Grade II* listed estate's rose garden in bloom weeks early due to weather
An estate's rose garden has burst into bloom two weeks early.
Jay Robin's rose garden at Borde Hill in Haywards Heath is a riot of colour due to warm weather encouraging its early appearance.
The garden, designed by Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gold medal winner Robin Williams in 1996 and named after Andrewjohn and Eleni Stephenson Clarke's daughter, contains 750 David Austin rose plants of 100 varieties.
Williams' design ensures that the Elizabethan chimneys of Borde Hill House are immediately noticeable as visitors walk into the garden, making a spectacular backdrop to the vibrant planting.
Jay Robin's rose garden (Image: Borde Hill) It is a colour wheel of white, yellow, pink, orange, and red roses, nestled between small trees and framed on two sides by topiary and 100-year-old yew hedges.
At the heart of the garden is a fountain statue of Aphrodite, installed in August 2020 and sculpted by artist Brendon Murless.
READ MORE: Grade II* listed garden to reopen for 2025 season
The life-size copper figure is studded with roses and holds a bouquet from which the water bursts.
Roses at Borde Hill (Image: Borde Hill) Roses in Bloom is running from June 9 until June 20, when visitors can access hints and tips on how to grow their own roses at home.
The event is included in general garden admission tickets.
Individual RHS Members who visit during the Roses in Bloom weeks receive 20 per cent off the standard admission price.
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CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
New Hampshire city where "Jumanji" was filmed celebrates 30th anniversary
Keene, New Hampshire, a city of about 23,000 people in the southwestern corner of the state, is celebrating its ties to the 1995 movie "Jumanji," this weekend in honor of its 30th anniversary. Scenes for the film starring the late Robin Williams were filmed in Keene. Filming of "Jumanji" Madeline Murphy remembers the instructions she was given on the set of "Jumanji" when she was an extra some 30 years ago: "Pretend you're frightened and you're screaming because an elephant's coming after you." So, that's what she did in the Central Square of Keene, running back and forth, over and over, on a long day in November 1994. "I was pretty tired by the end of the day, and it was cold," said Murphy, 61. She got a check for $60.47 — and several seconds of screen time. Murphy was one of about 125 extras cast in the classic Williams film. It has spawned several sequels, including one planned for next year. Keene, New Hampshire celebrates "Jumanji" anniversary This weekend's festivities include a parade, scavenger hunt and a "Rhino Rumble Road Race" saluting the film's stampede scenes of elephants, rhinos and zebras. Runners in inflatable animal costumes sprinted about a quarter mile (less than half a kilometer) around the square Saturday. Juniper Thurston and her daughters Elska and Madison Christgau wore rhino costumes, which they said were difficult to run in but better ventilated than expected. Thurston, who lives in nearby Hancock, was 13 when "Jumanji" was filmed, and she remembers visiting Keene to watch her friends perform as extras. "It was literally right here -- it was amazing," Thurston said. "It was just wild, and to be here today and be able to have a small part our own stampede is kind of awesome." Elska Christgau, 9, said everyone in her family loves the film, and that her favorite part is "the mystery and the Jumanji game" itself. Why Keene was picked for "Jumanji" Based on the 1981 children's book by Chris Van Allsburg about a mysterious jungle adventure board game, the movie version of "Jumanji" is set in the fictional small town of Brantford, New Hampshire. Veteran location manager Dow Griffith was crisscrossing New England in search of the right spot. A coffee lover who grew up in Seattle, he recalled feeling desperate one day for a good brew. He was a bit east of Keene at the time, and someone suggested a shop that was near the square. "I took my cherished cup of double dry cappuccino out to the front porch, took a sip, looked to my left — and by God — there was the place I had been looking for!" he told The Associated Press. "So really, we have coffee to thank for the whole thing." Scenes were filmed at the square that fall and the following spring. The fall scenes show a present-day town that had declined. Extras played homeless people and looters, in addition to panicked runners fleeing from the jungle animals. Joanne Hof, now 78, had needed her son's help to spot herself behind the elephants, running with her hands up. Hof, a reading specialist, bought a videotape of "Jumanji" and showed it to the kids she worked with. "They were very impressed that I was in the movie," she said. The spring scenes, appearing early in the film, depict the town in 1969. Extras drove classic cars around the pristine-looking square and others walked around, dressed for that time period. "I told the makeup person, 'Do you know how to do a French twist?'" recalled Kate Beetle, 74, of Alstead, who said she can be seen for "a microsecond" crossing a street. "They just found me the right lady's suit and right flat shoes, and then the hair is kind of what I suspect did it." How Keene transformed for "Jumanji" The "Jumanji" crews worked well with the city in getting the permits to transform Central Square into a dilapidated, neglected piece of public property, recalled Patty Little, who recently retired as Keene's clerk. "They brought in old, dead shrubbery and threw it around and made the paint peel on the gazebo," she said. Items such as parking meters and lilac bushes were removed and a large Civil War-era statue was brought in to cover a fountain. Graffiti was on the walls, and crumpled vehicles in the stampede scene were anchored in place. Everything was restored, and fresh flowers were brought in the following spring, she said. Crews spent a total of about a week in the city for both settings. Little, whose classic 1961 Ambassador is caught on camera, could see everything happening from her office window. "Did I get a lot of work done? I don't know during those days," she said. Keene pays tribute to Robin Williams A crowd turned out to watch a long-haired, bearded Williams run down the street in a leaf-adorned tunic. In the movie, he had just been freed from the game that had trapped him as a boy for years. "He's shorter than I thought he was!" one viewer said, according to local chronicler Susan MacNeil's book, "When Jumanji Came to Keene." Others said, "He has great legs — muscular, isn't he? But so hairy!" and "Isn't he freezing dressed like that?" The mayor honored him with a key to the city. Williams, noticing the mayor was a bit shorter, suddenly announced at the presentation, "'I am the mayor of Munchkinland,' " with a voice to match, City Councilor Randy Filiault recalled. He stayed in character for 15 to 20 minutes, "just bouncing off the walls," approaching people in the audience and pulling their hats over their eyes. Eventually, he stopped, ending with a solemn "Thank you," Filiault said. "I am really seeing something cool here," Filiault remembered thinking. "How fortunate we were." When Williams died by suicide in 2014, people left flowers and photos beneath a painted "Parrish Shoes" wall sign advertising a fictional business left over from "Jumanji." Former Keene police officer Joe Collins, who was assigned to watch over then-child actors Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce, also died by suicide, last year. Festival organizers planned a discussion about mental health and suicide prevention to pay tribute to Williams and Collins. "I think Robin would have been impressed with that," said Murphy, who met Williams and shook his hand.
Associated Press
21-06-2025
- Associated Press
New Hampshire city in ‘Jumanji' marks 30th anniversary with animal costume race
KEENE, N.H. (AP) — Madeline Murphy remembers the instructions she was given on the set of 'Jumanji' when she was an extra some 30 years ago: 'Pretend you're frightened and you're screaming because an elephant's coming after you.' So, that's what she did in the Central Square of Keene, New Hampshire, running back and forth, over and over, on a long day in November 1994. 'I was pretty tired by the end of the day, and it was cold,' said Murphy, 61. She got a check for $60.47 — and several seconds of screen time. Murphy was one of about 125 extras cast in the classic Robin Williams film, which is marking its 30th anniversary. It has spawned several sequels, including one planned for next year. The city of about 23,000 people in the southwestern corner of the state is celebrating its ties to 'Jumanji' this weekend. The festivities include a parade, scavenger hunt and a 'Rhino Rumble Road Race' saluting the film's stampede scenes of elephants, rhinos and zebras. Runners in inflatable animal costumes sprinted about a quarter mile (less than half a kilometer) around the square Saturday. Juniper Thurston and her daughters Elska and Madison Christgau wore rhino costumes, which they said were difficult to run in but better ventilated than expected. Thurston, who lives in nearby Hancock, was 13 when 'Jumanji' was filmed, and she remembers visiting Keene to watch her friends perform as extras. 'It was literally right here -- it was amazing,' Thurston said. 'It was just wild, and to be here today and be able to have a small part our own stampede is kind of awesome.' Elska Christgau, 9, said everyone in her family loves the film, and that her favorite part is 'the mystery and the Jumanji game' itself. Keene gets picked thanks to coffee craving Based on the 1981 children's book by Chris Van Allsburg about a mysterious jungle adventure board game, the movie version of 'Jumanji' is set in the fictional small town of Brantford, New Hampshire. Veteran location manager Dow Griffith was crisscrossing New England in search of the right spot. A coffee lover who grew up in Seattle, he recalled feeling desperate one day for a good brew. He was a bit east of Keene at the time, and someone suggested a shop that was near the square. 'I took my cherished cup of double dry cappuccino out to the front porch, took a sip, looked to my left — and by God — there was the place I had been looking for!' he told The Associated Press. 'So really, we have coffee to thank for the whole thing.' Scenes were filmed at the square that fall and the following spring. The fall scenes show a present-day town that had declined. Extras played homeless people and looters, in addition to panicked runners fleeing from the jungle animals. Joanne Hof, now 78, had needed her son's help to spot herself behind the elephants, running with her hands up. Hof, a reading specialist, bought a videotape of 'Jumanji' and showed it to the kids she worked with. 'They were very impressed that I was in the movie,' she said. The spring scenes, appearing early in the film, depict the town in 1969. Extras drove classic cars around the pristine-looking square and others walked around, dressed for that time period. 'I told the makeup person, 'Do you know how to do a French twist?'' recalled Kate Beetle, 74, of Alstead, who said she can be seen for 'a microsecond' crossing a street. 'They just found me the right lady's suit and right flat shoes, and then the hair is kind of what I suspect did it.' The city helped transform itself The 'Jumanji' crews worked well with the city in getting the permits to transform Central Square into a dilapidated, neglected piece of public property, recalled Patty Little, who recently retired as Keene's clerk. 'They brought in old, dead shrubbery and threw it around and made the paint peel on the gazebo,' she said. Items such as parking meters and lilac bushes were removed and a large Civil War-era statue was brought in to cover a fountain. Graffiti was on the walls, and crumpled vehicles in the stampede scene were anchored in place. Everything was restored, and fresh flowers were brought in the following spring, she said. Crews spent a total of about a week in the city for both settings. Little, whose classic 1961 Ambassador is caught on camera, could see everything happening from her office window. 'Did I get a lot of work done? I don't know during those days,' she said. Locals watch and meet Robin Williams A crowd turned out to watch a long-haired, bearded Williams run down the street in a leaf-adorned tunic. In the movie, he had just been freed from the game that had trapped him as a boy for years. 'He's shorter than I thought he was!' one viewer said, according to local chronicler Susan MacNeil's book, 'When Jumanji Came to Keene.' Others said, 'He has great legs — muscular, isn't he? But so hairy!' and 'Isn't he freezing dressed like that?' The mayor honored him with a key to the city. Williams, noticing the mayor was a bit shorter, suddenly announced at the presentation, ''I am the mayor of Munchkinland,' ' with a voice to match, City Councilor Randy Filiault recalled. He stayed in character for 15 to 20 minutes, 'just bouncing off the walls,' approaching people in the audience and pulling their hats over their eyes. Eventually, he stopped, ending with a solemn 'Thank you,' Filiault said. 'I am really seeing something cool here,' Filiault remembered thinking. 'How fortunate we were.' When Williams died by suicide in 2014, people left flowers and photos beneath a painted 'Parrish Shoes' wall sign advertising a fictional business left over from 'Jumanji.' Former Keene police officer Joe Collins, who was assigned to watch over then-child actors Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce, also died by suicide, last year. Festival organizers planned a discussion about mental health and suicide prevention to pay tribute to Williams and Collins. 'I think Robin would have been impressed with that,' said Murphy, who met Williams and shook his hand. ___
CNET
21-06-2025
- CNET
12 of the Best Movies Peacock Has to Offer
Simply put, Peacock has the movies you want to watch. When we talk about the epic titles available to watch on streaming, the conversation tends toward powerhouse streamers like Netflix and Prime Video. As you can conclude from this article, the NBC Universal-owned platform absolutely should be included. It's jam-packed with epic films that would easily elevate any movie night. This should come as no surprise; Universal Pictures is responsible for the very first blockbuster -- Happy 50th Birthday, Jaws! -- and has shelled out box office-busting, Oscar-caliber films for more than a century. Yes, the content roster here is pretty epic. With exclusive streaming rights to popular titles like Wicked, Peacock is a formidable streamer to reckon with. I'll be honest with you, here: Putting this list together was challenging. There's a large selection of high-quality flicks worth watching on Peacock and I found it hard to narrow down this guide to something manageable. But I did it and the 12 titles listed below are the cream of the crop. Whether you're looking for the cinematic spectacle of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, the comedic excellence of Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in The Birdcage, or action hits like Jurassic Park and The Matrix, you'll find a flick worth hitting the Play button on by the time you reach the bottom of the page. Scroll on to see for yourself. Read more: Peacock Review: Few Originals, but Cheap Access to Network TV, Movies May Grab You Universal Pictures Jurassic Park What is there to be said about Jurassic Park that hasn't already been said? Steven Spielberg brought Michael Crichton's hit book to life and pretty much changed how dinosaurs were depicted on screen. This movie was a big deal when it premiered and showcased an array of jaw-dropping special effects. Three decades later, the franchise continues to expand. But as awesome as it is to see dinos dominate the big screen, these movies never achieve the glory of the original. Lionsgate John Wick As you'll see, this list includes two movies starring Keanu Reeves. I didn't plan this but Peacock has the John Wick and Matrix franchises, which are extremely watchable. I'd argue that all of the John Wick movies are worth streaming but the first installment has that special energy of an original story spreading its wings. And to think, all this could've been avoided if they hadn't messed with John Wick's dog. Screenshot by Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET Erin Brockovich Julia Roberts won the Oscar for her lead role in Steven Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich, and for good reason: She's an absolute powerhouse in this. The movie is based on Brockovich's life and her evolution from divorced mother of three to formidable investigative paralegal who, under the mentorship of Albert Finney's Ed, took on Pacific Gas & Electric and exposed them for contaminating the water supply of a local community. Lionsgate Dirty Dancing Patrick Swayze showcased all the right moves in 1987's Dirty Dancing. He may not have used his dance skills in many of his films but his work as Johnny Castle in this sleeper hit helped put him on the map. The movie follows a 17-year-old girl named Frances (or "Baby" for those in the know), who takes a summer trip to a Catskills resort with her family and falls in love with the bad boy dance instructor. My advice: Ignore the questionable age gap between the two and, instead, lean into the cheesy romance of it Birdcage Mike Nichols directed this comedy classic, inspired by the 1978 French movie La Cage aux Folles. Led by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, the movie follows the story of an out and proud gay couple who must hide their relationship when the conservative parents of their son's fiancée come to visit. Gene Hackman and Dianne Weist are fantastic, and Hank Azaria's Agador Spartacus steals the show. Gramercy Pictures The Big Lebowski Look, what can be said about The Big Lebowski that hasn't already been said? This is the Coen brothers at their most iconic. Jeff Bridges's take on the role solidified the actor as a pop culture legend, and his laid-back vibe helps to deliver the craziness that transpires throughout the entire film. John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Sam Elliott and even Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers all deliver memorable performances. If you've never seen this one, you're in for quite a ride. And if you have, isn't it about time for a rewatch? Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNET The Matrix The Wachowskis kicked the sci-fi genre in the teeth when The Matrix premiered in theaters in 1999. The movie, which spawned a series of sequels, an animated spin-off and a string of comic books, tells the tale of Neo (Keanu Reeves) a man who grapples with the concept that our reality isn't real at all and, in the process of dealing with that brain-breaker, he's also part of a resistance movement in a dystopian nightmare where he's acknowledged as the potential savior of humanity. Hey, no big deal, right? Not only did this movie propel Reeves into a blockbuster superstar but it also introduced groundbreaking special effects that helped push the genre and filmmaking itself into the 21st century. Universal Pictures Jaws Jaws turns 50 years old this year, which is a crazy thing to type. Steven Spielberg's action movie about a vengeful shark changed the way movies are made. This right here was the first-ever summer blockbuster -- for a reason. The movie is full of Alfred Hitchcock-style suspense but what makes it so watchable is the dynamic between the lead actors Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw. Come for Quint's (Shaw) epic drunk monologue, stay for the unnerving 4 (yes 4) minutes that the great white is actually on screen. Universal Pictures Wicked The big-budget, big-screen musical adaptation of the hit Broadway play, which stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, took the box office by storm. Wicked -- which is the first half of a two-movie journey -- follows the duo, who become unlikely friends during their time as students at Shiz University, and gives a look at the Land of Oz before Dorothy's house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East. Universal Pictures Oppenheimer Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning film explores the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer (played to perfection by Cillian Murphy), the physicist who played a pivotal role in developing the atomic bomb. The story unfolds throughout various points of Oppenheimer's life, offering a well-rounded and thought-provoking look at the man who pushed the world to the brink. The production value, direction and performances by its ensemble cast resulted in an epic cinematic experience. It's no wonder the movie brought home the Academy Award for Best Picture.
