Living Along The Thames July/August 2014 by Living Along theThames

July - August 2014

www.AlongTheThames.co.uk

• Marlow • Maidenhead • Henley • Cookham • Bourne End

Maisie Williams

ON BECOMING RECOGNISED MORE & MORE!

LOVE SUMMER ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014 • Fashion • Beauty • Home & Garden • Food •LIVING Travel • Health

Temple Golf Club The friendly and welcoming golf club with a beautiful course within minutes of you

Flexible membership packages

Great year round golf venue

Expert coaching for all levels

Junior & lady golfer friendly

New Members and Visitors Welcome To find out more Email: secretary@templegolfclub.co.uk Tel: 01628 824795 www.templegolfclub.co.uk

Use this introductory LATT voucher to come and visit us. Play 18 holes of golf and then enjoy a cup of coffee, a sandwich from our bar snack menu and the wonderful view for just ÂŁ25 per person.

Voucher valid for up to 4 golfers on weekdays or weekend afternoons (subject to availability) Call us on 01628 824795 to arrange your visit. Voucher valid throughout 2014 Name: Address: Email: 2

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Temple offers? A club with over 100 years of history and an increasingly modern approach A high quality, varied and challenging course, environmentally run All year round golf on optimum playing surfaces with exceptional drainage Comprehensive PGA teaching and practice facilities Flexible lifestyle oriented membership options, including lessons and social use of the Club Vibrant Ladies’, Gent’s & Junior Sections A relaxed and welcoming clubhouse with first class bar and dining facilities and an outside terrace Stunning views over the course, Marlow and the Thames Valley A friendly and like-minded membership A varied social programme including dinners, dances, quizzes and bridge A great venue for members’ private parties and functions A warm welcome for new members, visitors, golf societies and corporate golfers Contact us for more details Email: secretary@templegolfclub.co.uk Tel: 01628 824795 www.templegolfclub.co.uk LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

p31 p22 p33

Inside

8. Donna Hay: Chats about her new cook book on cooking light and tasty meals 18. Escaping to Devon & Cornwall this Summer We have several activities the whole family can enjoy 24. Getaway Glamour Just in time we give you some ideas on what to pack for the Summer Holidays

p66

34. Life’s a Breeze We look at where to stay and what to do in Gothenburg, Sweden 41. Brunel Creative Writing Prize In its third year, we have our latest winner’s submission 62. Out & About A comprehensive guide to what is on locally over the next two and half months

p57 July - August 2014

www.AlongTheThames.co.uk

• Marlow • Maidenhead • Henley • Cookham • Bourne End

Maisie Williams

ON BECOMING RECOGNISED MORE & MORE!

Proud Sponsor of Along the Thames Creative Writing Prize at

LOVE SUMMER ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014 • Fashion • Beauty • Home & Garden • Food •LIVING Travel • Health

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

You can now read us on your tablet either directly from the website or by downloading the issuu.com app and bookmarking us so you never miss another issue.

July - August 2014

www.AlongTheThames.co.uk

• Marlow • Maidenhead • Henley • Cookham • Bourne End

Maisie Williams

ON BECOMING RECOGNISED MORE & MORE!

A Vivid Titles Publication

p53

Serena Edwards Editor ADVERTISING: 01628 627 488 Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk CONTACT US: Living Along the Thames Magazines 1 Bell Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1BU Tel: 01628 627 488 Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS: Christine Chalkin, Kasia Cole, Jill Coleby, David Rhys Price, Claire Fryer, Jacky & Mark Bloomfield, Kate Robinson, Claire Thomas ACCOUNTS: Holly Hooper 07771 883 442 Holly@hjaccounting.co.uk Keep up to date at: WWW.ALONGTHETHAMES.CO.UK subscriptions: 01628 627488 FOLLOW US: @AlongTheThames LIKE US: facebook.com/LivingAlongTheThames

Local Lifestyle In & around Marlow, Maidenhead, Henley, Cookham & Bourne End

LOVE SUMMER ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014 • Fashion • Beauty • Home & Garden • Food •LIVING Travel • Health

This month’s Front Cover: Maisie Williams

welcome

to our latest edition

A warm welcome to the July/August edition. We certainly seem to have turned a corner with the weather and have to date been able to enjoy getting into the garden and managing a BBQ or two! We hope that you too are enjoying the sunshine. In this edition we have several interviews, one with Maisie Williams, who is featured on our front over, as she speaks of the ever growing recognition in the public eye, since she came to fame in the TV hit series ‘A Game of Thrones’. We also, have an interview with Donna Hay about her new cook book and Wayne and Geraldine Hemmingway, who are the world’s most illustrious power couple when it comes to design. Did you know that Maidenhead had a car manufacturing industry in the early part of the 20th Century? We feature the four cars that will be displayed throughout the exhibition at the Heritage Centre in Maidenhead until 13th September. If you would like to know more then have a look on page 56 and then take a visit down to the Centre to see these wonderful vintage cars and their history. Our Congratulations to Ryan Emmett, who recently completed The Blenheim Palace Triathlon in aid of Leukaemia & Lymphona Research, in under two hours and has raised in excess of £2,000. To read his story turn to page 54. There is so much more in this edition that I could ramble on forever, so best I just let you put your feet up, get a cup of coffee and see for yourself what else is on offer. If you have any feedback for us we’d love to hear it. email me at office@alongthethames.co.uk. Until then, happy reading………………

Your Local Lifestyle Magazine, for the locals, owned by a local

ISSN 2055 - 6748 Produced by Living Along The Thames Magazines. All Rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the Publisher and is protected by copyright. The views expressed in Living Along the Thames magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor/publisher. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure quality and content, the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors in articles, advertisements and photographs.

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Stonor Set in the picturesque village of Stonor near Henley-on-Thames, in a 17th Century coaching inn which has been sensitively restored, you will ﬁnd ‘The Quince Tree’. Inside there is a Gastro Pub, Café, Private dining room, Farm Shop & Events space. It is clear to see that the key focus is ‘quality’, from the moment you enter this unique venue. The building itself is a beautiful creation, with the Pub area at the front being housed in the original brickwork, which somehow ﬂows

Look out for The Quince Tree at the Maison Artisan Fairs this summer – we will be at the Henley town Hall market on Sunday 13th July, and we will also have a stall at the Henley Show in September. Come and say hi!

The Quince Tree, Stonor, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 6HE 01491 639 039 home@thequincetree.com 6

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

eﬀortlessly through to the modern barn-style conversion at the rear, with its architetural green oak frame and vast glass walls, ﬂooding the Café & Food Hall with light. Through the oak framed windows you can see out onto the secluded terrace which adjoins the rolling Oxfordshire hills. Enjoy a day out in the heart of the Chilterns - only a Stone’s throw from Henleyon-Thames, strolling distance from Stonor Park, and with matchless cycle routes nearby – it is the perfect place to relax and replenish.

Keep an eye out this summer for special events at The Quince Tree: We will be hosting an array of classes and tastings for you to enjoy and to have the opportunity to learn some key skills from our fantastic team and partners. From butchery classes and cookery demonstrations, to wine tastings and garden talks – contact us at home@thequincetree.com

The Quince Tree Café, Clifton Nurseries, 5a Clifton Villas, London W9 2PH 0207 432 1867 www.thequincetree.com

The Quince Tree Summer BBQ - July 18th 2014 To celebrate the launch of our fantastic new Wine Bar and extended Café hours, we will be oﬀering a summer BBQ menu on the terrace on Friday 18th July 2014. Please join us to sample some of our wonderful Summer dishes which our Chef will be cooking al fresco to order on the BBQ from 4pm - 8pm. We will have a special menu on the evening and all the family is welcome. School is out for Summer on that day too so it is the perfect event to bring the children along and celebrate the start of the holidays. For more details or to make a reservation contact Amy on 01491 639039

What’s in store for Summer 2014

WINE & DINE

PARTIES

If you are looking for the perfect venue for a special occasion, look no further. With a variety of spaces on oﬀer from a bright and airy Mezzanine or large function room with private terrace, to an intimate private dining room, The Quince Tree can oﬀer it all. From birthday parties and Christenings to wedding receptions, our events team and Chefs will work with you to create a bespoke and personally tailored event just for you.

PICNIC HAMPERS

Summer Picnics in the Great British Countryside? Let us take care of the hard work for you so that you can enjoy a hassle free experience with your family and friends. For summer 2014 we are oﬀering bespoke Quince Tree Hampers to order, to enjoy anywhere. Carefully packaged in our own brand cool bags which you can keep, you can have anything from a simple cream tea, to a luxury evening Hamper to dine alfresco in style. We are also supplying Hampers to Hobbs River Cruises in Henley so please contact us for your catering requirements if you are hiring a boat through them.

home@thequincetree.com

Another exciting new venture for The Quince Tree in Stonor this summer is our wine bar & bistro which will be open Fridays & Saturdays launching Friday 18th July 2014. We will be oﬀering a carefully hand-picked selection of wines, and delicious fresh delicatessen boards and salads to enjoy in the hustle and bustle of our lovely Food Hall. In addition to this, we will be keeping our light and airy Café and Terrace open until 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, where you can enjoy a light supper al fresco and watch the world (or the deer)go by. Our Pub will still be open as usual serving wholesome Gastro pub cuisine, so our wonderful Oxfordshire venue can now be enjoyed throughout, from morning through noon until night. Contact us to make a reservation.

www.thequincetree.com LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Get Light Just Right There’s a certain feeling that leading Australian cookery writer Donna Hay gets from diet food, and it’s not a good one. It’s “that taste”, as well as “that look”, that the Sydney-based food stylist and bestselling author detests, along with many other things. “I hate diets,” says the mum-of-two, who regularly appears as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia and previously starred in her own series, Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple. “I just don’t like all rules and all the fuss that goes with diets. And all the missing out and all the bland-tasting food. Life is too short.” With this in mind, Hay’s new cookbook, Fresh And Light, focuses on flavoursome but wholesome food designed to appeal to everybody, including those who are health-conscious or watching their weight. “I call it my Monday to Thursday book, for when you want to fuel your body for a busy week and want to feel good about the things you eat,” she says. She regularly dishes up her own tasty creations to family and friends who come round for Sunday lunch, especially those who comply to a certain level of etiquette... “I have really great friends who love me cooking for them and always do the washing up,” she says, laughing. “I always think the best guests do the washing up. They’re the dream guests that bring a nice bottle of wine and stack the dishwasher; and always get invited back!” When the tables are turned however, and it’s her friends’ turn to cook for Hay, she admits that they often “get in a little spin” about it - but they needn’t worry; she may be a domestic goddess but she’s “happy with anything”, Hay insists, and is more impressed by simplicity than complicated food. “I see a lot of food during the week, so I just like really fresh flavours and something simple,” she says. “I don’t need really fussy food, I think that’s what restaurants are for. Home cooking is different; it’s about having time to catch up with your friends and having a good laugh and unwinding. “Keeping the food really simple is really fine with me.” Recently, however, Hay had a helping hand impressing guests when they came round for a barbecue. Her young son caught a fish, and then shared the spoils of his catch. “It was one of those perfect afternoons where I had some things to put on the barbeque, and he brought his little fish in,” the proud mum recalls. “One of the other dads gutted it and scaled it, because I can’t stand that, and then he cooked his little fish on the barbecue. It was one of those perfect life moments.” Freshlycaught fish aside, they key ingredients to a good meal with friends are tasty, simple grub and lovely company, Hay notes. Fancy whipping up a light summer supper to share with your friends?

Red Quinoa, Kale and Halloumi Salad (Serves 4) INGREDIENTS: • 150g kale, trimmed • 600g red quinoa • 1,000ml chicken or vegetable stock • 65g flat-leaf parsley leaves • 500g halloumi, thinly sliced • Olive oil, for brushing • For the smoky lemon dressing: • 2tbsp lemon juice • 1tsp sweet smoked paprika • 1tbsp olive oil

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

METHOD: 1. Rinse the quinoa and then place it and the stock in a saucepan over a medium-high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 12-14 minutes or until the stock has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Remove from the heat and stand for five minutes. Stir with a fork to separate the grains. (If you have any cooked quinoa left over, try using it to bulk out other salads during the week. You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.) 2. Cut the kale into large pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Pour over boiling water and allow to stand for five minutes. Drain and pat dry on absorbent paper. Toss the kale with the quinoa and parsley. 3. To make the smoky lemon dressing, combine the lemon juice, paprika and oil. Pour over the salad and toss to combine. 4. Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Brush the halloumi with a little oil and cook for one to two minutes each side or until golden. Divide the salad between serving plates and top with the halloumi to serve.

Fennel and Orange Chicken Skewers with Carrot Salad (Serves 4) INGREDIENTS: • 60ml orange juice • 1tbsp honey • 1tsp fennel seeds, toasted • 1tbsp vegetable oil • 1tbsp lemon juice • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 750g chicken thigh fillets, trimmed and sliced • 12 baby rainbow carrots, thinly sliced with a vegetable peeler METHOD: 1. Place the orange juice, honey, fennel, oil, lemon juice and garlic in a bowl. Place the chicken in a separate bowl, pour over half the orange juice mixture and allow to marinate in the fridge for 20 minutes. 2. Thread the chicken onto 12 skewers. Place the chicken on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper and cook under a hot, preheated grill and for two minutes each side, basting with the marinade, or until the chicken is cooked through. 3. Toss the carrot with the remaining orange mixture, divide between serving plates and top with the chicken to serve. Fresh And Light by Donna Hay is published in paperback by Hardie Grant Books, priced £18.99. By Keeley Bolger

MACDONALD

C O M PL E A T A N GL E R E

I D NT r t RS R A dve eive tea V E U a e c on RI TA this nd r rno S t a e R E se n a l l l a f t v i e Pr ar r f f u f on * o % 10

THE ICONIC MACDONALD COMPLEAT ANGLER IS ENTERING A NEW CHAPTER FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE INVESTMENT IN THE NEWLY NAMED RIVERSIDE RESTAUR ANT AND THE WALTON BAR . Enjoy a cleverly combined recipe of breath-taking views, personal and attentive service, warmth and charm - all topped off with an exciting new seasonal menu using the finest ingredients. Why not visit us and take the chance to relax and enjoy a favourite cocktail, a glass of Champagne or a light snack – whilst watching the water cascade over Marlow Weir?

To reserve your table for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner call 01628 405406 For general enquiries, call 0844 879 9128

Macdonald Compleat Angler, Marlow Bridge, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1RG *Terms and conditions: Offer valid Monday – Fridays, excluding bank holidays. Expires 31st August 2014. Subject to availability.

W W W . M A C D O N A L D H O T E L S . C O . U K / C O M LIVING P L ALONG E ATHE T THAMES A N |GJULY/AUGUST L E R 2014 9

Advertising Feature

Rosetti Ristorante

Italian Food is our Passion

Head Chef: Oscar Ortu

The Wash - Naples in the 18th Century

‘Rossetti Ristorante’, a new Italian restaurant is now open at the former location of the Green Olive restaurant in Henley. Manager, Umberto told us he has run lots of restaurants but he came to visit Henley a few months ago with Oscar, and they fell in love with the charm of the place. They both feel very much at home and have been warmly welcomed by the locals and want to thank those who have already supported them. The restaurant has a warm ambience and has been refurbished with comfortable seating, beautiful paintings and the little garden at the back offers a charming outdoor dining area for those warmer days. These touches are from Umberto, himself, who has a love of antiquities, which you can see inside the restaurant.

To give you a flavour of the dishes on offer… there’s Melanzane e Mozarella (pan fried aubergine in a tomato, chilli, mint sauce and whole mozzarella) and Grigliata di Vegetali Provolo Salata (grilled aubergine and courgettes, provoal cheese lightly grilled with salted ricotta shavings) to start.

We were delighted to meet the passionate Italian Head Chef, Oscar Ortu, who was born in Sardinia and moved to the UK several years ago. Oscar started cooking at the age of 13, learning from his Mother and working in a bakery, before getting his first restaurant job as a pastry chef. Over the years he has trained with the best chefs in Europe in Italy, France and Greece including French Chef, Jean-Pierre Ehery. Oscar said, “All the dishes served in the restaurant are my own recipes and are drawn from all the different regions of Italy. The dishes are made with fresh ingredients, like the daily made Ciabatta, using local produce wherever possible, cooked in our kitchen, with my favourite dishes to cook being desserts.” Oscar continued “I don’t have much spare time outside of work but when I am not working I love to spend time with my two children.”

Several pasta dishes including ‘Linguini allo Scolglio’ (a medley of seafood, tomato sauce and white wine) and ‘Pappardella al Ragu di Anatra’ (duck shavings, white wine, wild mushrooms and tomato cream sauce). Not to forget ‘Fegato Veneziana’ (thinly sliced calves liver, caramelized red onions, red wine) and ‘Fiorentina di Vitello’ (pan fried veal chop, white wine, butter & sage) to name a Primi Piatti. There is so much more to choose from but make sure you leave enough space for Oscar’s desserts, such as the ‘Mielle Foglie alle Fragole e Marscepone’ (layered pastry marscapone & strawberries), ‘Ananas alla Granatina’ (pineapple marinated in grenadine with lemon sorbet) or the refreshinggr ‘Semifreddo al Limencello’ (solft limencello ice cream & Italian meringue). To complement your meal there is a wide range of Italian wines to choose from.

For main course you can choose from a range delicious Italian dishes including pizzas such as ‘Margherita ai Sapori di Napoli’, which Umberto says is the only Margherita that is made with ‘lots of love. Along with some unique pizzas suchas ‘Al Carpaccio’ (thinly sliced raw beef, tomato, mozzarella, rocket shavings of parmesan & olive oil).

Oscar is looking forward to offering some ‘Specials’ such as the best market fresh fish, cooked in a variety of ways, as well as changing the menu up to four times a year to make use of the seasonal ingredients; so you’ll definitely have an excuse to keep coming back throughout the year to sample the new dishes.

To make a reservation at Rossetti Ristorante call 01491 412220, where ‘food is our passion’.

Back Garden

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Bar Area

Cucina Italiana è la nostra passione! Italian food is our passion!

Italian cuisine, freshly made in our kitchen every day using local produce wherever possible – to deliver an excellent dining experience. With head chef Oscar bringing together inﬂuences from all over Italy to create a variety of dishes. With traditional Italian hospitality and top quality service, we look forward to welcoming you to the Rossetti Ristorante very soon!

Call 01491 412220 to make a reservation www.rossetti-ristorante.co.uk Lunch: 12:00 - 14:40 daily, Dinner: 17:45 - 22:30, Open all day Saturday, Closed Sunday pm

Rossetti Ristorante, 28 Market Place, Henley on Thames, Oxon, RG9 1RG (Located at the end of Falaise Square in the centre of Henley on Thames, right by the Town Hall) LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Ristorante Italiano

Tel: 0 16 2 8 6 3 6 13 7

Classic Italian family owned and run restaurant creating dishes inspired by their Italian roots.

20% off with this Advert T&Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apply

For more information on our Theme Nights follow us on Twitter and Facebook: * Johnny Earl: Jukebox Legends * Steve Singh: Elvis tribute * Tony Liotti: Italian classics * Michael Buble tribute * Fresh hand made pasta evening * Wine tasting * Chilli night- tempt your senses! Like us and join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/bianconero2013

Find us at Glynwood House Bridge Avenue Maidenhead SL6 1RS (the former La Conca Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oro site)

Opening hours: Mon - Thurs: 12 - 14:30 & 18:00 - 22:00, Fri: 12 - 14:30 & 18:00 - 22:30, Sat: 18:00 - 22:30 and Sun: Closed until September 14th

@bianconero2013

For reservations call us on 01628 636 137 www.bianco-nero.co.uk

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Longhurstâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your local Family Butcher where Quality & Customer Care always come first

u Sa

a Ste

en ick

e rg Bu

ed at rin ats a M Me

m La

BBQ Specialist Homemade Sausages, Burgers, Marinated Meats & Kebabs NOW AVAILABLE at Country Stores - Cookham & Cox Green Budgens - Maidenhead

ORDER ONLINE: www.longhurstsofmarlow.co.uk visit us in store or call for more details

01628 488 373 Free Local Delivery within a 3 mile radius Open: Mon: 8 .30- 5.30pm (only butchery closed), Tues - Fri: 8.30 - 5.30pm, Sat: 8 - 1pm, Sun: 9 - 12pm 4a Brucewood Parade, Marlow Bottom, Bucks SL7 3PE LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Grovefield House

For Your

Picture Perfect Wedding

Set in its own private grounds and gardens, Grovefield House is the perfect place to start your married life together. This Edwardian country house, tucked between Burnham and Windsor, has a licence for a Civil Wedding, a dedicated suite for your wedding breakfast, a private terrace for reception drinks on summer days and 40 luxurious and contemporary styled bedrooms for you and your guests. We’re also brilliantly located close to the motorway network and hold a rosette for dining excellence. Let Stacey, our wedding coordinator, tell you about our superb packages and facilities, and work with you to create the wedding of your dreams. Call her on 01628 603131 or email

weddings.grovefield@classiclodges.co.uk Taplow Common Road, Burnham, Slough, Buckinghamshire SL1 8LR Tel: 01628 603131 www.classiclodges.co.uk Photography courtesy of: www.gleedphotography.co.uk www.grahamholtom.co.uk | www.chrisbarry.co.uk.

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Ristorante Italiano

Tel: 0 16 2 8 6 3 6 13 7

One year on and Bianco Nero would like to thank everyone who has supported them over the last twelve months. As a family run restaurant with traditional home cooked Italian food they provide their customers with a truly home from home Italian experience. “Our dishes have been created by drawing on the wealth of experience we have within our families in running restaurants in the south of Italy and we have many generations working together in the kitchen and restaurant to bring you the best of our Italian cuisine.” Comments Emanuela Dei Giudici, Chef at Bainco Nero. The menu will be changing to reflect the seasons and the abundance of food available at these times, offering more choice for our customers. New to the menu will be such dishes as ‘Involtini Di Bresaola (cured beef with cream cheese and chives), Gamberoni Estivi (Peeled prawns in a white wine sauce), Fritto Misto (mixed fried sea food) and Prosciutto e fighe (Cured ham and figs). We love what we do at Bianco Nero and the family are committed to providing a great experience for all our customers.. We want you to enjoy what we have been enjoying with our families for years and we look forward to welcoming you to our restaurant soon. We will be closed on Sunday’s from now until 14th September

for the Summer. Don’t forget as a thank you to our Customers we are offering 20% off with the advert in the magazine so you can come and enjoy our new menu at other times For reservations call us on 01628 636 137 and visit www.bianco-nero.co.uk for all our events.

Glaze Restaurant: Wine, Dine and Relax If you want to be properly pampered, then Glaze Restaurant within the Crowne Plaza is just the place; located just a short distance off the A404 Marlow bypass. You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the luxurious, four-star facilities and get the Glaze experience – all are welcome to wine, dine and relax. By this, I mean you will be gently eased into a state of total contentment. The music is quiet, the decor doesn’t shout and it is pleasantly relaxing and modern, with a balance of cool and warm colours, abstract paintings on the wall and a stunning view of the lake. Our dining attendant for the evening was a courteous host, seeing to our every need, making us feel comfortable and providing advice and humour. He was also genuinely interested and encouraging in our choices,

while also leaving us in peace to enjoy each other’s company and the food. The food itself is exquisite – as you might expect from a restaurant that was recently awarded its second AA rosette. Each dish a us with its presentation; the combinations and contrasts of flavours were a joy to explore. The ingredients were fresh and their flavours distinct. Course followed delicious course, until it seemed a shame to leave. Once you’ve enjoyed your meal, retire for an after dinner drink in agua café & bar, a stylish and contemporary venue. The main bar area is cosy with enormous leather sofas and a sweeping wooden topped bar, serving every drink you could desire. Continue through onto

the Terrace for a bit of sunshine and a relaxing view over the lawn and lake. CROWNE PLAZA MARLOW With 168 luxurious en suite bedrooms, the stunning lakeside location of this 4 star hotel in Buckinghamshire, set in 5 acres of beautiful countryside, makes it a spectacular destination for a weekend break, the perfect wedding venue, as well as an ideally placed conference destination. Glaze at Crowne Plaza Marlow T: 01628 496 800 - W: cpmarlow.co.uk. E: enquiries@cpmarlow.co.uk Crowne Plaza Marlow, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1GJ

WHAT’S ON AT CROWNE PLAZA MARLOW CHARITY FAMILY FUN DAY from 12pm, Sunday, 27th July

Join us for a day of family fun on the lawns. BBQs, bouncy castles, face painting, children’s entertainer, games on the lawn and much more. Raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

NEW: CHILDREN’S PARTY PACKAGES

To celebrate the opening of our NEW Children’s Adventure Playground we are now offering children’s party packages at Crowne Plaza Marlow at weekends and during school holidays. Prices start at £14.95. Call our Meetings and Events Team today for our Party Packages Leaflet.

W: CPMARLOW.CO.UK

T: 01628 496 860

Crowne Plaza Marlow, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1GJ. Sat Nav Postcode: SL7 1LU

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Pimms Summer Pudding with Greek Style Yoghurt Enjoy this fabulous recipe from Chris Wheeler, Head Chef at Stoke Park, the perfect summer dinner party dessert, using locally sourced produce. INGREDIENTS FOR 4 • 1 punnet of strawberries • 1 punnet of raspberries • 1 punnet of blackberries • 1 punnet of blueberries • ½ punnet of blackcurrants • ½ punnet of redcurrants • 60g Tims Dairy Greek Style Natural Yogurt • 6 slices of white bread • 1 vanilla pod • 150g sugar • 30ml Pimm’s • 30ml water • 4 mini brandy snap baskets • 4 scoops of Tims Dairy Greek Style Yogurt sorbet Sorbet • 200g Tims Dairy Greek Style Natural Yogurt • 150g caster sugar • 200ml water • Juice of 1 lemon • 1 vanilla pod

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

METHOD: Pudding • You will need 4 individual pudding moulds. • Place nearly all the berries into a bowl keeping a few of each berry for garnish. Boil the sugar, water, Pimm’s and vanilla pod together until dissolved, then pour over the berries. Cover with cling film and leave to cool. • Once cool, drain ( keeping the liquid ) and remove the vanilla pod. Cut the bread out to fix your moulds then dip the bread in the liquid and line the moulds. Half fill each one with the berry mixture then place a spoonful of yogurt in the centre of each mould. Top with the remaining berry mixture and some remaining soaked bread. • Place in the fridge with something heavy on top and leave for two hours or more. Sorbet Bring Sugar, water, lemon juice and vanilla to the boil. Pour onto the yogurt then pass it through a seive and churn in an ice cream machine. Freeze for several hours. Coulis Pass and reduce the remaining cooking liquid. Heat to reduce and once the liquid is able to coat the back of a spoon remove and cool. To Serve Make a zig zag on each of your plates using the coulis. Carefully turn out your summer pudding. Place a brandy snap basket on each plate and put a scoop of the yogurt sorbet inside Garnish with your remaining berries and enjoy!

French at Every Stage

For three weeks in July, blazing saddles will be cycling through the French countryside for the 101st Tour de France with climbs across some of France’s best wine regions... en route to Paris. And for the millions of spectators watching the competitors power their way at speeds of 50mph or more (years ago riders used to stop for a drink in a local bar to refresh themselves during a stage), toasting the stops along the way with a regional French wine is the perfect opportunity to cheer on your favourite jersey. This year, the course begins in Yorkshire and for the Grand Depart what could be a better choice than a wine from a ‘proud Yorkshireman’ and awardwinning winemaker who now resides in Le Ventoux, in the southern Rhone, a regular feature of the race. The Vintur winery is close to the base of Mont Ventoux (15th Stage), one of the most challenging mountains in cycling, and Cuvee Le Gentleman1 2011 AOC Ventoux, Domaine Vintur, France (£13.95, www.winedirect.co.uk) is named in honour of Bradley Wiggins and his sporting disposition. Made from old vine grenache, topped up with syrah (shiraz), mourvedre and carignan it’s rich, fruity, relatively high in alcohol (14.5% abv) thanks to the sun-drenched slopes, and tastes utterly delicious. When the riders land on French soil and make their way to Reims in the heart of Champagne, the 6th Stage of the Tour (otherwise known as ‘Champagne by Bike’ with 280 miles of dedicated cycling tracks) will certainly warrant the fizz factor with thrilling sprints through Premier Cru and Grand Cru villages. Ideally, plump for a vintage champagne such as Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Vintage Champagne 20052, France (£25, Sainsbury’s). A blend of 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir from premier cru and grand cru grapes, produced by family run Duval-Leroy, this is a really good quality, fruity and elegant champagne that’s keenly priced and one of Sainsbury’s trump cards. Beyond the tranquilty of the Champagne-Ardenne, the riders will steer right towards the Alsace region and then drop down towards the Vosges mountains and 10th Stage of the Tour which coincides with Bastille Day on July 14, and fireworks and celebrations throughout the whole of France. To mark the occasion, the wines of Alsace are made from the gewurztraminer grape which are extremely fragrant and vary from richly sweet, to dry and spicy, and pair exceptionally well with Indian food. But they’re not to everyone’s taste, and a wine from two of France’s most famous wine regions feels more appropriate to

honour the storming of the Bastille. White wines from Burgundy are the wines most wineries aspire to when making

3 4

5 6

chardonnay, and the same can be said for barrels from Bordeaux and sought-after cabernet and merlot-based blends.

For seafood (especially prawns or lobster) and white meat, try Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse 20114, Burgundy, France (£18.26, www.yourfavouritewines.com) which is fresh and elegant with apple and white peach flavours, a hint of creaminess and good minerality, and has the power to handle creamy white sauces. Note to self: Pouilly-Fuisse should not to be confused with Pouilly-Fume which is made from sauvignon blanc, from the Loire Valley. Meanwhile, a top-drawer Bordeaux such as Chateau Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac 2006, St Emilion Grand Cru5, France (£22, Sainsbury’s) is a perfect match with steak and pommes frites. A blend of 70% merlot and 30% cabernet franc with a good degree of maturity, this Right Bank claret offers perfumed aromas of cherries and raspberries with powerful blackberry and dark forest fruits, a velvety structure, supple tannins and a freshness on the finish. To continue the celebrations into the 11th to 14th Stages while the riders make their way through the Rhone-Alps, a glass of sparkle from the tiny wine region of Savoie makes a pleasant change. Smaller than the Jura, Savoie sits at the foothills of the French Alps and is known for its invigorating sparkling wines - Corney & Barrow’s Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, Varichon & Clerc, NV6, France (£12.50, www.corneyandbarrow.com) is a super example. Predominantly made from chenin blanc, the resulting crisp green apple flavours, balanced acidity and toasty notes are quite uplifting. Heading south to the Languedoc, where the Pyrenees meet the Med and vineyards blanket the landscape, rustic reds such as Coin Des Coquins 2013, Mouvedre Cabernet, IGP D’Oc, Languedoc, France (£7.99, www. oldschoolwines.co.uk) have a lick of sweet spice with layers of blackberry, blueberry and cassis, earthy notes, a hint of smoke and yet are soft and juicy enough to pair with a slice of Roquefort. To freshen the palate at the 19th Stage, when the riders race across the rolling landscape of Gascony on the last leg before Paris, a bright and breezy Gascon white will up the tempo. Les Terrasses de L’Argentier Gros Manseng Sauvignon Blanc 2012, France (£9.99, www.virginwines.co.uk) is overflowing with zingy apricot fruit, grassy notes and has an easy-drinking appeal that’s ideal for a picnic lunch as you wait for the yellow jersey to ride through. By Sam Wylie-Harris LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Are you planning to visit Devon and Cornwall this Summer? Activities for all the family to enjoy

The Lost Gardens of Heligan - Cornwall

than the Northern Gardens. Heligan is open 10am – 6pm 7 days a week in the Summer. Admission Price: Adult - £11.00, Child £6.00, Children under 5 go Free. www.heligan.com Pentillie Castle & Estate – Cornwall

Heligan has just unveiled its new jungle rope bridge, the longest in the country. Come and Explore the famous, mysterious and beautiful Gardens - the most visited private garden in the UK welcoming around 200,000 visitors every year. Meet the resident Emu’s and other animals that live at Heligan. Explore ancient woodlands and venture through a sub-tropical outdoor Jungle and cross the brand new rope bridge Throughout the summer holidays, Heligan, will also offer a chance for children to unleash their wild side by building twig dens, following trails and treasure hunts, taking part in Wild Art workshops, building a stick boat to set sail on the high seas of the Lost valley Leat and even tackle the Heligan natural assault course. Heligan is home to a magnificent collection of over 160 years old rhododendrons and is the largest garden restoration in Europe. It tends the largest collection of tree ferns in the UK, and grows over 200 varieties of fruit and vegetables. The Jungle garden has its own micro-climate at least 5 degrees Celsius warmer

of these nature walks are FREE events but booking is essential. Pentillie Castle is an ideal spot for a Cornish Summer B&B Break. Gardens open from 4pm. Performance starts at 6pm. Suitable for children aged 5+ years. It’s also Pentillie Castle’s Tickets: £15 adult, £10 child, £40 family. www.pentillie.co.uk. Pennywell Farm - Devon

An exciting family outdoor theatre performance of Robin Hood takes place on Wednesday 28th August in the beautiful grounds of Pentillie Castle. Follow Robin Hood and his Merry Men in their adventures. Will they defeat the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and Prince John, and rob the rich to save the poor? On the Sunday 10th August, there is a 5th Birthday Garden Open Day 12pm-4pm. The gardens will be open to the public where there will be afternoon tea with live music playing, face painting, croquet and other fun garden activities. It is £6 pp entry. Garden activities and afternoon tea are an additional extra. There will be a Bat Walk & Star Gazing on Friday 8th August, 8pm for the walk, followed by star gazing at 9pm. On the 9th August there is Dawn Bird Ringing & Watching – early start at 5.30am. Bacon baps and tea/ coffee available @ £5 pp. Both

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

One of the South West’s top attractions, award winning, family run Pennywell farm is Devon’s Friendliest Day out. There are endless things to see and do no matter what the weather and no matter what your age! Every half an hour a bell rings around the Farm signalling the start of an exciting new event ranging from pig racing, falconry, treasure hunts, cuddles with the famous Pennywell miniature pigs, to ferret racing, pond dipping, pets tea time, deer feeding, meet the hedgehogs, egg collecting and lots more. There are four free farm rides to enjoy, Red Rocket, Rainbow Railway, Go Cart crazy and The Big One. Throughout the Summer holidays there are two shows

a day from Dan the Hat and Nutty Noah, there is the Mini Pony Centre, the Pennywell Pony experience, shire horses, hedgehogs, fish, donkeys, goats, Pennywell Tractor Village, a maze, trampolines and a tower to climb. If you are up for a challenge there is the commando Assault course – tough even for the adults! Pennywell hold lots of exciting events over the summer, a highlight being the National Sheepdog Trials on the 6th August, where over 40 sheepdogs and their owners will be put through their paces trying to qualify for the next round. Although there is plenty to do on a rainy day at Pennywell farm, if it rains during your visit you get a return pass for FREE within the next 7 days. Admission Price: Adult - £12.95, Child - £9.95, Children under 3 are FREE. www.pennywellfarm.co.uk British Firework Championships - Devon Britain’s most spectacular fireworks display returns to Plymouth for 12th and 13th August for explosive entertainment. The competition, now in its 18th year, features six of the country’s top pyrotechnics companies who set off four tonnes of fireworks over Plymouth Sound as they battle it out to become the British Fireworks champion. Based on Plymouth Hoe, the event is set against a stunning backdrop. There are fairground rides, food stalls and music to keep the festivities going after the fireworks have finished. www.visitdevon.co.uk

NT - Stuart Cox

NT - John Millar

Summer holidays: Playtime for all ages with the National Trust

hatever your age, summer is the time most likely to bring out the inner child that lurks inside us all. When the sun is out, the days are long and the skies are blue, it’s not only children who want to come out to play. Often better known for its historic houses and collections, the National Trust is doing more and more to offer visitors of all ages the chance to unwind and relax in their beautiful gardens, parkland

and countryside, with natural play areas, picnic spots, quiz trails and other family attractions throughout the school holidays. Back by popular demand is the Trust’s phenomenally successful challenge, 50 things to do before you’re 11 and three-quarters, giving children the chance to reconnect with nature through simple pleasures such as climbing a tree, skimming a stone and making a daisy chain. You can pick up a scrap book at any participating property and download a local planner

to help you decide where to go. There’s plenty of fun for grown-ups too. Many National Trust gardens are at their colourful best in summer with cool, shady spots, perfect for picnics and chilling out. Outdoor theatre is one of the highlights of the National Trust’s summer season and this year there’s a wide choice of productions at your local places, from Shakespeare to Roald Dahl. For more information about places to go and things to do with the National Trust see: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/southeast

Country Wise Winter is becoming a distant memory. Our thoughts are turning to summer, long hot days in some exotic location. The freedom to get up late, do nothing except worry about what’s for lunch. Holidays are when we get time to explore somewhere new and exciting. With a bit of luck and kindly weather gods, warm weather will be heading our way over the coming months. Why not get out and enjoy the Thames countryside. Locally we’re spoilt for choice of places to visit. The river Thames and its riverbank is a wildlife corridor that runs through our congested towns. This waterway is home not only to the obvious Swans and Ducks but its banks and vegetation offer homes for insects and butterflies. A stroll along the river can revive our senses. It’s not only the Thames that can claim to be a wildlife haven. Many of the county’s rivers and lakes provide the focal point for nature reserves and special wildlife places. Surely there can be no better way to enjoy a summer’s day than spending time in an ancient meadow full of wild flowers, strolling along the river or wondering through a wood bath in golden sunlight listening and looking for its sights and sounds.

It doesn’t take a lot to find wildlife on your doorstep. To help you on your way here are a few of our local favourites. Moor Copse, just off M4 junction 12. With the river Pang running through the heart of the reserve, it is tranquil and peaceful. Wander along the rides and see what flowers are about. Look along the water’s edge for dragonflies and Banded Demoiselle. Keep an eye out for water vole. For orchid lovers, why not try looking for Autumn lady’s tresses at Greenham Common, formally the American airbase, but now a nature reserve, lots of other flora and fauna to be found too. Along with the specific locations we mention don’t forget that a walk along the riverbank at Cookham, Henley and Maidenhead. Other locations that are good for wildflowers, butterflies and all the other summer flora and fauna are. Bernwood Meadows, Bucks, Chimney Meadows, Oxon, Finemere Wood, Bucks, Hartslock, Ox-on, Sydlings Copse, Oxon Full details of the locations are on the Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, BBOWT website http://www.bbowt.org.uk. As well

as details and directions on how to explore on your own, BBOWT also have a full program of guided walks at many of their reserves. All the dates, times and booking details are on the website or you can phone BBOWT for more details. No matter what you decide is right for you. An evening stroll by the river, a day out in the woods and wild places, the important thing is to get out in the countryside while summer is here. Enjoy our stunning landscape and abundant wildlife along the Thames Mark & Jacky Bloomfield LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Advertising Feature

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Orchestra is delighted to have such a fantastic collaboration with the Wycombe Swan bringing worldclass music to your doorstep! The Orchestra will return on Sunday 12th October with three spectacular masterpieces by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius, two award-winning artists and leading performers of their generation, Fabien Gabel and Natasha Paremski, and one magnificent evening to end its 2014 season in style. Please visit wycombeswan.co.uk or phone 01494 512000 for more information. Founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has enjoyed more than sixty-five years of success worldwide, giving first-class performances of a wide range of musical repertoire with artists of the highest calibre. Under the inspired leadership of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Charles Dutoit, the Orchestra maintains and builds on a demanding schedule of performances, tours, community and education work, and recordings. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s London concerts include its prestigious

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

annual series at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, its residency at Cadogan Hall and monumental performances at the Royal Albert Hall, ranging from large-scale choral and orchestral works to themed evenings of well-known repertoire. The Orchestra offers a comprehensive regional touring programme with established residencies in Croydon, Northampton, Lowestoft, Reading, Crawley, Ipswich, High Wycombe, Scunthorpe, Aylesbury, Dartford, Guildford and Cambridge. Internationally, the RPO is also in high demand, undertaking several

major tours each season. Along with its performances and tours, the Orchestra offers a vibrant community and education programme, RPO resound, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year; records extensively for film and television, as well as for many of the major commercial record companies; and launched its loyalty ticket scheme app, RPO Rewards, last year. “The RPO do sensuousness uncommonly well. The end result was rich yet delicate, with wonderfully liquid woodwind solos and an exquisite sheen on the strings.” The Guardian

Laser Facts - Diode Laser is currently the most effective Laser Hair removal technology - Sessions usually last no more than 30 minutes

• • •

Specialist

Diode Laser Hair Removal

For ALL Skin Types

- IPL is NOT laser - Generic Laser systems are not Diode Laser which is clinically shown to be the most effective for Hair Removal - Full back treatment in only 20 minutes

Half Legs Under Arms Bikini Line

£ 80

• • •

Men’s: Full Back Shoulders

£ 80

Normally £240

ALL Skin Types! Painless Hair Removal • •

Half Legs Under Arms

£ 60

Normally £160

• •

* Price per session when you buy a package of 5 or more sessions. Only half the full package is paid in advance. Offer price not valid for single session treatments. Offer subject to Terms and Conditions. This month’s Special Offer Packages

Lower Arms Under Arms

£ 60

Don’t Lose Out

Normally £160

• •

Half Legs Bikini Line

£ 60

Normally £160

• •

Lower Arm Face

£ 60

Normally £160

20 Minutes

This is how long most sessions last

La Perla Clinic

01628 488 499

44 Marlow Bottom, Marlow, SL7 3NB - Ample FREE off street parking

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Karine Jackson, former hairdresser of the year, says

“Getting your perfect colour can seem a mammoth task but it really is very simple if you find yourself a great colourist and talk through the sort of shade you’re looking for.

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Below are some of the questions I get asked all the time as colourist.” Should I bring in pictures? Pictures are good as a general reference but don’t always assume that your colour will be an exact match as your skin tone may be completely different which will alter the way the colour looks on you. Also your hair’s natural undertone will have an effect on the overall colour result Do I need to have my colour retouched every six weeks? Maintenance is important; if you don’t have time to return to the salon every month, then this will have a direct impact on the choice of colour and the technique your colourist will use. A good colourist will take this into consideration by looking at your skin tone, lifestyle and ability to return to the salon. I want to go from dark to light, is it achievable? Taking the hair from black to blonde is one of the hardest colour changes you can do! It’s a lengthy process, taking months to achieve and really does dry the hair so it’s not something I would recommend attempting in a short space of time. One of the biggest problems I find is getting clients to understand why the process is so long! Another problem is if you have any form of ash in your hair; whatever colour you put on to try and neutralise will come out a mucky ash shade no matter what – you have to have the ash cleansed out of the hair. How do I fix a bad home colour? Seek a professional! Colour

correction is complex and complicated so don’t attempt it yourself. How can I stop my colour from fading? Colour will fade so it’s all about trying to lock in the colour with your aftercare products. Porous hair will aid the colour’s fade so always use the shampoo and conditioners recommended as they’re more concentrated so you get your money’s worth. These products do cost slightly more than high street products but why not spend the extra few pounds to keep it looking like you’ve just stepped out of the salon for weeks to come? You need to be aware of ingredients as many shampoos use salt because it gives the product a nice viscosity, however, salt strips colour from the hair (think how damaging seawater is!) so check your ingredients list and avoid. I would also recommend using an intensive treatment once a week to keep the hair in top condition. How do I update my colour for summer? It’s all about freehand colouring this year – Balayage and ombre are still strong trends but in the salon we’re working on the new Mélange trend. Mélange is all about blending a solid colour with a high lift blonde at the ends of the hair for a fabulous bespoke blend. For brunettes it’s all about grungy shine, for blondes try a crisper shade and blend with pastel tones and for redheads work a bright shade on the ends of your hair for a 2014 twist on ombre. Pastel shades have also been really strong on the runway. Apricots and soft golds are the shades to covet! You don’t need to commit to a permanent shade either, most salons will stock temporary shades. Look at celebrities such as Beyonce, Kelly Osbourne, Katy Perry and Rihanna; they’re not scared of playing with trends, in fact they set the trends for everyone else. www.karinejackson.co.uk

As the days become lighter and brighter Give your hair a touch of Summer Sun! SUMMER has arrived so give your hair that holiday feel with some FREELIGHTS Let us add some freehand highlights to adapt to your style and personality for a sunkissed effect For a colour make-over or a new style, contact Ciro, Lyndsay and Wendy at DiDonna on 01628 477292

didonna

Exciting New Shop Open!

Tel: 01628 477 292

Opening hours: Tues and Wed: 9:30 - 18:00, Thurs: 10:00-19:30, Fri: 9:30-19:00, Sat: 9:00-17:00

Flamboyance, Flair, Glamour - they’re all here at Pizazz!

2 Kingswood Parade, New Road, Marlow Bottom, Bucks. SL7 3NT

TREND ALERT

Nails for Summer Groomed nails that seep elegance, while maintaining a short shape, chip free and looking sophisticated whatever the weather!

BRIGHTS: Go bold and add a splash of colour NUDES & PASTELS: Lighter shades of blues, pinks, greens and even a soft pastel grey to finish groomed nails off. AU NATUREL: Apply a subtle nude after a conditioning prep coat to keep nails looking natural DARK & MOODY: Love the dark colours from winter and don’t want to give them up - then don’t! Forest greens, rich blues and midnight blacks are a perfect companion to white fabrics. NAIL ART EFFECTS: Are here to stay but chic and easy! MAC Senior artist Keri Blair says”A shimmer polish beneath a matte topcoat gives the nail depth and interest in a subtle way”

Pay us a visit and see our fantastic ranges including all the sought after labels, plus a wonderful selection of Accessories, Fun Tops and Beachwear.

27 The Parade, Bourne End Bucks SL8 5SB tel: 01628 522590 email: enquiries@pizazzshop.co.uk web: www.pizazzonline.co.uk

BENECOS:‘New on trend Funky Colours £6.95 - www.benecos.co.uk

ORIFLAME ‘THE ONE’ Limited Edition - £5.95 www.oriflame.co.uk

ZOYA: 100% Organic & Vegan friendly - £10 www.nailcareclub.com + Salons Nationalwide TOMA: In the Garden Collections - £7.25 www.madbeauty.com

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Getaway Glamour Heading somewhere nice for your summer holiday? Take the inspiration from the latest catwalks and celebrity shots and make yourself look and feel like a million dollars! The secret is to pack smart so all the elements of your holiday wardrobe work well separately as well as mixed together. Not only it will save you money on the extra luggage but it will also make your choices easier which in return will give you an extra time for the beach!

1 2

So to make things simple here are some of the essentials.. A pair of skinny jeans is a holiday essential. Once your trousers are sorted you have an easy job at choosing your summer tops

Easy summer day dress will serve you well on the hotel terrace as well as strolling along the promenade. Choose a plain colour or an understated print for an easy accessorising. A simple change of shoes and a bit of jewellery will make a great transformation A casual light weight jacket is an absolute must. If you choose a simple, well cut design, it will have multi purpose and will become your wardrobe staple. A jacket like this will look cool with your jeans and in the evening will go beautifully over your dress. Practical and chic

A pair of summer wedges in a neutral colour is an obvious choice and a smart one. A shoe like that will go with absolutely everything in your wardrobe so not only you will have an easy job at putting the outfit together but you will also have some room left for your holiday purchases!

A show stopping number. Yes, it’s good to have at least one amazing, head turning glamorous piece of wardrobe. You never know when you might need it.

And let’s not forget about some holiday essentials. Strolling, sunbathing, drinking cocktails and … looking glam!

A smashing bikini – it makes an absolute sense to look good in your beachwear so invest in a flattering piece of bikini/ swimwear to feel confident and feminine A pretty sarong – it’s the most versatile piece of summer wardrobe so be adventures with the choice of colour and stock up on more than just one design A pair of comfortable yet fashionable sandals – you can wear them on the beach, with the trousers or a pretty dress. Pick something with a bit of detail/spark to make your toenails look cute A pretty scarf – an essential British accessory shouldn’t get neglected on holiday. Even hot courtiers get chilly winds and a spot of rain. Look stylish when it happens!

Statement jewellery – don’t underestimate the power of accessorising. A great piece of jewellery can have an amazing impact and change your look in an instant. At finally, remember a holiday is something we look forward to and should enjoy no matter what, so don’t let the small wardrobe disasters ruin all that fun. Plan ahead and choose wisely and your summer break will turn into holiday bliss.

Little Mistress for Very: Tribal Print bikini set: www.very.co.uk

Maxi Dress: Casamia

Miguelina Florence Cover-Up: www.net-a-porter.com

Heine Slimming Swimsuit: www.kaleidoscope.co.uk

www.pizazzonline.co.uk

Fortuna Maxi Dress: Pia Rossini www.pizazzonline.co.uk

Heine Blue Bead Front Kaftan: www.kaleidoscope.co.uk

Joseph Ribkoff

www.swishboutique.co.uk

Heine Graphic Print:

www.kaleidoscope.co.uk

ACCESSORIES: Popcorn bracelets in silver and silver yellow gold: www.warrenjames.co.uk

Bracelets by Story from Kranz & Ziegler: www.houseoffraser.co.uk

CZ Flower pendant and Silver CZ Earrings: www.catherinebest.co.uk

Amber Drop earrings: www.catherinebest.co.uk

Vintage Cluster earrings: www.diamonfire.co.uk

Scarf from Swish, Marlow: www.swishboutique.co.uk

Kaleidoscope Disc necklace: www.kaleidoscope.co.uk

Pikolinos wedge sandals: www.kaleidoscope.co.uk

‘True Blood’ Perfume from TV Series Forsaken: www.hboshopeu.com

Skinny Jeans:

www.swishboutique.co.uk

10. Heine large Straw hat: www.kaleidoscope.co.ukK 11. Heine Toe-Post sandals: www.kaleidoscope.co.uk 12. Sophie Anderson Inez bag: www.matches.com 13. Artic Symphony Collection by Bering: www.beringboutique.co.uk

White Jacket:

www.swishboutique.co.uk

Kaftan Style top: M.A.T: www.pizazzonline.co.uk

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

If the shoe fits…….

Shoes can make your legs look longer, they can balance your proportions and add something special to an outfit. This doesn’t mean you need to spend all of your money on Jimmy Choos or Louboutins. You just have to know what to look for, what looks good on you and be prepared to invest in certain styles. You don’t have to be boring when choosing your shoes, just avoid anything too extreme or trendy.

Size matters

Have your feet professionally measured so that you know your correct size. Properly fitting shoes not only look and feel better, they last longer. Don’t just go by the size you were when you were eighteen-our bodies change over time and feet expand!

What should you look for when choosing a style?

TOE: When shopping for a classic shoe or boot, avoid extremes such as very pointy/ square/round. The ideal toe is slightly tapered and beautifully shaped with rounded edges. Pay attention to details such as the seams, stitching or piping. HEEL: Avoid very thick heels (unless you have very long, thin legs) as they are chunky and unflattering. The aim is to elongate your shape whenever you can so you need to select tapered heels and avoid heels which flare out at the bottom.

MATERIALS: Leather is the most practical choice as it look good and ages well. Be careful with suede material as is difficult to care for. CONSTRUCTION: How a shoe is put together is just as important as its style. A well made shoe will last for years so it is worth the investment and it will be more comfortable. Once you have worn your leather shoes a few times, they will mold to your foot and won’t lose their shape (providing they are the correct size for you). Check the seams and stitching – they should be straight and flat. When shopping for boots ensure the zip moves smoothly and easily. Ensure that there is no glue showing anywhere on the shoes. COMFORT: It’s in your best interest to buy a comfortable pair of shoes. Always buy the correct size - don’t try on shoes first thing in the morning or after you’ve been on your feet all day. Different styles KNEE-HIGH, HIGH-HEELED BOOTS: You can wear them with anything – skirts, jeans, trousers, dresses….. Most women can’t live without black boots as they go with almost everything, however deep brown boots also complement most outfits without being harsh. If you wear boots under trousers then they should fit your

calves and the ankle should have enough room for movement. If you struggle finding boots to fit your legs, have a look online for custom-fitted boots. CLASSIC HIGH HEELS: Try on different styles until you find one which flatters your legs, is comfortable and sophisticated, in a neutral tone such as black, brown, nude or grey. Avoid a style which will date quickly. FLATS: Every woman should have a pair of flats in their wardrobe! STILETTOS: A must-have for any party or special occasion! Open or closed toe is your choice. It’s worth spending a little extra on these as a cheap pair will be uncomfortable and you want to be able to wear them for a few hours without crying from pain! The fit of the toe (not too tight), the width of the heel (not too narrow) and the placement of the arch (your feet should be supported by the sole, with no gaps at the arch) are vital. SANDALS: You don’t need to spend a fortune on these – you are going to wear them to the beach, on picnics, casually. TRAINERS: You have a lot of different options to choose from, just remember where to wear them and where not to wear them! Claire Thomas

perfect for the festival season

Le Chameau the maker of the world's finest rubber boot present 'The Cabourg', the ultimate fold up boot. The brand prides itself on its excellent fit, with Various Colours, available in 10 different calf sizes. it is currently stocked at Mr Porter, Harrods and Best Boots - RRP £69.95

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Lights Out Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern Another soaker of sun-power, this nicely portable and inflatable lamp has solar panels that take eight hours to collect enough energy for up to 12 hours of action, then opens up to give a very decent sized light for under the canvas.The company policy is to donate a lamp to a developing country for each one purchased £19.99 from firebox.com

me o h r u o Love yur shutters Love o Watch our unique Plantation shutter video on our website.

01628 898123

• S:CRAFT’s stunning range of Interior window shutters • The perfect compliment to every window and home • Family run business (father and son) over 25 years experience • No middle man to deal with we consult and install ourselves • Call to arrange a showroom or home visit for your free quotation

• We supply and fit all types of blinds, both manual and motorised • Roller, Vertical, Wood & Metal. Venetian, Roman, Pleated & Velux • Unique range of Luxaflex Voile type blinds: Twist, Silhouette and Facette • Garden Awnings, motorised with climate controls • Conservatory roof and side blinds • All these products can be seen in video form on our website

sales@blindinspiration.co.uk

www.blindinspiration.co.uk LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

For all your cleaning needs choose

Visit our website w

DOMESTIC

CLEANING

CARPET

CLEANING

.ho

LATEST OFFERS! meis.c

OVEN

CLEANING

Domestic, Carpet & Oven Cleaning Services Contact us today on 0845 226 1293 / 0345 226 1293 or email info@homeis.co.uk Scan here to find out more and request a quick quote!

Peace of Mind Home is staff are fully trained and qualified so you can rest assure the cleaners in your home are discrete, trustworthy and reliable.

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

www.homeis.co.uk

COMPLETE INSTALLATION SERVICE AVAILABLE

KITCHENS • BATHROOMS • BEDROOMS

At European Bathrooms we not only supply and fit sophisticated high quality Bathrooms, we also have an exciting range of Kitchens and Bedrooms. Why not pop into our showroom for some inspiration or call us to arrange your free design visit.

t: 01753 865 050 e: info@ebltd.co.uk www.europeanbathrooms.com www.europeankitchens.co.uk 31 King Edward Court, Goswell Road, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1TG LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Quick Crossword ACROSS 1. Oddness (12) 7. Correct (5) 8. Custom (5) 9. Fuss (3) 10. Being (9) 11. Allocate (6) 12. Tyrant (6) 15. Equipment (9) 17. Mimic (3) 18. Shut (5) 19. Double (5) 21. Uniformly (12)

ips T p ou

DOWN 1. Prodigality (12) 2. Horse (3) 3. Keep (6) 4. Innumerable (9) 5. Couple (5) 6. Unremittingly (12) 7. Accommodation (5) 10. Enthusiasm (9) 13. Put (5) 14. Standing (6) 16. Snapshot (5) 20. Wrath (3)

o y est d b w Ho t the from e? ge lue eopl va esp d tra

Solutions on the website. 1

5 6

14 15

Often, they’ll give you a price for the job, say £3,000 to rewire your home or £2,000 to replaster, which may be an itemised figure, but usually isn’t. Some jobs are straightforward to itemise (the price for each socket or light switch) but others are less so. With electrical work especially, it’s handy to have itemised prices, because if you know an extra socket in your bedroom is going to cost £80 you can either decide if you’d rather manage without it, or if it’s a price worth paying. As always, get at least three (written) quotations

Call our office for a no obligation quotation or to make a booking:

Climate Solutions Limited

Tel: 01628-525388 email: info@climatesolutions.co.uk

Central Heating Services Climate Solutions has been providing central heating services within the local area since 1998, with over 2000 successful installations to date! Using its own team of directly employed engineers, Climate Solutions focuses on providing a consistently professional service to its customers. Covering all local areas: Marlow, Bourne End, Cookham, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, Henley, High Wycombe, Stockenchurch, Windsor, Maidenhead, and all surrounding areas. Willowbank House, Station Road, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 1NX

Tel: 01628-525388

www.climatesolutions.co.uk • • • • • • • • • •

180430

C8177

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

from different people and make sure they’re like-forlike quotations for a proper comparison. If you know and trust a tradesperson, you may be happy to pay them a day rate. This can be a good idea if you have lots of little jobs for them to do, and you know they’re going to work just as hard as if they were on a fixed price. However, if you don’t know or trust them, paying them a day rate may be giving them licence to rip you off, as it’s obviously in their interest to string out the job and get more money for it.

Boiler Installations (with a 5 year warranty on Worcester Boilers) Full Central Heating Systems - Natural Gas, Oil and LPG Under floor heating Boiler Servicing Breakdowns Landlord & Letting Agent Services Commercial Installations and Service/Repairs Power Flushing Hot Water Systems including Megaflos Gas Safe, OFTEC and CIPHE and a Worcester Accredited Installer

The Virtues of Vintage From a six quid stall in Camden Market to the iconic fashion label Red or Dead to a prolific career spanning the design world, Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway are the design world’s most illustrious power couple. In conversation with Wayne Hemingway it’s evident that, just like the vintage he adores, he’s one to stand the test of time. An innovative designer with a passion for all things vintage, Wayne Hemingway has become the force behind Scotland’s eleven day festival Vintage Glasgow. “Me and the missus started off selling second hand clothes at Camden Market and we are big collectors of all things. I think it’s vitally important that really good ideas, whether its timeless music like Northern Soul of timeless cars like the Mini, are kept alive – good design is good design and stands the test of time. That’s what vintage is all about, celebrating moments in time and style. It’s the same way that certain films, say It’s a Wonderful Life, will always mean something to each generation. Human beings don’t change that much.” Human beings may not change, but Vintage Glasgow has certainly grown since it’s 2013 debut. “We’ve got a history of understanding Glasgow,” the designer modestly explains. “When we opened Red or Dead we had a shop up there and used to host some amazing parties - people know how to party. We were approached to see if we’d be interested in the Festival up there and we knew straight away it’d be a good place to do it.” With the festival encompassing all things vintage – “there’s all sorts that people can join in with, whether it’s sewing, hair and beauty, a fantastic vintage marketplace with sellers from all over Europe” – the public are encouraged to get involved. Indeed, Wayne’s love

“Human beings may not change, but Vintage Glasgow has certainly grown since it’s 2013 debut” of music will see him personally hit the decks in a father-son duo. “You’ve got this myriad of different kinds of music to listen to – we’ve ‘40s swing bands, and The Soul Casino is playing the history of soul music from northern Soul to British Funk and boogie and disco.” A man with a clear love of mid-century Britain, does a particular decade resonate? “The decade when I was a teenager was the 70s and that was fantastic. It started off with Glam Rock, Roxy, Bowie, great soul music, lots of Northern Soul going on. Funk, disco, then punk came along then New Romantic, one after another. “The fashion in the 60s, the mod three button suit, the narrow trousers, that’s probably the most manly fashion style and the one I ascribe to the most. But then you look at the ‘50s and clothing was fantastic for women especially, the music was exciting and rebellious. For my wife the favourite decade in terms of fashion is the 40s, she has an amazing collection of clothing. 1920’s fashion is probably the sexiest ever for women and we’ve

massive numbers of ladies at Vintage Glasgow who dress up for our Charleston Brunch.” With the festival providing space for vintage-centric entrepreneurs to trade from vintage cars, Wayne pays homage to his own humble beginnings. “It’s great to see people get their ideas out in front of thousands of people. We try and keep prices very low at our events, we also try to use small bands and DJs, they’re pretty well known but again these people sometimes struggle to own a living so part of vintage is giving people a chance to earn too. We also make a lot of the events free so that it becomes inclusive rather than exclusive. It’s important to us that you can come without a penny to your pocket and have a good time.” With his adherence to upcycling, refurbishment and sustainability integral to his creative process, did Wayne see Fast Fashion as at conflict with his selfstarted fashion label, Red or Dead? “We were very early on the front of being ethical. We were making our denim out of hemp which was a sustainable fabric, we were manufacturing it in a prison in Yorkshire for ethical reasons. We were hopefully doing the right thing and it was always hard but we were at the vanguard of doing the right thing.” Besides, Wayne’s own attire demonstrates that a worthy product will always stand the test of time. His favourite garment? “I’ve got 40 odd, or maybe more, of the same shirt, all in different colours with slightly different materials.” After the sell-out debut of Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway’s Vintage Festival at Merchant City Festival, Glasgow, it returns on 26-27 July. For tickets, visit www.merchantcityfestival. com/vintage/Pages/default.asp Camilla Davies LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Approved Installers of Rubberbond EPDM Flat Roofs • • • • •

Independently assessed to last over 40 years Will not crack or tear Resistant to moss and fungus Unaffected by extremes of temperature Guaranteed for 20 years

• Eco friendly • Fully trained installers who work to defined levels of service laid out in the Fairtrades Homeowner’s Charter

For a free survey and quotation call:

01491 572765 or email:

info@rooftechnology.co.uk

www.rooftechnology.co.uk

RSBoiler Services Company No 5674

Gas, Oil, Heating, Plumbing, Electric, LPG, Propane, Butane Established in 1977

• Free Estimates • Combi & Condensing specialists • Boiler/System installations • Power Flushing • Gas Leaks • Account Customers Welcome • Insurance Work • All makes of Boilers serviced or repaired

Tel: 01628 483099 www.rsboilerservices.co.uk 25 Woodland Way, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 3LD

Please cut out and leave near your Boiler for a fast response in the event of a breakdown 32

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

A taste of Summer ... The first rule of your home’s patio or outdoor deck echoes the first rule of the home itself; location, location, location.

o you, for example, want your outdoor space in full sun, in partial sun, or in the shade? Because where your garden gets the sun at different times of the day could make a big difference to how much you’ll use your new area. The usual place to put it is near the house for the most convenient alfresco dining, but there might be a better spot elsewhere. You might also want to pave or deck the entire garden, especially if it’s a courtyard. Decking is a good way to make sloping gardens more usable, as an alternative to creating the more difficult tiers. By extending the deck out from the house to cover the whole garden, you’ve solved the problem of an awkward, hard-to-use and even potentially dangerous (if you have small children) outside space. When deciding on the location of your

patio or deck, you also need to think about things like drainage (manhole covers will still need to be accessible), where the doors to the garden are, where the bedrooms are (especially with a bungalow or flat) and if the patio or deck will be overlooked. Also consider the prevailing winds, traffic noise, if any, and what you’ll be looking out on when you sit and relax. It’s important to have a patio or deck that’s in proportion to the size of the house too, and to use colours and materials that work well with the building (unless you want a deliberate contrast). While it should be in keeping though, your design can still be creative. Decking can be formed on different levels, with, among other things, built-in benches, planters, steps and cutouts - ideal if you

have, or dream of having, a hot tub. You can do a similar thing with paving - an easy way to add interest is to incorporate a circle or other design into your patio using a paving kit. Once you’ve got an idea of what you want, draw the garden on graph paper, or use an online garden planner, marking on everything relevant. This will enable you to play around with different ideas and layouts, then you can recreate them in the garden using string and pegs, or spray paint, marking out what will go where, and considering if it really will work. Before you start building your patio or deck, check if any permissions are required, including from the freeholder if your home’s leasehold, or from the local council. Click on the decking or patio on the interactive house at www. planningportal.gov.uk for general advice, but, if in doubt, ask the local council for specific advice about your home, as planning permission and/or listed building consent is sometimes required. If you’re good to go, then here’s a raised glass to a long summer of balmy outdoor dining... By Julia Gray

than £1,000 and have enough money in their accounts to pay. The proposed powers are currently under consideration, with legislation expected to be taken forward as part of the 2015 Finance Bill. HOUSE PRICES HAVE RISEN BY 8% IN 12 MONTHS House prices have risen by 8% in the space of a year according to official figures. The typical price of a property across the UK stood at £252,000 in March, which

is just £1,000 below a record peak recorded in February by the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) house price index. In London, values have leapt more than twice as fast as the national average, with a 17% annual lift in the capital pushing average prices there to £459,000. The ONS report said that while London and areas of the South continue to drive house price growth, most parts of the UK are experiencing a “strong” increase in property values.

Bits & Bobs ... DO YOU KNOW WHAT “DRD” REFERS TO? This stands for the “direct recovery of debts”. The Government proposed in the recent Budget that the taxman should be given powers to be able to recover tax and tax credit debts directly from debtors’ bank and building society accounts, including joint accounts and Isas, without needing to apply to a court. The proposed powers are aimed at a “small core” of taxpayers who owe more

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

LIFE’S A BREEZE IN GOTHENBURG

Cycling around the picturesque streets of Styrso, an island in Gothenburg’s southern archipelago, the cool sea breeze whips through my hair and provides muchneeded relief from the soaring heat of the sun. I stop off at a hidden little beach cove to watch the boats sailing across the calm waters, and have to remind myself that I’m actually on a city break. With green fields, woodlands and beaches on its doorstep, Sweden’s second city is far from being a bustling metropolis. Instead, life here is calm and relaxing. I base myself at the Avalon hotel, in Gothenburg’s downtown. It’s filled with vibrant pieces of artwork and even has a rooftop glass swimming pool protruding over Kungsportsplatsen. It’s quite amusing to stand at street level and look up to watch swimmers paddling their legs in a front crawl. Outside, the streets are lined with tables

full of people catching up over cocktails and fine food. You won’t find anyone rushing around here; the Swedes are too busy being effortlessly cool and calm. Scandinavians are known for their cutting edge design, and plenty of the bars and restaurants in Gothenburg have a 21st century feel. A fine example is Restaurang Kungstorget, where traditional menus have been replaced by iPads. After lunch I head to Lilla Bommen, where I watch the boats setting off into the distance. I also take the opportunity to do some guerrilla gardening. Instead of flower pots, the dock is lined with planters boasting a selection of free-for-all vegetables. For a taste of something more traditional, I head to the Haga old town where locals are sat outside enjoying coffees and pastries in the sunshine. I join them and am presented with the largest pastry I

have ever seen in my life! It’s a great place to stop and do some people watching. In the evening, the air is still warm and the streets are illuminated by restaurants and bars along main road, the Avenyn. People of all ages, young and old, are out and about having fun, laughing and dancing the night away. After enjoying a meal at the Restaurang Familjen, I head down to Cafe & Bar Grindstugan near the river, where a guitar player is entertaining a crowd. The next morning, I enjoy a refreshing cycle around the southern archipelago. There is no better way to get back to nature and escape life than on these peaceful islands where few tourists roam. Gothenburg is one city break where none of the city stresses apply. By Nicole Gallagher Big Harbour Canal & Christina Church (Tyska Kyrtan)

Boathous

es in Goth

enburg

Gothenburg Harbour

Haga District

Styrso, Gothenburg

WHERE TO STAY

AVALON HOTEL Like much of Gothenburg, a new experience lies around every corner in the Avalon Hotel - whether it’s a painting of a naked female, the unanticipated sound of birds tweeting in a hotel corridor, or the infinity rooftop pool. This is what makes it such an exciting place to stay. The hotel is located in the heart of the city, within walking distance of best bars, restaurants and shops. The hotel’s own bar and restaurant is also top notch for wining and dining, and the breakfast buffet includes everything from blue cheese to vitamin shots. Doubles from £183. Visit www.avalonhotel.se/en

WHAT TO DO

CRUISE THE ISLANDS Ferries run regularly from Saltholmen to Gothenburg’s scenic southern archipelago. Styrso is the largest of the islands, just 30 minutes away by ferry. Once there, bicycles can be hired for as little as £8 a day.

As there are no cars on the islands, cyclists and walkers have free reign of the roads to explore the picturesque fishing villages, summer mansions and scenic coastlines. There are also plenty of cafes serving locally sourced fish and traditional sweet cakes. The number 11 tram makes regular trips from the centre to Saltholmen, where you can catch a ferry to the islands. Ferry times can be found at www.vasttrafik.se LEARN ABOUT FIKA The Haga district is Gothenburg’s oldest suburb. It was originally lined with traditional wooden houses, but renovation in the 1980s has given the district an oldworld-meets-modern feel. Cafe Husaren is popular with sweet-toothed tourists and locals, who come to enjoy their giant cinnamon buns. Fika - the tradition of drinking coffee with friends - is a large part of Swedish culture, making cafes a good place to learn about local life.

WHERE TO EAT

RESTAURANG FAMILJEN This warm and friendly restaurant is a great place to experience rustic, gourmet

food without breaking the bank. The owners take pride in using local fish and ingredients to produce simple but effective and flavourful dishes. There’s a choice of two three course menus, which cost from £33. Visit www.restaurangfamiljen.se FESKEKORKA The fish church, known to Swedes as Feskekorka, is an indoor fish market between the city centre and Haga old town. The gothic-looking building is also home to Restaurant Gabriel, famous for their fish soup and grilled crayfish. The food is no-fuss, yet highly recommended. Visit www.feskekorka.se

TRAVEL FACTS Bmi regional operates six daily flights per week from Birmingham to Gothenburg, with fares starting from £82 one-way, to include complimentary food and drinks onboard and a 20kg hold baggage allowance. www.bmiregional.com For more information on Gothenburg, visit www.goteborg.com or www.visitsweden. com LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Sun Sense

With the summer holidays nearly upon us, it’s time to get ourselves in tip-top shape ready for the ‘beach season’. Malvina Fraser, one of London’s leading Skincare experts, whose

client base includes such famous faces as Kylie Minogue, Liz Hurley and Yasmin Le Bon, shares some of her tips for being sensible in the sun this Summer. HOW TO AVOID BEING BURNT: • Damage from UV rays penetrates beyond the top layer of the skin (epidermis). This is why it is so important to wear sun cream. For extra protection, apply a Victim C serum underneath. Serums are water based treatments which contain a much higher concentration of active ingredients and nutrients such as Vitamin C, E and K. The molecules in serums are smaller than those in a moisturiser, giving them the ability to penetrate through the pores and deep beneath the skins epidermis absorbing all those good ingredients and nutrients deep within the skins layers, where it is needed most. This elixir is formulated to target specific skin concerns such as wrinkles, dark spots, acne, pores, fine lines, firming and hyper-pigmentation. • 90% of skin aging is secondary to sun damage which causes a breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin. This leads to the dreaded ‘crow’s feet’ at the sides of our eyes. Shade your face at all times to avoid squinting.

• It may sound very simple but the most effective way to avoid sun burn is to stay in the shade between the peak hours from 11pm-4pm, wear loose fitting clothes over your bathing suit, apply SPF 30 minutes before heading out into the sun and top it up every 40 minutes- 1hour. • Studies have shown that by eating food with beta-carotene (an antioxidant) such as carrots, red peppers, melons and mangos helps the body fight against sunburn. • If it also important to never forget your lips, ears and the soles of your feet. These areas are often forgotten about and are very prone to sunburn. Don’t forget to apply SPF to these areas throughout the day. WHAT TO DO IF BURNT: • While a lot of people usually stick to the most common products to help heal sun burn such as Aloe Vera aftersun there are some great natural remedies which you will have on hand at home which are extremely affective too. Green tea has a great source of flavonoids (which also prevents the signs of ageing) and is a great skin soother. To create your own DIY green tea remedy firstly make a cup of green tea and allow to cool. Then place the tea into an ice tray and pop into the freezer. When they are ready warp a

couple of cube in a towel and press gently against sunburn. • Greek or natural yogurt is a great remedy to use on sunburn. The probiotics within the yogurt helps to restore the skins natural barrier. Leave on for 10-20 minutes and wash off. COMBATING OTHER SKINCARE PROBLEMS • Prickly Heat - Raised red spots that causes a prickly sensation to the skin. This often occurs when pores are blocked. To prevent this, limit your time spent in the sun. If this does not work apply Aloe Vera to the skin, its cooling properties will relieve itching. • Sunburn Peeling - Occurs when the new layer of skin under the burn is ready to be exposed. To prevent this ensure that you are using a higher SPF and stay in the shade between 12pm3pm when the sun is at its peak. To treat the skin grate raw cucumber and apply on affected areas. • Water Blisters - Raised fluid filled bumps caused by over exposure of the skin. To stop these blisters from occurring make sure you stay as hydrated as possible throughout the day. If you become affected with these apply tomato juice to the area, leave on for one hour and wash off.

PIZ BUIN: 150ml Ultra Light Dry Touch Skin Fluid £16.99 & Face Fluid 50ml £11.99 www.pizbuin.com

BIO OIl: £8.95

www.boots.com

MURAD Oil Free Sunscreen (£27)/ Water Resistant (£29): www.murad.co.uk

LA ROCHE POSAY: AUTHELIOS - Facial Sun Protection 50+ Fluid £16.50, Compact Creme £19.50, Stick £11.00 &

50ml Cream from £15.00 www.boots.com LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

SOLEVE 100ml- relieving pain of sunburn: £9.95

www.solevesunburnrelief.co.uk

Some of our favourite products:

- not ithin from w-cream w lo g n y u health te to s tain a ubstitu rt & re as a s Suppo be used

DID YOU KNOW?

SLEEK MAKEUP BRONZE BLOCK: £7.49

Three out of five Brits have suffered from sunburn in the past five years • 60 percent say there holidays have been ruined as a result • Three out of four women do not know which factor they should use and half did not pack any protection at all • Only half of us prepare for our sun care routine before we go on holiday • Only half of us bother taking a first aid kit • Just two women in a hundred top up their protection after swimming • Three in four do not know which protection factor is recommended for their skin

SuperDrug & www.sleekmakeup.com

PHYTO BRONZ Skin Protect 30 tablets: £17.95 www.healthy2u.co.uk

HOOLA Bronzer from BENEFIT: £23.50

MERUMAYA Youth Preservation Formula 30ml: £29.50

www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

PERFECTIL PLUS PROTAN 60 tablets: £34.95 www.www.vitabiotics.com

www.merumaya.com/www.johnlewis.com

9.99 com : £2 ue. nzer eluniq o r fe oB

CHANGING MOLES: The incidence of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, continues to rise in the UK. Melanoma is now five times more prevalent in the UK than it was in the 1970s with around 1,300 new cases per year. However, if treated early enough, malignant melanoma is curable. So if in doubt, get yourself checked. There is no substitute for a consultant dermatologist examining your moles Be vigilant for changes such as colour, decrease/ increase in size, changes to the surrounding skin, itchiness, bleeding or newly appeared moles and visit your GP immediately if you notice any changes.

. Du ww NIC k/w RGA ic.co.u O N n TA orga

an w.t

CLARINS Hydra Quench Tinted Moisturiser 50ml - 7 shades £30 www.clarins.com

An alternative to lying in the sun is use a product such as Beyond Bronze by Fake Bake. Pricing starts from £9.99and is available from various stockists including www.fakebake.co.uk

MADARA TINTING FLUID: - Moon and Sun Flower 50ml £23.00 from

TEMPLE SPA Self Defence Facial Cream 50ml: £34.00 www.templespa.com

www.mypure.co.uk

DR ORGANIC Aloe Vera Skin Lotion: £6.29

www.hollandandbarrett.com

ARNICA Cooling Gel 30g: £5.15 www.arniecare.co.uk

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

MIND BODY SOUL

Anxious about your body this Summer?

As we don summer clothes, baring legs, arms and midriff, anxiety about our body image can reach the same barometric high as the weather. The seasonal advertising bombardment, featuring images of digitally enhanced bodies selling tans, diet products and summer fashion must haves, can stoke this anxiety.

ideal dents confidence and damages self-worth. Making a decision to step out of the negative body image spiral, to refuse to participate in the ‘I hate my legs,’ mindset is a starting point.

Research by The Centre for Appearance Research in 2012, concluded that 90% of women and 57% of men are dissatisfied with the way they look. In fact body criticism has become so ingrained in the western mindset, we no longer register we are thinking and talking this way. In our image saturated market, negative feelings generated by comparison and commentary, pass through the media, from peer to peer, and down the generations. It’s hard not to talk about weight loss and appearance in front of our children. Psychologists agree that too much exposure at a young age can be damaging and there is a strong link between negative body image, depression and eating disorders. Constant comparison with an unobtainable

1. List the things you like about your appearance and focus on them when you look in the mirror. With practice you’ll only see the positives and not give more than a second’s thought to the negatives.

Some simple steps to change the way you think and feel about your body:

2. Avoid negative self-talk about your body. Treat yourself as your best friend. You wouldn’t call your best friend ‘fat’ or ‘wrinkly,’ so don’t do it to yourself!

then take it to heart and believe it. 5. Stop comparing yourself to others. Remember you are an exceptional and beautiful individual and any perceived flaws are really just reasons why you are unique. Kate Robinson.

3. Find better role models than the glamour celebrities in the media. Choose role models for reasons other than appearance, such as their work ethic, generosity or determination. 4. When you receive a compliment respond with a sincere, ‘thank you,’

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or constitute medical advice. If you are in any doubt or you have been diagnosed with a medical condition, always seek the advice of your medical practitioner.

Advertising Feature

The Independent Living Consultants Ltd aim to provide the freedom of mobility for those who want to lead more fulfilled lives. Established in 1998 with the opening of a mobility shop in High Wycombe , the success of the company has led to the further opening of a second branch in Princes Risborough. As well as being an NHS approved supplier, Independent Living offer a 'try before you buy' service to ensure that individual needs are met and accurately catered for. Company manager Richard Walsh is convinced that internet purchases cannot offer the same security. He says: "Many people buy online and although this can sometimes save time, they often end up with the wrong product. One of reasons we started this business was to plug the gap in the market for a hands on service. This approach greatly reduces the risk of people wasting their money on unsuitable items.” The products on offer are available for the elderly and disabled, carer’s and healthcare professionals. A wide range of products are kept in stock ranging from simple everyday items like jar openers and tap turners to larger powered items such as scooters, rise and recline chairs and bath lifts. Furthermore, the fully qualified staff at Independent Living are always available to demonstrate

equipment and answer any questions. All products carry a no quibble warranty with Independent Living priding themselves on excellent after sales service. Independent Living also operate both a daily delivery service as well as a no obligation home demonstration policy. So don't waste any time wading through the web, take a hands-on approach and find the product that's right for you.

THE INDEPENDENT LIVING CONSULTANTS LTD 10 Cross Court, Plomer Green Avenue, Downley, High Wycombe, HP13 5UW

Woodway Princes Risborough HP27 0NN

Call: 0800 3892554

Call: 01844 273050

Opening times are Mondays to Fridays; 9.30am to 5pm and Saturdays; 10am to 2.30pm.

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Pamper yourself

Simple and elegant in design, Signature Candles by leading home fragrance house madebyzen™’s aromatic signature candles (RRP £21.99)-Fresh Mint and Grapefruit, Serenity, Black and romantic Moroccan Rose. Enrich your surroundings with natural beauty and scent, creating the perfect ambiance with a soft glowing light and beautiful aroma to create a warm and inviting environment to unwind. www.madebyzen.com Lifeproof Bike Mount -Seeing as we take our smartphone tech just about everywhere else, why shouldn't we have a dedicated safe place for it on our bikes too. Load yours up with all manner of fitness apps, route mapping and other useful cycling software, and it can sit on your handlebars in either landscape or portrait mode. Don't leave home without one - £36.99 from amazon.co.uk

The Independent Living Consultants More than just a mobility shop! Mobility Scooters Wheelchairs Daily Living Aids Riser Chairs Adjustable Beds Stair Lifts

■Friendly Expert Advice ■Home Visits ■Delivery Service ■Setup Service

Your Local Mobility Shop High Wycombe

Princes Risborough

10 Cross Court, Plomer Green Ave, Downley, High Wycombe HP13 5UW

Woodway, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 0NN

01494 443933

01844 273050

www.independentliv.co.uk LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Maidenhead Golf Club more than a golf course

Membership available in all categories with NO JOINING FEE;

due to a one-oﬀ change in the subscription year, pay for only 9 months from 1st July - 31st March 2015. A full diary of competitions, events and matches Busy social programme runs throughout the year A well-stocked Pro Shop Events – we can seat up to 120 for dinner and cater for wedding receptions, parties and business meetings

For further information please telephone 01628 624693 or email: manager@maidenheadgolf.co.uk www.maidenheadgolf.co.uk Maidenhead Golf Club, Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 2 PZ

Just a short ‘drive’ from the town centre, opposite Desborough School - easily accessible by road M4 & M40 and only a five minute walk from the local mainline railway station.

Sara Mayne Lic Ac MBAcC

Tai Chi ~ Qi Gong ~ Yoga Meditation A gentle yet powerful approach to fitness and well being Regular weekly daytime and evening classes Half day and weekend courses The Cedars, Northern Heights, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5LE

Phone: 01628 527007

Mobile: 07732 705644

email: saramayne@btconnect.com Web: www.saramayne.com 40

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Cong ratulations to Natasha Ferg uson, who is our Creative Writing Winner from Brunel University for 2014, where we sponsor an end of third year prize. We hope you enjoy reading this year’s winner and I am sure that this will resonate with some of you who travel reg ularly in London !!

“This is an all stations Metropolitan line train…”

6 am, Monday morning. The sound of Oyster cards echoes in my head. I am delirious, takeaway coffee cup scorching my hand. I knew I should have picked up one of those cardboard things. My bag strap is digging mercilessly into my shoulder so I look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Some of the coffee drips onto my shoe and I swear, maybe a little too loudly. I fumble in my pocket and pull out my own Oyster card. A piece of chewing gum has somehow got itself stuck to the card holder. I pull it off with my teeth; it’s too early in the morning for me to be disgusted at myself. I slide the card across the reader, stumble through the barrier and manage to find my way to my train without spilling anymore coffee. Result! I sit on the crowded Metropolitan line as it trundles towards Baker Street. I place the coffee cup on the floor between my feet to keep it stable during the journey. I’ll wait until it’s cooled down a bit. Mostly commuters line the carriages, some tapping away on tablets and phones and others trying to fit in a quick breakfast. One even dribbles yoghurt down his tie. He sighs and rustles a packet of tissues

as he attempts to clean himself up. An unfortunate stain appears on his tie. Trying not to stare though as I know it is extremely rude to stare at people. But it’s quite hard not to on the tube – stare at people I mean. Someone is always sitting right next to you; taking up more room than is their right or facing you so there’s always that awkward moment where you’re gazing not so romantically into each other’s eyes. The adverts on the roof of the tube may be a good distraction. I look up at them perhaps too eagerly. Hair loss treatment - vitamins for expectant mothers - 1p calls to the Far East? I concede defeat and now that I’m a little more awake I decide to be a little daring. With limited elbow room I manage to pull a brown paper bag out of my pocket and rip it open without attracting too many disapproving bleary eyes. A fresh croissant gleams up at me. The croissant looks a bit squashed and sad but my stomach attempts a hopeful rumble. I shuffle in my seat so I’m sitting upright; I take a deep breath and pull one corner off. Oh no it’s already happened. Crumbs. All over my scarf. They’re stuck to my lips and even clinging to my hair. I look a

very strange bride who has been attacked with some off brown colour confetti. This can’t be the best place for a wedding. The man with the yoghurt tie panics as we pull into Finchley Road and he gets up revealing a huge rucksack on his back. Wow, how did he hide that monstrosity? Impressive skills there my friend. But, oh, he’s just whacked that woman in the face with it. Her face is a picture and oh, she’s got a bit of lipsti- she’s noticed me staring. Ahhh um, newspaper? I dig back into my bag and pull out today’s Metro and open to page one. But the woman next to me who has decided that I am better off reading page five. It is definitely sardines in here, and it smells of sardines. A man towers over me, tracksuit and trainers on, holding onto the pole with his armpit hovering above me. I subtly cower in my seat and hide behind my Metro – “Hamster helps homeless-“ My stop! I stand up, my head coming into contact with the criminal armpit but I manage to make the platform. Right, bag on shoulder and newspaper in hand. Still a few crumbs in the hair but that can be rectified. I squelch to the exit – squelch? Faint whiff of caffeine.

Natasha Ferguson: It’s been very surreal completing a degree; the three years flew by and I’ve come out with a 2:1. I’ve always loved writing from a young age, stapling bits of scrap paper together to make my own books. Now having some of my work published in a magazine is the icing on the cake and hopefully marks the beginning of a successful writing career. I also have a blog which I started up in March 2013 called ‘Legible Scribbles’ commenting on television and I am currently building up a Twitter following. As an aspiring screenwriter, I am also attending the London Screenwriters’ Festival in October. LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Can owning a pet improve your health?

s we grow up our first pet is often one of our earliest memories…I had a rabbit called Mopsie! I was only around 4 or 5 when we got him but I can remember him so well. Children and pets go together like ‘bread and butter’ but what about the importance of pets as we enter our later years? A study at Cambridge University found that owning a pet could improve general health in less than a month, with pet owners reporting fewer minor ailments such as headaches, coughs and colds! In addition, according to the Pet Health Council, simply stroking a pet or watching fish swim can help us to relax. Other studies have shown that owning a pet can reduce cholesterol, which in turn may reduce the risk of heart attack.

The charity ategi has been providing a Shared Lives service in Buckinghamshire for the past 5 years and are now expanding the scheme into the Windsor & Maidenhead area. Shared Lives provides accommodation and individual support to vulnerable adults in the homes of ordinary people. Adults referred to the scheme move into the homes of Shared Lives carers, where they live as part of the community but with the right level of support to enable them to live as independently as possible. The Shared Lives arrangement between Kevin and Ruth demonstrates how this scheme can improve someone’s life. Kevin, who has a mild learning disability, has been living with Ruth and her husband Paul in a Shared Lives arrangement since 2011. Before then Kevin lived alone in a flat, where he struggled to get out into the community and often felt isolated. He relied on his

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

A US study found that people who do suffer a heart attack have a better change of survival if they have a pet. Quite aside from the science, owning a pet, for many, is a joy. Curling up with

your cat, walking your dog in the glorious countryside, just having a companion …. for some not much else compares. Pets are loyal companions especially for those who live alone and perhaps don’t have contact with family or friends. Of course owning a pet is not a responsibility to take lightly and one must

always consider the financial implications including the possibility of vet bills should your pet get injured or fall ill. Consider your circumstances too. If you are not a particularly active person, a Labrador puppy isn’t your best option and if you live on a busy road a cat might not be suitable for you. My advice would be to discuss your desire to own a pet first of all with family and friends. Local vets should be happy to offer advice too and can put you in touch with reputable breeders and re-homing organisations. Charities such as the RSPCA, PDSA and Cats Protection all have excellent websites where you can do some research. I can’t imagine my home without pets and if they are helping to keep me healthy then that’s a bonus! Claire Fryer

brother to support him with shopping and transport, and required visiting care for meals and cleaning. Kevin’s brother found it difficult to continue offering this support whilst working and Kevin was not coping well on his own. Shared Lives was suggested as an option for Kevin as it was felt he would benefit from having the extra support to access the community and to manage his accommodation. Kevin now enjoys playing sport several times a week and attends an arts and crafts workshop. Although Ruth does most of the cooking, Kevin helps her with peeling and chopping vegetables. He has also learnt other skills including cleaning his bedroom and being able to budget the money he spends. Kevin went on holiday abroad for the first time last year with Ruth. Kevin has commented that he really enjoys living with Ruth. “I like it here, she’s nice to me.” Ruth has noticed that Kevin has developed as

an individual since he has been living with her, and really enjoys his company. “We get on really well with Kevin - he has a great sense of humour and fits in with our lifestyles perfectly.” The role of ategi is to recruit, train and offer continuing support to Shared Lives carers and their arrangements. They are currently recruiting people interested in becoming carers who live in the Windsor and Maidenhead area. If you are interested in supporting someone in your own home, then you can contact them by phone on 01494 568888 or by emailing adminbucks@ategi.co.uk.

“Children and pets go together like ‘bread and butter’ but what about the importance of pets as we enter our later years?”

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland’s capital city from 1st to 25th August 2014. Lambrook, an independent prep school based near Ascot, is taking some of the youngest performers to the Edinburgh Fringe this year giving pupils from the age of ten the chance to shine on the Fringe stage.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Forty children will be acting in three plays during the Fringe season: The pupils will be tackling Willy Russell’s original stage version of Blood Brothers, which follows the funny yet moving story of the Johnson Twins, separated at birth. They will also be performing the enchanting story of Skellig, which takes a magical and heart-warming take on the story of a family illness seen through the eyes of a child. The Boy in Blue (a new play written by the school’s Head of English) differs in genre again offering to audiences a comic ghost story recounting a friend’s revenge. Peter Bird, Director, author of The Boy in Blue and Head of English at Lambrook, says that choosing plays for this age group can be tricky: “Whilst wanting to get away from the typical school ‘panto’, many published plays have very adult themes which might not be suitable for the cast. David Almond’s Skellig is a modern fairy tale, full of mystery and surprise, but at the same time a proper family story. The Boy in Blue reflects my own boyhood fascination with the unlikely japes of Jennings and other heroes of yesteryear; a horror story where nothing terribly horrible happens! Blood Brothers is a play which offers the talented cast some real challenges, not least playing the twins as they grow up from aged 7 to young adulthood.” The school’s performers include Hayley Canham, who has acted in West End shows including Matilda and will shortly appear on stage as Annie in The Ragged Child. Other young stars heading to the Fringe include Sarah Gatenby Howells, who played the young Sarah Ferguson in Harry Hill’s Little Cracker and William Alley, who toured as Michael in Billy Elliot. Many of the school’s performers, however, are amateurs with no previous experience on stage, either at school or elsewhere. Jonathan Perry, Headmaster at Lambrook, comments: “Arts education can often be undervalued and seen as inferior to what is perceived as more academic subjects. If children are to develop into well rounded individuals, however, we need to imbue them with the confidence to succeed, the imagination to challenge the norm and the creative spark to make an imprint on our world. Having recently benefitted from a new Performing Arts centre opened by HRH the Earl of Essex, we want all our children to fully embrace the arts whether that’s participating in a national event, such as the Fringe, or in the humble space of their own living room.” Booking details for the below can be found at www.edfringe.com BLOOD SKELLIG THE BOY BROTHERS Venue: theSpace IN BLUE Venue: theSpace on the Mile Venue: Quaker @ Venue45 Date/Time: 11-15 Meeting House Date/Time: 11 – 15 August at 2.10 pm Date/Time: 11-15 August at 12.10pm August at 1.10pm

Lambrook Students

Lambrook Students in ‘The Boy in Blue’

The Marlow Day Nursery Childcare at its best...

The Marlow Day Nursery is the result of our commitment to provide the highest standards in childcare and education. We provide parents with a uniquely individual approach based on investing in highly experienced and qualiﬁed staff who combine to create a family atmosphere.

If you would like to know more about us then please visit our website or call to arrange an appointment

Tel: 01628 488114 www.marlowdaynursery.co.uk The Marlow Day Nursery,Sandygate Road, Marlow,SL7 3AZ

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Advertising Feature

Little Godstowe, The Nursery

“Little Godstowe” is a termly nursery for boys and girls, aged three to four years old. Based in the grounds of Godstowe Preparatory School in High Wycombe, the nursery offers a secure, calm and dynamic environment to allow each child to develop to their own unique potential. The nursery has been specially designed to meet the needs of our youngest pupils. The rooms are light and spacious, with resources and toys for every stage of development. Free play is encouraged in the home corner and sandpits, and spectacular art projects are completed each term. Children also enjoy structured activities that help prepare them for the move to “big school”. Through a system called Jolly Phonics, they are soon able to recognise the letters of the alphabet and read and spell simple words. Boys and girls also relax on bean bags in the Quiet Room, which is full of books and games. Little Godstowe has computers that children use throughout the day, with software to suit all abilities. There is also an interactive whiteboard. In addition,

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

they enjoy a structured lesson each week in the adjacent Computer Suite. Outside, Little Godstowe has large, fully enclosed gardens with lots of exciting play equipment. Children spend time out of doors exploring woodland and fields in the grounds of Godstowe. To keep energy levels topped-up, boys and girls have a mid-morning snack of fresh fruit, home-made biscuit and a drink. A healthy, two-course cooked lunch is served each day, and the Little Godstowe children join Pre-Prep pupils in their Dining Room. In the afternoon, they have an afternoon snack – a drink and a sandwich. They are encouraged to practise good table manners and to enjoy the social aspect of sharing a meal with friends. As the school year progresses, Little Godstowe begins to integrate more fully with the Pre-Prep, sharing their playground, attending assemblies and joining the Christmas nativity. Three members of staff are committed to the welfare of the children in their care. Anxious children soon gain confidence through the one-to-one

attention and encouragement they receive. There are never more than eight pupils to one staff member. The Little Godstowe week is divided into ten sessions - mornings (one session) or all day (two sessions). There are no afternoon-only sessions. Children may attend a minimum of five morning sessions in their first term, and are encouraged to attend more in subsequent terms. These additional sessions may be structured to suit you and your child, and may be increased to the full ten sessions (five days) when he or she feels ready. Morning sessions are from 8.45am to 11.45am and a full day is from 8.45am to 3.30pm. Breakfast Club is available for the children in Nursery at a small charge, whereby they can enjoy a healthy breakfast from 7.40am with cereal, toast and fresh fruit juice. At the end of the day the school also offers supervised playtime until 5.25pm. If you would like to visit Little Godstowe, please contact Mrs Gainer, the Registrar on 01494 429006 or email registrar@godstowe.org.

Godstowe Preparatory School Come and find out what all the fuss is about Open Day: Saturday 11th October 2014, 10am - 1pm

NURSERY 3-4 PRE-PREP 4-7 PREP 7-13 BOARDING 7-13 BOYS & GIRLS 3-7 GIRLS 7-13

“Little Godstowe” is a termly nursery based in the grounds of Godstowe Preparatory School. For boys and girls aged 3 to 4, the nursery offers morning sessions (8.45am to 11.45am) and full days (8.45am to 3.30pm).

are confident, well motivated, very well behaved, “ Children poilte and understand what is expected of them. ” – Ofsted Inspection Report

For more information about the nursery, school or our Open Days, please contact the Registrar, Cathy Gainer, by telephoning 01494 429006 or emailing registrar@godstowe.org

www.godstowe.org

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

BOING wrist bands are designed for those who love the outdoor lifestyle and they are made from authentic Climbing and Sailing rope, connected with a strong magnetic stainless steel clasp. Each band is packaged beautifully in its own BOING tin, making BOING bands fantastic gifts, ideal for any occasion.

www.haahoosceramics.co.uk 0118 932 1441 19 Church Street, Twyford, RG10 9DN

The Painting, Pottery and Party Centre in Twyford

HaaHoos Summer Holiday Art Clubs Are you looking for a fun summer holiday art club for your kids to go to? Then look no further... Our Art Clubs will have a different creative activity each time. Decopatch, Fabric Painting, Silk Painting, Pottery Painting, Felt Craft & more... Every Tuesday and Thursday from 29th July until 28th August 10.30am - 12.30pm £20 per session, or £100 for 6 session for ages 6 to 12 years old.

Visit the BOING website at www.boing-inc.com to see the full range of band designs and colours.

Book your childs place now! Also open throughout the summer holidays for our usual pottery painting activities.

How to choose the right secondary school League tables, car park gossip, open days, websites, prospectuses, teachers… when it comes to choosing your child’s secondary school how do you know whose advice to take? And who should decide – you or your eleven year old?

Consider visits on your own initially so you’re in a position to guide your child’s choice. You’ll be stuck if they fall in love with a school that you subsequently deem unsuitable! Of course this is easier said than done - make your short list with the wisdom of parents but trust the judgment of your child. Vice President of the Girls’ Schools Association, Hilary French, advises: “Visit as many schools as possible and keep an open mind about single sex versus co-educational. A study by the Good Schools Guide shows girls learn better in girls’ schools than in co-ed ones.” Open days usually include a presentation from the Head. Go along but question staff and pupils to see if what is said is more than good rhetoric. Most schools have an Open Day route but that doesn’t mean you must stick to it. Ask to see those ‘not on the tour’ places,

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

such as toilets, locker rooms, common rooms – they may not be glamorous but they are where pupils congregate.

Talk to Sixth Form students, or the oldest students the school teaches. Put crudely, they’re the ‘end product’ and you need to consider how and where you want your child to end up as well as what their life will be like next year. ASK YOURSELF: • Do I want my child to turn out like these children? • Do relationships between pupils - and between staff and pupils seem friendly but respectful? • Are the facilities adequate and cared for? ASK TEACHERS: • Who will flourish here? Who might not? • What’s staff turnover like? Too low suggests potential stagnation; too rapid and something is amiss. HOW INVOLVED ARE PARENTS? • What are the results and “value added” scores? The latter is the improvement

in pupils’ performance compared to their standard on joining the school.

HOW BIG ARE CLASSES? • Are pupils streamed by ability? There is no right or wrong answer, but the replies will help you understand the school’s ethos. ASK PUPILS: • What do you like best? Does their answer gel with what you’re looking for? • Which subjects do you like best/least? If the answer is something that interests your child, check the results carefully. You should be impressed but not over-awed. If you’re serious, return for another look on a normal day. Joining classes for a day will help your child form a reasoned judgement. If you’re still interested, make an appointment to see the Head and, if your gut continues to say ‘yes’, go ahead and submit that application. You can find more useful information on these websites: www.MyDaughter.co.uk www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk www.schoolsshow.com www.isc.co.uk www.isi.net

STAGECOACH ENROLLING ENROLLING STAGECOACH FOR SUMMER SUMMER WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS FOR & AUTUMN AUTUMN TERM! TERM! & WEEKLY CLASSES CLASSES FO FORR 4-18YRS 4-18YRS WEEKLY

So what’s it all about? So what’s it all about? Being a Stagecoach student is about joining a highly Being a Stagecoach student is about joining a highly energised, educationaland andcreative creativepart-time part-timetheatre theatre energised, educational school while while making makingnew newfriends, friends,but butmost mostofofall all–– school having fun! fun! Along Along the theway wayyour yourchild childwill willlearn learn having skills in in singing, singing, dance danceand anddrama, drama,which whichhelps helps skills develop the the confi confidence dencethey theyneed needininlater laterlife life. . develop What classes are on oﬀ er? What classes are on oﬀer? Early Stages Stages 4-6yrs 4-6yrs––These These90 90minute minuteclasses classesare are Early splitequally equallyinto intosinging, singing,dance dance split anddrama. drama.The Theclasses classesare aresmall, small, and whichallow allowus usto todevelop developtalent talent which inyoungsters, youngsters,while whilesupporting supporting in thosewho whomight mightneed needan anextra extra those boostof ofconfi confidence! dence! boost

MainStages Stages6-18yrs 6-18yrs––Divided Dividedinto into Main threeage agegroups groupsour ourstudents studentsreceive receive three tuitionfrom fromour ourindustry industryprofessionals. professionals. tuition Thisallows allowsstudents studentstotodevelop developtheir their This abilityin inthe thethree threedisciplines disciplinesand andgives gives ability them the the opportunity opportunityto togain gainmany manykey keylife lifeskills. skills.We Wealso also them LAMDA tuition tuitionand andhave haveour ourown ownperformance performancetroupes troupes offer LAMDA

We offer high-quality training in all aspects of theatre We offer high-quality training in all aspects of theatre performing, including: performing, including: • Voice Projection • Stage Craft • Voice Projection • Stage Craft • Improvisation • Character Development Co-ordination • Improvisation • Character Development Co-ordination • Choreography • Creative Work • Annual Performances • Choreography • Creative Work • Annual Performances SUMMER WORKSHOP DATES IN YOUR AREA: SUMMER WORKSHOP DATES IN YOUR AREA: HIGH WYCOMBE: 4TH - 8TH AUGUST HIGH WYCOMBE: 4TH - 8TH AUGUST

6 - 16 years: Peter Pan: The Musical, A Musical in a Week! 6 - 16 years: Peter Pan: The Musical, A Musical in a Week! 4 - 6 years: Pirates and Princesses Activity Week 4 - 6 years: Pirates and Princesses Activity Week

class allows Further stages 16-18yrs – This class allows Further stages 16-18yrs – This studentstotodevelop develop their ability students their ability in in singing,dance danceand and drama further, and singing, drama further, and givesthem themthe theopportunity opportunity perform gives toto perform varietyofofdiff diff erent venues, such atata avariety erent venues, such as;as; London’sSoho Soho Theatre, The Tabard and London’s Theatre, The Tabard and HerMajesty’s Majesty’sTheatre! Theatre! Her

Don’tmiss missout outononyour yourFREE FREEStagecoach Stagecoach t-shirt when you Don’t t-shirt when you sign up for one of our autumn classes! sign up for one of our autumn classes! SummerWorkshops Workshops Summer

Fancyseeing seeingwhat whatStagecoach Stagecoach has you before signing up? Fancy has forfor you before signing up? Joinininwith withone oneofofour ourSummer Summer Workshops which open Join Workshops which areare open everyoneand andallow allowchildren children become part a team totoeveryone toto become part of of a team dedicatedtotocreating creatinga performance a performance they can proud dedicated they can bebe proud of.of.

The Thelargest largestnetwork networkof ofpart-time part-time performing performingarts artsschool schoolininthe theUK. UK. Nurturing Nurturingand anddeveloping developingyoung young potential potentialthrough throughthe theperforming performingarts. arts. For For4–18 4–18year yearolds, olds,after afterschool, school,atat weekends weekendsand andholiday holidayworkshops. workshops.

High Wycombe, Henley & Marlow: www.stagecoach.co.uk High Wycombe, Henley & Marlow: www.stagecoach.co.uk 01494 533 203 01494 533 203 highwycombe@stagecoach.co.uk henley@stagecoach.co.uk highwycombe@stagecoach.co.uk henley@stagecoach.co.uk LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

If Only

Brown Leather Shoes

by Ellen Parks The heart-warming story of one woman’s love for her grandmother This short, but touching, novel is a gentle and heartwarming story of human relationships, written from the point of view of a young woman whose life is thrown into turmoil when her grandmother falls ill. Kate is twenty-three; she lost her parents as a child and has always been very close to her much-loved grandmother, Rose. Now a successful and independent young woman, Kate believes she has taken the relationship for granted when Rose is taken into hospital unconscious after suffering a stroke. Kate feels that the focus has only ever been on her; she knows nothing about Rose outside her role as grandmother. As Rose approaches death, her friend Nancy helps Kate understand her grandmother’s death. With the support of her grandmother’s friends, Kate is inspired to move forward and build a fulfilling existence that would make her grandmother proud. £9.99.

by Katheryn Thompson A traditional British ‘whodunit’ Superintendent Andrew Arling wakes in his living room. He can move his head, but everything else is fixed to the armchair in which he finds himself seated. The room is familiar, but not everything around him belongs: the pictures on the walls, the golf clubs on the carpet, and why is he wearing brown leather shoes? He can hear the distant voices of his family, but until he can put the clues together and save himself he will forever remain in limbo. Meanwhile, Andrew’s daughter, Inspector Caley Arling, is also on the case, determined to find out who attacked her father and left him for dead. In between visiting her father in hospital, Caley and her Oscar Wilde-quoting sidekick, William, must piece together equally beguiling clues that lead back to an unsolved triple murder and hopefully forward to justice. However, the closer they get to the elusive truth, the more dangerous their quest becomes… The debut novel of Katheryn Thompson, written when she was just fifteen-yearsold. £10.99.

The Roots of the Tree

by Amanda Roberts The tale of a woman discovering the man she called ‘Dad’ for 63 years was not her real father. Ever since Annie’s mother died she has been nursing her elderly father, tending to his every need. When the inevitable happens and he too passes away, she is able to console herself with happy memories of a man who was always there for her and was perhaps the only man in her sixtythree-year life who never let her down. So, when an inconsistency of wedding dates leads her to question every memory she holds dear, her life is shattered by the discovery that the man she spent her whole life looking up to was not her real father. As Annie tries to negotiate grief, anger and betrayal, it falls to her eldest daughter, Suzie, to pursue the truth and delve into the controversial family past, hidden in secret letters, dusty war records and a neglected headstone. Will the truth be enough to bring Annie back from the brink? £9.99

We will be giving away one copy of each of the books featured. For your chance to win one of these fabulous books, please send an email to http://www.alongthethames.co.uk/competition-entries/ by 15th August 2014 Congratulations to our winners from the May/June edition: John.Silverman, Les Morgan, Mike Moody

BOOK GUILD

The books on this page are from Book Guild Publishing ion

n’s re i ld

Fic t

PUBLISHING

To order, please call 01202 665432 (weekdays only) or visit www.bookguild.co.uk to view our other titles

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

garden design

Coleby & Faulkner

Outdoor Kitchens Every one loves a BBQ but there is a growing trend to build outdoor kitchens creating an outdoor room for entertaining. Careful thought about the shape, position and materials used when building the kitchen will help integrate it into the garden, without dominating your entertaining space or jarring with the style of your house. You could consider building with rustic sleepers or curved stone walls in a rural setting. In a contemporary space painted or rendered block work or planed timber would be more in keeping to give a crisp modern look.

There are also some very clever solutions such as the BBQ table which allows everyone to cook food to their own taste on independently controlled grills. You can say good bye to being left out of outdoor dinner party conversations whilst stranded over the cooking! Thanks to Jamie Oliver, pizza ovens are also gaining popularity and a great hit with the kids. If you’re feeling creative you can build your own cob oven, or maybe find a kit oven online – bon appétit

design & development : project management : planting specialists : consultancy & sourcing : passionate about gardens

01628 478454

www.colebyandfaulkner.co.uk

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

find us on facebook

The team at Calibra Tree Surgeons ask the question

What does water & pruning have in common?

Answer – they should be done as much as each other to help maintain healthy trees. Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure next to watering. Pruning is often desirable or necessary to remove dead, diseased, or insect-infested branches and to improve tree structure, enhance vigor, or maintain safety. Because each cut has the potential to change the growth of (or cause damage to) a tree, no branch should be removed without a reason. Removing foliage from a tree has two distinct effects on its growth. Removing leaves reduces photosynthesis and may reduce overall growth. That is why pruning should always be performed sparingly. Overpruning is extremely harmful because without enough leaves, a tree cannot gather and process enough sunlight to survive. However, after pruning, the growth that does occur takes place on fewer shoots, so they tend to grow longer than they would without pruning. Understanding how the tree responds to pruning should assist you when selecting branches for removal.

Pruning mature trees may require special equipment, training, and experience. If the pruning work requires climbing, the use of a chain or hand saw, or the removal of large limbs, then using personal safety equipment, such as protective eyewear and hearing protection, is a must. Arborists can provide a variety of services to assist in performing the job safely and reducing risk of personal injury and damage to your property. They also are able to determine which type of pruning is necessary to maintain or improve the health, appearance, and safety of your trees. (c) 1998, 2004 International Society of Arboriculture.

Stubbings Nursery

Large Tree Dismantling Tree Thinning and Pruning

Tree Felling and Shaping Fruit Tree Maintenance

Stump Grinding and Logs

01628 878393

www.calibratree.co.uk

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Located within easy reach of the Thames Valley area, on the edge of Maidenhead, provides the ultimate destination for those seeking mature and semi mature nursery stock to create a new garden or re-vitalise an existing one. It’s Victorian Walled Garden, that forms the centre of the Nursery, is full of topiary, all shapes of Buxus and Yew is overlooked by a Café with an enviable reputation for quality and ambience. The Nursery provides a unique customer service of Garden Consultation. One of

its’ experts will spend an hour of consultation time in your garden at home. To arrange an appointment phone 01628 825454 and speak to Mona!

www.tvlandscapes.co.uk Design

Build

Maintain

For beautiful gardens all year round... ...Think Thames Valley Landscapes Big or small we create inspirational, practical and colourful gardens to play, relax, entertain and grow in.

RESIDENTIAL GARDENS & COMMERCIAL GROUNDS Call Mark 01628 629720 07818 403751 mark@tvlandscapes.co.uk

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

MEETING MISS MAISY Three little words: Game. Of. Thrones.

If they mean nothing to you then you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years. And no one knows this better than Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark in the award winning series. The bloody fantasy drama series seems far removed from the bubbly, 17-yearold Maisie Williams we meet. Winning the role of tomboy Arya Stark at just twelve-years-old, Maisie was actually hurtling toward a career in dance, not acting. How did one turn into the other? “I did an improv class where I got scouted and I met my agent and we started auditioning for films. I auditioned for one movie that I didn’t get the part in, still dancing all the way along, and then my second ever audition was for Game of Thrones. It was a very accidental process which I’m actually really thrilled about.” Five years into her role as the indefatigable Arya Stark, Bristol girl Maisie is becoming accustomed to ever increasing recognition. “In the last year things have really taken off in the UK. It’s very, very exciting but also means my old life is slowly being chipped away and replaced with this new lifestyle...” This lifestyle, and the star-spotting opportunities it affords, sometimes catch the actress off guard. “I’m such a bad fan girl it’s ridiculous. I don’t think bad is the right word actually as you can never be a bad fan girl. But I think I’m too much of a fan girl to be in this industry. I’m in the position where I can meet my idols – I can do that!” So how does she react when she meets someone she really admires? “What I do is I go bright red and melt into a puddle of human and get really nervous! I never really scream at someone, I tend to do the silent thing and go … ‘I love you!’” She might have her own fangirls now – Arya Stark has developed a devoted following - but she’s savvy enough to not let it get to her head. “It’s a crazy, crazy world but I’ve kind of grown up with it and had time to get used to it I guess. I remember one day that I got up and I couldn’t get out of the house. But it’s happened very slowly and my family has been great about giving me loads of time to just relax and give me space to be myself and not have to worry about any expectations. “I’ve had a really positive experience with this world and I know that it’s sometimes

not like that … I know a lot of young actors that are thrust into this sort of success and limelight and do find it overwhelming and I can completely understand why...” Perhaps it helps that Maisie has one person to relate to through the filming process – her onscreen counterpart also has to grow up under some curious circumstances. Has this led to a certain affinity between actor and character? “Exactly. I mean we’ve both been put into really alien worlds. Arya thought she got this world and thought she knew what she wanted and then slowly as everything is unravelling around her she realises home is left and she’s had to grow up very quickly. There’s a lot of untrustworthy people around and this world isn’t what she once imagined. And I feel that, you know, trying not to put it too simply, that I felt the same. I didn’t know what to expect from this world and slowly but surely I’ve realised how to act and what to say and how people will interpret things and that you’re never going to please everyone.” Perhaps this affinity with those seeking

their place in the world encouraged Maisie to embark upon her role as a YouYou mentoring ambassador. The charity supports 17-21 year olds trying to find work within their chosen creative industry and Maisie recently posed for a photo-shoot to grant YouYou photography mentees valuable experience. “It was different to a lot of other shoots that don’t really cater to your personality. It really came across that they looked into the things that I like … they had researched me which sounds silly but actually makes it such a nicer atmosphere when you’re on set.” Maisie gives credit to the YouYou creative hopefuls; “they were all new to this industry and so lovely. We had so much in common and I just love the concept of it all really.” We’re hardly surprised the YouYou mentees jelled so well with Maisie. Judging from our conversation with Maisie, you’d struggle not to like her. Maisie Williams is a YouYou mentoring ambassador. For info, visit: youyoumentoring.co.uk LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Emmett & Stone Country Sports Service your Air Rifle in time for Summer

Ryan and Tony recently spent time with, whom they consider, the market leaders in air weapons – Daystate and Air Arms. Training on some of the most complex pre-charged pneumatic, gas ram and spring air weapons which now allows them the opportunity to offer you any service or repair work on your rifle, pistol or air weapon. This includes various custom options, from stocks and woodwork to finer well engineered performance enhancing and cosmetic components. Working on anything new, old or vintage, working or not. Some of the brands that they can service are Daystate, Air Arms, BSA, Weihrauch, Logun, FX, Hatsan, Mag Tech, SMK, Crosman, Bejamin and many more! The service includes 1. All mechanical parts are checked and tightened if necessary. 2. Springs, hammers and all the seals are replaced 3. Trigger assembly checked 4. Lubricated and re assembled 5. Stock is check and the rifle is test fired and chronographed For more details or to book your in for a service call 01628 474187

Ryan Emmett, from Emmett & Stone Country Sports recently completed the Blenheim Palace Triathlon for Lymphoma & Leukaemia Research, after his sister was diagnosed with lymphoma on the 19 of April 2013. Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is the only UK charity solely dedicated to research into blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma (www. http:// leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk). As Ryan says, Lymphoma was something I’d never really heard about and certainly didn’t think it was under the cancer umbrella. It was something that happens to everyone else but when it happens to you, you soon realise how common its many forms are. Some things stick in your mind for different reasons, all of which will have their own influences on your life, good or bad and shape us hopefully for the better! After going through one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced having been told the news and now coming out the other side, as my sister received the all clear on the 12 December. The support she received from different charities makes me want to do whatever I can to help and would love your help too. It was a beautiful day at Blenheim Palace, 24C, and not a cloud in the sky. I was a little nervous but in the same breath excited, the months of hard training were about to be put to the test and hopefully pay off! We got there early to try and keep everything relaxed as possible. My “wave time” wasn’t until 12.20 so we had a good walk round the course and watched some

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

of the earlier times through the different stages which definitely helped on some last minute do’s and don’ts! After setting up in the transition area with what seemed like plenty of time to get ready, it was soon time to make my way to the water being the part about which I was most apprehensive as I was keen to get moving. Suited but not booted I was as ready as I would ever be, until we were called into a “holding pen” and greeted by a Welsh man at the front of a small stage who was extremely competent by calming everyone down feeling at ease. We made our way out onto the pontoon and into the water which was surprisingly warm with a short swim out to the start line where we were held for about 6mins before the clakson sounded and we were off! Swimming in a “washing machine” with 120 other people makes for an interesting swim but within a few minutes the field had spread out with everyone settling into their own pace. Rounding the buoy for the last 200mtres back to shore seem to take for ever so I was happy to reach out for a helping hand out of the water but not so for the 400mt run up hill to transition!! Once on the bike I thought I would be able to catch my breath but that didn’t last long as upon riding up the first hill made

me lose my breath again!! After three laps it was time to head back into transition and into my running shoes. Trying to run after being on a bike was interesting and to make things even worse you had a steep bridge over the bike track to overcome before you can settle into your run! The first lap wasn’t too bad other than the need for more water but by the time I was on the last lap, my legs were burning but I was determined not to walk. Knowing that I was on the home stretch with everyone cheering you on I made the finish line in a time of 1:58:03hrs, which made me very happy as wanted to finish under 2hrs! It’s an amazing experience, and I would urge anyone to try to do it no matter how fit or unfit they are. In the words of the Welsh man “its all for charity so everyone’s a winner”! I’d like to Thank everyone for sponsoring me to help raise much needed funds for an amazing charity and an even bigger thank you to those who came to support and help on the day and the many strangers who cheered me on the day! So far I raised £2,606.78 and if you would like to donate to this very worthwhile charity, please visit https://www.justgiving. com/RyanEmmett/

MENS & LADIES COUNTRY CLOTHING MENS & LADIES WALKING BOOTS MENS & LADIES FOOTWEAR WALKING POLES & STICKS FINE LEATHER GOODS RIFLES & AIR RIFLES AMMUNITION SHOTGUNS 15% OFF KNIVES with this advert GIFTS Servicing your AIR RIFLE

WILTON farm . marlow road . little marlow . buckinghamshire sl73rr

01628 474 187 www.escountrysports.co.uk LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Maidenhead’s Motor Industry

We recently attended the opening of an exhibition celebrating Maidenhead’s motor industry at the Heritage Centre in Park Street. For anyone wanting to know more about each of the marques you can join in the evening talks in the Desborough Suite in Maidenhead. The Burney Streamline is on July 23rd, Marendaz Special Aug ust 21st and September 4th for the Vanwall. Anyone attending the talks will be able to visit the heritage centre exhibition prior to each talk

GWK

BURNEY STREAMLINE

It is 100 years since around 2,000 motor cars of three different makes were manufactured in Maidenhead’s Cordwallis Estate between 1914 and 1936 by GWK (Messrs Grice, Wood & Keiller). The GWK had a unique friction drive transmission, which improved the changing of gears from the dreaded “double de-clutch”, which was physically demanding. This transmission had wide appeal to many drivers and in particular women. The manufacture of the GWK was halted during the war years as Wood and Keiller joined the army. On their return after the war. Messrs Grice Wood and Keiller went their separate ways and the Company was eventually wound up in 1931. The second car that will be on display will be a Burney Streamline designed by Sir Dennistoun Burney. A total of 12 cars were produced between 1930 and 1933. With the financial backing of his friend, Stephen Courtauld, the textile magnate, he formed Streamline Cars Ltd in 1927, to exploit his knowledge of aerodynamics. The company moved into the GWK factory in the Cordwallis Works in Maidenhead in 1929. The Burney cars were a hard sell, as they were close to Rolls-Royce prices. Burney finally closed the Maidenhead operation in 1933 and licensed his technology to Crossley in Manchester, who produced about twenty vehicles to their own modified design in 1934, but they were equally unsuccessful and ceased production in the same year.

MARENDAZ SPECIAL

VANWELL

The Third car that will be on display is the DMK Marendaz, founded by Donald Donald Marcus Kelway Marendaz (DMK) who was a larger than life character with a reputation for irascibility, a propensity for litigation, frequent money troubles and a tendency to embroider the truth. That said, he was a trained engineer (at Siddely-Deasy), a wartime pilot in the RFC. He was a successful racing driver, record breaker and a dedicated car man. DMK established DMK Marendaz Ltd in Camberwell, London, as a manufacturer and also dealt in second-hand sporting cars and built about thirty six-cylinder

tourers, generally 1500cc 2- and 3-seaters. In 1932, DMK re-organised the company, which was re-named Marendaz Special Cars Ltd. He then moved the operation to the Cordwallis Estate, coinciding with the tail-end of GWK and Burney operations Marendaz Specials were cheaper than Bentleys, but By 1936, the company was compulsorily wound up and production ceased for ever. The fourth car is the Vanwall. Tony Vandervell was a successful industrialist whose “Thin Wall” bearings were sold to motor manufacturers throughout Europe. As a young man he raced Norton motorcycles and Talbot cars. After WWII, he became a member of the management of the BRM (British Racing Motors) project an industry-wide effort to build a British racing car to compete with the dominant Italians. He was intensely patriotic and longed to beat those “bloody red” Italian cars. Frustrated with the politics of BRM, he left the board in 1948 in order to develop a Grand Prix car of his own. Ferrari were an important customer for the Thin Wall bearings and he persuaded Enzo Ferrari to sell him a car on which to develop his ideas. The engine was designed, built and tested at the Cox Green factory. The chassis frame was made by Cooper and the car was named “Vanwall” combining Van(dervell) and (Thin)wall and was assembled at Vandervell’s Acton works.. Vandervell built up a powerful team of drivers, eventually headed by Stirling Moss and a highly efficient technical team, with everything coming together in 1957 with a win in the Italian Grand Prix, beating the Ferraris and Maseratis (those “bloody red cars” at Monza). Then Stirling Moss wins the British GP/ Grand Prix d’Europe at Aintree, 1957. Unfortunately, A death in his team eventually caused Tony Vandervell to announce Vanwall’s withdrawal from racing and he died in 1967.

To find out more about each of the cars manufactured in Maidenhead please visit the Heritage Centre by purchasing tickets from the Centre until September 13th 56

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

BMW M4 WHAT’S NEW? There’s a great deal that’s new about the M4, not least the name. Previously you could have an M3 in coupe, saloon and convertible formats, but now the M3 is saloon only. The M4 takes on the mantle as the coupe will be the most popular model by far. You get a stack of bespoke exterior parts to add menace as well as a bit of downforce and there’s 85kg of weight saved over the old car with bits like the carbonfibre roof, strut brace and a lightweight driveshaft. But the biggest news is under the bonnet. The naturally aspirated V8 has been binned in favour of a twin turbocharged six-cylinder unit for the first time on an M car. As usual, it’s for the sake of efficiency: the new unit has more power and torque than the old car but emissions are down 26%. LOOKS AND IMAGE: As you’d expect, the transformation to M4 brings with it some extra aggression. There are big air vents at the front, a deep chin spoiler, flared wheelarches and big wheels as standard, and the result is a terrificlooking thing from pretty much any angle. Colour choice is another matter. The eye-catching metallic yellow shown here is certainly not for the faint-hearted, while more moderate shades provide a more stealthy look. SPACE AND PRACTICALITY: The transformation to M4 gives almost nothing away to the standard car, so sadly you’ve got no excuse for leaving the loved ones behind in a haze of tyre smoke. Up front, there are excellent sports seats, plenty of head and legroom even for taller drivers and you can fit adults in the back seats too. The boot is also impressive with 445 litres, and sensibly it has a good luggage net to stop everything flying about - which it would otherwise most certainly do. BEHIND THE WHEEL: Like all the current M cars, the M4 gives you a

multitude of options to play with, offering three settings for the engine, suspension, gearbox and steering. With everything set to either Comfort or Efficiency, the M4 does a pretty convincing impression

“If this car was a ... an animal it would be a domestic cat - pretty to look at and generally relaxed but capable of using its claws if required.”

track as well as on the road. The other type are the badge snobs who want that M badge - and possibly one of the more eye-catching colours - to let everyone know they’ve arrived. This car summed up in a single word: Menacing. Matt Joy

of a bog-standard 4 Series. It rides well and is quiet bar the odd growl from the engine when you poke it. But frankly that’s a waste of a performance car. Turn everything up to the middle Sport mode and instantly it feels more alert. Squeeze the throttle and the response is instant, that turbocharged engine offering up strong torque regardless of engine revs, and there’s a pleasing metallic note from the exhaust thanks to some clever electronic enhancement. Push the M4 hard and the grip is hugely impressive, the optional carbon ceramic brakes very strong and its overall composure superb. It’s a genuine M car, no doubt. VALUE FOR MONEY: Compared to the outgoing car, the M4 has had a notable upgrade in the amount of standard kit. You now get 19-inch wheels, Xenon headlights, the adaptive M suspension and things like folding electric mirrors as standard where previously they were options. That’s not to say you can’t go a bit nuts with the options; the desirable carbon ceramic brakes are ¬£6,250 but the M Laptimer app is free to download at least. WHO WOULD BUY ONE? There are two main types of people that will want an M4 on their driveway. Firstly there are the enthusiasts who know the history of the M cars and want a performance car that has motorsport links and can cut it on the

FACTS AT A GLANCE BMW M4, £58,295 (with M DCT transmission) Engine: 3.0-litre unit producing 425bhp and 406lb/ft of torque Transmission: Seven-speed dual clutch gearbox driving the rear wheels Performance: Top speed 155mph (limited), 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds Economy: 34.0mpg combined Emissions: 194g/km of CO2 LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Martin adaMs

MARTIN ADAMS:MARTIN ADAMS.qxd 13/04/2010 10:31 Page 1

VEHICLE SERVICING

YOUR LOCAL MOT

SPECIALIST

A friendly family run business with 30 years experience Servicing all cars, new and old also light commercial vehicles.

• General car repairs and maintenance • Free courtesy car available • Tyres, exhausts and batteries supplied and fitted • Latest diagnostic equipment for all makes of vehicle • Air conditioning service available • 30 Years Experience

01628 850000 email: info@mavs.co.uk Alexander House, Wessex Industrial Estate, Bourne End

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

market place

FAMILY

ACCOUNTANTS

the family mediation partnership your family, your future, your decisions

abc

Accounting Book Keeping Compliance

ABC Book Keeping & Accounting Services Ltd

Angela Aldridge MAAT ATT Mobile: 07711 803243 Tel/Fax: 01628 476111 Email:office@abcacc.co.uk Website: www.abcacc.co.uk

12 Quoitings Drive, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 2PE.

SELF ASSESSMENT

Divorce, Separation, Family Dispute

0333 800 80 81 info@tfmp.co.uk • www.tfmp.co.ok Less time, less stress, less money We can also assist with an FM1, Financial Disclosure, Memorandum of Understanding, Parenting Plans and after dispute support. Fees discounted by 20% to £100 per hour per client. No other charges apply

Beaconseld, Bourne End, Cookham, Henley, Marlow

HEALTH

Amazing Dentures Eat, Talk, Smile We can help you live life to the full once again with our beautiful, tailor made dentures. Andrew Dougan is a highly qualified Clinical Dental Technician who has been dedicated to bespoke denture creations since 1989.

Need help completing your Tax Return? Not enough time for paperwork? WE COULD PROVIDE THE ANSWER!

• True life teeth & latest materials • Repairs & alterations • Cosmetic denture enhancements • Denture problem solving • FREE car park

For honest, friendly advice or to book a FREE consultation call

01628 521003

Randall Associates

Fast & Friendly U.K. Taxation Advice For a quote, ring Keith Randall on

T: 01628 520426 E: kas.randall@btinternet.com www.randallassociates.co.uk

30 Stratford Drive, Wooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0QH

17 Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath, Bucks HP10 9LS Andrew Dougan Dip CDT RCS (ENG) RDT GDC No. 162175

www.denture-world.co.uk

Looking for a window cleaner, carpet cleaner or perhaps a painter? Over the next few pages are local services to suit your needs. If you would like to advertise on these pages please call 01628 627488 or email office@alongthethames.co.uk

HEALTH

HOME

R.S. HALL UPHOLSTERY 30 years experience

Registered clinical scientist and hearing aid dispenser • FREE hearing assessment - TAILORED to the individual. • TIME to discuss your hearing problems. • TRlAL period with no obligation to buy. • LOCAL and independent so no allegiance to any particular company - an unbiased recommendation. Manufacturers: Widex, Phonak, Oticon and Starkey. • LATEST TECHNOLOGY available with both in the ear and behind the ear hearing aids. • WORK closely with a team of Ear, Nose and Throat Consultants. Plus audiologists specialising in balance and tinnitus problems. • COMPREHENSIVE after care service.

ALL UPHOLSTERY WORK UNDERTAKEN Ω re-upholstery Ω sofas & chairs Ω loose covers Ω antiques

Ω pubs & clubs Ω schools Ω hospitals Ω office chairs

large contracts - over 300 fabrics available

Free Estimates Contact Bob on

07809 140988 / 01494 461481

email: contact@rshallupholstery.co.uk www.rshallupholstery.co.uk

Assignment Cleaning Services Ltd

Quality Window Cleaning Using Safe & Efﬁcient Reach & Wash system Commercial & Domestic Fully Insured FREE Quotes

Tel: 07973 960012 Beverley.talbot@windsor-ent.com

www.windsor-ent.com

Bridge Clinic, Maidenhead & Princess Margaret Hospital, Windsor

Sue Davies MAFHP

Tel: 01628 634149 Mobile: 07743 314986 sue@suedaviesfeetﬁrst.co.uk www.suedaviesfeetﬁrst.co.uk

59 Cannon Court Road Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 7QP

feetfirst

Foot Health Professional

Registered member of the British Association of Foot Health Professionals

Established in Marlow since 1984

Tel: 01628 483952 www.assignmentcleaningservices.com

NATURAL GAS

LPG

PROPANE

BUTANE

SPECIALISTS IN CONDENSING BOILERS & COMBINATION BOILERS New Boilers Boiler Servicing Warm Air Units Unvented Hot Water Cylinders Boiler Break downs Power Flushing Gas Fires Serviced Gas Leaks Traced and Repaired New Gas Runs Landlords Gas Safety Inspections

Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer, it kills people every year...Don’t let it be you! ALL ASPECTS OF PLUMBING, HEATING AND ELECTRICAL, WETROOMS, BATHROOMS & KITCHEN INSTALLATIONS, ALL WALL AND FLOOR TILING

01628 477040 01628477171 www.coleltd.co.uk

M: 07774212695 F: 01628 478391 info@coleltd.co.uk

28 Newtown Road, Marlow, Bucks SL7 1JU

D AVI D B R AY DOMESTIC PLUMBING & HEATING SPECIALISTS • Good local reliable service

• Boiler replacements & installations • Central Heating systems • Bathroom Installations • General Plumbing Maintenance Call now for more information & free quotation

07725 748726 01628 478935

Sept/Oct

Get ready for Christmas

Deadline - 15th August T: 01628 627488 / M: 07711 887107 E: office@AlongTheThames.co.uk “Marketing is an Investment not an Expense”

O u t & Ab o u t A Comprehensive Guide to What’s on in your local area. in&around Marlow, Maidenhead, Henley, Cookham & Bourne End If you would like your event added, please contact us at Office@AlongThe Thames.co.uk JULY 13th: The Henley Swim Mile, Half Mile and Junior Races. All day family event featuring several races downstream along Henley Royal Regatta Course. Further information www.henleyswim. com 14: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book in advance: 01628 488404). 17: ‘Life Before TV’ a talk for the Four Seasons Club, 14:30, Thames Room, Liston Hall. 17: ‘Summer Wildflower Walks’ join Senior Gardener Pete on a free walk through the gardens and beyond looking at the Cliveden flora blooming in summer, 11:00-13:00, free event but normal admission charges apply – 01628 605069 (NT) 17-20: ‘Art in Action’, hundreds of artists demonstrating their art, Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley, Oxford, OX33 1JZ. For more information: www.artinaction.org.uk 18: ‘The British Army on the Western Front: The difficult road to Victory, 1914-18’, a lecture by Garry Sheffield, TV & radio broadcaster, academic and acclaimed author of ‘The Chief: Douglas Haig and the British Army’, 20.00, Liston Hall. 18-21: The Garden Players present William Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’, Stubbings House, Henley Road, Maidenhead, Sl6 6QL. Box office: 01628 522854.(B) 19: ‘The Riley Park Trust Centenary Celebration’, plus the opening of the eight unit Heritage Trail in honour of Mr Edward Riley F.I.C. and his wife Emma who founded the trust in July 1914, 12.0018.00, Riley Park. 19: Marlow Recital Society presents a supper recital of piano music by ‘Jenna Sung’, 19.30, Vine House, 9 Glade Road. Tickets £25 including buffet supper & wines, to book: 01628482299.(B) 19: International singing sensation Izzy presents ‘Canción’, in aid of St Mary’s Pre-School, 19.00, 143 Marlow Bottom Road, SL7 3PJ. Box office: 07741

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

090313.(B) 19-20: The 36th Thames Traditional Boat Rally, over 200 vintage and classic boats on parade, gates open 09.00, Fawley Meadows, Henley 20: ‘Great British Tennis Weekend’, play tennis for free, 14.00-17.00, Marlow Tennis Club, Pound Lane. 20: The Henley & District Agricultural Association ‘Sheepdog Trial’,a great day out for all the family, 09.00-16.30, Henley Showground, Hambleden, RG9 3AS. 20: ‘Guided River Walk’, organised by The Marlow Society, meeting at 14.30 at Marlow Museum, Court Garden Leisure Centre, Pound Lane. (No booking required, £2.50 per adult, children free). 20: ‘Wycombe Half Marathon’ 09:3013:00, Wycombe 10K 09:30-11:00 on the Rye, High Wycombe 20: ‘NGS Open Day’ Whitewalls, Quarry Wood Road, SL7 1RE, 14:00-17:00, £2.50 20: ‘Great British Tennis Weekend’ play tennis for free at Marlow Tennis club, Marlow Sports Club, Pound Lane, 14:00-17:00 21: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book in advance: 01628 488404). 21: A talk for The Marlow Society, 19.30, Garden Room, Liston Hall. 22: Marlow Jazz Club presents ‘Budapest Ragtime Band’, 20.30, Royal British Legion Hall, Station Approach. (Tickets £10, advance reservations advised on 01628 486571).(B) 24: ‘Summer Wildflower Walks’ join Senior Gardener Pete on a free walk through the gardens and beyond looking at the Cliveden flora blooming in summer, 11:00-13:00, free event but normal admission charges apply – 01628 605069 (NT) 26: Transition Town Marlow Community Market, local foods and crafts plus new free practical workshops, 09.30-13.00, Liston Hall. 26: Hambleden Concerts presents ‘Archaeus Quartet’, 19.30, The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin,

Hambleden. Tickets (£12.50) available from Hambleden Stores.(B) 26: ‘The Cliveden Set Live – Step Back in Time’ ever wondered what Cliveden was like in the 1930’s when Lord and Lady Astor owned the house and the celebrities of the time were regular visitors? Join us, meet them and find out more, 12:00-16:00, free event but normal admission charges apply – 01628 550320. 27: ‘Family Fun Day’ at Crowne Plaza Hotel, from 12:00, BBQ, bouncy castle, face painting, games on the lawn, free admission. 28: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book in advance: 01628 488404). 29&31: ‘Flicker and Flash Robot!’ Investigate electric circuits and make your own flashing robot, sessions start at 10.30, 11.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30, by timed ticket on the day, Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, H/W, HP13 6PX. 30: ‘Beasts & Butterflies’, kids can be nature detectives on this walk with the NT warden team, 11.00-12.30, Hughenden Manor, nr. High Wycombe. Booking essential (£5 per child) on 01494 755573. (Normal admission charges apply).

August 02: ‘Wine Tasting’, a chance to sample a selection of fine wines available from Laithwaites, 10.00-16.00, at the Rebellion Brewery Shop, Bencombe Farm, Marlow Bottom, SL7 3LT. 03: ‘Little Marlow’, a guided walk organised by The Marlow Society, starting at 14.30, at the public car park at the end of Coldmoorholme Lane, Well End. (No booking required, £2.50 per adult, children free). 04: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book in advance: 01628 488404). 04-08: ‘Stagecoach: Learn a Musical in a Week’, 4-18yrs.High Wycombe. See advert for more info. 05: ‘Rebellion Brewery Tours’, all ales currently being brewed available on the night. Talks also given on brewing history and methods, 19.00-21.30, Bencombe

For more information/changes to schedules as listed or information please call Marlow Information C

O u t & Ab o u t

Farm, Marlow Bottom, SL7 3LT. All welcome, £10 pp, bbq all year round! 05&07: NGS Open Day – Danesfield House Hotel, 10.00-16.30, Henley Road. 05&07: ‘Bug Eyed Beast Hand Puppets’, create your own amazing hand puppet with moving mouth, sessions start at 10.30, 11.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30, by timed ticket on day, Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, H/W, HP13 6PX. 06: ‘Beasts & Butterflies’, kids can be nature detectives on this walk with the NT warden team, 11.00-12.30, Hughenden Manor, nr. High Wycombe. Booking essential (£5 per child) on 01494 755573. (Normal admission charges apply) 08: ‘Bugs, Birds and Bats!’ Join the Big Summer Bug Hunt in the museum grounds. Meet members of the RSPB for activities and information on birds and discover more about bats with the North Bucks Bat Group. A free event, 13.00-16.00, Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, H/W. 09: ‘Hambleden Covered Market’, homemade cakes, cheeses, organic bread, local meat, crafts, collectables and hot food all day,10.00-15.00, Hambleden Village Hall. 09-10: Bekonscot Model Village 85th Anniversary weekend. See website for details: www.bekonscot.co.uk. 10: The Henley Swim Bridge to Bridge, 14km long distance river swim downstream from Henley Bridge to Marlow Bridge. Further information www.henleyswim.com 10: ‘Bushcraft’, join an expert for lessons in nature including shelter building & fire lighting, 09.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00, Hughenden Manor, nr. High Wycombe. Booking essential (£25pp) on: 0844 2491895. (Normal admission charges apply). (B)(NT) 11: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book in advance: 01628 488404). 12: ‘Glorious Gluts – making the most of the seasonal bounty’, a talk for the Marlow & District Horticultural Society, 19.30 for 20.00, Liston Hall. 12: ‘Modern Policing – The Role of Police in Britain Today’, a talk for the High Wycombe Macular Support Group, 14.00-16.00, Wesley Methodist Church Hall, Priory Road, High Wycombe. 12&14: NGS Open Day – Danesfield

House Hotel, 10.00-16.30, Henley Road. 12&14: ‘Funny Faces in Clay’, get busy with clay and model some funny faces, sessions start at 10.30, 11.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30, by timed ticket on the day, Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, H/W, HP13 6PX. 13: ‘Beasts & Butterflies’, kids can be nature detectives on this walk with the NT warden team, 11.00-12.30, Hughenden Manor, nr. High Wycombe. Booking essential (£5 per child) on 01494 755573. (Normal admission charges apply) 14: ‘Monthly Tea Dance’ by the Marlow Community Association, 14.0016.00, Liston Hall. 15-17: ‘Rewind Festival’, Temple Island Meadows, Henley. For more information: www.rewindfestival.com 16: ‘Countryside Workout’, join the NT ranger team whilst helping to conserve this special place, 10.00-16.00, Hughenden Manor, nr. High Wycombe. For further details: 01494 755573.(NT) 16: ‘The Cliveden Set Live – Step Back in Time’ ever wondered what Cliveden was like in the 1930’s when Lord and Lady Astor owned the house and the celebrities of the time were regular visitors? Join us, meet them and find out more, 12:00-16:00, free event but normal admission charges apply – 01628 550320. 18: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book in advance: 01628 488404). 19&21: ‘Mosaic Madness’, design a fab coaster using mosaic tiles, sessions start at 10.30, 11.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30, by timed ticket on day, Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, H/W, HP13 6PX. 21: ‘The Dogs Trust’, a talk for the Four Seasons club, 14.30, Thames Room, Liston Hall.

Centre on 01628 483597 or Maidenhead Library on 01628 796969 or Henley Library on 01491 575278

21-24: Towersey Festival, Towersey Playing Fields, Thame Road, Towersey, OX9 3QF, www.towerseyfestival.com. 22-25: Chiltern’s Craft Fair, 09.3017.30 (17.00 Fri), Stonor, nr. Henley, RG9 6HF. For more information & tickets: www.thecraftshows.co.uk 23: Marlow & District Horticultural Society – Annual Show’ at Liston Hall, 14:30. 24: ‘Victorian Marlow’ a guided walk with The Marlow Society, 14.30, starting at Liston Hall. (No booking required, £2.50 per adult, children free). 24+25: ‘The Cliveden Set Live – Step Back in Time’ ever wondered what Cliveden was like in the 1930’s when Lord and Lady Astor owned the house and the celebrities of the time were regular visitors? Join us, meet them and find out more, 12:00-16:00, free event but normal admission charges apply – 01628 550320. 25: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book in advance: 01628 488404). 26&28: ‘In a Flap’, make a large, animated bird with flapping wings, sessions start at 10.30, 11.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30, by timed ticket on the day, Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, H/W, HP13 6PX. 27: ‘Wine Tasting’ with Marlow Wine Society. Hedley White present wines from Iberia in an informal atmosphere, 20.00, Pugin Rooms, St Peter’s Church, St Peter Street. For more information: 01628 482299. 28: ‘Bucks County Show’, Weedon Park, Aylesbury, HP22 4NN. More information: www.buckscountyshow.co.uk 30: Transition Town Marlow Community Market, local foods and crafts plus new free practical workshops,

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

O u t & Ab o u t

09.30-13.00, Liston Hall. 30: Hambleden Concerts presents ‘Tzigane Piano Trio’, 19.30, The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Hambleden. Tickets (£12.50) available from Hambleden Stores.(B) 30: ‘The Great War Centenary Event’, a special event in the museum and gardens to commemorate the start of WW1, free entry 11.00-16.00, Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe.

September 01: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book in advance: 01628 488404). 02: ‘Rebellion Brewery Tours’, all ales currently being brewed available on the night. Talks also given on brewing history and methods, 19.00-21.30, Bencombe Farm, Marlow Bottom, SL7 3LT. All welcome, £10 pp, bbq all year round! 05: ‘Boogie Nights’, a 70s and 80s night (£25pp inc. a 2 course dinner), 19.30-midnight, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Fieldhouse Lane. To book: 01628 496860. 06: ‘Cookham Regatta’, 10:00-17:00 Cookham Moor. 06: ‘Rock Bottom’ at Marlow Bottom Playing Fields, live music acts on stage, family open air concert, bar, kids fairground, food and drink, 12:00-21:30, £20 adults, £7.50 Children, £50 family, www.marlowrockbottom.co.uk 06: ‘Wine Tasting’, a chance to sample a selection of fine wines available from Laithwaites, 10.00-16.00, at the Rebellion Brewery Shop, Bencombe Farm, Marlow Bottom, SL7 3LT. 07: NGS Open Garden – Whitewalls, 14.00-17.00, Quarry Wood Road, SL7 1RE. 07: Air Ambulance Open Gardens – Odney Club, 14.00-17.00, Cookham, SL6 9SR. 07: ‘The Cliveden Set Live – Step Back in Time’ ever wondered what Cliveden was like in the 1930’s when Lord and Lady Astor owned the house and the celebrities of the time were regular visitors? Join us, meet them and find out more, 12:00-16:00, free event but normal admission charges apply – 01628 550320. 08: ‘Boutique Cinema’, screening starts at 20.00 with a pre-feature comedy classic from 19.30, Clayton’s, Oxford Road. (Book your seat in advance: 01628 488404). 09: ‘Barnsdale After Geoff’, a talk for the Marlow & District Horticultural Society, 19.30 for 20.00, Liston Hall.

11: ‘Monthly Tea Dance’ by the Marlow Community Association, 14.0016.00, Liston Hall. 11: NGS Open Gardens – Lords Wood, 11.00-16.30, Frieth Road, Marlow Common, SL7 2QS. 11-14: ‘Heritage Open Days’, various venues across the UK. More information: www.heritageopendays.org.uk 12: ‘Tiny Talk Time’ presents ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, a special time for under-fives includes stories, trails and craft activities, 10.30-11.30 or 13.1514.15, Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe. To book your place (£2 per child): 01494 421895.(B) 13: ‘Hambleden Covered Market’, homemade cakes, cheeses, organic bread, local meat, crafts, collectables and hot food all day,10.00-15.00, Hambleden Village Hall. 13: ‘Henley Show’, an agricultural show with attractions for all the family, gates open 08.30, Henley Showground, Hambleden, RG9 3AS. For more information: www.thehenley show.co.uk 13: ‘Proms at Mount Farm’, featuring Abba tribute band, televised 2nd half of ‘The Last Night of the Proms’ & spectacular fireworks finale, Mount Farm, Choke Lane, Cookham Dean. Box office (tickets £30pp): 01628 476512 14: ‘The Cliveden Set Live – Step Back in Time’ ever wondered what Cliveden was like in the 1930’s when Lord and Lady Astor owned the house and the celebrities of the time were regular visitors? Join us, meet them and find out more, 12:00-16:00, free event but normal admission charges apply – 01628 550320.

ONGOING EVENTS GENERAL Marlow Art & Craft Society, 1st Thursday in month, 19:30, Marlow Bottom Village Hall Marlow Antique bric-a-brac fair meets 1st Saturday of the month at Liston Hall from 9:00 - 16:00 Business Biscotti - Marlow. Every second Thursday 9.30 - 11.30. Danesfield House Hotel, Marlow - www. businessbiscotti.co.uk Thames Valley Business Womens Group. Every second Monday 19:00pm for 19:30pm start - CIM, Cookham, www. TVBWG.com Marlow Museum, 31st March 31st October. Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, 13:00 - 17:00 - www.

marlowmuseum.org. Pound Lane opposite the Leisure Club Marlow Camera Club meet every Tuesday with a prearranged programme on Tuesday evenings, 19:45 - 20:00.The Methodist Church Hall, Spittal Street, Marlow, SL7 3HJ HENLEY PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB meet with a pre-arranged programme on Tuesday evenings, 20:00 - 22:00, YMCA Hall, off Waterman’s Road, Henley www. henleyphotoclub.com Stanley Spencer Gallery, 2nd April 2nd November 2014 - 10:30 - 17:30 daily Speak Spanish in Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield High School. Tuesdays 19:30. Suitable for all levels except beginners. Tony on 07947 508755 anthony.mitchelmore@sky.com Maidenhead Over 30’s Disco parties, every Friday, 20:30pm - 1:00 Bird Hill Golf Club, Drift Road, off Hawthorn Hill SL6 3ST Maidenhead Camera Club, every Tuesday, Cox Green Community Centre, 630861 Maidenhead Archaeology society, meet last Wednesday of the month, WRVS, Maidenhead, t: 630 839 Colenorton Dragon Boat Club, Sunday 10.00 - 12.30, Bray Lake Water Sports, Maidenhead SL6 2EB - www. colenorton.co.uk South Bucks Walking Group. Regular walks programme plus club weekends, coach rambles, and other social walking events. Di Olden - 01494 714486. - www. southbuckshfwalkingclub.co.uk Henley and Goring Ramblers, regular walks programme available - www. ramblers-oxon.org.uk/HG.htm

ONGOING EVENTS MARKETS Maidenhead Produce Market - 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month on Maidenhead High Street The Farmers Market, 2nd Sunday of the month from 10:00, Grove Street Car Park Bourne End Country Market product. Small Hall 10 - 12 , Every Friday Henley Farmers Market, every 4th Thursday in Falaise Square, Henley, 8:30-14:00 Bourne End Community and Craft Market - second Saturday of every month 10:00 - 13:00 in the Jackson Room of Bourne End Library.

For more information/changes to schedules as listed or information please call Marlow Information Centre on 01628 483597 or Maidenhead Library on 01628 796969 or Henley Library on 01491 575278 LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

READER’s OFFERS

For your Chance to win one of the following products, please visit our website: http://www.alongthethames. co.uk/competition-entries and enter your details by 15th August. BENECOS: Funky Nail Polish Greenway £6.95 - www.benecos.co.uk

TOMA: In the Garden Nail polish 1 x Blue or 1 x Green - £7.25. www.madbeauty.com BIO OIl: £8.95 www.boots.com

CLARINS Hydra Quench Tinted Moisturiser 50ml - £30 - 1 x Gold or 1 x Peach. www.clarins.com TANORGANIC Duo Bronzer: £29.99. www. tanorganic.co.uk SLEEK MAKEUP BRONZE BLOCK: £7.49 www.sleekmakeup.com

The Winners will be notified by email and details placed on the website. T&C’s apply including one entry per household.

PICTUREHOUSE POP-UP: REGAL BY THE RIVER 2014 25 - 27 JULY AND 1 - 3 AUGUST, MILL MEADOWS Regal by the River in partnership with Peroni Nastro Azzurro Piccola. With a larger screen and more seating, it will be even bigger and better this year. Join us for two weekends of summer screenings at Mill Meadows, Henley-on-Thames. Facing Heaven will be cooking up some delicious outdoor favourites for your al-fresco dining, plus there will be tasty snacks and cooling drinks from our pop-up bar (cash only!). Why not complete the experience by dressing up for the occasion? Regatta style for: 25 July: THE GREAT GATSBY (2013) (12A) 145 mins 26 July: FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (12A) 105 mins 27 July: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (U) 105 mins 1 Aug ust: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (15) 100 mins 2 Aug ust: GREASE (PG) 110 mins 3 Aug ust: CASABLANCA (U) 100 mins Doors at 7.00, the films start at 9.15 or at dusk. Tickets are £10 full price, £8.50 Members and Concessions

Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen - 14 July, 6.45 pm Richard Eyre’s Olivier-winning adaptation of Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen in a one-off show captured live at Trafalgar Studios. Monty Python Live (Mostly) Encore - 24 July, 8pm For the first time in more than three decades, comedy legends Monty Python will perform live on stage together this year. Broadcast from London’s O2 Arena The Globe on Screen 2014 Productions by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London, captured live and screened unedited. £13, members £10 concessions £11. 28 July, 2.30pm The Tempest, 4 Aug ust,1 2.45pm Macbeth, 11 Aug ust, 2.30pm, A Midsummer Night's Dream A Night at the Cinema in 1914 - 4 Aug ust, 6.30pm This special compilation from the BFI National Archive recreates the glorious miscellany of comedies, dramas, travelog ues and newsreels that would have constituted a typical night out in 1914. RSC Live Two Gentlemen of Verona Live - 3 September, 7pm - Encore - 9 Sep, 1pm Simon Godwin makes his RSC debut to direct Shakespeare’s exuberant romantic comedy. NT Live : Medea - 4 Sept, 7pm Helen McCrory (The Last of the Haussmans) returns to the National Theatre to take the title role in Ben Power’s new version of Euripides’ powerful tragedy, directed by Carrie Cracknell.

Book online at www.picturehouses.co.uk/henley or call the Box Office 0871 902 5738 LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Stars

JULY: On the 16th the mighty planet Jupiter leaves the sign of Cancer and moves into the sign of Leo for a one year stay. Jupiter in Leo brings the quality of a large and regal planet to a proud and regal sign - There is definitely a feel-good factor here, lots of positive energy for creative opportunities, prosperity and romance! This time can also bring a real feeling of freedom and liberation from attitudes or circumstances that may have limited or restricted you from being all that you could be.

Christine Chalkin, Astrologer & Life Coach reveals how you can navigate your way to success in July.

Aries:

March 21 - April 20 Optimistic Jupiter arrives in the creative sector of your chart on the 16th, now’s the perfect time to get those innovative ideas back on the agenda and start to work with them! The full moon in Capricorn on the 12th brings advancement and interesting career opportunities your way

Taurus:

April 21 - May 21 Your home and family become your main focus after Jupiter changes signs on the 16th of the month. You may have some grand ideas about redecoration and refurbishment, so be sure to use the practical and powerful energy of the full moon in Capricorn on the 12th to put them into practice. .

Gemini:

May 22 - June 22 Mercury, your ruling planet moves forward again after the 2nd - you’ll breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you can now get those all important projects going again. After the 16th as Jupiter moves into the communication area of your chart, important opportunities come your way.

Cancer:

June 23 - July 23 Jupiter leaves your sign on the 16th and won’t return for another 12 years. This expansive and abundant time should have bought many rewards for most Cancerians. Jupiter now highlights the financial sector of your chart – can you turn some of your ideas into money making ventures?

Leo:

July 24 - August 23 Get ready for some action, mighty Jupiter is arriving on your doorstep on the 16th – he’ll be staying for a year so be sure to use

him wisely! Any ideas around expansion, particularly by reaching out and helping others is bound to go well. A business opportunity could come your way on the 12th.

Virgo:

August 24 - September 23 Mercury, your ruler, turns direct on the 2nd ensuring that you breathe a sigh of relief as your life gets back to normal! From the 16th Jupiter will be occupying a mystical part of your chart and this is the perfect time for you to find deep inner wealth and inspiration in solitude and meditation.

Libra:

September 24 - October 23 Abundant Jupiter will light up the social sector of your chart from the 16th. During this cycle, romance and friendships or group associations can be positively tied together. You may find more romantic opportunities through friends, groups, and associates and you’ll certainly bring your creative energy to any group setting.

Scorpio:

October 24 - November 22 After the 16th abundant Jupiter shines brightly at the highest point of your chart. The year ahead bodes extremely well for your career and indeed for any projects or goals that you want to achieve. The full moon on the 12th brings exciting new ideas to expand your horizons.

Sagittarius:

November 23 - December 22 Expanding your horizons through higher learning or travel will start to figure strongly

Leo is the sign of the Lion, make sure that you make yourself heard by roaring like one! The practical energy of the full moon in Capricorn shines on us on the 12th and the new moon is in Leo on the 26th as Jupiter moves into Leo on the 16th. This is a time for aligning your behaviour with what you intuitively believe to be right. You are taking more “me” time, which is in fact long overdue

Capricorn:

December 23 - January 19 Your funds and assets come into strong focus as Abundant Jupiter moves into your financial sector after the 16th. This is a brilliant time to make the most of your talents as there’s a real feeling of liberation from attitudes or circumstances that may have held you back

Aquarius:

January 20 - February 19 Relationships and partnerships figure strongly as mighty Jupiter highlights this important sector of your chart. You’ll find that exciting new people come into your life who can offer help with your creative projects. The new moon in Leo on the 26th brings an opportunity your way.

Pisces:

February 20 - March 20 Creativity and new ideas around your work and daily life will start to surface after the 16th. With Jupiter now in Leo you‘ll feel much more courageous about getting your projects off the ground. Use your intuition and be sure to trust it, particularly around the full moon on the 12th.

Visit www.AlongTheThames.co.uk For how you can navigate your way to success in August Christine Chalkin has an International client base and all her consultations are available in person, by telephone or Skype. For more information contact Christine at www.restyleyourlife.co.uk, Christine@restyleyourlife.co.uk, Telephone: 07813 483549

LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Useful Numbers MAIDENHEAD - CLUBS Rotary Club of Maidenhead ...................................... 632797 The Maidenhead Players ............................... 07879 476301 Maidenhead Drama Guild ......................................... 635017 Maidenhead Operatic Society .................................. 671589 Maidenhead Musical Comedy Society ........... 07813979894 Grimm Players ......................................................... 820429 Maidenhead Concert Band ...................................... 624514 Maidenhead Folk Club ............................................. 448268 Tuesday Singers ...................................................... 629012 Athletics .................................................................. 522797 Maidenhead & Bray CC ................................. 07885 240209 North Maidenhead Cricket Club .............................. 624137 Rugby ...................................................................... 629663 Hockey .................................................................... 622669 Desborough Bowls Club ........................................... 629403 Rowing ..................................................................... 622664 SportsAble ............................................................... 627690 Maidenhead Tennis .................................................. 623785 Thames Valley Cycling Club ...................................... 638984 East Berks Badminton .............................................. 636283 Maidenhead Camera Club ........................................ 630861 East Berkshire Ramblers .......................................... 634561 Lions Club of Maidenhead ........................................ 634333 Maidenhead Golf Club .............................................. 624693 Five Aces Duplicate Bridge Club ............................... 625663 River Thames Society ............................................... 624025 RBWM - COUNCIL Bus Services ................................................. 0871 2002233 CIS ............................................................................ 507587 Council Tax ............................................................... 683850 Library - Cox Green ................................................... 673942 Library - Holyport Container .......................................796555 Library - Maidenhead ................................................ 796969 Recycling .................................................................. 796474 Police ............................................................ 0845 8505 505 Trains ............................................................ 0845 7000 125 Town Hall ............................................................ .... 683800 Youth & Community Centre ..................................... 685999 Thames Valley Adventure Playground ...................... 628599 COOKHAM - CLUBS Tennis & Croquet ........................................... 07968 173757 Line Dancing ............................................................ 486362 Petanque ............................ ..................................... 417453 Cookham Bridge Rotary Club ........................ 07724 042708 COOKHAM Library ....................................................................... 526147 Police ........................................................................ 531785 Bourne End & Cookham Rotary ................................ 810967 Stanley Spencer Gallery ........................................... 471885 Medical Centre ......................................................... 810242 BOURNE END Library ....................................................................... 524814 Community Centre ................................................... 527502

MARLOW - CLUBS Archaeology in Marlow ............................................. 472126 Marlow Archaeological Society ................................. 523896 Bowls ........................................................................ 485274 Boxing ............................................................ 01494 532826 Crafts ........................................................... 473872/473539 Football ..................................................................... 483970 Hockey ...................................................................... 521830 Plants (Orchids) ........................................................ 486640 Petanque ................................................................... 521783 Photography .............................................................. 483030 Rugby ........................................................... 483911/477054 Running ..................................................................... 474885 Four Seasons Club .................................................... 474095 Tennis ....................................................................... 483638 New Marlow Tennis Academy ................................. 488438 Rifle & Pistol Club .......................................... 01494 676676 Longridge .................................................................. 486595 Marlow & District Wine Society ............................... 630341 Marlow Society/History ............................................ 476140 Rotary Club..................................................... 01494 530952 LETS .............................................................. 01494 523978 U3A ............................................................. 485220/488865 Operatic Society ....................................................... 475973 Community Choir ......................................... 602581/661182 Railway Society ......................................................... 486433 Choral Society ........................................................... 472998 Marlow Orators .............................................. 07738 540287 MARLOW - COUNCIL Bus Services ................................................. 0871 200 2233 Liston Hall ................................................................. 472558 Marlow Information centre .......................... 483597/481717 Library ............................................................ 0845 2303232 Town Council ............................................................ 484024 Neighbourhood Watch ..Nic Martin................ 01895 837220 Wycombe Council .......................................... 01494 461000 Police ............................................................. 0845 8505505 Trains ............................................................. 0845 7000125 HENLEY - CLUBS Henley Rowing Club ...................................... 01491 573943 Henley Players ............................................... 01491 636253 Henley Hawks Rugby Club ............................ 01491 574499 Henley Cricket Club ......................................... 01491 57774 Lions Club of Henley ....................................... 01491 57671 Henley Bowling Club ....................................... 01491 57927 Henley Tennis Club ........................................01491 572230 Henley Hockey Club ...................................... 01491 576988 Henley Wednesday Bridge Club .................... 01491 573958 Henley Choral Society ................................... 01491 576929 HADISC Badminton Club ............................... 01491 577909 Henley Show ................................................. 01491 410948 HENLEY - COUNCIL Henley Library ................................................ 01491 575278 Police ............................................................. 01189 536000 Henley Town Council .................................... 01491 576982 HOSPITALS St Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital .......................................... 01628 632012 Wycombe ...................................................... 01494 526161 NHS Direct .......................................................... 0845 4647 Henley (Townlands) Community Hospital .... 01491 637 400

We do our best to keep these numbers up to date, but if they have changed please let us know and we will happily update them. If you would like your number added please contact us: office@AlongtheThames.co.uk LIVING ALONG THE THAMES | JULY/AUGUST 2014

‘Top 10 British Spas’ HARPER’S BAZAAR

TENNIS & HEALTH

MEMBERSHIP AT STOKE PARK

We are much more than just a Gym! Experience the luxury of: • A 4,500 square foot gymnasium featuring state-of-the-art Technogym equipment • Expert Personal Training • Fitness Studio • A beautiful Indoor Pool • Award winning Spa • Studio classes includingYoga, HotYoga, Body Combat and Spinning • World Class Tennis Facilities, 13 Tennis Courts: 3 Indoor, 4 Artifical Clay (floodlit) & 6 Grass Courts • Award Winning Restaurants To arrange your membership please call 01753 717179 or email membership@stokepark.com