CrimeFest, one of Europe’s leading crime writing conventions, has announced the winners of the final CrimeFest Awards.

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It’s a historic year for the annual awards as the convention ends after 17 years; the first convention was hosted in 2008. The awards honour the best crime fiction and non-fiction books released in the UK in the last year, and feature the hotly-contended Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award, which offers a £1,000 cash prize.

This year the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award goes to the Japanese author and journalist, Akira Otani (and translator Sam Bett) for The Night of Baba Yaga (Faber), a no-holds-barred queer gangland thriller. Award judge Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers, which sponsors the award, said: “I read many crime thrillers mainly at night before going to sleep. However, I could not do that with The Night of Baba Yaga. Totally gripping and, quite frankly, violent, but a book which I had to read in one go – not in bits.  So – quite different to the usual scenarios I read.  It’s set in Japan and certainly paints a different picture to “cherry blossom” ones. Congratulations to Akira Otani for introducing her writing to us here in the UK.”

Akira Otani said: “I’m immensely grateful to have been chosen for this prestigious award. For someone writing in a minor language like Japanese, there’s no greater joy than seeing your work translated and shared with a wider audience of readers. I also offer my sincerest thanks to the translator, Sam Bett, for bringing this novel into English. This prize is for both of us.”

The winner of the CrimeFest H.R.F. Keating Award for the best biographical or critical book features goes to Mark Aldridge with Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness (HarperCollins).

CrimeFest’s Last Laugh Award for best humorous crime novel is awarded to Mike Ripley for Mr Campion’s Christmas (Severn House).

The CrimeFest E-Dunnit Award for the best crime fiction e-book goes to the American novelist and playwright, Jean Hanff Korelitz with The Sequel (Faber).  

The CrimeFest Best Crime Novel for Children (aged 8 – 12) goes to Sufiya Ahmed for her World War Two adventure set in Cairo, Rosie Raja: Undercover Codebreaker (Bloomsbury).

The Best Crime Fiction for Young Adults (aged 12-16) goes to Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis, the sequel to the Waterstone’s prize winning Thieves’ Gambit.

Adrian Muller said: “We are proud of the role our awards has played championing categories that were previously not recognised on the awards circuit. However, it’s our work championing children’s and Young Adult crime fiction that we’re most proud of. “Crime fiction is recognised as a gateway into reading, and has the important ability to hook young readers, helping forge a life-long reading habit. There’s countless research on the benefits of reading, from improved mental and physical health, enhanced cognitive abilities, and personal growth. It improves focus, empathy and understanding, as well as reduces stress. It’s a gift to any young person on their journey through life.

“As CrimeFest closes, we would like to take this opportunity to challenge the Crime Writers’ Association to incorporate children’s and Young Adult categories into their famed Dagger awards going forward. It is vital the future generations of readers, and the authors that serve them, get the recognition and platform they deserve.”

Leading British crime fiction reviewers and reviewers of fiction for children and young adults, alongside the members of the School Library Association (SLA), form the CrimeFest judging panels. In partnership with the independent Max Minerva’s Bookshop and participating publishers, CrimeFest gifts thousands of pounds of crime fiction books for children and young adults to school libraries.

This year also featured the Thalia Proctor Memorial Award for Best Adapted TV Crime Drama, which celebrates dramas based on a book screened in 2024. The award is named in honour of Thalia, a CrimeFest team member and a much-loved figure in the world of crime fiction.

The winning show is Slow Horses (series 4) based on the Slough House books by Mick Herron on Apple TV+. It’s the third year in a row Herron has won the award, beating hit shows including Apple TV’s Bad Monkey, based on the book by Carl Hiaasen, the BBC’s Moonflower Murders based on the books by Anthony Horowitz, and the BBC’s The Turkish Detective based on the Inspector Ikmen books by Barbara Nadel.

Mick Herron said: “Thalia would be delighted to know of this award being given in her name. She was a great friend to crime-writers, a great boon to the community, and is often remembered when groups of us gather. I’m proud to have known her, and I’ll be proud to have this on my shelf. Thank you, Thalia, thank you, CrimeFest, and thank you all.”

CrimeFest readers established the shortlist and the winning TV show. The 2025 CrimeFest Awards were announced at a gala dinner hosted during CrimeFest on Saturday 17 May at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, compered by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) chair and author, Vaseem Khan. Hosted in Bristol, CrimeFest was one of the most popular dates in the international crime fiction calendar, with circa 60 panel events and 150 authors attending over four days.

The final celebratory event saw long-standing friends attend, led by blockbuster author Lee Child, who attended with his brother and co-Reacher author, Andrew Child. The final CrimeFest also saw exclusive talks from the actor and screenwriter Mark Gatiss on his upcoming TV series for UKTV’s U&alibi channel Bookish, the TV writer Chris Chibnall with his debut novel, Death at the White Hart, and a tribute to John le Carré, featuring his two sons, the film producer Simon Cornwell and novelist, Nick Harkaway.

CrimeFest was created following the hugely successful one-off visit to Bristol in 2006 of the American Left Coast Crime convention. Established in 2008, it follows the egalitarian format of most US conventions, making it open to all commercially published authors and readers alike. All category winners received a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award. Eligible titles were submitted by publishers, and a team of British crime fiction reviewers voted to establish the shortlist and the winning title.

Thirsk Royal British Legion Band does us proud during the VE Day Commemorations

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St Mary’s Church, Thirsk, hosted the heartwarming concert by the multi-generational RBL Band, and the soaring notes of assembled brass instruments, (and drums, of course) almost lifted the roof. Naturally, just before things got going there had been the blowing of instruments, a chat from Tim Alderson, the conductor, the chats of the audience who had recognised friends.

Then we were off, beginning with 1914 and slipping into High on a Hill with Norman Hare on cornet which really stirred the memories.

Norman Hare: image credit Maureen Worley

On with Aces High then another Cornet solo from a lovely young man, Jonathan Williams whose Shepherd’s Song had me on the verge of tears, (and who later, I had the temerity to grab, not just to congratulate him but to see if he could hunt me down a programme, which he could, and did).

Then to Benedictus from The Armed Man, a Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins which I always find heartbreaking, but no time to sob, with such a well chosen programme, because we were swept into a compilation of nursery rhymes which had us humming along. The first half ended with the Training Band who really ‘smashed’ it. Then onto the refreshments, of course, and more chat.

During the break I learned more about our band, because Thirsk is such a community, frankly, it is ours and has been blowing and drumming away since 1985. Since then it has grown in both size and stature, giving many brass and percussion players the opportunity to perform music. But don’t think for a moment that the Band is just for Thirsk. They have made several trips to Austria and also a trip to the Menin Gate, where they played, and also toured the war cemetaries, which brought home to them the tragedy, endurance and sacrifice of all those involved in war.

Menin Gate: image credit Maureen Worley.

There are of course, several generations in the band, and often the children, even grandchildren join. Awards are given annually, Brianna Cawood is pictured with John Worley, President being presented with the Improved Player Award.

On we galloped into the second half, welcomed by a rendition of 633 Squadron, then Bring him Home, with the solo euphonium played by Charles, and the evocative We’ll Meet Again and White Cliffs of Dover, then the heartrending Hymn to the Fallen. They Shall Grow Not Old was read beautifully by Leti Hawthorn and I had another lump in the throat until a foot tapping Dambusters drew this triumph of a concert to a close.

What a memorable afternoon. Everyone loved every minute and felt enormously proud of the work and achievement of Thirsk Royal British Legion Band.

Thirsk Royal British Legion Band includes players of all ages, and welcomes newcomers, as you will have already seen from the Training Band’s offering. Do go to https://thirskrblband.weebly.com/ to learn more about them and heavens, do consider joining them. They are enthusiastic, accomplished and frankly, the band is like one big family.

On 1st June they will be playing at Holy Rood House, Thirsk to raise funds for this welcoming and inclusive Retreat.

THE SUNDAY TIMES RICH LIST – THIS YEAR’S LIST FEATURES TYCOONS, SPORTING LEGENDS, AND SELF-MADE SUCCESS STORIES

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GOPI HINDUJA AND FAMILY TOP THE SUNDAY TIMES RICH LIST FOR THE FOURTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR WITH WEALTH OF £35 BILLION – DESPITE LOSING £5.2 MILLION A DAY OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS

THE 37th SUNDAY TIMES RICH LIST REGISTERS THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE DROP AND THE BIGGEST FALL IN THE NUMBER  OF UK BILLIONAIRES
IN ITS HISTORY

THE 2025 LIST FEATURES THE KING, INVENTORS AND INDUSTRIALISTS, FOOTBALL CLUB OWNERS, LIVERPOOL’S RICHEST MAN, HOLLYWOOD STARS AND A COUPLE FROM SUFFOLK WHO BECAME OVERNIGHT BILLIONAIRES

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE, WHO TOPPED THE 2018 RICH LIST, SEES THE BIGGEST FALL IN HIS WEALTH, DOWN BY £6.473 BILLION TO £17 BILLION

TWO GAMING BROTHERS, IGOR AND DMITRY BUKHMAN, ARE THE BIGGEST RISERS SOARING TO £12.54 BILLION AND INTO THE TOP TEN

NEW BILLIONAIRES ALSO INCLUDE OVO FOUNDER STEPHEN FITZPATRICK, ASYLUM TYCOON GRAHAM KING, “CHICKEN KING” RANJIT BOPARAN AND HIS WIFE BALJINDER, AND HEDGE FUNDER AND FOUNDER OF SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOLS ANDREW LAW

HOTELIERS SIR ROCCO FORTE AND OLGA POLIZZI ARE THE HIGHEST RE-ENTRY THANKS TO A SAUDI DEAL WITH AN ESTIMATED FAMILY WEALTH OF £1.2 BILLION

THE KING AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK AND HIS WIFE AKSHATA MURTY ARE JOINTLY VALUED AT £640 MILLION

DAVID AND VICTORIA BECKHAM HIT £500 MILLION

FORMER BOND PRODUCER BARBARA BROCCOLI, TV CHAT SHOW HOST ELLEN DEGENERES, THE UK’S BIGGEST CARE HOME BUILDER LAWRENCE TOMLINSON, BEAUTY QUEEN CHARLOTTE TILBURY, AND THE BROTHERS BEHIND SPORTSWEAR BRAND CASTORE MAKE THEIR DEBUT

BREWDOG FOUNDER JAMES WATT AND GEORGIA TOFFOLO, ED SHEERAN, AND ASYLUM HOTEL TYCOON ALEX LANGSAM AND THE BROTHERS BEHIND GRAND THEFT AUTO RE-ENTER THE LIST

TECH TITANS AND MEGASTARS FROM DUA LIPA TO ANTHONY JOSHUA FEATURE IN THIS YEAR’S 40 UNDER 40 LIST 

ENTRY LEVEL FOR 40 UNDER 40 ALMOST DOUBLES YEAR ON YEAR
TO £100 MILLION

SECRETIVE HEDGE FUNDERS TOP THE GIVING LIST FOR THE FIRST TIME DONATING £5.2 MILLION A WEEK TO CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSES

THE 100 MOST PHILANTHROPIC RICH LISTERS GAVE £3.7 BILLION TO CHARITY

HARRY STYLES DEBUTS ON THE GIVING LIST

Gopi Hinduja and his family are the richest people in the UK, according to this year’s edition of The Sunday Times Rich List, published today online at https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list and in the print edition of the newspaper on Sunday, May 18. The Hindujas’ wealth is put at £35.304 billion, down from £37 billion last year. 

The 76-page special edition of The Sunday TimesMagazine reveals the largest fall in the billionaire count in the guide’s 37-year history, from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 156 this year. The number of billionaires has dropped for three successive years – this year’s decline is the sharpest yet.  

This year’s list of 350 individuals and families together hold combined wealth of £772.8 billion — 3 per cent down on last year. Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Euan Blair, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Sir Christopher Nolan all appear in the annual survey. The combined wealth in the 37th annual edition is £772.8 billion — a sum larger than the annual GDP of Switzerland.  

The minimum entry level flatlines at £350 million — another indicator of a subdued year.  

Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said: “The Sunday Times Rich List is changing. Our billionaire count is down and the combined wealth of those who feature in our research is falling. We are also finding fewer of the world’s super rich are coming to live in the UK.  

“This year we were also struck by the strength of criticism for Rachel Reeves’s Treasury. We expected the abolition of non-dom status would anger affluent people from overseas. But homegrown young tech entrepreneurs and those running centuries-old family firms are also warning of serious consequences to a range of tax changes unveiled in last October’s budget.  

“Our research continues to find a wide variety of self-made entrepreneurs building fortunes not just from artificial intelligence, video games and new technologies but also mundane, everyday items such as makeup, radiators and jogging bottoms. We know many of our readers find these people and their stories inspiring — especially the many who had tough starts or setbacks to their lives and careers.” 

Maintaining a pattern seen last year, numerous familiar names on the Rich List have faced significant financial setbacks. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has suffered considerable losses for a consecutive year with a £6.473 billion decline in wealth. 

The biggest fallers on this year’s list are as follows: 

  • Sir Jim Ratcliffe Founder of the petrochemicals giant Ineos that now operates 194 sites in 29 countries, the father of three resides in Monaco and has bought a stake in Manchester United (down £6.473bn to £17.046bn). 
  • Sir Leonard Blavatnik A keen philanthropist, Blavatnik’s stake in Warner Music Group has lost nearly 20 per cent of its value since February. He also owns the music service Deezer and the sports streaming outfit DAZN. Born in Ukraine, he has US and British citizenship (down £3.521bn to £25.725bn). 
  • Alex Gerko Revenues at the Moscow-born Gerko’s largest trading company fell by nearly 40 per cent in 2023. He has renounced his Russian citizenship (down by £3.31bn to £8.745bn). 

The biggest risers this year are: 

  • Igor and Dmitry Bukhman The Russian-born brothers have built a fortune from mobile games such as Gardenscapes and Fishdom. They became British citizens earlier this year. (up £6.191bn to £12.54bn)  
  • Idan Ofer The art-loving son of Sammy Ofer, who built a shipping empire after serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War (up £5.161bn to £20.121bn)  
  • Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family  A transatlantic dynasty owns Primark and Fortnum & Mason. Other investments include Silver Spoon, Ryvita and Twinings. Shares in their Canadian business, George Weston, are up 40 per cent (up £3.253bn to £17.746bn) 

And in percentage terms, Stephen Fitzpatrick has had a very strong year, rising by 73 per cent to £3.073 billion; both founders of Revolut, Vlad Yatsenko (£1.025bn)and Nik Storonsky (£6.978bn) are top performers, as is Sir Michael Gooley, the SAS veteran who runs Trailfinders (£679m). 

There are a lot of new tech and celebrity names, especially from the worlds of TV and film. This year’s new entries include:  

  • Mark and Lindy O’Hare amassed a £1.836 billion fortune when they sold their data company to BlackRock last year. They live near Southwold and have installed a 350-seat open-air theatre in the grounds of their farmhouse from a clearing created by a Second World War bomb. 
  • Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson are valued at an estimated £450 million thanks to their deal ceding creative control of James Bond to Amazon MGM Studios. 
  • Ellen DeGeneres makes the list (£363 million) following her move to the Cotswolds in the wake of last year’s US election.  
  • Dubai property has been fruitful for James Stephens who made his first fortune in office equipment with an estimated wealth of £373m. His Bitcoin investments are worth more than £50 million. 
  • A secretive Italian fund manager, Edoardo Mercadante has built up a 7 per cent stake in Ryanair. His London-based operation Parvus manages about £4.4 billion of assets. 
  • Piotr Dabkowski and Mati Staniszewski founded ElevenLabs, a tech firm letting users turn text into human-like speech in 32 languages after watching badly dubbed American films in their native Poland. 
  • Tom and Phil Beahon, the brothers who launched Castore, their sporting brand worn by England’s rugby and cricket teams, from their parents’ home, hit the big leagues at £350 million. 
  • Charlotte Tilbury (£350 million) whose magic with a make-up brush ensured she became sought after by supermodels and Hollywood A-listers. 

https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list 

THE SUNDAY TIMES RICH LIST 2025 – THE 20 WEALTHIEST UK BILLIONAIRES

2025Rank Name2025 WealthSource of WealthRise/Fall2024 Wealth
1 Gopi Hinduja and family £35.304bn Investors ▼ £1.892bn £37.196bn 
2 David and Simon Reuben and family £26.873bn Landlords ▲ £1.896bn £24.977bn 
3 Sir Leonard Blavatnik £25.725bn Investor ▼£3.521bn £29.246bn 
4 Sir James Dyson and family £20.8bn Inventor ■ No change £20.8bn 
5 Idan Ofer £20.121bn Shipping tycoon ▲£5.161bn £14.960bn 
6 Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family £17.746bn Heirs and retailers ▲£3.253bn £14.493bn 
7 Sir Jim Ratcliffe £17.046bn Chemicals magnate ▼£6.473bn £23.519bn 
8 Lakshmi Mittal and family £15.444bn Steel magnate ▲£523m £14.921bn 
9 John Fredriksen and family £13.683bn Oil baron ▲£816m £12.867bn 
10 Igor and Dmitry Bukhman £12.540bn Gamers ▲£6.191bn £6.349bn 
11 Kirsten and Jorn Rausing £12.514bn Heirs ▼£120m £12.634bn 
12 Michael Platt £12.5bn Hedge funder ▲£500m £12bn 
13 Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken and Michel de Carvalho £10.090bn Brewing heir and banker ▼£1.661bn £11.751bn 
14 The Duke of Westminster and the Grosvenor family £9.884bn Property heir ▼£243m £10.127bn 
15 Lord Bamford and family £9.45bn Construction giant ▲£1.8bn £7.65bn 
16 Denise, John and Peter Coates £9.445bn Gambling ▲£1.978bn £7.467bn 
17 Carrie and François Perrodo and family £9.3bn Oil, gas and wine tycoons ▲£132m £9.168bn 
18 Barnaby and Merlin Swire and family £9.254bn Transport dynasty ▼£732m £9.986bn 
19 Marit, Lisbet, Sigrid and Hans Rausing £9.088bn Heirs ▼£100m £9.188bn 
20 Alex Gerko £8.745bn Trader ▼£3.310bn £12.055bn 

For the full 350 richest people in the UK go online at www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list 

Interview With Author and Publishing Director Phoebe Morgan

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I am excited to interview Phoebe Morgan for Frost. Phoebe is the author of fantastic thrillers while also being the publishing director of Hodder and Stoughton. I have no idea how she manages it. I also know if Phoebe has worked on a book then it is definitely worth reading. Phoebe has a new Substack, The Honest Editor, which gets into the nitty gritty of publishing. It is essential reading for all authors.

 Tell us about you.

I am a publishing director at Hodder and Stoughton, working on commercial fiction. I also write my own novels on the side! I’ve worked in the industry since 2013, and I love finding new authors to work with, as well as progressing my own creative career. It’s a juggle but I am lucky to do two jobs I love!


You have written five books. Does writing ever get easier?

I would say psychologically it does, because you know you are capable of getting to the finish line and so that can be reassuring. But it’s still a slog at times, of course, and I am not a huge plotter so I am often running into plot problems as I go and figuring it out as I go along! So each book is still a marathon, but you do feel a sense of security when you have had a couple of books out – it’s so important to push through and get a first draft down, I think, so that’s always my initial aim, and then you can go back and edit afterwards (which is the fun part!)

Do you have a favourite?

Of my books, the second one is probably my favourite (The Girl Next Door). It’s set in Essex, in a small village where I used to live, about a teenage girl found dead in a field of buttercups at the back of the community hall. I love the couple at the heart of it, and although it’s not my biggest seller, it’s the one I always want more people to read.


How do you find time to write when you also have a busy publishing job?

I tend to write in big chunks at weekends rather than every day. I am quite a fast writer when I get going, so if I can clear a free Saturday for example I can really try to focus and get a lot down at once. You do need a lot of drive and determination to do both, though, as my day job is very absorbing and is always my priority. 


What is a typical day like for you?

I work full time at Hodder, so a typical day involves a lot of meetings! I manage a commercial fiction team so my time is spent catching up with them, attending acquisitions meetings, cover art meetings, production meetings etc in-house, and also working with my existing list of writers (I have about 20 at the moment). I edit their novels and send notes to them, and brief their jackets, and liaise with our marketing and publicity teams on their campaigns. I also read submissions from agents, but this is usually done outside the 9-5! My own writing is reserved for weekends. In my spare time I also run, kickbox, and am part of a drama group.


What are the best, and worst, things about your job?

The best thing is seeing new books reach readers, and being the first to read amazing manuscripts. It is a lot of reading, but I always remind myself that it is also an incredible privilege. If I had told my younger self that I would get to read for a living, I’m not sure I’d have believed her! Conversely, the worst thing is having to disappoint writers – not being able to get a book through acquisitions, or not achieving strong sales, and it’s also the inability to read for fun any more! I basically only read for fun on holiday…

Who are your favourite authors? What books should we keep a look out for?

I love Liane Moriarty, Maggie O’Farrell, Jennifer Close, Louise Candlish, Lorrie Moore, Katherine Heiny, Abigail Dean (who I published at HarperCollins) and Cara Hunter (ditto). I am sure there are tons more too! This year, do keep an eye out for upcoming thrillers on the Hodder list, Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath (a hilarious thriller about an office worker who is convinced she’s in love with her younger colleague) and Party of Liars (think Big Little Lies meets du Maurier’s Rebecca…)


What advice would you give writers to have a long career?

Keep writing! It is a long game, and the road can be bumpy. I know authors who have had huge success followed by years of low sales, and vice versa, but it can all change overnight sometimes and the key is to keep writing what you love, keep taking advice, keep plugging away and remember to be proud of yourself, too.


How has the publishing industry changed?

It’s changed a lot even in the decade I’ve been in it – we’ve seen some retailers rise and fall (e.g. the supermarkets) and some genres come in and out of fashion (e.g. romantasy). Reading habits have shifted due to the cost of living crisis, the explosion of subscription boxes, and the boom of audio (thanks in some part to Spotify) and part of my job is to stay alert to that data and what it tells us, and work out how we can continue to provide readers with what they want.


What’s next?

For me, I am writing book six this year which is something a little bit different that I am very excited about. And I’m always hunting for new authors for my list at Hodder. Genre wise, SFF and romance are dominating the charts, but there’s always going to be room for a bit of crime, too…

Phoebe Morgan’s books are available here.

Cinematic Sounds – Saturday 24th May, 6pm-7:15pm | Chapel of St Peter & St Paul, Old Royal Naval College.

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As Frost Magazine’s Music Critic Michael Rowan says: just my cup of tea.

Old Royal Naval College ©ORNC and Jigsaw Design & Publishing 2010

Celebrating 100 years of filming at the Old Royal Naval College, (such a stunning venue) an evening of unforgettable film music in partnership with Docklands Sinfonia, will be hosted in the stunning Chapel of St Peter & St Paul. The concert, lasting 75 minutes – the bliss –  will feature music from Hollywood’s greatest movies, some of which were filmed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will be treated to music by composers such as John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone, Ludwig Göransson, and Howard Shore, and of course, because what evening would be complete without – roll of drums – music from Les Misérables, Pirates of the Caribbean, to name just a taste of the treats on offer. (I do hope Bring Him Home is included). This will be a rare and excellent evening filled with unforgettable film music in this iconic venue, performed by  Docklands Sinfonia, to celebrate many many wonderful years of filming at the Old Royal Naval College.  

ORNC_Cinematic Sounds_Docklands-Sinfonia

Programme  

  • A Tribute to John Williams: Star Wars, Jaws, Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T 
  • Jurassic Park  
  • James Bond  
  • Magnificent Seven 
  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly  
  • Wicked  
  • Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
  • Schindler’s List  
  • Gladiator 
  • Inception  
  • Interstellar 
  • Les Misérables  
  • Harry Potter  
  • The Greatest Showman   

 *Programme subject to change  

Docklands Sinfonia is a major cultural force in Docklands and beyond, a diverse, dynamic and versatile orchestra working with composers, producers and promoters across film, rock, pop and classical music. Since its formation in 2009 Docklands Sinfonia has enjoyed great success with performances for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace and with Grammy-Award winner Imogen Heap at the Royal Albert Hall.

The evening sounds too tempting to be ingnored. 24th May. Go, bask in the marvellous acoustics of the Chapel, and the beauty of the music. It will evoke memories, and provide new ones.

Tickets are available here

Hokan Bowls – Simple, Beautiful, Practical – by Award-Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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I’ve been on a decluttering mission recently – removing pots, pans and various weird and wonderful kitchen devices that I’ve never actually used, and many of which I discovered had quietly died some time ago. Now the challenge is to maintain my beautiful zen kitchen, which contains just enough – and where I don’t have to drag hundreds of pieces of pot and plastic out of cupboards every time I need to find a pan.

So I’m seriously excited to discover Hokan Bowls – Hokan means storage in Japanese. Although a British company, Hokan Bowls have embraced the Japanese values of Shibui – simple, beautiful, unobtrusive. As I look at them I feel a calmness descend, I want to make beautiful food, quietly and slowly, respecting simple nutrition in both the cooking and eating.

The three bowls – small, medium and large all have the same circumference – the size is determined by their height. This means they stack on top of each other, taking up little room in a cupboard or on a work surface, and their lids are interchangeable. The colours are beautiful – I love the new Green Jade. The reactive glaze on the stoneware ceramic pots creates natural variations, meaning each pot is unique. If your kitchen needs a different colour – there’s plenty of other choices too.

But now for the clever bit – they are oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe, so you can prepare a meal in the bowl, cook it, then serve it – or even use the bowl itself to eat from (or the lid, which also doubles up as a small bowl). This is the kind of minimalism I love. Then if you have any left-overs you can keep them, still in the bowl, in the fridge or freezer, then take out and microwave (of course in the same bowl) for a later meal.

The stoneware allows for even heat distribution during cooking and the lids help maintain stable temperatures and retain moisture. Simply remove the lid for an ideal crust or browning.

As a doctor I do worry about all the plastics our bodies are constantly exposed to and I love that Hokan bowls are sustainable and of course BPA-free, unlike many plastic containers.

These lovely bowls are really not expensive, at RRPs of £25, £30 and £35 for the small (440ml), medium (600ml) and large (1000ml) bowls respectively. Available from hokanbowls.com

If you’re trying to declutter your life too, these are a good start on your journey. Good luck.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

There is a New Literary Hotspot And it’s in Scotland.

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Is there something in the water? I think so. My birthplace, Lanarkshire has produced an impressive number of authors. From Shuggie Bain author Douglas Stuart, and won the Booker Prize, and Elissa Soave, author of Ginger and Me. Elissa sets her books in Lanarkshire. Her brilliant, new, novel, Graffiti Girls, is set in Hamilton. It’s a fantastic book.

Lanarkshire is a historical county in Scotland that includes Glasgow and the surrounding areas. Lanarkshire is the heart of the central lowlands of Scotland. It’s a beautiful place with a lot of culture and music.

Former Guardian journalist, Deborah Orr, who sadly died in twenty nineteen, wrote her acclaimed memoir, Motherwell. It is all about the industrial town she grew up in. The book was a huge hit. I also note that Andrew O’Hagan, author of Sunday Times bestseller, Caledonian Road (set in London) and three times Booker Prize nominee was born in Glasgow. 

I grew up in the Scottish Borders and moved back to Lanarkshire as a teen. I spent a lot of my youth in Glasgow, Motherwell, and Strathclyde Park. Lanarkshire is a literary hotspot, churning out fantastic writers. Here is a short list: Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Niall Ferguson, Liz Lochhead, Alasdair Gray, Damian Barr, Graeme Armstrong and Julie Kennedy.

Then there is me. Catherine Yardley, author of Ember and Where The Light is Hottest. Who also writes as Catherine Balavage. Where The Light is Hottest is partly set in Lanarkshire. The county may be cold, but it’s having its time in the sun. I have lived in London most of my adult life and consider myself a Londoner now, but a part of my heart will always belong to Lanarkshire. My family still live there and I visit. I can’t wait for the next author for Lanarkshire to publish their work.

Where The Light is Hottest is available now in paperback, ebook and kindle unlimited.

Do you have filtered skincare? Anti-Pollution Skincare

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I live in London and I worry about the effect pollution can have on my skin. Some filters and creams I have used can be too harsh. I also worry about indoor pollution. But what to do?

Pollution can significantly affect the skin, leading to both short-term and long-term damage. Pollution can derive from vehicle emissions, urban pollution (cities), factory emissions (when we order new items for the home), cigarette smoke, household chemicals and UV radiation.

Exposure to pollutants like particulate matter (PM) and UV radiation can accelerate skin aging due to increased oxidative stress, which damages collagen and elastin in the skin, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging. 

Pollution can trigger inflammation, leading to conditions like eczema, acne, or rosacea. Pollutants can also irritate sensitive skin, leading to redness and itching. Pollutants such as car exhaust or industrial smoke can increase the production of melanin in the skin, resulting in dark spots or uneven skin tone. The accumulation of dirt and pollutants on the skin’s surface can clog pores and hinder cell turnover, making the skin appear dull, tired, or lackluster. Pollutants like dirt, dust, and chemicals can clog pores and trigger the production of excess sebum (oil), leading to acne and breakouts. Pollution can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dehydration, dry patches, and overall lack of skin vitality.

Anti-Pollution Skincare SOS.

Teoxane Deep Repair Balm, £34.45, facethefuture.co.uk

A moisturing balm that hydrates and soothes damaged and delicate skin. Teoxane Deep Repair Balm contains resilient hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and arnica to soothe and calm redness. The intensive treatment may also reduce inflammation or irritation caused by weather conditions. The hydrating formula helps to heal damaged cells and repair the natural barrier of the skin, leaving you feeling more comfortable with a balanced, even complexion. Deep Repair Balm is best suited to dry, sensitive, or irritated skin types and will also help to support skin recovery following a procedure.

  • Benefits of Teoxane Deep Repair Balm:
  • Provides intense hydration.
  • Soothes and reduces redness.
  • Helps to repair a damaged skin barrier.
  • Contains resilient hyaluronic acid.
  • Perfect for dry and sensitive skin types.