Flick Miles worked on the first three Harry Potter films
While many children dream of going to school at Hogwarts, for a lucky few, it is a reality.
Filming has begun on a new Harry Potter TV reboot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, and a temporary school has been built so hundreds of child actors can keep up with real lessons while pretending to learn magical ones.
Flick Miles, who doubled for Emma Watson’s Hermione in the original films, remembers wearing her Hogwarts uniform while having lessons on set.
She said: “We’re all there with full hair and makeup. At one point, Hermione has cuts from the Whomping Willow, you’ll just be like sitting in your class with a fake nose bleed and a lip wound.”
Flick Miles
Flick Miles (right) was a double for Emma Watson (left)
As child actors were only allowed to film for four hours, doubles were used to capture shots where they were seen from behind or far away.
While the three leads had private lessons, other members of the supporting cast attended classrooms down the corridor from the dressing rooms.
The young actors would attend the school for most of the academic year, as they might be needed at any moment.
Between Year 6 and Year 9, the young actress only went to her normal school in Barnet, north London, for 15 days.
She said: “To get your license to work, your school has to be on board with you having that time off and working… Which actually at first my school weren’t that happy with me doing.”
Initially, her school only released her for 30 of the 180 days Warner Bros had requested for filming, but Mrs Miles’ parents fought for her to have the opportunity.
Flick Miles
Flick Miles (second from the right) praised her teachers for working in what must have been difficult circumstances
Due to their filming schedule, children had lessons at different times, but every child on set had to spend a minimum of three hours a day in school.
She recalled: “Assistant directors will be checking how many hours you’ve done because if you haven’t hit your three, then you’re going to have to go back into school for like half an hour before you can go down to set.
“But say you’ve done your hours and they’re like ‘no we don’t need you again for another hour,’ you’ll carry on schooling.”
Lessons were monitored by runners who tracked each half-hour a child spent in lessons or on breaks, she explained.
Flick Miles
Each student had an individual timetable of lessons
Class sizes were small, and Mrs Miles remembers there being about seven pupils at most on busy days, much smaller than the potential 600 students at the school being used for the reboot.
“You could be in with anybody,” she said. “It wasn’t a set a set class, if that makes sense.”
She’d often find herself sharing lessons with young stars of the film, such as Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis or Alfred Enoch.
Each student had an independent curriculum, and teachers from their original schools would tell the tutors on set what each child needed to be learning.
Mrs Miles said: “They wouldn’t stand at the front and be like ‘this is what we’re doing today’. They would individually give you their attention and set you on your task, so we’d all be doing different work.”
Flick Miles
Flick Miles remembers attending some lessons with fake injuries while filming scenes for the third film
She praised her teachers who kept lessons engaging and added: “They really tried to make sure we had fun and we were doing all the things that we should be doing, which I think was probably really hard for them.
“They were really understanding of the fact that we were also working, which is quite weird, having a group of like 10, 11, 12-year-olds who are also working full-time.
“If you’re at school, you’re there nine to three, but if you’re filming, you’re there a lot longer. I think they were really understanding with the wide range of emotions you feel as a child working on a film set.”
Flick Miles
Young actors would often have to wear their Hogwarts uniform, as they may be needed for unexpected filming
Now, a new group of children are heading to the same film studio to shoot a new version of the JK Rowling books, including 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin as the title character.
Mrs Miles, who now lives only a short drive away in St Albans, advised any young actors joining the wizarding world to “enjoy it”.
“It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime thing working on something like Harry Potter- well, it might not be now,” she laughed.
“But it’s a really unique experience, and it’s kind of weird because when you’re in it, it just becomes normal life.
“When you come out the other side, you look back at it and you’re like ‘wow, that was so amazing,’ the things we got to do, the different experiences and all the incredibly talented people, which sort of goes over your head as a child.
“The best thing about being a child is you just take it all in for what it is, but I think really just enjoy it, make the most of every opportunity that you have there.”
The ITTF Africa South Regional Championships concluded on July 14 in Windhoek, Namibia, with South Africa reinforcing their regional supremacy in both team events against strong competition from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
South Africa’s men powered through the team competition with authority, securing a commanding 3-1 victory over Angola in the final. The depth and quality of their squad proved decisive as they dominated the knockout rounds to reclaim their regional crown.
The women’s team proved equally impressive, delivering a comprehensive 3-0 sweep over Angola in the final. Led by experienced campaigner Danisha Patel and rising star Rochica Sonday, South Africa demonstrated the perfect blend of experience and youth that could prove crucial on the Road to London.
Nigeria Reclaim West African Team Titles
Just as South Africa was celebrating in Windhoek, Nigeria seized their opportunity to reclaim regional dominance on home soil at the ITTF Africa West Regional Championships in Lagos. Competing against Ghana, Benin Republic, Guinea, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, Nigeria’s teams delivered commanding performances throughout the four-day championship.
The men’s team returned with renewed determination after narrowly losing their 2024 title to Togo. Playing at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, the trio of Matthew Kuti, Taiwo Mati, and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai proved unstoppable. Despite dropping just one set in the group stage to Côte d’Ivoire, they powered through the knockout rounds to secure a commanding 3-0 victory over the same opponents in the final.
Nigeria’s women completed the perfect weekend with an equally impressive display, successfully defending their title with a flawless tournament run. The team energised supporters from across the region whilst demonstrating the depth of talent that has made Nigeria a consistent force in African table tennis.
Both championships also featured strong individual performances, with Kuti and Ajoke Ojomu claiming the singles titles in Lagos, whilst Luke Abrahams and Patel secured the honours in Windhoek.
Continental Championships Beckon
Both regional championships served as crucial qualifiers for the African Championships, scheduled for October 12-19 in Kigali, Rwanda. The team performances across both tournaments highlighted the rising standard of competition throughout the continent, with Ferdinand Sounou, Vice President of ITTF Africa West Region, praising the organisational excellence and elevated level of play.
“This year’s tournament in Lagos was a resounding success,” Sounou observed. “The quality of organisation and the elevated standard of play were impressive. Compared to previous editions, which were often dominated by a few countries, this year showed remarkable improvement across the board.”
Road to London
As the continental championships approach, these regional qualifiers represent the crucial foundation for Africa’s journey to the historic London 2026 World Championships. The team performances from South Africa and Nigeria, alongside competitive displays from Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, and other regional powers, demonstrate that Africa will arrive in Kigali with genuine strength in depth.
With the centenary World Championships representing the ultimate team prize, these regional champions have taken the first vital steps on their Road to London, where table tennis will celebrate 100 years since its inaugural World Championships in the very same city.
ISLAMABAD – The political scenario is at the edge of a new seismic shift, just as the monsoon clouds bringing torrential rains, a political downpour is expected to drench the country in the coming weeks.
The political titans in the country are set to plot next moves, which may redraw maps and stitch fresh alliances in the centre and KPK.
The murmurs about the new provinces will not take much time to transform into louder voices in and outside the parliament.
A proposal is under consideration for carving out new provinces in the country with the consultation of all the parties. The idea will be floated from reinstating FATA’s position and giving it a status of a new province.
The practical work over the formation of a new province will obviously open a new Pandora box about new provinces in the country, background discussions with political pundits left this impression.
The main political players these days engage in the Senate polls. The upcoming scenario will be related to the expected informal no-trust motion against KPK Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur. The expected change could pave a way for the religio-political faction (JUI-F) to forge a new alliance against the existing PTI’s government in the province.
The ruling party [PML-N]. political wizards viewed, will in return obviously offer Maulana Fazlur Rahman led party to join hands with them in centre to further strengthen its two thirds majority in the centre.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman was never in favour of FATA’s merger, but at the same time JUI-F chief is unwilling to see FATA as a fifth province of the country.
The political cauldron brewing with all these upcoming scenarios as some importance huddles in coming weeks will shape the new landscape in the country.
The idea of creating new provinces had already been discussed in the parliament but due to insufficient numerical strength could not be materialized.
In the past, President Musharaf had also raised the voice for carving out three new provinces in the country but it did not materialize. A Pandora’s Box was opened as political voices were heard in the parliament to make Hazara province, Fata province, Karachi province, Southern Punjab province but it could not be materialized.
Talking to this newspaper, former secretary ECP Kanwar Dilshad said that the pending constitutional amendments of carving out new provinces could be possible with this clear dominance in the parliament. He said there was a discussion about creating new provinces, but it might take some time to materialize
About constitutional amendment in the country, he commented that for a stronger and more stable Pakistan, a system inspired by France’s General de-Gaulle model with a powerful, visionary presidency and clear separation of powers may prove more suitable and effective. He was of the view that some related constitutional amendments would be in the discussion soon.
Political wizards, desiring not to be named at this stage, viewed that a new political earthquake with its aftershocks will be felt in the country’s political landscape. The political chessboard will see new moves in the coming weeks with the idea of provincial restructuring.
The ruling clique is deliberating to summon the national assembly session in the first week of August. All these political gossips will be the topic of discussion of political players.
Manny Pacquiao appeared to have made history on Saturday in his much-maligned comeback bout against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. But then the judges took it away.
Despite winning on the majority of scorecards from both his fellow fighters and boxing analysts online, Pacquiao’s return from a four-year retirement ended in a controversial majority draw, helping Barrios to leave Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena with his WBC title intact.
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Two judges scored the contest a 114-114 draw, while one judge had it 115-113 for Barrios.
Had the 46-year-old Pacquiao won, he would’ve made history as the second-oldest fighter in boxing history to capture a major world title.
Pacquiao was a significant underdog on BetMGM coming into the bout against a man 16 years his junior.
The contentious result ignited instant outrage across the boxing world, with many of Pacquiao’s peers decrying the judges’ assessments and feeling as if the Hall of Famer was robbed of a historic moment.
Check out some of that reaction below, including commentary from pound-for-pound stars Shakur Stevenson, Claressa Shields and more.
For full coverage of Pacquiao vs. Barrios including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios pay-per-view card, check out Uncrowned’s Pacquiao vs. Barrios hub.
While Sol Campbell’s infamous move across north London dominated headlines in the 2001 transfer window, there was another piece of history taking place at Highbury.
On July 23, 2001, we unveiled our first-ever Asian player in the form of Junichi Inamoto on a season-long loan from Gamba Osaka. The move came with under 12 months to go until the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which was staged in Inamoto’s homeland of Japan, as well as co-host South Korea.
It was a busy summer in N5, as we brought in Francis Jeffers, Richard Wright and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, alongside Campbell and Inamoto, as Arsene Wenger’s side looked to improve on a run of three successive second-place finishes in the Premier League.
Junichi spoke to us back in 2013 about his time at the club, and as we return to Asia for the first time since 2018 for friendlies against AC Milan, Newcastle United and Tottenham in Singapore and Hong Kong, here’s the story of our first-ever Asian player and his time in north London.
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making history
Having made his debut as a 17-year-old for Gamba Osaka in 1997, Junichi played almost 150 matches during his first stint there. The midfielder was also making waves internationally, helping Japan to a second-ever Asian Cup title in 2000, playing four of their six matches.
With time ticking down to the 2002 World Cup, the midfielder joined us on a season-long loan, becoming the first ever Japanese player to sign for a Premier League club.
Upon his arrival, Wenger said: “We are pleased to welcome Inamoto to the club. He is physically strong and a great passer of the ball. His enthusiasm and ability will undoubtedly strengthen our squad this season.”
Looking back on his move, Inamoto knew it was a big switch for his career: “In general, the fact that it was such a big club with so many famous players. I regard the whole of my time there as a really good experience for me.
“As the only Japanese [player] it wasn’t pressure, but there was definitely a strong sense of responsibility.”
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Under the spotlight
To say Junichi’s switch from Gamba Osaka to Arsenal caused a stir would be an understatement. The intense popularity of the young talent among fans in Japan resulted in press interest going through the roof, often requiring Inamoto to conduct separate press conferences to accommodate the interest.
Inamoto admitted he struggled to adapt to life under the spotlight as he looked to make a name for himself in his new surroundings.
“The first and second weeks were quite tough. The culture and language were so different which made life quite hard and, yes, I did get homesick to a certain extent.
“There was a lot of attention from the mass media, which was unexpected for me. It was because having a Japanese player in England, and at such a big club like Arsenal, was quite a story, but I was still quite surprised by how much interest it caused.”
A helping hand
While getting to grips with his new life in north London was difficult, there was one man that Inamoto could lean: Wenger.
Our former manager spent 20 months in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight, winning two major honours before joining us in October 1996. That experience and wisdom helped Inamoto settle quicker and gave the midfielder a confidence boost.
He said: “He was always very supportive during training. I think he understood that because this was my first European club, it was hard for me. I’m very grateful to him for the way he supported me.
“He’d been in Japan for two years and I think he understood the culture and also the Japanese character. That was good for me, and if it hadn’t been for that, things would have certainly been more difficult. After I left Arsenal, I saw him at other Premier League games a few times.”
Inspirations
Junichi made his debut for us in the Champions League, coming on as a substitute for Robert Pires in a 3-2 victory over Schalke 04 at Highbury. While first-team opportunities were few and far between as we battled for titles on all fronts, Junichi was busy learning from the best in training.
Surrounded by the likes of Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg and Pires had its advantages for the youngster, but one player was top of his hero list.
“For me, Dennis Bergkamp stood out the most, particularly in his attitude towards training and matches. He left the greatest impression on me,” he said.
Double Delight
Junichi’s next two appearances came in the League Cup, starting the 2-0 victory over Grimsby Town and the defeat to Blackburn Rovers. His final appearance on the pitch came against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League in February 2002, replacing Lauren as we ran out 4-1 winners at Highbury.
Despite not featuring in the Premier League or FA Cup, the Japanese international was still part of the overall squad that lifted both of those titles.
Reflecting on his favourite memory, he said: “When the team won the Double: the ceremony, and being on the bus in front of all the fans. That’s a good memory.”
Looking back
Junichi departed after one season, but he enjoyed a successful World Cup with Japan in which he scored twice in the group stages to only add to his fame in his homeland.
He returned to England, playing two years with Fulham before moving to West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City. He departed the UK in 2006 and would continue playing until December 2024, when he retired at the age of 45.
Despite not seeing many minutes on the pitch for us, the standards set at the club helped stand Junichi in good stead for a long, successful career.
He said: “I felt that there were many other strong players, so that it was unavoidable really [not playing]. However, because I was training with those players day-in-day-out, I learned a great deal, so I didn’t really feel frustrated about the situation.
“Also, it was my first club in Europe so everything was very new and that made it difficult for me to earn a place in the team. And, as I said, the midfield was full of strong players.
“Being at Arsenal was something major, and it was highly regarded by people in Japan.”
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Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
Two people have died and a further two were missing in the South Korean resort town of Gapyeong on Sunday, after a landslide engulfed houses and flooding swept away vehicles during a period of heavy rainfall.
This brings the nationwide death toll to 14 with 12 people missing since the rain began on Wednesday.
The rainfall is likely to stop on Sunday and be followed by a heat wave, the government weather forecaster said on Sunday.
The heavy rainfall, which had earlier lashed southern parts of South Korea, moved north overnight, it said.
One April day in 1960 a pale, gangly man in his mid-20s stepped off the boat on the Greek island of Hydra unaware that the tiny island – and the people he met there – would shape his life in extraordinary ways. The young man carried a Canadian passport and his name was Leonard Cohen.
A dreary soCanadianjourn in London had prompted his trip to Greece in search of sun and he had heard that Hydra – locals pronounce it “Ee-dra” – was home to a community of artists and writers trying to make sense of the postwar world.
Cohen would find his writer’s voice here amid what American novelist Henry Miller described as Hydra’s “wild and naked perfection”. He would meet Marianne Ihlen, the Norwegian woman who would become one of the great loves of his life and an inspiration for his work, most famously his song So Long, Marianne. He would live with her and her son in a modest house he bought with $1,500 he received in his grandmother’s will.
The back cover of Cohen’s 1969 album Songs From a Room features a photograph of a smiling Ihlen at home in Hydra, wrapped in a towel and typing at the desk they shared. There, nestled among Hydra’s steep and narrow streets that rise amphitheatre-like above its horseshoe-shaped port, they led a simple life.
Trouble would later come to paradise in the form of tensions between Cohen and Ihlen, including regarding his spiralling drug use, and rifts within the bohemian expatriate milieu they inhabited, but for a spell at least, it was a charmed life that laid the foundation for much of Cohen’s later creative output.
More than 60 years later and almost a decade since Cohen died at the age of 82, his name remains indelibly linked with Hydra. Many Cohen fans come here in search of what it was about this rugged island with a permanent population of little over 2,000 that made him the singer-songwriter he later became. When Cohen first pitched up here, there was no running water, electricity or cars. Cohen was inspired to write his song Bird On The Wire after observing the installation of telephone poles on the island.
Today, cars and other motor traffic remain banned but the island’s unique appeal is drawing more visitors. Locals – known as Hydriots – debate how to manage this growing tourism and the impact of foreigners buying up properties to use as holiday homes or rent out on Airbnb in a place where heritage laws mean no new buildings can be constructed.
For years, there was a low-key approach to the Cohen footprint here. When asked, shopkeepers and restaurant owners might – or might not – give directions to his residence, which remains in the family. His children Adam and Lorca often visit the island and stay there. Adam produced some of his father’s posthumous work in the unassuming bougainvillea-draped house and the video for the track Moving On – which was filmed on Hydra – includes scenes from its sparsely furnished interior.
In 2016, the mayor of Hydra, George Koukoudakis, decided to name the alleyway that leads to the house after Cohen, an unusual gesture on an island with few street signs. The blue and white metal plaque was inaugurated the following year. As a result, there are more visitors now and they often leave flowers, candles and other offerings on the doorstep. One fan’s homage took the form of carefully arranged Lipton tea bags and oranges in reference to the lyrics of Cohen’s song Suzanne.
[ From the archive: Leonard Cohen: the key songs and what they meanOpens in new window ]
“Leonard Cohen became a Hydriot in many respects,” Koukoudakis, who was elected for a third term in 2023, told me in his office, which is lined with portraits of Hydra’s legendary seafarers and independence fighters. “We consider him a Hydriot. His second home was always this island and we wanted to honour him in a permanent way.” Koukoudakis has also sought to have Hydra twinned with Cohen’s birthplace of Montreal.
Marianne Ihlen and Leonard Cohen on Hydra, with Ihlen’s son Axel jnr Photograph: James Burke/The Life Picture Collection/Getty
Older Hydriots often tell stories of Cohen and their encounters with him, including locals who carried out repairs at his house or helped him with paperwork. Sometimes in these stories the lines can appear blurred between what is real and apocryphal but the overwhelming impression is of a man who, as Koukoudakis notes, was not just widely liked but who was treated as an adopted Hydriot.
Locals like to cite what Cohen told a BBC documentary in 1988: “There’s nowhere in the world you can live like you can in Hydra. And that includes Hydra.”
Shortly after Cohen landed on Hydra in 1960, a photographer from Life magazine came to capture the bohemian scene that had emerged on the island. One of the images shows Cohen sitting under a tree at Xeri Elia Taverna, also known as Douskos (the name of the family that owns it), strumming a guitar, surrounded by friends. Next to him is Charmian Clift, an Australian writer whose novels Peel Me A Lotus and Mermaid Singing chronicled the lives of the expat creatives who had then converged on Hydra. Another photo shows Cohen, Clift and Ihlen fresh from swimming at one of the island’s pebbly beaches.
Douskos is still operating and its owners indulge visitors who want to sit next to “Leonard’s tree” as they peruse a menu that features a poem of Cohen’s written in 1967: “They are still singing down at Dusko’s/sitting under the ancient pine tree … ”
Douskos is on the itinerary of local walking tours focusing on Hydra’s literary and artistic heritage. It is also a mainstay for the Cohen fans who organise an annual gathering on the island. This includes concerts by tribute bands and it draws people from across the world – including many from Ireland – a testament to the wide and enduring appeal of his music.
Hydra town, and its horseshoe-shaped port. Photograph: iStock
In 2016, the mayor of Hydra, George Koukoudakis, decided to name the alleyway that leads to the house after Cohen
In 2017, these fans got permission from the Historical Office in Athens to install a stone and wood bench overlooking the Aegean in Cohen’s honour. His lyrics “I came so far for beauty … ” along with the Greek translation are painted on the wooden backrest. Located on a cliffside road that connects Hydra’s main town to Kamini beach, it’s a favourite sunset viewing spot for both locals and visitors.
In recent years, there have been signs of attempts to cash in on the Cohen connection that have dismayed some locals and visiting fans. Canvas tote bags emblazoned with lyrics from some of Cohen’s best-known songs can be found in the port-side souvenir shops that cater for the hundreds of day-trippers disgorged each morning by ferries coming from Piraeus. A boutique on the quay is named Everybody Knows, the title of a track from Cohen’s 1988 album I’m Your Man. “It can be quite tasteless,” says one resident who is a friend of Cohen’s children. “I’m not sure who is actually buying those bags.”
[ Leonard Cohen and Ireland: he saved the last dance for usOpens in new window ]
Mayor Koukoudakis maintains that Hydra will always escape the excesses of mass tourism because it is car-free and new construction is banned but many locals and long-time visitors fret that the island risks losing, in other ways, what makes it unique.
They have seen spikes of Leonard Cohen-related tourism in recent years coinciding with Nick Broomfield’s 2019 documentary Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love and So Long, Marianne, a jointly produced Norwegian-Canadian eight-part drama series streamed on several platforms last year. The latter, which was lushly filmed in Hydra, seems to have introduced Cohen – and the island – to a whole new generation, according to locals. During my recent trip, I met a visiting Norwegian couple who told me the series had proved a hit in Ihlen’s home country. It turned out that the woman had been a palliative nurse for Ihlen’s former husband – the man she left for Cohen – Norwegian novelist Axel Jensen, when he lay dying in Norway in 2003.
In Hydra, so many have a story related to Leonard Cohen.
Recognition of Palestine as a state would put beyond doubt that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is entitled to develop the natural gas resources of the Gaza Marine field, according to one of the experts that worked on the stalled project.
Michael Barron, the author of a new book on Palestine’s untapped gas reserves, has suggested the field could generate $4bn (£3bn) in revenue at current prices and it is reasonable that the PA could receive $100m a year over 15 years.
He said the revenues “would not turn the Palestinians into the next Qataris or Singaporeans, but it would be their own revenue and not aid, on which the Palestinian economy remains dependent”.
Plans to develop the field have a near 30-year history, during which time legal controversies over ownership have stalled exploration.
A law firm representing Palestinian human rights groups sent a warning letter to the Italian state-owned firm ENI that it should not exploit the gas fields in an area known as Zone G, where six licences were awarded by Israel’s energy ministry.
A map of the economic zone claimed by Palestine off the coast of the territory.
In their letter, the lawyers claim that roughly 62% of the zone lies in maritime areas claimed by Palestine and, as such, “Israel cannot have validly awarded you any exploration rights and you cannot validly have acquired any such rights”.
Palestine declared its maritime borders, including its exclusive economic zone, when it acceded to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2015, and set out a detailed claim in 2019. Israel is not a signatory to UNCLOS.
Barron said recognition of Palestine, particularly by states with large oil firms registered in their jurisdiction, would effectively end the legal ambiguity, and provide the PA with not only a new secure source of income, but regular supplies of energy independent of Israel.
An Israeli pipeline running to Egypt has been called unlawful since it runs through Palestinian waters. Photograph: Léo Corrêa/AP
Since the legal letter, ENI has told pressure groups in Italy that “licences have not yet been issued and no exploratory activities are in progress”.
Another group, Global Witness, claims the East Mediterranean Gas pipeline that runs parallel to the Gaza coastline is unlawful since it runs through Palestinian waters, and is not providing any revenue to the PA.
The 56-mile (90km) pipeline transports gas from Ashkelon in Israel to Arish in Egypt, where it is then processed into liquefied natural gas for export, including to Europe.
“The Oslo Accords agreed in 1993 clearly give the Palestinian National Authority jurisdiction over territorial waters, the subsoil, power to legislate over oil and gas exploration and to award licences to do so,” Barron said. “Control over natural resources was an important element of [the] state-building agenda of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Israeli exploitation of Palestinian resources was and remains a central part of the conflict.”
Gas was discovered in the Gaza Marine field in 2000 in a joint venture owned by the BG Gas group, a giant privatised off-shoot of British Gas and the Palestinian Consolidated Contractors Company. The plan was for the gas to be used by the sole power station on the Gaza strip to end the territory’s perennial energy shortages.
Barron argues in his book – The Gaza Marine Story – that the fate of the project is a microcosm of how Israel worked to increase Palestinian dependence on Israel while at the same time trying to separate Palestinians from Israelis.
The project was dogged by issues of commercial viability and an Israeli court ruling that the waters were a “no-man’s water”, partly because the PA was not a sovereign entity with unambiguous powers to award licences.
The court also did not resolve whether the rights to Palestinian territorial waters clearly provided for in the Oslo Accords included a Palestinian “exclusive economic zone”, a zone that normally extends 200 miles off the coast. The accords were only intended to be an interim arrangement before full statehood and so did not delineate the full maritime border.
Territorial waters are normally defined as only 12 or 20 miles off the coast and Israel always argued that any licence for Gaza Marine 20 miles off the Gaza coast should be seen as a gift to the PA by Israel, and not a right.
After Hamas took control the Gaza strip in 2007, Israel did not want the revenue to fall into its hands, so it blocked the development, prompting the BG group to put the project on hold and then eventually to quit. In June 2023 Israel approved plans for an Egyptian firm EGAS to develop the field, only for the war in Gaza to start.
Gaza Marine is estimated to contain only 30 billion cubic metres (BCM) of natural gas, which is a small fraction of the more than 1,000 BCM contained in Israel’s own territorial waters.
Barron argued that Israel has its own gas supplies and so long as a Palestinian state with unified governance is recognised, Israel will have no motive or legal right to block Palestine exploiting its single greatest natural resource.
The whole controversy around private sector investment in Israel’s acknowledged occupation of Palestine moved centre stage with a report published last week by the UN special rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, warning corporations against sustaining what has been declared an unlawful occupation by the international court of justice (ICJ).
She claims ICJ decisions place on corporate entities a prima facie responsibility “to not engage and/or to withdraw totally and unconditionally from any associated dealings with Israel, and to ensure that any engagement with Palestinians enables their self-determination”. Her claim has been rejected wholesale by Israel.
Jacob Elordi and Ciarán Hinds are outstanding as the younger and older Dorrigo Evans, a war hero turned surgeon, in this haunting second world war drama. Based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker prize-winning novel, the Australian epic tells Dorrigo’s story over three timelines: a promising student who is engaged to be married into a well-to-do family; a Japanese prisoner of war who witnesses unimaginable horrors while building the Burma railway; and a retired traumatised man who is grappling with his past – including an intense and illicit love affair with his uncle’s wife Amy (Odessa Young) – while doing publicity for his memoir. A stirring watch. Hollie Richardson
Karen Pirie
8pm, ITV1
A doozy! … Karen Pirie on ITV1. Photograph: Photographer: Mark Mainz/ITV
Lauren Lyle returns as the young Scottish cop with the gumption to unravel ice-cold historic cases. This time round it’s a doozy: the unsolved kidnapping of an oil heiress and her baby at the height of the miners’ strike. (“Scotland’s John Paul Getty,” mutters her boss.) Pirie and her team must piece together what really happened outside a Fife chip shop 40 years earlier. Graeme Virtue
Jimmy Doherty’s Big Bear Rescue
8pm, Channel 4
Jimmy Doherty already has zebras, meerkats and capybaras at his wildlife park in rural Suffolk. But brown bears? That’s a different matter. After launching a huge appeal to fund the building of a new home for Diego from Sweden, Jimmy also needs to find him a suitable flatmate – and what if they don’t get along? Ellen E Jones
Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand at the Proms
8pm, BBC Four
Nicholas McCarthy was born without his right hand and he is the world’s only professional one-handed concert pianist. He’s making his Proms debut with Ravel’s atmospheric Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (which pianist Paul Wittgenstein commissioned after losing his right arm in the second world war). HR
The Veil
9pm, Channel 4
On the run … The Veil on Channel 4. Photograph: FX
Elisabeth Moss (with an English accent) leads this espionage thriller written by Steven Knight. She plays MI6 spy Imogen, who is recruited by the CIA to go undercover and find out whether French woman Adilah El Idrissi (Yumna Marwan) is an Isis operative. Will Imogen be able to learn the truth and stop a terrorist attack? HR
Breaking the Silence: Kate’s Story
10.20pm, ITV1
Kate Kniveton is a former MP who was abused by her husband, ex-Conservative minister Andrew Griffiths, for more than a decade. She has since campaigned for a ban on domestic abusers from seeing their children. In this candid documentary, Kniveton shares her story, listens to others’ and shows the work she’s doing. HR
Film choice
The Amateur, out now, Disney+
A globe-trotting Bourne-style romp … The Amateur on Disney+. Photograph: John Wilson/20th Century Studios/John Wilson. All Rights Reserved
Rami Malek lends his disquieting intensity to this surprisingly enjoyable spy thriller. He plays a mild-mannered CIA cryptographer sent on a bloodthirsty revenge quest after his wife is killed in a terrorist attack. What’s fascinating about this film is that, had the lead been any other actor, it would have devolved into generic pulp. But Malek, in the hands of director James Hawes, really leans into the character’s psychopathy. He has a dead-eyed stare throughout, the sort you’d usually expect to find on a film’s antagonist. Sure, this is a globe-trotting Bourne-style romp, but you’re never allowed to forget the ethical iffiness of, say, blowing someone up inside a swimming pool. Stuart Heritage
Live sport
All-Ireland Senior Hurling: Cork v Tipperary, 3pm, BBC Two The championship final at Croke Park, Dublin.
There is a very specific panic around summer dressing – all that flesh on show, for starters. So it always seems strange just how little thought we give to it. Obviously you care what you look like, but think how much time and energy you put into finding the perfect winter coat, or boots to see you through the post-Christmas doldrums. Some of you probably save up, or at least try on a few different styles to see what you like. Compare that to choosing a swimsuit or shorts. How often do you buy something the day before you go on holiday, or even at the airport? You’ll probably spend more time in your coat and boots but still, it’s a bit daft panic-buying some sandals before finding out, mid-hike, that the back strap rubs your heel and they slip off the moment your feet get sweaty.
The truth is that aside from the fact that people equate wearing fewer clothes with being cooler – not true! – it’s very hard to know what to wear when the sun comes out. So we are here to help.How about a tank that needs no bra, a swimsuit that doubles as a top, and a quick-dry, no-towel towel? Or a T-shirt for the guys that’s cocktail-approved – and a hat the kids will actually wear?
The perfect summer look is a mythical unicorn, but there are things you can invest in now that will see you through until late September and, ideally, multiple summers to come. Morwenna Ferrier
Womenswear by Jess Cartner-Morley
The full-coverage dress your summer wardrobe needs
For sunglasses and rope sandals, see below. Photograph: David Newby/The Guardian
£85 at Mint Velvet
Counterintuitive though it is, the summer dress I wear most has long sleeves and is almost ankle length. A full-coverage but super-light dress is so much more useful than any number of itsy-bitsy sundresses. It keeps the rays off if it’s hot, the air conditioning off when you’re inside, and doesn’t leave you goosebumpy in the evening. Great for holiday days, office days, travelling days. Look for one you can wear with a bra – this one has a cut-out at the back, but above bra-strap height – and ensure it’s a generous fit.
The cami that works as evening wear
£40 at Marks & Spencer
A friend asked me the other day if she could borrow “that lovely Stella McCartney camisole”. Turns out she meant this, which is actually a silk camisole from M&S. So chic for a night out with jeans, blazer and kitten heels.
A clash course
Photograph: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Instead of striped trousers and a plain T-shirt, try clashing your prints. Think stripes and florals. Leopard and polka dots. Camo and gingham. The more unexpected, the better.
A tank top with a built-in bra
£19.90 at Uniqlo
If you have huge boobs, this isn’t going to work, so apologies, but for many women, a top with a built-in bra is ideal when you want that sleek, no-bra-strap vest-top look but also a bit of support. I love these Uniqlo ones because the support layer is totally invisible, and the tank isn’t too tight.
The £35 M&S swimsuit that’s a modern classic
£35 at M&S
Two years ago, I bought a black neoprene scallop-edged bikini from M&S. I love it so much that this year I added the one-piece version. I have it in emerald, which is now sold out, but the tomato red is possibly even nicer, and the white is very Talented Mr Ripley coded.
The not-too-long, not-too-short shorts
£59 at Nobody’s Child
It’s not so much that I’m too old to wear baggy knee-length shorts – no one is too old to wear anything – it’s more that I’m old enough to know I don’t have to wear anything that makes me feel ridiculous just because it’s fashionable. Same goes for tiny Daisy Dukes. A short that hits the mid‑point of the thigh is the answer. This length can look a bit dowdy in linen, so I’d go with denim. And possibly a belt for added smarts.
An out-of-office shirt
£98 at Anthropologie
Because sometimes you just really want something whimsical and holiday-fabulous. An embroidered boxy shirt is a good choice, because the laid-back silhouette offsets the cutesiness. This one is just joyful.
The Mary Jane-ballerina hybrid
£119 at Massimo Dutti
Maryrina? Ballet-Jane? The name needs work, but the style – a cross between a sturdy ballet flat and a Mary Jane – is a new staple. It looks great with baggy trousers, as it adds just enough femininity without sacrificing cool.
A statement belt
£46 at John Lewis
My buy of the season is a secondhand leather belt with YSL hardware on the buckle, which I found for £30 on Depop. Charity shops are an excellent hunting ground too: you can get a leather belt for the price of something plastic on the high street that will age badly and end up in landfill. Alternatively, this Boden belt is a classic in a divine colour.
The oh-so-versatile silk scarf
Instead of trying to transport a sunhat in your suitcase, use a silk scarf to protect your scalp from the sun. You can also follow Alexa Chung’s lead and use it to add pizzazz to wardrobe basics such as jeans and a white T-shirt by knotting it around your waist. You will find the best versions on vintage sites. For bold, punchy prints, look for versions from the 1960s and 70s.
A delicious chocolate beach dress
£11.99 at Zara
I have tried on a lot of open-knit beach cover-ups over the past few summers, and these are my condensed thoughts: short and sweet is, surprisingly, easier and more flattering than full coverage. The string-vest ones make you look like a large fish caught in a net – an embroidered pattern, as here, is better. Black, brown or navy are most useful. I like this one.
An elegant update on skinny white jeans
£39 at H&M
A baggy bottom half of your silhouette is No 1 on your does-my-outfit-look-contemporary list now. These gorgeous trousers are the perfect modernising switch out for tight white jeans.
The wrong-shoe theory
This theory is the quickest way of making a look more interesting. Think tailored trousers and a flip-flop. Sporty shorts and a ballerina flat.
A wedding-guest-worthy dress that looks designer – for under £100
£93.57 at Damson Madder
How delicious is this dress by small, independent London-based brand Damson Madder? Quirky-elegant Simone Rocha vibes for under £100, as it’s reduced from its £125 RRP. A few sizes are (unsurprisingly) sold out, but it was still available in sizes 10 and 20 at the time of writing. Quite tempted by the matching ruffle stripe bag also (£41.25) – is that wrong?
A chic summer (cardi) jacket
£125 at & Other Stories
Knits make great summer jackets – they’re lightweight and don’t crease, so you can roll them up and stash them in your basket when the sun’s out. This one’s simple shape will work with shorts and a T-shirt; but the gold buttons and glimmer of Lurex elevate it so it works over a party dress too.
Women’s beach essentialsby Melanie Wilkinson
The mini-purse
£7 at Three Potato Four
I recently stumbled across these retro rubber coin purses online and bought not one but three for different family members. They are seriously practical and double up as cute bag charms. Pop some change in for emergency ice-creams.
A sturdy kaftan
£125 at Toast
Every beach wardrobe needs a kaftan, and if poppy colours aren’t your thing, have a look at this Toast version in “washed lime”. Just add tan sandals, a basket bag and an aperitivo.
The splashproof bag
£40 at Yeti
Make any tote beach friendly with this one-litre waterproof pouch. It has enough space to keep all your essentials dry, and comes in lots of fun, sweetie-coloured shades.
An in-between hat
£45 at Glassworks London
I’m a fan of a baseball cap, and I’m looking to add a raffia version to my wardrobe. It’s more casual and sportier than a traditional straw hat, and a lot easier to pack, plus the peak will do an excellent job of keeping off the sun.
The cocktail tee
£24 at Next
Slogan tees are everywhere at the moment, and this pastel-green style is punchy but subtle at the same time. Wear it with some white denim cutoffs. One guess what I’m ordering at the bar.
Vintage-style shorts
£22 at Next
Towelling shorts remind me of the best kind of California beach photos, 1970s Slim Aarons and Hugh Holland, all sunkissed tans and hazy colours. This pair from Next ticks all the right retro boxes – just add a white vest.
The sea-to-be-seen swimsuit/top
£26.80 at Arket £67 at Asos
Buy a one-piece that will double up as a top half to a daytime look – a two‑in-one buy. This rust-coloured swimsuit from Arket will look chic with white linen trousers or a maxi skirt, and the ruching is a considered design detail.
For more inspiration, read our guide to the best women’s bikinis and swimsuits for summer
A beach-friendly hair tie
£20 at Hunza G
Salty water, sand and a sea breeze don’t so much give my hair a beach wave as give it a seriously bedraggled look. So I always pack one of my favourite scrunchies from Hunza G. They’ve got great hold, come in a multitude of colours, and look just as good around your wrist as they do in your hair.
The no-towel towel
£14.99 at H&M
Packing for a beach day? You’ll need a towel. And a thin hammam style is my go-to. It will squash into any bag and dry super quickly. I like to get double the use out of it and wear it as a sarong as well. It’s thin enough, and most styles are lovely pastel colours with cotton tassels that work perfectly with beach outfits. And even if it’s a bit damp on your way to the beach cafe, chances are in 10 minutes it will be dry.
Budget sunnies
£12.99 at H&M
I like to invest in a pair of beach sunglasses. They’re a cheaper alternative to the ones I wear for sightseeing (and they’re usually a bit more fun than said “proper sunglasses”). That way, it’s OK if I drop them in the sand or sea. I really like this pair with coloured lenses. Ideal for wave jumping.
The cover-up you probably already own
The enduring popularity of an oversized linen shirt means you probably have one in your wardrobe already, and it’s the chicest of beach cover-ups. Wear it open over your bikini, then tie it at the waist with a pair of cutoff shorts for a day trip.
A straw-free summer bag
€180 (about £156) at Call It By Your Name
I’ve been hankering after a bag from French brand Call It By Your Name for a couple of years now. Its picnic bag style is just as good for the beach as it is for the park, with lots of easy-access pockets for all your bits and bobs. I adore the colours and, although not cheap, the bag will definitely be the main character of your beach wardrobe.
Investment flip-flops
£95 at Ancient Greek Sandals £125 at Net-a-Porter
I’ll be giving my beach shoes an upgrade this summer and investing in these fun, neon flip-flops. They work for the sand, just as well as they do with my favourite seersucker shirt and shorts co-ord, plus they’re hotly tipped as the shoe of the summer, so be quick. They’re not cheap, I admit, but the rubber is very sturdy, so they should see you through a few seasons.
Women’s summer accessories by Melanie Wilkinson
A surprisingly wearable choker
£135 at Missoma
The red-coloured thread strung through these clear beads really elevates this choker necklace, and the shorter length makes it perfect for wearing with T-shirts and higher necklines.
Some seasonal jewellery
£59 at Ottoman Hands
My summer jewellery is the complete opposite of the accessories I usually wear. When the sun is shining, I want coloured stones, turquoise necklaces and jewelled bracelets. If there is a shell involved somewhere, all the better. I adore these earrings.
A city-friendly basket bag
£49.50 at M&S
Sometimes a raffia woven beach bag doesn’t quite work for me. It can feel a bit much at the lido, and it can be a bit too beachy if I’m lucky enough to be on a city break, especially when you’re surrounded by high-rises. That’s why I love this style from M&S. The leather-look braided handles stop it from being too laid-back and toughen it up a bit.
The showcase hairstyle
Photograph: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Wear your hair up. Sounds simple. But there’s no better way to showcase your summer jewellery than to frame it with an up-do. Go for a low, sleek pony or a ballerina bun.
A grownup bag charm
£20 at Free People
Update your bag in seconds by adding a charm. From Labubus to Jellycats, the options are endless (special shout out to Anya Hindmarch’s Pez charm), but if you don’t want to break the bank, this beaded fish from Free People is cute and fun.
A wide-brimmed cap
£45 at Sézane
Once the sun starts shining, I’m never far away from a hat, but I gravitate towards block colours and neutrals. For a change, I’m going to mix things up with this softer-looking pale-blue gingham style and wear it with a floaty white dress and brown sandals.
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Non-black sunglasses
£49 at Le Specs
If, like me, you’re hovering between your usual oversized rectangular sunglasses (a style I’ve been wearing for about three years) and the current trend for a smaller Y2K Matrix version, then these are the shades for you. Subtly cherry red, not too big, and not too small – they’re just right.
Climbing sandals
£35.99 at Zara
Technical footwear has been having a moment for a while now; my Tevas are certainly still going strong. But I’m on the lookout for something on the more delicate side, and these sporty rope sandals will look just as good with jean shorts as they will with a floaty black dress.
The out-of-office hold
Carry your bag in your hand, not on your shoulder. Sounds weird, but it makes it feel less worky. Even if your bag has a long shoulder strap, loop it around in your hand and hold it like a shopping bag – instant update.
The multi-use holiday belt
£51 at Sessùn £51 at Place Des Tendances
A woven belt is one of those accessories that is invaluable when you’re packing for a four-day holiday and trying to squeeze everything into an overhead locker-sized suitcase. It’s the perfect addition to a midi dress when you’re dressing up for the evening, and will equally give your cotton shorts a little something extra when you’re tucking in your linen shirt. I adore French brand Sessùn, and this belt would be a shrewd investment.
The bag within a bag
When you are using a roomy tote or beach bag, pop essentials such as bank cards and house keys into a makeup pouch. That way, they won’t end up at the bottom of your bag, and you’ll avoid having a panic attack thinking you have lost them.
Beach-to-night rope sandals
£75 at Oliver Bonas
Fisher sandals are a summer classic and perfect for wearing with linen trousers, as well as holiday dresses. I love that this Oliver Bonas pair is made from woven raffia and leather rather than all leather; it makes them less clumpy and a more versatile footwear option for the evenings.
A proper summer bag
£169 at Massimo Dutti
Chocolate brown is as popular as it was last season, and if you’re looking for a hard-working bag, I’d go for a supersoft suede style as it’s a great complement to white and oaty linens. This Massimo Dutti style will serve you throughout summer and into autumn.
Menswear by Morwenna Ferrier and Chloe Mac Donnell
Sunglasses that aren’t Ray-Bans
£160 at Akila
Sunglasses are the accessory you will use most day to day, so it makes sense to choose a pair that will go with everything. Ray-Bans suit everyone, and aviators tend to flatter most face shapes, but it’s nice to go for something different – and these thick rectangular frames will work just as well. The olive shade is a nice alternative to classic blacks and browns too.
Staple socks
$25 (about £19) at Socksss
Gen Z came for millennial trainer socks and they, err, won. Unless you want to look dated, you need to wear socks that are visible. Both in length – go for a pair that hits above the ankle bone, not under – and in colour, the more attention-grabbing the better. Socksss has several options, but I like its original Paradise and Applebottom styles that come in various punchy shades and, as a bonus, are medical-grade compression, so your legs feel less heavy on hot days.
The no-wallet silhouette
Do you really need your entire wallet if you have a bank card on your phone? Overstuffed pockets add unnecessary bulk. Try streamlining.
A not-so-obvious holiday shirt
£150 at NN 07 £150 at Liberty
Blame Baz Luhrmann, but a tropical printed shirt on holiday means you risk looking like a Montague extra who has wandered off-set. The Copenhagen-based brand NN 07 has some more subtle options, such as the above and this, that still evoke a holiday mood.
The alt cap
£65 at Satisfy
There are only so many local coffee shop or “ironic” caps we can take. So where to next? May I suggest a running cap. It still protects your scalp from the sun, but it’s lighter than a lot of others and offers a better fit. Try this one with a short brim from Satisfy, a cult Paris-based running brand.
The perfect semi-short shorts
£69 at End £70 at Asos
I think I’ve landed on the perfect pair of shorts for a man. Butter yellow seems to be the colour of this summer, but if you’re worried it won’t suit you, wearing it on your bottom half is a good compromise. The 9in inside leg means these are just about long enough so your legs aren’t going to touch the seats on public transport, but also sturdy enough (they’re cotton twill) for cycling. Plus, a built-in belt is the cleverest thing.
The beach-to-bar T-shirt
£49 at Cos
I love anything colourful in summer, but this pale apricot T-shirt, which comes in various other modern colours, is just so fancy! It’s the dropped shoulders and almost elbow-length sleeves that elevate it from being something ordinary. You could wear it on a beach. You could wear it in a bar on the beach. Plus, it’s lightweight jersey (most jerseys seem to be mid-weight, which can be too much in the summer), meaning it has more give. And it’s not just us who love it, because it’s sold out in some sizes (extra small, small and medium were still available at the time of writing).
A grownup beach bag
£30 at M&S
Sometimes adulting means carting your stuff around in a structured tote rather than that flimsy one you bagged from an arthouse cinema circa 2012. This one from M&S has handles that are long enough to comfortably fit over your shoulders, meaning you can lug a towel, book and beers to and from the beach without complaining.
The DIY pedicure
Before you wear sandals, show your feet some care. Soak them in warm water and epsom salts, then use a pumice stone to scrub off dead skin.
A shirt that gets better with wear
£75 at Gant
Breathable and lightweight, what’s not to like about a linen shirt? The summer essential looks even better with age, so it’s worth scouting out secondhand stores. If you are buying new, choose something with a lived-in feel. Gant dyes its take on the classic after it’s been constructed, giving it more of a vintage feel. The box pleat at the back adds structure, while the lack of an obvious logo is nice in an obvious-logo world.
Trend updated trousers
£93.75 at Wax
One of the key takeaways from the recent men’s fashion month is that trousers are getting baggier, again. You don’t have to go full pavement scraper, but try easing yourself into the trend with a looser silhouette. This pair with a barrel-shaped leg and single-pleated front are a good start. Wear them now with a white T-shirt and Birkenstocks, then in winter with a cosy jumper and thick-soled Derby shoes.
An alternative to a hoodie
£130 at Rapha
On paper, a fleece for summer sounds a bit mad. But hello, this is the UK and the evenings are cold. This half-zip fleece is thin enough to be tied around your waist without feeling annoying, or bunged in a backpack until you need it. If you’re going to a festival, take it instead of a hoodie. You can thank me when you’re wandering around at 5am trying to remember where your tent is.
The sundowner hack
Attach a carabiner to a tote bag so you don’t have to dig around to find keys at the end of a long day at the beach.
Layer for the heat
Light layering that stops the sun from directly hitting your skin can sometimes make you feel less sweaty. Natural fabrics are key. Try a linen shirt worn unbuttoned over a simple cotton tank top.
Kids’ clothing by Morwenna Ferrier
A swim robe that does the job
From £65 at Frugi From £65 at Next
Unless you’re on holiday in the Med, your child will be cold when they get out of the water, so there’s no point messing about in something thin. This is called the Atlantic robe with good reason. It has a fleece lining, a hood, and is long, so they can get dressed and stay inside it until you go home.
A not-too-smart smart shirt
£14 at M&S
Sometimes I find it a bit creepy seeing kids in adult clothing, but I recently got my son to try this on – Cuban collar and all – and I’m now biting my tongue. The whole knitted shirt thing is very Bode, but it’s also very beach, without being your typical T-shirt-with-a-dolphin on. It doubles up nicely as a jacket too, so they can wear a T-shirt underneath.
The sandy toes minimised
If you’re going to the beach, especially a sandy one, I’d advise bringing an extra hand towel – purely for kids to stand on when trying to get their shoes on without getting sandy toes.
The gender-neutral swimsuit
£25 at John Lewis £25 at Boden
It’s still hard to find girls’ clothes that aren’t bright pink or boring and beige, but Mini Boden has a handle on gender-neutral colours. This zip-up, long-sleeved swimsuit is great because the zip is at the front, not the back, it covers the bits that tend to get burned, and has that built-in UPF50+ fabric, which isn’t 100% foolproof but will buy you some time. And it looks very cute without being too gender-coded.
Goggles that fit
£20 at Speedo £16.99 at Amazon
I bought these for my eldest at a swimming pool. He took some persuading – how much do children actually need goggles? – but it has transformed his swimming experience in chlorine and the sea. They’re great because the seal doesn’t hurt when they’re on, and the size is really easy to adjust, so he can probably wear them for a few more years. Not too expensive either. They replaced a pair I bought at a seaside shop, which broke the same day, so you live and learn.
The perfect rocky beach shoe
£55 at Keen From £30.61 at Amazon
Obviously my children have grown up in Crocs, but I’m not convinced they’re ideal for the rocky crags of north Devon, which is why I bought them Keen sandals. They’ve got terrific grip, a special bumper that means no toes are stubbed, and a bungee cinch, which even my 18-month-old can virtually do up himself.
A reversible jacket
£38 at Little Green Radicals
As anyone who has given their child an ice-cream knows, all childrenswear should be reversible, and this jacket has two pretty sides instead of only one. Best of all, it has poppers, not buttons. Also, £38 isn’t too bad for organic cotton clothing that is also Fairtrade.
The meltdown-averting wetsuit hack
My son wears a wetsuit on the beach all year round. Invariably, he gets cold after being half-submerged for six hours, and it also keeps the sun off his back. The proper ones tend to have the zip at the back though, so tie a piece of ribbon to it so they can take it off themselves without a tantrum.
Cute seasonal trousers
From £16 at Next
These barrel trousers are incredibly cute and come in four different ginghams, but more than that – they work on boys and girls. That shouldn’t seem radical, but it is. The purple and pink print is the nicest.
Toddler-friendly cycling shorts
£24 at Childrensalon
I’ve found cycling shorts ideal for when kids are crawling or toddling, as they don’t flap about like baggy clothes that can catch on corners or handles. And they barely notice they’re wearing them. I pop these on my youngest under a large T-shirt, and find it much easier changing him when poppers aren’t involved.
A hat they’ll actually wear
From £9 at John Lewis
Obviously getting a hat for a child is working on the assumption that your child will actually wear a hat. But I’ve found a bucket hat tends to work quite well. Better at least than caps, which need to be more fitted. This one is twill, so there’s a bit of warmth in it, and it has a clever elastic toggle, which means you can tighten it as they grow (or at least grow their hair). I’ve got the three- to five-year-old version, and my son has just turned six, so there you go.
The accident-proof nappy short
£24 at Polarn O Pyret
If money were no object, I’d buy everything for my kids from Polarn O Pyret (its hats are the best and longest lasting out there). But as it very much is, it’s only worth getting things they’ll wear on repeat. These nappy shorts are generously sized, almost look like seersucker, and are quite baggy in the right places so they can “contain” a lot while also making sure nothing, um, slips out. I also like the elastic waist instead of a drawstring. I don’t mind having my youngest in just his nappy, but this is undoubtedly preferable.
The no-knee-scrape shorts
£25 at Arket
If your son is anything like my eldest, he’s terrified of scraping his knees. This makes shorts season tricky, as it’s really hard to find anything that goes to knee-length or below. I actually go one size up and use the drawstring waist to make sure they fit. On that: so many kids’ clothes have buttons, which simply don’t work with a last-minute loo run. I also think this bottle green is terribly grownup.
A summer-proof fleece for life
£48 at Patagonia £80 at Early Rider
You need only one fleece for the kids on holiday, and if you have a raincoat you can layer it up. Patagonia is the best for outerwear, and this fleece is so incredibly light you can roll it up too. I love the hand-warmer pockets and that it dries really quickly. It isn’t cheap, but it has a hand-it-down ID label sewn in so you can pass it along.
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