All images provided courtesy of Bristol Classical Players Four incredible musical collectives will join forces on 18 May to perform Edward Elgar’s transcendent The Dream of Gerontius at Bristol Cathedral. We hear from Tom Gauterin, conductor of Bristol Classical Players – one of the 250 talented people involved in the show. Something special is happening in Bristol Cathedral this month. Two well-established city choirs – Bristol Phoenix Choir and Bristol Cabot Choir – are joining forces with renowned orchestra Bristol Classical Players and leading south west chamber choir The Fitzhardinge Co ..read more

As part of a project to share and highlight the importance of lessening exclusions across Bristol, Fairfield High School’s Cashan Campbell was officially recognised in an Awards Ceremony at Bristol Beacon for her significant contribution to the research and educational experiences of African and Caribbean parents, and the impact this then has on their own children. The aim of this research, led by Bristol University, is a CPD package to share with schools across the city to highlight the importance of inclusion, diversity, representation, equity and equality, in order to provide support and c ..read more

Image credit: Gemma Day At 81, Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, she’s feeling more inspired than ever. Armed with the prestigious Diamond Dagger award for her contribution to crime literature, she speaks to Rosanna Spence ahead of her appearance at CrimeFest this month. Lynda La Plante’s forensic literary genius has helped define the crime genre since the late 1980s. But rather than sit back and soak up the glory of her decades-long success of first acting, then writing and producing some of the most famous crime series of the 20th Century, she’s ..read more

Photo Credits: Ben Carpenter Browns Brasserie has a spring in its step, as it recently reopened to diners following a fabulous refurbishment. We’re on a Bristol Byzantine roll here at the magazine. Last month saw us soak up the delights housed within the renowned Granary building on Harbourside’s Welsh Back, and now we’re worshipping at the steps of another architectural icon: Browns Brasserie on Queen Street, Clifton. The Venetian Gothic marvel (that used to form part of the Bristol Museum) had to be completely reconstructed inside in 1950 after WWII scarring left it without much original ..read more

Cynthia Wihardja Partner, Beau Nash Bath One of the most enchanting aspects of antique hunting is the unpredictability of what you might find. Unlike modern goods, which are readily available in countless copies, antique pieces stand as one-of-a-kind gems. If you stumble upon a particularly exquisite item but hesitate to make it yours, there’s no guarantee that it will still be there when you return. Once it’s gone, it may be gone forever. Last year, a leather ottoman arrived at the shop and instantly garnered the attention of two homeowners, even before a price tag was put on it. The follow ..read more

In the fall of 2023, Swedish art dealer Claes Moser sold his collection of paintings by the artist J.A.G. Acke (1859-1925) at Stockholms Auktionsverk. The auction featured several significant works by the artist and the sale, with several remarkable resultss, made headlines. Moser had devoted over half a century to studying Acke’s work and acquiring paintings by him. Moser had even acquired Acke’s residence, Villa Akleja, a sunny summer paradise (but used by Acke as a winter residence) that had been built at the turn of the last century. The Swedish art historian Karl Asplund noted rather cha ..read more

Richard Higgs, Chartered Independent Financial Planner Inheritance Tax (IHT) must be paid before Probate can be granted and before assets are distributed. It’s crucial to understand not only how much tax may be payable but also when it is due. IHT is typically due for payment within six months after the end of the month in which the deceased passed away. While the general rule is for IHT to be paid within six months of the death, there are several exceptions and considerations to be aware of: Payment on Account: In some cases, particularly if the estate includes property or other assets tha ..read more

When your salary exceeds the £100,000 threshold, you can fall into a tax trap that leaves you paying a 60% rate on a portion of your earnings. Most people have a tax-free Personal Allowance of £12,570, but your Personal Allowance tapers by £1 for every £2 over £100,000 you earn. This means you can pay a 60% tax rate on the portion of your income between £100,000 and £125,140. One method to avoid this trap is to pay some of your earnings into your pension. Making additional pension contributions from your income over £100,000 not only lets you claim tax relief on the amount you place into y ..read more

Yesterday, three Year 13 students from Redmaids’ High School won a National Award at the British Physics Olympiad Awards. Their investigation in the Experimental Project category had already won a gold award earlier in the year for its exceptional standard, an accomplishment only achieved by a small percentage of submissions.    Last night, they attended the prestigious Royal Society in London, where their entry was recognised as the winning project nationally.    The Experimental Project supports practical physics for students in schools. It encourages students ..read more

Following a rigorous selection process, Fairfield High School is delighted to announce the appointment of Edel Cronin as its new permanent Principal. Edel stood out as a candidate with exceptional leadership qualities and a deep commitment to both the school and Excalibur Academies Trust. Edel brings a wealth of experience, having served in a wide variety of roles at Fairfield, including Vice Principal, Transition Lead, Achievement Coordinator and, most recently, leading the school as Interim Principal. Her dedication to fostering an inclusive and innovative learning environment aligns incredi ..read more