Sussex Style October 2014

SuSSexSt y le

Plussophie corbett’s inspirationthe secret to perfect preservesWin! a neW forest getaWay

breast cancer special

‘CanCer gave meaning to my life’The women who won’T leT breasT cancer win

your beSt autumn everLatest trends in homes, beauty, fashion and food

ocT 2014be inspired

01342 325033 87-89 London Road,

East Grinstead, RH19 1EJ Shop on-line at: Rusdens.co.uk

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contentsa selection of the october issue

60

12

25

inspirational interiors

Making Art Deco work in your home

‘DaD wanteD us to grow up

grounDeD’Exclusive interview with

Sophie Corbett

fooD anD DrinkThe season’s best Sussex

produce

o cto b e r 2 0 1 4 | s u s s e x st y l e . c o m | 7

contents

regulars

features

news p10 recipes p32 book club p78 the last word p90

how diet can beat cancer p48mum on the run: moving house p70 an alternative to university p74 brighton comedy festival p82

80

35 21

16

sussex travel

A wonderfully weird weekend at the Hotel Pelirocco

fashionAutumn’s most desirable looks

breast cancer special

Advice, fundraising ideas and more

‘cancer was a present’

One woman’s empowering story

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There’s most definitely a change in the air this month. October throws off the last vestiges of a glorious summer, but the new season ushers in plenty to look forward to. From warming soups made with wonderful local produce, to covetable fashion that’s both wearable and desirable for this time of year, there are plenty to reasons to embrace the autumn.

This month’s issue is packed with content to inspire. We look at ways to make Art Deco work in your home (easier than you may think), recipes to delight this Halloween (you’ll be asking how you managed without chocolate bats in your life), plus the beauty products you need to know about.

Inspiration is also the theme behind our breast cancer special. To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sussex Style interviewed three brilliant women whose lives have been improved by a breast cancer diagnosis. Prepare to feel empowered.

And, as always, please let us know your thoughts on Sussex Style. It’s your magazine and we’d love to know what you’d like to see more (or less) of — email [email protected].

Sussex Style team

Welcome

Editor’s Picks

Editor-in-chiEf Karen Spinner

dEPuty Editor dan raven

crEativE dirEctor

Tommy rocKeTT

food & drink EditorSam BilTon

hEalth & fitnEss EditormaTT Guy WriGhT

hEad of financErichard Judd

Publishing dirEctorSeán Kane

commErcial managEr Jacqueline nicholSon

contributorsSarah dreW JoneS

laura Jandaclaura locKinGTon

PublishEd byS and r puBliShinG lTd

sussEx stylE™ copyriGhT 2014-09

iSSn 2049-6036Summerhill houSe

hyThe road, KenT, Tn24 0neT: 01273 358850

SuSSexSTyle.com

faceBooK.com/SuSSexSTylemaGazine

TWiTTer.com/SuSSexSTylemaG

gEt in touchWe’d love to hear comments, views and

suggestions: [email protected]

All rights reserved. except for normal review purposes, no part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. No artwork or editorial content may be used in any other form or publication without the publisher’s consent. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the contents are only meant as

a guide to the readers. The proprietors of this publication are publishers, not agents or sub agents of those who advertise therein. They cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of information gained from the publication. Copyright 2014 S and R Publishing Ltd - Sussex StyleTM

from the team

Our breast cancer special is dedicated to Bridie Kane, mother of Sussex Style publishing director Seán, who lost her brave battle with breast cancer in 2009.

COVER IMAGE:Rusdens

Raspberry Rich Body Butter, £2, Asda, with 20p going to breast cancer charities. Don’t miss our edit of ‘pink’ products on p44.

Cushion, £9.99, H&M(p54).

Silver Kings & Queens bracelet with peacock freshwater pearls,

£196, Astor & March.

Cashmere coat, £450, Jaeger. The

most flattering coat of the

season.

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news

EastbournE piErPart of the Grade II structure reopened at the end of September after being ravaged by fire in July.

a baby rEEf sharkThe newest arrival to Hastings’ Blue Reef

Aquarium has been named following a competition for local children. Welcome to the world, Razor.

a couplE from st lEonardsAnthony Wray and Simone Harris won £1million on the EuroMillions lottery after picking up a ticket in

their local Asda.

rail passEngErsEngineering works will affect the London to Brighton main line throughout October. Be

prepared for rail replacement buses on Southern and Thameslink routes from Three Bridges to

Brighton and Lewes.

clifftop ramblErsWalkers in East Sussex have been warned to stay

away from the edges of a cliff in Seaford after a large crack suddenly appeared. The warning

comes after cliff falls at Birling Gap and Hastings earlier in the year.

childrEn at a frEE schoolA school described as Britain’s first free state

boarding school remained shut on the day pupils were due to arrive. The Durand Academy in Stedham

is locked in a planning row with local authorities

nEw start for astor & march

havE your pEt paintEd for charity

popular Brighton jeweller Astor & March has opened the doors of its new jewellery store in Meeting House Lane, the

centre of Brighton’s historic Jewellery Quarter.

Having been a design and manufacturing house for other well-known brands for two decades, the company snapped up this piece of prime retail space and has transformed it into a beautiful and captivating flagship store. With wall-to-wall cabinet displays and innovative and exciting visual merchandising, the open-plan space allows customers to browse freely in a relaxed environment. It’s also the perfect space to showcase the company’s exceptional design talent and goldsmithing skill. Offering a huge spectrum of products from stunning engagement rings and certificated diamonds, to brilliant silver collections for the trend-savvy, there’s something in store to suit every taste and budget.

Each of the Astor & March family of collections has its own personality. There’s the refined elegance of Astor & March’s own brand, the distinctive edge of Jeremy Hoye Jewellery, and the uncompromising boldness of Division: Jewellery for Men.

The team at Astor & March relishes in the art of all things jewellery and love sharing their passion and enthusiasm.

And the company offers more than just jewellery for sale. Visit for free valuations and advice, or make an appointment to discuss bespoke commissions, such as having your inherited jewellery remodelled into something more modern and wearable. Astor & March is at 45, Meeting House Lane, Brighton BN1 1HB. Open Monday-Saturday 10am–5pm and Sunday 11am–4pm.

Visit astorandmarch.com, tel: 01273 207104

Would you like to help raise much-needed funds for Brighton-based animal charity Helping Paws and receive a beautiful portrait of your pet?

Contemporary animal artist Sara Abbott is offering Sussex Style readers the chance to support the charity by commissioning a unique portrait of their pet. Sara is an artist in demand, having been commissioned by pet owners across the globe. She also

spent two years as in-house pet portrait artist at Harrods. An original oil-on-canvas

portrait of your pet, plus photo shoot, costs £490. For every

Sussex Style reader who places on order before Christmas, quoting the code ‘Ozzie’, Sara will donate £100 to Helping Paws.

Place your order at sara-abbott.com. To find out

more about Helping Paws, visit helpingpaws.co.uk

bad month for…

good month for…

o cto b e r 2 0 1 4 | s u s s e x st y l e . c o m | 1 1

news

october

clarification

be breast awareoctober is Breast Cancer Awareness month and to mark the occasion sussex style has put together a special issue celebrating the women fighting this disease. but do you know how to check your breasts properly?

Checking your breasts regularly can be crucial to getting an early diagnosis of breast cancer. This is important as it greatly improves chances of successful treatment and survival.To be breast aware, make sure you:

Know what is normal for you Look and feel your breasts — upper chest and armpits too — regularly Know what changes to look out for (see below) Immediately report any changes to your GP Attend breast screening if you’re aged 50 or over

In the feature ‘Yes Governor’ (Sussex Style, September), the picture captioned Stephen Ulph was actually Myles Bremner of the School Food Plan. Apologies.

What to look out forEveryone’s breasts are different,

altering with age and at different times of the month. But look out for the below:

in your breastsLumps or thickening of breast tissue

Continuous painOne breast becoming larger or lower

Puckering or dimpling of the skin

nipplesBecoming inverted (turned in), changing shape or position

Developing a rash, crusting or producing discharge

in your armpitsSwelling under the armpit or around the collarbone

Continuous pain

What’s on in

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, or if you want to find out more about the signs of breast cancer, there is lots of advice, help and support out there:

Breast Cancer Care (breastcancercare.org.uk) operates a free and confidential helpline, tel: 0808 800 6000, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm.

Breast Cancer Campaign (breastcancercampaign.org) is a really useful resource, with lots of information on signs and symptoms, risk factors and advice on examining your breasts, plus a section for men with breast cancer. Breakthrough Breast Cancer (breakthrough.org.uk) is another website packed with information, including an informative video on how to check your breasts. The charity also has a free smartphone app (for iPhone and Android) with advice on checking your breasts, plus a handy reminder service to help you become more breast aware. Visit ibreastcheck.com.

It’s important to remember that that not all lumps are cancerous, nor does a change in your breasts mean you have cancer. But it really is crucial to visit your GP immediately if you have any concerns about changes in your breasts (or armpits).

Pumpkins, bonfires… and plenty to keep the little ones entertained this half-termall month: Slindon Pumpkin Festival, slindon.com4 and 25 october: Herstmonceux open evenings, the-observatory.org4-5 october: Great Dixter plant fair, greatdixter.co.uk5 october: Horsham Fayre (vintage theme), horshammarkets.co.uk9-11 october: Eastbourne Beer Festival, visiteastbourne.com10-25 october: Brighton Comedy Festival, brightoncomedyfestival.com. See our feature: p8210-12 october: Lewes Folk Festival, lewesfolkfest.org11-12 october: Autumn Countryside Show, Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, wealddown.co.uk11-12, 18-19 and 25 october-2 november: Spring Barn Spooktacular, springbarnfarm.com18 october: Hastings bonfire night, hbbs.info18 october: Brighton’s Royal Pavilion and the First World War, brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk23 october-1 March: Pavilion Contemporary at the Brighton Pavilion, brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk24 october-2 november: Haunted Halloween fun at Borde Hill Gardens, bordehill.co.uk/events24 october-9 november: Brighton Early Music Festival, bremf.org.uk25 october: Beachy Head Marathon, visiteastbourne.com25-31 october: Roman Army Week at Fishbourne Roman Palace, sussexpast.co.uk25 october-2 november: Happy Halloween Hauntings at Fishers Farm Park, fishersfarmpark.co.uk25 october-2 november: Halloween Shriek Week at Drusillas, drusillas.co.uk28-30 october: Pumpkin carving at Arundel Wetland Centre, wwt.org.uk29-30 october: Normans and Crusaders at Arundel Castle, arundelcastle.org31 october: Halloween at Michelham Priory, sussexpast.co.uk


a family affair

The seeds of style are sewn in some unlikely places, as Sophie Corbett reveals. “I remember as a little girl

of about seven seeing my mum and dad and Danny La Rue on TV, all looking amazing. They had deep tans and were wearing white suits with enormous 1970s collars. It really made a big impression on me.”

Dad is, of course, better known as comedy legend Ronnie Corbett. Sophie has now taken the glamour she grew up with and channelled

it into Brighton’s newest boutique.

“My mum Anne had real style,” she adds. “I grew up with glamour and expressive clothes; her putting make up on with a big beautiful turban on her head. It was theatrical. My dad was a sharp dresser, and he’s still known for being dapper.”

Sophie, 45, was brought up in London and moved to Hove almost four years ago, where she now lives with her husband, singer-

Sophie Corbett, daughter of

comedy icon ronnie and a

successful performer in her own

right, has turned her love of style

into a brighton boutique — Four

candles — full of fabulous fashion

and quirky finds. In a sussex style

exclusive, she talks to Joanne mallon

With ronnie and sister emma

left: sophie corbett

right: the family has always been

close-knit

sopie’s glamorous mum Anne


profile style

I remember as a little girl of about seven seeing my mum and dad and

Danny La Rue on TV, all looking amazing…

the two ronnies: comedy icons

‘Wherever Dad went, we went’

songwriter Gordon Grahame, and sons Dylan, 16, and nine-year-old Billy.

Her new boutique is called Four Candles, after The Two Ronnies’ famous sketch. Voted funniest moment of the 1970s, the sketch features shopkeeper Ronnie Corbett mistaking customer Ronnie Barker’s request for four candles instead of fork handles.

“My business partner Siobhan suggested the name,” Sophie reveals. “She just said Four

Candles and I burst out laughing. We also have four fork handles in the shop, to store wrapping paper on, so we actually did have to go into

shops and ask ‘Do you have any fork handles?’ and they would look at us like we were crazy.”

They sell candles too. This could run and run.

brighton’s best-kept secretThe shop’s transformation to bespoke boutique took just three weeks, as Ronnie was due to go on his annual holiday to Scotland. It was all hands on shop, as family and friends pitched in to get it ready on time — and now it looks as though it’s been there for years.


Brighton’s Victoria Street, where Four Candles is based, is a ‘best kept secret’ kind of area. You won’t find many tourists in these streets tucked behind Western Road, but locals know that Billie’s Cafe serves the best breakfast hash, The Hampton is one of the coolest pubs around and Bakelite specialist Vanstone is a treasure trove of vintage finds.

And that’s a big part of what drew Sophie Corbett to the area: “I didn’t want to be on a main road. I wanted the shop to stand out, plus we’ve got a much bigger space here than we ever would’ve got in the North Laine.”

While working in theatre, Sophie became known for her bohemian chic style, which led to her current business.

“When the recession started and work got a bit quieter, I made a coat for myself and got stopped maybe seven times a day and asked where I got it from. My nana used to say to me ‘Always have something in your beaded bag’, meaning always have many skills, which

is especially useful in the theatre, so I’ve been building up my fashion business as well as performing.”

Ronnie is hugely supportive of his daughter, officially opening the shop in June and signing autographs for two hours in the blistering heat. He’s given Sophie a deep love of family, and the ability to juggle that with the demands of work.

“He balanced it pretty well,” she reasons. “He

had a great saying — you have to be selfish to succeed, but only as long as you take your family with you. So he’s taken us everywhere he’s gone. When The Two Ronnies went to Australia we went too. When it was time for summer season we all packed up, including the guinea pigs and the dogs, and went along.”

It was only when Sophie left home that she realised that not everybody’s dad is famous.

“I was so used to it,” she says. “I couldn’t believe I had to queue! Me and my sister had never queued, ever. And when The Two Ronnies flew, we were always in first class, so then to get on an aeroplane and not be seated in first class was strange.

“But with Dad being Scottish, we were brought up in quite a grounded way. There’s a groundedness to Scots and he never wanted us to be that flash.”

So, I joke, he didn’t pick you up from school in a Rolls-Royce?

Above: Anne corbett at home with her grandchildren sophie and sister emma

With Dad being Scottish we were

brought up in quite a grounded way. There’s

a groundedness to Scots and he never

wanted us to be that flash


profile style

Actually, it turns out he did.

“We asked him to park round the corner, but he was our dad and that’s what he drove and he wasn’t ashamed of it and neither were we. That was normal for us. But while we never went without, I’ve always worked, and it’s always been important to him that we did.”

pride of placeIt was mum Anne — “an amazing woman” — who Sophie describes as her muse, who kept the family show on the road. Portraits of both her parents hang in pride of place in the workshop above the shop.

Four Candles’ eclectic mix of stock ranges from the practical to the whimsical. You can pick up a hat that looks like a dog’s head from Brighton-based felt artist Karen Rao (and even get one commissioned to match your own pooch). There are beach towels from Belgium, Brickett Davda pottery that is made by hand in Sussex, scented beard oil from Scotland, exquisite skincare from Sicily and the debut

jewellery line from actress Holly Aird (from Soldier Soldier and Waking The Dead fame).

Prices range from £4 to over £1,000, and everything is personally curated by Sophie and business partner Siobhan, with a mix of local and international items.

“My idea with the shop is that you can come in with a fiver and leave with a treat. I’m very big on treats!”

This autumn, Sophie is making her signature winter coats. These loose knitted woollen drapes wrap the wearer in a warm hug, and you’re unlikely to meet anyone else wearing the same design.

“I only ever make about 10 of every piece. People in Brighton want something a bit individual and quirky. They don’t want what everyone else is wearing,” she reasons.

And if the warm honey voice behind the counter is familiar, that’s because Sophie is also

one of the UK’s most well-known commercial voice artists, featuring in many high-profile adverts, from L’Oreal to Furniture Village.

She made an active choice to do voiceovers in order to stay closer to home: “I’m a mum and I wanted to be able to put my boys to bed. I was on tour with rock bands and we were doing really well, but I wanted to be there for my children. I made the decision to stop performing five nights a week when I had Dylan.

“My parents made it work, but only because my mum stopped her performing and my dad continued. I think I’ve found a good balance now, which is lovely.”

And dad Ronnie still performs and enjoys it: “I tell him not to get too busy but I don’t think he’ll ever retire, not even now he’s nearly 84. He’s slowing up a bit so he’s choosy about what he does but he’ll always love going shopping. He’s a doer.”

Like father, like daughter.

sophie and sister emma sophie during her perfomring days: ‘It’s always been important to Dad that we have worked’

‘CanCer gave meaning to

my life’To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sussex Style is celebrating the women

who fight — and beat — the disease. Women like Caroline Monk, who battled

cancer in her own indomitable way. She tells her inspiring story to Karen Spinner

Caroline (left) with a group of Caroline’s Campaign ladies in Leeds

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SuSSex style

‘Actually I was excited when I got my diagnosis.”

Before reading any further there are two things you need to know about Caroline Monk. First of all she is one of life’s truly original characters, a woman very much marching to the beat of her own drum. And secondly, she is a survivor. Tenacity is etched through her core.

Caroline is also a breast cancer survivor. In fact, she has beaten into submission a particularly aggressive form of the disease. Incredibly, she did this at the same time as the person she loved the most in the world — her mother, Carol — was also diagnosed with the disease.

And perhaps most incredibly of all, Caroline believes having breast cancer has enhanced her life. She’s experienced it, beaten it and used it to inspire her both professionally and personally.

“Having cancer was a present,” says Caroline. “It’s helped me to live properly, it’s given me perspective and it’s taught me that there are many things in life that just aren’t worth worrying about.

“Cancer has helped me so much — it’s taught me to appreciate everything I have. It gives a real meaning to life.”

‘I wanted to beat thIs thIng’Caroline was 34 when she found a small lump at the top of her breast.

“I was playing with my necklace when I found it,” she says. “I immediately went to my doctor, who reassured me that it was highly likely to be a cyst. Within two weeks I was having a biopsy at St Mary’s Hospital in London.”

During the biopsy the medical team were unable to find the lump, meaning Caroline had to undergo a mammogram and scans.

“A week later I was back in hospital,” she says. “The scan had picked up a black mass — it was an aggressive form of breast cancer rarely seen in someone my age.

“I didn’t want to show myself up, so when the doctor told me I sat there smiling.

“As it sunk in I started to feel slightly excited. I just wanted to start the treatment and beat this thing. I saw it as another journey to get on with. I knew I’d be having chemo and implants, so I imagined myself with my new short blonde hair and big boobs!”

Caroline’s positivity is infectious, but the reality of fighting cancer was tougher.

After undergoing a lumpectomy and implant surgery she underwent six months of chemotherapy. Despite describing her friends as “amazing” and being in a supportive relationship with TV presenter Matthew Wright at the time, Caroline preferred to go to chemotherapy sessions alone.

“I can’t stand pity,” she admits. “And I always wanted to be positive about my diagnosis. I couldn’t sit there thinking ‘why me?’ — I thought ‘well, why not me?’.

“You can’t feel any worse than when you are on chemo,” she adds. “It’s just awful. I had severe nausea, problems with my balance and this awful metallic taste that did my head in.

“But a cycle establishes and there are good days when you can do stuff and function normally,” she stresses. “And on those good days I would go out and have fun. I also found that a glass of red wine when I felt like it really helped too.”

And, like most women, Caroline also had to balance the demands of her career.

“I was working as a celebrity booker at the time, which meant I could work from home,” she says.

“But I don’t know how women going through chemo can get up and go out to work and face the world. I admire them so much. At that time the thought of putting my wig on for the postman was too much!”

It was while she was undergoing chemotherapy that Caroline, who has worked in the entertainment world since starting out as musician Mike Oldfield’s personal assistant, was approached by Closer magazine to write a one-off column on her fight with breast cancer. It was such a success that it became a regular feature.

“I was receiving around 500 letters from readers a week; it was a struggle to keep up,” she says. “But it was the most incredible therapy — having that column saved me. It made me do stuff with my life, it gave me something to look forward to. I believe that everyone should have their own journey and goals during cancer.”

Caroline chose to be photographed bald for the picture at the top of her column. And she quickly noticed a common thread in the letters she was receiving.

“Every one of them said the same thing,” she explains. “It was all to do with the way cancer had made them look and destroyed their confidence in their looks.

“Every woman wanted to know where to find a good wig. It was so terribly sad to read. I remember several letters from women who hadn’t left the house for months.

I always wanted to be positive about my

diagnosis. I couldn’t sit there thinking ‘why me?’ — I thought ‘well, why

not me?’

caroline with superman actor Henry cavill

brian may (above) and mike oldfield (below)


“There’s nothing worse than cancer for making you feel unfeminine. It takes everything away from you,” Caroline adds. “When I started to lose my hair I was at my lowest. And the abuse I got in the streets! It was shocking. I was happy slapped, spat on and called a lesbian. That was only 10 years ago — thank goodness things have changed now.”

It was these letters that spurred her into setting up Caroline’s Campaign. Using her many contacts Caroline decided to host free makeover events for women affected by cancer. And the motto? Cancer is the one that should be scared.

“Helping people with cancer is not just about finding cures; it’s about caring for the people who go through it,” she says. “I want women to look in the mirror and feel good about themselves. All my work is about putting a smile on women’s faces.”

Caroline now runs an event each year, with experts on hand to give advice on diet, make-up, wigs, eyelashes and eyebrows.

“When you look in the mirror and see a bald, fat alien looking back you feel terrible,” she says. “Feeling that you look good can make such a difference.”

Shock newSJust as Caroline was finishing her last cycle of chemo she received the devastating news that her mother Carol (left) had breast cancer.

“It broke my heart and almost finished me,”

Caroline admits. “I couldn’t believe this was happening to us. My mum and I are the closest a parent and child could be.

“When we talk about it now, she says to me ‘thank God you got cancer first’. We took it differently. I never once thought I was going to die and I think that really helped my mum. It was a horrible time for the family. Mum didn’t undergo chemo, but she did have terrible pneumonia. Fortunately they caught the cancer in time and she is fully recovered now.”

Having won her battle with breast cancer does Caroline live her life any differently?

“I decided that stress is the reason we get cancer, so I try not to get too stressed about silly things any more. I can’t be arsed with arguing with people. The only thing that’s important is your health and getting on with living your life.

“I’m a very spiritual person and I think I was meant to have cancer,” she reasons. “It’s made me help other women and given me a new career. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true.”

Caroline’s appetite for life is immense. She is the celebrity manager for children’s charity Variety, organises music festivals and manages musical acts. She seems absolutely fearless. But there are still demons that — occasionally — need to be conquered.

“Every year when I go for my mammogram I am terrified, because I love life so much,” she admits. “Cancer is something I’m running from, this big black blob of horribleness that makes me live my life so fast.

“Last year I had a bit of a scare and it terrified me, I went to bits. I’ve beaten cancer once, but I can’t be bothered to do that journey again. I’m not sure I could go through it all. And I have so much to do!”

Fortunately the scare was just that, prompting a celebratory dash to the pub straight from hospital.

Caroline is critical of the proliferation of breast cancer charities. She believes they should join into one organisation working towards the

same goal and, with her not having the time she would like to dedicate to Caroline’s Campaign, she would love it if a charity could pick up the idea and run with it.

But she is positive about current attitudes to breast cancer and feels there has been a sea change since her diagnosis a decade ago.

“I don’t associate cancer with death any more,” she says. “I think there’s such an upbeat feeling about it, a sister-solidarity thing that’s great for all women.”

‘since cancer I try not to get stressed any more’

left: caroline winning london Personality of the year, 2011. right: with model Abbey clancy

find out moreTo find out more about Caroline’s Campaign, visit carolinescampaign.co.uk. And for more on Breast Cancer Awareness Month, plus lots of useful information on breast health, how to check your breasts and support for those diagnosed with breast cancer, go to breastcancercare.org.uk and breastcancercampaign.org

Caroline’s advice on getting through chemotherapy:

1 Try not to put any stress on yourself. Let others take care of you. People will want to help you, so let them. Don’t be afraid to ask if you need anything. Let people in on how you feel.

2 Trust your instincts. Get a second opinion on everything you aren’t sure about. It’s your body and your right to ask questions about it.

3 Do what makes you feel good. If you fancy a glass of wine, have one. If you want loads of chocolate, have it. This is not a time to diet. It’s a time to indulge in all the yummy things that will make you feel happy.

4 Do any exercise you can. Try and get out and about when you feel good. Walking makes you feel better emotionally and physically.

5 If you lose your hair then have fun with wigs. Go blonde if you are dark, short if you have long hair — just experiment.

Coping with Chemo

If you are passionate about flowers you will love what we do at Flowers of Eastbourne, the Enterprise Shopping Centre’s exciting new florist.

Just drop by or phone us on:

01323 738147

Experts in all aspects of floral design, indoor andoutdoor... plants and gifts.

Open Monday to Saturday 9am until 5pm

[email protected]

The Enterprise Shopping Centre,Station Parade, Eastbourne

BN21 1PD

Next to Eastbourne Stationwww.enterprise-centre.org

Flowers of Eastbourne 9/8/14 07:10 Page 1

CanCer won’t win

SuSSex style

Be inspired by two Sussex women who fought back against breast cancer

Naomi Stanley, 59, was diagnosed shortly after coming out of an abusive relationship:

“I’d felt ill for months — fatigued, loss of stamina, no energy — but when I found a lump last year I left it for another four months before visiting a doctor.

“To begin with, I didn’t think the lump was cancer. It wasn’t even in the breast tissue — it was exceptionally high up, just under my collarbone. It felt like a hardness in my rib, as if something was wrong with the bone. I’d also had a clear mammogram 10 months previously.

“I was also unconcerned because the lump was painful and the advice we are given as women is that breast cancer isn’t painful, right? When I ended up seeing a specialist he told he it was good that my lump was so painful — I flinched when he touched it — because it was unlikely to be cancer. But by then I instinctively knew it was cancer. If women learn just one thing from my story, it’s that breast cancer can be painful.

“When I was diagnosed in October last year I told the doctor I couldn’t deal with breast cancer. I had just come out of a three-year

abusive relationship, with my ex-partner being sentenced to prison two days before my diagnosis. So as I walked home from the hospital I thought to myself, ‘that’s it, I’ll just live out my life without treatment’.

“But by the time I got home — the walk took 40 minutes — a complete change had come over me. Instead of thinking, ‘why me, I simply can’t deal with this now,’ I thought, ‘thank goodness this is happening to me now’. I realised that I wouldn’t have been able to fight for survival six months earlier when in an extremely abusive relationship.

“I was in two minds about having treatment at all and I knew I didn’t want chemo at my time

of life. When I told the specialist I was thinking of trying alternative treatments he told me that I shouldn’t kid myself and wouldn’t be around for long if I went down that route. That was a huge shock to my system and I started to think about my children and grandchildren.

“I ended up having breast-saving surgery and my lymph nodes removed in January this year, plus radiotherapy. It might sound strange, but breast cancer gave me my life back. My ex-partner took my life and spirit away; he crushed me. Breast cancer has taught me to appreciate life and forced me to live in the present — and isn’t that what we’re all trying to do?

“I’ve also started volunteering with a domestic abuse charity. I believe that my cancer was caused entirely by the relationship I was in. I’ve since spoken to lots of fellow patients, doctors and nurses who agree — a lot of victims of domestic abuse do get diagnosed with breast cancer. I would love to see research in this area.

“Although I still feel fatigued and have had problems with my immune system since the radiotherapy, I enjoy life so much now. I’m incredibly happy.”

‘CanCer helped me live again’

Breast cancer has taught me to appreciate life and forced me to live

in the present — and isn’t that what we’re all

trying to do?

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Anikka Burton, 35, turned her devastation into a new career:

“I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was young and several other family members had also been diagnosed, so when I noticed that my breast had suddenly swollen I was incredibly worried.

I went to the doctors to get it checked out. In

May 2011, when I was just 33, I was told I had breast cancer. I was absolutely devastated.

“Attending Breast Cancer Care’s Younger Women Together event [breastcancercare.org.uk] was a real turning point for me. It was the first time I stopped crying since my diagnosis and was able to smile again. I attended just after my second chemotherapy session.

‘Thanks To cancer I sTarTed my own busIness’

“The weekend was amazing. I had such supportive friends and family, but to meet girls of a similar age who all understood what the other was going through was so valuable. I made friends there that I know will be friends for life and I suddenly felt less alone. The information sessions were so useful that I actually ended up using the surgeon, counsellor and fertility expert who led their respective talks.

“I had a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapy. It has been difficult adjusting to my new body and living with the long-term damage caused by my treatment, but the biggest impact has been living with my fear that the cancer may come back. I worried about this a lot during and after my treatment, but gradually it is moving to the back of my mind rather than being at the forefront.

“My motivations have changed a lot since breast cancer. I now try to live life to the fullest and appreciate so many more of the smaller things. I’ve organised a lot of holidays, weekends away, parties and regularly meet up with friends and family.

“I also started a new business after my diagnosis. During my treatment I received so many flowers that I ran out of vases and pots to put them in. I was very grateful for every message of support, but there are only so many flowers that a girl needs, and it was sad when they all died. As an alternative to sending flowers, I wanted to create a collection of pretty and pampering gifts that were practical for people going through treatment and surgery — and also a little bit luxurious! From this idea Not Another Bunch Of Flowers [notanotherbunchofflowers.com] was born!”



stop press!If you’re free tonight (1 October) then why not hotfoot it to London’s Grosvenor House Hotel for Breast Cancer Care’s annual fashion show? All 24 models

due to strut their stuff on the catwalk have had a breast cancer diagnosis — including the two men taking part this year — and will be styled by fashion

guru Hilary Alexander. Find out more about the glamorous event at breastcancercare.org.uk/the show or tel: 0345 0920806.

Pink eventsWant to get involved with Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Here’s our guide to what’s on this october

makeover workshops in sussexLook Good Feel Better (LGFB) is the only international cancer support charity providing practical support for women and teenagers suffering with the visible side effects of cancer treatment — and there’s a centre for Sussex residents in Brighton.

The charity was set up 20 years ago in the UK and in that time has supported over 100,000 women and teenagers through free workshops, masterclasses and self-help materials.

The two-hour workshops are run by trained beauty volunteers who take attendees through a specially designed skincare and make-up regime, while sharing tips and techniques for minimising skin changes and eyebrow and eyelash loss.

The Brighton workshop, organised by the Sussex Cancer Centre, Royal Sussex County Hospital, is held every month. Regional coordinator Sara Pankhurst says: “It is such a privilege to be able to help so many ladies going through cancer treatment and to see the huge difference our service makes.”

Research conducted by Look Good Feel Better highlighted that only 10% of patients felt confident in their appearance before attending the workshops. After the session this rose to 97% and the effects are long lasting — three months later, 96% said they still felt more confident.

Sarahjane Robertson, LGFB’s executive director adds: “We’re delighted to be able to

offer our workshops at the cancer centre in the Royal Sussex County. The sessions provide an enormous confidence boost to women going through cancer treatment. Beneficiaries leave the sessions looking fantastic having met new friends and ready to face the world again.”

If you would like to attend a workshop contact Sussex Cancer Centre, tel: 01273 696955 ext. 4799. If you are a trained beauty professional who would like to volunteer, tel: 01372 747500 or visit lgfb.co.uk.

pink FridaysDitch your tie, decorate your uniform or just clad yourself in head-to-toe pink this October. Yes, it’s the month of pink Fridays!

Breast Cancer Care has come up with the idea of encouraging us to dress in our favourite hues of pink throughout the month.

You can hold your event on any Friday in October. All you need to do is have fun and collect donations for Breast Cancer Care while doing so. Find out more at breastcancercare.org.uk/pinkfridays.

Breast Cancer Campaign is also holding a special wear it pink day on 24 October. Visit wearitpink.org

pink landmarksLast October landmarks and famous buildings across the UK urned pink to help raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of Breast Cancer Campaign’s life-saving research.

This was the first coordinated attempt to change the colour of landmarks across the UK at the same time.

Breast Cancer Campaign will be running Pink Landmarks again during October. The list of buildings involved was due to be announced as Sussex Style went to press, so keep an eye on breastcancercampaign.org.

Breast cancer Facts Every year nearly 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. That’s the equivalent of one person every 10 minutes

1 in 8 women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime

Breast cancer also affects men, but it’s rare. Around 350 men are diagnosed each year. Most of them are over 60

The older the person, the higher the risk. More than 80% of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women in the UK. Nearly 12,000 people die from breast cancer in the UK every year

But… 85% people survive breast cancer beyond five years. That’s more than 8 out of 10 people

diary dates

1 October: Breast Cancer Care Show, London13 October: Secondary breast cancer awareness day. Highlighting the needs and experiences of people with incurable breast cancer in the UK, breastcancercare.org.uk/secondary18 October: Breast Cancer Care women-only run in Richmond Park. Run 5k or 10k to help women fighting breast cancer. Trains run regularly from Sussex to Richmond, changing at Clapham Junction24 October: wear it pink day, wearitpink.org28 October: Tour de Law. Breast Cancer Care is challenging law firms to race from Leeds to the Louvre — all from the comfort of their own office! Breastcancercare.org.uk/tourdelaw12 November: Breast Cancer Care Show, Scotland, breastcancercare.org.uk/the show

Dining at Pelham House ~ Delicious and seasonal Pelham House focuses on simple and delicious food, using good quality seasonal and locally

sourced produce. We offer a variety of regularly changing menus.

The restaurant is the perfect setting for a special lunch or dinner. We also have several additional dining rooms which seat between 4 and 120 guests private dining.

Pelham House has a carefully selected list of wines and cocktails to complement our menus.

Diners can choose the historic Panelled Room, the charming Garden End Room or to dine alfresco on the stunning south facing Terrace.

Our Gallery menu is available from 10:00 until 22:00 for brunch, bar snacks, light meals and pre-dinner drinks and afternoon tea between 3pm and 5pm.

The Restaurant is open daily from 12:00 for lunch, and 18:00 for dinner.

To Book, or for any enquires please contact Pelham House: p: 01273 488600 e: reception @pelhamhouse.com

WEDDINGS / RESTAURANT / BEDROOMS / MEETINGS

Jam queen Thane Prince reveals her inspiration

Alcohol-free delights from some of Sussex’s best drinks producers

Making the most of pumpkins and squash

Host the perfect Halloween party with deliciously ghoulish treats for all ages

Food drink &

FOOD NEWS

Autumn Show And GAme FAir, Ardingly 4-5 OctOber

Visitors will have a chance to participate in countryside activities such as clay pigeon shooting at this year’s show. There will also be displays from Warrenby Gundogs and Huxley’s Birds of Prey as well as prize-winning veg from the National Vegetable Society.

Tickets available in advance online at www.seas.org.uk. (Adults £10. Senior citizens and students £8. Children (5-16) £5)

wild BoAr FeStivAl, rye 25 OctOber-2 nOvember

This celebration of game encompasses far more than just wild boar this year with restaurants such as The Mermaid Inn offering an array of gamey treats from pigeon to pheasant. There will also be a chance to sample local ale, cider and mead. Popular events like the food safari, wild boar woodland tours and the quiz nights will also be returning.

For more details on the week’s events and participating restaurants visit wildboar.org.uk.

Grow! Cook! eAt! West deAn 4-5 OctOber

Now in its second year this event builds on West Dean’s annual Apple Affair and is held during the British Food Fortnight, which runs from 20 September to 5 October 2014. This year’s guests include TV chefs Dean Edwards and Marcus Bean, plus local food writer Rosemary Moon. Thane Prince, preserves judge on BBC2’s The Big Allotment Challenge, will also be preparing jams and preserves, and sharing tips on how to get the best from your own garden harvest (see our Q&A with Thane, p31).

Tickets are available from westdean.org.uk priced at £8.60 per adult in advance or £10.40 on the day. Children’s tickets are £1.

festival news Coffee Break of the Month:StookS CAFe At newBridGe

SuSSex Style’S bOn viveur sAm biltOn On this mOnth’s tAstes And treAts

Some people visit garden centres for the plants but if you are in Broadbridge Heath I would suggest that Stooks Restaurant and Cafe at Newbridge Nurseries is by far the bigger draw.

It’s a cavernous modern barn-style building brimming with colourful accoutrements from the pendulous lights to the utensil pots on each wooden table. The salads, such as the courgette, mint, ricotta and chilli, manage to look indulgent and healthy at the same time so you can feel guilt free when you treat yourself to a slab of homemade cake for dessert. The emphasis at Stooks is on local, seasonal produce, with the exception of the decent coffee which is Fairtrade and organic. Plus there’s a great outdoor seating area for those warmer days.

Stooks RestaurantBillingshurst Road,Broadbridge Heath,Horsham,West Sussex, RH12 3LN01403 211081stooksatnewbridge.co.uk


taste style

Go Sober for october

Alcohol-free inSpirAtion

With the festive season just over the horizon (scary but true), October may be a good time to give your liver a rest

before the party season kicks in. If the thought of forsaking alcohol for a month leaves you cold then reassure yourself that this period of abstinence can all be done for a good cause.

The Go Sober for October campaign has been established to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. This charity provides vital support to

help improve the lives of people affected by cancer. Anyone over 18 can participate.

From improving sleep and mental clarity to boosting your skin, there are many reasons to take a month off the booze. Plus you can enjoy the good feeling you’ll get from raising money for this worthy charity.

For more information about the campaign visit gosober.org.uk and macmillan.org.uk

Why not make your oWn cordials?

Why not take advantage of the wonderful seasonal produce at our disposal this year to make some non-alcoholic drinks?

Lindy Wildsmith’s new book Artisan Drinks (available from 16 October) has over 100 recipes for making everything from homemade cordials and sparkling drinks to teas and tisanes. The non-alcoholic recipes include Italian Lime Siroppo, Cranberry Fizz and Ginger Root & Lemongrass Tea. Plus there are plenty of recipes for stronger brews like Beetroot and Marjoram Wine or Sparkling Perry to try after your period of abstinence is over.

We have three copies of Artisan Drinks to give away to Sussex Style readers. Just email your name and address to editor@s a n d r p u b l i s h i n g .co.uk with the subject ARTISAN DRINKS.

Artisan Drinks (Jacqui Small, £25)

spice up your life?

If you don’t fancy making your own cordials you may like these non-alcoholic beverages from Gran Steads. Made in Portslade the range includes mellow ginger, which is based on a 150-year-old recipe, and classic still lemonade. For something a little spicier you could opt for fiery ginger or the company’s latest drink, blackcurrant with a zing.

For more information on stockists, visit gransteadsginger.co.uk

BreW a nice cuppa?

Who doesn’t enjoy a nice cup of tea? Based in Newick, Simon and Kate Prince have been importing tea for eight years and have just launched their own range of teas. There are 12 teas in total in their range, including a classic English Breakfast, a decadent Chocolate Cinnamon Chai and herbal varieties such as Mint and Caramel Vanilla Rooibos.

The teas can be ordered online at princeandsonstea.com


In season…

Their shapes and colours are as random as their names. They can be round and knobbly or long and smooth with colours varying from green to vibrant amber. It seems a little unfair to demonise

them at Halloween when there are so many delicious and varied things you can do with them.

Fortunately at Townings Farm and Shop in North Chailey, pumpkin and squash are treated with far more respect. This year owner Carole Uridge planted 500 seedlings and there were already signs that 2014 will bring a bumper crop when I visited the farm back in late August.

“A mild, wet spring coupled with a warm summer means we’ve had perfect pumpkin-growing weather,” explains Carole. Townings also rears its own cows, pigs and sheep for meat, including the rare breed Hebridean sheep you sometimes see roaming on Chailey Common.

Every year Townings holds a pumpkin festival (running from mid- October through to Halloween). This is a harvest celebration rather than a thrill-filled scarefest. Carole and her team put on an impressive display of pumpkins (available to buy at the farm shop) from ‘baby’ varieties that fit snugly in the palm of your hand to great big whoppers. One year they grew a pumpkin that weighed 13 stone. Some are suitable for carving but others, like the Crown Prince (with its uncharacteristic blue/grey exterior) are delicious to eat.

“The Crown Prince is my favourite cooking pumpkin,” says Carole, who will be whipping up some pumpkin treats during the festival to serve in the small cafe attached to the shop. “It’s wonderful in soup and makes a delicious addition to curries and tagines.”

The armour-like skin of pumpkins can be tricky to penetrate but with a bit of brute force and a sharp knife you will eventually gain access to the orange flesh within. The best way to maximise the flavour of this vegetable is to roast it, either in thick wedges or chunks (boiling it can make it insipid). It’s also great in risottos and, of course, the pie our American cousins are famous for. My visit to Townings has inspired my recipe for mutton (or lamb) curry with pumpkin and coconut, which you can find on my blog comfortablyhungry.com.

For more information on the Townings Farm pumpkin festival, visit towningsfarm.co.uk.

The arduous task of scraping out the seeds from pumpkins just got a little easier thanks to this Fruit Scoop Set from Oxo (£10 from houseoffraser.co.uk).

With names like Uchiki Kuri, Buttercup and Baby Bear there is something fun about pumpkins and squash.

PumPkins & squash

WIn a fabulous one-nIght stay In an opulent berkshIre b&b

Competition terms and conditions: The competition is only open to residents in the UK. You have to be aged over 18 to enter. There is no entry fee or purchase necessary. The prize consists of a complimentary one-night stay at The Elephant, Pangbourne, for two in one of the chic rooms. One-night complimentary dinner (to the value of £30 per person) and bed and breakfast, excluding bar bill. Subject to availability. The Elephant will accommodate the winner’s choice of dates. The competition closes on Monday 27 October 2014. Only entries received before the closing date will be included in the free prize draw. The winner will be notified in writing after 1 November 2014. The reservation must be booked and taken before January 1 2015 and excludes 24-26 and 30-31 December 2014. The competition is not open to employees of Hillbrooke Hotels, S and R Publishing Ltd

The Elephant in Pangbourne is offering one lucky Sussex Style reader the chance to win a one-night stay for two people in one of the hotel’s chic rooms.

Situated in the bustling village of Pangbourne, beside the river Thames in Berkshire, The Elephant hotel offers a return to the opulence of the Empire. Beautiful handcrafted Indian furniture, rich oriental rugs, delicate fabrics — bedrooms individual in style but identical in attention to detail. Come to escape and unwind in style.

Our lucky winner will enjoy a one-night stay at The Elephant, plus dinner and bed and breakfast for two people. To enter simply, email [email protected] with the answer to this question: there are two elephant species left in the world — can you name one?

Find out more at elephanthotel.co.uk, tel: 0118 984 2244

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60 SecondS with…

thane prince

Thane Prince was the Daily Telegraph’s Weekend Cook and established The Aldeburgh Cookery School, which has been rated one of the best in the UK. She is now the preserves judge on BBC2’s The Big Allotment Challenge.

Thane will be signing copies of her latest book Perfect Preserves during Grow! Cook! Eat! at West Dean in October

I started preserving fruit and vegetables because I think there is something very satisfying to one’s soul to take something fresh and keep a little bit of that for the future. The idea of being able to open a jar of strawberry jam in November and remember that summer’s day is really very appealing. Of course it’s also quite thrifty. If you grow lots of produce and make preserves then it’s another way to benefit from all the hard work that went into growing them.

I love working with raspberries. Raspberry jam is a favourite because it’s so simple and easy to make. But I also make lots of chutney because you can take any variety of ingredients and make something completely delicious. The possibilities with chutney are endless.

The secret to the perfect preserve is that you shouldn’t treat your preserving pan as a dustbin. Only use good quality fruit and vegetables for preserving. Follow the recipe carefully unless you are absolutely certain you know what you are doing and store the preserve properly in sterilised jars. And don’t forget to label it. I once opened a jar of unlabelled strawberry jam only to find it was chilli jam instead!

One of the most common mistakes people make when preserving concerns lemon juice. Many people mistakenly believe that lemon juice contains pectin, which it doesn’t. Lemon juice is added to jams like strawberry to add acidity, not to make it set. If you want to make strawberry jam set then use jam sugar or include some redcurrants or the juice from some stewed apples in with the fruit.

The Big Allotment Challenge will be returning to our screens next year.

Perfect Preserves is published by Hodder & Stoughton, £25.

win a dog-friendly night away!

competition terms and conditions: The competition is only open to residents in the UK. You have to be aged over 18 to enter. There is no entry fee or purchase necessary. The prize consists of a complimentary one-night stay at The Master Builder’s Hotel in Beaulieu for two, to include a maximum of two dogs, in one of the hotel’s classic rooms and complimentary dinner (to the value of £30 per person) bed and breakfast, excluding bar bill. If travelling with dog(s) (max two) there will be one complimentary meal from the dedicated dog dinner menu subject to availability. Where possible The Master Builder’s Hotel will accommodate the winner’s choice of dates. The competition closes at 5.30pm on Monday 27 October 2014. Only entries received before the closing date will be included in the free prize draw. The winner will be notified in writing after 3 November 2014. The reservation must be booked and taken before January 1 2015 and excludes 24-26 and 30-31 December 2014. The competition is not open to employees of Hillbrooke Hotels or S and R Publishing Ltd.

Hotels don’t get more picturesque than The Master Builder’s. Situated on the Beaulieu Estate in the beautiful village of Buckler’s Hard, the hotel is the perfect spot from which to explore the stunning scenery of the New Forest.

The Master Builder’s Hotel is delighted to offer a brilliant night away for two people and their dogs to one lucky Sussex Style reader.

what you will winOne night’s bed and breakfast for two in one of the hotel’s classic rooms, to include evening mealA special dinner for your dogs from the dedicated dog menu

To enter, simply email [email protected] with the answer to this question: what county is the New Forest in?Find out more at themasterbuilders.co.uk

In this month’s exclusive competition one lucky Sussex Style reader will win a New Forest night away for two people and their dogs

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Preparation time: two hours, plus cooling and chillingCooking time: none (10 minutes to melt the chocolate)Makes: nine

What you need125g (4½ oz) plain cake crumbs1 sachet Dr. Oetker Fine Dark Cocoa Powder40g (1½ oz) icing sugar50g (2oz) unsalted butter, melted5ml (1 tsp) Dr. Oetker American Peppermint Extract150g Dr. Oetker Fine Cooks’ 72% Extra Dark Chocolate

To decorate75g (3oz) Dr. Oetker Fine Cooks’ 72% Extra Dark ChocolateDr. Oetker White Designer IcingDr. Oetker Bright Writing Icing (Red)

What to do1. Put the cake crumbs in a mixing bowl. Sift the cocoa powder and icing sugar on top. Mix in the melted butter and peppermint extract until well combined.

2. Using either a cake pop baller or your hands, form the mixture into nine lots of approximately 4cm (1¾ inch) diameter balls and put on a plate lined with baking parchment. Cover and chill for 30 minutes until firm.

3. Meanwhile, make the bat wings. Break 150g of the Extra Dark Chocolate into pieces and put into a heatproof bowl. Place over a saucepan of barely simmering water to melt. Remove from the water and leave to cool for 10 minutes.

4. Using a bat-shaped cookie cutter or template, trace nine sets of wings spaced a little apart on sheets of baking parchment — each wing needs to be about 7cm (2¾ inch) long, and approx. 4cm (1¾ inch) deep. Put the parchment, trace side down, on a large board.

5. Spoon about one third of the melted chocolate into a small piping bag without a nozzle. Snip a little of the bag away at the end and begin piping around each wing shape to give an outline in melted chocolate. Leave for a few minutes to set before going back and filling in the centres with more melted chocolate to make them solid. Leave in a cool place to set.

6. Place a small sheet of baking parchment on another board and pipe the outlines of nine pairs of ears. Once set, fill in the centre with melted chocolate. Leave in a cool place to set.

7. Once the wings have set, pipe on the wing detail and leave aside until ready to assemble.

8. To decorate, break up the remaining Extra Dark Chocolate into pieces and place in a small heatproof bowl. Melt as above then remove

from the water and mix with the melted chocolate left over from making the wings and ears — you may need to re-melt this.

9. Line a large board with baking parchment. Working on one cake ball at a time, drop it into the chocolate and gently turn it over using a fork to coat completely. Carefully lift out the ball on the prongs of the fork and gently tap the fork several times on the side of the bowl to remove the excess chocolate and to give a smooth finish. Put the ball on the lined board.

10. While the chocolate is still wet, carefully peel off a pair of wings and ears and gently press into the sides and top of the chocolate cake ball — to avoid getting fingerprints on the chocolate you may prefer to wear latex gloves.

11. Repeat this process to cover and decorate the remaining cake balls, then put the chocolate bats in a cool place to set. If the temperature is warm, cool them in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Keep any remaining melted chocolate for the final decoration.

12. Once the bats are set, pipe on the whites of the eyes using Designer Icing and a big smiley mouth using red Writing Icing. Re-melt the leftover chocolate as necessary, and either pipe or brush on small amounts for eyeballs and noses. Leave for a few minutes to set and then the bats will be ready to serve and enjoy!

Kids will love these cute little bats for trick or treating this Halloween

CHEEKY CHOCOLATE BATS


Serves: four-sixPreparation time: 40 minutes

What you need50g butter1 onion, chopped1kg pumpkin/butternut squash, deseeded and diced2 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped finely1 bay leaf900ml stock

3 tbsp Primula Original (plus extra for garnish)

What to do1. Melt butter in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and fry gently for a few minutes until softened. Don’t let the onion get too brown. Add the pumpkin/squash and cook for five minutes.

2. Add the garlic and bay leaf and pour over the stock.

3. Increase the heat and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft.

4. Discard the bay leaf and stir in the Primula. Blend using a hand blender until smooth.

5. Season to taste and ladle into bowls.

6. Serve with a swirl of Primula and warm crusty bread.

One for the adults at your Halloween party: filling, warming and oh-so-seasonal

PUMPKIN SOUP

taste style

O ctO b e r 2 0 1 4 | s u s s e x st y l e . c O m | 3 3

Book a styling appointment at 2 Victoria Street Brighton BN1 3FPTel: 01273 757 258 Maudbysophiecorbett.com

Fashion goes dark and mysterious for Halloween and October nights

Beauty’s story this autumn is all about serious skincare

Health update: now’s the time to prep for winter

Fighting cancer: Matt Guy Wright talks to the experts about the importance of diet

Fashion beauty &

PIC

: ja

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mu

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WUTHERING HEIGHTSTake your sTyle cues from The auTumn landscape in shades of burnished gold, heaTher and cloud grey. mix naTural TexTures of Tweed and wool wiTh shearling for a look ThaT’s quinTessenTially english.

all by easT: bouTiques in brighTon, chichesTer, lewes and across sussex, or online aT easT.co.uk.

Patchwork coat, £150


Shearling cape, £950, maxi dress, £99

fashion style


Dress, £79, coat, £110


fashion style

Forget Fancy dress: channel a gothic glam vibe For halloween with classic black and plenty oF attitude

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3 42

5

7 8 9

10

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1. Headdress, £25, Accessorize 2. Earrings, £14.99, H&M 3. Sunglasses, £180, Versace at sunglasses-shop.co.uk 4. Gloves, £75, Hobbs, hobbs.co.uk 5. Beaded clutch, £45, Accessorize 6. Feather tippet, £50, Jenny Packham at Debenhams 7. Shaper boots,

£169, Dune, dune.co.uk 8. Necklace, £19.50, Per Una at Marks & Spencer 9. Dome bag, £179, Biba at House of Fraser 10. Heels, £65, Office, office.co.uk

a f t e r d a r k


skin saviours

Origins Refreshing Face Mask,

£23, is an instant

pick-me-up

Elemis Advanced Brightening Even Tone Serum, £59,

smoothes and refines

Your daily glow-giver:

Clarins Tinted Cream SPF20, in

four easy-wear shades, £44

For every Coral Bird of Paradise Styler (£129) sold this month, ghd will give £10 to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. For salons visit ghdhair.com

LusT LisT

in The eyes“I’m a big fan of the smokey eye look. It’s sexy, classic, brings out the blue in my eyes and is such a bold statement that I don’t have to do much to the rest of my look,” says hot actress Kate Upton (above), the face of Bobbi Brown’s new Smokey Nudes Palette, £48.

BarGain Buy LifT upBuy Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Conditioning Handwash, £15, in October and £1 goes to Breast Cancer Care: stores in Brighton and Chichester, crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

There’s nine years of research and development behind Chanel’s new Le Lift Sérum, £98, and Crème Yeux for eyes, £63. Proven to leave skin velvet-soft, Keira Knightley’s a fan!

beauty notebookPink Products for charity, Perfect skincare for october

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StyliSh independent ladieS Boutique

Designer Clothing labels from italy, Paris & the UK tel: 01903 882 642 f: envy-arUnDel

Tateossian Scoubidou bracelet, £49 with £14.70 going to Breast Cancer Care (tateossian.com)

Debenhams washbag, £18 with £4.50 split

between three cancer charities

(debenhams.com)

English breakfast teabags from Williamson Tea (williamsontea.com), £9.50 with £1 to Breast Cancer Campaign

Filofax Willow iPad Air case (£39) and iPad mini case (£34). £3 and £2.50 respectively to Breast Cancer Campaign (filofax.co.uk)

Alpro plain yoghurt, £1.59 with 16p donation for each sold to Breast Cancer Care (asda.com)

TreaT yourselF while Flying The Flag For breasT cancer awareness monTh wiTh These gorgeous ‘pink’ producTs

Shop pink

On Tops shoes from Office, £65 with 50% of all proceeds to Breast Cancer Care (office.co.uk)

Idol bra by PrimaDonna Twist. 10% donation to Against Breast Cancer for every bra sold in October (lilygracelingerie.co.uk)

Breast Cancer Care collapsabottle, £4.99 with all proceeds to Breast Cancer Care (breastcancercare.org.uk)

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Did you know you can hire or buy a fabulous outfit at

Let our style team guide you through our NEW day wear collections in sizes 8 to 18

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Health updateStay well this autumn with these expert tips and tricks

Dr Sarah Brewer, GP, Registered Nutritional Therapist and the author of 60 popular health books, says: “When kids go back to school they will inevitably come into contact with a new batch of common cold viruses. Good nutrition can enhance their immune health, preparing them for the cold and flu season ahead.”

1. Fruit and vegetables are important sources of vitamins, minerals and immune-boosting substances that protect against infections. Encourage them to get their five servings of fresh fruit, vegetables or salad stuff per day. Hide puréed vegetables in soups, stews, pasta sauces and swirled into mashed potato, and grate carrot into sandwiches and salads. Give raw veggie sticks with healthy dips (guacamole, houmous) as a snack but if your children won’t eat many vegetables, give them a multivitamin supplement designed for their age group.

2. A fruity drink made from unsweetened fruit juice and water with no added sugar, preservatives or artificial sweeteners, is great for quenching thirst. I give my kids I Mune Nurture [www.munehealth.co.uk], which includes key vitamins and minerals that contribute to immune function, plus betaglucans which reduce susceptibility to respiratory infections in young children.

3. Probiotic bacteria help to

stimulate immunity against both bacterial and viral infections, and can reduce the severity and duration of a cold if one should develop. Kids love fermented milk drinks and live bio yoghurts, so this shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve!

FIGHTING GERMS AT SCHOOL

BAG FOR LIFEBuy Avon’s Crusade bag for life for £4, and £1 will be donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available at avon.uk.com or through your local representative.

COMFORT IS KEYWell-fitting, supportive lingerie is essential for breast health. Banish any bras with hard underwires, itchy lace, or tight- or loose-fitting

straps. During October Anita Care and Eloise.co.uk are donating 10 per cent of profits on the soft cup, super-comfortable Tonya bra to Macmillan Cancer Support: £30, sizes 32-42 A-D, eloise.co.uk

LUST LISTSaucony Women’s Ride 6 Running Shoes, £99.95, John Lewis and sportsshoes.com

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STOP PRESS To find ouT more abouT breasT cancer, self-examinaTion, signs and sympToms To look ouT for, help and also ways To fundraise, go To cancerresearchuk.org

HealtH style


Most of us will be affected by cancer at some point in our lives. Whether battling it personally or watching a loved one fight the disease, cancer is a dragon that must be slain.

There is though more and more evidence-based research coming to light with proof that, while we may not yet have discovered the cure, there are steps we can take to improve the situation for those undergoing cancer treatment. And for the rest of us, these steps can minimise the risk of being diagnosed with the disease.

As an advisor to the National Institute Of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), I spend a great deal of time studying reports on cancer research, prevention and treatment. But in order for me to write about this subject with even more authority, I interviewed two experts in breast cancer research.

Barbara Parry MSc RD is one of only two senior research dieticians in the country. And Penny Ericson is a breast cancer survivor and carer, chef and author. She has written several books, including the best-selling Chemo Cookery Club.

The imporTance of gaining sTrengThWe know a healthy diet can be of great assistance to the quality of life during all stages of cancer, its many forms of treatment and during remission. There is considerable evidence supporting the benefits of a plant-based diet in cancer prevention.

Penny’s husband, novelist Simon Hawkins, received the all-clear two years ago after enduring colon cancer.

“He learned that part of the healing process is change. There is no ‘going back to normal’,

there is learning ‘a new normal’,” Penny tells me. “Simon’s chemo nurses were amazed that every two weeks he had gained weight and built body strength while on chemotherapy. That boiled down to a positive attitude, good nutrition and exercise.

“This period in Simon’s treatment was the turning point. His oncologists and surgeons were the first to acknowledge that without regaining his strength through good nutrition and diet they could never have attempted the extensive and groundbreaking operation that saved his life. Simon underwent an operation that would have been a challenge for even the fittest of men. The extent of the procedure had never been done anywhere in the world.”

When it comes to breast cancer, weight gain can be one side effect of treatment.

Health and fitness editor Matt Guy Wright talks to the experts on the link between nutrition and cancer

How diet can Help figHt cancer


Penny explains: “Weight gain can be the result of a sudden hormonal imbalance from medication or surgery, chemo and radiotherapy or supporting steroids.

“Weight gain can also manifest because of guilt. People with cancer can often feel that it is somehow their fault — if their life choices had been different they ‘wouldn’t have brought this on themselves’. So people can comfort eat to drown out the guilt. As with all cancers and treatment, the most important thing is to try to maintain balance, physically and emotionally.

“Don’t limit your diet unless you are instructed medically to do so,” adds Penny.

Don’t make changes on a whim“There is so much information available to us,” says Barbara Parry. “And it’s somewhat contradictory in the case of nutrition after a breast cancer diagnosis.

“Another factor is that, with the best of intentions, women who’ve gone through breast cancer treatment may wish to share their experience with others. They can be very passionate about what they believe to be appropriate for all women going through breast cancer. But the nature of breast cancer is incredibly complex and one woman’s experience is likely to be very different from another’s.

“Individually tailored, evidence-based advice is the best approach — and will ensure you avoid changing your diet on a whim,” concludes Barbara.

1 Don’t punish yourself Try to think of food as part of wellness, not part of the medicine or disease. Do

everything you can to make food a positive part of your life. We all have to eat and it’s one of the few things that you can keep some control of when the rest of life gets turned upside down.

2 Save your favourite dishes and treatsDo this for when you are feeling well or are at the ‘top’ of your treatment cycle.

3 Probiotics may be helpful to keep the gut working (unless advised not to, for example those on neutropenic diets)

Cancer drugs can reduce the amount of normal bacteria in the gut that help digestion, so a boost here can be helpful. A small yoghurt and fruit smoothie in the morning can give a perfect nutritional advantage.

4 Avoid fads Every day we hear that something causes or cures cancer. There is a great

difference between what is evidence-based and is known to be true and what we think might be good for us. Common misconceptions are:

Avoid dairy when under treatment for breast cancer Avoid red meat Avoid too much exercise. In fact, recently research has been published showing that exercise and fitness play a significant role during treatment

5 Take a spirulina cocktailTaking spirulina in combination with certain other nutrient-rich foods has

been discovered to help combat breast cancer.

A report published in The Journal Of Cancer in November 2013 concluded that one of the primary causes of the recurrence of breast cancer and breast cancer deaths is a small group of cancer cells that evade therapy.

These cells have the ability to generate new tumours, so it is critically important to develop new approaches to more effective and safer treatment or prevention of breast cancer.

The research team tested 10 known protective chemical nutrients found in foods like broccoli, grapes, apples, tofu and turmeric root before settling upon six: curcumin (found in turmeric);

isoflavones from soya beans; indole-3-carbinol from cruciferous plants (these include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts); C-phycocyanin from spirulina, reservatrol from grapes, and quercetin, a flavonoid found in fruit, vegetables and tea. The researchers administered these six nutrients to both breast cancer and control cells.

They tested the compounds individually and in combination. They found that the compounds were ineffective individually. But when combined, they suppressed breast cancer cell growth by more than 80%. They also inhibited migration and invasion, caused cell cycle arrest, and triggered the process leading to cell death, resulting in the death of 100% of the breast cancer cells in the sample. The researchers observed no harmful effects on the control cells.

Although the cocktail was not tested against BRCA1 and BRCA2 (two genes that, if mutated, greatly increase a woman’s chance of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer), previous studies have shown that they can be targeted by four of the six compounds.

If you’re looking to buy spirulina in powder form I can recommend the organic and vegan Naturya range of supplements. Find in most health shops and at naturya.com

6 Don’t be scared by researchResearchers, oncologists and cancer specialists work together globally to

share information that sets policy. This is information we know to be helpful in the treatment and prevention of cancer.

Two of the best sources are the World Cancer Research Fund (based in the UK) and the American Institute for Cancer Research. Find out more at wcrf-uk.org and aicr.org.

7Visit a registered cancer dieticianThese are medical professionals who are trained to understand not just nutrition,

but the detail of how a cancer has presented, the medication and its effects as well.

A registered cancer dietician will work with patients to find balance and, where needed, appropriate alternatives. Any member of your healthcare team can refer you — including your GP.

When looking at diet and nutrition for breast cancer patients, note the following:

Health and fitness editor Matt Guy Wright has been a personal trainer in Sussex for 14 years.

For more details:

[email protected]

Matt Guy Wright

Personal Training & Nutrition

@MattGuyWrightPT

or call 07814 765 054

health style

seven key points

FinD out morePenny Ericson’s best selling books are the Chemo Cookery Club (£9.99) and Meats, Eats, Drinks and Leaves (£30). Both Amazon.Penny also has an online book called Around The Kitchen Table. It’s free to download from her website: www.chemocookeryclub.com

Barbara Parry tel: 01962 825080, email [email protected]


The latest fitness kithealTh style

Bank cards at the ready for this month’s must-have products

1The Nike FuelbaNdThis rather cool looking wristband contains motion sensors that track your movements through the day, adding up your ‘fuel’ points of activity and downloading on to your smartphone. Can be used during sports or just as a pedometer. Oh, and it tells the time too. £129 at nike.com

Oliver SweeNey maNNaSSe glOveSNow autumn is upon us the gloves come out — but gloves and smartphone screens do not mix, right? Well now they do! The outer layer of these gloves is touch sensitive for smartphones and tablets, while the cashmere inner will keep your paws as snug as a bug in rug, £99, www.oliversweeney.com

POlar rcx3 gPSIf you’re a serious runner or cyclist, this neat piece of kit will track your speed, distance and route. You then upload your data to Polar’s Personal Trainer website, which in turn will give you programmes and feedback. £249.50, polar.com

PiONeer Se-d10e headPhONeSThere’s nothing worse than having to fiddle around with your headphones when you’re out on a run or in the gym. These are sweat-proof, have crystal-clear sound and the clever design ensures a comfortable fit that stays in place, even as you move during your workout. £59.99, pioneer.eu

wiThiNgS SmarT bOdy aNalySerNot your average set of bathroom scales. This clever bit of kit records your weight, yes, but also measures body fat, heart rate and air quality too. Air quality? No, me neither. £129.95, withings.com

aSicS’ meN’S ruNNiNg TighTSGentlemen take note, tights are in this winter — white legs in shorts are so last season. These full-length beauties use motion-dry technology to keep you warm on colder days and reduce skin irritation caused by sweat on warmer ones. There’s also a handy back pocket. £50 (with free delivery), asics.co.uk


Eurotiles & Bathrooms Brighton: Unit 6c, Freshfields Business Park, Brighton BN2 0DF Email: [email protected] Phone: 01273 605445

Eurotiles & Bathrooms Rustington: Unit F, Brookside Ave., Brookside Ind. Estate, Rustington BN16 3LF Email: [email protected] Phone: 01903 785226

Other branches in Braintree, Guildford, Stevenage and Twickenham. www.eurotilesandbathrooms.com

Style, design & innovation in tiles & bathroomsHuge collection of tiles, mosaics and bathroom products in stock.

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Why velvet is a key trend for interiors this autumn

A touch of glamour: how to make Art Deco work in your home

Latest products and ideas for your style notebook

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Rhapsody Rug in silveR, £299; miRRoR, £180; ophelia CRystal 8-light ChandelieR, £550; diana glass steps table lamp, £170; CuRtains in John lewis suRi FabRiC, pale gRaphite, £20 peR metRe; paRamount laRge soFa, Como tRuFFle, £2,400. all John lewis

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Velvet is a key trend in interiors right now on sofas, chairs, throws and cushions. Think old-school glamour meets Fifth Avenue luxury

Hotel fabulous

1. Cushion, £14, Tesco 2. Mirror, £245,

Sweetpea & Willow 3. Cushion,

£9.99, H&M 4. Tray, Star by Julien

Macdonald, £18, Debenhams 5. Glass

bon-bon jar, £45, Marks & Spencer

6. Velour footstool, £399, Next

7. Table lamp, £99, Marks & Spencer

8. Candelabra, £25, Sainsbury’s

Home 9. Candles, £10 each, Betty

Jackson at Debenhams

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neptunehailsham.comAVAILABLE AT: Neptune Hailsham Neptune House, North Street, Hailsham, BN27 1DQ 01323 849 483 [email protected]: Price of similar sized Chichester kitchen including those cabinets not on show is £14,850. Montague Bar Stool £150

Have you heard...“I am so impressed by the quality of your customer service. Most companies could take a leaf out of your book.” Stuart, Reading - May 2014

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neptunehailsham.comAVAILABLE AT: Neptune Hailsham Neptune House, North Street, Hailsham, BN27 1DQ 01323 849 483 [email protected]: Price of similar sized Chichester kitchen including those cabinets not on show is £14,850. Montague Bar Stool £150

Have you heard...“I am so impressed by the quality of your customer service. Most companies could take a leaf out of your book.” Stuart, Reading - May 2014


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home style

An invitation to a fancy dress party was the inspiration Laura Jandac needed to discover a fabulous 1920s-inspired interiors range

Dressing up is not something I have had the chance to do for quite some time. I am talking about fancy dress, the kind where you make a complete wally

out of yourself for the amusement of the birthday boy/girl.

My son is a regular dresser-upper. At the age of five all birthday parties have a dress code these days. So imagine how confused I was when I received an invite to a ‘smart and sophisticated fancy dress party’. Theme: The Great Gatsby.

Immediately I was on the internet looking for flapper dresses and sparkles, beautiful shoes and expensive (don’t tell the husband) jewellery. A fancy dress party that doesn’t involve face paints. Bliss.

I lost days to the cause. Google practically shut down under all the pressure I was putting on it. I found my outfit with relative ease and realised that I am completely in love with the 1920s in general. The style is decadent yet fun. They certainly knew how to enjoy themselves despite what may have been going on economically. Think Bugsy Malone with Jodi Foster in her beautiful dresses, the wonderful old cars and, most of all, the interiors.

Art Deco style is still as popular as ever, with original pieces of furniture commanding high prices. It is recognisable to most and hotels such as the Savoy in London have just spent millions refurbishing in an Art Deco style. The theatrical interior of the hotel’s Beaufort Bar has won rave reviews for design and is simply the perfect backdrop for a cocktail. All very roaring twenties.

If like me you want to take a piece of the era home with you, then why not have a look at the new fabric collection from Linwood? It is called Metropolis and it was as if the company knew just how in lust I was with Deco. It includes a range of fabrics for upholstery and curtains, including gold-embossed velvets and iconic Art Deco linen prints. There are some striking wallpapers to complete the collection. They can be used on their own as accent pieces, or you can throw caution to the wind and embrace them all in true 1920s fashion. There are bold burgundies and blacks, but experiment with calmer neutrals if you feel more at home with them.

Visit linwoodfabric.com to view the entire collection — then dress up to the nines, grab a cocktail and go dancing. It’s what the 1920s were all about.


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1 An accentuated oval smoked glass lamp with an oval linen shade. £140

2 A heart shaped Venetian vanity hand mirror with leaf engraving detail. £15

3 A feather-filled cushion with a stunning watercolour ‘Mr Wooly’ print and natural

coloured bobbles along the side. Backed with a woolen grey check fabric. £46.25

4 This large slate effect clock creates a bold statement when placed in any room. £108

5This mohair throw is whisper-soft, making it a firm favourite. Luxuriously sleek and

soft, the smooth fibres of mohair retain their rich colour over time. £75

6 A curtain rope tie back with a large glass ball and silver hanging beaded tassels. £19

7 This handmade slightly textured Alberta faux fur ruffle scarf is beautifully designed

with a neat elastic pull through fastening so it sits perfectly on top of a coat or warm jumper. £32.50

Rusdens 87-89 London RoadEast GrinsteadRH19 1EJTel: 01342 325 033 www.rusdens.co.uk

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Creating a stunning and fresh look for your bedroom with these gorgeous statement pieces from Rusdens of East Grinstead

Finishing touches

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Four

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“I’ve always loved things and have had years of shopping training,” laughs Sophie Corbett, the owner of Four Candles, Brighton’s quirky new shopping destination

She goes to add: “In fact Dad [comedy legend Ronnie] did say to me about five years ago ‘you should open a shop’. If a friend ever needed something found they would always call me and say ‘Sophie, were can I find a hat, dress, coat to suit me’.”

Feeling inspired, Sophie took the leap into creating her own range. “Three years ago I started designing clothes in between running from Hove to London to do voice-overs. And it has all grown from there.

“I decided I needed a place to go to work on my designs somewhere other than home, so my seamstress Mandy introduced me to Siobhan Stagg, a friend of hers who does up all types of pieces of furniture. Siobhan was also looking for a space for her business, so I suggested we do it together.

“As we are both mums and have other jobs [Siobhan and her husband Dean own a successful catering company] I thought it made perfect sense to work together.”

After much searching the duo found the perfect property in Brighton’s Montpelier district.

“We felt blessed when we found it,” says Sophie. “It is in the most lovely location and is like a little house. Upstairs is all about clothes and houses our workshops, while downstairs is the Four Candles boutique.

“Here we stock lots of lovely things from large to small for men and women. The name was actually Siobhan’s idea and I love it,” smiles Sophie. “The moment she suggested it I just thought it was perfect.

“My family are very close so my clothing range Maud is named after my mum — it’s her middle name.

“I feel so proud every time I open the doors to Four Candles. It’s early days, but as my very glamorous wise mum says, you have got to be brave enough to fail!”

2 Victoria Street, Brighton, BN1 3FP Tel: 01273 757285 [email protected]

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Sussex travel: a weekend in Brighton’s quirky Hotel Pelirocco reviewed

Why apprenticeships are no longer the poor relation to university degrees

The Brighton Comedy Festival is back: your guide to what’s on and when

Mum on the Run: this month Laura juggles mum duties with the stresses of moving house

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T here are some days when having a child in tow is bliss. They come out with questions like “Mummy, where

is that man going on his holidays?”, pointing at a stranger on the other side of the road. You gush and take the time to answer, pretending that he is going on a rainforest adventure as you reel off the basic plot to Indiana Jones.

Then there are the times when the little darlings follow you around obediently all day doing all you ask of them. You get your to-do list ticked off with ease and there is still time for ice cream (granted, these days are rarities).

Then there are the days when you wish you could just pack them off to Grandma’s.

We moved house a couple of weeks ago. I could

probably finish the article here as I am sure you can guess where I am heading and I am in no doubt that most of you will have lived through the torture of that day.

“I’ll help Mummy!” I must have heard that 50 times and while that would have been lovely in theory, my son Archie is five and obviously cannot lift anything. The removal men were

about to keel over under the weight of my badly packed boxes — books in one, cushions in another (apparently that isn’t how you are supposed to do it) — so my son’s presence on the day quickly became a hindrance rather than a help.

Boxes. What is it about children, animals and boxes? As soon as they see an empty one, they’re in head first and it soon becomes a police car or a rocket. Great if you are not trying to put the contents of the kitchen cupboards in it. Worse still they can see you packing and as quickly as you put it in they take it out. “I need that Mummy,” or “Not in there Mummy, Teddy doesn’t like the dark”. Moving is a stressful time so to pack everything twice is a nightmare.

To pass the time I asked my son if he could

Mum on the RunThey say that moving house is one of the most stressful things in life. As Laura finds out this month, doing it with a five-year-old in tow is no mean feat

I don’t know about your

child’s skills in the art

department but whatever

my son draws always

looks the same

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draw a picture on the side of each box of what was inside. That way he could help me unpack at the other end (Possibly. Maybe. Actually no, but I would cross that bridge when I got to it). This kept him quiet for at least half an hour, so a job well done... or so I thought.

I don’t know about your child’s skills in the art department but whatever my son draws always looks the same. “It’s a motorbike Mummy!” or “It’s a crocodile!”, but to my untrained eye they look identical. All the colours in his colouring box are used to create a brown picture of something that might, if you really squint, possibly look like the outline of a crocodile.

This is all very cute — except when you reach your new house, finally find the enthusiasm to unpack and realise you haven’t got the foggiest

idea what is in each box. Schoolgirl error — of course I should have written it on myself but I didn’t, and now I have to open nearly every box to find the kettle.

It wasn’t only me he wanted to help. The removal men didn’t escape. He wanted to make them tea, followed them up and down the stairs with biscuits (how I wish someone would do that for me!) and generally got under their feet.

He kept a few cars and lorries to play ‘removal men’ with but would only play either directly in the path of the front door (so convenient!) or on the stairs. Worse still, he created tripping hazards by leaving his toys all over the stairs along with a trail of biscuit crumbs. At this point I finally cracked and banished him to the back garden.

Just as we were finally ready to leave the old house for the new I realised that I couldn’t find Archie. I kept calling but no answer. Everyone had thought that someone else was keeping an eye on him. Panic was just beginning to set in when we heard crying from the back of the removal van. He had jumped in when no one was looking and the removal men were just about to drive off with him loose in the back.

With the drama over we are now settled in, although I still have some boxes to unpack. It turns out my son doesn’t even recognise his own drawings so it’s taking a little longer than anticipated.

We are all having great fun in the empty boxes, though. Mummy has her own castle, Daddy has a sports car and Archie has a speedboat.

Archie “helping” with the boxes


EXCITINGFUTURE To find out more please contact us for an invitation to attend ourforthcoming Open Morning or to arrange a personal tour.

T 01403 246555 E [email protected] W christs-hospital.org.uk

Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0LJRegistered Charity No. 1120090

PROUD PAST

Sussex Style Autumn 2014_Layout 1 26/09/2014 14:44 Page 1

EXCITINGFUTURE To find out more please contact us for an invitation to attend ourforthcoming Open Morning or to arrange a personal tour.

T 01403 246555 E [email protected] W christs-hospital.org.uk

Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0LJRegistered Charity No. 1120090

PROUD PAST

Sussex Style Autumn 2014_Layout 1 26/09/2014 14:44 Page 1

I would highly recommend apprenticeships as they are a

great way to learn skills and gain knowledge. They bring you closer to the company you work for and can lead to great opportunities

Josh Cox says an apprenticeship gave him the best of both worlds — and a job

Apprentices have a key role to play at the Caffyns group

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University may not be the route to a high-flying career it was once thought to be. According to recent research

from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), more than nine million jobs will be in fields that do not require a degree by 2022.

Perhaps the alternative to a university education could be learning through doing in the form of an apprenticeship.

“You can do an apprenticeship in over 1,500 job roles across 170 industries now so they’re a great way to pursue a high-level career without the need to do full-time study at university,” says Julie Taylor from the National Careers Service.

Apprentices earn a wage and are entitled to all the usual employee benefits. Apprenticeships

often include some element of part-time study. They can be an excellent alternative to university because the higher level of apprenticeships allows young people (usually aged between 16 and 24) to work their way up to the equivalent of a bachelor degree while being sponsored by their employer. The long-term prospects for apprentices are also good, with 85 per cent staying in employment and 65 per cent of those remaining with the same employer.

Some employers may look for evidence of work experience before appointing an apprentice. One way to gain this vital experience and learn a new skill is to take up a traineeship. A traineeship is an education and training programme with work experience that is focused on giving young people the skills and experience that employers are looking for. They

can last from six weeks to six months but are usually unpaid. They act as a bridge between school and work.

“The National Careers Service believes there are a number of routes to employment for young people depending on the way they work and learn best. We would never say it’s definitely university or it’s definitely apprenticeships,” adds Julie.

“Some people appreciate full-time study while others prefer to learn a job by doing it.

“You may find in the future that there’s not much difference between the long-term career prospects of someone who has come up via the apprenticeship route and someone who has gone to university.”

The apprenTice

After attaining 10 GCSEs at school, Josh Cox was in the first year of sixth form and working part-time as a kitchen porter in a local pub when he decided to go for an apprenticeship. He began an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering at Universal Race Technology (URT) in 2007, aged 17.

“It seemed like a great opportunity to better my skills and knowledge, while working in the job I enjoyed,” says Josh.

While he was working at URT Josh attended Chichester College on a part-time basis, achieving a Level 3 NVQ in mechanical engineering. He finished his apprenticeship in July 2011 and is now employed full-time with URT.

Josh credits his apprenticeship with giving him not only enjoyable practical experience but also invaluable life and career skills.

“I have been given lots of opportunities to work on great projects, and have had lots of support and help all the way through my apprenticeship from URT,” he explains. “My goal now is to excel within the company.”

He adds: “I would highly recommend apprenticeships as they are a great way to learn skills and gain knowledge. They bring you closer to the company you work for and can lead to great opportunities.”

The employer

Caffyns of Eastbourne is a group of motor dealerships working across 12 locations in Sussex and Kent. It has been offering apprenticeships ever since the company was founded in 1865 and has around 25 apprentices at any one time. Caffyns now offers various intermediate and advanced apprenticeships, ranging from customer service and vehicle maintenance, to software, web and telecoms.

“Caffyns enjoys employing apprentices,” says Barbara Robinson, Caffyns’ human resources manager.

“We love to watch the enthusiasm and passion for cars they have at their initial interview grow into skills they are proud of, which will enable them to pursue excellent careers in the motor industry.”

The apprenticeships are supported by training delivered by Northbrook College and other providers. As well as work experience this means new recruits can also gain a range of vocational qualifications including Level 2 or 3 NVQs relevant to their chosen career path. Many apprentices work their way up through the company to management level.

“From day one our apprentices contribute to the business not only by learning the job,” says Barbara, “but also by learning about us as a company and the systems we use. This means they are able to assist their mentors in many ways.”

An AlternAtive to UniversityApprenticeships are no longer seen as a poor substitute for academic study. Sam Bilton discovers what opportunities they can offer

education style

Find out morethe National Apprenticeship

service: apprenticeships.org.

uk or call 08000 150 600.

National Careers service

helpline 0800 100900

With thanks to the

Skills Funding Agency.


the book clubliterary editor laura lockington picks out three spine-tingling reads for October

book style

As the seasons change there is no better way to spend a damp and chilly afternoon than snuggling down with a good book. And with Halloween nearly upon us I’ve selected three

chillingly brilliant page-turners for you this month. Enjoy — just make sure you don’t sit in the dark. Or with your back to the door…

It’s a year since her father’s death but Stella Darnell has not moved on. She visits his house every day to clean it. Leaving it spotless. As if he might return. Her father was a

detective superintendent at Hammersmith police station and she has discovered what looks like an unsolved case in his darkroom: a folder of unlabelled photos of empty streets. Why did he never file them? The oldest photograph dates back to a day in 1966 when 10-year-old Mary Thornton was out with her baby brother. That afternoon, as the Moors murderers were sent to prison for life, Mary saw something that would haunt her forever.

And as Stella inches closer to the truth, the events of that day begin to haunt her, too. The Moors murders linger in all our subconscious, I think, even if we were too young to have clear memories of the horrific case.

This is a really intelligent book with a multi-layered plot and brilliant, realistic characters. The story takes us into the world of loss and forgiveness with satisfying twists and turns throughout.

Stella Darnell is one of those characters that stay with you long after the book is finished. She also gives some extremely handy hints on cleaning — not that we need them, of course!

Have you (like the rest of us) ever wondered how exactly you can waste so much time on Facebook or Twitter? Have you found yourself frittering away valuable hours watching cute kitten videos or the

ubiquitous ice bucket challenge? Then this is the book for you.

Mae secures herself a plum job in the most influential company in the world: The Circle. It’s a job she never thought she’d land. But she has and she has to keep pinching herself to prove that she’s really there, in the highly paid heart of social media.

She gets paid a fortune to sit and ‘like’ posts and pages. Work doesn’t seem like work — all she has to do is comment on posts and endorse products with a few chatty words or a tick. The perks are enormous, she is showered with products and nurtured by a caring company that has leisure facilities and after-work concerts that are mind-bogglingly extravagant.

She’s rapidly promoted from her role in ‘customer experience’ and soon finds herself the star of her own reality show that’s a daily fix for users of social media. At first she embraces the goals and philosophy of The Circle (it has invented the TruYou, an unbreakable one-account system without passwords or identity theft that changes the internet for ever), although it does seem too good to be true.

Of course, it is... You may never again look at a cute kitten without a shudder.

This is that rarest of breeds: a book that horrifies while being funny, witty and wise at the same time.

Historian Anna Bennett has a book to write. She also has an insomniac toddler,

a precocious, death-obsessed seven-year-old and a frequently absent ecologist husband who has brought them all to Colsay, a desolate, claustrophobically small island in the Hebrides, so he can count the puffins.

Ferociously sleep-deprived and torn between mothering and her desire for the pleasures of work and solitude, Anna becomes haunted by the discovery of a baby’s skeleton in the garden of their house.

Her narrative is punctuated by letters home, written 200 years before by May, a young, middle-class midwife desperately trying to introduce modern medicine to the suspicious, insular islanders.

The lives of these two characters intersect unexpectedly in this deeply moving but also at times blackly funny story about maternal ambivalence, the way we try to control children, and women’s vexed and passionate relationship with work.

If you have ever thought about taking a trip to a nearly uninhabited island for some much-needed rest and recuperation, I suspect that this book might make you think again. And it might also make you rethink any baby plans you may have!

Ghost Girl by Lesley Thomson (Head of Zeus)

The Circleby Dave Eggers (Penguin)

Night Wakingby Sarah Moss (Granta Books)

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RRP £14.99 Available from Amazon and most high street book stores. A special cloth-bound edition is £20 and available from our website: unbound.co.uk/books/unchosen.

Hotel Pelirocco is known as Brighton’s rock ‘n’ roll hotel. Based in a Regency Square Grade II listed building, there

are 19 themed rooms, ranging from the Dolly Parton-themed Dollywould to an all-knitted room from Brighton artist Kate Cardigan, and the newly opened Kraken’s Lair, featuring an 8ft circular bed with a mirrored ceiling.

One thing that, by its own admission, the hotel is not known for is being family-friendly. The cocktail bar is open until 4am, offering such delights as the Nipple Clamp. Room service will happily bring you sex toys, or a hangover cure consisting of essential oils and vitamins. And then there is the Couples’ Hangover Cure, consisting of all of the above plus three condoms and a cheery exhortation that hungover sex will cure all that ails you.

The exception to all this adult fun is Lord Vader’s Quarters, a Star Wars-themed hotel room billed as being perfect for fathers and

sons. I guess if you have a son called Luke then it’s practically compulsory to stay here. And, as I explained to my 11-year-old son Isaac when we visited for our intergalactic mini-break, mummies can be geeks too.

A word of warning: the bunk beds are another reason why it’s not the most couple-friendly room. If you were thinking of packing your Princess Leia bikini for some Star Wars adult adventure you might want to think again.

Styled like a Death Star cabin, the room comes

complete with a Darth Vader outfit, hung up just around the corner from the main room. Inevitably, you forget it’s there, so it’s fun when you go to leave or turn the lights off and whoa, Darth will be lurking in the corner to frighten the Ewoks out of you.

Since the room’s only light switch is located in this corridor, you are virtually guaranteed that Darth is the last thing you’ll see before you go to bed, which isn’t ideal for the faint-hearted light sleeper. But diehard Star Wars fans (and brave kids) will love it.

Mind the lightsaberOn the subject of kids, there’s always the risk that you might use the loo and exit to find that your room mate has taken the opportunity to dress up as Vader and leap out to threaten you with a lightsaber. It’s quite funny really — once you stop screaming in terror.

Lord Vader’s Quarters contains a small

I asked my son if there was a lamp above his top bunk. ‘No, but there’s a gun’ came the reply, and sure enough there was

To celebrate the latest Star Wars movie — currently filming in London — Sussex Style sent Joanna Mallon for a night in Lord Vader’s Quarters at Brighton’s Hotel Pelirocco

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en-suite bathroom featuring lovely REN toiletries, a portrait of Queen Amidala (of course) and a decent pressure shower. The force is strong with this one.

There’s a black rubber floor and Star Wars memorabilia all around the walls. Checking the facilities, I asked my son if there was a lamp above his top bunk. “No, but there’s a gun” came the reply, and sure enough there was.

Hotel Pelirocco is a pebble’s throw from Brighton’s West Pier and within easy reach of many dining options. The Regency Restaurant a few doors away is one of Sussex’s oldest and most popular seafood restaurants and one-time home to the richest woman in Europe. If you want fish and chips with a view, they’ve been serving them up here since the 1930s.

As we settled down for the evening, we were spoilt for choice for entertainment, as long as you like Star Wars — a pretty safe bet, if you’re

snuggling down in this room, after all. The room contains DVDs of all six movies, and as we couldn’t pick a favourite we watched a documentary about the making of the films instead. Did you know Chewbacca’s voice came from recordings of lions and bears?

At night the room was as hot as Tatooine [the desert planet], but I think we just happened to be there on an unseasonably warm night. Other than that we had a comfy night’s sleep. Well, as much as you can do when there’s a man in black with a lightsaber lurking round the corner.

Room rates at the Pelirocco don’t include breakfast, although with that cocktail bar I imagine many guests don’t make it down for breakfast anyway.

We, however, were ravenous and ready to test out the menu. Having made it down for breakfast, we positioned ourselves away from

the nude torsos on the wallpaper as it was just too early for that sort of thing. Instead we turned our attention to Stone Roses on the soundtrack and the retro video game table.

I had a substantial vegetarian breakfast which, like a snake with a mouse, kept me going all the next day. My son tackled the breakfast buffet containing a selection of tropical fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice and Coco Pops. You don’t get that on the Millennium Falcon.

Hotel detailsLord Vader’s Quarters is available on a single or twin basis, priced from £59-£100. Breakfast is extra, from £3.50. There’s free WiFi at the hotel. Parking is limited.

Hotel Pelirocco is on Regency Square, Brighton. For more information or to book, go to hotelpelirocco.co.uk or call 01273 775215.

travel style

Below left to right: Isaac in the top bunk; the vegetarian breakfast; quirky details from the room

Lord Vader’s Quarters: not

for the light sleeper

Other rooms at the hotel include the

Kraken’s Lair

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Brighton isn’t an amateur when it comes to the comedy game. Whether you’re looking for slapstick, satire or seriously snort-inducing laughter, Brighton has it all. Each May comedy sits happily amid the wild and wacky at the Brighton Fringe, while throughout the year the city has some fantastic regular comedy spots. From the famous Krater Comedy Club at the Komedia to the Laughing Horse at the Quadrant and gigs at the Caroline of Brunswick’s, there’s something for everyone.

And then there’s the annual Brighton Comedy Festival. This year the festival runs from 10-25 October and, with 70 performances spread across 16 days in six different venues, it truly is a city-wide event.

Over the years the festival has received the backing of many high-profile comedians, with past successes including Russell Howard, Omid Djalili and Bill Bailey. And this year’s line-up is as impressive as ever. Read on to find out more.

Now entering its twelfth year, the Brighton Comedy Festival (10-25 October) is the perfect way to raise a smile this autumn. With 16 days of brilliant live comedy from some of the country’s finest stand-ups to enjoy, Camilla Davies previews the action

don’t miss…The opening gala at the Dome on 10 October. It’s always a fabulous night and this year’s performance, hosted by Adam Hills, will be in aid of local charity Sussex Beacon, which supports people affected by HIV.

Brighton Comedy Festival guideFunnygirl Katherine Ryan

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feature style

SuSSex Style’S Brighton FeStival pickS

FeStival venueS Future StarSBrighton Comedy Festival guide

komediaOne of the south east’s most popular comedy spots, Komedia sits proudly in Brighton’s North Laine, offering live music, cabaret, comedy and more.

old marketThroughout its long history the Old Market has been a stables, riding school, smokery and studio. Today the team work with local artists as well as top names. The programme of entertainment encompasses everything from comedy to big bands.

Brighton domeThe Dome’s dynamic programme most recently included an all-male performance of Wuthering Heights, a manga mystery and a review of the digital/dance infusion, ‘GøL4M’.

Did you know that all three Dome venues (the Concert Hall, the Studio Theatre and the Corn Exchange) are linked to the rest of the Royal Pavilion Estate by an underground tunnel and through shared corridors to Brighton Museum?

Not everyone is content with watching from the stands — why not try for centre stage?

Where there’s a will (and of course talent), there’s a way. Brighton Comedy Festival doesn’t sideline comedy hopefuls. This year sees the introduction of an original comedy competition, the Squawker Award, where future stars can be discovered.

The brains behind the comedy festival have teamed up with Komedia and Jill Edwards Comedy Workshops for the inaugural competition. Comedians who have been gigging for less than three years without a contract have been battling it out in the heats throughout September.

And if the Squawker Award passes you by, there’s always the Brighton Laughing Horse’s intensive two-day comedy course.

The BrighTon Comedy FesTival Takes plaCe From 10-25 oCToBer To find ouT more and book TickeTs, visiT www.brighToncomedyfesTival.com

The Old Market: stables turned comedy venue

Jon RichaRdsonThe star of Channel 4’s 8 out of 10 Cats is out on the road this autumn with his new tour ‘Nidiot’. This comic roots his work in the hope of becoming a more easy-going chap — his wit continues to surprise and delight.

KatheRine RyanThis Canadian stand-up brings her new solo act ‘Glam Role Model’ to Brighton, rooting the subject of her wit this time in the bizarre world of glamour modelling. It’s surprising she’s found time in her packed-out schedule to perform to Sussex locals, what with her TV appearances left, right and centre. She’s the winner of the Nivea Funny Women Awards, and has featured on Mock the Week, QI and Fake Reaction.

MoRgan and WestThis comic duo are time-travelling magicians who have lost the secret to all their tricks… can the people of Brighton help them relocate the magic? This adventure show sees Morgan and West cross continents, encounter confusion

and tickle your funny bone. We won’t spoil the show for you, but we know it’s, well... magical!

haRdeep singh KohliHe’s a comedian, journalist and chef. It’s not just any man who can breeze between Celebrity Masterchef and Question Time, but Singh Kohli brings his wit and humour to many platforms. He’ll be performing ‘Hardeep Is Your Love’ at the festival, discussing, amongst other things, the search for romance during middle age…

siMon aMstellAs the saying goes, tragedy is the foundation of all comedy, and the delightful Simon Amstell (right), cherished for his awkward, snarky and self-deprecating comedic stance, goes some way to prove this.

The talented comic will be showcasing his brand new show ‘To Be Free’ for a Brighton audience. He was a sell-out success in New York and London, and in Brighton he’ll be exploring philosophical questions of freedom,

art, peace and regret… with a twist.

Amstell, who has already won two British Comedy Awards, and a Chortle Award, thinks of comedy as a form of personal therapy. As it stands, audiences can expect to come away feeling that bit lighter too.

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GadGet hotlistWe’ve got the inside track on the hottest product launches for October

technology style

1calling the DOctORDelight the Whovian in your life with this quirky Tardis bluetooth speaker from Tesco. Not only does it come with a remote control and various audio options — during pairing it will obligingly make the classic landing noise and light up. Happy Whovians all round. £139, tescodirect.com

One-step espRessO Enjoy coffee at home without mess or hassle with the dinky Lavazza Minù. Compact in size and easy to use, you can create your espresso in seconds with one simple step. The Minù, which comes in white and red, uses the Lavazza A Modo Mio capsule range, which has 10 blends to choose from. £74.99, lakeland.co.uk

smaRt kettleReclaim time spent waiting for the kettle to boil with the iKettle. Controlled remotely via your mobile device (simply download the free app), the kettle also features a wake up and welcome home setting, plus it will handily keep the water at your desired temperature for up to 30mins. £99.99, maplin.co.uk

eaR canDyThe Urbanite headphone range from Sennheiser combines looks with brains. In five colours and two sizes, the headphones feature the quality sound (including a thumping bass) the German company is renowned for, fold up for ease of use and will even control your music and phone calls. £149.99, sennheiser.com

skin saviOuRWhy hello lovely. The Braun Face not only deep cleans skin beautifully (expect to glow), it’s the world’s first cleansing brush combined with a mini epilator. It comes with a lighted mirror and beauty pouch and, at £69.99, is competitively priced compared to other products in this market. boots.com

pet camThis hi-tech pet monitoring camera from Motorola allows you to keep an eye on your pet when out. Via computer, smartphone or tablet you can watch what he’s up to, control the camera remotely and speak to him. The camera will even alert you if it suspects something is wrong. £99, argos.co.uk

8 4 | s u s s e x st y l e . c O m | O ctO b e r 2 0 1 4

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on saturday 13 september a special charity night was held at the brighton metropole hotel to celebrate the life of sean seabourne, who lost his battle to depression in september 2013. As well as being a chance for friends and family to celebrate sean’s life, the night was designed to raise funds for, and awareness of, mental health issues. sussex style was there to take part in this very special night

“Don’t Suffer In SIlence” — Sean’S Salute

Because mental illness

can’t be seen, because it’s

not a tangible illness, it is

automatically characterised

as a weakness

HELPLINE: 08444 779 400


There is so much stigma surrounding mental health issues. Yet it’s estimated that one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.

Sean Seabourne suffered from depression that, tragically, resulted in him taking his life in September 2013. Sean’s family decided to host a glittering charity event at the Brighton Metropole hotel to celebrate Sean’s life and raise awareness of mental health issues.

Speaking on behalf of her family, Sean’s sister Paula told a packed audience:

“My wonderful little brother was one of the most charismatic, kind and genuine men I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He was my very best friend and soulmate.

“For the past five years we watched my little brother’s brain disease engulf his soul. I call mental illness brain disease because that’s exactly what it is. It bears no relevance to how strong a person is. It’s a chemical imbalance that eats away at the brain and soul.

“My little brother was so strong and brave in fighting his illness. His soul-crushing depression engulfed him and left him feeling as if there was no alternative.”

NEED FOR AWARENESSPaula went on to add: “If somebody has a heart attack or cancer, we are familiar with these diseases and can relate to them — there is no stigma to having and passing away with these illnesses. I want to let you know tonight that mental illness is exactly the same.

“Because mental illness can’t be seen, because it’s of the mind and not a tangible illness, it is automatically characterised as a weakness rather than an illness. But the black hole that is clinical depression is all-consuming.

“We all need to understand that many, many people face the same struggles that my brother did every day of their lives. We need to treat mental illness as we do any other illness.

“When my brother was free of his illness, he loved a party like no other and was a cheeky, boisterous chappy who brought smiles to everyone. Please remember that depression often doesn’t show its face in public.”

feature style

HELPLINE: 08444 779 400

Dear Sussex Style,I was very much inspired by the interiors piece ‘Chalk it up’ in your September issue. We’ve just moved and are at a loss as to what to do with all our old furniture that doesn’t suit our new place. Not wanting to spend more money on buying lots of new furniture, I will be booking myself on to one of the decorative painting courses asap!Mrs S Davison, Storrington

Dear Sussex Style,A huge thank you to the Sussex Style team for the wonderful article in your August issue. I have had some fantastic feedback from it and I’m so grateful that you featured me in the magazine. My new series of Crafty Beggars will be broadcast on TLC in November — please do tune in!Julie Peasgood, via email

Look out for next month’s bumper November issue (out 1 November):

‘THIS PLACE HAS SAVED ME’ The secret West Sussex detox retreat turning lives around

KATE MOSSE’S SUSSEX The top author reveals why she loves Sussex — and how it influences her

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN Gift guide, indulgent recipes, Christmas tree buying tips, plus must-read money-saving advice

THE WINNER Of LAST ISSUE’S COMPETITION IS:Jonathan Morgan from Burgess Hill wins a spa stay at the Vale Resort Hotel, Wales.

TIME TO SNUggLE UP!

With the seasons changing it’s time to say a reluctant goodbye to light summer jackets and invest in a decent winter coat. Our favourites include this boucle coat in red, the season’s hottest colour, from Warehouse (£85,

stores in Brighton, Horsham, Crawley and Eastbourne); Jaeger’s ridiculously flattering wool cashmere waisted coat (£450,

Brighton and Chichester) and Marks

& Spencer’s wool rich cocoon coat (£139, stores across Sussex).

Don’t miss our November issue

This moNTh we’re loviNg

News, views aNd words from sussex

TWEET US!FOR NEWS, VIEWS,

COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS

AND MORE, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

@SussexStyleMag

READ ONLINEYou can see back copies of Sussex Style and find out what we’re up to this month by bookmarking sandrpublishing.co.uk

LIKE US!We’d love to hear your

views on Sussex Style, so why not like our page and join in the conversation:

find us at facebook.com/SussexStyleMagazine

COmmENT

gET IN TOUCHGot something to say?

Email our team at editorial@

sandrpublishing.co.uk

8 8 | S U S S E x ST Y L E . C O M | O CTO B E R 2 0 1 4

I finally relented and got a Nectar card the other day. I was just sick of people on cash tills asking me if I had one (and even sicker of hearing myself give the embarrassingly nonsensical reply ‘no

thanks’), plus I’d heard some pretty beguiling stories about friends of friends who’d saved up their Nectar points all year and ended up being able to get dishwashers, 3D TVs, helicopter gunships etc.

I’d always steered clear of reward cards in the past because they struck me as a bit of a con: it stands to reason, after all, that the cash value of any treats or rewards these companies are prepared to give you for your information will only ever represent a tiny fraction of what it is actually worth to them. But it would seem that the only alternative is to just keep giving them more and more money, which isn’t exactly ideal either. And if anyone really deserves a helicopter gunship...

Internal debates of this sort have become an increasingly common feature of all our lives since the internet started following us around, because personal information is essentially its currency (yeah, that’s right — naff off, bitcoin!). The minute the internet realised no one was ever going to actually pay for anything on it, it started looking for other ways to keep the wolf from the door, which is why we’ve ended up with this rather squalid little business model that requires customers to reveal juicy facts about themselves in order to get what they want.

pitfalls of targeted advertisingAs far as most of the people who use social media sites are concerned, they’re the ones getting the sweet end of the deal, simply because that stuff is so much damned fun to do — and if you really, really, liked pickled onion flavour Monster Munch (which I do, by the way), why on earth would you not want the whole world to know about that?

Targeted advertising, for one thing. The fact that most Facebook users

have at least one amusing story to tell about being falsely targeted by advertisers because of something they’d written in a post suggests that this technology is still too imprecise to be truly insidious.

But this lack of precision can cause harm of its own: for every Britney Spears fan who finds themselves in hilarious receipt of promotional material from a javelin manufacturer in the South of France there’s an elderly widower being stalked by funeral directors, or a recovering anorexic getting stealthily seduced by slimming aid ads. And all this is just the tip of the iceberg; you might well end up wishing you’d never even heard of pickled onion flavour Monster Munch.

But my biggest objection to the way the marketers are harvesting our personal information is that it takes all the mystery out of the relationship. They’re supposed to try and guess what we want, and then court us with it — that’s their job!

Arming themselves with all sorts of secret knowledge about us beforehand is both lazy and unfair, like demanding to interview someone’s exes before you’ll agree to go on a date with them.

And then there’s the fact that, a lot of the time, we don’t even know what we want until we’re presented with it; bizarre but beloved products like Marmite and mushy peas might never have had a chance to exist if their development had been solely driven by focus groups and marketing... and didn’t we all think mobile phones were kind of pointless when they first came out?

So by all means give your information away, but never forget that we all have a moral duty to try to put these marketing creeps off the scent wherever possible. The first thing I buy with my new Nectar card just might be curried octopus...

Never before has our personal information been so out there. It’s time to reclaim our privacy, argues Dan Raven

Not so sweet

last word


I in 4 women WILL BE affected by domestic abuse at some point in their life. (Council of Europe 2002)

You are not alone Call RISE 01273 622 822www.riseuk.org.uk @riseuk

Wraparound services for women, children and LGBT people affected by domestic abuse in Sussex.

Visit Domestic Abuse Surgery, Hove Town Hall, Wednesdays 9.00-12.00

Sanctuary and Support in Sussex since 1994

20 YEARS

R.I.S.E. (Refuge, Information, Support and Education) is a registered charity (No.1065846)

Donate text RISE15 £5 to70070

3-year accreditation by

2012

Documents

Sussex Style October 2014