The incredible history of racing, speed and flight through most of the 20th Century is waiting to be discovered at Brooklands Museum this summer though a non-stop programme of activities for all ages.

During the school holidays you can really feel what it was like to race on the World's first purpose-built Race track as the Brooklands Car Rides Team take passengers up the hill climb and along the steep banked track. If flying is more your thing, then you can take a virtual supersonic 'flight' on board Concorde with a fabulous Kids Tour expertly 'piloted' by your Concorde Steward.

Open every day and included in the entry price is the fantastic new exhibition that everyone is talking about: recently WINNING a Museums and Heritage Award for best new permanent exhibition, the Brooklands Aircraft Factory will amaze you. Housed inside an original WWII Hangar, you will find giant sections of aircraft on assembly lines, interactive work areas where you can try some of the techniques yourself and make your own metal aircraft to take home. The centre piece is the famous Wellington Bomber - a giant aircraft that actually flew in the War and was salvaged and came back to Brooklands for restoration. From the earliest string, wood and fabric flying machines through two Wars, into the jet age and to Concorde, this unique heritage is told through the stories of the people who worked and flew at the site which at one point had 14,000 workers in its factories.

Back in the Clubhouse, which still has its distinctive green dome on top, you can walk through some of the period rooms and really feel the glamour from the speedy 1930s created by the Bentley Boys and Speed Queens, the rich and famous and Royalty. This is also where you'll find the Sunbeam Café for a fuel stop during your visit. Lastly, you can try one of three different Simulator rides in the 4D Theatre taking you round race tracks or on an aerobatic display with the Red Arrows. On your way out, you will find it hard not to find something from the Museum Shop to remind you of your visit; a unique pack of Brooklands Top Trumps, a model of Concorde or one of the many books, toys and DVDs all relating to this fantastic place where you're guaranteed to learn something and be amazed at the same time

Open daily from 10am with FREE parking
Visitor entrance via Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0SL
www.brooklandsmuseum.com
01932 857381

Tags: What's on, Brooklands Museum

September to October 2018

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour is back for 2018, bringing an evening of inspirational ocean-themed films to more than 35 locations across the UK and Ireland in September and October.
This brand-new selection of films features seafaring adventurers rowing treacherous oceans, intrepid surfers riding the world’s biggest waves, and explores our planet’s spectacular hidden depths.

Now in its fifth year, 2018’s UK Tour is the biggest yet – and it’s also first time the Tour has visited Ireland, with dates in Dublin and Cork.

“We’re really excited that more people than ever before will be able to celebrate their love of the ocean with our largest Tour to date – and we’re especially excited to be extending the Tour to Ireland for the first time ever!” says Tour Director Nell Teasdale.

“Through stunning cinematography and mesmerising storytelling, audiences can expect to be wowed by the magic and mysteries of the world’s oceans… coming at you through the big screen!”

As well as thrilling films, each screening will see a free prize giveaway to win ocean-related goodies too.

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour began in Australia, with the aim of inspiring people to explore, respect, enjoy and protect the oceans. To find out more about the UK and Ireland Tour, watch the trailer and book tickets, visit www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk

Highlights from the 2018 Ocean Film Tour include:

Kiwi Breeze
Steve is not your average Londoner. For a start he’s a Kiwi, and instead of wallpaper his house is decorated with charts and plans. He has also been building a 44ft yacht in his back garden, and after nine years of toil, it’s finally ready to set sail. The first obstacle, however, is how to get the steel vessel from the backyard of a small, suburban street to the London docks.

Kiwi Breeze tells the inspirational story of Steve’s 24,000km voyage home to New Zealand… and his determination to achieve his dream.

Touched by the Ocean
Latvian friends Karlis and Gints have a second-hand rowing boat, no rowing experience and a grand plan: to become the first team ever to row across the South Atlantic Ocean, from Namibia to Brazil. Touched by the Ocean joins them on a raucous tale of adventure, dedication and friendship.

The Big Wave Project
Five years in the making, The Big Wave Project follows a tight-knit crew of leading big wave surfers as they work together to attempt a goal that drills into the core passion of surfing: riding the world’s biggest wave. Hear candid, no-holds-barred accounts of the real fear of death, the humbling power of the ocean, and of ultimate personal glory.

To find out more about the festival, watch the trailer and book tickets, visit www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk

2018 UK Tour dates are:
• 5 September Exeter, Corn Exchange
• 6 September Bath, Komedia
• 7 September Porthcawl, Grand Pavilion
• 8 September Malvern, Forum Theatre
• 12 September Leamington Spa, Royal Spa Centre
• 12 September Newtownabbey, Theatre at the Mill
• 13 September Dublin, National Concert Hall
• 13 September Whitley Bay, Playhouse
• 14 September Cork, Everyman Theatre
• 14 September Inverness, Eden Court Theatre
• 15 September Edinburgh, Festival Theatre
• 16 September Keswick, Theatre by the Lake
• 18 September Abingdon, Amey Theatre
• 19 September Wimborne Minster, Tivoli Theatre
• 20 September Guildford, G Live
• 21 September Reading, The Hexagon
• 22 September Poole, Lighthouse (Concert Hall)
• 25 September Cheltenham, Town Hall
• 26 September Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn
• 27 September Liverpool, Plaza Community Cinema
• 28 September Stockport, Plaza Cinema
• 29 September Llandudno, Venue Cymru
• 2 October Cardiff, St David’s Hall
• 3 October Exeter, Corn Exchange
• 4,5 October Redruth, Regal Theatre
• 9 October Christchurch, Regent Centre
• 10 October Dorking, Dorking Halls
• 11 October Brighton, Brighton Dome
• 12 October Cambridge, Corn Exchange
• 13 October Norwich, Lecture Theatre 1 (UEA)
• 13 October Bristol, Victoria Rooms
• 15 October Portsmouth, The Kings Theatre
• 15-20 October London, Union Chapel
• 16 October Weymouth, Weymouth Pavilion
• 17 October Christchurch, Regent Centre
• 18 October Salisbury, City Hall
• 20 October Bristol, Victoria Rooms
• 22 October Birmingham, Crescent Theatre
• 23 October York, Barbican
• 24 October Leeds, Town Hall

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Tour Director Nell Teasdale
nell.oceanfestival@gmail.com
07880 850931 or 01295 402199

Tour Coordinator Rosie Fuller
banff.rosie@gmail.com
07453 202321 or 01295 402199

Tags: Ocean Film Festival, World Tour, Kiwi Breeze, Touched by the Ocean, The Big Wave Project

BRITISH ‘INTERIOR DESIGN CRIMES’ REVEALED

Toilet rugs, taxidermy and avocado bathrooms named worst home trends of past 50 years.

• Whatever were we thinking? Toilet rugs, taxidermy and avocado bathrooms are among the worst home design crimes from the past half century
• National poll tracking our taste violations shows 1970s was the worst decade for dodgy décor, closely followed by the 80s
• Public voted on a shortlist compiled by leading experts in interior design including Wallpaper*, Ideal Home, House Beautiful and more
• Daniel Hopwood, President of the British Institute of Interior Design, is available for interview
• Appearances matter: six out of ten Brits admit to judging others on their interior design choices, while almost three in ten (29%) rate having good interiors above a clean house
• Almost half of Brits (47%) have redecorated in the past year and bossy partners are a key motivation for why we redecorate
• Survey to celebrate the launch of Samsung’s new QLED TV, which features the ability to blend in with the décor of the home, also reveals the BEST innovations in home design

Don’t try this at home! Toilet rugs, taxidermy and avocado coloured bathrooms – the once commonplace fixtures in our homes – have been crowned the biggest furnishing fails of the past 50 years in a survey of home design disasters. Other style slip-ups identified by the survey to which we now give the brush-off include floral ‘chintz’ furniture, waterbeds and Artex. The research was commissioned by Samsung to mark the launch of its new QLED TV range featuring a unique Ambient Mode technology, which enables the TV to blend seamlessly into the home environment1 thereby eliminating at least one home décor headache – a large, ugly blank screen. A panel of design experts from publications including Wallpaper*, Ideal Home and House Beautiful created a shortlist of the worst interior design trends spanning a period of half a century, which was then put to a public vote of 2,000 UK adults to discover the ultimate home-fashion faux pas.

The top 25 WORST home horrors from the past 50 years:
1. Toilet rugs/furry toilet seat covers – 44%
2. Taxidermy – 39%
3. Avocado bathrooms – 32%
4. Floral ‘chintz’ furniture – 28%
5. Waterbeds – 25%
6. Artex walls and ceilings – 25%
7. Carpeted bathrooms – 25%
8. Rag rolled walls – 23%
9. Tribal carvings, masks and wall hangings – 23%
10. Stone cladding – 19%
11. Animal print anything - 19%
12. Inspirational quote art stenciled on the walls - 19%
13. Carpeted or textured walls - 19%
14. Beaded curtains - 19%
15. Living room bars - 19%
16. Bidets - 17%
17. Round beds - 17%
18. Professional family portraits - 15%
19. Shabby chic anything - 15%
20. Shag pile carpets - 14%
21. Wicker furniture indoors - 12%
22. Wallpaper borders - 12%
23. Curtain pelmets - 11%
24. TV cupboards - 11%
25. Stenciled walls or decals – 11%

The results suggest that our national taste when it comes to interior design is constantly evolving and that some decades fare better than others when it comes to trends standing the test of time. The 1970s was voted the worst decade for dodgy décor in the half century under review, according to 38% of Brits. Some of the biggest design crimes of the period included avocado-coloured bathrooms and flying duck wall displays. This was followed by the 80s (22%), characterised by features such as toilet rugs and pink bathrooms, and then the 60s, with 19% of Brits taking issue with design trends that included psychedelic patterns, lace doilies and clashing colour schemes.

The study also suggests that popular TV makeover shows such as Changing Rooms and Home Front are partly to blame for some of the tragic trends such a rag-rolled walls and stencilling which have long been consigned to the dustbin of interior design history. One of the main interior design quandaries identified in the study revolved around how to display or conceal technology in the home. Indeed, whilst TV cupboards were cited as a key design crime, the appetite to conceal large scale home technology in a stylish way was identified as a key modern-day trend. The majority of those surveyed (60%) believed that huge black TV screens on walls were an eyesore as they stood out too much from the rest of the room.

Not surprising then that invisible technology was named amongst the top 5 best loved interior design trends in recent years alongside open plan living, rustic styling and chic Scandinavian style furnishings.

The top 5 BEST interior design trends:
1. Open plan living (66%)
2. Rustic furnishings e.g. distressed wood, bare floors (49%)
3. Scandinavian/mid-century style furnishings (48%)
4. Invisible technology (37%)
5. Heritage paint and wallpaper (36%)

Robert King, Vice President Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, said: “We have never been more focused on the look and feel of our homes, and as large TV screens become more popular, consumers want technology that can almost become invisible and fit in with their décor choices. The new Samsung QLED TVs give you just that – with its ability to seamlessly replicate its surroundings so for the first time ever, your TV will blend beautifully into your living room”.

Daniel Hopwood, President of the British Institute of Interior Design, said: “I have lived through the 70s, 80s and 90s and seen interior design trends come and go and it’s fascinating how our tastes have evolved over time. Toilet rugs, rag rolled walls and TV cupboards should all be consigned to the dodgy décor history books.

“It’s interesting to note that six in ten of us think the days of displaying huge black TV screens on walls are dated. As an interior designer I have spent my career trying to hide ugly big black televisions from ruining the style of peoples’ living spaces. Modern technology, like the Samsung QLED TV, featuring Ambient Mode, can enhance the aesthetics of a room, as it blends in with the décor, effectively banishing ugly black screens from the living room”.

Further findings revealed that cleanliness was ranked as the feature which matters most to Brits (47%), followed by interior design (29%) and size (15%). More than six in ten (64%) admit to having made judgments about people simply on the basis of their home interior.

Samsung’s research also revealed almost half of Brits (47%) have redecorated in the past year and a quarter of Brits (25%) redecorate parts of their home at least once a year. When it comes to the key motivation for redecorating, more than half (55%) cited boredom with current look, while one fifth (19%) said they have felt pressured to redecorate by a partner or family member and one in ten said to impress their guests. Meanwhile, 7% of Brits have lived with the same dated interiors for more than 10 years.

The new QLED TV from Samsung signposts a revolution in TV design that matches our increasingly sophisticated interior design tastes – it can blend in with the décor of the home or display imagery when not in use1, effectively banishing the ugly black screens which have dominated our living rooms for so long.

To find out more about Samsung’s QLED TV, visit www.samsung.com

Tags: Home, QLED TV, Daniel Hopwood, Samsung, INTERIOR DESIGN CRIMES, British Institute of Interior Design

12 TEAMS FOR THE KING POWER GOLD CUP AT COWDRAY PARK 26 JUNE – 22 JULY 2018

The Draw for the King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship was held in the historic surrounds of Cowdray House on the evening of 11th June. The recent signing of Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor team brings the number of entries for the 2018 British Open Polo Championship, to twelve.

Last year’s finalists El Remanso return with the same all-English player line-up of Charlie Hanbury, Ollie Cudmore, James Beim and James Harper. Michael Bickford’s La Indiana returns with the addition of Facundo Pieres, and with Alec White also a newcomer to the side. Nic Roldan continues as the team’s number 3. Past winner Jean-Francois Decaux has a completely new team with Pelon Stirling, Juan Martin Nero and Byron Watson joining his La Bamba de Areco side. Ben Soleimani retains Rodrigo de Andrade and adds Sapo Caset and Min Podesta to his RH team.

Talandracas returns with Hugues Carmignac replacing his father Edouardo and a new line-up comprising Fran Elizalde, Julian de Lusaretta and Alejandro Muzzio. Alessandro Bazzoni’s Monterosso is back with Ignacio and Santiago Tocccalino and the addition of Juan Martin Zubia. Harald Link brings back Thai Polo with Guillermo Terrera, Joaquin Pittaluga and Jaime Huidobro. Playing alongside Spencer McCarthy in the Emlor team will be Agustin Merlos, Diego Cavanagh and team regular Nacho Gonzales. Park Place is the team of Andrey Borodin who enters the Gold Cup for the first time with Hilario Ulloa, Juan Britos and Tommy Beresford.

Three other teams feature young English players. The Alfi Investments polo team of Alshair Fiyaz, entering the Gold Cup for the first time, sees Jack Hyde playing alongside cousins Polito Pieres and Nico Pieres. Adolfo Cambiaso features in Bob Jornayvaz’s Valiente side along with Christian Laprida and Englishman Hugo Lewis. The Murus Sanctus team sees Corinne Ricard, the only woman playing in the Gold Cup, joined by Facundo Sola, Gonzalito Pieres and English player Ed Hitchman.

The Draw saw the four semi-finalists in the Queens Cup drawn and placed at the head of Leagues A,B,C,D. A representative of each team entered in the King Power Gold Cup then came forward to draw a place within the Leagues. Highlights of the Draw may be seen on cowdraypolo.tv. The King Power Gold Cup opens on Tuesday 26 June with Quarter Finals on 14/15 July, Semi Finals on 18 July and the Final on 22 July. The schedule of matchplay will follow shortly. Please visit >>> cowdraypolo.co.uk

Tags: What's on, Polo, COWDRAY PARK, British Open Polo Championship