A small boy in the refugee camp in the Bekka Valley.
66,000 shoes, boots & items of baby clothing saved from landfill & sent to those in need.
From a Mother to Another, the initiative from JoJo Maman Bébé, starts collecting again on 1st Feb 2016. The aim; to reduce the shocking levels of clothing waste that end up in a landfill whilst helping those in need in the UK with distribution via food banks plus helping thousands of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon.
JoJo will be collecting good quality outgrown or unwanted baby and children’s clothes in, sizes 0-6 years, at their 72 stores across the UK and Ireland. Customers are requested to make up complete outfits to give something worthwhile this mother’s day.
Nearly a third of the UK’s clothing ends up in landfill, equating to 350,000 tonnes a year. By extending the life of clothes by just three months of active use, carbon and water waste could be reduced by up to 5-10% a year. Sending good quality, little worn hand-me-downs to those in need could mean they are worn by many more children.
The emergency clothing packs will be distributed by some of the Trussell Trust’s 420 Foodbanks across the UK and by a number of partner charities on the ground in Lebanon. Helen Frank’s from Trussell Trust explains why she jumped at the chance to get involved; “I am delighted Trussell Trust Foodbanks will be participating in the From A Mother To Another campaign with JoJo, it is a natural fit to The Trussell Trust’s ‘More Than Food’ approach, which offers additional services to help alleviate poverty in the UK. Over a third of three day emergency food supplies provided by Trussell Trust foodbanks go to children in crisis. From a Mother to Another is a perfect way for one mum to bring a little light and a lot of comfort to another.”
Laura Tenison, founder & CEO of JoJo, visited refugee camps in the Bekaa Valley on the Lebanese Syrian border late last year. As a result JoJo launched an urgent appeal to collect winter shoes and boots for the children living in tents, now under snow. Customers reacted with empathy and the thousands collected are currently being distributed on the ground to refugees with so little. Laura explained what she found when visiting the camps; “The situation is dire and the millions of women and children living in makeshift tents are in urgent need of emergency humanitarian aid to help until it is safe to travel home – just a few miles across the border. They left Syria with whatever they could carry. Their children have outgrown their clothes long ago and are often in rags. The gift of a FAMTA pack brings tears of gratitude. Children are dying from the cold, we just had to help.”
JoJo Maman Bébé will cover the extensive costs of checking, sorting, shipping, customs clearance and managing the logistics of delivering the parcels to the partner charities in Lebanon and to the Trussell Trust’s Foodbanks across the UK.
F1 stars Mika Häkkinen, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso called on Londoners to JOIN THE PACT to never drink and drive, supporting the Department for Transport’s THINK! campaign.
In Wembley, London, on 4 December 2015, as part of its global responsible drinking programme, JOIN THE PACT, JOHNNIE WALKER®, staged a driving spectacular with the stars of the McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team to encourage people to never drink and drive.
During the event, F1 Stars Mika Häkkinen, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso and fellow McLaren Honda driver and 2015 GP2 Champion Stoffel Vandoorne thrilled spectators, demonstrating their control skills in London’s Wembley Park, driving competition winners, media and special guests in a range of cars, including McLaren road cars (including the lesser-seen McLaren 570S supercar) and the Johnnie Walker supercar Caparo T1.
Radio X DJ Chris Moyles hosted the afternoon’s event and grabbed the opportunity of Jenson Button taking him for an exhilarating ride outside Wembley Stadium.
The event is part of the responsible drinking festive campaign, JOIN THE PACT. Last year, Johnnie Walker announced its intention to gather five million ‘Join The Pact’ commitments by 2018 and has since passed the half way mark, with almost 2.6 million people having made a personal promise to never drink and drive.
The event was also marked by the premiere of a powerful new ‘Join The Pact’ film featuring Johnnie Walker Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador, Mika Häkkinen.
What’s one of the best gifts you can give a friend this holiday season?
A safe ride home.
With the festive season in full swing and friends planning nights out all around the world, Johnnie Walker®, the world’s leading Scotch whisky, is encouraging people to make sure they get home safely by pledging to never drink and drive.
Last year, Johnnie Walker announced its intention to gather five million Join The Pact commitments by 2018 and has since passed the halfway mark, with almost 2.6 million people having made a personal promise to never drink and drive.
To launch its 2015 global festive responsible drinking campaign, Johnnie Walker today promised 450,000 kilometres of safe rides home around the world, in cities from Madrid to Sao Paulo and Edinburgh at Hogmanay, for those who make a commitment to never drink and drive through its Join The Pact initiative. In addition, this year and starting in London, some people will have the opportunity to go one step further and experience the joy of festive giving by nominating a friend for a safe ride home.
Johnnie Walker and UBER are providing £10 off rides for a limited number of existing users who Join The Pact, and UBER will also fund unlimited £10 rides for new users on top of that for the duration of the festive campaign.
McLaren Honda Test Driver Stoffel Vandoorne, Johnnie Walker® Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador Mika Häkkinen pictured with his Caparo T1 supercar alongside fellow F1 World Champions and McLaren Honda drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso and the lesser-seen McLaren 570S supercar at London’s Westminster Parliament buildings
Johnnie Walker®, Join The Pact will deliver 450,000 kilometres of safe rides home in the following cities:
London
Birmingham
Bristol
Leeds
Manchester
Newcastle
Portsmouth
Merseyside area
Glasgow
Sheffield
Edinburgh
Madrid
Sao Paulo
Rio
Recife
Andrew Jones MP, Minister for Transport said: “Drivers know that drink driving is wrong. It can destroy families and ruin lives. Yet some people at Christmas will still take the risk and get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t. “Over the past thirty years drink drive deaths have fallen significantly but every death or serious injury is one too many. The best way for drivers to keep themselves and other road users safe is simple: don’t drink and drive. I encourage drivers to Join the Pact to not drive after a tipple this Christmas.”
McLaren Honda driver Jenson Button said: “As racing drivers, we understand the importance of staying in control and never ever getting behind the wheel after consuming any alcohol. “We’re confident that people will get the message. Millions already have, and we want to encourage millions more to make a personal commitment to get home safely and ‘Join The Pact’ by visiting jointhepact.com or by tweeting #JoinThePact to @JohnnieWalker_.”
Andrew Cowan, Managing Director of Diageo GB said: “During the festive season millions of Brits will celebrate with a drink, and we are committed to encouraging people to get home safely. We are so excited to be hosting this event in London, and we hope that many Londoners and people across the country will be inspired to join the 2.6 million people globally who have already made a pledge to never drink and drive.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Alcohol Licensing and Harm Reduction, Commander Simon Letchford said: “We’re very pleased to have this opportunity to work together with our partners from the drinks industry to get across the important message around responsible drinking over the festive season in the run-up to Christmas. We want people to enjoy a drink but to do so responsibly and safely, and bear in mind that anti-social behaviour and road traffic accidents put a strain on emergency services and divert them from priority calls. If you cause an offence or an accident as a result of alcohol you could also face serious penalties.”
Mika Häkkinen said: “The holiday season is a time when friends and families get together to celebrate and share gifts of thanks with each other. It’s a time for parties and reunions and we want to make sure that those who are out celebrating with alcohol leave their cars at home. I strongly urge everyone to Join The Pact to never drink and drive. Some of those who make the commitment this year will be able to thank their friends with the gift of a safe ride home, thanks to a partnership between Johnnie Walker and UBER in the UK and other transport partners across the world.”
Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director, Guy Escolme, said: “We’re delighted to have Mika, Jenson, Fernando and Stoffel here today. Formula 1 is one of the most progressive and thrilling sports in the world – one that has proven, time and again, that those who bring passion, commitment, and a genuine love for the circuit will achieve the most.” He added: “More than 400 million fans tune in to F1 races worldwide. For ten years, our partnership with McLaren Honda has allowed us to reach this audience with our responsible drinking message and strongly urge people to Join The Pact to never drink and drive. Some of those who make the commitment this year will be able to thank their friends with the gift of a safe ride home, thanks to a partnership between Johnnie Walker and UBER in the UK and other transport partners across the world.”
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. Enjoy Johnnie Walker responsibly.
Johnnie Walker places great importance on Responsible Drinking and tackles this issue through the Join The Pact campaign, with Mika Häkkinen as the Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador. Join The Pact asks consumers everywhere to make a commitment to never drink and drive through signing a pact. Since 2006 Mika has led this call-to-action initiative, which has been activated worldwide, collecting over a million signatures.
Mika has visited over 40 countries on five continents, spoken to countless media, government officials, stakeholders and consumers delivering important messages through unique Johnnie Walker experiences.
easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, is celebrating twenty years of flying.
On 10 November 1995 easyJet’s first ever flight took off from Luton to Glasgow.
Twenty years on, the airline flies over 68 million passengers to 137 airports in 31 countries and operates 788 routes across Europe.
Captain Fred Rivett was at the controls of that first flight which was EZY121 operated by a Boeing 737-200. Lisa Burger (now easyJet’s Head of Customer) checked in the very first easyJet passenger and easyJet’s founder Stelios joined passengers and media on board that first flight. All three and others from the airline’s early days were among the guests at a special birthday event at easyJet’s headquarters in Luton.
easyJet unveiled a special livery aircraft featuring a mosaic of more than 100,000 of its customers’ most-loved holiday snaps and selfies taken during their travels across Europe over the past twenty years. The aircraft symbolises the role that easyJet has played in changing the way that people across Europe travel thanks to its low fares, friendly service and focus on making travel easier and more affordable.
Carolyn McCall, easyJet’s Chief Executive, said:
“We’re delighted to be celebrating easyJet’s success over the past two decades. 20 years ago easyJet changed the way Europe travelled. We challenged the high price monopolies of the legacy airlines and enabled a new generation of people of all ages, incomes and interests to enjoy Europe. Since then we’ve carried over 600m passengers and flown over 4.7m flights but that challenger spirit is stronger than ever in the easyJet of 2015.
“We started with fares to Glasgow from £29 – or as we advertised at the time, the same price as a pair of jeans. A pair of Levis 501s will now set your back £75 while our fares to Glasgow start from £27.49.
“All of this would not have been possible without those who have been part of the easyJet team during that time. They have worked incredibly hard to make travel easier and more affordable for our passengers.
“I also have to thank our fantastic customers for their loyalty and support and, of course, our suppliers and partners for their professionalism and commitment.
“Although today we’re celebrating 20 years of generation easyJet, we’re even more excited about the future. We will continue to challenge conventional thinking and we look forward to where the next two decades could take us.”
Stelios Haji-Ioannou, easyJet’s founder and owner of the easyJet brand, commenting from the event in Luton:
“Today is the best possible opportunity to thank all the 30,000 people who make easyJet work on a daily basis. I want to thank those employees and sub-contractors – both on the ground and in the air – who have made easyJet over the last 20 years such a great investment for its shareholders and such a great brand for its customers.”
Captain Fred Rivett, who operated easyJet’s inaugural flight from London Luton to Glasgow on 10th November 1995 commented:
“I remember watching the first passengers step aboard. It was a cold dark morning and the cabin was filled with excited passengers who knew they were part of something new. They had also paid very little for their seats! It was a very proud moment for me and all the crew. The short hop to Glasgow was completely routine but we now know that it was just the start of changing the way we all travel by air.
“The airline has come a long way in such a short time and being here today brings back all the memories. It’s great to get a glimpse of what’s planned for the future.
Lisa Burger, easyJet’s Head of Customer who checked in passengers on the first flight said:
“I’ll always remember the energy, excitement and hype surrounding our first flight. I recall explaining to customers as we checked them in for that inaugural flight that their confirmation letter or booking reference was all they needed to check-in – and not a ticket as we were ticketless. In exchange we gave them a reusable plastic boarding pass explaining that we had free seating and they could choose where to sit when on board. 20 years ago this was revolutionary. No tickets, free seating, an inflight service where you choose and paid for what you purchased on-board.”
“From day one we began to educate customers how to interact and travel us and that we could make travel more affordable by cutting out complexity, overheads and costs that didn’t add value or that would compromise service. The perception of many was that we would be another airline that would come and go but the Orange spirit that today is still as evident as it was then along with the belief in the model and brand, meant that we defied the odds and revolutionised the way people travel.
“20 years on I still love the opportunities we have to challenge and innovate. We continue to find ways to make travel easier and more affordable for our passengers.”
This is the latest innovation from the pioneering airline which is always at the forefront of technology, from being one of the first airlines to launch online booking in 1998 to introducing aircraft inspections by automated drones earlier this year, and provides an exciting glimpse of things to come for airline uniforms.
Wearable tech features being trialled include:
Cabin crew uniforms
LEDs on shoulders and illuminated hems to provide additional lighting in an emergency
LEDs on jacket lapels displaying important information like flight numbers and destinations
In-built microphones to improve communication between the crew, pilots and passengers
LEDs in ground staff jacket cuffs to help with aircraft movement on the ground
Engineer uniforms
LEDs in jacket hoods to illuminate work areas and leave both hands free for aircraft inspections and maintenance
Multiple reflective laser cut decoration to aid visibility on the air field
In-built video cameras to allow for remote diagnosis of technical issues along with surround sound and a microphone for instant communication capability
Air quality sensor and barometer features to help engineers monitor their work environment and create a map of air quality in different cities for passengers’ information
For this latest innovation the airline teamed up with leading fashion tech company CuteCircuit, a global leader in interactive fashion responsible for many groundbreaking ideas using smart textiles and micro-electronics. Recent collaborations include work with the likes of U2, Katy Perry and Nicole Scherzinger. CuteCircuit worked closely with easyJet cabin crew and engineers to analyse their everyday movements and design uniforms best suited to their needs.
Tina Milton, Head of Cabin Crew for easyJet, commented:
“Our crew’s primary concern is for the safety of all passengers so it is really exciting to be working on this pioneering new technology which could transform the capability of our uniforms, helping crew to be more easily identified in an emergency as well as helping them to provide great service to passengers.”
Ian Davies, Engineering Director for easyJet, commented:
“With features like the LED hood and video streaming and communications capability these amazing designs offer very practical solutions for engineers working on the ramp whilst enhancing safety at the same time.”
Francesca Rosella, Chief Creative Director and Co-Founder of CuteCircuit, said:
“We are excited to be working with easyJet in creating the future of aviation. The cabin crew uniforms and engineers’ uniforms represent cutting edge developments in wearable technology, and are a first in the aviation industry. The uniforms unite fashionable style with novel functionalities, increasing safety and communication with passengers to create a truly unique inflight experience. We designed with the crew needs in mind and are looking forward to starting trials in 2016.”
easyJet will start wearable tech uniform wearer trials early in 2016.
During the event, attended by more than 500 guests including media, stakeholders, suppliers as well as past and present staff, the airline reflected on the past two decades with an exhibition of memorabilia including the airlines’ first ever adverts – the first of which famously advertised flights for the price of a pair of jeans. A catwalk show showcased the iconic crew uniforms from 1995 to the present and beyond.
As well as reflecting on the past twenty years of success the airline also looked forward to what the next twenty years may hold for air travel announcing a trial of uniforms for its crew and engineers incorporating wearable technology. The uniforms demonstrate how the application of innovative technology could play a role in making tasks easier, helping with communications and enhance safety procedures.
About CuteCircuit…
Internationally-known fashion house, CuteCircuit, has been pushing the boundaries of wearable technology since its launch in 2004. A global leader in interactive fashion, CuteCircuit has introduced many ground-breaking ideas to the fashion world by integrating new beauty and functionality through the use of smart textiles and micro-electronics. CuteCircuit is headquartered in Shoreditch, artistic heart of London, where the Creative Director Francesca Rosella, and CEO Ryan Genz are the design duo behind all of CuteCircuit’s amazing creations.
About EasyJet… easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service. easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 68 million passengers annually, of which around 12 million are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 240 aircraft on more than 780 routes to over 130 airports across 33 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.
The very first production Bentley Bentayga, the catalyst for one of the biggest investment programmes in the company’s history, left the assembly line at Bentley’s iconic headquarters in Crewe, UK, on Friday 27th November.
Four years on from the initial concept stage, during which time over 1,500 UK jobs have been created, the car – part of an £840 million investment programme – will now enter full production, with deliveries to customers starting in January 2016.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, said: “Bentley Bentayga will be the benchmark against which all other SUVs are measured, defining a new segment – the luxury SUV.
“This car is a celebration of UK manufacturing at its very best, not only reinforcing our commitment to industry in this country, job creation and significant investment, but to our home in Crewe. This is an important moment in our history, where we reflect and celebrate, but also look ahead to delivering this extraordinary car to our customers.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues from all parts of the business for their dedication and professionalism in delivering the Bentley Bentayga. It would not have been possible to deliver this car without the support and belief from the UK Government, our parent company and other business partners. We can all take pride in this achievement.”
The first production Bentayga, finished in paint colour – Anthracite – was handcrafted across 130 hours. During the assembly process, the car passed through a new bodystore, a new paint shop and a new assembly line, all part of this substantial investment.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron, commented: “I am delighted that the first Bentley Bentayga has rolled off the production line in Crewe. It marks the culmination of a period of exceptional hard work by Bentley and its dedicated workforce as they brought this remarkable new vehicle to market.
“The Bentayga represents an ambitious £800 million investment into the Crewe factory backed by £9.5 million from the Regional Growth Fund. It has created hundreds of valuable skilled jobs for the area and secured the future of production onsite.
“Well done to all at Bentley. This is a moment of great pride for everyone who lives and works in Crewe.”
Michael Straughan, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing, addressed the company’s 4,000-strong workforce as the car was driven from the final production stage. He said: “This is a proud moment for the entire company. It’s been four years in the making and is a celebration of a sector-defining British handcrafted car.
“Bentayga is the Bentley of SUVs, with a level of attention to detail only achievable thanks to the outstanding skill of a British workforce that blends exceptional craft and skill with modern production techniques and materials.”
Bentley Motors is the most sought after luxury car brand in the world. The company’s headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, R&D, engineering and production of the company’s three model lines, Continental, Flying Spur and Mulsanne. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury car brands such as Bentley. It is also an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley employs around 4,000 people at Crewe.
NEW RESEARCH REVIEW WARNS THAT POOR DIETS OF OLDER PEOPLE BOOSTS RISK OF PREMATURE AGEING
Millions of older people in the UK are putting their long term health at risk because their diets are low in certain key vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, says a new research review commissioned by the
Health Supplements Information Service (HSIS).
The review, about to be published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, assessed the evidence from 34 randomised controlled trials, published 2005-2015, where adults aged 50 years and over had been given nutritional supplements.
The gold standard Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to ensure that only high quality studies were included in the analysis.
Commenting on the research review, GP Dr Paul Stillman, an advisor to HSIS notes:
“The data results show promising results for many nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils, B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K to name a few:
Increasing omega-3 intakes from fish oils appeared to have a role in improving memory, reducing the risk of dry eye, lowering depression scores and levels of leucocyte telomere oxidative stress (a marker of how fast cells are aging) while supporting muscle protein synthesis (which helps older people remain active and avoid falls);
Folic acid and B12 supplementation were found to impact positively on cognitive function (particularly memory);
Combinations of calcium and vitamin D appeared most effective for fracture prevention
Multivitamin use was associated with reduced total cancer risk, improved reported energy levels and enhanced mood.”
However, it was clear from dietary surveys that intakes of key nutrients were low in significant groups of older people. Lead author, Dr Carrie Ruxton, comments: “Vitamin D is a key nutrient for healthy ageing, with a proven role in maintaining normal bone health and immune function. Yet dietary intakes in older British adults are just 30-40% of the recommendation with more than one fifth found to be clinically deficient. Risk of deficiency is also high for iron where 14% of older adults have low blood levels of haemoglobin leading to anaemia, poor immune function and poor cognitive health if not corrected. Smaller groups have inadequate intakes of B vitamins and calcium with those over 65 years most at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Average intakes of omega-3 fatty acids remain below the recommended 450mg per day because two thirds of older adults don’t eat oily fish on a regular basis.”
Dr Ruxton adds: “People’s bodies age at different speeds and it would appear that having the right diet can slow this process, therefore helping people to stay healthier for longer. While research is still at an early stage, there are promising results for fish oils, B vitamins, calcium and vitamin D. Taking more of these nutrients, from foods plus vitamin and mineral supplements, could help older people age more healthily and would certainly do no harm if intakes remain within recommendations”.
About HSIS…
The Health Supplements Information Service (HSIS) (www.hsis.org.uk; Tel: 020 7052 8955) is an independent information body, set up to provide balanced information on vitamins and minerals. It is supported by a restricted educational grant from the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB).
We have the latest and most exciting Free, YES Free laundrette to hit London and we ventured out to see an exclusive preview! Its open from the 11th till Monday the 14th of September from 11am – 5pm. The amazing premium washer brand Miele and the Charity Jeans for Genes have joined forces and decided to hold a pop up laundrette right in the heart of London. 8 Newburgh street…Just off Carnaby street in Soho. We nipped in for the VIP evening …A few hours ago …to see what all the fuss was about…And decided you can’t miss it..So here is the scoop, fresh off the press.
We had an amazing evening with friends and all the Miele team. We listened to a live set from DJ Roman Kemp, drank denim themed cocktails and ate delicious canapés. And as from tomorrow…(today) you can pop in free of charge with all your denim and try out the latest Miele machines. Save your favourite pair from hash washing and then enjoy a shopping while the team look after your laundry.
The money raised on Jeans for Genes Days funds a range of initiatives that improve the quality of life of children affected by genetic disorders. If you don’t even need your jeans washed by one of the top brands machinery its well worth a trip over the see them and get involved. Buy a T-shirt, donate some cash or just support this incredible charity. Help and benefit the lives of others by having a little fun. So if your out shopping for new pair of jeans over the weekend (that you really don’t need) think again….Maybe nip in and get an old pair of your favourite jeans laundered for free and donate the money you would have spent!!
What You Can Expect
You’re invited to use the laundrette and get your jeans washed ahead of Jeans for Genes Day! All the Miele machines have a very unique denim wash cycle that cares for you’re ultimate best friends, so they are kept looking like the day you purchased them…No light streaks and patchy bits for those best buddies ever again!
A complementary denim manicure is on offer.
Hair braiding
Denim-care talks from Jeans for Genes and Miele ambassador and X Factor stylist Gemma Sheppard.
Jeans for Genes merchandise will be available to buy.
What’s On Friday 11 September
Styling advice from Gemma Sheppard – 11am-12pm
You will see exclusive upcoming trends for 2016.
You will learn how to keep your clothes in top tip condition and how to best wear your denim.
There will be a Q&A on everything you could ever need to know about style and fashion
Mavala Denim Nail bar – 11am-5pm
What’s On Saturday 12 September
Orelia Temporary Tattoo Applications 11am – 2pm
British jewellery brand Orelia will be on demand to help you get inspired. You might just leave with the feeling you need to got to an amazing festival.Or feel the indian summer revival is overdue!
Timur Kim Denim Customisation in collaboration with La Redoute 2pm – 5pm. To help you revitalise your fave denim pieces!
What’s On Sunday 13 September
Hair braiding by Joel Benjamin – 11am-5pm.. free hair braiding with a twist!. Pop by at any time to get your hair braided in a unique way.
What’s On Monday 14 September
Hair braiding by Joel Benjamin – 11am-5pm. Joel has worked with the likes of Nike, Adidas and Harvey Nichols, and has now joined Miele and Jeans for Genes Day to offer unique, denim braids. Pop by at any time to get your hair braided in a unique way.
Trend talk with Lauretta Roberts – 6pm-6.30pm
Make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment. Email miele@frankpr.it
Leroy Dawkins, editor of popular blog Diary of a Clotheshorse, US fashion Editor and celebrity Blogger at LaPalme Magazine today signed with the Grey model Agency.
Grey Model Agency is a niche agency that specialises with the representation of mature models.
Leroy will continue in his other roles as a top model judge in Europe, the Clotheshorse blog, editor at Laplame and freelance work as a stylist and DJ.
Britain’s Paul Bonhomme was crowned the winner of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship stop at the famous Ascot Racecourse on Sunday, flying brilliantly under pressure in the world’s fastest motorsport series.
Bonhomme’s final run was flawless and he stopped the clock in 1.06.416 seconds. Australia’s Matt Hall took second place in a time of 1:09.024 while Yoshihide Muroya got his first podium of the season with third.
With the hard-fought victory in the Final Four, Bonhomme picked up 12 points to widen his lead at the top of the Red Bull Air Race Championship to eight points (46) ahead of Hall (38 points) in second going into the final three races.
Reigning Red Bull Air Race World Champion Nigel Lamb of Britain, who last year finished second at the race over the historic Ascot Racecourse, finished back in 5th place, a result that destroyed his chances of defending his title.
It was the second time the Red Bull Air Race was staged in Ascot, just west of London, that has quickly become one of the most attractive air race locations in the world and a favourite of the pilots who relish taking off and landing on the lush green turf in front of the big crowd.
Austria’s Hannes Arch, who struggled in the training session and was last in Qualifying on Saturday, finished a disappointing eighth after winning the last two races in Budapest and Rovinj, Croatia.
Arch had a great run in the Round of 12, just beating Bonhomme, but Bonhomme was the “fastest loser” and advanced to the Round of 8.
Arch was unable to get his engine started before the Round of 8 and was forced to retire. “It’s frustrating if you can’t race but that’s life,” said Arch, who slipped to third overall with 30 points.
In the Red Bull Air Race, which is the official world championship of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world’s top pilots hit speeds of 370 km/h while enduring forces of up to 10G as they navigate as precisely as possible through a low-level slalom track marked by 25-metre high air-filled pylons.
The Red Bull Air Race World Championship moves to its next stop to Spielberg, Austria on September 5-6.
Results Ascot:
1. Paul Bonhomme (GBR), 2. Matt Hall (AUS), 3. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN), 4. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA), 5. Nigel Lamb (GBR), 6. Peter Besenyei (HUN), 7. Martin Sonka (CZE), 8. Hannes Arch (AUT), 9. Michael Goulian (USA), 10. Matthias Dolderer (GER), 11. Juan Velarde (ESP), 12. Kirby Chambliss (USA), 13. Pete McLeod (CAN), 14. François Le Vot (FRA)
The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is an international series of races with the participation of at least eight pilots at each race. The objective is to navigate an aerial racetrack featuring air-filled pylons in the fastest possible time incurring as few penalties as possible.
Pilots can win World Championship points at each race and the pilot with the most points after the last race of the season becomes the Red Bull Air Race World Champion.
The Red Bull Air Race consists of the following flying sessions: Training, Qualifying, Round of 14, Round of 8, Final 4. In all sessions, only one pilot races in the track at a time.
TRAINING: Takes place on the days preceding Qualifying Day.
QUALIFYING: Takes place on Qualifying Day, the day before Race Day. It includes two mandatory qualifying sessions. Best time counts. Results of the qualifying session determine the order of racing on Race Day.
ROUND OF 14: Takes place on Race Day. This flying session is completed in head-to-head heats; the seven winners plus the fastest loser move forward to the Round of 8. The head-to-head pairings are based on the qualifying session results.
ROUND OF 8: Seven winners from the Round of 14, plus the fastest loser, race in head-to-head heats again. The four winning pilots advance to the Final 4. For the losing pilots, their time in the Round of 8 will determine 5th to 8th place race positions.
FINAL 4: Four fastest from the Round of 8 compete in the Final 4 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place race positions. The slowest winning pilot from the Round of 8 will fly first in the Final Four. They race individually and victory is based on the quickest time recorded for the session.
STARTING ORDER FOR FLYING SESSIONS
The starting order is the order in which the pilots will race in each flying session. The starting order for Training is defined by the results of the current Red Bull Air Race World Championship standing. The highest ranking pilot starts first, new pilots start at the end. If there is more than one new pilot, the starting order of these new pilots is determined by a draw.
The starting order for all sessions on Race Day is determined by the results in Qualifying. The order is reversed so that the slowest pilot from Qualifying starts first.
RACE WINNER
The winner is the pilot who is ranked number one in the final flying session.
RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPION
The Red Bull Air Race World Champion is the pilot who achieves the highest aggregate score in the given Red Bull Air Race World Championship season.
The winner is crowned Red Bull Air Race World Champion at the last stop in the World Championship.
Red – outbound lap, Grey – return lap
The Ascot crowds were treated to breath-taking displays by an Apache Gunship – a four-blade, twin-turboshaft attack helicopter and a Chinook – a twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter, its primary role being troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply.
One of the world’s leading paraglider aerobatics pilots, Pal Takats, took to the air, wowing the Ascot audience with a vast selection of tricks and stunts.
Pal is a Red Bull show regular and if you get a chance to see him in action… grab it!
The Breitling Wingwalkers, the world’s only formation wing-walking team, displayed astounding sequences of loops, rolls and turns whilst wingwalkers waved and performed handstands against 150mph wind pressure… even releasing themselves from their cradles and sitting on the wings whilst the aircraft were still in flight!
Behind the scenes…
During the media hangar walk, I spent some time with the Master Class pilots ahead of the race final…
PAUL BONHOMME…
I’ve just been talking to your team about conditions, is there a possibility we’ll see a couple of seconds disappearing from qualifying times achieved yesterday?
It could be, yes, I think the wind is forecast to get up a little bit but not as strong as yesterday, so it could be a bit faster.
I’m in my early 50’s and so are you, but when you think of sport at the highest level, it’s driven by youth, sport is dominated by youth and yet this is a high-level sport, there’s of factors to consider like G-force, how do you keep fit to withstand such impact?
I think, for this, the main fitness factor is not really the flying, although you do have to be fit for flying, but it’s the length of days and the other bits. Having said that, the G-force is the main physical drain on us, if you like, and for me, I just go for general fitness… cycling, I don’t run, I don’t think that’s good for my lower back, but cycling, a bit of walking, maybe a bit on the rowing machine. But you don’t have to be Charles Atlas, you don’t have to work out in the gym, but good general fitness.
And when you think of older sportsmen and women, typically, they excel in a less physical type of activity, but amazingly, the age range of the competitors in the Red Bull Air Race is higher than average and the physical impact is more intensive on the body, to say the least…
Yes, and a lot of people say “Why are there a load of old farts here?” (laughs) and I think the main reason is, you can’t learn to fly until you’re 16, 17 or 18 anyway and then if you look at the cost of flying, you’re not going to be able to get into this sort of machine until your late 20’s, probably, it depends on your circumstances. So that’s why you’ve got a more mature bunch here, whereas if you look at motor-racing, you can get in a go-kart when you’re three and by the time you’re 18, you’ve got 15 years of race experience so you’re good enough to go out and mess about in the big leagues.
Just touching on finances, we can see that the publicity surrounding the Red Bull Air Race is building, more media coverage, what does it cost to run a team like this for a year… ballpark?
Ballpark… it’s impossible to say, where do you start? When I bought my first aeroplane, somebody said to me “Whatever you do, don’t work out how much it costs an hour” and I think that’s a very wise thing. I suspect the same would go for horse-owners, if you actually sat down and worked out how much it cost to own a racehorse, you’d probably give up there and then.
Is it easier now to get sponsorship?
It is, it’s a major factor in this series that it needs more sponsors, for this sport to go forward, it needs sponsors to come in. There’s the Red Bull factor there, a lot of people, I think, think Red Bull is such a dominant brand, they’re going to get swamped by the Red Bull brand, so there’s all sorts of ideas being bandied around, whether any of them will ever happen or not, I’m not sure, but for certain, we do need more sponsors.
We covered the Monaco F1 Grand Prix and that was one of the questions that came up, their whole branding is perhaps not quite as it should be, it’s starting to lax in some way, people are starting to lose the momentum of F1, whereas we can see that Red Bull Air Race and the marketing machine is gradually building. So it’s quite a fine line in keeping that balance of building up a brand, building up a whole race image and not knocking it like, perhaps, is happening in F1.
Yes, it’s not easy, but the analogy that I use is it’s ‘starting a sport’… this is now twelve years old now, I reckon you need to be a bit like a new coffee shop, you need to put a sandwich board outside saying ‘cheap sponsorship this week – come on in’ get people in, get them interested, get them tickled and then when it’s built, then you say ‘look, this is actually costing us more than we’re charging you so we need to up the ante’. I don’t think that’s happening at the moment, I think the price is still a bit too high and I know if I was running it, I’d get a load of big people in and get them tickled, get their interest tickled and then, hopefully, it would take off.
So, yesterday, (qualifying), disappointing with the DNS (withdrawal due to technical issues), how are you feeling today, especially with the conditions… are they good for you or is it just a little bit too good?
No, actually, I’m feeling strong, I don’t know why but it’s just a good day today, no matter what happens.
Mentally, you’re in the right place.
Yes, I’m going in there and, to be honest, I’m not racing against Paul today, I’m racing against myself, so that’s a little bit my task. Also to not getting distracted too much by all the talking and everything. The only bitter thing for us is… and I’m talking for Paul and me, that we both know one of us two is not in the final because of this stupid system. And that’s frustrating because… just imagine, both of us are really fast out there and you can’t be in the final, that’s not cool, you know so I hope that the organisation thinks about that because it’s so hard to communicate, it should be raised now. Instead of asking the guys who are doing it, living it, the passion, you know, for the sport.
I asked Paul about his fitness regime… what’s yours?
Sport. I love sport, I’m living in Salzburg in Austria where it’s just the right place to do sport, you’ve got the mountains, the lakes, biking, mountain biking.
A lot of sportsmen, at a high level, aren’t just good at their specialised sport, if you talk to a F1 driver, some of them have turned round and said “Well, I was going to be a professional footballer, but I did this instead”… what would you have done had you not become a pilot?
Actually, I can’t tell you because I did already four different sports at a high level sponsored by Red Bull so I just go with the flow. This fits exactly to my age right now, you know, what I did before, I was base jumping, paragliding, I also did world tours all over the world and mountain climbing at the highest level. I think I am done now, after this, I could imagine to enjoy just living without the pressure of always trying to be the best. (Laughs).
So conditions good today for slicing a few seconds off the best times?
Oh my God, yes, I’m miles behind! I won qualification here last year and then went on to come second so yes, a big disappointment for you and me yesterday, way off the pace but yes, I can catch some of it, for sure, I’m sure of that but lots of work to do today. Conditions are maybe too good.
You think they’re too good?
It was all blustery last year so the track is very benign so everyone is going to be really quick.
Just looking at the track, it’s a superb venue, as opposed to previous UK venues, this is much, much better.
Oh, it’s unquestionable, yes, we did love Longleat, from a piloting perspective, we like Longleat because it was even more three-dimensional so you had everything that’s here but also sloping ground so you were up and down and in and out of trees, so that was nice, but flawed in many other respects. Here, you’ve got the start in front of the crowd and it’s very special and everything is lower so this is the best.
And also the team and hangar areas are closer to the track…
Yes, for sure, everything here is really, really good, it’s fantastic, this is one of the two good tracks of the season and the other one is Spielberg in Austria, which is similar because everything takes place in front of the crowd. There are two like that in America but they’re not so pretty, they’re not green and full of trees, they’re ‘concretey’ and full of rocks.
So a track like that from a pilot’s perspective?
It doesn’t make much difference from our perspective but it’s from an aesthetically-pleasing perspective.
I’ve been talking to Paul about the marketing and branding of the race. F1 has reached a peak and it’s now starting to wane, there needs to be a new injection of thought, new ideas coming to really vamp up the image. Whereas the Red Bull Air Race is raising its profile…
Yes, well I think it’s much easier with a new sport. The Air Race has been going since 2004… 2005 was when it really took off, I would say, but yes, I’ve been following the fortunes of F1, I guess they have much bigger challenges and it’s much more complicated. The advantage to having a high-profile sport will be that the appeal grows, then more money comes in and then you can do more. And they are probably more able to change, there are some things in F1 that are a lot simpler than ours, you think of the infrastructure and the challenges of the Red Bull Air Race, you’ve got to set up a track somewhere. But the good thing about that is, when you find the right location, you can take a track right into a location like this, so you’re not bound by having the track… but when you have that infrastructure of the track, everything is there once you get there, so the challenges, once you’re there, are much easier. That’s complicated but this is a sport with a different appeal, I think.
I’ve been talking to the other Master Class pilots about fitness regimes, especially when you’re an older competitor. The world of sport is normally dominated by youth, this appears to be an exception.
Well, two answers. The reason that everyone is older is that you can’t jump in an aeroplane aged six years old, so just as when watch a camera-ed up car going through Monaco and how close they’re putting it to hard obstacles, the fences, the kerbs, for me, it’s awesome. It commands such amazing respect but I do understand it, I understand it, it’s such a connection with the machine that actually, just like as we strap wings on our back, they’re just making their body mobile. And it’s the same with us, you have to be at a level where you don’t even spend one millisecond thinking about what you’re doing with the controls, you’ve just got the means to elevate your body into the air and then putting yourself through the lines. And in aviation, you can start at 18 and then the path is much more difficult. One of my sons is into go-karting and you can take a kid at five years old and you put them in a little go-kart and it’s very, very simple because there’s tracks everywhere, there are go-karts, it can be relatively inexpensive at first. And look at Verstappen (Formula One), he is 17 years old, but I get it, he’s done it since he was five, he’s got a father who is an ex-Formula One driver, so he’s got 12 years and many thousands of pounds. Because you can sit in a go-kart, in the wet and dry, night and day, and hone the skills to be able to have it as an extension of your body, whereas, in aviation, that takes until… I would say, actually, I don’t think you could do it before you’re 30 really, I know Pete McLeod came in at 25, but you just need that level of experience, that’s important. But secondly, you’ve got to keep fit, you’ve got to take great care of your back, your core and your neck, so that’s what I work on, and you need to be relatively aerobically-fit, but very G-fit and that comes with spending time in the cockpit. There’s no machine, other than a centrifuge, which is horrible, a centrifuge is not like an aeroplane at all because you’ve got all sorts of vestibular problems with the way the gimbals work so it’s not like flying an aeroplane. But you learn the technique of anti-G, of combating G, in an aeroplane and you need a lot of time and you need a lot of experience to make that reflex. But here, we have to focus really hard on it for gate number two because you’re not warmed up, you need to get the circulation going and that’s the first pull and it’s not the highest G, it’s only probably 8 or something. You’ve got to be ready for that one, that’s the one you think about a bit in this track but the rest is kind of pretty instinctive.
Celebrities in attendance included presenter, Charlie Webster, Lucy Watson and James Dunmore, Diana Vickers and Rannvijay Singh, along with Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Richard Jones
Celebrities in attendance included presenter, Charlie Webster, Lucy Watson and James Dunmore, Diana Vickers and Rannvijay Singh, along with Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Richard Jones
