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n March as the High Court judicial Nigel Pleming QC, claimed that if review on the Government plans the Government’s plans were not for a third runway was heard in the stopped that “there will be widespread IRoyal Courts, hundreds of protestors consequences. There will be hundreds of gathered outside to express the depth thousands of additional flights each year of their feelings on the issue. The legal across London, and also affecting the challenges cover a swathe of different south east.” issues related to the impact the runway He went on to stress “thousands of would have on road traffic volumes, people’s homes will be demolished. Many local air pollution, nature habitats, more properties are currently blighted. changed flight paths, noise pollution Hundreds of thousands will experience and greenhouse gas emissions. It also increased noise, worsened traffic and interrogates the processes of consultation harmful pollution.” and consideration the Secretary of State Speaking outside the High Court, was required to go through to address Hammersmith and Fulham Council them. leader Stephen Cowan, said: “This adds The five councils, Hammersmith a huge amount of air pollution; it adds and Fulham, Hillingdon, Wandsworth, a tremendous amount of noise and it Richmond, Windsor and Maidenhead congests the whole of west London`. In alongside the environmental charity his prediction the plans “will deliver zero Greenpeace and Sadiq Khan have value” for taxpayers. demanded that the Government fully “Heathrow is already one of the rescind their Heathrow policy. They most polluted areas for air pollution and argue that the proposal to extend the that can’t be right that we offer that for third runway at Heathrow is “politically the next generation,” he said. Christina The controversial decision controversial for obvious reasons: Smyth, the co-chair of Hammersmith Coalition of to build a third runway at building airports offers potential benefits and Fulham No Third Runway campaign, and causes real harm”. said: “There are going to be 700 more councils challenge Heathrow has been met with One of the five cases has been planes going overhead in London, we are five separate legal challenges brought jointly by Greenpeace, the going to get more noise and air pollution Heathrow’s third Mayor of London, and the Councils. from the planes and extra vehicles by the combined force of The other three cases starting have been coming into the Borough.” climate campaigners, local brought by Friends of the Earth, Plan runway B and Neil Spurrier, with the fifth case residents and a coalition of brought by Heathrow Hub Ltd. The judges are expected to release By Max Feldman West London councils. The representative of the Council, their verdict in early April.

Plans to completely reimagine Clapham Junction unveiled By Local Democracy Reporter Calum Rutter Photograph © Don Grant Photograph

ore than 5,000 homes could be built above one of London’s busiest train stations, as architects reveal their “once in a lifetime” plans for redevelopment. The proposals for Clapham Junction would increase the station’s capacity Mand make sure it is ready for Crossrail 2, as well as creating a “new town centre” for the area. Proposals, put together by Laing O’Rourkes, Mott MacDonald and Hawkins Brown, are at a very early stage; the artist’s impressions are a suggestion of how the station could look. Phil Robinson, civil engineering leader for Laing O’Rourke’s engineering excellence group, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for transformation at Clapham Junction, providing significant benefits to both the local community and the wider transport network.” In March 2018, Network Rail took over management of the station from South Western Railway, in preparation for redevelopment; these plans are the first step towards that redevelopment. Although Clapham Junction is only the tenth busiest station in London in terms of numbers of passengers entering and leaving (Waterloo is the busiest), it has more trains stop at it per hour than any station in Europe. That also means it is the busiest in the UK in terms of passengers changing trains, and the plans are hoped to sort out the often overcrowded walkway and tunnel, which can be extremely busy at peak times. Shops and restaurants near the station would be demolished, and the main entrance moved closer to the corner junction. But the Falcon pub would remain as a separate building. As well as this infrastructure work and the 5,000-plus homes, the designers also envisage space for shops, entertainment and industrial units when the work is done. And they said they want to bridge the social divide between the communities to the north and south of the train line; the Winstanley Estate directly north of the tracks is the most deprived area of Wandsworth. 4 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk News

currently does. when travelling on public This, the Commission transport,” Alan Benson, hopes, will deliver electoral Chair of Transport for All equality for voters in said. “Being confident Photograph © TfL council elections so that and knowing what to each councillor represents expect goes a long way to roughly the same number overcoming those barriers. of voters. The review also Access All Areas is an excellent aims to ensure that the new initiative from TfL that council wards reflect, as far gives passengers a relaxed as possible, the interests and and safe way to explore their identities of communities travel options.” across Westminster. The Mayor and TfL are “We are asking local investing record amounts in people and organisations making the capital’s public to help us draw up new transport network more accessible to wards for Westminster,” Professor Colin Londoners. Ninety-five per cent of bus Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said. Westminster “As we develop the recommendations, Access All Areas stops are now accessible and, earlier we will take into account local this week, South Woodford became the boundaries community identities as well as ensuring event 78th London Underground station to go electoral equality for voters. step-free. re-drawn “If you have a view about which The wealth of disabled people’s talent, There are now more than 200 step- communities or neighbourhoods should creativity and knowledge can only free stations across TfL’s network. These be part of the same council ward then be harnessed with good accessible include: 58 Overground stations, six he independent Local we want to hear from you. And if you transport, argues TfL Electric vehicles TfL Rail stations and all DLR stations Government Boundary think a road or railway makes for a and Real Time Information App for and Tram stops. Eight more London Commission for England is strong boundary between communities London Underground stations were Underground stations are on track to be asking local people for their help to draw in your part of Westminster, then this amongst the innovations showcased at step-free by March 2020, with work well T under way across London at a further up a new pattern of council wards for consultation is for you.” Tf L’s Access All Areas event as it looks to Westminster Council. Local people have until 3 June improve accessibility for the 1.3 million seven. The consultation is the first part of 2019 to submit their views in this disabled Londoners. Not only will this When the Elizabeth Line fully an electoral review which will see ward consultation. Further information make their lives easier and boost social opens, all 41 stations will be step-free boundaries across the capital redrawn. on the review and interactive maps inclusion, but it could greatly benefit from street to platform, with level access The Commission has also announced of the existing wards can be found at London’s economy. from street to train at all of the new that Westminster Council should have consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www. “We know that Disabled and central section London stations and at 54 councillors in future, six fewer than it lgbce.org.uk. Older People face many barriers Heathrow and Abbey Wood.

between a new entrance on Cannon Street and the newly constructed April 27, Cannon Street Northern line Tube tunnel made on TRAFFIC WATCH Tottenham v West Ham United, 12:30 Friday (15 March). The breakthrough LONDON HOME FOOTBALL April 27, Tube entrance will make further construction work QPR v Nottingham Forest, 15:00 easier, helping to ensure the hugely May 4, important upgrade is delivered by 2022. LONDON MEN’S HOME FOOTBALL Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion, 15:00 New station entrance on Cannon Street The project to upgrade Bank Tube May 4, now linked to Tube tunnels for first time station, which is being delivered April 8, Chelsea v Watford, 15:00 The modernisation of Bank Tube alongside contractor Dragados, will Chelsea v West Ham United, 20:00 May 5, Station has reached a significant new increase capacity by 40 per cent by 2022, QPR v Sheffield Wednesday, 12:30 making journeys quicker and easier for April 9, milestone, with the first breakthrough May 12, between a new entrance on Cannon the 120 million customers who use the Tottenham v Manchester City, 20:00 Fulham v Newcastle United, 15:00 Street and the newly constructed station every year. April 11, Northern line Tube tunnel made on “Bank Tube station is one of the Arsenal v Napoli, 20:00 May 12, the 15th March. The breakthrough will busiest and most important stations on April 13, Tottenham v Everton, 15:00 make further construction work easier, the network,” Stuart Harvey, Transport Fulham v Everton, 15:00 helping to ensure the hugely important for London’s Director of Major Projects, April 13, LONDON WOMEN’S HOME FOOTBALL upgrade is delivered by 2022. said. “The area around the station has QPR v Swansea City, 15:00 April 14, The modernisation of Bank Tube a high concentration of important April 13, infrastructure both above and below Station has reached a significant new Tottenham v Huddersfield Town, 12:30 QPR v C&K Basildon, 14:00 milestone, with the first breakthrough ground, including a number of historic, April 21, significant April 18, Chelsea v Slavia Prague, 20:00 Arsenal v Everton, 12:30 buildings in the May 5, local area, making April 19, QPR v Portsmouth, 14:00 the upgrade QPR v Blackburn Rovers, 15:00 Photograph Photograph © TfL work incredibly April 21, May 11, complex. The hard Arsenal v Crystal Palace, 16:00 Arsenal v Manchester City, 12:30 work done by April 22, the project team Chelsea v Burnley, 20:00 For full sports fixtures see the sport section will result in real April 23, on page 61. improvements Tottenham v Brighton & Hove Albion, 19:45 in the journeys April 27, of hundreds of Everton v Cardiff City, 15:00 thousands of Compiled and Edited by Fahad Redha customers every day.” 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 5 News online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

“This monitoring site, to the south of Vauxhall Bridge is close to traffic Vauxhall Bridge and many construction sites. The exact cause of the PM10 particle problems at breaches air this location will be subject to detailed investigation, however, initial analysis quality limits indicates a combination of particle By Local Democracy Reporter pollution from nearby traffic as well as Bridie Witton local construction. “Whilst much policy and media attention is focused on nitrogen dioxide, this breach of the limit value for PM10 shows the complexity of urban air Busy Vauxhall Bridge has pollution sources,” they said. breached London’s annual air A Lambeth Council spokesman said council staff were visiting construction quality limits, less than three sites in the area to ensure they were months into the year. following best practise. He said: “We recognise the concerns High concentrations of dangerous around air quality in this area, and we are particles from traffic and construction working closely with partners, including are behind air pollution exceeding legal building contractors and developers, to limits for the 36th day this year. tackle this issue. Legal limits for tiny particles called “We have taken a number of actions PM10, which can be inhaled and be to reduce particle pollution and have absorbed into your blood, are allowed 35 already written to all developers in the days per year with a mean concentration area and have visited all sites. Lambeth greater than 50 micrograms per cubic has a construction compliance officer metre. dedicated to working around Nine The London Air Quality Network Elms and Vauxhall to ensure there is at King’s College London said London best practice on site by all developers to breached European and UK air quality control emissions.” limit values for the year on March 18. Last year’s annual air pollution limits “The first measured breach took place on Brixton Road were breached by at the Lambeth – Bondway Interchange January 30, compared to the previous measurement site and was for PM10 year when it was breached in just six particle pollution. days.

five schools: Penwortham, Hillbrook, Alderbrook, Earlsfield and Furzedown Wandsworth primaries. If they back the scheme, the council ‘banning cars’ will undertake a wider consultation with Photograph Photograph © THames21 local residents to get their views. from school The ban would not extend to residents of the affected roads or drivers streets with blue badges. By Local Democracy The council’s education and Thames Great Wet Wipe Reef Reporter Calum Rutter schools’ spokesman, Councillor Sarah McDermott, said: “We hope parents and A record 23,000 wet wipes were counted are formed from a thick plastic wet wipe Could the answer to polluted streets local residents support this idea as we and removed from one stretch of the mesh mixed up with mud from the river. outside schools be to ban cars at drop-off believe it will create a much safer and Thames foreshore in just two hours at Thames21 volunteers were at the site to and pick-up time altogether? healthier environment for their children the end of March. measure the density of the wet wipes Wandsworth Council wants to set up on their journeys to and from school.” 473 bin bags of wet wipes were on the surface of the mounds in order a pilot scheme doing just this outside five According to the British Lung removed from the foreshore in Barnes, to chart changes over time. The average schools. Foundation, children are especially West London on Saturday the 23rd density was a worrying 201 wet wipes It is hoped the move would boost vulnerable to breathing in polluted air March by 160 Thames21 volunteers. per square metre. Four other similar air quality levels, as well as encourage because, for their size, they breathe in They were there as part of a mass citizen sites exist along the Thames riverbank in safer and more active travel to and from more air each minute than adults. science event to monitor the impact of London. school. Prolonged exposure to air pollution plastic on the capital’s river. Many wet “The growing wet wipe market is Transport spokesman, Councillor can cause: wipes, even those marketed as flushable, damaging our Capital’s river, turning Jonathan Cook, said: “Reducing the contain plastic fibres and therefore do stretches of it into a Frankenstein impact of vehicle traffic and encouraging • Children’s lungs not working as not break down. foreshore, part plastic part natural,” said parents and children to walk to school well as they grow older The latest data shows that the so- Alice Hall, coordinator of Thames21’s are key priorities for the council. called Thames Great Wet Wipe Reef is award-winning Thames River Watch “If parents and local residents in any • Children develop asthma during growing. Bathymetric surveys, published citizen science monitoring programme, affected streets agree to trial schemes, childhood or as an adult. And for the first time, reveal that one of the which organised the event. “Our rivers there could be a really beneficial impact if they have asthma already, air largest mounds, in front of St Paul’s are becoming plastic rubbish dumps: on air quality standards around these pollution can make it worse school in Barnes, has grown by 0.7m in millions of wet wipes, which often schools. • Wheezing or coughs the past few years, and is now 50m wide, contain plastic, being flushed down loos “What will also be important is • Lung cancer when they’re older, 17m long and stands at more than 1m and then discharged into our rivers when making sure we get the logistics of the high. the sewers can’t cope. We’ve seen the scheme right.” • Infections like pneumonia The foreshore at Barnes contains nine mounds growing very fast over the past Schools and parents will be asked School streets could be in place on a large mounds, which look natural, but few years.” to back the “school streets” idea at trial basis as early as September 2019. 6 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Statue & Blue Plaque

Science in 1905. She married Edward Alexander Blue Plaque: Newell, a Paleobotanist and they lived in Cambridge. The new Mrs Newell was Agnes Arber FRS awarded a Research Fellowship from 1879 - 1960 Newnham and wrote and published prolifically. She also studied at the Photograph © Don Grant Photograph Balfour Laboratory for Women, as at that time women were not allowed to enter the main laboratories for lectures and practical sessions. English Heritage has honoured Agnes Publications included Water Plants: Arber among their most recent Plaques. A Study of Aquatic Anglo sperms (1920 ), It can be seen at 9 Elsworthy Terrace, The Monocotyledons, which is one of the Primrose Hill, London NW3. It great groups of flowering plants, there describes her as a Botanist and shows are 60,000 species. She published several her maiden name was Robertson. papers on the Gramineae plant family. Agnes Arber lived a long and Her last Botanical Paper appeared in productive life and made an unparalleled 1942. contribution to the field of Botany. There was no doubt that Agnes Arber She was born in Primrose Hill and was accepted as a leading authority her parents were Henry Robertson in her field. War time made research and Agnes Lucy Turner. They were an difficult and she published books of a artistic family and her father, an artist, different nature. She wrote about Joseph

STATUES approved of education for women. He Banks and other Botanists. Goethe’s taught his daughter drawing and sent writings had always appealed to her her to North London Collegiate School and she translated some of his botanical where she took a serious interest in works. Perhaps her most important Botany. She met Ethel Sargant, who work, The Natural Philosophy of Plant lectured at the school’s science club. She Form was published in 1950 explaining became her mentor, giving instruction in for her, compound leaves are clusters of micro techniques which were necessary united partial shoots. Goethe had said, to prepare plants for examination under “Compound leaves are in reality the microscope. branches, the buds which cannot In 1897 Agnes Arber studied at develop, since the common stalk is too University College. London. There frail” original Board of Agriculture in 1793. she happily conducted research on the The complexity of plants is certainly Francis, Duke Bedford established a stud at Woburn gymnosperm group of plants, writing amazing. Abbey and had considerable success as several papers on their morphology and Agnes Arber examined Mysticism a breeder and owner of racehorses. His anatomy, and graduated with a B.SC. and Philosophy in The Mind and the Eye: first notable horse, Skyscraper, went on of Bedford A Biologist's standpoint. She describes By Richard Westmacott to win The Derby of 1789, and he bred degree. Later she took a further degree two other Derby winners, as well as a at Newnham College, Cambridge. At mystical experience as, Russell Square pair of Oaks winners. both Universities she won prizes and “That direct and unmeditated Westmacott portayed him as an medals and reached first class in all contemplation which is characterised agriculturist, in swirling robes, which, examinations. by a peculiarly intense awareness of a he Woburn Estate in Bedfordshire from a distance, makes him look like Agnes Arber worked privately with Whole as the Unity of all things”. extends to nearly 21,500 acres a Roman emperor in a toga, with his Ethel Sargant for a year and returned ‘The Lady of Botany’ is buried with and includes Woburn Abbey and left arm resting on a plough, while to University College London as holder her husband, who pre-deceased her, in a Safari Park. Andrew Russell, putti and sheep play around his feet. of the Quain Scholarship in biology. St Andrew’s parish church, Girton. the 15th Duke of Bedford, is the He is sporting a cropped hairstyle, She was honoured with a Doctorate of Marian Maitland Tcurrent custodian of the estate, fashioned in protest against a tax on with a net worth of some £700m, hair powder, which became known which has been the family seat since as the ‘Bedford Level’, a pun on the 1547. As far as London is concerned, reclaimed Fenlands on their estate, also the family is small fry compared to known as the Bedford Level. There is the likes of the Grosvenor Estate a bull’s heads at each corner of a frieze (Duke of Westminster) with 300 acres below the main statue, and, below that, of the capital, the Cadogan Estate on the lower base, bas-relief bucolic (Earl Cadogan) with 93 acres, the figures and farm animals are sauntering Portman Estate (Viscount Portman) about. Westmacott’s Achilles at Hyde with 110 acres, and the Howard de Park Corner, sculpted 13 years later in Walden Estate with 92 acres. Still, 20 1822, inspired by antique sculptures acres of a large portion on the Zone of Horse Tamers at Monte Cavallo in 1 area, including Russell, Woburn Rome, and cast from cannons won at and Bedford Squares, is not to be the victories of Salamanca, Vitoria, sniffed at, particularly as it includes Toulouse and Waterloo, was a tribute some 200 properties, over 1,000 hotel to the Duke of Wellington, paid for by rooms and 550 flats. The collective £10,000 raised by female subscribers. wealth of the owners of these five A fig leaf was screwed to his genitals Great London Estates is estimated shortly after its erection, which has been at some £22 billion. Francis, the fifth prized off twice by curious pranksters, Duke was known for his interest in Apparently, Royal Parks keep a supply agriculture, and he experimented of replacements, in case this happens with sheep breeding and established again. Lawrence Olivier once remarked a model farm at Woburn, as well as that it was ‘the best arse in London’. being nominated as member of the Don Grant 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 7 Advertisement online: www.KCWToday.co.uk Are you looking at a fortune?

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include the Latin American Women’s Rights Service, the Work Rights Centre, Police accused of Community New Europeans, Migrant Resource Centre, Refugees in Active and Effective using ‘postcode groups supporting Partnership, and Bulgarian Centre for Social Integration and Culture. lottery’ system EU Londoners To make sure they have all the information they need about living in to catch driving London after Brexit, he has created the offences Mayor awards £30k to community online EU Londoners Hub, to which groups supporting vulnerable EU 19,000 people have already signed up. Londoners ahead of Brexit The Hub directs users to up-to-date olice marshalling roads for driving Community groups supporting EU information and advice about their rights offences, have been accused of Londoners with help and information after the UK leaves the European Union. prosecuting boroughs unfairly. to stay in the UK after Brexit have “Throughout the entire Brexit This comes as recent data from P been awarded funding by the Mayor of process, I have been clear that London is RoadPeace, the national charity for road London, Sadiq Khan. open, and that EU citizens living in the crash victims, found major variations in The Government has said that Capital belong here and are welcome,” amounts of offences between boroughs to how officers are deployed to certain London’s one million Europeans will The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, after analysing police data for traffic areas. need to apply for ‘settled status’ to said. “It’s critical that they get good offences in 2017. Chief Superintendent Colin remain in the UK after 29th March quality advice and support around what The data claims there were 20 times Wingrove, Head of the Metropolitan’s 2019, despite the uncertainty of the Brexit means for them and how to apply more sanctions for reckless driving in Road police, said because the force wider Brexit negotiations. for settled status, particularly those who Westminster where 202 were reported, target areas with greater risk of collision Sadiq particularly wants to ensure are vulnerable.” than there were in Richmond where 10 and drivers who pose a bigger danger, that the most vulnerable EU Londoners, were reported. geographical variations are normal. including the elderly, disabled and 8,535 people were caught breaking RoadPeace spokesperson, Victoria homeless, get the right advice and the 30mph speed limit in Ealing, Lebrec, who lost her leg in 2014 after support around how to proceed with compared with only 83 in Kensington being run over by a lorry, said: ‘Traffic these applications. and Chelsea. law enforcement should not be a Micro-grants of around £5,000 Police detected 833 cycling offences postcode lottery. Victims should not be have been provided to six different in Southwark, but the Boroughs of more at risk based on where they live.’ community organisations as part of the Richmond, Kingston and Bexley only Whilst people driving whilst on their Mayor’s work to engage with European had one reported offence each in 2017. phones has decreased by 40 percent in communities and help European Whilst this could be down to traffic London, figures published by TfL this Londoners get the information they need volumes and positions of speed cameras, year, indicated a year-on-year increase of to stay in the UK. These organisations RoadPeace believe it could also be down up to 26% in road casualties.

She attacked Labour’s proposal to scrap step-type propulsion leg. £5m from the council’s legal budget for The sculpture, measuring 9.2m Council tax in the Grenfell Inquiry which she described Walking boat long and weighs 12 tons, is inspired as “an easy win for them, something to by the ingenuity of the planet’s early Kensington and beat us with tonight no doubt. But, like sculpture to invertebrates who made the leap out their council tax strategy, it isn’t thought of the water into a new and unknown Chelsea is going through.” launch at world. Mudskipper combines both art and She said: “Your £5m could be the engineering. Supported by Nine Elms on up by 4.99% difference between the country finding out Battersea Power the South Bank and in conjunction with everything that went wrong or not.” the 2018 Year of Engineering, StudioRCA Opposition leader, Labour’s Robert Station is hosting Walking Ship until 22 April; a The increase, which could yield an extra Atkinson, said his party would reject the Battersea Power Station will host a special exhibition of James Capper’s work 2.9% increase in council tax as “even now £5m means the annual bill for a Band unique art installation in the middle and a visual synopsis of the Mudskipper given the size of the remaining reserves D property will go up from £845.18 to of May. The amphibious Mudskipper, project. and the ease with which this previously £887.34. designed by British artist James Capper, Researched, drawn and developed Rises above 5% trigger a referendum. wealthy borough can borrow money, we do not need to raise the council tax for is described as a large-scale mobile over the course of a decade, the The move which includes a 2.99% rise sculpture. It will be moored directly exhibition Walking Ship brings together in council tax, plus a 2% social care precept residents who are not well off.” in front of the iconic Battersea Power drawings, maquettes and component was agreed at full council, despite criticism He said if a council tax increase is Station through May and June when it sculpture to chronicle the conceptual, from the Labour opposition. needed, Labour would not collect council Council leader Elizabeth Campbell said tax from residents in Bands A to C. will travel down the Thames and walk aesthetic and technical evolution of it was a fair budget, despite expecting an “We believe that those of us who are out of the water at points of low tide. Mudskipper as it becomes a fully-realised extra £12m of pressures and expected cuts residents who can afford to support the To do this it will employ the use of two mobile work. in funding from central government in the council in the difficult years ahead should future. do so,” he added. She said: “Setting a budget is a difficult He said residents living on stagnating task. All councils are facing economic and or falling incomes “do need as much help financial uncertainty. So we have to lobby as we can give them”. for greater freedom. “We believe ordinary residents with

“We collect over £320m a year in ordinary means should not be punished for Capper © James Photograph business rates, yet we receive just £65m the past errors of this council.,” he said. back. We are an economic powerhouse but Labour would support the 2% increase regarded as a sleepy London borough. This in the social care precept, but he said his needs to change.” party would make all adult home care free. She warned that over the next three He branded the proposed £2.6m years the council will have to trim costs by refurbishment of the town hall as “obscene £40m and there will be tough choices to when those in real housing need are told to make. wait years or to move elsewhere”. 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 9 Architecture online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

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An Older Issue

he London Mayor’s housing focus has been largely based around starter homes for the youngerT generation and affordable housing; admirable intent and doubtless vote winners. Solutions to the London and UK housing crisis require broader, more holistic strategies. At the opposite end of the age demographic, many of our older population occupy three, four and five bedroom houses that they don’t need or necessarily want. Life and children have moved on. Family sized houses that cost more to maintain, that are under- occupied are often a burden. So why hasn’t ‘downsizing’ caught on in the UK? It is an especially The Chocolate Quarter, Bristol popular move in the USA, Australia, aerial view, and Pool and Spa. to the wider community to aid social New Zealand, Holland and Denmark. Photographs © St Monica's Trust integration, thereby avoiding ageist One reason is that those countries ghettos. One successful scheme is at are providing aspirational villages the former Cadbury chocolate factory and homes that are part of their at Keynsham, near Bristol. This has communities. The apartments, a mixture of uses including housing, amenities, social integration, care and offices, restaurants, a nursery and whole concept of later living are better primary school along-side retirement considered, designed and managed. apartments operated by St Monica The product being built by many Trust. The integration and vibrant UK retirement developers is just not atmosphere makes it a great place to live. desirable; mostly, it is mean. Hence, we The best senior living villages also only downsize when a family or health and reduced fluidity. Fluidity is an housing is now happening in the UK provide appropriate levels of care, with crisis forces us to move from our family important factor for the whole economy. with major funds such as Legal & the aim of enabling independent living home. We stay too long in the home that It enables mobility in employment, General and Axa becoming involved in for as long as possible. The provision of we have become emotionally attached to. reduces commuting congestion and a raft the development of retirement villages. centralised on-site care achieves better Our home is our castle until the siege of of other social and economic advantages. To date, many such schemes have simply service, greater efficiencies and reduces age or illness forces us into submission. It has huge knock-on benefits for not been good enough; with minimal the burden on our stretched local and For many of the baby boomer building and other supply chain elements space, poor planning, inadequate national health services. Well designed generation, now hitting 70+ our castle of the economy. For retirees, Stamp communal amenities and poor social and managed retirement developments has been a major source of our wealth. Duty has created an additional obstacle integration. The product has been promote long term independence, Increasing house prices over six decades to downsizing and hence, the freeing up neither aspirational nor inspirational provide support, freedom and friendship. has created unexpected equity even if of larger homes for growing families. enough to encourage ‘seniors’ to move These all help combat the loneliness that our home is a 2-up-2-down terrace in a When growing families ‘up-size’, it frees for the latter years of life. Issues over afflicts many as we grow older. London suburb. Anything larger than up smaller homes for younger families, leases and resales have brought bad press The UK needs a more creative, that and it will be a substantial 6 or 7 couples and individuals. Could that just coverage about the sector which further aspirational and socially integrated figure equity asset. So why not cash in be more availability of starter homes? discourages people from downsizing. vision to deliver desirable housing for some of that equity, downsize and enjoy The housing market needs unblocking The best retirement schemes do our aging population. Achieving this later life? wherever possible to induce greater provide a wide range of amenity spaces, could just help connect several pieces One obstacle is the appalling and fluidity. The Government has tried including restaurants, cafes, lounges, in the complex housing jigsaw. If the misguided government tax strategy that various incentives at the starter end of libraries, activity & exercise rooms, housing crisis is ever to be solved, then massively increased stamp duty. It was the market; it would be a good idea to gyms, game rooms, internet support, government will have to see the bigger intended as a stealthier way of raising incentivise the elderly and retirement age spas and even sky bars. Some of these picture that is only visible when the tax without resorting to the unpopular group of our population to unblock a key villages are opening these facilities many pieces come together. alternative of a mansion tax. A vote sector of our housing stock. Planning winner to hit the rich. The outcome of policies are too inconsistent between the increase has been entirely negative. authorities on the differentiation First and foremost, it has reduced the between C3 (residential) and C2 use actual tax revenue from house sales. Not (retirement with care). This needs SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT very clever for the Treasury! Critically, clarity and resolution to promote better KCW Today. See page 7 for details it has slowed down the rate of sales, projects. created stagnation in the housing market Investment in more ‘Senior Living’ 10 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk News

arts centres, libraries, community centres and pubs, to LGBT+ venues and musical City Hall theatres; these spaces play a vital role in bringing our communities together. launches cultural That’s why it’s so important that we map of the capital protect our creative communities and Hawkes © Jason Photograph to protect and support help Londoners access the wide range of culture on their own doorstep. By doing London’s venues this we will ensure that London remains the thriving, creative and innovative city we all love.” For the first time ever, ARIKE OKE, Managing Director, London’s huge variety of Black Cultural Archives, said: “London's cultural infrastructure from cultural spaces, such as ‘Black Cultural Archives’, make history tangible. These pubs and music venues to are sites of celebration and struggle, of recording studios and local the stories that make London unique. It's more important than ever for libraries will be available Londoners and visitors to our city to be online for free. able to make those connections between the present, the past and the future.” ewly launched open-source map and Cultural Infrastructure Plan CHIEF EXECUTIVE of will protect and grow London’s artsdepot, Tracy Cooper, said: “We are cultural venues proud to play a part in London’s rich and N varied cultural ecology, welcoming over Hackney and Camden vying for highest number of grassroots music capital’s economic success, making the skating parks 162,000 people to our venue each year venues while Westminster is the city a place where people want to live, Camden has the highest number of to share experiences and explore their borough with the most pubs. work and do business. The creative sector theatre rehearsal studios creativity. In addition to our diverse New online toolkit will be launched generates £52bn for London every year Camden has the highest number of programme of performances, events and alongside the map with resources to help and is responsible for one in six jobs in community centres participation opportunities for people of create new artist studios, dance rehearsal the Capital. Culture is the reason that Westminster has the most pubs all ages, we support performance makers spaces, music studios and theatres four out of five tourists visit the city. City of London has the biggest from across the capital and beyond with City Hall has launched a new However, there has been a worrying concentration of pubs our artist development programme, and interactive online map which captures decline in London’s cultural spaces, Westminster also has the highest we’re committed to inspiring the next the capital’s cultural riches for the first with the numbers of LGBT+ venues and number of LGBT+ night time venues generation of artists; last year 11,912 time. grassroots music venues stabilising in Hackney has the most grassroots children and young people took part The new map has collated London’s the last year following a decade of steep music venues, followed closely by in creative learning and performance cultural facilities and locations, from decline. Camden opportunities at artsdepot.” pubs and LGBT+ venues, to music recording studios, community centres The Cultural Infrastructure Map Outside of central London, CITY HALL is committed to and local libraries; now available online paints a rich picture of culture across Richmond has the highest number of protecting and improving the city’s for everyone to use. the city, from central London to outer- museums and public galleries cultural venues and the new ‘Cultural Deputy Mayor for Culture and the boroughs. The map currently reveals Tower Hamlets has the highest Infrastructure Plan’ outlines an action Creative Industries, Justine Simons, is London has: number of fashion and design plan to ensure London remains an asking Londoners, local authorities and manufacturing businesses exciting and vibrant city 24-hours a day. cultural organisations to work with City 240 artists’ workspace buildings Hackney has the highest number Hall to create the fullest possible picture 71 skate parks of creative workspaces and of artists The action plan includes establishing of the Capital’s cultural infrastructure 3,530 pubs workspaces the first ever ‘Culture at Risk Office’, with the new map. 52 LGBT+ night-time venues, Hackney also has the highest which has already supported 350 It has been published as part of 94 grassroots music venues and number of music recording studios cultural spaces across the capital at the Mayor’s Cultural Infrastructure 263 theatres Ealing plays an important role in risk of closure, and creating the most Plan, which is designed to protect and 86 music rehearsal studios, providing prop and costume hire pro-culture planning framework the champion the Capital’s cultural riches. 112 theatre rehearsal studios and outside central London capital has ever seen. The Mayor’s draft The map and data has been released 291 dance rehearsal studios Brent has a high concentration of London Plan includes a requirement for today alongside an online toolkit with 165 museums and galleries, with an music businesses, such as labels developers to ensure existing venues, resources to help local authorities, additional Croydon has the highest number of clubs and pubs still have a home in new property developers, businesses and 317 commercial and private galleries monuments outside of central developments, and includes the ‘Agent of cultural institutions protect and grow 903 community centres and London Change’ principle, which helps protect the culture on offer in London. 345 libraries venues by putting the onus on developers In order to cement London’s place 19,174 listed buildings, but also DEPUTY MAYOR for Culture and to meet the cost of soundproofing and as an international cultural capital and 660 heritage at risk sites the Creative Industries, Justine Simons, noise-reduction measures. protect these important spaces, the new 319 buildings used for jewellery said: “Culture has always been London’s Cultural Infrastructure Plan will show design and manufacturing and DNA, it is the story of our city and gives LAST YEAR City Hall launched where London’s cultural infrastructure is 5 large scale media production London its character and authenticity. the city’s first-ever ‘Creative Enterprise located, highlight any gaps or risk areas, studios Yet, while we’re all used to seeing big Zones’ which will create more than and enable business, local authorities and cities plan their future needs when it 3,500 jobs and 40,000 square meters of cultural leaders to support and develop The map captures the current cultural comes to trains, roads and hospitals, it’s new affordable creative workspace. In London’s cultural venues. Now City highlights and clusters across the city, never been the same for culture. Now addition, this year London has also seen Hall is asking Londoners, Councils and showing that: thanks to this map, we have a live, fine the launch of the ‘Creative Land Trust’, cultural institutions to contribute to the grained picture of the city’s cultural an independent organisation which online map in order fully to capture the Enfield has the highest number of assets, giving us for the first time, a will secure 1,000 affordable creative city’s cultural gems. local libraries snapshot of the true riches and clusters workspaces in five years for artists in the Culture plays a vital role in the Lambeth has the highest number of in the capital. From local facilities like capital.

020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 11 Advertisement online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

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his wife. She was the heiress to sugar plantations in Jamaica and the profits were useful to his future expeditions, when added to the fees from his medical practice. They had two daughters, one of them married into the Cadogan family. In 1687 Sir Hans Sloane sailed to Jamaica as Physician to the new Governor, the Duke of Albemarle. During the three month voyage he studied phosphorescence of the seas and bird life. He worked with slaves and English planters to assemble an amazing collection of 800 plant specimens, animals and curiosities. The collection was the basis of his great natural history book, in two volumes. entitled A Voyage to the Islands of Madera, Barbados, Nieves, St Christopher's and Jamaica. It was a life time’s work. He continued to collect and bought other collections. Travellers sold Reflections on the life, work him curios. His collection outgrew his home, and Chelsea connections of so he bought the house next door! PRS. FRS. MD. (1660-1753 Dignitaries and scientists were welcome Sir Hans Sloane. visitors. It became a museum where they By Marian Maitland Sloane’s illustrations of leaves and could also view his medals, manuscripts, English wildflowers. He pointed out the prints, coins, molluscs, fish, fauna and book is written in English which was flora. The Sloane Herbarium, now in the unusual. Natural History Museum, contains 334 Edwin Rose observed that when Sir volumes of dried plants from around the he 300th Anniversary of the great legacy. Hans Sloane died there was a new order world. King's Road continues to be Guest speakers at the Chelsea Physic of cataloguing at the British Museum. He bequeathed his collection to King celebrated by events across the Garden event were Edwin Rose, a Shelving and cabinets appeared too. He George II for the Nation, and asked in Royal Borough of Kensington and Ph.D. researcher at Cambridge, who referred to the great Swedish Botanist, return for £20,000 for his heirs and that T Carolus Linnaeus, who had used Sir an accessible museum should be built Chelsea, for which credit is due to Ian graduated from there in ‘the History and Foster, historian and researcher of the Philosophy of Science’. He wrote a thesis Hans Sloane’s text and drawings as the to house the collection. In 1753 an Act life of Sir Hans Sloane. entitled, From Chelsea to Montagu House: basis for describing plants in his own of Parliament was passed establishing The Royal Borough was an important Hans Sloane’s Collection of Jamaican major work, Species Plantarum. the British Museum. Sir Hans Sloane's part of Sir Hans Sloane’s life and he is Plants 1742 to 1768, which examines Jonathan King said that Sir Hans collection was the basis of the founding remembered in the Street, Square and the founding natural history collecting Sloane kept all his letters and catalogues collections of the British Museum, Avenue which bear his name. practices. He has held various positions and that he discovered the first specimen the Natural History Museum and the The Chelsea Physic Garden recently at the British Museum including Keeper of the coffee plant and, also, made British Library. hosted, as part of the 300th year of Anthropology. recordings of early Afro American Perhaps his most popular discovery celebrations, a lecture and discussion Mark Spencer is the Honorary songs. He also collected a walrus, but it was the cacao plant from Jamaica. The evening in the presence of a panel of Curator of the Linnaean Society of did not speak! locals liked it with water but Sir Hans distinguished authorities on his life and London and was Senior Curator of When considering Sir Hans Sloane's Sloane invented a hot drink with milk. work. the British and Irish Herbarium at biography, we know he was born in It was popular in the new Chocolate Sir Hans Sloane trained at the the Natural History Museum which Killyleagh, Co. Down, Northern Coffee Houses springing up in London. Chelsea Physic Garden in 1680, and he included the Sloane Herbarium. Ireland. His ancestors were Scottish; It was taken over by Cadburys. Linnaeus rescued it from financial ruin. He had Jonathan King is currently the Alexander Sloane was his father, an called the cacao plant, theobroma which purchased Chelsea Manor in Cheyne Von Hugel Fellow at the Museum of agent for the 1st Earl of Clanbrassill and derives from the ancient Greek and Walk, and leased the garden to the Archaeology and Anthropology at he was a receiver of general taxes. His translates, almost literally, as ‘food of the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries Cambridge. mother, Sarah Hicks was the daughter of gods’ in honour of legends of the people for £5 a year. This sum is still paid to his Michael Holland is head of the Canon of Chichester Cathedral. The of Mesopotamia. descendants. Education at Chelsea Physic Garden. young Hans was educated at a school Sir Hans Sloane died in Chelsea His statue, donated by Lord All four guest speakers gave most set up by James Hilton. He always had and is buried in Chelsea Old Church. Cadogan, in 2014, presides over the interesting talks on various aspects of Sir a great interest in Botany and enjoyed His name lives on in Hans Place, Hans garden. It is sculpted from Portland Hans Sloane's life. his visits to the castle library which were Street, Hans Road, Sloane Gardens stone and was inspired by a former resin Ian Foster lucidly explained that granted to him. and Sloane Grammar School. Sloanea, statue by Rysbrack. It stands near the King’s Road was originally a private road Sir Hans studied medicine in a plant genus was named after him by herb garden where plants are arranged for King Charles 11. However, landlords London, travelled to France and took his Linnaeus and there is a moth named in groups according to their medicinal and tenants were granted access to their final MD at the University of Orange- Sloanus and a lizard called Spondylurus properties. An aged mulberry tree properties. When the road was closed Nassau. He was a successful Doctor, Sloanii. keeps him company, with its cascading for maintenance, their access ceased. working from home in Bloomsbury A lively debate ensued after the branches, rich fruit and green leaves. They were furious and Sir Hans Sloane Place, with Queen Anne and King lecture whether Sir Hans Sloane was Sir Hans Sloane travelled widely and supported them in having their access George I and King George II among a scientist. It was unresolved. He collected plant specimens and curiosities reinstated via the Royal Surveyor. Thus his patients. He operated at the Royal did preserve the legacy of the 17th prolifically, which he catalogued and the King's Road blossomed into the College of Physicians, where he was a century and put forward the interesting published. He pioneered the unknown thriving innovative public thoroughfare Fellow and President. He succeeded Sir hypothesis that human activity affects science of cataloguing, realising that we know today. Isaac Newton as President of the Royal the climate. His collections and the Botany, like Archaeology, is not solely Mark Spencer spoke of the Society of London. He was active in science of cataloguing carve his eulogy. about exciting new discoveries. He importance of the Sloane Herbarium inoculation against smallpox and in the He is honoured with an English believed in meticulous cataloguing to in the Natural History Museum and treatment of malaria with quinine. Heritage Blue Plaque at Bloomsbury facilitate future research. This is his showed interesting details of Sir Hans Elizabeth Langley Rose became Place. 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 13 News online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

sit-down protest and speeches from the environmental children and young people. problems, but it Extinction Children have taken a lead in public World’s should be used as an politics in recent years, seeing young important component Rebellion people standing up and speaking out on Tallest by designers. Other and young people lead anti- behalf of humanity. timber-built schemes climate change activist 10-year-old Hector said, ‘Many Timber abound in Sweden, a animals will go extinct if we do not act rail storage building in movement now. We have invested all our support in Building Zurich, an apartment By Don Grant Photograph © Øystein Elgsaas, Voll Arkitekter By Ellen Harper the government. But in our time of need, building in Hamburg, a student housing This has to be the scheme in Trondheim With climate change being one of the way forward. And and an office block biggest global issues in the world right upward. In Norway, in Austria. Timber now, activist organisation Extinction Voll Arkitekter have has been used in Rebellion are drawing attention to the designed and built construction for issue, with significant protests. the tallest all-timber thousands of years, The organisation was set up in building in the world, using completely during the Mesolithic and Neolithic September 2018 and has brought huge local resources, local suppliers and periods, right up to the present day, amounts of media coverage and public sustainable timber specifications. The where the humble rustic log cabin support to the issue of climate change in 85.4m-high, 18-storey mixed-use provides renewable, sustainable and just a matter of months. office, hotel and residential Mjøstårnet aesthetically-pleasing construction In November 2018, the organisation they have deserted us.’ scheme beat the previous contender in methods. organised sit-ins on the bridges Young people have taken to Vancouver for timber-only construction During the Elizabethan age, oak throughout central London and the the limelight to fight for causes they’re by over 20m, and is now the third tallest was the wood of choice for building, protest led to significant road closures passionate about, with Emma Gonzalez building in Norway, but demand became greater for fuel and and disruption, seeing over 80 arrests. speaking out about gun control, The main structure comprises for naval ship-building and there was The 27th February 2019, saw the following the mass shooting in a Florida large glued laminated timber, or pressure on the native timber resource. group protesting an oil conference at high school. She told politicians ‘You’re glulam, external trusses, with a cross From the 17th century, demand the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel either with us or against us… We are laminated timber core. Prefabricated exceeded supply in Britain and there in Mayfair. Protestors glued themselves going to be the last mass shooting.’ façade panels then cover the timber was a shift to imported softwood timber to the windows of the hotel, protesting Following the speech from 16-year- structure. The building is highlighted from Norway and Poland, through the affect the oil industry has on the old Swede Greta Thunberg, who stood in a report by Arup, in response to the the Baltic ports, cut to size using environment, taking police over two outside the Swedish Parliament building urgent need ‘to re-think our approach water-driven frame saws. This reduced hours to unstick them all. protesting climate change, children in construction to deliver a net zero transport costs and enabled carpenters London Fashion Week was also around the world walked out of school (carbon emissions) built environment.’ It to access timber with larger sections, disrupted as protestors fought against to protest our international leaderships concedes that timber alone will not solve known as baulks. the unsustainability of the fashion ignorance towards global warming. industry, blocking roads and making key As the re-occurring argument people late for events. Alice Martin, 28, surrounding lowering the voting age a publisher and supporter of Extinction to 16 continues to circulate, the role Rebellion said: ‘We’re doing what we youth are playing in current politics is came here to do. Streets are blocked something not to turn a blind eye to. © PDSA Photograph across London. Participants of Fashion From the 1st April, Extinction Week are running late and, our friends Rebellion are organising a march from at the British Fashion Council have said across to the country, to arrive in that everyone inside the venues and at London for the 15th. the shows are talking about us.’ April 15th will see a huge global The 9th March saw Extinction protest, with protestors gathering in Rebellion activists pour over 200 litres of London to speak out against climate fake blood on the floor outside Downing change, but 30 other countries around Street. This was followed by a peaceful the world will also host protests.

outstanding devotion and service to society. Animal ‘OBE’ for Seven dogs from the MET and British Transport Police will be awarded Hero Police Dogs the PDSA Order of Merit, the animal equivalent of the OBE, by leading veterinary charity PDSA at a ceremony MET and British Transport Police Dogs later this year. to receive prestigious PDSA Order of Six Police Dogs (listed above) and Merit for terror attack heroics their handlers will be available for Hero police dogs who helped our photography and interview, alongside emergency services during the 2017 PDSA vet Rosamund Ford. London terror attacks at Westminster For more information about PDSA Bridge, London Bridge and Borough Animal Award programme visit www. Market are being honoured for their pdsa.org.uk/Medals. 14 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Opinion & Comment

MARIUS BRILL’S MEMEING OF LIFE Meme: An element of a culture or system of behaviour passed from one individual to another...

It doesn’t just drive the mid-life crisis, flatters those who stood/stand up to the it misinforms some really appalling establishment even if it meant/means decision making and it makes people great personal risk. seek pointless other opinions purely so Just a few weeks ago, Michael they won’t have to shoulder all the blame Heseltine invoked metameleiaphobia should things go wrong. to reassure the million Remainers who It’s not FOMO (Fear of Missing marched to oppose Brexit. “We are on Out), even if that might embrace it, the right side of history,” he intoned. because it’s explicitly fearing a future in “Walk tall. Keep the faith. Go back to which you will look back and admonish your villages, your towns and your cities. yourself. Tell them you were here… Fighting for It’s totally irrational and an intrinsic our tomorrow.” Considering history is component of aging. Marianne Faithfull mostly the deeds of the dead, is being on invoked it perfectly in her cautionary its “right side” somewhere actually good Ballad of Lucy Jordan: “At the age of to be? thirty-seven she realised she'd never ride Still, going down in history is through Paris in a sports car with the clearly the impulse for many of our warm wind in her hair.” Watch out, she Brexit agitators. In 1992 Francis sang, or you’ll end up like Lucy; who Fukuyama wrote The End of History climbs up on her roof and, depending on arguing that, following the Cold War how you read it, either is carted off to an and the collapse of the Soviet Union, insane asylum or is led to the after-life humanity was reaching "the end point where she finally gets to smell le croissant of mankind's ideological evolution and in her Alfa Spider before it’s over-turned the universalization of Western liberal and burned by the gilet-jaune. democracy as the final form of human We will all experience moments government". This was seized by the when we have to make life-changing burgeoning “New Labour” as a prophetic decisions. But for many of us, confirmation of their political ambitions. somewhere in the mental pros and Oh how we can laugh now. Can you cons, there will be a picture of our own, remember when things were so settled older, brooding selves, unsatisfied and someone could even suggest that? It’s unable to change the past because of the almost as if a generation of legacy decision we’re making now. hungry politicians took it as a challenge It’s oddly powerful. In a WWI to jump start history and all the recruitment poster a child sits on her ideological conflicts that take us right father’s knee and, basically, tells him back to square one. The future wasn’t he’s a sissy. “Daddy, what did YOU do quite what anybody expected. It never is. in the Great War?” The father gulps. At “We plan, God laughs,” says the first this seems rather niche; appealing Yiddish proverb. Any imagined future to that group of young men who have is a chimera. The anxiety of imagining such an impressive imagination they yourself in a future looking back and homophone intended). fear a possibly embarrassing question regretting the now is a fallacy because, if Past Imperfect, It would be unfair to call Tom coming up sometime in the future nothing else, you will be unimaginably bookish; there was no “ish” about his in a family they may or may not help different; a being that your present self Future tense. total bookness. In fact he’d been locked produce. But it worked. It is a defining cannot even fathom. Your brain will in the library several times because he image of persuasive advertising and sent only become more decayed, a million was so engrossed at closing time, and so thousands of men to face death and experiences will drown out the moments much a part of the place, the staff missed shellshock rather than an imaginary red- you may regret and maybe your future kay. But you hate the him. And Tom feared water in the same faced, somewhat insensitive, kid who self will just learn to trust and put up outdoors, your sense of way a collection of paper and cardboard may never exist, demanding answers to with the instincts of your past. balance could be sponsored might. an awkward question. Tom did go to the boathouse in a by Special Brew, you think the people So what would drive a man, who As a rhetorical conceit it seems blazer and straw hat, he brought a girl he “O took a cagoule and rape alarm with bizarre: a call for action not based on the who do do it are tossers and you’re fancied, a hamper and a few bottles of petrified of water.” I said, encouragingly. him to pop to the shop for milk, to take here and now but by how you may feel ready mixed Pimms. He rented the punt “I know, but I’ve got to take a his life in his hands propelling a flat- about it, at some time in the future. and got within two feet of the water punt…,” Tom said, “out… just once.” bottomed boat? There’s a current twitter meme that before bottling it, resorting to a boozy Even though just thinking about I’ll tell you what. Metameleiaphobia. exploits the same technique from the picnic in a meadow that ended with a it was making him palpitate, and was The fear of regret. Or, as Tom explained other side. “If you ever wondered what snog and some grassy entanglement. inducing a sweaty fit of heavy breathing, it, “I don’t want to look back at my days you would have done in 1930’s Germany And now? Does he regret not having Tom (name changed to protect the here and regret not having had the full or in the Southern States during the had that full experience? “You know libellous) insisted, on pushing the boat experience.” Even if that experience Civil Rights Movement,” it poses. what,” he tells me, “if I had done it, I out… with a long pole. We were at induced unforgettable terror. “Congratulations. You’re doing it now.” think I’d just be looking back now and uni, it was the summer term of our last Metameleiaphobia. It’s amazing that It’s pretty clever. It, at once, draws wondering: why the hell did I put myself year, and the river was filled with a that word doesn’t already exist because parallels of historical significance to through that? I’d have hated every bunch of Pimms fuelled punts (partial it’s definitely a thing, and a life meme. today’s events, makes it personal, and minute.” 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 15 Opinion & Comment online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

they have had to address within themselves. And this is by no means the The ‘British only shortcoming within the Catholic Church. Although it is clear that the

People’ © Pixabay Photograph By Peter Burden current Pope well understands this, it is alarming that, deeply anxious as he is to redress some of these embedded flaws, he has to fight hard against many conservative vested interests within the Vatican and in the church more broadly. As a direct result of the behaviour of a small minority of the clergy, and the hubristic and mendacious stance at the top of the hierarchy, the Christian churches are now facing the greatest crisis since their founder was executed on the cross outside Jerusalem. More immediately, here in Britain, live in this fabulous city do not like it. there has been a great deal of anxiety It’s no longer seen as British/English. It over deaths by knifing. Even reading Here we go is global, its peoples of every shade and between the sensationalist lines of the Westminster Elite out of sorts every religion; it is different and outside less then reliable popular press, statistics with itself and the country the capital there is little warmth for it. show that after spikes in 1995 (242) and This causes me some sadness. 2007 (270), followed by a discernible By Derek Wyatt My family has lived largely in the drop in knife crime, 2017 produced a shires, mostly Suffolk since the Vikings new high of 280 deaths. This shows arrived. Few of us have lived in the ‘Big that it is not an entirely new problem, By the time you read this Theresa May Smoke’ but most of us, at least since the he ‘British People’ are staggering but evidently a growing one. It is extra will have put her rather tawdry motion mid-nineteenth century, have worked about, punch-drunk and distressing that a significant number to its fiftieth vote and lost again. Her here. But the Shires, save for the larger perplexed that the Prime of victims are under 20, with a lot of team, her Cabinet, our MPs, and the cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds Minister addresses the ‘British People’ potential life ahead of them. civil service are at a loss as to what to and Birmingham, never had their T The key area in which to look for a do. They have been a party to a politics- industrial revolution. They remain on the as if they all wanted to leave Europe, while in fact 29 million members of solution is not so much in the possession in-aspic. It started with the vote on Iraq cusp and without some of these benefits the electorate, when offered the chance of dangerous blades (which in any case in 2003 and we all hope it will finish each lacks a world class university and its to express their will to do so, conveyed are every day household tools) but more shortly. I will spare you my preferences, best talent naturally escapes to a city life. no such desire. Meanwhile, the former in the circumstances that trigger these but the idea of another election would No large industries mean that change pagan festival of Eostre (a Germanic attacks. These are very largely related be catastrophe for the Tories. Incumbent is harder and the political map remains goddess of Spring & Fertility) will be to the trade in illegal drugs. Just as administrations lose elections. By this blue: it is rare to find red in the shires. upon us soon, unless we’ve left the EU the deligitimization of alcohol in the error, Labour would make up the new They are more akin to an analogue life with a bump by then and no events US between 1920 and 1933 fostered government. which has its attractions. with Germanic connotations will be a swift and significant growth in the Parliament has been slow to reform In short we need a new Electoral Act acceptable (apart from celebrating Mrs activity and profitability of organised itself. We have a hideous Constitution. of Parliament for the digital age. Given Nigel Farage’s birthday). crime, so the constraints on the sale of Scotland has a Parliament, but very digital was given a huge fillip when Tim While Easter (a term used only drugs other than alcohol and nicotine in little actual power, ditto the Assembly Berners-Lee donated his sensational in English-speaking societies) has its Britain have encouraged the growth of in Wales. Stormont no longer meets in work, the World Wide Web in 1992, you etymological origins in a female figure, semi-organised and street crime as use Northern Ireland, but the DUP unfairly can see just how far behind Westminster most things to do with Easter are very of ‘recreational’ drugs like cannabis and wags the dog’s tail in Westminster. For is. A new EA should have as its male indeed. In depictions of the Last cocaine has increased. reasons which are not clear, the Labour underlying raison d’être all things digital. Supper, partaken of by Jesus the night It is patently absurd to try to repress Party chooses not to be represented in So digital voting, digital petitions which before his death, not a single woman the use of cannabis in resin or leaf form Northern Ireland at all. England, the can overrule our elected members, a is visible, although it’s likely that when it is so widely used. While cocaine wealthiest and largest country of the digital set of chambers which would women laid the table, carried up the has negative consequences, these are four which make up the UK, has no hold debates for all of us to participate wine, baked the bread, and cleared up no greater than the abuse of alcohol political entity. Our Senate, if it can be in, voting for 16 year olds, two terms afterwards. That night, in the Garden of and nicotine. If these drugs, which in called that, is a largely nominated House for every MP, an end to first past the Gethsemene, Jesus was surrounded by many forms are less damaging than of Lords. post elections, a 50:50 split, or as close male supporters; he was arrested by men, those already legal, were also to be made Into this mix we have added elected as, between men and women MPs; an tried and sentenced by men. And in the legal, a far greater control over their Mayors who have even less power English Parliament; a Senate over the two thousand years since he founded the quality and strength could be exercised, and very few taxes they can raise top of our four equal parliaments; a vote Christian Church, there have never been government revenue could be collected, independently of the Treasury. This is on one Ireland to be pursued gently women in any key positions of authority. while removing a massive incentive for frankly beyond a joke. Yet somehow over 50 years; and if we stay in the EU, Reviewing now the astounding and, crime and related knife killings. we think it worth the effort. County MEPs would have to sit as visiting for many millions, distressing melt- councils are a potpourri of talents members of the House of Commons for down of many Christian institutions, it and over paid councillors. Yet our a week every month (instead of going to isn’t hard to conclude that some of the counties stretch back to before William Strasbourg) ditto city mayors; a written male venality that has caused so much the Conqueror, hardly touched in Constitution and Parliament would trouble might have been tempered by boundaries save for the short-sighted have to move around the country each the greater influence of women. Without 1974 attempt to create new ones with term so that over five years every city doubt, the Christian churches and new names. The political system, at least and town would see it at work (hang the especially the Catholic Church have in England, shames us. costs). Our political elite needs to face been guilty of rampant, unjustifiable London, one of the top three cities outwards. sexism. For lifelong Catholics, it is hard in the world for wealth creation, has I doubt much of this will happen. to acknowledge this, let alone say it, but not explained itself to its lesser cities The snail’s pace of reform will continue for those whose instincts, like my own, peterburden.net and towns across the nation. Take out and as a nation we shall be thought of by have become increasingly feminist over London’s economy though and the UK our friends across the world as being in the last thirty years, it is something www. would sink. Perversely, those that do not permanent decline. I hope I am wrong. 16 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Business & Finance

style of investing say it’s “a way to make governed companies, which is reflected the world a better place for everyone,” in less volatile share price performance. and embrace “taking care of others by They’re well run, there are no nasty using money wisely”. But not everyone surprises and they’re future-looking

Photograph © Unsplash Photograph feels this way. In the sceptic camp, and on the pulse of changing customer this “left-wing nonsense” is commonly demands and trends. referred to as “not something I consider Another turn-off is the ‘ethical’ label when investing, because I am looking Much of the scepticism around for the best returns”. But that scepticism ethical investing is because of the word may be misplaced. ‘ethical’ itself. It’s an over-simplification, Is it true that you have to sacrifice really, and highly subjective. One returns? person I spoke to summed up what It’s very hard, in 2019, to find many people seem to think: “Ethical evidence to reinforce the assumption investing means investing in someone of financial sacrifice which may well else’s ethics, not always mine”. No-one have carried weight 5 years ago. If you likes to be force-fed someone else’s look at the performance of comparable agenda, so this reaction makes sense. stock market indices over the past five But the focus has moved away from years, you’ll see that ethical investors are the more two-dimensional blacklisting not only getting similar or even higher of ‘baddies’,such as tobacco or arms returns….. they’re getting a smoother companies, and more onto backing ride with less volatility too. well-run companies which are managed, In 2018, the MSCI Socially structured and run to be sustainable and Responsible Investing All Countries to have a positive impact. ever. Now, half of Europe’s institutional World Index (bit of a mouthful but The problem, as so often in the Ethical investors anticipate that, within the basically means a collection of shares in finance industry, is with the labelling. next five years, 50% of their assets will large ethically-run global companies) Only 2% of British adults know what investments: comply with environmental, societal outperformed the wider MSCI All ESG is and frankly it sounds more like Not just for “lefty snowflakes”! and governance (ESG) criteria. And Countries World Index by 2.7%. When a disease than a force for good! There’s the trend is continuing outside of the you look at the lesser risk taken to get work to be done in the branding and By Holly Mackay boardroom and into our homes. As sales the returns (shown by lower swings in labelling of this investment approach. of vegan sausage rolls boost Greggs’ prices from highs to lows) , this style of Many investment firms these days standout profits to a talking point on investing is holding its own. let you pick and choose which flavour aving money at the same time as the news channels, is ethical going This can largely be put down to of ‘ethical’ to support, with a range of saving the planet is firmly on the mainstream? socially responsible, ethical companies funds (bundles of shares in different Sagenda and more credible than Those customers who buy in to this typically being higher quality, better companies) dedicated to different areas.

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negative PR against the self-employed; it’s unsaid, but that’s the Revenue’s IR35 greed target in practice. You may have read exposed the term Accelerated Payment Notice By Doug Shanks here. Now there’s a new sledgehammer cracking the nut that is tax avoidance, Publishing Details of Deliberate Tax Defaulters. This is yet another purely vindictive measure that’ll sound perfectly reasonable until it happens to you. No one is even pretending it’ll help bring in more tax. Without commenting on a higher don’t care if it’ll be reversed on profile breakdown in the relationship appeal, I’m just so glad HM Revenue between executive and legislature it may & Customs got the bloody nose be symptomatic of a wresting of power. Ithey deserved on the back of their IR35 The Tax Investigations Practitioners Group greed. Mind you it says something for is abuzz with the letter of 15 March our inept Revenue’s PR that Lorraine (beware) to Sir Jonathan Thompson, Kelly’s fans seemed to have turned on Chief Executive and Permanent her on social media with that well- Secretary of HM Revenue and Customs worn argument that the rich should from the Parliamentary All-Party Loan pay more tax voluntarily. It’s those that Charge Group. I won’t comment on the want everyone else to pay more tax that letter except to say that it’s incendiary Photograph © Steve Smith © Steve Photograph

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diversity as a key driver of results and growth,” said Jayne-Anne Gadhia, the Gender pay gap former chief executive of Virgin Money, who runs the government-backed grows among UK ‘Women in Finance’ charter. “They need to focus on it, measure it, set targets and finance firms hold senior executives accountable for making progress - year in year out.” Shockingly, 32 of the firms surveyed reported a wider gap. Of them, HSBC Major British financial firms have had the largest gender pay gap with made little progress in closing the 61 percent, two percentage points gender pay gap with over one in three more than the previous year. “We are going backwards. This is according to a committed to improving our gender Reuters’ analysis of gender pay data. The balance and recognise that this will analysis of 89 of the biggest firms in the require sustained focus over the long- sector showed that on average, financial term,” the Bank said in a statement. firms have reduced pay inequalities by little more than half a percentage point. This comes in spite of a range of initiatives publicised by these firms to close the gap, including hiring more • Small Employer of the Year • Best Restaurant or Bar women for senior roles to mandating (Under 50 Employees) • Best Business Start-up mixed gender shortlists and promoting • Large Employer of the Year • Young Entrepreneur or Innovator flexible working. Britain’s pay gaps © Pixabay Photograph (Over 50 Employees) of the Year have received more attention as the • Best Social Enterprise or Charity • Best SME Business government has been forcing businesses • Best Independent Retailer • Large Business of the Year to submit gender pay gap figures • Best Business for Customer Service • Entrepreneur of the Year annually starting last year. • Best Hotel • Business of the Year Reuters surveyed 89 major banks, asset managers, hedge funds, insurers and other financial services firms in Britain. These include all the FTSE 100 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SPONSORED BY PRODUCED BY and FTSE 250 financial services firms that had reported gender pay data. fhw “Businesses need to realise that they will not succeed unless they embrace 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 19 Astronomy online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

Aurora By Scott Beadle FRAS

Who can name thy wonderous essence Thou electric phosphorescence? Lonely apparitions fire! Seeker of the starry choir!

Christopher Pearse Cranch

wenty-six years ago, to this very day 26th March 1993 my first child was born, a beautiful littleT girl. What to call her was never a problem, whilst I was completely open to suggestions if he was a boy, there was no doubt in my mind that if she were a girl, she would be called Aurora. I’d loved the name Aurora ever since I was given a children’s encyclopaedia for Christmas that showed the evolution of the universe along with auroral displays in the polar regions of planet Earth, though at the time I had no idea what caused them. The magical night lights of the aurora are now known to be caused by a space weather phenomenon known

Top: Delta Junction Alaska, CME(Mod geomagnetic storm). Credit: NOAA Space Weather prediction Centre/Sebastion Saarloos Left: CME Oct 2012 Sparkling and dramatic display of Arctic light. Credit Hugo Lorhe Lekangsund, Norway Above: Geminid meteor trail/Aurora. Credit: Hansen, Valkkkeakoski, Finland. September 2000. as a substorm, thanks to NASA’s Time fields distort and twist as our parent star straight at the Earth, shooting streams energetic displays exhibit blood-red History of Events and Macroscale rotates on its axis. When these fields of charged particles, which saturate the tints from a much fainter emission line Interactions during Substorms become knotted together, they burst and radiation belts of our planet. of atomic oxygen, at 630.0 nanometres. (THEMIS) launched in Feb 2007. Prior create so called sunspots. At the centre A typical aurora requires an energy A combination of blue-green and red to THEMIS no-one really understood of the Sun, the temperature is 15 million input of about 1000 billion watts; many light from ionized nitrogen can add a degrees Celsius. As the temperature on times greater than the output of the pink fringe to the bottom of an auroral what triggered these substorms. its surface rises and falls; the Sun boils largest power plants. During an intense curtain. Thanks to the mission, scientists now and bubbles. Particles escape from the CME, up to 1 million amperes of Auroras occur not only on Earth but understand how the constant outpouring star from sunspot regions on the surface, current flow along an aurora. This can of other worlds in our solar system and of solar material, called the solar hurtling particles of plasma, known as course cause major damage to electrical possibly on exoplanets as well. wind, tangles Earth’s magnetic field, the solar wind, into space. It can take conductors, power grid networks, and The Inuit of Alaska believed that the initiating the substorms which cause 2 to 3 days to reach Earth, but when can even short-circuit satellites in orbit! lights were the spirits of the animals auroras. Scientists also understand the they do, they can cause the dramatic The beautiful curtains and veils they hunted; the seals, salmon, deer mysteries of why there are different type displays we know as the Aurora Borealis of shimmering lights are an upper and beluga whales. And I must confess of auroras, like diffuse and pulsating or the Aurora Australis. Occasionally, the atmosphere phenomenon and generally it certainly beats excited oxygen atoms auroras, much better now. outer atmosphere of the Sun, lets loose extend between 80 Kms and 640 at 557.7 nanometres, but whatever we At the centre of our solar system lies with a coronal mass ejection, and part Kms. The predominant colour, green believe there is no question that Aurorae the Sun, the yellow star that sustains life of the Sun’s atmosphere is blown into at a wavelength of 557.7 nanometres are amongst the most beautiful sights on our planet. The Sun’s many magnetic outer space. Some CME’s are directed is from glowing oxygen atoms. More you could witness in the natural world. 20 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Education

building developments hidden within the RCM’s century old corridors. Whilst Royal College of from the outside the building looks much the same, part of the interior is being Music: Made in radically redeveloped in order to keep the RCM on the cutting edge, and reinforce Britain Prince Albert’s original intent for the By Max Feldman school to compete with its European brethren. This desire to expand the available facilities to benefit both public audiences HE ROYAL COLLEGE OF and the enrolled students has found its MUSIC was first established in form in the aptly named, More Music : 1882 at the suggestion of Prince Reimagining the Royal College of Music. Albert, who had become concerned The plans are already well under way and T will see the construction of two entirely that Britain was increasingly lagging behind the continental Conservatoires, new performance spaces in the heart and risked seeing its musical tradition of the institution. This will be coupled atrophy. The RCM was an important with new housing for the Royal College part of what was called Albertopolis: of Music Museum alongside additional the dense collection of museums, practice spaces and social spaces for concert halls and educational facilities students. Whilst construction is still constructed under the Prince’s aegis, the ongoing, development has moved far creation of which saw South Kensington enough for us to don high-vis jackets become the cultural heart of the Capital. and hard hats to view the new 150-seat Albert’s intervention proved well judged; Performance Hall. We were able to the RCM’s list of teachers and alumni enter the still stark concrete space with the President and hear the first musical

Top: include practically all the composers HRH The Prince of Wales with the exceptionally talented Martin James who had a hand in shaping the so- Professor Colin Lawson CBE, Bartlett, winner of the BBC Young Director of the Royal College of called ‘English musical Renaissance’ of Music and Lord Black of Brentwood, Musician of the Year 2014, who took on the 19th and 20th Centuries. However, RCM Chairman. Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No. 7. There rather than resting on its past laurels, the Above: HRH The Prince of Wales was genius in this young man’s piano RCM is focused on adapting to meet presenting Martin James Bartlett playing who more than deserves his BBC the challenges of the 21st Century. In with the Queen Elizabeth, The Musician of the Year title. He played with March, when KCWToday was invited Queen Mother Rosebowl Above left: such feeling that the piano took over, to the President’s Visit at the College’s Violinist Emily Sun, recipient of the owned and expanded the entire room. South Kensington home, we had a sneak Tagore Gold Medal When leaving the ceremony it was Left: preview of the changes that are just Hard hats and bassoons hard not to revert back to that feeling of starting to be unveiled. the old and new perfectly balanced with HRH Prince Charles has served as Photographs © Chris Christodoulou each other that were conjured by the the President of the Royal College of performance in the ‘under-construction’ Music for over a quarter of a century. His environment of the Performance Hall. yearly visit is one of the central events That it should be regenerated in such a in the institution’s calendar, seeing the way through the More Music campaign Prince bestow honours and doctorates, feels like a natural extension of its along with music performed by some performance of this new hall’s career. classical music, the surreal juxtaposition Fittingly given the occasion, the piece of the building site and the lilt of the mission. of the most virtuosic students currently The RCM is a world leader in the enrolled. Before the annual ceremony of was Haydn’s March for the Prince of Wales, woodwinds couldn’t help but add a real performed by select musicians including sense of drama to the music. So far from repository, research, and creation of Awards we were treated to a selection classical music and theory. Here is the of exquisite performances in the main the RCM Director Colin Lawson. The the normal context for classical music piece was composed in 1792 as a tribute events, the music felt fittingly fresh for British birthplace for tomorrow’s world- concert hall. Ad Wammes as interpreted class composers, singers, musicians and by organist Xiaoting Chang and a to the heir to the British throne, the this new start for the College. future King George IV, at a time when This year HRH honoured artists.Whilst the trauma of Brexit is stirring rendition of Rapsodie Espagnole, undermining the nation, here in this by Ravel, on the violin by Tolga Atalay the monarchy was looking to shore internationally renowned violinist itself up against the shockwaves of the Maxim Vengerov and others who have oasis of creativity, talent is constantly and Un. Following more mesmerising consistently emerging. In the words of performances and distribution of ongoing French Revolution. made important contributions to musical Whilst bare concrete walls and hard life. We then heard a short concert, the my editor Kate Hawthorne: “It makes honours there was a break from the usual me proud, again, to be British”. itinerary to allow the Prince to tour the hats aren’t exactly what springs to mind standouts being violinist Emily Sun’s for most people when they think about striking take on Fauré’s Après un Rêve, www.rcm.ac.uk/moremusic 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 21 Education online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

Piano by Gabriel Gaveau. 1927 Painted by Lucy Makim Photograph © Period Piano Swing Music Company By Don Grant

nyone who visited the Edward Burne-Jones exhibition at Tate Britain in the past few months, wouldA have noticed a painted piano, commissioned by his patron, William Graham, as a wedding present for his daughter, depicting her as Eurydice gazing down on Orpheus, with a reference to Mantegna, while under the lid, is a naked Mother Earth, surrounded by a dozen or so slightly grotesque, chubby babies, entwined in the vines. Some thought it a touch uber kitsch, while others, like Andy Warhol, delighted in it. There has been a tradition in England of only painting the lid and soundboards of harpsichords, spinets, clavichords and virginals from around 1730 onwards, although many imported instruments, both Flemish and Italian, were painted, while eighteenth century English models were veneered, varnished or marquetried, as they were regarded as pieces of furniture, and Piano Company, in Biddenden in Kent, painted 1927 Gabriel Gaveau piano, The Swing, also known as Les Hasards rather large ones at that. There are a run by David Winston. Apart from decorated in the style of an 18th century heureux de l’escarpolette, which translates number of companies around the world offering the earliest known surviving harpsichord. The lid has been exquisitely as The Happy Accidents of the Swing. One now offering painted harpsichords Bechstein grand piano, numbered 124, painted by the muralist Lucy Makin would half-expect a melodic suite by and pianos, but the only one which from 1853, a rare Viennese fortepiano (www.lucymakin.com), based on Jean- Rameau or Couperin to emerge from the has a Royal Warrant by Appointment from 1796, and a fine English single Honoré Fragonard’s glorious, sexually- instrument as soon as one lifted the lid, to H.M. The Queen as Restorers and manual Kirckman harpsichord dated charged, Rococo painting hanging like a music box, followed by a dainty Conservators of Pianos, is the Period 1792, they are also selling a beautifully- in the Wallace Collection entitled shoe. 22 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Education Photographs © Tanya Kovatchka Tanya © Photographs

Top left: Shinjuku district the glistening structure. Middle: Having been told by the omikuji Tokyo Ginza Graphic Museum Tanya Kovatchka, Paula Scher map (written fortune) that I’ll remain Above: single forever what else could I do but Tokyo Skytree Tower Art Foundation student gives Left: sing out my sorrows at karaoke. In us an insight into Japan’s Mori Digital Art Museum London I would never go to karaoke, but being in the home country of the Art and Education pastime invented by Japanese musician Daisuke Inou in 1971, it felt like the natural thing to do. My friends and I booked a private room and subsequently proceeded to sing out classics from Queen, Mamma Mia and Spice Girls with reckless abandon and total lack of musical talent. It was fabulous and surprisingly therapeutic. Although our vocal talent was weak, the dance skills of the models who okyo is an escape; Shinjuku’s was probably that moment when it first completely mesmerised as the lights closed the MA fashion show of Bunka vibrant lights wipe out memories hit me properly that I was in Asia as I created all sorts of shapes and sculptures. University were surprisingly strong. As of London’s cloudy days. It ordered meals by pointing at pictures off If you prefer your sculpture in a the final act of the catwalk show, the six buzzesT with life, so much so, you just get a menu I couldn’t read and subsequently more traditional format, then you would male models performed a high energy swept along gently by the crowds. Your struggled with chopsticks with my probably feel a bit more at home in routine in the style of K-pop bands eyes fixed upwards, hypnotised by the rice and chicken with its unknown the National Museum of Modern Art who are extremely popular throughout tall building bearing foreign signs whose spicy sauce. My friends ridiculed my Tokyo. An hour before closing time Asia. Bunk university is one of the most meaning does not matter. poor chop stick performance, but I there was just a handful of us in the prestigious fashion schools in the world It is a city full of energy, yet it is had no aspirations to look like a local; museum and I had an almost private boasting impressive alumni including the quiet moments that stuck with me everything was new to me and I was viewing of great artworks by painters Kenzo Takada, Junya Watanable and the most. My first night there I walked happy to acknowledge and appreciate such as Ryusei Kishida and printmaker the legendary Yohji Yamamoto so it was up the Tokyo Skytree tower. As an this in equal measure. Kazuma Oda. Completing my trinity an honour to attend their graduate show avid traveller I’ve started collecting The cuisine was just the start of all of modern art museums was the Ginza and get a first look at future fashion towers, the Berlin TV tower, the Eiffel, the new things to experience. The next Graphic Gallery which at the time was greats. visiting them all at night. The reason day we went to the teamLab Borderless hosting an exhibition of one of the most Staying in Tokyo was like a dream. for that is the view is so much better, a Mori Building Digital Art Museum; the influential graphic designers of our time, Every place was an opportunity to landscape lit up in the darkness. Back world’s first digital museum that opened Paula Scher. escape whether it was in the quirky in 2011 it was the tallest building in last year. I had failed to look up the In a city that so fully embraces the streets of Harujuku or the serene the world and now, although surpassed museum in advance so it increased my modern and the new, it is heart warming shrines in the outskirts of the capital in by many its appeal still remains. I was surprise and awe upon entering. Devoid that the old and traditional were equally Kamakura. Tokyo is for everyone, both there just before closing time and it of white walls and traditional frames honoured. Soaked in rain we persevered the karaoke belters and temple visitors felt like I had an entire view and the it was a space of the most beautiful and we reached the Sensō-ji temple alike. All you have to do is survive the whole of Tokyo just to myself; a city moving projections that continuously which under the cover of evening looked jetlag and a whole new world awaits. still but sparkling. It seemed to radiate a changed. It was a 10000 square meter majestic. Many go to the temple to calmness, a feeling that remained as my wonderland. One moment you seemed worship the Bodhisattva Kannon, the More information on: friends and I roamed the quiet streets to be surrounded by butterflies that most merciful of the Bodhisattvas who www.seejapan.co.uk in search of food. We came across this fluttered all over your body, the next belong to the Mahaayaana branch of www.japanhouselondon.uk tiny restaurant, beautifully intimate you are sitting peacefully as you watch Buddhism. The rain had scared away the that served the most delicious cuisine ocean waves surge. Time seemed to majority of the tourists leaving us with Where to learn Japanese: that cost us just under five pounds. It pass without you knowing as you stood a calmer, quieter atmosphere to stare at www.soas.ac.uk 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 23 Education online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

Music, dance, theatre, poetry and the visual arts must be seen as fundamental to the The Importance of the Arts in Education education process and should By Donal Brennan, Headmaster St Anthony's School for Girls always be at the forefront of educational planning. Photographs © St Anthony's School for Girls School for Anthony's © St Photographs

n arts-based education is integral to human development, speaking to what cannot be effectively putA into words, making us complete as individuals and giving rise to highly attuned members of society. The arts program in schools should not be taught in isolation, or squeezed into random, end-of-day moments, but should be scheduled with the same consideration given to mathematics, science and English. At St Anthony’s School for Girls, Hampstead, the arts program runs in parallel with the academic offering. Both facets of school life co-exist and are thoughtfully interwoven to ensure that a comprehensive curriculum is offered to the girls. The girls’ teachers approach each learning target using diverse and www.stanthonysgirls.co.uk creatively planned lessons. a more positive dynamic where A day at St Anthony’s will begin the learning space becomes one of with ‘Singing at Drop Off’, followed by Mandarin or maths. In hot-pursuit discovery, collaboration and surprise. comes rhythmic gymnastics, ‘The Big Children develop the ability to work Write’ or a ukulele workshop. Drama is collaboratively, and with guidance, are used to teach sentence syntax to young able to show sensitivity and respect writers; it is used to elucidate concepts for one another. They learn that in science, themes in Shakespeare and alongside their strengths, they need to role-play in History. Kung fu is also demonstrate humility when working used to great effect to embed the use of towards a common goal. punctuation marks. The children also acquire a more This timetable allows the children developed aesthetic awareness, becoming to be exposed to a range of stimuli, mindful of the beauty and complexity opportunities for self-expression and of sounds in music and the world working within a group, as well as around them. Along with listening, critical thinking, risk-taking and children become discerning observers, self-initiated learning, which is both attuned to the power or serenity of a spontaneous, surprising and deeply significant view or of visual expressions satisfying for each child. The girls are in sculpture, architecture, drawing and confident to share their ideas and propel painting. lessons towards higher-order thinking. The arts are culturally significant They are active learners, not waiting to to all communities. Engaging with an be spoon-fed a bland diet of predictable arts-based curriculum exposes children lessons. to the rich cultural diversity within our A school program with integrated schools, helping them to appreciate the provision for the arts and academic positive aspects of our multi-cultural subjects has many benefits. Children society. It promotes social harmony develop a strong sense of self-worth and as it encourages collaboration and their self-esteem is based on an authentic creates a safe space to explore cultural awareness of their strengths and talents. difference. A child finds that their They feel positive about themselves voice is important and they may express and are affirmed for the creative themselves in ways that would otherwise contributions that they make in school. not be possible. Motivation is greatly enhanced for At St Anthony’s School for Girls, we all learners through the enticing and are acutely aware of the pressures faced playful creative challenges put before by children today. Without planning the children. Those children who are and care, they will not have seeing eyes kinesthetic learners, or those who find when they look, hearing ears when they a traditional classroom setting isolating listen, or sensitive fingers when they and confusing, are able to participate touch. By looking at education through meaningfully, finding new ways to make the lens of the arts we affirm that a sense of the challenges set before them. child’s mind is not a vessel to be filled, An arts rich environment encourages but a fire to be kindled. 24 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Education

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School Rhythmic Gymnastics team, to name but a few. Dr. Pamela This month, the school is holding its inaugural whole-school poetry Edmonds & competition. Every child from Year 1-Year 8 is writing their own poem, ‘The Hampshire performing a poem of their choice, illustrating a poem and practising the School, Chelsea’ art of handwriting. The aim is to nurture By Ellen Harper and value the breadth of talent at the Chelsea School, Hampshire The © Photographs School. Those that do not yet have the confidence to sufficiently perform will be rewarded for their poetry writing skills, r. Pamela Edmonds has enjoyed and those whose writing is perhaps yet her first 6 months as the to stand out may receive praise for their new head of The Hampshire performance, if the dramatic arts is their DSchool, Chelsea. An extensive academic strength. background backed up with a huge In addition to the emphasis amount of ambition and passion for the on theatre, music and art, Dr school. We talked with her about her Edmonds has also bought from her passion for providing an exemplary arts experience of teaching in Singapore, a education for the pupils. Dr. Edmonds transformational Maths programme. believes a curriculum filled with the arts Maths mastery, through Inspire Maths, ensures ‘the children gain confidence is a programme that ensures a deep and self-esteem and have a range of understanding of mathematical concepts talents valued and recognised.’ Having that encourages the development of taught for 15 years in Japan, Singapore critical thinking skills, reasoning, and and Thailand as well as in Spain, her mathematical problem solving. international knowledge of effective “Our teachers explain maths in teaching techniques is being integrated terms of experience and experiential into the School. knowledge, through a concrete, pictorial With over 20-years experience in the and abstract process that ensures that management and senior leadership of every child is able to see mathematical schools and specialising in mathematics connections and become confident teaching within the independent and mathematicians.’ She says ‘it is taught international schools sectors, she brings and through concepts through the a new approach and opportunities to the process of the concrete and the pictorial school as well as a fresh mindset to the which provides the scaffolding for execution of the curriculum. maths mastery; the prerequisite before The school places a high emphasis taking the next step to the abstract on musical education and the arts in the pupils’ learning. It is rigorous which is fitting as a school with a rich and when taught well, the children history, started by the acting dynasty of relish the challenge and reach levels of the Hampshire family. Dr. Edmonds understanding they would not normally believes the ability to read music is together. Dr. Edmonds says ‘using art amongst the pupils. Dr. Edmonds is reach.” This approach also dovetails empowering for pupils and a language as therapy is beneficial because children excited for the future, where she aims to with our Growth Mindset approach to that ‘transcends into other subjects like will show their emotion through art and combine the talent from drama, music learning. maths and logic as well as providing the offers opportunities for self-expression. and art departments in the annual Progression to senior school base for musical interests to flourish.’ She acknowledges that ‘art is for some school theatrical productions. Her own could not be a higher priority at The With 13 highly skilled visiting music children a pleasure and for others it daughter, who trained at White Lodge, Hampshire School Chelsea. Dr. teachers, that specialise in a range of presents positive challenges which The Royal Ballet School, and studied Edmonds is passionate about supporting instruments, timetabled music lessons are described by the pupils as ‘portals at the Rambert School of Ballet and all pupils and their families regarding taught by specialist teachers for all to learning’, Dr. Edmonds wants to Contemporary Dance, is a professional the transition process to the right senior at The Hampshire School Chelsea, ensure ‘every child can access the arts choreographer who benefited from the school for their child. Her efforts are the children have access to one-on- curriculum and the experience the joy of opportunity to expand her experience certainly paying off as she confirms one and group classes, as part of the creativity.’ of the art form through participation in that pupils in 2019 will have a smooth School’s impressive extra-curricular Arts week is a major focus of the productions outside of school including transition to an array of London’ programme. Dr. Edmonds believes school with each of the 220 pupils the charity The London Children’s Ballet selective day schools, plus other day and one of the most important aspects of a preparing a piece of artwork for display. as a preparation for specialist training. boarding school in the UK. She proudly child’s music education ‘is repertoire, The work is exhibited in the Library This experience has strengthened Dr. lists the successes announced this week a focus on accuracy and success in which is temporarily converted into Edmonds desire to encourage further including places at: St Paul’s School for music examinations, as well as about a beautiful exhibition space and open those who excel within the arts at school Boys, City of London Boys’ School, having a very robust and rigorous music to the public. The week includes to access the expertise and facilities Emanuel School, Queen’s Gate, Harrow, curriculum from Early Years to Year 8.’ performances, a music concert and the that the local community has to offer, Dulwich, Latymer Upper, Westminster She says the Director of Music is ‘very rather special fathers’ breakfast offering and to fully prepare all pupils for the Cathedral Choir School amongst the proud to say that we have an eclectic the fathers a chance to experience the transition to senior school through breadth of senior schools welcoming our approach to repertoire from “classical event and view their children’s art work targeted provision. The Independent pupils this September. to garage” to provide exposure to the with their child. Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) and widest range of music as possible.’ Theatre plays a significant role in the Independent Schools Association Families interested in learning more Art can have personal development the life of the pupils at The Hampshire (ISA) of which the School is a member, about The Hampshire School Chelsea and mindfulness benefits which School Chelsea, with the Glee club run competitions and award ceremonies, are invited to join their next Open improves their entire educational being one of the 60+ extracurricular of which The Hampshire School Chelsea Morning on 9 May 2019. experience. The art department are activities the school host. The club has already seen significant success, To register, please visit: committed teachers who understand performed a production of Oliver Twist in art, fencing with the support of www.thehampshireschoolchelsea.co.uk/ the way mindfulness and art work earlier in the year and is a favourite Knightsbridge Fencing Club, and the open-day

26 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Education

arrogance, you must respect the original maker’s work’ says Tom. Tom tells a But, what is a story of a violin belonging to a student of Luthier? the violin teacher at Eton, who bought By Ellen Harper him an exquisite sounding violin, mass produced in a German factory in the 1870s. ‘I played it and thought this is Hawthorne © Kate Photographs incredible, but technically it’s wrong. The bridge is nothing special, the sound hilst the term ‘violin dealer’, post inside is not really in the right according to Kensington- position. So I said don’t touch it, we can based luthier Tom Blackburn, all agree that the sound of this violin, ‘smacks of a second-hand car dealer’; as it is, is superb, it’s an exception. I can W make sure its technically correct for you, the makers, dealers and restorers of the music world’s most prestigious stringed but it may not get that sound.’ instruments, take the title luthier. But The industry is moving into a new why title an ancient profession with a era, in which materials that were word nobody knows? ‘It makes people necessary resources for instrument- think doesn’t it?’ explained Tom. ‘A making are becoming universally luthier? What’s a luthier?’ The fact that banned. For example Ivory is no longer it is a question that people are asking used and neither is tortoiseshell. Tom means it is going to be more indelible in said of this ‘we have to adapt to the their mind, rather than violin dealer. It’s times and if we’ve got a sense of morality a powerful word.’ with it, we have to perfect it and rightly The word luthier comes from the so.’ He said ‘even the jolly old bow itself French word luthe, translated to lute in is made from a wood called Pernambuco, English, which defines any instrument which comes only from the forests on that is hand-plucked and consists of a the east coast of Brazil and of course neck, a body and a sound hole. During that has almost disappeared. The trees the 15th-century, the period of Italian can’t be forced into growing faster; Renaissance, lutherie workshops existed mother nature doesn’t do that.’ Violin in large quantities in the Italian cities makers are now heavily using carbon of Brescia and Cremona, both situated fibre, which is coming on in leaps and in between Milan and Venice. As the bounds, as a replacement for the parts art began to spread throughout Europe, of the instrument that can no longer be masters, aided by apprentices who made from the prior materials. would learn on the job, practiced in Pointing to a painting on his wall, workshops and passed on their wisdom Tom explains that it was bought at to anyone who was keen to learn. As an auction that was selling off the industrialisation grew, instruments list of elite clientele. His catalogue belongings of the late renowned 20th became mass-produced in factories. of works stretches from 17th/ 18th century, violinist Yehudi Menhuin. The Although this was perceived to be more Stradivari violins, that arguably produce painting is of a young boy (probably economically resourceful, it damaged a yet unmatched sound-quality and ‘Dutch and 18th century’) tuning a the quality, flexibility and creativity that 17th century Testores created by Italian violin. ‘The boy himself has got a horrid had traditionally gone into the making Luthier Carlo Giuseppe Testore, right up expression on his face because he is of instruments and greatly affected the to present day instruments. tuning the E-string. I don’t think in legacy and future of Lutherie. Identifying the origin, age and maker those days, there would have been metal The Great Fire of London, the of the instrument is the crucial part of E-strings, and the gut back then was three-day long tragedy that occurred becoming a fine restorer and as science incredibly temperamental. When you in early September of 1666, brought develops the process becomes easier. were tuning it, if you went too far over it unprecedented damage and destruction Tom relates how he learnt this skill, would snap. So he’s terribly afraid of ‘Oh to the stringed instruments residing under the guidance of an old friend and God, is it going to break or not.’As an in London. Tom claims ‘We had very experienced luthier, aforementioned Paul exemplification of the delicacy that has fine violin makers in this country at Voigt, ‘I had my catalogue and I started to go into Lutherie, the tale this painting that time, who produced wonderful looking at the violin number and then tells, speaks volumes for the pride and instruments and their survival was looking into the catalogue. Paul would passion that goes into the work Tom so either through luck or were to be found say “That’s the wrong way. You’ll never lovingly does. in homes in parts of the country not an expert at recognising their heritage, learn that way, pick the violin up and As a crisis in the musical education affected by the fire. But it destroyed origin and maker. That can only come tell me who made it.” He said “Where’s of the country’s young people becomes hundreds of violins, violas and Cellos. from years and years of learning from it from? Is it English? Is it French? Is it paramount, the art of lutherie could well That was the biggest tragedy.’ memory and experience.’ German?” And I said “Well, to me this fade into the distance as the desire for With a background in violin playing Tom turned to restoration after looks French.” “Well done.” So it goes instruments decreases. Tom believes from childhood, Tom began learning the deciding he ‘didn’t have the mindset on from there.’ ‘the skills of playing an instrument, fine art of violin making after inheriting for making’, but is adamant that he Tom explains the roles of particularly a stringed instrument, aids the carpentry tools from his grandfather, is still learning and probably will be Dendrochronology; ‘a new science, other faculties as well as the mental a cabinet-maker. Tom said ‘I didn’t want forever. Celebrating and praising his analysing the age of wood’ that helps ones. We don’t want them all to become to be a carpenter, but I wanted to use friend, Belgian maker Simon Peters, as establish the maker of an instrument and soloists, but for them to learn an these tools.’ He then spent the summer a ‘fabulous and wonderful maker’, their the role of ultraviolet light. However, instrument to the point where they have holidays of his teen and younger years relationship ensures Tom continues to despite the importance of understanding a lovely hobby is so beneficial to a child’s between London and France training learn and grow. He said ‘just by being the history of instruments, makers, development’. ‘with a man called Paul Voigt in with him, I’ll be learning things I cultures and players, he passionately London. Paul helped me an enormous haven’t learnt before.’ He credits the believes that any good restorer ‘should Tom Blackburn, Luthier amount and helped me understand need for ‘an open-mind and being do as little as possible to the instrument. www.londonviolins.co.uk the role of a luthier’ which is ‘to make inventive all the time’ as a key to lutherie Why? Because you are interfering with E: [email protected] instruments, restore them and to become success. Tom has a long and extensive the original, you must not have that T: 020 7373 2474 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 27 Education online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

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City Academy Inspired by the current exhibition City Lit Contemporary Dance Class-Beginners Dialogues with Solitudes, Alejandra Acting beginners April 2019 April 17- June 5 Carles-Tolra leads a two-day workshop April 30 In the Contemporary Dance Beginners aimed at those who would like to learn Practise breath exercises and articulation Education Course you will learn to move in a how to get closer to their sitters and drills to develop the basic skills for creative, liberating and graceful way capture genuine emotions. Developing speaking text, and learn how to use Listings while also transforming your posture, trust, collaboration and paying close the words to explore their meaning. balance and improving your overall attention to gesture are essential You will work on voice techniques This month we’re celebrating fitness and stamina. You’ll combine elements that are present in Carles- specifically aimed at actors at the start aspects of the four main Contemporary Tolra’s practice when photographing of their training. Working on breath the arts, from music to drama, Dance techniques: Graham, new communities. These and other and articulation exercises, Shakespeare from painting to playing an Cunningham, Limon and Release. This approaches will be discussed in depth, and verse speaking, you will become Contemporary Dance Beginners’ class alongside a visit to the exhibition and grounded in a foundation of text delivery instrument. builds up from simple steps and tasks to exploration of other photographers’ and vocal technique.. fully formed routines. It’s fast and fun, work, as well as a series of photographic 1-10 Keeley St, London WC2B 4BA British Academy of Fashion Design but the teaching style is fully supportive assignments to challenge participants. 020 7831 7831 Fashion & Textile Design and suitable for people with little or no 16-18 Ramillies St, Soho, London citylit.ac.uk Online course dance experience. These evening classes W1F 7LW Completing this course will enable are held in central London dance studios 020 7087 9300 Westminster Adult Education you to design and create your own and are suitable for absolute beginners. thephotographersgallery.org.uk Courses clothing by developing basic skills and City Academy, 38 Rosebery Avenue, Weekend Watercolours techniques of fashion design. Created London, EC1R 4RN City University May 11 – June 15 for enthusiasts, the course is designed 0207 042 8833 An Approach to Creative Writing Instruction and guidance on watercolour around five practical assignments. city-academy.com 10 weeks from April 30 to May 2 techniques that will provide learners You will incrementally develop your This popular course provides a firm with the skills to create successful ’brush techniques and understanding of the Morley College footing in the fundamentals of creative techniques’, ‘colour mixing’, ‘working industry through each assignment. As Life Sculpture writing. Learn from professionals with washes’, ‘layering and wet on wet a home study student you will have full April 23 – May 21 how to develop a story and gain the application ‘. The watercolour techniques access to our student area, the Online Learn to model portrait & full pose confidence to write creatively. Inspiring covered will provide a foundation for Learning Centre, which contains course clay life sculptures. Working from a and motivating, City's An Approach to developing paintings on a wide variety of material created by industry experts variety of life models and poses, develop Creative Writing short course is led by subjects. including: instructional videos, written observation skills, individual expression, professional writers who are experts 219 Lisson Grove, London NW8 8LW content and assignments. clay modelling and clay preparation in their field. Aimed at beginners, the 020 7297 7297 [email protected] techniques for firing. Suitable for all course makes up part of City’s range of waes.ac.uk 020 3773 7862 levels, including beginners. Extra charge short creative writing courses that boasts fashiondesignacademy.co.uk for materials used over and above the a growing list of published alumni. allocated material course fee. Delivered from the heart of London, a Violin School London 020 7450 1889 part-time City writing course is the ideal The Beginner Violin Course 27 Lambeth Walk, Lambeth, London way to develop your potential as a writer. Compiled and edited by Fahad Redha See website for dates SE11 6DU Northampton Square, London, A 10-week beginner course that will get morleycollege.ac.uk EC1V 0HB If you have a course you’d like listed in you playing comfortably and confidently 020 7040 5060 the next edition, please email: fahad@ in 1st position, so that you can start Kensington and Chelsea College city.ac.uks kcwtoday.co.uk playing pieces of music straight away. Introduction to bridal hair/hair up Every session of the course is really April 24 practical. Through a comprehensive This course is designed to teach you the series of exercises, you'll learn how to essential techniques needed to create Tell your story apply all the techniques in the way that updos for special occasions. You’ll works best for you. After 10 weeks, learn how to set hair using wet and dry and help inspire you'll be able to play your favourite methods to form the foundation for melodies with a beautiful sound, and updo looks. the next perform for others with clarity and Chelsea Centre, Hortensia Road, the Future © Inspiring Photographs confidence. London SW10 0QS generation 15 Palace Street, Westminster, London 020 7573 3600 SW1E 5HS kcc.ac.uk 020 3051 0080 he charity, Education and london.violinschool.com University Arts London Employers has been working for Introduction to Professional Sewing ten years to connect with the Handel & Hendrix Skills world of work to young people in the April 27 – May 25 T Learn to play like Hendrix classroom. Their robust and renowned April 13 This practical sewing course will help research has proven that young people Ever dreamed of playing guitar like you become familiar with the basics who engage with volunteers from the Jimi Hendrix? How about playing of machine sewing, help you build world of work are 25% less likely to fall guitar in Hendrix’s former home’. The your confidence at working with a out of education and these interactions as young as six had already decided what Guitar Workshops’ are a great chance professional machine, and develop a also are crucial in countering social and jobs they could or couldn’t do based on to learn some new ‘licks’ in a friendly range of related sewing skills. gender stereotyping. Their Drawing gender on social or gender stereotyping. environment with other guitar players. 20 John Prince's Street, London, W1G the Future research conducted last year The week of June 17-21 is London These 1-hour sessions are an open forum 0BJ asked 20,000 primary school children Careers Week. The charity is working for all guitarists, from absolute beginners 020 7514 7552 from across the globe to draw what with the City of London to show young to old pros. All you need to do is bring arts.ac.uk they wanted to do in the future. 36% of Londoners the huge range of career your guitar. choices reflected the jobs their families options available in our city. If you 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, The Photographers’ Gallery did, 46% based what they had seen would like to get involved become a W1K 4HB ‘The Intimate Gaze’: Capturing on television or social media but only volunteer is really easy just sign on to 020 7495 1685 Emotion and Gesture in Portraits 1% but someone visiting their school. their state of the art online matching handelhendrix.org April 28, May 19 Worryingly, it also showed that children service; InspiringtheFuture.org. 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 29 Education online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

The Tri Borough Music Hub also participated to support those who had been involved in Grenfell and worked Tri-borough Music Hub closely with some of the children, families and schools that were affected put on a spectacle at the Royal Albert Hall by the tragedy. They supported By Ellen Harper community projects with music and workshops- whilst providing pastoral Music Hub Tri-Borough © Photographs care and support. As a body that seeks to ensure every child has access to an affordable musical education and instruments, they played a vital role in offering support in the aftermath of the disaster. Alongside this, the Tri-borough Music Hub, recently worked on a two- year project, in collaboration with their charity Youth Music, which focused on improving music provisions from birth to five years. Whilst the research showed that musical education has enhanced the lives of all the children they work with, some from difficult backgrounds, the work done at the Tri-borough music hub is focused around inclusivity, diversity and providing opportunities to those who may not otherwise have them. A local authority service, they offer weekly programmes to over 600 pupils which include the choirs, orchestras and ensembles that were exhibited at the show at the Royal Albert Hall. Every year they run over 30 live performances and work to ensure every pupil in the he Tri-borough Music Hub harmonious singing and awe-inspiring area has access to a musical education, facilitates a musical education solos. Proud parents, teachers, friends no matter their background, family for the pupils who live in the and siblings who had filled the seats in income or start in life. In 2018, 45% of Borough of Kensington, Chelsea, the auditorium were enthralled; there the funding the organisation got from T the government and 55% they got from Westminster and Hammersmith & was no question about the gravity and Fulham. It collaborates with over 50 quality of this extraordinary event. The parents, went towards subsidising music schools working with more than 500 organisation by Tri-borough Music Hub classes for children receiving free school pupils, including those from Special and its partners must be commended meals. Their role is to oversee musical Educational Needs and Disability for their role in bringing this amount of education and to ensure their various (SEND) schools. They provide talented and dedicated young musicians partner institutions have the resources instruments, funding and resources and singers to such a big arena. they need to support their pupils and to the students and support those This exceptional performance communication tool has equally evolved they aim to ensure no child is left who provide them with their musical was written by 29-year-old composer over time.’ behind. education. Charlotte Harding. Charlotte is a Stuart and his team’s initial reaction The BBC recently revealed that Since their last show at the Royal saxophonist; receiving the Cobbett and to the proposal Charlotte presented was music education in state schools has Albert Hall, the Tri-borough Music Hurleston Prize for Composition as ‘insane and very ambitious. However decreased by 21% in the last five years, Hub have had much to celebrate. well as the prestigious Queen Elizabeth, they did a lot of thinking and decided whilst only a quarter of schools in In commemoration of the past four The Queen Mother Rosebowl, Award they wanted to push the boundaries deprived areas offer any music lessons years, headed by Stuart Whatmore, it presented by HRH Prince Charles for whilst wanting to ensure what would be at all. it is therefore important to truly gave a spectacular performance, titled her compositions which were created achievable.’ Charlotte wrote everything acknowledge those who are fighting to CONVO at the landmark London Royal whilst studying at the Royal College of from the simple lyrics and sounds that bring musical education to the lives of Albert Hall on 7th March. Composed Music. She has been commissioned by came from the choir, to the music for this country’s young people. by Charlotte Harding, the show was the British Paraorchestra, Balletboyz every single instrumentalist that took performed by young musical students of and has had her compositions played part in the event. The work the children, the the Tri-borough music hub. in venues such as Sadler’s Wells and This show was the first production organisation and their partners do and The musicians, no older than 18, Cadogan Hall as well as composing for the Tri-borough Music Hub performed, have done recently all came together in showed us that they were all highly television. with an orchestra selected from one big event, that should be celebrated committed instrumentalists. The truly CONVO was the biggest project she their own pupils. The growth and by all involved. Whilst the children need professional and passionate Youth has ever taken on and Charlotte spent development of the organisation to pat themselves on the back and let Orchestra and Folk Ensemble stole a year running workshops and groups is exemplified by the CONVO their pride be shown, Stuart Whatmore the gaze, ears and full attention of with the children to help her write a performance. It shows their sheer and theTri-borough Music Hub deserve the entire audience. Whilst the Youth piece that could attain the exceptional commitment and understanding in praise for the great work they do. Orchestra read the music, the Folk level portrayed by their performance respect of what pupils could take Ensemble performed the music by that night. During this process, she said away from this experience. Whilst it Tri-borough Music Hub ear; the result was a kaleidoscopic she ‘had been continually amazed and provided an opportunity for their pupils www.triboroughmusichub.org vision of performance and uplifting inspired by their creativity, incredible to perform somewhere as grand as the E: [email protected] sounds. There was a vast variety of musicianship and enthusiasm for music.’ Royal Albert Hall, it also could become T: 020 3745 6024 instruments including the accordion, The theme of the show was an inspiration for any child in the harp, percussion, violins and drums. The communication as Charlotte wanted audience, or current performer to expand Charlotte Harding voices of the children of the supporting it to ‘reflect the revolution in their talents and take up an instrument www.charlottehardingmusic.com choirs filled the Royal Albert Hall with communications, and how music as a or join a choir. Youth Music: www.youthmusic.org.uk 30 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Music & Poetry The Cello that Found M I S T R E S S C E L L O its way Home By Kate Hawthorne

Awaken rubenesque mistress, from the sepulchre of breathless silent sleep, Come nestle betwixt my thighs, that I may with my bow all the sensuous qualities of your virtues reap, Let me gently fondle your swan long neck, and embrace your ample curves, And with tender touch, invocate and arouse the emotions entwined along your vibrant nerves, Call up the curious choir of heavenly voices, that deep within your bosom dwell, Captivating willing and reluctant listeners, all suffused by your melodious spell, Allow me entry to your inner heart, that I may absorb all the magic and mystery therein, Coax and redeem those echoes of antique times, when first your music did begin, Let us for one sublime hour in harmonious intercourse devout and keen, Set our compass to journey through and beyond those seasons, that to all but you, are yet unseen, CELLIST GREGOR BABICA was determined to find Withdraw the moonlights silvery veil, and on tiptoe waltz through the world of utopian night, out information about the former owner of the 17th century Where dreams are sown, and from their yield the sparks of genius do Italian cello he had acquired at a London auction. ignite, Where guardian angels gather in retreat, while their charges settle in he C17th instrument performed for him like no other instrument he had snug repose, performed with. It had a special presence and he noticed a powerful, proud and beautiful new sound appearing in his performances. He was determined Composing lark song for the coming day, and attaching dewdrops to toT find out the instrument’s history and who had played it before him. The only the sleeping rose, available information on the cello’s former owner was a name, Liz Davies, who resided overseas. Where breezes are born and then depart, to stir the summer evening In 2011 an article was published in this paper which mentioned Liz Davies the wildwood leaves, cellist. The feature referred to artist Dr Natasha Hall whose children were former cello students of Liz Davies and Natasha had posted the article online to promote an And on again with Wicca whining, to haunt the shadows of the empty exhibition she was holding. eaves Liz Davies, was a dear friend of mine, and had passed away in February 2017. On song sail on to coral shores, where seashells sway to the turning Her cello, had been bought for her by her father over 50 years ago, and had been sold rhythms at auction. Liz had a formidable career as a cellist, having trained at the Guildhall, in of the moon dragged tide, London. She won several prizes for her performances, had trained with Jacqueline du Pres under William Pleeth and performed with many orchestras throughout the And from the mouths of their corkscrew corridors, come sounds of salty world. shanties and hornpipes lost inside, On 11th November 2018, Armistice Day I was reminiscing about Liz with a friend. We were on a hill in Dorset facing a tumulus (ancient burial ground) Let us drift upon the ever-expanding ocean of timeless stars, from where when a rainbow appeared above the arc of trees on the tumulus. My phone pinged the first note of creation sprang, simultaneously. Curiosity to the timing of this made me look at my screen. Liz Davies’s beloved cello, appeared before my eyes. When all of heaven rose up, made fixed our souls, and in crescendo the Lord’s On March 15th this year, Gregor Babica came over from Germany bringing the credo sang, cello to England to play it for a tribute to Liz Davies, held at St Thomas Church, in Balham. And now as crystal beads like raindrops fall from my brow, and make Members of her family, musicians, friends, students from Spain and their families lambent attended. We were all reunited again through the cello’s beautiful sound and Liz’s the luster of your burning breast, former pupils also played to honour the occasion; many of them never having travelled to the UK before. With one final gentle thrust, amidst the theatre and passion of our John Armstrong the poet kindly penned and performed his poem, Mistress Cello glorious for the Tribute and Luthier Tom Blackburn, who had attended to the instrument in union, I bring my bow to rest. the past for Liz, was also there to hear the instrument again. The cello had indeed made its way home. John Armstrong A great occasion. Miracles, Mothers, Masters, and Music In memory of Liz Davies 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 31 Literature online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

Hugo took the exact opposite approach. By exploding the breadth of his novel, Les Miserables his characters become more sharply defined. As emanations of this seemingly infinite scope, their motivations and sad lives are placed in their correct social he cottage industry of ‘Les Mis’ and historical context in a manner has gradually occluded Victor almost unique in literature. Photograph © Claude Michel Schonberg Photograph Hugo’s mammoth opus in much Admittedly the actual core story at theT same way as an encrustacean of the heart of Hugo’s holistic approach barnacles cloaks a ship’s hull. Over 50 is the same one West End audiences years of dreaming a dream and singing have had decades to get acclimated the song of angry men has rendered to, full of the invariable fantastically the tale culturally wan, reduced to unlikely coincidences and Deus Ex the artistic level of an Andrew Lloyd Machina that shape the vast majority of Webber musical. It’s not helped by the 19th century literature. It’s an exciting fact that the novel itself is a behemoth: story full of memorable characters but over 1,400 pages and 365 chapters in the it’s the squirming, questing France of English translation. Regardless of your Hugo’s memory that really comes to feelings about West End Musicals that’s life. At the risk of a facile ‘it’s like New a commitment to a book that requires York’s a character in the story’ style more dedication than most relationships. his 365 chapters to effectively draft a play-by-play of the Battle of Waterloo observation, Hugo has created a living The vast majority of people steeling social document that’s not just about the and its dialectical consequences or even skeleton of Europe quivering on the themselves for an ‘important’ novel will harrowing adventures of an ex-convict a lecture on the sociological origins of edge of the Industrial Revolution. The probably go towards something like named Jean Valjean, but is a portrait criminal argot. In the hands of a lesser novel’s digressions and philosophies War and Peace or Ulysses, something that of the 19th Century itself; a holistic author this would be unforgivably help shape this long dead moment in people won’t say ‘Oh you mean like the portrait of a culture in-extremis, that self-indulgent, but Hugo uses his continental history into something that musical?’ whilst you’re trying to show makes Dickens’ reformist subtexts look digressions to shade in the wider world lives, breathes and strives for a better off. At any rate, most people know pallid by comparison. Of the immense of his characters to almost unfathomable tomorrow. L.P. Hartley described the the story so well that what’s the point novel, a full third is made up of whatever complexity. Writers in the 19th Century past as a foreign country. He was right of starting such a long term literary digressions claimed Hugo’s fancy, be had been embarking on a process of about that, he just didn’t specify that it expedition? they discourses on the fetid history of narrowing their focus to explore the was France. The point is that Victor Hugo uses the sewers of Paris, a sabre-rattling inner-space (life) of their characters; Max Feldman

of letters of the 19th century, with his being asked who was the greatest French literary impact on his beloved France poet, spat ‘Hugo, Alas!‘. being compared to the difference The convention that an artist must between B.C. and A.D. In death he starve for a while to produce work rests amongst the heroes of his nation in of genuine social worth is clearly Kelly © Jake Photograph the Paris Pantheon and is even literally meaningless here. For Hugo it was worshipped as a saint by the, admittedly the times he lived in that shaped him bizarre, Cao Dei religion in Vietnam. almost more than his literary influences. He was notably smug with it all too. His father was a fervent Bonapartist For the greater portion of Hugo’s life who rose to the level of general in the he would entertain up to thirty guests Napoleonic wars, whilst his mother every single night and would hold court was a staunch Catholic Royalist who over them by loudly and systematically brought her son up to adore the deposed explaining why he was superior to every [and decapitated] Bourbon monarchy. other French writer, alive or dead. He’d Throughout his life Hugo was pulled then follow this up with his signature between these two great influences, party trick: Shoving an entire orange which often led him to take political in his mouth, filling his cheeks with as positions that would amaze those who many lumps of sugar as possible before only know him by his great novels. In swallowing the whole mess with the aid perhaps the most infamous incidence he of two glasses of kirsch. Presumably this commanded a royalist battalion against whole escapade must have been a blessed the very barricades he described so relief for any fans of anything not movingly in Les Miserables. After the written by Victor Hugo who happened rise of Napoleon III which caused the to be at the table. His titanic ego was passionate patriot to disgustedly leave buoyed by the fact that pedestrians were France for a 15 year exile in Guernsey. known to pick up stones he’d tread He finally abandoned the politics of and spirit them home as if they were both of his parents and adapted the holy relics. Whilst not writing he was freethinking republicanism and concern frequently a slave to a truly Herculean for the poor which shines through Les Death of the Author: Victor Hugo sex addiction, to the point that when Miserables. He was a man of many he died the brothels of Paris reportedly bizarre and contradictory facets all To complement our retrospective on Les Miserables our second Death of the Author closed their doors as a mark of respect illuminated by a consuming genius. features the larger than life self-regarding genius of Victor Hugo. to such a frequent and well-regarded Perhaps Jean Cocteau best summarised Whilst it is Les Miserables that truly cemented his reputation, at the time of its customer. Literary critic Edmond de the many faces of the author when he release Hugo’s fame had already reached something equivalent to Beatlemania. The Goncourt even reported that a police wryly stated that ‘Victor Hugo was a advance on the novel, estimated at three million pounds in present day currency, is officer had told him that sex workers madman who thought he was Victor still the largest for any author ever received. He won his first literary prize at the had draped their genitals in black crepe Hugo.’ callow age of 15 and from that point onwards the laurels simply kept accumulating: in mourning. It is perhaps this larger first for his poetry and then his fiction. He was held up as one of the premiere men than life quality that led Andre Gide, on Max Feldman 32 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Fashion

Left: Mary Quant and models at the Quant Afoot footwear collection. 1967. © PA Prints. Above: V&A Mary Quant exhibition.

Quant was not only retail queen of the trendy jet-set, she held a belief that fashion was for everyone. Always a shy and modest woman, I am reminded a few years back of having spotted her queuing outside with everyone else to see a college degree fashion show. My friend and I were tempted to rush over and propel her up to the front and say ‘Do you know who this is, this woman is a legend.’ How the mighty fall out of fashion only to rise up again. All hail Mary! www.vam.ac.uk

stood at the heart of the brand, the perfect ambassador, sporting her Vidal Sassoon Quant the five-point bob, sooty eyes and ghostly lips. Mary Quant became more than changemaker just a brand name, more of a movement The V&A’s new exhibition representing swinging London, liberation and becoming a source of inspiration to dedicated to Mary Quant many. Draped around her were the girlish super models of the era such as Twiggy and By Lynne McGowan Jean Shrimpton. Radical photographers such as Terence Donovan and David Bailey who were busy breaking rules their own t last, we have a retrospective way, captured them pouting on the streets exhibition devoted to the amongst old establishment figures like the pioneering designer Mary Quant Chelsea Pensioners. whoA liberated women’s clothes, set up the As a memorable icon of the sixties eponymous brand name and put the King’s the Mary Quant daisy with its graphic Road and Chelsea firmly on the world simplicity defined the minimal Quant look. stage. Monochrome petals were emblazoned Overturning austere Paris couture and on everything from pvc bags to hosiery feminine fifties ‘bouffancy’, Quant, a young packaging, the design was bold and rebel art student from Goldsmiths with her brilliant, working well in both black and posh husband Alexander Plunkett Greene white. In 1966 Quant shook up the world opened Bazaar boutique on the King’s with her satin hot pants and launched her Road. Experimenting with Butterick paper cosmetics range including rainbow hued patterns they kicked off selling school girl crayons which became best sellers. To pinafore designs and went on to seize new complement the clothes, footwear followed looks straight off the street. Quant with in primary colours with blocky heels and her sharp eyes and sharper scissors blazed plastic zippy ankle boots. a feminist trail with flat colour, stripes, This exhibition is thoughtfully curated geometric lines and making the miniskirt with a soft introduction downstairs to her own. Mary Quant’s visionary thinking and As Quant states ‘I didn’t have time leading us upstairs to hard core Quant. A for women’s lib’ but her own risk-taking floor layout reflects the daisy logo with a and raw, assertive style helped to express central column displaying photographs of the revolutionary changes of the 60s. The ordinary women wearing their precious bright young things embraced her clothes Quant clothes. Shared with archival pieces with brio, for them Quant was their and never before seen designs the actual champion heralding a new hopeful future. garments lent last year from the public are Like the centre in the daisy logo Quant showcased with personal stories attached. 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 33 Fashion online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

ince 1711, when Queen Anne took 1920s Hemlines were shorter and cuts Ascot Fashion her love for horses and turned it were smaller in the 1920s reflecting a By Beatriz Villareal into what is now the most talked post-war generation’s rebellion against Sabout summer social event, Royal Ascot old traditions. Pearls and furs were the has become a chance for those attending accessories of the day. to show off some of the latest trends in Ascot © Royal Photographs fashion from gowns to headpieces. 1950s Christian Dior’s New Look, a Royal Ascot, in association with luxury small waist and full skirt, was proving cruise line Cunard, have launched the popular, however it was when the newly eighth annual 2019 Royal Ascot Style crowned Queen Elizabeth and her Guide with styles from Prue White stylish sister Princess Margaret wore the and photos taken by global fashion style at Royal Ascot that it was cemented photographer Luis Monteiro. in history. Some of this year’s Ascot looks come from designers like Emilia Wickstead, 1960s Royal Ascot’s glamorous profile Zimmerman, Victoria Beckham, Simone was enhanced when Italian actress Rocha, Jimmy Choo, Delpozo, Erdem, Sophia Loren was photographed in the Katya Katya, Suzannah and Mary Royal Enclosure. In modern times some Katrantzou, with support from milliners of the biggest names in Hollywood and including Philip Treacy OBE, Awon fashion have attended. Golding, Stephen Jones OBE, Jane Taylor, Edwina Ibbotson and Rachel 1700s Beau Brummell, a close friend Trevor Morgan. of the Prince Regent, decreed that “men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons” and this set the tone for the dress code that is still adhered to by men in the THE MOST BRITISH Royal Enclosure. social event of the summer is 1830s Queen Victoria’s visit to Royal Ascot saw her arrive in a pretty lace just around the corner. This dress with a full bell skirt and shawl. year Royal Ascot will begin on She also started a craze for the Porter bonnet, shielding the wearer from male 18 June will end on 22 June, as eyes ever the date means everything 1890s As the dawn of a new century from royalty, fashion styles, arrived, fashion took on an almost exquisite millinery, top horses celebratory tone. Skirts were less full, but silhouettes made a greater statement and of course the racing. with angular hips and puffed sleeves. Hats were large and full of feathers and adornments. 1970s Trouser suits became more popular following their introduction to the dress code in 1971. Gertrude Shilling The Ascot Mascot delighted the Over the years, this event press with her extravagant outfits. One year, one of her sons, David’s designs has evolved a great deal from outgrew the Shilling’s long-wheel-based when it was first started Rolls Royce, so the hat had to follow in and the timeline below a van behind. highlights some of the most 1980s Sharp lines and bright colours took centre stage during this decade. unforgettable events and With statement hats and pointed heels, trends that took place. there was little room for floaty florals in 1980s glamour.

2012 Royal Ascot officially launches its “Style Guide” to racegoers outlining dress code regulations for the Royal The history of Enclosure and Queen Anne Enclosure fashion at Royal (formally known as Grandstand). 2017 The jumpsuit has been formally Ascot, key dates: 1900s One of fashion’s most iconic accepted in the Royal Enclosure dress- images; that of Audrey Hepburn in My code and the Queen Anne Enclosure Fair Lady was inspired when costume dress code is extended to the new Village designer Cecil Beaton saw images of Enclosure. SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT Black Ascot, The 1910 Royal Ascot meeting was in full mourning over the 2018 Royal Ascot introduces Style KCW Today. See page 7 for details death of King Edward. Guides for the Village and Windsor Enclosures. 34 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Events

Funding to Angels & VCs May 14 The Women of Whitechapel, following his Venue TBC KCCC's 50th Party & AGM critically-acclaimed In Parenthesis. A EVENTS At this event, you can: pitch your K+K Hotel George Kensington disadvantaged group of working-class business and exhibit in front of Celebrate 50 years of the Kensington & women are drawn together in their prominent VCs and Angels, maximise Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. In 1969 determination to survive the murderous APRIL your brand awareness, network with the two separate chambers of Chelsea terror that stalks London’s Whitechapel entrepreneurs and funders, develop a and Kensington were joined together and in 1888. strong personal network that will open BUSINESS we’ve thrived ever since. 020 7836 0111 up doors and build mutually beneficial 020 7795 0304 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4ES relationships. If you purchase the April 18 1-15 Templeton Place, Earl's Court, eno.org Business Showcase ticket then, you The Impact of Brexit on Business London, SW5 9NB will be able to set up your popup stand, Immigration kccclondon.org End April 13 invite an additional guest and receive WeWork She Persisted a 3-minute slot for your company Davenport Solicitors are thrilled DANCE & OPERA Sadler’s Wells presentation. Or, go as an attendee to host a Breakfast Brief on the Three iconic stories and three bold works and become inspired, informed and implications Brexit will have on Business Ongoing on and by women. An equal number connected with the funders and the Immigration laws. The seminar will Romeo and Juliet of female and male dancers perform showcasing companies. For more focus on: an overview of the new system; The Royal Ballet on a stage covered in soil, dancing the information or to register your interest hiring an employee from outside the UK: Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers selection and sacrifice of a victim. The as an exhibitor or sponsor, please contact will EU citizens be subject to the same encounter passion and tragedy in music by Stravinsky is performed live by the organisers on 0207 841 10 67 or application process as non-EU citizens? Kenneth MacMillan's 20th-century English National Ballet Philharmonic. [email protected] how employers can protect their current ballet masterpiece. 020 7863 8198 businessfundingshow.com overseas employees in the transitional 020 7304 4000 Rosebery Ave, Clerkenwell, London period. Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, EC1R 4TN May 7 Moor Place, 1 Fore Street Avenue WC2E 9DD ballet.org.uk Founders Factory Social Mixer London, EC2Y 9DT roh.org.uk Founders Forum HQ londonchamber.co.uk April 16-20 The concept is simple; drinks, food Ends April 12 Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’ and good conversations between future April 25 Jack the Ripper: The Women of New Wimbledon Theatre founders, early-stage entrepreneurs and Spring Business Drinks’ Reception Whitechapel The legend returns. passionate technologists. There will be The Inflatable Pub @ Access Battersea London Coliseum 0844 871 7646 an open-mic for attendees to share their 020 3289 7887 A community of women under attack. A 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London challenges and receive help from the rest 248 York Rd, London SW11 3SJ monstrous evil that brings death in the SW19 1QG of the room. +1s are welcome. wandsworthchamber.org night. In the face of a terrible darkness, atgtickets.com Northcliffe House, Young Street, can friendship defeat fear and create a London. W8 5EH May 1 community united in hope? The world April 16-27 kccclondon.org Showcase your Business: Pitch for premiere of Iain Bell’s Jack the Ripper: Sleeping Beauty

Journey somewhere new this Easter Holy Week: 14 – 20 April Easter Day: 21 April There is no entry charge to join us at a service

stpauls.co.uk/easter 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 35 Events online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

The Peacock Give children a first taste of the magical Ongoing world of ballet. Enjoy the classic fairy First World War galleries tale ballet together, in this new version The Imperial War Museum ROYAL COLLEGE especially created for children aged three Discover the story of the First World upwards. As a baby, Princess Aurora War through the eyes of the British OF MUSIC is cursed by Carabosse: on her 16th people and the Empire, both on the birthday, she will prick her finger on a home front and the fighting fronts. spinning wheel and die. Her godmother On display are over 1,300 objects from SUMMER SEASON the Lilac Fairy alters the spell so Aurora IWM’s collections including weapons, will not die but will sleep for 100 years, uniforms, diaries, keepsakes, film and art. Join us this summer for a host of exciting only to be awoken by her true love. Each object on display gives a voice to events, including concerts, festivals, 020 7863 8222 the people who created them, used them masterclasses and more! Portugal St, London WC2A 2HT or cared for them, and reveals stories not ballet.org.uk only of destruction, suffering and loss, but also endurance and innovation, duty April 30 and devotion, comradeship and love. Canterbury: Gulbenkian 020 7416 5000 The Place Lambeth Road London SE1 6HZ Join the 13 powerful company dancers iwm.org.uk as they embark on a deeply personal and collaborative journey in celebration of Ends April 14 life, death and the challenges in between. The Friends of Holland Park Annual Art The young movers, on the cusp of their Exhibition professional careers, bring humour, The Orangery Holland Park enjoyment and warmth to the stage as Every Spring for the past 37 years is time they perform these three vastly diverse for The Friends of Holland Park pieces. to hold their Art Exhibition in The 020 7121 1100 Orangery which celebrates the long 17 Duke's Rd, Kings Cross, London tradition of showcasing the work of WC1H 9PY Friends who are artists. Works by over theplace.org.uk 70 artists range from paintings, drawings, photographs, ceramics, sculpture, Book from Wednesday 10 April | Many events free April 30 – May 18 cards and craft items which are all for www.rcm.ac.uk/events | Box Office 020 7591 4314 Soweto Gospel Choir INALA sale. Everyone welcome, free admission The Peacock open over 9 days Presenting three-time Grammy® Award- Kensington London W8 6L winning choral legends, the Soweto thefriendsofhollandpark.org Gospel Choir, with choreography by 3 Hanover Square, Mayfair, London narrative art form that has become a multi award-winning Mark Baldwin Ends April 22 W1S 1HD multimedia global phenomenon, telling OBE and current and former members John Ruskin theunitldn.com stories with themes from gender to of The Royal Ballet and Rambert, Two Temple Place adventure, in real or imagined worlds. INALA delivers an exhilarating fusion of The artist (1819-1900) devoted his life Ends May 6 Immersive and playful, the exhibition South African and Western cultures live to the pursuit of knowledge. To mark The Sun: Living with our Star will explore manga’s global appeal and on stage. Performed by an exceptional the bicentenary of his birth, a new Science Museum cultural crossover, showcasing original company of 26 dancers, singers and exhibition produced by Two Temple Set at the centre of our solar system, the Japanese manga and its influence across musicians, INALA blends visceral dance Place, Museums Sheffield and the Guild Sun’s brilliant light shapes our sense of the globe, from anime to ‘cosplay’ with intricate rhythms of Zulu tradition, of St George, will celebrate the legacy time, our health and our environment. dressing up. This influential art form promising a powerfully uplifting live and enduring relevance of Ruskin’s ideas People have tried to harness its power entertains, inspires and challenges, and experience. and vision. John Ruskin’s The Power and uncover its secrets since the dawn is brought to life as never before in this 020 7863 8222 of Seeing will bring together over 190 of civilisation. From 3,000-year-old ground-breaking exhibition. Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT, paintings, drawings, daguerreotypes, artefacts to upcoming space missions 020 7323 8299 peacocktheatre.com metal work, and plaster casts to illustrate and even a nuclear fusion reactor, our Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London how Ruskin’s attitude to aesthetic beauty new exhibition takes you on a visual, WC1B 3DG EXHIBITIONS shaped his radical views on culture and action-packed journey that brings britishmuseum.org society. the science of the Sun to life. Bask in Ongoing 020 7836 3715 sunlight on an indoor beach, try on FAIRS & FESTIVALS Expeditions and Endeavours 2 Temple Pl, London WC2R 3BD historic sunglasses in a digital mirror, and Natural History Museum twotempleplace.org watch the Sun rise around the world on See website for dates For centuries, scientists and artists have a huge illuminated display as you explore London Handel Festival embarked on a succession of expeditions Ends April 30 the fascinating story of humankind’s Various venues, see website for more to document the natural world. The Johan Van Mullem: Reverence relationship with our closest star. information observations of flora and fauna made by Unit London 020 7942 4000 The London Handel Festival is an annual the artists on these voyages of natural Reverence, will present Van Mullem’s Exhibition Rd, Kensington, London celebration of the work of George history have contributed greatly to our unique body of painterly works that SW7 2DD Frideric Handel. Each year sees a understanding of nature. On display until capture the presence of ethereal beings, sciencemuseum.org.uk critically acclaimed season of concerts, October 2019, the exhibition content will which are at once both abstract and recitals, talks and walks, and everyone is rotate every four months, giving you a recognisable. Over fifty pieces will be May 23 – August 26 welcome. Since the very beginning the rare opportunity to see remarkable never- featured in the exhibition, including Manga Festival has been supported by those before-displayed original illustrations Divine Tragedy (2019), a monumental British Museum passionate about Handel’s music. A and photographs. eleven-metre drawing. Van Mullem’s Enter a graphic world where art and major aim of the Festival is to encourage 020 7942 5511 works have drawn comparison to the storytelling collide in the largest and promote young talent. Cromwell Rd, Kensington, London SW7 portraits by Francis Bacon, Francisco exhibition of manga ever to take place london-handel-festival.com 5BD Goya and Johannes Vermeer. outside of Japan. Manga is a visual nhm.ac.uk 020 7494 2035 Ends April 14 36 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Events

London Games Festival boutiques and try on as many dresses as on legal, financial, tax and currency. a breathtaking IMAX 3D film, it will be Various Venues you like with no appointments necessary! Industry experts will also be on-hand to a night they never forget. Celebrating games culture and 0207 772 8300 talk you through the buying process and 020 7942 4000 generating games business in the capital, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western answer any questions you may have. Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London Games Festival features 12 days Gateway, Royal Docks, London 020 7385 1200 London, SW7 2DD of activity including the Games Finance E16 1XL Hammersmith Rd, Hammersmith, sciencemuseum.org.uk Market, EGX Rezzed, the Now Play This excel.london London W14 8UX exhibition, BAFTA Games Awards, olympia.london See website for dates industry talks, cosplay parade and more. April 22 Full Day Falconry Experience See website for venues The Queen's Birthday FAMILY & CHILDREN Eastwell Manor Champneys Spa Hotel games.london Royal Gun Salute Fly a team of Eagles, Vultures, Hawks Hyde Park Every weekend and Owls across this exclusive private April 9-14 The Queen celebrates her 93rd birthday Digital Discovery Centre estate. The day is completely hands-on, Spring Decorative Antiques & Textiles on 21st April 2019 and the occasion British Museum and the emphasis is on you handling Fair is marked publicly by gun salutes in Free activities and workshops using and flying as many birds of prey as Battersea Evolution London. This year, the firing of the the latest Samsung digital equipment, time allows. After a light buffet lunch, The Spring Decorative Antiques & Textiles canons takes place the following day, enabling children to bring the world’s you'll be flying Harris Hawks around Fair returns to Battersea Park for its Monday 22nd April 2019. There will history and cultures to life through the 500-acre private and exclusive Spring 2019 edition. London’s most be a 41-round gun salute on the Parade advanced technology. estate. A perfect gift for all ages. Order exciting fair, it celebrates style from all Ground in Hyde Park at noon. 020 7323 8299 online and personalise your gift voucher. corners of the globe, with exceptional royalparks.org.uk Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London Complimentary e-voucher upon and unusual decoration of every period WC1B 3DG booking. from the 1700s to the 1970s. May 10-12 britishmuseum.org 01795 473680 020 7616 9327 A Place in the Sun Live Eastwell Park, Boughton Lees, Ashford, Queenstown Road, London SW8 4NW Olympia London See website for dates Kent, TN25 4HT decorativefair.com Featuring over 150 exhibitors from Astronights thehawkingcentre.co.uk around the world ready to showcase Science Museum April 13-14 their collection of beautiful overseas An overnight science extravaganza at See website for dates National Wedding Show homes; with agents coming from Spain the Science Museum. If your child has Family Fridays Excel London (including the Canaries and Balearic ever wanted to explore the Museum Sadler’s Wells Try, buy, book and hire everything you Islands), France, Italy, Portugal and after dark, or if the idea of spending A new monthly workshop that need for your special day at the UK’s Florida. If you’re looking for property the night in one of our iconic galleries encourages young children aged 2-4 biggest wedding show! With hundreds elsewhere then countries such as fills them with excitement, then they’ll and their carers to dance together and of experts you can be sure to tick off Malta, Egypt, the Caribbean, Cyprus love Astronights, a sleepover for children. have fun here at Sadler’s Wells. Led by many of the wedding planning basics and Greece will also be represented. With workshops, science shows and professional dancers, come along to this in just one day. Browse collections from Alongside property agents and country activities, rounded off with breakfast and unique opportunity designed to start you the nation’s finest designers, retailers and Pavilions you’ll find professional advice and the little ones on a dance journey.

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A Meissen Porcelain 19th Century Sylvia Sleigh (1916 - 2010) A Fine Pair of Art Deco Diamond George Smith Sofa Campana Vase ‘Crab Apple Tree’ and Sapphire Earrings Estimated £1.000 - 2,000 Estimated £1,500 - 2,500 Estimated £1,500 - 2,000 Estimated £2,000 - 3,000

OBJECTS OF ALL AGES, FOR THOSE AT ALL STAGES. 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 37 Events online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

These sessions will cover a range of dance Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT, Spake (photography and art), who The Fair The Decorative welcomes back after a number of years styles and will encourage co-ordination, London Sisi Tatu: Belgium. With ethnographic creative thinking and social interaction. peacocktheatre.com Antiques & objects, tribal art, jewellery and textiles 020 7863 8000 Sans Prétention: London. Well-known Mezzanine level, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Until June 30 Marylebone dealer Stephen Sprake offers Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN Investigate for families Textiles Fair decorative antiques and C20th design sadlerswells.com Natural History Museum Chalet White: UK. Furniture and Get a feel for how scientists work by 2019 objects from the C18th to C20th largely Ongoing having a go yourself. Come and explore eturns to Battersea Park, London influenced by the rustic charm of the Go Ape hundreds of real nature specimens that for its Spring 2019 edition from alpine chalet or hunting lodge Battersea Park form the evidence Museum scientists RTuesday 9 to Sunday 14 April. Thurstan: UK. Former Soho House For the fully-grown Tarzans and Janes, use in their work. Science Educators are London’s most exciting period design designer James Waterworth’s new interiors business selling C17th to C20th antiques you won’t even feel like you’re in the on hand to help you look closely at real fair celebrates style from all corners of the globe, with exceptional and unusual and design city, as you’ll be fully immersed in the objects using the many tools provided. decoration of every period dating from The Games Room Company: Surrey. pursuit to conquer some of the longest 020 7942 5511 the 1700s to the 1970s. Exhibitors are With vintage pool and games tables, and highest crossings for a full 2-3 Cromwell Rd, Kensington, London SW7 specialists in decorative, formal, country, jukeboxes and traditional games hours. Friendly instructors are ready and 5BD shop display and work-related antiques, Brandt Asian Art: London. A cross waiting to propel the youngsters into a nhm.ac.uk C20th design, and works of art of all section of Asian art, primarily from China leafy world of canopies too, including periods, and come from across the UK and Japan: textiles and works of art of all bridges and zip wires. FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY and Europe. periods 01603 895500 The Fair has announced an exciting Mark J West: Surrey. C18th to early Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ See website for dates selection of new participants joining the C20th English and Continental glass goape.co.uk A beautiful planet April 2019 event, with a wide variety of The foyer display, A Room of Her Science Museum stock, including: Own, will present a modern-day dressing Ongoing See fantastic images of the Earth from Nordlings: Stockholm. With modern room, in a feminine, informal English style, Re:Sound: Polka40 Choir the Space Station and gain a new Scandinavian pieces by designers such with multi-functional spaces for relaxing Polka Theatre understanding of how wonderful and as Josef Frank, Bruno Mathsson, Hans pastimes, and an area for writing and Join in and learn four Polka classics, unique our planet is. See the world light Bergström, Hans J. Wegner, Børge storage. plus be the first to sing an exclusive new up at night and enjoy natural spectacles Mogensen and Carl-Axel Acking It will mix traditional decoration such commission by Julian Butler at a special such as the Northern Lights from a Cabinet of Curiositie: Antwerp. With as antique floral fabrics, pictures and performance on 6 July. Each weekly unique viewpoint. Discover how the silver objects, antiques and works of art accessories with C20th design elements session will be an opportunity to make Earth is changing and how much power for interiors in a contemporary fashion with a touch of new friends, have a cuppa and sing your we have to protect it. Henry Miller Fine Art: London. With Bloomsbury Set boho-chic. a collection of art focusing on the male heart out. The group is open to everyone. 020 7942 4000 Whatever your speciality, There is no need to audition and no need Exhibition Road, South Kensington, form; paintings, drawings, prints and photography from the C16th to the the Decorative Arts Fair has for experience. It’s fun. It’s free. It’s yours. London, SW7 2DD present day. He is sharing with Pierre something to offer. 020 8543 4888 sciencemuseum.org.uk Various locations. See website for more information. April 8 polkatheatre.com Annie Hall (1977) Dulwich Picture Gallery Ends April 28 Annie Hall is a comical look at the ‘rise Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom and demise’ relationship between a New Gunnersbury Park York TV writer and his aspiring, not to A brand-new, prehistoric, outdoor family say struggling, actress/singer girlfriend attraction coming to the UK in 2019. from the Midwest. Directed by and Europe’s first touring animatronic Ice starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Age experience brings to life the sights Paul Simon and Christopher Walken. and sounds of the Ice Age, with 40 Ticket includes a complimentary glass of majestic beasts that roamed the world wine, snacks and film notes. Cinderella some 70,000 years ago. An entertaining, 020 8693 5254 Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall educational and great value day out, Gallery Rd, London SE21 7AD where you can step back in time and dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk HE ROYAL ALBERT producing some of the world’s top ballet wander amongst the life-size creatures, HALL performances since 1950 and staging including mammoths, sabre-toothed April 13-14 isT playing host to ballet choreographer large-scale productions at the Royal tigers and giant sloths. All animatronic Back to the Future in Concert Christopher Wheeldon who plans to Albert Hall since 1997, including a beasts have moving body parts, wide Royal Festival Hall re-stage his spectacular Cinderella with Swan Lake which featured a record- opening jaws and realistic sound effects Experience the thrill of the classic time- English National Ballet at the Royal breaking 60 swans alongside re- to really bring the experience to life. travelling blockbuster Back to the Future, Albert Hall next year. workings of Romeo & Juliet and Sleeping 020 3961 0280 with a live orchestral score. The Czech The specially-adapted show, Beauty. Gunnersbury Park, London, W3 8LQ National Symphony Orchestra play presented in-the-round, will feature “Nothing can compare to the epic visitgunnersbury.org award-winning composer Alan Silvestri's more than 90 dancers, striking spectacle of a ballet at the Royal Albert score, conducted by Ben Palmer. The sets and costumes, and stunning Hall, and this extraordinary re-staging April 16-27 1.21-gigawatt hit that dominated the choreography set to Prokofiev’s famous of Cinderella will bring the immortal My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty 1985 box office, spawned two wildly score, performed by English National story to life on a grand scale.“ Lucy The Peacock successful sequels and stamped an Ballet Philharmonic. It will run for 14 Noble, the Royal Albert Hall’s artistic A colourful and spellbinding show for enduring imprint on pop culture, is back performances only from 6-16 June 2019. director enthused all the family. With a narrator to help with a bang. Working from the darkly intriguing “We’re thrilled to be working once the young audience follow the classic 0844 875 0073 Brothers Grimm version of the story, more with English National Ballet, and story of Aurora and her true love’s kiss, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, Wheeldon originally created Cinderella can’t wait to see what Christopher does and a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s Lambeth, London SE1 8XX for Dutch National Ballet to widespread with the world’s most famous stage.” beautiful melodies, My First Ballet: southbankcentre.co.uk acclaim, and has reunited his original Sleeping Beauty is an enchanting first creative team for this full scale re- Tickets for Cinderella, priced £15-85, encounter with dance for children. Ends May 27 staging. are on sale at 9am on Friday from: 020 7863 8222 Only Human: Photographs by Martin English National Ballet has been www.royalalberthall.com. 38 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Events

Parr Octave has attracted a loyal following to crash them back down to The National Portrait Gallery of concert goers who appreciate their Diary of an Expat A major new exhibition of works by vitality and virtuosity. 24-27 April; the floor and only then to Martin Parr, one of Britain’s best- 020 7766 1100 play with them to a degree known and most widely celebrated Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ Tristan Bates Theatre, photographers. This brings together some stmartin-in-the-fields.org that skilfully takes in most of Parr’s best-known photographs with a emotions in between. number of works never exhibited before, April 25 to focus on one of his most engaging Fenella Humphreys and Nicola Eimer Cecilia Gragnani manages this in her subjects – people. Eaton Square mercurial performance of political satire, 020 7306 0055 Winner of the BBC Music Magazine’s showing an accomplishment of the art of St. Martin’s Pl, London WC2H 0HE Instrumental Award 2018, violinist pure comedy which must be seen to be npg.org.uk Fenella Humphrey has been described believed. as “unforgettable” and “a wonder”. Her As an ardent Brexiter, the story of June 13 programme with pianist Nicola Eimer how Cecilia or ‘Kate Green’, (her British Weimar Berlin: ‘Metropolis’ Live highlights works from their eagerly persona) tantalised her audience, left me Screening awaited new disc So Many Stars featuring spellbound; enchanted and amazed at Royal Festival Hall six Sonatinas for Violin and Piano. some of the rules and regulations from Watch Fritz Lang's sci-fi masterpiece 020 7553 4039 the aspect of an Italian trying to gain Metropolis accompanied live by Gottfried St Peters Church Eaton Square, 119, British nationality. Performed with Huppertz's score. Composer Huppertz London SW1W 9AL hilarity, following carefully the Home and film director Lang were frequent eatonsquareconcerts.org.uk Office guidelines, the play is an eye partners in the creation of German opener to us all. cinema of the Weimar period. Their most April 28 Gragnani’s Kate captivates with her famous collaboration was on Lang's Musical Portraits: Handel & Weber charm, honesty and natural talent and I 1927 tour de force of epic expressionist Foundling Museum would highly recommend people to visit science-fiction storytelling. Set in a Paola Delucchi and Albert Lau perform her performance. This is a good night city of the future (in 2026), Metropolis a rich programme of music for violin, out for people of all nationalities and is lauded for its imaginative flair in from the 18th to the early 20th century. political persuasions. depicting a nightmarish mechanized- Enjoy pieces by two composers whose Adam Gilchrist industrial future. Its warning about portraits feature in the Museum’s Picture t is unusual for a solo society, equality and the nature of the city Gallery, George Frideric Handel and comedy act to take one’s Tickets; Tristan Bates Theatre itself reflect the instability and concerns Carl Maria von Weber, alongside will 1A Tower St, London WC2H 9NP I 7.45pm, Sat. matinee 1.30pm. £13 (£11 of the Weimar age. be Edward Elgar’s magical late Sonata. emotions to the sky, then 0844 875 0073 Violinist Paola Delucchi has performed to play with them with the concs) Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, and organised concerts across Europe www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk Lambeth, London SE1 8XX as a soloist, chamber musician and diversity of a feather duster, T: 020 3841 6611 southbankcentre.co.uk orchestral leader. 020 7841 3600 MUSIC 40 Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1AZ FREE Auction April 16 foundlingmuseum.org.uk The Food of Love Valuation Day with Royal Festival Hall May 6 TV’s Thomas Forrester Hear Shakespeare’s extraordinary words An Evening of Celtic Soul brought to life with orchestral and choral London Palladium music from stage and screen. Narrated Imelda May, born and raised in The SAS Director and Expert on by Sir Derek Jacobi and Samantha Bond, Liberties area of Dublin, has become BBC's Bargain Hunt with famous excerpts from his plays one of Ireland’s most celebrated female and entertaining theatrical anecdotes, artists in history and her 2008 album the evening features musical highlights Love Tattoo is the best-selling album of Monday 15 April 2019 from the glittering scores of Craig all time by a homegrown female artist 10am-3pm Armstrong Romeo + Juliet, Stephen in Ireland. Backed by the 24-piece Warbeck Shakespeare in Love, William Leo Green Orchestra, she will proudly Come along and find out more about Walton Henry V Suite, Nigel Hess Royal celebrate the songs of fellow artists from your treasured possessions, in this Shakespeare Company productions, her homeland such as Van Morrison, U2, new, monthly event. Henry Purcell, Roger Quilter and Ralph The Chieftains and Glen Hansard and Vaughan Williams. many more including Damien Rice, The Valuations are FREE, but cash 0844 875 0073 Cranberries and Thin Lizzy. The concert donations for the Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Stroke Association are Lambeth, London SE1 8XX Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night, the gratefully received. southbankcentre.co.uk world's longest-running live orchestral radio programme. April 25 020 7087 7755 Handel, Vivaldi, and Bach by 8 Argyll St, Soho, London W1F 7LA Next Valuation Day will be: Candlelight Tickets can be purchased at Monday 20 May 2019 St-Martin-in-the-Fields livenation.co.uk. Founded by cellist Dietrich Bethge in Book now to avoid disappointment 1988 from London’s leading musicians, May 7 by calling 01635 580595 London Octave aims to approach the Violin and Piano recital or email: baroque and classical repertoire in a fresh Cadogan Hall [email protected] and energetic manner, often without a Following her stunning performance conductor. Through their regular London of the Elgar Violin Concerto and the season at St Martin-in-the-Fields, the launching of her book back in October FREE valuations at J McCarthy Ltd, 11 Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RH South Bank and on BBC Radio 3, London 2018, the brilliant Albanian-born British 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 39 Events online: www.KCWToday.co.uk violinist Alda Dizdari and pianist Tom Richmond Park Blach return to Cadogan Hall with a Join Mission: Invertebrate for a day of programme that explores music from storytelling, bug hunting and critter the first half of the 20th Century by crafting. Hop aboard the Bugmobile composers with whom Alda has a deep to discover why invertebrates are so connection and understanding. important to life on earth, and explore 020 7730 4500 their habitats. Drop in anytime between 5 Sloane Terrace, Belgravia, London 11am and 3pm to take part in a host of SW1X 9DQ bug-tastic activities. cadoganhall.com royalparks.org.uk

TALKS, TOURS, & WALKS April 23 Handel in London, the Making of a See website for dates Genius The Karl Marx Walking Tour Handel & Hendrix Karl Marx was the most influential Renowned conductor and author, Jane thinker of modern times. His epic life Glover, in conversation about her new story combines comedy and tragedy, love book Handel in London, the Making and hate, hope and despair. This set the of a Genius. The event will begin with a backdrop to an intellectual expedition short music recital and will be followed that sought to unravel the mysteries by a book signing session and a glass of of history, politics, economics and wine. philosophy. Marx’s work inspired protests 020 7495 1685 and strikes, rebellions and revolutions, 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, terrorism and war, struggles for freedom, W1K 4HB democracy and liberty, as well as regimes handelhendrix.org of tyrannical repression. This tour will walk you through the story of his life in April 25 London and explain his ideas and their For the Love of Nature influence on human destiny, taking you Royal Geographical Society to the places in and around Soho where For the Love of Nature will see Huw Marx lived and worked, show you traces and Patrick share the stories that have of the London he knew, and tell the inspired them across their thirty years extraordinary tale of this man who would of wildlife filmmaking, including the change the world. making of upcoming Netflix series Our marxwalks.com Planet, narrated by David Attenborough and due for release in April. All proceeds Ongoing from the evening will go towards Just a Hidden London Drop's projects. London Transport Museum 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR THEATRE Ludwig I, can do nothing to help; until a This is the London Transport Museum’s justadrop.org young man comes to the palace. exclusive programme of tours and events Ends April 20 020 3642 6606 at disused stations and secret sites across April 26, May 16 Maggie May 103 Notting Hill Gate, London, London. Led by experienced guides, Walking Tour: Bat Walk Finborough Theatre W11 3LB ready to share unusual and little-known Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens A hard-hitting celebration of working- the-print-room.org stories surrounding the stations’ varied Take part in this year's City Nature class life in Liverpool’s docks in the histories, these visits offer an exciting Challenge by hunting for bats in the heart 1960s, Maggie May is the story of the Ends June 1 opportunity to explore locations rarely of London. This hour and a half tour doomed love affair between ‘street walker’ Betrayal by Harold Pinter seen by the public. takes place at dusk, as London's bats are Maggie May Duffy and sailor Patrick The Harold Pinter Theatre 020 7379 6344 coming out to play. Be guided through Casey, the son of a union-martyr, initially Two of the country’s most exciting young Covent Garden Piazza, London, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park at reluctant, but finally proud to assume his stars, Zawe Ashton and Charlie Cox, will WC2E 7BB night to search for bat species such as father’s mantle. Around them is a gallery join Golden Globe, Olivier and Evening ltmuseum.co.uk common pipistrelles, soprano pipistrelles of strongly-drawn characters: Willie Standard Award winner Tom Hiddleston and noctules. Play a fun quiz to separate Morgan, the corrupt demagogic union in The Jamie Lloyd Company production April 11 bat facts from bat fiction and enjoy using leader, Juddah, the ‘fixer’ and traitor, and of Harold Pinter’s ‘Betrayal’. With Drugs in Victorian Britain bat detectors that make the bats' echo- Old Dooley, obsessed with past union poetic precision, rich humour and Highgate Cemetery location calls audible to the human ear. struggles, all caught up in an allegorical an extraordinary emotional force, At the beginning of Victoria’s reign, the Bats are not the only creatures out at musical drama with a devastating tragic Betrayal charts a compelling seven-year only mind-altering drugs widely available night, owl calls may add to the evening's climax. romance, thrillingly captured in reverse in Britain were alcohol and opium. By atmosphere and perhaps a curious fox 01223 357851 chronological order. The complexities of its end, anyone could walk into a High will cross your path as well! 118 Finborough Rd, Kensington, the human heart are explored street chemist and buy cocaine and royalparks.org.uk London SW10 9ED Tickets: 0845 871 7615 cannabis in all manner of pills, lozenges finboroughtheatre.co.uk Access: 0800 912 6971 and tinctures, or morphine and heroin Until May 31 The Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton complete with hypodermic injection kits. Backstage Tour April 26-May25 Street, London, SW1Y 4DN How did today’s illicit drugs arrive in Royal Opera House The Glass Piano pinteratthepinter.com Britain, who were the first people to use Visit the Backstage and Front of House Coronet Printroom them, and how did they spread into the areas of one of the world's leading The Glass Piano, a new play by Alix culture at large? theatres as it prepares to open its doors Sobler, is based on the bizarre, but true 020 8340 1834 for the evening performance. story of Princess Alexandra of Bavaria. Compiled & edited by Fahad Redha Swain’s Lane, Highgate, London N6 6PJ 020 7304 4000 Alexandra tiptoes carefully through the highgatecemetery.org Bow St, Covent Garden, London palace corridors, turning sideways to pass If you have an event that you’d like WC2E 9DD through doorways, terrified that at the listed in the next edition, please send April 16 roh.org.uk slightest disturbance the piano would anyinformation to: fahad@kcwtoday. Mission: Invertebrate Roadshow shatter inside her. Her father, King co.uk 40 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Dining Out Photographs Photographs © Artisan

I’m going to need more than a seat under an anchovy or two more as it was too Time to share an intriguing Grappa Artisan the tree to get her swinging from the subtle for a place that calls itself artisan. Panna Cotta with Balsamic Fig. More 222 Portobello Rd W11 1LJ chandeliers tonight. ‘Artisan’ for me equals simple, bold like a blancmange than a traditional The menu looks a treat, and as flavours that you know about when you panna cotta, and topped with a missed Artisan bills itself as “One of the best burp. opportunity: a fresh half a fig simmered RTISAN is situated near the top Italian restaurants in London” we both Saffron Risotto with Roast in honey and balsamic was in my end of Portobello, and it’s not the agree to forget the lovey-dovey stuff Marrowbone puts the smile back on mind, a thick figgy paste of not much posh part. It’s dimly lit inside, for the time being and get stuck into Madam’s face, and gets a no-holds- distinction was on my plate. Shame, but soA the frontage puts you in mind of one the food. The USP for this place is the barred 10 out of 10. She had also chosen an unexpected treat of house digestive of those member’s clubs that requires a Italian/Fusion mix that puts squid ink my Sake Yuzu Kosho spiced Veal Chop (forget what the menu tells you, its tastes couple of discreet knocks on the door to hummus with the Octopus, throws in Milanese, just in case the risotto didn`t quite like a Negroni) did much to allay gain entry. Happily, looks are deceptive some tarragon chimichurri, scatters a bit work out. I don’t know how I let this the disappointment. A nice touch to in this case and we get a very warm of artichoke then drops on some micro happen, but sometimes you just have to finish on, and typical of the very friendly welcome and a good choice of seats. The cress. Accomplished, perhaps even a go with the flow. It was accompanied by and first class service throughout. DH back wall is a mural of an Italian villa set touch flashy, but I liked it a lot. Madam’s some rather insipid anchovy butter, but back slightly from a square, and 2 metres Vitello Tonata looked like it had been what the hell; that’s 2 more anchovies Closes 4pm- Reopens 5:30pm in front of it is a big tree: real trunk, fake cooked Sous Vide, so had a lot of colour that must have escaped the net that Reservations: quandoo.co.uk, leaves, supposedly the most romantic and a good flavour, but not quite the night. I think I was nearer a 7.5 to opentable.co.uk spot in the house. I flick a seductive expected texture. The sour mayo tuna 8 than an exultant 10; all good, but Order: deliveroo.co.uk eyelid at my companion, but it looks like tartare with anchovy really needed nothing to blow your socks off. T: 020 7792 5577

and passion fruit, which has quite a feisty finish. 2 would have been great, 3 probably even better, but sadly I was driving. Kanishka M’lady started with an exquisite soft shell crab cooked with 17-19 Maddox Street, apple and peanut jhal muri, with light lime dressing and passion

London W1 fruit chutney. The puffed rice tablet also on the plate was met © Kanishka Photographs with “Mmm, rice crispies!” but that undersold it somewhat. On By David Hughes the other side of the table I was devouring perfectly cooked Naga scallops in a fairly spicy sauce with cauliflower bites, (or florets to call a spade an Indian earth moving device). Who cares, it’s In the dim and distant past, Kanishka all part of the creative process to re-imagine what you can do was a great leader and patron of with ingredients and how you approach them, but you do have to Buddhism, and an important man in the carry it off perfectly to avoid that old off-menu special, Egg-on- development of the original Silk Road Face. that opened up China to the outside I thought I`d go piscatorial, so next up I had Seafood Alleppy world. Today, Kanishka serves food, Curry paired with Mizoram bamboo shoots, green bean and but no ordinary food. Opened by Atul mushroom, and basmati rice sides. Deceptively simple titles, but Kochhar and Tina English this place cooked with the sort of deft touch that only the very best can has a lot to live up to, but Atul has an achieve. Scallops, razor clam, lobster tail and squid, all fabulous. impressive pedigree, being the first to My glamorous companion’s Goat Curry was a study in well hold a Michelin Star for Indian food in fed goat; glorious great chunks of meat in the most unctuous 2001 at Tamarind, a feat he went on to of sauces that had the fire and depth that only a very long slow repeat at Benares a few years later. cook can achieve, and lip-smackingly good! So what’s new at this place that Some desserts look a bit whacky, but given the skills stands it apart from Benares, just 10 displayed I thought I`d give it a whirl. Tandoori fruits and mins walk away? Well, it’s a bit buzzier, custard; challenging, and normally, why would you? Well, it’s trendier and less reverential. It also takes interesting, but in my case not habit forming, but you don’t come its inspiration from the 7 Sister States of here because you just need something to eat, you come for the eastern India, and brings in a bit more experience and because it’s undoubtedly special. Don’t linger too distinctively regional cooking. Before I long on the prices. You will be spending a couple of hundred end up sounding like a sales brochure, quid for 2, but like falling into the embrace of the finest linen let’s get some choices made. Lady H on the most superior of beds in the classiest of hotels, the whole homes in on a glass of Atul’s Signature experience is so embracing that at that moment in time it’s easily Hungarian red to start, confident that worth it. the Cabernet Franc & Merlot mix will stand up nicely to some heat and www.kanishkarestaurant.co.uk spice. I’m going with the great man’s Reservations: bookatable.co.uk, kanishkarestaurant.co.uk, monogrammed Atul cocktail of vodka opentable.co.uk T: 020 3978 0978 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 41 Dining Out online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

brilliant-cut shot glass arrives; black glass and chives topped off with sesame and These were accompanied by another Akira cut through to clear (made exclusively in a chilli sauce, this utterly unusual and flask of a different sake, this time at Japan House, Kensington Japan for the restaurant by a craftsman) delicious dish is an introduction to the much drier. Who knew such nuances Robert suggests another sake from unique taste and visual experience that were possible in sake? There is even a By Tim Epps the list to accompany our meal. This time follows. celebration sparkling sake, sadly not on presented in a similar cut glass container, The starter continues the box our budget. filled with ice containing within a small theme with a 15 compartment array of A visual delight and a most enjoyable tear drop, clear glass bottle resting on the different shaped and textured dishes, experience, exquisitely produced and ice. We carefully choose a favourite cup each containing wonderfully presented wonderfully presented. But then you from the array of sake cups in ceramic different raw fish, pickled vegetables, wouldn’t expect anything else having with beautiful different forms and glazes omelette, tempura, egg custard, salmon seen the fine exhibitions produced in the presented in the many compartments of caviar, and assorted dips and soy sauce . Japan House (KCW passim). f you like bespoke, hand made, fine a wooden box tray. My companion’s wagyu beef and It fulfilled all our bespoke materials, and immaculate visual Our appetiser arrives. This restaurant chicken skewers arrived on a heated rock! expectations. presentation, this is certainly for you. experience is a feast for the eye as well The beef was melt in the mouth; lightly IAkira restaurant is in Japan House, so as the appetite. An artfully contrived seared on the outside and pink within 101-111 Kensington High Street, you have the added bonus of being able earthenware rock, with a hidden lid, is and delicious. Kensington W8 5SA to see all of the above in the inspired opened to reveal a traditional appetiser of My main course of assorted sushi, T: 020 3971 4646 artefacts displayed beautifully around ‘sashimi’ salad set on a bed of ice. With a each delicately topped with a contrasting you. We couldn’t resist a browse. combination of radish, raw fish, egg yolk coloured dressing was taste spectacular. www.japanhouseakira.london With such an auspicious start we took the lift to the restaurant and were escorted to our table, greeted by a rousing cheer from the many chefs working in plain sight.

Hot towels are brought, presented Photographs © Akira on a beautiful stoneware piece and with these we start to relax in the modern, quietly themed interior. Our maître d’, Robert talks us through the menus which are taken from chef Shimizu Akira. He takes us through the comprehensive drinks’ menu and a little about the history of sake describing a non-pasteurised, non-filtered sake amongst many others. A lovely earthy rich taste in an unusual

whilst we gossiped about our respective in pastry with a sweet chilli sauce) selection. The Thai Terrace absent partners. spring rolls and charcoal grilled king Whilst the Terrace Platter has the 14 Wrights Lane, W8 6TF After a glass of a very reasonably prawns (sadly no information on their potential to finish off the unwary, my priced Merlot, we settled to our relationship status) alongside chicken friend and I had brought significant Open: 12 noon-12 midnight food. For starters we opted to share a wings served with a mixture of dips. appetites so we steamed onto the main www.kensingtonthaiterrace. signature Terrace Platter for an equally You get a Noah’s ark style pair of each course. I sprang for the Nean Sap reasonable £15.95. The platter consists item on the list, which helps to avoid Pad Prik Kaprao: (whilst admittedly co.uk of a large swathe of available starters, arguments, and each item has its own massacring the pronunciation); Minced By Max Feldman so recommended if you are one of particular twist to add to the meal. chicken, pork or beef fried with sliced those diners tormented by the culinary Whilst they were each notably savoury chillies, onions and fresh mint for £7.55. path not travelled. The platter includes the prawns were a particular highlight, This isn’t the largest dish in the world, satay, fishcakes, the intriguingly named tart and tangy, they really came alive but it’s fiery enough to make up for it. High Street Kensington isn’t exactly ‘lady in love’ (actually prawns wrapped with the aid of the intimidating dip I picked the pork derivation and the renowned for intimate, affordable chili and mint provided an eateries that aren’t just links on a exotic flare to the tenderness nationwide chain. However the Thai of the meat. However I will Terrace, tucked away on Wright’s Street add that in the spirit of full just behind the station like a duck in a disclosure it also occasionally pancake, is thankfully an exception to overwhelmed my defences in Photographs Photographs Terrace © Thai this rule. From the outside it admittedly regards to spices so maybe looks rather characterless, but having not a first date meal. My been dragged to enough romantic friend took a more familiar comedies over the years I’m au fait with path with a Green Curry the fact that true beauty lies within (also £7.55) which seemed and Thai Terrace’s interior is pleasingly perfectly adequate but didn’t lavish. Floor to ceiling windows seem to set her world, or presumably lend themselves to light and her mouth on fire. Both airy lunches, but by the time we arrived of us also tucked into the South Ken was already beginning obligatory egg fried rice to darken into night. This lends the (no complaints) before we restaurant, which is equipped with finished off with a platter of suitably dim lighting and plush dark melon. The Thai Terraceis a curtains, a notably intimate atmosphere. decently-priced and deeply Sadly I wasn’t on a date, so can’t testify if comfortable restaurant said atmosphere would have truly proved serving up hearty fare; in irresistible, but as was it left my friend South Kensington that’s and I feeling happily conspiratorial worth it’s weight in gold. 42 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Days Out

Sissinghurst Castle Garden Standen The Sissinghurst estate is 460 acres Standen House and Garden offer a of beautiful Wealden countryside. wonderful walk through the 100 acres of A walk in the Looked after by a team of rangers, it's a the original Standen Estate, including fascinating place to spot native wildlife ancient bluebell woods and meadowland. BluebellBy Beatriz woods Villarreal all year round. It is a joy for walkers and This can be enjoyed all year round. horse riders alike. West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, Biddenden Rd, Cranbrook TN17 2AB West Sussex, RH19 4NE Photograph © Point & Click Photography © Point Photograph T: 01580 710 700 T: 01342 323 029

LONDON Brede High Woods Gutteridge Woods Wonderful and breath-taking views in Gutteridge Wood in Hillingdon sits Brede High Woods with ancient trees in an area of traditional countryside, and a marked trail as you walk through With spring upon us, it is where ancient woodland and wildflower the Bluebells and enjoy the wildlife. time to start planning your meadows meet. This part of the Yeading Cripps Corner, East Sussex Brook Valley is a haven for birds. Oak T: 0330 333 3300 trips for the Bluebell season and Hazel coppice woodland bursts to life each spring with a blanket of Costells Wood bluebells. Wildflowers and grasses Costells Wood is a great place to go and dominate the meadows, hosting an array observe the wildlife, a gorgeous trail and ith the recent warm weather each other. Famed for its immaculate of insect life. small ponds; it is definitely worth a visit! hitting the high 20s, the lawns and avenues of sculptured Lynhurst Crescent, North Hillingdon Scaynes Hill bluebells might pop up sooner topiary, beautifully scented roses, and Hillingdon Greater London UB10 9EQ T: 0330 333 3300 thanW anticipated. These flowers grow in breathtaking scenery across the South T: 020 7261 0447 large groups that, once in full bloom, Downs. It’s a great day out. Nymans create a sea of blue. With the right Hinton Ampner House, Hinton Hyde Park Nymans Garden showcases year-round lighting, they create a mesmerising scene Ampner, Alresford SO24 0LA This park in Central London has colour and interest with rare and unusual that cannot be missed. KCW Today have T: 01962 771 305 beautiful bluebells that have been plant collections of national significance. put together a list of multiple locations planted by local school children. Even Stunning collection of subtly fragranced from various woods in and around Micheldever Wood more of a reason to visit in order to magnolias can be seen throughout London to help you find the closest sea A maturing beech woodland not far see what the younger members of the springtime. The adjoining woodland, of Bluebells; the highlight of any early from Winchester and the Hampshire community have done to celebrate the with lake and bird hides, has plenty of springtime walk! village of Micheldever, Micheldever national flower. opportunities to spot wildlife. A small Wood is known for its bluebell displays London W2 2UH gallery shows changing exhibitions BUCKINGHAMSHIRE in both the northern and southern end T: 03000 61 2000 throughout the year. Cliveden of the forest. This is a wild woodland Staplefield Lane, Handcross RH17 6EB Cliveden is nestled high above the River with trails, but no other facilities. A Isabella Plantation T: 01444 405 250 Thames with panoramic views over waymarked trail leads from the small Every spring, the Isabella Plantation in the Berkshire countryside: its famous parking area on Northington Lane, on Richmond Park is awash with colour SURREY wooded cliffs have been admired for the south side of the wood, to areas of as the National Collection of azaleas Winkworth Arboretum centuries. archaeological interest with some Iron and rhododendrons bursts into bloom. There is always something new to see Cliveden Road, Taplow, Maidenhead, Age barrows and Roman remains. The Isabella Plantation is a 40-acre no matter what time of year. The most Buckinghamshire, Buckinghamshire, Main Rd, Alresford SO24 9TZ woodland fenced off from the rest of impressive displays are in spring, with SL1 8NS T: 0330 333 3300 London’s Richmond Park to protect its magnolias, bluebells and azaleas in T: 01628 605 069 spectacular plants from the more than boom! KENT 400 red and fallow deer that roam this Hascombe Rd, Godalming GU8 4AD CHILTERN HILLS Ightham Mote park. T: 01483 208 477 Ashridge Estate After the winter, the bluebells in Scathes Richmond Park, Queen Street, Miles of footpaths, cycle trails and Wood on the Ightham Mote Estate are a Richmond TW10 5HX Hatchlands Park bridleways crisscross the 5,000-acre sight not to be missed. Not only do they T: 03000 61 2000 Bluebells are scattered all over Ashridge Estate in the Chiltern Hills, provide a delightful splash of colour, but Hatchlands Park, near Guildford, about on the Hertfordshire/Buckinghamshire they're also an important early source SUSSEX an hour from London. This National borders. The Estate’s beech and oak of nectar for bees, butterflies and other Sheffield Park and Garden Trust property is noted for its gardens woodlands have some of the most insects. Sheffield Park and Garden is a historic and opens for the season just in time for popular bluebell walks in the country, Mote Rd, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks TN15 parkland that forms a larger greenfoot the blooming of the bluebells. The best especially Dockey Wood. 0NT print for the Sheffield Park Estate. place to see them is in Little Wix Wood, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall, T: 01732 810 378 Dating back several centuries, it has on the eastern edge of the park. It's an Berkhamsted HP4 1LT had many uses including a deer park ancient wood of sweet chestnut, ash, T: 01442 851 227 Emmetts Garden and WWII camp, and is now grazed oak, birch and hornbeam, first recorded Emmetts Garden was laid out in the with livestock and home to the natural in a 13th Century chronicle. In the Coombe Hill late 19th century and was influenced by woodland play trail in Ringwood spring the trees are surrounded by a sea With a Natural Play Trail open at William Robinson. It contains many Toll. The River Ouse runs across the of violet-colored flowers. Coombe Hill and a purpose-built picnic exotic and rare trees and shrubs from bottom of the parkland and the original East Clandon, Guildford GU4 7RT area near the main car park, there across the world. Standing on one of the meanders are still visible winding T: 01483 222 482 is every reason to make a day out of highest spots in Kent, Emmetts Garden across the meadow. This area has been visiting any of the trails and enjoying the offers panoramic views over the unspoilt transformed into a wildlife haven and outdoors. Weald as well as some great walking is home to a diverse range of species Coombe Hill, Aylesbury HP17 0TZ opportunities. When you visit, you can including kingfishers, birds of prey, Visit the websites to find out more about T: 01494 755 596 explore the rose and rock gardens, take butterflies, and dragonflies. these parks and other services offered. in the views and enjoy shows of spring Sheffield Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, HAMPSHIRE flowers and shrubs. TN22 3QX nationaltrust.org.uk Hinton Ampner Ide Hill, Sevenoaks TN14 6AY T: 01825 790 231 royalparks.org.uk Hinton Ampner’s elegant country manor T: 01732 868 381 wildlondon.org.uk and gardens are the perfect match for woodlandtrust.org.uk 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 43 Days Out online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

his left eye, but undeterred he continued to blow glass until he dislocated his When Art meets right shoulder in 1979. No longer able Nature to hold the glass blowing pipe, he By Jane Duncan enlisted the help of others with his work. Chihuly describes his role now as “more © Dale Chiculy Photographs choreographer than dancer.’’ But the teamwork approach hasn't affected his appeal: spanning a 50 year career his spectacular creations The complex beauty within have been exhibited in more than 240 museums, and can be found in private nature has inspired artists for and public collections around the world, millennia, be it the jewelled from university campuses to hotels and corporate headquarters. Luckily for colours of a rainbow or the Londoners and visitors, also once more, natural symmetry of a starfish. at Kew. Artist Dale Chihuly says: “I am lbert Einstein once said ‘Look honoured to bring my work once again deep into nature and you will to Kew, with its magnificent landscape understand everything better’. and extraordinary glasshouses; structures It is perhaps the pursuit of this enquiry which have always captivated me. How A do you describe a beautiful building that has led many artists to investigate and produce some of the world’s most like the Palm House or the Temperate beguiling works of art. House? We are planning something Not least among them is the special for the centre of the newly- Internationally renowned American restored Temperate House and I’m glass artist Dale Chihuly. Opening excited to see it come to fruition.” on April 13th, and returning to Kew Almost by way of osmosis exchange, Gardens for the second time, this on the other side of the pond, the world

spectacular exhibition will present 32 renowned English sculpture David © Mark Bolton Photograph large scale art installations positioned Harber, recently unveiled his newest in a variety of locations throughout the design, Alveare Wall at the Architectural gardens. Design Show in New York. Director of Marketing and ‘Inspired by the natural mathematical Commercial Enterprise at RBG Kew, patterns of sunflower heads and other Sandra Botterell, said: “Thirteen years living organisms, Alveare Wall presents ago, Kew Gardens was home to Dale a kaleidoscope panel of marine grade Chihuly’s last major outdoor show in mirror-polished steel apertures that both Europe. It was one of the most popular reflect and fragment the surrounding exhibitions ever held at Kew, and the environment. Its clean lines, bold return of the work of this master of glass physical presence and pirouetting is causing palpable excitement”. patterns of pixelated light beguile the “A reverie of form, colour, and light, observer both by day and with minimal Chihuly’s exquisite artworks are often additional illumination by night. The described as exaggerated celebrations mesmerising design can be produced of what is found in nature. As the most in several other geometric and organic biodiverse postcode on the planet, Kew’s shapes.’ breath-taking landscape is the ideal An International award-winning home for such work’’. artist, David Harber’s many prestigious But what can visitors anticipate? Day together with nine other projects include sculptures in the or night Chihuly will not disappoint. installations. Kew will also Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Enter from the Victoria Gate and expect offer Chihuly enthusiasts an the Liberty Centre mixed use to be dazzled by a spectacular celestial opportunity to see the artwork development in Cincinnati, the Al- Sapphire Star; individual blown glass in an entirely different light Rawdha Palace in Bahrain and the forms radiating outward to create a through an exclusive after-dark Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France. celestial visual experience. Visit Kew’s experience. David Harber will be showcasing his Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art A revolutionary of the award-winning work for the second year (the world’s only gallery dedicated to studio glass movement, and at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019. botanical art), which will host 12 bodies protégé of Harvey Littleton, Reflecting upon Einstein’s of work, as well as a film detailing (who established the first recommendation, it could be argued Chihuly’s creative process. Visitors to glass programme in the that the work of both these artists the gallery will experience the expressive United States), Dale Chihuly provides a testimony to our evolving lines and abstract forms of Chihuly’s transformed the world’s relationship with nature, revealing how Drawings, as well as the Rotolo series; perception of glass art. After our connectedness is not a mere illusion, the most technically challenging work graduating from the Rhode but in some way, we are all a part of a Chihuly and his team have ever created, Island School of Design, he greater whole. and Seaforms: delicate undulating forms received a Fulbright Fellowship that conjure underwater life, among to travel to the Venini glass Chihuly at Kew: Reflections on nature others. Other stunning locations for the factory in Murano, where he 13 April – 27 October 2019 artworks include the ornate Waterlily witnessed for the first time www.kew.org House and the resplendent Palm House the team approach to blowing David Harber: www.davidharber.com Lake. The iconic Temperate House; glass. the world’s largest surviving Victorian Following a car accident in Jane Duncan: www.jddesignlondon. glasshouse, will also host a new artwork, 1976, Chihuly lost the sight in com 44 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Travel

by rising sea temperatures. Outrigger's OZONE Coral Regeneration Project is attempting to redress the balance by Maldives: planting on frames new strains that will stand up to the change in temperature. Responsible tourism Along with the resident marine biologist, guests can take a hand in the in Paradise planting. See www.FacebookKonotta- By Cynthia Pickard Regeneration-Project. The Maldives is made up of 1,190 islands and has a local population

of under 400,000. Beloved of Resort Maldives Konotta & Pickard Cynthia Photographs honeymooners, over 1 million tourists visit every year and this creates a problem that resorts must overcome. Each tourist can create kilograms of rubbish every day of their dream holiday. Each day 330 tonnes of waste is taken from the country’s resorts to the island of Thilafushi neighbouring the capital city, Malé. This refuse is used to reclaim land and increase the size of the Forget work, emails, traffic, hydrotherapy and beauty spa, and a dive to view fluorescent corals. The island. Scrap metals such as copper, tin, complex of restaurants and bars. The excitement of snorkelling suits me, zinc and steel are separated and exported crowds, all the stress of city life staff are remarkably thoughtful and with directions from the Best Dives to India. Apart from the separation of and really relax. attentive. There are the usual sumptuous team towards first-rate locations where plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and used international breakfast choices. the reef drops off into the deep. It’s oils, the rest of the garbage is burnt and his is the destination for those Foodwise, of course, sustainably caught addictive, following fish in so many some of it inevitably seeps into the sea. who really want to get away local seafood features, with style choices different colours and patterns swimming The resulting bonfire has been burning from it all. There’s a direct flight from Fine Dining; Asian, Indian, a amongst the varieties of corals. for over 20 years.The average visitor, from Gatwick to the capital Malé; then, Beach barbeque with a traditional The Maldives is the lowest lying basking in the beautiful surroundings of T this idyllic paradise, finds it easy to enjoy to arrive at Outrigger Konotta Island Maldivian band. My favourite is the country in the world, averaging only 4ft Resort, a further 55-minute flight to theatrically presented Teppanyaki. Apart above sea level; so is threatened by global the feeling of complete relaxation and Kaadedhdhoo looking down on tiny from fish and coconuts, the country has warming and sooner or later the rise of hedonism of their resort and can remain islands set in the vast ocean, followed by to import everything else. the oceans. Land is being purchased blissfully unaware of the accompanying a 30-minute scenic speed-boat from the At Konotta, seawater is constantly abroad to provide for islanders whose problems. atoll to the resort. being converted through an impressive homes may eventually disappear under On leaving Outrigger Konotta at Like other hotels in the Maldives, reverse osmosis desalination plant to the sea. 4.30am to catch the boat home, there’s Konotta is its own self-contained island, provide 120 thousand litres per day The corals of these atolls are under no light pollution; the entire night sky offering either secluded Beach Villas of fresh-water for the hotel’s pools threat, dying from ‘bleach’ events caused is set alight by a mass of constellations, hidden amongst palm trees or Lagoon and showers. It is then further treated by the Milky Way and the excitement Pool Villas that overhang the ocean. My to provide the guests’ pure still and of shooting stars; early rising is no villa has its own private pool, panoramic sparkling drinking water presented hardship, it’s an impressive end to a roof deck, garden, rain shower, and in glass-stoppered bottles; no plastic memorable trip. Let’s hope that this leads directly onto the classic blindingly is allowed here. A biological system haven of beauty and relaxation can white sand beach and the warm, clear deals with the sewage. There’s on-site resolve some of its ecological obstacles turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. recycling, glass and can crushing and and will remain here for many more Enchanting lizards sun themselves on composting. years. footpaths; at dusk giant fruit bats appear Water sports, dolphin and turtle like vampires. quest boat trips and Scuba diving are Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, Although the Maldives is a Moslem all big attractions with so many species South Huvadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. country, strict religious rules don’t including stingrays and reef sharks. www.outrigger.com apply in the resorts. There’s a luxury There’s a semi-sub, even a UV night E: [email protected] 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 45 Travel online: www.KCWToday.co.uk Photographs © Lynne McGowan © Lynne Photographs

We admire them with beady eyes they sometimes peck for their stoicism at boots or frolic about. Only second to and dogged the mighty emperor, the king penguin, stands nearly a metre tall, monochrome loyalty to the sleek with golden plumage and packed family, walking with character. Though appearing many miles in perfectly at home on dry land and resembling humans themselves with an the icy cold to upright posture, they are in fact the most find food for aquatic sea bird. Back in the ocean they chicks puffed up metamorphose into mere ducks and the human-likeness disappears. Modern with down and penguins are flightless, instead they fly waiting patiently. under water and the ancestral wings, now stiff flippers, propel them down deep under the surface and leaping in arcs to gulp in air. A very useful skill when escaping the gaping jaws of a leopard seal. With its reptilian face and incisors like razors a leopard seal makes short work of a penguin. Snatched then shaken inside out like a rag doll not experienced with other feathered sometimes hang out in threesomes and and hurled aside after flesh is stripped, Dancing with creatures. so watching a menage à trois with flipper leopard seals are the stuff of penguin Following this overwhelming batting between spouse and interloper is nightmares. Penguins spectacle, a pungent whiff of penguin highly amusing. At times food reserves Early British sailors named these Travels and treats guano penetrates the nostrils and an can rapidly dwindle so the divorce rate birds of the south after the northern unholy din assaults the ears; think is high amongst king penguins awaiting great auk, sadly extinct by 1844 but in Antarctica thousands of people blowing on a a late returning mate. For a penguin known as ‘penguin’, and over the last By Lynne McGowam kazoo. Up to 150,000 pairs of King there’s always ‘plenty of other fish in the couple of centuries penguins have penguins gather in St Andrews Bay sea’. We admire them for their stoicism almost become extinct themselves with South Georgia, a multitudinous and dogged loyalty to the family, species like Adelie and Rockhopper kingdom spilling this way and that and walking many miles in the icy cold to still struggling to survive. Like seals, enguins, penguins, penguins as far brimming with vibrancy. Rookeries find food for chicks puffed up with down millions were slaughtered and rendered as the eye can see, holy moly what are occupied all the year round so all and waiting patiently. down for oil and eaten by sailors, a sight! aspects of the breeding cycle can be King penguins are highly tolerant of whalers and explorers. For survival, PPenguins epitomise the Antarctic observed from eggs to large chicks who humans and one feels an affinity when Shackleton and his hardy crew ate plenty and the first sighting of them is thrilling. whistle for attention from their parents. immersed in the colony. Interacting as of penguin, although he himself was said A vast colony carpeting hills and shore An extraordinary fact is Ma and Pa if we are overgrown penguins in our to be more partial to a steak of elephant is one of the most memorable visions can distinguish their own chick’s pipey bright yellow jackets and black legs, the seal snout. far south. There’s something about a sound from thousands of others. birds are curious and toddle over for a penguin; they possess a beguiling charm Penguins couple up naturally but closer inspection. Peering into your face www.quarkexpeditions.com 46 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Health

anxiety; factors known to increase pain and, as some believe, to cause it. When Pain Relaxation itself, deep relaxation where Persists you find a place within free of stress, By Simon Hatchard-Parr, MA fear and anxiety, can be a great help in © Unsplash Photograph controlling and reducing pain. Anything that helps us to release tension in our bodies helps us with pain. Most therapists have a story that ain is an unwelcome guardian of defies explanation. Mine was Margaret our body’s well being; whether whose 10 years of pain from chronic it is mild or severe, intermittent inflammatory arthritis in her shoulder or continuous, it serves as a warning disappeared after one session of healing. P She returned to see me ‘wind milling’ against injury. Chronic pain, conversely, has no survival value except perhaps her arm with a big smile. The pain helping us to find the inner resources to had gone and the range of motion had overcome misery. Pain is an emotional returned. as well as a sensory experience. It is Alice Miller in her recent book affected by and, in turn, affects our The Body Never Lies says: “Ultimately feelings and behaviours as well as our the body will rebel. Even if it can be spiritual beliefs, our social life and temporarily pacified with the help of relationships. drugs, cigarettes or medicine, it usually The pain response involves emotions has the last word because it is quicker and memory as well as movement and to see through self-deception than the sensation and can be triggered by stress mind. We may ignore or deride the or fear. A thousand trillion synapses messages of the body, but its rebellion (the site of transmission of electric demands to be heeded because its nerve impulses between two nerve cells) language is the authentic expression of pass electrical and chemical signals our true selves.” from body to brain and back again, processing incoming danger messages as having something ‘physically’ volume on chronic pain. CBT, Cognitive Simon Hatchard-Parr has a from the body and in turn sending pain. wrong.” Sarno ignored the ridicule of Behavioural Therapy, aims to change Master’s Degree in Psychotherapy and Crucially, we can have pain when there his colleagues and treated thousands thoughts, feelings and beliefs that may Healing. His practice is in Muswell is no damage as other factors become successfully until his death in June 2017. be creating pain; reflexology, as with Hill, North London. wired with, and contribute to, the pain Lorimer Moseley, an Australian meditation, can help us to feel more T: 020 3031 6975 response. professor at the University of South relaxed and thereby reduce stress and www.sanctushealing.com The modern study of the mind/ Australia believes much of the complex body relationship dates back to the pain science and research outcomes early 19th century, but it wasn’t until over the last forty years can be reduced unexpressed emotions were seen to to a simple equation: “We will have NEW OSTEOPATHIC CLINIC create disturbances in the body’s neural pain when our brain has more credible FOR CHILDREN IN MARYLEBONE networks that science began to discover evidence of danger to our body than what many indigenous cultures have credible evidence of safety to our our other clinics in Hackney and known for millennia. body.” His treatment includes exercises Wandsworth, each osteopath is fully Clinicians like John Sarno and to: uncouple pain from movement, qualified and practising in their own Michael Moskowitz developed models desensitise systems, turn down the pain right, but together the uniquely of treatment using the mind-body link alarm; and manual therapy to resolve collaborative team ensures that each and the brain’s ability to change its sensitivity and build tolerance. More child gets the best care, regardless of a structure (plasticity). Intense emotions recently Polyvagal Theory has added family’s ability to pay.” like rage have a biochemical response another layer of understanding to how SINCE 1991 the Osteopathic Centre at the cellular level and stress that’s not the nervous system responds to our for Children has provided effective discharged disrupts the body’s regulation environment and the ways this can treatments for more than 75,000 babies, circuits and eventually causes pain and disrupt the self-regulation of our bodies ARYLEBONE parents no longer children, new mums and mums-to-be, disease. which underpins health and well being. have to travel miles to seek regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Moskowitz’ treatment uses the brain’s It is important to talk about our Mexcellent healthcare from The charity believes pædiatric plasticity to change pain pathways back pain. Many find it hard to put their pædiatric specialist osteopaths. Now osteopathy should be a treatment to normal. “By learning principles of pain into words, but having emotional open every Monday in Boston Place, option for all children, and works to how our brain works, we can begin to support is vital. There are many health 2 minutes from Marylebone station, make this happen, by: use the conscious part of our brain to and social care professionals available the Osteopathic Centre for Children’s newest clinic is helping children’s • Providing effective, drug-free modify our experience”. He does this who can be involved in managing and osteopathic treatments for by what looks a lot like bombarding the treating pain. These are: GPs, District bodies work to the best of their abilities. brain with positive sensory, visual and Nurses, Occupational Therapists, The charity’s holistic approach children from birth to 18 emotional data to develop new nerve Physiotherapists and the treatment to health, underpinned by the • Training osteopaths to be connections. programmes outlined above. team’s excellent anatomical and competent and confident Dr John Sarno, an American Complementary therapies can be a developmental knowledge, osteopathic pædiatric care professionals physician, attributed most chronic pain valuable support too. There is evidence skills and clinical experience, means each patient is considered individually • Carrying out research into to repressed emotions, especially rage that acupuncture helps by releasing pædiatric osteopathy and was among the first to include the body’s own natural opioids. and supported appropriately, whether social/emotional factors into pain Interestingly, the myelin sheaths that they present with a common childhood medicine and the treatment of illness. carry touch sensation to the brain are complaint or a complex condition. In his book The Mind/Body Prescription thicker than those which carry pain “We are excited to be making our To book an he writes: “Our brains have decided that signals so ‘haptic’ or touch sensation children’s health specialists available appointment feeling tense, which is the appropriate gets to the brain quicker, which may be for many more families across North T: 020 8875 5290 response to being tense, is too unpleasant why touch therapies, such as massage and West London,” says consultant or visit to bear and is not as socially acceptable and Reiki, can help to turn down the osteopath Daniel Stuttard. “As in www.occ.uk.com 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 47 Health online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

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damage the mental health of young people. Amy Orben, the lead researcher Teenager’s on the paper, said: “Because technologies Chelsea and are embedded in our social and wellbeing broadly professional lives, research concerning Westminster digital screen use and its effects on unaffected by adolescent wellbeing are under increasing Hospital win ‘screen time’ scrutiny.” award However Dr Bernadka Dubicka, for gold-standard chair of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, end of life care Screen time has little effect on the warned that the study’s conclusions “can psychological wellbeing of teenagers, only be limited.” regardless of whether they use devices “As a frontline clinician, I regularly for hours a day or just before bedtime, see young people who have deliberately according to a study by researchers at hurt themselves after discussing self- In recognition of the changes they’ve Oxford University. harm techniques on social media. Urgent made to their end-of-life care The research, based on analysis of the research is needed to explore the complex programme, four wards in Chelsea and screen use of more than 17,000 teenagers relationship between online content and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation across Ireland, the US and the UK, young people, with particular attention Trust received the Gold Standards Johnson HIV ward staff, were praised found use of screens before bedtime was given to the most vulnerable.” Framework (GSF) Quality Hallmark for the services they provided to patients completely unrelated to psychological Award. such as weekly film screenings and ‘Pets well being, and screen time more The award was designed as part of as Therapy’ dog visits. generally had a “minuscule” effect on the GSF programme aimed at training Professor Mark Nelson, Consultant wellbeing in teenagers when compared frontline doctors and nurses on how to Physician on the ward, said ‘I can already with other activities in an adolescent’s deal with families and patients in the last see the difference GSF is making on Ron life. year of their life. Johnson, having improved dramatically The effect was believed to be small Staff completed a 6-workshop what can all too often be a challenging enough that adolescents “would need to training programme, participated in and upsetting time for patients, relatives

Photograph © Steinar Engelend Photograph report 63 hours and 31 minutes’ more of several online evaluations and submitted and indeed the staff themselves.’ technology use a day in their time-use a portfolio, before receiving a visit from The Nell Gwynne Stroke Ward, has diaries to decrease their wellbeing” by an the GSF team. partnered with a solicitor firm to provide amount big enough for them to notice. Following this training, the four a free will- making service to their end of The study, published in the journal winning wards had increased the number life patients, which they were praised for. Psychological Science, is an important of patients identified as being in the last data point in the growing debate about year of life to at least 30%. Middlesex University Hospital also whether excessive screen time can Chelsea and Westminster’s Ron received awards for two of their wards. 48 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Health

Jeanette Perry, 87 from Fulham said: elderly people from cutting their nails Foot care concerns for the elderly “I used to go to Parsons Green [clinic] are a lack of flexibility to reach the nail By Susie Kellie but you could never get an appointment. and lack of strength to cut them. Soft They’re always fully booked.“ tissues deteriorate with age and this can Mary Phillips, 89 from also affect mobility and function.” Hammersmith, visits a podiatrist every “Isolation in the UK is not five weeks to have her toenails cut, uncommon, but very worrying when it because she has difficulty bending. She comes to the elderly. Poor foot health commented: “A lot of elderly people need can result in mobility problems and the Photograph © PXhere Photograph our feet done so we could walk better. I problem continues to deteriorate due to have bunion; which they don’t advise I the amount of elderly people who cannot have done, because it could make you a afford to pay for a podiatrist.” cripple. The service on the NHS takes Through no fault of its own The too long if you are suffering with your NHS is overstretched, however, poor feet.” foot health in elderly people is a growing Virginia Clark, 79 from Fulham says: issue that should be talked about. “Pensioners on a very low income should Matthew believes health services can get this service free on the NHS.” do more. He said: “I know the pressure Margaret Van Arkadie, 66 from on the system. We have to balance West Kensington, lives with diabetes. It budget and demand, but I do know that causes her problems in lifting her left leg low cost investment in simple care and and she uses a walking stick as a result. maintenance can avoid huge costs later She finds difficulty putting on socks on“ or finding seats that are comfortable For information on foot health and enough. “I used to go to the hospital podiatric research visit the College of to get my feet done and depending on Podiatry website: www.cop.org.uk the person available, they may or may not do a good job. The NHS is going Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham through a bad time, I’m not sure if feet Activity Center have a podiatry weekly is something that they can handle right service for over 65’s. Prices start from now.’ £20 T: 020 7386 9085 Matthew Fitzpatrick, Podiatrist www.ageuk.org.uk at the College of Podiatry suggests hammersmithandfulham maintenance and self-management Complete Foot Care reduces poor foot health T: 020 3794 5488 “The main constraints that hinder www.completefeetcare.co.uk he human foot literally carries us Statistics show this area needs more through life helping us with our support and care. In March 2018, NHS day-to-day activities, work and Digital carried out a national diabetic socialT lives. Each foot has 26 bones; 52 foot care audit which revealed since The Body bones for each pair, making up almost 2014, around 7,000 people a year are a quarter of all bones in the human undergoing foot, leg and toe amputations

skeleton. that cost the NHS £1 billion a year. Beautiful © Dorota Photograph In 2013 a report published by NHS The increasing amputations are partly England suggested approximately attributed to the six-month waiting time Shape up and look and feel fabulous at 15 million people were living with to see a podiatrist. Dorota’s Lifestyle Studio long-term foot health conditions that One in five suffering from foot ulcers It took well over a year of searching required regular GP visits and repeat die within five years of diagnosis and Chiswick for the right premises, but prescriptions. Foot health is associated some who have had limbs amputated as earlier this month Dorota Zelazny finally with diabetes, athlete’s foot, skeletal a result of diabetes die within two years. celebrated the official opening of her changes, foot & leg ulcers, corns and Despite these alarming figures in stylish new High Road studio next to mobility issues. Symptoms that can lead 2018, NHS England revealed that there West London Auctions. all too easily to other health problems. were only 189 foot care service providers That persistence has paid off and In order to improve foot health the across England and Wales Dorota now has eight-times more space NHS provided ‘advanced practitioners’, KCW Today talked with people in in which to expand her range of health physiotherapists and podiatrists, extra the community about their foot care and beauty treatments. The ground floor first part is a lymphatic massage, which training and more authority over problems; is dedicated to HYPOXI body-shaping enhances skin tone and reduces cellulite. patients’ foot health and the facility to Florence Robbins, 76 from UK (with double the number of machines). Then comes 30 minutes of gentle exercise issue prescriptions. Hammersmith and Fulham Activity, In the newly converted basement, there on a bike or treadmill in a pressure said: “I’m registered are three comfortable rooms reserved for chamber; this process uses the blood blind and as I can’t laser-hair removal, shockwave therapy, to transport fatty acids to the muscles, see, I started cutting massage and aesthetic injections. where they are burned more effectively.’ into my skin. My Dorota herself is the HYPOXI Dorota herself was inspired to launch daughter had enough expert. Suitable for all fitness levels and her business after booking a HYPOXI of it and started doing based on boosting blood flow in ‘problem’ programme and seeing the results. ‘I it for me. I don’t body areas, it is founded on the principle recommend taking at least 12 sessions, want to cause a fuss that fat and cellulite (usually around the 3 times a week. With that degree of or bother her, she’s stomach, hip, buttocks and thighs) are commitment, the average weight loss is a a busy mother you more efficiently eliminated when there is dress size in 4-6 weeks.’ see. It’s hard to wait a strong blood flow in the problem part to see a GP. People of the body. Dorota’s Lifestyle Studio – HYPOXI don’t understand the ‘HYPOXI targets those ‘lumps and 28 Chiswick High Road, W4 1TE waiting time is far bumps’ by using alternating high and low 020 8230 3456 / 07787 416530 too long and my nails pressure to boost circulation,’ explains [email protected] grow quickly.” Dorota. ‘Each session lasts an hour. The www.hypoxichiswick.co.uk 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 49 online: www.KCWToday.co.uk HealthKC W Today April 2019

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York the following year, Sorolla: Spanish at the Hispanic Society of America, New Yorkers Master of Light queued round the block National Gallery in the snow to bask in Sorolla’s Spanish sunshine, Until 7 July 2019 with 160,000 visiting the Admission £14 exhibition in a month, and nationalgallery.org.uk half the 350 works sold. He had painted 80 beach pictures in Valencia in just his will be the first UK one summer, all en plein retrospective of the artist air, and these make up since 1908 when Sorolla the most impressive of the himself mounted an exhibition at works on display. How he T achieved the three different London’s Grafton Galleries where he was promoted as ‘The World’s kinds of light on the sails Greatest Living Painter.’ Some claim! in The Return from Fishing, Considering that Gauguin, Matisse, on loan from the Musée Renoir and Degas were all still alive, and d’Orsay, is astonishing. We Picasso had already burst onto the scene see the midday sun beating with his Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. down on the top of the As regards painterly skills, two furling white sail, then we contemporaries, Giovanni Boldini and see the pale yellow ochre translucency white smudges on the boys’ backs, legs shade of the riverbank. Apart from los John Singer Sargent, had it in spades, of the sail itself, and then, we see the and buttocks is enough to convey the chicos, Sorolla did paint a number of although Camille Pissarro thought shadow cast onto canvas by the mast appearance of tanned, wet bodies, to say nudes, although only one is on show that Sargent was not an ‘enthusiast, but and sail. He used the same technique in nothing of the way in which he depicts here, that of his wife Clotilde, lying on rather an adroit performer’. Sorolla, on Afternoon at the Beach in Valencia painted water, the ebbing tide with all its rivulets pink satin sheets and inspired by The the other hand, painted with light, in in 1904, with the artist in the shade of and reflections of the sky in it Toilet of Venus by Velázquez, which he such a way that few artists have, before an ochre calico beach umbrella, whilst Along with his friend Sargent, first saw in the collection of Rokeby or since, and not just the sea and the sky, painting three little boys playing in the another painter whose treatment of flesh Park in County Durham, before it was but the sailing boats and the flesh tones glittering sea. The manner in which tones was supreme, was the Swedish subsequently moved to the National of the naked children playing on the he paints human flesh, particularly artist Anders Zorn, although he was Gallery. Sorolla referred to The Rokeby beach. Not many of his paintings sold in children’s glistening naked bodies in the more interested in plump, young girls Venus, as it became known, as ‘the most London, but, at his debut show in New shallows, is sublime. A couple of lead in the sauna and naked in the dappled human piece of flesh in the museum’. 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 51 Arts & Culture online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

It is said that unscrupulous dealers were selling paintings by Sargent, with the American’s signature painted out and Sorolla’s overpainted, for five times the amount. One social realist work, Another Marguerite (1892), depicting a young mother in the custody of two Civil Guards on a train, accused of infanticide, was his earliest success. The painting, which referenced Marguerite from Gounod’s opera Faust, who was seduced by the eponymous protagonist and killed the child that was the result of it, was awarded a gold medal at the National Exhibition in Madrid, then first prize at the Chicago International Exhibition, where it was acquired for the Washington University Museum in St. Louis, Missouri. Another great work of social realism was Sorolla’s Sad Inheritance (1899), surely one of the most poignant and saddest works of art ever painted. This extremely large canvas depicted children crippled by polio, other disabilities, and in the case of two boys, blindness, bathing at the sea in Valencia, under the supervision of a monk in a black habit. The painting earned Sorolla his greatest official Opposite above: The Return of from Fishing.1894. recognition so far, a Grand Prix and © Musé d’Orsay, Paris Opposite below: Boys on the Beach, 1909. a medal of honour at the Universal © Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid Exhibition in Paris in 1900, and Top: Young Fisherman. 1904. Private Collection Middle: Female Nude. 1902. Private Collection the medal of honour at the National Bottom: Afternoon at the Beach. 1904. Exhibition in Madrid in 1901. Arango Collection. Archivo fotográphica BPS After that, he turned his back on paintings with such a social consciousness, and turned his talented eye towards his family, landscapes and people of his native province, Valencia, particularly children playing on the sand and fishermen leading the oxen pulling depth. the wooden boats through the shallows An American, Archer Milton and up onto the beach. It is as though Huntington was a Spanish scholar, poet, he had tubes of oil paints simply labelled collector, archeologist, numismatist ‘Light’ in his paint-box. His Young and philanthropist, who founded the Fisherman, Valencia, is a masterpiece of ‘Hispanic Society of America’ in 1908 to colour balance, subtlety and a limited promote Spanish art and culture. He was palette. Central to the composition is also unspeakably rich and had acquired a swirling basket of silvery fish, with paintings by Velázquez, El Greco and the colours echoed in the boy’s shorts Goya, including his famous Duchess and the basket lining. Most of his of Alba. He met Sorolla in London, young body is in a light blue and purple and arranged for the exhibition in the shadow, with the merest hint of reflected Society’s building at 613 West 150th light from the basket and sand beneath Street. In all his purchases, he made it his feet in orangy yellow under his arm, a principle to buy only outside Spain, while one arm is in direct sunlight, ‘in order not to rob the country of its broken by a dark blue shadow of the treasures,’ although he did snap up the handle across his forearm. entire library of the Marquis of Jerez de Another audacious use of light is los Caballeros in 1902. Sorolla signed a the shaft of lemon yellow sunlight contract with Huntington for $150,000 cutting diagonally across the frame in to paint a group of panels entitled Visions Packing Raisins, with a tiny pin-prick of of Spain for the library of the Hispanic a woman’s shining earring at the centre Society of America, within a five year of the composition. What amazing time-frame. He worked relentlessly nerve and verve, this Spaniard had. on the project, but also took on other In another’s hand, it could have been commissioned portraits and continued disastrous, but Sorolla paints with such to paint on the Valencian beaches, fluidity, it is totally convincing. Sewing unrelated to Visions of Spain. He finished the Sail, borrowed from Fondazione astonishing rendering of cloth, with Boat, on loan from a private collection, is the final panel in 1919, but the work- Musei Civici, in Venice, is one of his light filtering through the trellis roof, a triumph of painterly genius, with one load had taken its toll, and he had a most famous and accomplished works, fencing and geraniums, while outside, of the boy’s bodies a translucent green stroke while painting in his magnificent and is constantly being requested for one can see the hot Mediterranean sun under the water, which itself is made up gardens in Madrid, never to paint again. loans, so much so, that Venetians have beating down on the sea and shore-line. of dabs of ultramarine, turquoise, green, He died three years later aged 60. rarely seen it in their own city. It is an One unfamiliar painting, The White yellow and white, but has such incredible Don Grant 52 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Arts & Culture

Left: Vincent van Gogh Starry Night 1888 Van Gogh and Below: Vincent van Gogh Britain Self Portait 1887 Tate Britain Until 11 August 2019 Admission £22 tate.org.uk

rom the title, Van Gogh and Britain looked as though it would be, on paper, if not exactly Fpadded out, certainly well-upholstered. Although he did a few drawings during his three-year stay in Britain, (well, London, actually, with sorties to Ramsgate, Brighton and Welwyn), he never did one painting, and did not become an artist at all until he was 27, and had long left these shores; the only painting he did of London was reference The Sleeping Congregation by serve to demonstrate what a master of based on a print by Gustav Doré of William Hogarth, or, more likely, Our colour Van Gogh was. A whole gallery is Newgate Prison, entitled The Prison Pew at Church from David Copperfield devoted to Sunflowers, on loan from the Courtyard, which he executed in the illustrated by Phiz (Hablot Knight National Gallery, with floral emulations last years of his life while in hospitall. Browne), Dickens’s favoured illustrator. by Frank Brangwyn, the Scottish The exhibition tries to show how This is where the exhibition begins Colourist Samuel Peploe, Jacob Epstein, much he was influenced by the art and to get a bit slack, and it feels that the Winifred and William Nicholson and literature available in London, and, less curators have had to ‘fluff the cushions Kit Woods. The exhibition ends with successfully, how much he influenced a up.’ They have wheeled out a succession some loud, brash paintings by Francis generation of painters. As Vincent wrote of British artists who have been Bacon, which are more Bacon than Van to his brother Theo, he was absorbed ‘influenced’ by Van Gogh, borrowing Gogh, but share a common subject in in the works of Charles Dickens, who his style, use of colour and composition. the haunted and lonesome figure on the had died only three years before he They include Harold Gilman, one of road to Tarascon. had arrived in London, particularly A the founders of the Camden Town It is over 70 years since Tate staged Christmas Carol and Hard Times, and School, Spencer Gore, its first President, a Van Gogh exhibition, and, in the Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beacher Matthew Smith, a Fauvist, who studied monochromatic austerity of post-war Stow, which he returned to time and under Matisse, Vanessa Bell, Augustus Britain, the people were ‘colour- time again. He was also fascinated by John, represented by an insipid oil of starved’, and queued round the block the engraved prints that appeared in trees in Provence, David Bomberg, in their thousands to see ‘the miracle of such journals as The Illustrated London painting after the Second World War, Millbank.’ They will doubtless do the News, Punch and The Graphic, from and Christopher Woods, who was same this time round, as, partly because which he would snip out and keep, a murky and foggy Thames with the greatly influenced by the outsider painter he personifies the public’s notion of the some of which he mounted. Luke Fildes Rhône at Arles under a Provençal night Alfred Wallis, and understood why archetypal artist, and ticks all the right was one illustrator he admired greatly sky, but he has taken the motif, and people didn’t like the naive dauber. boxes, namely being bonkers, cutting and Doré, albeit a Frenchman living turned it on its head, with a dazzling ‘No one liked Van Gogh for a while, off his own ear during a row with his in London, had embarked on a series array of reflected lights under an did they?’ Roger Fry, who organised fellow painter Paul Gauguin, never of prints called London: A Pilgrimage, effervescent constellation of stars. Other Manet and the Post-Impressionists making a sou out of his paintings in his with 180 engravings, which focused paintings are cited as being inspirations show at the Grafton Galleries in 1910, lifetime and dying young by his own on the poverty of Victorian urban for the young Dutchman after he took in which Van Gogh had twenty-seven hand, Van Gogh occupies a sentimental life, for which he was criticised by The up painting for the last ten years of his pictures, took a great deal of flack place in their hearts and minds. With Art Journal for ‘inventing rather than life, like Meindert Hobbema’s line of over the exhibition, particularly about Julian Schnabel’s new film on release copying.’ This side of life patently poplars in The Avenue at Middleharnis the Dutchman, who was dismissed as about Van Gogh At Eternity’s Gate with appealed to Van Gogh, whose sense from The National Gallery and Chill ‘mad’, a ‘lunatic’ or ‘insane.’ Bearing in William Dafoe, one is reminded of just of injustice and human suffering was October by John Everett Millais. mind that he tried to ridicule Picasso, how embarrassing films about artists awakened by the abject poverty he saw Certainly, Van Gogh painted and drew Matisse and the Cubists, the ultra- can be, with a (mercifully) short clip of all around him in London. a number of tree-lined avenues, at Etten traditional cartoonist H M Bateman Kirk Douglas as the tortured artist in The star of the show, literally and Nuenen in the Netherlands, and in also poked fun at the Vorticists famously Lust for Life. Not wishing to miss a trick, and figuratively, is undoubtedly the The Bois de Boulogne in Paris, and Arles, in his drawing Brother Brushes. He Tate has come up with a predictable immensely popular Starry Night, on loan Cassis and Saint-Rémy in the South of joined the critics with a page of Post- range of Van Gogh-inspired products, from the Musée d’Orsay, which still has France. There are numerous drawings Impressions of the Post-Impressionists including Starry Night tote bags and the ability to wow the viewer. We are that have never been displayed in Britain in the Bystander, where he lambasted the cushion covers, Van Gogh crochet dolls told that Van Gogh was inspired to paint before, including Miners in the Snow, The Grafton Galleries exhibition. Walter and keyrings, Van Gogh tea towels, the scene, having seen Whistler’s moody Dustmen, A Woman Sewing and various Sickert was great admirer of Van Gogh trays, espresso sets and pocket mirrors. Nocturne: Grey and Gold, Westminster Forsaken Women and A Sorrowing Old and painted a self-portrait in 1908 with This is nothing to the range of tasteless Bridge, with the new gas-lights on the Man, all of which possess a sense of more than a passing nod to his style. tat available at the Van Gogh Museum recently-built Embankment reflected isolation, desolation and desperation Roderic O’Conor was a young Irish in Amsterdam, but at least they and Tate in the river, and also Gustav Doré’s about the human condition. In Church, painter who took the homage a little did not stoop so low as to stock pink Van Evening on the Thames. This may or showing three pews of worshippers in further, with painting-by-numbers Gogh ‘Earasers’. may not be true, as it is hard to equate various states of inattentiveness, could landscapes and still lifes, which only Don Grant 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 53 Arts & Culture online: www.KCWToday.co.uk Photographs © Don McCullin

Left above: The Duke of Wellington, John Hoppner (circa 1804) © Stratfield Saye Preservation Trust Above: The Deccan Dinner Service installed in the Waterloo Gallery © Tracy Jones Left: Mrs Isabella Freese, Thomas Hickey © Stratfield Saye Preservation Trust

it to the King of Spain after the end of Calcutta, now Kolkata, which can be to him by a grateful nation. This is where the Peninsula War, he was so grateful to seen in Robert Home’s portrait, painted the Duke’s favourite charger, a chestnut Wellington him for beating the French, he allowed just before his departure to England. stallion Copenhagen, was buried with in India him to keep it. The career and exploits Before that, he had spent three years in military honours in a grave in the Apsley House of Arthur Wellesley and his successful Mysore, reorganising the entire region, paddock below a turkey oak planted as campaign against Napoleon Bonaparte, and, at the same time, issuing orders an acorn by the Duke’s housekeeper Mrs Open Wednesday - Sunday resulting in his defeat at Waterloo that no soldiers under his command Apostles in 1843. Until 3 November 2019 and subsequent exile to St Helena, are would indulge in plunder or exploitation The highlight of the exhibition is well-documented, but it is his earlier of the indiginous population, something the banqueting table in the Waterloo Admission £12 military history in India from 1796 that that he implemented in the Peninsula Gallery, laid with the Deccan silver wellingtoncollection.co.uk this exhibition focuses on. This was Wars. In 1802, a certain Captain Freese gilt Dinner Service, made in London, the same year that Napoleon, having was living in Seringapatam, when and purchased with money raised by helped to suppress a royalist insurrection Wellesley visited the town. According his fellow officers who fought alonside against the revolutionary government to the memoirs recorded by a member him in the Deccan region of India, as in Paris, was made commander of the of the Colonel’s staff of the time, ‘he a mark of appreciation. Also on display French army in Italy. Arthur was already brought with him a very young and are items of cutlery found in Napoleon’s a Colonel in the British army by the rather pretty woman for his wife. coach after the Battle of Waterloo, time he set sail, and he had prepared Colonel Wellesley had at that time some with his own Imperial crest, and t is always a treat to visit Apsley himself by travelling with a library a very susceptible heart particularly others with the Bourbon family crest. House, known more widely as of over 200 books, with titles that toward, I am sorry to say, married ladies, In the Robert Adam stairwell stands Number One, London. They have reflected a wider interest than just India, and his pointed attention to this lady an enormous nude marble statue of a very fine collection of paintings, I including Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan gave offence, not to her husband, but heroic proportions by the Italian master porcelin, silver and statuary, including Swift and Travels in Egypt and Syria by to the aide de camp, who considered it Canova depicting Le Petit Caporal as the no less than four paintings by Velazquez, Constantin-François Volney. highly immoral and indecorous.’ An Roman god of war Mars, but this time two by Ribera, a Titian, a Van Dyck After a year in India, his brother Irish artist Thomas Hickey, painted a as The Peacemaker, holding a gilded Nike and a Goya, as well as many more. Richard, Lord Mornington, was portrait of Mrs Isabella Freese, ‘a dark- or Victory standing on an orb. Napoleon The little drops of condensed water appointed Governor-General, which eyed beauty with shining eyes, hung did not care for the sculpture, calling on the The Waterseller of Seville’s stone helped to oil the wheels under young in Apsley House, whether to remind it ‘too athletic,’ and it was sold to the pitcher are worth the entry fee alone. Wellesley’s career, which lurched Arthur Freese or Arthur Wellesley British government by Louis XVIII in The painting was in a bundle of 80-odd forward when he defeated Tipu, the of a lost gleam may never be known,’ 1816, a year after Napoleon was exiled to other canvases liberated from Joseph Sultan of Mysore, an obstinate opponent according to Lady Longford in her St Helena. On his three month journey Napoleon’s carriage after the Battle of British imperial expansionism, at biography Wellington: the Years of the to India, Arthur stopped off in Cape of Vitoria, which the Frenchman had Seringapatam in 1799. His sword Sword. The portrait has made its way town. On his return in 1805, he stopped stolen from Royal Spanish Collection and dagger are on display, along with from Stratfield Saye, the Wellington’s off at, of all places, St Helena. and although the Duke tried to return another sword presented to Arthur in magnificent house in Hampshire, given Don Grant 54 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Arts & Culture

visit, and, on revisiting Independence Square in Victoria on Gozo, he started Malta & Gozo: drawing the Church of St James the An Artist’s View Greater, which stood at one end of the By Richard Cole tree-lined square. He could not work out why the church was so different Miller Publications from the one he had sketched all those 140pp. years before, thinking his memory was playing tricks, or he was in the wrong ISBN 978-9995-77-4639 square. After enquiring of the locals, www.millermalta he established that while excavating the crypt to install a restaurant, the whole building collapsed and a new one was built in its place. Similarly, he re-visited Tapies Bar in St Francis Square and was ichard Cole was a cartoonist for confounded to find that it had changed The Times,The Daily Telegraph, very much from his original crayon CBS and Channel 4 News, sketch. He discovered that it had been Ramongst others, in the time-honoured, demolished and rebuilt to enlarge the cross-hatched style of David Levine. square, with the ornate 19th century His drawing of the then Labour Prime church of St Francis at the east end. Minister of Malta, Dom Mintoff in 1975 Tapie’s Bar was, in fact, a nickname for set him off on a journey, culminating the owner, in whose family it had been in this book. When a government aide for a hundred years, meaning, quite wanted to buy the original, depicting a simply, pie maker. prefers to paint en plein air, and soak up in 1964 to paint landscapes in oils on Napoleonic Mintoff kicking a British Cole draws ably with just a pencil, the atmosphere of the fish market, a jazz paper. A year later, the English abstract bulldog off ‘his’ island, Cole exchanged as exemplified by the endpapers, and concert at the Bridge Bar in Valletta, the painter Victor Pasmore moved to Gudja, it for a return air ticket to Malta the in some of his sketches done in 1975, interior of a vintage bus or the regattas and a gallery dedicated to his work following year, courtesy of Air Malta, in the manner of, say, Paul Hogarth, held in Valetta Harbour. He points out opened in Valetta. Allegedly, he moved and after thirty-odd years, he returned but with a heavier line and a stricter in his informative and chatty way, that there because of the landscape, the to see how much it had changed. And architectural discipline, and he is still other British artists had been seduced architecture, the warm, sunny weather, changed it had, mainly on the Island tempted to caricature his subjects, so old by Malta’s raw beauty and historic and the commonality of the English of Gozo, with an enormous amount of habits die hard. He tackles landscapes sites, including Edward Lear, who did language. When asked whether any of urbanisation and redevelopment. He and townscapes in crayon, watercolour, hundreds of charming watercolours, and these had an influence on his work, he first returned in 2009, taking with him gouache and, occasionally, oils, which the essentially English cartoonist, H M simply replied, ‘No! the sketches he had done on his first he would work on in the studio, but he Bateman, who retired to Mgarr in Gozo Don Grant

one by a follower of Holbein and the other by William Scrots, who became the King’s Painting Childhood Painter to Henry after Holbein. Compton Edited by Amy Orrock Paul Holberton Publishing Verney have borrowed extensively, notably 96 pps. £16.50ISBN 978-1-911300-56-4 from the Royal Collection, but also from the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. One can only surmise where and why the curators drew the line as to what to include, and what To accompany an exhibition of the same to leave out. It would not be helpful to list name at Compton Verney Art Gallery in artists that are not included, but there are a Warwickshire, is a publication that traces few whose paintings of children cannot be the history of painting children from Hans ignored, including John Singer Sargent, with Holbein to Lucien Freud. Many of the great his atmospheric Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, English painters from the eighteenth century and portraits of the four Boit daughters of are represented, including Gainsborough, a rich society couple in Paris. Las Meninas Reynolds, Lawrence, Hogarth, Zoffany and by Velazquez, possibly the most celebrated Joseph Wright of Derby, with his seemingly painting of a child ever painted, will not charming Two Girls Dressing a Kitten by budge from the Prado, although a decade Candlelight on loan from Kenwood House, but ago, The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston which masks a deeper cruelty at play. Landseer agreed to loan Sargent’s The Daughters of and Millais represent the nineteenth century, Edward Darley Boit to hang alongside it with the former’s Bubbles echoing a children’s in Madrid. Renoir painted a number of activity from earlier days, with Frans Hals, Jan charming pictures of children, such as Girl Miense Molenaer, Casper Netcher and David with a Watering Can, while Winslow Homer’s Teniers the Younger, all painting this innocent boys were forever going down to the sea pastime of blowing bubbles. Arguably the in boats, and Norman Rockwell’s tousel- most portrayed child in European art over the haired and freckled American children past five hundred years would be Jesus Christ, maintained the ‘cuteness’ of an innocent age, mostly as a babe-in-arms, admittedly, with before America grew up. Dorothea Tanning Cupid, in all his guises, and maturity, a close and Joachin Sorolla each have timely second. exhibitions at Tate Modern and the National The exhibition was inspired by three Gallery respectively, displaying children in portraits in their collection, one of A Boy aged totally different ways, the surrealist with a Two by Marcus Gheeraerts from 1608, who, simmering, pre-pubescent sexuality, while firstly, does not look like a boy, and secondly, the Spaniard painted them playing on the appears to be older than two. There are two beach with unselfconscious exuberance. portraits of Henry VIII’s son, Edward VI, Don Grant 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 55 Arts & Culture online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

Emma Kunz: Visionary Drawings Serpentine Gallery Until 19 May 2019 Admission free serpentinegalleries.org

ot knowing anything about spiritual art, drawing with a pendulum or healing, I entered Nthe Serpentine Gallery wide-eyed, and with a fairly open mind. The exhibition of Emma Kunz’s geometric drawings is timed with the third instalment of the symposium on interspecies consciousness, The Shape of a Circle in the Mind of a Fish with Plants, including workshops reflecting on plant sentience, erotic botany, healing and spirituality. I suddenly realised I was way out of my depth, and not waving, but drowning. I had heard of neurobiologists, and the work they were doing in monitoring the behaviour of plants and how they have to find energy, reproduce and ward off predators, but this was a step too far. Kunz was a Swiss naturopath and self-taught artist, who discovered her gifts of telepathy, prophesy and healing at an early age, using a pendulum and magnetism to polarise marigolds in her garden, which produced multiple flower-heads as a result. She would use her drawings as guides to formulate diagnoses for both the mind and body of her patients. At first sight, the 60-odd drawings, or the sixty odd drawings, look like Top: Work No. 003, variations on a child’s spirographic Photo: © Emma Kunz Zentrum doodles, but on closer examination, Left: Installation view Serpentine Galleries they reveal an extraordinary attention to © 2019 readsreads.info detail, symmetry and intricate geometry, each one drawn onto a large sheet of graph paper with pencil, crayon and oil crayon. It is difficult not to interpret the geometric shapes as almost anything figurative: arrows, quasi-Islamic patterns, flowers opening, architectural drawings of arches or viaducts, a bird’s- Ceriologist, talking about a ‘revelation’ eye view of buildings, a compass, when he thinks of their shared Japanese rising suns, a Star of David, a geometric language and that, although sweeping radar display, a spider’s web, her visual works have little similarity, an owlish figure, a vagina, a Slinky toy, the meanings hidden within them may a carton of eggs, graveyard crosses, a have more in common than one would whirligig, a mysterious board game, assume, suggesting a connection. The devils and a Rorschach inkblot test. geometric drawings, or ‘energy fields’ It feels as if the whole exhibition is an that she captured on paper, ‘document elaborate psychological test to determine her knowledge in code’. Whether one the viewer’s personality characteristics meaning ‘without limitation’. The rock purposes, washed down with one of believes that crop circles are formed by and emotional functioning. One can is still mined and used to treat a range Kunz’s herbal essences; so who would some form of paranormal phenomena, sit on one of the three fossiliferous of health issues across Switzerland. The dare argue against their beneficial magnetism, meteorological activity, limestone benches, made from a healing fellow Swiss, and artistic director of properties? Some have leapt upon her aliens or simply by pranksters preying rock discovered by Kunz in 1942 in the Serpentine, Hans Ulrich Obrist, designs as being ‘cosmic’, and related on gullible minds, there are plenty of the Roman quarry in Würenlos, in the confesses to have a daily ritual of taking to corn circles, with one advocate, John theories to go round. And round. canton of Aargau, and named Aiona A, Aiona A as a fine powder for therapeutic Michell, a geomancer and editor of The Don Grant 56 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Arts & Culture

MAX Serling’s twist-happy morality tales were the father of the current age of so- cues from an episode dating back to their first introduction to science fiction. called Peak TV then The Twilight Zone the Cuban missile crisis, the ripped Feldman Whilst Twilight Zone took some cues is something like the missing link. from decades old-headlines story sees REVIEWS from earlier 50s genre works like Tales Its genetic fingerprints are so deeply a nuclear attack turn a neighbourhood of Tomorrow! and Dimension X, it came embedded in audio-visual culture that on itself, in order to justify who should at its themes in a notably different way. it’s difficult to understand the show in and shouldn't get to survive in the only The Twilight Zone didn’t feature slavering context, as nearly all of its strengths nuclear bunker reachable. Soon a sort bug-eyed monsters shooting lasers at have been copied and adapted to such of kangaroo court is assembled, where The Twilight oddly hunky scientists or scantily clad a widespread extent that if anything it the panicked families savagely attempt girls screaming in the cold grip of killer feels derivative rather than revolutionary. to earn their survival by virtue of their Zone robots, but instead took a rather more The current theatrical version of The place in America’s social (read ‘racial’) The Ambassador’s Theare unnervingly sociological take on the Twilight Zone therefore has a difficult pecking order. The piece feels modern, Tickets from 19.50 genre. Hot-button topics like nuclear line to walk for modern audiences; do incisive and queasily familiar to the war, cosmetic surgery or racism were you slavishly recreate the 50s original or current cultural conversation. It feels a spun into pressure-cooker tension do you attempt something new to evoke full length play could have been made machines where the mask of science that cutting edge which has become so of this, but all too soon its over and fiction was used to interrogate issues that dulled by repetition? we’re back to alien invasions, hellish he Twilight Zone originally ran would normally be deemed too divisive The Twilight Zone at the dreamscapes and cursed astronauts. (in flickering black and white to even mention on television, let alone Ambassador’s plays it safe with option Luckily the set is something of naturally) from 1959-1964. interrogate. 1, taking 8 stories from the original a marvel, Lynchian black and white ‘TFor many of the original audience, Rod This combination of social run of episodes and dramatising them stripes zigzag hypnotically against examination and without much of a sense of rhyme or rolling eyeballs and flickering tv sets. It’s the still box-fresh reason. Whilst there’s a funny running not the 50s but some kind of psychedelic thrills of Science gag of characters whipping out cigarettes nightmare of that decade and crucially Fiction were a and launching into Sterling-esque it sells the atmosphere. As a result this massive critical sum-up narration, often seemingly greatest hits, carnival version of The and commercial against their own will, there’s not Twilight Zone could not be described as hit. The original really much connective tissue to tie all particularly and is in fact really rather © Hank Desmoulin Photograph five year run had these vignettes together. As a result enjoyable moment to moment. There a similar effect whilst some of the stories are perfectly are fun twists and the actors all perform on television satisfying on their own terms, it’s well in admittedly two-dimensional programming hard to escape the question of what roles but even with the cleverest staging as the monolith all this is really for. Whilst the stories in the world it would still come across as in 2001:A Space interrupt each other à la Cloud Atlas, somehow empty. The original Twilight Odyssey had on the strongest moments in the show Zone looked at the future through a dark prehistoric man. comes from one of the few stories that mirror, this adaptation just sniggers at If The Sopranos is stands entirely on its own. Taking its the past.

that you can only submit to the internal, genre sandbox, having a grand time, character, the ugly truth about who we Us infernal logic of its construction. not making a grand statement, it’s with are as a country, buried deep below like Director: Jordan Peele However Us, as it turns out, doesn’t enough panache to continue outpacing the squirming insects at the beginning go anywhere quite as clever or daring the competition. He’s made a primo of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet. It’s a Running Time: 116 Minutes as Peele’s last film, his Oscar-winning popcorn slasher: fun, funny, elegant good time for a little collective, cultural transition out of sketch comedy and into even when aiming for the jump-scare self-reflection. But the metaphor doesn’t the upper echelons of Hollywood. Get reflexes of the same multiplex crowd that entirely track. Do these evil twins Out, remember, grabbed its audience gobbled up Get Out. represent America’s darkest impulses, right from the start, too. Us kicks off as Adelaide Wilson its forgotten past selves, or some vague It was, as they say, a hard act to (Lupita Nyong’o) sets off for a summer combination of the two? follow: a slow-burn supernatural thriller getaway, traveling with her burly Such scrutiny does Us few favors. It’s You know you’re in the hands of a that was really a damning satire about goofball husband, Gabe (Nyong’o’s better appreciated on a visceral level, natural born filmmaker when you can the way racism survives and thrives, even Black Panther co-star Winston Duke, as an inventive, often virtuosic spin on feel yourself being tugged, as if by in the coziest of liberal enclaves. While hilariously nailing the dad-joke energy), home-invasion horror. Working with invisible forces, from one shot to the hardly devoid of ideas (whether telling and their two children, teenage daughter cinematographer Mike Gioulakis, who next, into a movie’s diabolical design. jokes or staging scares, Peele remains Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and made the frame itself a source of terror That’s the sensation provoked by Jordan an incisive social critic), Us operates in preteen son Jason (Evan Alex), to a cabin in the brilliant It Follows, Peele offers Peele’s Us, which begins with a sequence a less directly subversive mode. And yet on the California coast. The weather is up one effective suspense set piece after so expertly shot, cut, and orchestrated if Peele is taking his victory lap in the lovely, but Adelaide can’t shake a bad another, exploiting foreground and feeling provoked by some odd omens. background space, locking us into the And in much faster fashion than Get tunnel vision of the characters, tracking Out, Peele confirms his heroine’s worst enemy movements around the perimeter fears with the sudden arrival of identical of the house in gliding long takes. He bizzaro Wilsons: hostile doppelgängers of even makes the hoarier horror tricks sing each family member, dressed in blood- anew: By the time a massacre occurs to red and brandishing gold scissors. the timeless strains of Good Vibrations, Pictures © Universal Photograph These clone intruders, played by the you’ll wonder if he’s auditioning to same actors as their counterparts, are direct the next Strangers sequel. Though nonverbal except for Adelaide’s who maybe Scream is the better point of acts as a demonic group spokeswoman comparison: The balance of tones, the ‘We’re Americans,” she hisses when her teetering between laughs and scares, terrified other self asks who or what they would make Wes Craven proud. Peele, are. Couple that line with an alternative though, conducts the mayhem to his reading of the title in all-caps, and it own malevolent orchestra, even if Us, becomes clear that Peele is reaching for like Get Out before it, is more giddily some point about the American national entertaining than it ever is scary. 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 57 Arts & Culture online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

Amenra and Owen Gunnell, as well as UK Young Drummer of the Year 2019 award winner, MUSIC Nathan Shingler. Entry is first-come, first-served. Tickets £10. www.rcm.ac.uk Meanwhile, the Royal Northern ROUND UP College of Music and Wigmore Hall BY GEOFF COWART will celebrate the work of composer Sir George Benjamin and his trademark shifting layers of sound during two concerts on Saturday (May 4). The day features solo, chamber and So many festivals, orchestral works performed by students from the RNCM, as well as an informal so little time conversation between Benjamin and BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Sara Mohr- Pietsch. Works featured include his From jazz and Taiko Relativity Rag, Sortilèges, 3 Miniatures for drumming, to stoner rock and solo violin and At First Light. Concerts at 10.30am and 2.30pm, with conversation classical recitals, the coming at noon. Tickets are £5 each or £12 for weeks are sure to delight.The the day. www.wigmore-hall.org.uk pick of the upcoming festivals rapper/poet JC001, Annie Bea, JC -The of weighty metal kicks off on Friday Guildhall Jazz Festival offers takes place over the May Bank Members, Steve Dior, Asheber and the (May 3) with a headline set from present and future stars Holiday weekend (May 5-6) Afrikan Revolution, The Goldborns and veteran San Francisco doom merchants Pink Cigar. OM. The following days sees both If you’re ducking out of London for as both Portobello Live! and The festival will also tip its cap to the bleak Belgians of Amenra (May the Bank Holiday, don’t worry. There the superbly eclectic Wall of Sound 4) and Orange County troublemakers Desertfest return to the capital. is plenty of action before the big Fu Manchu KittyDaisyLewis (May 5) top weekend with the Guildhall Jazz Festival ow in its fifth year, Portobello presenting the best of British stars, Live! remains a fantastic the bill across the Electric professors and pupils from Tuesday (30 celebration of the music, April) to Friday (3 May). A range of film and spoken word talents of west Ballroom N and The concerts will take over their intimate London. All the venues are within Milton Court Studio Theatre as its walking distance and a wristband gets Roundhouse, respectively. transformed into a jazz club featuring you into every event, and under 16s go artists such as singer Cleveland Watkiss, for free! Desertfest gigs also feature group dinosaur led by composer/ The venues taking part include performer Laura Jurd and pianist Nikki Subterania, Mau Mau, Rough Trade, at The Black Heart, The Iles with her band The Printmakers. Vinyl Café, Maxilla Social Club, the Muse Most gigs are free, others £15 (£10 Gallery and The Italian Job. Devonshire Arms and The concs). www.gsmd.ac.uk/jazzfestival As for the artists, local rap poet Lowkey will perform at the festival for Underworld. the first time, joining other newcomers Tickets from Wreckless Eric still has the £40 for one including talented siblings Kitty, Daisy licks on the guitar and Lewis, as well as legendary local DJ day or £110 records, which is toasting to 25 years for the weekend. www.desertfest.co.uk and filmmaker Don Letts, former Sex Veteran noisemaker and oddball singer Pistol Glen Matlock, Youth (Killing of electronic musical mayhem. Tickets But before they light up the Electric Ballroom stage at Desertfest, all eyes will Wreckless Eric is coming to the 100 Joke), Ben VP (Curiosity Killed The from £20. www.portobellolive.com Club in Oxford Street on May 17. Forty Cat), Ted Key and the Kingstons The Bank Holiday weekend also sees be on Amenra’s acoustic set at Bush Hall on Thursday (May 2). The unique set years after his Stiff Records debut, the (Housemartins), Richard Strange the riff-tastic Desertfest return to rock guitar slinger is still capable of making (Doctors of Madness), Gaz Mayall, Camden. The three-day extravaganza will honour the band’s 20th anniversary. Tickets £18.www.bushhallmusic.co.uk waves with his eclectic and snarled pop. “Wreckless”(aka Eric Goulden) will be armed with tunes from his new Don Letts But jazz and classical fans album, Transcience. It was recorded with shouldn’t feel left out. Both the acoustic 12-string guitarist Alexander Turnquist, Cheap Trick bassistTom Royal College of Music and Petersson, Amy Rigby on piano and Wigmore Hall play host to backing vocals, jazz horn player Artie Barbato, and drummer Steve Goulding their own musical explorations (of Graham Parker & the Rumour) over the Bank Holiday which marks the first time the pair have recorded together since Eric’s enduring weekend. hit Whole Wide World from 1976. Eric says he wrote the new songs The RCM’s annual celebration of on the move ‘alone in grubby rooms, percussion returns on Sunday (May in dilapidated motels, and poolside at 5) with American jazz drummer Tony rundown, out-of-season resort hotels’ Igoe leading the big band party on the during gaps between gigs. “I was Amaryllis Fleming Hall stage.This year’s seeing stuff and writing it down, little festival also includes a Taiko drumming vignettes,” he said.“I felt like I was in session and performances from Neal a succession of Raymond Carver short Wilkinson, the Royal Marines Band, stories.” Patrick King, Pete Long, Rob Farrar Tickets £17.50. www.100club.co.uk. 58 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Sports

British Gunmakers of the 20th Century By Donald Dallas. Quiller Publishing. 136pp. ISBN 978 1 84689 291 2

he most people will know about shotguns will be through watching Guy Ritchie’s 1998 comedic caper/heist movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, starring a pair of 12 gauge sidelockT double barrel shotguns. A partial glimpse of the salesroom catalogue in the film, according to the Internet Movie Firearms Database, describes them as ‘A pair of 12-bore hammer guns by . . . Jones patent rotary-underlever rebounding si . . . Best foliate-scroll engraving with some hard . . . fine damascus barrels with game ribs. Weight each 6Ib 12oz, 14 ½ inch pull, 30in . . . Estimate £250,000- 300,000’. The guns have been identified as a pair of Paradox by Holland & Holland, naturally one of the gunsmiths that appear in this esoteric book. H&H are probably the second most famous gunmakers in Britain, surpassed only by James Purdey & Sons, who have been in their South Audley Street premises since 1883, although the firm was started earlier in the century. All the best London gunmakers forged their Damascus barrels out of nails from old horseshoes, which were thought to have been toughened by the heavy wear they had endured. They were heated up, hammered into strips, and then beaten around mandrels to form the basic barrel shape. The origins of Damascus steel date back to ancient Syria, where the many-layered, and beautifully- patterned metal was revered for its extraordinary strength, originally in swords. Part of the beauty of a well-balanced gun, whether a side-by- side or an over-and-under, is the quality of the engraving on the side- of Purdey moleskin breeks (£190), held up with a Russian Holts next Auction plates and bolsters, although there is no need to engrave a Damascus leather belt with silver buckle (£1,695.00) and a tweed field Tuesday 18th June 2019 gun, as each has its own unique, swirling pattern, created when it is coat at £900. There are twenty British gunmakers featured The Army Reserve Centre forged from more than a hundred layers of Damascene steel. in this elegantly photographed book, with many close-ups Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington One can literally order a gun in the same way one would order a of the intricate workmanship and detailing of these toys London W8 6TN suit from Henry Poole or Huntsman, or a pair of shoes from Lobb’s, for very rich boys, and a brief history of each firm, from with a number of fittings in each case. The customer has a choice of the earliest, John Rigby & Co. dating back to 1775 in Viewing times: barrels, locks, single or double triggers, ejector actions, stocking and Dublin, and Boss & Co., established in 1812, to more recent Saturday 15 June, 10-7pm engraving, as well as weight and length. Whereas a Savile Row suit companies starting up, like Boxall and Admiston in 2009 will set you back upwards of £4,000, with a pair of bespoke shoes and Longthorne Gunmakers in 2010, with one bespoke Sunday 16 June, 10-6pm north of that, a 12-bore over-and-under from Purdey will cost at model named The Nouveau, without the merest hint of irony. Monday 17 June, 9-8pm least £126,000, while a Damascus .410 game gun will set you back Tuesday 18 June, 8am more than £154,000, and all before you have even stepped into a pair Don Grant until the end of the auction.

19:45 April 12, Newcastle Falcons Warriors, 15:00 Stuttgart, Germany Marathons in the UK Football April 27, Everton v Cardiff v Leicester Tigers, 19:45 May 4, Saracens v Exeter April 22-28, WTA TEB April 14, Bungay Black Dog Rugby, Tennis City, 15:00 April 13, Gloucester v Bath, Chiefs, 15:00 BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup, Marathon April 27, Tottenham v West 15:00 May 5, Bath v Wasps, 15:00 Istanbul, Turkey April 14, Brighton Marathon & Marathons Ham United,12:30 April 13, Harlequins v April 29-May 5, ATP BMW April 14, Boston Marathon April 27, QPR v Northampton Saints,15:00 Tennis Open by FWU, April 14, Goodwood Motor Fixtures Nottingham Forest,15:00 April 13, Worcester courtesy of Sky Sports Munich, Germany Circuit Marathon May 4, Arsenal v Brighton Warriors v Sale, 15:00 April 814, ATP Grand Prix April 29-May 5, ATP April 14, Great Welsh London Men’s Home & Hove Albion,15:00 April 13, Hassan II, Millennium Estoril Open, Marathon Football May 4, Bristol v Saracens,17:30 Marrakech, Morocco Estoril, Portugal April 19, Good Friday April 8, Chelsea v West Chelsea v Watford,15:00 April 14, Exeter Chiefs v April 8-14, ATP Fayez April 29-May 5, WTA Grand Marathon Ham United, 20:00 May 5, QPR v Sheffield Wasps, 15:00 Sarofim & Co US Men's Prix S.A.R La Princesse Lalla April 23, St George's Day April 9, Tottenham v Wednesday,12:30 April 26, Newcastle Falcons Clay Court Championship, Meryem, Rabat, Morocco Marathon Manchester City, 20:00 May 12, Fulham v v Northampton Saints, Houston, Texas, April 29-May 5, WTA April 27, Endurancelife April 11, Newcastle United,15:00 19:45 USA J&T Banka Prague Open, Pembrokeshire Marathon Arsenal v Napoli, 20:00 May 12, April 26, Sale v Bath,19:45 April 8-14, WTA Copa Prague, Czech Republic April 28, Blackpool Marathon April 13, Tottenham v Everton,15:00 April 27, Exeter Chiefs v Claro Colsonitis, Bogota, April 29-May 5, ATP BMW April 28, Shakespeare Fulham v Everton,15:00 Harlequins,14:00 Colombia Open by FWU, Marathon April 13, QPR v Swansea London Women’s Home April 27, Leicester Tigers v April 8-14, WTA Samsung Munich, Germany April 28, Stirling Scottish City,15:00 Football Bristol, 15:00 Open presented by Corner, April 29-May 5, ATP Marathon April 13, Tottenham v April 14, April 27, Wasps v Saracens, Lugano, Switzerland Millennium Estoril Open, April 28, Virgin London Huddersfield Town,12:30 QPR v C&K Basildon,14:00 16:30 April 15-21, ATP Monte- Estoril, Portugal Marathon April 18, Chelsea v Slavia April 21, April 28, Worcester Carlo Rolex Masters, April 29-May 5, WTA May 5, Belfast Marathon Prague, 20:00 Arsenal v Everton,12:30 Warriors v Monte-Carlo, Monaco Grand Prix S.A.R La May 5, Hellstone Marathon April 19, QPR v Blackburn May 5, Gloucester,15:00 April 22-28, ATP Barcelona Princesse Lalla Meryem, May 5, Newport Marathon Rovers, 15:00 QPR v Portsmouth,14:00 May 3, Bristol v Sale, 19:45 Open Banc Sabadell, Rabat, Morocco May 5, Ranelagh Harriers April 21, Arsenal v Crystal May 11, May 3, Harlequins v Barcelona, Spain April 29-May 5, WTA J&T Richmond Half Marathon Palace,16:00 Arsenal v Manchester City, Leicester Tigers, 19:45 April 22-28, ATP Gazprom Banka Prague Open, May 5, Southampton April 22, 12:30 May 4, Gloucester v Hungarian Open, Prague, Czech Republic Marathon Chelsea v Burnley, 20:00 Newcastle Falcons, 15:00 Budapest, Hungary May 6-12, ATP & WTA May 5, Three Forts Marathon April 23, Tottenham v Premiership Rugby May 4, Northampton April 22-28, WTA Tour Mutua Madrid Open, May 6, Milton Keynes Brighton & Hove Albion, courtesy of BBC Sports Saints v Worcester Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Madrid, Spain Marathon 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 59 Auctions online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

Intensive Care The working life of a modern auctioneer

olding four sales a year doesn't sound much like hard work initially, but Nicholas Holt can tell you otherwise when he breaks down the Hschedule Holts Auctioneers works to in order to achieve this. The reality is in a three month period he has just over a month to source a million pounds worth of guns, three weeks to photograph and catalogue them and produce an impressive, glossy catalogue which is sent out worldwide in advance of each auction. “It’s an intensive business which keeps me and my team constantly on the go. Thankfully we have been building up an extensive network of both regional and international representatives who help tremendously by being able to spend time with clients in their area. They can liaise directly on a local level, which is invaluable, especially regarding overseas clients when one has to overcome not just language difficulties, but having to negotiate the different legislation issues each country presents. Much of my time nowadays is spent visiting these agents, attending their equivalents of our game fairs and exhibitions, or holding valuation days which they have organised for me. They will have already put in a lot of groundwork in terms of publicising the event and drumming up potential business and of course when it comes to the logistics of moving firearms around the world we'd be hard pressed to do it without them! It never ceases to amaze me at what can turn up on these overseas ventures, for example, at the Paris Game Fair, just before our June sale, I met three young lads who had brought a Boss sidelock ‘over and under’ for valuation and possible sale. That in itself is fairly unusual, but this particular example had been buried on the family farm by their grandfather in advance of the German invasion during the Second World War. Sadly it had been buried with no protective case or cover and was extensively pitted and rusted all over (oddly enough though, not internally). I put a cautious estimate of £3000-5000 on it and everyone was surprised to see it make an unbelievable £11,500 on

the day of the sale. These lads are still ringing up my Top: French representative, Sebastian, on an almost daily A pair of presentation 20-bore James Barbar silver mounted pistols Sold by Holt’s Auctioneers: March 2012 basis asking “how much did it sell for!?”. Hammer Price: £11,000. It is as much the stories and the history that Left: Pair of 16-bore Stephen Grant hammerguns accompanies the guns we sell that gives them such Sold by Holt’s Auctioneers: December 2009 a push commercially. It is not unusual for us to hold Hammer Price: £50,000 back selling an item in the next immediate sale in Above: Nick Holt. A day in the life. order to really be able to research the story that goes with it, and importantly, get that story published in the various shooting publications to give it maximum coverage. A perfect example of this would be the pistols owned by Lord Lovat, which he carried with him on D-Day and the Dieppe raid. The publicity resulted in the perfect outcome; with one going to the newly reformed Commando Regiment (initially consignments for the sake of good relations with the school run and then into the office (where generally founded by Lovat) and the second finding its way other auction houses. Only recently I was asked to a ton of paperwork awaits me!). There is always a back home to the Lovat family. That was a terrific collect some items that had not sold with one of the meeting to be at, whether with my staff or with the result. other houses. When I found out that it was on the various committees I am involved with, such as the The biggest nightmare we have to endure is when a verge of printing its catalogue and that these items Gun Trade Association or the Gunmakers Company vendor suddenly decides to change his mind on selling had been re-entered by it for sale (featuring quite Charitable Trust (a very important charity set up to an item, especially after you have put the work in to prominently), I felt bound to persuade the vendor to provide financial support for the development of craft the cataloguing, photography and publicity. Not least leave them with the other house. To have had them skills and the new technology associated with the of all, having to explain to a potential buyer who has pulled at that stage would have been a serious blow to gunmaking trade. You can contact me for details!). flown halfway across the world to buy something, that them. I’ll aim to be back home for 7:30pm to spend some ‘it has been withdrawn’ is no fun at all. Outside of work I lead a pretty normal life. If I’m time with my children and then a glass of wine with Knowing how soul destroying this can not somewhere on the other side of the world I'm up my ever patient wife Kathryn. There is never a dull be sometimes results in sacrificing potential at 6:30am for a jog around the local park, doing the moment! 60 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Motoring

But don’t let that Mid-engined make you think that this is going to be a mass- Aston Martin produced appliance. This is no Toyota supercars on the Corolla. “The Vanquish Vision Concept has a way more seductive and less By Fahad Redha technical appearance than Aston Martin Valkyrie and AM-RB 003”, Miles Nurnberger, Aston Martin Director ston Martin seems to be on a of Design said, “but it’s bit of a roll. The company has still extreme in terms of previewed three new models in visual gestures.” concept form and has a fourth on the “It’s a prettier car, A and purposely so, as way. While Porsche and Maserati are it’s been designed to downsizing and trying to go mainstream thrive in a less extreme with the Macan and Ghibli respectively, performance envelope. Aston Martin is doing the opposite. Oh It will be joined by the AM- greater limits than pure petrol power But, while being very much at home on sure, two of its models are going to be RB-003, another limited production ever could. Both the AM-RB-003 the road, it will still be equally capable SUVs, one of which is even (actually) ‘hypercar’ and the third mid-engined and the Vanquish will make use of the when chasing lap times on a race track. electric, but it’s not those that are car in the company’s history following system, with the former going on sale As a result, it’s less provocative and more making headlines. the Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro. first. classical in its look.” The other two are something equally Like its predecessors, it too was co- But the cars will differ in a number As uncertainty looms for the British new for the company: a pair of mid- developed with Red Bull. The company of key ways. One of these is the car industry it is inspiring to see a engined supercars set to take on the has confirmed that a limited run of construction. While the AM-RB-003 British brand doing something like this. Italians as well as McLaren. 500 coupes will be made, but more will use all-carbon fibre construction The sensible thing to do would be to play The Vanquish Vision concept previews interesting than that is the technology like the Valkyrie, the Vanquish is it safe, but Aston Martin has never been what Aston Martin says will be its “first which propels the car. expected to have a more cost effective one to shy away from risks. Think back mid-engined series production supercar.” One matter that has been confirmed bonded aluminium chassis. This means to the Lagonda saloon from the 1980s. If the name rings a bell that’s because it is that it will use F1 technology. This that it will never match its sibling’s And we haven’t mentioned another has been used on two of Aston Martin’s means a turbocharged V6 connected to performance, but this is what allows the Zagato designed limited edition that’s flagship sports cars. a hybrid system helps the car achieve company to make it in greater numbers. also on the way.

The car as a concept is relatively young and an entire vocabulary has been On the coupe created just for it. This vocabulary continues to evolve as the car itself SUV does. Today’s shapes would’ve been By Fahad Redha unthinkable a century ago when most vehicles were little more than horseless carriages. Mercedes has revealed an estate version In the 1960s, large American saloons of its latest A-Class which it calls the had a different nomenclature for their CLA Shooting Brake. This has raised a body styles. Unlike today, it wasn’t number of eyebrows as there are those necessarily the number of doors that who define a shooting brake as a 3-door determined what you call it. A 1969 estate rather than a 5-door like the Chevrolet Impala for example, was Mercedes. either a ‘hardtop’ or a ‘post’ (station It’s not the first time this company wagons and convertibles are a different has done this. It would be the second story). This depended on whether or not generation of that car, and 4-door CLA there was a B pillar, just behind the front and CLS saloons are also available, doors. The former was designed such that Mercedes insists on calling coupés. that if all windows are rolled down, the The company’s reasoning is that these entire area is open. If you were to restore cars have lower roofs than a traditional such a car and needed a new front door, saloon as well as pillarless doors. this is what you need to know. The And over the past decade a number dozen different types on sale including version of the firm’s popular SUV. 2-door post had more in common with a of companies have produced 5-door Audis, Mercedes, and even a Renault in The swooping roofline and redesigned 4-door post than it did with the 2-door SUVs, again with low roofs and some markets. tailgate takes away rear seat headroom hardtop. pillarless doors, and marketed them as The latest company to jump on this as well as boot space. And as is Porsche But none of this answers why coupés. BMW started the trend with the bandwagon is Porsche with the Cayenne tradition you get a little less and pay Porsche, Mercedes, and the rest use such X6, but now there are more than half a coupé. In a nutshell this is a less practical more for the privilege, costing £62,129, confusing labels today. The short answer quite a bit more than the regular car’s is marketing. By convincing you that £55,965. you bought a shooting brake or a coupé But as with the Mercedes Shooting rather than just another estate saloon, SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT Brakes, these ‘coupés’ are, in many or SUV, they can convince you that people’s mind, mislabelled as such. They their product stands out. And in a world KCW Today. See page 7 for details argue that there are clear definitions for where safety and emissions regulations all of these automotive terms. are shaping cars, whatever a firm can do But they forget something important. to differentiate its product, it will. 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 61 Advertisement online: www.KCWToday.co.uk adRocket

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FP_CLASSICC_3830704id3770240.pdf 07.01.2019 15:50 62 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Crossword, Bridge & Public Notice

Across 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 This is the seventy sixth 1 Mother’s mother with a railway for storing Wolfe Cryptic Crossword animal feed. (7) 5 The UN has a small problem to release a trailer. (7) Amelia Wellings-Thomas of SW11 is last 9 10 month’s winner, congratulations. 9 Used to request a free ride by Tom. (5) Please let me have any comments or 10 Royal dog I rescanned with x rays and suggestions you may have and remember, treatments, (9) if you haven’t totally finished the whole 11 Lash about to raise money. (4-5) crossword still send it in as the first correct 12 Sounds like nocturnal boat trip might go off 11 12 or substantially correct answer picked with a bang. (5) at random will win a prize of a bottle of 13 Hearing it bucket down rider needs to hold Champagne kindly donated by Lea and them. (5) Sandeman. Send your grids either by post 15 Gives up prostitute to get scooter going. (4-5) 13 14 15 16 17 to Wolfe, at KCW Today 80-100 Gwynne 18 A small coffe is steamed afresh. (9) Road London SW11 3UW, or scan it in 19 Walked out with could be said to be such. (5) and send by email to wolfe@kcwtoday. 21 Street with tree to conceal a cache. (5) co.uk. 23 Drunk line reportedly difficult to walk along. 18 19 20 www.leaandsandeman.co.uk/Fine-Wine. (9) 106 Kensington Church St, London, 25 Set mirror around to reflect intentional violence that creates fear among the masses. (9) W8 4BH. T: 020 7221 1982. 26 Used to look at bones in ten fish perhaps. Contact Sandor. (1-4) 21 22 23 24 27 Optics may appear bulged after assault by

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 this sailor. (7) Q U I N S Y A D O R N S 8 28 University College London in near form of U D O C R A I reactor. (7) 9 10 S A K I L A R G E S C A L E 25 26 R O I O A E E Down 11 12 S T A T I C S Y M P H O N Y 1 Held by cargo toward attack on another E I S Y O C country. (2,2,3) 13 14 15 2 Light cooking material that Americans have B R I D E T O B E T R U E removed one from. (9) 27 28 O R S 16 17 18 19 3 If you see this resin you should come to a halt. M I R E B E E T L E O F F 20 (5) A S A E H I 4 Sounds like pickled herrings worn on top. (9) 21 22 23 A D V A N C E D E G O I S M 5 Buried in ground I'd opened. (5) 14 Firm proposition in branch of maths. (3,6) 22 Contract a journey when the anchor's free. E L I I R U S 6 Aquiline brick carrier holding suitable facial 16 My clanger upset the priest. (9) (5) 24 25 D I F F I D E N C E T A U T organ. (4-5) 17 Old navigation aid redirecting real boats (9) 23 Being tested in court finished in the same R I I G A D R 7 Rainbow or brown derogatory old lady. (5) 18 Would you put a blotting pad on this place about right. (5) 26 27 A R N I C A S T R O B E 8 Thy foal maybe fed from here in the winter. computer. (7) 24 Poisonous spasm holding neat draft (7) 20 Highboy transvestite no longer irate. (7) animal. (5)

PUBLIC NOTICE Andrew’s Top Ten Conventions With Andrew Robson Section 17 Licensing Act 2003 When a partnership has bid and supported a major suit (e.g. 1♠-2♠ or 1♠-3♠), you would not wish to change the trump suit. Licensing Act 2003: Instead, a bid of a new suit asks partner for help in that suit, to help partner decide whether to go to the next zone (be it game Application for a new after 1♠-2♠ or, more controversially, slam after 1♠-3♠). Premises Licence This first bid in a new suit after a partnership has bid and supported a suit is called a Trial Bid. You should have a long Notice is hereby given that: (three+ cards), weak (missing two of the point-count cards) suit. With help (honours or shortage) in that suit, responder jumps (1) ELLUSTRIA LIMITED as appropriate; otherwise he signs off, by bidding the trump suit at the lowest level. has applied to the ♠ +)'" Dealer South Both Vulnerable City of Westminster on: ♥ (2) 1 APRIL 2019 %$# For a new Premises Licence for: ♦ &$#! (3) OFFICE 1.01, 1 HUDSON’S ♣ PLACE, LONDON, SW1V 1PZ. *" The proposed application is: ♠ ♠ (4) TO PERMIT FOR THE SALE BY &$ # N "&' $%'# !&' $('# RETAIL OF ALCOHOL. ♥ +) & ♥ '" ♠ Any person who wishes to make a representa- ♦ WE♦  tion in relation to this application must give (+' *) %" notice in writing of his/her representation ♣ S ♣ "#$$ ♠ "#$$ ♣ by (5) 29th APRIL 2019 (28 days the day after )'& ( #! the application is received by the licensing ♠ ♠ department) stating the grounds for making (* %! "#$$ ! "#$$ "#$$ said representation to: Licensing Service, 14th ♥ Floor, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, (*! "#$$ SW1. ♦ The public register where applications are available to be viewed by members of the pub- ♣ +%$ lic can be accessed online by visiting at www. westminster.gov.uk/Licensing and following the link to the public register. The Licensing After North had scraped up a raise to 2♠, South wanted to invite game and ask partner for help in clubs. His Trial Bid of 3♣ Authority must receive representations by did exactly that, enabling North, in spite of holding a minimum point count, to fall in love with his ♣ holding (an upgraded the date given above. The Licensing Authority ♦ ♥ will have regard to any such representation in king and only two cards) and so bid game. If South had made a Trial Bid of 3 or 3 , North would have signed off in 3♠. considering the application. It is an offence, West led ♥Q and, after winning ♥K, declarer led ♣2 to ♣K (note the recurring theme of establishing a suit before drawing under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, trumps). East won ♣A and played back ♥9. Declarer won ♥A, crossed to ♠9, led ♣4 to ♣Q , trumped ♣6 with ♣J, crossed to to knowingly or recklessly make a false state- ♠ ♣ ♠ ♦ ♥ ♦ ment in or in connection with an application 10, trumped 7 with Q , then conceded a diamond. West won 9, cashed J, then tried to cash A. Declarer trumped, for premises licence and the maximum fine on drew West’s last trump, and claimed. being convicted of such an offence is £5000. ANDREW’S FAVOURITE CONVENTIONS: (7) The Trial Bid 020 7738 2348 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 63 Chess online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

has just played his Bishop to 52. Bd3,... CHESS What was Black’s winning move?

Answer upside down below.

By Barry Martin promoting. from pawns Black’s stopping

With White having no more checks or or checks more no having White With

..Be4. 63.Rxf7+,Kg6.64.R1f6+,Kh5. 0-1. 0-1. 63.Rxf7+,Kg6.64.R1f6+,Kh5. ..Be4.

,Rxd3.62.Rcf5, connecting his rooks, rooks, his connecting ,Rxd3.62.Rcf5,

into place.61.Kc1, king on the run! run! the on king place.61.Kc1, into

From Blondes falling 60.Kd1,Rd2+,simply naturally!.

for the exchange,Rg2+!! 59.Ke1,Bg3+, 59.Ke1,Bg3+, exchange,Rg2+!! the for

versus Brunettes 58.Rc5,hoping check! next Black’s for

White’s rook, but also making space space making also but rook, White’s

to I want to be attacking 57.Kf2,Bb7, check! uncovered

using the dance of the Bishop for an an for Bishop the of dance the using

the youngest 56.Kg1,Bf4+, again. attack the into back

55.Kh2,Bg3+, bringing his Bishop pair pair Bishop his bringing 55.Kh2,Bg3+,

Grandmaster repetition). by draw a of possibility the

53.Kh2,Rg2+.54.Kh1,Rg5+.(avoiding 53.Kh2,Rg2+.54.Kh1,Rg5+.(avoiding with the connected passed pawns). pawns). passed connected the with

anitoluwa Adewumi, an eight- Rxf2,Rxf2+, 52. if wins (Black check! 52. ....Rxg4+, uncovered uncovered ....Rxg4+, 52.

year-old refugee from Nigeria has Answer, won the recently played New York StateT Championship in the category for children of his age group, ‘Kindergarten to Third Grade’, with 5 wins, 1 draw STOP PRESS and no losses. Of course, someone has reader’s impression gleaned from the title World Team Championship included : to win each category, but what makes of the match, it is taken very seriously, Michael Adams on board 1, and Jon The 9th Blondes versus Brunettes Tanitoluwa’s win memorable is that he with some of the best women players in Speelman in reserve. This month’s Tournament resulted in a win for the lives in a shelter for the homeless along the world competing such as, Alexandra game was from round 6, 11th March, Brunettes, 40.5-23.5 which evens up the with his family who fled Nigeria in 2017. Kosteniuk, Valentina Gunina, Olga between Sergey Karjakin, 2753 versus overall match scores to 4.5-4.5 all. 13 Fearful for their lives as Christians, and Girya, Irina Vasilevich, Natalia Zhukova Arkadij Naiditsch, 2710. The game Women Grandmasters played in the in the face of threats from the terrorist and others. started 1.e4,c5. with commentators annual contest this year, which uses the group Boko Haram who have particularly The competition began in 2011 as excited that Naiditsch had decided to Scheveningen system, with each player targeted Christian groups, the family part of a World Chess Tournament held play a Sicilian against Karjakin who is playing every member of the opposing fled to America to find a safer place. in Moscow, hosted by the Botvinnik considered the master in this area! The team. Played at Blitz time controls, with Tani, as he is known, only learnt chess Central Chess Club, with two women’s Sicilian has many variations including 3 minutes for all moves with a 2 second a year ago under the tutelage of Russell teams; the Blondes dressed in light the Kalashnikov and the more usual increment per move from move 1, 64 Makofsky, the chess coach at the local colours and the Brunettes in dark colours. Sveshnikov, to name but two! White games are played in all. elementary school in Manhattan’s Kips All the players had to show proof of Bay, Murray Hill neighbourhood. Tani’s expert ability at chess to be able to family had little extra cash for extra participate.The inaugural match was won classes at the school, but the coach by the Brunettes, in 2012 it was a win waived the fees. A year later Tani had by the Blondes 36.5-24.5, and with the attained a USCF rating of 1473 and 2013 match ending in a draw, 50-50pts. is 27th in America for eight year olds. each. The historical picture of the title Photograph © Barry Martin Photograph The success at the Championship March can be illustrated in former times. In 9-10th resulted in a wave of interest with the USA in the late 1800s Blonde and media articles, and interviews, and was Brunette baseball teams ‘barnstormed covered by The New York Times, El Pais, the country’. And contemporary gridiron The Telegraph, NBC, CBS, Yahoo and now football games in the USA named KCW Today. Tani’s charm and abilities Blondes versus Brunettes Powderpuff belie the deprivation, fear and anguish Football raises money for the Alzheimer’s that his family as well as himself have Association. experienced along the way, and it is that Moving quickly on, huge played on board one for Oxford. Now which has attracted so much attention, congratulations for our success in The studying for a MSc in Education at given his immaculate performance in World Team Championships held in The 137th Varsity St Hilda’s College, Oxford, at the age this championship. In an interview Astana, Kazakhstan, where England of 25 she is a chess prodigy, being the he stated,’ I want to be the youngest came second with silver, while Russia Chess Match youngest female player ever to qualify Grandmaster’. We all want him to be took gold. This is England’s first major Held at The Royal Automobile Club, for the Grandmaster title, 2008, and the too, the very best from all of us in this medal in 22 years at world team class Pall Mall, London, 2nd March, this saw youngest ever to win the WWCC. In endeavour. events. And, apart from the overall silver an Oxford win against Cambridge to the March 2019, ELO rating list she is On the other side of the world, award, 3 of our players won individual the tune of 4.5- 3.5, after a cliffhanger still the highest currently rated female and perhaps some would say in direct board medals. Luke McShane who of a finish that looked as though it was player at 2662 points! She was, however, contrast to the dire straits driving the played an exceptional tournament took going Cambridge’s way! up against Mathew Wadsworth on former story above, the Blondes versus the Gold medal for board 2; Gawain Cambridge, however still have board one for Oxford, who despite Brunettes Tournament in Moscow has Jones, Silver board 4; and David Howell, a leading and comfortable position being 276 points below her, put up stiff just been concluded. It is considered now the Bronze medal for board 3. cushioned by 59 wins to Oxford’s 56 resistance and secured a draw! It was to be a traditional fixture in the city’s England won their final round after the latter’s win in this match. 22 a fine match and added value comes chess calendar. Although it started as a against Sweden, and in so doing matches have been drawn, and since the in the form of the excellent location, fun event, in part out of ‘unfair blonde squeezed China into 3rd place. Whilst tournament’s inception in 1873 and up the organising committee at the RAC, jokes’, the imputation has been fairly Russia who came first beat India and to 2018, 908 players have taken part in Henry Mutkin, Stephen Meyler, Robert put to bed with the Blondes winning! deprived them of the silver spot, and in competing for the Margaret Pugh Trophy. Mathews and Henry McWatters, and The recent challenge was held in the so doing hastened England’s success to This year’s match also saw another not least the players, who every year imposing Botvinnik Central Chess Club attain 2nd overall. first when Yifan Hou 2662, 4 times exercise their chess talents in a refined, in Moscow on 16th March. Despite a Our team complement for the FIDE Women’s World Chess Champion, professional and exciting manner! 64 April 2019 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk Advertisement online: www.KCWToday.co.uk

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