical to the sustenance of plant life.

In addition to the facilities at Bay View, residents and visitors can experience the attractions provided by nearby properties. The region has world-renowned spots such as the Errol Flynn Marina, a top-class facility in the heart of Port Antonio, which has a seawall lined with flowers and benches. Rio Grande Rafting is an unforgettable and relaxing way to see the rustic beauty of Portland.

At Somerset Falls, there are dazzling waterfalls, tropical plants and exotic birds all in one mesmerising setting. Reach Falls is paradise on Earth, with enchanting caves and crystal-clear pools. Then, there is Blue Lagoon, Jamaica’s largest underground spring-fed lagoon. For sunny days on white-sand beaches, Frenchman’s Cove, San San and Winnifred Beach are ideal.

Bay View Villas itself is at one with nature, a quiet retreat which every person should experience at least once. It’s peaceful and tranquil and the only thing missing is you. “Bay View is the ideal spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of the busy cities. It is refreshing, because of its natural environment. Our warm and friendly staff provides the best service possible on this side of the globe,” says Kerry-Ann Newsome, the current resident manager.

For information and reservation visit our website, www.bayviewvillas.com. Email: info @bayviewvillas-ja.com. Telephone: (876) 993-3118 and (876) 31-8857. Fax: (876)715-5779.

By Paul H. Williams

W E A L T H M A N A G E M E N T

The Personal Wealth Management Service

As a Senior Partner of the St. James’s Place Partnership, I offer a personal

bespoke wealth management service.

I provide face-to-face advice and specialise in meeting the financial needs of

people who have successfully created capital, or who earn higher incomes, and

whose circumstances and requirements can be more complicated than usual.

Whether a simple issue, or a complex multi-faceted problem, I provide wealth

management on an individual basis, bespoke to your personal needs.

The need for advice

Change affects us all, our circumstances, our family relationships and our

personal concerns. It affects the stock markets, interest rates, and the economic

outlook, manifesting into new forms of taxation and legislation.

Few people have the expertise, the time or indeed the enthusiasm to stay on top

of it all. Most want a relationship with a trusted wealth manager to understand

and explain the issues, and propose appropriate actions.

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The GranCabrio, the first four-seater convertible in the history of MaseratiBy Silvia Pini

It made its international début at the Frankfurt International Auto Show last September and two weeks later over 400 guests witnessed its UK breathtaking premiere at London’s Royal Horticultural Halls in London.

Supermodel and Maserati ambassador Jodie Kidd started the unveiling ceremony in spectacular fashion: as the lights dimmed, two models, whose dresses’ silk train had been draped over the sinuous lines of the Pininfarina designed vehicle, started to walk and the GranCabrio was free to dazzle the guests, including celebrity chef and Maserati aficionado James Martin, London Saracens rugby star Fabio Ongaro, comedian Patrick Kielty and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.

The GranCabrio represents the very essence of Maserati in terms of open-top cars. It’s a Maserati in the purest sense of the word and a car with a high emotional appeal: from its luscious looks and Pininfarina styling to its V8’s thrilling sound and amazing performance.

Powered by a 4.7 litre V8 delivering 440 HP, the GranCabrio features a ZF automatic six-speed gearbox and is the convertible with the longest wheelbase on the market in its class (2,492mm). It reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill in 5.4 seconds , has a top speed of 175 mph and reaches its maximum torque of 490 Nm at 4,750 rpm.

The body of the Maserati GranCabrio has been thoroughly overhauled. Despite the lack of an overhead frame and a wheelbase at the top of its class (2.942mm: longer than its direct competitors) it guarantees the best possible performance in terms of structural rigidity. The newly-designed bearing monocoque has been made using materials and technologies designed especially to optimise weight: the bonnet and cross beams are made from aluminium, while the boot is made from SMC (Sheet Molding Compound).

The excellent weight distribution (with a slightly higher load on the rear wheels) also facilitates excellent on-the-road dynamics and improved safety, in combination with the vehicle’s control systems. These include, for the first time ever, the Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), which optimises brake performance both in everyday use and emergency situations.

Particular attention has been paid to developing the aerodynamics, with the creation of a flat aluminium base that not only adds to the overall body’s rigidity but also reduces Cx by 6 points. In this way, for the first time, the convertible version of a car is able to maintain the same aerodynamic performance of the coupe, with a Cx of 0.35.

Whilst following in the footsteps of tradition, the GranCabrio opens a new chapter, because never before have four-seater convertibles been produced at the Viale Ciro Menotti Maserati factory.


The GranCabrio continues the Maserati tradition in open-top cars and joins models which have played an important role in the Modena carmaker’s history such as the A6G Frua Spyder (1950), the 3500GT Vignale Spyder (1960), the Mistral Spyder (1964), the Ghibli Spyder (1968) and the Spyder designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro (2001), the car that marked Maserati’s return to the United States.

Whilst following in the footsteps of tradition, the GranCabrio opens a new chapter, because never before have four-seater convertibles been produced at the Viale Ciro Menotti Maserati factory. Four proper seats, so that the rear passengers are not merely supporting actors, but co-stars of the journey.

Maserati offers an unrivaled personalisation programme, which has been developed with the objective of allowing each client to create a made-to-measure car. Such a level of exclusivity is a source of pride for Maserati, a small company able to devote the highest levels of care and attention to every car it builds.

The personalisation options on the GranCabrio, which is available in 14 different exterior colours, have been enhanced by six different shades for the soft top and by the introduction of two new Poltrona Frau® leather colours, Bianco Polare (Polar White) and Blu Profondità (Deep Blue). The dashboard, door panels and rear side panels are available in the new ‘Dark Chrome’ standard finish but it is also possible to choose from precious woods, such as Carbalho and Moonwood, or coloured lacquer finishes.

The GranCabrio style is unique; the possible combinations for colours and materials are endless. Clients and supporters of the brand can visualise colour combinations and features of their own Maserati GranCabrio, thanks to a completely renewed online car configurator (www.configurator.maserati.com/grancabrio/), which is state of the art in terms of image quality and flexibility of usage.

In addition to the wide range of options, a bespoke four-piece leather luggage set which fits perfectly into the boot is available to order. The trolley suitcases can be ordered individually and can also be fixed on the rear seats with a security belt and an elegant leather cover will protect the seats.

The Maserati GranCabrio can be ordered now via the Maserati dealer network and the first right-hand drive examples will reach the UK showrooms in April 2010 at a price of £95,630 (OTR). For further information on the GranCabrio and the full Maserati, to book a test drive or request a brochure please contact the Maserati Info Centre on 0800 064 6468 or visit www.maserati.com.

Maserati GB Ltd | 275 Leigh Road | Slough | Berkshire | SL1 4HF | UKTel +44 1753 878 756 Fax +44 1753 878 770 [email protected]


Stress behind “the bar” is common place Stress affects all of us in one way or another. Finding that work life balance in the legal profession can often be difficult, as it is all too easy to take the stresses of the court and chambers home with you

By Dr Jenny Leeser, clinical director, Bupa

It is the inability to take a step back and focus on wellbeing that leads to stress at work. Whilst some people thrive on short-term pressure and a heavy workload, excessive and prolonged stress can take its toll, and lead to physical and emotional exhaustion. In a recent Health and Safety Executive survey, one in six of all working individuals in the UK reported that their job is very or extremely stressful. This is commonly referred to as ‘work related stress’ and is one of the biggest causes of sick leave.

There is no single cause, although stress is often the result of a combination of factors that accumulate over time. It is usually related to personal matters, management of work, relationships with colleagues, organisational structure and whether an individual feels in control of their workload.

Everyone has an inbuilt physical response to stressful situations. Faced with pressure, challenge or danger, we need to react quickly, and our bodies release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline to help us do this. These hormones are part of a ‘fight or flight’ response and affect the metabolic rate, heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in a heightened harassed state. Very often modern stresses do not call for either fight or flight. Nevertheless the same stressing hormones are released. This natural reaction to challenge or danger, instead of helping, can damage health and reduce the ability to cope.

Physical symptoms that can arise from ‘work related stress’ include:▪ Headaches, backache and/or neck ache▪ Muscular tension▪ Increased susceptibility to colds and other infections▪ Excessive tiredness ▪ Digestive problems▪ Raised heart rate

Emotional and behavioural symptoms are also common when suffering with stress, these can include:▪ Feeling that you can’t cope▪ Poor concentration▪ Working harder, but getting less done▪ Short temper and losing control of emotions easily▪ Smoking and drinking to get through the day▪ Poor and deteriorating relationships with colleagues

As the stresses of work are unlikely to decrease over a short period of time, it is important to learn how to cope with them. This is easily done through a series of simple changes to work and lifestyle:▪ Managing time more effectively: prioritise tasks, completing one at a time and not taking on more than you can handle

▪ Talking about stress with a friend or member of the family, this is a good way to get your worries off your chest. It can give a fresh perspective and help make stressful situations more manageable

▪ Taking a few minutes every couple of hours to stretch and breathe deeply and move away from what you are doing

▪ Planning your day thoroughly creates a sense of control and allows you to manage your workload more effectively

▪ Regular recreational activity will help clear your mind and take it away

from work worries. It provides valuable time out and can trigger brain chemicals that improve mood

▪ Maintaining a healthy diet

▪ Reducing your alcohol and caffeine intake, if you smoke, cutting down is highly advisable. Instead of helping, these stimulants will increase your stress levels

▪ Learn relaxation techniques. Create a routine of winding down before you go to bed to help improve sleep and relieve stress-related physical pains such as stomach ache and headaches If you still feel that you require outside help it is advisable to visit your GP for further advice, diagnosis of your symptoms and treatment. Your doctor may recommend that you have counselling or prescribe a course of antidepressants. You may also need some time off work. Be aware that sometimes stress can result in health symptoms or conditions that require medical investigation and treatment. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP), are a resource often presented to those with corporate health insurance and give support to employees who may be suffering from a whole range of issues, including stress. EAPs provide:▪ 24 hour access to confidential telephone and face-to-face counselling▪ Financial and medical guidance and support ▪ Assistance with finding suitable childcare and eldercare

Another option is to consider medical insurance which offers rapid access to diagnosis and speedy treatment. Often appointments are available within a matter of days. And the same consultant will look after you from the initial consultation through to the end of your treatment. Other benefits include clean, comfortable hospitals, access to the latest technology and drugs, some of which are not widely available on the NHS.

Visit http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/stress_workplace.html for links to courses for stress management and plenty of self-help resources. For more information about Bupa Medical Insurance call 0800 600 500.

Personal Injury – A Higher Duty of Care I was brought up on an old adage in the City, “It is a privilege to look after people’s money, not a right.” Sadly such an attitude seems to be rare to find these days, but nonetheless I still regards it as a cornerstone of our investment world and consequently our behaviour. We obviously must have a duty of care over all clients who entrust their money to us, but on occasion you find examples where we can identify an even higher duty of care and responsibility. I find that awards for Personal Injury Claims are one such area. Often the circumstances surrounding such awards are tragic and, although the sums involved can be substantial, they can do nothing to replace the pain and damage done but can only aim to ameliorate the situation for the victim. It is with this background then that I find that I have been horrified by some recent examples where beneficiaries have been seriously misled as to how their valuable - and usually irreplaceable awards - have been used and invested. In days gone by, beneficiaries at least had the comfort of knowing that the Court of Protection could provide a safeguard of at least a guaranteed return on their monies of 6%. However, as economic circumstances have changed, the rates have come down and the previous level of support from the government has been withdrawn. This subsidy was vital to ensure that victims knew that they could at least have a backstop of a given rate and level of returns. Yet now this rate has fallen to a derisory level of just half a percent. The effect has been swift as apparently professional “advisers” have sought other ways of making up the difference. This has meant that often such sums are directed towards more traditional investment areas and often ones with little or no experience of such clients and their very specific needs. Thus I have found quite frequently examples where personal injury clients have been put into investment categories used for ‘standard’ clients, with the resulting effect that far higher risks are being taken with monies that often cannot afford to be lost and with little or no chance of replacement. For most clients with such awards the two primary areas of need are usually security of the capital and the need for a regular and reliable income stream. As a result the typical stock broking and private banking portfolio which are often heavily weighted into equities (and usually UK equities at that), are wholly inappropriate. What we should apply instead is some clear process, structure and discipline to such portfolios; after all there are some much more precise tools we can bring to bear to manage such needs and requirements. For example we can reduce both the levels of risk and volatility quite easily and, with the greater control of this volatility, we can start to increase the predictability of returns. This is achieved by having a far broader range of asset classes to invest in around the globe and not just being dominated by the old culture of stocks and shares portfolios. The need for diversification and asset allocation is another old adage that we should pay heed to. As well as different types of bonds and fixed interest investments, judicious use of certain alternative investments including commodities and currencies can all help to stabilise and manage the risk and volatility. However there is also a further issue. Traditional investment portfolios for mainstream clients can often have quite significant layers and total charges. Our industry has an unhappy reputation for being somewhat opaque when it comes to cost, charges and commissions. Some portfolios seem to have a low annual charge but are then laden with additional commissions and other fund charges throughout the year. Some will quote an Annual Management Charge (AMC) but sadly this is not the whole picture as there is something known as the Total Expense Ratio (TER) which includes most of the additional costs. This is often ignored and I have come across quite a few examples where such extra costs can increase the fee by anything between 0.5% and 1%. This may not sound much, but when added to the other costs and run over a few years, the drag on the performance of the portfolio can be most significant and detrimental to the clients’ value. However, it is not just the cost in my view that is wrong, it is the lack of openness and transparency that I find abhorrent. We have a higher duty of care to such cases, and thus the investment industry must respond with more responsible portfolios for such unfortunate people who usually don’t have the luxury of replacing financial losses. Such portfolios I am pleased to say have now been developed and are already providing greater security and certainty in an area of serious fear and concern. Time for the investment industry to show its correct ethics and responsibilities. Justin A. Urquhart Stewart www.7im.co.uk [email protected] 020 7760 8777


By Jori White

Stoke Place: a 17th-century country house hotel that’s more fab than trad

the man many call “England’s

greatest gardener”, Lancelot

‘Capability’ Brown, was

commissioned to landscape

the 26-acre grounds.


Behind you stand a beautiful period property; in front a vast lawn stretches down to a six-acre ornamental lake and there are woods as far as the eye can see. Deer, badgers, rabbits, swans and ducks abound. No, this idyll is not in the depths of the countryside, but just a few miles from Heathrow.

For anyone desiring style without pretension and luxury without fuss, Stoke Place more than fits the bill. Located in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, this stunningly restored 17th century mansion is set within 26 acres of landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown. The archetypal rural house, its considerable charms belie its location , which is only 30 minutes from the centre of London.

Stoke Place was built in 1690 as a family home by Patrick Lamb, the rather appropriately named cook to no less than three English monarchs.

In the mid 18th century, east and west wings were added to the three-storey building creating a substantial and impressive country house. Meanwhile, the man many call “England’s greatest gardener”, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, was commissioned to landscape the 26-acre grounds. Some 250 years later, the fabulous vistas, where formal gardens give way to beautiful woodland and an ornamental lake, continue to give untold pleasure – a remarkable testament to Brown’s skill.

An eclectic mix of period features and contemporary design, this quintessentially country house today offers a boutique-style retreat for weary city dwellers.

Combining classical pillars and marble floors with modern décor, the reception sets the elegant interior tone for Stoke Place. The area gives way to a large, higgledy-piggledy interior that in turn reveals a myriad of charms: glorious plaster friezes; bookcases in alcoves and fabulous fireplaces.

Everywhere is an invitation to kick back and relax - from the large comfy armchairs in the lounge to the hammocks that dot the grounds.

It isn’t only the opportunity to unwind that draws people here, however. Stoke Place’s Vyse Room is fast becoming a foodie destination in its own right.

Head Chef Craig van der Meer’s menu of seasonal British food is contemporary, inventive and delicious and, wherever possible, the restaurant uses locally sourced food.

At the heart of the house is the elegant lounge, once the formal drawing room of Stoke Place. The ornate surroundings, leather high-backed armchairs and huge stone fireplace make this a comfortable but glamorous backdrop against which to enjoy a pre dinner cocktail.

After supper, it’s time to retire. The venue has 30 bedrooms, each one full of individual, quirky touches that reflect Stoke Place’s love of contemporary British design. Each room has everything you would expect to find in the finest boutique hotels, from large flat screen televisions to traditionally sprung mattresses. Twelve suites offer a superior standard of stay. These often expansive rooms have individual features such as freestanding

bathtubs, fireplaces and giant bay windows overlooking the lake and lawns.

Adding to the experience are little extras such as an in-room spa services and film library.

Those with angling ambitions can try their luck with the carp, trench and pike that thrive in Stoke Place’s picturesque lake. Clay pigeon shooting is also available. And for the really energetic, Stoke Place can even offer the services of its very own personal trainer!

When there is work to be done Stoke Place is ready to roll up its sleeves. The venue has four spacious and elegant function rooms that regularly host conferences, boardroom meetings, exhibitions and other private events.

Technically, all business needs are met by complimentary broadband access, wireless connections and state of the art technology including conferencing facilities, plasma screens and projections.

Naturally all of the above applies to non-business related events too. Capable of accommodating from 14 to 200 guests, Stoke Place can happily cater for both informal or formal gatherings. For that very special occasion, the entire venue is available for exclusive hire.

Stoke Place is also the perfect wedding location, whatever the season. With its manicured grounds, architecturally elegant rooms and dedicated and highly experienced staff, it can make that special day truly exceptional.

The venue also hosts other more unusual private events. In conjunction with White Blackbird Events, it has been busily reviving the Country House Party. Several times a year, fans of all things vintage are invited to dust off those smoking jackets and brush up on their jitterbug and enjoy a soirée with a decadent twist.

For those who can bear to tear themselves away, there is an abundance of

things to do in and around the local area. The National Trust properties of Cliveden and Hughendon Manor are all within easy reach, as is Windsor Castle. For families, Stoke Place is ideally placed for trips to both Legoland and Thorpe Park. If golf is your game, then you’ll be spoilt for choice. Stoke Park (of Goldfinger fame), Wentworth, The Buckinghamshire, Royal Ascot and Huntercombe are all but a short drive away!

So, for a 17th-century country house hotel that’s more fab than trad - not to mention a mere hop, skip and a jump from the teeming metropolis - make a reservation at Stoke Place.

Stoke Place, Stoke Green, Stoke Poges, Bucks, SL2 4HTTelephone: +44 (0) 1753 534 790

www.stokeplace.co.uk


London town, as it was formally known, hides a labyrinth of streets, alleyways and hidden treasures. The travellers well know to the neon shine of Piccadilly, the frantic bustle of Soho and the quiet tone of exclusive Mayfair. Jermyn Street remains one of those hidden treasures, a location tucked away from the sirens, traffic jams and singing buskers.

Renowned for its exclusive array of gentlemen’s tailors and specifically shirt makers, Jermyn St possesses a rich history that dates back to 1664 when King Charles II granted Henry Jermyn, Earl of St Alban’s, forty five acres of land and permission to develop a residential neighbourhood.

In those early days Jermyn Street was more residential than commercial, with the proximity of the royal court drawing in members of the aristocracy and many taking up residence as a result. When the street’s first retail shop opened its doors in 1707, its quality wares attracted an equally impressive clientele, and a flurry of high quality craftsmen including the shirt makers as well as shoe and hat makers and merchants selling fine fines and tobacco soon followed.

In turn, the founding of numerous gentlemen’s clubs in St James’s Street brought a loyal male following and in the years that succeeded, the street catered to the surfacing dandies of the day, firmly established its reputation as London’s premier gentlemen’s grooming ground. This social trend would further influence Jermyn Street’s development and trade over the years, explaining the past and present prevalence of barbers, tobacconists, cheesemongers and wine merchants. Some of its most famous inhabitants have included Sir Isaac Newton, who lived at No. 87, Sir Walter Scott and the Duchess of Duke Street.


No longer an exclusive male address however, Jermyn Street has grown with the times, focusing on the quality of its purveyors and services. From Flemish and Dutch Old Master paintings at the Weiss Gallery to custom made men’s and women’s shirts at Thomas Pink, fine cheese can be bought and tasted at Paxton & Whitfield, while antique globes and early scientific instruments are the speciality of Trevor Philip and Sons’.

As the centre of Britain’s shirt making industry, Jermyn Street is home to some of the countries finest, with an outstanding array of quality names such as Charles Tyrwhitt, Haines & Bonner, Hilditch & Key, T.M. Lewin and Turnbull & Asser. Some of who have been on the street since the late 1890”s. Gentlemen looking to sharpen their image are spoilt for choice, a perfectly tailored suit can be found at Dunhill or DAKS both of whom have earned a well deserved reputation in the tailoring world.

Jermyn Street and St James’s is ‘the’ destination for gentlemen’s formal and occasion wear both ready-to-wear and made-to-measure. Favourbrook at 55 Jermyn Street, run a thriving store, equipping gentlemen with just the right outfit for all occasions, whether it’s a full morning suit, smoking or dinner jacket, black tie or white tie, their charming staff ensure that the customer is suitably and elegantly attired.


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By Katie Thomas

Favoured for Ascot, the traditional Top Hat was first worn in the eighteenth century and was originally made on a shellac stiffened base covered with felt, by the 1850’s black silk plush had superseded felt. Today silk plush is not longer manufactures and the Top Hat is once again made from felt. Lock & Co at 6 St James’s is one of the world’s best-loved hatters. They have made hats from many notable gentlemen, past and present such as Sir Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin even Larry Hagman AKA JR Ewing from Dallas, who rather unsurprisingly is a big fan of hats and is reported to have thousands in his collection. On a more up to date note Guy Ritchie and most of the cast and crew of the new Sherlock Holmes movie, are huge fans of Lock’s Hats. Ritchie can often be seen around Mayfair in his tweed cap known as ‘The Gill’ after Lock’s cap maker Mr Gill. The hit film also features Bowlers and Top Hats but strangely no Deer Stalker, the fictional characters supposed hat of choice.

A true English gentleman’s dress code extends to his accessories and no self-respecting gentleman would carry anything other than a Brigg umbrella. Swaine Adeneny Brigg, 54 St James’s Street, have been at the forefront of British craftsmanship for over 250 years. Their canes and stick are hand crafted in the UK and many are beautiful collectors pieces with hand carved handles made of horn with silver collars on rosewood shafts. Although today one cannot purchase the famous swordsticks popular in the 18th Century, you can find an umbrella or cane with a hidden flask, or pencil and race card.

Some of the world’s most sumptuous foods can be found in the plush surrounds of Fortnum and Mason. Established in 1707, this Mecca of culinary treats has become a true British institution and its world famous quality teas, traditional marmalades and handmade chocolates are a feast for both eyes and palate. Afternoon and high tea in their famous St James’s Restaurant is an absolute treat and it would be very hard not to marvel at the sheer selection of teas from around the world on the menu.

To really savour the atmosphere of Jermyn Street, try eating at one of its well loved restaurants: Greens, Rowley’s, Wilton’s or the new Franco’s all of which draw a lively and somewhat distinguished lunch and dinner crowd. The St James’s area has many hidden gems tucked away off busy St James’s Street are two of London’s best kept secrets – The Stafford Hotel, a timelessly traditional hotel with a genteel atmosphere, famed for its American Bar’s cocktails and Its unique memorabilia collection, which adorns the walls and ceiling of the bar, entirely donated by the guest over the past 40 years. Creating a very interesting and personal history of the Stafford and its clients.

Equally tucked away, Dukes Hotel has been welcoming guest through its secluded entrance for over 100 years. The bar is particularly cosmopolitan and is renowned for the best Dry Martini in town – and better yet, they offer a Martini Master Class.


Return to the wild at Alladale Wilderness ReserveBy Emma Holifield

Through the rugged wilderness of undulating glens and fast flowing lochs, guests cross over the threshold of the 23,000 acre Alladale Wilderness Reserve and into an environment unlike any other in the Scottish Highlands or indeed the UK. For here something spectacular is taking place, a vast wilderness project is underway to restore the Scottish Highlands to their former glory, where once upon a time the Caledonian forest blanketed the highlands and wild animals roamed free.

The scenic drive from Inverness airport takes you past the Beauly Firth where wallowing seals bask in the sun and the mighty Kessock cable bridge which silhouettes the horizon. From here, city life is left behind as you begin the climb through the dense wilderness passing quiet forgotten villages and remnants of Highland forest clearances. It is here that the journey culminates, at the old fashioned red telephone box; a sign post in effect that you have reached the turning for Alladale Wilderness Reserve.

Formerly a hunting retreat for a wealthy Indian maharaja in 1877, the Victorian stone Alladale Lodge has been restored to its former glory. Elevated majestically on a mound of manicured lawns and gravelled driveway, it now takes prime position on the reserve boasting sweeping views as far as the eye can see. This fully staffed lodge sleeps up to fourteen guests exclusively in seven ensuite, individually designed bedrooms all of which are named after different species of highland tree. Decked in traditional plaids, Mulberry tartans and Laura Ashley prints, it feels like home.

For smaller groups of friends and families there is the option to stay in one of the two new chic highland bothies on the reserve. Usually found in remote,

mountainous areas of Scotland, most bothies are formerly ruined buildings that have been restored. Historically, the location of bothies is not widely publicised meaning prior knowledge and word of mouth are often the only way of finding one. This is certainly true for Eagles Crag and Ghillies Rest, both of which are discreetly positioned in Glen Alladale offering the ideal hideaway.

Ghillies Rest, the smaller of the two, attracts couples looking for a cosy getaway, offering one double bedroom and a smaller twin annex room which overlooks the living room, complete with a centre piece fire place and inviting deep set sofas. Exposed stone walls are adorned with black and white photos of the Alladale Reserve and an impressive antler chandelier hangs from the ceiling in the centre of the room. The galley kitchen is equipped with an array of high tech appliances and the fridge is stocked full of delicious, locally sourced, organic produce to cook up a Highland feast.

Eagles Crag differs slightly in style and is far more contemporary. The vast floor to ceiling windows in the open plan living/dining room afford a spectacular contrast between the rugged outdoors and sleek modern interiors. This bolthole really gives you the chance to savour the spectacular Scottish landscape. Decked in true highland attire, the bothies’ interiors were designed by an ex mulberry designer who used local materials and fabrics as well as London-based artisanship to create the perfect mix of traditional chic.

Time at Alladale can be spent roaming the highlands and the five glens, three rivers and ten lochs that make up the Alladale reserve either on foot

>>> 26

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or by mountain bike with one of the reserve rangers. Alternatively guests can hitch a ride in the back of a 4x4 for a full day wilderness safari, covering most of the reserve and stopping off to see Hercules and Hulda, the resident elk. Guests can also try their hand at fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting, stalking and horseback riding and if you have ticked all those boxes then visits to local whiskey distilleries, Renaissance era castles and world famous golf courses can also be arranged. Following an invigorating day in the outdoors, guests are welcomed back by a roaring log fire and freshly made tea and cakes. The chefs at Alladale certainly know how to please and will prepare various hearty home cooked dishes throughout your stay, including wild boar pie, highland beef cottage pie, local venison and freshly caught trout.

Indulgent as the lodge and bothies are, guests never forget that luxurious hospitality is just a slice of what Alladale stands for. Reserve owner and budding philanthropist Paul Lister was so inspired by South Africa’s Shamwari Game Reserve that he decided to roll out the game reserve model which has been so successful there and create a similar model upon which the highlands can also benefit. As such, Mr. Lister planted acres of Caledonian pine, rowan, birch and other indigenous fauna that had been depleted following centuries of logging and deer rutting. This re-forestation process is to ready the landscape for Mr. Lister’s ultimate ambition; the homecoming of the Big Five, boar, lynx, elk, wolf and bear. The Alladale model is slowly but surely taking shape with over 400,000 trees having already been planted and the introduction of a pair of Elk and a handful of wild boar. There is definitely still some way to go and a few obstacles to overcome before they can achieve their ultimate goal of introducing two packs of wolves and developing a completely self sustainable wilderness reserve. Judging by progress to date, Paul and his team are looking on track, watch this space.

For more information and reservations contact Alladale Wilderness Reserve on 01863 755 338 or visit their website www.alladale.com

Price:

Lodge:Exclusive hire of the Lodge starts from £2,300 per night (based on 14 sharing)

Mountain Bothies: Ghillies Rest prices start from £400 per night (based on 4 sharing)Eagles Craig prices start from £700 per night (based on 6 sharing)

Prices include all meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and 3 course meal), 4x4 wilderness safari, fishing and mountain biking.

Formerly a hunting retreat for a wealthy Indian maharaja in 1877, the Victorian stone Alladale Lodge has been restored to its former glory


Celebrating its 76th birthday this year, this unique institution has maintained its standing as one of the world’s best-loved opera houses with its commitment to artistic excellence and the nurturing and showcasing of emerging young talent.

Glyndebourne was founded in 1934 by John Christie and his wife, the soprano Audrey Mildmay, spearheaded by Christe’s mantra of ‘doing not the best we can do but the best that can be done anywhere.’

The inaugural season included performances of Le nozze di Figaro and Così fan tutte. Audiences and critics left in the unanimous knowledge that they had witnessed something exceptional. The first season embodied Christie’s vision to present opera in an undisturbed atmosphere with unlimited opportunity for rehearsal, something which has remained key to Glyndebourne’s success today.

By the start of the war Glyndebourne was an established house; international by both reputation and in the engagement of international artists. Performers were not chosen because they were stars; the intention was to use the best possible voices. Among the many artists who have started their careers at Glyndebourne are Geraint Evans, Kate Royal, Lisa Milne, Thomas Allen, Edward Gardner, Joan Sutherland, Janet Baker, John Tomlinson, Amanda Roocroft, Simon Rattle and John Pritchard.

George Christie took over from his father in 1958. As well as retaining his parents’ objectives of artistic excellence, he most notably rebuilt the opera house, now seating 1200, which opened on 28 May 1994, 60 years to the day after the Festival’s inauguration. His son, Gus, took over the reins in January 2000 and a year later, David Pickard took up his appointment as Glyndebourne’s General Director, with Russian conductor Vladimir Jurowski assuming the role of Music Director. During each of these successions Glyndebourne’s repertoire has expanded to include operas from the Baroque to contemporary works, including eight of its own commissions and 13 British premieres.

Visiting Glyndebourne for the first time feels like being swept into another world. Its location, nestled among the rolling hills of the South Downs a short taxi ride from Lewes, is bucolic and verdant. Vast swathes of manicured lawns bordered floriferously, a lake with the romantic vision of weeping willows, their lower branches just touching the water’s edge, and the ever-popular herd of sheep in a neighbouring field, provide the perfect setting for a pre-performance stroll or a picnic in the Long Interval, an hour and twenty-minute break normally taken half way through the opera. The Christie house, the stately home of the current Chief Executive, looms majestically in the background, with one of its grand spaces, the Organ Room, open to the audience during the summer to allow them to marvel at its artefacts and family history.

Glorious Glyndebourne

Whether a loyal audience member for the past 40 years, or an up-and-coming classical music connoisseur just out of college, Glyndebourne Festival has something for everyone.

By Chandra Fifield


Evening dress is customary; short or long evening gowns for women and a dinner jacket for men. This elegant dress code offers plenty of opportunities to gaze at the sartorially stylish and those perhaps, not so! Designer dresses finished with cashmere shawls swept across shoulders, brightly-coloured jackets shimmering with exquisite fabrics, kimonos, fascinators perched daintily upon coiffured locks… each day another eye-catching frock or dashing suit. What better place to dress up than Glyndebourne?

Glyndebourne is independently-funded, with a stratified membership system which gives priority ahead of the opening of public booking. This independence also allows the Festival to experiment with a range of repertoire: “One of the most dangerous temptations for an institution like Glyndebourne is to become hidebound – to do what you’ve always done, or what you feel is expected of you’ said General Director David Pickard. ‘So when we plan each Glyndebourne season, we aim to balance the expected with the unexpected. For the two new productions, in particular, we like to choose one that is a little outside the mainstream.”

Glyndebourne’s commitment to new works is something the company is particularly at the forefront of, most recently; in 2008, composer Peter Eötvös’ Love and Other Demons, based on a book of the same name by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, was premiered on the main stage as one of the Festival productions. This will be

followed by Knight Crew, to be premiered on the Glyndebourne stage in March, a new commission featuring professional singers and local young people, some with no previous experience of the stage. Composed by Julian Philips, Glyndebourne’s first composer-in-residence, this opera is based on King Arthur’s legend, retold for modern times against a gritty urban palette of gang culture and knife crime.

The organisation has matured unequivocally over the past seven decades, with the addition of a touring season, numerous education and community initiatives, and with the development of new media, cinema and live broadcasts, DVDs and an in-house CD Label, based on archive recordings spanning the years. While this embrace of contemporary culture has helped reach new audiences, it sits comfortably with Glyndebourne’s ethos of exceptionally high artistic standards, never detracting from the main thrust of the live performances which are still its lifeblood.

The 2010 Festival includes new productions of Britten’s Billy Budd and Mozart’s Don Giovanni, alongside revivals of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Verdi’s Macbeth, Hümperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, and Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. Public booking opens on Saturday 27th February. For further details visit www.glyndebourne.com

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Aside from a couple of exceptions, London doesn’t do much rooftop dining. So it was with great excitement that I learnt about the opening of Aqua London, says Nicola Barlow


Occupying a vast 17,000sq ft site on the fifth floor of one of the capital’s most iconic buildings, the former Dickins & Jones store in the heart of the West End, aqua london has not one but three spacious outside terraces, each offering quite extraordinary views across the capital’s skyline, from Regent Street to the London Eye and beyond.

aqua london is the brainchild of David Yeo’s aqua restaurant group whose portfolio includes several high-end restaurants in Hong Kong, the Michelin-starred Hutong among them. Together these sites have redefined the dining experience with their ultra-stylish interiors and cutting edge cuisines.

aqua london combines similarly ultra modern interiors with those aforementioned terraces. But that’s not the only combination on offer here. This dynamic development comprises not one but two restaurants: aqua nueva, presenting contemporary yet authentic northern Spanish cuisine, and aqua kyoto, promising to epitomise the Japanese cool of Tokyo’s Ginza district. Together with a decidedly hip and stylish bar, aqua spirit, all are housed under the one roof and linked by a dramatically illuminated glass corridor.

For my first visit to aqua london I decided to put aqua nueva to the test, unable to resist the lure of sampling creations by head chef Alberto Hernandez. Hernandez studied under Ferran Adria at El Bulli in Catalonia, and anyone associated with one of the finest restaurants in the world gets my vote!

aqua london must have one of the most dramatic entrances in London. A dedicated lift takes you to the top floor restaurant, where you are met by friendly staff.

We were taken to aqua nueva’s roof terrace where luckily it was warm enough to enjoy a drink on the stylish and comfortable outdoor sofas. The views from here were truly amazing, and it was suitably refreshed both in mind and body that we headed back inside.

aqua nueva comprises a spacious dining area complete with a tapas bar and a long parallel row of tables lined with banquettes. Designed by owner David Yeo and Glamorous Co of Osaka, the light wood décor with its Spanish tiles is attractively lit, creating a warm and welcoming glow. Of particular note are the 15,000 hand crafted wooden beads which hang from the ceiling like chandelier crystals.

The all-day Tapas Bar is perfect for lunch or more casual dining, but we decided to plump for the full à la carte menu. We weren’t disappointed.

A selection of brown, nut and raisin breads was enhanced by notably wonderful olive oil from Andalucia, of which our waiter was justifiably proud.

My starter of seared scallops with silky smooth potato purée and richly fragrant porcini mushrooms was delicious whilst my companion was equally enamoured by her sweet and tender baby squid.

Main courses were also excellent in their conception and execution. I opted for aqua nueva’s signature dish, a 24 hour marinated and braised oxtail with pumpkin purée. Simply served with some nouvelle-style

vegetables, it was quite sensational.

Despite being pleasantly full, we felt it would be churlish not to sample a dessert, deciding on a light and elegant apple jelly and apple ice cream.

For a restaurant this swish, the prices were surprising fair. Starters range from £7.50 to £12, whilst fish and meat mains are £14 to £23. Wines start from £16 a bottle, ten being served by the glass from £4.50.

Such was my experience at aqua london that when a month or so later the opportunity arose to dine at its equally stylish sibling, aqua kyoto, I jumped at the chance.

The weather was a little less clement this time round, so instead of enjoying an aperitif on aqua kyoto’s spacious terrace, we headed instead to the adjacent bar. aqua spirit is overseen by Paulo Figueiredo, one of the most progressive and inventive talents on the global cocktail circuit. Judging by the quality of his concoctions, Figueiredo’s reputation is well deserved. We sampled the ‘Rose & Li’, a combination of Louis Roederer Champagne, rose liqueur, lychee and flowering buds.

Sipping our drinks we admired our surroundings. aqua kyoto is certainly pretty stunning to look at with its red and black lanterns and ink brush painted panels. The focal point is a sunken sushi bar where diners can feel part of the action as they watch the masters of culinary art at work on their creations.

Tempted as we were by a seat at this bar, we headed instead for one of the tables that fan outwards between walls of black lacquer and red panelling.

The menu offers various sushi and sashimi options, a selection of dishes prepared on a traditional sumibiyaki (charcoal) grill and some interesting signature dishes. Luckily our knowledgeable waiter was the perfect guide.

For starters we tried the sushi platter that included delicacies intricately wrapped in paper-thin cucumber and topped with marinated flavours such as foie gras, spicy tuna and scallop and avocado.

Next we enjoyed delicate char grilled sea bass with shitake mushrooms and truffle garlic soy and some sublime black cod in white miso.

Dishes we were told do include bluefin tuna, but only from totally sustainable sources.

Rounding off this supreme culinary experience was aqua kyoto’s justifiably famous green tea tiramisu that once again puts an interesting twist on a classic dish.

aqua london only opened last October, but already it has achieved a reputation as the place to see and be seen in. On the evidence shown on our two visits, it is a reputation that is more than justified.aqua kyoto,

5th Floor, 240 Regent Street, London, W1B 3BR(Entrance at 30 Argyll Street, opposite The Palladium)W: www.aqua-london.comT: 020 7478 0540 E: [email protected]


Music venues come and go, but Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club has been at the heart of the jazz scene in Britain for nearly half a century. By Adrian Houston

All the greats have performed within its hallowed walls, from Count Basie to Ella Fitzgerald and Stan Getz to Nina Simone. It even hosted Jimi Hendrix’s last ever public performance.

Ronnie Scott’s first opened its doors on Frith Street, Soho in the summer of 1965 following six successful years in the basement premises at 39 Gerrard Street. By the end of that decade, it had become the epicentre of London’s jazz community. Princess Margaret would drop by with Peter Sellers, as would Sammy Davis Jnr. Ronnie’s friend Spike Milligan had his own table - and a regular supply of Mateus Rosé.

In the spring of 1968 it became possible to extend the Frith Street premises by acquiring the building next door. Now there was room for pop and rock musicians such as Tom Waits, Elkie Brooks and the Notting Hillbillies, featuring Mark Knopfler. Acts not exactly within the jazz field, but nevertheless part of the unique “atmosphere” of the club that has always been so important.

After Ronnie’s death in 1996, Pete King ran the club successfully for another nine years. However it was never the same for Pete without Ronnie and in June 2005, he sold the club to theatre impresario Sally Greene.

On Saturday 11th March 2006, after the Lou Soloff Quartet finished their set, Ronnie Scott’s shut up shop for the first time in its history. Just over three months later, the club reopened after a major, but sympathetic, refurbishment under the direction of renowned Parisian designer Jacques Garcia.

The updating of Ronnie Scott’s was only part of Sally Greene’s plan; she decided that the club should also have a new management style. The man she chose to help fulfil that brief was music industry veteran Simon Cooke.

>>> 36


It comes, that yearning for the perfect weekend place in the Cotswolds, as each Friday approaches, and the daily chambers-court-chambers-home-chambers-court routine begins to pall ever so slightly.

The need for recreation in the strictest sense of re-creating yourself for the coming stressful week grows as your career develops.

When you’re a very young barrister, big cities seem incredibly cool places to be on your days off. As prestige, pressure and family race one another to be the first to submerge you, the words bolt and hole become unusually attractive when placed next to one another.

But you know what real country second home life can be like. Damp, smelly old properties. Eccentric plumbing. Staff and maintenance headaches. Tourists peering in through your windows. It’s rarely, if you are honest, quite the chilled-out rural idyll you dreamed of.

Yet a country holiday home doesn’t have to be a millstone. You could buy or rent a stunning modernist lakeside serviced home on a private nature reserve 90 minutes from London, with a world-class spa and the freedom to roam 600 or so acres of unspoilt meadows and lakeland.

Contemporary country life at Lower Mill, Cotswolds is the perfect, practical counterbalance to city stress for an increasing number of professional people.

Lower Mill is, in effect, a private, security-patrolled country estate for its strictly limited population of mostly city professionals. The estate gives you and your family the run of hundreds of acres of prime, unspoilt Gloucestershire countryside to roam at will, with thousands of wildlife species to observe and enjoy and lakes where even on a busy bank holiday, you can often row, fish or swim on your own. Nestled amongst all this nature in-the-raw are groups of some of the most striking new houses in Europe, finished to an extraordinary standard and built to last hundreds of years.

Lower Mill often feels like a time warp back to a lost world, in which children could play outside safely all day and temporarily forget X-Boxes were ever invented.

It might almost be the Gloucestershire of the late Laurie Lee’s childhood, only updated a little so the honey coloured Cotswold cottages are now exciting modernist homes with broadband and all the latest 21st century green accoutrements plus a spa that on its own would be an attraction worthy of moving here for.

The media variously describes Lower Mill as a residential nature reserve, a designer vacation village and even a celebrity resort. None of these labels are wholly untrue, as it happens,

But more than anything, it’s a giant playground for residents, holiday letters and their families – who actually get far more countryside for their money than the buyers of almost any home advertised in Country Life.

Lower Mill has, in less than 20 years, morphed from a stretch of unused land to one of the most seductive holiday propositions in the world – a settlement that is attracting global attention now as a prototype settlement of the future. One of the most remarkable things that has developed at Lower Mill since its founding, however, is something that Jeremy Paxton admits he wasn’t quite expecting – the development of a very real community both on the estate as a whole and in the distinct, individual villages that it is built around.

The community has attracted the attention and applause of academics, of journalists and property writers and notably of Kevin McCloud of Channel 4’s Grand Designs.

‘The great thing about Lower Mill conceptually is that it represents a real culture change,’ says McCloud. ‘It’s a classic example of thinking out of the box. We’ve spent a couple of weekends here and I’m a great fan of it as a family location. We take boats out on the lake and cycle and we have a really good time.’


‘If you live in a city, especially, it’s a fantastic alternative. It also means neighbourhood, the chance to find yourself among like-minded people with the same values, who are interested in the same kind of things, whether that’s the broad issues of sustainability or just chilling out and fishing.’

‘And it happens that those are likely to be the people whose children you want your children to play with.’

‘Lower Mill’, says McCloud, ‘is somewhere where you can chuck your kids out on their bikes for four hours and you don’t have to worry about their safety because it’s like a village – but the kind of real village community that perhaps existed 50 years ago. And that’s something very, very valuable.’

Journalist and author Jonathan Margolis is another who has been struck by the community spirit at Lower Mill. Writing in The Times recently, he observed how vacationing and weekending middle class British people are taking to community life as it is lived on the estate.

‘Far from being as stuffy and standoffish as we always imagined,’ Margolis wrote, ‘the British middle classes are hankering for community. And since community life of any quality is hard to find either in cities or traditional rural second homes, they are seeking it at Lower Mill.’

‘I am constantly struck by the counterintuitive-ness of what is going on here,’ he says. ‘but it’s absolutely real and a huge draw for the interesting segment of middle class, educated, well-travelled people that are calling it home and working from here as well as holidaying for large chunks of the year.’

‘It all amounts to an incredible achievement for Jeremy Paxton. He has an extraordinary vision, but I don’t think even he expected the community to take off

the way it has. That side of it has been driven spontaneously by the people buying here.’

To find out more, please call 01285 869 489 or email [email protected]

Lower Mill Estate, Somerford Keynes Nr Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK, GL7 6BG

www.lowermillestate.com


A major part of Cooke’s role would be to find new outlets for the greatest brand in European jazz, something that he had done so brilliantly at Jazz FM where, as Enterprise Director, he had grown the station’s non-radio activities to £4.5 million.

As Managing Director of Ronnie Scott’s, Cooke has ensured that the club still maintains its rich tradition of bringing the world’s finest jazz musicians to the capital. Wynton Marsalis, Van Morrison, Chick Corea, Jeff Beck and David Sanborn are just some of the artists who have played there in recent months.

Cooke is determined not to compromise the club’s reputation, often turning down requests for bookings from household names. “Essentially, we’re still a jazz club and I think we’re a bloody good jazz club,” he says. “We will stay pure to the ideal of the jazz club that Ronnie and Pete set up in the first place.”

He does however have ambitious plans for Ronnie Scott’s, including making performances at the club available on the internet. “What I want to do is create an online membership where you can go and see audio-visuals of the club. If you’re in Japan, you will be able to see a concert two hours after the show.”

2009 was a particularly full-on year for Cooke. Ronnie Scott’s celebrated its 50th anniversary, an occasion that was marked with a host of live performances, a BFI weekender, a major photo exhibition at the Getty Images Gallery and virtual media saturation.

Cooke has also been busy overseeing the development of the venue’s stand alone bar. Launched in January 2007, Ronnie’s Bar has become a hugely popular fixture on the London social scene; again designed by Garcia and recreating the relaxed vibe of the ‘50s speakeasy, it is a cool and intimate place in which to while away the evenings.

Ronnie’s Bar boasts an extensive drinks list, including some 30 classic cocktails featuring such house specials as Ronnie’s Sting, a fine tribute to the club’s founder which combines Hennessy Fine de Cognac with lemon Juice, fresh mint leaves and sugar. It is also among only a handful of London venues offering rare vintage Dom Perignon.

As befitting its heritage, Ronnie’s Bar has now established itself as a music venue in its own right. Fantastic new additions to the programme have made it a regular addition to the list of places to be and be seen!To tie-in with its 50th anniversary, Ronnie Scott’s last year offered an amazing membership package. So successful has this been that the venue has decided to extend this unmissable chance to become part of the Ronnie Scott’s family.

Each member receives a pack containing a membership card and a USB memory stick including links to latest gigs and special events at the club plus a copy of A Day in the Life, an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Ronnie Scott’s.

Members also receive an introductory letter explaining all the fantastic entitlements which include two free tickets to a standard price show per year; 20% off all tickets (including guests); priority booking; free entrance for member (plus three guests) Monday-Thursday after 11pm and much, much more.

Priced at just £175 per person (£87.50 for Musician’s Union Members or full-time students), Ronnie Scott’s membership will pay for itself within months, so valuable are the benefits.

Last year’s celebrations may have been tinged by the sad death of founder Pete King in December, but one thing’s for sure, under the auspices of Sally Greene and Simon Cooke, Ronnie Scott’s can look forward with supreme confidence to the next 50 years.

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, 47 Frith Street, London, W1D 4HTTelephone: +44 (0) 20 7439 0747www.ronniescotts.co.uk


The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund: Repaying the “Debt We Owe”.

By Jonathan Heard


The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF) is the RAF’s leading welfare charity. providing financial, practical and emotional support to all members of the RAF family. We are here to help serving and former members of the RAF, as well as their partners and dependants, whenever they need us.

This mission was our founding principle, but the ways in which we deliver assistance have altered considerably over the years, as we adapted to meet the very different challenges faced by the Second World War generation, the National Service generation and today’s highly stretched RAF.

Lord Trenchard founded the RAFBF in 1919, one year after he formed the Royal Air Force itself. Initially we were known as the “Royal Air Force Memorial Fund”, as one of our primary objectives was to construct a monument to all the airmen who had perished in the First World War. This monument was completed in 1923, and can still be seen on Victoria Embankment in London - a gilded eagle on a pedestal of Portland stone, looking out over the Thames in the direction of France.

Aside from the monument, the RAFBF spent £919 on welfare in its first year. Assistance then might have been a shilling for a night’s lodging, the provision of tools of a trade, or the repair of boots. By today’s standards these may seem modest, but they served the needs of the time.Since then there have been dramatic changes. Aircraft technology has developed at a tremendous rate, while conditions of Service, pensions and social security have all improved markedly.

During the last 90 years we have adapted t o

meet this changing social and economic environment, working towards the provision of a complete spectrum of care for the RAF family, from childhood through to old age. Today we spend around £20m a year on welfare support.

We assist the needs of serving RAF personnel through a number of initiatives designed to reduce stress on RAF stations, and thereby relieve some of the burden on those at the front line, in Afghanistan and elsewhere. We do this by consulting RAF personnel about the issues that face them, to ensure that the initiatives we fund address the most pressing needs. Examples include the £13m we have spent establishing childcare centres at RAF stations across the UK, and our £10m Youth Support Project, which will provide new leisure facilities, youth workers and shelters on RAF stations. We are very excited by this project as it presents a real opportunity to improve the lives of young people on RAF stations, which are often very isolated, and thereby ease the pressure on families.Improving the support network available for these serving personnel is also a priority for us. In a small force, stretched by overseas deployment, it can be very hard for serving personnel to keep on top of their various commitments at home. The RAFBF has stepped in to help by funding a holistic Benefits and Money Advice Service, delivered at more than 40 Citizens Advice Bureaux, and confidential relationship support at UK RAF stations delivered in partnership with ‘Relate’. Both initiatives experience high demand.

Of course we are also there for those who suffer as a result of the mission in Afghanistan. People like Jacqui Thompson, who lost her husband Gary to a roadside bomb attack in April 2008. Gary was the eldest Service person to be killed

in the conflict, a reservist who was posted to Kandahar with the RAF Regiment.

Jacqui was not the only one affected by Gary’s tragic

passing. He left behind five daughters as well

as a business which was threatened

without his s te w ard sh ip .

We helped the family with a grant to guide them t h r o u g h t h e immediate aftermath. Jacqui was r e l u c t a nt to take our

help at first, but then

agreed, on the condition

that she repay at least some of the

assistance when she could. She was true to

her word, and in October last year Jacqui undertook a

sponsored climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising over £5,000 for the RAFBF. This is just one example of the determination we see among those that we help to give something back when they can.

Being there for those who have left the RAF is an equally vital aspect of our work. In 2010, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we will celebrate the most crucial air battle in our history, with the ground-crew, pilots and radar operators who protected Britain in its most vital hour of need, a number of whom have received our assistance. We will also celebrate with those of the National Service, Cold War, Falklands and Gulf War generations, all of whom are also eligible for our assistance. We help them in a number of ways.

We do our best to support R A F families i n

distress t h r o u g h i n j u r y , disability or b e r e a v e m e n t , by assisting with the purchase of a property, or buying a property outright through our Housing Trust, which owns 270 properties across the UK. We also help home-owners in financial difficulty with the costs of house repairs and adaptations for disabled access.Mobility is an important area of our work, as the Service men and women of the Second World War enter their eighties and nineties. We play a central role in giving them back their independence by providing them with the mobility aids they need to lead happy, active lives.


We also pride ourselves on our provision of care services, offering a range of short-term respite care at three jointly owned, short-term welfare break homes, and at our flagship welfare break centre in Sussex, Princess Marina House. We also regularly make special donations to other charitable organisations that provide vital assistance to members of the RAF family. We do all of this in the belief that it is our duty to ensure that all members of the RAF family are able to face the future with confidence and dignity.

So where does the RAFBF find the money to fund such a wide and comprehensive range of

services?

Over 75% of serving personnel contribute

one half day’s pay annually with

the

majority doing so

under the Gift Aid Scheme.

Many RAF service people fundraise for us

too, donating money raised at air shows, open days and other

fund-raising events.

Generous support of the RAFBF is also given by the general public. We are not a membership organisation and receive no guaranteed income, so we rely on voluntary income from people who care about our work, enabling us to repay what Winston Churchill called the “Debt We Owe” to the RAF.

As the RAF adapts to meet the changing needs of 21st century conflict, so the RAFBF continues

to adapt to address need wherever we find it. We would welcome your support of this mission to enable us to do more for more members of the RAF family.

For more information on our work, and for information about how to make a donation, visit our website at www.rafbf.org


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Boarding and day schools for boys and girls aged 3-18

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King’s Hall School (ages 3 -13) Telephone 01823 285921

King’s College (ages 13-18) Telephone 01823 328204

Do you want the best for your son?Open MorningsSaturday May 15 2010 10.00–12.30 Saturday September 25 2010 10.00–12.30

Guided tours (last tour 11.30) The Head Master speaks at 12.15

For a traditional boy’s education with a 21st century visionMTS coaches from Beaconsfield, Ealing, Harpenden, Harrow, Mill Hill, Radlett, StanmoreMTS is adjacent to Moor Park (Metropolitan line)

• ‘An oustanding school’: 2008 School Inspection

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• Unique tutorial system

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• Easy access by tube and coach

Please contact Kate Kaye, [email protected] +44(0)1923 845514 Merchant Taylors’ School Northwood Middlesex HA6 2HT

Excellence, integrity and distinction since 1561Find out more at www.mtsn.org.uk

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Independent day school for boys 3-7 years and girls 3 - 11 years

‘The school provides a well-rounded education and is successful in its aim ofcreating an environment in which the pupils thrive, are happy, confident,considerate of others and achieve well. Good quality teaching fosters anatmosphere in which pupils are well motivated, work hard, not only inacademic lessons, but also in sports and extra curricular activities’

ISI Report – June 2008

OPEN AFTERNOONTuesday 15 June 2010 at 1.45pm

For more information please contact the secretary.

‘Give your child the best start’

Telephone to be included on our Open Afternoon guest list

020 8449 02253 Richmond Road, New Barnet, Hertfordshire. EN5 1SA

Email: [email protected] Web: www.lyonsdownschool.co.uk

P R I D E O F P L A C E

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